We’re going to close the blog now. Before we go, here’s a recap of today’s big headlines:
The new Liberal president, Tony Abbott, has backed preference deals with One Nation as he declared the party wouldn’t win the next election by being “slaves to focus groups” and just a “little less woke than Labor”.
One Nation’s Barnaby Joyce has claimed that “people who look like they’ve recently arrived” are knocking Australian buyers out of home auctions, despite tax office data showing fewer than 1% of dwellings are bought by foreigners.
Jacinta Allanhas dismissed leadership speculation and says she will continue to call out “sexist, misogynist, hateful” commentary directed at her, despite the One Nation leader Pauline Hanson’s comments telling her to “suck it up, sweetheart”.
WA prisoners subject to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, report finds
Inmates are likely being subjected to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment at multiple prisons in Australia’s wealthiest state, prompting a jails watchdog to call for urgent reform, AAP reports.
Most of Western Australia’s correctional facilities are in crisis, with an increased level of harm observed across the system, Custodial Services inspector Eamon Ryan said in a report tabled in parliament on Tuesday.
There was a potentially serious risk to the security, control, safety, care and welfare of prisoners in the Hakea, Melaleuca and Casuarina facilities, he said.
“This is no longer a problem confined to a single facility – it reflects a systemic failure across multiple prisons,” Ryan said.
Conditions pose a serious risk to the safety and wellbeing of prisoners and staff, and in some cases may amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
“The system is operating beyond its capacity, with overcrowding, workforce pressures and restrictive regimes now embedded as the norm,” Ryan said.
WA’s adult prisons were operating in a sustained state of unsafe failure, driven by unprecedented population growth – 37% over three years – and chronic workforce instability that had outpaced the system’s capacity to respond, the report said.
Widespread overcrowding, including triple-bunking and prisoners sleeping on mattresses on the floor, has eroded infrastructure resilience to the point the system is unable to safely absorb or respond to major incidents.
Chronic staff shortfalls have triggered routine lockdowns to maintain control, significantly reduced time out of cell, cancelled family contact and limited access to basic services, leading to the routine denial of fundamental entitlements, the report said.
Hakea, Casuarina and Melaleuca prisons account for a disproportionately high share of use of force incidents, assaults and fatal self-harm events.
“The environments in each of these prisons materially increase the risk of serious harm and death in custody,” the report said.
“There are strong parallels with warning signs present prior to the 2018 Greenough Regional Prison riot.”
The Greenough riot in July 2018 led to the escape of 10 inmates and caused millions of dollars in damage.
The inspector called on the government to formally commit to and fund the system-level reforms required to address the concerns identified at the prisons.
Ryan also issued a show-cause notice, initially to the WA Justice Department, and then the Minister for Corrective Services, after the department’s response.
‘A disgrace’: Zali Steggall condemns ‘ditch the witch’ slogan
The independent MP Zali Steggall has said the billboard featuring the phrase “ditch the witch” alongside Victorian premier Jacinta Allan has “no place in modern political debate”.
In a statement, Steggall said:
Equally shameful is that businesses reportedly contributed $105,000 to support this campaign. Consumers will make their own decisions about companies that bankrolled this sexist messaging.
Let’s be clear. This campaign is not about democracy or freedom of speech. It is not about a female politician’s policies. It’s about her gender …
As Australia faces a national crisis of violence against women, this demeaning messaging is particularly revolting. Disrespect towards women is reinforced through language, stereotypes and behaviour that normalises contempt for women.
Calling the billboard a “disgrace”, Steggall joins a chorus of politicians, including Julia Gillard and Anthony Albanese in her criticism.
Australian shares trim losses but miners under pressure
Australia’s share market has trimmed its early losses on reports of de-escalation in the Middle East, but miners have remained under pressure from heavy commodity prices, AAP reports.
The S&P/ASX200 fell 20.9 points on Tuesday, down 0.24%, to 8,604.2, as the broader All Ordinaries trimmed 31.1 points, or 0.35%, to 8,824.8.
Basic materials were a drag on the broader exchange, falling more than 2% after drips in gold, iron ore and copper prices, while healthcare, consumer-facing, real estate and communications stocks rebounded.
The Australian dollar is buying 70.56 US cents, down from 71.25 US cents on Friday at 5pm, after the hawkish repricing for US interest rates supported the greenback.
Melbourne students caught using AI in year 12 English exam
Josh Taylor
Year 12 students at the Mazenod College in Mulgrave were caught using artificial intelligence in their Year 12 oral English exam.
Reports suggest up to 50 students may have used AI in the oral English exam, but when contacted by Guardian Australia, the school did not confirm this figure.
The principal of Mazenod College, Paul Shannon, said:
Following a review of the Year 12 Oral English exam process, the college identified evidence that suggested artificial intelligence tools were used by several students.
The matter was thoroughly investigated, and all appropriate processes were followed in submitting results to the VCAA. This included conversations with the students involved, and the appropriate reduction in marks for the affected assessment.
Shannon said AI tools are a “growing challenge” within schools, and they have no place in assessments and examinations.
