Updated at\u00a021.36 EDT<\/p>\n
Key events<\/p>\n
Confirmed case of bird flu in endangered Australian sea lion![\"Lisa](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Lisa_Cox.png\")
Lisa Cox<\/p>\n
South Australia has confirmed its first H5 bird flu in an endangered Australian sea lion. <\/p>\n
The sea lion was found dead by a state government ranger at Seal Bay at Kangaroo Island on Friday. <\/p>\n
The animal had sustained a shark wound three months prior and was already being monitored. The government said it was confident the shark wound was not the cause of death and tests had returned a strong positive result for H5 bird flu. <\/p>\n
The government said there had been no other known endangered sea lion deaths at seal bay but it was monitoring the population closely. <\/p>\n
Seal Bay has an estimated 800 resident Australian sea lions, the third largest single colony for the species and about 5% of the total population. About three quarters of Australia\u2019s sea lion population lives in South Australia.<\/p>\n
Scientists had warned of the potential \u201ccarnage\u201d<\/a> in the Australian sea lion population if bird flu takes hold, after the virus had already impacted seal populations in South America and sub-Antarctica.<\/p>\n SA confirmed Australia\u2019s first case in a mainland mammal <\/a>in August after a dead long-nosed fur seal found at Beachport on the Limestone Coast tested positive for H5N1.<\/p>\n John Woinarski, a leading mammal scientist at Charles Darwin University, said at the time he feared the virus could quickly start affecting more seals and sea lions.<\/p>\n \u201cThe carnage may be substantial and represent a serious conservation impact,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI fear for Australian sea lions in particular because of their small population size.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Victorian Labor pledges to recruit 1,500 additional police officers<\/p>\n The Victorian premier, Ben Carroll, has said the government will recruit an extra 1,500 frontline police if elected. The election pledge also includes building a new training academy in Melbourne\u2019s south-west.<\/p>\n He said:<\/p>\n double quotation markWe know we\u2019ve got to get more police on the street, community safety is my number one priority. This comprehensive plan deals with the how. This is the difference between the Liberal-One Nation policy on police recruits and Labor\u2019s policy.<\/p>\n Liberal-One Nation have promised more police. They\u2019ve also said they\u2019ll bring them from overseas. What Labor is promising is the pathway to unlock more police. With the second police academy to complement Glen Waverley.\u201d<\/p>\n Victorian Premier Ben Carroll. Photograph: Joel Carrett\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.42 EDT<\/p>\n Comments by senior Reserve Bank of Australia officials will be closely monitored as anticipation builds towards another interest rate hike later this month, AAP has reported.<\/p>\n The central bank\u2019s chief economist, Sarah Hunter, will participate in a fireside chat at a Regional Australia Institute summit in Canberra on Monday.<\/p>\n Then, RBA governor Michele Bullock will appear before a parliamentary committee on Friday.<\/p>\n Both are expected to echo recent comments from bank officials reiterating that inflation is too high and leaving the door open to further interest rate hikes, following the three the bank has handed down so far in 2026.<\/p>\n Dr Hunter and RBA deputy governor Andrew Hauser sent bonds markets into a spin in separate hawkish speaking appearances last week.<\/p>\n Markets are now pricing in about a four in five chance the RBA will lift the cash rate by 25 basis points on September 29.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Hanson faces bipartisan attack over resurfaced comments on Albanese\u2019s mother Pauline Hanson has come under fire from Liberal and Labor MPs for \u201cappalling\u201d comments attacking Anthony Albanese\u2019s mother that have resurfaced from an old podcast interview.<\/p>\n The One Nation leader criticised Albanese\u2019s mother, Maryanne Ellery, for staying in public housing for several decades, in a podcast with Karl Stefanovic from February this year.<\/p>\n Andrew Hastie, who has had his own fight with Hanson, this morning criticised Hanson and told News24 she should \u201cleave mums out of it\u201d.<\/p>\n double quotation markI don\u2019t think you should be talking about the late mother of anyone in this game, and certainly not reflecting on circumstances over which she had no understanding \u2026 I remember in the schoolyard, if anyone said anything about your mum, mate, it was on. So let\u2019s leave mums out of it.\u201d<\/p>\n The trade minister, Don Farrell, also berated Hanson for the remarks this morning, telling News24:<\/p>\n double quotation markAnthony loves his mother, as I\u2019m sure you do, I certainly loved my mother \u2026 To have them attacked publicly this way is just appalling. There\u2019s a certain bitterness in One Nation\u2019s approach to the world that I find quite un-Australian, actually. I think Ms Hanson should apologise.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.43 EDT<\/p>\n Albanese defends his mother as \u2018way out of Pauline Hanson\u2019s league\u2019<\/p>\n The PM says he is \u201cstunned at these comments\u201d.<\/p>\n double quotation markBut I\u2019ll make this point. If Pauline Hanson wants to criticise me, then that\u2019s fine. But my mother was way out of Pauline Hanson\u2019s league, way out of it.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.28 EDT<\/p>\n Albanese criticises Hanson\u2019s \u2018spiteful\u2019 comments about his mother using public housing<\/p>\n The PM is back up where he is talking about comments Pauline Hanson made about his mother living in public housing. Hanson said in February it was \u201cnot on\u201d that his mother had lived in public housing for decades, saying such housing \u201cshould be limited time\u201d. This week she told the Australian, \u201cThe Prime Minister complains about his housing commission upbringing\u201d.<\/p>\n In response, he said:<\/p>\n double quotation markFirstly she made comments about me being complaining about being growing up in public housing. Nothing could be further from the truth. I\u2019m proud to be a \u2018houso\u2019, and I\u2019m proud of the community in which I grew up. I\u2019m also proud about my mother.<\/p>\n She was someone who had a tough life. She didn\u2019t associate with billionaires. She was someone who as has been documented, when overseas, came back to a Australia chose to make the courageous decision in 1963 to keep a child out of wedlock. Who is now the prime minister of Australia.<\/p>\n I said during the last campaign, kindness isn\u2019t weakness. I\u2019ll tell you what\u2019s weakness \u2013 nastiness, and spitefulness.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.36 EDT<\/p>\n Melissa Doyle is up now. She says:<\/p>\n double quotation markI am honoured. I\u2019m humbled. I\u2019m daunted. I\u2019m excited. I\u2019m every single emotion. But above all, as a journalist, as a storyteller, I have spent my entire career telling the stories of people who inspire us heroes. We all need to hear about extraordinary people doing extraordinary things in our community, advocating for us all in so many fields, be it science, be it sport, be it art, be it community leaders.<\/p>\n I think we all need to hear those stories. And so to be able to play a role with the National Australia Day Council, to work with the board, to work with the executive, to continue to champion these extraordinary Australians and celebrate them and inspire all of us. Look, it\u2019s truly an honour and I\u2019m really excited.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Albanese:<\/p>\n double quotation markThis is an important role for our nation. For decades, Australians have trusted Mel [Doyle] to tell Australian stories and now she will take that to the next level in the national interest. Australia Day is an important day where we come together.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.14 EDT<\/p>\n Melissa Doyle appointed chair of Australia Day Council board<\/p>\n Anthony Albanese is speaking in Sydney, where he has just announced that television presenter Melissa Doyle has been appointed chair of the Australia Day Council board.<\/p>\n![\"Krishani](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789268172_360_Krishani_Dhanji.png\")
Krishani Dhanji<\/p>\n