Australia news live: cabinet shake-up in Victoria; Tabcorp and Sportsbet say ‘no evidence’ they provided drugs and escorts to customers | Australia news

New Victorian premier launches major portfolio shake-up

Benita Kolovos

I’m at government house where the new Victoria premier Ben Carroll’s cabinet is being sworn in. Unlike his predecessor Jacinta Allan’s reshuffle in April, this appears to be a major shake-up of portfolios.

Gabrielle Williams, the deputy premier, takes on Carroll’s portfolio of education, amid a long-running pay dispute with the state’s public school teachers.

Colin Brooks has been given the treasury portfolio, ending Jaclyn Symes’s time in the job. Symes was the state’s first female treasurer.

Anthony Carbines, one of Carroll’s most loyal supporters, has lost his police portfolio but keeps racing and picks up major events, AI and the digital economy – the latter appears to be a newly created role.

Paul Edbrooke – who was only recently elevated to cabinet – has scored a major promotion, taking on the police portfolio.

Sonya Kilkenny, an Allan supporter who made a surprise bid for leadership during last week’s Labor caucus meeting, has retained her attorney general and planning portfolios and adds prevention of family violence. But she loses finance to Enver Erdogan.

Another Allan supporter, Steve Dimopoulos, has lost major events but takes on WorkSafe, TAC and equality alongside sport. The ceremony is ongoing.

Australians lodged nearly 120,000 complaints with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority in the most recent financial year, a record number that reflects the intense economic pressures being felt across the community.

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That was about 20% more than the previous financial year, according to the preliminary numbers.

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Personal transaction accounts, car insurance and credit cards were the most complained about products in 2025-26, AFCA said.

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Complaints relating to the way banks dealt with customers in financial difficulty jumped by 17% in the year, and credit reporting complaints by 22%, AFCA said.

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But AFCA said the largest growth was driven by major investment failures and rising superannuation disputes, most notably the collapses of the Shield Master Fund and First Guardian.

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Complaints alleging failure to act in the client’s best interest remain the top issue with a 65 per cent increase on last year, up to 2081.

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Deborah Jenkins, AFCA’s chief customer officer, said:

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While most financial advice firms do the right thing, we are seeing a significant number of complaints stem from major financial collapses that have affected thousands of consumers. These matters are complex and can be incredibly stressful for individuals and their families.

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I’m at government house where the new Victoria premier Ben Carroll’s cabinet is being sworn in. Unlike his predecessor Jacinta Allan’s reshuffle in April, this appears to be a major shake-up of portfolios.

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Gabrielle Williams, the deputy premier, takes on Carroll’s portfolio of education, amid a long-running pay dispute with the state’s public school teachers.

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Colin Brooks has been given the treasury portfolio, ending Jaclyn Symes’s time in the job. Symes was the state’s first female treasurer.

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Anthony Carbines, one of Carroll’s most loyal supporters, has lost his police portfolio but keeps racing and picks up major events, AI and the digital economy – the latter appears to be a newly created role.

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Paul Edbrooke – who was only recently elevated to cabinet – has scored a major promotion, taking on the police portfolio.

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Sonya Kilkenny, an Allan supporter who made a surprise bid for leadership during last week’s Labor caucus meeting, has retained her attorney general and planning portfolios and adds prevention of family violence. But she loses finance to Enver Erdogan.

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Another Allan supporter, Steve Dimopoulos, has lost major events but takes on WorkSafe, TAC and equality alongside sport. The ceremony is ongoing.

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Gambling giant Tabcorp is up in the Senate inquiry this morning.

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The company’s head of government affairs, Julian Whealing, says claims of illicit drugs, sex workers and alcohol being provided to problem gamblers is not “part of Tabcorp’s customer offering”.

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“Tabcorp has zero tolerance for this behavior, we are Australia’s most regulated wagering company, and we take our responsibilities to compliance seriously,” he said.

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Any evidence of this illegal activity should be referred to the relevant authorities.

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Betting giant Sportsbet says it has no evidence to substantiate allegations made in Monday’s hearing about the Albanese government’s gambling bill, including that gambling companies provided illegal drugs and sex workers to customers.

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Jules Norton Selzer, director of corporate affairs, has told the inquiry today the company has “zero evidence of the allegations”.

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“We have no tolerance for that kind of deplorable conduct and information,” he said, going on:

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No information has been provided to us beyond what was referenced yesterday, and we will gladly investigate it.

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Our objective is for adult customers to enjoy our product safely and responsibly, and that is why we continue to support measures to reduce underage exposure and strengthen consumer protections across the range of federal and state regulatory models that we operate within.

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Along with the industry lobby group Responsible Wagering Australia and Tabcorp, the company is expected to face more questions about the evidence this morning.

