Australia election 2025 live: Peter Dutton to pledge big boost to defence; Labor claims Coalition election cash splash over $50bn
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Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I'm Martin Farrer with some of our top overnight stories before I hand the news baton to Krishani Dhanji.
Peter Dutton has blamed poor polling during the election campaign on Labor attack ads rather than his own performance, including two mistakes and ditching a policy to force some public servants to work from their offices. The third debate was a mostly lacklustre affair that livened up when the leaders were asked to name the other's biggest lie. Nine's three-person panel awarded the contest to Dutton by a vote of 2-1.
The opposition leader launches a big defence policy today, with a promise to lift defence spending to 2.5% of the economy. More on this soon.
Amid more turmoil on the world's financial markets thanks to Donald Trump's economic policies, there are concerns that the Australian Treasury has underestimated the threat posed by the US trade war after the International Monetary Fund slashed its outlook for Australia's economic growth in 2025. It forecast annual output will be $13bn lower this year than predicted in January and that real GDP growth will drop to 1.6%, from 2.1%. More coming up.
And in more money matters, we're reporting this morning that Australians would have to wait 70 years for affordable housing if property values follow the 'sustainable growth' path advocated by the two major parties. A leading economist calls the claims a 'con'. Share
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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
Metro
16 hours ago
- Metro
Piccadilly restaurant that kicked out Tommy Robinson 'in the right' not to serve him
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Staff at West End restaurants have backed the Hawksmoor steakhouse for refusing to serve far right activist Tommy Robinson. Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was asked to leave the venue after managers said staff and other diners were uncomfortable with his presence. Yaxley-Lennon, 42, said he and four others were told to leave the Hawksmoor near Piccadilly Circus, on Thursday. He has accused the restaurant of 'discriminatory behaviour' due to his political beliefs. The campaigner protests against what he brands 'radical Islam'. Hawksmoor said the group left the restaurant 'politely' adding that its decision was 'not about politics or belief' and it was 'not trying to engage in a public debate'. Video footage posted on X by a member of Yaxley-Lennon's group shows a member of staff telling them that his colleagues felt 'uncomfortable serving' them. The staff member is then heard saying that he had a 'duty of care'. They apologise any inconvenience and tell the group they do not have to pay for the drinks they have already consumed. Posting on X, Yaxley-Lennon said: 'Restaurants and businesses should not be political. We weren't loud, aggressive or inappropriate, so this can only be my politics.' He called for a boycott of the restaurant and for his followers on X to leave reviews. But restaurant and hotel staff at venues near the Hawksmoor backed the venue in its decision to exclude the activist. A worker at the Cafe Royal on Piccadilly told Metro: 'It's a difficult one as we have a duty to serve. But I think the waiter is within their rights to say they are uncomfortable and report it to management. 'Then the manager can make a decision. I've never had these problems before where I work. 'But personally I do not like what Tommy Robinson has to say and would say because of his controversial views some would not be happy to service his meal or sit near him.' A waiter at a restaurant close to the Hawksmoor told Metro: 'We are all talking about it around here. We in hospitality are from all over the world. The opinions of this man (Yaxley-Lennon) are uncomfortable for us. I am Muslim and his views offend me and I wouldn't want to serve him. I think that is my right.' Most staff Metro spoke to said they felt obliged to serve members of the public unless they 'crossed a line'. A chef at a hotel where A-listers and celebrities are frequent visitors said: 'Mainly we just get on with it because they are the paying customer. But sometimes you have to draw a line. I think the Hawksmoor was within its rights to do that.' Another chef at a high end Italian restaurant close to Hawksmoor said that everyone had the right to be served but that in some top restaurants anyone filming, as the group had done and posted on X, could be seen as breaking rules. He told Metro: 'I have worked in some very expensive restaurants with lords, ladies and celebrities eating. They had policies of no pictures or filming. I don't know what the Hawksmoor policy is but the group filming the staff could have made the situation worse.' More Trending The Hawksmoor steakhouse chain has seven restaurants in London, with branches in Liverpool, Edinburgh, Manchester and abroad. In a statement Hawksmoor said: 'On Thursday, a public figure was asked to leave one of our restaurants because guests and staff felt uncomfortable and had complained. 'The party left peacefully and politely on request.' It added it wanted to welcome guests 'regardless of background or views' and its team had to deal with a 'huge amount of fallout… some of which is quite concerning'. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Londoners are flocking to the 'hidden gem' neighbourhood with the best-connected new homes MORE: 'Edgers' are the cheeky commuters invading the National Rail network MORE: Bizarre moment plane-spotter filmed man running around on Heathrow runway
