Penny Wong announces suspension of Tehran embassy
Josh Butler
Australia’s embassy in Tehran has suspended operations and the government is ordering officials to leave Iran, the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has said, over concerns about “the deteriorating security environment”.
As alarm grows about the conflict between Iran and Israel, Wong said the Australian ambassador to Iran would “remain in the region to support the Australian government’s response to this crisis”, while consular staff are being deployed to neighbouring Azerbaijan, “including its border crossings, to support Australians departing Iran”.
The government is trying to assist Australians to leave Iran but Wong said options were limited.
“The Australian government has directed the departure of all Australian officials and dependents and suspended operations at our embassy in Tehran, based on advice about the deteriorating security environment in Iran,” Wong said this morning.
We urge Australians who are able to leave Iran to do so now, if it is safe. Those who are unable to, or do not wish to leave, are advised to shelter in place.
People watch from a bridge as flames from an Israeli strike rise from Sharan oil depot in Tehran at the weekend. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/Reuters
Wong said the government was “continuing planning to support Australians seeking to depart Iran” – but at this stage “our ability to provide consular services is extremely limited due to the situation on the ground. The airspace remains closed.”
“Dfat will also continue to provide support through the 24-hour consular emergency centre, direct contact with Australian citizens who have registered on our crisis portal and updates to travel advice,” she said.
The suspension of embassy operations is consistent with steps taken by other countries, including New Zealand and Switzerland.
Australians in Iran seeking consular assistance should call the Australian government’s 24-hour consular emergency centre on +61 2 6261 3305 outside Australia and 1300 555 135 in Australia, Wong said.
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Updated at 22.41 BST
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Sydney’s Downing Centre courts shut after water damage
Stephanie Convery
The busy Downing Centre court complex in central Sydney will be closed for at least a month and after a burst water main on Castlereagh Street on Tuesday flooded the building and caused extensive damage.
Assessment of the damage was still under way, a Department of Communities and Justice spokesperson said, but by Thursday it had already become clear that key infrastructure of the building, “including electricity, IT systems and other equipment” had been damaged and “extensive repairs will be required which will take a lengthy period of time.”
A burst water main outside the Downing Centre after it was evacuated in Sydney on Tuesday. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAP
The Chief Judge of the District Court had notified the NSW Bar Association that it was likely some part-heard trials would be aborted as a result of the closure, according to reports. The DCJ did not comment on this possibility.
People with matters scheduled in the Downing Centre Local Court or Sydney District Court were advised to check the online court registry or local court website for updates, or contact the registry for further information. Those with matters scheduled in the Drug Court were advised to contact the court registry or their community corrections officer.
Currently empanelled jurors in criminal trials could expect to be contacted by the NSW Sheriff’s Office. The department spokesperson said:
The Department of Communities and Justice will issue further updates over the coming weeks as work is carried out to repair the damaged systems and to ensure the building is safe and fully operational prior to its reopening.
Judicial officers and court staff are making every effort to ensure matters are able to proceed wherever possible.
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Updated at 00.24 BST
SpaceX rocket explodes during test
One of Elon Musk’s SpaceX rockets has exploded during a routine test in Texas. The Starship 36 suffered “catastrophic failure and exploded” at the Starbase launch facility, according to the Cameron County authorities.
Starship, the world’s largest and most powerful rocket, is central to Musk’s long-term vision of colonising Mars.
Watch below:
The moment Elon Musk’s SpaceX’s Starship 36 explodes – videoShare
Updated at 00.13 BST
Sarah Basford Canales
Wong vows to work ‘closely’ with Washington in Iran-Israel talks
Penny Wong committed to working “closely” with the US in achieving peace between Iran and Israel as part of talks with the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, overnight.
A US embassy spokesperson confirmed the discussions related to agreed efforts to find a “path of peace” and to ensure “that Iran never develops a nuclear weapon”.
Marco Rubio, left, with Donald Trump. Photograph: Nathan Howard/Reuters
Donald Trump has been considering whether the US will support Israel in its strikes on Iran, including whether to target the Fordow uranium enrichment site. On Wednesday, the US president said he had “ideas” about the US’s involvement in Israel’s campaign against Iran but hadn’t made a final decision. Trump said:
I may do it, I may not do it. The next week is going to be very big, maybe less than a week.
On Thursday US time, Trump confirmed via his press secretary that he would be making his decision within “two weeks”.
Read more:
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Updated at 00.02 BST
Sarah Basford Canales
Hundreds more Australians register overnight to leave Iran
The number of Australians registered as needing help to leave Iran has risen by 500 overnight as the latest escalation of conflict with Israel continues. As of Friday morning, more than 2,000 Australians in Iran have registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs’ crisis portal, up from 1,500 on Thursday.
