News and politics live updates: Anthony Albanese reacts to Keir Starmer’s resignation as UK Prime Minister

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has reacted to Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation as UK Prime Minister.

“I consider Keir Starmer a friend and I’m thinking of him on what must be a very tough day,” he said.

“Serving in public life is a tremendous privilege but politics can also be a harsh business.

:When the time comes for Keir to leave Downing Street, he can be proud of the contribution he has made to the country he loves and to the Labour Party that he led back to Government in 2024.

“I’m grateful for the opportunities we had to work together to strengthen our AUKUS defence and security partnership, support the brave people of Ukraine and keep children safe from the damage that social media can do.

“I wish Keir, Victoria and their children well with everything the future holds.”

Keir Starmer has resigned as leader of the UK Labour Party.

He is telling journalists that he has addressed the king and will remain as UK PM until the leadership contest is complete.

“I will also give my successor my full and unequivocal support.”

“A new Labour Government ... a page on this country turned after years of despair,” he tells the crowd.

“The journey to that point has not been easy.

“Six years ago I inherited a Labour party that was spiritually and morally bankrupt.”

He says since then they ripped out the poison of anti-Semitism, worked on security and “changed Britain for the better”.

It comes as likely successor Andy Burnham is preparing to farewell staffers in his Mayoral office at Greater Manchester.

A second bird has been confirmed as having the deadly H5 virus that has sparked fears that WA’s wildlife and poultry industry could be decimated.

WA’s chief veterinary officer Michelle Rodan also confirmed that 58 reports of dead or sick birds were made over the weekend between Esperance and Perth.

“There were 42 calls (on Sunday) to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline from multiple locations throughout the State,” Dr Rodan said.

“These reports of dead or unwell birds have been triaged by DPIRD based on risk of H5 bird flu. Importantly, there have been no reports of large-scale mortalities.

“Nine samples were collected for testing, including one report of dead seabirds in the Esperance area.

“On the previous day (Sat 20 June), there were 16 calls to the hotline.”

Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said on Monday that there was no evidence of mass deaths in wildlife, with the Australian poultry and agricultural systems remaining free from bird flu.

“We are working to determine whether the H5 bird flu has established in the wildlife or Australia, other than these two isolated birds,” she said.

Read the full story.

Anthony Albanese’s tax backflip was as predictable as Pauline Hanson’s rise in popularity to become the nation’s preferred PM.

Albanese has always been a jellyback on real reform, earning himself the acronym — AACO — Albanese Always Chickens Out.

It’s no wonder that fed up Australians, when faced with a choice between the deception of Albanese and the weakness of Angus Taylor, instead chose the strength of Hanson.

Also predictable is that the relationship between Albanese and Treasurer Jim Chalmers is totally salvageable after this Budget.

Albo had already constantly briefed against Chalmers and publicly chopped him off at the knees.

Snubbing your economic captain from regular Sunday strategy sessions at the Lodge for the sycophantic company of Penny Wong and Katy Gallagher was just one of many slights from the PM to his Treasurer.

Albanese has backflipped, making Chalmers an accomplice to his failure.

Read Cameron Milner’s full opinion piece.

Joint Statement by the State of Qatar and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Regarding The Conclusion of Lake Lucerne Summit, First High-Level Committee Meeting with Participation of the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran

The first session of high level talks under the framework of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding have concluded in Burgenstock, Switzerland, with the participation of representatives from the Islamic Republic of Iran, the United States of America, and the two mediating parties, the State of Qatar and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

The Lake Lucerne Summit was conducted in a positive and constructive atmosphere. Encouraging progress has been made including the creation of a mechanism for further technical talks.

Building on the MoU, the parties have agreed to the establishment of a High Level Committee, which will provide political oversight on the mediation. Chief negotiators will report regularly to the High Level Committee and lead working groups focused on nuclear, sanctions, and a monitoring and dispute resolution group to ensure the effective implementation of the MoU, and on other matters.

The High Level Committee has agreed upon a roadmap towards reaching a final deal within 60 days, laying the foundation for the immediate commencement of further technical talks.

In addition, a communication line between the parties has been formed for the period mentioned in paragraph 5 of the MoU to avoid incidents and miscommunication with the aim of safe passage for commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.

