Jordyn Beazley

NSW Supreme Court justice Desmond Fagan ruled that authorities wrongly labelled Mohommed Farhat’s anti-Israel graffiti antisemitic and failed to disclose intelligence indicating he had been recruited by paid criminals rather than acting from an ideological or terrorist motive. Fagan said the case appeared to involve a serious miscarriage of justice, criticized the use of the IHRA antisemitism definition, rejected a proposed one-year terrorism-related extended supervision order and ordered the state to pay Farhat’s legal costs. Farhat remains in prison while the court considers whether the sentencing and parole process should be corrected.

Waverley library in Bondi Junction removed Adam Johnson’s book How to Sell a Genocide for review after a complaint reportedly linked to a survivor of the Bondi beach antisemitic attack. The council said its outsourced book-selection process would receive closer oversight. Johnson, Palestinian advocacy representatives and progressive Jewish figures criticised the decision as censorship and defended libraries’ role in providing access to challenging views, while Israel denies allegations of genocide in Gaza. The dispute comes after New South Wales strengthened legal protections for libraries against campaigns to ban books.

A complainant identified as J denied during cross-examination that he fabricated allegations that Alan Jones sexually touched him when he was a teenager. Jones’s barrister, Gabrielle Bashir SC, questioned J about financial hardship, payments and gifts from Jones, delayed reporting, inconsistencies in his statements and alleged motives for pursuing a potential civil claim. J said he wanted justice rather than compensation and rejected claims that he had recast legitimate financial support as sinister conduct. Jones faces 22 indecent assault and sexual touching charges involving six men and has pleaded not guilty. The trial is continuing.

Cross-examination continued in the Sydney trial of former radio broadcaster Alan Jones, who has pleaded not guilty to 22 charges of indecent assault and sexual touching involving six men. Complainant J, who says Jones began paying him as a teenage student athlete and assaulted him on multiple occasions, has given evidence for three days via video link. Judge Glenn Walsh imposed an interim non-publication order covering the disputed questioning, preventing journalists from reporting the evidence until its admissibility is resolved. The court is expected to resume on 6 August 2026.

The NSW Minns government released former judge John Sackar’s long-awaited review of hate-speech law but rejected its recommendation to extend criminal protections beyond race to religion, sexual orientation and gender identity, prompting criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates. The live coverage also reported ICAC evidence that Liberal MP Damien Tudehope leaked a confidential parliamentary report and discussed Jean-Claude Perrottet’s whereabouts with Dominic Perrottet. Other major developments included an independent review of the Bureau of Meteorology, evidence that aged-care algorithms are producing inadequate assessments, rising homelessness among Brisbane children, a planned Victorian doctors’ strike, warnings about bushfire risk and winter hospital pressures, and record financial complaints. Sportsbet and Tabcorp rejected allegations linked to gambling inducements, while stronger electric-vehicle sales and air travel drove a larger-than-expected rise in household spending and Australian shares reached a five-month high.

A complainant known as J told Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court that Alan Jones paid him more than $110,000 over roughly a decade and allegedly indecently assaulted him when he was a teenager. J described alleged incidents at Jones’s farm in Fitzroy Falls, said he reported them to police after Jones’s 2024 arrest because he wanted to do what was right for his child, and said he did not consent to the alleged conduct or want compensation. Jones, who faces 22 indecent assault and sexual touching charges, has pleaded not guilty and denies wrongdoing. His defence has questioned the complainants’ credibility and alleged that media rivals encouraged the complaints; J denied reading detailed press reports before contacting police.

Day two of Alan Jones’s trial at Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court focused on evidence from complainant J, who alleged that Jones sexually touched and assaulted him after meeting him as a teenage athlete. J described regular payments from Jones that allegedly totalled $110,000 over nearly a decade, multiple incidents at Jones’s properties, and his eventual decision to report the allegations after Jones’s arrest on other claims. Defence barrister Gabrielle Bashir questioned whether J had been influenced by media reports about other complainants. Jones denies all 22 charges of indecent assault and sexual touching.

