Albanese asked if he trusts Donald Trump
Earlier this morning, the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, also spoke with Raf Epstein on ABC Radio Melbourne, where he was asked – “do you trust Donald Trump?”
Albanese responded by asking, “what sort of question is that?”
I mean, he’s the president of the United States. He’s elected as the president of the United States. I’m the prime minister for Australia. He’s entitled to pursue his agenda, of course. But I’m entitled to defend Australia’s national interest and that’s what we’re doing.
Epstein said some of Trump’s behaviour “rewards our enemies rather than our friends,” and that’s why he posed the question. Albanese answered:
Well, I will continue to develop a constructive relationship with president Trump, as I do with other world leaders. That’s my job.
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Updated at 21.32 EDT
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Eelemarni Close-Brown
Latest Closing the Gap data released
Peak Indigenous organisations have called for urgent action from state, territory and federal governments to improve the lives of First Nations people, after the latest Closing the Gap data revealed rates of involvement in the child protection system, incarceration and suicide rates were increasing.
Closing the Gap said it’s “deeply disappointing” Australian governments have failed to close stark disparities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
The 2025 Close the Gap campaign report by the Lowitja Institute was released today, on Closing the Gap day. It follows an update to the national dashboard earlier this month which showed just four targets out of 16 were on track to be met.
The others were going backwards, stagnating or getting worse. Access to land and sea rights and greater communications connectivity had gains and progress on early childhood outcomes and healthy birthweight targets had stalled.
The Aboriginal flag outside Parliament House in Canberra. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP
A central focus of this year’s report is the success of First Nations leaders who are actively shaping solutions and paving the way to close the gap. Karl Briscoe, the co-chair of Close the Gap said:
We are proud to share this report, which not only highlights the achievements made in the pursuit of equity and justice but also reinforces the importance of continuing to elevate Indigenous voices.
Briscoe’s sentiments were echoed by fellow co-chair, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Katie Kiss, who said it was important to hold governments accountable for their commitments.
Our recommendations in this report are clear … we urge all levels of government to fulfill their obligations under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
ShareCaitlin Cassidy
Letter calling for suspension of Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah research fellowship to be overturned
More than 200 recipients of Australian Research Council (ARC) funding have sent a letter to the education minister, the chair of the ARC and the vice-chancellor of Macquarie University calling for the suspension of Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah’s research fellowship to be overturned.
Last month, the ARC chair, Prof Peter Shergold AC, confirmed at Senate estimates that her grant had been suspended pending further investigation over concern about the “acquittal of public funds” and did not have to do with her pro-Palestine stance.
Among those who signed the letter were academic and gay rights activist Emeritus Prof Dennis Altman, musician and actor Dr Lou Bennett AM, historian Emeritus Prof Richard Broome, anthropologist Prof Ghassan Hage and Stella Prize winner Prof Clare Wright.
Co-originator of the letter, Dr Jordana Silverstein said there was “widespread unhappiness with the treatment of our esteemed colleague Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah”.
Across the country, and across industries, we are regularly witnessing people being fired, or punished at work, for everything from wearing a keffiyeh to displaying a Palestinian flag to providing accurate information about events in Gaza.
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Updated at 22.03 EDT
Jordyn Beazley
Chris Minns won’t appear before upper house inquiry on Dural caravan incident
The NSW premier has said he will not appear before an upper house inquiry that will examine when he and members of his cabinet knew the Dural caravan incident was not a terror event and if it was before controversial legislation passed parliament.
The proposed inquiry passed with support from both the opposition and Greens, and members of the crossbench, yesterday in the wake of police revelations a caravan found laden with explosives on the outskirts of Sydney was a “con job” by organised crime.
Chris Minns cannot be compelled to appear before that inquiry, and he has said he won’t voluntarily either if he is asked.
The NSW premier, Chris Minns. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
He told reporters this morning:
I’m not going to go to a kangaroo court presided over by Mark Latham, ex-One Nation MPs and the NSW opposition. We need to let serious criminal investigations be carried out by NSW police, not a rag tag group of upper house MPs that are intent on hogging the limelight and having a media conference …
This was not fake. These threats were real. The motivation for it clearly was not ideological or religious terrorism, but that doesn’t mean the threat to sections of the people in NSW was not genuine and real and needed to be investigated.
