Updated at\u00a019.29 EDT<\/p>\n
Key events<\/p>\n
Pro-Palestine protest and walkout during PM\u2019s NSW Labor conference speech<\/p>\n
A speech by the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, to the NSW Labor conference has been marked by silent pro-Palestine protests, but otherwise passed without incident.<\/p>\n
Yesterday<\/a>, as the NSW premier, Chris Minns, entered the main chamber of Sydney\u2019s town hall to give his address, two men unfurled a Palestinian flag from one of the balconies. They were quickly removed by NSW police.<\/p>\n Today, two protesters stood up and draped a flag which read \u201cStop Arming Genocide. Free Palestine\u201d and a keffiyeh over a balcony near the stage as the prime minister walked up to make his speech.<\/p>\n Unlike yesterday, they were not removed by police. After discussion with security, they sat down, but the flag remained draped over the balcony for tue duration of the speech.<\/p>\n Later during the speech, which we previewed earlier, a woman stood up in the delegates level of the conference. Draped in a Palestinian flag, she walked out of the conference hall.<\/p>\n There is unlikely to be potentially embarrassing discussion for the federal government on Palestine and the Aukus agreement at today\u2019s conference, after the \u201cAustralia and the World\u201d committee report was placed last on the agenda, despite the issues appearing frequently among motions submitted to the conference<\/a>.<\/p>\n Earlier, Labor left delegates briefly hijacked the conference to try to force debate on motions to repeal anti-protest laws, second last on today\u2019s agenda, which critics say has been done to silence debate. A motion to bring forward discussion was rejected by the right faction-controlled conference.<\/p>\n Share<\/a> Wong announces new diplomatic postings for Australia<\/p>\n The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has announced a raft of new diplomatic appointments, including ambassadors to Australian posts in Mexico City, Nauru and Bangkok.<\/p>\n In a statement, Wong revealed the new diplomatic postings including:<\/p>\n Glenn Morrison as Australia\u2019s next ambassador to Croatia<\/p>\n Keara Shaw as Australia\u2019s next high commissioner to Ghana<\/p>\n Sanchi Davis as Australia\u2019s next consul general in Makassar, Indonesia<\/p>\n Amanda Riethmuller as Australia\u2019s next ambassador to Kuwait<\/p>\n Crispin Conroy AM as Australia\u2019s next ambassador to Mexico<\/p>\n Lisa White as Australia\u2019s next high commissioner to Nauru<\/p>\n Pablo Kang as Australia\u2019s next ambassador to Thailand<\/p>\n Jeremy Green as Australia\u2019s next ambassador for Apec<\/p>\n Wong said:<\/p>\n double quotation markAustralia\u2019s diplomatic network enables us to promote our interests in peace, security, trade, investment and other areas of cooperation.<\/p>\n Australia takes the world as it is and seeks to shape it for the better \u2013 these diplomatic appointments will deepen Australia\u2019s connections abroad and increase our ability to influence where it matters.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.48 EDT<\/p>\n Exclusion zones in place after suspected space debris found near Townsville<\/p>\n The Australian Space Agency has confirmed that \u201csuspected space debris\u201d thought to contain hazardous chemicals has been located north of Townsville.<\/p>\n Queensland police said four objects were located on Friday and Saturday in the Forrest beach area and 50-metre exclusion zones had been enforced around each object.<\/p>\n The objects were thought to contain hazardous chemicals, the police said, but there was \u201cno danger to the local community and police are not investigating the incident.\u201d<\/p>\n The Queensland fire department had rendered the objects safe, a police statement said.<\/p>\n A spokesperson for the Australian Space Agency, which is working with police and the National Emergency Management Agency, confirmed the objects were thought to be space debris.<\/p>\n Seven News has reported that a local fish and chip shop <\/a>was already looking to promote the incident, selling a \u201cspace junk snack box.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.29 EDT<\/p>\n Two charged after imitation pistol allegedly pointed at synagogue<\/p>\n Two men have been charged after police in NSW alleged an imitation pistol had been pointed at a Sydney synagogue.<\/p>\n Police said they were called to the Double Bay place of worship on Saturday lunchtime after reports occupants of a car were allegedly seen pointing a firearm in the building\u2019s direction.<\/p>\n During a search of an SUV police allege they located and seized an imitation pistol. Two men were arrested.<\/p>\n A 22-year-old man was charged with allegedly possessing and using an offensive weapon and an intimidation offence. A 25-year-old was charged for allegedly possessing an unauthorised pistol.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n National committee recommends \u2018heightened flock biosecurity\u2019 as sixth bird-flu case confirmed<\/p>\n Poultry operations that keep free-range birds will be allowed to bring their birds indoors, authorities have said, as Australia confirms its sixth case of the deadly H5N1 bird flu.