Aussie

🚨 AUSTRALIA ISSUES 'DO NOT TRAVEL' WARNING FOR SAUDI ARABIA The Australian government has raised its travel warning for Saudi Arabia to the highest level following deadly missile and drone attacks targeting airports and civilian infrastructure. Australians are being urged to postpone all travel, including religious visits, as major airports face closures and widespread flight cancellations. Those already in Saudi Arabia have been warned to prepare for further attacks and be ready to shelter in place. Join @Aussie 🙂

🚨 US AMBASSADOR WANTS AUSTRALIAN SUPER INVESTED IN RARE EARTHS US Ambassador Dave Brat is pushing for Australia's $5 trillion superannuation industry to invest in rare earth minerals, helping the US and Australia reduce reliance on China. Speaking at a Sydney business event, Brat said the investments would strengthen national security and economic growth, while indicating he was working to secure government-backed investment returns. Join @Aussie 🙂

🚨 LABOR MPs GROW FRUSTRATED AS ALBANESE FACES MOUNTING PRESSURE Growing frustration is reportedly emerging within Labor's ranks as the Albanese government battles declining polling, economic criticism and resistance in the Senate. Despite holding 94 seats in the House of Representatives, Labor suffered another setback this week after the Coalition, Greens and crossbench blocked a proposed $3 billion saving involving private health insurance rebates. Join @Aussie 🙂

🚨 CHINA SAYS RELATIONS WITH AUSTRALIA ARE BACK ON TRACK China's new ambassador to Australia, Liu Jinsong, says relations between the two countries have stabilised after years of trade disputes and diplomatic tensions. Speaking in Canberra, Liu called for closer economic cooperation while acknowledging ongoing disagreements, ahead of a planned meeting between Anthony Albanese and Chinese President Xi Jinping next month. Join @Aussie 🙂

⚠️ LABOR PROPOSES 30% MINIMUM TAX ON FAMILY TRUSTS The Albanese government has introduced legislation requiring discretionary trusts to pay a minimum 30% tax on their taxable income from July 2028. Labor says the changes will stop wealthy Australians using trusts to reduce their tax bills, while business groups warn the reforms could increase costs for hundreds of thousands of small businesses. Join @Aussie 🙂

⚠️ 150 GRAVE PLAQUES STOLEN FROM MELBOURNE CEMETERY Thieves have stolen around 150 memorial plaques from Cheltenham Pioneer Cemetery, including plaques honouring war veterans and deceased babies. The plaques, valued between $600 and $2,500 each, are believed to have been stolen for scrap metal. Police are investigating as devastated families are contacted. Join @Aussie 🙂

🚨 POLICE BUST $17M COCAINE SMUGGLING PLOT Australian and Chilean police have stopped an alleged attempt to smuggle 23kg of cocaine into Australia, arresting four people across both countries. After seizing the drugs in Chile, police replaced them with fake packages and staged a delivery at Sydney's Port Botany, where two men were arrested attempting to collect them. Join @Aussie 🙂

🚨 ASIC PROPOSES TOUGHER RULES FOR CRYPTO EXCHANGES Australia’s financial regulator wants to stop crypto exchanges from placing their own trades on platforms where they also handle customer orders. The proposed rules would also require stronger protection of customer funds and stricter financial safeguards from 2027. Join @Aussie 🙂

🚨 LABOR PUSHES SWEEPING NEW INTERNET POWERS Labor has introduced its Digital Duty of Care bill, requiring online platforms to tackle harmful content and design risks, with penalties of up to $109.2 million. The proposal would allow eSafety to use fake online identities for its statutory work, subject to legal limits. Qualifying professional news material would receive exemptions from harmful-content rules. Broad definitions backed by enormous fines risk encouraging platforms to delete lawful speech just to avoid trouble. Protecting children shouldn’t become a blank cheque for censorship. Join @Aussie 🙂

🚨 MAN CHARGED OVER ALLEGED THREATS TO FEDERAL POLITICIAN A 54-year-old Tasmanian man has been charged after allegedly emailing threats of serious violence to a federal parliamentarian in September. AFP officers raided his home on Thursday, seizing electronic devices. He faces up to five years in prison and has been granted bail. Join @Aussie 🙂

