Australia news LIVE: AUKUS deal in doubt; arrests in LA; Liberals to launch radical review
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7.00am
AUKUS in doubt as US starts review
Amber Schultz
The United States has launched a snap review into whether the $368 billion AUKUS submarine deal should be changed or scrapped.
The review follows renewed demands from the Trump administration that America's allies in the Indo-Pacific – including Australia – significantly increase defence spending.
'The department is reviewing AUKUS as part of ensuring that this initiative of the previous administration is aligned with the President's America First agenda,' a US defence official confirmed.
The review was first reported by The Financial Times on Wednesday (Thursday AEST), which said it would be headed by defence undersecretary Elbridge Colby and take about 30 days.
6.46am
Beach Boys visionary leader Brian Wilson dies
By Amber Schultz
Beach Boys' visionary leader Brian Wilson has died age 82.
Through his summer anthems including 'Good Vibrations,' and 'California Girls,' Wilson became one of the world's most influential recording artists across the 1960s.
Wilson's family posted news of his death to his website and social media accounts, but further details weren't immediately available. Since May 2024, Wilson had been under a court conservatorship to oversee his personal and medical affairs.
The Beach Boys rank among the most popular groups of the rock era, with more than 30 singles in the Top 40 and worldwide sales of more than 100 million.
He is the eldest and last surviving of three musical brothers. Brian played bass, Carl lead guitar and Dennis drums.
AP
6.46am
Radical investigation into Liberal party
By Amber Schultz
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Opposition Leader Sussan Ley will order a radical investigation into the future of the Liberal Party as she seeks to rebuild it after its historic electoral loss.
The review is expected to assess the error-ridden 2025 campaign, its ailing state divisions, campaign tools, brand and messaging which led to the Liberals holding just 44 seats in parliament.
Queensland senator James McGrath is being considered as a candidate to spearhead the wider review.
'The party needs to get its shit together,' McGrath said last month.
6.45am
This morning's headlines at a glance
By Amber Schultz
Good morning readers. I'm Amber Schultz, and I'll be keeping you up with news this morning.
Today's headlines are:
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Australia's submarine deal with the US in doubt, with the United States launching a review into whether the AUKUS submarine deal should be changed or scrapped.
In the US, National Guard members have temporarily detained civilians in the Los Angeles protests. 4,700 National Guard troops and Marines have been deployed to the area amid immigration protests which turned into riots.
Still in LA, a fourth Australian journalist has been injured while covering the unrest. A Nine cameraman was struck in the leg with a ricocheting rubber bullet, causing bruises.
Beach Boys leader Brian Wilson has died aged 82. The Beach Boys were responsible for 1960s hits including 'Surfin' U.S.A.,' 'California Girls' and 'Fun, Fun, Fun'.
Harvey Weinstein has been found guilty in a sex crime retrial in the US. The movie mogul was found guilty of the top charge, but acquitted of a second charge involving a different victim. The jury is still deliberating on a third charge. The 73-year-old was first found guilty in 2020 in a landmark case for the #MeToo movement but was granted a retrial.
The Department of Veterans' Affairs has reported a move to slash waiting times for veterans who have made compensation claims has led to 'behaviours of concern' by advocacy business models who are lodging claims for excessive numbers of conditions and sending sensitive data offshore, The Australian reports.