The Victorian Curriculum Assessment Authority’s handbook states: use of generative AI in an assessment may breach academic integrity, and must be investigated under the school’s policy for investigating rule breaches.
NSW electoral commission alleges two Labor officials tried to disguise donations to Chris Minns in 2015 election campaign
Jordyn Beazley
The New South Wales Electoral Commission has revealed that prosecutors have launched proceedings against two state Labor officials after they allegedly tried to disguise donations to Chris Minns during his 2015 election campaign.
The NSW director of public prosecution launched proceedings against Jonathan Yee and Ernest Wong last Thursday after the electoral commission commenced an investigation in 2019 intoa “potential scheme to circumvent” election funding laws during the campaign to elect Minns for the seat of Kogarah. The commission said in a statement on Tuesday:
In the proceedings, it will be alleged that between 28 October 2014 and 12 August 2015 at Sydney and at other places in the State of New South Wales, Mr Yee and Mr Wong carried out a scheme to circumvent a prohibition or requirement under Part 6 of the [Election Funding, Expenditure and Disclosures Act 1981].
The commission said in the statement that it became aware of the potential alleged breach during the 2019 Independent Commission Against Corruption’s Operation Aero investigation, which in 2022 found Wong – a former NSW Labor MP – had engaged in corrupt conduct by concealing the illegal political donations.
The commission said it provided materials to the NSW DPP in between March and May 2026 after it received materials from the public accountability and works committee of the NSW parliament relating to the investigation.
The park confirmed the sighting of the devil, named Mary, on Facebook:
Following the continuation of an extensive search over the weekend and the sighting on local home security, we have triangulated the area which backs onto Saltwater Creek Reserve as a priority for the operation to locate Mary.
The devil, named Mary, did a Houdini from the Paradise Country theme park, escaping from quarantine in the early hours of Tuesday. Photograph: Paradise Country
Lauren Mousley, Paradise Country Curator of wildlife, asked the local community to monitor their security cameras for any movements and warned:
… if they do sight Mary to not approach or attempt to capture to avoid risk of injury.
AFP senior executive has driver’s licence suspended for drink-driving
A senior executive for the Australian Federal Police has had their driver’s licence suspended for three months after the employee was caught drink-driving in Queanbeyan.
The Australia Federal Police said in a statement:
On Monday, 8 June, 2026, an AFP senior executive employee received an infringement notice for a low-range drink driving offence in Queanbeyan, NSW.
Their driving privileges were suspended in NSW for three months.
Per standard practice, the AFP has initiated an internal investigation in line with the AFP’s integrity framework.
BoM says El Niño is ‘approaching’ but not yet locked in
The Bureau of Meteorology has said this afternoon that the tropical Pacific Ocean is “approaching El Niño conditions” but has stopped short of declaring the climate pattern is locked in.
El Niño can bring hotter and drier conditions to Australia’s east, particularly in winter and spring, and can increase the risk of bushfires, heatwaves, drought and coral bleaching.
The bureau’s long-range forecast for the winter months already shows an increased chance of below average rainfall for much of the country’s east and south west WA, as well as an increased chance of above average maximum and minimum temperatures across much of the country.
A map showing areas in brown that are expected to get below average precipitation between June and August 2026. Illustration: Bureau of Meteorology
The bureau said in an update that trade winds, atmospheric pressure patterns and clouds were also “trending towards an El Niño state”.
A temperature index in a key region of the tropical Pacific was now at +0.81C, the bureau confirmed, which was just over one of the thresholds for declaring an El Niño. The bureau said:
“Some uncertainty remains in the likely strength of this El Niño event. Models indicate it will be at least moderate in strength, with the possibility of a strong event, based on the extent of warming in the central tropical Pacific.”
Experts have stressed that for Australia, the strength of an El Niño does not necessarily align with its affects.
Globally, El Niño can push up global temperatures, and some climate scientists expect the climate pattern could deliver a record hot year in 2027.
Liberal party ‘indistinguishable these days’ from One Nation, PM says
Albanese has said “the Liberal One National party are indistinguishable these days” after being asked about Angus Taylor not ruling out joining forces with One Nation.
The prime minister said:
The Liberal One National party are indistinguishable these days, and the problem for Angus Taylor is that if he tries to out-One Nation, One Nation … then they become indistinguishable, and people more and more will go towards what they see as the real thing.
The problem is when it comes to solutions, and we certainly know that people are under pressure, but if you’re serious about government, you’ve got to come up with solutions.
Albanese says Liberals’ plan to abolish Housing Australia Future Fund is ‘extraordinary’
Anthony Albanese was asked during the press conference in Bendigo if his government can help respond to concerns from a local housing group that there’s a rising homeless population and not enough transitional and support housing in the region.
He responded that the government can help “if the Coalition [and] the Greens got out of the way”.
He continued:
We had the Housing Australia Future Fund that was held up in the Senate for two years, and now we have, as part of that, emergency accommodation as well.