⚠️ ACCUSED GANG FIGURE WINS COURT RULING AGAINST GOVERNMENT Masood Zakaria, accused of two murders linked to Sydney's gang wars, has won a NSW Supreme Court ruling after Attorney-General Michelle Rowland attempted to involve Commonwealth prosecutors in his case. Zakaria claims the AFP unlawfully abducted him from Turkey in 2023 rather than following proper extradition procedures. He is now seeking to have his murder charges permanently dismissed. Join @Aussie 🙂

⚠️ HOTEL LOBBY USES AI TO LECTURE AUSSIES ON IMMIGRATION The Australian Hotels Association is warning that cutting immigration would leave businesses without enough workers, yet chose AI-generated actors instead of hiring real people for its own advertisement. Join @Aussie 🙂

🚨 NSW POLICE GIVEN PERMANENT KNIFE-SCANNING POWERS NSW Parliament has passed laws making police knife-scanning powers permanent, allowing officers to stop and scan people with handheld metal detectors in designated public areas without individual suspicion. The powers cover shopping centres, public transport stations, sporting and major entertainment venues, with scanning operations now permitted to last up to 24 hours. Join @Aussie 🙂

⚠️ TWO CHARGED OVER SYDNEY ATM SKIMMING SYNDICATE NSW Police have arrested two men, aged 56 and 64, over an alleged ATM skimming operation targeting bank customers across Sydney. Police allege the syndicate used hidden devices to steal card details, create counterfeit bank cards and withdraw victims' money. A raid in Macquarie Park uncovered skimming equipment and over $40,000 in cash. Both men were charged and refused bail. Join @Aussie 🙂

🚨 MAN TO SERVE 9 MONTHS FOR R@PING WOMAN TWICE Japanese national Shunsuke Kishimoto, 26, has been sentenced to two years and nine months for r@ping a sleeping woman twice in Cairns, Queensland. His sentence will be suspended after just nine months in custody, and he may face deportation. Join @Aussie 🙂

⚠️ KIDS AS YOUNG AS 11 LINKED TO NT CAR THEFT SPREE Police say groups of children believed to be aged 11–14 are trying to outdo each other on social media as Katherine, NT, experiences a wave of vehicle thefts, with six cars reported stolen in just one week. In one incident, a woman was allegedly dragged from her Jeep in her own driveway before it was stolen. Two boys, aged 13 and 14, have since been arrested over the incident. Join @Aussie 🙂

🚨 SUDANESE REFUGEE RAP!ST ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE A 25-year-old Sudanese refugee has been sentenced to five years in prison for the r@pe of a 15-year-old girl in Toowoomba, Queensland. Jok Bol Deng pleaded guilty to two counts of r@pe and two counts of supplying dr*gs to a minor. With 636 days counted as time served, he was made immediately eligible to apply for parole. The court also heard Deng had previous convictions involving dr*gs and assaulting police, and now faces possible visa cancellation and deportation. Join @Aussie 🙂

⚠️ ONE NATION DEMANDS FULL COST OF LABOR'S NET-ZERO AGENDA NSW One Nation leader Mike Newman has challenged the Minns Government to reveal the full cost of its net-zero policies after Labor proposed requiring One Nation to independently cost its election promises. Newman wants the costs of renewable energy infrastructure, transmission lines and potential lost mining revenue examined, accusing Labor of hiding the true cost from taxpayers. Join @Aussie 🙂

🚨 12 MAJOR EGG SUPPLIERS SUED OVER ALLEGED CARTEL The ACCC has taken 12 egg producers and suppliers, including Australia’s largest supplier Sunny Queen, to court over allegations they coordinated production and restricted competition. The companies allegedly controlled egg supply, including through chicken culling, potentially driving up prices for Australian consumers. The allegations have not been proven. Join @Aussie 🙂

🚨 13-YEAR-OLD ON BAIL CHARGED WITH MURDER AFTER SYDNEY STABBING Police say a 36-year-old father was walking home from work when he stopped to help some youths get home, even withdrawing money for them. A separate group allegedly took offence, leading to a confrontation in which he was fatally stabbed. A 13-year-old boy, already on bail, has now been charged with murder and breaching bail. A 16-year-old has also been charged as an accessory after the fact. The allegations remain before the courts. Join @Aussie 🙂