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Australia news live: Bondi royal commission says counter-terror capability ‘could be improved’ and urges action on gun buyback

30 April 2026 at 00:32

Meanwhile Penny Wong says China has agreed to facilitate exports of jet fuel to ease supply disruptions. Follow today’s news live

Chalmers understands calls for gas export tax, but says government focused on getting fuel for Australians

Chalmers said he understands calls to tax gas exports, but maintained the government was set on securing international supply arrangements during the ongoing fuel crisis. He told ABC News:

I understand that there is a constituency in the Australian community to go further … But there are also, as the prime minister said, really good reasons to prioritise these international supply arrangements particularly during this oil shock.

All of us have been prioritising getting fuel for Australia and for Australians to keep the economy ticking over and that’s why there are good reasons for the comments that the prime minister made yesterday.

We’ve been very upfront with people and said when we think about the intergenerational unfairness in the budget, in our economy, in our society more broadly, a couple of the drivers of that are in housing, are in the tax system.

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© Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

© Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

© Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

Beau Lamarre-Condon’s mother charged after allegedly attempting to influence key witness in double murder trial

29 April 2026 at 06:43

Coleen Lamarre, 63, charged with perverting the course of justice in relation to trial over alleged murders of Luke Davies and Jesse Baird

The mother of a former police officer who allegedly murdered Luke Davies and Jesse Baird two years ago has been charged after allegedly attempting to influence a key witness to change their evidence in her son’s trial.

New South Wales police said Coleen Lamarre, 63, was arrested in Balmain and charged with perverting the course of justice, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years.

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© Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP

© Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP

© Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP

Rebel Wilson rejects ‘absolutely outrageous’ phone-dumping accusation as defamation trial continues

29 April 2026 at 03:55

The Pitch Perfect actor is being sued by Charlotte MacInnes, the lead actor of Wilson’s directorial debut, The Deb

Hollywood star Rebel Wilson has rejected an “absolutely outrageous” accusation that she dumped her phone to avoid handing over key communications in a defamation case.

The Pitch Perfect star is being sued by Charlotte MacInnes, the 27-year-old lead actor of the musical comedy The Deb.

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© Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP

© Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP

© Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP

Northern Beaches hospital handed to NSW government, ending troubled public-private partnership

28 April 2026 at 14:01

Transition and legal handover of hospital from private operator Healthscope to NSW Health occurs at 7am on Wednesday

Sydney’s Northern Beaches hospital is officially entering the public system, ending a troubled eight-year public-private partnership, although uncertainty about the future of private services remains.

The transition and legal handover of the hospital from private operator Healthscope to New South Wales Health will occur at 7am on Wednesday. The New South Wales health minister, Ryan Park, said it was a “historic day”.

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© Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

© Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

© Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

Australia’s south-east set for drier and hotter winter as BoM forecasts potential El Niño

27 April 2026 at 06:26

Queensland and NSW set for lower than usual rainfall in May, June and July, while temperatures in most of the country likely to be higher than normal

Large parts of south-east Australia look set for drier and hotter conditions over the next three months as a potential El Niño weather phenomenon takes shape in the Pacific Ocean.

Much of Queensland and New South Wales are forecast to have lower than usual rainfall in May, June and July, with almost the entire country likely to experience hotter than average maximum temperatures.

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© Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

© Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

© Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

  • ✇The Guardian World news
  • Two bodies found after fire tears through home in Blue Mountains foothills Australian Associated Press
    NSW police say human remains found and four people taken to hospital after overnight fire in Bowen Mountain houseFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastTwo bodies have been found following an early morning house fire that caused four others to be taken to hospital.New South Wales police said remains were found when the house was able to be searched on Monday morning, after firefighters extinguished the blaze. Continue read
     

Two bodies found after fire tears through home in Blue Mountains foothills

27 April 2026 at 00:32

NSW police say human remains found and four people taken to hospital after overnight fire in Bowen Mountain house

Two bodies have been found following an early morning house fire that caused four others to be taken to hospital.

New South Wales police said remains were found when the house was able to be searched on Monday morning, after firefighters extinguished the blaze.

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© Photograph: Con Chronis/AAP

© Photograph: Con Chronis/AAP

© Photograph: Con Chronis/AAP

‘This has to be a wake-up call’: NSW attorney general urged to order inquest into death of Sydney’s ‘birdman’

26 April 2026 at 15:00

Alex Greenwich says inquest crucial to understand which failures led to Bikram Lama’s death and to avoid similar deaths

The New South Wales attorney general, Michael Daley, has been urged to order an inquest into the death of Nepali rough sleeper Bikram Lama in Hyde Park.

The death of Lama – who was also known as “the birdman” for his love of the area’s pigeons – has prompted widespread calls for change, after Guardian Australia revealed last week that the young migrant’s body lay unnoticed for up to a week in bushes near a busy thoroughfare into St James station.

