December 30, 2025 – Australia Headlines

Story gist: Australian Federal Police state CCTV footage suggests alleged Bondi shooters acted alone. Footage indicates they did not receive training in the Philippines.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Guardian frames story factually, quoting AFP directly to emphasize shooters acted alone without Philippine training. Center 9News focuses on procedural aspect of AFP reviewing CCTV of gunmen in Philippines. Right-leaning News.com.au sensationalizes with ‘terror trip’ details emerging, stressing threat narrative over debunking training claims.

Story gist: In Western Australia, the fishing industry filed a court challenge against a fishing ban impacting caravan parks and tackle shops. Protesters left dead fish outside a minister’s office, resulting in arrests.

Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets like The Sydney Morning Herald emphasize the industry’s court challenge and ‘fightback,’ portraying opposition sympathetically. Center outlets like Brisbane Times neutrally describe the protest with dead fish rotting outside the minister’s office. Right-leaning The West Australian focuses on arrests and frames the action as a ‘fishy attack’ on the minister, highlighting lawlessness.

Story gist: Police raided a house in Fairfield West, Sydney, and arrested a man. He was charged with conspiracy to commit a public place shooting.

Bias summary: Right-leaning Daily Mail uses sensational tone with ‘Bombshell development’ and ‘heavily armed cops stormed,’ emphasizing drama and police action. Left-leaning Sydney Morning Herald is straightforward, noting ‘tactical police storm house’ after charging details. Center from NSW Police is purely factual, focusing solely on the charge without descriptive language or emphasis on raid.

Story gist: Flooding, heavy rain, and damaging winds struck north Queensland. A monsoon trough triggered flood alerts with up to a metre of rain possible.

Bias summary: Left-leaning ABC uses neutral, impact-focused language listing flooding, rain, and winds. Center Weatherzone emphasizes severity with ‘metre of rain possible’ and dramatic ‘landphoon lashes,’ heightening alarm. Right-leaning The Australian highlights causal ‘monsoon trough triggers flood alerts,’ prioritizing meteorological explanation over vivid impacts. No major omissions across lanes.

Story gist: Sydney council announced plans to light the harbour with a menorah after receiving an open letter. The decision relates to a prior Bondi New Year’s Eve tribute.

Bias summary: Left-leaning Sydney Morning Herald emphasizes CSG, a Jewish security group, and the Premier’s push to arm it more heavily, focusing on security amid threats. Right-leaning News.com.au frames the council’s move as a ‘backflip’ on an ‘insulting’ Bondi NYE tribute, highlighting reversal and offense. Center outlets absent, lacking neutral coverage of the announcement without security or criticism emphasis.