Australia news LIVE: Government abandons Victoria Barracks sell-off; Trust in Albanese plummets, new polling shows; Eisenkot to take ‘unconventional’ steps to form government in Israel

Emily KaineUpdated November 9, 2026 — 7:01am,first published 6:45amWhat you need to know todayBy Emily KaineHello and welcome back to our rolling coverage of national news this Monday, November 9. Here’s what is making headlines today. Trust in Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has plummeted, new polling by this masthead has found, as just 20 per cent of voters say they trust the country’s leader. Voters blaming the Albanese government and its latest budget for the cost-of-living crisis, with 42 per cent holding Labor responsible. The Albanese government has abandoned the sale of Victoria Barracks in Sydney, removing its most high-profile defence asset from its attempt to claw back $3 billion in taxpayer money. The colonial-era military headquarters will remain in government hands but will no longer be used as an active ADF facility. And former Israeli military chief Gadi Eisenkot said he would work to form a wide government as quickly as possible, but his path to power was uncertain following a deadlocked election that failed to dislodge his rival Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The October 27 election left both Eisenkot and Netanyahu short of the majority required to form government. Latest Posts7.01amScepticism of politics a healthy feature of democracy: PlibersekBy Emily KaineSocial Services Minister Tanya Plibersek has said scepticism of politics is a healthy feature of democracy as she defended her government’s economic record following fresh polling by this masthead showing that trust in Anthony Albanese had plummeted.“What we see is a prime minister that is absolutely firmly focused on what matters to Australians, and that’s cost of living support,” Plibersek told Sunrise.Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek. Alex Ellinghausen“That’s why we’re doing the things that we’re doing, making it possible to see a bulk billed GP … We’ve made medicines cheaper. We’ve made sure that wages can go up again, opposed by the Liberals. We’ve brought taxes down. There’ll be another tax cut this year, another tax cut next year.”Just 20 per cent of voters now say they trust Anthony Albanese, while the prime minister’s status as preferred leader and Labor’s two-party preferred vote are mired at record-low levels, polling by this masthead’s Resolve Political Monitor found.6.42amVictoria Barracks sale abandoned following backlashBy Eryk Bagshaw and Harriet AlexanderThe Albanese government has bowed to public pressure and abandoned the sale of Victoria Barracks, removing its most high-profile defence asset from its attempt to claw back $3 billion in taxpayer money.The decision, announced yesterday, means the 186-year-old Victoria Barracks in Paddington will remain in government hands.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Defence Minister Richard Marles at Victoria Barracks in Sydney. George ChanThe government has also reversed course on selling land containing an ancient Angophora red gum forest inside HMAS Penguin on Sydney Harbour, which will now be handed over to the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust.Victoria Barracks, the colonial-era sandstone military headquarters, will not be sold, but it will also no longer be used as an active Australian Defence Force facility. Instead, it will be opened to the public and the space will be commercialised to fund the maintenance of the building. Part of the site may also be developed.6.29amEisenkot to take ‘unconventional’ steps to form government in IsraelBy Jerusalem: Former Israeli military chief Gadi Eisenkot said he would work to form a wide government as quickly as possible, but his path to power was uncertain following a deadlocked election that failed to dislodge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.Israeli President Isaac Herzog on the weekend gave Eisenkot the first opportunity to try to form a new government after the October 27 election left both Eisenkot and Netanyahu short of the majority.That started the clock on what Eisenkot said would be an “extraordinarily complex” process.“We are in a state of emergency, approaching a point of no return for the State of Israel,” Eisenkot said on Sunday (Israel time). “We must form a national emergency government. This will require creative and unconventional political steps.” What you need to know todayBy Emily KaineHello and welcome back to our rolling coverage of national news this Monday, November 9. Here’s what is making headlines today. Trust in Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has plummeted, new polling by this masthead has found, as just 20 per cent of voters say they trust the country’s leader. Voters blaming the Albanese government and its latest budget for the cost-of-living crisis, with 42 per cent holding Labor responsible. The Albanese government has abandoned the sale of Victoria Barracks in Sydney, removing its most high-profile defence asset from its attempt to claw back $3 billion in taxpayer money. The colonial-era military headquarters will remain in government hands but will no longer be used as an active ADF facility. And former Israeli military chief Gadi Eisenkot said he would work to form a wide government as quickly as possible, but his path to power was uncertain following a deadlocked election that failed to dislodge his rival Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The October 27 election left both Eisenkot and Netanyahu short of the majority required to form government. 1 of 1