Australian news and politics live: Ley announces new shadow ministry after reuniting Liberal Party, Nationals

The Coalition is officially back together, a little over a week after the split.

The Nationals party room met on Wednesday where MPs signed off on a final agreement with the Liberal Party.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley is now set to unveil the shadow cabinet later today, to be made up of both Liberal and National MPs and senators.

Nationals leader David Littleproud announced the split last Tuesday, citing concerns about a lack of assurances over four key policies - nuclear energy, divestiture powers, a regional future fund, and regional communications coverage.

Ms Ley said Mr Littleproud was not committed to shadow cabinet solidarity. When Mr Littleproud relented, the pair moved to reconcile. The Liberal Party ultimately agreed to the four policies “in principle”, with final details subject to a post-election review.

Kevin Gallagher, chief executive of Santos, has lashed out at the state of Victoria, likening it to “North Korea” due to its staunch position on resource investment and gas ban.

“If I think about Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia – these are very supportive, very development-friendly jurisdictions,” Mr Gallagher said at an oil and gas conference in Brisbane, The Australian reported.

“I’m going to get in trouble for that,” he joked after making the comparison.

Under the Daniel Andrews Labor State Government, Victoria introduced a ban on new gas connections for homes and businesses.

The ban, which started in 2024, is just one item on a growing list of concerns industry experts have, leading many to think the state could be hit with shortfalls in the coming years.

Indonesia is reportedly contemplating purchasing second-hand Russian and Chinese fighter aircraft, in what would mark a significant departure from Jakarta’s recent focus on acquiring Western alternatives.

According to a report on reputable aviation website Alert-5, citing sources, Indonesia could announce plans as soon as next month to purchase 42 second-hand J-10 fighter jets from Beijing, and to resume negotiations with Moscow to buy Russian Su-35 fighters.

“Both Chinese and Russian aircraft could potentially offer faster delivery timelines compared to Western alternatives, which often involve lengthy production queues and complex approval processes,” the Alert-5 report stated.

Indonesia, as a non-aligned nation, has deepened its relationship with China and Russia in the last few years, culminating in membership of the BRICS coalition.

Indonesia has assured Australia they would not allow Russian planes to be based in the country’s south, after reports emerged Moscow had made a request to do so.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Indonesia this month on his first overseas trip since being re-elected, where he talked up the crucial security and defence relationship.

Independent WA senator Fatima Payman has made a formal complaint alleging an older male colleague made sexually suggestive and racial comments towards her.

Senator Payman, who is Muslim and does not drink alcohol, claims the man pressured her to drink alcohol and dance on a table at a social function.

Senator Payman didn’t reveal the name of the man but told Triple J the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service dealt with her complaint swiftly.

“It definitely wasn’t appropriate,” she told the station’s ‘Hack’ program, recounting in the interview what he had said.

“Let’s get some wine into you and see you dance on the table.

“I told this colleague, ‘Hey, I’m drawing a line, mate’.

“I don’t drink and I don’t need to be made … to feel left out because you do.”

The parliamentary service is an independent body established in the wake of former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins rape allegations to address misconduct.

Schools and a hospital have been locked down as police hunt a gunman in Queensland.

Police say shots were fired from a home in Kingaroy early Wednesday morning, sparking an urgent appeal to the public to help locate the man they believe is responsible and his vehicle.

“Initial information indicates shortly before 4am, a number of gunshots were fired from an Arthur Street property,” a police statement read.

“A number of people were able to leave the property safely prior to police arrival.”

The 25-year-old is believed to be armed and may be travelling in a black Suzuki Swift, with false number plates displaying 551 GE9.

Read the full story here.

Australian students hoping to secure entry to study in the US may have to jump through a few more hoops after President Donald Trump’s administration reportedly halted all foreign student via applications and interviews as the United States continues it’s immigration crackdown.

Orders have filtered out of Washington for all consulates and foreign representatives to cease all student visa interviews, as the government plan to implement a new vetting system for applicants.

News agency Reuters claim to have seen a internal messaging stating the US government will begin a tougher stance on social media vetting of students and that any appointments for applications that have not been held should be cancelled.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly said in the cable that the department plans to issue updated guidance on social media vetting of student and exchange visitor applicants.

In the cable, first reported by Politico, Rubio said appointments that have already been scheduled can proceed under the current guidelines, but available appointments not already taken should be pulled down.

Read the full story here.

More financial assistance is coming to flood-ravaged communities as about 9000 people still remain stranded despite waters receding.

Federal Emergency Services Minister Kirsty McBain said NSW communities impacted by the natural disaster, which claimed five lives, will be eligible for more funding because the disaster declaration has been elevated.

AAP is reporting that Category C assistance is only made available when the impact of a disaster is severe and requires agreement from the prime minister.

The federal funds for severely affected communities and sectors includes clean-up and recovery grants for small businesses and primary producers and the establishment of a community recovery fund.

“At this stage, our categories A and B have been enacted, and we’re hoping to enact categories C, hopefully shortly,” she told ABC Radio National on Wednesday.

“Recovery is going to take time. This isn’t going to be something that is done quickly and we’ve reiterated that we will be there for the long haul.”

​Read the full story here.​

The Minister for Industry and Science, Tim Ayres, has told Sunrise that the Federal Government will be watching the fallout from the Victoria Government’s ban on machete and knife sales after the recent spate of attacks.

“I think if you look across the field at whether it’s machetes or knifes, the correct response is for the State Governments to deal with what is done,” Mr Ayres daid.

“It is a big step and I understand that people could still purchase these items on the Internet, or bring them in from other states, but cutting down on the availability of these weapons for young people is an important step.

“I’m glad that the Victorian Government has taken the step and we’ll keep watching closely.

“There is no reason for a young person to have a bladed weapon, a knife or a machete or whatever.”

Natalie Barr has pushed Bridgete McKenzie on the Nationals party room solidarity and the decisions made before the Coalition split.

“What was put to the party room and what the party room made its decision on was the four policy issues,” Ms McKenzie said.

“So that one was included or David Littleproud went off piste?,” Ms Barr interjected.

“I was in the room. I know what the room made its decision on and it was the four policies, the mobile connectivity, divestiture of supermarkets, nuclear and obviously the regional futures fund,” Ms McKenzie said.

Nationals MP Bridget McKenzie has told Sunrise host Natalie Barr that she is tired of Liberal MP’s meddlling in the Nationals Party room affairs.

Nat Barr said there were rumours that a Nationals colleague had said “I can’t support a man who misleads the party room” and asked McKenzie, “Did David Littleproud mislead everybody?”

This opened the gates for Ms McKenzie to launch into the Liberals.

“Not at all. The party room made its decision based on the four policies that the Liberals couldn’t give a guarantee on, and obviously, the two leaders are now working their way through those negotiations,” Ms McKenzie said.

“I note in other reports, there are many Liberal MP’s who want to give us gratuitous advice about how to run our party room.

“I’m happy to give them membership forms if they’d like to join it. But a coalition works best when everybody respects the independence of both parties, and right now, we’ve got Alison Penfold, Pat Conahan, David Littleproud dealing with the outcome of flooded communities last week and this week.

“That’s what we really need to be focused on.”