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© Photograph: Supplied by family

© Photograph: Supplied by family

© Photograph: Supplied by family

Patient allegedly attacks several nurses, police and member of the public at Sydney hospital

26 April 2026 at 07:09

Calls for more security measures after man, 51, arrested over alleged assaults at Prince of Wales hospital

A hospital attack that left a nurse seriously injured has fuelled calls for improved safety and security after several violent incidents in emergency departments.

Police restrained a 51-year-old patient after he allegedly assaulted several nurses, police and a member of the public in a Saturday night melee at Sydney’s Prince of Wales hospital.

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© Photograph: Ronnie Amini/AAP

© Photograph: Ronnie Amini/AAP

© Photograph: Ronnie Amini/AAP

  • ✇The Guardian World news
  • Private secretary of billionaire Judith Neilson refused bail on $1m fraud charges Penry Buckley
    Annalouise Spence allegedly used credit card to make ‘unauthorised purchases of luxury and personal items, including clothing, artwork and jewellery’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe former private secretary of billionaire philanthropist Judith Neilson has been charged with dozens of counts of fraud after she allegedly used a business credit card to make more than $1m worth of purchases, including luxury clothing,
     

Private secretary of billionaire Judith Neilson refused bail on $1m fraud charges

23 April 2026 at 07:04

Annalouise Spence allegedly used credit card to make ‘unauthorised purchases of luxury and personal items, including clothing, artwork and jewellery’

The former private secretary of billionaire philanthropist Judith Neilson has been charged with dozens of counts of fraud after she allegedly used a business credit card to make more than $1m worth of purchases, including luxury clothing, artwork and jewellery.

Annalouise Spence, 50, was refused bail at a local court hearing on Thursday after being charged with 68 counts of dishonestly obtaining property by deception.

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© Photograph: Scott Barbour/Getty Images for the NGV

© Photograph: Scott Barbour/Getty Images for the NGV

© Photograph: Scott Barbour/Getty Images for the NGV

  • ✇The Guardian World news
  • Mysterious death of Jackson Stacker near Byron Bay referred to homicide squad Susan Chenery
    Melbourne man stabbed twice in chest, with remains found in field near his campervan in 2021. Family argue police prematurely assumed he killed himselfFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe New South Wales coroner has recommended the mysterious death of Jackson Stacker near Byron Bay be investigated by the homicide squad, with Teresa O’Sullivan finding “some aspects of the early [police] investigation raised concerns”.
     

Mysterious death of Jackson Stacker near Byron Bay referred to homicide squad

23 April 2026 at 06:19

Melbourne man stabbed twice in chest, with remains found in field near his campervan in 2021. Family argue police prematurely assumed he killed himself

The New South Wales coroner has recommended the mysterious death of Jackson Stacker near Byron Bay be investigated by the homicide squad, with Teresa O’Sullivan finding “some aspects of the early [police] investigation raised concerns”.

Stacker had been travelling from Melbourne to Queensland in his Toyota Hiace van in 2021 when the borders closed due to Covid.

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© Photograph: Facebook

© Photograph: Facebook

© Photograph: Facebook

  • ✇The Guardian World news
  • James Valentine, much-loved ABC radio presenter, dies aged 64 Amanda Meade
    Family reveal Valentine, who retired in February for treatment for a recurring cancer, used voluntary assisted dyingJames Valentine – obituaryFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastBroadcaster and saxophonist James Valentine has died three months after retiring from ABC radio, after 25 years of hosting Sydney’s Afternoons program.Valentine, 64, had been a fixture on the public broadcaster since he joined as host of the Aft
     

James Valentine, much-loved ABC radio presenter, dies aged 64

22 April 2026 at 23:16

Family reveal Valentine, who retired in February for treatment for a recurring cancer, used voluntary assisted dying

Broadcaster and saxophonist James Valentine has died three months after retiring from ABC radio, after 25 years of hosting Sydney’s Afternoons program.

Valentine, 64, had been a fixture on the public broadcaster since he joined as host of the Afternoon Show for kids on ABC TV in 1987 after a decade of playing in bands including the Models.

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© Photograph: ABC

© Photograph: ABC

© Photograph: ABC

  • ✇The Guardian World news
  • Podcast interviews of NSW couple jailed for abusing their daughter in the spotlight Amanda Meade
    Exclusive: Corrective Services investigates how Richard Guilliatt of The Australian was able to interview Rob and Karen Gilfillan for Shadow of DoubtFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastCorrective Services New South Wales is investigating how a journalist from The Australian was able to interview a man and a woman convicted of abusing their daughter for a podcast that raised questions about their guilt.After legal restri
     

Podcast interviews of NSW couple jailed for abusing their daughter in the spotlight

22 April 2026 at 15:00

Exclusive: Corrective Services investigates how Richard Guilliatt of The Australian was able to interview Rob and Karen Gilfillan for Shadow of Doubt

Corrective Services New South Wales is investigating how a journalist from The Australian was able to interview a man and a woman convicted of abusing their daughter for a podcast that raised questions about their guilt.

After legal restrictions were lifted last month, the victim said the podcast had been highly detrimental to her mental health.

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© Illustration: The Australian

© Illustration: The Australian

© Illustration: The Australian

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