Australia news headlines as it happened: Albanese condemns new Trump tariffs; Ukraine drones destroy 41 Russian aircraft; Piastri wins Spanish GP

Greens WA senator Dorinda Cox has joined Labor in a shock defection.

“I am very, very grateful for this opportunity and I want to thank the Labor team for welcoming me,” Cox said at a press conference alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Perth on Monday afternoon.

Cox said she spoke to new Greens leader Larissa Waters just 90 minutes before she publicly announced her decision, which she said had been made since the recent election. Her Senate term extends to 2028, meaning she was not up for election last month.

“Well, I think it’s been over a period of time that I’ve considered this. It hasn’t, as I said, been a decision that I’ve made lightly,” Cox said.

That’s a wrap on the live national news blog for today. Keep reading the site for updates on WA senator Dorinda Cox’s shock defection the Albanese Labor government, on the trial of Erin Patterson and other news. We will have more for you in the next live news coverage.

Greens WA senator Dorinda Cox has joined Labor in a shock defection.

“I am very, very grateful for this opportunity and I want to thank the Labor team for welcoming me,” Cox said at a press conference alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Perth on Monday afternoon.

Cox said she spoke to new Greens leader Larissa Waters just 90 minutes before she publicly announced her decision, which she said had been made since the recent election. Her Senate term extends to 2028, meaning she was not up for election last month.

“Well, I think it’s been over a period of time that I’ve considered this. It hasn’t, as I said, been a decision that I’ve made lightly,” Cox said.

Returning to federal politics, consensus is growing that Bradfield could be headed back to the polls for a byelection as a recount continues for the once blue-ribbon seat on Sydney’s north shore.

When the initial count concluded, Liberal candidate Gisele Kapterian was up by just eight votes, and the Australian Electoral Commission ordered a recount.

More than four weeks after election day, only a few votes separate the Liberal hopeful and teal independent Nicolette Boele. The Australian Electoral Commission says the recount is expected to conclude this week.

As Alexandra Smith and Matthew Wade report, election analysts predict the final margin will be so tight the result could be declared void by the Court of Disputed Returns, meaning Bradfield voters will have to go back to the ballot box.

Back at home, Australians have been conned out of $119 million in just the first four months of the year, with phishing scammers reeling in increasingly big catches.

New National Anti-Scam Centre data reveals that although the overall number of scams has dropped by almost a quarter, losses have jumped by 28 per cent compared with the same time last year.

The biggest increase in losses comes from phishing schemes, which see scammers impersonating government agencies, financial institutions or other agencies. The phishers have netted $13.7 million this year, compared with $4.6 million in the first four months of 2024.

“Scams are affecting Australians of all ages, often beginning with an unprompted or unexpected contact via social media and other digital platforms,” ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe said.

Social media scams have also increased almost 50 per cent so far this year. Although phone scams have dropped slightly, they still account for the highest overall financial losses with $25.8 million taken in the first four months of 2025.

Student groups have reacted angrily over a recommendation that two University of Melbourne students be expelled over an on-campus protest against Israel’s war on Gaza.

The Age’s education editor Noel Towell reports a disciplinary committee last week recommended the two students be expelled, and another two suspended, over a sit-in at the university’s Parkville campus in October.

But while the committee has made its recommendation, a final decision will be left to University of Melbourne Vice Chancellor Emma Johnston, in her first year in the position.

The proposed action comes after the university backed down on its threats to expel or suspend up to 20 students who helped occupy a campus building in May last year, prompting Students for Palestine co-convenor Bella Beiraghi to label the disciplinary process as a “kangaroo court”.

“It does set a precedent for them to expel and suspend pro-Palestine activists on campus, and one that I think other university administrations would emboldened by,” Beiraghi said.