Australia news live: Albanese says Dfat will upgrade Middle East travel advice ‘very soon’ as Israel and Iran trade blows | Australia news

What we learned today, Friday 13 June

This is where we’ll wrap the blog up for the day. Let’s recap the day’s main events:

• Anthony Albanese is in Nadi, Fiji, and has met with his Fijian counterpart, Sitiveni Rabuka.

• Albanese told reporters DFAT would soon up date its travel advice after Israel targeted Iran’s nuclear sites with airstrikes today.

• Foreign minister Penny Wong said Australia is “alarmed by the escalation in tensions between Israel and Iran”.

• State health departments will undertake a review into whether more regulation of IVF is needed after a reproductive healthcare company’s second embryo transplant bungle.

• The president and all seven commissioners of the Australian Human Rights Commission are demanding immediate reform over Aboriginal deaths in custody.

• The Australian Education Union has called for education minsters across the country to provide clear and consistent guidance for teachers on how to discuss global conflicts with students, particularly “the situation in Gaza”.

• Former gangland lawyer-turned-informer Nicola Gobbo has lost her lawsuit against the state of Victoria after claiming police compromised her safety when she was exposed to have double-crossed clients

• New data showed a 25% spike in the number of Australians who left for short-term foreign trips in April compared to April 2024.

• Gaurav Kundi has died in an Adelaide hospital two weeks after being arrested by South Australia police.

• One man died after a trench collapsed in Kilmore, 65km north of Melbourne.

Tom McIlroy

Albanese worried about any escalation of conflict in Middle East

Anthony Albanese is in Nadi this afternoon and has met his Fijian counterpart, Sitiveni Rabuka. Asked about Israel’s bombing of Iran, the prime minister said he was concerned about any escalation in the Middle East.

We are very aware of what has occurred, and it is concerning, any escalation in the region.

My message to Australians is that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, [will be] upgrading very soon, the messages to Australians about a warning about travel to the region.

We want to see a dialogue. We, of course, are very conscious of the threat that Iran becoming a nuclear state would represent to peace and security in the region as well.

We want to see these issues resolved through dialogue, and the United States has been playing an important role there.

Tom McIlroy

Albanese says US should stick with Aukus but says Trumps’s review ‘appropriate’

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, says the Trump administration should stick with the Aukus agreement on nuclear submarines, describing it as a tool for peace and stability.

The Pentagon said on Thursday the 30-day review of the agreement was aimed at ensuring the military pact between Australia, the United States and Britain best served the interests of the US.

It will be run by the US undersecretary of Defense for Policy, Elbridge Colby, a sceptic of Aukus. Albanese said the review was appropriate for the Trump administration.

He said:

The United States, as an incoming government, is having a review, just like the Australian government did with our defence strategic review, and just like the government of Keir Starmer in the United Kingdom had, as well.

We are very confident, though, that Aukus is in the interest of all three of our nations, and that it will play an important role in peace, security and stability around the world at a time when that is absolutely necessary.

Amanda Meade

ABC’s James Valentine to undergo treatment for second bout of cancer

Broadcaster and saxophonist James Valentine has revealed live on ABC radio he has a new cancer and that he will take several months off his Sydney Afternoons program to undergo treatment.

He said:

My current scans, and a biopsy have confirmed that I have tumours in my omentum.

Yes, omentum, I’d never heard of it either.

Staring next week Valentine will begin chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Valentine told his listeners in March last year oesophageal cancer was discovered after he “choked and retched” while eating curry at a party.

He had surgery to remove the tumour and returned to broadcasting in September.

Valentine worked as a musician during the 1980s, playing the saxophone in bands including Models and Absent Friends, and recorded, toured and performed with Jo Camilleri, Wendy Matthews, Kate Ceberano, Pseudo Echo and Stephen Cummings. He still plays in Sydney with his own jazz quartet.

Adam Morton

Woodside granted extra time to respond to gas project extension’s ‘strict conditions’

Woodside Energy has been given more time to respond to conditions the Albanese government has imposed on its plan to extend the life of the North West Shelf liquefied natural gas development until 2070.

Woodside was initially given 10 days to respond to what the environment minister, Murray Watt, said were “strict conditions” attached to his proposed approval of the contentious development.

The conditions have not been publicly released. They relate to the management of the impact of nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide emissions on Indigenous rock carvings on the Burrup Peninsula in northern Western Australia.

The 10-day period expired today. Woodside issued a statement saying it was “continuing constructive consultation” with the government and the parties had agreed to extend the timeframe.

Environmentalists said the consultation should be open to the public. The Conservation Council of WA released a letter signed by 85 groups and people, including the former WA Labor premier Carmen Lawrence, ex-federal Labor MP Melissa Parke and the former Greens leader Christine Milne.

