What we learned: Wednesday 19 March
We will wrap up the live blog here for the evening. Here’s what made the news:
The shadow treasurer Angus Taylor has said it is not the Coalition policy to hold a referendum on deporting dual citizens if it wins the election, but several of his colleagues have not ruled it out.
The Coalition, however, has floated the idea of adding a question to the citizenship test around antisemitism.
Deputy prime minister Richard Marles said the Gaza ceasefire breakdown is “very disappointing” and Australia wanted to “see the entire terms of the ceasefire fulfilled”.
The Coalition is promising to fast-track a decision on Woodside’s North West Shelf gas extension if it wins the upcoming federal election.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, labelled the announcement a thought bubble.
The embattled billionaire founder of software firm WiseTech Global, Richard White, made “incomplete” disclosures to the company about the nature and length of personal relationships, according to a board-ordered review into his conduct.
The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, issued a short statement hitting back at a report in the Herald Sun, which alleged the police commissioner and deputy commissioner were removed from their roles last month due to a conspiracy.
North Queensland has endured substantial rainfall through the course of Wednesday.
Factcheckers will be in operation on posts on Facebook and Instagram during the Australian federal election this year, with the move to ditch factcheckers limited to the US for now.
Until tomorrow, enjoy your evening.
Judge orders Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson to pay own costs in Bruce Lehrmann defamation case
Justice Michael Lee ordered Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson pay their own costs as he ended a long-running dispute over the legal costs incurred by the defence in the defamation brought by Bruce Lehrmann.
Ten has already agreed to pay $1.15m to Wilkinson for her own legal representation but the outstanding costs incurred by both parties in the costs dispute came before the federal court today.
Lee said he will “make no orders as to cost”. “I’m not going to have any further disputation,” he said.
“I do not find either party acted unreasonably, but this is not the same as concluding each party acted equally reasonably in engaging with the process, given the nature of the dispute, this is regrettable,” Lee said.
“It took so long for Ms Wilkinson to make an offer, which, even when it came would, even if accepted, had perpetuated an aspect of disputation.”
Lee said he wanted to spare “both myself and the court being required to have any further involvement at this stage of the judicial hierarchy” and declared the matter settled.
Updated
US looking like an ‘unreliable’ research partner, Australian unis boss says
The chief executive of Universities Australia (UA), Luke Sheehy, appeared on ABC Canberra Drive this afternoon to discuss the Trump administration’s intention to terminate research contracts with some Australian universities.
He said the revelation today that the US had sent a letter to ANU intending to terminate a research project was “really concerning”.
Our greatest research partner in the US is looking like it’s becoming unreliable.
Sheehy said US funding accounted for more than $500m in 2024 alone - making it by far the biggest external funder of Australia’s research system. He added universities contacted by the US weren’t just research intensive institutions but extended to regional and technology-based campuses.
This is an important and alarming development, and we want to keep an eye on it, and we want to make sure that the Australian government provides us a pathway and some clarity on what we should do next … it’s a really worrying trend … to see funding pulled from the biggest foreign partner that we have in this country.
Sheehy confirmed UA was in dialogue with government agencies, the US embassy and the prime minister and cabinet over developments on US funding.
He urged the federal government to sign up to the European Horizon program, one of the largest sources of research globally, in the face of an increasingly unreliable US. New Zealand and Britain have joined it, while Australia initially declined.
Updated
US intends to terminate funding for ANU project
The Australian National University (ANU) has been told the US intends to terminate funding for a research project.
The news comes amid broad-ranging cuts to higher education imposed by the Trump administration and the tying of its DEI agenda to the sector.
A spokesperson for ANU said the university had received a letter from the US government “indicating an intent to terminate funding related to one research project”.
We are committed to working with our affected researchers and developing appropriate remediation plans. We remain committed to doing distinctive research in the service of our community and our country.
Last week, the Group of Eight confirmed six sandstone universities it represented had research grants suspended or terminated in line with changes introduced by the Trump administration, without specifying the institutions.
