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New Spirit of Tasmania ferries embark on historic trip

New Spirit of Tasmania ferries embark on historic trip

Keen travellers have lined up for hours to board the first sailing of new Bass Strait vessels, which are in operation after delays and cost overruns.

The Morning Wire

Saturday, October 31, 2026

On the news agenda today

Anthony Albanese is jetting off to the Caribbean as the government faces rising pressure at home

Millions of Australians will celebrate Halloween, but most still don't want trick-or-treaters rocking up

Charlotte Littlefield believes Concord Connie can deliver her a maiden Group 1 win in the Empire Rose Stakes

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Top Stories

Trump and Clinton rally as early voting surges

Trump and Clinton rally as early voting surges

4 hours ago

Liberals surge in polls as leader signs up for debate

Liberals surge in polls as leader signs up for debate

6 hours ago

Jetsetting PM jettisons turbulence, hopes for reset

Jetsetting PM jettisons turbulence, hopes for reset

9 hours ago

Binance seeks to shore up confidence after $9b heist

Binance seeks to shore up confidence after $9b heist

10 hours ago

'Serious harm': all eyes on Australia over toxic spray

'Serious harm': all eyes on Australia over toxic spray

11 hours ago

Residents leave stricken Ukrainian city as truce holds

Residents leave stricken Ukrainian city as truce holds

13 hours ago

Brand 'snapped' and groped women, prosecutor tells jury

14 hours ago

Killer Erin Patterson to consider High Court challenge

Killer Erin Patterson to consider High Court challenge

16 hours ago

Spanish minister refuses to resign over train crash

Spanish minister refuses to resign over train crash

19 hours ago

Evacuation begins as aid enters stricken Ukrainian city

Evacuation begins as aid enters stricken Ukrainian city

22 hours ago

Latest in Politics

'Not going to defect': Hanson downplays staffing issue

'Not going to defect': Hanson downplays staffing issue

yesterday

Burnout warning as AI rolled out for public servants

Burnout warning as AI rolled out for public servants

yesterday

Farmers led down 'dead end' on opposition to EU deal

Farmers led down 'dead end' on opposition to EU deal

yesterday

$Tiny fraction of rentals inspected amid housing crunch$

Tiny fraction of rentals inspected amid housing crunch

yesterday

Nationals deny coalition friction over EU trade deal

Nationals deny coalition friction over EU trade deal

2 days ago

Pothole promises pile up, but spark state debt concerns

Pothole promises pile up, but spark state debt concerns

2 days ago

Consequences murky for out-of-control special forces

Consequences murky for out-of-control special forces

2 days ago

Military chief chides senator on disclosing harassment

Military chief chides senator on disclosing harassment

2 days ago

Authorities investigate if Aussies in fatal crash

Authorities investigate if Aussies in fatal crash

2 days ago

Government must 'explain' itself, listen on migration

Government must 'explain' itself, listen on migration

2 days ago

Specialist Desks

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Gender Equality

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Transparency and Democracy

Latest in Courts

Fraudulent funeral insurer boss fined over breach

Fraudulent funeral insurer boss fined over breach

yesterday

Court approves coalmine despite environmental concerns

Court approves coalmine despite environmental concerns

yesterday

'You can both die': Sam Wood denied bail on DV charges

'You can both die': Sam Wood denied bail on DV charges

yesterday

'Cruel' mushroom killer in rare air as key thrown away

'Cruel' mushroom killer in rare air as key thrown away

yesterday

Alleged terror prepper 'got machete, explosive guides'

Alleged terror prepper 'got machete, explosive guides'

