Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is what “standing up for Australians” looks like. “Julian Assange is on his way home to Australia,” he said during Question Time on Wednesday. “Regardless of your views about his activities, and they will be varied, Mr Assange’s case has dragged on for too long. “I’ve said repeatedly that there was nothing to be gained by his continued incarceration, and I am pleased that he is on his way home to Australia to reunite with his family here. “This outcome has been the product of careful, patient, and determined work, work I am very proud of.”

Environment and Water Minister Tanya Plibersek says the government’s priority is to get “more renewables” into Australia’s energy system. Ms Plibersek was questioned about a new gas project she had approved on Tuesday over concerns for koala habitats. “The project that was approved yesterday is a largely domestic gas project that will support the manufacture of glass, bricks, cement, food packaging,” she said during Question Time on Wednesday. “As for the misinformation about koala habitats, the Member for Ryan is absolutely wrong, in fact, one of the conditions of approval for this project is the koala breeding and foraging habitat must be protected.”

Opposition leader Peter Dutton confronts the PM during Question Time about the Labor Party’s decision not to expel Senator Fatima Payman. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has confirmed Senator Fatima Payman will remain in the Labor Party despite her breaching protocol when she crossed the floor to support a Greens’ proposal to recognise Palestine. “What I do is show leadership for our united team,” Mr Albanese said.

Former Home Affairs secretary Michael Pezzullo says there is a “possible war” looming in the Pacific. Mr Pezzullo, in an address on Tuesday, proposed a Defence Production Commission. “We have to increase the capacity of industry to generate, regrettably, those weapons of war given what is likely … looming as a possible war in the Pacific,” Mr Pezzullo told Sky News Australia.

Former Home Affairs secretary Michael Pezzullo says intelligence suggests China’s President has directed the PLA to be “ready to launch an invasion” in 2027. Mr Pezzullo, in an address on Tuesday, proposed a Defence Production Commission. “William Burns, the Director of the CIA, said, last year … that in 2027, they have intelligence to suggest that the President of China has directed the PLA to be ready to launch an invasion,” Mr Pezzullo told Sky News Australia. “He hasn’t made a decision to invade. “2027 is less than three years away. “If you look at tides and typhoons, the optimal time to invade would be about April – that’s 33 months away.”

DPG Advisory Solutions’ David Gazard says Julian Assange “compromised the security” of Australians in his document leaks. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has accepted a plea deal from the United States, allowing him to return to Australia. “[Julian Assange] is a controversial figure because, depending on which way you look at this, he compromised the security of Australians in the first place,” Mr Gazard told Sky News Australia.

‘The View’ co-host Whoopi Goldberg has been blasted online for pretending to spit after saying Donald Trump’s name. The episode of the ABC show aired on Monday and posted to X on Tuesday, where many users criticised Goldberg’s actions. “A truly disgusting, classless human,” wrote one X user. Leading up to the moment the show co-hosts discussed the upcoming presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Co-host Sara Haines spoke about an op-ed by former First Lady Hillary Clinton and agreed Trump cannot be taken seriously. Haines did reassert that the former president is an honest debater and anything he says should be “taken at face value”, according to The Wrap. Goldberg disagreed with Haines’ take and accidentally said the former president’s name before she turned her head and pretended to spit.

Former Home Affairs secretary Michael Pezzullo says the demand for “weapons of war” is “going to increase” in the next few years. Mr Pezzullo, in an address on Tuesday, proposed a Defence Production Commission. “Regrettably, and it pains me to say this, the demand for defence material – weapons of war … is going to increase in the next few years,” Mr Pezzullo told Sky News Australia. “Wars in Europe, the Middle East and, potentially, in the Indo-Pacific area mean that the aggregate demand for defence equipment is going to increase.”

Former deputy prime minister John Anderson has questioned what the Albanese government’s policies are “going to cost” Australia. Opposition leader Peter Dutton's argument of nuclear power being the best replacement for coal has been dismissed by the Australian Energy Market Operator as too expensive and slow. AEMO also warned more investment is needed in new generation, storage and transmission to keep the lights on in households. “They [Labor] talk about the Coalition’s costings,” Mr Anderson told Sky News Australia. “What on earth are the current set of policies going to cost?”

