Australia news live: Labor working on release of Oscar Jenkins in Russia; record low snowfall in NSW as winter ends | Australian politics
Australian government working on release of Oscar Jenkins, assistant minister says
The Australian government is working with Russian officials in a bid to secure the release of Australian Oscar Jenkins, Matt Thistlethwaite says.
Speaking to ABC news breakfast, the assistant minister for foreign affairs declined to answer whether a prisoner swap was on the table.
Obviously, we try and negotiate as best we can on behalf of all Australians who find themselves in difficulties such as this. We obviously have to abide by international laws and we always uphold them. But the Australian officials on the ground will work with their counterparts to ensure that, hopefully he’s returned to Australia safely.
Thistlethwaite said the case highlights the danger of Australians travelling to Ukraine.
Key events
Watt says government thinks there are ‘real privacy risks’ with smart glasses
Ahead of attorney general Michelle Rowland releasing a discussion paper about privacy reforms on Monday, Labor MP Murray Watt has weighed in on smart glasses.
We think that there are real privacy risks with people having photos of themselves, images of themselves taken by these glasses without their consent and when they don’t even know it’s happening …
However, Watt says some people were using smart glasses for reading and other accessibility reasons.
I think we’re really quick to demonise something like this because it seems out of hand, like it’s dodgy or somehow it could be used for the worst. You’re playing catchup.
Back to the One Nation victory in a WA byelection this weekend
Earlier, the assistant minister for foreign affairs, Matt Thistlethwaite, said One Nation’s success in Secret Harbour was indicative of the “challenge” Labor has faced in communicating its cost-of-living relief policies.
“I know that people are looking at One Nation,” he told ABC’s Radio National.
We would say that they don’t offer the solutions that people are seeking, particularly around cost of living when One Nation’s voting record in the federal parliament is to vote against improving rights for workers and ensuring that they take home more money in their pay packets.
Joyce says he has not heard from David Farley about any plans to leave One Nation
Barnaby Joyce weighed in earlier on a report in the Saturday Paper this weekend that new party MP David Farley is mulling quitting One Nation to sit as an independent.
The Saturday Paper reported some of Farley’s colleagues worry his relationship with the party has broken down amid tension over One Nation’s migration target numbers.
Joyce told RN this morning he was unaware of any plan for Farley to leave the party, saying his new colleague had “broad shoulders” and could handle difficult moments:
I had a conversation with him nearly a day or so ago, and that was completely the opposite of what he said to me. I mean, this is in every party, you have to go through the discussion, the process, and you know, and David is an incredibly important part of that.
He’s incredibly competent, and you know … an asset to the party. And we want to make sure that we can we continue on with that.
Of course the media have a lot of fun with people if they can smell blood on the water.
Australian government working on release of Oscar Jenkins, assistant minister says
The Australian government is working with Russian officials in a bid to secure the release of Australian Oscar Jenkins, Matt Thistlethwaite says.
Speaking to ABC news breakfast, the assistant minister for foreign affairs declined to answer whether a prisoner swap was on the table.
Obviously, we try and negotiate as best we can on behalf of all Australians who find themselves in difficulties such as this. We obviously have to abide by international laws and we always uphold them. But the Australian officials on the ground will work with their counterparts to ensure that, hopefully he’s returned to Australia safely.
Thistlethwaite said the case highlights the danger of Australians travelling to Ukraine.
Record low snow marks harsh reality for ski sector
Winter is coming to an end, but for many the ski season finished much earlier, AAP reports.
According to snowfall data compiled by Snowy Hydro, 2026 is officially the worst end to a season since records began in 1954.
The natural snow depth on Friday at Spencers Creek between Perisher and Charlotte’s Pass in the NSW alps was 56cm, the lowest for the end of August.
Only 1973 comes close.
While forecasts offer hope of light falls in the coming weeks, high temperatures and more rain on the outlook mean the snowpack will only shrink.
Usually, late August is peak season. But as global warming continues, early ends to winter are likely to become more common.
Perisher hit a balmy 14.4C on Saturday, while the mercury showed 11.1C in Mt Hotham, both breaking records for their highest August temperatures.
Krishani Dhanji
Government announces ID protection service and privacy reforms
The government says it will develop a digital identity service that will allow Australians to block or monitor the use of their ID documents that are used for verification through its document verification service.
The attorney general, Michelle Rowland, says IDLock, which will be rolled out in 2027, will help protect people from identity crimes and scams.
Whether their driver licence details have been exposed in a data breach or they are concerned about scams and identity theft, IDLock will give Australians an accessible and simple way to have greater visibility, control and confidence in how their identity documents are used.
Rowland has also announced today a second round of privacy reforms that will allow individuals to request their personal information be destroyed from social media and search platforms.
