News and politics recap: Labor National Conference faces Israel row over Palestine recognition push

The ABC has removed two Four Corners investigations led by former reporter Mahmood Fazal, who was sacked earlier this year, after concerns were raised about the accuracy of sources used in the programs.

The broadcaster confirmed Meth Highway (2024) and Cocaine Nation (2023), along with associated content, had been taken down from its digital platforms after concerns were identified about the “veracity of certain sources”.

Fazal, a former Mongols bikie member, left the ABC in May 2026 following an internal investigation into his involvement in an external podcast in 2025.

In a statement, the ABC said the matter had been referred to the ABC Ombudsman for an independent review into whether the programs complied with the organisation’s editorial policies.

“The ABC will consider whether any further action will be required once that review is complete,” the statement said.

The broadcaster said it remained committed to the highest standards of editorial integrity, adding that maintaining the trust of Australians depended on upholding those standards.

“We take any concerns about our journalism seriously,” the ABC said.

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Angus Taylor has spoken out against Donald Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on Australian exports to the US, which will come into effect on Friday afternoon.

Mr Taylor was speaking at Bell Bay, a recently closed manganese alloy smelter in Northern Tasmania.

“They are a great friend and they shouldn’t impose taxes on our exports to the United States,” he said.

“We’re dead against it and we’ll work with the government and other to do everything we can to roll that back.”

Labor will debate whether to enshrine the rights to a conscience vote into their party Constitution for any issues relating to voluntary assisted dying.

The debate will be one of two discussions on VAD at the Adelaide conference on Friday, as it covers chapter four amendments on health and housing.

Before the vote to change the Constitution, Victorian Labor MP Ryan Batchelor is expected to move an amendment to remove barriers to accessing VAD, including through telehealth.

The motion proposed in the agenda states that it had to be “while maintaining appropriate clinical safeguards”.

The change of the Constitution will be moved by Attorney General Michelle Rowland and seconded by Finance Minister Katy Gallagher.

The proposed resolution states “conference resolves that the matter of voluntary assisted dying can be freely debated at any state or federal forum of the Australian Labor Party, but any decision reached is not binding on any member of the Party”.

The only other matter where a conscience vote is mandated is abortion.

The Federal Government has committed an additional $4.6 billion towards the construction of Australia’s future nuclear-powered submarine yard, taking the total funding for the Osborne shipyards to $8.5b.

The funding, announced by Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles before the ALP’s conference kicked off for day two, is part of infrastructure required to deliver AUKUS subs.

Mr Marles said the latest investment builds on funding announced earlier this year and is a “really important” step in the project.

“The first of those sheds actually comes into operation within a year, and that will enable us to cut steel on our first submarine by the end of this decade,” he told ABC News Breakfast.

Day two of Labor’s 50th National Conference has kicked off in Adelaide, picking up where it left off on chapter three “Protecting Australia’s Climate, Environment and Energy Security”.

The chapter covers climate resilience, local government funding, the Great Barrier Reef, Murray Darling Basin, food waste, renewable energy, EVs and noise pollution.

Labor has moved to continue to support the uptake of EVs and initiatives and local manufacturing, including through new vehicle efficiency standards.

It also edited wording to be stronger in “commiting” rather than just “encouraging” to work with state, territory and local governments to “rapidly expand” a nationally integrated electric vehicle charging network across metropolitan, regional and rural Australia.

The session has also begun discussing the construction and operation of data centres in Australia for the growing use of AI.

Senior Minister Don Farrell has repeatedly dodged questions over political donations during this week’s Labor national conferencing insisting it’s a matter for the party’s administration.

Business leaders and lobbyists are being charged $12,000 per ticket to attend the Federal Labor Business Exchange on the sidelines of this week’s conference in Adelaide.

During a press conference on Friday morning at the ALP Conference Senator Farrell repeatedly declined to answer questions about the expensive tickets being sold to attend the political event.

“Look fundraising is a matter for the for the party administration,” he told reporters.

“All of the issues relating to donations are matters that are held and dealt with by the party administration.”

US forces have fired off a 13th consecutive round of strikes against Iran.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the latest attack in a social media post.

“US forces started another night of strikes against Iranian military targets at 6.45pm ET today,” CENTCOM wrote on X.

“This is the 13th consecutive night of strikes aimed to hold Iran accountable and diminish threats from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to commercial shipping.”

Trade Minister Don Farrell has brushed off several questions about Anthony Albanese attending an exclusive dinner hosted by a 25-year-old whose billionaire father was accused by the Tax Office of repeatedly deceiving authorities.

The frontbencher told reporters that whether Labor accepted the donations from the Lee family was a matter for Labor’s administration, telling them to “ask the party” rather than him.

“Fundraising is a matter for the party administration,” he told reporters in Adelaide on Friday.

“All of the issues in relation to donation and matters that are dealt with by the party administration.

“You’d have to ask the party administration about those donations.”

The dinner, which was first reported by The Australian Financial Review, allegedly included a $1 million donation and was held at the family’s Point Piper mansion, Mandalay.

Labor has also used their three-day conference in Adelaide this week as a way to prop up their piggy bank, with the Prime Minister attending at least three fundraisers on Thursday evening.

Several Labor MPs, led by Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, had also charged supporters $1000 to attend their amateur pub gig on Wednesday night.

The “Left Right Out” band had listed the cost as a “supporting partner” price but prompted that drinks were included.

The gig was hosted at an undisclosed location by Labor’s Louise Miller-Frost MP and Claire Clutterham MP.

Businesses have warned the Albanese Government against moves to stack its new Fair Work Court, saying judges must be independent and appointed on merit to ensure its integrity.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese unveiled plans for the return of the court at Labor’s national conference in Adelaide on Thursday, saying it would operate alongside the Fair Work Commission and be headed by expert judges in the field.

“It will resolve disputes faster and at lower costs for both workers and employers,” Mr Albanese told the conference.

“Good for workers, good for businesses, good for the country and we’re going to do that.”

It will be the first Federal industrial relations court since a previous one was abolished by the Howard government in 1997.

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Labor delegates, parliamentarians and supporters have been met with pro-Palestine chants as they enter the National Conference on Friday.

A mixed rally at the front of the Adelaide convention centre has included protests over the Israel Palestine conflict, West Papua, AUKUS and nuclear energy.

A group against AUKUS arrived wearing nuclear waste suits and carried a giant green blow-up submarine, banners and fake coffins.

The protestors have been monitored with a large police presence and airport level security to get into the building.