Guardian AU
Zali Steggall expected to launch teal party after months of secret talks
Zali Steggall is set to launch a formal teal political party as early as this week, following months of behind-the-scenes negotiations among independent crossbenchers. While Allegra Spender, Sophie Scamps, and Nicolette Boele are understood to be open to joining, several other teals remain firmly opposed, raising questions about whether the venture will gain critical mass. The move would mark a significant shift from the independents' defining identity as community-backed candidates operating outside party structures.
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Australia undergoing historic decline in support for multiculturalism amid rising fear and pessimism, poll finds
Support for multiculturalism in Australia has collapsed at an unprecedented rate, with the share of Australians who view cultural diversity as beneficial to the nation dropping 17 percentage points — from 90% to 73% — in just two years, according to the Lowy Institute's annual survey. The shift reflects broader anxieties around economic pressures and global instability rather than any single political trigger. The findings signal a meaningful realignment in Australian public opinion on one of the country's defining national values.
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Australia secures biggest-ever defence export deal with Canada
Australia has landed its largest-ever defence export deal, supplying Canada with a cutting-edge radar system designed to surveil the vast Arctic region. The contract builds on the proven technology behind Australia's Jindalee Operational Radar Network, which monitors the continent's northern approaches. The deal marks a significant milestone for Australia's defence industry as it positions itself as a serious player in the global arms export market.
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Australia politics live: Chalmers calls Coalition ‘deliberately disingenuous’ on CGT in question time; second bird tests positive for H5N1 bird flu
Australia's political landscape saw Treasurer Jim Chalmers go on the offensive in question time, labeling the Coalition "deliberately disingenuous" over their stance on capital gains tax. Meanwhile, Shadow Minister Jane Hume took aim at Labor-Greens negotiations over NDIS reforms, calling the dealmaking "horse trading" while suggesting the proposed changes may not go far enough to address systemic issues. A second bird testing positive for H5N1 adds a public health dimension to an already busy news day.
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AI models that can take down governments and business months away, rare Five Eyes statement warns
AI systems capable of destabilizing governments and businesses could arrive within months, according to a rare joint warning from Five Eyes intelligence agencies spanning Australia, the US, the UK, New Zealand, and Canada. The unusually public statement urges leaders to act immediately, signaling that the threat timeline has grown alarmingly short. The intervention follows the Trump administration's move to restrict foreign nationals from accessing Anthropic's Fable AI model.
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