News live: Labor has ‘grave concerns’ for missing Australians in Nepal-Tibet flooding; Canavan claims ‘feminisation of curriculum’ led to rise of ‘manosphere’
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2h ago‘Grave concerns’ for 38 Australians missing after Nepal-Tibet flooding
The federal government holds “grave concerns” for the 38 Australians still missing in the deadly flooding disaster, Anne Aly says.
The minister for multicultural affairs spoke to ABC’s News Breakfast earlier, after the news a total of five Australians that were unaccounted for as of Tuesday morning had made contact.
double quotation markWe hold grave concerns for those 38 Australians still missing. There are real logistic issues, including communications to find out where people are …
For those families that are still waiting, those 38 individuals unaccounted for, we understand that it’s a really concerning time, and we’ll continue to do what we can to try and locate those people.
Key events
2h ago
‘Grave concerns’ for 38 Australians missing after Nepal-Tibet flooding
2h ago
Canavan says ‘feminisation of curriculum’ has led to rise of ‘manosphere’
3h ago
Spender backs Contos’s call for social media opt-in algorithms
3h ago
Five Australians confirmed safe after Nepal-Tibet flooding
4h ago
Albanese announces $600m package to combat drug smuggling in Pacific
4h ago
Contos to call for social media opt-in algorithm to reduce influence of the ‘manosphere’
4h ago
Welcome
Sydney’s ferry services affected by protected industrial action today from 9am to 2pm
Members of the Maritime Union of Australia employed by Sydney Ferries are engaging in a five-hour work stoppage, with no ferries operating during that period. Services after the stoppage are expected to be significantly affected, and customers should continue to plan ahead and allow extra travel time.
Members of the union will also undertake a ban on selling, collecting or validating tickets and fares from 1pm today until 2am Thursday.
MUA members are seeking a 5% wage increase and guaranteed annual increases in subsequent years. MUA deputy branch secretary Paul Garrett said:
double quotation markOur members kept Sydney Ferries running throughout Covid, dealt with a fleet of 13 overseas-built and defect ridden vessels that were not fit for purpose, and have continued to work long and demanding hours to keep the public moving.
They have always demonstrated their commitment to the job and to the travelling public, and they are now asking for a fair wage increase to catch up with the spiralling cost of living in this city.
Patrick Commins
House prices could fall 10%, analysts predict, as fourth interest rate hike looms
The prospect of the steepest property market downturn in history will not stop the Reserve Bank from delivering a fourth interest rate hike as it battles to bring inflation back under control, economists say.
New data from Cotality revealed house prices are now falling in more than 90% of Australian suburbs, amid a perfect storm of higher borrowing costs, a weak economy, and a once-in-a-generation change in the tax treatment of property investors.
Shane Oliver, AMP’s chief economist, said average home values would continue falling for the next six to nine months, by which time property prices nationally would be about 10% down from their recent peak.
“That would be the worst in the postwar period,” Oliver said, although the figure is not hugely out of line with previous property market corrections in the order of 8% – most recently in 2022-23.
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‘No one with a brain’ wants more affordable houses via taxation, Bragg says
Liberal senator Andrew Bragg said no one wants to buy houses in Australia at the moment due to a system of high taxation, high regulation and a sinking economy.
Bragg spoke to RN Breakfast this morning, lamenting the state of the economy without saying that falling house prices could make it easier for first home buyers to afford property. He said:
double quotation markIf you want to get more affordability, the way you get there is more supply, not through more taxes, because more taxes actually destroys the ability of younger people to pay a reasonable level of rent.
It reduces the number of houses people can live in, and so no one wants to see affordability pursued through more taxes. No one with a brain would do that. And so what we’re seeing now are the consequences of these terrible tax grabs.
Bragg was asked multiple times if there was an ongoing correction in the housing market. He said values were “being smashed” because the tax burden was too high, including by banning self managed super funds from investing in property.
double quotation markUntil you have a government that is prepared to do the heavy lifting on taxes, on reducing regulation, you’re not going to see that supply-side revolution. That’s what you need to see. The only way to solve the housing crisis is to build out of it.
