March 12, 2026 – Australia Headlines

1US-Iran war live updates: Ships hit in Strait of Hormuz; Israeli attacks on Lebanon spark humanitarian crisis; Iranian soccer member reverses asylum decision

Story gist: Ships were hit in the Strait of Hormuz amid US-Iran tensions. Israeli attacks on Lebanon prompted a humanitarian crisis, and an Iranian soccer federation member reversed an asylum decision.
Left
Iran war live updates: Regime issues threat against protesters; drone reportedly hits major US diplomatic facility in Iraq
— The Guardian
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Center
No major center-leaning outlet from our monitored sources covered this story
Right
‘Insane’: Joe Rogan blows up on Iran war; Aussie embassy closed
— Herald Sun
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Bias summary: Left-leaning Guardian frames story with Iran’s ‘regime’ threatening protesters and drone strike on US facility in Iraq, emphasizing anti-government repression and attacks on US interests. No center outlets cover, leaving neutral factual aggregation absent. Right-leaning Herald Sun stresses Joe Rogan’s ‘insane’ criticism of Iran war and Aussie embassy closure, highlighting anti-escalation outrage and security responses.

2Federal politics: Australia closes several Middle East diplomatic missions, Wong confirms — as it happened

Story gist: Australia closed several diplomatic missions in the Middle East, confirmed by Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
Left
No major left-leaning outlet from our monitored sources covered this story
Center
Aussie hoteliers count their bookings amid turmoil in the Middle East
— AFR
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Right
To cancel or not to cancel: Air travel veteran says patience pays
— The Australian
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Bias summary: Left-leaning outlets absent, leaving that perspective unrepresented. Center-leaning AFR emphasizes economic impacts, focusing on Australian hoteliers tracking bookings amid Middle East turmoil. Right-leaning The Australian highlights practical travel advice, quoting an air travel veteran urging patience over cancellations, adopting a reassuring tone on disruptions.

3Former spy boss resigns from antisemitism royal commission

Story gist: A former Australian spy chief resigned from the royal commission investigating antisemitism and the Bondi attack. The resignation occurred recently amid the inquiry’s proceedings.
Left
Former spy chief quits royal commission into antisemitism and Bondi attack
— The Guardian
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Center
Former spy boss resigns from antisemitism royal commission
— ABC News
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Right
Bondi inquiry crisis as PM’s top expert quits
— The Australian
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Bias summary: Left-leaning Guardian uses ‘quits’ and emphasizes both antisemitism and Bondi attack for broader context. Center ABC News reports neutrally with ‘resigns’ and focuses solely on the antisemitism commission. Right-leaning Australian sensationalizes as ‘Bondi inquiry crisis’ and ‘PM’s top expert quits,’ highlighting drama and implicating the prime minister while omitting antisemitism emphasis.