Australia news live: former SA premier named next high commissioner to UK; ACT Liberal leader and deputy step down

Who is Jay Weatherill, Australia’s next top diplomat in London

Dan Jervis-Bardy

As the prime minister just announced, the former South Australian Labor premier and early childhood education advocate Jay Weatherill will be Australia’s next top diplomat in London.

Weatherill was South Australia’s 45th premier, replacing Mike Rann, who also went on to become Australia’s high commissioner to the UK.

Across more than six years leading the state, he narrowly won the 2014 election, oversaw major changes to the state’s health and energy system and held a royal commission into opportunities to expand SA’s role in the nuclear fuel cycle.

He famously clashed with then federal energy minister Josh Frydenberg at an extraordinary press conference in 2017, in which he accused the Turnbull government of being the “most anti-South Australia Commonwealth government in living history”.

Jay Weatherill. Photograph: Julian Smith/AAP

He lost the 2018 election to the Steven Marshall-led Liberals, ending a 16-year political career.

Weatherill was later tapped to review federal Labor’s shock 2019 election defeat before moving to Perth to lead the Thrive By Five early childhood education initiative at Andrew Forrest’s Minderoo Foundation.

He was recently appointed to lead a snap review of Victoria’s childcare sector after allegations of sexual abuse by a worker.

Weatherill will replace Stephen Smith, a former Rudd and Gillard minister, at Australia House.

His appointment means three of the past five ambassadors to the UK have been South Australians after Rann and Alexander Downer served in the key diplomatic posting.

Updated at 04.25 CET

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Andrew Messenger

Former long-term Queensland police union chief Ian Leavers has died

Ian Leavers served as general president and CEO of the Queensland police union of employees from 2009 until 2024 to take up the role of cross-border commissioner. He was a Queensland police officer for over 35 years.

He was found dead on Monday morning at his home in Mount Ommaney, in Brisbane’s south.

Ian Leavers, seen in 2022. Photograph: Jono Searle/AAP

Premier David Crisafulli said Leavers had been a “strong voice” as the state’s cross border commissioner and paid respect to his long-term role as head of the union:

Ian earned the respect of Queenslanders for saying it how it was, and always standing up for the Police Service he loved.

He was dedicated, principled, and driven to make a difference for this State.

Queenslanders will remember his leadership during some our State’s most tragic and defining events.

He left a strong contribution first as a member of the Queensland Police and later as President of the Queensland Police Union.

He championed safer working environments for police and advocated for them to be well-resourced and supported.

On behalf of all Queenslanders, we extend heartfelt condolences to Ian’s family and friends during this difficult time.

Updated at 04.12 CET

Albanese hails John Laws as a resonant figure in Australian media

Albanese shared a tribute to the late broadcaster John Laws, saying he was an “iconic Australian”.

The prime minister said:

His voice resonated throughout our nation. People trusted John Laws. They listened to John Laws. And they engaged with John Laws. He was a permanent feature of our media landscape.

And those Golden Tonsils, leaning into that golden microphone, was something that Australians felt was a part of their everyday experience for not just years, but for decades.

The late Australian broadcaster John Laws. Photograph: Tracey Nearmy/AAPShare

Updated at 03.59 CET

Under-16s social media ban won’t be ‘perfect’, but will help ‘kids be kids’, Albanese says

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has been speaking at a media conference in Canberra about the upcoming social media ban for under-16s.

The prime minister said:

This is about letting kids be kids. It’s also about empowering parents to be able to have those discussions with their children.

We don’t argue that these laws will be perfect in their implementation. We do argue, very strongly, though, that this is the government of Australia setting down what we expect to happen, including reminding social media companies that they have a social responsibility, and that they need to be conscious about their social licence, like other businesses.

Anika Wells, the communications minister, said the new laws will give Australians under 16 “three more years to build community, and to build resilience, in the real world”, adding:

Our social media laws are not a cure, but they are a treatment plan. We want children to have their childhood and we want parents to have peace of mind.

Anthony Albanese and Anika Wells. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAPShare

Updated at 03.48 CET

Petra Stock

Twice as effective as nets: shark-spotting drones to become ‘permanent fixture’ on Queensland beaches

Queensland will roll out shark-spotting drones to more beaches, after a major study found drones detected more than double the number of sharks caught in adjacent nets.

But while drones would become a “permanent fixture” of the state’s shark-control operations, the Department of Primary Industries said Queensland would continue to rely on “traditional measures like nets and drum lines”, despite evidence of their deadly impact on dolphins, whales, turtles and dugongs.

Photograph: David Gray/AFP/Getty Images

Rob Adsett, the chief remote pilot at Surf Life Saving Queensland, said the drones were a “really good surveillance tool” that gave lifeguards a better view of everything at the beach. Drones were used to collect data on beach conditions and manage risks associated with sharks, with the added benefit of aiding search and rescue efforts.

ACT Liberal leader and deputy leader step down

Josh Butler

The leader and deputy of the ACT Liberal opposition have both stood down without explanation, after a fortnight of controversy over the suspension of the former opposition leader.

Leanne Castley said in a statement that she and her deputy, Jeremy Hanson, would stand down as the leaders of the ACT’s Liberal party. In a post on social media, featuring a photo of the pair, Castley wrote:

To give the Canberra Liberals the best possible chance of success in the 2028 election, we have made the decision to step down from leadership.

A vote will be held to elect a new leadership team, and neither of us will be contesting any leadership positions. We extend our full support and best wishes to those who will take on these important roles.