Could shark drones keep swimmers safe at Australian beaches?
Rescue officials searching for missing hiker at South Australia’s Mount Remarkable
South Australia police say emergency services are hunting for a missing hiker at Mount Remarkable, in the state’s mid north, after the woman did not return last night.
Officials said an alarm was raised around 9pm last night, with PolAir dispatched to the area to begin searching overnight. Emergency services have also been conducting ground searches along trails for the missing woman.
Police patrols, mounted operations and SES volunteers will gather at Mount Remarkable this morning to continue the search.
‘Grave concerns’ for 38 Australians missing after Nepal-Tibet flooding
The federal government holds “grave concerns” for the 38 Australians still missing in the deadly flooding disaster, Anne Aly says.
The minister for multicultural affairs spoke to ABC’s News Breakfast earlier, after the news a total of five Australians that were unaccounted for as of Tuesday morning had made contact.
double quotation markWe hold grave concerns for those 38 Australians still missing. There are real logistic issues, including communications to find out where people are …
For those families that are still waiting, those 38 individuals unaccounted for, we understand that it’s a really concerning time, and we’ll continue to do what we can to try and locate those people.
Ride share driver charged on allegations of committing sexual acts during booking
A ride share driver will face court in Sydney today over multiple allegations of sexual acts, including one allegedly committed in the city’s CBD last weekend.
NSW police said officers began an investigation last week after reports the driver had allegedly performed a sexual act on himself during a trip. A passenger, a 23-year-old woman, was on board at the time.
Police arrested a man, 28, yesterday. He was charged with three counts of carrying out a sexual act with another without consent and two counts of sexually touching another person without consent. Police will also allege in court the man was involved in three other, unrelated incidents of a similar nature between January and April outside his occupation as a ride share driver.
He was refused bail and will appear before court today.
Canavan says ‘feminisation of curriculum’ has led to rise of ‘manosphere’
Ahead of Chanel Contos’s address to the National Press Club, Matt Canavan has blamed the “feminisation of our curriculum” for the proliferation of algorithms serving up “manosphere” content.
The Nationals leader said, as a “father of four boys” he believes society needs to have a “deep, hard look” at why kids are “attracted to this stuff online”.
Speaking to Channel Nine’s Today, he claimed boys are “sick and tired of getting lectures about how bad men are at school”.
double quotation markThey’re sick and tired of the feminisation of our curriculum and the lack of direction and leadership that they’re given. Maybe we should look at getting more male teachers in. That used to be an agenda. I don’t know what’s happened to that, but maybe we should have more male role models in schools.
I just know young boys often feel that they don’t get any kind of instruction, leadership. They’re not cherished there. They’re patronised.
The senator went on to say society needs to “marshal” young boys’ energy.
double quotation markThey’re full of testosterone. … I just worry some of the solutions here don’t really understand what goes in a young boy’s mind.
‘Great news’ that five Australians found safe in Nepal amid grave concerns for those still missing
The minister for the defence industry, Pat Conroy, said the revelation that five Australians have been confirmed safe in Nepal since yesterday morning is “great news”, but said the government still had grave concerns for the 38 others still unaccounted for.
Conroy told RN Breakfast this morning:
double quotation markObviously having five citizens confirmed safe, which is great news for those Australians and their families, reduces the numbers of unaccounted Australians down to 38.
But we are very concerned for the safety of those 38 that have not had contact with their families or next to kin since the disaster struck. And we’re really focused on establishing their whereabouts and supporting their families in this very difficult time and supporting the people of Nepal in what is tragic circumstances.
Spender backs Contos’s call for social media opt-in algorithms
Independent MP Allegra Spender said the Australia government has an “opportunity” to make social media algorithms safer for all Australians, not just young people.
The government is considering the change, saying social media was playing a “huge role” in the increase in sexual violence among teenagers and choking. Chanel Contos’s Teach Us Consent has campaigned for the tech giants’ algorithms to be opt-in only.
