Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Nicola Smith

@niccijsmith.bsky.social

The Australian govt sat for nearly a year on a plan to introduce a national 000 watchdog, which would have forced Optus to immediately alert authorities of outages, but is now expected to rush legislation for the critical safeguard within a month

www.afr.com/politics/fed...

Government failed to act on plans for Triple Zero watchdog

The Albanese government sat on a plan to introduce a Triple Zero guardian for nearly a year but is now expected to rush out legislation within the next month.

www.afr.com

October 1, 2025 at 2:11 PM

Nicola Smith

@niccijsmith.bsky.social

The Albanese government’s response to the Optus Triple Zero outages is coming under fire @jennywiggins.bsky.social

www.afr.com/politics/fed...

Government’s handling of Optus failures under question

The Albanese government’s strategy to fix Optus has come under fire as a third review is announced, to be done by a US consulting group paid for by the telco.

www.afr.com

September 30, 2025 at 11:32 AM

Nicola Smith

@niccijsmith.bsky.social

Ukrainian ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko said Kyiv was “ready to share” unique skills it has developed in deploying and counteracting unmanned systems that have played a pivotal role in its war with Russia since Moscow invaded in February 2022.

www.afr.com/politics/fed...

Ukraine offers drone tech and battlefield expertise to Australia

The war-ravaged country has reached out to help Australia keep pace with the changing face of modern warfare.

www.afr.com

September 29, 2025 at 1:55 PM

Nicola Smith

@niccijsmith.bsky.social

The recognition of Palestinian statehood is a “very significant step” but Australia must do more to help end the conflict in Gaza, says Chris Sidoti, the author of a United Nations independent expert report alleging Israel is committing genocide.

www.afr.com/politics/fed...

Australia must do more to end Gaza war says author of ‘genocide’ report

Chris Sidoti, author of an independent UN probe alleging Israel is guilty of genocide, has urged Australia to step up efforts to end the Gaza war

www.afr.com

September 22, 2025 at 7:59 AM

Nicola Smith

@niccijsmith.bsky.social

The Albanese government is on track to sign a significant new mutual defence treaty with neighbouring Papua New Guinea to boost security ties

www.afr.com/politics/fed...

Australia set to sign ambitious defence treaty with Papua New Guinea

The deal comes amid concern over Beijing’s growing influence in the Pacific, and is timed to coincide with Anthony Albanese’s visit to Port Moresby this week.

www.afr.com

September 15, 2025 at 1:56 PM

Nicola Smith

@niccijsmith.bsky.social

The Australian government has vowed to strengthen the rules covering agreements between state, territory and local governments and universities with overseas authorities to block proposals of high risk to national security

www.afr.com/politics/fed...

Government pledges stronger action to counter foreign influence

Labor has pledged more targeted action to counter interference in state and territory governments, as well as universities.

www.afr.com

September 1, 2025 at 10:41 AM

Nicola Smith

@niccijsmith.bsky.social

Loving Brisbane and the Glasshouse mountains in #Queensland on our latest #Australia tour

August 12, 2025 at 5:04 AM

Nicola Smith

@niccijsmith.bsky.social

The “language of sacrifice” is no longer part of political discourse said former Uk national security adviser Lord Mark Sedwill. “That kind of sentiment is absent in modern politics, but I think it’s going to have to come back.”

thenightly.com.au/politics/aus...

Welfare or warfare: Western nations warned on tough choice

Top UK security expert Lord Mark Sedwill has urged honest public discourse on defence budgets and sacrifice.

thenightly.com.au

August 11, 2025 at 9:55 PM

Nicola Smith

@niccijsmith.bsky.social

Unfortunately this is not surprising given the dangerous moves Chinese coastguard ships have been staging in the South China Sea. Hopefully everyone is safe and well - China rams own warship while chasing Philippine vessel

www.bbc.com/news/article...

China rams own warship while chasing Philippine vessel

The crash in the disputed Scarborough Shoal rendered a Chinese warship "unseaworthy", Manila said.

www.bbc.com

August 11, 2025 at 9:48 PM

Nicola Smith

@niccijsmith.bsky.social

Stunning #Canberra sunset tonight

June 22, 2025 at 7:14 AM

Nicola Smith

@niccijsmith.bsky.social

Great insights from Ely Ratner in @thenightly.bsky.social on #Aukus and the onus on Australia to invest more on deterrence and to engage in tough conversations on strategic challenges in the Indo-Pacific

thenightly.com.au/politics/exc...

