News live: Australia and UK to sign 50-year Aukus treaty; pro-Palestine protesters occupy PM’s Sydney office

UK and Australia to ink new 50-year Aukus treaty

The UK will sign a new 50-year treaty with Australia in a move meant to deepen the Aukus pact, despite concerns over US involvement in the deal, British news agency PA reports.

The treaty will be inked as the foreign minister, Penny Wong, and defence minister, Richard Marles, host their UK counterparts David Lammy and John Healey in Sydney beginning today for regular Australia-UK ministerial meetings. Healey said in a statement:

This historic treaty confirms our Aukus commitment for the next half century.

Australian defence minister Richard Marles. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

While the Aukus nuclear submarine partnership involves the US, UK and Australia, the treaty is between the latter two nations, as a Pentagon review into the agreement threatens America’s future participation. Marles and Wong released a joint statement saying Australia and the UK would ink the treaty to make the world a safer place:

We take the world as it is – but together, we are working to shape it for the better.

Marles shared a photo welcoming Healey before the Sydney Harbour Bridge earlier this morning:

Welcome to Australia @JohnHealey_MP 🇦🇺🇬🇧

Excited to host the UK Secretary of State for Defence for the next few days as we discuss our countries’ close defence relationship. pic.twitter.com/sAaeg8Kw9Y

— Richard Marles (@RichardMarlesMP) July 24, 2025Share

Updated at 01.27 CEST

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Trump says US will ‘sell so much’ beef to Australia – but some disagree

The US president, Donald Trump, has posted on his Truth Social account that the US will “sell so much” beef to Australia following the federal government lifting biosecurity trade restrictions on the import of the meat from the US and Canada.

While the move has led to criticism from the Coalition in the past day over its “suspicious” timing, Trump praised the decision. He said:

After many years Australia has agreed to accept American Beef! For a long time, and even though we are great friends, they actually banned our Beef. Now, we are going to sell so much to Australia because this is undeniable and irrefutable Proof that U.S. Beef is the Safest and Best in the entire World. The other Countries that refuse our magnificent Beef are ON NOTICE. All of our Nation’s Ranchers, who are some of the hardest working and most wonderful people, are smiling today, which means I am smiling too. Let’s keep the Hot Streak going. IT’S THE GOLDEN AGE OF AMERICA!

Whether this happens in practice is another thing. As we have reported, Australia produced 2.5m tonnes of beef last year, of which just over one-fifth was consumed onshore.

In addition to that, the US beef industry has not currently been meeting its own internal demand. The US cattle herd is at a 74-year low due to prolonged drought conditions. In 2024 the US imported 525,980 tonnes of Australian beef to fill the gap.

Meat & Livestock Australia yesterday assessed the impact of the lifting of the restrictions to be minimal.

The potential for US beef to be imported into Australia in large volumes is minimal, given the high demand for beef in the US, the low US cattle herd, the strength of the Australian dollar, our competitive domestic supply, and most importantly Australians’ strong preference for high-quality, tasty and nutritious Australian beef.

It is expected the concession will help pave the way for the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, to argue Australia should be given exemptions from the US’s 50% tariff on steel and aluminium, and a potential 200% tariff planned for pharmaceuticals.

Updated at 04.06 CEST

Pro-Palestine protesters occupy prime minister’s office

Jordyn Beazley

Over a dozen people are occupying Anthony Albanese’s Sydney office and banging pots and pans to draw attention to their demands for the government to sanction Israel, according to a protester taking part. The protester said:

The protest is calling for sanctions on Israel in response to the starvation of civilians in Gaza.

He said about 30 protesters had also gathered outside the prime minister’s electorate office in Marrickville since the demonstration began at 10am.

The protester said NSW police, who have been approached for comment, have officers at the scene. Albanese’s electorate office was picketed 24/7 by protesters for several months last year.

Protesters seen at Albanese’s electorate office in Marrickville in June 2024. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP

43 people died from hunger in Gaza over just three days this week. There had been 68 in total before that.

On Tuesday, Greens senator Mahreen Faruqi was sanctioned by the upper house after she held up a sign urging sanctions against Israel while the governor general, Sam Mostyn, addressed parliament.

Australia has joined with 27 other nations, including the UK and France, to condemn Israel for the “drip feeding of aid” and the “inhumane killing” of Palestinians.

The prime minister’s office has been approached for comment.