Former broadcaster Alan Jones, aged 85, faces 22 indecent assault charges and has pleaded not guilty. On the first day of the trial, complainant J alleged that Jones began a relationship with him when he was a teenage athlete, providing weekly payments, a phone and a car before allegedly kissing and sexually touching him without consent. The defence argued that media rivals, including Ray Hadley and Peter FitzSimons, encouraged complaints and asserted that rivalry, opportunism and unreliable or reconstructed accounts are central to the case. J’s evidence will continue via closed-circuit television.

The trial of former broadcaster Alan Jones has begun at Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court. Jones, 85, faces 22 charges—20 of indecent assault and two of sexual touching—allegedly involving six complainants between 2003 and 2020. The judge-alone trial is expected to last four months and hear from 76 witnesses. Prosecutors allege a pattern of targeting significantly younger men, while Jones denies all wrongdoing and says the allegations are baseless or distort the truth. The court has allowed media reporting of complainants’ evidence, subject to protections for victims’ identities.

At least seven First Nations people have died in New South Wales custody in 2026, following a record 12 Indigenous deaths in state prisons in 2025. The deaths of Matthew Roberts at Lithgow Correctional Centre and another 21-year-old man at Clarence Correctional Centre have intensified concerns among advocates, who link the worsening toll to rapid growth in the prison population and the overrepresentation of Aboriginal people entering custody. Roberts’s mother says he had previously been placed on suicide watch and told her shortly before his death that he wanted to end his life. Corrective Services NSW cited the complexity of mental-health needs in custody and declined further comment pending investigation and a coronial process. Aboriginal legal advocates warn that the state could surpass last year’s record, while the Dhadjowa Foundation is supporting Roberts’s family with funeral costs and navigating the aftermath.

New South Wales will introduce a health-led system for some mental health emergencies, with specialist nurses triaging triple-zero calls around the clock and advising ambulance first responders. Eight teams combining paramedics and mental health nurses will respond to some call-outs, but they will operate only 12 hours a day and not statewide; police will remain the lead responders when there is a safety threat. The $270 million, ten-year reform follows multiple deaths involving police, including the 2023 fatal shooting of Jesse Deacon. Advocates and psychiatrists welcomed the change but warned that broader police de-escalation training and expanded community mental health services are needed.

Ben Carroll has become Victoria’s premier and Labor leader after Jacinta Allan resigned amid internal pressure, weak polling and concerns about the party’s prospects before the state election. Carroll said he would govern differently from Daniel Andrews and Allan, with his first major initiative being a royal commission into the construction sector alongside a special prosecutor. The live coverage also reports economic concerns surrounding slowing consumption, falling housing demand and uncertainty over a possible Reserve Bank interest-rate rise; trade-union leadership changes; scrutiny of KPMG over audit leaks; public-sector neutrality disputes over a pro-Palestinian letter; and a High Court challenge to Queensland’s ban on the slogan “from the river to the sea.”

The Guardian’s live coverage reports that comedian Nikki Osborne defended her interview with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, saying his “shag, marry, date” response involving Kylie Minogue had been taken out of context, while acknowledging the online abuse she received. Australia’s first nationwide AusAlert test reached 94% of targeted mobile towers, exceeding the government’s 90% goal, but some devices failed to sound and advocates warned that hidden phones used by domestic-violence survivors could be exposed. Other major developments included the opening of a NSW ICAC inquiry into alleged Liberal Party donation and branch-stacking schemes, the loss of majority caucus support by Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, a court ruling upholding Pauline Hanson’s racial discrimination against Mehreen Faruqi, legal action by the family of Indigenous man Kumanjayi White after police were not charged over his death in custody, new suspected bird-flu detections in South Australia, and criticism of US tariffs on Australia.

Australia’s Federal Court unanimously upheld the finding that One Nation leader Pauline Hanson racially discriminated against Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi in a 2022 post telling her to return to Pakistan. The judges rejected Hanson’s appeal on all seven grounds, including her argument that section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act violated political communication rights. Faruqi welcomed the ruling as a broader victory against racist abuse and conditional ideas of belonging, while Hanson is considering a further appeal to the High Court and may be required to pay Faruqi’s legal costs.

