Key events
What we learned, Friday 6 February
That’s where we’ll leave the blog for today. As always, thanks for reading. I hope you have a lovely weekend, wherever you are.
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The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, was in Jakarta, where he signed a new defence pact with Indonesia’s president, Prabowo Subianto. Albanese described the treaty as “very significant”.
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In political news back home, the Liberals and Nationals were yet to reach an agreement on a potential reconciliation. The Nationals MP Darren Chester said he was holding out hope the Coalition could reunite despite expectations the Liberals would reject the country party’s new peace deal.
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Australia’s submarine agency insisted the Aukus agreement was progressing “at pace and on schedule”, even as sceptics of the $368bn deal argued the chances of the US ever selling promised Virginia-class submarines to Australia are increasingly remote.
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In New South Wales, police launched an investigation after officers shot dead a man accused of stabbing a woman after he invaded a home on the mid north coast armed with a chainsaw and knife.
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The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, said it was “crazy” that the Newcastle writers’ festival would feature Palestinian author Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah, after its lineup was announced this morning.
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Missing four-year-old Gus Lamont’s grandmothers released a statement through their lawyers, claiming they were “devastated” police had declared his disappearance a major crime.
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Tony Mokbel – one of the key figures in Melbourne’s years-long gangland war – was set to walk free after prosecutors said they would drop a planned retrial on drug trafficking charges.
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And Australian shares plunged, erasing $64bn in market value after all sectors fell due to growing investor unease.
PM calls new treaty with Indonesia ‘very significant’
Anthony Albanese says he wants Australia to assist Indonesia in developing defence training infrastructure in the south-east Asian nation.
The prime minister spoke to reporters in Jakarta a short time ago, after the signing of a new security treaty with Indonesia’s president, Prabowo Subianto.
Albanese said:
We want to see more integration, more positive engagement with regard to Australian assistance in infrastructure here.
That is to be discussed between the relevant defence heads as we go forward, but it’s something where Australia, of course, has significant expertise in a range of areas.
Albanese said the treaty was “very significant” and that:
We are determined for Australian ideas, Australian products and Australian businesses to help Indonesia’s growth.
We want to build prosperity here, but we also want to create new jobs and opportunities at home. The work this week has done just that.
Dan Jervis-Bardy
Senior Liberal says party could succeed without Nationals
Back on federal politics, a senior Liberal frontbencher and key ally of Sussan Ley says the party is capable of succeeding as the sole opposition party if talks with the Nationals to reunite the Coalition collapse.
The shadow health minister, Anne Ruston, said as long as negotiations between the opposition leader and the Nationals leader, David Littleproud, continued, there remained hope of a reunion.
But in a pointed remark, the leading moderate said the Liberals could succeed without their former coalition partner.
She told ABC Afternoon Briefing:
If we have to go our own separate way, I just want to assure everybody … the Liberal party has got a huge amount of talent, and we could go our own separate way.
But the preferred course of action, I think, for all of us, would be, we would be able to resolve this so we can stay in the Coalition.
Nationals MP says party made ‘constructive’ offer to reunite with Liberals
Dan Jervis-Bardy
The Nationals MP Darren Chester is holding out hope the Coalition can reunite despite expectations the Liberals will reject the country party’s new peace deal.
Appearing on ABC’s Afternoon Briefing, Chester – who strongly supports reforming the Coalition – said the Nationals had put forward a “constructive” offer to break the impasse.
The Gippsland MP confirmed that under the Nationals’ offer, the party would take “collective responsibility” for the decision of three senators to cross the floor on Labor’s hate speech bill, rather than accept Sussan Ley’s demands for a six-month suspension for the trio.
Sources briefed on the offer said the Nationals were proposing that all former frontbenchers serve suspensions until the end of February and that the parties remain apart during that time.
The Nationals’ proposal would essentially delay the Monday deadline that Ley has set for announcing a Liberal-only frontbench, which would cement the Coalition split.
