Australia news live: cabinet’s national security committee to meet as US and Israel strike Iran

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Greens label US-Israel war on Iran a “new illegal bombing campaign”

Greens leader Larissa Waters has warned the Albanese government against supporting the growing war in Iran, calling it “a new illegal bombing campaign” by US presidnet Donald Trump and Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu.

Waters said there is a strong likelihood the bombing has direct or indirect assistance from military facilities at Pine Gap and North West Cape:

Trump and Netanyahu’s illegal attacks last night have unleashed chaos across the Middle East.

This war will not bring safety to the brave Iranian people who are fighting for liberation from the brutal regime. Innocent people have already been massacred, including at least 60 children in Southern Iran killed by US and Israeli strikes on an elementary school last night. Our hearts ache for their families. This war will see homes and cities razed to the ground and countless innocent lives lost.

Greens leader Senator Larissa Waters Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

Waters said the Greens condemned the “illegal, abhorrent and unilateral attacks”:

Australians do not want to be dragged into another US-Israeli war.

Australia’s support of Trump and Netanyahu’s illegal attack last night was disgraceful.

We cannot bomb our way to peace.”

NSW unveils sweeping foster care reform

The NSW Labor government has announced major changes to the state’s out-of-home-care system.

The Minns government this morning announced it will implement tougher accountability measures for non-government providers in the sector that cares for more than 13,000 vulnerable children.

The government will also spearhead foster care recruitment and reduce the outsourcing of child protection services.

The minister for families and communities, Kate Washington, said:

Despite significant and rising taxpayer investment, rates of restoration, guardianship and adoption continue to fall. It’s clear the current program has failed to deliver, that’s why we undertaking significant reform.

Accountability is non-negotiable when it comes to children’s safety and public trust. We are building a new foster care system where kids come first – every child deserves to grow up with love, safety and stability.

Welcome

Good morning. Welcome to our live news blog this Sunday.

The federal government is moving quickly to respond to events in Iran.

Last night, Australia declared its support for US action to stop Tehran obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent threats to international peace and security.

Anthony Albanese said in a statement: “Australia stands with the brave people of Iran in their struggle against oppression.”

The prime minister said Iran’s ruling regime had been a “destabilising force” for decades through its ballistic missile and nuclear programs, support for armed proxies, and “brutal acts of violence and intimidation”.

The national security committee of cabinet is due to meet about 8.30am this morning, and the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, will speak from Adelaide about 9.45am.

The government has criticised the Iranian regime’s brutal crackdown on protesters, which has left thousands of Iranian civilians dead, and highlighted Iranian-led foreign attacks in Australia.

Iran directed at least two attacks on Australian soil in 2024, carried out to target the Jewish community. Australia expelled Iran’s ambassador to Australia last year.