AUKUS is ‘too big to fail’, says ex-Pentagon official

Former senior Pentagon official Ely Ratner believes the pact will go ahead but the review raises tough questions.

thenightly.com.au

June 21, 2025 at 5:15 AM

Nicola Smith

@niccijsmith.bsky.social

My @thenightly.bsky.social take on why Albanese should attend the NATO summit at a time of escalating global instability: The Prime Minister should not miss chance to be heard by peers, regardless of whether Donald Trump attends.

thenightly.com.au/politics/aus...

Go NATO: Why PM should attend regardless of Donald Trump

NICOLA SMITH: The Prime Minister should not miss chance to be heard by peers, regardless of whether Donald Trump attends.

thenightly.com.au

June 19, 2025 at 11:56 PM

Nicola Smith

@niccijsmith.bsky.social

The @thenightly.bsky.social interviewed Middle East expert Kylie Moore-Gilbert on the prospects for regime change in Iran

thenightly.com.au/politics/aus...

Regime change with no alternative would risk road to ruin

Rushing to overthrow Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei could lead to chaos instead of peace.

thenightly.com.au

June 19, 2025 at 10:24 PM

Nicola Smith

@niccijsmith.bsky.social

“The AUKUS partnership between Australia, the UK and the US is our most strategically significant new agreement in a generation.” - UK Indo-Pacific Minister Catherine West exclusive oped in The Nightly

thenightly.com.au/opinion/cath...

What the UK and Australia can achieve when we stand together

CATHERINE WEST: Our relationship with Australia will go from strength to strength to build a free and open Indo-Pacific.

thenightly.com.au

June 17, 2025 at 11:25 AM

Nicola Smith

@niccijsmith.bsky.social

No need to panic about Pentagon review of Aukus say experts. But calls still rising for Australia to up its defence spending

thenightly.com.au/politics/aus...

Keep calm and Pentagon will stay on course in AUKUS pact

NICOLA SMITH: Australian experts have played down the AUKUS review but warned Anthony Albanese to increase defence spending

thenightly.com.au

June 14, 2025 at 8:33 AM

Nicola Smith

@niccijsmith.bsky.social

Our @thenightly.bsky.social interview with Education Minister Jason Clare on the fight against bullying & toxic social media algorithms and his second term overhaul of the education sector from early childcare to universities

thenightly.com.au/politics/aus...

Education Minister on the Adolescence scene that haunts him

‘I think every dad would see themselves in that scene and hope and pray that that is never them.’

thenightly.com.au

May 30, 2025 at 8:02 AM

Nicola Smith

@niccijsmith.bsky.social

Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles is expected to meet US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth this weekend at Asia’s top security summit in Singapore amid regional uncertainty about Washington’s economic and military commitment to the Indo-Pacific

thenightly.com.au/politics/sha...

thenightly.com.au

May 29, 2025 at 2:05 AM

Nicola Smith

@niccijsmith.bsky.social

“If the authorities don’t fix this mess immediately, people will pay with their lives,” writes a Newark air traffic controller:

www.thetimes.com/us/news-toda...

I was alone on shift when Newark air traffic control went dark

Newark airport: An anonymous worker has been signed off with trauma leave since the power went out and she sat there, alone, unable to see the planes. It’s only a matter of time before tragedy strikes...

www.thetimes.com

May 21, 2025 at 1:27 AM

Nicola Smith

@niccijsmith.bsky.social

Pacific must not become a ‘military zone’ amid rise of China, New Zealand’s deputy PM warns

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...

Pacific must not become a ‘military zone’ amid rise of China, New Zealand’s deputy PM warns

In an interview with the Guardian, Winston Peters says the world faces the ‘most uncertain time’ in 80 years ahead of talks with Australia's foreign minister

www.theguardian.com

May 21, 2025 at 1:04 AM

Nicola Smith

@niccijsmith.bsky.social

Australia joins 22 nations to demand Israel allow aid into Gaza, stating ‘the population faces starvation’ in joint statement

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...

Australia demands Israel allow aid into Gaza, stating ‘the population faces starvation’ in joint statement

‘Palestinian territory must not be reduced nor subjected to any demographic change,’ joint statement declares after Israel announces military expansion

www.theguardian.com

May 21, 2025 at 12:37 AM

Nicola Smith

@niccijsmith.bsky.social

An emotional Anthony Albanese takes to the stage at the ALP election watch party in Sydney to thank his family, team and the nation.

“Today the Australian people have voted for Australian values.”

May 3, 2025 at 3:05 PM

Nicola Smith

@niccijsmith.bsky.social

Anthony Albanese has made history as the first prime minister in 21 years to clinch consecutive polls, storming home with a landslide majority win in Saturday’s Federal election.

thenightly.com.au/politics/fed...