In case you missed it, there’s more on the inquiry here:
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Updated at 21.59 EDT
Missing disability-support horse located, and never stolen
Earlier today, we reported on a missing disability-support horse, Rosie, beloved by more than one hundred children.
As it turns out, she was never stolen! Victorian police cancelled a media opportunity scheduled for this afternoon and said:
Investigators have located the horse and further information has come to light revealing it had not been stolen. This is no longer a police incident …
Some good news for your Thursday afternoon.
Rosie has helped more than 100 children with disabilities as a therapy horse over the past two years. Photograph: Victoria policeShare
Updated at 21.50 EDT
Benita Kolovos
Carbines acknowledges cost-of-living role in rise of theft
Anthony Carbines attributed the rise in retail thefts to cost-of-living but had little sympathy for those doing the offending.
There’s no doubt that there are economic challenges that are driving theft in the community from retail stores, there’s a clear link there. What we also have to understand is that repeated theft also has an effect on people working in those stores, people who own those businesses, who have trouble keeping staff who are traumatised when they’re confronted by a theft in a shop.
He said many people were doing it tough due to interest rate rises but they were not entitled to a “leave pass”:
There are many in the community who are working hard, working two or three jobs, and they’re not breaking the law, who are busting a gut to put food on the table for their families, to pay their mortgages, but they’re not breaking the law. They don’t get a leave pass when it’s hard, there are many people doing it hard, but they’re not breaking the law.
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Updated at 21.48 EDT
Benita Kolovos
Carbines said about 330 young people responsible for most youth offending
Anthony Carbines said about 330 young people were responsible for most youth offending, with even fewer committing hundreds of offences:
A good example from the Crime Statistics Agency [is] some 20 young offenders committing over 300 aggravated burglaries where there’s also theft of motor vehicles … It is a very good example of the offenders that we’re dealing with, the churning of the offence rate of serious crimes they’re committing and the capacity to pull that up through changes to bail laws that have greater consequences on those individuals.
He said greater resources, reporting and understanding of family violence had led to the high number of offences recorded, and that “we’re probably going to see more instances called out”.
But I think it’s about continuing to provide the support. It’s not as though there wasn’t family violence occurring years ago. We weren’t seeing the numbers reported. We weren’t seeing the supports provided, both in the law and to our organisations to call it out.
Our government had a royal commission into family violence, and since that time, we’ve seen a lot more victims be able to come forward, a lot more victims get support. But we’re a long way from done here, and that work needs to continue.
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Updated at 21.44 EDT
Benita Kolovos
Victorian police minister holds press conference on latest crime figures
The Victorian police minister, Anthony Carbines, also held a press conference after the release of crime stats, which show a 15.7% increase in offences recorded in 2024 compared to 2023.
He said despite this increase, the unique offender rate has remained “flat”, meaning repeat offenders were responsible for the bulk of offending:
What it’s showing is we’ve got repeat offenders out there that are driving the crime rate. We need to pull that up. We need to hold those offenders accountable and the way that we do that is by passing our tough bail laws.
The Victorian police minister, Anthony Carbines. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAPShare
Updated at 21.36 EDT
Adeshola Ore
Victorian police officers relieved about proposed bail reform in state
Earlier this afternoon, Victoria police held a press conference about the state’s crime statistics that have been released today.
Data released by the Crime Statistics Agency shows a 13.2% increase in the state’s crime rate, driven by repeat youth offenders. But the number of unique youth offenders fell by 3%.
The Victorian government this week introduced a bail crackdown to parliament in response to the state’s growing crime rate.
The deputy commissioner, Bob Hill, said police officers are relieved about the proposed bail reform:
We know in the fullness of time, these young perpetrators, the young serious criminal offenders will be held to account, and they’ll be incarcerated, and they’ll be incarcerated on remand and then potentially sentenced.
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Updated at 21.32 EDT
Albanese on breakdown of ceasefire in Middle East, humanitarian aid for Gaza
Anthony Albanese was also asked if the breakdown of the ceasefire in the Middle East was inevitable, and responded, “no”.
And I wanted to see the ceasefire continue. I want to see hostages released. And I want to see an end to the tragic loss of life we’re continuing to see.
Will the ceasefire come back, or is it all over? Albanese said he “certainly hope[s]” it comes back.
