Australia news live: Albanese confirms investigation into allegations some antisemitic attacks may be perpetrated by ‘paid actors’

Some antisemitic attacks appear not to be ‘motivated by ideology but paid actors’ – PM
Rafqa Touma
Just circling back to Anthony Albanese’s press conference in Parramatta earlier this morning, which we covered throughout the blog:
The prime minister said it appeared some perpetrators of antisemitic attacks in Australia were not motivated by an ideology but were paid by foreign actors.
He was asked a litany of questions about the Australian federal police’s investigation into whether overseas actors were paying local criminals to carry out antisemitic attacks. He said:
It is important that people understand where some of these attacks are coming from, and it would appear, as the AFP commissioner said yesterday, that some of these are being perpetrated by people who don’t have a particular issue, aren’t motivated by an ideology, but are paid actors. It’s unclear who or where the payments are coming from.

Asked again where foreign interference may be coming from, Albanese did not reveal any new detail:
I will leave the work of the AFP to be done by the AFP. They’ll continue to provide appropriate briefings, but with respect, I understand the desire for more information.
Key events
Wong asked about potential foreign interference in antisemitic attacks in Australia
Taking final questions, Penny Wong was asked about news the AFP was investigating the potential involvement of foreign actors in antisemitic attacks in Australia.
She didn’t have anything to add to the investigation, but said:
These attacks of hate, these attacks on places of worship – the antisemitic slogans, the torching of homes or cars or premises – this is not only an attack on the Jewish community, it is an attack on who we are as Australians.
And we all have to stand in defence of those values, which I have advocated for my whole political life, which goes to respect, acceptance and inclusion, because that is the foundation of the multicultural Australia.
Trump’s position on Paris accord ‘longstanding’ – Wong
The foreign minister was asked for her reaction to Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw US from the Paris climate agreement.
Penny Wong told reporters Trump’s position was “longstanding”:
Australia also has longstanding positions when it comes to the UN framework convention on climate change and other matters.
Wong on critical minerals trade
Penny Wong was also asked if Australia is looking to increase trade of critical minerals with the US.
She said critical minerals were “important to where our economies are going, where the global economies are going, and we know these are areas in which there are very limited supply chains”.
And so it’s no secret that Australia is keen to look at how we might develop more processing capacity in Australia for the critical minerals which we do have. And the prime minister’s Future Made in Australia agenda has that very much at its heart.
Wong on US tariffs
Asked if she left meetings feeling more or less satisfied that Australia would escape trade tariffs from the US, Penny Wong said that every new administration has had views on trade policy.
And every Australian government in office at a time where a new administration has come in has had to navigate those trade policy issues. This is no different.
She referred to the “first Trump administration and the challenges that had to be navigated by the then-Turnbull government”, and added:
What I can say to Australians is that we will work consistently, confidently, with a very clear focus on Australia’s interests to navigate any trade issues.
‘We should not be surprised’ if Trump implements his agenda – Wong
Penny Wong was asked what the most significant change is for Australia in the change of administrations in the United States. She declined to get involved in commentary but provided this observation:
President Trump has made it clear that he is going to do things differently. He did so in his first term, and he campaigned on taking a different approach on many matters – some of them domestic, and some of them international. We should not be surprised if he implements that agenda.
We should also have some confidence in our capacity as a nation to navigate those challenges, to engage with the administration, and to talk through – at very many different levels of the new administration – talk about the issues that are relevant to Australia’s interests.
Wong says Trump administration ‘understands strategic imperative around Aukus’
Taking questions, Penny Wong was asked if she sought assurances from the secretary of state into the ongoing future of Aukus under the new Trump administration.
Wong said Aukus was discussed and “it was a very positive discussion”. She referred to testimony from the secretary of state which reflected their discussion – “that Aukus is an investment in security and stability in the region”.
I think it’s been really clear that the Trump administration understands the strategic imperative around Aukus, which is why the government is so committed to it.
Wong addresses media from Washington DC
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, is speaking to reporters from Washington DC. She said she had been involved in a number of “productive meetings” on the first full day of the new Trump administration, just returning from a meeting with the secretary of state, Marco Rubio.
It was a very warm and constructive … first official bilateral engagement. Obviously we had the Quad meeting ahead of that, and we spoke about our shared interest and ambition, the strength of our alliance, the importance of our economic partnership, the work we’re doing together with the United Kingdom through Aukus, and of course critical minerals, which has been an issue that he and the president have spoken about.
Wong said she also met counterparts from Japan and India, and with the US national security advisor, Mike Waltz.
I think across the span of the alliance, there’s a great deal of optimism and confidence about the opportunities ahead, and I am really privileged to have had this level of engagement so early in the new administration.

Benita Kolovos
Allan on whether ‘fair fuel’ plan would lead to less competition in the market
Asked about her government’s plan – announced on Monday – to force 1,500 petrol stations to report fuel prices a day in advance and freeze the prices for 24 hours, and whether it would lead to less competition in the market, Jacinta Allan said:
My focus on the fair fuel plan that we announced on Monday is helping motorists save hundreds of dollars a year. And we know from work that’s been done by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission that where motorists fill up at the lowest price available, they can save hundreds of dollars a year.