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Sky News AU
an hour ago
- Sky News AU
Retired US General Jack Keane says lack of American submarines ‘real basis' for Trump administration's AUKUS review
Retired US General Jack Keane has said he believes American concerns over having enough submarines for their own fleet is underpinning the AUKUS defence pact review instigated by the Trump administration. A primary pillar of AUKUS, a trilateral security partnership agreed to in 2021, is to enable Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines, as well as other advanced weapons. The newly announced review into the pact is being headed by Under-Secretary of Defence for Policy Elbridge Colby, who has previously been critical of the submarine deal. Speaking to Sky News Host Andrew Bolt on Thursday, Mr Keane said he believed concerns over the US holding on to enough submarines is the 'real basis' for AUKUS coming under the microscope. 'I mean, we know for a fact, we don't have anywhere near all the submarines that we would like to have and it's the submarines where we have the advantage, the United States and our allies, over China itself,' the former general said. '(China) have decisive advantages in surface ships, in offence and defensive missiles, and also the number of aeroplanes that they have every day in the region. Submarines is something we want more of.' However, Mr Keane said he thought having Australian-operated American submarines in Indo-Pacific waters would be a 'real strategic plus'. The former general was asked whether the American popular opinion could swing away from thinking US submarines being operated under an Australian flag is good idea, but Mr Keane said he did not hold such concerns. 'I think the primary issue is the number of submarines. The United States knows we don't have enough. It takes us too long to build them, and we've got to get it right,' he said. The former general's remarks come as questions continue to be asked about whether the Albanese government has pledged enough of the nation's GDP towards defence, with pressure mounting from Washington for Canberra to boost its military spending. Sky New News Host Sharri Markson revealed on Thursday the Trump administration will use the AUKUS review as way to try and push Australia towards increasing its defence budget. Meanwhile, former prime minister Scott Morrison, who oversaw the formation of AUKUS, has declared he is not concerned about what the US-led review may mean for the future of the security partnership. 'It's totally within their remit… Incoming governments do reviews. Keir Starmer did a review and that resulted in the UK government being even more committed to AUKUS,' Mr Morrison told Sky News. His sentiments were echoed by Defence Minister Richard Marles, who downplayed anxieties while also confirming Australia knew about the review in advance. Former Australian Minister Alexander Downer has likewise said he does not think Australia should be concerned, asserting his belief the US will not scrap the agreement under President Trump's reign. 'I think there is going to be a debate within the American system about selling to Australia Virginia-class submarines,' Mr Downer told Sky News Host Chris Kenny on Thursday. 'Not because of the technology of the submarines, but because the American administration will argue that they haven't got enough submarines and they can't build them fast enough.' Mr Downer also said he thinks the US are concerned about Australia's defence spending in light of the review. "I think they would be concerned about our low level of defence expenditure and the way the Australian defence forces have become increasingly depleted," he said. "But I don't think in the end the Americans are going to cancel the AUKUS programme. You have to remember this is a trilateral programme, not a bilateral programme, and Britain is the, if you like, second player in it, certainly the second most important player in it."
Sky News AU
an hour ago
- Sky News AU
'Calculated Democrat policy': Blaming Donald Trump for Los Angeles riots may have worked in the past but times have changed
As left-wing riots overtake Los Angeles, powerful Democrats continue making excuses for the lawlessness and disorder plaguing America's second-largest city. The continuing mayhem is just the latest result of a permissive culture of violence that has become normalised on the political left. President Donald Trump must take action to put down the LA riots swiftly, and with force if need-be, to send a clear message: Violence will not be tolerated on American streets. Right now, Los Angeles looks like a scene from a dystopian film. Hordes of rioters continue to block freeways, burn cars, loot businesses, throw rocks at moving vehicles, and commit violence against law enforcement officials - all while wearing masks and waving Mexican flags. The chaos is ostensibly an effort to protest the detainment of illegal immigrants by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during recent raids targeting criminals. Who were the migrants that ICE arrested? They weren't the sobbing women and children the media loves to conjure images of during any discussions of deportations. Many of the illegal immigrants detained during the LA raids are hardened criminals who deserve to spend many years behind bars- let alone be deported. One migrant nabbed by ICE was a Vietnamese national convicted of carrying out a mass shooting at a high school graduation party, which resulted in two teens being killed and seven being wounded. Other detainees from the raids include criminals convicted for sexual assault, gang activity, and murder. Over the