We need peace and security in the region. That is in the interests of all in the region, and that is what I want to say. And I think anyone who looks at some of the images that have been conveyed in recent days will surely agree that that’s the case.
Wrapping up the interview, Raf Epstein noted Israel was shutting off electricity and denying aid to Gaza before the ceasefire failed. Is Australia OK with this?
Albanese responded that “we want to see a ceasefire, we want to see a resolution, we want to see humanitarian support be able to be provided, and we want to see the hostages released”.
But is Israel wrong to deny them aid? The PM repeated, and said:
We want to see people, of course, have access to basic services including food and water and electricity. That is a basic human need. And we don’t want to see innocent people suffering.
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Updated at 21.29 EDT
Albanese asked if he trusts Donald Trump
Earlier this morning, the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, also spoke with Raf Epstein on ABC Radio Melbourne, where he was asked – “do you trust Donald Trump?”
Albanese responded by asking, “what sort of question is that?”
I mean, he’s the president of the United States. He’s elected as the president of the United States. I’m the prime minister for Australia. He’s entitled to pursue his agenda, of course. But I’m entitled to defend Australia’s national interest and that’s what we’re doing.
Epstein said some of Trump’s behaviour “rewards our enemies rather than our friends,” and that’s why he posed the question. Albanese answered:
Well, I will continue to develop a constructive relationship with president Trump, as I do with other world leaders. That’s my job.
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Updated at 21.32 EDT
Albanese reiterates government will defend PBS from potential tariffs
While Peter Dutton was giving his speech, Anthony Albanese also gave a press conference on the Gold Coast, where he touted Labor’s pledge to reduce the price of PBS-listed medicines to no more than $25 a script.
Taking questions, he reiterated the government would defend the PBS against any potential tariffs from the US:
This is not for sale and it is not up for negotiation. This is a part of the free trade agreement, because Labor insisted [this] as a condition of our support for the free trade agreement. The pharmaceutical benefits scheme is a part of who we are as Australians and we will always stand up for it.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese. Photograph: Richard Wainwright/AAP
Albanese argued that tariffs are an “act of economic self-harm”, and said Australia’s position had been put forward “very strongly” to the US.
The United States enjoys a two to one surplus, they sell twice as many goods in value to Australia as we sell to the United States, therefore the imposition of tariffs is certainly not in their interest of the United States and obviously is not in the interest of Australians either.
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Updated at 21.24 EDT
Patrick Commins
Full-time employment fell by 35,000 in February
More on this morning’s jobs figures, which showed a steady 4.1% unemployment rate in February despite a surprise drop in the number of Australians with jobs.
The monthly ABS report showed that – adjusted for seasonal factors – full-time employment fell by 35,000 and part-time employment by 17,000.
The jobless rate was steady thanks to a fall in the workforce participation rate to 66.8% from 67.2% in January. In other words, a slightly smaller labour force (which counts those with jobs or looking for a job) has offset the impact of the drop in the number of employed people.
The ABS said fewer older people returning to work in February went some way to explaining the fall in employment, but noted that the labour market remains in good shape, with the share of Australians with jobs remaining near record levels.
Early mail from economists is that this is a “sideways” step for the labour market.
The jobless rate was steady thanks to a fall in the workforce participation rate. Photograph: James Ross/AAPShare
Updated at 21.12 EDT
John Howard had biggest influence on Dutton’s political life
Taking a final question, Peter Dutton was asked if there is a previous PM he would like to emulate if elected as Australia’s leader?
Dutton said John Howard has had the biggest influence on his political life, also saying Kevin Rudd had a “natural instinct … in relation to foreign affairs matters”.
He was robust in some of the language he used at different points as we recall, but I think he had a genuine engagement and the capacity to be respected in those discussions.
He also mentioned Tony Abbott’s response to the “loss of life at the hands of Russia, of innocent Australians, just going on holiday” (in relation to the downing of MH17). But he concluded by talking about Howard:
I think the short answer to your question is probably John Howard’s relationship with Indonesia, in particular – the response to the tsunami, the way in which that was instinctive. Our response in East Timor and the liberation and support there, I think, were two of the most substantive moments in foreign affairs that served our country’s interests and our friends’ interests.
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Updated at 21.17 EDT
