Sky News host Paul Murray says Australians were frustrated with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for spending “a couple of hours” in the Northern Territory amid the crime crisis in Alice Springs. “One of the frustrations we had at the very start of, not this, but last year, was when the prime minister went to Alice Springs, now remember he was dragged kicking and screaming, he did not want to be there,” Mr Murray said. “He was there, literally for a couple of hours and he literally spend more time flying to the territory, than he spent in the territory because his real priority for the way to start 2023 was to bugger off to the tennis.”

Australian workplaces will change from August 26 as the government’s new round of industrial relation reforms begin. One of the key changes is the right to disconnect. This includes the employees right to not monitor, read or respond to contact outside normal working hours. They also can’t be punished for ignoring calls.

Sky News UK’s Alex Rossi says overnight the Israeli military identified what they call “attempted pre-emptive strikes”. Mr Rossi said Israel “acting on that intelligence” then carried out a “number of pre-emptive strikes”. “Those strikes we think, are mainly in Southern Lebanon,” Mr Rossi said. “Hezbollah has vowed to respond to that by launching drones and missiles at Israel.”

Beatles fans now have the chance to spend a night in the place where it all began, Casbah Coffee Club in Liverpool, England. The band's original drummer Pete Best is opening it as an Airbnb. Mr Best describes how The Beatles played, partied and even slept in the club.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will travel to Tonga this week for the Pacific Islands Forum. It’s expected talks between nations will centre on the Pacific Policing Initiative. The pact is estimated to cost hundreds of millions. Officials hope to secure a regional alliance to halt China’s efforts to gain a security foothold in the region.

The two astronauts stuck in space for the past two months will make a return to Earth in February next year. Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore set off on a planned eight-day mission in June, on board Boeing’s faulty Starliner capsule. The pair will return to Earth on a SpaceX vehicle. NASA says the safety of the astronauts is their priority.

S&P Global former vice chairman Paul Sheard has labelled former US President Donald Trump as a “bombastic individual”. Mr Sheard’s comments come after Mr Trump said, if he were to become president, he should have a say in US interest rate policy. “With President Trump, he’s not an economist, he is a bombastic individual, very intuitive, speaks from his gut,” Mr Sheard told Sky News Business Editor Ross Greenwood.

One Nation Leader Pauline Hanson says the Teals are a “nasty piece of work”. Ms Hanson told Sky News Australia that she is advising people to “really understand” the policies the Teals are pushing. “Because it’s not in the best interest of this country or the Australian people.”

Sky News Business editor Ross Greenwood says the issue of central bank independence is “important” in America right now. Mr Greenwood says former US President Donald Trump is claiming if he becomes President, he should “have a say in interest rate policy there”. S&P Global former vice chairman Paul Sheard joined Mr Greenwood to discuss Mr Trump’s views on central bank independence.

Sky News host Rita Panahi says she hasn’t seen a politician receive as much “hostility” as Pauline Hanson has. Ms Panahi said Pauline Hanson has “withstood” the abuse. “She does not play the victim, which is something I really admire about her.”

Indigenous Leader Roy Ah-See says he is “annoyed” with the government’s decision to ban a gold mine. Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek overturned prior state and federal approval for the $1 billion gold mine, citing concerns over protecting an Aboriginal heritage site. Mr Ah-See told Sky News Australia that it is only the “tip of the iceberg” for cultural heritage matters in Australia.

Sky News host Rowan Dean has commented on the Albanese government’s “major embarrassment” on Palestinian visas. The Albanese government’s use of tourist visas for Palestinians fleeing Gaza has been criticised by a retired immigration official. ‘“Now, here’s the thing: Albanese does not want to talk about this under any circumstances whatsoever because it is a major embarrassment,” Mr Dean said. “This is the big one that will see the Albanese government swept, rightly, from power.”

Emergency services are responding to an incident at Engadine where four people have been injured following a car crash and suspected stabbing. A police officer is one of those injured.

Deputy Opposition Leader Sussan Ley says she has “no confidence” in the Albanese government over Palestinian visas. New figures show three out of four Palestinian visa applications have been rejected in the wake of the Coalition’s pushback on the issue. “We’ve got no confidence in the government on this,” Ms Ley told Sky News Australia. “This is not about Palestinian Australians and the contribution they have made and will make to this country; this is about threshold questions of security, of immigration, and Australians expect their government to get those things right, and they haven’t.”

The government elected not to change the census to include more questions around identity despite a push to do so, according to Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell. Sky News understands there was a proposal for the 2026 census to ask the question, ‘Has your identity or gender changed’ since the last census. That proposal, which was potentially to feature in a trial census this year, has been dropped.

Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell has commented on the “emphatic win” by the Country Liberal Party in the Northern Territory election. Country Liberal Party Leader Lia Finocchiaro has been elected the Northern Territory’s new Chief Minister. “The Country Liberal Party has been returned to office in the Northern Territory in an emphatic win which could see Labor reduced to just six seats in the 25-seat parliament,” Mr Clennell said. “Law and order in the territory dominated the campaign, something which could be of concern to Labor in a federal campaign. “The result means it is the first Coalition government win on the Australian mainland since 2019.”

Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell has revealed details of the aged care reforms soon to be announced by the Albanese government as part of the deal with the Opposition to get the package through the Senate. “The refundable accommodation deposit – a payment now pegged at a maximum of $550,000 will have that rate lifted as part of the reforms, so more interest from the bonds can be used to pay for aged care services being provided to residents of homes,” Mr Clennell said. “On top of that, the daily fees to pay for things like food and other services will also be lifted, but I am now being told speculation that self-funded retirees could pay as much as $40,000 a year for their care is wrong. “All healthcare of aged care residents will be looked after, and everyone will have access to aged care, but so as to not blow out the budget, the uplift in fees will be for food and other services.”

Independent candidate Robert F Kennedy Junior has announced the suspension of his presidential campaign and has endorsed Donald Trump. “I’ve made the heart-wrenching decision to suspend my campaign and to support President Trump,” Mr Kennedy said. “This decision is agonising for me because of the difficulties it causes my wife and my children and my friends.”

The two astronauts stuck in space for the past two months will make a return to Earth in February next year. Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore set off on a planned eight-day mission in June on board Boeing’s Starliner capsule. The pair will return to Earth on a SpaceX vehicle. NASA says the safety of the astronauts is their priority.

Incoming Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro says tonight’s election result is a “victory for hope and opportunity for every single Territorian”. The Country Liberal Party has won the Northern Territory election with Lia Finocchiaro to become the next chief minister. “It is an absolute honour and a privilege to stand here before you as the first female Country Liberal Party chief minister of the Northern Territory,” Ms Finocchiaro said.