Australian news and politics recap June 17: Trump wants a ‘real end’ to Israel-Iran conflict ‘not a ceasefire’

This concludes our live politics and news coverage for the day.

Scroll back through for updates on the G7 Summit, the Israel-Iran conflict and US President Donald Trump’s latest comments on the escalating middle east feud.

Join us tomorrow morning for more live news action.

On his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump has posted he has not reached out to Iran about ceasefire talks “in any way, shape, or form”.

The US President writes Iran should have signed a deal during the most recent talks over Iran’s nuclear programme.

“This is just more HIGHLY FABRICATED, FAKE NEWS! If they want to talk, they know how to reach me,” Mr Trump wrote.

“They should have taken the deal that was on the table - Would have saved a lot of lives!!!”

US President Donald Trump, has told reporters on Air Force One that he’s not looking for a ceasefire between Israel and Iran.

“We’re looking at better than a ceasefire,” he told reporters, according to BBC.

When reporters asked “what’s better than a ceasefire?” He told them: “A real end. Not a ceasefire. An end.”

Also asked, if “he can do anything more for Israel”, he told reporters “right now we’re doing pretty well. Remember, Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon”.

Speaking of his earlier call for people to evacuate Tehran, Mr Trump said: “I just want people to be safe.”

The IDF are claiming to have killed one of the most senior commanders in the Iranian armed forces and a valued advisor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the IDF said it had launched an opportunistic attack on a military stronghold and “eliminated” Ali Shadmani.

“Following precise intelligence received by the IDF Intelligence Directorate and a sudden opportunity overnight, the IAF struck a staffed command centre in the heart of Tehran and eliminated Ali Shadmani, the war-time chief of staff, the most most senior military commander, and the closest figure to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei,” the IDF statement said.

“The emergency command centre ‘Khatam al-Anbiya’, under his command, was responsible for managing combat operations and approving Iran’s firepower plans. In his various roles, he directly influenced Iran’s operational plans targeting the State of Israel.”

The $30 billion bid for Santos energy by an arm of United Arab Emirates government wasn’t timed with conflict in the oil rich gulf.

But it highlights how important the energy transition is becoming, and the battle for assets that assure energy security as that transition becomes messier.

The bid by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, is the state-owned firm’s latest in a global shopping spree as it looks to pick up assets on the cheap to diversify its revenue streams away from oil.

Adnoc has looked into a future where the increasing supply of cheap electric vehicles, and the more than 90 per cent fall in the price of solar panels is presenting an existential threat for oil demand.

China, the largest consumer of oil and gas in the world has already passed peak oil consumption, according the to International Energy Agency, and with 50 per cent of new car sales electric, is starting to see demand decline for petrol.

Read the full story here.

The Liberal Party have announced the scope of their post-election review after former Leader Peter Dutton’s diabolical loss on May 3.

The review will be led by Pru Goward and Nick Minchin and look at the party’s “historically low” primary vote and the long-term challenge independants pose.

It will also consult with experts and examine performance among different voter segments.

“Further relevant matters may be considered as the review progresses, where they are judged to have a material bearing on the Party’s electoral prospects,” the party said in a statement on Tuesday.

The party has called for submission by August 1.

US President Donald Trump has angrily denied a claim from French President Emmanuel Macron that he was continuing negotiations for a ceasefire between Israel and Iran.

In a post on Truth Social Mr Trump said Mr Macron’s claims were wrong.

“Publicity seeking President Emmanuel Macron, of France, mistakenly said that I left the G7 Summit, in Canada, to go back to D.C. to work on a “cease fire” between Israel and Iran. Wrong!,” Mr Trump’s post stated.

“He has no idea why I am now on my way to Washington, but it certainly has nothing to do with a Cease Fire. Much bigger than that. Whether purposely or not, Emmanuel always gets it wrong. Stay Tuned!”

Senior treasury officials believe a state’s bottom line will be billions of dollars worse off without reforming Australia’s largest workers’ compensation scheme.

But questions still surround changes NSW’s Labor government is scrambling to establish before the end of June as it warns of steep insurance premium increases.

A parliamentary inquiry examined the bill on Tuesday, with NSW Treasury secretary Michael Coutts-Trotter warning the liability of the compensation scheme - protecting more than 3.6 million workers - would look $2.6 billion worse over five years in the June 26 state budget without reform.

“You’ve got billions of dollars on one hand, a moral imperative but relatively limited savings on the other, and there is a continuing problem with the sustainability of both the public and private scheme,” he said.

The proposed laws would address a lack of focus on preventing mental injury, the low rate of recovery and return to work for such injuries, and stop a sharp rise in premiums, the government had argued.

Hours after Donald Trump announced he would cut his trip to the G7 Summit short to return to Washington, French President Emmanuel Macron says there is a potential ceasefire deal between Israel and Iran being negotiated.

Mr Macron called for the fighting to stop and said despite the president leaving early there was a deal being brokered behind the scenes by the US.

“If the United States can achieve a ceasefire, that’s a very good thing,” Mr Macron told reporters in Canada.

“All who have thought that by bombing from the outside you can save a country in spite of itself have always been mistaken,” Mr Macron said.

“There is indeed an offer to meet and exchange. An offer was made especially to get a ceasefire and to then kickstart broader discussions.

“We have to see now whether the sides will follow.”

US President Donald Trump has ordered the National Security Council to convene in the White House situation room as more troops are deployed in the Middle East.

As Mr Trump stood with G7 leaders for a photo, he said: “I have to be back early — for obvious reasons.”

Back in the US, Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth issued a statement confirming he had authorised “additional capabilities” to “enhance” the US defensive posture in the Middle East.

As the situation developed, claims emerged online that the US was assisting Israel with strikes in Iran, something the Pentagon says is not true.