Key events
PM joins Ukraine allies in virtual call
Anthony Albanese also joined a virtual meeting with world leaders signed up to the coalition of the willing for Ukraine last night.
Australia stands with Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion.
Today I took part in another Coalition of the Willing virtual meeting, hosted by President @EmmanuelMacron and Prime Minister @Keir_Starmer alongside President @ZelenskyyUa and other…
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) September 4, 2025
The meeting was convened by French president, Emmanuel Macron, and UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, alongside the Ukrainian president, Volodymr Zelenskyy.
Other leaders from Europe, New Zealand and Canada also joined the call.
The group discussed continued support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s aggression, and the coalition of the willing’s commitment to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.
A government readout from the meeting said: “Australia stands with Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion. With our partners we will keep working towards just and lasting peace for Ukraine on its own terms.”
Two dead after being hit by car while trying to rescue injured animal
Two women have died after being hit by a car while trying to help an injured animal on the Hume Freeway in Melbourne’s north.
Victorian police said emergency services were called to reports two females had been struck by a car just after 7.30pm.
It is believed the pair had stopped to assist an injured animal before they were struck, police said.
A 30-year-old woman died at the scene and another 30-year-old woman was airlifted to hospital but died shortly afterwards.
The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and assisted police. The exact circumstances of the collision are being investigated, police said.
Albanese discusses trade and security with Trump
The prime minister was on the phone to Donald Trump last night in what Albanese called “another warm and constructive conversation”.
Tonight I had another warm and constructive conversation with President @realDonaldTrump.
We discussed our trade and economic relationship as well as areas for growth including critical minerals.
We also discussed shared US-Australia security interests.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) September 4, 2025
In their fourth call since the president was re-elected, the pair discussed economic cooperation between Australia and the United States, according to Albanese’s office.
They also spoke about opportunities to work together on trade and critical minerals in the interests of both nations.
The leaders also discussed “the strength of our relationship and the importance of our shared security interests”.
It comes ahead of what the Australian government hopes will be a face-to-face meeting between the two leaders when Albanese travels to New York later this month for the UN general assembly. The two were expected to see each other in June on the sidelines of a G7 summit in Canada, but the meeting was cancelled as Trump returned to the US early.
The deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, met the US vice president, JD Vance, in Washington DC last week, as well as the defence secretary, Pete Hegseth – though the White House initially said there was no meeting with Hegseth.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories before your morning blogger gets into the chair.
Anthony Albanese said he had a “warm and constructive conversation” with Donald Trump last night in which they discussed trade and shared security interests. The prime minister is hoping to have an in-person meeting with Trump when he travels to New York later this month for the UN general assembly.
In a busy evening for Albanese, he also joined a virtual meeting with world leaders signed up to a new coalition of the willing for Ukraine.
Plus: a tragic story from Melbourne, where two women have died after being hit by a car while trying to help an injured animal. More on that soon.
