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Penny Wong announces suspension of Tehran embassy
Josh Butler
Australia’s embassy in Tehran has suspended operations and the government is ordering officials to leave Iran, the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has said, over concerns about “the deteriorating security environment”.
As alarm grows about the conflict between Iran and Israel, Wong said the Australian ambassador to Iran would “remain in the region to support the Australian government’s response to this crisis”, while consular staff are being deployed to neighbouring Azerbaijan, “including its border crossings, to support Australians departing Iran”.
The government is trying to assist Australians to leave Iran but Wong said options were limited.
“The Australian government has directed the departure of all Australian officials and dependents and suspended operations at our embassy in Tehran, based on advice about the deteriorating security environment in Iran,” Wong said this morning.
We urge Australians who are able to leave Iran to do so now, if it is safe. Those who are unable to, or do not wish to leave, are advised to shelter in place.
Wong said the government was “continuing planning to support Australians seeking to depart Iran” – but at this stage “our ability to provide consular services is extremely limited due to the situation on the ground. The airspace remains closed.”
“Dfat will also continue to provide support through the 24-hour consular emergency centre, direct contact with Australian citizens who have registered on our crisis portal and updates to travel advice,” she said.
The suspension of embassy operations is consistent with steps taken by other countries, including New Zealand and Switzerland.
Australians in Iran seeking consular assistance should call the Australian government’s 24-hour consular emergency centre on +61 2 6261 3305 outside Australia and 1300 555 135 in Australia, Wong said.
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Five ways Australians’ spending, housing and dating habits have changed over the last 25 years
Australia’s changing way of life is highlighted by five key trends in two pieces of research released today – one by the e61 Institute and another by KPMG.
Luca Ittamani finds that young people are living with their parents for longer compared with 25 years ago thanks to the housing crisis, and are less likely to be living with a partner.
Another result of expensive housing is that young families are more likely to move around because they are less likely to own their own home.
Read more:
Josh Butler
About 2,000 registered with Dfat as wanting to leave Iran
Further to the last post on Iran – it’s understood just over 2,000 Australian citizens, permanent residents and immediate family members are registered as wanting to depart Iran.
Victoria Liberals bail out Pesutto with $1.5m loan to avoid bankruptcy
There was a dramatic meeting of the Victorian Liberals’ 19-member administrative committee last night at which they decided to give former leader John Pesutto a $1.5m loan so he can pay off his legal debt to Moira Deeming.
It means he won’t go bankrupt which, among other things, would have triggered a byelection in his seat of Hawthorn. After the meeting, the party’s state president, Phil Davis, sent an email to members explaining the decision:
You will have no doubt seen media commentary about the member for Hawthorn’s request of the party to assist him in meeting the costs order by the federal court in the Deeming v Pesutto defamation matter.
The party’s administrative committee met this evening and resolved that Moira Deeming should be paid what is owed to her, and therefore the party will contribute $1.55 million directly to Mrs Deeming.
Mr Pesutto will be required to re-pay this amount to the party on a commercial loan basis, with a market-based interest rate, ensuring that the Party earns additional income from this investment.
Settling this matter once and for all is in the interests of the party, as it will see an end to the ongoing commentary that is letting Labor get away with their appalling performance.
By ensuring that Mrs Deeming has been paid, there will be no Hawthorn by-election, and the state parliamentary team can focus on the urgent needs of the Victorian community, particularly campaigning to change the government at the 2026 Election.
Victorians need a change of government. By ensuring that Mrs Deeming gets paid what she is owed, the Party will be stronger as we head towards November 2026.
Read our full story here:
Good morning, and happy Friday. Nick Visser here to take over for Martin Farrer. Stick with us as we dive into the day’s news.
Penny Wong announces suspension of Tehran embassy
Josh Butler
Australia’s embassy in Tehran has suspended operations and the government is ordering officials to leave Iran, the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has said, over concerns about “the deteriorating security environment”.
As alarm grows about the conflict between Iran and Israel, Wong said the Australian ambassador to Iran would “remain in the region to support the Australian government’s response to this crisis”, while consular staff are being deployed to neighbouring Azerbaijan, “including its border crossings, to support Australians departing Iran”.
The government is trying to assist Australians to leave Iran but Wong said options were limited.
“The Australian government has directed the departure of all Australian officials and dependents and suspended operations at our embassy in Tehran, based on advice about the deteriorating security environment in Iran,” Wong said this morning.
We urge Australians who are able to leave Iran to do so now, if it is safe. Those who are unable to, or do not wish to leave, are advised to shelter in place.