weekend, protesters attempted to block ICE agents from carrying out the raids and surrounded a detention centre in downtown Los Angeles. It wasn't long before the protest grew in size, devolving into an unruly, violent riot. To be clear, left-wingers are protesting on behalf of sex offenders, child molesters, gang members, and murderers. State and local leaders do not have the situation under control. But Democrats and analysists in the mainstream press condone and downplay lawlessness. California Senator Alex Padilla assured viewers on the cable news channel MSNBC, 'the vast majority of protesters and demonstrators are peaceful'. Former Vice President Kamala Harris called the unrest 'overwhelmingly peaceful.' ABC Los Angeles reporter Jory Rand said that by interfering, law enforcement risks turning 'what is just a bunch of people having fun watching cars burn into a massive confrontation and altercation between officers and demonstrators'. Former Vice President Kamala Harris called the unrest 'overwhelmingly peaceful'. Democrats are also blaming Trump for any escalation. California Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass are complaining that Trump deployed the National Guard and the Marines to stop the violence - even though local leaders have done little to quell the lawlessness. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on X, 'California Governor Newsom didn't request the National Guard to be deployed to his state following peaceful demonstrations. Trump sent them anyway.' New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez downplayed the mayhem as mere 'teens' throwing rocks, and blamed 'violent' ICE raids for sparking chaos. Sadly, the madness is only the latest example of Democrats excusing violence committed by their own voting base. During the summer of 2020, Black Lives Matter (BLM) protesters were allowed to burn down American cities for months with impunity - small businesses, private homes, cars, churches, and police departments were set on fire by rioters. At the same time, mainstream Democrats like Kamala Harris raised money to release those who had been arrested from jail. Americans watched roving gangs burn down main streets, while lawmakers demanded that law-abiding families cower in their homes, not go to work, and not send their kids to school because of Covid. But left-wing radicalism and violent behavior had already been on the rise before the summer of BLM. The day of Trump's first inauguration in 2017, police arrested more than 200 liberal rioters. Those riots injured six cops and caused millions of dollars in damage. Democrats love to cite platitudes about unity and civility, but many of these same people will turn the other way when their own voting base commits mob-like or violent behavior. An Antifa crowd beat people in Portland, Oregon. College campuses were overtaken by unruly mobs due to speakers who hold views that don't align with the left. Republican Congressman Steve Scalise was shot by a crazed Bernie Sanders supporter. Private citizens had their cars set ablaze for driving Teslas. Trump himself was shot during a campaign rally last summer. At this point, most Americans understand that Democrats' pearl clutching and cries regarding civility during the January 6 protests were never sincere. Today's left wing is perfectly fine with lawlessness, as long as the lawless behavior is being committed in service of their own ideology. Blaming Trump for the violence in Los Angeles may have worked in the past, but it likely won't work this time. Americans voted for Donald Trump in record numbers last November, in part, because he promised to bring law and order back to the streets. Voters also chose Trump because of his vow to address the impacts of the open southern border under former President Joe Biden. The impacts of over 10 million illegal immigrants entering the United States during the Biden Administration are immense: drugs that killed more than 80,000 in the US last year alone have flowed into the country, rising crime has gripped inner cities, hospitals are overwhelmed, and school systems are flooded with non-English speakers. President Trump must do whatever necessary to end the left-wing riots unleashing terror on Los Angeles. Calling in the National Guard and the Marines is a good first step. Every person who breaks the law must be arrested and held accountable to the fullest extent of the law - no more slaps on the wrist, or get out of jail free cards, like we saw in 2020. Examples must be made out of the criminals trying to destabilise and burn down US cities. The one bright side is that the US doesn't have a president who fears negative media coverage. It's time to give Americans what they voted for and make America safe again. Kristin Tate is a US-based writer. She pens a weekly column for The Messenger focused on federal spending and has written three books, the most recent of which is titled 'The Liberal Invasion of Red State America'. She is a contributor for Sky News and appears weekly to discuss US politics
Sky News AU
an hour ago
- Sky News AU
Defence experts warn Australia's armed forces 'languishing', short on firepower due to 'deeply inadequate' military spending
