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Iran has vowed to take “reciprocal motion” after the Australian authorities expelled its ambassador, in response to proof from Asio that Iran was concerned in two antisemitic assaults on Australian soil.
Penny Wong has now joined ABC Radio Nationwide Breakfast, and is requested whether or not Australia expects retaliatory motion from Iran.
Wong says she’s seen the Iranian international minister’s feedback, who rejected the accusation of Iran’s involvement.
Iranian regime is an unpredictable regime, a regime which now we have seen is able to aggression and violence. We took steps earlier than this was made public to take away all Australian personnel from the Division of Overseas Affairs in Tehran, and we did so as a result of our first precedence is to maintain our individuals secure.
Host, Sally Sara, asks Wong what number of Australians are nonetheless in Iran. Wong says the nation has been below a “don’t journey” standing and urges anybody nonetheless there to come back house – she doesn’t present a determine on what number of Australians are presently there.
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Overseas minister, Penny Wong, has additionally been out within the media this morning, chatting with the As we speak present a bit earlier.
She first expressed her sympathy for the household and associates of the 2 Victorian cops who had been killed yesterday.
Then shifting onto Iran, she says the expulsion of the ambassador, and transfer to listing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terror organisation has been a “very substantial response”.
Requested why the federal government hadn’t taken this motion sooner, Wong says:
We’ve got a diplomatic relationships with many nations, lots of whom we don’t agree with. And the purpose is now we have a channel for communication, to say Australia’s pursuits, to take care of consular points, to, to assist Australians who’re in bother. So we retain diplomatic relations for, for Australia’s pursuits. I’ve stated that earlier than, however this can be a line that has been crossed. These actions are unacceptable and that’s why we’ve taken [this action].
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Iran ambassador expulsion ‘sends the proper message’, Andrew Hastie says
Shadow house affairs spokesperson, Andrew Hastie, says expelling the Iranian ambassador sends the “proper message” to the Iran, however the authorities ought to have carried out it sooner.
On ABC Information Breakfast, Hastie says the Coalition has known as for the expulsion of the ambassador, Ahmad Sadeghi, about 10 occasions since 2023, however yesterday’s resolution marks a “crimson line” for any international energy that Australia “doesn’t tolerate this form of factor”.
Yesterday’s resolution was a very good one, it was backed up by forensic intelligence by Asio and different companions, it attracts a crimson line within the floor for any nation who may take into account conducting international interference, espionage, even focused killings on our soil. It’s price reminding your viewers that folks may have died within the Adass firebombing. It’s a really positive line between sabotage or burning a constructing and truly killing individuals.
Andrew Hastie. {Photograph}: Mick Tsikas/AAPShare
Up to date at 17.42 EDT
Slain cops will likely be named after households contacted, Victorian premier says
The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, says the gunman who allegedly killed two cops and has left one other wounded in hospital, remains to be at massive.
Talking to Dawn a bit earlier, Allan stated police are utilizing all sources to search out them.
Each police useful resource continues in a single day to be devoted to discovering this felony who perpetrated such a horrific act on members of the Victoria police pressure who go to work every single day to maintain our neighborhood secure …
Yesterday was such a tragic day for our state and likewise, too, we must always keep in mind the entire members of the policing household, not simply right here in Victoria however across the nation, will likely be simply feeling such nice grief and loss because of what occurred yesterday.
Requested when the federal government or Victorian police will identify the slain officers, Allan says additional particulars will likely be offered, however they need to converse to the households of these officers first.
Wanting to make sure that family members, the following of kin, family members of these fallen officers have the chance to listen to the information immediately and have the time to think about what’s simply essentially the most unimaginable grief that they’d be experiencing.
On the injured officer in hospital, Allan says she’ll go away any updates on their situation to the Victorian police.
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Up to date at 17.36 EDT
Porepunkah deaths an ‘unfathomable tragedy’, Clare O’Neil says
Cupboard minister Clare O’Neil has known as the capturing of cops in Victoria an “unfathomable tragedy”.
Talking to Dawn a bit earlier, the MP from Melbourne stated the occasion ought to by no means have occurred.
To have two cops valiantly put themselves in the best way of hazard, not simply to guard our broader Victorian neighborhood however to guard kids and our neighborhood, and to see them lose their lives on this method is horrible. I do know incidents like this have an effect on each single police officer and their household across the nation, so can I say on behalf of the Australian authorities how deeply grateful we’re for the unimaginable work of our police forces.
O’Neil was joined by shadow international affairs spokesperson, Michaelia Money, on the Dawn panel, and stated she was heartbroken.
