Australia news LIVE: Defence Force facing sexual violence allegations; Victorian Premier to visit synagogue

4 hours ago 5

Key posts

1 of 1

6.56am

‘We are seeing bodies recovered all over, up and down’: Texas flood death toll rises as Trump declares major disaster

By Michael Koziol

Overseas, the death toll from catastrophic floods in central Texas has risen to 70, with many adults and children still missing, as President Donald Trump declared a major disaster over what he called an “unimaginable tragedy”.

In the worst-affected region, Kerr County, authorities said 59 people were confirmed dead – 38 adults and 21 children – while 11 children and a counsellor from the Camp Mystic summer camp were still missing.

Read the story by our US correspondent, Michael Koziol, here.

Officials comb through the banks of the Guadalupe River after a flash flood swept through the area.

6.56am

Victorian Premier launches new anti-hate taskforce, set to visit firebombed synagogue

By Kieran Rooney, Wendy Tuohy and Alexander Darling

A new anti-hate taskforce will be assembled by the Allan government as it scrambles to beef up efforts to address antisemitism in Victoria following a new round of attacks on Friday, last week.

In Melbourne’s CBD on Sunday, pro-Palestinian protesters including children chanted “Death to the IDF” at a demonstration that went ahead less than 48 hours after the antisemitic attacks, which included an attack on East Melbourne Synagogue while children and families were inside.

Premier Jacinta Allan, is expected to visit East Melbourne Synagogue today and will announce that the new anti-hate taskforce will meet this week for the first time.

Read the full story here.

Pro-Palestinian protesters march in Melbourne’s CBD on Sunday, two days after attacks on a synagogue and an Israeli restaurant.

6.56am

This morning’s headlines at a glance

By Emily Kowal

Good morning and welcome to today’s national news blog. My name is Emily Kowal, and I will be getting our coverage started this morning.

It’s Monday, July 7.

Here’s what’s making news this morning.

After being ignored, sidelined and marginalised, brave women in Australia’s armed forces are speaking up about Defence’s failures to act on sexual violence against its own people.
In NSW, former Greens candidate Hannah Thomas has been warned to ‘prepare for worst’ after suffering a serious eye injury caused when police broke up an anti-Israel protest in Sydney last month.
In Victoria, a new anti-hate taskforce will be assembled by the Allan government as it scrambles to beef up efforts to address antisemitism in Victoria following a new round of attacks on Friday.
Overseas, the death toll from the devastating floods in central Texas has risen to 70, with many adults and children still missing, as President Donald Trump declared a major disaster over what he called an “unimaginable tragedy”.