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, described the situation in Iran as “very complicated” and “very risky” yesterday, noting there were fewer avenues to safely evacuate Australians from the country.
Smokes rises from the Soroka hospital complex in Israel after it was hit by a missile fired from Iran on Thursday. Photograph: Léo Corrêa/AP
Meanwhile in Israel, about 1,200 Australian passport holders, permanent residents and immediate family of Australians have requested the government’s assistance in fleeing. The Australian government arranged for a busload of registered Australians to depart from Tel Aviv across the border to Jordan’s capital, Amman, on Wednesday.
A second bus was planned yesterday and we’re awaiting confirmation on whether it was able to go ahead. The government is looking at other options for assisted departures, which could include routes through Egypt.
Australians in need of emergency consular assistance can contact the consular emergency centre on +61 2 6261 3305 (if overseas) and 1300 555 135 (in Australia).
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Updated at 23.50 BST
Coalition urges PM to visit Nato summit
James Paterson, the shadow finance minister, said Anthony Albanese should make a last-minute trip to next week’s Nato summit.
The prime minister said earlier this week he may make a snap visit to The Hague after his planned meeting with US president Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 was cancelled.
Paterson told Channel 7 Albanese should go to the Nato meeting even if he isn’t able to lock-in a rescheduled chat with Trump, as he could speak with his European counterparts about the war in Ukraine and the growing conflict in the Middle East:
If he meets with President Trump on the sidelines, that would be a bonus. But frankly, I think his approach of now waiting seven months to go and see the president and not going to see him in Washington DC, relying on a chance meeting on the sidelines of international forum, is a very risky strategy, as we saw at the G7.
‘If he meets with President Trump on the sidelines, that would be a bonus,’ James Paterson told Channel 7. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAPShare
Updated at 23.57 BST
‘Suspicious’ fire at multimillion-dollar Melbourne mansion
Victoria police are investigating a “suspicious” house fire in the Melbourne suburb of Toorak early this morning.
Emergency officials responded to a large property on St Georges Road just before 12.30am to find the property in flames. The house was undergoing renovations at the time of the fire.
No one was inside the house, and investigations will continue into the exact cause of the blaze, “which is believed to be suspicious at this stage”, police said.
An arson chemist will travel to the scene later this morning.
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Updated at 23.19 BST
Guardian Australia investigation found 57 inmates died using known hanging points
Guardian Australia revealed earlier this month a staggering 57 Australians have killed themselves in the past two decades using hanging points in prisons that authorities knew about but failed to remove.
In a five-month review of 248 hanging deaths in Australian jails, Guardian Australia identified 19 correctional facilities where inmates died after governments and authorities failed to remove known ligature points within cells.
In many cases, this was despite repeated and urgent warnings from coroners to do so. Warning: the story below contains descriptions of self-harm and some readers might find it distressing.
In a review of 248 hanging deaths, Guardian Australia identified 19 correctional facilities where 57 inmates died after authorities failed to remove known ligature points. Illustration: Guy Shield/The Guardian
Attorney general Michell Rowland said this week the death toll linked to hanging points was “unacceptable”, telling state and territory governments to “review their practices”.
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Updated at 23.06 BST
McCarthy says Australians need to ‘see action’ on Indigenous deaths in custody
Malarndirri McCarthy, the minister for Indigenous Australians, said the federal government, as well as all states and territories, needed to push to end deaths in custody after two men died in recent weeks in police custody in the Northern Territory.
McCarthy spoke to RN Breakfast shortly before a meeting of the joint council on Closing the Gap. She said:
The gathering today of first nations Indigenous affairs ministers … is testament to the fact that this is an incredibly important issue. And Australians need to see action, and this is what we’re doing.
Malarndirri McCarthy: ‘We do not want to see further deaths in custody.’ Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP
Host Sally Sara asked about how the government would work to address hanging points in prisons, and if those points would be dealt with by the end of the year. McCarthy said the issue had been raised and taken “quite seriously”, but that states and territories needed to take full responsibility for the prisons they ran. She added:
I certainly have raised it directly with my colleagues. We are very serious, not just about this one issue of hanging points, Sally. We do not want to see further deaths in custody.
McCarthy said the past few weeks in the Northern Territory had been “absolutely abhorrent” when it came to deaths in custody:
No one should go to a supermarket and think that they’ll never return home. No one should try and board a plane and think they’ll never ever live. These are two incredibly difficult episodes for those families. They are still trying to come to terms with it.
