CANBERRA, ACT, June 30 -- Australian Federal Police issued the following media release: The AFP has upgraded charges against two Russian-born Australian citizens to conspiracy to commit espionage under Operation Burgazada. The married pair was originally charged on 11 July, 2024, with one count each of preparing for an espionage offence, contrary to section 91.12 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth). Following a comprehensive assessment of the available evidence and prospects of conviction, th...
CANBERRA, ACT, June 30 -- Australian Federal Police issued the following media release: This is a joint media release between the AFP and NSW Police Force Editor's Note: Images of letter excerpts are available via Hightail. The AFP and NSW Police Force are seeking public assistance to help identify a person believed to be responsible for writing more than 100 letters over the past decade to a wide range of high-profile people, including federal and state parliamentarians, religious organisati...
CANBERRA, ACT, June 30 -- The Treasurer of Australia issued the following transcript: Note Subjects: fuel excise, housing market, 1 July cost-of-living relief, superannuation James Glenday: The consumer watchdog has put petrol stations on notice ahead of tomorrow's fuel excise changes which will lead to higher prices. The government has opted to keep its cut to the fuel excise, which it brought in in response to the war with Iran. But it is not going to be as much for the month of July. Emm...
CANBERRA, ACT, June 30 -- The Treasurer of Australia issued the following transcript: Note Subjects: superannuation, 1 July 2026 cost-of-living relief, tax reform Peter Stefanovic: Well, the Greens are showing some of its bargaining chips this morning - it wants Labor to force the nation's biggest companies to pay super to nearly 500,000 teenagers who work less than 30hours. Joining us live is the federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers. Treasurer, we'll start here. I mean, I seem to recall getting s...
CANBERRA, ACT, June 30 -- The Treasurer of Australia issued the following transcript: Note Subjects: housing market, tax cuts, 1 July cost-of-living relief Tom Steinfort: The Labor government is insisting its Budget isn't to blame for those dire auction clearance rates we're seeing. Sarah Abo: To discuss we're joined now by Treasurer, Jim Chalmers, live in Canberra. Treasurer, good morning to you. So your government says this slump is predominantly the fault of a 4.35percent interest rate,...
CANBERRA, ACT, June 30 -- The Treasurer of Australia issued the following transcript: Note Joint press conference with The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP Minister for Social Services The Hon Sam Rae MP Minister for Aged Care and Seniors David Smith MP Member for Bean Subjects: wage increases, housing market, tax cuts, 1 July cost-of-living relief, superannuation, Liberal Party rebrand David Smith: My name is David Smith, the Federal Member for Bean. One of the real privileges I have is to rep...
CANBERRA, ACT, June 30 -- The Treasurer of Australia issued the following transcript: Note Subjects: capital gains tax reforms, housing market, 1 July cost of living relief Natalie Barr: Politicians driving to and from Canberra Airport are going to be met with a billboard blitz which is slamming the federal government's Budget tax reforms as a tax on ambition. The billboards say, 'Getting ahead just got taxed. Side hustle? Investing in crypto? Starting a small business? Your ambition is puni...
CANBERRA, ACT, June 30 -- The Prime Minister of Australia issued the following media release: SARAH FERGUSON, HOST:Prime Minister welcome to 7:30. ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER:Good to be with you Sarah. FERGUSON:Do you consider Labor's modest improvement in the polls to be an endorsement of your Budget tax measures? PRIME MINISTER:Well, polls come and go. What's important is that we get the governing right, and these are tax changes that are really important. Everyone has acknowledged du...
CANBERRA, ACT, June 29 -- Australian Federal Police issued the following media release: Editor's note: Images of the seizure are available via Hightail. The AFP has charged an airline employee for allegedly importing more than 1kg of heroin into Melbourne last week. The Thai national, 26, was performing work duties on board an international flight when she arrived at Melbourne Airport on 25 June, 2026, and had her baggage screened by Australian Border Force (ABF) officers. ABF officers ident...
CANBERRA, ACT, June 29 -- Australian Federal Police issued the following media release: A Somalia-born man is set to appear before the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court today (29 June, 2026) charged with allegedly failing to comply with his visa-mandated conditions. The AFP charged the man, 45, on 26 June, 2026, after he was located in Adelaide. It is alleged the man breached the conditions of his Commonwealth visa by failing to report as directed. He has been charged with two counts of breac...