Albanese due home after international post-victory tour
The disarray in the opposition ranks will no doubt put a spring in the step of Anthony Albanese when he returns home today after completing his first international engagements since being re-elected.
After meetings with PresidentPrabowo Subiantoin Indonesia, the prime minister joined Catholics and world leaders at the Vatican to represent Australia at the inauguration ofPope Leo XIV.
Albanese had a private audience with the newly elected pontiff and formally invited him to Australia for the International Eucharistic Congress in Sydney in 2028.
Albanese also met a range of other world leaders, includingVolodomyr Zelenskyyof Ukraine andUrsula von der Leyenfrom the European Commission.
On his final stop, Albanese met the prime minister of Singapore,Lawrence Wong, during a stopover in the city state on the way back to Australia.
Speaking about his last leg, Albanese said: “Australia’s prosperity and economic future are linked with south-east Asia. I look forward to further discussing with Prime Minister Wong my government’s focus on expanding Australia’s comprehensive strategic partnership during our annual leaders’ meeting later this year.”
Sussan LeyandDavid Littleproudboth spoke to media last night, refusing to take the blame for the coalition breaking up.
On ABC 730,Sarah Fergusonasked Ley whether she’d “blown up” the Coalition. Ley said “absolutely not”.
“Absolutely not. I’m very disappointed that the Nationals have chosen to walk away from the Coalition. But I remain very respectful of David Littleproud and his team.”
Ferguson asked Littleproud the same question in an interview on the program. The Nationals leader said the party was in an “untenable position” after not getting a guarantee from the Liberal party on four policy areas they wanted in the new Coalition agreement.
Ley told 730 she was also concerned that the Nationals would break shadow cabinet solidarity, particularly over climate policies.
“Obviously, the concern would be that it [breaking solidarity] might relate to climate policy and it might relate to other policies, where we should present a united front to the Australian people.”
But Littleproud told 730 earlier in the program that the splinter wasn’t related to net zero by 2050 or other climate policies. “Our position at the moment is to support net zero,” he said. “So, nothing has changed with respect to that.”
Sydney trains still disrupted after yesterday’s power failure
Sydney commutersface widespread disruptionthis morning as the city’s train network recovers after a high-voltage wire fell on to the top of a train at Strathfield yesterday afternoon, trapping 300 passengers and sparking chaotic scenes during the evening rush.
Sydney Trains said earlier that “services on most lines will be impacted this morning due to power supply issues at Strathfield. Trains will continue to operate on all lines but will not run to timetable and the frequency of service will be reduced”.
In another social media statement, the organisation said people should avoid non-essential travel. All lines would be working through Strathfield by 6.30am it said.
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’mMartin Farrerwith the top overnight stories and then my colleagueRafqa Toumawill take over.
Sydney Trains have warned commuters to expect delays this morningand try different travel options after yesterday’s overhead line collapse at Strathfield paralysed large parts of the system and caused extensive delays. Train services on most lines will be affected this morning, Sydney Trains said. We’ll have updates soon.
The gender pay gap at more than 100 commonwealth public sector employers including the ABC has been laid barefor the first time. Data from the Workplace Gender Equality Agency shows the national broadcaster pays men nearly 10% more than women, but the private sector gap (21.1%) was more than triple the average public sector gap (6.4%).
Sussan LeyandDavid Littleproudhave both refused to take the blame for the Coalition breaking up. On ABC 730 last night, Ley responded “absolutely not” when asked if she had “blown up” the Coalition, while Littleproud said he had been left with no choice but to pull the Nationals out. More coming up.
And the NSW floods have continued to hit regional towns, with Taree a particular focus, where residents have reportedly had to wait on their roofs for rescue. More on this soon too.