Space agency says Queensland space balls ‘consistent with debris from foreign rocket body’
Graham Readfearn
The Australian Space Agency says it has identified the “likely source” of the six so-called space balls that were found washed up on Queensland beaches in recent days. The agency said in a statement:
The recovered objects appear to be pressure vessels from a space launch vehicle. The Agency has identified the likely source.
The objects’ location and characteristics are consistent with debris from a foreign rocket body that recently re-entered the atmosphere from orbit.
The Agency is continuing to engage with international authorities to formally confirm the launch vehicle and launching state.
The space debris were found on beaches in the Forest Beach suburb, north of Townsville.
Dr Alice Gorman, a space archaeologist at Flinders University, told the Guardian yesterday the objects were likely “space balls” from the fuel stage of a rocket.
Key events
Melbourne teacher receiving end-of-life care after horror head clash during suburban football game
A suburban Melbourne footballer is receiving “end-of-life” care in hospital after a horror head clash saw him fall to the ground and hit his head on a covered cricket pitch, his club says.
High school teacher Nathan Fitzgerald, 27, was taken to Royal Melbourne hospital on Saturday after the incident during an Australian rules football game in Lalor, in Melbourne’s north.
According to his club’s president, Fitzgerald had been playing for Epping when, during a tackle, he clashed heads with another player before receiving a second blow to the head “which could have been from a flailing boot or a knee”.
The club was still coming to terms with the accident, with a statement released a statement on Sunday saying Fitzgerald’s “condition deteriorated overnight and [he] is now receiving end-of-life care”.
Mexico v England: World Cup 2026 last 16 updates – live
With just about 10 minutes left, we have all the updates on the ongoing England-Mexico World Cup match (officiated by an Australian ref, so we have some skin in the game!).
Follow along here:
Josh Butler
Host behind viral Albanese interview says ‘what is going on?’
Nikki Osborne, the host and comedian behind the interview where Anthony Albanese said he would “shag, marry, date” Kylie Minogue, has responded to the furore – and teased that she has interviews with other prominent politicians coming up.
Albanese apologised “unequivocally” for his comments. Osborne, who conducted the interview in character as “Bushie”, posted comments to her Instagram page about the situation.
“So I’m currently at home with gastro. Missed my flight to Sydney. My phone is blowing up with media requests. I’m just trying to keep food down,” she wrote on her Instagram story.
Sharing a Channel 9 post about Albanese’s apology to her story, she wrote: “What’s going on?”
Last night, Osborne wrote “video response coming” to the interview.
Osborne also said she has been receiving abuse and negative comments after her interview with Albanese. On a clip of the interview with Albanese two days ago, Osborne wrote: “Love him or hate him, this episode is bloody hilarious and a moment in political history because it was a massive risk for him. I was not censored. They didn’t ask for approval of the edit. They just let me in, do the craziest political interview ever, then leave with comedy gold.”
On another post, she wrote: “Wait until you see the next politician Bushie is interviewing!! Gotta keep it balanced right?!”
Douglas Smith
Continuing on from last post…
The determination recognises the native title holders’ rights to access and live on their lands, conduct cultural activities and protect their sacred sites.
Native title holder and Central Land Council delegate Graham Long:
Native title holders have been fighting for recognition of native title on Mount Skinner Station to overcome locked gates and allow access to important places for men’s business and sorry business.
We’re living outside, but our sacred sites [are] inside. We can’t do nothing cultural way.
It’s important for us to go and look around, visit our country and take our kids to learn our culture and our foods — like go hunting, camping [and] look around water holes.
Native title recognition for birthplace of celebrated painter Emily Kame Kngwarreye
Douglas Smith
Native title rights have been awarded to traditional owners from the birthplace of one of Australia’s most prominent artists, the internationally renowned, late Emily Kame Kngwarreye.
On Tuesday, eight traditional owner groups from the Mount Skinner and Woodgreen stations which sit within Utopia in the Northern Territory, will receive native title consent determination over an area covering more than 4,000 square kilometres.
The sacred ancestral homelands, was where Kngwarreye spent all of her life, often painting her paternal grandfather’s country of Alhalker [Ah-LAL-ka–rah] and the associated dreaming story of kame (pencil yam seed) – after which she was named.
Kngwarreye’s granddaughter Jennifer Purvis says she will carry on her grandmother’s legacy.
She and other native title holders plan to celebrate the determination with traditional ceremonies.
It’s right. You can come look, we can dance for our country.
I draw yam seed dreaming. I draw line ones, sometimes dot painting. We will dance too.
Space agency says Queensland space balls ‘consistent with debris from foreign rocket body’
Graham Readfearn
The Australian Space Agency says it has identified the “likely source” of the six so-called space balls that were found washed up on Queensland beaches in recent days. The agency said in a statement:
The recovered objects appear to be pressure vessels from a space launch vehicle. The Agency has identified the likely source.