Chester said:
The Liberal Party also needs to recognise that this was a decision made by the entire National Party room, so we won’t be singling out our three senators for some sort of suspension.
Our view is there is a collective responsibility here. If they are forced into some sort of period away from shadow ministerial roles, then that responsibility will be borne by all of our ministers in the House of Representatives as well.
As we reported earlier, the Liberals are poised to reject the offer because it does not directly punish the senators for breaching shadow cabinet solidarity.
An “optimistic” Chester said there was a “reasonable” prospect of a breakthrough over the weekend, but admitted it was up to Ley and the Nationals leader, David Littleproud, to resolve.
$64bn wiped from Australian Stock Exchange as shares in all sectors plunge
Jonathan Barrett
Australian shares plunged today, erasing $64bn in market value after all sectors fell due to growing investor unease.
The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 closed at 8,708.8 points, down more than 2% and representing a new 20-day low.
It was the worst single trading day since Donald Trump’s “liberation day” tariffs were revealed last April.
The Australian market followed the lead of Wall Street, which suffered a major sell down overnight, led by plunging technology stocks and huge volatility among companies invested in precious metals.
Australia’s technology and materials sectors, which include miners, were down sharply today. There was nowhere to hide with all 11 sectors on the ASX closing in the red.
The Australian market is now broadly flat for 2026.
While the potential for an AI bubble bursting and signs of global inflation reigniting did spark waves of volatility in 2025, many investors used the sell-offs to top up their holdings.
Traders will now weigh up whether the sell-down represents another bout of short-term volatility, or something more serious.
The ASX will also be informed by the results of the current earnings season, which runs until the end of the month, amid enduring concerns about rising inflation in Australia.
The price of bitcoin has now halved since October, exacerbating broader stock market jitters.
Queensland man charged with possessing extremist material, AFP says
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) say they have charged a 25-year-old Queensland man with possessing violent extremist material and that he has appeared in court today.
The AFP said its National Security Investigations team charged the man, from Morayfield, north of Brisbane, yesterday, following an investigation.
The investigation began in May 2024 when Australian Border Force (ABF) officers in New South Wales intercepted an air cargo consignment addressed to the man that allegedly contained Nazi flags, the ABF and AFP said in a joint statement issued this afternoon.
After the interception, the AFP attended the man’s home and provided him with a factsheet relating to the illegal public display of Nazi symbols, the agencies said.
In September 2025, the man arrived at Brisbane international airport, where ABF officers flagged him for a baggage and digital device examination, officials said.
They said the ABF identified allegedly violent extremist material on the man’s mobile phone and referred the matter to the AFP for further investigation.
The AFP examined the allegedly violent extremist material and seized the phone, the agencies said.
The AFP alleges further violent extremist material located on the phone, including edited first-person videos of international mass shootings and other files containing serious violence.
He was arrested after the AFP executed a search warrant in Morayfield, after which he was charged with one count of possessing or controlling violent extremist material obtained or accessed using a carriage service in breach of the commonwealth criminal law.
The offence carries a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment, officials said.
The AFP detective acting Supt, Tim Murphy, said federal police would not tolerate behaviour that undermined Australia’s social cohesion and that:
There is no place in Australian society for violent or extremist content – anyone engaging in this type of material will be investigated, located and brought before the court.
The ABF Supt, John Ikin, said the agency also had “zero tolerance” for anyone who engages in or supports any kind of violent extremism, and that:
We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners and use all powers available to us in order to detect and prosecute those involved in this activity.
NSW premier says Newcastle writers’ festival ‘crazy’ to invite Randa Abdel-Fattah
Daisy Dumas
Chris Minns says it is “crazy” that the Newcastle writers’ festival will feature Palestinian author Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah.
The literary festival is scheduled for March, and its lineup was announced this morning.
Speaking with the media today, the New South Wales premier said Adbel-Fattah’s inclusion was divisive.
