Australia news live: Peter Dutton claims Coalition has ‘acted like a government’ while in opposition at Melbourne rally

Dutton claims Liberals ‘back in town’ at Melbourne rally
Opposition leader Peter Dutton has told a campaign rally in the Labor-held seat of Chisholm that the Liberal party is “back in town”.
Speaking to supporters at the soft-launch of the Coalition’s 2025 election campaign, Dutton pitched the upcoming contest as a battle between “a weak and incompetent Labor government that has sent our country backwards” and a “new and strong Coalition government” that will “get our country back on track”.
If we win Chisholm, we’re a step closer to winning government.
And if we win government, we can get Victoria and our country moving again.
Key events
Tasmanians warned to bunker down amid thunderstorm warning
Tasmanians have been told to brace for severe thunderstorms as state emergency services warn of heavy rainfall and flash flooding across parts of the state.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for heavy rain in the Upper Derwent Valley, East Coast, Midlands and parts of the South East, North East, Central Plateau and Western Forecast Districts.
Acting Assistant Director of Tasmanian SES Cheryl Ames said residents of those regions should be prepared and stay informed as conditions change.
We are expecting widespread thunderstorm activity across most parts of Tasmania today, with the East Coast, Launceston and Hobart areas at risk of severe thunderstorms which may result in heavy rain and flash flooding.
Over the past couple of days, heavy rainfall has been observed with the Upper Esk River receiving 40-50mm, Fingal 35-45mm and Monameta (Mathinna Road) receiving 34.6mm within one hour.
The weather system is expected to bring heavy rain and potential hail, easing late tonight.
If you have to drive during heavy rain, please remember advice from Tasmania Police to be safe on the roads, slow down, put your headlights on, and never drive through flood waters.
Storm and flooding risk as wet conditions continue
Intense storms and heavy rain are set to continue in one state, as forecasters expect the most severe weather could be on its way.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued multiple flood warnings across Queensland, along with an alert for parts of the south-east, which had more than 100mm of rain on Saturday.
The warnings include the Logan River, Boyne River and Barambah Creek.
In the South Burnett region, residents took to social media to post videos of flooding over the roads and in the centre of towns.
On Friday, emergency services were called out to rescue people trapped in their cars due to floods.
Senior meteorologist Angus Hines said Sunday would be another wet and stormy day, with high rainfall totals and extensive thunderstorms.
We’ve got broad risks of severe thunderstorms stretching all the way from Townsville down to Brisbane.
The bureau forecasts showers and storms to continue into the week, and although the intensity is expected to come down a couple of notches, severe weather remains a risk into Wednesday.
– AAP
Rain has halted play on the outside courts early on day one of the Australian Open just as local hope Omar Jasika was threatening to turn the tide against Hugo Gaston.
Organisers confirmed there would be no further action on the outside courts until at least 3pm (AEDT), but play was continuing under closed roofs on the three main show courts.
– AAP
One killed in house fire in Perth suburbs
One person has died in a house fire in the Perth suburb of Balcatta on Saturday.
Emergency services rushed to the scene after receiving reports of a blaze on Sylvia Street.
Firefighters put out the blaze but when they managed to get inside, they found the body of a person.
The fire is not considered suspicious at this time, with arson squad investigators deployed to investigate.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
NSW police release images of people sought in relation to synagogue vandalism
New South Wales police have released the following images of two people they would like to speak with after a graffiti attack on the Southern Sydney Synagogue, in Allawah, in NSW premier Chris Minns’ electorate of Kogarah on Friday.
Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
For more on this story, read the Guardian’s previous reporting here:
Smooth, reliable and fanging: Australia’s enduring love affair with the Toyota Corolla
Emily Minson’s grandmother drove a Corolla. Her mother drove a Corolla. So it was only right that when she bought her first car, she did too.
About two decades ago, Minson was in her early 20s and saving up for a Corolla when she got a tip about a horse called Minson, which had been named for her football-playing brother. She put $100 on it, and won enough to buy a dark green Corolla hatchback.
It was called Molly. It had already done 90,000km. I think I drove it to 200,000km. It was just beautiful driving, smooth, reliable … it just fanged along.
For almost 60 years, Australians have been driving Toyota Corollas. The cars have been passed down through generations, hotted up and given pet names.
