News of the Day - with Tim Gilbert

Published Jun 21, 2025, 8:01 PM

Tim Gilbert, from Weekend Edition on Sky News, spoke to Pat Panetta to discuss the latest breaking news. 

Join the conversation across the nation. This is Australia overnight. Let's talk on that number one double three six ninety three can give me a bell. But firstly we need to have a chat to Tim Gilbert, the weekend presenter of Sky News on the Italian streaming. He joins us on the line right now as he heads into work.

Good a Tim, Good morning Pat. Yes, heading in for weekend edition this morning. And look the news cycle. You just look at it and say, where do we start? Where is trying to bring everything to the news Bulleton's not that easy because there's so much to talk about.

Including I was thinking that you've been doing this a long time, Tim, and the news cycle you know it inside out, but all eyes really a heavy focus. You get a lot on the program. But of course you know nothing's going to happen this weekend, and we hope nothing happened this weekend. But Donald Trump and the decision about entering in that conflict with Israel and Iran, that has to be a major focus for you and the dilemma that's facing him. And also, excuse me, tying in our Prime Minister Albanezi and he's meeting with Trump yeah.

Well, the thing here is he's obviously giving himself this two week buffer, Donald Trump, And it's a dilemma which is very much internal as well because of the split in the mega movement. Remember that Donald Trump came to power on the back of the whole idea of America First, and many people, many of his backers supporters, obviously want to distance themselves from being this international police. It was an interesting discussion yesterday through the four hours that I was on air, talking to different people and getting different views.

Like you talk to one person and who was a.

Political expert, he said, well, if you had to make me say what I think, and this is what he thought. He thought basically that if Trump or America was going to do something, they would have already done it. So look, it's an interesting watch. A lot of internal stuff going on in the United States. Of course, it's probably his big challenge, isn't it internally because most of or many of the movement don't want America being involved too much overseas. It's all about what happens on their doorstep there you are.

That is a dilemma. How interesting because that was that was that was his mandate, America First, keeping away from being, as you say, the international police person. But this is this is not in line with that. It's a big decision. It's interesting to hear that most are encouraging him not to do so. It's a defining moment for Trump, isn't it. It's a big It's a big one for him that could sort of go either way as far as his leadership.

Yeah. Absolutely, And look, he's he's one of a kind, isn't he?

Donald Trump?

And look a lot has been made And you mentioned it in our intro to the meeting that Anthony Albaneze was going to have earlier this week at the G seven with Donald trumpet because of what was happening in.

The Middle East and various other reasons, Donald Trump left the G.

Seven in Canada early. Look again, we see a split ideology here in Australia, depending on maybe it sort of goes down party lines. But there's one school of thoughts saying that we must desperately get this meeting and you get all this all wrapped up and you know, get the dialogue going and sit down and break.

Bread and do everything that has been done in the past.

But there's the other school of thoughts saying, well, really do we need to How.

Important are we to the US.

And that doesn't mean we overplay our hand or get over confident or get conceded or big headed about it. But look, we're pretty pivotal to the United States, you know, when you look geographically, we're pretty important to what they need to be going forward.

Yeah, I can see an argument.

I can see the argument on both sides the Well, I hope somebody tells that Donald Trump that I agree with you, that's right. We have some value in the whole agreement. And maybe the fact that he didn't get the meeting this time around doesn't matter. Tim Gilberts on the line, Sky News presenter a weekend edition of sky On News. You'll see him on the Italian streaming pretty soon later on this morning. Now. Also, the deciding game with the state of origin is not too far away in Sydney. This is exciting.

Yeah, it's interesting, isn't the state of origin? How it has really caught the imagination of a large part of the Australian or it's not the whole of the Australian population. My sister who lives in Melbourne, her whole family was jumping up and down, so people are watching closely from non traditional.

Rugby league parts of the world.

It was a wet old game in Perth on Wednesday night, of course, again another AFL city, but it is all locked up for a decider in Sydney. And I'll tell you what, Pat, The game had barely ended and the phone started going off. Mate, Look if there's any tickets.

That just come across you.

Yeah to you?

So yeah, I've had such a look, I've been lucky.

I've had such a rich history in rugby league and I do a lot of work for you South Wales Rugby League.

But look, yeah, it's set up, it's set up wonderfully in Sydney.

It's going to be a capacity crowd and.

Arguably the largest TV audience of the year, and just on sport. I just wanted to and I'm not going to make our Geelong listeners very happy here.

But what about this Brisbane Lions team of the modern era and knocking off that twenty two year who do know?

They spoil Patrick Dangerfield's party. But really it's really good to acknowledge good, strong sporting teams, isn't it.

And they are one at the moment. They nipping at the heels of Collingwood.

And well that's what you talk about the year they are and Collingwood have a great season as well. So there's the Brisbane line and maybe the state of origin as well. We'll we'll find out when they play the third game. They'll be pretty happy campus in Brisbane and Queensland if they could do that as well.

Yeah, let's hope that doesn't happen past.

I'm a very broad New South well, of course, blue that game is just so you know, it's what the eighth or ninth of July, whatever the Wednesday is.

Of that week, it is the eighth or ninth of July, so yep, that's when that's when the big one will be played.

I used to work in the promotions department here. That's where I've worked closely with your brother at this radio station. Same thing, the tickets hit the desk if there was the show on the local show or something near, the phone would start ringing and say, oh can I some tickets? So another feeling another feeling good on your mate.

And you also know the way that people word it.

It's like if they come across your desk and you sort of have to sort of break it slowly. Well, it actually don't have a desk.

Yeah.

Well but anyway, it's all good. But let me let me double book confirm me exactly. It is the ninth Yeah, it is the ninth of July. State of Origin a course stadium. Matute.

Good on you mate. I reached for the phone, but I said, oh well, I'll let him do it. Okay, So it's there you are for the deciding game of State of Origin. Wonderful mate. Well we'll see on the TV, as you say, the new cycle a lot to talk about. So good on your Tim. You did a great job, of course yesterday and every weekend. We'll catch you again today on Sky News. We appreciate your time. Thank you mate.

You have a good day. Pat yet weekend edition. We'll be on real soon on Sky News. Thanks mate.

There is Tim Gilbert from Sky News on Australia Overnight