A coronial inquest into the 2023 fatal police shooting of Jesse Deacon in Glebe has highlighted that the three responding officers lacked mental health training, were not warned about Deacon’s schizophrenia or history of carrying knives, and entered his apartment without discussing a plan. Deacon, who was experiencing severe treatment-resistant schizophrenia and self-harming, was shot after a Taser failed when he appeared with a kitchen knife. His mother, Judy Deacon, has questioned police, health workers and investigators herself and is seeking reforms. The inquest is expected to make recommendations, while the New South Wales government considers a “right person, right care” model that would shift some mental health callouts from police to health workers.

The Guardian’s live coverage reports that a former undercover intelligence agent known as Marcus was denied an Australian visitor visa despite the royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion reportedly seeking his evidence about the Bondi shooters; advocates and Greens senator David Shoebridge urged Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke to intervene. Labor MP Ed Husic called for stronger practical action on Israel-Palestine and greater tolerance of internal party disagreement at the ALP national conference. Other major developments included an Origin Energy data breach, Yvette Berry’s resignation as ACT education minister after an integrity report concerning two officials, and the dismissal of Woodside Energy’s case against climate activists. The blog also covered debate over fossil-fuel tax credits, rising expectations of a Reserve Bank rate increase, worsening Queensland social-housing wait times, a second Victorian teacher strike, new workplace reforms announced by Anthony Albanese, and Australian firefighters being deployed to assist with Californian wildfires.

A Federal Court ruling found Domino’s misled franchisees by directing them to use outdated employment agreements that excluded key entitlements, supporting a class action brought by former delivery driver Riley Gall on behalf of workers employed between 2013 and 2018. Compensation claims will be determined at a later hearing. The live coverage also reported rising antisemitic incidents in Victoria, a potential Origin Energy data breach, controversy over Pauline Hanson’s domestic violence comments, pressure on Queensland’s domestic violence minister over a withheld survivor report, and legal challenges to Woodside’s North West Shelf extension. Other developments included a defamation victory for Rebel Wilson, calls for stronger royal commission whistleblower protections, debate over Labor policy ahead of its national conference, and former Socceroos captain Paul Wade’s disclosure of a probable CTE diagnosis.

An inquest has opened into the 2023 fatal police shooting of Jesse Deacon, who was killed within a minute of officers arriving at his Sydney home during a mental health welfare check. Evidence described failures in police information systems, including an inaccurate HIV warning and a lack of mental health flags, as well as the unsuccessful deployment of a Taser before the shooting. Testimony highlighted Deacon’s long struggle with treatment‑resistant schizophrenia and recurring crises. His mother, Judy Deacon, now an advocate for reform, is representing herself and urging systemic changes in police responses to mental health incidents as the inquest continues.

A 16-year-old boy from the Swan Hill area was arrested after the remains of missing 13-year-old Layla Jeffery were found in bushland near Donald in western Victoria. Police, treating the death as suspicious, executed a warrant at a local property and interviewed the boy. Two women are assisting with inquiries but have not been arrested. Authorities believe no one else was involved and ruled out any involvement by Layla’s family. The community has expressed shock and grief following the discovery.

Telstra has declared its nationwide outage resolved after disruptions to train services, payment systems and triple-zero calls, but Communications Minister Anika Wells said the company must answer serious questions and rebuild public trust. The Australian Communications and Media Authority is investigating and says Telstra could face civil penalties of up to $30 million, while Small Business Minister Anne Aly called for a clearer compensation scheme. South Australian police ruled out any connection between the outage and a reported death. Other major developments included the death of former broadcaster and senator Derryn Hinch at 82, the discovery of a missing 13-year-old girl’s body in regional Victoria, and the first detection of deadly H5 bird flu in South Australian wildlife. The live coverage also reported disputes over Northern Territory child protection reforms, Pacific defence cooperation involving Australia, Fiji and potentially New Zealand, legal cases involving pro-Palestine groups and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and economic and cultural developments across Australia.

A federal court ruled that the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra did not unlawfully discriminate against pianist Jayson Gillham when it cancelled his 2024 concert following on‑stage remarks about Palestinian journalists killed by Israeli forces. Justice Graeme Hill found that Gillham’s status as an independent contractor meant workplace protections did not apply and that the orchestra acted to protect its business rather than in response to his political views. The court determined only one of the four alleged adverse actions breached the Fair Work Act, with the others occurring after his contract had already been terminated. The MSO acknowledged errors in handling the situation but maintained that its stage was not an appropriate venue for political commentary. Both parties are considering further legal steps.

