The New South Wales Coroner says racism played a role in investigation into death of an Indigenous teenager four decades ago.... net overseas migration at its lowest point in three years ... and, at the World Cup...the Socceroos hoping the United States' biggest star IS fit to go against them on Saturday
Listen to Australian and world news, and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts.
TRANSCRIPT
[[A WARNING THAT THIS STORY CONTAINS THE NAME OF AN INDIGENOUS PERSON WHO HAS DIED]]
New South Wales Deputy Coroner, Harriet Grahame, says racism likely affected the investigation into the death of an Indigenous teenager in Tamworth nearly 40 years ago.
The body of 17 year old Mark Haines was found in January 1988 on train tracks outside Tamworth, with an autopsy finding the Gomeroi teenager died from a traumatic head injury.
The initial investigation found he laid down on the tracks either deliberately or in a dazed state, but the family has long suspected foul play.
Ms Grahame says she doesn't know the circumstances of Mark's death but she can rule out suicide and racism hindered the investigation.
"I find it inconceivable that such a superficial investigation would have taken place in those first crucial days had a young white teenager from the right side of town been found on the tracks in similar circumstances. I have given careful consideration to the submissions made against this finding however in my view while some deficiencies may be explained by poor resourcing I am comfortably persuaded that there was another factor at play, that factor grows out of our colonial history and should not be ignored."
+++
A top Japanese government spokesman is welcoming the signing of memorandum by the United States and Iran as a major step toward ending the war in the middle east.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara says Japan wants to contribute to peace and stability in the Middle East and play a role to support the region's recovery and reconstruction.
He says nothing has been decided when asked if Japan was considering sending warships to help escort commercial ships or join mine sweeping operations to ensure safety in the Strait Hormuz.
Japanese then English VO: "Looking forward, we strongly hope that this memorandum will be properly implemented, that free and safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz will be secured in practice, and that a final agreement on issues including Iran’s nuclear programme will be realised as soon as possible."
+++
Net overseas migration has fallen to its lowest level in about three years.
The Bureau of Statistics says it was just over 301,000 in 2025, down almost nine per cent on the previous 12 months.
Net overseas migration measures the difference between the number of people arriving in Australia to live and those leaving the country.
Australia’s population rose by one-and-a-half per cent in 2025 to 27.8 million, once natural increase was also included.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says migration was surging when Labor came to office, but has now moderated substantially.
+++
Opposition leader Angus Taylor says the changes to budget tax proposals announced by Labor today don't go far enough.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced Labor will increase the turnover threshold for existing small business 50 percent active asset CGT concession from $2 million to $10 million.
Angus Taylor says the government has an ideological problem.
"What I would welcome is scrapping all these taxes, the lot, it's got to go. This is a tax on aspiration, it's an absolute assault on reward for hard work and I now that reward for hard work has powered this country for a long long time ans this government is punishing hard work, that's just how they see the world, scrap the lot and start again."
+++
The Greens are calling on the Federal Government to convene national cabinet and call a nationwide summit aimed at enhancing shark mitigation measures after a spate of attacks.
It comes as the NSW government leaves the door open to culling, despite warnings from experts the measure won't be effective because sharks migrate and roam large distances.
While great white sharks are protected as a threatened species under federal environment law, bull sharks could become targets for commercial fishing.
Greens spokesperson for healthy oceans, Peter Whish-Wilson says the Commonwealth should intervene to support a scientific response.
"I feel this issue should be elevated to national cabinet. And we called 10 years ago for the federal government to convene a national summit. And one of the problems is that each state has a different approach to shark mitigation and things that we need in place like funding for drone programs, drone spotter programs and better education. The funding's often short term. Sometimes it even relies on philanthropy and volunteer effort."
+++
At the World Cup, Socceroos defender Kai Tewin says he hopes United States star Christian Pulisic plays on Saturday [[20 jun]] against Australia in Seattle.
Pulisic, perhaps the best player for the co-hosts, picked up a calf injury in training before the tournament, and was subbed off at half-time of the United States' first game of the World Cup, a four goals to one victory over Paraguay.
He's been training on his own all week, casting doubt on whether he will play against Australia.
But Trewin thinks the A-C Milan star will be right to go, and says, as advantageous as it would be for Australia, he doesn't want to face a watered-down U-S lineup.
"I'm sure that he'll play. They're making a big deal out of it that he had yo come off at half-time. But I'm sure it was precautionary. And I hope he plays. You want to play against their best 11."
+++
At the World Cup, England coach Thomas Tuchel says there's no major injury worry for midfielder Declan Rice.
Tuchel subbed Rice out of the game in the second half of England's four goals to two win over Croatia in Dallas.
The coach says the player has assured him he'll be okay.
"Declan had some unusual ball losses. And I saw a bit of discomfort, and then I asked him and he pointed directly to his lower back, upper hamstring, that he feels the discomfort. And Declan just reassured me at the end, it's good, it is good. And I know the discomfort, we will take care of it, and there's nothing big to worry about."
Captain Harry Kane scored twice for England in the first half, before goals from Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford in the second half sealed victory for the Three Lions.
In other results on day seven... a very late goal has given Ghana a one-nil victory over Panama in Toronto.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has held Portugal to one-all draw in Houston.
And Colombia has beaten Uzbekistan, three goals to one, in Mexico City.
All 48 teams at the tournament have now played at least one game.
