Australia election 2025 live: Peter Dutton to reveal Coalition policy costings; house prices rise again
Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature
Good morning and welcome to our live election blog. I'm Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then Krishani Dhanji will take over.
Our top story this morning is on the 'handshake' deal by the Nationals to move One Nation up its preference list that could help win the New South Wales electorate of Hunter. The deal has been made despite Pauline Hanson's candidate being known for calling public health officials 'little Hitlers' and promoting a conspiracy theory that the climate crisis has been used to control every aspect of people's lives.
The Coalition will release its long-awaited policy costings today, claiming that they will show the budget would be more than $10bn better off and debt would be $40bn lower over the next four years than under Labor. A re-elected Coalition government would have to slash net migration of students and temporary skilled workers by 90% to reach its 'impossibly heroic' goal of reducing net migration to 160,000 next financial year, a Guardian analysis shows.
The median price of a home has risen for the third month in a row, according to data this morning from the research firm Cotality. The median value of an Australian dwelling increased about $2,720 in April, according to Cotality's national home value index. More coming up. Share
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
13 hours ago
- Metro
What happens to Greta Thunberg and the Madleen crew now?
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video An aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg and 12 other activists which was bound for Gaza has been intercepted by Israeli forces. Thunberg, who set sail on the Madleen boat on June 1 with 11 other activists, said she and the crew on the boat have been 'kidnapped by Israeli forces'. The group, called the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, were aiming to get to Gaza carrying flour, rice, baby formula, and other basic supplies. But Israel's foreign minister branded it a 'selfie yacht' and claimed it was carrying 'less than a single truckload of aid'. Israel said the vessel is on its way to the Israeli port of Ashdod, where activists will be shown a video of the October 7 attacks, according to Israeli media. The coalition, however, has said they have lost track of the boat and are not sure where it is. Their tracker currently shows it stationary So what happens to the crew now following their 'kidnapping'? We take a look below. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition is a group of people working across the world to end Israel's blockade of Gaza. The organisation, which was founded in 2015, have been involved in several missions before. In 2015, the Freedom Flotilla III set sail from Athens and planned to break the blockade of the Gaza Strip, but was intercepted by the Israeli navy around 100 nautical miles from the coast of Gaza. A year later, a crew of 26 women set sail in 2016 to highlight the struggle of women in Gaza. It was divided into three legs: Barcelona to Ajaccio, Ajaccio to Messina, and Messina to Gaza. Each leg was crewed by thirteen volunteers with several members alternating at different legs of the voyage. But the boat was intercepted 35 nautical miles away from the Gaza coast and the women were sent back to their home countries. There are 12 activists and a journalist on board the Madleen. Thunberg is the most recognisable person on the boat, known for her climate and political activism. The activist said in a video shared on social media: 'My name is Greta Thunberg, and I am from Sweden. 'If you see this video, we are being intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by the Israeli occupational forces, or forces that support Israel. 'I urge all my friends, family and comrades to put pressure on the Swedish government to release me and the others as soon as possible.' It is believed Thunberg pre-recorded the video in anticipation of Israeli hostility. Rima Hassan is a French-Palestinian Member of the European Parliament. In 2019, she founded the 'Refugee Camps Observatory', an NGO dedicated to the study and protection of refugees worldwide. She has been a member of the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (OFPRA) since 2016. She has been barred from entering Israel because of her opposition to Israeli policies towards Palestinians. Yasemin Acar is a German-born activist, born and raised in the country to Kurdish parents from Turkey. She advocates for refugees, human rights and against Islamophobia. During Russia's invasion of Ukraine, she helped mobilise 15,000 volunteers and created Berlin Arrival Support. Baptiste Andre is a French doctor who is travelling with the group to assist those who are potentially injured in confrontation with Israeli forces. Thiago Avila is the coordinator of Freedom Flotilla Brazil and organises solidarity missions in the Global South. He's also been an activist for Palestine for the past 19 years and was in Egypt for the opening of the Rafah border. Omar Faiad is a correspondent for Al Jazeera Mubasher, reporting for the 24-hour Middle East news channel. Pascal Maurieras is a French activist and sailor. He was previously arrested by Israeli forces in 2018 during a previous voyage on board the Freedom. He said before he set sail this time: 'If we don't protest now about what's happening in Gaza, then tomorrow a similar massacre could be carried out against the people of France.' Yanis Mhamdi is another journalist on the boat who covers environmental issues at Blast. Suayb Ordu is a Turkish activist and said he would not resist Israeli intervention while on board the Madleen. He said: 'If any harm comes to me, if they kill me, and they cannot prove it with visual evidence, let it be known that I took no action. Even if they point a gun to my head and shoot, I will not raise a hand. 'I won't say a word, I won't even look them in the eye. We are moving forward peacefully, and I have the utmost respect for my friends on board and their safety.' Sergio Toribio is from Spain and is a member of Sea Shepherd, which is a marine conservation group that opposes whale hunting. Marco van Rennes from The Netherlands is an activist and a marine engineering student. He's had experience operating high-speed inflatable boats used by NGOs in civil rights missions. Reva Viard is a climate activist from France and in a pre-recorded message urged the French government to 'push for an end to the genocide'. Israel's defence minister Israel Katz ordered the military on Sunday to stop the Madleen from reaching Gaza's shores, calling it a propaganda effort in support of Hamas. But people like Francesca Albanese, the UN's special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, has supported the FFC's operation and urged other boats to challenge the blockade. She wrote: 'Madleen's journey may have ended, but the mission isn't over. Every Mediterranean port must send boats with aid & solidarity to Gaza.' Restrictions on movements and goods in Gaza were imposed by Israel in the 1990s. This intensified in 2007 when Hamas took over Gaza and led to a complete blockade on the movement of goods and people in and out. The blockade is still in place after conflicts including the Hamas assault on October 7, 2023. Israel says the blockade is essential to prevent weapons from reaching Hamas in Gaza. