ABC AU
Allegra Spender and Zali Steggall confirm plans to form new party
Teal independents Allegra Spender and Zali Steggall are launching Community Strong Australia, a formal political party aimed at positioning itself as a credible alternative to Labor and the Coalition. The move marks a significant structural shift for the teal movement, which has until now operated through a loose network of independent candidates. So far, however, neither MP has secured commitments from crossbench colleagues to join the new entity.
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Last IS-linked Australian woman from Syrian camp to return despite previous ban
Australia's last IS-linked woman held in a Syrian detention camp will be permitted to return home after the government was advised its criminal exclusion order was no longer legally enforceable. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed the return permit "has to be issued" following advice from agencies and legal counsel. The woman will face an unprecedented level of security monitoring upon arrival, including constant surveillance requirements.
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Australia considers strengthening social media ban
Australia is moving to tighten its landmark social media ban for minors, with officials expressing concern that the original legislation lacks sufficient enforcement teeth. The country made global headlines as the first to pass such sweeping restrictions on young people's access to social platforms. Strengthening these powers signals Canberra's commitment to making the policy more than symbolic.
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Australia flags strengthening of social media ban
Australia is moving to tighten its landmark social media ban for minors, signaling that the original legislation may lack sufficient enforcement teeth. The government is treating the strengthened measures as a legislative priority, reflecting mounting pressure to make the world-first law more than symbolic. How far the new powers will extend remains the central question for platforms and policymakers alike.
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'ISIS bride' barred from Australia issued permit to return home
An Australian citizen who traveled to Syria and joined ISIS has been granted permission to return home after being held under a temporary exclusion order. The woman had been living in a refugee camp in Syria following the collapse of the Islamic State. The decision marks a significant shift in Australia's handling of citizens who joined the militant group, reigniting debate over national security and repatriation policy.
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