The White House is doing its best to "spin its way out of trouble" on the issue of illegal immigration, says Sky News host James Morrow. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked by a reporter about what the Biden administration‘s doing to crack down on illegal immigration. “Since day one the President took action, he did,' Ms Jean-Pierre said. "He put forth a comprehensive immigration policy and he did that because he understood what was happening. “He understood that the immigration system was broke, he understood that we needed to take action, and he did.”

Seattle University Associate Professor of American Politics Dr Patrick Schoettmer says the stepping down of Republican Senator Mitch McConnell arose due to a combination of political and health factors. The Kentucky Senator, who turned 82 last week, will leave as the longest-serving Senate leader in history this November. “Leader McConnell had been suffering a number of health issues – especially over the past year,” Dr Schoettmer said. “Some were concerned that there were some cognitive issues emerging. “There’s also the political concern of him being increasingly out of step – him being more of the Republican and the Ronald Reagan model whereas the new Republican Party is more in Donald Trump model.”

Daniel Andrews is being ordered to hand over his personal phone and credit card records in relation to the 2013 Blairgowrie car crash in which a teenager was seriously injured. The Herald Sun has exclusively revealed the former Victorian premier was served with a Supreme Court subpoena outside his Mulgrave home last week. The phone records will be relied upon as part of a damages action launch by Ryan Meuleman's – the teen cyclist's – lawyers to ascertain who Andrews called in the aftermath of the crash. This includes whether he spoke to his then chief of staff, current Victorian Police Assistant Commissioner Brett Curran. The Herald Sun reports Mr Curran has declined to clarify whether he did receive a call from Andrews at the scene of the crash.

Sky News host Rita Panahi says with every production that comes out, it’s almost like you can see the creators “ticking the boxes” when it comes to inclusivity. Ms Panahi’s remarks came as she reacted to a 2014 clip of comedian Jerry Seinfeld being asked in an interview about the fact that most of the guests on his web series, ‘Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee’, had been white males. “Funny is the world that I live in. You’re funny, I’m interested, you’re not funny, I’m not interested,” Ms Seinfeld replied. “I have no interest in gender or race or anything like that.” Ms Panahi said Mr Seinfeld’s comments were “so true”. “Just about every new production you see, it’s almost like you can see them ticking the boxes – do we have a lesbian who might have some sort of a visible disability, do we have a mixed-race couple?” she said.

The Great Keppel Island in Queensland looks set to be retitled to its Indigenous name ‘Woppa’ by the state government. One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has opposed this, slamming the proposal as “virtue signalling”. “It is absolutely ridiculous, I’m opposed to this,” Ms Hanson told Sky News Australia. “We will not support any form of treaty throughout Queensland and name changes. “I am absolutely fed up with this – we're virtue signalling here.”

The chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer at Columbia University medical school has been accused of plagiarising in his doctoral dissertation. The allegations against Alade McKen include lifting pages directly from Wikipedia on the topic of Afrocentric education. Sky News host James Morrow commented on the matter. “So this is what’s happening at one of the most prestigious medical schools in the world,” he said. “This is how they’re training the doctors.”

Sky News host Rowan Dean reacts to a transgender US Space Force colonel urging the military to “initiate difficult conversations about racial and gender barriers” and “share a bit of your vulnerability”. Lieutenant Colonel Bree Fram said in a speech to the US Air Force that dignity and respect is the “bare minimum”, and we must “set our sights higher and focus on intentional inclusivity”. “Because there are still far too many people out there – not just LGBT individuals – that feel marginalised, shut out or discriminated against. “All of you out there, I ask you to set out your symbols of pride, share your pronouns in your email, particularly if you’re a person who doesn’t think they need to. “Initiate difficult conversations about racial and gender barriers and share a bit of your vulnerability in a way that draws others in.” “I’m really not sure that showing your vulnerabilities to draw others in is a brilliant military strategy," said Mr Dean.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson says there’s been “no presence” of the Liberal Party in Victoria for “quite some time”. “Weak leadership – they have gone woke,” she told Sky News Australia. “That’s why the media are always on the side of the Labor. “They’ve got to get their message out. “What they stand for, what they intend to do – this is what people want.”

One western Sydney school has discovered a hearty meal could be the key to boosting school attendance. Some schools in New South Wales are trialling Free Friday Brekkies in a bid to improve attendance rates post-COVID. Glenmore Park High School Principal Heidi Caws said the free meals were a huge success. New government data shows the initiative is having a positive effect after a three per cent increase in attendance levels last year compared with 2022. The Minns government has also launched a new social media and TV blitz to get more kids back in the classroom.

Special powers have been granted to police during the ASEAN Australia Special Summit in Melbourne next week. Victoria’s Supreme Court has signed on the anti-terrorism measures, which have not been used in the state since 2006. Police will have the power to search and move on people as well as implement a ‘ring of steel’ around some CBD sites. Around 140 world leaders are set to attend the conference, where business and climate change are expected to dominate talks.