A nationwide Telstra outage disrupted mobile services, Eftpos payments, train operations and access to emergency calls across Australia for about six hours, highlighting widespread dependence on the network. Transport in Victoria and New South Wales was heavily affected, with regional rail services halted and ongoing disruptions expected. Telstra attributed the outage to a software defect and apologised after completing welfare checks related to failed triple-zero calls. Government ministers urged improvements in telecommunications resilience, while some political figures faced criticism for their responses. Residual travel disruptions continued into the following day as rail networks worked to restore normal services.

A four-year-old boy’s death on the New South Wales Central Coast prompted an independent review after officials confirmed multiple prior reports to child protection services. The boy’s mother has been charged with murder, and police are investigating claims of cannibalism. Authorities acknowledged previous contact with the family and said the review will assess departmental decisions, previous interventions and whether more could have been done. Government ministers cited longstanding problems in the child protection system, while the opposition demanded further investigation. The Department of Communities and Justice is examining its involvement as police continue their inquiry and the accused awaits her next court appearance.

Australia has detected six cases of the H5N1 bird flu strain in migratory birds, prompting authorities to warn the public about risks to pets, particularly cats, dogs and backyard poultry. Experts emphasise that infections in pets are rare and typically result from contact with sick or dead birds, raw meat or unpasteurised milk. Symptoms in pets range from fever and lethargy to neurological issues. Officials urge pet owners to limit interaction with wildlife, keep cats indoors, leash dogs in high‑risk areas and prevent wildlife access to pet food. While the overall risk to household pets remains low, vigilance and preventive measures are strongly recommended.

Fifty-six NSW Labor branches, including the entire left faction, are pushing for the repeal of anti-protest laws ahead of the state party conference, arguing the legislation has increased tensions at demonstrations. Internal disputes also surround the treatment of Aukus and Palestine in committee reports, with multiple groups demanding debate. Premier Chris Minns is expected to announce a plan to revive train manufacturing in the Hunter region, though gambling reform and criticism of poker machine influence are also prominent issues for delegates.

A federal court ruled that Ofir Birenbaum and his lawyer breached a confidential defamation settlement with Sydney’s Cairo Takeaway by issuing statements portraying the agreement as a victory despite a joint statement indicating no party had won. Justice Robert Bromwich found the statements misleading and inconsistent with the settlement, noting they undermined the intended compromise. The ruling followed earlier disputes involving social media posts, media involvement, and briefing notes provided to journalists. Cairo Takeaway’s representatives expressed relief and disappointment over the breach, while Birenbaum said he remained satisfied with the settlement terms. Cost submissions are pending.

Police are investigating the death of an 84-year-old aged care resident in Rooty Hill after her daughter was arrested for allegedly administering an unknown substance. The daughter, who has no criminal history, was distressed but compliant, and the motive remains unclear. A child present at the scene is now with family, and toxicology and autopsy results are pending as forensic teams process the crime scene.

Western Australian police will review their interactions with Virginia Giuffre after her family requested an investigation into how officers handled a domestic violence dispute before her suicide. Sky and Amanda Roberts seek clarity on whether procedural failures occurred, while researchers and family violence advocates have also urged an inquest, citing systemic issues. Police commissioner Col Blanch confirmed the review, and the coroner may also consider an investigation. Giuffre, a prominent victim of Jeffrey Epstein, had previously accused him, Ghislaine Maxwell and Prince Andrew of abuse, with related civil cases settled prior to her death.

Victoria recorded its first decrease in crime in four years, with overall offences and youth offending declining, while adult crime rose due to bail breaches, retail theft and family violence order violations. Police and government officials acknowledged improvements but noted crime remains high. In New South Wales, crime remained mostly stable, though shoplifting and stealing increased, driven largely by rising ebike, clothing, footwear and alcohol thefts. Increased charges in NSW stemmed from stronger enforcement rather than rising offending, contributing to record prison populations, including high rates of Indigenous incarceration and domestic violence offenders.