The defence minister, Richard Marles<\/a>, welcomed the new proposal<\/a> alongside his US and UK counterparts yesterday.<\/p>\n Australia had been expecting to receive a mix of old and new Virginia-class submarines for its own use in the early 2030s as it prepares to adopt nuclear-powered submarines.<\/p>\n Marles announced the plan had changed in a joint statement on Saturday. It read:<\/p>\n double quotation markThe Deputy Prime Minister and Secretaries welcomed the proposed approach to streamline Australia\u2019s acquisition of Virginia-class submarines (VCS), simplifying supply chain management, operational and maintenance requirements, and maximising cost efficiencies.<\/p>\n This approach would enable Australia to acquire three in-service VCS in lieu of a mixture of new and in-service VCS variants.<\/p>\n US shipyards have been under pressure as they struggle to boost manufacturing to their goal of building an average of 2.3 new submarines a year by 2032.<\/p>\n You can read more about Marles\u2019 speech here:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.04 EDT<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n Israel rejected flotilla allegations now subject to International Criminal Court submission<\/p>\n For context on that Global Sumud flotilla submission to the International Criminal Court: Israel\u2019s ambassador to Australia said Hillel Newman told the ABC\u2019s 7:30 the flotilla participants were treated with \u201cgreat sensitivity\u201d and that \u201cno-one was hurt\u201d. He rejected allegations of sexualised mistreatment and said claims of violence were \u201cnot true\u201d.<\/p>\n The Israeli Prison Service has said allegations of violence against flotilla participants were \u201cfalse and entirely without factual basis\u201d.<\/p>\n Israel\u2019s treatment of the humanitarian sailors onboard the flotilla attracted international condemnation when the country\u2019s national security minister posted a video online showing him taunting and humiliating flotilla participants while they were zip-tied, and forced to kneel in stress positions, with the Israeli national anthem blared over loudspeakers.<\/p>\n Itamar Ben-Gvir, the leader of the far-right, racist Otzma Yehudit party, mocked the bound human rights defenders, waving an Israeli flag and shouting \u201cwelcome to Israel, we are the landlords\u201d.<\/p>\n As those detained scream in pain, Ben-Gvir yells: \u201cgive them to us for the terrorists\u2019 prisons\u201d.<\/p>\n Newman said Ben-Gvir\u2019s humiliation of the human rights defenders had been \u201ccondemned by the government of Israel entirely\u201d.<\/p>\n double quotation markIt\u2019s not acceptable, it\u2019s disgraceful \u2026 it does not reflect our values \u2026 and therefore is condemned and declared disgraceful and harmful to the state.<\/p>\n The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israel\u2019s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the former defence minister Yoav Gallant in 2024 for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.<\/p>\n The warrants allege the two leaders used starvation as a method of warfare, as well as intentionally directing attacks against civilians, murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts.<\/p>\n Share<\/a> Gaza flotilla activists submit torture allegations to International Criminal Court<\/p>\n Australians who sailed on the Global Sumud Flotilla to bring aid to Gaza have joined an official submission to the International Criminal Court (ICC) detailing allegations of torture, sexual violence, beatings and other serious abuses during their detention by Israeli forces.<\/p>\n The submission included testimonies from flotilla participants, medical examination documents, and legal affidavits, gathered after the flotilla was intercepted and participants detained.<\/p>\n The Global Samud Flotilla sailed from ports in the Mediterranean attempting to deliver food, medicine and baby formula to Gaza, where hunger is widespread, and the medical system has been devastated by years of war. Those onboard the flotilla were civilians and unarmed.<\/p>\n Australian lawyer Bernadette Zaydan is a member of the legal team putting evidence before the court in the Hague.<\/p>\n The submission to the ICC alleges war crimes, crimes against humanity, torture and other serious violations of international law arising from the interception and detention of flotilla participants during the Spring 2026 missions.