Updated at 03.46 CEST

Marles says Australia-UK relationship ‘one of the most important that we have’

Defence minister Richard Marles and foreign minister Penny Wong welcomed their British counterparts a few moments ago for the latest round of talks between the ministers. Marles said:

We have said this on many occasions that this is our oldest relationship, but with Aukus and a range of other matters we have a contemporary strategic dimension to the relationship which really has not been there for a long time.

It now means that a bilateral relationship is right up there and one of the most important that we have in the world.

Wong added the group shared ‘history’, ‘values’ and ‘interest’ and deeply valued the work together to contribute to world security.

Updated at 03.44 CEST

Unicef says severe malnutrition spreading among Gaza children ‘faster than aid can reach them’

Unicef issued a strong statement overnight condemning the humanitarian crisis affecting children in Gaza, saying severe malnutrition is spreading among children “faster than aid can reach them, and the world is watching it happen”.

Edouard Beigbeder, the aid group’s regional director for the Middle East and north Africa, warned that without increased access to humanitarian relief, there will be a rise in acute malnutrition. Beigbeder said:

These deaths are unconscionable – and could have been prevented. The UN-led humanitarian response must be allowed to function fully through unfettered aid access to children in need …

To be able to reverse the catastrophic situation we face, a sustained and predictable flow of humanitarian and commercial supplies is urgently needed. Fuel must enter in sufficient quantities that allow life-saving services to function. Children must be protected – not killed, and not left to starve.

We need a ceasefire and the release of the hostages. And we need it now.

Displaced Palestinians receive hot meals in a neighbourhood of Gaza City, Gaza on 24 July. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty ImagesShare

Updated at 03.11 CEST

Queensland Police roll out new bomb robots

Queensland police have five new bomb robots as part of a $2.6m investment meant to improve the safety of frontline officers responding to hazardous or potentially dangerous incidents.

Officials described the new robots as a “game-changer” for the police force, noting the Explosive Ordinance Response Team and the Regional Bomb Response Unit have almost doubled their officer hours in the past year.

One of the five new bomb robots. Photograph: Queensland Police Service

Three of the new robots have been deployed to regional areas across the state, while the other two are based in Brisbane.

Senior Sgt Andy Rowan said in a statement:

This new technology is a huge boost for community safety because we are able to zoom in and focus on the suspect object while keeping the public and QPS officers at a safe distance.

A bomb technician said: ‘You can do so much more with this new robotic technology, it’s like an extension of your own arm’. Photograph: Queensland Police ServiceShare

Updated at 03.03 CEST

New paper raises alarm about massive marine heatwaves

Extraordinary marine heatwaves have been described by an Australian researcher as a wake-up call and sparked concern about their long-term impacts, AAP reports.

International research published in peer-reviewed journal Science said unprecedented underwater heatwaves seen in 2023 could mean ecosystems are stressed beyond a level from which they can recover.

Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters

The paper found those marine heatwaves smashed records due to their intensity, duration and size, with scientists warning they could stress ecosystems “beyond recovery thresholds” with coral reef collapse, as well as the displacement of fish and the destabilisation of polar ice sheets.

Alex Sen Gupta, a UNSW associate professor, said the research was concerning, but cautioned against suggestions a tipping point had been reached, saying:

A tipping point would indicate that we’ve passed some threshold and we’re not coming back again, but at this point, we don’t know if that’s true. …

When these habitat-forming species start degrading or disappearing, obviously this is going to have knock-on effects for the whole ecosystem.

Updated at 02.25 CEST

Health minister did not know private hospital operator Ramsay planned to shutter most of its psychology clinics

Health minister Mark Butler spoke to ABC News Breakfast this morning after Ramsay Health Care, Australia’s largest private hospital operator, said yesterday it would close most of its psychology clinics by the end of August.

Butler said the government was not aware of the decision, which will see 17 of Ramsay’s 20 clinics close, before it was reported in the media.

He said more Australians were opting for virtual psychiatry and psychology consultations online rather than face-to-face appointments, which was placing “real financial pressure” on traditional brick and mortar models. He continued:

So Ramsey and some others as well are moving to quite different models of care. That’s what’s going to happen with these 17 clinics. They’ll still be available to support all of the patients as I understand it who have been receiving care from those clinics …

We know there’s more demand for mental health. That’s why we’re investing in training more psychologists because we don’t have enough in this country and expanding other services as well that are available free of charge to Australians who need help.

Photograph: KatarzynaBialasiewicz/Getty ImagesShare

Updated at 02.04 CEST

No Australians affected by Thailand-Cambodia dispute so far

Another update for anyone travelling in or considering travel to Cambodia or Thailand.