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Updated at 22.59 BST
Bragg says ‘better value’ for taxpayers if Coalition part of Chalmers’ productivity roundtable
Andrew Bragg, the shadow minister for productivity and deregulation, told RN Breakfast this morning it was up to treasurer Jim Chalmers who sits on an upcoming productivity roundtable but taxpayers would be better off if the Coalition was on the invite list.
Andrew Bragg: ‘We want to be constructive.’ Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP
Bragg said:
As you know, we’re happy to be productive. We are doing our own policy work on productivity, deregulation, cutting of red tape. … I think taxpayers would get better value if we were able to collaborate. But ultimately, who goes to this meeting is up to the treasurer. As he says, there’ll be a role for us regardless.
But I do think that if there is an opportunity for bipartisanship on trying to improve our very anaemic productivity, which I have to say, after three years of Labor, I mean, the government have largely driven a lot of this bad productivity because of their huge commitment to red tape.
But we want to be constructive.
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Updated at 22.46 BST
Five ways Australians have changed in 25 years
Australia’s changing way of life is highlighted by five key trends in two pieces of research released today – one by the e61 Institute and another by KPMG.
Luca Ittamani finds that young people are living with their parents for longer compared with 25 years ago thanks to the housing crisis, and are less likely to be living with a partner.
Young Australian families move around more thanks to falling home ownership. Illustration: Guardian
Another result of expensive housing is that young families are more likely to move around because they are less likely to own their own home.
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Updated at 22.34 BST
Josh Butler
About 2,000 registered with Dfat as wanting to leave Iran
Further to the last post on Iran – it’s understood just over 2,000 Australian citizens, permanent residents and immediate family members are registered as wanting to depart Iran.
Smoke rises in Tehran this week. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/ReutersShare
Updated at 22.19 BST
Victoria Liberals bail out Pesutto with $1.5m loan to avoid bankruptcy
There was a dramatic meeting of the Victorian Liberals’ 19-member administrative committee last night at which they decided to give former leader John Pesutto a $1.5m loan so he can pay off his legal debt to Moira Deeming.
Pesutto will have to repay the money ‘on a commercial loan basis’, the Victorian Liberals’ president says. Photograph: Con Chronis/AAP
It means he won’t go bankrupt which, among other things, would have triggered a byelection in his seat of Hawthorn. After the meeting, the party’s state president, Phil Davis, sent an email to members explaining the decision:
You will have no doubt seen media commentary about the member for Hawthorn’s request of the party to assist him in meeting the costs order by the federal court in the Deeming v Pesutto defamation matter.
The party’s administrative committee met this evening and resolved that Moira Deeming should be paid what is owed to her, and therefore the party will contribute $1.55 million directly to Mrs Deeming.
Mr Pesutto will be required to re-pay this amount to the party on a commercial loan basis, with a market-based interest rate, ensuring that the Party earns additional income from this investment.
Settling this matter once and for all is in the interests of the party, as it will see an end to the ongoing commentary that is letting Labor get away with their appalling performance.
By ensuring that Mrs Deeming has been paid, there will be no Hawthorn by-election, and the state parliamentary team can focus on the urgent needs of the Victorian community, particularly campaigning to change the government at the 2026 Election.
Victorians need a change of government. By ensuring that Mrs Deeming gets paid what she is owed, the Party will be stronger as we head towards November 2026.
Read our full story here:
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Updated at 23.02 BST
Good morning, and happy Friday. Nick Visser here to take over for Martin Farrer. Stick with us as we dive into the day’s news.
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Penny Wong announces suspension of Tehran embassy
Josh Butler
Australia’s embassy in Tehran has suspended operations and the government is ordering officials to leave Iran, the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has said, over concerns about “the deteriorating security environment”.
As alarm grows about the conflict between Iran and Israel, Wong said the Australian ambassador to Iran would “remain in the region to support the Australian government’s response to this crisis”, while consular staff are being deployed to neighbouring Azerbaijan, “including its border crossings, to support Australians departing Iran”.
The government is trying to assist Australians to leave Iran but Wong said options were limited.
“The Australian government has directed the departure of all Australian officials and dependents and suspended operations at our embassy in Tehran, based on advice about the deteriorating security environment in Iran,” Wong said this morning.
We urge Australians who are able to leave Iran to do so now, if it is safe. Those who are unable to, or do not wish to leave, are advised to shelter in place.
People watch from a bridge as flames from an Israeli strike rise from Sharan oil depot in Tehran at the weekend. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/Reuters
Wong said the government was “continuing planning to support Australians seeking to depart Iran” – but at this stage “our ability to provide consular services is extremely limited due to the situation on the ground. The airspace remains closed.”
