Emily KaineUpdated May 25, 2026 — 7:11am,first published 6:45amWhat’s making news todayBy Emily KaineHello and welcome to our national news live blog for Monday, May 25. My name is Emily Kaine, and I’ll be helming our coverage for the first part of the day. Here’s what is making headlines.Teal independents are in advanced talks to create a new political party that may be announced within weeks, sources close to the deliberations say, with MPs Allegra Spender and Zali Steggall leading the push.More Australians who were detained by Israel after their Gaza-bound flotilla was intercepted in international waters will return home today. Melbourne woman Gemma O’Toole was the first of 11 Australians to return last night, greeted by her parents and about 100 supporters. The group of Australians allege mistreatment and abuse of fellow activists by Israeli forces.The antisemitism royal commission will resume today, and will zoom in on security and law enforcement agencies, including the decision to send just three police officers to safeguard the Jewish festival at Bondi Beach where alleged Islamic State radicals shot dead 15 people.And US President Donald Trump said he had told his representatives not to rush into any deal with Iran, as his administration played down hopes of an imminent breakthrough in the three-month-old war.Stay with us as we bring you rolling news updates throughout the day.Latest Posts7.11amButler: Government has raised ‘disgraceful’ treatment of flotilla activists with Israel By Emily KaineStaying with Butler’s appearance on ABC TV, the minister says the government has raised the “disgraceful behaviour”, the allegations of abuse and mistreatment levelled at Israel by a group of Australian flotilla activists who were captured and detained in an Israeli prison.“We have [raised], in the strongest possible terms, both in Israel itself, but also with the Israeli ambassador of Australia here in Canberra, the treatment of those Australians and people from many other countries as well has been disgraceful, particularly the behaviour of [National Security] Minister [Itamar] Ben Gvir.“We’ve raised our concerns in the strongest possible way. We’re really glad that the Australians are starting now to return home and reunite with their families, but this has been a particularly concerning event,” Butler said.Gemma O’Toole, middle, hugs her parents Dr Suzie O’Toole and Dr Patrick Keyzer, after arriving home in Melbourne last night.Wayne TaylorMelbourne woman Gemma O’Toole was the first of 11 Australian activists from the flotilla to return home, arriving last night after more than three days in an Israeli prison.The group of Australians allege mistreatment and abuse by Israeli forces.6.58am‘Not a surprise’ teals are in talks to form new party: ButlerBy Emily KaineHealth Minister Mark Butler said this morning he was not surprised to read reports that teal independents were in advanced talks to form a new political party. “There obviously is a lot of flux in the non-Labor parts of politics right now. So to see speculation like that’s perhaps not a surprise,” he told ABC’s News Breakfast program. “They’ve obviously made inroads in particular communities in Australia. They’ll make an assessment about whether that works for them.”This masthead reported yesterday that teal independents were in advanced talks to create a new political party that may be announced within weeks, sources close to the deliberations said, with MPs Allegra Spender and Zali Steggall leading the push.6.45amParks Victoria workers walk off the jobBy Bianca HallMore than 300 Parks Victoria staff have vowed to walk off the job this morning, for the first time in 15 years, escalating a year-long dispute over pay and conditions.Union members, who maintain public lands, parks and reserves, as well as firefighting and emergency response capabilities, say they are being treated like “second-class citizens” compared to other public sector employees.Jiselle Hanna, the Victorian branch secretary of the Community and Public Sector Union.Justin McManusThe CPSU said on Friday that Parks Victoria had “not moved” from its original offer of a 3 per cent pay rise per year, “claiming that the State Government Wages Policy caps wages at this level despite nurses and teachers achieving outcomes greater than 7 per cent per year under the same policy”.CPSU branch secretary Jiselle Hanna said Parks Victoria members deserved the same pay and conditions as their Victorian public sector colleagues.“Management at Parks Vic are paid in line with the public service standards, and we think what’s good for the bosses is good for our members.”6.45amTeals in advanced talks to form new political partyBy Nick Newling and Paul SakkalTeal independents are in advanced talks to create a new political party that may be announced within weeks, sources close to the deliberations say, with MPs Allegra Spender and Zali Steggall leading the push.However, the project is facing complications, including that moderate Liberal figures have so far refused invitations to defect, making it more difficult for a new outfit to appeal to a larger cohort of disaffected voters.Several sources familiar with the project, speaking on the condition of anonymity to protect negotiations, said the MPs and their supporters have been planning the party’s formation for months, and an announcement could be weeks away unless new hurdles emerge or the MPs change their minds.Teal independents who may form part of the new political party.Alex EllinghausenThe sources said conversations have centred on how the party should be presented to voters, including its name and policy positions.Pinned post from 6.45amWhat’s making news todayBy Emily KaineHello and welcome to our national news live blog for Monday, May 25. My name is Emily Kaine, and I’ll be helming our coverage for the first part of the day. Here’s what is making headlines.Teal independents are in advanced talks to create a new political party that may be announced within weeks, sources close to the deliberations say, with MPs Allegra Spender and Zali Steggall leading the push.More Australians who were detained by Israel after their Gaza-bound flotilla was intercepted in international waters will return home today. Melbourne woman Gemma O’Toole was the first of 11 Australians to return last night, greeted by her parents and about 100 supporters. The group of Australians allege mistreatment and abuse of fellow activists by Israeli forces.The antisemitism royal commission will resume today, and will zoom in on security and law enforcement agencies, including the decision to send just three police officers to safeguard the Jewish festival at Bondi Beach where alleged Islamic State radicals shot dead 15 people.And US President Donald Trump said he had told his representatives not to rush into any deal with Iran, as his administration played down hopes of an imminent breakthrough in the three-month-old war.Stay with us as we bring you rolling news updates throughout the day.1 of 1