AustraliaOwnership & classification
Founded: 1980
Ownership
SBS News is the news service of the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS), Australia's multicultural public service broadcaster. SBS was created by federal legislation (the 1977 amendment to the Broadcasting and Television Act, effective 1978) to run ethnic broadcasting, with full television transmission beginning on 24 October 1980. It is a statutory corporation wholly owned by the Australian Government, governed by a board appointed by the government but with editorial independence enshrined in the SBS Act.
Funding
Hybrid-funded: roughly 80% of its budget comes from an annual federal government appropriation, with the remainder from commercial activities including limited advertising and sponsorship.
Affiliation & stance
SBS is a government-owned public broadcaster funded primarily from the federal budget, which makes it STATE; however, its editorial independence is legally protected and the government does not direct programming, supporting its centrist, impartial news stance.
Editorial lean
- Our estimate
- Center
- Measured from coverage
- Centerbased on 137
79/100
Factual
72/100
Objective
242
Articles
242
reports
Top stories
Most covered right now
World Cup round-up: Messi breaks scoring record, Algeria survive, but Jordan are eliminated
Elite Swedish strike force delivers Tunisian defence a reality check
Auction clearance rates fall to lowest level in six years
Overview of data and facts The main information on the 2026 World Cup
ASX falls as tech stocks, gold miners decline; WiseTech extends its slump
UK in limbo as Burnham challenge brings chaos to Starmer cabinet
Greens claw back Butler’s NDIS powers as price for passing negative gearing, CGT overhaul
Bird flu is here. Can we stop the spread?
Bird flu prompts Papua New Guinea to ban Australian chicken and egg imports
Recent coverage
Sudan's RSF closes in on Al Obeid as UN warned of imminent atrocities
Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group, is advancing toward Al Obeid in the North Kordofan region, which is currently held by the Sudanese army. The city has experienced significant disruptions due to RSF drone strikes targeting both military and civilian infrastructure, including the main power station, leading to power outages, water shortages, and hospital operations being affected. Residents report that life remains mostly normal despite these challenges, though fuel shortages persist after attacks on gas stations. Videos circulating online show RSF fighters claiming they will capture Al Obeid within days. Al Obeid is strategically important as it houses the army's 5th Infantry Division and serves as a major commercial hub. Losing this city would be a significant setback for the army, similar to their previous loss of El Fasher in Darfur, which led to widespread atrocities by the RSF. In response, multiple countries, including Norway, Britain, France, and Germany, have raised concerns at the UN Human Rights Council, warning of potential large-scale atrocities if the RSF escalates its assault on Al Obeid.
An American gets the maximum amount of recovery time at Wimbledon.
The article discusses the scheduling of the first-round doubles match at Wimbledon involving American tennis player Serena Williams and her sister Venus Williams against the Argentine-Colombian pair Solana Sierra and Camila Osorio. The match was initially scheduled for Thursday and Friday but has been postponed due to Serena's injury during her singles match. Tournament organizer Andy Murray (likely a misstatement, as Andy Murray is a British player, and the correct name might be someone like Ashley Barker or another official) stated they are giving Serena as much time as possible to recover. They ruled out postponing the match to later dates unless necessary for safety or tournament flow. The match is expected to take place on a larger court to accommodate the large crowd attracted by Serena and Venus, who are major stars. Serena returned to professional tennis after four years, but she lost her first singles match and injured her knee. She did not attend a press conference afterward due to health reasons and expressed her commitment to participating in the doubles event. Serena and Venus have won six doubles titles together, including a title in 2016.
Suspected bird flu case found in NSW, authorities say
A suspected case of the deadly H5N1 bird flu has been detected in a migratory bird in New South Wales (NSW), marking the potential spread of the virus to a third Australian state. This follows five confirmed cases in wild seabirds across Western Australia and South Australia since early June. Authorities emphasize that the virus has not yet spread to local poultry populations or caused mass wildlife deaths. NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriaty and Chief Veterinary Officer Jo Coombe confirmed the discovery during a press conference, highlighting increased preparedness and expanded surveillance efforts. The virus, which has devastated bird populations globally, was previously absent in Australia until its detection on the mainland in late June. Public health advisories urge people to avoid contact with sick or dead wildlife and report findings to emergency hotlines.
