Australian news and politics live: Ley denies numerology as reason for name change, Albanese refuses US beef
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Key Events
Elon vs Trump feud explodes, murder charges in teen case, and Perth’s e-scooter crackdown
In today’s episode of NewsWorthy, host Ben O’Shea breaks down how the Elon Musk vs Donald Trump feud went from simmer to scorched earth — fast.
From online jabs to political posturing, we unpack what’s fuelling the sudden escalation between two of the world’s most powerful egos.
Also in this episode: a shocking twist in the case of missing Queensland teenager Phoebe Bishop, as two of her housemates are charged with her murder. The development has stunned the community and raised new questions about what really happened behind closed doors.
And in Perth, authorities are cracking down on e-scooter use after a spike in dangerous behaviour and serious accidents.
So, what rules are changing, and will it actually make a difference?
Boele questions gas extension: ‘There’s got to be a political reason’
Independent teal MP Nicolette Boele is demanding answers from Environment Minister Murray Watt over his decision to approve a 40-year extension of the North West Shelf gas project, locking in operations until 2070.
“This is a party that I thought did understand climate science,” Ms Boele said, criticising Labor for what she sees as a backward step on climate action.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has defended the approval, saying the project is necessary to support Australia’s transition to renewable energy.
Ms Boele, however, said the move doesn’t make sense from a scientific or economic standpoint.
“I’ve been watching the Treasurer managing the economy in the last term, and he’s done quite a formidable job in that,” she told The Guardian.
Virgin Australia confirms long-awaited return to ASX
Virgin Australia has confirmed long-awaited plans to launch a near-$700 million initial public offering and re-list on the Australian Securities Exchange.
Following days of market speculation, Australia’s second-biggest airline issued a prospectus on Friday, with the offer period running between June 16 and June 19. Shares are expected to start trading on June 24 under the ticker VGN.
The fully underwritten IPO of 236.2 million shares is priced at $2.90 apiece and is expected to raise $685m, valuing the airline at just over $2.3 billion.
Under the float, Virgin’s US private equity owner Bain Capital’s shareholding will drop from about 70 per cent to 40 per cent, while minority shareholder Qatar Airways will retain its 25 per cent stake.
Pheobe’s sister breaks down outside housemates’ murder hearing
The sister of missing teenager Pheobe Bishop has broken down outside court after her sister’s alleged killers had their charges of murder and interfering with a corpse mentioned in court for the first time.
On Friday, James Wood, 34, and Tanika Bromley, 33 remained in the Bundaberg Watch House and were not brought to Bundaberg Magistrates Court for their first mention.
Neither appeared over video link.
Members of the public were barred from entry on order of court staff, leaving Ms Bishop’s family and media occupying seats in the courtroom.
Tasmania’s AFL saga ‘embarrassing’ for our state: Paine
Former Australia cricket captain Tim Paine has lashed Tasmania as “self-sabotaging”, admitting he’s embarrassed by the political upheaval that threatens to kill off the island’s planned AFL team.
The Tasmania Devils are at risk of extinction before they have even played a game, after Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff on Thursday lost a no-confidence motion.
It means Tasmanians are set to return to the polls, likely delaying construction of a new stadium at Macquarie Point in Hobart.
The proposed 23,000-seat roofed venue, which is now slated to cost $945 million, is a condition of the Devils entering the AFL in 2028.
Devils chief executive Brendon Gale and chairman Grant O’Brien fear an early election would delay the stadium project and put the club’s licence at serious risk.
Brittany Higgins slams legal system, urges Albanese to act
Former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins has spoken candidly about the enduring trauma of her legal battle and the personal toll it has taken on her and those closest to her, using a public appearance in Geelong to call for urgent justice reform.
Addressing a crowd of 300 at the Conversations That Matter 2025 event at GHMBA Stadium, Ms Higgins said Australia’s legal system fails victims of sexual assault, focusing “brutally” on the complainant instead of the accused.
“There wouldn’t have been a need for a #MeToo movement (in Australia) if our criminal justice system was actually working the way it was intended for victims,” she said.
Ms Higgins described how the courtroom process shifts quickly to scrutinise the alleged victim — her behaviour, past, alcohol use, social media, and motives — rather than examining the accused.
Young Aussies to be impacted by super tax changes: New modelling
Half a million Australians currently in the workforce would be impacted by the Government’s planned superannuation tax when they retire if the $3 million threshold is not indexed to inflation, according to a leading industry body.
The modelling by the Financial Services Council shows that the Labor proposal to hike the tax rate from 15 to 30 per cent on the earnings of those whose super balances are above $3m would hit more than 500,000 people, of whom 204,092 are currently under 30.
The Government has argued the legislation will make the tax system fairer and only would impact about 80,000 Australians, most of them above retirement age.
But opponents say the tax change will gradually capture a wider group of earners unless the threshold is indexed, and that it will disproportionately affect younger generations.
Erin Patterson: ‘Simon needs accountability’
Alleged mushroom killer Erin Patterson is under intense cross examination at her triple murder trial, spilling confessions on the lies she told police and health authorities about mushrooms.
Patterson, 50, stands accused of murdering her in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail’s sister Heather Wilkinson, as well as the attempted murder of Ian Wilkinson by serving them beef Wellington containing poisonous mushrooms at a lunch at her Leongatha home on July 29, 2023.
Patterson was asked to read a message she sent in a group chat that Don and Gail Patterson were in.
In her message, she said: “Simon needs accountability for the difficulty he is causing me.”
The message continued, with Ms Patterson mentioning school fees and how much her ex-partner was paying.
Chris Dawson loses appeal over teen sex abuse
Former rugby league player and Sydney school teacher Chris Dawson, who was convicted of murdering his wife Lynette Dawson, has had his bid to quash a sexual abuse charge dismissed in the NSW Supreme Court.
The sexual abuse conviction involved offences committed against a former female student under his care as a PE teacher in the 1980’s.
Dawson is fighting legal battles on multiple fronts from jail and continues to claim his innocence in the murder of his wife Lynette, which has garnered national attention for decades.
Jumping castle verdict reached after six children died
The operator of a jumping castle at the centre of a tragedy that killed six children has been cleared of breaching workplace safety laws.
Chace Harrison, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, Zane Mellor, Addison Stewart, Jye Sheehan and Peter Dodt died after the incident at Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport in December 2021.
They were enjoying end-of-year celebrations on the Tasmanian school’s oval when a wind gust lifted the castle into the air.
Three other children were seriously injured in the accident.
Rosemary Gamble, owner of Taz-Zorb which set up the equipment, pleaded not guilty to failing to comply with a workplace health and safety duty.