Separately a questionnaire, sent to university researchers over the past fortnight, has sought a response to more than 30 questions to support “program determinations”, many of which asked to confirm they aligned with US government interests, including only recognising two genders.
Updated
Antisemitism question ‘a distraction’ says Chaney
Independent MP Kate Chaney says the opposition leader, Peter Dutton’s, proposal for an antisemitism question in the citizenship test is “out of the Trump playbook”.
She told the ABC:
It is a distraction, this is Peter Dutton trying to figure culture war to distract from the fact that he really is short on policy and the big issues that people care about – like housing, decarbonisation, cost of living – and to start talking about a referendum on an issue that I think is peripheral and does not solve the problem is just more distraction and I don’t think people will fall for it.
She mentioned the referendum, another idea from the Coalition this week to deport dual nationals.
Updated
McKenzie has ‘no problem’ with possible deportation referendum
The shadow minister for infrastructure, transport and regional development, Bridget McKenzie, tells ABC’s Afternoon Briefing she doesn’t see a problem with holding a referendum on deporting dual citizens. She says it is the “last resort” and a tool in the tool kit if the Coalition wins the election:
I do not see a problem with that. I find it quite fascinating that we’re not going after the Labor party for allowing Hamas and Hezbollah sympathisers to wave symbols of terrorists on our suburban street, we are OK with our synagogues being firebombed but we are somehow having a problem and have a great conversation maybe if it is required at some future date to keep Australians safe.
Updated
Here’s the video from the National Press Club earlier on the head of the ACTU commenting on the DEI rollback in the United States.
Journalists’ union elects new president and vice-president
The journalists’ union has elected a new media section president and vice-president following the resignation of three Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance officials after a fallout over control of the Walkley awards.
ABC journalist Michael Slezak and Age journalist Bianca Hall have been elected to represent the journalists’ section of the MEAA.
Guardian Australia revealed on Friday that half the Walkley Foundation board members had resigned amid a spectacular falling out between the media union and the Walkleys over how much control the union has over the annual awards.
“Newly-elected MEAA leaders will take up their positions on the board imminently and we invite the other directors of the Walkley Foundation – as we did some months ago – to meet with MEAA’s elected journalist leaders to explain the rationale for their proposed changes,” the union said.
The three MEAA directors who resigned were Karen Percy, Erin Delahunty and Kate Ferguson.
Updated
Circling back to our earlier post.
Brown said complex intersection of maternal and perinatal health outcomes and the social determinants impacted the poorer health outcomes of First Nations mothers and babies.
We know that First Nations women have better birth outcomes when they have access to healthcare services and feel safe, respected, and have trusting relationships with their maternity care providers,” she said.
That is what our work in the Top End has focussed on in the first phase of the national program and we are excited to be able to expand its scope and hopefully provide a roadmap for improved outcomes for all First Nations women and their children.
Chair of the Australian Preterm Birth Prevention Alliance, Professor John Newnham said the continuation of funding would enable the commonwealth-funded Australian Preterm Birth Prevention National program to improve pregnancy outcomes for more women across the country.
“It has been inspiring to see the amazing work being done by the hospital teams participating in the first phase of the national program,” he said.
These teams have generously shared ideas, know-how and data with each other on how to support more women to safely continue their pregnancy to 39 weeks.
Updated
The shadow foreign minister, David Coleman, is pushed on whether the opposition would commit to holding a referendum on deporting dual citizens if the Coalition wins the election, but won’t go further than saying the Coalition will “review the situation” in government.
We will review the situation in government, but we won’t shy away from taking strong action to defend Australians, whether it is from terrorists, from people committing violence against our children, or other forms of despicable crime, and to be frank, Patricia, I think most people in the Australian community would want their government to do that.
He said the proposal for a question on antisemitism in the citizenship test is a “sensible” one, and asked whether this would be expanded out to intolerance of all kinds including Islamophobia or homophobia, he said the Coalition announcement is “in relation to antisemitism” but all forms of discrimination are inappropriate.
