Guardian AU
NSW spent almost $500,000 on court cases they lost against pro-Palestine protest groups
NSW taxpayers footed nearly $500,000 in legal bills for government cases against pro-Palestine protest groups — cases the state lost. One fight alone, over protest laws rushed through parliament in the wake of the Bondi Junction attack, cost $117,455. The laws were widely expected to face constitutional challenges, raising questions about why authorities pursued costly litigation they were unlikely to win.
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Albanese juggles national security and trade in foreign policy bonanza. The stakes could not be higher | Tom McIlroy
Australia's Prime Minister Albanese has embarked on an intensive diplomatic push, meeting leaders from India, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea in a single landmark week. The flurry of engagement signals Canberra's determination to shore up influence across the Indo-Pacific as competition with Beijing intensifies. Analysts suggest China stands to lose the most as Australia deepens ties with key regional partners.
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Australia news live: One Nation alliance ‘not our plan’, Taylor says; Hanson defends UK ‘fact-finding’ trip
Tension is rising within Australia's conservative political landscape as Liberal leader Angus Taylor distances himself from a potential One Nation alliance, even as Pauline Hanson courts far-right figures overseas, including Tommy Robinson. Meanwhile, Telstra faces serious scrutiny after South Australian police launched a death investigation linked to the telco's triple zero network outage. The incident, which occurred at a regional hospital during Wednesday's service disruption, adds pressure to Telstra as authorities examine whether the outage played a role in the fatality.
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Sydney Morning Herald
Andrew Hastie signs book deal to set out political convictions
Andrew Hastie has signed a book deal with Allen & Unwin, disclosing the arrangement in an updated register of interests. The Liberal MP for Canning is set to lay out his political convictions in what will be his first major published work. The move signals Hastie's intent to shape broader public debate beyond his parliamentary role.
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As a Muslim cricketer, at times I felt like I didn’t belong. I yearn for an Australia where all that matters is how you play | Usman Khawaja
Australia's first Muslim Test cricketer Usman Khawaja reflects on years of feeling like an outsider in the sport, despite donning the iconic baggy green cap. His essay is a call for a Australia where merit alone defines belonging — on and off the field.
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