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  • ✇The Guardian World news
  • Gina Rinehart calls for immigrants’ social media to be screened in Anzac memorial speech Luca Ittimani
    Mining magnate also claims children are being taught to be ashamed of the Australian flag in a speech to 4,000 people on the Sydney Opera House stepsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralia’s richest person, Gina Rinehart, called for immigrants’ social media to be screened and said children are being taught to be ashamed of the Australian flag in untelevised remarks before an Anzac memorial service on the steps of
     

Gina Rinehart calls for immigrants’ social media to be screened in Anzac memorial speech

27 April 2026 at 05:09

Mining magnate also claims children are being taught to be ashamed of the Australian flag in a speech to 4,000 people on the Sydney Opera House steps

Australia’s richest person, Gina Rinehart, called for immigrants’ social media to be screened and said children are being taught to be ashamed of the Australian flag in untelevised remarks before an Anzac memorial service on the steps of Sydney Opera House on Friday.

Rinehart’s public appearance was attended by about 4,000 people and sponsored by her company, Hancock Prospecting, and RSL New South Wales.

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© Photograph: Hollie Adams/Reuters

© Photograph: Hollie Adams/Reuters

© Photograph: Hollie Adams/Reuters

Australia news live: Canavan says ‘too much talk of diversity’ in address to Canberra anti-immigration rally – as it happened

26 April 2026 at 06:40

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The health and NDIS minister, Mark Butler, says Queensland will be “answerable to their community” if they don’t sign on to NDIS reforms, with billions of dollars of hospital funding on the line.

Every state and territory except for the sunshine state has signed a bilateral agreement with the government for the Thriving Kids program, which is designed to take children under nine with developmental delays or low to moderate autism off the NDIS.

Now every state and territory has signed a bilateral agreement with us that details the broad details of the Thriving Kids program … The only state that hasn’t signed yet is Queensland.

I tried to make clear again last week that is part of the deal that sees them get additional hospital funding and, frankly, they are answerable to their community if they don’t put the additional supports.

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© Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

© Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

© Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

  • ✇The Guardian World news
  • PM speaks to Vietnamese president on supply chains – as it happened Luca Ittimani and Nick Visser
    This blog is now closedGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAllegra Spender says 25% gas export tax would help fix ‘faulty’ systemIndependent MP Allegra Spender said a 25% tax on gas exports would help rectify what she sees as “faulty” taxation arrangements that have seen an Australian resource sent overseas with minimal benefit to the country.The gas industry is a very profitable industry and pays income tax. And every company in Australia, frankly, should pay income tax o
     

PM speaks to Vietnamese president on supply chains – as it happened

24 April 2026 at 07:31

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Allegra Spender says 25% gas export tax would help fix ‘faulty’ system

Independent MP Allegra Spender said a 25% tax on gas exports would help rectify what she sees as “faulty” taxation arrangements that have seen an Australian resource sent overseas with minimal benefit to the country.

The gas industry is a very profitable industry and pays income tax. And every company in Australia, frankly, should pay income tax on its profits and should pay the proper rate. But the gas companies are different because they also sell an Australian resource which they extract, which we can’t get back once it is sold.

I think Australians rightly believe they should share more of that revenue.

We’re back here again and they should fix it.

We are lucky to be an energy exporter at a time where the world needs energy. We are a great partner in this. But it is a reasonable thing for Australians to get a fair return on that. And, at the moment, we just aren’t.

We can’t and I think we need to be really honest about that. If there’s going to be changes to the NDIS – and I’m not a state leader who’s knocking the federal government’s right and probably responsibility to reform the NDIS, it’s cost too much money – but we have to be really frank with people.

We can’t offer at the state level the kinds of services that are being rolled out at the NDIS.

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© Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

© Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

© Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

Rinehart’s $200m donation to convert homes for veterans welcomed by RSL – as it happened

23 April 2026 at 08:02

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James Valentine’s family has released a statement after his death. Here’s what they had to say:

James passed peacefully at home surrounded by his family, who adored him.

Throughout his illness, James did it his way, which lasted all the way until the end when he made the choice to do Voluntary Assisted Dying.

Both he and his family are grateful he was given the option to go out on his own terms. He was calm, dignified as always and somehow still making us laugh.

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© Photograph: Hollie Adams/Reuters

© Photograph: Hollie Adams/Reuters

© Photograph: Hollie Adams/Reuters

Coles adds 20c to the price of milk as war in the Middle East pushes up Australian grocery costs

22 April 2026 at 07:56

Farmers have been calling for higher prices for weeks, amid soaring diesel and fertiliser costs and limited supply

Coles has increased home-brand milk prices by up to 20c a litre, with Woolworths set to follow as war in the Middle East starts to hit Australian grocery costs.

