Australia news and politics live: Iran’s Ambassador expelled over ‘orchestrated’ synagogue attacks

Australia’s tech regulation could be the latest area impacted by Donald Trump’s tariffs war after the US president signalled outrage at any nations which try to rein in US tech companies.

The US President was scathing in a post to TruthSocial, saying he would put nations “on notice” if they sought to interfere with their operations.

It comes amid the Albanese Government’s proposed News Bargaining Incentive, which would compel major social media and search companies to either reach commercial agreements with Australian media outlets or face a separate charge.

“As the President of the United States, I will stand up to Countries that attack our incredible American Tech Companies,” Trump stated.

“Digital Taxes, Digital Services Legislation, and Digital Markets Regulations are all designed to harm, or discriminate against, American Technology. They also, outrageously, give a complete pass to China’s largest Tech Companies. This must end.

“I put all Countries with Digital Taxes, Legislation, Rules, or Regulations, on notice that unless these discriminatory actions are removed.

“I, as President of the United States, will impose substantial additional Tariffs on that Country’s Exports to the USA. Show respect to America and our amazing Tech Companies or, consider the consequences.”

The Australia-Israel and Jewish Affairs Council has welcomed the Albanese Government’s historic actions against Iran after it was found to have orchestrated anti-Semitic attacks in Australia.

In a statement released on Tuesday, executive director Colin Rubenstein said that the expulsion of the ambassador in Canberra, closure of Australia’s Teheran embassy, and listing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were necessary.

Dr Rubenstein added that it “was not a complete surprise” the branch of the Iranian military was responsible for the Adass Israel Synagogue bombing in Melbourne last December.

“AIJAC has long warned such Iranian involvement was a possibility that should be taken seriously,” he said.

“AIJAC has been calling for the proscription of the IRGC for years. It met Australia’s legal definition of a terrorist organisation long before it began attacking Australian Jewish targets in 2024 and it is greatly in Australia’s national interest to do everything in our power to limit the power of this malign actor.

“We hope the Government will follow up the strong measures it announced today by exploring additional measures it can take to retaliate for Iranian aggression, and further limit the threat the regime in Teheran poses to Australians, the Australian Jewish community, and our social cohesion.”

Liberal Tasmanian Senator Claire Chandler says she’s disappointed that it has taken Iranian attacks on home soil for the Labor government to act on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Senator Chandler said the foreign threat was “not new” and highlighted her work as chair to a previous parliamentary inquiry on the Iranian regime’s “role in spreading terror in Australia”.

“The Senate inquiry into Iran, which I chaired, recommended in February 2023 that the IRGC should be listed as a terrorist organisation,” she said.

Senator Chandler added the Coalition had also called for the expulsion of the Iranian Ambassador in October 2024.

“These threats from the Islamic Republic of Iran regime to our national security and democratic values are not new,” she said.

“It shouldn’t have taken until now for the Australian Government to act. The Iranian diaspora in Australia has tirelessly and courageously advocated for many years to expose the brutality of the IRI regime.”

During Question Time, Wentworth MP Allegra Spender asked Prime Minister Anthony Albanese how the government will work to keep Australian Jewish communities safe.

Mr Albanese’s response focussed on fostering tolerance in Australian society, he said harassment is “not the Australian way”.

“People can have different views about the Middle East and it is absolutely legitimate for people to put forward those views,” the PM said.

“What is not legitimate is to blame Jewish Australians if they disagree with the policy of the Israeli government or to blame Muslim Australians for the actions of Hamas or other people.”

The PM said the “range of programs” implemented around schools and synagogues as well as the facilitation of dialogue between communities demonstrates the government’s work toward ensuring the safety of all Australians.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said listing Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as an official terrorist organisation would “send the strongest possible signal” to Iran that the acts were a “totally unacceptable low”.

“This extraordinary attack that occurred on our soil means we have to adapt our response to the changing threat,” Mr Burke said.

“That’s why the government intends to introduce a new regime under the criminal code, so that we can list the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.

“This sends the strongest possible signal that this conduct has reached a new and totally unacceptable low.

“The existing regime designed decades ago was not intended to deal with the threats we are now facing.

“Australia stands together, these attempts at division will fail, and they already have.

“We stand together in unity and strength. The anti-Semitism that drove this attack cannot be allowed to fall (as) blame to Australians of Iranian heritage.”

Liberal leader Sussan Ley has said the opposition stands “entirely united” with the government’s call to expel the Iranian ambassador and list the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation.

“These acts of egregious foreign interference are brazen attempts to cleaver apart our social cohesion, to turn neighbour against neighbour and Australian against Australian,” Ms Ley said.

“I therefore want to make it abundantly clear from the opposition, while we sit opposite the government in this chamber, we’re entirely united on the measures announced today.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed that investigations into Iranian government activity are ongoing.

Liberal leader Sussan Ley began Question Time by asking the PM for an update on the actions the government are taking in the Australia’s national interest.

“There [are] more investigations going on, I must say. So there will be a limit to what the information that the ASIO Director-General and the officials will give,” the PM said.

“Obviously our priority is making sure that the perpetrators of this, direct and indirect, are brought to justice and we don’t want to engage in any talk that potentially disrupts the investigations which are ongoing.”

ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess has revealed that an extensive investigation into recent anti-Semitic attacks in Australia has uncovered links between at least two incidents and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Mr Burgess said the Iranian government and its proxies had “lit the matches and fanned the flames” undermining social cohesion in Australia amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.

He noted that while more attacks were likely orchestrated by Iran, he did not “believe the regime is responsible for every act of anti-Semitism in Australia.”

“ASIO now assesses the Iranian government directed at least two and likely more attacks on Jewish interests in Australia,” he said.

“Our painstaking investigation uncovered and unpicked the links between the alleged crimes and the commanders in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, the IRGC.

“The IRGC used a complex web of proxies to hide its involvement.”

Israel has welcomed the Australian government’s move to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation.

“This is a step we have long advocated for. Iran’s regime is not only a threat to Jews or Israel, it endangers the entire free world, including Australia. A strong and important move,” the Israeli Embassy in Canberra said in a statement posted on X.

ASIO director-general Mike Burgess has likened Iranian involvement in Australia to a “layer cake of cutouts” linking Tehran to those accused in attacks here.

Asked whether organised crime was involved, Mr Burgess said there was an “organised crime element offshore.”

“It’s a layer cake of cut-outs between the IRGC (Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) and the person or the alleged perpetrators conducting crimes.

“In between them, they tap into a number of people – agents of IRGC, and people that they know in the criminal world – and work through them.

“That’s not to suggest organised crime are doing it. They’re just using cutouts, including people who are criminal and members of organised crime gangs, to do their bidding or direct their bidding in Australia,” Mr Burgess explained.