Australia news live: Marles welcomes Trump’s Gaza plan; Pentagon review to back Aukus, report says | Australia news
Australian government welcomes Gaza plan, saying it leaves door open to two-state solution Krishani Dhanji The deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, says Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza “represents hope” and that it “keeps the door open” for a two-state solution. Speaking to ABC radio Melbourne, Marles says the government wants to see an…
Australian government welcomes Gaza plan, saying it leaves door open to two-state solution
Krishani Dhanji
The deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, says Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza “represents hope” and that it “keeps the door open” for a two-state solution.
Speaking to ABC radio Melbourne, Marles says the government wants to see an end to the hostilities, the return of hostages and flow of humanitarian aid, and says the plan “picks up all of that”:
I very much hope that they do embrace this because we need to see this come to an end. We’ve been calling for this for a long time. We obviously have been extremely critical of Hamas and their conduct throughout. We have been critical of Israel. But at the end of the day, what we need to see here is an end to the hostilities.
I think the world wants to see an end to these hostilities, wants to see an end to this tragedy and wants to see the hostages return to their families. The plan picks up all of that.
Asked whether the government would trust Trump to govern Gaza, Marles said the deal would set up a board which would include a number of “significant” international people.
He added the plan must not involve the annexation of any territories or any forced displacement:
Our view, ultimately, is that the only way that there will be an enduring peace in the Middle East is if there are two states. The plan, as it’s been articulated, that keeps the door open for all of that. So that’s where we see that there is hope …
We do not want to see an annexation of these territories, and I know that forms part of this agreement as well.
Key events
Stokes to step down from Seven if merger succeeds
Luca Ittimani
Kerry Stokes, Seven’s billionaire chair, will step down from the media business in February if its merger with Southern Cross Media goes ahead.
As we reported earlier, Seven West’s proposed merge with Southern Cross Media would combine the former’s TV and news stable with the latter’s radio networks,
Stokes, the 85-year-old Western Australian businessman, took a major stake in the Seven Network in 1995 and has chaired the media company since 2008.
He stepped down as chair of his industrial and materials company, Seven Group Holdings (SGH), in 2021. SGH held two-fifths of the shares in the media business and will now control one-fifth of the merger.
Stokes will be succeeded as chair of the merged companies by the sitting chair of Southern Cross, Heith Mackay-Cruise. Stokes said:
I have every confidence Heith will continue to guide the combined group successfully. Following my retirement from the Board in February 2026 I intend to continue to support the Chair and Board wherever I can add value.
Joining Mackay-Cruise on the new board will be Stokes’ son, Ryan Stokes, who has sat on the board of Seven West since 2012 and has served as chief executive of SGH since 2010.
The Seven West chief executive, Jeff Howard, will remain CEO in the merged company and will also sit on the board, along with two more Seven West directors plus another two from Southern Cross.
Henry Belot
Australia’s Future Fund discloses huge profits from weapons manufacturers despite fierce criticisms of support for industry
Australia’s $250bn sovereign wealth fund has secured huge returns on investment in weapons and defence companies in less than two years, despite long-running criticism of its support for the industry.
The value of shares held in eight companies increased by $76m between October 2023 and June 2025 amid wars in the Middle East and Ukraine and the sharpest increase in military spending since the cold war.
The fund’s investments in Israel’s largest private defence contractor, Elbit, which is a major supplier to the Israeli Defense Force (IDF), increased from $489,000 to $2.69m as of 30 June, according to the fund’s latest disclosures.
Elbit Systems describes itself as the “backbone” of the IDF’s drone fleet, which has been used extensively in the assault on Gaza. Its portfolio also includes systems for command and control, military aircraft and helicopters, armed remote control boats, and land vehicles.
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Singtel and Optus executives defend Optus CEO after triple-zero outages
Yuen Kuan Moon, the CEO of Singtel, just spoke to reporters and said a review of the Optus triple-zero outage would be conducted “thoroughly to make sure this will not happen in the future”. The telco appointed Dr Kerry Schott to lead an independent review into the outages last week.
Yuen told reporters the Optus CEO, Stephen Rue, had only been in the role for 11 months and was brought on to “transform” the telco, but it was still “very early days”.