<\/p>\n The acting Australian chief vet, Dr Sam Hamilton, said the Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Diseases had met to discuss \u201cappropriate response activities.\u201d He said:<\/p>\n double quotation markCCEAD discussed practical precautionary measures, given the suspect detections in new locations in NSW and WA and endorsed an approach at this time involving heightened flock biosecurity.<\/p>\n This includes options for states and territories to utilise non-mandatory measures including advising commercial poultry producers to house free-range birds where practical while maintaining animal welfare.<\/p>\n Hamilton stressed there had been no detections in poultry, agricultural systems or in wild birds.<\/p>\n Australia has six confirmed cases \u2013 including the first for NSW confirmed last night \u2013 and a seventh bird found in WA is undergoing testing.<\/p>\n All have been migratory seabirds that had likely come from the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.59 EDT<\/p>\n UN advisers on Great Barrier Reef say government’s climate targets are falling short<\/p>\n United Nations advisers have expressed \u201cutmost concern\u201d about the future of the Great Barrier Reef and said the government\u2019s climate targets fall short of being aligned to 1.5C of global heating.<\/p>\n Unesco and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has issued recommendations<\/a> to the 21-country World Heritage committee which will meet in South Korea later this month.<\/p>\n The reef has been hit by multiple coral bleaching events in recent years, while problems remain with pollution and nutrients from the land running into the reef. The Unesco advice says:<\/p>\n double quotation markWhilst the resilience of the Reef remains evident, its capacity to tolerate and recover from such events is increasingly compromised, and this is of utmost concern.<\/p>\n The advisers said the government needed to improve its climate targets which, they said, \u201cstill fall short of being 1.5C-aligned.\u201d Australia needed to go back to the committee in 2028 with a report on progress.<\/p>\n The federal environment minister, Murray Watt, welcomed the recommendations, as did Queensland\u2019s environment minister, Andrew Powell. Watt said:<\/p>\n double quotation markAustralia is doing more than ever to better protect and manage the Outstanding Universal Value of the Reef. Our efforts are making a difference \u2013 but we know there is more work to do.<\/p>\n Conservationists said the world was watching Australia\u2019s response, and that water quality and climate targets remained issues the government had to address.<\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.43 EDT<\/p>\n Dan Tehan claims new coal plants would \u2018drive down emissions\u2019 \u2013 but they won\u2019t<\/p>\n Dan Tehan has been asked on the ABC\u2019s Insiders program if a Coalition government would support building now coal-fired power plants.<\/p>\n Responding to questions from host Davis Speers on new coal-fired power, Tehan said:<\/p>\n double quotation markWell, if there is a want from the private sector to invest in that, then there is no reason why we shouldn\u2019t do that, because, David \u2013 and let me finish, it\u2019s a very important point \u2013 the new technology drives down emissions, compared to the existing.<\/p>\n New coal-fired power plants \u2013 so-called ultra super-critical plants \u2013 do have lower emissions than plants currently operating in Australia.<\/p>\n But they don\u2019t \u201cdrive down emissions\u201d \u2013 even when they are compared against old technology. <\/p>\n They would simply slightly lower the rate of rise in emissions, and would continue to pump high rates of CO2 that would stay in the atmosphere for a century or more.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.01 EDT<\/p>\n Dan Tehan says Liberals \u2018not entertaining\u2019 idea of coalition with One Nation<\/p>\n Senior opposition figure Dan Tehan is talking to the ABC\u2019s Insiders program.<\/p>\n After some sustained questioning, he has said the Liberals are \u201cnot entertaining\u201d the idea of being in a coalition with One Nation \u2013 the rightwing party currently ahead of the Liberals in the polls. He said:<\/p>\n double quotation markIt\u2019s a no \u2013 we are Coalition Liberal party-National party. It is not even being talked about.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.29 EDT<\/p>\n NSW confirms first H5N1 birdflu case<\/p>\n A giant petrel found on the New South Wales coast at Hawks Nest, north of Newcastle, has been confirmed as the state\u2019s first case of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu.<\/p>\n The positive test is the sixth confirmed case.<\/p>\n Samples from a seventh bird \u2013 another giant petrel found at Mullaloo beach in Western Australia \u2013 are also being tested at CSIRO\u2019s labs.<\/p>\n The NSW agriculture minister, Tara Moriarty, confirmed the test and said there was no spread into wild birds or commercial poultry. She said:<\/p>\n double quotation markThe NSW Government has been preparing for a positive result for some time and there is a clear plan in place to support industry and the community.