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition says it is urgently working to locate the crew, with Israel's foreign ministry saying at 3pm that the yacht is 'continuing its journey toward an Israeli port'. The ministry announced at 3.30am on Monday that it was under Israeli control and that all passengers were safe and unharmed. The ministry added: 'They were provided with sandwiches and water. The show is over.' The activists will be shown videos of atrocities committed during the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack in Israel. After this, the activists are expected to be returned to their home countries. More Trending Some governments have spoken out about the news including Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs who summoned the Israeli charge d'affaires in Madrid, Dan Poraz. Turkey has condemned Israel's actions, calling it 'a clear violation of international law'. The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement: 'This heinous act by the Netanyahu government, which threatens the freedom of navigation and maritime security, once again demonstrates that Israel is acting as a terror state.' There have not yet been responses from the governments of Brazil, Germany, France or the Netherlands. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Dawn French apologises after being accused of underplaying October 7 attacks on Israel MORE: 'Israel arrested my mum, how do I know she's not dead in a ditch?' MORE: US suggests Palestinian state should be in the French Riviera
Metro
14 hours ago
- Metro
Here's why Keir Starmer thinks technology will actually make us 'more human'
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The UK must 'push past' the debate over whether AI will take people's jobs, Keir Starmer has said, as he argued the tech is making us more human. Businesses and industries across the country have been transformed by the technology, which can summarise vast documents and generate text or images in a matter of seconds. While workers and unions have expressed concerns over the impact of the sweeping change, the Prime Minister has embraced it. In a speech at London Tech Week this morning, Sir Keir recalled being 'really struck' by the impact AI is having on the war in Ukraine and pushing for it to be 'hardwired' into the recent Strategic Defence Review. He said: 'I've set the challenge to all of my teams: show me how they can use AI — not just in the output of government, not just in partnership with yourselves and others in the delivery of services — but also in the very way we do government.' As an example, he spoke about a social worker he met in Downing Street who told him AI is 'slashing her paperwork and her caseload'. Craig Munro breaks down Westminster chaos into easy to follow insight, walking you through what the latest policies mean to you. Sign up here. The PM said: 'She could use AI and tech to help with the parts that could be done more quickly. And from that, I've always said: AI and tech make us more human. 'It may sound like an odd thing to say, but it's true—and we need to say it. 'Because some people out there are sceptical. They worry about AI taking their jobs. But I know from audiences like this, this debate has been had many times. We need to push past it.' AI is expected to form a central part of the spending review on Wednesday, when Chancellor Rachel Reeves will outline plans for government budgets over the next few years. Departments will be encouraged to use the tech to slash costs and speed up work. More Trending But it has also played a role behind the scenes of the review. In January, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones said a tool nicknamed 'HMT GPT' was being used to summarise spending bids from different departments. Following a speech on AI from the Prime Minister that same month, Unite the Union general secretary Sharon Graham called for 'proper protections from AI's pitfalls'. She said: 'The introduction of AI in the workplace must be something that happens with workers and not to workers. 'Government, employers, and unions all need to be working together to avoid the potential dangers of workplace AI.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: The 'Gate to Hell' has been open for 50 years but is finally burning out MORE: The real reason behind 'Stop Hiring Humans' ads appearing on the Tube MORE: Three men appear in court accused of arson attacks on properties linked to Keir Starmer
Reuters
15 hours ago
- Reuters
Australia regulator trials faster IPO process as listings hit decade low
SYDNEY, June 10 (Reuters) - Australia's securities regulator said on Tuesday it would trial changes to speed up initial public offerings that are at a decade low by implementing recommendations from earlier reviews and allowing faster access for retail investors. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) said the changes could shave as much as one week off the typical 20-week IPO process and reduce deal execution risk. The trial will begin on Tuesday and last for two years, the regulator said. "Creating a more streamlined IPO process underscores our commitment to ensuring our public markets remain attractive to companies and investors," ASIC Chairman Joe Longo said in a statement. Longo said the funds raised through IPOs were at the lowest level in more than a decade, with only A$4.2 billion ($2.74 billion) raised last year compared to A$22.9 billion in 2014. ASIC's new measures come just days after Virgin Australia ( opens new tab launched a closely watched A$685 million IPO that attracted strong investor demand. ASIC said the changes applied to companies seeking to list on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) ( opens new tab through "fast-track" status, with a projected market capitalisation above A$100 million and no ASX-imposed escrow. Most Australian IPOs are carried out through a front-end book-building process, which means the price is set and investor bids are taken ahead of the prospectus being reviewed and approved by Australian regulators. ASIC and the ASX have been under pressure to speed up the IPO vetting process, to reduce the time investors are exposed to market fluctuations while a prospectus is under review. Under the planned changes, companies would be able to submit a confidential prospectus or product disclosure statement at least 14 days before formal lodgement for ASIC review. ASIC said it would also adopt a "no action" position allowing eligible companies to begin accepting retail investor applications during the standard seven-day exposure period. Typically, retail investor orders are taken after the prospectus becomes public following the regulator's reviews. The trial was also a part of a broader review of regulatory settings around IPOs, ASIC said. "While we do not see regulatory settings as the silver bullet, we have received lots of ideas and are considering further regulatory adjustments to support a strong and well-functioning market," Longo said. ($1 = 1.5354 Australian dollars)