Spender told RN Breakfast this morning:
double quotation markWhat we see is that the algorithms as they are currently running, in certain circumstances, can serve content that has real damaging effects potentially across our community. And so I think creating an opt-in for people to make the default of social media safer and to give people really active choice in relation to social media makes a lot of sense.
The MP went on to say the under-16s social media ban was “not really working” and there was still a lot of work to do to see if the ban could be more effective:
double quotation markLet’s be honest that the challenges of social media don’t stop when you’re 16. You know, many adults struggle with … particularly the addictive nature of social media. And at the same time, we know that some of those issues that both Asio has highlighted and also the misogynistic content don’t just stop when you’re 16.
Five Australians confirmed safe after Nepal-Tibet flooding
Five Australians have been confirmed safe in the devastating Nepal floods, meaning the number of unaccounted-for citizens has been revised from 43 missing on Tuesday morning to 38.
Of the five Australians confirmed safe, one was found in Nepal, one in Tibet and three outside the crisis-hit area.
These Australians had not spoken to families and next of kin since the disaster struck seven days ago.
Dfat has received nearly 800 calls in relation to the floods, with 18 Australian personnel having travelled to Nepal to join staff on the ground.
More humanitarian and disaster relief from Australia is due to arrive in Nepal this afternoon.
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This post was amended on 2 September 2026. An earlier version misstated the number of people who had been found.
Drug testing to resume at NSW music festivals
Drug testing will resume at New South Wales music festivals from October, but will not be rolled out into the wider community despite calls from peak health and harm reduction groups.
On Wednesday the state government announced NSW Health will consult with the music festival industry and harm reduction organisations to roll out pill testing at up to 15 music festivals each year.
There will be no change to the use of sniffer dogs at music festivals, a government spokesperson confirmed, which have been found to prompt risky drug taking.
Good morning, everyone. Nick Visser here to take over. Let’s dive in.
Albanese announces $600m package to combat drug smuggling in Pacific
Australia will step up its support to fight transnational drug trafficking flowing through the Pacific, with a $600m package.
Anthony Albanese announced the new investment at the Pacific Islands Forum in Palau, which aims to stop the contraband arriving in Australia.
The increase in drug flow across the Pacific is a huge problem in several countries: linked to increased gang activity in Samoa and Tonga, and a sharp rise in the HIV rate in Fiji.
Heightened activity is showing up in Australian Federal Police interventions of narcotics in the region.
In 2025, about 4.6 tonnes of illicit drugs were seized by local and international law enforcement, the Australian Federal Police reported.
In the first five months of this year, 17 tonnes have been picked up – mostly cocaine.
The new package – which will be opt-in for Pacific countries – will include enhanced aerial surveillance, and police and border training.
“Drug trafficking is having a devastating impact on Pacific communities,” Pacific minister Pat Conroy said.
“This initiative responds to the calls of regional leaders to do more, and to step up regional coordination to address this scourge.”
Contos to call for social media opt-in algorithm to reduce influence of the ‘manosphere’
Achol Arok
Consent education advocate Chanel Contos will urge Australia to enforce a social media opt-in algorithm to help reduce the influence of the “manosphere” on both men and women.
Contos will deliver a speech about the harms of social media algorithms in Australia in an address to the National Press Club in Canberra at midday.
Contos is expected to say:
double quotation markThis is crucial, and the detail in any reform will determine its success – as will be the overall strength of the proposed Digital Duty of Care reforms that are needed in their own right. It is too easy for Big Tech to design schemes that appear as structural reform but actually suit them just fine.
The Teach Us Consent CEO will point to examples of algorithmic harms such as the “manosphere”, accusing bad actors of jumping on to “a market opportunity” that has misogyny “at the heart of its business model”.
double quotation markIt usually starts with something as harmless as a workout video, or motivational content. Very quickly, boys and men are taken into the “manosphere”, communities that persistently promote the idea that emotional control, material wealth, and physical appearance and dominance, especially over women, are markers of male worth.
This is harmful to the individual man consuming this content, and then anyone else close to him in life, including other men, but disproportionately women and girls.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it’ll be Nick Visser with the main action.