The price rise will support the company’s bottom line against pressure from higher fuel and operating costs, while some of the revenue will be temporarily passed on to dairy farmers.

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© Photograph: SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images

© Photograph: SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images

© Photograph: SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images

  • ✇The Guardian World news
  • Gas lobby spends millions on anti-tax ads – as it happened Luca Ittimani and Nick Visser (earlier)
    This blog is now closedGas companies spending millions on Australian advertising blitz to fight export tax, inquiry toldGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFarmers promised more fertiliser importsAustralian farmers are being promised more fertiliser imports under a deal struck between the federal government and two major companies, aimed at securing supplies in response to a global bottleneck, AAP reports.We’ve always said through this generational reform process that we’d
     

Gas lobby spends millions on anti-tax ads – as it happened

22 April 2026 at 08:04

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Farmers promised more fertiliser imports

Australian farmers are being promised more fertiliser imports under a deal struck between the federal government and two major companies, aimed at securing supplies in response to a global bottleneck, AAP reports.

We’ve always said through this generational reform process that we’d listen to older people and we’d respond to their experiences. … What they’ve made clear is that they want showering and dressing.

We’ve got a $40bn aged care system … and it needs to be sustainable for generations to come. And that’s what this reform process has been about. … We can’t be in a situation where we’re making a promise to the people of Australia about the dignity that they’ll receive through the aged care system if we can’t deliver on it and we can’t keep it sustainable.

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© Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

© Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

© Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

Uber driver Michael was assaulted by passengers. He says the platform’s response added insult to injury

21 April 2026 at 15:00

Drivers booted off the platform say they have little recourse to appeal as rideshare giant increasingly relies on automated systems

Michael Thorn thought he’d suffered enough after his Uber passenger punched him in the head, sending him to hospital. But then the rideshare platform deactivated his account.

“It’s even worse than getting belted,” Thorn said.

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© Photograph: Michael Thorn

© Photograph: Michael Thorn

© Photograph: Michael Thorn

Australia news live: Angus Taylor says 25% gas levy would shut down industry; petrol stations fined over $128,000 for breaching Victoria’s fuel price plan

Follow today’s news live

NSW commission proposes heat-safe rentals to help tackle extreme temperature

Heat-safe rentals and tougher workplace safety rules for outdoor workers on scorching hot days have been proposed by a state climate policy advisory body, AAP reports.

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© Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

© Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

© Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

Trucking industry celebrates Fair Work fuel payment win – as it happened

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Treasurer says capital gains changes and other tax reform still under consideration

Sticking with the budget, Chalmers said the government hasn’t made any decisions on capital gains tax reform.

We haven’t taken any decisions on those policies, whether the specific ones you mentioned [or others].

There’s more work to do on our options for tax reform in this budget.

The savings package won’t be exactly the same as what we would have been contemplating over the summer, but it will be a substantial savings package.

When we came to office the NDIS was out of control and it had strayed a long way from its original intended purpose.

It was growing around 22% when we got to office.

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© Photograph: George Chan/AAP

© Photograph: George Chan/AAP

© Photograph: George Chan/AAP

Fuel prices fall despite Geelong refinery blaze as Albanese says facility production has slipped by 40%

17 April 2026 at 07:43

Prime minister says Corio refinery fire will not push Australia into stage 3 restrictions, despite reduced production of petrol, diesel and aviation fuel

Anthony Albanese says petrol production has fallen 40% at one of Australia’s two remaining oil refineries but the damage caused by fire at the Geelong facility will not lead to fuel restrictions.

Petrol prices have fallen below $2.10 a litre and diesel below $3 a litre in most cities, as a price spike predicted to follow the refinery shutdown failed to materialise on Friday.

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© Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: William West/AFP/Getty Images

Albanese cuts fuel diplomacy mission short to rush to Geelong as Bowen calls oil refinery fire ‘a setback’

16 April 2026 at 09:14

Some petrol stations may see short-term outages and energy experts warn Victorian fuel prices could spike up to 20 cents a litre

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, will fly home early from his fuel diplomacy mission in south-east Asia, travelling overnight to Victoria after a huge blaze at one of Australia’s two oil refineries.

Albanese was set to leave Malaysia early on Thursday night and was expected to visit Viva Energy’s Geelong refinery on Friday morning, when he will receive a briefing on the damage.

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© Photograph: Jay Kogler/AAP

© Photograph: Jay Kogler/AAP

© Photograph: Jay Kogler/AAP

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