12 hours ago
Australia news live: Mike Pezzullo's Iran warning; budget day in NSW, Queensland and ACT
Update:
Date: 2025-06-23T20:44:34.000Z
Title:
Content: Former home affairs secretary, Mike Pezzullo, appeared on 7:30 last night, where he was asked what Australia should be worried about in terms of any potential Iranian retaliation.
He said the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, his secretary and the counter-terrorism coordinator in home affairs would be working overtime with border agencies, investigative agencies and others to ensure that Australia is completely 'locked down' and any risk from sleep cells, sabotage or assassination is 'dealt with as best as they can'.
While he warned against sensationalising, he said there was also a risk 'dirty bombs' could be constructed. He said:
If any of that enriched uranium at whatever grade of enrichment has been secreted out of those facilities, particularly Fordow… [If that] is made available for the construction of a dirty bomb.
In other words, a radiological dispersal device, that doesn't explode with nuclear effect but can spread dangerous radiological harm over a wide area, that gives you cancer and you die a slow and painful death – I would be more worried if the regime starts to fracture, and a more militant sub-faction decides we're not going to accommodate and do something say involving a dirty bomb.
Update:
Date: 2025-06-23T20:41:19.000Z
Title: Welcome
Content: Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I'm Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories before Nick Visser picks up the reins.
Former home affairs boss Mike Pezullo has warned about the risk of Iran using a 'dirty bomb' against Australia after the Albanese government backed US strikes on its nuclear facilities. Pezullo also told the ABC's 7.30 that the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, will be 'working overtime' to ensure that Australia is completely 'locked down'. We have more from Pezullo coming up, and there's sure to be more reaction after the Iranian retaliation against the US overnight.
It's a busy day in state politics, with budgets being handed down in NSW, Queensland and the ACT. In NSW, the Minns government will claim that it has stabilised the state's post-Covid debt, while in Queensland the Crisafulli government is expected to promise that there will be no austerity despite concerns about the state's finances. More details shortly.
