Australia news LIVE: Coalition, division, PM heads to Rome, Roberts-Smith back in court
7.00am
Underworld links in big building projects secretly mapped
By Nick McKenzie
Victoria's Allan government is secretly mapping the infiltration of Victoria's biggest infrastructure projects by firms with suspected links to the underworld while warning its key contractors to purge gangland figures from their supply chains.
The moves are detailed in confidential documents from the state's peak infrastructure agency that reveal the government's concern about the reach of figures such as Mick Gatto and bikie enforcers into its sprawling multibillion-dollar Big Build program.
One file includes a list of firms that officials suspect may be both gangland-linked and profiting – directly or indirectly – from taxpayer projects.
They include Gatto and his construction industry consulting businesses along with the Gatto-linked traffic management firm Jarrah Resource Management – whose shareholders previously included Gatto's daughter and which has won work on Big Build road and rail upgrades.
Read the exclusive story here.
7.00am
Pope-bound PM affirms stance on religion
By David Crowe and Paul Sakkal
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has cited his Catholic childhood as a key influence on his approach to government as he heads to Rome for the inaugural mass of Pope Leo XIV amid heightened attention on his faith.
Albanese, whose mother was a devout Catholic, said that church teachings on helping the vulnerable had shaped his politics – and he revealed that they triggered a key moment in the election campaign.
Speaking to this masthead on the Inside Politics podcast, the prime minister said the separation of church and state was one reason he was sworn into office with an affirmation rather than with a Bible.
But he added that his 'no one left behind' mantra was underpinned by a moral imperative to use the tools of government to lift people up.
Here's the full story.
7.00am
Momentum builds for Liberal inquiry
By Paul Sakkal
Momentum is building within the Liberal Party to launch a special inquiry into its future as Coalition leaders Sussan Ley and David Littleproud jostle over the role of nuclear energy, risking a formal split of the parties.
Littleproud travelled from Canberra to Albury to meet with Ley – who is in her hometown to be with her dying mother – about the future of the Coalition pact that allows them to create a joint shadow cabinet.
Debate continues about whether the Coalition should retain its polarising plan to build nuclear reactors, a key line of attack for Labor during the campaign.
Littleproud, whose party lobbied for the energy overhaul last term, is under pressure from his MPs to secure a guarantee to enshrine the nuclear policy in any agreement signed with Ley.
7.00am
What you need to know
Good morning, and welcome to our live coverage of today's national news stories. I'm Ben Cubby, and I'll be with you for the morning.
It's Friday, May 16.
Here's what's making news.
Momentum is building in the Liberal Party to launch a special inquiry into its future, as Coalition leaders Sussan Ley and David Littleproud jostle over nuclear energy, risking a formal split.
Ben Roberts-Smith will find out this morning if he has won his court bid to overturn a devastating defamation loss.
Prime minister Anthony Albanese has spoken about his views on religious faith as he prepares to travel to Rome for the inaugural mass of Pope Leo XIV and hold meetings with world leaders.
The vote count continues today, as Liberal Tim Wilson's lead over independent Zoe Daniel in the Melbourne seat of Goldstein narrows further.
In Victoria, the state government is secretly mapping the infiltration of big infrastructure projects by firms with suspected underworld links and warning key contractors to cut ties with gangland figures.
In NSW, the state's healthcare system risks being overwhelmed by an avalanche of ageing and chronically ill patients, a special commission report has found.
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Sky News AU
3 hours ago
- Sky News AU
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Perth Now
5 hours ago
- Perth Now
‘Hundreds of billions': Price put on China threat
A Coalition heavyweight has called on Anthony Albanese to prioritise the US alliance, warning that countering China without Washington's backing would cost Australian 'hundreds of billions'. It comes ahead of the Prime Minister's state visit to China next week. Mr Albanese will meet Xi Jinping for a fourth time since 2022. Meanwhile, a firm date for a face-to-face with Donald Trump is yet to be set. Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce said on Monday Mr Albanese was playing a 'very dangerous' game. Coalition heavyweight Barnaby Joyce says countering China would Cost Australians 'hundred of billions'. Martin Ollman / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia 'The Prime Minister must have a great hand of cards because he has really got the chips on the table on this one,' the former deputy prime minister told Seven's Sunrise. 'You need to understand the United States is the cornerstone of our defence … it is not going well. 'This is the fourth meeting he has had with the leader of China but that is a totalitarian regime.' Mr Joyce said he was 'truly concerned' that Mr Albanese has not met the US President, pointing to the Trump administration's snap review of AUKUS. China is Australia's biggest trading partner, with two-way trade worth $325bn in 2023-24. The Albanese government has negotiated the removal of some $20bn in residual trade barriers from the Australia-China trade war waged under the former Coalition government. Caption: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping for a fourth time next week. Prime Minister's Office / Handout / NewsWire Credit: Supplied At the same time, it has pumped billions into countering Beijing's influence in the Pacific and committed tens of billions to defence spending. Asked if it was not good for Australia to 'make friends with China', Mr Joyce said it should 'but not at the expense of the US'. 'You need to understand that we live in the realm of the Western Pacific,' he said. 'If things go pear-shaped, we are in trouble – real trouble. 'If we … have a defence policy that doesn't include the United States, we need to spend hundreds of billions of dollars on defence. 'We are way, way behind where we need to be.'
The Age
6 hours ago
- The Age
Hooded vandals set cars alight at Greensborough business
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