More than 1.6m Corollas – including hatches, sedans and panel vans – have been sold in Australia. It was the top selling car in 2013-15, according to Toyota.
For more on the enduring love affair between Australia’s and the Toyota Corolla, read the full story by Guardian Australia’s Tory Shepherd:
Dutton pledges to ‘mend relationship’ with Israel, flags crackdown on pro-Palestine protesters
Dutton flagged an increase in military spending “at speed and scale” so Australia could “play our part as a credible partner in promoting peace through strength.”
And in the first days of a Coalition government, I will call the prime minister of Israel to mend the relationship that Labor has trashed.
Dutton also appeared to suggest a crackdown against pro-Palestinian protesters, saying that where a person has engaged in inciting or committing violence, citizens will “face the full force of the law” and those in Australia on visas will be deported.
It was not clear what standard would be used to make that assessment.
A Dutton Coalition government will develop national uniform knife laws, toughen bail laws, and introduce tougher penalties to prevent coercive control.
Most importantly, we will provide the moral and political leadership needed to restore law, order and justice.
And that’s about it for Dutton’s speech.
Dutton blames Albanese for rise in antisemitism
Dutton spent considerable time discussing a series of crimes that he charges the Labor government has allowed to “surge”.
Specifically, Dutton sought to charge Anthony Albanese with overseeing a rise in antisemitism.
Every incident of antisemitism can be traced back to the prime minister’s dereliction of leadership in response to the sordid events on the steps of the Sydney Opera House.
Antisemitism should have been stopped there and then.
This government is so morally confused it treats our ally, Israel, like an adversary.
Moreover, its push for Palestinian statehood at this time would reward Hamas’s use of terrorism to achieve political ends.
Dutton was referring to an incident where it was alleged pro-Palestinian protesters shouted antisemitic slogans on the steps of the Opera House in the days after 7 October 2023. These allegations could not be verified by police, who ultimately found there was “no evidence” this occurred.
Coalition would audit Indigenous programs and reinstate cashless debit card in remote communities, Dutton says
Touching once again on the subject of the failed voice to parliament referendum, Dutton said his government would “focus on practical action for Indigenous Australians”.
Unpacking this, he said it would begin with “a full audit into spending on Indigenous programs”.
Dutton also pledged to reintroduce the cashless debit card for working-aged people in Indigenous communities “in consultation with communities”.
He also promised a law and order crackdown in “crime-heavy communities” and a royal commission into sexual abuse in Indigenous communities.
Separately, Dutton said AI and automation will become new areas of the economy.
On healthcare, Dutton accused Labor of restarting the “Mediscare” campaign.
He said the Coalition would aim to grow the GP workforce, providing more incentives for junior doctors to train in general practice and a review of the Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme that he says will result in cheaper and new medicines for women.
Dutton also said the Coalition would increase the number of Medicare-subsidised psychological sessions from 10 to 20 “on a permanent basis”.
Dutton pledges immigration cuts and two-year ban on foreigners purchasing homes
On migration, Dutton accused Labor of having “opened the floodgates” and pledged that the Coalition will impose a two-year ban on foreign investors and temporary residents purchasing existing homes.
Dutton said a Coalition government would also reduce the permanent migration program by 25% for two years, from 185,000 to 140,000 places.
In years three and four, we will return to a sustainable 150,000 and 160,000 places.
He also said the Coalition would seek stronger caps on international students as part of a broader plan to “free up more than 100,000 homes over five years”.
This is part of a $5bn plan to build water, power, sewerage and access roads for 500,000 homes the Coalition wants built.
Another key Coalition proposal will be a plan to allow Australians to draw up to $50,000 of their super to buy their first home.
On nuclear power, Dutton repeated many of his previous lines on the subject, including:
Nuclear power allows us to maximise the highest yield of energy per square metre and minimise our environmental footprint.
The Coalition’s push to have Australia join the growing league of nuclear-powered nations is one of the most visionary policies put forward in our country’s history.
It’s time to dispense with short-termism and shore up our energy security for generations to come.
The decision to promote nuclear power and to hold the campaign rally in the Labor-held marginal seat of Chisholm is a feature of the Coalition’s efforts to forge a “blue-blue” political coalition between Australian conservatives and working-class voters.