Former deputy prime minister John Anderson says energy reliability “can’t” be guaranteed with renewables. Opposition leader Peter Dutton's argument of nuclear power being the best replacement for coal has been dismissed by the Australian Energy Market Operator as too expensive and slow. AEMO also warned more investment is needed in new generation, storage and transmission to keep the lights on in households. “If we don’t have reliable power, we won’t have industry; so, reliability is the first thing,” Mr Anderson told Sky News Australia. “You can’t do it with renewables.”

Former deputy prime minister John Anderson says climate ideology “wins out” over the real interests of Australians. Opposition leader Peter Dutton's argument of nuclear power being the best replacement for coal has been dismissed by the Australian Energy Market Operator as too expensive and slow. AEMO also warned more investment is needed in new generation, storage and transmission to keep the lights on in households. “I think it’s pathetic, and I think it’s almost treasonous in the genuine interest of Australians,” Mr Anderson told Sky News Australia. “I think Australians need to face the reality that we’re now living in a climate where ideology wins out over the real interests of the Australian people, almost day in day out, and that’s why I say the bans need to be lifted.”

Former deputy prime minister John Anderson has called for an “honest debate” on nuclear energy. Opposition leader Peter Dutton's argument of nuclear power being the best replacement for coal has been dismissed by the Australian Energy Market Operator as too expensive and slow. AEMO also warned more investment is needed in new generation, storage and transmission to keep the lights on in households. “Should they [bans on nuclear] be lifted? Yes, because you won’t have an honest debate about costings until they’re lifted,” Mr Anderson told Sky News Australia. “Lift the ban, have an honest debate, and you’ll get some honest answers as well.”

Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell says Labor Senator Fatima Payman’s vote against is a “bad look” for Albanese. Ms Payman crossed the floor to vote against her party on a motion related to Palestinian recognition. “I think the PM views her as a bit of a vulnerable young woman who shouldn’t be excessively punished,” Mr Clennell said. “On the other hand, I guess she’s in the Australian senate so she’s as accountable as anyone there. “It’s a bad look for him [Prime Minister Anthony Albanese].”

China becomes the first country to return samples from the far side of the moon. The samples will be analysed in Beijing - after the Chang'e-6 lunar module lands in China's northern Inner Mongolia region. Chang'e-6 was China's fourth consecutive uncrewed landing on the moon.

Scientists from the University of Sydney have developed a new gene-editing tool called seekRNA which uses a programmable strand of RNA to target and insert genetic sequences. This world-leading tool can potentially eliminate hundreds of human diseases. It's a new way of editing all types of genes, more accurately and safely than ever.

Peter Dutton's argument of nuclear power being the best replacement for coal has been dismissed by the Australian Energy Market Operator. It believes nuclear will be more expensive and be too slow to replace the coal stations set to close in 2038. The report follows the Coalition's announcement to build seven nuclear sites around the country by 2050. AEMO warns more investment is needed into new generation, storage and transmission to keep the lights on in households.

Queensland Premier Steven Miles is under pressure to sack his energy minister after new revelations emerged about the explosion at the Callide Power Station. CS Energy released a redacted version of the incident yesterday, which found a series of technical failures around a battery charger triggered the explosion. The Courier Mail reported the energy operator faced pressure to find cost-saving measures from Queensland Energy Minister Mick de Brenni.

The Emperor and Empress of Japan have been greeted by King Charles and Queen Camilla during a ceremonial welcome to the UK. The three-day state was almost called off due to its proximity to the early UK general election called by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. However, it was ultimately decided the visit must go on.

Sky News host Paul Murray says the federal government's proposed vape bans are a "weird way to go about this". "It feels like we've got this weird contortion position which is we wanted to ban vapes because vapes (are) bad," Mr Murray said. "But now, vapes available but only in chemists and as we found out from behind the scenes with the Health Minster today, it's up to you to tell them how much a month's nicotine you need. "This feels a weird way to go about this."

The Australian’s Histories Editor Alan Howe discusses Julian Assange’s return to Australia as he is expected to plead guilty to espionage. “He’s clearly a very bad bloke, he’s done some very bad things,” Mr Howe told Sky News host Sharri Markson. “He has compromised the entire Western alliance of diplomatic cables and communications. “Julian Assange is neither an editor nor a journalist.”