Key events
Rafqa Touma
Thank you to Martin Farrer for rolling the live blog this morning. I’ll be updating you with the day’s news from here – let’s go.
Surge in complaints over telcos
Cash-strapped Australians fear being cut off from their phone and internet services as telcos refuse to support struggling customers, resulting in a spike in complaints, AAP reports.
Reports to the telecommunications watchdog about financial hardship or repayment issues were 71.9% higher between January and March, compared with the same period in 2024.
Despite complaints falling 8.2% since the previous quarter, the telecommunications industry ombudsman remains concerned.
Telcos need to do more to make sure people get the support they need if they’re struggling to keep on top of bills, ombudsman Cynthia Gebert said.
“It’s a stark reminder that the cost-of-living crisis continues to impact communities across Australia,” she said.
Recurring themes included companies refusing payment plans or extensions, offering unsuitable payment arrangements and service disconnection, suspension or restriction.
Zoe Daniel still yet to concede Goldstein after vote margin reduced
Although we have just mentioned that there are two seats in doubt – Calwell and Bradfield – Zoe Daniel is still yet to concede she has lost Goldstein in Melbourne.
The ABC called the seat for the Liberal Tim Wilson last week, seemingly ending the brief parliamentary career of Daniel, a journalist turned teal.
But she has declined to concede until all the votes have been counted.
She posted on social media on last night that she had “every finger crossed” that she could actually win the seat having seen Wilson’s apparently winning margin of 1,500 last Friday reduced to 401 votes last night .
“Friends. We have clawed our way back from an almost 1500 vote margin on Friday to 401 tonight,” she wrote.
“I have every finger crossed that a batch of international postal votes lands in the next two days and a few other things that need to, go our way.
“No matter what, as always, I’m so buoyed by the love, support, and ferocious determination that has been sent my way over the last week.
To my scrutineers who have been hanging over every, single, vote, no matter what happens, you will always be my people. Thank you.”
More postal votes were expected to arrive before tomorrow although they have traditionally favoured the Liberals.
ABC calls Longman and Flinders for the Liberals
Caitlin Cassidy
The ABC has called two electorates, Longman and Flinders, for the Coalition, leaving just two seats in the new federal lower house in doubt.
Longman incumbent Terry Young led Labor’s Rhiannyn Douglas by 355 votes on Wednesday evening, with only 750 votes left to count, leading the ABC to call the seat for the Coalition despite a 2.9% swing to the ALP. Young has held the Caboolture and Southern Sunshine Coast seat since 2019.
In Flinders, the Liberals’ Zoe McKenzie leads by 6,424 votes to independent Ben Smith. With 92.8% of the vote counted on Wednesday evening and actual preferences now being provided, the ABC projected McKenzie would secure her second term in the south-east Melbourne seat.
With the latest results, Labor has secured 93 lower house seats and the Coalition 43, with one seat to the Greens and 11 to independents and minor parties.
Labor is currently ahead in the Victorian seat of Calwell, but a formal redistribution of preferences is expected to take about a fortnight until a result is called.
The Sydney seat of Bradfield was previously called for the Coalition but was back in doubt on Wednesday evening after an apparent late surge in support for the independent Nicolette Boele.
Sarah Basford Canales
PM to meet with Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta
Anthony Albanese will meet with the Indonesian president, Prabowo Subianto, in Jakarta later today as part of his first international visit since being elected for a second term.
The prime minister will be joined by the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, and the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, in Jakarta in a meeting aimed at strengthening ties with the fast-growing neighbour.
Albanese said in a statement:
I am honoured to be a guest of President Prabowo Subianto. There is no country more important to Australia than Indonesia. We have a long history of cooperation and friendship, celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations last year.
During the federal election campaign, a media report published by the defence news website Janes claimed Russia had filed an official request with Indonesia for permission for its military aircraft to be based out of an airbase on the island of Biak, in Indonesia’s easternmost Papua province.
The Australian government’s position has been that there is “no prospect” of a Russian military base being established on Indonesian soil, a position reaffirmed by the Indonesian government.
An Indonesian foreign ministry spokesperson said the government had not granted permission to any country to establish a military base on its territory.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it will be Rafqa Touma with the main action.
Anthony Albanese will look to deepen defence and investment ties with Indonesia in talks with the nation’s president, Prabowo Subianto. The prime minister will meet face-to-face with Prabowo in Jakarta later today in his first overseas trip since Labor’s election victory. We have more details coming up.
The ABC has called two electorates, Longman and Flinders, for the Coalition, leaving just two seats in the new federal lower house in doubt. However, Zoe Daniel, the teal independent who saw her seat of Goldstein called for the Liberal Tim Wilson last week, has still not conceded and narrowed her deficit from 1,500 votes on Friday to 401 this morning. More coming up.