They said they were “deeply disappointed and alarmed” by the proposed decision, there had been no public consultation on the project since 2019, and “traditional custodians, experts, other affected parties and the broader Australian public” should be able to have a say about the proposal.

At a press conference announcing a nation-wide review into regulation of IVF, Victoria’s health minister, Mary-Anne Thomas, said “there may well be more errors that we don’t know about”.

Thomas was asked if she thought the incident at Monash IVF – a reproductive healthcare company that has twice bungled an embryo transplant – was an isolated one or whether it could be more commonplace.

Thomas said:

There may well be more errors that we don’t know about. And that is because the body that currently accredits fertility care providers is made up of fertility care providers. That’s why I find Queensland’s position so perplexing.

Queensland has knocked back Thomas’s call for an immediate decision to implement an independent accreditation body for the reproductive health care companies.

Victoria health minister wants quick decision on accreditation process for reproductive healthcare companies

Staying with the announced review into whether further regulation of the IVF industry is needed.

Victoria’s health minister Mary-Anne Thomas says she wants the state and federal ministers who met today to come to an immediate decision to implement an independent accreditation process for reproductive healthcare companies.

But she says so far they have not reached a consensus:

Queensland spoke against the proposition that I put to the committee.

State health departments will undertake a review into whether more regulation of IVF is needed after a reproductive healthcare company’s second embryo transplant bungle.

Speaking to media after a meeting between state and federal ministers, Victoria’s Health minister Mary-Anne Thomas said:

Today, health ministers agreed that our departments would commence a rapid review to consider the way in which we can implement an independent accreditation body.

They will also consider whether the state regulatory schemes that we have are fit for purpose when it comes to safety and quality, and they will also consider our options as to whether or not we progress in a national scheme.

Thomas says the main issue for her is how fertility care is accredited in Australia, saying “it simply doesn’t pass the pub test that the people that provide the service are also the ones that determine who provides the service”.

She says she is pleased with the outcome that states will undertake the 3-month review:

We’ve got work to do there, and I was pleased with the outcome from today’s health ministers meeting.

L-plater allegedly clocked doing 172km/h on motorcycle on icy Tasmanian road

Tasmania Police said a learner rider had his motorcycle confiscated after he was allegedly clocked travelling 172km/h on icy roads yesterday.

The rider, 18, was on a learner licence with a 90km/h speed restriction. He was arrested and charged with a hooning-related offence, and his bike was confiscated for 28 days. Snr constable Christopher Rockliff with the Tasmania Police said:

It was -1C, it was frosty, the roads were busy with commuting motorists, and this learner rider was travelling 82km/h above his 90km/h speed restriction.

This could have ended in tragedy for both the rider and other road users.

Jordyn Beazley

Hello, I’ll now be with you until this evening.

Nick Visser

That’s all from me today. I’ll leave you in the very capable hands of Jordyn Beazley. Take care this weekend.

Liberals roll out ex-federal politicians for Tasmania’s snap election

Tasmania’s embattled Liberals are rolling out several former federal politicians for its snap election, including one who announced his resignation 12 months ago, AAP reports.

The Liberals today revealed their candidate list for the north-west electorate of Braddon, including ex-federal MP Gavin Pearce and former senator Stephen Parry. Under Tasmania’s Hare-Clark voting system, seven MPs are elected in each of the state’s five electorates.

Pearce held Braddon at the federal level for six years from 2019, but announced in June 2024 he would not re-contest the seat. The seat was won by Labor with a sizeable swing, as Anthony Albanese swept to power in May.

“It’s almost like I read the tea leaves. (But) I did it (left) for the right reasons. The rigours of federal politics weighed on my personal commitments,” Pearce said today.

Pearce says he wants to “pick up his rifle and stand in the trenches” with Tasmania’s embattled premier, Jeremy Rockliff.

Coalition ‘concerned’ about Israel’s strikes on Iran, urges ‘caution and dialogue’

Michaelia Cash, leader of the opposition in the Senate, says the Coalition is concerned about escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, echoing foreign minister Penny Wong and members of the Greens who have expressed deep concerns about Israel’s strikes on Tehran.

Cash posted on X that the Coalition was encouraging “caution and dialogue between both countries,” adding:

We expect the government to prioritise the safety of Australian personnel and their families. We also call on Iran to stop its sponsorship of terrorism, including backing Hamas and Hezbollah.

Iran must also guarantee that it will not pursue or acquire nuclear weapons.

Australians catch travel bug, as inbound tourism booms

Elias Visontay

Australians are keener than ever to travel overseas, with new data showing a 25% spike in the number of people leaving for short-term foreign trips, as the country also records increasing numbers of inbound tourists.

In April 2025, about 1.17 million Australians left for short-term trips, a 25.1% increase from the previous April, according to data from the Bureau of Statistics released today. Short-term trips are defined as less than one year.

