December 18, 2025 – Australia Headlines

1Coalition ‘flabbergasted’ by Labor’s response to calls for Bondi royal commission into antisemitism

Story gist: Australia’s Coalition expressed shock at Labor’s response to calls for a royal commission into antisemitism in Bondi.
Left
John Howard’s dog-whistle intervention in gun debate all but dashes any hope of meaningful reform
— The Guardian
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Center
Coalition ‘flabbergasted’ by Labor’s response to calls for Bondi royal commission into antisemitism
— Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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Right
No major right-leaning outlet from our monitored sources covered this story
Bias summary: Left-leaning Guardian frames a Coalition-linked intervention by John Howard as a ‘dog-whistle’ in the gun debate, emphasizing it dashes reform hopes with critical tone. Center ABC neutrally reports Coalition’s ‘flabbergasted’ reaction to Labor’s stance on the royal commission, focusing on political exchange. Right-leaning coverage absent, omitting pro-Coalition defense of the antisemitism inquiry.

2Bondi shooting live updates: Accused terrorist Naveed Akram charged with 15 murders, dozens of offences; 10-year-old Matilda’s funeral today

Story gist: Naveed Akram, accused terrorist, was charged with 15 murders and dozens of offenses after a shooting at Bondi. The funeral of 10-year-old victim Matilda occurred today.
Left
Syrian home town of Ahmed al-Ahmed rallies around the Bondi hero, amid the rubble of civil war
— The Guardian
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Center
Footage reveals a different story about the police firefight at Bondi
— AFR
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Right
Hail Cesar: Hero cop re-enacts the shots that ended Bondi nightmare
— dailytelegraph.com.au
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Bias summary: Left-leaning Guardian emphasizes Syrian migrant Ahmed al-Ahmed as ‘Bondi hero’ with hometown rally amid civil war rubble, humanizing immigrant role. Center AFR focuses on footage revealing ‘different story’ about police firefight, suggesting narrative shifts. Right-leaning Daily Telegraph hails cop Cesar re-enacting fatal shots, crediting police heroism. Left omits police focus; right ignores migrant hero.

3Two charged after a man was shot at McLaren Flat – SAPOL

Story gist: Two individuals were charged after a man was shot at McLaren Flat in South Australia. The incident was reported by SAPOL.
Left
No major left-leaning outlet from our monitored sources covered this story
Center
Two charged after a man was shot at McLaren Flat
— SAPOL – Home
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Right
Man shot dead in the street at McLaren Flat
— The Advertiser
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Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets absent, providing no coverage and omitting the story entirely. Center sources mirror police statement with neutral phrasing on charges after shooting. Right-leaning outlet uses dramatic language like ‘shot dead in the street,’ emphasizing victim’s death and public location for heightened sensationalism, while omitting focus on arrests.

4Until recently, Chris Minns courted the Shooters party. Now he wants tougher gun laws

Story gist: NSW Premier Chris Minns recently courted the Shooters party but now proposes tougher gun laws. Some NSW gun licence holders own nearly 300 firearms each, which could change.
Left
Until recently, Chris Minns courted the Shooters party. Now he wants tougher gun laws
— The Guardian
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Center
Some NSW gun licence holders own almost 300 firearms. That could soon change
— Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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Right
No major right-leaning outlet from our monitored sources covered this story
Bias summary: Left-leaning Guardian highlights Minns’ prior courting of pro-gun Shooters party against his new tougher laws push, implying political flip-flop. Center ABC focuses neutrally on extreme firearm holdings by licensees and potential limits, omitting backstory. Right-leaning coverage absent, missing pro-gun rights defenses or criticism of restrictions.

5AI deepfakes of Bondi gunman spread online

Story gist: AI-generated deepfakes and false images of the Bondi gunman circulated online after the Bondi attack. Examples included depictions in cricket shirts, fake quotes attributed to Pauline Hanson, and claims of a film set.
Left
Cricket shirts and fake Hanson quotes: How false information spread after the Bondi attack
— SBS Australia
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Center
AI deepfakes of Bondi gunman spread online
— Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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Right
‘Film set’: Appalling Bondi picture spreads
— News.com.au
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Bias summary: Left-leaning SBS emphasizes broad false information spread, highlighting cricket shirts and fake Hanson quotes to underscore misinformation patterns. Center ABC neutrally reports AI deepfakes online without specifics. Right-leaning News.com.au focuses on an ‘appalling’ ‘film set’ picture, stressing outrage over conspiracy denialism. Left stresses political fakes; right omits broader context for shock value.