Joyce says people are entitled to their own views after Malcolm Roberts says he’s in ‘two minds’ about gay people
Joyce was also asked about One Nations’ Malcolm Roberts, who told a conference earlier this year that he was in “two minds” about whether gay people should have equal rights.
Joyce told RN it was a “trope that we are somehow we’re racist, we’re homophobes, we’re this, we’re that”.
All these things stand in proxy for actually a relevant argument against One Nation. We’re not homophobes, we’re not racist …
Of course there are gay people in One Nation, but it just seems really awkward having to say it.
Joyce went on to say that people, Roberts included, were “entitled” to have their own views, and while they may not be his, different ones could lead to “respectful” debate.
They are not my views … but he is entitled to his views. And I think it’s kind of limiting to say, ‘No, you must completely comply and without question.’
Barnaby Joyce says One Nation victory at WA byelection ‘humbling’ and ‘decisive’
One Nation’s Barnaby Joyce said the party wouldn’t get “carried away” after claiming a victory in the Secret Harbour state byelection in Western Australia.
He declared yesterday that “politics has changed” after One Nation’s Luke Herdegen defeated Labor’s Georgia Tree. Joyce spoke to Radio National Breakfast this morning, saying:
It’s incredibly humbling. It’s obviously decisive. It’s just more that if people are giving us a chance, and if we respect it and don’t get carried away with it, then that’s how you deal with it.
Joyce went on to say that Labor can spend as much as they want on elections, but “people still don’t care” and are disillusioned with traditional political parties.
There’s a sense that the Labor party is lacking a very important thing in a mining state such as Western Australia … With Luke, they saw a small businessperson, a person who they could look at them and see a reflection of themselves.
Australian convicted in Russia after fighting for Ukraine gives first interview
Oscar Jenkins, an Australian man who was captured and sentenced to 13 years in a Russian jail after fighting for Ukraine military, has given his first interview after his conviction.
Jenkins joined Ukraine’s fighters in 2024. He was interviewed by another Australian man, Mark Lowe, who has been living in Russia for four years, the ABC reports.
Jenkins told the ABC he wanted to help Ukraine and “be a soldier”:
It felt like the right thing to do; if a country invades another country, why? … I’m a young guy. It’s not that my life doesn’t mean anything to me, but sacrifices might need to be made.
That’s still the attitude I have …
People didn’t like what Russia was doing; they felt Russia was being a bully, and all that while I was prepping for my own position as a machine gunner.
Jenkins was ultimately captured and sentenced last May for his participation as a “mercenary in an armed conflict”. His conviction has been called a “sham trial” by the Australian foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong.
Wong said Jenkins was a prisoner of war, so he must be given “the protections afforded to him”.
Russia is obligated to treat him in accordance with international humanitarian law, including humane treatment.
Jenkins said in the interview he has written to Russian authorities saying he would be “happy to fight as a soldier for Russia” as well.
Australian personnel still unable to access Nepal flood zone
Australian personnel has not been able to get access to the Nepal flood zone yet, the assistant minister for foreign affairs, Matt Thistlethwaite, confirmed.
Speaking on ABC’s Radio National, Thistlethwaite said roads remained cut off in the disaster and most of the telecommunication infrastructure was down.
There has been about eight power stations that have been affected as well, so it’s very difficult to get into the area.
He said the Australian government had “offered support” to the Chinese government, with six Australians missing on the Chinese side of the border.
They’ve said at this stage they don’t require that support.
Australia to send $3m in additional aid to Nepal
The government will send $3m in additional aid to Nepal, the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has announced, bringing the total package to $8m.
Of this additional aid, the Australian defence force will coordinate $2m worth of hygiene kits, solar lighting and other emergency supplies following a request from Nepal’s government.
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) will transport the first of these supplies from Queensland in the coming days.
In addition, the government will donate $1m to the Emergency Action Alliance appeal, which has reached $1.4m in donations from the public.
There is now 14 Australian personnel on the ground in Kathmandu – including crisis response, consular officers and Australian federal police – to assist staff in the humanitarian disaster. Two more will be deployed this week.
Number of Australians missing in Nepal rises to 43
The total number of Australians missing in the deadly Nepal floods is now 43.
The department of foreign affairs has received more than 650 calls in relation to the disaster.
Nepali and Chinese authorities confirmed an updated death toll of at least 810 on Sunday.
More than 3,000 people are believed missing after flash floods triggered by a massive glacier collapse in the Himalayas on Wednesday engulfed Gyirong port on the Nepal-China border.
Good morning
Hello and welcome to Guardian Australia’s live coverage.
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has confirmed Australia will send an additional $3m in aid to Nepal after $5m was announced last week.
The number of Australians missing in the disaster is now 42, as loved ones await information in the flooding disaster.
Let’s begin.
