Labor's path to getting legislation through the upper house may get slightly more difficult after Liberal MLC Dennis Hood — who was strongly linked to the upper house presidency role — said he would remain on the floor of parliament.
Australian politicians are increasingly using social media and podcasts for content, a strategy highlighted by PM Albanese's recent podcast appearance. Meanwhile, Albanese focused on Pacific diplomacy, signing a defense treaty with Fiji amid China's regional influence. Domestically, a major Telstra outage sparked political debate over emergency call testing.
South Australian police are investigating the death of an elderly person at a regional hospital on Wednesday, July 8th. The investigation began after Liberal Senator Kerrynne Liddle reported the death, which occurred during a Telstra network outage. Police were not initially notified of the death.
Game III of the State of Origin series achieved record-breaking viewership, becoming the highest-rated TV program of 2026 with 4.29 million average viewers and a total of 6.032 million viewers. The streaming audience also saw a significant 70.9% increase.
Developer IFM has submitted plans to Brisbane City Council to demolish the interior of the Wintergarden shopping centre in Queen Street Mall and replace it with two levels of shops. The proposal includes removing the iconic butterfly screen and restoring the old brick facade, aiming to create a pedestrian link and revitalise the retail precinct.
A major Telstra outage on Wednesday caused significant disruption to small businesses, with an expert estimating the economic cost could reach hundreds of millions of dollars. Businesses reported being unable to communicate with clients and suppliers, leading to lost sales and productivity.
First-term MP Daniel Pastorelli is poised to enter WA cabinet, replacing retiring Paul Papalia. This move, favored by Premier Roger Cook, follows Pastorelli's rapid rise from communications director to chief of staff under Mark McGowan and Cook. The decision may cause internal tension but could balance factional representation. A by-election will be held for Papalia's former seat.