The Housing Australia Future Fund, a $10bn fund for more social housing, more emergency housing, more housing that Australians really need for workers in essential services, has all been opposed, and the Coalition is saying that they will abolish it.
It is extraordinary that in Angus Taylor’s budget reply, he wants to reinstitute the taxes that will advantage investors over first home buyers, and in order to fund that, he will abolish these programs that build social, affordable, and public housing.
Anthony Albanese is speaking from Bendigo right now, where he has said the Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, is “absolutely” the best person to lead the state.
Victoria needs a strong premier, they need someone who is a strong advocate.
Premier Allan was one of the first premiers to sign up to ensure that every school in Victoria, public and private, received full and fair funding from the Commonwealth government.
More on the Liberal unease over One Nation and Coalition preference deals
More on those potential preference deals between One Nation and the Coalition from my colleague, Dan Jervis-Bardy:
The Liberals and Nationals are grappling with how to respond to the surging support for One Nation, which threatens to replace them as Australia’s main conservative party.
The Liberals encouraged supporters to direct preferences to One Nation ahead of the independent challenger at the Farrer byelection, in part to avoid alienating their right-wing supporter base.
It made a similar decision at this year’s South Australian election and in several seats at the 2025 federal election, breaking from the John Howard-era position of rejecting Hanson’s candidates.
The strategy has caused unease among moderate Liberals, who fear that associating themselves with Hanson will make it harder to reclaim city seats lost to teal independents and Labor.
Albanese: Tim Cook says Apple’s new safety controls are inspired by Australia’s social media ban
Anthony Albanese says the Apple chief executive, Tim Cook, has linked the introduction of new online safety controls on for children Apple platforms to Australia’s social media ban for under-16s.
In the statement, the PM said Cook called him to explain the changes, which include features designed to allow parents to more easily manage the content their children can see, who they can communicate with, and when they have access to apps.
“Mr Cook told me these changes are in part inspired by Australia’s world leading social media age ban, as well as the continued research Apple is undertaking into the impact of social media on kids,” Albanese said.
I welcome this announcement, and I am proud of the world leading work Australia is doing to fight for a safer online world for our children.
We have a long way to go and we knew it would not be easy.
However we are now seeing a number of nations follow Australia’s lead and take forward their own social media age bans.
Cook invited Albanese to visit Apple next time he is in the United States.
A range of countries around the world, including France and Denmark, are already following Australia’s lead on restricting social media use for children.
Tim Cook. Photograph: Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images
The ‘less lethal’ weapons Australian police don’t want you to know about
Projectiles that release powder designed to burn the eyes and throat. Flashbang grenades. Teargas. Launchers that resemble semi-automatic rifles.
Often dubbed “less lethal”, these weapons can cause serious injuries or even death if misused – but they are deployed by police against crowds in Australia with little scrutiny.
Police use OC spray amid violent clashes at a 2021 anti-lockdown protest in Melbourne. Photograph: Dave Hewison/Speed Media/REX/Shutterstock
“All of these weapons can kill people,” says Rohini Haar, a medical adviser at Physicians for Human Rights who has researched their health impacts on protesters around the world.
The Guardian’s Ariel Bogel and Nino Bucci have an investigation into such weaponry, and it’s worth your time. Take a look here:
Angus Taylor hints Coalition could work with One Nation to defeat 'rotten Labor government'
The opposition leader, Angus Taylor, has alluded to the possibility the Coalition could work with One Nation to “get rid of a rotten Labor government” when asked about swapping preferences with Pauline Hanson’s party.
Taylor spoke to journalists during a doorstop this morning, saying Australians were “angry” after polls showed a rise in support for One Nation. When asked about the potential of swapping preferences with Hanson, Taylor had this to say:
[Australians] they’ve had enough of this rotten Labor government that’s taking this country in the wrong direction. We’ll work with others to get rid of this rotten Labor government.
So, obviously, these are decisions that will, ultimately, be made by party organisations over time.
When asked later about the Western Australia Liberal leader leaving the door open to working with One Nation to form government in the state, Taylor went on to say the Coalition would work with “whoever we can” to defeat Labor.
It’s got to go. It has failed Australians. This prime minister has failed Australians. This treasurer has failed Australians, and we’ll work with whoever we have to get rid of this toxic Labor government and their toxic taxes.
Top of mind is also the impact of the budget tax changes on the housing market and other investments, which has tightened financial conditions and so done some of the RBA’s work for it.
For example, banks have slashed the borrowing capacity of housing investors by about 20% in response to the planned changes to capital gains tax and negative gearing.
“Given that 40c in every $1 of mortgage lending flows to investors, this is a sizeable decline in borrowing capacity in aggregate,” Auld writes.
Homebuilding might only account for roughly 5% of GDP, but the knock-on effects to the rest of the economy “are likely to be much larger”:
For this reason, we are wary that a larger cycle in the housing market represents a downside risk to economic activity in coming quarters.
For now, NAB is pencilling in a rate cut in the June quarter next year.
In summary, we have greater conviction that the next move in rates is down, but less conviction on the timing.