Leaders from fifteen southeast Asian nations will converge in Melbourne for a meeting to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Australia’s association with the ASEAN summit, says Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell. He said the attendance list reads “like an ASEAN summit”. Mr Clennell said people can expect bilateral meetings between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and “all the leaders”. “The Asian country not on the invite list who is bound to feature heavily in discussions but not be named publicly is, of course, China,” he said. “The Philippines leader Ferdinand Marcos Junior took an approach similar to this in his address to the Australian Parliament during the week where he spoke of things like the international rule of law and maritime law without expressly naming China.”

Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell says Saturday night was a “great escape” by Labor after they held onto the seat of Dunkley in the “crucial by-election”. “Prior to the by-election, I said a four per cent swing would be effectively a draw with the government to be put on notice – the Opposition made aware it had more work to do to become electable,” Mr Clennell said. “Opposition leader Peter Dutton said a couple of weeks ago on Sunday Agenda such a swing would be a disastrous result for the government.” Mr Clennell said the result appears to confirm the “stage three tax cuts rejig worked for the government”. “They have more to do on cost of living, and the logical next place for that is the May budget, as Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles confirmed ... last night,” he said.

Labor has survived a scare in Saturday’s Dunkley by-election. They fended off a swing to the Liberals to retain the outer Melbourne seat. The newest elected MP received a hero’s welcome on Saturday night after she held onto the Victorian seat of Dunkley. Liberal hopeful Nathan Conroy conceded defeat by 9pm, but he managed to slash Labor’s margin. “The next election – we are coming for Albanese and his government,” Mr Conroy said.

Labor candidate Jodie Belyea has paid tribute to the late MP Peta Murphy following Labor’s win in the Dunkley by-election. The Dunkley seat was vacated following the death of Peta Murphy. “In December last year we lost our dear friend Peta Murphy,” Ms Belyea said on Saturday night. “Peta was a fierce advocate for our community. “We miss her every day.”

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has congratulated Labor candidate Jodie Belyea on her win in the Dunkley by-election. The Dunkley seat was vacated following the death of Labor MP Peta Murphy. “We miss her deeply,” Richard Marles said on Saturday night. “As every day goes by, we know how incredible her legacy has been. “But wherever Peta is tonight, I know the person with the biggest smile on her face right now is Peta Murphy.”

Liberal candidate for Dunkley Nathan Conroy says the Liberal party have “sent a message” to Anthony Albanese tonight as cost of living, health, housing and crime are “in crisis". The by-election, on Saturday, was held following the passing of Labor MP Peta Murphy. Sky News has predicted Labor will retain the seat with the election of Jodi Belyea. “The cost of living is in crisis, healthcare is in crisis, housing is in crisis, and I can tell you now crime is on the rise … these are things that matter to people of Dunkley, Victoria and Australia,” Mr Conroy said. “We’ve sent Albanese a message tonight.”

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles says the Albanese government is “definitely going to listen” to the result in Dunkley and will try to “understand how we can better operate”. The by-election, on Saturday, was held following the passing of Labor MP Peta Murphy. Sky News has predicted Labor will retain the seat with the election of Jodi Belyea. “We are definitely going to be listening to this, trying to understand how we can better operate,” Mr Marles told Sky News Australia. “I think that the thing right now is the primary vote has held up, which is a huge achievement for Jodie. “We feel very confident in our prime minister, such that he has been here as often as he could through the course of this campaign.”

Sky News Victorian Political Reporter Simon Love says he understands that Liberal candidate Nathan Conroy has made the “important concession call” to Labor candidate Jodi Belyea for the Dunkley by-election. The by-election, on Saturday, was held following the passing of Labor MP Peta Murphy. Sky News has predicted Labor will retain the seat with the election of Jodi Belyea. “That important concession call, I understand, has gone through,” Mr Love said. “Jodi Belyea will shortly be here at the bowls club to say that she will become the next federal member for Dunkley.”

Shadow Finance Minister Jane Hume says there is a “lot of fury” about the Labor government’s new car emissions tax. Ms Hume’s remarks come as counting is underway for the Dunkley by-election. The seat was vacated following the death of Labor MP Peta Murphy. “There is a lot of anger out there … particularly in those mortgage belt areas,” Ms Hume told Sky News Australia. She admitted it’s a “big ask” for the Liberal party to win the seat. “But 6.3 per cent would be almost unheard of in a by-election.”

Melbourne Deputy Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece says the “number one, number two and number three” issue in the Dunkley by-election is “cost of living”. The by-election, on Saturday, was held following the passing of Labor MP Peta Murphy. Counting is now underway in the seat of Dunkley. “Out on the booths, they’re hearing number one issue, number two and number three was cost of living, which is probably what you’d expect in a seat like this,” Mr Reece told Sky News Australia. “We know cost of living is a huge issue.”