Australia news live: Gisele Kapterian concedes Bradfield, 145 days after polls close; Lehrmann’s rape case delayed | Australia news
Liberal Gisele Kapterian concedes Bradfield, 145 days later The Liberal candidate for Bradfield, Gisele Kapterian, has conceded the race more than four months – 145 days – after the federal election, after a final review of ballot papers showed her behind independent Nicolette Boele. Kapterian said she was “satisfied” that overall “the correct outcome has…
Liberal Gisele Kapterian concedes Bradfield, 145 days later
The Liberal candidate for Bradfield, Gisele Kapterian, has conceded the race more than four months – 145 days – after the federal election, after a final review of ballot papers showed her behind independent Nicolette Boele.
Kapterian said she was “satisfied” that overall “the correct outcome has been declared” and said she would no longer press a petition for a final review by the court of disputed returns.
Kapterian wrote on social media:
We have taken the decision to no longer press the petition for a final review by the Court of Disputed Returns. I wish Ms Boele all the best in the role and I thank the people of Bradfield for this incredible opportunity to have spoken with so many of you to hear your ideas, your stories, and what matters most to you. Come say hi if you see me around.
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Key events
Kapterian glad she had the chance to ‘review the play’ and be satisfied the ‘right call was made’
Kapterian said she is grateful the electoral system “anticipates and supports the need for further scrutiny through a statutory right”. She went on:
This is particularly so given the often difficult and subjective nature of ballot interpretation. In other words, after asking the on-field decision to go to the video umpire, we have had the opportunity to review the play and can now be satisfied the right call was made overall.
The Liberal candidate went on to say the country needed a “strong, cohesive and modern Liberal party that speaks to the concerns of Australians”.
I believe the Liberal party’s future success depends on a policy agenda that seeks to aspirational Australians. I’m disappointed to miss out on contributing from inside the party room, but I will continue to play my part.
Liberal Gisele Kapterian concedes Bradfield, 145 days later
The Liberal candidate for Bradfield, Gisele Kapterian, has conceded the race more than four months – 145 days – after the federal election, after a final review of ballot papers showed her behind independent Nicolette Boele.
Kapterian said she was “satisfied” that overall “the correct outcome has been declared” and said she would no longer press a petition for a final review by the court of disputed returns.
Kapterian wrote on social media:
We have taken the decision to no longer press the petition for a final review by the Court of Disputed Returns. I wish Ms Boele all the best in the role and I thank the people of Bradfield for this incredible opportunity to have spoken with so many of you to hear your ideas, your stories, and what matters most to you. Come say hi if you see me around.
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This article includes content provided by Facebook. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click ‘Allow and continue’.
Bruce Lehrmann’s rape case is delayed
Andrew Messenger
Bruce Lehrmann’s rape case has been delayed, after a pre-trial hearing set for Friday in Toowoomba was put off to next month.
Lehrmann is accused of raping a woman twice on the morning of 10 October 2021, in Toowoomba.
Judge Dennis Lynch delisted the Friday hearing on Wednesday. The matter is now listed for a mention on 27 October, in Ipswitch.
Lehrmann’s lawyer has indicated he intends to plead not guilty. He was charged in 2023.
Benita Kolovos
Victorian police minister says officers working ‘harder than ever before to hold offenders to account’
The Victorian police minister, Anthony Carbines, just held a press conference on Victoria’s increased crime rate. He says police conducted a record 77,500 arrests in the 2024/25 financial year – showing they were “working harder than ever before to hold offenders to account.”
Carbines went one:
One victim of crime is one victim too many. There are too many victims at this time. There is a crime level that is unacceptable to Victoria police, to the government, and to me as minister to police.
But he says the state’s “tougher” bail laws were starting to show in the figures.
We’ve seen that already coming through these statistics in relation to the growth in remand. Those who’ve lost their bail privileges [is] up 26% for young people, up 46% for adults compared to this time last year. That’s because community safety has been put as somewhat priority from bail decisions, because remand as a last resort has been removed and revoked for young offenders, we will see at the end of this month a new high harm bail test in effect for six serious offences that include aggravated burglary, carjacking, among others.
Tasmanians wake up to 4.1 magnitude earthquake
A 4.1 magnitude earthquake shook parts of Tasmania this morning around 6.30am, according to data from Geoscience Australia.
