Tag Archives: oceania

Ley admitted the Coalition "didn't just lose, we got smashed" in a frank assessment of her party's federal election missteps and announced a review into the campaign is now under way.

"What we, as the Liberal Party, presented to the Australian people was comprehensively rejected," Ley said.

Liberal leader Sussan Ley during an address to the National Press Club of Australia in Canberra on Wednesday 25 June 2025. fedpol Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

"The scale of that defeat, its size and significance, is not lost on me, nor any one of my parliamentary team sitting here today."

Ley steered clear of mentioning predecessor Peter Dutton by name, who also lost his seat of Dickson in a historic personal and party loss, but said it was up to her as the first female leader of the opposition to "do better".

She also vowed to bring more women into the Coalition ahead of the next election.

"Let me send the clearest possible message: we need to do better, recruit better, retain better and support better," Ley said.

"That's why I will work with every division, as will my parliamentary team, to ensure we pre-select more women for the 2028 election."

Ley said the next steps would involve a major long-term review of the party and vowed the Coalition would learn from its mistakes.

She said her mission is now to build a strong alternative to vote for at the next election.

Part of the wide-ranging Liberal Party review will include a "root-and-branch review" of the election result, Ley said.

"Never has a review been so important to the federal Liberal Party," she said.

"[The] review will be frank and fearless, ensuring a thorough and honest assessment of what went wrong and how we can fix it."

Australian Liberal Party leader Peter Dutton walks from the stage after making a concession speech

Ley said a policy refresh is high on the agenda.

She admitted the election result proved the Coalition's policies weren't strong enough and nor did they resonate with the Australian people.

"We need to be serious and credible. We do need to work on our policy, as I outlined today," Ley added.

"That policy development wasn't done well in the last term. Some people have been very open about it."

Ley spoke at length about her passion for fighting against domestic violence, which she described as Australia's "national shame".

"They are mothers, daughters, friends. They had hopes and dreams. That they will never now realise," she said.

"I want the women of Australia to hear me when I say to them, as a national leader, I understand the fear you feel when you go for a walk alone.

"Because I have felt that fear too."

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

headline

Leisl hasn’t been seen in 13 years. Her mum wants the truth

2025-06-25 FreeNews

Sandi Harvey's car isn't the average wheels you'd usually see zooming around Sydney's streets.

Her silver hatchback has a huge fire-breathing dragon artfully painted on the back, is plastered with a missing person's poster and displays the words "find Leisl Smith".

Leisl, Harvey's daughter, went missing on the NSW Central Coast on August 19, 2012, at age 23. She hasn't been seen or heard from since that day.

https://omny.fm/shows/ben-fordham-full-show/my-heart-is-broken-mum-searches-for-missing-daughter-1/embed

Her accused killer and ex-partner James Scott Church took his own life before a verdict could be reached in 2022.

His death meant all legal proceedings had to be terminated under the law.

Harvey told Ben Fordham Live on 2GB she has been driving around her tribute to Leisl since the day she went missing.

The heartbroken mother takes her car around NSW and Victoria in the hopes it might trigger someone's memory.

"I hope that somebody sees it and goes, 'Oh, I remember hearing something about that', or, 'I remember somebody told me something'," Harvey said.

"And they can get in touch with either the Wyong police or Crime Stoppers and let them know… because not knowing is the worst thing ever."

She also staples posters to trees and hands out business cards around popular tourist spots in both states.

Sandi Harvey car tribute to missing daughter Leisl Smith

Harvey said the lack of answers following Church's death in custody has been hard to bear.

An inquest is being held into Leisl's disappearance and suspected murder, however no criminal court verdict will ever be delivered.

"It was just devastating. Absolutely devastating," she said.

"You know, part of my heart is missing. Although she was living with her father, she's still my daughter."

Sandi Harvey

Leisl, 23, was last seen getting into a car at Tuggerah on that 2012 day.