I don’t know why these organisations do it. It’s a real head scratcher for me. I think they’re crazy to invite that author when you think about how divisive it is and how difficult it would be for the organisation as a result of the notoriety.
“It’s not as if this author’s Harper Lee or Salman Rushdie. I find it difficult to understand,” Minns said, before admitting he had not heard of Abdel-Fattah before the controversy over the Adelaide event.
He continued:
My understanding is the organisers will not withdraw the invitation. And, from the perspective of the NSW government, I want to make it clear, I think they’re crazy to invite the author, but in some sense, you end up dragging even more notoriety and more publicity well over and beyond the literary achievements of the particular author.
Abdel-Fattah responded with a post on Instagram that outlined her multi-award-winning literary achievements, including 11 novels and books published and translated in 20 countries.
Her nonfiction book, Coming of Age in the War on Terror, was shortlisted for the 2022 NSW Premier’s Literary Awards.
She wrote:
Today NSW Premier Chris Minns had a lot to say about my literary credentials and character. I’m sure he was too busy getting the red carpet out for Israel criminals Herzog and Doran Almog to do his homework so I’ve put together a little sample so he’s better informed and, dare I hope, better read.
She was cut from Adelaide Writers’ Week last month after pressure from the South Australian government, leading to a mass boycott of writers and the eventual cancellation of the festival.
Her invitation to speak was withdrawn by the festival’s board after controversy and complaints over her past statements, including a social media post claiming Zionists had “no claim to cultural safety” and a Facebook profile image of a paraglider with a Palestinian flag parachute, which was posted the day after the 7 October attack on Israel.
She recently told the Full Story podcast that the “cultural safety” statement had been taken out of context and that the paraglider image was “an iconic symbol of freedom” for Palestinians under siege.
Man charged with abusing hundreds of children to remain behind bars until next court appearance
A man charged with abusing hundreds of children around the world using social media and gaming sites will remain behind bars, AAP reports.
Ethan Mitch Burns-Dederer, 27, from Maryborough, north of Brisbane, faces almost 600 offences against children aged five to 15.
Burns-Dederer hid behind false identities online to groom and coerce children in Australia and overseas, police allege.
The accused has been in custody since his arrest in February 2025, and the matter was mentioned in the Brisbane magistrates court today.
Burns-Dederer did not appear in court, where his case was adjourned to July for further mention before an expected committal hearing.
Police this week revealed the vast haul of charges after an exhaustive year-long investigation to identify alleged victims from among 23,000 photographs and videos.
More than 360 victims have been identified, including more than 200 across Australia.
Burns-Dederer’s charges included 244 counts of producing child abuse material for use through a carriage service and 163 counts of using a carriage service to procure persons under 16 years of age.
He also faces a further 87 counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child using a carriage service.
Catie McLeod
Hi, I hope you’re having a nice Friday. I’ll take you through the rest of the news this afternoon.
Nick Visser
That’s all from me! Catie McLeod will guide you through the arvo’s news and into the weekend. Take care.
Albanese signs security pact with Indonesia in Jakarta
Anthony Albanese is speaking in Jakarta after signing a treaty with Indonesia’s president, Prabowo Subianto.
The prime minister said the document recognised “that the best way to secure peace and stability in our region is by acting together”, adding:
This signals that Australia’s and Indonesia’s relationship is stronger than it’s ever been. The fact we are signing this treaty today is testament to president Prabowo’s strong leadership and his personal commitment to promoting security in our region, and indeed around the world.
ABC Ombudsman says Tony Armstrong special did not violate editorial standards
The ABC Ombudsman found Tony Armstrong’s one-off special, which took aim at colonialism and racism against Indigenous Australians, did not breach the broadcaster’s editorial standards.
The ombudsman’s office received 96 complaints about the broadcast of the program, Always Was Tonight, on 21 January. The shadow communications minister, Melissa McIntosh, was among those who wrote a letter of complaint to the ABC about the satirical news program.