Moreover, the parties agreed on the creation of a de-confliction cell, between the parties, the Lebanese Republic and facilitated by the Mediators, to ensure the adherence of the termination of military operations in Lebanon as per the MoU.

Technical talks will continue for the remainder of the week at the Burgenstock resort on all issues.

The mediating parties will continue to do their utmost to ensure that the negotiations continue to be conducted in a constructive atmosphere with the aim of reaching a final deal.

The State of Qatar and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan express their sincere appreciation to the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran for their ongoing commitment to diplomacy and a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

The mediating parties further commend brotherly and friendly countries for their continued support and valuable contribution to the ongoing negotiations.

Qatar says the first session of high-level talks between the US and Iran has wrapped up with the involved parties agreeing to a “roadmap” to reach a deal.

“The first session of high level talks under the framework of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding have concluded in Burgenstock, Switzerland, with the participation of representatives from the Islamic Republic of Iran, the United States of America, and the two mediating parties, the State of Qatar and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,” a statement said.

“The Lake Lucerne Summit was conducted in a positive and constructive atmosphere. Encouraging progress has been made including the creation of a mechanism for further technical talks.”

The statement said a high-level committee would be established and that the committee would work from a roadmap towards “reaching a final day within 60 days”.

“Moreover, the parties agreed on the creation of a de-confliction cell, between the parties, the Lebanese Republic and facilitated by the Mediators, to ensure the adherence of the termination of military operations in Lebanon as per the MoU,” the statement continued.

“Technical talks will continue for the remainder of the week at the Burgenstock resort on all issues. The mediating parties will continue to do their utmost to ensure that the negotiations continue to be conducted in a constructive atmosphere with the aim of reaching a final deal.”

Defence Minister Richard Marles has signed a $2.5 billion deal with Canada to sell Australia’s leading radar technology.

Confirming the deal, Mr Marles spoke alongside Canada’s secretary of state for defence procurement, Stephen Fuhr, to announce the JORN sale.

“The agreement that Stephen and I have just signed represents the biggest defence export in Australia’s history, with Canada’s procurement of the over-the-horizon radar,” Mr Marles said from Canberra.

“This is a $2.5 billion deal. It is, far and away, the largest defence export that we have ever done.

“Today’s agreement really is a historic moment for Australia’s defence industry, but it is also a historic moment in the bilateral relationship between Australia and Canada and Stephen, you are a very honoured guest to our country today.”

Nationals Leader Matt Canavan says Labor must sack Treasurer Jim Chalmers if they want to restore confidence with the Australian people.

“This budget by Jim Chalmers has effectively driven our economy, like Thelma and Louise, over a cliff and falling down at a rapid rate,’’ Senator Canavan told Sunrise on Monday.

“Now, the government needs to do something to restore confidence. They ripped up half their budget last week; that’s not enough.

“I mean, everyone wants to fire the liar, but what we’ve really got to do is drop the flop. Jim Chalmers’ budget is a total flop.”

Senator Canavan said Anthony Albanese needed to step in and fire Dr Chalmers from his position.

“The Prime Minister should sack him, get someone in there who actually can come up with an economic plan for our country, because the biggest problem with what’s going on in the last few months is that confidence is now cratering, and that hurts our entire economy, and yes, that will lower house prices, but lots of us will be left without a job as well, and that’s not good for everybody.”

​Read more. ​

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has declared he wants to “drop the flops” as he pushes to remove the Albanese government from offer.

Last week One Nation released a new anti-Labor advertising campaign with the phrase “Fire the Liar” directed towards Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Asked whether members of the Coalition were now copying the idea, Mr Taylor said he wanted to go even further.

“I want this whole Government dropped. I want the whole Government dropped, because it is a flop. It’s a complete utter flop,” he told reporters in Canberra.

“We should drop the flops, the whole lot of them, every single one of them should go.”

“And I’m going to be fighting every day from now to the next election to drop every single one of those flops, because they’ve got to go.”

A senior US official says negotiations between US and Iran are back underway, with talks expected to continue well into the night.

Speaking to reporters in Switzerland, the diplomat said Vice President JD Vance and the US delegation had remained in near-constant discussions with their Iranian counterparts.

“The Iranians are still here and discussions are ongoing. We anticipate continuing to work through the night,” the official said, according to CNN.

Key issues on the table include reopening the Strait of Hormuz, easing tensions in Lebanon and addressing concerns surrounding Iran’s nuclear program.