<\/p>\n But Palestinian-Australian Subhi Awad, spokesperson for the flotilla delegation, said the accounts of survivors defied the official narrative.<\/p>\n double quotation markOur people were beaten. Our people were tortured. Our people suffered sexual violence. An Australian humanitarian was injected with an unknown substance.<\/p>\n Who do Australians believe \u2014 Israeli officials, or Australian survivors? Who do Australians believe \u2014 the perpetrators, or the evidence?<\/p>\n Awad said the flotilla participants were being gaslit by accounts from the Israeli government.<\/p>\n double quotation markTelling Australians they were treated with \u2018great sensitivity\u2019 is an insult to every survivor and every Australian watching.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a> Rinehart \u2018very disgruntled\u2019 with the Liberals, Hanson says<\/p>\n The One Nation leader, Pauline Hanson, has talked up the mining billionaire Gina Rinehart\u2019s influence in Australian politics<\/a>, and says she has become \u201cdisgruntled\u201d with the Liberal party.<\/p>\n Hanson said on Sky News this morning:<\/p>\n double quotation markGina Rinehart has been supportive of my policies. Why? Because she can see that this is going to drive change in this nation.<\/p>\n The Liberal party were lax. The Liberal party have become full of the moderates, who are, you know, this woke agenda \u2013 male, female rubbish that\u2019s been pushed on to us.<\/p>\n There\u2019s no productivity, you know the division that\u2019s happening.<\/p>\n Hanson says Rinehart is \u201ca great Australian\u201d.<\/p>\n double quotation markHer voice is no different to anyone here \u2026 Anyone else here that has an opinion, or the farmer, whoever they are \u2026 Her voice is no different to anyone else\u2019s.<\/p>\n Gina Rinehart. Photograph: Hollie Adams\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.42 EDT<\/p>\n House price downturn no problem for 5% deposit scheme buyers, O\u2019Neil says<\/p>\n The federal government says its 5% deposit scheme for first home buyers is \u201creally robust\u201d, as an expected house price slide raises the risk new homeowners could be left in negative equity.<\/p>\n Buyers who borrowed a bigger loan under the scheme may be left with a debt worth more than their home they bought it with, if prices slide, raising the risk of defaulting on their loan.<\/p>\n Labor\u2019s housing minister, Clare O\u2019Neil, said the 5% deposit scheme was holding up well, when asked on the ABC\u2019s Insiders whether she was worried.<\/p>\n double quotation markOur government is incredibly proud of this program. We have now got 260,000 Australians into their own home with the support and backing of an Albanese government that saw their aspiration and helped them realise it. I don\u2019t care what your politics is, this that is a massive number of people to have support.<\/p>\n \u2026 This is a really robust scheme. Defaults against this scheme are vanishingly small and, in fact, [the Commonwealth Bank] said pretty recently, the average 5% deposit holder is actually more ahead on their mortgage than the average mortgage holder in this country.<\/p>\n What does that tell us? It tells us that when ambitious young people who are trying to build wealth for themselves and their family get the opportunity of a government to back them in, they will do the right thing.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.21 EDT<\/p>\n Labor says tax changes not main driver of impending house price fall<\/p>\n Australian house prices are expected to slide, if only briefly, but the federal housing minister has avoided taking the blame (or the credit).<\/p>\n Clare O\u2019Neil has said interest rates are the main influence on the speed of price growth, when asked on Insiders about projections house prices could fall up to 10% from their peak before steadying and rising again. She said:<\/p>\n double quotation markThe tax changes we are making in the budget are not the main driver of that.<\/p>\n House prices in our country move. The biggest driver of them is what goes on with interest rates.<\/p>\n Treasury has modelled the impact of our tax changes on house prices. There is a mild affordability impact. For that, we get 75,000 rental households into their own home and a fairer market for housing in this country forever. So it\u2019s about a 2% slowing of growth that Treasury has predicted, and indeed it\u2019s not just Treasury.