The ombudsman said:
Broadly, the complaints raised concerns about bias and offence suggesting the content was ‘anti-white’, ‘racist’, and ‘divisive’. More specifically, complainants suggested that the segment ‘Don’t Ruin The BBQ’ contained inaccurate claims about the introduction of smallpox into Aboriginal communities in the 1700’s.
But it found that the program was explicitly framed as satire from an Indigenous perspective, “and did not purport to present a balanced or comprehensive examination of contested issues”.
Comedy and satire must be afforded significant latitude to express ideas that challenge and critique the status quo.
Predominantly, concerns related to audience members taking offence and perceiving the program to be in poor taste. Taste is a subjective judgement and the ABC’s editorial standards should always be applied in ways that do not unduly constrain journalistic enquiry or, as in this case, satire as a form of artistic expression.
Ex-partner allegedly murdered by nextdoor neighbours, police say
A man and woman have been charged with what police describe as the domestic violence-related stabbing murder of their neighbour, who had allegedly recently broken up with one of the accused, AAP reports.
Anne-Marie Streek, 40, and Stephen Henry Evans, 44, were arrested on Thursday and charged with the murder of a 48-year-old woman in Goulburn in the NSW Southern Tablelands.
Police believe the 48-year-old was killed on 30 December 2025, but her body wasn’t discovered until early on 3 January. Officers conducting a welfare check forced entry to the property before finding her dead with multiple stab wounds.
Officials alleged Streek had been in a multi-year relationship with the dead woman until May 2025, when Streek began a live-in relationship with Evans, who lived next door.
Five-day search for fugitive Dezi Freeman ends without a trace
Nino Bucci
An exhaustive search in the Victorian high country has ended without police finding any trace of fugitive Dezi Freeman.
Police suspect Freeman died only hours after he allegedly killed two officers and fled into bushland near Porepunkah in August.
There has been no proof of life recorded for Freeman since he fled from police, near the Mount Buffalo national park, about 15 minutes after he allegedly shot dead two officers – detective senior constable Neal Thompson and senior constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart.
Less than two hours after Freeman fled, police said a single gunshot was heard coming from nearby bushland – a report that was later corroborated by investigators. That sound may have been Freeman shooting himself, police believe.
That report led to police congregating in the region again on Monday morning as they undertook what senior officers said would be the largest Victorian manhunt in history.
But police confirmed early on Friday afternoon that the search had concluded, and no further updates were planned.
All bushfire-affected arterial roads reopened in Victoria
All state-managed roads affected by the January bushfires in Victoria are now reopened, officials said earlier today.
Work to reopen local roads managed by councils is ongoing, but crews have been travelling across the state’s arterial road network to ensure they are safe to use. Those efforts have included removing debris, replacing guideposts and repainting road markings.
Victoria’s Department of Transport said some speeds on those roads were reduced due to remaining damage, but that they would revert as infrastructure repairs were finished.
The works were funded as part of a $81.8m package to repair the transport network after the fires.
Gus Lamont’s ‘devastated’ grandmothers engage lawyers
Tory Shepherd
Lawyers have confirmed they are acting for the two grandmothers of missing four-year-old Gus Lamont.
Gus went missing from his family’s sheep station in September last year and was initially thought to have wandered off. After months of intensive searching, South Australian Police (SAPol) declared his disappearance a major crime on Thursday, and said that the suspect was someone who lived at the station.
Gus’s mother, younger brother and two grandmothers live at Oak Park Station, and his father lives elsewhere. Police ruled out the parents as suspects.
Andrew Ey is acting for Gus’s grandmother Josie Murray, and Casey Isaacs is acting for his other grandmother, Shannon Murray.
The lawyers said in a joint statement that their clients “will not be participating in any interviews nor commenting any further save and except that they wish to release a brief comment”, which was:
We are absolutely devastated by the media release of SAPol Major Crime. The family has cooperated fully with the investigation and want nothing more than to find Gus and reunite him with his mum and dad.