The quake, centred in the township of Maydena, prompted more than 100 “felt reports” to the agency. One resident of the town of Strathgordon described the event to the ABC as a like a “really loud thunderclap that shakes the house and shakes your internals almost”.
“It carried on for a lot longer than a normal thunderclap”, the resident, Sarah, told ABC Radio Hobart.
Region: Maydena, TAS
Mag: 4.0
UTC: 2025-09-24 20:38:40
Lat: -42.84, Lon: 146.11
Dep: 10km
For more info and updates, or if you felt this earthquake, go to https://t.co/K51uWblHN3— EarthquakesGA (@EarthquakesGA) September 24, 2025
Albanese has finished speaking (and Italian PM, Giorgia Meloni, is up).
For our full report on the speech, Tom McIlroy has you sorted:
Albanese to UN: ‘We must choose to succeed together rather than risk failing alone’
Tom McIlroy
Albanese says it is time to reform the UN, to make the institution stronger around the world. He told the general assembly:
Times change, nations and regions change with them. But the ideals and imperatives that built this place are timeless.
More than ever, we must trust in each other’s humanity. More than ever, we must choose to succeed together rather than risk failing alone. More than ever, we must work to see the promises of this place deliver real progress for the people we serve.
We all have a part to play – and Australia, just as we always have – will always play our part.
Tom McIlroy
Albanese told the UN that Australia has a proud record on the advancement of women’s and girls’ rights.
As one of the world’s oldest democracies – and one of the first where women could vote in elections and stand for parliament, Australia knows societies and economies are stronger when they draw on the talents of all their citizens.
Indeed, it was an Australian, Jessie Street, one of just eight women among the 850 delegates in San Francisco in 1945 who insisted that the UN Charter make specific mention of sexual discrimination.
Because, she said: ‘Where the rules are silent, women are not usually considered.’
That is why Australia proudly works to promote education, economic opportunity and empowerment for women and girls around the world.
Australia will meet its 2030 climate target, Albanese tells UN
Tom McIlroy
Speaking at the UN in New York, Albanese says Australia will meet its 2030 climate targets.
Experts believe the federal government needs to boost investment in wind and solar developments, as well as transmission infrastructure and storage systems, to meet the upcoming climate targets.
Albanese said:
Australia is acting to meet the environmental challenge of climate change while working to seize and share the economic opportunities of renewable energy.
We will meet our 2030 target of 43% emissions reduction on 2005 levels. Last week we set our target for 2035: cutting emissions by 62 to 70%.
Albanese said the government’s target is ambitious, but “importantly it is achievable.”
Tom McIlroy
PM calls for Australia to gain temporary seat on UN security council
Albanese revived Australia’s bid for a temporary seat on the UN security council in 2029-30.
Originally launched by the Turnbull government way back in 2015, the bid would give Australia a vote on the UN’s most powerful body.
The United Nations is much more than an arena for the great powers to veto each other’s ambitions.
This is a platform for middle powers and small nations to voice – and achieve – our aspirations.
Albanese begins major speech at UN general assembly
Tom McIlroy
Anthony Albanese told the UN general assembly that all countries can bring new strength to the organisation’s enduring mission.
We all have a role to play in making sure that the system, which has enabled the rise of new powers, safeguards the rights and aspiration of every nation big and small.
The chamber is about half full for Albanese’s address, which got under way after 8pm, New York time.
For Australia, this means investing in our capabilities and investing in our relationships. Investing in development, in defence and in diplomacy.
To strengthen the security of our region, to support the sovereignty of our neighbours and to contribute to the cause of peace beyond the Indo-Pacific.
Watch live as Anthony Albanese addresses the UN general assembly
Tom McIlroy
Albanese next up at the UN general assembly
Anthony Albanese is about to deliver Australia’s national address to the United Nations general assembly in New York, the last item on the agenda for the first leg of his 11-day overseas trip.
The foreign minister, Penny Wong, along with climate change and energy minister, Chris Bowen, communications minister Annika Wells and Albanese’s partner Jodie Haydon are all in the general assembly chamber for the speech.
We expect the speech to go for about 15 minutes, but leaders can speak as long as they like in this address. The longest statement on record was by VK Krishna Menon of India. He spoke for almost eight hours in 1957, over three separate sessions.
Albanese heads to London tomorrow, before a quick visit to the United Arab Emirates on the way back to Australia next week.