Dfat is urging Australians in the region to subscribe to Smartraveller for updates amid increased tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border, pointing to shelling of civilian areas. The department has also advised travellers to monitor local media reports and to follow the advice of local authorities, warning the situation could change quickly.

The Australian government is not aware of any Australians impacted in the region by the tensions so far, but said anyone needing emergency consular assistance should contact the government’s 24-hour consular emergency centre.

Photograph: AFP/Getty ImagesShare

UK and Australia to ink new 50-year Aukus treaty

The UK will sign a new 50-year treaty with Australia in a move meant to deepen the Aukus pact, despite concerns over US involvement in the deal, British news agency PA reports.

This historic treaty confirms our Aukus commitment for the next half century.

Australian defence minister Richard Marles. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

We take the world as it is – but together, we are working to shape it for the better.

Marles shared a photo welcoming Healey before the Sydney Harbour Bridge earlier this morning:

Welcome to Australia @JohnHealey_MP 🇦🇺🇬🇧

Excited to host the UK Secretary of State for Defence for the next few days as we discuss our countries’ close defence relationship. pic.twitter.com/sAaeg8Kw9Y

— Richard Marles (@RichardMarlesMP) July 24, 2025Share

Updated at 01.27 CEST

Patrick Commins

Raise jobseeker to 90% of age pension and pay for it by curbing super tax concessions, Vinnies says

A welfare reform package that includes raising jobseeker to 90% of the age pension would lift 590,000 Australians out of poverty, with the $11bn price tag paid for by curbing super tax concessions in a way that still leaves the vast majority of savers better off.

A new Australian National University paper for the St Vincent de Paul Society, titled A Fairer Tax and Welfare System for Australia, examines a range of options that “are targeted to benefit persons who have the greatest financial need and would be paid for by those most able to accommodate a modest additional contribution”.

In addition to the rise in the main unemployment benefit, the “major” reform package also includes increases to commonwealth rent assistance and payments to families and single parents.

With an estimated one in 10 Australians, or nearly 3 million people, living in households experiencing poverty, the charitable organisation’s report highlights the urgent need to make the country more equitable as well as more efficient.

Wong urges de-escalation after fighting along Thai-Cambodian border, warns travellers

Josh Butler

The foreign minister, Penny Wong, says the federal government is alarmed by the conflict along the border of Thailand and Cambodia, urging de-escalation from both sides. The federal government is also urging caution for Australians travelling to both countries. She said on X this morning:

Australia is deeply concerned by escalating tensions across the Thai-Cambodian border, including reports of injuries and loss of life. We urge both sides to de-escalate and resolve border issues peacefully.

We have upgraded our travel advice for Australians to reconsider their need to travel to border areas of Cambodia and Thailand.

Thailand launched airstrikes on Cambodian military targets on 24 July as Cambodia fired rockets and artillery in a dramatic escalation of a long-running border row between the two neighbours. Photograph: Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP/Getty Images

The Smartraveller website, regarding Thailand, says the Australian authorities “continue to advise exercise a high degree of caution overall. We now advise reconsider your need to travel to the border areas of Buriram, Si Saket, Surin and Ubon Ratchathani provinces near the Cambodia border due to armed conflict in the area.”

Armed conflict between Thai and Cambodian forces along the Thai-Cambodian border has increased. This includes reports of military strikes, violence and landmines in the border areas of Buriram, Si Saket, Surin and Ubon Ratchathani provinces. There are reports of casualties.

Follow the advice of local authorities, monitor local media for updates and pay close attention to your personal security. Border crossing points along the Thai-Cambodian border continue to be closed at short notice.

For Cambodia, it is a similar story, but authorities “continue to advise exercise normal safety precautions overall. We now advise reconsider your need to travel to the border areas of the northern and north-western provinces of Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey due to armed conflict in the area”.

Updated at 01.03 CEST

Spender says Labor has opened door to tax reform, and you’ve got to keep the ‘momentum’

Spender was asked about the need for a separate, mini-roundtable before Chalmers’ own. She said the government’s push to open the door on tax changes had spread throughout Canberra, including to the opposition, and she felt the need to keep the “momentum” up. She told RN Breakfast:

The government has more broadly opened the door finally to tax reform. You’re starting to hear, you know, the opposition starting to engage a little bit in this area. And I think that you’ve got to keep the momentum up.

This is something that, when I look back at history, you look at the Hawke-Keating reforms, you look at the Howard-Costello reforms, and I think most Australians would say those reforms were difficult, but they set the country up for the long term.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAPShare

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