Over the same period, Australia appears to have become an increasingly popular destination for foreign tourists. About 641,000 visitors arrived in Australia in April for short-term trips, up 8.1% from the previous April.

However, the incoming tourist figure was still below pre-pandemic levels – about 700,000 people arrived in April 2019.

Fewer Australians also appear to be packing up their lives for long stints overseas. In April, about 24,500 people departed for trips overseas intending to stay out of Australia for more than a year, down 19.4% from April 2024.

Patrick Commins

Oil prices spike and AUD falls after Israel strikes Iran

Oil prices have jumped by nearly 10% and the Australian dollar is weaker as news of Israel’s strikes on Iran reverberate around global financial markets. The local currency is buying 64.8 US cents after dropping half a US cent this morning.

Australian motorists have recently enjoyed falling fuel prices, but cheaper petrol could be at risk if global oil prices continue to climb or stay higher for longer. The global benchmark oil price, Brent crude, is 9.2% higher at $US75.71 a barrel after giving up some even larger gains earlier today.

The local share market has not been as troubled as other regional bourses, with the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index down only 0.3% to 8,542 points. In contrast, Japanese stocks are 1.3% lower, according to Bloomberg.

Gold, a traditionally safe investment haven, has also risen higher today.

Vivek Dhar, a CBA commodity analyst, said $US80 per barrel for Brent crude was likely in the short term. Dhar said:

The significant escalation in the region will mean markets are focusing on larger supply disruption threats, such as Iran’s ability to weaponise its control over the strait of Hormuz – a key waterway that transports (about) 19% of global oil supply.

Unions NSW calls for levy on short-term rentals to help fund essential worker housing

Unions NSW has welcomed a parliamentary report into essential worker housing released today, which found a critical lack of homes is threatening the delivery of essential services. The inquiry, chaired by MP Alex Greenwich, pointed to a survey of NSW frontline workers that found 78% of those asked were in housing stress.

The union group called for a levy on short-term rentals in NSW to help fund housing for those workers. Victoria already has a 7.5% levy on short-term rentals.

Unions NSW secretary Mark Morey said:

Essential workers are being forced out of their communities because investors can make more money putting their properties on sites like Airbnb than renting them out long term.

This is forcing the workers our communities rely on into excessive commutes, financial stress or even homelessness.

Man dies in Adelaide hospital two weeks after arrest

Rafqa Touma

Gaurav Kundi has died in an Adelaide hospital two weeks after being arrested by South Australia police.

The 42-year-old’s death is being investigated as a death in police custody, with the use of restraint being closely examined, SA police have confirmed in a statement.

The police said the man “sadly” died in the Royal Adelaide hospital today, and had been “involved in an incident with police at Royston Park” early morning on 29 May.

Police commissioner Grant Stevens announced a commissioner’s inquiry into the incident on 3 June, the statement said. Body-worn vision has been reviewed “and it has been confirmed that at no time was a knee applied to Mr Kundi’s neck”. the statement said. It continued:

His head was not forced into the car or roadway at any point.

However, the use of restraints during this incident will be closely examined during the commissioner’s inquiry.

The major crime investigation branch will investigate the cause and circumstances of his death and prepare a report for the state coroner.

The Office of Public Integrity will oversee investigations into the conduct of police officers involved in the incident.

The director of public prosecution and the state coroner will also have oversight of the investigation and inquiries.

The Indian consulate has been provided a briefing on the incident and investigation by South Australian police.

Victoria police has confirmed that one man has died after a trench collapsed in Kilmore, 65km north of Melbourne.

Victoria police said in a statement:

Police will prepare a report for the coroner following the death of a man in Kilmore today.

Emergency services were called to a worksite on Quinns Road about 11.30am following reports of an industrial accident.

A man died at the scene.

WorkSafe will investigate the incident.

The Australian Education Union has called for education minsters across the country to provide clear and consistent guidance for teachers on how to discuss global conflicts with students, particularly “the situation in Gaza”.

The union’s federal president, Correna Haythorpe, said:

Teachers are reporting increased tension and distress among students. Our members are supporting students from Palestinian, Jewish and other backgrounds, including refugees, who are grieving, angry, confused or afraid.

Right now, teachers are having to help students make sense of complex, confronting global events, often without the resources or professional guidance needed. They are trying to teach empathy, critical thinking and civic understanding in a deeply polarised climate, where even raising these issues can attract scrutiny or backlash, from the public, from parents and from education departments

It is the right of teachers to educate for peace through the curriculum without fear of reprisal or employer disciplinary action. They need reassurance that they will be backed when they engage students thoughtfully in discussions about war, justice and peace.

Haythorpe said the union joined global calls for an immediate ceasefire.

The ongoing genocide has brought unspeakable trauma to the children, families and teachers of Gaza. The AEU stands in solidarity with the teachers, students and education unions of Palestine.