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TRANSCRIPT:
U-S Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the U-S operation in Iran is well ahead of schedule.
In an interview with ABC America, he has said that they will achieve their objectives in what he describes as "a matter of weeks, not months".
He says Donald Trump has several options at his disposal, and the Department of War is preparing for various other contingencies that might arise.
"The Iranians are threatening that they're going to set up some permanent system in the Strait of Hormuz where they get to decide who goes through international waterways. That will never be allowed to happen. By the way, the rest of the world should take note of that. They have more at stake there than we do.”
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More planes carrying Australians from the Middle East have arrived in Australia this morning.
More than 10,000 people have been brought home from the region since the US and Israel went to war with Iran.
But the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says future flights are not guaranteed and can be disrupted by the conflict at any time.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has also called for a de-escalation a month after the first strikes on Iran.
"We want to see return to negotiations and deescalation. This conflict is having an enormous effect on global energy markets and on the global economy. And of course, on the Australian economy."
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Attention is turning to those who may have assisted Dezi Freeman during his time on the run, before he was shot dead by police on Monday.
Police Commissioner Mike Bush says it was likely the accused killer of two police officers had help in remaining in hiding for seven months, ahead of the confrontation at a rural property at Thologolong, near Walwa, on the Victorian-New South Wales border.
He says police plan to speak with anyone suspected of assisting Mr Freeman in avoiding arrest.
Victoria Police Association secretary Wayne Gatt has issued a similar warning.
"Anybody that's helped this person over that point of time should be worried. They should be concerned. They should know that the dogged determination that led to today's events will persist. Our members will chase every rabbit down every burrow to make sure that anybody that supported criminal activity of this nature is brought to justice."
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Critics say police discretion is undermining a drug diversion initiative in New South Wales.
Crime statistics analysis from New South Wales shows just nine per cent of nearly 12,000 relevant drug events between February 2024 and March 2025 resulted in a person being diverted from court.
The data also shows 10 out of every 11 eligible Aboriginal people were sent to court instead of getting a criminal infringement notice (CIN), compared to two out of every three non-Indigenous people.
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Five social media platforms are under investigation for potentially breaching Australia's world-first social media age limit.
Communications Minister Anika Wells has said in a statement that Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube may have allowed children under 16 to access their apps after the age restrictions took effect in December.
The eSafety Commission says in its first compliance report since the ban kicked in that some children were allowed to create new accounts straight after their previous one was deactivated.
eSafety Commissioner Julie Imnan Grant says the agency won't allow this to continue.
"I want to reassure you: if a platform has not taken the reasonable steps they need to comply, we will take action. That's our role and we're committed to it."
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France is considering following Australia's world-first ban on under 16 year-olds holding their own social media accounts.
Politician Laure Miller has written a social media bill to be considered by the French Parliament.
She says there is evidence French children are accessing social media at younger ages than ever before.
"It's clear that this has a significant impact on their development, both personally and cognitively, as well as on their understanding of the world and their perspective on it."
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A funeral service is underway for Rhoda Roberts at St Carthage's Cathedral in Lismore, on Bundjalung country in northern New South Wales.
Her family wanted her farewell to be accessible to the many communities and people she connected with throughout her life, and the service is bring broadcast live by NITV on TV and social media.
Later tonight, NITV will begin a seven-day tribute under the title 'Rhoda Roberts AO: A Lasting Legacy', a collection that will include her role as SBS's inaugural Elder in Residence.