<\/p>\n If you look at the Grattan model they have built \u2013 they\u2019re very reliable voices on this \u2013 their estimates are the same, same with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia \u2026<\/p>\n Asked specifically if she thought housing prices would fall, O\u2019Neil said:<\/p>\n double quotation markI don\u2019t get into a speculation about what happens with property prices in this country.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.19 EDT<\/p>\n Extra negative gearing limits could hurt market and family budgets, Labor says<\/p>\n Clare O\u2019Neil has rejected calls from the Greens and others to put further limits on negative gearing access, saying the government should not interrupt \u201cimmediate arrangements\u201d.<\/p>\n The federal budget restricted negative gearing access for any new property investments in newly built properties, leaving it in place for existing landlords.<\/p>\n The Greens have said they will use a hurried Senate inquiry into Labor\u2019s tax reform proposals to advocate for limits on investor tax breaks to go further.<\/p>\n O\u2019Neil, the housing minister, has just told the ABC\u2019s Insiders:<\/p>\n double quotation markThere\u2019s people in the debate who want to see the government go further. I really understand that but I just think we need to step back.<\/p>\n Negative gearing is a very immediate impact on a household and family budget and it\u2019s not something that governments, when they\u2019re making tax changes, should do, to interrupt people\u2019s immediate arrangements.<\/p>\n But we also don\u2019t want to create significant disruptions in the housing market \u2026<\/p>\n The policy reason is that governments shouldn\u2019t make dramatic tax changes to systems and affect people\u2019s day-to-day management of their household budgets.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.03 EDT<\/p>\n Labor wants capital gains tax problems \u2018resolved speedily\u2019<\/p>\n Clare O\u2019Neil says the Albanese government wants to work quickly to iron out the issues in its plan to reform taxes on capital gains.<\/p>\n The Labor frontbencher has just told Insiders:<\/p>\n double quotation markWe need to land this. We\u2019ll do that in the appropriate time given the need \u2026 This is not a political timeline. It is a policy timeline \u2026 It\u2019s important this gets resolved speedily and that\u2019s what the government is working towards.<\/p>\n Earlier, O\u2019Neil said the changes would make Australia\u2019s tax settings more neutral across types of investment, while keeping concessions for small businesses to reduce the tax they pay on capital gains.<\/p>\n Businesses and investors have lashed out at the design, with startups especially worried they could lose almost all of their tax discount.<\/p>\n O\u2019Neil said some of the criticism was \u201ccompletely out of proportion\u201d but acknowledged there were design problems to resolve. She declined to discuss the fixes under consideration or detail a timeline for the government\u2019s consultation of businesses.<\/p>\n double quotation markI think there\u2019s a range of things that are on the table in those conversations and I won\u2019t speak about them in detail \u2026<\/p>\n The government wants to get the right outcome here and we are not going to be driven by the politics of the moment. It\u2019s really important we reach the right landing point for this and I think I have spoken in previous interviews this week about some of the issues we see.<\/p>\n For example, where businesses start with a cost base of zero, the new model of CGT calculation isn\u2019t perfect for that kind of model of the economics of a small business that starts with no cost base and grows really quickly.<\/p>\n Clare O\u2019Neil at the National Press Club in Canberra last week. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.59 EDT<\/p>\n Housing minister denies supply efforts will fall short<\/p>\n The Albanese government has rejected warnings it has overestimated the effect of its new infrastructure spending on housing supply.<\/p>\n Some industry groups have warned the government\u2019s $2bn spending on new infrastructure, announced in the budget, may not meaningfully increase the number of new homes completed each year.<\/p>\n The housing minister, Clare O\u2019Neil, has dismissed those claims, speaking on the ABC\u2019s Insiders. Asked to guarantee completion rates for housing would not fall under the weight of new taxes, O\u2019Neil said:<\/p>\n double quotation markThere\u2019s a lot that goes into completion rates. What I can tell you is that government policy is going to lift those numbers by 420,000, based off what they would otherwise be. That\u2019s what the Treasury modelling tells us.