One of the world’s biggest batteries comes online in NSW
The Waratah super battery, a massive project meant to bolster the energy grid in New South Wales, is now partially online.
The battery project at Colongra, south of Lake Macquarie, is meant to be a “shock absorber” for customers across the Hunter, Sydney and the Illawarra, allowing transmission lines in the region to run at greater capacity and serving as a backup in case of a power line outage due to an event like a lightning strike or a bushfire.
The battery system, when fully operational, will be the most powerful in Australia and one of the biggest in the world.
The first 350 megawatts of the 850MW project is now in operation at the site of the former Munmorah coal-fired power station. Hannah McCaughey, the chief of EnergyCo NSW, said:
Switching on the Waratah Super Battery Project is a win for our grid and a win for households and businesses across NSW … It’s a fantastic example of how new technologies bring new solutions for our energy needs.
Key events
Sydney wakes up to a shroud of fog
Shadow attorney general says recognising Palestinian statehood would send ‘bad signal’
The shadow attorney general, Julian Leeser, said the recognition of a Palestinian state by Australia would reward Hamas and send a “bad signal around the world”. Leeser spoke to RN Breakfast this morning, saying while he wants to see a two-state solution, he believes the world is “further away from that today than at any point in the past”.
Lesser said:
I don’t want to see people suffering. I want to see the aid getting through and I want to see Hamas releasing the hostages because it’s only when the hostages are released and only when Hamas plays no further part in the future of the region that a stable and lasting peace in the Middle East can come about. …
I think [recognising a Palestinian state] will send a bad signal around the world to other terrorist organisations that if you increase your level of intransigence, if you maintain your position, then you will achieve your aims …
Let me be very clear, I want to see a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. It’s something I’ve believed in for decades. But we seem to be further away from that today than at any point in the past, and that is largely because of the role that Hamas is playing in Gaza.
Albanese speaks to head of Palestinian Authority
Josh Butler
Anthony Albanese spoke to Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, in a phone call overnight.
The prime minister reiterated Australia’s call for the immediate entry of aid into Gaza, a permanent ceasefire, and the release of all Israeli hostages still held by terror group Hamas, according to a readout of the call circulated by the PM’s office.
Albanese also reinforced Australia’s commitment to a two state solution, which he said was crucial to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.
President Abbas thanked Albanese for Australia’s economic and humanitarian support. Australia pledged another $20m to aid in Gaza over the weekend.
The two leaders also spoke about deepening cooperation on several areas. They also agreed to meet on the sidelines of the UN general assembly, to be held in New York City in September. This is the forum where several major nations are expected to pledge to recognise a Palestinian state – a move Albanese’s government is under pressure to replicate.
Wong says there is a risk ‘there will be no Palestine left to recognise’
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, said Sunday’s march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge reflected the “distress of Australians on what we are seeing unfolding in Gaza”. Asked on RN Breakfast this morning whether the march had accelerated any government plans to recognise Palestinian statehood, Wong said:
In relation to recognition, I’ve said for over a year now it’s a matter of when, not if. I would say … there is a risk there will be no Palestine left to recognise if the international community don’t move to create that pathway to a two-state solution.
Wong would not comment on further sanctions on Israel, saying Australia’s preference remained moving with other countries on such matters so they have “more effect”.
It has been my long-held position that there will be no peace and security, for the people of Israel, unless we resolve to a Palestinian state. That has been my view for decades.
One of the world’s biggest batteries comes online in NSW
The Waratah super battery, a massive project meant to bolster the energy grid in New South Wales, is now partially online.
The battery project at Colongra, south of Lake Macquarie, is meant to be a “shock absorber” for customers across the Hunter, Sydney and the Illawarra, allowing transmission lines in the region to run at greater capacity and serving as a backup in case of a power line outage due to an event like a lightning strike or a bushfire.
The battery system, when fully operational, will be the most powerful in Australia and one of the biggest in the world.
The first 350 megawatts of the 850MW project is now in operation at the site of the former Munmorah coal-fired power station. Hannah McCaughey, the chief of EnergyCo NSW, said:
Switching on the Waratah Super Battery Project is a win for our grid and a win for households and businesses across NSW … It’s a fantastic example of how new technologies bring new solutions for our energy needs.
Good morning
Nick Visser here to take over for Martin Farrer. Let’s get to it.
The latest information is that some ferries have resumed as the fog lifts.
The ferry operator says:
Ferries east of the Harbour Bridge now operating after earlier heavy fog.
F3 and F4 ferries are still affected by the fog, with some cancelled between Rydalmere & Circular Quay and between Olympic Park & Barangaroo.
⚠️UPDATE: Some Sydney ferry services have resumed, with ferries east of the Harbour Bridge now operating after earlier heavy fog.
