In this bulletin, fresh sexual assault claims from Gaza flotilla activists, ASIO defends its resourcing before the Bondi attack. And in football, Martin Boyle boosted by good club form, as he seeks his first Socceroos World Cup squad.
Key Points
- Australian activists claim they were assaulted in Israeli detention
- Australia’s security agency says it was sufficiently resourced before Bondi attack
- Socceroos attacker gives insight into preparation for 2026 FIFA World Cup
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TRANSCRIPT
Australians who were detained by Israel after attempting to deliver aid to Gaza aboard a flotilla, have issued fresh allegations of abuse.
One activist claims they were sexually assaulted and beaten while being held on a prison ship after Israeli forces intercepted the vessel.
"I was dragged in to a darkened container ship on a prison boat, I was sexually assaulted, I was beaten and that was just the beginning of 4 days of absolute hell."
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has also criticised comments by an Israeli minister, who was filmed taunting detained flotilla activists.
"I think that people will have a look at the way that people were treated isn't consistent with how we want Australians, well I'll go further than that, how we want anyone treated. People are deserving of a level of respect and decency, and that minister's rhetoric is not consistent with what I would expect'
Israel’s prison service has denied allegations of abuse.
SBS has asked the Israeli embassy in Canberra for a response to the allegations.
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ASIO director-general Mike Burgess has told the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion the security organisation's resourcing was sufficient at the time of the Bondi terror attack.
The Commission has opened its second block of hearings, focusing on the security and threat environment in the lead-up to the attack last December, which left 15 people dead.
Mr Burgess told the Commission that, in retrospect, he still thinks the organisation's funding was adequate to respond the problems and threats that were faced at the time.
"It's my day job to look at that, and if I think I need more resources, I put my argument to the government through the standard budget process. In this case, I'm very clear that we knew we were busy, and we had a lot on our plate, but again I fall back on at no time did we have serious matters that we knew about that we were leaving untreated, because that is the important measure for me in terms of the effectiveness of the security service."
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NSW Police have announced a $1 million reward for information over the unsolved murders of two women found bludgeoned to death in a Newcastle home 26 years ago.
Susan Kay and Joanne Teterin, aged 32 and 37, were last seen alive on May 11, 2000, and discovered a week later at a Carrington property.
Police believe the killings were drug-related after finding illicit substances were being sold from Ms Teterin's home.
But no one has ever been charged.
If you or someone you know is impacted by family and domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732, or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
The Men’s Referral Service, operated by No to Violence, can be contacted on 1300 766 491.
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Three people have died in a building collapse in the Philippines, after the structure came down earlier today.
Authorities say 17 people are still missing, while 26 others have been rescued from the site in Angeles City, north of Manila.
Rescuers say thermal scans have detected signs of life, as crews use sniffer dogs, heartbeat detectors and heavy equipment to search through concrete and twisted steel.
Investigators are examining possible building violations, after officials said the site was approved as a nine-storey condo-hotel, but a swimming pool was being built on the tenth floor.
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The federal government says Australia has almost a week's more petrol and diesel in reserve now than it did at the start of the Iran conflict.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed Australia's fuel supply remains secure well into July, after meeting with state and territory leaders on the ongoing fuel crisis.
He says there is 43 days of petrol in national reserves, five days more than the stockpile at the start of the war.
There are 38 days of diesel in reserve, which is six more than at the start of the war, and 31 days of jet fuel - an increase of two days.
Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, says 48 ships are also on their way to Australia.
3.4 billion litres are contracted to be delivered over the next four weeks.
"These are good figures, and of course as the PM said, there remains considerable uncertainty around the world, and it's something that I discussed with my international colleagues last week, there remains strong concern by the world's energy ministers about the supply chain, Australia is very well placed."
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Socceroos attacker Matin Boyle says his late-season club form will help him heading into the World Cup.
Boyle, who plays for Scottish side Hibernian, recently scored goals in big games against Hearts and Rangers and set one up against Falkirk.
He says the key for him is now hard work in the heat at the Socceroos' pre-tournament training camp in Florida.
"Yeah, it was a bit of a whirlwind season, but thankfully, I managed to hit some form, get some goals and assists near the end of the end season, giving that confidence coming into camp, which I definitely needed. And, like you say, I will do what I always do. I'll keep my head down and work hard."
Boyle is looking to make his first-ever Socceroos World Cup squad.
He was picked for the last World Cup four years ago but had to withdraw because of a knee injury just before the tournament started.
