News live: Australian government evacuates families of diplomats as tensions rise in Middle East

Key events24s agoNSW premier Chris Minns plans crackdown on anti-gay violence17m agoAustralians advised to reconsider travel to Lebanon20m agoWelcomeShow key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this featureNSW premier Chris Minns plans crackdown on anti-gay violenceNSW premier Chris Minns is examining changes to the law to deal with hate crimes against gay and bisexual people in the wake of shocking reports of Islamic State-inspred violence.After an ABC report detailed several attacks in Sydney, Minns said last night he had spoken to cabinet office officials and the attorney general’s department about “looking at changes to the law to put in massive new penalties specifically to target this abhorrent behaviour”. double quotation markWe will not allow a situation in New South Wales where people are being targeted because of their sexuality by somebody else. I want to make sure that we’re in a situation where police have got the resources, the DPP has the resources, so that if someone is convicted of a crime like that, they can throw the book at them and they are subject to a significant jail penalty. It is never acceptable, and I can imagine there’d a lot of young people, a lot of gay people online who would ordinarily expect to meet someone in their community and do it in a safe way, to be targeted in this way, it’s a throwback to a shocking period in Sydney’s history, and it will not be tolerated in 2026. We’ll be looking at urgent legislation soon to target this shocking new crime. Australians advised to reconsider travel to LebanonAustralia has directed the departure of all dependants of Australian officials posted in Israel and Lebanon, as a precautionary measure due to regional tensions.The government has also offered voluntary departures to dependants of Australian officials posted in Jordan, Qatar and the UAE and continues to advise exercise a high degree of caution in these destinations.Australia’s embassies in Tel Aviv and Beirut remained open but the situation in the Middle East was “unpredictable” and the department of foreign affairs said people should reconsider travel to Lebanon and Israel.“If you’re in [these two countries], we continue to advise you consider leaving while commercial options to depart are still available,” Dfat said on its Smartraveller website.The site warned last night: double quotation markThe security situation in the Middle East is unpredictable. Regional tensions remain high and there continues to be a risk of military conflict. The situation could deteriorate with no warning. It said Australians should monitor events, follow the advice of local authorities and follow the latest updates at Smartraveller.gov.au.WelcomeGood morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the morning’s breaking news before Nick Visser takes the wheel.The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, is examining changes to the law to deal with hate crimes against gay and bisexual people after shocking reports of Islamic State-inspred violence. More coming up.Two men will appear at Bankstown local court today charged with the kidnapping and murder of 85-year-old Chris Baghsarian, whose body was found on the outskirts of Sydney this week. The pair were arrested yesterday before police said last night that they had been charged.And as tensions rise in the Middle East, the Australian government has ordered evacuations for the families of diplomats and officials in Lebanon and Israel, and offered voluntary evacuations to those in three other countries.