Albanese focused on the future | Midday News Bulletin 6 May 2025

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Anthony Albanese says he's focused on the future after his huge election win... Israel approves plan to fully capture Gaza and maintain an indefinite military presence there... and Brisbane Roar part ways with Ruben Zadkovich as search begins for fourth manager in three years.


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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he's focused on the future after his landslide election win.

The scale of the win has exceeded expectations within the party, prompting calls for a more ambitious reform agenda given the expanded mandate and political capital.

However, Labor insiders are urging voters to calm down, saying the government will focus on delivering existing promises rather than pursuing dramatic new policies.

Mr Albanese says he has to be focused on the future, because that's what voters want.

"Elections are never about the past. That's an element. But what people want to know is what you're going to do for the future. That is one of the lessons that I learned in about 1983."

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The Liberal Party continues to consider its leadership options as it faces the daunting task of rebuilding after the landslide loss to Labor in the election.

Opposition Treasury spokesman Angus Taylor is emerging as a frontrunner, with support from conservatives within the party - as well as some moderates such as Opposition Finance Spokesperson Jane Hume.

Deputy Liberal Party leader - now acting leader - Sussan Ley is also a contender, as is opposition immigration spokesman Dan Tehan.

Opposition Defence spokesman Andrew Hastie has ruled himself out of the leadership race.

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The Australian Electoral Commission is starting its second round of vote counting today [[Tuesday]], with some 16 seats still to be decided.

Teal independent M-P Zoe Daniel is in a tight race with Liberal candidate Tim Wilson in the Victorian seat of Goldstein, but she is expected to lose ground as postal votes are counted.

In the nearby seat of Kooyong, fellow Teal independent Monique Ryan is ahead of Liberal contender Amelia Hamer but the count is ongoing.

Meanwhile, Greens Leader Adam Bandt is at risk of losing his Melbourne seat with Labor ahead in count still to close to call.

Also still to be decided, the contest between a teal independent and Liberal candidate in Sydney's Bradfield, and the three corrnered contest in the new West Australian seat of Bullwinkel.

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The government says it will stand up for the rights of the Australian screen industry, after U-S President Donald Trump promised a 100 per cent tariff on films made outside the U-S.

Screen Producers Australia says the move will send shockwaves through the industry globally.

In 2023-24, foreign film and television productions were worth $768 million in Australia, just under half of total expenditure on screen production.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong tells Channel Seven's Sunrise program, President Trump has expressed a willingness to engage with film studios on the issue.

"Audiences in the U-S as well as in Australia like to see Australian actors. We know American films are also filmed in Australia, like The Fall Guy, the Elvis film. The reality is the industry is set up so that we do co-operate together. So, we certainly will be engaging."

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Victoria's incoming police chief says his passion for his profession is the first reason he's agreed to move countries and take up the role.

New Zealander Mike Bush will take up the role of Chief Commissioner on the 27th of June.

He'll serve a five-year term.

Mr Bush was New Zealand Police's Chief Commissioner from 2014 to 2020.

He says he wants Victorians to feel safe under his leadership.

"Most of my life has been committed to public safety. It is just so important that people in communities are safe, and feel safe. And police services are at the forefront of that."

Deputy Commissioner Robert Hill will be in charge until Mr Bush takes over.

It is hoped Mr Bush's appointment will conclude months of top-level staffing woes for Victoria Police, which began with a vote of no-confidence in Shane Patton in February that forced him to quit as Chief Commissioner.

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Israel’s security cabinet has approved a plan to escalate its military campaign in Gaza, including the full capture of the territory and an indefinite presence there.

The plan also involves the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to southern Gaza and is to be implemented gradually.

Un-named Israeli officials have told AAP the move marks a significant intensification of the conflict, which reignited in mid-March after the collapse of an eight-week truce.

On Sunday, Israeli military chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir announced tens of thousands of reservists would be called up and that the army would expand its operations across Gaza targeting Hamas.

United Nations spokesman Farhan Haq says the U-N Secretary-General is unhappy about the plan.

“I can tell you that the Secretary-General is alarmed by these reports of Israeli plans to expand ground operations and prolong its military presence in Gaza. This will inevitably lead to countless more civilians killed and the further destruction of Gaza. What's imperative now is an end to the violence, not more civilian deaths and destruction. Gaza is and must remain an integral part of a future Palestinian State.”

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Ukrainian forces have reportedly launched a cross-border assault into Russia’s western Kursk region, near the town of Tyotkino.

While Ukrainian officials have not confirmed any incursion, prosecutors say Russian attacks killed at least three people and injured others in Ukraine’s neighbouring Sumy region.

Meanwhile, Russian journalist Ekaterina Barabash has resurfaced in Paris after fleeing Moscow, where she was under house arrest and facing a possible 10-year prison sentence for criticising Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Thibaut Bruttin is Director General of Reporters Without Borders, which has been supporting Ms Barabash.

"So it was a very dangerous escape for two reasons. First, for security reasons. And we're talking about the Federation of Russia which is a police state in many ways, in which people can turn on you, can be informers to the police. But also, there were some physical risks, because she had to go through nature, to go through physical, you know, obstacles. And she made it. She's, you know, in her 60s, she was, you know, untrained, but she wanted to make it, and she did it."

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Brisbane Roar have parted ways with head coach Ruben Zadkovich after a disappointing A-League Men season, which saw the club finish second-last despite an unbeaten final four-game run.

Zadkovich departs with just eight wins from 38 matches in charge (10 draws, 20 losses), having initially taken over on an interim basis last year.

His exit marks the club’s seventh managerial change, fourth full-time in under three years.

The club says a new coach and staff will be announced in the coming days, as it looks for stability.



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