What happens if Australia beat Egypt in the World Cup Round of 32?
This article discusses Australia's potential World Cup match against Egypt in the Round of 32, highlighting it as a significant opportunity for the Socceroos to achieve their first win in a World Cup knockout match. The Opta supercomputer predicts a 46.02% chance of Australia defeating Egypt, which would advance them to the Round of 16 where they could face the winner of Argentina vs. Cape Verde. The article outlines various hypothetical paths for Australia's progression through the tournament, including improbable scenarios such as reaching the quarter-finals (11.2%) and the semifinals (4.47%). It emphasizes the competitive nature of the matchups and provides details about the scheduling and locations of these potential games.
Australia news LIVE: Pay rises, tax cuts for millions of workers as July 1 changes come into effect; house prices across capital cities suffer biggest fall in four years
The article covers multiple news stories from around the world. It begins with reports on Venezuela, where aid groups warn that the country's healthcare system is under strain due to recent earthquakes. Hospitals are struggling with overcrowding and treating both injured individuals and those suffering from infectious diseases. The situation has worsened as the number of rescue operations has sharply declined over the past few days. Next, the piece discusses anti-migrant protests in South Africa, where demonstrators have taken to the streets demanding that undocumented immigrants leave the country. These protests have led to violence, looting, and the displacement of many foreign nationals. The article then highlights concerns about major consulting firms like PwC and KPMG, with the Australian government proposing regulatory changes to address ethical issues and restore public trust. Finally, there is a brief mention of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese remaining silent regarding a cybersecurity incident involving his personal bank account.
Deeming wins stay of execution as Liberal Party delays meeting on her future
Moira Deeming, a Liberal Party candidate in Victoria, has secured a temporary reprieve from potential disendorsement after the party agreed to delay its decision by two weeks. The delay comes as Deeming challenges the party's attempt to remove her due to her refusal to apologize for an unsubstantiated assault allegation against former leader Matthew Guy. Lawyers representing Liberal state president Brian Loughnane assured the Supreme Court that the party would wait until the outcome of Deeming's legal challenge before taking further action. Deeming's legal team argued that the party must provide her with natural justice if it wishes to disendorse her, while the party claims it has already done so by inviting her to present her case at a scheduled executive meeting. If disendorsed, Deeming's political career could effectively end. Meanwhile, Deeming has been considered as a potential candidate for Pauline Hanson's One Nation party, though Hanson has rejected her, citing a lack of integrity.
Five burning questions facing Popovic’s Socceroos before their date with destiny
The article discusses the strategic decisions facing Australian football coach Tony Popovic ahead of the Socceroos' crucial World Cup match against Egypt. Popovic is known for frequently changing his lineup based on opponent analysis and undisclosed information, making it uncertain whether he'll field an unchanged team in this high-stakes game. The article highlights concerns over Mohamed Salah's fitness and his potential impact on Egypt's tactics, despite his likely participation. While Salah is a key figure for Egypt, the article notes that other players like Omar Marmoush and Trezeguet also pose threats. Australia's defense has been strong, conceding very few expected goals in the group stage, and the team emphasizes maintaining focus to prevent Egypt from creating scoring opportunities.
The first day of the knockout phase, Canada is in the last eight.
The article covers various developments during the FIFA World Cup, focusing on team performances and related controversies. Canada advanced to the round of 16 by defeating South Africa 1:0, while France faced backlash over a controversial caricature published by the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. The image depicted former coach Didier Deschamps holding a coffin of his late mother, sparking a public debate. The French Football Association and politicians defended the publication, emphasizing freedom of expression. Other topics include criticism of Portugal’s performance, concerns about England’s travel schedule, and a bizarre goal-scoring incident involving Algeria. The article also mentions other teams advancing to the next stage, including Croatia, DR Congo, Austria, and Algeria.
