Australia news live: Hutton says Greens ‘taken over by a cult’ after expulsion from party; Butler shocked by SA algal bloom

<p>Follow today’s news live</p><ul><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">breaking news email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>Hutton issued his own statement declaring that the “Greens have been taken over by a cult”:</p><p>They have abandoned the historic mission I believed they had when I founded the party, a mission to help bring about an ecologically sustainable world. Like all cults they are deeply authoritarian and don’t believe in freedom of speech.</p><p>They should change the name of the party from the Greens to the Extreme Transgender Party.</p><p>This decision reflects the Greens’ position as endorsed by its membership – that trans rights are non-negotiable human rights, a position <a href="https://greens.org.au/qld/support-the-trans-community">publicly reaffirmed in 2022</a>. No one should be subjected to violence or hate speech on the basis of their gender, nor their race, sexual identity, ethnicity, or religion.</p><p>It is disheartening to see that Mr Hutton has prioritised his perceived right to free speech over the safety of others.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2025/jul/21/australia-news-live-tasmania-election-labor-liberal-coalition-anthoney-albanese-sussan-ley-south-australia-algal-bloom-ntwnfb">Continue reading...</a>