Updated
Shadow foreign minister blames Hamas for latest attacks
The shadow foreign minister, David Coleman, tells ABC’s Afternoon Briefing that Hamas failing to release the hostages is the reason why Israel launched the latest attacks on Gaza.
When told that the hostage families are worried this latest attack might make it more unlikely the hostages will be released, Coleman says it is “the most horrible of situations and it is almost impossible to conceive of the pain they are going through” but says Hamas could release the hostages and they should.
On the strikes killing mostly women and children, he says he is concerned any time innocent people are killed.
But again, why is the conflict occurring? The conflict is occurring because Hamas committed mass murder, because Hamas has not returned the hostages and because Hamas wants conflict to continue and wants to wipe Israel off the face of the Earth. That is the reality. So Hamas can stop the conflict by returning the hostages, and that is what needs to happen. And they are refusing to do that and that needs to change.
Updated
Funding boost to address rates of preterm births for Aboriginal women
Indigenous obstetricians and maternity experts are welcoming a funding boost to expand a world-first national study reducing the likelihood of Aboriginal mothers experiencing premature and early-term births.
The federal government announced $5.3m to improve the health and wellbeing of Australian women, mothers and their babies.
Obstetrician and lead of the Top End chapter of the Australian Preterm Birth Prevention Alliance, Dr Kiarna Brown said the funding allows the expansion of the Every Week Counts National Preterm Birth Prevention program.
“This new funding will directly enable the efforts of hospitals and health services to improve the health and wellbeing of Australian women, mothers, their babies, and our most vulnerable populations,” Brown said.
Brown said while nationally rates of early birth across the country have reduced, First Nations women are still at risk of giving birth prematurely, at much higher rates. Preterm birth remains the leading cause of death in children up to 5 years of age.
In 2021, there were almost twice as many preterm live babies born to First Nations mothers, at 14% compared to 8% of non-Aboriginal mothers.
Continued in next post.
Updated
Man charged over alleged seizure of cigarettes and vapes
NSW police have charged a 34-year-old man after allegedly seizing over $100,000-worth of cigarettes and vapes during a road stop on the South Coast.
Officers patrolling Junction Street and O’Connell Lane at Nowra on Tuesday morning pulled over a Ford Ranger and searched the vehicle, allegedly discovering 60,700 cigarettes, 70 vapes and 15kg of loose-leaf tobacco – with an estimated street value of just over $108,500, and $3,145 cash.
The driver was arrested and charged with goods in custody. He has been granted conditional bail to appear at Nowra local court on Tuesday 6 May.
Updated
Record number of international student arrivals in February
The Australian Technology Network of Universities (ATN) has advocated for a regulated number of international student enrolments after a record number of arrivals in February.
Last month 201,490 people arrived in Australia on student visas, new preliminary data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows, the highest number on record. It’s about 10% higher than the same period last year (175,950) and 15% higher than the previous record in February 2019 (183,900).
Prof Harlene Hayne, chair of the ATN, which represents six technological universities, said Australia needed a strong higher education sector which regulated the number of international enrolments.
Our position is clear, the higher education sector needs stability and predictability if we are to maximise the outcomes for all our students, both domestic and international.
The new figures come after Labor failed to gain Coalition and Greens support for a hard international student cap. The cap, knocked back last year, would have been applied to individual universities limiting total enrolments in 2025 to 270,000.
In its place, the federal government has been cracking down on visas through an arbitrary cap, with ministerial directions controlling visa processing based upon the risk setting of universities.
The Coalition has pledged to implement a harder international student cap, without naming a figure.
Updated
WiseTech review finds Richard White ‘not fully transparent’ over relationships
The embattled billionaire founder of software firm WiseTech Global, Richard White, made “incomplete” disclosures to the company about the nature and length of personal relationships, according to a board-ordered review into his conduct.
The review found he was also “not fully transparent” and made “misleading” disclosures to the company concerning a relationship he had with an employee and, separately, a relationship with a supplier.