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Matt King has described the NSW State of Origin team as the “love of his life” after being named as Laurie Daley’s permanent replacement as the new Blues head coach.

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AAP reports Daley walked away from the role on Monday after leading the Blues to a series victory last month and the NSWRL has wasted no time in appointing King as his replacement on Tuesday.

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King played nine games for the Blues and has been part of the coaching staff under Daley and Michael Maguire over the last three series.

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View this post on Instagram

A post shared by NSW Blues (@nswblues)

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The 45-year-old King, who played for Melbourne, Souths and Warrington, has never been a senior coach but has spent the best part of the last decade working as an assistant to Trent Robinson at the Sydney Roosters.

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King said:

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I’ve had a front-row seat the last couple of years with Laurie and 12 months before that with Michael Maguire and I have a true understanding of what it means to lead this great state of ours.

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The one true rugby league love of my life has been the NSW Blues and to know now that I have the opportunity to guide the team moving forward, means the absolute world to me.

\n

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Thomas Bradley, a Queensland supreme court judge, will be appointed Queensland’s new governor. Bradley will replace the former state chief health officer Jeannette Young, who has served in the role since 2021.

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He will be appointed in November.

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The premier, David Crisafulli, announced the decision at a press conference in the state’s defunct upper house chamber on Tuesday, flanked by his deputy premier, committed royalist Jarrod Bleijie, and Bradley.

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Crisafulli said Bradley had been selected in May, but the king had only approved his appointment last week.

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“I share the goals of my predecessors as governors of Queensland to carry out the constitutional responsibilities with dignity, fairness, and a commitment to the rule of law,” Bradley said, on Tuesday. He went on:

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I look forward to spending time with as many Queenslanders as possible across the state as I serve, I call to mind all that we have in common as Queenslanders, the joy that we share in each other’s successes, and the comfort that we give each other in our sorrows. I’m reminded that in communities large and small, we are part of one common endeavor.

\n

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He has served on the supreme court since 2018 after a career as a legal academic and commercial barrister, and was promoted to the court of appeal in 2025.

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Andrew Hastie said he’s “not worried” about the next election, but hopes he receives preferences from One Nation when it comes down to it.

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Hastie spoke to News24 (formerly Sky News) this morning ahead of One Nation’s expected launch in his seat of Canning in Western Australia. He had this to say:

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I’m not worried. Everyone who comes in this job has to have a sense of their political mortality, and if this is the end, this is the end. You do your best, and it’s up to the Australian people.

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We’re also a democracy. So I don’t have a problem with any political party starting a branch.

\n

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Hastie maintained the Coalition had ruled out any deal with One Nation for a joint government, saying the Nationals were the “one Coalition partner” for the Liberals. But he said he still hopes One Nation preferences flow to him:

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We’re in a two-party preferred system. So preferences matter.

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Labor receives preferences from the Greens, and I’d hope we’d receive preferences from one nation. But in the end, I want to form government under Angus Taylor by winning on primary votes.

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Murray Watt, the federal environment minister, was asked earlier about former rugby league star Luke Bateman’s testimony before a parliamentary inquiry on gambling reform.

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Bateman alleged betting company promoters supplied him with cocaine and alcohol, also alleging he attended private Gold Coast events hosted by gambling firms where senior figures took illegal drugs with clients.

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Watt said those claims were distressing, before noting that anyone who engaged in such behaviour should face penalties. He told RN Breakfast:

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We all feel for him and the circumstances that he went through. And for anyone to be offering illegal drugs as an inducement or for any other reason is obviously a crime. Should not be committed and people should pay a price if they’re engaging in that kind of criminal behavior.

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Watt said the government was trying to strengthen gambling guardrails, including a national register to opt out from betting and gambling inducements.

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Top NSW officials are urging people to avoid the emergency department except in cases of extreme health needs, warning the next three weeks will see hospitals at capacity amid a surge in winter illness.

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The NSW premier, Chris Minns, said the next few weeks will be the “worst of the year” after a moderate beginning to the winter season:

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I’ve spoken to emergency departments in Maitland, in Cessnock, in Western Sydney over the last two or three weeks since who have said it’s a late-starting season, but it’s hitting us hard now.

\n

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Minns said that advice was targeted at those with “cuts, abrasions, bruises, things that can wait until the morning”. But people fearful of a dangerous health condition, including those with symptoms of stroke or heart attack, should absolutely head to the ED. He said:

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\n

If you feel or you’ve got any suspicion that your life might be in danger, please go to the emergency department, please call 000.

\n

No one’s going to yell at you if you turn out to be wrong and it’s some other ailment that’s not life-threatening. Everybody understands that.

\n

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The NSW health minister, Ryan Park, added earlier this morning:

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We always prioritorizing those most unwell, and that’s why we’re calling on people. If you don’t need to use an emergency department, if it’s not an emergency, use that 1800 022 222 number.

