Sussan Ley’s touching tribute to her late mother
Dan Jervis-Bardy
The opposition leader, Sussan Ley, has farewelled her late mother with a touching eulogy at a funeral in her home town of Albury. Angela Braybrooks died just days after Ley was elected the first female leader of the federal Liberal party.
Born in England in 1931, Angela Weston first travelled to Australia as a young nurse before returning to the UK, where she met her future husband, Edgar Braybrook.
She would soon move to be with him in Nigeria, where Edgar was serving as a colonial police officer. Ley was born in Nigeria in 1961. In the eulogy, Ley said:
As a child, I saw my mother as a devoted wife, but I also saw the determination with which she wanted to carve out something that was just hers.
Ley reminisced about Braybrooks’ passion for the stars and bird watching – the latter a topic of conversation during her daughter’s time as environment minister.
The now-Liberal leader spoke of how her mother was a “lifeline” while she raised three small children on a farm and how she was supported after deciding to attend university aged 30.
She said:
As I sat quietly last weekend, in a precious window of time, going through my mother’s papers, letters and photographs, I felt a deep sense of gratitude for the things she taught me: patience, persistence and self reliance, how to lift your eyes and without fear, take on the world.
I think of my own grandmother, stoic in the face of so much wartime and personal hardship, insisting that Angela, her only child, leave England for a chance at a better life.
And I think of my inquisitive five-year-old granddaughter and the unbroken chain of strength and love that connects three generations of women.
Key events
That’s all for me today, I’ll leave you with Josh Taylor who will guide you through the rest of today’s news. Take care.
Flood warnings for parts of South Australia
The BoM has issued flood warnings for parts of South Australia, saying river levels remain elevated as flood waters from the Warburton River reach parts of Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre.
Floodwaters may cut roads and access tracks, and in particular river crossings, impacting travel in the region.
The SA SES added flooding is likely to remain in the area for a few months, and warned those in the area to take care as the water recedes as roads may have been damaged.
You can read more here:
Australian deaths are down so far this year, ABS says
Australia saw 4.6% fewer deaths in the first two months of 2025 than during the first two months of last year, according to new figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
The ABS recorded 27,536 deaths in January and February 2025. The leading causes were cancer (8,065 deaths); dementia (2,649 deaths); respiratory diseases (2,148 deaths); and ischaemic heart disease (1,838 deaths).
There were 128 deaths due to Covid-19 in February that were certified by a doctor, a sharp, nearly 53% fall from February 2024.
Earlier today the health minister, Mark Butler, urged Australians to stay up-to-date with Covid boosters amid the spread of a new variant.
Read more about that strain here:
ABF reportedly intercepts up to eight people believed to be Chinese nationals seeking asylum
The ABC is reporting that up to eight people, believed to be Chinese nationals seeking asylum, have been intercepted by border officials in a remote part of the Northern Territory.
The eight are understood to have arrived on the NT coast by boat. Six were reportedly discovered by local workers on Tuesday, near the remote Indigenous township of Maningrida, about 500 kilometres east of Darwin. Another two men were found the next day by Indigenous rangers.
The group has reportedly been taken into custody by the Australian Border Force. The Guardian put questions to the Australian Border Force about the reported interceptions. The ABF responded:
The Australian Border Force does not comment on or confirm operational matters.
A number of groups of foreign nationals arriving by boat to Australia were detected across northern Australia last year.
Update: CommBank says services restored after banking issues
CommBank says it has fixed the issue that prevented some customers from transferring funds between their accounts or to other people earlier today. The bank said in a statement:
We have fixed an issue affecting some transfers from CommBank accounts. Customers can now make transfers between accounts and pay using PayID or BSB and account number in NetBank and the CommBank app.
Payments using cards and ATMs were not affected. We are sorry for the inconvenience and thank customers for their patience.
Wildlife smuggler handed nine-month jail sentence over live tortoises and turtles
A man was sentenced to nine months in prison after pleading guilty to illegally importing live tortoises and turtles into Australia.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Daff) said the Australian Border Force discovered a package sent from the Philippines in March 2023 that was emitting a smell. X-rays revealed it contained reptiles and spiders, and a DAFF later discovered three snakes, six iguanas, three soft shell turtles and three tarantulas inside. Many were dead.
A two-year investigation later uncovered creatures at other locations linked to an illegal exotic trafficking gang, including hog nose snakes, eco-skeleton spiders and an African hedgehog, among others. Justine Saunders, the deputy secretary of biosecurity, operations and compliance at the Daff, said officials remained “united in their commitment to eradicate the illicit wildlife trade”, adding:
Daff has more than a thousand biosecurity officers working at our borders and in mailrooms every day who are trained to pick up anomalies in the system.