“It takes time to transform a company,” he said.
John Arthur, the chair of the Optus board, said the company was “committed to working with the government to do whatever needs to be done here”. He said:
We are going to get all of the expertise and help that we need to make sure we make things right here.
Arthur went on to say the board was “satisfied” with Rue’s work:
He has been in the job 11 months, the board is satisfied that he is making progress. But it is a work in progress.
Wells says Optus CEO has a ‘lot of work to do’
Wells was asked if the Optus CEO, Stephen Rue, should remain in his job. She said:
I think he has a lot of work to do given these two outages have happened in short succession and has given rise to a serious lack of confidence in both Optus and their ability to deliver services to Australians when they need it most.
The CEO of Optus now needs to work with the parent company, Singtel on the systems and holistic change required within their own company to give that confidence back to Australians.
Wells added she had asked Singtel to appoint an external accountability partner to look at their systems.
Wells expresses ‘collective’ disappointment in meeting with top Optus and Singtel executives
The communications minister, Anika Wells, said she conveyed the government’s “collective conviction” that Optus’ latest triple-zero outages were “completely unacceptable”.
Wells just spoke to reporters after meeting with senior executives at Optus and Singtel after two outages, the most recent of which took place in the Illawarra in NSW on Sunday. She said:
I conveyed our collective conviction that this is completely unacceptable and we cannot allow this to happen again. I sought assurances from both Optus and Singtel that their upmost priority is restoring the confidence of Australians in their triple-zero system and that they are taking steps to make sure that these things do not continue to happen and impact Australians when it matters the most …
This is for Optus to take accountability for, they will take accountability for it and we will make sure, as the Australian government holds Optus to account.
South Australian police still searching for missing four-year-old last seen Saturday
The search for Gus, a four-year-old boy missing in South Australia, continues this morning.
Gus was last seen playing at his family home about 40km from the town of Yunta in the state’s mid north around 5pm on Saturday. He is described as having long blond, curly hair and was last seen wearing a grey sun hat, a blue T-shirt featuring a yellow Minion character and light grey pants and boots.
Police first searched the area on Saturday night using aerial vehicles and infrared cameras. They have since conducted extensive ground searches with SES volunteers and search dogs. Water operations officers and mounted units joined the effort yesterday to investigate dams and tanks on the property.
SA police said they wished to thank the “volunteers and community members who have tirelessly assisted in the search for Gus”.
‘Aukus is happening’, Marles says after reports subs deal is safe
The defence minister, Richard Marles, responded to the Nikkei Asia report that the Aukus submarine deal will proceed as planned after the Pentagon review.
Marles told ABC Melbourne:
Well, I mean, the review is still ongoing, obviously, and we’re not going to get ahead of ourselves. I mean, I’m aware of the reports that you’re referring to, but we’ve been engaging very well in the review.
Actually, the US has been very good in terms of giving us an indication of the process and allowing us to participate in it. But from the outset, we’ve been really clear about welcoming this review. Aukus is happening – that’s not in question.
Australian government welcomes Gaza plan, saying it leaves door open to two-state solution
Krishani Dhanji
The deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, says Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza “represents hope” and that it “keeps the door open” for a two-state solution.
Speaking to ABC radio Melbourne, Marles says the government wants to see an end to the hostilities, the return of hostages and flow of humanitarian aid, and says the plan “picks up all of that”:
I very much hope that they do embrace this because we need to see this come to an end. We’ve been calling for this for a long time. We obviously have been extremely critical of Hamas and their conduct throughout. We have been critical of Israel. But at the end of the day, what we need to see here is an end to the hostilities.
I think the world wants to see an end to these hostilities, wants to see an end to this tragedy and wants to see the hostages return to their families. The plan picks up all of that.
Asked whether the government would trust Trump to govern Gaza, Marles said the deal would set up a board which would include a number of “significant” international people.
He added the plan must not involve the annexation of any territories or any forced displacement:
Our view, ultimately, is that the only way that there will be an enduring peace in the Middle East is if there are two states. The plan, as it’s been articulated, that keeps the door open for all of that. So that’s where we see that there is hope …
We do not want to see an annexation of these territories, and I know that forms part of this agreement as well.