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Minns”,”caption”:”Chris Minns.”,”credit”:”Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP”}}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1785795178000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”18.12 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1785796707000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”18.38 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1785795350000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”18.15 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”18.15″,”title”:”NSW officials urge those with injuries ‘that can wait’ to avoid emergency department”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Mon 3 Aug 2026 22.48 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Mon 3 Aug 2026 16.30 EDT”},{“id”:”6a7089918f08a544c167e5d8″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

As wildfires rage in the northern hemisphere, Greg Mullins, Australian firefighter and former commissioner of Fire and Rescue New South Wales, warns an incoming El Niño combined with significant fuel loads could contribute to bushfires in Australia.

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Since 2020, wet weather in places and floods in places such as Lismore in NSW have prevented firefighters from doing as many hazard reduction burns as scheduled.

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Mullins told the ABC’s 7.30:

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It’s been too wet to burn and what we increasingly find is that conditions swing from being too wet to suddenly too hot and dry.

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The hotter temperatures dry out the bush very quickly and the windows to carry out hazard reduction have reduced from months every year to just weeks.

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He is less concerned about the current conditions as many parts of Australia are not in drought.

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But with the El Niño coming, hotter, drier conditions are also likely to follow.

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What worries me is the year after an El Niño is usually the hottest.

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So 2027, I think, we’ll have a busy year for fires – it will be back on the TV screens, but then the summer of 27-28 could be a real worry.

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NSW police have arrested and charged two men after one of them allegedly brandished a fake replica gun, wearing a bulletproof vest with a US flag and carrying a toy police badge, at a busy Sydney entertainment precinct, AAP reports.

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Uniform and specialist police swarmed the pair at the Entertainment Quarter at Moore Park on Monday afternoon.

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Chaotic social media footage showed dozens of police officers including some wearing tactical gear surrounding the alleged offenders and confused shoppers running, just before 5pm.

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On arrival, officers located two men, one of whom was allegedly wearing a vest and carrying a firearm, police said in a statement.

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The two men, aged 35 and 39, were arrested and a replica firearm, a vest, plastic handcuffs and a badge were allegedly seized.

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Both were taken to Surry Hills police station where, during a search of the older man, police allege they located an amount of prohibited drugs.

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The younger man was charged with possessing an unregistered, unauthorised pistol in a public place and for offensive behaviour.

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He was refused bail to appear in court today.

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The older man was charged with possessing a prohibited drug.

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He was granted conditional bail to appear in court on 20 August.

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items including a replica firearm, a bulletproof vest bearing the US flag, a fake police badge and a box with the words \”Hard Drugs\” written comically on it at Moore Park’s Entertainment Quarter in Sydney, NSW.”,”caption”:”Seized items including a replica firearm, a bulletproof vest bearing the US flag, a fake police badge and a box with the words \”Hard Drugs\” written comically on it at Moore Park’s Entertainment Quarter in Sydney, NSW. “,”credit”:”Photograph: New South Wales Police Force/PR HANDOUT”}}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1785789027000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”16.30 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1785797299000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”18.48 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1785789482000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”16.38 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”16.38″,”title”:”Charges laid after alleged replica gun scare in Sydney entertainment precinct”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Mon 3 Aug 2026 22.48 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Mon 3 Aug 2026 16.30 EDT”},{“id”:”679b43ab8f08d7cb6f3007fa”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it will be Nick Visser with the main action.

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We start with charges that have been laid overnight after a security scare and major police action at Sydney’s popular Moore Park entertainment precinct. More on that soon

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Key events

Achol Arok

Melbourne’s St Kilda prepares to lose between 20- 40% of its bird population to bird flu

Ecologist Lana Austin, from conservation group Earthcare St Kilda, said bird flu was likely to arrive at a little penguin colony in Melbourne’s bayside area, which is home to about 1,400 of the birds.

Speaking to ABC Radio Melbourne on Tuesday, Austin said she was “pretty worried because I don’t want to lose one bird”, and that efforts to protect the colony would require “a whole ecosystem response”. She said:

We need to be concerned at St Kilda, not just for penguins, but for all the other wildlife that hang out in Port Phillip Bay generally.

So, we have dolphins, seals, rakali, which is a native water rat. It’s very likely that they will also be affected.

Austin said it was unclear how bad the impact of the virus would be on the colony, due to a lack of data for little penguins, and that authorities had “probably missed the boat” on vaccination efforts.

Arthur Rylah [institute] did a great risk assessment early last year where they looked into vaccination possibility … It did have some good effects and birds had some resilience and immunity to the disease. However, it had to be introduced before bird flu arrived.

We have missed the vaccination boat and it’s more just about managing it once it arrives.