Her ex-partner, Church, 53, was arrested in 2019 and accused of murdering Leisl by luring her into a car and dumping her body in an unknown location.

He had pleaded not guilty before his death.

Anyone with information is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Readers seeking support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyond blue on 1300 22 4636.

headline

Police double reward to find backpacker’s remains

2025-06-25 FreeNews

Police have doubled the reward they are offering for information regarding the 2001 murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio in the Australian outback.

Bradley John Murdoch was convicted of Falconio's murder in 2005 and is serving a life sentence for the crime that occurred near Barrow Creek in the Northern Territory.

Falconio's body has never been found and NT Police today announced they have increased the reward from $250,000 to $500,000 for any information that leads to the discovery of his remains.

Peter Falconio and Joanne Lees

"We recognise the passage of time that's transpired," NT Police acting Commander Mark Grieve told media today.

"However, it's never too late to reach out and at least start that conversation with police because you just never know how beneficial that information that you may hold may be."

Next month will mark 24 years since Falconio, who was travelling with his girlfriend Joanne Lees, was killed by Murdoch while the pair were driving across the Stuart Highway.

Grieve said police have approached Murdoch "numerous times" over the years for information but have failed to uncover any new leads.

The Mystery That Still Surrounds The Murder Of UK Tourist Peter Falconio

"On all occasions, he's chosen not to positively engage with police," he said.

He also described Murdoch as being "not very forthcoming" when police have questioned him over Falconio's remains.

"There may be someone out there that he's confided in, whether or not that's family or friends, we just don't know," Grieve added.

Victim advocates have hit out after reports one of Australia's most notorious killers has been given special treatment for his final days after being moved into palliative care.

Police have been in contact with the Falconio family over the past 24 hours, Grieve said.

He did not comment on reports of Murdoch being given special treatment for his final days after being moved into palliative care.

NT officials yesterday refused to deny reports he has been moved to palliative care and that he has been permitted outings into the community and even back to the prison to say goodbye to his mates.

headline

Albanese backs Donald Trump after his ‘abrupt’ F-bomb

2025-06-25 FreeNews

Anthony Albanese has described Donald Trump's strongly-worded tirade directed at Iran and Israel as "abrupt" after the president lambasted both for violating a truce.

In a furious blast during a brief press encounter on the lawn at the White House on Tuesday morning (late Tuesday night AEST), the president said Israel and Iran "don't know what the f— they're doing".

The prime minister said Trump has made his views on the conflict "very clear" after being asked his thoughts on the surprise F-bomb dropped by the US president.

"l think that President Trump made some pretty clear statements. I don't think it needs any further reflection," Albanese told reporters in Tasmania.

"I think that he stated his views pretty abruptly and I think they were very clear."

Albanese echoed Trump's demand for a ceasefire and said the federal government views reflect the US president.

"We want to see peace in the region, we want to see a ceasefire, we want to see de-escalation, and that is consistent with the very clear comments of President Trump," he added.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers earlier defended Trump's language and said the expletive "reflects the gravity" of the conflict between the warring nations.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Tasmania

Trump's remarks came after Israel accused Iran of breaching the ceasefire and vowing to retaliate.

"We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don't know what the f— they're doing," Trump said, before adding "Do you understand that?" and storming off to board Marine One.

Trump said he was particularly incensed by Israel dropping bombs on Iran soon after the ceasefire deal.

"Israel, as soon as we made the deal, they came out and they dropped a load of bombs, the likes of which I've never seen before," he said.

"You don't go out in the first hour and just drop everything you have on them, so I'm not happy with them."

"Iran's military denied firing on Israel after the ceasefire began, the country's state media reported © but explosions boomed and sirens sounded across northern Israel midmorning on Tuesday (evening AEST).