“Dfat will also continue to provide support through the 24-hour consular emergency centre, direct contact with Australian citizens who have registered on our crisis portal and updates to travel advice,” she said.
The suspension of embassy operations is consistent with steps taken by other countries, including New Zealand and Switzerland.
Australians in Iran seeking consular assistance should call the Australian government’s 24-hour consular emergency centre on +61 2 6261 3305 outside Australia and 1300 555 135 in Australia, Wong said.
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Updated at 22.41 BST
Israel says it has ‘very close collaboration’ with Australia
Daisy Dumas
Israel’s deputy foreign affairs minister says her country’s war with Iran is an “Israeli mission” and that the country is capable of fighting Iran without America’s direct involvement.
Speaking with ABC’s 7.30, Sharren Haskel also said Israel had “a very close collaboration” with Australia.
She said that given “such an enormous amount of bombardment and missiles and ballistic missiles” had been fired by Iran, some had penetrated Israel’s Iron Dome and two other layers of defence.
Damaged buildings in Ramat Gan, Israel, on Thursday after Iranian missile strikes. Photograph: Xinhua/Shutterstock
The Knesset member went on to say the war was “an Israeli operation”:
Americans are very close allies of Israel. They were informed, and they are still informed, with all of the details of the operation as well. They are working with us to defend the country but this is an Israeli mission. This is our target.
President Trump is considering Americans’ interest and I understand that. He knows how Iran is a threat to humanity … They’re doing their consideration but we had to take into account our interests and to make sure we are capable of defending our people and our children.
Haskel said Trump’s America, should it decide to “join in”, may be capable of eliminating Iran’s nuclear threat, as Israel sees it, “in a shorter time, with much more sophisticated or direct equipment, advanced equipment”. But even if it took longer, Israel was targeting what it needed to keep its people safe.
She said Israel has “a very close collaboration” with Australian security agencies. She did not elaborate, when asked, on whether that included sharing intelligence about Iran’s nuclear program with Australia.
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Updated at 00.11 BST
Anne Davies
Unravelling the Northern Beaches hospital deal is proving very complex because the private and public hospital facilities are interwoven in the same building, which is owned by a third entity.
There are separate public and private wards but all services – from theatres, pathology, X-ray, IT, reception and cleaning to nursing support – are shared.
If a mutual agreement is not reached, the proposed amendments would give the health minister the power to issue a termination notice to Healthscope.
In addition, the treasurer would have the power to ensure that compensation negotiations occur in a reasonable timeframe and to appoint an independent person to determine compensation if agreement cannot be reached.
The alternative to this approach is for the NSW government to exercise its voluntary termination rights, the government said.
Under the PPP contract this would see compensation to Healthscope’s receivers and lenders run into the hundreds of millions of dollars.
The health minister, Ryan Park, said: “We’ve made it clear from the very beginning that we don’t support this sort of arrangement.
This is a complex contract but the community deserves certainty.
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Updated at 23.17 BST
NSW government moves to end partnership deal over Northern Beaches hospital
Anne Davies
The Minns Labor government is arming itself with new powers to terminate the public-private partnership (PPP) with bankrupt Northern Beaches hospital operator Healthscope in the event that it cannot reach an agreement.
The government announced today it would introduce amendments to a private member’s bill brought forward by the member for Wakehurst, Michael Regan, next week so it could – if required – terminate the Northern Beaches PPP contract.
This follows the appointment of receivers to the parent entities of Healthscope, which the NSW government considers a default under the contract.
Healthscope has argued that the termination would be “voluntary” and would attract compensation as set out on the contract. The government said this would run to hundreds of millions of dollars.
“This is not a decision we take lightly,” the NSW treasurer, Daniel Mookhey, said.
But we are now in a position where the Liberals’ privatisation mess means Healthscope’s receivers are negotiating the future of the Northern Beaches hospital.
While an agreed exit from this failed PPP contract remains my preference, I must ensure the government has the right to step in and protect the Northern Beaches community from this dragging on.
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Updated at 23.19 BST
Welcome
Martin Farrer
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then Nick Visser will be in the hot seat.
Israel’s deputy foreign minister told the ABC’s 7.30 last night that her country had “a very close collaboration” with Australian security agencies. However, when pressed on the question she did not elaborate on whether that included sharing intelligence about Iran’s nuclear program. More coming up.
The Minns Labor government is arming itself with new powers to terminate the public-private partnership (PPP) with bankrupt Northern Beaches hospital operator Healthscope in the event that it cannot reach an agreement. More coming up on that too.
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Updated at 22.09 BST