Australia news LIVE: Survivors demand release of Epstein files ahead of critical vote; NSW Liberals defy federal colleagues to retain net zero target; Trump hosts Saudi leader

Good morning and welcome to our national news live blog for Wednesday, November 19. My name is Emily Kaine, and I’ll be helming our coverage this morning. Here’s what is making headlines today.

• The NSW Liberals have snubbed their federal colleagues and will retain their policy of net zero emissions by 2050, paving the way for a clash with the Nationals after the party’s new leader warned the target was “unlikely to be met”. Last night, the opposition split on the floor of state parliament on a vote on emissions reduction when the junior Coalition partner refused to back a motion supporting net zero by 2050. It comes the week after the federal Coalition announced it would formally abandon its commitment to a net zero by 2050 target.

• Legendary radio broadcaster John Laws will be farewelled in a state funeral at St Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney’s CBD this afternoon, less than two weeks after his death at 90. Laws’ family accepted the offer of a state funeral from NSW Premier Chris Minns, who described the broadcaster as a “towering figure in Australian radio whose voice resonated across the nation for more than seven decades”.

• A dozen survivors of Jeffrey Epstein, and family members of his victims, fronted cameras today as the US House of Representatives prepared for a milestone vote to release the so-called Epstein files – records from the Department of Justice investigation of the now-dead financier’s crimes. The vote – expected some time after 6am – is now certain to pass, potentially unanimously, after President Donald Trump reversed course less than 48 hours ago and encouraged Republicans to support releasing the files.
• The Saudi Arabian prime minister and crown prince is making his first visit to Washington since 2018, amid great fanfare from the White House. Trump played down the murder of Saudi journalist and dissident Jamal Khashoggi as he welcomed leader Mohammed bin Salman, saying “things happen” and admonishing reporters for embarrassing the Saudi prince.

• Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said two Ukrainians working for Russian intelligence were responsible for an explosion that damaged a key rail link for shipments and travel to Kyiv over the weekend. Speaking in the Polish parliament, Tusk called the incident “probably the most serious” act of sabotage in the country since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.

Stay with us as we bring you live rolling updates throughout the day.

The NSW Liberals have snubbed their federal colleagues and will retain their policy of net zero emissions by 2050, paving the way for a clash with the Nationals after the party’s new leader warned the target was “unlikely to be met”.

It comes the week after the federal Coalition announced it would formally abandon its commitment to net zero by 2050 emissions targets.

The new NSW Nationals leader Gurmesh Singh.Credit: Edwina Pickles

Within hours of Nationals MP Gurmesh Singh being elected as the party’s new leader, the opposition split on the floor of state parliament on a vote on emissions reduction when the junior Coalition partner refused to back a motion supporting net zero by 2050.

Last night, Liberals and Nationals were on opposing sides of a vote on a government motion on net zero. Nationals MPs voted against the motion that supported the net zero emissions reduction target by 2050, opposed calls to slow down the renewables rollout, and rejected a moratorium on new clean energy projects.

About a dozen survivors of Jeffrey Epstein, and family members of his victims, fronted the cameras today as the US House of Representatives prepared for a milestone vote to release the so-called Epstein files – records from the Department of Justice investigation of the now-dead financier’s crimes.

That vote – expected some time after 6am – is now certain to pass, potentially unanimously, after President Donald Trump reversed course less than 48 hours ago and encouraged Republicans to support releasing the files.

Members of Congress and survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse on Capitol Hill ahead of a pivotal vote on releasing the Epstein files.Credit: AP

Sky Roberts, whose sister Virginia Roberts Giuffre survived Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking ring. She died in Western Australia earlier this year.Credit: Bloomberg

The bill would then go to the Senate and, if successful there, to Trump’s desk. The president has said he would sign it into law.

For survivors, families and friends, the vote is a watershed moment in a decades-long fight for justice that saw them pitted against not just Epstein, his money and his powerful friends but, at times, the US government and justice system.

Read North America correspondent Michael Koziol’s full update on the Epstein files.