<\/p>\n The Treasury secretary, Jenny Wilkinson, separately this week said the budget\u2019s broader tax changes were focused on changing the distribution of housing, and less targeted at increasing housing supply.<\/p>\n O\u2019Neil did not directly answer when asked whether Wilkinson was correct.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.30 EDT<\/p>\n Hanson stands by no \u2018good Muslims\u2019 comments<\/p>\n Pauline Hanson has doubled down on her inflammatory comments about Islam, defending her plans to restrict migration and suggesting that there are no \u201cgood Muslims\u201d.<\/p>\n double quotation markWhen I look at countries like Britain or Canada or Germany or France, they got a hell of a problem over there, so I stick with what I said.<\/p>\n On banning migration from majority Islamic countries, the One Nation<\/a> leader says people with radical ideology are not compatible with Australia\u2019s way of life.<\/p>\n double quotation markSo, there\u2019s certain countries I probably would ban them coming into Australia.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.26 EDT<\/p>\n Australia to get no new, only old, Virginia-class submarines under Aukus<\/p>\n Australia will no longer receive any new Virginia-class submarines from the US, with all three of the Aukus<\/a> vessels to be second hand.<\/p>\n The defence minister, Richard Marles<\/a>, welcomed the new proposal<\/a> alongside his US and UK counterparts yesterday.<\/p>\n Australia had been expecting to receive a mix of old and new Virginia-class submarines for its own use in the early 2030s as it prepares to adopt nuclear-powered submarines.<\/p>\n Marles announced the plan had changed in a joint statement on Saturday. It read:<\/p>\n double quotation markThe Deputy Prime Minister and Secretaries welcomed the proposed approach to streamline Australia\u2019s acquisition of Virginia-class submarines (VCS), simplifying supply chain management, operational and maintenance requirements, and maximising cost efficiencies.<\/p>\n This approach would enable Australia to acquire three in-service VCS in lieu of a mixture of new and in-service VCS variants.<\/p>\n US shipyards have been under pressure as they struggle to boost manufacturing to their goal of building an average of 2.3 new submarines a year by 2032.<\/p>\n Richard Marles speaks in Singapore as British defence secretary John Healey (left) and US secretary of defence Pete Hegseth look on. Photograph: Edgar Su\/Reuters<\/p>\n You can read more about Marles\u2019 speech here:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.04 EDT<\/p>\n Pauline Hanson says she could be prime minister Pauline Hanson tells Sky News she is actively considering moving to the lower house at the next election and that she could do the job of prime minister.<\/p>\n Hanson says a move back to the lower house, where she was first elected in 1996, is \u201ca consideration by all means\u201d.<\/p>\n One Nation have been surging in opinion polls, and is attracting support of more than 20%. The next election is expected in early 2028.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I am not making a decision now and I\u2019m not going to tell anyone what I\u2019m doing at this moment, because I haven\u2019t clearly made up my mind,\u201d Hanson said.<\/p>\n Asked if she wants to become prime minister, Hanson says she \u201cwon\u2019t knock the job\u201d.<\/p>\n double quotation markI believe that I have the ability to do it. I\u2019m not going to underestimate myself or say \u2018no, I can\u2019t do it\u2019, because, you know, have a look at what we\u2019ve got now, really, honestly, and that\u2019s why we\u2019re in a mess.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.14 EDT<\/p>\n Hanson backs Taylor\u2019s tax indexation plan The One Nation<\/a> leader, Pauline Hanson, has supported Angus Taylor\u2019s plans to index Australia\u2019s tax thresholds, telling Sky News \u201cthey just keep moving all the time\u201d.<\/p>\n Hanson says she wants to have a look at tax policy ahead of the next election, proposing an \u201coverhaul\u201d to \u201cmake it a fairer system\u201d.<\/p>\n double quotation markThose people who work overtime do their 40 hours a week or 38 hours a week, they\u2019re working overtime, they\u2019re taxed to the hilt, and I think we need to overhaul the whole taxation system.