Japan wins $10bn contract to construct Australian naval ships
Tom McIlroy
The defence minister, Richard Marles, will announce this morning that Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will construct the Royal Australian Navy’s new $10bn frigate fleet.
The Japanese firm beat out Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Programs for the deal.
Marles and the defence business minister, Pat Conroy, will make the announcement simply earlier than 9am this morning.
The nationwide safety committee of cupboard made the choice final night time, selecting the Japanese-built Mogami frigate.
The primary three frigates might be constructed abroad earlier than being delivered to Australia by 2029. The remaining are anticipated to be constructed on the Henderson shipyards in Perth.
The brand new normal function warships are designed to switch the ageing Anzac-class frigates, as they’re retired from service by the navy.
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Up to date at 19.51 EDT
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Josh Taylor
NBN picks Amazon’s Kuiper to switch satellite tv for pc service
The 300,000 properties in regional and distant components of Australia that had been solely capable of entry the NBN through the ageing Skymuster satellites will be capable of improve to low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite tv for pc companies starting mid-2026 beneath a deal signed between NBN Co and Amazon.
Regardless of a whole bunch of hundreds of Australians already switching to Elon Musk’s Starlink, Amazon gained out the deal to offer LEO companies to the 300,000 properties lined by the Skymuster satellites that might be decommissioned in 2030, following a request for proposal course of. The phrases of the deal weren’t disclosed, however NBN chief government Ellie Sweeney stated the settlement can be funded by NBN Co somewhat than needing a money injection from taxpayers.
A rocket carrying Amazon’s Venture Kuiper web community satellites, seen on the Cape Canaveral Area Power Station in Florida in April. {Photograph}: Steve Nesius/Reuters
The companies will start to return on-line mid-2026, beginning in Tasmania, as Amazon’s Venture Kuiper satellites start to cowl Australia. Full protection ought to take weeks, the corporate stated.
NBN Co will start session with communities and retail service suppliers within the coming weeks on product choices, velocity tiers, wholesale pricing and the improve course of required for these on the prevailing satellite tv for pc service. Customers on Starlink in the present day pay a premium for the service in contrast with NBN pricing, and Sweeney stated fairness can be an vital function within the pricing so somebody in regional Australia has the identical degree of service as somebody in metropolitan areas.
Sweeney stated:
It’s now time to evolve, with full fibre in lots of areas, in upgraded mounted wi-fi in others and now with LEO satellites, we’re dedicated to ending buffering within the bush.
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Up to date at 20.26 EDT
Andrew Messenger
Queensland authorities releases second damning report into state DNA lab
Queensland’s state authorities has launched extra details about the work of its public DNA laboratory.
Yesterday’s evaluation by forensic scientist Prof Kirsty Wright discovered that just about all forensic science work performed on the laboratory was being performed late, sometimes by a whole bunch of days.
A second evaluation, by FBI knowledgeable Dr Bruce Budowle, discovered the service stays “in a state of sustained disaster”. He discovered that scientific strategies had been applied “with out correct validation”, risking the “integrity” of the outcomes, however others not adopted because of “perceived or actual challenges” which may have been overcome. Budowle stated:
The office tradition at FSQ appeared to the Overview Group to be fairly poisonous.
A pair of commissions of inquiry in 2022 and 2023 uncovered systematic errors inside the laboratory – together with an error which referred to as into query DNA proof utilized in hundreds of prison circumstances, together with for crimes corresponding to rape and homicide. Wright discovered the identical error had been repeated once more final 12 months. She advisable contracting out many of the work performed by the lab to exterior laboratories whereas it undertakes reform.
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Up to date at 20.13 EDT
Jordyn Beazley
Movement to be moved by NSW Labor MPs condemns ‘ethnic cleaning of the Palestinians from Gaza’
Guardia Australia has obtained a duplicate of the movement NSW Labor MPs are planning to maneuver in a celebration assembly in the present day condemning circumstances in Gaza and endorsing the best to protest.
