The environment watchdog has warned that Woodside Energy's plan to develop a gasfield off Western Australia's coast could damage coral reefs and wildlife. Former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern will lecture at the University of Sydney from this week. The Australian Signals Directorate has warned that some online services may go offline unexpectedly. Other stories include a Queensland funding cut to a community legal centre, a body found in floodwaters and Brazil's presidential election result.
New data shows almost two-thirds of Australians are now bulk-billed for all their GP care, after government financial incentives for doctors and practices. The WA government is seeking its money back from consultancy Deloitte after a report was found to contain errors, including AI-generated references and cost discrepancies. The Quilpie council is giving away 62 residential lots and a $20,000 grant to encourage home building. Former Neighbours star Donna Freedman's character features in an AI-recut microdrama designed for phones, which has sparked debate.
Female MPs say they are on high alert after the alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines, five weeks before the Victorian election. International students say they fear disruption after sudden changes to student visa rules. The cost of Snowy Hydro 2.0 has risen to as much as $25bn, with completion now expected at the end of the decade. Russia carried out a major attack on Kyiv hours after Vladimir Putin said he had agreed to resume negotiations.
AU Now app
Your suburb’s news, alerts and Shorts — in one app
Alerts, Shorts and your saved stories — free on Google Play.
Security agencies will review safety precautions for MPs' homes and offices after numerous federal politicians reported growing worries about threats. The review follows an alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines, who has lost both legs but remains in stable condition in hospital, her husband has said. Separately, Vladimir Putin ordered the release of an American from a Russian jail while meeting US envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg for talks on ending the war in Ukraine. Former child detainees have also described abuse they allege they suffered within the youth detention system.
Independent MP Helen Haines has been critically injured in an alleged attack involving a vehicle outside her electorate office in Wangaratta, regional Victoria. Tributes have come from across the political spectrum, with the prime minister calling her loved and admired. A 43-year-old local man is in custody, and police and counter-terror officers are investigating. Elsewhere, cooler weather in Queensland has left supermarkets with sparse banana displays, and a thinktank has warned that employers are increasingly using AI-assisted surveillance to monitor staff.
Ten South Australian restaurants have each been awarded a Michelin star, and the Magill Estate Restaurant at the Penfolds winery has won two. Police allege a tobacconist next to a North Carlton cafe was firebombed amid an ongoing gangland war in Melbourne's tobacco trade. A court has heard Russell Brand was a calculated sexual predator who used his celebrity to rape and assault women. Western Sydney International airport opens to commercial traffic next month.
The AFL has told its official gambling partner, Sportsbet, to stop using AI-generated images and memes of its players without their consent. Small business minister Anne Aly says she received 19 death threats in the past week alone, and condemned comments in parliament calling for her to be stoned. Elon Musk has donated about US$366m to political groups and campaigns in the 2026 US midterm election cycle. Josh Hazlewood took 6 for 49 as Australia beat South Africa by 214 runs in the first Test in Durban.
Concerns are growing for an Australian democracy campaigner detained in Vietnam. His wife says he has become uncontactable and believes he spent his 51st birthday alone in a detention centre in Ho Chi Minh City. Online property platforms are charging renters new fees to avoid card processing costs after the ban on surcharges. Australia is closer to victory in the first Test against South Africa in Durban.
Lobbying and political donations from companies behind rapid datacentre development in Australia are under scrutiny, amid concerns about tech firms' access to decision-makers. Court documents show The Australian's podcast Shadow of Doubt led to a 10-month delay in the sex offence trial of a man already serving a 48-year jail term. Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Donald Trump's partial ceasefire announcement in the Russia-Ukraine war was news to him. The newsletter also features the Dolly Parton festival in rural New South Wales.
