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The leader of the Opposition says the Prime Minister is out of his depth in deciding that Australia will recognise a Palestinian state.
Sussan Ley has told 2GB Radio that the Coalition's position is recognition should come at the end of a peace process with Israel.
She says that's in part because of the potential damage it could do to Australia's relationship with the US.
"It dismisses that relationship in an appalling way, our friends, our allies. And most importantly it is disrespectful of the relationship with the U-S. Because any peace that happens in this region will be brokered by the U.S. And the prospects of a ceasefire are not good with this decision. The prospects take a step backwards."
But Foreign Minister Penny Wong says the Australian government has made a considered decision that now is the best time for Australia to contribute to the momentum for a two-state solution.
She has told Sky News that recognition could also be used to isolate Hamas, who the Minister says should have no role in governing Gaza.
"Success is not guaranteed, but success never comes from just doing the same thing over and over again and hoping for a different outcome. And that's the judgement countries of the world, including Australia, are making."
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Sudan's top diplomat to Australia is calling on the Albanese government for more assistance for the country.
The Sudanese Chargé d'Affaires in Canberra, Ahmed Abdelatif, has confirmed a list of humanitarian needs has been submitted to the Australian government.
It comes amid what has been described by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees as the worst famine and displacement crisis in the world.
Abdel Latif has told SBS Arabic the suffering of residents is acute.
"Our contacts are ongoing with the Australian government, and we are providing updates on developments in Sudan and providing them with lists of needs. As far as I know, the Australian government is currently considering providing a new aid package to our affected people in El Fasher in particular and in Sudan in general."
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A gun has been fired at Australia's busiest airport during the arrest of a man at one of its terminals.
Australian Federal Police say the police gun was fired before the man was apprehended this morning at Sydney Airport.
The AFP says no-one has been injured, and there are no ongoing threats to the public.
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The number of people dying from drug overdoses in Victoria has reached its highest number in a decade.
A report from the State Coroner has shown there were 584 fatal drug overdoses recorded in 2024, with a significant proportion involving illegal drugs like heroin, methamphetamine, and MDMA.
Monash Addiction Research Centre associate professor Shalini Arunogiri says deaths can be prevented with drug checking and early-risk detection alongside rapid-access opioid treatment, but that timely access to proven medical responses are still lacking.
Premier Jacinta Allan says the government is well aware of the crisis and is doing its best to confront it.
"The work that Minister (Ingrid) Stitt has been leading through our statewide drug action plan is so important. We understand the need to expand drug services across the state, because this is often seen in the context of the inner city. This is a statewide challenge. I know it from my own community."
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The White House has played down expectations for an upcoming summit on Ukraine between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt says it will be a listening exercise for the US President, who says he will know quickly if the Russian President is willing to seek a peace deal.
Mr Trump says the two sides will both need to cede land to end the bloody three and a half-year-old conflict.
But Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelenskyy says his country will not do that.
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Experts say it could take up to 15 years for coral reefs off Western Australia to fully recover from the worst bleaching event on record for the region.
The Australian Institute of Marine Science has confirmed coral mortality rates of up to 90 per cent along 1500km of the western coastline.
The institute's James Gilmour says climate change is driving the increased frequency and severity of mass coral bleaching events.
He says that means they don't have the time needed to bounce back in between.
"Corals that have bleached, if the stress is reduced they can recover. Of course if it's very high heat stress and it goes for a long time they don't.