Leanne Castley. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Castley gave no firm reason for the move. Instead, she added: “In the spirit of ensuring a genuine fresh start for the new team, we will not be commenting publicly on the circumstances that have led to this decision.”

Castley has come under scrutiny over a decision to suspend the former Liberal leader, Elizabeth Lee, and fellow Liberal Peter Cain from the party room, after they crossed the floor on a vote in the ACT parliament. Liberal backbenchers are traditionally free to cross the floor and vote against agreed party policy.

Updated at 02.53 CET

Ian Sample

No link between paracetamol in pregnancy and autism or ADHD in children, review finds

A wide-ranging review into paracetamol use by pregnant women has found no convincing link between the common painkiller and the chances of children being diagnosed with autism and ADHD.

Publication of the work was fast-tracked to provide prospective mothers and their doctors with reliable information after the Trump administration urged pregnant women to avoid paracetamol – also known as acetaminophen or Tylenol – claiming it was contributing to rising rates of autism.

Speaking at the White House in September, the US president said women should talk to their doctor about limiting the use of the painkiller while pregnant and followed up with far stronger language, telling women to “fight like hell” not to take it.

Photograph: Kylie Cooper/Reuters

While rates of autism have risen in recent decades, many scientists believe the trend is driven by greater awareness, improvements in diagnosis and a substantial broadening of the criteria doctors use to describe the condition.

In an umbrella review published in the British Medical Journal on Monday, researchers analysed previously published scientific reviews on whether paracetamol raised the likelihood of pregnant women having children who are diagnosed with autism or ADHD.

They concluded the quality of the reviews ranged from “low to critically low”, while any apparent link between the painkiller and autism was probably explained by family genetics and other factors.

ANZ sacks 1,000 staff in two months

Luca Ittimani

ANZ has sacked over 1,000 staff in the first two months of its cost-cutting plan, which workers say has raised stress and chaos.

The bank’s chief executive, Nuno Matos, in September announced ANZ would cut 3,500 full-time roles from its 40,000-plus workforce by September 2026.

Handing down the bank’s annual results today, Matos said nearly a third of those were already gone and the majority of targeted roles will be gone by March. The bank had also stood down 1,000 consultants, he said, telling investors this morning:

In order to reduce uncertainty for our people, we have moved at pace.

Photograph: Jaimi Joy/Reuters

The Finance Sector Union today warned the cuts were putting workers on edge, with national president, Wendy Streets, saying:

We’re hearing from people who can’t sleep, who’ve developed panic attacks, and who dread going to work.

One worker told the union:

Everything is chaos – roles are changing weekly, workloads are huge, and no one knows who will still have a job next month.

Matos in September said the cuts had nothing to do with AI and did not mention the technology this morning, focusing on his efforts to turn around the bank’s slow revenue growth and rising costs.

Banks across Australia have been cutting jobs in 2025 but ANZ’s are the biggest by far. Read more about the cuts here:

Updated at 02.23 CET

Tony Abbott leaves War Memorial council

Krishani Dhanji

Former prime minister, Tony Abbott, has not been reappointed to the Australian War Memorial council, with Kim Beazley to remain chair. Abbott was first appointed to the council in 2019 for a three-year term, and reappointed in 2022.

Veterans’ affairs minister Matt Keogh announced the changes, with Dan Keighran VC and outgoing national RSL president Greg Melick also leaving the council. Melick will be replaced by incoming national RSL president Peter Tinley. Beazley and Wing Commander (retired) Sharon Bown have both been reappointed.

Keogh announced Maj Gen Wade Stothart (retired), director of the Office of Australian War Graves and Lesley Alway, chair of the Geelong Arts Centre Trust and former Opera Australia board member to join the Council.

In a statement, Keogh said the new appointments would bring a “fresh, broader perspective”.

Beazley said he would welcome the “insight” of the incoming members:

“We thank Minster Keogh for these inspired appointments to the Memorial’s Council. Peter, Lesley and Wade bring with them a wealth of experience and expertise that will guide the Memorial in continuing to fulfil its duty to all Australians.”

A general view of the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Photograph: AAPShare

Updated at 02.11 CET

Lisa Cox

NSW records lowest average October rainfall since 2019

New South Wales has recorded its lowest average October rainfall since 2019 and areas with long-term rainfall deficiencies have expanded in the state’s south, according to the Bureau of Meteorology’s latest drought statement.

NSW and parts of Victoria, south-eastern Queensland and parts of southern and central Western Australia all experienced below average rainfall in the lowest 30% of all Octobers since 1900.

The bureau said soil moisture deficits had expanded and intensified across much of the eastern mainland and streamflow was below average at many sites across southern Australia and central eastern Queensland, with some locations recording their lowest October streamflow on record.

Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

By contrast, much of WA, Tasmania, south and central South Australia, the northern and western Northern Territory and northern Queensland experienced above average monthly rainfall in the highest 30% of all Octobers since 1900.

The bureau said long-term rainfall deficiencies in southern Victoria and Tasmania had eased in severity and extent.

For the summer outlook, the BoM’s long-range forecast for December to February says above average rainfall remains likely for areas of north-east and central Queensland and parts of coastal and inland NSW, while rainfall is likely to be below average for most of WA and the northern half of the NT, and parts of south-west Tasmania.

Maximum temperatures are likely to be above average for most of Australia and minimum temperatures are very likely to be above average.

Updated at 01.48 CET

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