News live: Australia and PNG sign defence treaty; Allan says Melbourne’s Metro line to open this year

Pukpuk treaty described as an agreement to ‘support each other’s defence and contribute to a region that is peaceful, stable and prosperous’. Follow today’s news live Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast An Australian has won an award at this year’s Golden Spurtle World Porridge Making Championship. Caroline Velik was … Read more

Australia news live: Liberal frontbencher backs Andrew Hastie on immigration; police investigate 84-year-old woman’s ‘suspicious’ death in Sydney

Melissa McIntosh said MPs of the calibre of Hastie, Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Jane Hume should be on the Coalition frontbench. Follow today’s news live Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast James Paterson says Hastie move to backbench part of Liberals’ ‘debate and contest about ideas’ The sooner the Liberal … Read more

Australia news live: police and pro-Palestine protesters to meet over Opera House march; Mokbel convictions overturned in Lawyer X appeal

Follow the latest news live Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Opposition leader Sussan Ley has expressed her “grief and shock” after the Manchester synagogue attack. She said in a statement this morning: Our thoughts are with the families of those who have been killed and injured in this cowardly, … Read more

Australia news live: Erin Patterson to appeal convictions; ADF joins search for missing four-year-old in SA

Follow today’s news live Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The NSW government says an increase of the cap on major events in Sydney’s Centennial Park will help the city’s night-time economy recover from “a decade of lockouts and then lockdowns”. The changes, which will take effect ahead of the … Read more

Melbourne charity receives hate mail after senator and others post contact details in wake of Charlie Kirk killing

Ralph Babet posts charity’s contact details in response to comments about Kirk by a former worker – who is no longer employed there – and urges sacking Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast After Charlie Kirk was assassinated in the US, … Read more

Australia news live: Minns considered scrapping Metro station over $2bn cost blowout; Victorian Liberals struggle to find election candidates

Follow today’s news live Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast McIntosh says ‘something needs to happen’ with Optus CEO McIntosh said Australians hadn’t heard enough from Optus, saying the CEO of the telco needed to take responsibility for the outrages. Australians have lost confidence in Optus and they’ve lost confidence … Read more

Australia news live: Albanese government urged to protect Australians on aid ships bound for Gaza; search for Dezi Freeman scaled back

Eight Australians, including Muslim activist Abubakir Rafiq, are part of the Sumud flotilla coalition which is hoping to reach Gaza this week. Follow today’s news live Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Police recover man’s body from boat in Sydney harbour NSW police discovered the body of a man on … Read more

Australia news live: AFL grand final could spread Queensland measles outbreak; Albanese heads for UK talks

Top doctor concerned that cluster could spread south; prime minister prepares to meet Keir Starmer and King Charles in London. Follow the latest updates live Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then … Read more