The objects’ location and characteristics are consistent with debris from a foreign rocket body that recently re-entered the atmosphere from orbit.
The Agency is continuing to engage with international authorities to formally confirm the launch vehicle and launching state.
The space debris were found on beaches in the Forest Beach suburb, north of Townsville.
Dr Alice Gorman, a space archaeologist at Flinders University, told the Guardian yesterday the objects were likely “space balls” from the fuel stage of a rocket.
PMs questioned on Fiji sovereignty
Fiji’s prime minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, is asked how Fiji’s long-term sovereignty will be protected under the alliance.
He says Fiji is a member of the United Nations and if anything threatens that sovereignty then there is the Vuvale partnership.
The Australian PM, Anthony Albanese, says this alliance is about elevating the long history of defence cooperation to the highest possible level of alliance.
He said an attack on Fiji would trigger Australia’s full support for Fiji, under the alliance provisions.
On whether other Pacific nations could join in the future, such as Solomon Islands, Albanese says Australia wants to be the security partner of choice in the Pacific but the alliance with Fiji is on a different level.
PM says agreements with Fiji mark a ‘very significant day’
The Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, says the two treaties – the Vuvale Union and the Ocean of Peace Alliance – are “one of the most significant endeavours Australia has ever undertaken in our history with any country”.
They reflect our proud history of standing shoulder to shoulder to support each other and our region. We can achieve this level of ambition because we are Vuvale, family, with a relationship grounded
in loyalty, in understanding and mutual respect. In a more uncertain world, we know that we’re stronger when we stand together.
He says the Ocean of Peace Alliance is Fiji’s first, and Australia’s fourth, and we are both stronger because of it.
He says it introduces a mutual defence obligation. The Vuvale Union is a comprehensive treaty that will allow the two nations to work together to combat transnational crime, address health issues like HIV, and address the impact of climate change.
Albanese says he is “humbled” by being appointed an honorary companion of the order of Fiji, and he accepts on behalf of Australia, too.
Fiji welcomes new treaty with Australia
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is holding a press conference with his Fijian counterpart, Sitiveni Rabuka in Suva following the signing of a new treaty today.
Rabuka speaks first, and saiys the treaty is a “defining moment” in the Fiji-Australia relationship:
These landmark agreements mark a very significant elevation of our bilateral relationship into a new era of strategic partnership. These instruments formalise a comprehensive and enduring framework, anchored on three central pillars. Deeper security cooperation, enhanced economic enter and resilience, and strengthen people to people connection.
He says Australia has committed to over $180m in new investments since 2023, and now Australia’s development assistance to the Pacific is over $2.2bn.
Rabuka says that it provided renewed emphasis on cooperation in areas including circular labour mobility, transport and logistics, energy transition, digital transformation, cyber security and the protection of critical infrastructure.
Victim of Coogee shark attack buoyed by supportive messages during ‘challenging days’
Leah Stewart, the victim of a shark attack at Sydney’s Coogee beach, has had some “challenging days” but is finding “real strength” from the community’s kindness and support, her brother has written on a fundraising page.
Joshua Stewart said Leah has had difficulty sleeping since the incident and has been reading supportive messages during the late hours. He writes:
Leah has had some challenging days but has found real strength from your kindness and support, and wanted to pass on a huge thank you to everyone who has shared her story, sent her uplifting messages and supported her.
Since the incident Leah has had difficulty sleeping, and on those nights she’s been reading back through your messages, not only from her family and community in Australia and her whānau in New Zealand, but also from people all across the world. They’ve given her real comfort and strength.
Leah is beyond overwhelmed at the amazing support she has received and that her story has resonated with so many people. Thank you!
Andrew Messenger
Queensland premier says new youth crime laws may also apply to adults
Queensland’s premier, David Crisafulli, has revealed the state’s new mooted youth crime laws may also apply to adults.
The government has admitted its youth crime crackdown – badged as “adult crime, adult time” – treats children more harshly than some adults, discriminating on the basis of age and overriding their rights.
Crisafulli announced on Sunday that the government will pass new bail laws by the end of the year, requiring some children who breach bail to serve a mandatory jail sentence. The length of the sentence has yet to be determined, he said.
The premier was asked this morning if the new bail laws would also apply to adults.
“Who it applies to, and those length of periods, all of that will be part of the consultation,” he said.
My laser-like focus is to make sure that that generation of untouchables who have just come through the system and continue to offend, that we target them, so that the answer is yes.
Queensland’s jail system is currently at 135.5% built capacity.