In an update to the ASX today, WiseTech said it had indicated to White that a number of matters raised in the review “are serious in nature” and that such conduct must not be repeated.
White announced last year he would step down as CEO and transition into a consulting role, after weeks of damaging revelations about his personal life hammered the software company’s reputation and share price.
He has since returned as executive chair and has retained that role. White is still by far the largest single shareholder in the company, through a 36.6% stake.
The ASX announcement said that White accepted the findings of the review.
“Mr White understands the importance of this role in creating and influencing the culture of the business, and seriousness of his actions,” the statement said.
WiseTech shares are down more than 30% this year, weighed down by upheaval at the company as well as broader market weakness for technology stocks.
White has been contacted for comment.
Updated
NSW police launches operation focusing on child offenders in regional towns
Young offenders stealing cars or holding elderly people at knife-point are being put on notice with dedicated police officers posted in hotspots to tackle a surge in regional crime, AAP reports.
Launching the police operation in Dubbo, which has experienced an uptick in juvenile crime, the NSW police commissioner, Karen Webb, said up to 60 officers would be dispatched for dedicated units in the north and west of the state.
Their mission is to address an escalation of violence in offenders between 11 and 16 years of age.
“It’s about reducing fear in the community, nobody deserves to be frightened in their own home and in regional NSW that has been the case, it has to stop,” Webb said on Wednesday.
Deputy commissioner Paul Pisanos said high-visibility police operations would try to stop crime from happening in the first place, but he also had a tough message for anyone caught offending.
This is about sending a clear message to these young criminals that we are going to find you and lock you up.
The NSW police minister, Yasmin Catley, told parliament the operation would focus on recidivists and ringleaders, as well as diverting young offenders from criminal behaviour.
It is being rolled out in areas such as Moree, Tamworth, Tweed Heads, Dubbo, Orange, Kempsey, Taree and Newcastle.
Updated
Many thanks for joining me on the blog today, Josh Taylor will take you through the rest of today’s news. Take care.
Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson return to court as costs deadline approaches
Today is the deadline for Network Ten to pay Lisa Wilkinson the remainder of the $1.15m it was ordered by the federal court to pay for legal bills the former broadcaster incurred defending a defamation action by Bruce Lehrmann.
The parties will return to court today at 4.30pm before Justice Michael Lee to consider submissions in relation to the costs of an external referee.
The referee was hired to determine how much of Wilkinson’s legal bill was reasonable, after she retained separate counsel and briefed Sue Chrysanthou SC.
The referee’s report was not required because Ten agreed to settle the matter for $1.15m.
The network has already paid Wilkinson $558,000 and will have to pay the remainder of the $1.15m by 19 March.
Lehrmann has appealed against his defamation loss in the full federal court with a hearing yet to be scheduled.
Updated
Chaney says Dutton making move 'out of Trump playbook' by 'overriding approval process' of gas project
The independent MP for Curtin, Kate Chaney, has described Peter Dutton’s plan for the future of energy in Western Australia as “reckless.”
At his press conference earlier, where he promised to “approve” Woodside’s North West Shelf gas project within 30 days if elected, Dutton took aim at Chaney a number of times, accusing her of seeking “green votes”.
In a statement this afternoon, Chaney said that when it comes to Woodside’s North West Shelf, “we need to be disciplined about working out whether the benefits exceed the costs.”
The federal government is currently working through the approval process to determine whether the project meets environmental and heritage standards.
Chaney accused Dutton of making a move “straight out of the Trump playbook” by trying to “override approval processes and proper scrutiny.” She argued that the project wouldn’t lower gas prices because “90% of this gas is exported.”
It’s unclear whether a national interest test would result in approval of the North West Shelf anyway … Today’s announcement is another political distraction from Peter Dutton’s expensive nuclear mirage …
Updated
Heavy rainfall eases for north-east Queensland as flooding persists
The Bureau of Meteorology says that heavy rainfall in north-east Queensland has eased, while flooding is continuing in some areas.