⛴️F3 and F4 ferries are still affected by the fog, with some cancelled between Rydalmere & Circular Quay and between Olympic Park & Barangaroo.
— Sydney Ferries Info (@FerriesInfo) August 4, 2025
Heavy fog halts Sydney harbour ferries
No Sydney ferries are running at the moment due to the heavy fog, according to an advisory from the NSW transport department.
They say:
Make alternative arrangements or consider catching a bus instead. Also, listen to announcements & check info displays for updates.
At this stage there is no forecast when ferry services will resume.
⛴️SYDNEY FERRIES: No Sydney ferries are running due to the heavy fog.
🚌Make alternative arrangements or consider catching a bus instead. Also, listen to announcements & check info displays for updates.
❕At this stage there is no forecast when ferry services will resume. pic.twitter.com/eBNjkZHxXo
— Sydney Ferries Info (@FerriesInfo) August 4, 2025
Palestine Action Group plans more nationwide protests to build on ‘massive momentum’
Palestine Action Group organiser Josh Lees says the group is planning protests in Sydney and other cities following the Sydney Harbour Bridge march on Sunday, Australian Associated Press reports.
“We want to build on this massive momentum we have now,” he told reporters yesterday with protests planned for Sunday 24 August.
Despite concerns of regular marches across the bridge, Lees said the group has no plans for a repeat crossing any time soon and accused the NSW premier, Chris Minns, of having an anti-protest agenda.
Lees said:
His stance is pretty clear and he’s passed a raft of anti-protest legislation already.
We’re going to have to keep fighting for our rights to demonstrate.
Wong: two-state solution is ‘only pathway to peace and security’
Imogen Dewey
Penny Wong was asked if the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, planned to use “the threat of recognition” of a Palestinian state as “a point of leverage” as the UK has, in his forthcoming call with his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu.
She declined to say, answering: “You would anticipate that the prime minister in his international interactions, just reflects the position we articulate as an Australian government, as do I.”
She pointed to Australia’s sanctions on “extremist settlers and … entities that are associated with that”, and said:
We want to do what we can to preserve the possibility of a Palestinian state … Australia believes that’s the only way to assure peace and security for Israelis and for Palestinians.
Asked what steps the government was taking ahead of a September UN conference where Palestinian recognition will lead the agenda, Wong said there was “a lot of coordination and discussion with other parties and other countries”.
I think we all recognise this might be, I think someone said, ‘our last hope’… we cannot stand by with what is happening in Gaza and not add momentum towards two states. We cannot stand by whilst the prospect of a Palestinian state is diminished on the ground by settlements and other statements …
As I keep saying, I cannot see long-term stability and peace for Israelis and Palestinians unless the Palestinian issue is resolved: the issue of the Palestinian state. That was the promise that the international community made when we established, as a collective, the state of Israel.
Wong hails ‘extraordinary’ Sydney bridge march but hedges on further Labor action
Imogen Dewey
Australia’s foreign affairs minister was asked on the ABC’s 7.30 last night if Sunday’s march for Gaza on the Sydney Harbour Bridge would directly impact government policy.
“That was an extraordinary march and I think it demonstrates what we all feel,” Wong answered.
I know that Australians are feeling distressed, angry, upset, really horrified by what they’re seeing in Gaza. I certainly share that distress. So do ministers in the government.
The program’s host, Sarah Ferguson, pushed her: “If it wasn’t Israel, would the world’s response be tougher?”
Wong referred back to the government’s announcement yesterday of a further $20m in aid. “Even the US has made its position on [the stopping of aid] very clear … they are probably the strongest ally of Israel.”
She described ongoing deaths from starvation in the Palestinian territory as “horrific”. “As the prime minister said, it can’t be justified. It can’t be defended.”
Still, Wong did defend Australia’s response, saying:
We’re not the central player. But what we have done is worked with others in the international community to press for, to call for aid and humanitarian support to be delivered safely, and at scale. I think you have seen quite a lot, a great deal of pressure being applied to the Israelis on that front, both publicly and beyond.
Wong refused to say directly whether Israel was “using starvation as a weapon of war”, replying: “I think it is impossible to justify the withholding of aid from civilians.”
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories, and then it’ll be Nick Visser to take the controls.
Penny Wong has called the Sydney Harbour Bridge pro-Palestine march as “extraordinary” but defended the government’s refusal to follow the UK, France and Canada in taking steps towards recognising Palestinian statehood. We have details of what she said on 7.30 last night coming up.
Wong’s comments came as pro-Palestine groups said they wanted to build on the success of the Sydney protest. Further protests are planned on Sunday 24 August in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide and Perth with hopes more can be organised in other cities. More coming up.
Plus – Sydney has woken up to a foggy morning, which means (for now) the ferries aren’t running.
