Australia news live: Dan Tehan sidesteps questions on Angus Taylor's links to Icac inquiry; former Melbourne gangster sentenced to life in prison in Iraq

Taylor's Icac Entanglement and the Opposition's Silence

The federal opposition has chosen a strategy of strategic silence as Angus Taylor, the former Liberal leader, becomes a central figure in a New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption inquiry. According to the Guardian, Taylor was named as a potential donor to the hard-right Liberal faction known as the 'Reformers,' a group already under investigation by the corruption watchdog. Taylor himself has not been accused of any wrongdoing. The opposition leader's office said the matter should be 'allowed to run their course free from political interference or commentary' and that 'the leader will not be providing a running commentary on any matters before the commission.' Shadow energy minister Dan Tehan reinforced that position on RN Breakfast, telling reporters to 'let Icac do its job' while the focus should 'remain on the government in power' and the prime minister. The defensive posture signals a calculated attempt to insulate the party brand from a probe that, if it implicates Taylor, could reshape Coalition leadership dynamics ahead of the next federal election. A related Guardian Essential poll adds a layer of political risk: Taylor's approval rating has 'crashed' while One Nation's primary vote has plateaued, suggesting the Coalition cannot easily pivot to a different standard-bearer.

Kazem Hamad's Life Sentence in Iraq and the Melbourne Underworld's Reach

In a separate development, former Melbourne gangster Kazem Hamad has been sentenced to life in prison in Iraq, according to the live blog. The case underscores how Australian organised crime figures have pursued operations and refuge across the Middle East, and how Iraqi courts are willing to impose maximum penalties when local interests are affected. For Australian law enforcement, the conviction represents a rare successful extraterritorial outcome against a figure with deep roots in Melbourne's underworld. The sentence also closes a chapter on a man who spent years operating between the two countries, and it raises fresh questions about how Melbourne-based networks source weapons, finance operations, and recruit members from diaspora communities.

Gillard Defends Allan as 'Vile' Sexism Surfaces in Victorian Politics

Former prime minister Julia Gillard has publicly defended Victorian premier Jacinta Allan, describing the attacks Allan has faced as 'vile' sexism. The intervention is notable both for its directness and for the messenger: Gillard herself endured a sustained campaign of personal and gendered abuse during her time in office, including the now-iconic 2012 misogyny speech. By speaking up, Gillard lends institutional weight to claims that Allan has been subjected to treatment that goes beyond normal political scrutiny. The framing matters because Allan leads a state Labor government navigating a series of domestic controversies, and the gender dimension of the criticism has become part of the political battlefield. Gillard's comments are likely to be read as both a personal show of solidarity and a broader statement about acceptable standards of debate in Australian public life.