Benita Kolovos
Allan says ‘huge amount of work’ by federal and state governments to combat antisemitism
Jacinta Allan was also asked whether national cabinet should have been convened by the federal government earlier.
She said there had already been a “huge amount of work” going on both by the federal and state governments to combat the wave of alleged hate crimes targeting Jewish communities.
In terms of that horrific terrorist attack on the synagogue [Adass Israel] in Melbourne, there’s a joint investigation going on between Victoria police and the Australian federal police, and they are throwing a huge amount of resources and work at this investigation.
So there has already been work under way, and when there is an opportunity to look at how we can strengthen that … I will always grab that opportunity to work with state and territory colleagues and the prime minister on how we can take a national approach, the strongest approach, to condemn and act on this evil of antisemitism.

Benita Kolovos
Allan weighs in on future of weekly pro-Palestine protests
Asked whether she thought it was time for the pro-Palestine protests in Melbourne’s CBD to stop – they have been happening every Sunday for more than a year, and the premier has previously described them as peaceful – Jacinta Allan said:
I’m firmly of the view that if the guns can go silent in Gaza as a result of the ceasefire that occurred over the weekend, then it’s time to bring peace, not division, to our streets – whether it’s in Melbourne or Sydney or in any part of the country …
We need to heal, particularly those communities who are directly impacted. They have families, they have loved ones, who are directly impacted. My focus all the way through this has been supporting them.

Benita Kolovos
Victorian premier ‘horrified’ by attack on Sydney childcare centre
Jacinta Allan was on ABC Radio Melbourne’s Breakfast program earlier this morning to talk about yesterday’s national cabinet meeting on antisemitism, which was called following an attack on a Sydney childcare centre.
The Victorian premier said she was “absolutely horrified” about the attack. She said yesterday’s meeting was an opportunity for state and territory leaders to discuss actions being taken across jurisdictions – and how this work can be strengthened, “particularly the work between our policing agencies”.
Around how we can track this crime, track this evil, track these incidents, and then look at how we can better coordinate responses, because it’s devastating to see that antisemitism knows no border. It can happen on any street, in any town in Australia, around the world, and we’ve got to do everything we can to look at every tool in our toolkit to stamp out this evil.
Bushfire south of Perth threatening properties as emergency warning issued
An emergency alert was issued for communities south of Perth this morning amid a bushfire that is threatening properties.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services said the “leave now” warning was for Byford and Karrakup in the shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale.
It is for those bounded by Nettleton Road to the north, Barge Drive to the east, Cooperage Street to the west and Kiln Road to the south.
Dfes said the alert level for the fire had been upgraded because properties were under threat. It said:
You are in danger and need to act immediately to survive. There is a threat to lives and homes.
A heatwave is impacting the broader region and is forecast to continue for at least another three days.
$3bn WA oil and gas project put off
Santos has stalled plans for a $3.4bn oil and gas project in Western Australia which is estimated to emit 168.6m tonnes of emissions in its lifetime.
Carnarvon Energy said Santos, the operator of the joint venture, had dropped plans to purchase an oil production vessel for the Dorado project and wouldn’t be starting engineering and design work. This defers the target for a final investment decision, it said.
A statement from Carnarvon said the joint venture was currently reviewing the timeline for the project and would “update the market in due time”. It said it was planning towards drilling further exploration wells in 2026.
The AFR reports that Santos is working to increase shareholder returns ahead of growth, and that Carnarvon’s shares fell as much as 27% amid the deferral.

Rafqa Touma
Albanese fields more questions on foreign interference in antisemitic attacks in Australia
Continuing from our previous post: Anthony Albanese was also asked why potential foreign actors were being investigated for antisemitic attacks across Australia now.
He said they were “being investigated and have been”.
The point is, when you have an investigation, sometimes it’s a really good idea to not tell the people who you are investigating exactly all of that detail, and that is what’s going on here …
This action is ongoing. The decision made by the police authorities themselves to be more transparent is to make it clear the action which is taking place on the ground, given suggestions by some, in order to secure some … political advantage, that that wasn’t occurring.
Asked whether the government boosted resources before or after they were made aware of the potential of foreign actors, and how long they have been aware, the PM said:
I announced Operation Avalite some time ago.
Albanese announced that the AFP established “special Operation Avalite” to combat antisemitism on 9 December last year.
Some antisemitic attacks appear not to be ‘motivated by ideology but paid actors’ – PM

Rafqa Touma
Just circling back to Anthony Albanese’s press conference in Parramatta earlier this morning, which we covered throughout the blog:
The prime minister said it appeared some perpetrators of antisemitic attacks in Australia were not motivated by an ideology but were paid by foreign actors.
He was asked a litany of questions about the Australian federal police’s investigation into whether overseas actors were paying local criminals to carry out antisemitic attacks. He said:
It is important that people understand where some of these attacks are coming from, and it would appear, as the AFP commissioner said yesterday, that some of these are being perpetrated by people who don’t have a particular issue, aren’t motivated by an ideology, but are paid actors. It’s unclear who or where the payments are coming from.
Asked again where foreign interference may be coming from, Albanese did not reveal any new detail:
I will leave the work of the AFP to be done by the AFP. They’ll continue to provide appropriate briefings, but with respect, I understand the desire for more information.