The movement, to be moved by higher home member Sarah Kaine and seconded by MP Lynda Voltz, strikes that the caucus:
Condemns the destruction of Gaza, the mass civilian deaths and the Israeli authorities’s open endorsement of the ethnic cleaning of the Palestinians from Gaza.
Condemns all crimes towards humanity, together with genocide, the homicide of civilians and the hostage taking.
Thanks the folks of Sydney for the mass protest rally carried out peacefully on Sunday.
Endorses the best to protest
Requests the legal professional normal to report again to caucus with an choices paper for the event of a Human Rights Act on this time period of the parliament, which we be aware the legal professional has already stated he helps.
My colleague Anne Davies had extra on this story yesterday:
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Up to date at 20.08 EDT
Police divers aiding seek for girl swept away in NSW floods
Police divers are becoming a member of the search for a girl swept away by flood waters on Saturday close to Cessnock in NSW.
Rescuers have been looking for the 26-year-old girl for days after responding to studies a automotive was trapped in a flood within the city of Rothbury. Officers stated the driving force of the automotive, a Mini Countryman, tried to journey via flood waters earlier than turning into caught. The driving force, a 27-year-old girl, was rescued, however the passenger was swept away.
The lacking girl is a Chinese language nationwide who was working as an engineer in Australia, the place she has lived for 3 years.
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Up to date at 19.53 EDT
Anne Davies
NSW opposition helps Ward’s expulsion
Mark Speakman, chief of the NSW opposition, stated he’ll assist the federal government in searching for Gareth Ward’s expulsion.
Speakman stated:
The opposition will assist Gareth Ward’s expulsion and work with the federal government to get this performed as shortly as potential. Nonetheless, Mr Ward’s authorized crew ought to do no matter it takes to get a transparent message to him – instantly resign.
Each day he clings to his seat from a jail cell, taxpayers are footing the invoice and the folks of Kiama are left unvoiced. It’s not simply improper, it’s offensive.
Ward’s conviction has thrown the NSW parliament into uncharted territory. As an impartial he has not had the standard strain to resign. He stays eligible to sit down in parliament till all appeals are exhausted. Nonetheless, the parliament has energy to expel him if his conduct would injury the integrity of the parliament and endanger its correct functioning.
The federal government had deliberate to start strikes to expel him in the present day with a vote anticipated Wednesday.
NSW opposition chief Mark Speakman. {Photograph}: Bianca de Marchi/AAPShare
Up to date at 19.31 EDT
Gareth Ward seeks injunction blocking expulsion from NSW parliament
Anne Davies
Convicted rapist MP Gareth Ward has sought an injunction to cease him being expelled from the New South Wales parliament, which can see him stay, for now, the state member for Kiama.
Ward has commenced the proceedings through his legal professionals from Silverwater jail the place he has been remanded pending sentence within the prison proceedings in September. He has stated he’ll enchantment towards his conviction on three counts of indecent assault and one for sexual activity with out consent.
The premier, Chris Minns, stated on 2GB on Tuesday that Ward’s legal professionals had sought the interim injunction in a single day towards the chief of the decrease home, Ron Hoenig, and speaker, Greg Piper, which prevented the parliament shifting a suspension order till the courtroom can take care of the applying. The federal government has sought an pressing supreme courtroom listening to later within the week.
Minns advised 2GB:
We’ve obtained per week of parliament to sit down, and I feel that most individuals would recognize, it’s an unconscionable state of affairs to have somebody who’s at the moment sitting in jail in Silverwater, convicted of great sexual offences, who’s demanding to stay a member of parliament and proceed to be paid.
Gareth Ward. {Photograph}: Dan Himbrechts/AAPShare
Up to date at 19.30 EDT
Melbourne Demons sack coach Simon Goodwin
Simon Goodwin, Melbourne’s solely AFL premiership coach previously 60 years, has been sacked by the Demons, AAP studies.
The previous Adelaide champion, who led the membership to its drought-breaking 2021 flag, has been let go by the Demons after simply seven wins this season.