Earlier, both Israel and Iran had accepted the ceasefire plan to end their 12-day war.

headline

Receipts lay bare huge difference between Aussie grocery giants

2025-06-25 FreeNews

A government-funded comparison of the country's biggest supermarket chains has revealed where shoppers are spending the most cash.

Consumer group Choice released its quarterly report on grocery prices at Aldi, Woolworths, Coles and IGA, which looked at the combined total of 14 popular winter items.

Choice priced essential items such as milk, Weet-Bix, apples, chicken breast, oats, onions and bananas across 104 stores in 27 locations during March 2025 and found Aldi came out on top with the most affordable receipt.

Supermarket comparison of grocery prices by Choice

A basket of these items at Aldi costs $55.35, while Woolworths trailed closely behind with the price just over $3 more expensive at $58.92.

Coles was slightly pricier at $59.22 for the total basket of items.

Meanwhile, IGA was the most expensive of all four supermarket chains at $69.74.

That's a difference of $14.42 between the basket at Aldi and one at IGA.

A cost breakdown released by the office of Andrew Leigh, assistant minister for productivity, competition, charities and treasury, found IGA was the most expensive option in every state and territory.

Aldi was the most affordable in every state and territory where the German supermarket is available.

Aldi Saving kitchen costs

"We're continuing to crack down on unfair prices at the big supermarkets to ensure Australian consumers and farmers get the best deal at the checkout," Leigh said.

"This latest Choice quarterly supermarket report funded by our government, provides a comparison of everyday grocery items for shoppers to make informed purchase decisions and save money."

Choice chief executive Ashley de Silva said item costs varied between supermarkets, however Aldi still came out on top even when comparing against specials.

"Without specials, Woolworths had the cheapest chicken breasts and pumpkin, while Coles had the best deal on apples," de Silva said.

"At IGA, you paid less for carrots and garlic than at the three other supermarkets. For all other products in our basket, Aldi is your best bet."

Choice is set to release its next quarterly supermarket report in September.

headline

Fears for Australia after 20 new bat viruses discovered in China

2025-06-25 FreeNews

Twenty new bat viruses, including two closely related to the deadly nipah and hendra variants, have been discovered in China.

In the new study, researchers looked inside the kidneys of 142 bats from ten species, collected over four years across five areas of Yunnan province.

Using advanced genetic sequencing, the team found 22 viruses – 20 of them never seen before.

Two of the most concerning were new henipaviruses, the same genus as nipah and hendra viruses, which are known for their high fatality rates in humans.

The henipaviruses were found in fruit bats living near orchards close to human villages.

Since henipaviruses can spread through urine, and the viruses were found in the bats' kidneys, the study raises concerns about contaminated fruit and the risk of these viruses jumping to humans or livestock.

University of Sydney wildlife disease ecologist and veterinarian Dr Alison Peel said while the discovery was "concerning", it was not yet known if the new viruses could infect humans.

"We have other examples of close evolutionary cousins to hendra and nipah that appear not to be of any concern for spillover, so there will need to be some more laboratory studies on these new viruses to determine the actual risk," she said.

Peel said the link between virus-carrying bats and fruit orchards in China provided a lesson to Australia.

A 3D illustration of Hendra virus, a bat-borne virus associated with a highly fatal infection in horses and humans.

"Our research on hendra virus spillover in Australia has demonstrated clear links between habitat destruction, loss of natural food, and increased spillover risk – so this may also be the case in China," she said.

"Rather than focusing on bats as the problem, we've also shown evidence that protecting and restoring bat food sources is an effective and sustainable solution."

Associate Professor Vinod Balasubramaniam from Monash University warned that the new viruses could spread swiftly from China to Australia.

"The similarity between Australian rural environments and Yunnan's orchards near human settlements stresses the urgency of intensified surveillance and biosecurity measures," he said.

"Global connectivity means an outbreak in China could swiftly reach Australia, emphasising the need for robust local monitoring strategies, particularly targeting bat kidneys, a novel insight provided by this study."