Trump administration will move forward with Aukus deal, Nikkei Asia reports
Nikkei Asia reports the Trump administration will move forward with the Aukus submarine deal after a Pentagon review of the defence pact ends.
The Japanese news service, citing sources familiar with the deal, said the Pentagon review is set to wrap up before the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, visits the US on 20 October for a long-awaited meeting with Donald Trump.
“Aukus is safe”, one official from a member country told Nikkei.
Industrial delays may affect the delivery schedule of three Virginia-class submarines to Australia, but there has been no political decision to alter the schedule.
Amanda Meade
Seven West Media and Southern Cross Media to merge
Seven West Media and Southern Cross Media have announced a merger to create a major media company with assets including free-to-air television, streaming, audio, digital and newspapers.
Southern Cross Media is the parent company of Southern Cross Austereo which owns the Hit Network, Triple M and digital audio app LiSTNR.
SWM owns the Seven Network, 7NEWS.com.au, the West Australian, the Sunday Times, PerthNow and the Nightly.
In an announcement to the ASX, Seven and SCM said they would save between $25m and $30m through shared corporate overheads and operating expenses.
Chairman of SWM Kerry Stokes said:
This is an important merger, as the combined company will be better able to serve both metropolitan and regional viewers, listeners, partners and advertisers. It will add strength to each of the combined businesses’ television, audio, digital and publishing operations across the country.
The proposed merger is subject to regulatory approval.
Cyclist dies in Sydney after being hit by a car
A cyclist has died after she was hit by a car in Sydney’s inner west yesterday, police said.
The woman, 66, was reportedly riding her bicycle in the suburb of Five Dock about 3pm when she was allegedly hit by the SUV. She was treated at the scene and taken to hospital in critical condition.
Police said she died overnight.
The alleged driver of the SUV, a 57-year-old man, was taken to hospital for mandatory testing and later taken to Burwood police station. He was released without charge pending further investigation.
Police have established a crime scene and opened an investigation into the cause of the crash.
Jordyn Beazley
NSW supreme court to hand down findings in class action over strip-searches at music festivals
The NSW supreme court will today hand down its findings in a class action brought against the state over allegations the vast majority of strip-searches conducted by police at music festivals between 2018 and 2022 were unlawful.
The class action was brought by Slater and Gordon Lawyers and the Redfern Legal Centre against the state of NSW in 2022.
The case was set down for 20 days of hearings in May before Justice Dina Yehia. But in the days before the hearing the state of NSW withdrew its 22 witnesses, mostly police officers, who were to contest the lead plaintiff’s version of events.
The witnesses were withdrawn after police admitted in court documents that its July 2018 strip-search of the lead plaintiff – Raya Meredith – was unlawful and unjustified, and ignored laws protecting her rights.
Meredith was at Splendour in the Grass when a drug dog sniffed in her direction but then walked on in 2018. The 27-year-old, who was postpartum at the time, was then taken into a makeshift tarpaulin, where a female police officer asked her to take all her clothes off, bend over and bare her bottom, drop her breasts and remove her tampon. At one point, a male officer walked in unannounced.
The search found no drugs and nothing else illegal.
Three thousand group members have signed on to the class action and the affected cohort is considered to be more than twice as large.
Yehia is expected to hand down her findings at 10am.
Four teens charged after police pursuit into Melbourne CBD
Four teens have been charged after an allegedly stolen vehicle was driven through Melbourne and abandoned in the city’s CBD yesterday afternoon after allegedly striking a pedestrian.
Victoria police said the car, a BMW, was driving erratically in the suburb of Doncaster about 12.30pm yesterday. Officers followed the vehicle into the CBD before a woman was allegedly struck. She was taken to the hospital for observation with non-life-threatening injuries.
The car was later dumped at the Bourke Street Mall and the four alleged occupants fled on foot.
Four boys, two aged 17 and two aged 16, were arrested and now face a slate of charges, including theft of a motor vehicle. One was bailed and will appear at children’s court at a later date and the other three will appear before children’s court later today.