Labor to Boost Spending on Military Drones
The federal government intends to increase its investment in drone technology by an additional $2 billion to $5 billion as part of Australia's updated national defence strategy.
The defence minister, Richard Marles, is scheduled to release the plans on Thursday. These initiatives will raise the total expenditure on uncrewed and autonomous defence capabilities to between $12 billion and $15 billion over the next ten years.
Emphasis will be placed on local manufacturing within these plans.
“The war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East underscore the rapid advancements in these technologies, and the ability for these systems to generate significant asymmetric advantage against larger, more expensive platforms,” Marles said.
“Expanding our fleet of autonomous and uncrewed systems across all domains will not only help the ADF keep our nation safe, but will boost Australia’s sovereign defence industry – supporting local jobs and harnessing Australian innovation.”
Taylor Discusses New Hardline Immigration Plans
Opposition leader Angus Taylor announced a new immigration policy proposal aimed at prioritising "Australian values first." He plans to reveal full details of the hardline measures, including a social media vetting process inspired by former US President Donald Trump.
Taylor spoke with ABC AM, stating:
“We know people have come to our country in recent times who don’t share our core values, our belief in democracy, our belief in the rule of law, our belief in basic freedoms.”
When asked about the social media vetting process, especially since the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) can already review social media of incoming migrants if concerns arise, Taylor explained that the new approach would establish a "cross-border, cross-agency taskforce" with increased resources to conduct these checks.
“What we don’t have is a legally binding and enforceable values test in the Migration Act, and we don’t have a cross-agency taskforce set up in this way which would receive extra funding,” he said.
“It’s bolstering it and giving it extra resources and putting this team together in a way where they can ensure that extremists, that radicals who do not believe in our way of life, don’t come into the country.”
Taylor also expressed his belief that the "vast majority" of migrants come to Australia with good intentions and a love for the country.
Marles Comments on Strait of Hormuz Amid US Naval Blockade
Defence Minister Richard Marles stated that Australia remains committed to seeing the Strait of Hormuz reopened following the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, which commenced on Monday evening.
Speaking on RN Breakfast, Marles emphasised the government's investment in ensuring the strait's accessibility and the restoration of the global fuel supply chain to normal operations.
“We are working with all of our partners around efforts that are being taken forward in respect of the straits of Hormuz and how Australia can best contribute. … We really need to see what plays out throughout the remainder of the ceasefire.”
He added that he believes the US also desires the reopening of the strait despite the blockade.
Melbourne to Thailand Flight Diverted After Passenger’s Alleged Behaviour
A 37-year-old woman appeared in court on Monday after her alleged disruptive conduct caused an international flight to Thailand to divert to Perth.
According to Australian Federal Police (AFP), airline staff reported an incident on Sunday involving the passenger acting in an "increasingly erratic manner" before escalating to verbally abusing other passengers and cabin crew.
The flight was redirected to Perth Airport, where AFP officers boarded the aircraft and removed the woman after she reportedly refused to leave the plane when instructed.
She faced Perth Magistrates Court charged with one count of behaving in an offensive and disorderly manner endangering safety on an aircraft. The charge carries a maximum penalty of a $16,500 fine. She is scheduled to reappear in court on 11 May.
Suspected Crocodile Remains Dumped on Adelaide Roadside
Remains believed to be from a crocodile were found discarded on the side of a road in Adelaide.
A spokesperson for South Australia's Environment and Water Department confirmed that staff collected the reptile remains at Waterloo Corner.
“The remains, which were dumped on the side of the road at Coleman Road, will be analysed in an effort to confirm the species and any other information.”
The circumstances surrounding how the remains came to be at the location are currently unknown.
The department has requested that anyone with information contact CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit their website.
Food Supplied to Hospitals and Nursing Homes at Risk Due to Fuel Crisis
A recent report, the first comprehensive assessment of public food procurement in Australia, highlights risks to food supply for public institutions amid the ongoing fuel crisis triggered by the conflict in Iran.
Leah Galvin, co-lead of Good Food Purchasing Australia (GFPA) and co-author of the report, stated:
“A different approach can increase the use of fresh, local produce, redirect spending to Australian farmers and producers, support the people working in public food service kitchens, and generate real benefits for Australia.”
The authors emphasise the timeliness of the report’s release, noting that Australia’s food system and supply chains, including those supplying hospitals and aged care centres, face potential breakdown due to fuel shortages.
Dheepa Jeyapalan, also co-lead of GFPA and co-author, added:
“Better public food procurement is not about spending more, it’s about spending smarter. The evidence is clear, public support is strong, and the solutions exist. Given the threat to our food system caused by the global fuel and fertiliser crisis, now is the moment for leadership.”
Health experts have previously urged governments to develop a national food policy that shifts away from reliance on multinational corporations towards healthier, local food systems.
Poor Hospital Food Adding to Health Costs, Report Finds
Australian governments spend approximately $2.13 billion annually on feeding patients in hospitals, aged care facilities, and other public settings. A new report reveals that the low quality of this food contributes to poor dietary outcomes and increased long-term health costs.
This investment, equating to about $6 million per day, represents a significant policy lever for improving national health outcomes. However, the report, titled Transforming the Public Plate, finds that current public food procurement prioritises cost and scale over quality.
Commissioned by the Macdoch Foundation and released by the Good Food Purchasing Australia initiative, the report identifies that public food procurement is dominated by large suppliers and multinational companies, with limited opportunities for small, medium, local, and First Nations producers.
Without a national framework of standards to guide public food spending towards better outcomes, Australia is falling behind comparable countries such as the UK, the EU, and parts of the US.
Investigations by into hospital food worldwide revealed that Australian hospital meals are less wholesome compared to international counterparts. A significant factor is the reliance on private companies to prepare meals in bulk and deliver them frozen rather than using fresh ingredients.
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories, followed by Nick Visser with the main updates.