yesterday

'Horrific': hundreds more charges for vile child abuser

'Horrific': hundreds more charges for vile child abuser

yesterday

Wife says 'kind' Brand cheated while they were dating

yesterday

Location and intent disputed after man's alleged murder

Location and intent disputed after man's alleged murder

2 days ago

Murder accused 'kissed, held, spoke to' wife's body

Murder accused 'kissed, held, spoke to' wife's body

2 days ago

Bloody scissors could hold answer to grandma's death

Bloody scissors could hold answer to grandma's death

2 days ago

Latest in General

Two dead in multi-vehicle crash near holiday hotspot

Two dead in multi-vehicle crash near holiday hotspot

1 hour ago

Severe weather warnings as cold front meets warm air

Severe weather warnings as cold front meets warm air

4 hours ago

Little Cleo's recovery so fortunate, say crime experts

Little Cleo's recovery so fortunate, say crime experts

12 hours ago

Aussies spellbound by Halloween despite doorknock dread

Aussies spellbound by Halloween despite doorknock dread

16 hours ago

Tough state bail laws passed as murdered boy remembered

Tough state bail laws passed as murdered boy remembered

yesterday

Run-it-straight return heralds new era of brutal sport

Run-it-straight return heralds new era of brutal sport

yesterday

'Our Opera House': spirits high for arrival of ferries

'Our Opera House': spirits high for arrival of ferries

yesterday

'Orwellian': Jewish group pushes back on envoy report

'Orwellian': Jewish group pushes back on envoy report

yesterday

Teen allegedly promoted mass casualty attack online

Teen allegedly promoted mass casualty attack online

2 days ago

Childcare centre charged after kids wander into lifts

Childcare centre charged after kids wander into lifts

2 days ago

Latest in Finance

Fears Australians caught up in Spanish train disaster

Fears Australians caught up in Spanish train disaster

23 hours ago

Aussie shares finish the week higher as banks improve

Aussie shares finish the week higher as banks improve

yesterday

Gas bosses turn up heat with 'market failure' warnings

Gas bosses turn up heat with 'market failure' warnings

yesterday

'Down, down': Coles supermarket sales trail big rival

'Down, down': Coles supermarket sales trail big rival

yesterday

'Excited': sleep apnoea machine maker beats forecasts

'Excited': sleep apnoea machine maker beats forecasts

yesterday

Liquor giant soothes shareholders in tough market

Liquor giant soothes shareholders in tough market

yesterday

Inquiry to ensure Australia Post continues to deliver

Inquiry to ensure Australia Post continues to deliver

yesterday

Banks, energy stocks lead Aussie market higher

Banks, energy stocks lead Aussie market higher

2 days ago

Soft spending and supply pain hit major retailers

Soft spending and supply pain hit major retailers

2 days ago

Corporate watchdog to probe failed $44b Firmus float

Corporate watchdog to probe failed $44b Firmus float

2 days ago

Latest in Sport

Send off mars Kiwis' thumping Fiji win to secure semi

Send off mars Kiwis' thumping Fiji win to secure semi

35 minutes ago

Roos seal AFLW minor premiership as Blues star injured

Roos seal AFLW minor premiership as Blues star injured

55 minutes ago

Mariners young gun continues dominance for ALW leaders

Mariners young gun continues dominance for ALW leaders

26 minutes ago

Understrength Strikers shoot Stars down in WBBL

Understrength Strikers shoot Stars down in WBBL

1 hour ago

Qld rally after Harper launches Vics in flying start

Qld rally after Harper launches Vics in flying start

1 hour ago

Mabil and Marcondes magic steer City past Sydney

Mabil and Marcondes magic steer City past Sydney

1 hour ago

Aussie eyes rare crack at LPGA Tour glory

Aussie eyes rare crack at LPGA Tour glory

1 hour ago

Derby win headlines fresh G1 success for J-Mac, Waller

Derby win headlines fresh G1 success for J-Mac, Waller

1 hour ago

Phoenix 'delighted' to stay perfect with away Jets win

Phoenix 'delighted' to stay perfect with away Jets win

2 hours ago

WA hand reigning Shield champions second straight loss

WA hand reigning Shield champions second straight loss

3 hours ago

Latest in World

Spanish train was going 160km/h when it hit second one

Spanish train was going 160km/h when it hit second one

22 hours ago

Trump cancels weekend rallies days out from election

Trump cancels weekend rallies days out from election

23 hours ago

Pressure mounts on Spain train crash probe, toll rises

Pressure mounts on Spain train crash probe, toll rises

yesterday

Netanyahu’s party claims Israeli election was 'stolen'

Netanyahu’s party claims Israeli election was 'stolen'

yesterday

'Cruel': Russian drone strike kills 14 on rail platform

'Cruel': Russian drone strike kills 14 on rail platform

yesterday

Spain mourns after second deadly train crash in months

Spain mourns after second deadly train crash in months

yesterday

Israelis await vote results as tough choices lie ahead

Israelis await vote results as tough choices lie ahead

2 days ago

US warns allies of possible Iran strikes after midterms

US warns allies of possible Iran strikes after midterms

2 days ago

Iran sees 'only unacceptable ideas' in new draft deal

Iran sees 'only unacceptable ideas' in new draft deal

2 days ago

In the US, Bolsonaro says he's Brazil's president-elect

In the US, Bolsonaro says he's Brazil's president-elect

2 days ago

Latest in FactCheck

No, Philippines has not passed law to execute corrupt politicians

No, Philippines has not passed law to execute corrupt politicians

yesterday

TV interview misrepresented to suggest Helen Haines 'attack' was a hoax

TV interview misrepresented to suggest Helen Haines 'attack' was a hoax

2 days ago

Disinformation pages fabricate Angus Taylor "go back to your country" quote

Disinformation pages fabricate Angus Taylor "go back to your country" quote

2 days ago

Clickbait posts spread fake quotes about Helen Haines

Clickbait posts spread fake quotes about Helen Haines

3 days ago

Fabricated headlines distort allegations against Greens senator

Fabricated headlines distort allegations against Greens senator

3 days ago

Fake footage of French riots spreads online

Fake footage of French riots spreads online

4 days ago

Foreign disinformation operators fake Pauline Hanson health scare

Foreign disinformation operators fake Pauline Hanson health scare

4 days ago

Footage of plane exploding is an AI fabrication

Footage of plane exploding is an AI fabrication

4 days ago

Fake Paul Keating quote targets NSW premier and Israel

Fake Paul Keating quote targets NSW premier and Israel

4 days ago

Fake AI doctors used to promote one-star antifungal treatment

Fake AI doctors used to promote one-star antifungal treatment

4 days ago