Australian news and politics live: Navy Chief warns bases, ports under threat unless drone fleet a focus

Scroll down for the latest news and updates.
Key Events
‘Trusted relationships’: Albanese and Carney mention AUKUS Pillar II
Mr Albanese said he and Mr Carney had discussed AUKUS Pillar II, and Canada’s desire to be involved in the technology sharing aspect of the partnership.
“I think when we look at issues such as defence procurement, there’s areas of cooperation, including of course on the Over the Horizon technology that we produce, but there will be other areas as well,” he said.
“We’re also both Five Eyes countries so there’s a lot of cooperation that occur already in intelligence. I think what’s clear is that in the uncertain world, what people are looking for is certainty in relationships - trusted relationships. Australia and Canada are just such partners.”
Albanese, Carney discussed Israel-Iran conflict
Mr Albanese said he and Mr Carney did discuss Israel and Iran, saying the pair share a view of wanting to see the conflict de-escalate.
“We, along with other like-minded countries, do want to see that priority on dialogue and diplomacy,” he said.
Asked what his attitude would be if there was a G7 move to support Israel’s fight against Iran, Mr Albanese said Australia wasn’t a member of the G7 and it was a matter for those leaders.
As to whether Mr Albanese would use his meeting with Mr Trump to put pressure on Israel to allow aid into Gaza, the PM said he expected their bilateral meeting to discuss Australia-US relations.
“We’ve got a few things to talk about, and that will be the focus of our discussions.”
He said he “looks forward” to the discussion with President Trump, and that he deals with people “constructively, respectfully, and I advance Australia’s national interests. That is what I will continue to do”.
Albo ‘looking forward’ to G7, bilateral meetings
Mr Albanese said he’s “really looking forward” to the G7 over the next few days, where a range of bilateral meetings have been organised.
He is set to meet with the new president of Korea, as well as leaders from the UK, Japan, Germany, as well as with the European Union and NATO. He is due to meet US President Trump on Tuesday local time.

Albanese says Australia, Canada share views as he meets Carney
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has just wrapped up his first bilateral meeting with his new Canadian counterpart, Mark Carney.
It’s the first official meeting Mr Albanese has had since touching down in Canada for the G7, which Australia isn’t a participant in, but has been invited to attend.
At a press conference after his meeting, Mr Albanese talked up the shared values between Australia and Canada and confirmed the leaders had discussed deepening defence engagement, including Ottawa’s proposed procurement of Australian radar technology.
“We want to increase our cooperation on security, trade and energy,” Mr Albanese said.
He expressed the thoughts of Australians with Canadians given the wildfires currently ravaging three Canadian states. There are 97 Australians currently assisting their Canadian counterparts with firefighting.
“Australia and Canada also share views about climate change, and about the impact that it’s having on our respective countries,“ he said.
‘Alarm bells’: Joyce calls for major AUKUS move
Nationals heavyweight Barnaby Joyce is calling for a “contingency plan” as the US reviews AUKUS.
The $368bn defence pact with the US and the UK is the centrepiece of Australia’s defence strategy for the first half of this century.
However, US President Donald Trump can renege on AUKUS commitments if they put US national security at risk.
Mr Joyce was deputy prime minister when Australia signed up to AUKUS under the former Coalition government.
“We should have a contingency plan, absolutely,” Mr Joyce told Sunrise.
“As soon as the United States said ‘we’re reviewing AUKUS’, alarm bells should‘ve rung everywhere. Hang on, we’re not going to be able to defend ourselves.”
IDF target Iran weapon production sites
Israel has confirmed that the IDF completed strikes on Iranian weapon production sites.
“Iranian Regime weapon production sites haven been been struck and degraded,” the IDF wrote on X.
“Earlier today, the IDF completed a wide-scale wave of strikes on numerous weapon production sites belonging to the Quds Force, the IRGC and the Iranian military, in Tehran.”
PM to build on ‘rapport’ with Trump in first meeting
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Donald Trump will use their first direct meeting at the G7 to build on their “rapport,” said acting Prime Minister Richard Marles.
“It’s an important meeting. It’ll be the first face-to-face meeting between the President and the Prime Minister … in any meeting of this kind, establishing that rapport initially is really important,” he told ABC Radio National Breakfast.
“The personal relationship between two leaders matters. And, you know, I’ve spoken with the Prime Minister after he’s had his calls with President Trump, and I think there is already a rapport in place between the two of them.”
Mr Marles said Australia would continue to press its case for a carve-out from sweeping US tariffs and stress the strategic importance of AUKUS as the Pentagon undergoes a review of the $368b nuclear-powered submarine program.
Iran confirms death of top intelligence chief
Iran’s official IRNA news agency has issued confirmation that an Israeli strike has killed Mohammed Kazemi, chief of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, along with two other generals.
“Three intelligence generals, Mohammad Kazemi, Hassan Mohaghegh and Mohsen Bagheri were assassinated and fell as martyrs,” the IRNA said.
‘Broader conflict’: Australian Government concerned over Middle East escalation
Australia is worried about the “potential for escalation” in the Middle East as casualties mount in the latest conflict between Israel and Iran, acting Prime Minister Richard Marles has said.
“We are very worried about the potential for escalation here. Obviously, the way in which this has unfolded over the last few days has been a matter of deep concern, and we are worried about this going to a place of being a broader conflict,” he told ABC Radio National Breakfast.
“That is why we are exercising our voice, along with countries like the United States, like France, Germany, the UK, to urge for diplomacy and dialogue in this moment.”
Ten people and more than 100 have been injured in Israel by Iranian airstrikes, while the Iranian media, citing the health ministry, reported that 224 Iranians had been killed and 1,277 injured by Israel’s bombardment.
Mr Marles said all Australian diplomats and defence personnel in the region were safe and accounted for and urged Australian citizens in both countries to shelter in place due to closed airspace.
Iran says 224 killed by Israeli strikes
The Iranian Health Ministry has confirmed 224 Iranians have been killed, with over 1200 seriously injured by Israeli attacks.
“After 65 hours of aggression by the Zionist regime, 1,277 people have been injured,” ministry spokesperson Hossein Kermanpout wrote on X.
“224 women, men and children have been martyred.”
Iran has intensified its retaliatory action against Israel after a ‘pre-emptive’ attack on Friday, fueling an erupting war.