The illegal wildlife trade is the world’s fourth largest illicit transnational trade, after arms, drugs and human trafficking.
Sussan Ley’s touching tribute to her late mother
Dan Jervis-Bardy
The opposition leader, Sussan Ley, has farewelled her late mother with a touching eulogy at a funeral in her home town of Albury. Angela Braybrooks died just days after Ley was elected the first female leader of the federal Liberal party.
Born in England in 1931, Angela Weston first travelled to Australia as a young nurse before returning to the UK, where she met her future husband, Edgar Braybrook.
She would soon move to be with him in Nigeria, where Edgar was serving as a colonial police officer. Ley was born in Nigeria in 1961. In the eulogy, Ley said:
As a child, I saw my mother as a devoted wife, but I also saw the determination with which she wanted to carve out something that was just hers.
Ley reminisced about Braybrooks’ passion for the stars and bird watching – the latter a topic of conversation during her daughter’s time as environment minister.
The now-Liberal leader spoke of how her mother was a “lifeline” while she raised three small children on a farm and how she was supported after deciding to attend university aged 30.
She said:
As I sat quietly last weekend, in a precious window of time, going through my mother’s papers, letters and photographs, I felt a deep sense of gratitude for the things she taught me: patience, persistence and self reliance, how to lift your eyes and without fear, take on the world.
I think of my own grandmother, stoic in the face of so much wartime and personal hardship, insisting that Angela, her only child, leave England for a chance at a better life.
And I think of my inquisitive five-year-old granddaughter and the unbroken chain of strength and love that connects three generations of women.
Customers vent frustration on social media after issues with CommBank accounts
Several peeved CommBank customers took to social media after experiencing issues transferring money from their accounts, as we reported earlier.
So over @CommBank, I’ve lost track of how many times this has happened over the years. This time I’m changing banks, not being able to access my own money when I need to pick my car up from the mechanics is infuriating. I’m out in the cold with a baby ffs. They were having… pic.twitter.com/aWaGfBoSqa
— Bec Freedom (@BecFreedom) May 30, 2025
I’ve lost track of how many times this has happened over the years. This time I’m changing banks, not being able to access my own money when I need to pick my car up from the mechanics is infuriating.
Exactly, that’s the problem I’m having. My brother has an expensive doctor’s appointment today and the money for it is in my Netbank Saver, along with my money. There’ll be no compensation for this either.
— Delliath (@LunaticMonkey23) May 30, 2025
My brother has an expensive doctor’s appointment today and the money for it is in my Netbank Saver, along with my money. There’ll be no compensation for this either.
In a short statement, CommBank said the company was seeing “only some customers impacted by the issue”.
We are working urgently to fix this issue and we thank customers for their patience and apologise for the inconvenience.
NSW MP decries anti-Chinese violence in Sydney
Chinese Australian MP Jason Yat-Sen Li spoke in NSW parliament this week after a violent attack on a couple in Sydney.
Li argued “racism doesn’t need to be proven in court to be real in people’s lives” and said lawmakers should tackle root causes of youth crime: “Poverty, disengagement and trauma to young people and their families”.
Watch his speech below:
And read more from the Guardian’s Bertin Huynh here:
Fourth man charged over alleged looting in flood-hit Taree
NSW police have charged a man on allegations he was in possession of stolen items on the flood-hit mid-north coast.
Police said they stopped a cyclist during their rounds in Taree yesterday and searched his bags. The search allegedly revealed several items suspected of being stolen, including a credit card, jewellery and watches.
The man, 37, was arrested and charged with six counts of goods in personal custody suspected being stolen, the possession of housebreaking implements and another charge linked to a bicycle helmet.
Three others have been charged with similar allegations this week linked to the flooding. Those allegations remain before the courts.
Australian retail trade falls slightly as Trump tariffs rattle customers
Spooked consumers slashed retail spending after Donald Trump’s tariffs sent a shudder through markets, AAP reports.
Turnover fell 0.1% in April after rising 0.3% the month prior, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported on Friday. The downturn ends a three-month streak of modest growth to start 2025.
On an annual basis, sales rose 3.8%, down from the 4.3% rise over the 12 months to March.
Consumer confidence took a beating last month, after Donald Trump’s “liberation day” tariff dump on 2 April rattled financial markets and ripped billions from superannuation balances.
CommBank reports issue with transfers from some bank accounts
CommBank says it is working to fix an issue affecting customers’ transfers. The bank says some users “may be unable to make transfers between your accounts or pay someone using PayID or BSB and account number in NetBank and the CommBank app.”
You can still make payments using your card, and use ATMs.
The Guardian has reached out to CommBank for comment.