We’re secure as a result of there are Australians, cops and others, who’re ready to place their lives on the road each day in order that we could be so. Two of these officers have now paid the best worth, one is in hospital. On behalf of the Coalition, we’re heartbroken for these households, we’re heartbroken for the neighborhood, however greater than that, [is] a transparent message to the police throughout Australia and specifically, these sporting the blue uniform in Victoria, we stand with you.
Clare O’Neil. {Photograph}: Mick Tsikas/AAPShare
Up to date at 17.32 EDT
Burke declines to say whether or not Porepunkah suspect on Asio radar
Burke can also be requested in regards to the Porepunkah capturing in Victoria, and requested whether or not a suspect was on the radar of Asio or the federal police.
The house affairs minister says the investigation is being led by Victoria, however the AFP and Asio are aiding.
Burke received’t reveal whether or not the alleged suspect was on the spy company’s radar.
Host James Glenday additionally asks how a lot of a menace the so-called sovereign residents motion poses.
Burke received’t draw a hyperlink between the motion and the present investigation, however says the legal guidelines apply to everybody.
Any ideology – and this [sovereign citizens] is certainly one of them – that someway comes up with a weird conclusion that permits individuals to say that the legislation doesn’t apply to them – that creates this drawback, and the opposite factor I’d say – after we increase the phobia alert degree from potential to possible final 12 months, Mike Burgess was fairly particular in regards to the reality we had been now coping with combined ideologies.
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Up to date at 17.24 EDT
‘No motive to consider’ assault perpetrators knew Iran allegedly directing them, Burke says
We’re getting a bit extra readability this morning about how the 2 antisemitic assaults allegedly directed by the IRGC passed off.
Yesterday, the Asio director-general, Mike Burgess, spoke in regards to the involvement of “cut-outs”.
The house affairs minister, Tony Burke, is on ABC Information Breakfast and says he received’t transcend what was stated, however explains what cut-outs truly are:
“Minimize-outs” is a time period used within the intelligence neighborhood that refers to intermediaries who’re there to successfully guarantee that, as you go down the chain, individuals don’t realise who was increased up the chain.
Host James Glenday asks Burke whether or not which means a number of the criminals concerned may not have recognized they had been being paid by Iran. Burke says:
The language from the director common yesterday was very deliberate. We’ve got no motive to consider that the individuals who had been truly conducting the actions had any thought who had began it.
That doesn’t change the seriousness from the Australian authorities’s standpoint that Iran was nonetheless concerned in directing assaults on Australian soil.
Tony Burke. {Photograph}: Mick Tsikas/AAPShare
Up to date at 17.19 EDT
Good morning
Krishani Dhanji
Krishani Dhanji right here with you – many due to Martin Farrer for getting us began.
There’s loads of response this morning to yesterday’s revelations that Asio has proof of Iran’s involvement in two antisemitic assaults in Australia.
A really fast recap right here: Asio stated it had credible proof the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) directed two assaults, and could possibly be behind extra. The federal government will now transfer to listing the IRGC as a terrorist organisation, and has expelled the Iranian ambassador and embassy workers.
Tony Burke, the house affairs minister, is doing the media rounds this morning to debate the problem additional, and has been emphasising that the assault on the Jewish neighborhood and an assault on Australia’s cohesion is an assault on the entire nation.
We’ll be following the problem intently, so keep on with us!
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Up to date at 17.11 EDT
Caitlin Cassidy
Adjustments to humanities charges stay ‘inherently unfair’, Universities Australia chair says
Carolyn Evans may even name for the federal authorities to acknowledge the significance of humanities and social sciences for future productiveness, together with setting “new and fairer charges for college students”.
Adjustments to pupil charges below the job-ready graduates package deal had been, and stay, inherently unfair. From the introduction of the JRG till 2023, home undergraduate enrolments declined 6% for medium and excessive SES [socioeconomic status] college students however 12% for low SES college students.
Evans will counsel the federal authorities get rid of the best degree of pupil contribution, now set at about $17,000 a 12 months for arts levels, and exchange it with the second highest tier.
This could theoretically price $770m a 12 months however it’s giving a reimbursement to college students at a time they want it most. Apart from, a few of this debt is unlikely to be repaid anyway. It might be a critical downpayment on a fairer funding system for college students, serving to open the door to school for extra Australians.
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‘All Australians are mourning’ slain Victorian cops, PM says
Final evening Anthony Albanese stated all Australian are mourning the 2 cops shot useless in Victoria yesterday.
The prime minister stated in a publish on X that “or hearts exit” to the 2 officers’ family members and that it was a reminder of the gratitude owed by Australians to the police for his or her service.
All Australians are mourning with the households, family members and colleagues of the 2 Victoria Law enforcement officials who tragically misplaced their lives within the line of obligation.
Our nation’s condolences are with everybody whose world has been shattered by this horrific capturing.
