Jillian Segal to front royal commission hearings
The special envoy to combat antisemitism will make another appearance in the royal commission’s hot seat today, Australian Associated Press reports.
Jillian Segal, who was appointed to the role by the federal government in 2024, will testify to the royal commission today when it examines education and training in handling antisemitism, as well as its effectiveness.
In a report released in 2025, the special envoy called for Holocaust and antisemitism education to be put in place in national and state school curriculums.
The education plans would be co-ordinated with government, independent and Catholic school systems.
Key events
Three dead in Sydney house fire
Three people have died following a house fire in Sydney’s south-west last night, NSW police said.
Emergency services were called to a home on Cornelia Street, Wiley Park, at about 9.45pm following reports of a fire.
Fire and Rescue NSW crews attended and extinguished the blaze which caused extensive damage to the property.
Following a search of the home, the bodies of three people were located inside.
Officers from Campsie police area command have established a crime scene, and an investigation is underway into the circumstances surrounding the fire.
Closing the Gap target for early preschool enrolments officially reached
Douglas Smith
One of the 19 Closing the Gap targets has officially been reached after early childhood education enrolment for First Nations children hit 95% across the country.
Released by the Productivity Commission today, the annual data compilation report showed an increase from 61.3% enrolments in 2016 (the baseline year), to hitting the 95% mark across every state and territory today.
The minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, said although it was a “significant milestone”, state and territory governments should to “back in” their commitments as other targets continued to worsen.
This result is encouraging, as are improvements in eight other targets including employment and education.
However, it is very concerning that we are still seeing outcomes worsening for early childhood development, children in out-of-home care, incarceration rates and suicide.
Our government remains committed to Closing the Gap; working in partnership with First Nations communities, building on what is working and investing in the areas where we can make the greatest difference to generational change.
State and territory governments must also back in their commitments under the national agreement with investments and policies that improve outcomes for First Nations people.
You can read more about the targets here, in Sarah Collard’s story from earlier this year:
Jillian Segal to front royal commission hearings
The special envoy to combat antisemitism will make another appearance in the royal commission’s hot seat today, Australian Associated Press reports.
Jillian Segal, who was appointed to the role by the federal government in 2024, will testify to the royal commission today when it examines education and training in handling antisemitism, as well as its effectiveness.
In a report released in 2025, the special envoy called for Holocaust and antisemitism education to be put in place in national and state school curriculums.
The education plans would be co-ordinated with government, independent and Catholic school systems.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. Jillian Segal, the government’s special envoy to combat antisemitism, will testify to the royal commission today when it examines education and training for fighting antisemitism, as well as its effectiveness. More coming up.
One of the 19 Closing the Gap targets has officially been reached after early childhood education enrolment for First Nations children hit 95% across the country. More coming up.
I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it’ll be Nick Visser with the main action.