Australia's defence force is weaker than it was before East Timor, is under armoured and short of firepower according to stinging analysis by two of the nation's leading defence experts. With the Prime Minister heading to the G7 in Canada, defence analyst Peter Jennings and Retired Chief of Army, Peter Leahy have both given their thoughts on the AFD and how it stacks up. A break down by Sky News of regional power players also lays out Australia's fragile capabilities despite numerous governments talking up potency, reliability and acquisitions. 'We are in a very dangerous strategic situation now,' said Peter Jennings, from Strategic Analysis Australia. It's a sentiment shared by Retired Lieutenant General, Peter Leahy. 'In the case of the Australian Army I was the Chief from 2002 to 2008. If I look at the army now it is smaller than what it was then. It's not as capable. It has less armoured protection and recruiting is really quite difficult,' said the former Chief. A former senior naval officer who wished to remain anonymous affirmed the Royal Australian Navy was down on the missile firepower it had 30 years ago – leaving it short of ships and under-gunned. With Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Europe rearming and the Chinese Communist Party intent on achieving hegemony in the region, armouries are growing, and defence budgets are being stretched. This year the United States intends to spend (in Australian dollars) $1.56 trillion on defence. China stated spend is $375-billion although its estimated to more accurately be around $620 billion. It's acquired three aircraft carriers and the world's second largest air force in a little over decade. It's also expanding its nuclear arsenal and is amassing a bespoke fleet to potentially take the democratically governed islands of Taiwan. Japan continues to ramp up its own defence spending, reportedly up nearly ten per-cent year on year to $105-billion. The sum is equal to one-point-eight percent of its GDP. Australia will spend $59 billion. It's roughly two per-cent of GDP with an intention to reach two-point-four per cent by 2034. 'We are facing some difficult times,' said Peter Jennings. 'Up against that level of risk, our defence spending is deeply inadequate… We are just a tiny shade over two per-cent of GDP and you know, that I think was a peace time level spend.' When it comes to combat airpower – fighters, bombers and long-range armed drones, America's force numbers around 3,276. China's air fleet is estimated to be around 2750. It remains highly secretive around the number of long-range drones capable of inflicting damage. Japan's defence force numbers 258. Indonesia's strike force is 116. Australia's modest but capable strike force numbers 108. The Department of Defence was specifically asked how many long-range armed drones Australia has acquired, but in its answer, didn't identify any. It's concerning considering the state of the Royal Australian Navy, which critics believe lags a decade behind in acquisition. Australia operates on a 'three to one' rotation policy meaning its force needs to be divided by three. Consequently, it aims to have two submarines, one destroyer and two frigates available for deployment. Although Australia's two resupply ships are both currently out of action tethering the navy even closer to shore. When it comes to soldiers and marines, China's fighting force numbers more than a million. Indonesia stands around 300,000. Australia's active duty force has shrunken to 28,500. 'The ADF is a professional organisation, sadly I think it's languishing,' said Peter Leahy. 'There's a really solid debate that says we need to spend more money on defence and I agree entirely. But I agree with the Prime Minister and others that it's not just a sum we need to spend, we need to be careful about what we want. How we acquire and how we introduce it into services. 'Everybody is saying it's the most catastrophic circumstances since before the second world war (and) we need to do something …. Action is required.' The former Army Chief dismissed the notion Australians should be scared. 'I don't think there's any reason to be scared …. (but) the public need to be concerned that people are thinking about this.' Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese has publicly sidestepped – if not rebuffed - America's request for Australia to urgently increase the nation's defence spending to three-point-five per cent of GDP, saying 'I think that Australia should decide what we spend on Australia's defence. As simple as that.' 'It's very clear that the Americans think our defence spend is deeply inadequate,' said Peter Jennings. '(US Defense Secretary) Pete Hegseth in Singapore said we should lift it from two per- cent to three-and-a-half per cent. That's a massive increase … So, I think the signal, not particularly coded from the United States is we need to do a lot better.' Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison recently told this reporter, 'We've got to be looking at three per cent. We should be at two-and-a-half per cent as quickly as possible. You know, I'd be saying three-per cent by 2030 … and it's not like we haven't been there before.' Though, it's always easier to talk about where defence spending should be than decide where taxes should increase or what must be cut. In the Second World War Australia's defence spend climbed towards 35 per cent of GDP. It's nothing if not an indication of the financial cost of conflict when diplomacy fails. When it came to opposition, Peter Jennings rebuffed suggestion the outcry amounted to warmongering. 'With the biggest war in Europe since the Second World War, with the Middle East in flame, with China not hiding the fact that it's becoming increasingly aggressive to all of its neighbours, circumnavigating Australia with some of its best military equipment. How could anyone think we are in a benign period and we don't have to worry about these developments,' he said. 'Il's plain for all to see, it's not like you need to have some special security clearance to understand what's going on. We can't afford to be in denial about it,' he said.