<\/p>\n Taylor\u2019s plan is designed to combat bracket creep, and will cost at least $22.5bn.<\/p>\n Hanson says she is not across the detail of Labor\u2019s plans on negative gearing, capital gains tax and trusts, admitting she has been campaigning this week. Labor has already introduced the legislation for the budget changes.<\/p>\n Hanson says she\u2019s concerned the government is including tax cuts in the legislation, calling it \u201ca ploy by the Labor party\u201d to wedge the opposition and minor parties.<\/p>\n Pauline Hanson with One Nation MPs after a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.18 EDT<\/p>\n Continuing that report from Agence France-Presse: the British defence secretary, John Healey, said that the planned technology, a \u201crange of cutting edge sensors and weapons systems\u201d for underseas drones, \u201cwill rapidly give our forces the very most advanced battlefield technologies\u201d.<\/p>\n The systems will be deployed on uncrewed underwater vessels, Healey added.<\/p>\n The protection of underwater infrastructure has been a major topic of discussion at Asia\u2019s premier annual defence summit in Singapore.<\/p>\n \u201cThe seabed has become a major field of contest over the past 18 months,\u201d Australia\u2019s defence minister, Richard Marles, earlier told delegates.<\/p>\n double quotation markWe have witnessed a series of attacks against subsea critical infrastructure at a scale and frequency that is historically unprecedented.<\/p>\n There have been several incidents in the past two years of seabed cables being damaged by ships, both in the Baltic and around the Asian region.<\/p>\n Nearly all of Australia\u2019s internet traffic flows through just 15 subsea cables, Marles pointed out.<\/p>\n double quotation markOur ability to operate as a modern economy and a functioning state, all of it is critically dependent on infrastructure that is exposed, that cannot move.<\/p>\n As we\u2019ve now seen demonstrated in the Baltic, [it] can be cut with an anchor in the middle of the night.<\/p>\n You can read more about Marles\u2019s warning here, from reporter Ben Doherty:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.21 EDT<\/p>\n Aukus nations to develop payloads for uncrewed undersea vehicles<\/p>\n The US, Australia and Britain are developing hi-tech payloads for uncrewed underseas vehicles under their trilateral security partnership, the Pentagon chief, Pete Hegseth, announced on Saturday.<\/p>\n As Agence France-Presse reports, Hegseth met his Australian and British counterparts on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, where they reviewed progress on the Aukus<\/a> pact, aimed at bolstering their presence in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.<\/p>\n \u201cToday, we\u2019re pleased to announce the first Aukus Pillar 2 signature project, focused on fielding advanced uncrewed undersea vehicles, or UUVs,\u201d Hegseth told reporters at a briefing at the US embassy in Singapore.<\/p>\n double quotation markThis signature project will deliver a suite of highly adaptable multi-mission UUV payloads designed to support undersea operations and maintain our collective advantage in the maritime domain.<\/p>\n Aukus\u2019s Pillar 1 focuses on Australia\u2019s acquisition of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines, while Pillar 2 pools the talents of each nation\u2019s defence sector to develop advanced military capabilities.<\/p>\n The pact is framed as supporting a \u201cfree and open Indo-Pacific\u201d, though it is widely viewed as a bulwark against a rising China, which strongly opposes it.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.23 EDT<\/p>\n Good morning<\/p>\n Hello, this is Luca Ittimani here, to take you through the day\u2019s news as it unfolds on what is so far a sunny Sunday morning \u2013 in Sydney, at least.<\/p>\n![\"Richard](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1780189630_157_5500.jpg\")
Richard Marles speaks in Singapore as British defence secretary John Healey (left) and US secretary of defence Pete Hegseth look on. Photograph: Edgar Su\/Reuters<\/p>\n![\"Ben](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1780189630_343_Ben_Doherty_720x600_final.png\")
Ben Doherty<\/p>\nBen Doherty<\/p>\n![\"Tom](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1780189631_588_Tom_McIlroy.png\")
Tom McIlroy<\/p>\nTom McIlroy<\/p>\nTom McIlroy<\/p>\nTom McIlroy<\/p>\n