AUKUS Fallout: Labor MP Ed Husic warns Australia needs a backup plan after the US agreed to supply only three second-hand Virginia-class submarines, questioning whether the “deal promised” will be delivered and flagging workforce and supply risks. Defence Diplomacy: Defence Ministers Rajnath Singh and Richard Marles met in New Delhi to advance an MoU on defence articles and services, while AUKUS partners also pushed ahead with undersea drone and subsea security work. NSW LGBTQ Teen Violence Bill: NSW Premier Chris Minns urged the Legislative Council to pass the Violence Against Gay Teenagers Bill, citing dating-app-linked assaults and Four Corners reporting. Cost of Living Pay Rise: The Fair Work Commission set a 4.75% pay increase for almost three million workers, with the minimum wage lifting to $26.44 an hour—sparking inflation and rate-rise concerns. NDIS Safety Alarm: Palliative Care Australia says proposed NDIS changes could leave people with life-limiting illness without essential support. Housing Pressure in Canberra: ACT building approvals fell 30% in April, with industry urging the ACT Budget to prioritise delivery and fix demand settings. Scam Protections: Banks, telcos and key digital platforms face new rules under a Scams Prevention Framework, including automatic reimbursement for low-level victims up to $3,000. Foreign Policy: Australia imposed sanctions on Israeli settlers and farming outposts in the West Bank; New Zealand followed with travel bans on three extremist settlers. Canberra Tech & Connectivity: Google and Telstra announced a partnership to expand resilient terrestrial and subsea digital infrastructure.