Simon Goodwin, proper, after the AFL Spherical 21 match between the Melbourne Demons and the West Coast Eagles on Saturday. {Photograph}: Michael Willson/AFL Pictures/Getty Photos
Taking on from Paul Roos in a succession plan for the 2017 season, Goodwin led Melbourne to their first premiership in 57 years.
However off-field turmoil and dwindling performances on the sphere positioned the 48-year-old’s job in jeopardy.
My colleague Jack Snape has extra on this story right here:
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Up to date at 20.06 EDT
All Sydney ferries again up and operating after heavy fog
All ferries in Sydney have resumed companies after they had been halted amid heavy fog.
✔️ UPDATE: All F3 Parramatta River companies have resumed following heavy fog earlier.
— Sydney Ferries Information (@FerriesInfo) August 4, 2025
Listed below are some pictures from the Kirribilli wharf this morning, with the Sydney Opera Home within the distance.
{Photograph}: Nick Luke {Photograph}: Nick LukeShare
Right here’s some video footage of Sydney Harbour this morning
Sydney Harbour full of morning fog – videoShare
Up to date at 19.30 EDT
Japan wins $10bn contract to construct Australian naval ships
Tom McIlroy
The defence minister, Richard Marles, will announce this morning that Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will construct the Royal Australian Navy’s new $10bn frigate fleet.
The Japanese firm beat out Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Programs for the deal.
Marles and the defence business minister, Pat Conroy, will make the announcement simply earlier than 9am this morning.
The nationwide safety committee of cupboard made the choice final night time, selecting the Japanese-built Mogami frigate.
The primary three frigates might be constructed abroad earlier than being delivered to Australia by 2029. The remaining are anticipated to be constructed on the Henderson shipyards in Perth.
The brand new normal function warships are designed to switch the ageing Anzac-class frigates, as they’re retired from service by the navy.
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Up to date at 19.51 EDT
Jordyn Beazley
So, simply how large was the march on the Sydney Harbour Bridge?
The quantity of people that joined a pro-Palestine march throughout Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday exceeded everybody’s expectations.
However simply what number of braved the wet climate to induce the Australian authorities to do extra to strain Israel to cease the loss of life and destruction in Gaza? That’s been a sticking level.
The march on Sunday in Sydney. {Photograph}: Flavio Brancaleone/EPA
New South Wales police stated preliminary estimates put the group at 90,000. A spokesperson for rally organisers, the Palestine Motion Group, stated police had knowledgeable them 100,000 folks had been in attendance – however the group estimated the determine was nearer to 300,000.
What does an impartial knowledgeable need to say?
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Up to date at 18.31 EDT
Sydney wakes as much as a shroud of fog
Some photos of the fog that blanketed Sydney this morning:
{Photograph}: Webcamsydney.com {Photograph}: Cressida Gaukroger {Photograph}: Kaaren Morrissey/AAP {Photograph}: Kaaren Morrissey/AAPShare
Up to date at 18.19 EDT
Shadow legal professional normal says recognising Palestinian statehood would ship ‘dangerous sign’
The shadow legal professional normal, Julian Leeser, stated the popularity of a Palestinian state by Australia would reward Hamas and ship a “dangerous sign all over the world”. Leeser spoke to RN Breakfast this morning, saying whereas he desires to see a two-state answer, he believes the world is “additional away from that in the present day than at any level previously”.
Lesser stated:
I don’t wish to see folks struggling. I wish to see the help getting via and I wish to see Hamas releasing the hostages as a result of it’s solely when the hostages are launched and solely when Hamas performs no additional half in the way forward for the area {that a} steady and lasting peace within the Center East can come about. …
I feel [recognising a Palestinian state] will ship a foul sign all over the world to different terrorist organisations that in case you improve your degree of intransigence, in case you preserve your place, then you’ll obtain your goals …
Let me be very clear, I wish to see a two-state answer for Israel and Palestine. It’s one thing I’ve believed in for many years. However we appear to be additional away from that in the present day than at any level previously, and that’s largely due to the function that Hamas is taking part in in Gaza.
Julian Leeser. {Photograph}: Tamati Smith/Getty ImagesShare
Up to date at 18.09 EDT
