Australia news live: Drugs regulator to crack down on illegal peptides; Labor to spend $100m on arthritis research
Anthony Albanese and the health minister, Mark Butler, will today announce a new arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions research mission, as part of the government’s Medical Research Future Fund.","elementId":"a65bc4df-7e3c-482a-ba86-8371296ba193"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"
The plan is designed to bring together key researchers, health professionals, industry and patients to improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the debilitating condition.","elementId":"cfd50da8-a46d-4ae2-8aea-a6276b7069a3"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"
The prime minister says:","elementId":"d42a1cfd-1d53-496d-ab16-7adbb18efa88"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement","html":"\n
For millions of Australians, living with arthritis isn’t just an ache or pain, it affects their ability to work, to stay active and to enjoy everyday life,\n
My government is investing in medical research because it is an investment that changes lives and strengthens our nation’s health.\n","elementId":"460933c0-6ac6-4511-b2e6-ab58819c7ed6"}],"attributes":{"pinned":false,"keyEvent":true,"summary":false},"blockCreatedOn":1781123014000,"blockCreatedOnDisplay":"22.23 CEST","blockLastUpdated":1781125532000,"blockLastUpdatedDisplay":"23.05 CEST","blockFirstPublished":1781124582000,"blockFirstPublishedDisplay":"22.49 CEST","blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone":"22.49","title":"New federal government funding for medical research","contributors":[{"name":"Tom McIlroy","imageUrl":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2025/04/30/Tom_McIlroy.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=7569685c8316a272bbf1c0c6f163a8af","largeImageUrl":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2025/04/30/Tom_McIlroy.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=20292f2f01dd62725df42f8216da31a6"}],"primaryDateLine":"Wed 10 Jun 2026 23.05 CEST","secondaryDateLine":"First published on Wed 10 Jun 2026 22.23 CEST"},{"id":"6a2949748f080a615eb1b59d","elements":[{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has announced a crackdown on illegal peptides, labelling the unregulated drugs a “priority focus area“ due to a surge in imports and online advertising.","elementId":"825a6a25-442a-46e2-b518-ef5e9e4d583b"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"
The medicines regulator said on Wednesday that peptides, frequently marketed for performance enhancement or anti-ageing, are increasingly being unlawfully advertised and supplied to Australians, threatening consumer safety.","elementId":"cc05266d-cc72-4e65-a442-cf1805795764"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"
Other current priority focus areas for the watchdog include melatonin, medicinal cannabis and weight loss medications.","elementId":"7663d36a-88bd-4ff5-8060-22c8b33db69a"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"
TGA chief, Prof Anthony Lawler, said:","elementId":"75e4995f-a0c8-458b-8fc1-ff051ed7fe6d"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement","html":"\n
As the availability of unapproved peptide products has increased, so too has evidence of potential risk to consumers.\n","elementId":"0097a901-af62-404f-bc50-81bc57c27d3f"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"
The TGA’s increased response to the import, supply or manufacture of unlawful peptides will include product seizures, infringement notices, import interventions and legal penalties.","elementId":"cf18e100-bcf2-472e-b73c-b14041f4ef4e"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"
The announcement follows a joint operation in April between the TGA, Australian Border Force and Victoria police, which seized $2 million worth of illegal steroids and peptides.","elementId":"921002e3-3756-4661-b982-328c9d35725f"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"
Despite peptides not being approved for human use, influencers are telling their audiences that injectable peptides are a new “glow up potion” for everything from back pain to chronic UTIs.","elementId":"40eb3583-0fa2-49b7-8cca-42b1e3f79641"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it will be Nick Visser with the main action.","elementId":"a6a66728-bbdc-463d-a8f3-cdd14619d8b7"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"
A non-profit organisation that runs a helpline for young people says there is little sign of a dip in cyberbullying or image-based abuse in the six months since teenagers under 16 have been banned from social media. More coming up.","elementId":"38f8bffa-c588-4d5b-8031-55f2db5b63a4"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has announced a crackdown on illegal peptides, labelling the unregulated drugs a “priority focus area” due to a surge in imports and online advertising. More details in a moment.","elementId":"a8d670e9-53e9-4c31-9b90-086432450359"},{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"
And the federal government has come up with $100m for more medical research into arthritis, to improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment.","elementId":"2f4ade4a-6275-4013-ac3b-085e70fdb2b9"}],"attributes":{"pinned":false,"keyEvent":true,"summary":false},"blockCreatedOn":1781123014000,"blockCreatedOnDisplay":"22.23 CEST","blockLastUpdated":1781122946000,"blockLastUpdatedDisplay":"22.22 CEST","blockFirstPublished":1781123014000,"blockFirstPublishedDisplay":"22.23 CEST","blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone":"22.23","title":"Welcome","contributors":[],"primaryDateLine":"Wed 10 Jun 2026 23.05 CEST","secondaryDateLine":"First published on Wed 10 Jun 2026 22.23 CEST"}],"id":"key-events-carousel-mobile","renderingTarget":"Web","serverTime":1781125632127}">
Key events
17m ago
New federal government funding for medical research
17m ago
New TGA crackdown targets illegal peptides
43m ago
Welcome
Good morning, it’s Nick Visser back on deck. Let’s get into it.New federal government funding for medical research
Tom McIlroy
The federal government will spend an extra $100m over 10 years for high-level arthritis research, a condition which affects some 7 million Australians.
Anthony Albanese and the health minister, Mark Butler, will today announce a new arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions research mission, as part of the government’s Medical Research Future Fund.
The plan is designed to bring together key researchers, health professionals, industry and patients to improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the debilitating condition.
The prime minister says:
double quotation mark
For millions of Australians, living with arthritis isn’t just an ache or pain, it affects their ability to work, to stay active and to enjoy everyday life,
My government is investing in medical research because it is an investment that changes lives and strengthens our nation’s health. New TGA crackdown targets illegal peptides
Ima Caldwell
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has announced a crackdown on illegal peptides, labelling the unregulated drugs a “priority focus area“ due to a surge in imports and online advertising.
The medicines regulator said on Wednesday that peptides, frequently marketed for performance enhancement or anti-ageing, are increasingly being unlawfully advertised and supplied to Australians, threatening consumer safety.
Other current priority focus areas for the watchdog include melatonin, medicinal cannabis and weight loss medications.
TGA chief, Prof Anthony Lawler, said:
double quotation mark
As the availability of unapproved peptide products has increased, so too has evidence of potential risk to consumers.
The TGA’s increased response to the import, supply or manufacture of unlawful peptides will include product seizures, infringement notices, import interventions and legal penalties.
The announcement follows a joint operation in April between the TGA, Australian Border Force and Victoria police, which seized $2 million worth of illegal steroids and peptides.
Despite peptides not being approved for human use, influencers are telling their audiences that injectable peptides are a new “glow up potion” for everything from back pain to chronic UTIs.
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it will be Nick Visser with the main action.
A non-profit organisation that runs a helpline for young people says there is little sign of a dip in cyberbullying or image-based abuse in the six months since teenagers under 16 have been banned from social media. More coming up.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has announced a crackdown on illegal peptides, labelling the unregulated drugs a “priority focus area” due to a surge in imports and online advertising. More details in a moment.
And the federal government has come up with $100m for more medical research into arthritis, to improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