Australia and Fiji sign new defence alliance
Australia and Fiji have sealed a new defence alliance, marking a major diplomatic win for Anthony Albanese against China for influence in the Pacific, AAP reports.
The prime minister inked Fiji as Australia’s fourth regional ally in a signing ceremony with his counterpart, Sitiveni Rabuka, at State House in Suva on Monday.
The Ocean of Peace Alliance and Vuvale Union agreement join the list of deals finalised by the Albanese government with Pacific nations.
Australia has mutual defence pacts with the US, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, called the PukPuk treaty, coming into effect on Wednesday.
The visit to the Pacific comes before Albanese’s meeting with his PNG counterpart, James Marape, the same day the PukPuk comes into effect.
In an attempt to bolster Australia’s key relationships in the region, Albanese will also host the leaders of PNG and Tonga in Brisbane at the final State of Origin game on Wednesday.
Melissa Davey
Aged care firm accused in class action of charging residents for high tea
Residents at one of Australia’s largest aged care providers have launched a class action lawsuit alleging fees for services such as high teas and exercise classes were illegally charged to clients who cannot use them due to immobility and other issues.
The suit, filed in the federal court, alleges residents of more than 50 Arcare aged care facilities across four states were charged a daily “additional services fee” by Arcare embedded within a “signature package” between July 2020 and July 2026. This includes fees paid by residents who are immobile, unable to swallow, or cognitively impaired.
The statement of claim alleges that Arcare, a for-profit provider, charged these fees for services, such as meals, that it is already legally obliged to provide, but also for additional services residents could not use.
Arcare has yet to file its response to the court. An Arcare spokesperson said as the matter was currently before the court, “it would not be appropriate to comment on the allegations or the legal proceedings”.
Read more here:
‘Zionist’ claims now more likely to be removed, Meta tells antisemitism inquiry
Tory Shepherd
Meta has cracked down on the use of the word “Zionists”, a representative told the royal commission into antisemitism this morning.
Meta’s platforms include Facebook, Instagram and Threads.
Its global director of core policy, Benjamin Good, told the commission that people were using “Zionist” as a proxy for Jewish people to spread conspiracy theories about them having control over the media, the government and so on. He said:
The dictionary definition [of Zionists] is these are adherents of a political movement, so that wouldn’t traditionally be a protected characteristic.
However, we did a lot of work engaging with groups with expertise in counter-terrorism and cultures around the world, and antisemitism in Jewish issues, and found that many people were using the word Zionist as a coded term in content, in order to evade our enforcement against claims that Jewish people have undue control.
So instead of saying ‘Jewish people do’, they would say ‘Zionists do’. And again, based on all that work, we determine that that was the intent and therefore have prohibited claims such as ‘Zionists control the media’.
Good has also been quizzed on Meta’s 2025 moderation changes, which take a light hand when it comes to factchecking and content removal.
Good said too much content that did not violate their community standards was being removed and that there was a risk of silencing people who are speaking out against hate.
Anthony Albanese is in Fiji this morning and just downed a bowl of kava
We’ll let you know if we get a report on how the PM is feeling afterwards. Things haven’t always gone well for visiting Australian dignitaries, including Michael McCormack, who drank an entire shell of a much stronger kava drink traditional in Micronesia, which didn’t sit well with him.
We can’t tell from the photos how much he had but guests at a kava ceremony are generally invited to drink the entirety of what is offered to them, in one gulp, if possible
Trump lobbied Fifa to get Balogun’s suspension overturned
A bit of World Cup news… Trump lobbied Fifa to lift Folarin Balogun’s suspension for the upcoming game against Belgium. Our reporters have more:
Donald Trump lobbied Fifa to lift the US striker Folarin Balogun’s one-game ban for a red card received in the team’s win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, preceding Sunday’s stunning announcement that he would be available for the cohosts’ last-16 clash against Belgium in Seattle on Monday night.
Sources have told the Guardian that Trump made three calls to Fifa, starting from Wednesday, to ensure that the change was made.
You can read more here:
Ten shops damaged in Melbourne after alleged ram raid arson attack
Melbourne’s tobacco wars have exploded after a suspected ram raid overnight saw another 10 nearby shops engulfed by flames, AAP reports.
Fire Rescue Victoria crews were called to what is believed to be a tobacco shop in Victoria Road, Abbotsford, about 4am on Monday. Crews arrived within three minutes to find the shop, on the edge of Melbourne’s city centre, fully alight. It took 80 firefighters and 25 firefighting trucks to get the blaze under control by 6am.
No one was inside at the time.
Victoria police say unknown offenders drove a vehicle into the business before setting the building alight and fleeing. Crews remain at the scene and are expected to be there for most of Monday morning.
A crime scene is in place and a police investigation into the incident is under way.