Wong said the government was “continuing planning to support Australians seeking to depart Iran” – but at this stage “our ability to provide consular services is extremely limited due to the situation on the ground. The airspace remains closed.”
“Dfat will also continue to provide support through the 24-hour consular emergency centre, direct contact with Australian citizens who have registered on our crisis portal and updates to travel advice,” she said.
The suspension of embassy operations is consistent with steps taken by other countries, including New Zealand and Switzerland.
Australians in Iran seeking consular assistance should call the Australian government’s 24-hour consular emergency centre on +61 2 6261 3305 outside Australia and 1300 555 135 in Australia, Wong said.
Israel has 'very close collaboration' with Australia, says deputy foreign minister
Daisy Dumas
Israel’s deputy foreign affairs minister says her country’s war with Iran is an “Israeli mission” and that the country is capable of fighting Iran without America’s direct involvement.
Speaking with ABC’s 7.30, Sharren Haskel also said that Israel had “a very close collaboration” with Australia.
She said that given “such an enormous amount of bombardment and missiles and ballistic missiles” had been fired by Iran, some had penetrated Israel’s Iron Dome and two other layers of defence.
The Knesset member went on to say the war was “an Israeli operation”:
Americans are very close allies of Israel. They were informed, and they are still informed, with all of the details of the operation as well. They are working with us to defend the country but this is an Israeli mission. This is our target.
President Trump is considering Americans’ interest and I understand that. He knows how Iran is a threat to humanity … They’re doing their consideration but we had to take into account our interests and to make sure we are capable of defending our people and our children.
She said Trump’s America, should it decide to “join in”, may be capable of eliminating Iran’s nuclear threat, as Israel sees it, “in a shorter time, with much more sophisticated or direct equipment, advanced equipment”. But that, even if it took longer, Israel was targeting what it needed to keep its people safe.
She said Israel has “a very close collaboration” with Australian security agencies but did not elaborate, when asked, on whether that included sharing intelligence about Iran’s nuclear program with Australia.
Anne Davies
Unravelling the Northern Beaches hospital deal is proving very complex because the private and public hospital facilities are interwoven in the same building, which is owned by a third entity.
There are separate public and private wards but all services – from theatres, pathology, x-ray, IT, reception and cleaning to nursing support – are shared.
If a mutual agreement is not reached, the proposed amendments would give the health minister the power to issue a termination notice to Healthscope.
In addition, the treasurer would have the power to ensure that compensation negotiations occur in a reasonable timeframe and to appoint an independent person to determine compensation if agreement cannot be reached.
The alternative to this approach is for the NSW government to exercise its voluntary termination rights, the government said.
Under the PPP contract this would see compensation to Healthscope’s receivers and lenders run into the hundreds of millions of dollars.
The health minister, Ryan Park, said: “We’ve made it clear from the very beginning that we don’t support this sort of arrangement.
This is a complex contract but the community deserves certainty.
NSW government moves to end partnership deal over Northern Beaches hospital
Anne Davies
The Minns Labor government is arming itself with new powers to terminate the public-private partnership (PPP) with bankrupt Northern Beaches hospital operator Healthscope in the event that it cannot reach an agreement.
The government announced today it would introduce amendments to a private member’s bill brought forward by the member for Wakehurst, Michael Regan, next week so it could – if required – terminate the Northern Beaches PPP contract.
This follows the appointment of receivers to the parent entities of Healthscope, which the NSW government considers a default under the contract.
Healthscope has argued that the termination would be “ voluntary” and would attract compensation as set out on the contract. The government said this would run to hundreds of millions of dollars.
“This is not a decision we take lightly,” the NSW treasurer, Daniel Mookhey, said.
But we are now in a position where the Liberals’ privatisation mess means Healthscope’s receivers are negotiating the future of the Northern Beaches hospital.
While an agreed exit from this failed PPP contract remains my preference, I must ensure the government has the right to step in and protect the Northern Beaches community from this dragging on.
Welcome
Martin Farrer
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then Nick Visser will be in the hot seat.
Israel’s deputy foreign minister told the ABC’s 7.30 last night that her country had “a very close collaboration” with Australian security agencies. However, when pressed on the question she did not elaborate on whether that included sharing intelligence about Iran’s nuclear program. More coming up.
The Minns Labor government is arming itself with new powers to terminate the public-private partnership (PPP) with bankrupt Northern Beaches hospital operator Healthscope in the event that it cannot reach an agreement. More coming up on that too.
