Radio National Breakfast

Australia has been drawn further into the escalating Middle East conflict, with a military surveillance plane and 85 personnel deployed to the United Arab Emirates to help defend the nation from Iranian drone attacks.

The government says it amounts to "defensive" help for the UAE and troops won't take "offensive" action against Iran, but does it mean Australia is now at war?

We ask the Foreign Minister Penny Wong and hear from the Greens. 

Then, is the escalating conflict in the Middle East the first AI war? We hear from an expert tracking how artificial intelligence is being used across the conflict. 

And the Nationals have a new leader after the surprise resignation of David Littleproud - those details on the Wrap.

Recap the morning's news, politics and global affairs with the Breakfast Wrap.

The Sydney Writers' Festival has unveiled its program for 2026.

One of the main events features Australian-Palestinian writer Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah, whose cancellation from the Adelaide Writers' Week earlier this year led to the entire event being cancelled.

• GUEST: Ann Mossop, Artistic Director of the Sydney Writers' Festival

Earlier this year, bushfires tore through parts of Victoria, destroying hundreds of structures — and burning 400,000 hectares of land.

For farmers, BlazeAid was a lifeline — a team of volunteers to help clean up, and restore critical fencing.

Since 2009, the organisation has helped thousands of landowners care for themselves and their livelihoods — pumping money back into affected communities.

GUEST: Kevin Butler, co-founder BlazeAid

They came to represent their country at the Asia Cup; now a number of players will stay behind - seeking asylum from the nation they played for just days earlier.

The federal government has granted temporary humanitarian visas to five members of the Iranian women's football team, with the government expected to announce this morning that additional players have also stayed behind.

They join generations of Iranian-Australians who have fled the brutal theocracy - with Iran regularly among the top three countries of origin for Australia's humanitarian visa program.

• GUEST: Moones Mansoubi, an Iranian-Australian woman working for Settlement Services International and coordinator of the Community Refugee Welcome Centre in Sydney's inner-west. 
• PRODUCER: Eddy Diamond 

The federal government secured bipartisan support yesterday for its decision to dispatch a surveillance plane and dozens of troops to the United Arab Emirates.

The 85 personnel will help the UAE defend itself against ongoing Iranian drone attacks.

But the decision has raised questions on the crossbench about how involved Australia may become in the US and Israeli led war on Iran's regime.

Meanwhile, on the same day as granting temporary humanitarian visas for five Iranian soccer players, the government introduced laws to block some temporary visas. 

The proposed changes to the Migration Act would allow the minister to block people travelling to Australia on temporary visas if there is a concern they might overstay.

• GUEST: Senator David Shoebridge, Greens spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Defence 
• PRODUCER: Jason Whittaker 

Australia has been drawn further into the escalating Middle East conflict, with a military surveillance plane and 85 personnel deployed to the United Arab Emirates to help defend the nation from Iranian drone attacks.

The government says it amounts to "defensive" help for the UAE and troops won't take "offensive" action against Iran.

• GUEST: Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs
• PRODUCER: Isadora Bogle

David Littleproud's leadership of the National Party survived the Coalition's historic defeat at last year's election and an ill-fated party room spill last month.

But yesterday, he walked away on his own terms, declaring he'd run out of puff.

The party must now decide on a new leader - and there are several contenders.

• GUEST: Susan McDonald, Shadow Minister for Resources and Northern Australia
• PRODUCER: Jason Whittaker

As Australians face high petrol prices in the face of extreme oil price volatility, there are concerns the agriculture sector might not have the supplies it needs.

When asked about fuel shortages in the Senate earlier this week, the Foreign Minister Penny Wong warned against panic buying; 'the primary problem is not supply, the primary problem is changes in demand.' 

• GUEST: Hamish McIntyre, President of the National Farmers Federation

Multiple international broadcasters and investigative outfits are now reporting that a deadly strike on a school in southern Iran could have been carried out by the US.

The allegations have led to US President Donald Trump facing questions about the attack, where he's accused Iran of perpetrating the strike.

Is the escalating conflict in the Middle East the first AI war?

From intelligence gathering to missile targeting and battle damage assessments - artificial intelligence has enhanced operations on the battlefront at unprecedented speed.

But as new details emerge about the alleged US involvement in a missile strike on an elementary school in southern Iran, questions have been raised about why these advances in battlefield technologies have not resulted in lower civilian deaths.

• Guest: Sarah Kreps, Director of the Tech Policy Institute at Cornell University and former US Air Force officer
• Producers: Eddy Diamond, Grace Stranger