Whereas we are able to…
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) August 26, 2025Share
Up to date at 17.01 EDT
Far-right extremists who consider they’re above the legislation a ‘actual concern’, Albanese says
Albanese was additionally requested in regards to the Porepunkah shootings throughout his look on 7.30. The interviewer put to him that there was an alleged hyperlink to what’s often known as the sovereign citizen ideology.
The prime minister responded “in fact these are simply allegations which have been made”.
He added that Australia’s safety intelligence had warned about “far-right extremism” permeating different nations.
“The truth that this ideology of not seeing themselves being topic to our legal guidelines and our society … is of actual concern, and Asio have warned that this menace may be very actual, and that we should be very vigilant about it,” he stated.
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Marles meets Vance and Hegseth in Washington DC
There was hypothesis over whether or not the deputy PM and defence minister, Richard Marles, would safe a gathering together with his US counterparts on his present go to to Washington DC.
Properly, in response to photos posted earlier this morning on social media, he did.
Marles was pictured with each the vice-president, JD Vance, and defence secretary Pete Hegseth. He wrote on X:
The Alliance between Australia and the US is longstanding, constructed on our shared historical past of deep collaboration.
I used to be happy to have the chance to reaffirm Australia’s dedication to constructing on this partnership with US @VP JD Vance and Secretary of Protection @PeteHegseth in Washington D.C. at present.
The Alliance between Australia and the US is longstanding, constructed on our shared historical past of deep collaboration.
I used to be happy to have the chance to reaffirm Australia’s dedication to constructing on this partnership with US @VP JD Vance and Secretary of Protection… pic.twitter.com/lZfR7NBFOx
— Richard Marles (@RichardMarlesMP) August 26, 2025Share
Australia yesterday declared Iranian ambassador Ahmad Sadeghi “persona non grata” and ordered him and three different officers to depart the nation inside seven days.
Final evening, some embassy occupants had been pictured leaving in a black automotive.
An official automotive leaves the embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Canberra on Tuesday. {Photograph}: Lukas Coch/AAPA automotive leaves the Iranian embassy premises in Canberra on August 26. {Photograph}: Hilary Wardhaugh/AFP/Getty ImagesShareCaitlin Cassidy
Universities Australia chair says sector will ‘battle with public belief’ if it doesn’t deal with points
The chair of Universities Australia, Prof Carolyn Evans will say the upper schooling sector should “overcome our shortcomings” to regain public belief.
In an deal with to the Nationwide Press Membership at present, Evans will word that problems with governance are being raised in numerous authorities quarters, together with by way of an professional council, whereas warning solely the “negatives” and “reductive arguments” are being pushed ahead within the public area.
We’ve got already seen modifications to governance preparations rising with chancellors and vice-chancellors recognising the necessity for extra transparency and public benchmarking of remuneration.
If we as a sector will not be ready to recognise, settle for and work to beat our shortcomings, I settle for that we’ll battle with public belief. However I might additionally add, that if we as a society solely deal with the shortcomings of universities, we’ll miss the chance to work with the upper schooling sector to drive higher outcomes for all Australians.
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Albanese says Iran-backed assaults on “one other degree”
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has confirmed that Asio discovered “clear proof” immediately linking people in Iran to alleged antisemitic assaults in Australia.
Talking on 7.30 final evening, Albanese stated Asio had decided Iran had orchestrated assaults on the Lewis Continental Kitchen in Sydney’s japanese suburbs and the Adass Israel synagogue in Melbourne. Iran was probably behind different assaults, he stated.
“[Asio] had been capable of finding clear proof going again to people … and had been very particular.”
Albanese was requested if Canberra would sanction these people, however he would solely say: “We’ll take no matter motion is suitable.”
He described the Iran-backed assaults as on “one other degree”.
That is international motion and international violence being dedicated in opposition to Australians funded, and utilizing felony components right here.
Albanese stated Australian embassy workers had been rushed out of Iran earlier than Tuesday’s gorgeous announcement as he feared “they’d be in danger” if the event was leaked.
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Up to date at 17.01 EDT
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our reside politics weblog. I’m Martin Farrer with the highest in a single day tales after which it’ll be Krishani Dhanji with the primary motion.
Iran has vowed to hit again at Australia after the expulsion yesterday of the nation’s ambassador to Canberra, and accusations of Tehran was behind antisemitic assaults in Australia final 12 months. Anthony Albanese advised the ABC’s 7.30 final evening that Asio had discovered “clear proof” immediately linking people in Iran to the assaults. Extra developing.
The prime minister additionally spoke in regards to the danger that Asio has recognized across the unfold of far-right extremism and the so-called sovereign citizen ideology.
In the meantime, the deputy PM, Richard Marles, has posted social media photographs of high-level conferences together with his US counterparts JD Vance and Pete Hegseth. Extra on that too in a second.
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