<\/p>\n At this stage the result is limited to a single migratory seabird and has not impacted our poultry sector or domestic wildlife.<\/p>\n She said surveillance of high risk areas using drones and people on the ground had been ramped-up. Poultry producers had been told to heighten biosecurity measures.<\/p>\n A sick southern giant petrel found at Port Elliott in South Australia in June. Photograph: Wildlife Welfare OrgShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.21 EDT<\/p>\n PM defends tax changes as conference motions call for further action<\/p>\n Anthony Albanese will defend the federal government\u2019s negative gearing and capital gains tax changes to delegates at the NSW Labor conference today, as some local branches call for the party to take reforms further.<\/p>\n In his speech this morning, the prime minister is expected to say:<\/p>\n double quotation markIn all the conversations I\u2019ve had and the interviews and press conferences I\u2019ve held, no one has argued that the housing market was working fine the way it was. No one has been able to say that the status quo was fair or reasonable or sustainable for the future.<\/p>\n And once you get to that point, once everyone acknowledges that the system is broken. Then the choice for a party of government is very clear. If you don\u2019t have the ticker, you can kick the can down the road and leave the problem to a future generation. Or you can do the hard thing, the right thing \u2013 and fix it. That is the choice we have made.<\/p>\n As The Australian has reported<\/a>, some local branch motions for further changes, including a call by the Glebe branch to remove grandfathering arrangements for investors on rental properties, have the support of NSW party\u2019s economics committee and are expected to be referred to the federal party.<\/p>\n While Labor leadership has sought to project unity at this year\u2019s conference ahead of the state election next year, there may still be flash points between left and right delegates today.<\/p>\n A committee report on Australia\u2019s role in the world, which discusses the Middle East and endorses the Aukus agreement, will not be debated today, Labor sources confirmed yesterday. But Labor left faction members were still negotiating for motions for the state government to repeal protest laws<\/a> to be debated this afternoon.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Albanese to criticise rightwing \u2018axis of grievance\u2019 at NSW Labor conference The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, will use a speech at the second day of NSW\u2019s Labor conference to attack what he says is a rightwing \u201caxis of grievance\u201d forming between the Liberals, Nationals and One Nation.<\/p>\n One Nation loomed over the first day of the 2026 NSW Labor conference, with the premier, Chris Minns, warning the party needs to \u201cclimb Everest\u201d<\/a> to stay in power amid the rising threat posed by Pauline Hanson\u2019s party at next year\u2019s state election.<\/p>\n In response to a federal Liberal frontbencher\u2019s comment this week that her party might need a \u201crebrand\u201d to win back voters<\/a>, Albanese is expected to tell Labor delegates this morning:<\/p>\n double quotation markThe problem is not their [the Liberals] brand \u2013 it is their product. It is not their sales pitch \u2013 it is their policies. It is not what they call themselves \u2013 it is who they are. It is the race to the bottom that all three rightwing parties are caught up in. They are the axis of grievance. Each trying to be more anti-fairness, more anti-worker, more anti-aspiration.<\/p>\n This is why, for all the shifts in the landscape over the years, the fundamental contrast in Australian politics remains the same. Our opponents only ever define themselves by who and what they are against. We are defined by what we are for. By our enduring Australian values of fairness, aspiration and opportunity for all. And by what we do to give those values life and weight and meaning for all Australians.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Welcome to Sunday Good morning all and thanks for being with us. Graham Readfearn here.<\/p>\n First up, we will have news in a few minutes that NSW has recorded its first confirmed case of the deadly H5N1 bird flu in a giant petrel found north of Newcastle at Hawks Nest.<\/p>\n We also have the second day of the annual NSW Labor party conference.<\/p>\n The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, will use a speech today to describe a right-wing \u201caxis of grievance\u201d forming between the Liberals, Nationals and One Nation.<\/p>\n![\"Josh](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1783216451_969_Josh_Butler.png\")
Josh Butler<\/p>\n![\"Great](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/504.jpg\")
Photograph: AscentXmedia\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Penry](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1783216452_596_Penry_Buckley.png\")
Penry Buckley<\/p>\nPenry Buckley<\/p>\n![\"Graham](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Graham_Redfearn.png\")
Graham Readfearn<\/p>\n