Extreme heat conference cancelled due to extreme heat
On June 24, 2026, the London School of Economics canceled an event discussing extreme heat due to dangerously high temperatures in England, reaching 35°C—12°C above average. The event was meant to kick off London Climate Week and featured prominent climate experts. The LSE cited safety concerns, noting the venue lacked cooling systems. Across Europe, the heatwave led to severe impacts: the London Ambulance Service handled over 7,900 calls, with 642 classified as critical. Hospitals in France struggled with patient overload, and over 1000 excess deaths were reported. Drowning incidents rose as people sought relief in water, and tragic cases involved children trapped in vehicles. French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged the unprecedented nature of the heatwave, emphasizing the need for greater preparedness. The World Health Organization warned that extreme heat will become more frequent, stressing that failing to adapt risks loss of life.
Australian murder suspect shopped and did laundry while girl’s body sat in suitcase
An Australian man, Simon Peter Carman, has been arrested in Thailand after police allege he murdered a 17-year-old local girl and concealed her body in a suitcase. According to authorities, Carman engaged in normal activities such as shopping, dining, and doing laundry while the girl's body was reportedly stored in the suitcase in his hotel room. Surveillance footage played a crucial role in his identification and arrest at Bangkok's airport before he could flee to Australia. Carman claims self-defense, but police have presented evidence including CCTV footage showing him dragging the suitcase and later returning without it. The victim, identified as Thanchanok Donhomla, had traveled to Jomtien to meet friends but disappeared shortly afterward. Authorities were suspicious due to prior incidents involving foreign suspects fleeing the country after committing crimes.
Australia facing unprecedented levels of online hate speech, antisemitism inquiry told
The Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion has heard concerns about rising online hate speech and antisemitism in Australia, with Jewish representatives sharing personal experiences of targeted abuse. Testimonies highlighted issues such as political manipulation of incidents like the Bondi shooting to scapegoat Palestinian and Muslim communities, and harmful comments like suggesting repurposing oil refineries as 'makeshift concentration camps.' Jewish leaders emphasized that criticism of Israeli policies is distinct from antisemitism, while Labor MP Josh Burns described the emergence of an 'us and them' narrative online that falsely equates Jewish Australians with support for Israeli actions in Gaza. He linked this rhetoric to real-world attacks, including an incident at his workplace in June 2024 and misogynistic abuse faced by his non-Jewish partner.
Russia strikes in central Kyiv kill at least 13 people and injure dozens
Russian forces launched a major attack on Kyiv, Ukraine, using drones and missiles, resulting in at least 17 deaths and 86 injuries. The assault targeted residential areas and civilian infrastructure, with damage reported in 30 locations. Ukrainian authorities confirmed the casualties and called for increased air defenses, urging international allies for support. Russian President Vladimir Putin was informed of the strike, and the Kremlin stated Moscow would continue applying pressure on Ukraine. The attack marked Russia's strongest assault on Kyiv since mid-June, prompting emergency responses and evacuations across the city. Neighboring Poland took precautionary measures by scrambling fighter jets.
The Socceroos diehards putting on a festival in an unlikely location
Australian football fans in Jabal Mohsen, a neighborhood in Tripoli, Lebanon, organized a unique festival to support the Socceroos ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The event featured Aussie flags, T-shirts, and chants like 'Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! Oi, oi, oi!' despite Lebanon's lack of World Cup qualification history. Organizers highlighted strong cultural ties between Jabal Mohsen and Australia, noting many residents have family members living in Australia. These connections stem from Lebanese-Australians who migrated in the 1970s and 1980s, creating a supportive network where Australians provide financial aid to relatives in Lebanon. Similar festivals were held for Brazil and Germany, reflecting broader community solidarity.
Overlooked
Under-reported & one-sided