You can watch the full weather update below:
Severe Weather Update: Heavy rainfall has eased for north-east Queensland; flooding continues.
— Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) March 19, 2025
Video current: 12:30pm AEST 19 March 2025.
Latest forecasts and warnings: https://t.co/4W35o8iFmh or the BOM Weather app. pic.twitter.com/mtHAc9It43
Updated
Greens senator says Plibersek should have rejected Woodside gas project ‘well before upcoming election’
Sarah Hanson-Young, the Greens’ environment spokesperson, has issued a statement in response to Peter Dutton’s pledge to “approve” Woodside’s North West Shelf gas project within 30 days if elected.
The senator said Peter Dutton had “launched a Trump-like attack on the people that protect and defend nature.”
We all have a stake in the health of our environment and his plan to lock communities out of legal avenues is a threat to our democracy and the health of the planet.
Hanson-Young also accused Dutton of “doing the bidding of the fossil fuel companies”, saying the project is “not in our national interest”.
Woodside’s gas greed would be an environmental disaster, and environment minister Tanya Plibersek should have rejected it well before the upcoming federal election.
This extension would unleash billions of tonnes of carbon pollution out to 2070, threatening cultural heritage at Murujuga and pristine ecosystems like Scott Reef, home to 33 threatened species like the green sea turtle and the pygmy blue whale. Heavy shipping and drilling will also jeopardise whale migration pathways.
Updated
Myer hit by ‘Swiftonomics’
A year ago there was a lot of economic talk about how Taylor Swift’s sold-out concerts might lead to a spike in consumer spending, giving a boost to the hospitality industry.
There were also fears that “Swiftonomics” might fuel a bout of inflation, like Beyoncé had done elsewhere.
It turns out it wasn’t just hotels and restaurants that benefited from the pop star’s seven sold-out Australian shows last year. Department chain Myer reported a slump in recent sales at its half-year results today.
But the 2.6% decline, compared with the same five-week period last year, wasn’t simply a result of cost-of-living pressures leading to fewer clothing purchases, according to the retailer.
Myer says that there were some “non-recurring” events that happened in February 2024 that temporarily increased sales, before going on to cite the Taylor Swift concerts.
It seems more than a few Swifties shopped at Myer for their concert clothes.
Updated
O’Neil and McKellar debate DEI initiatives being pared back in US, if this would impact Australian workforces
In Canberra, the ACTU president Michele O’Neil and CEO of the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Andrew McKellar, have been holding a debate at the National Press Club.
The host, Greg Jennett, asked about the reversal of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the United States and if this is something we may see replicated in an Australian context?
McKellar said this wasn’t applicable “to the same extent in Australia because, frankly, we have not seen those sorts of arrangements in anywhere near the same level”.
We have to be very careful about getting into a regime where you are regulating for particular outcomes, setting particular thresholds or targets or quotas, and I think that would be an adverse thing and that would bring a counter reaction and potentially some of what we’re in the United States. But I do not think this is something that should be exported to Australia.
O’Neil also weighed in, and said she hopes “we do not see America as the sort of country we want Australia to be”.
She said she doesn’t want to see “some of the worst of Donald Trump’s policies imported into this country” – pointing to Peter Dutton’s move to force public sector workers to work from the office five days.
[This was] a direct copy of one of the things Donald Trump announced on his first day … I would hope that we are proud of the measures that we put in place in this country and make sure that our workplaces reflect who we are and every part of who lives here.
Updated
Townsville records heaviest day of rain this century
Townsville has recorded its highest 24-hour rainfall totals in 27 years.
Weatherzone has reported that a night of relentless rainfall has left parts of Townsville underwater, and that in the 24 hours to 9am today:
Townsville received a total of 301.4mm, the city’s heaviest day of rain in any month in 27 years.
The 24-hour rainfall was more than one-and-a-half times the March monthly average of 188.9mm.
The heaviest rain occurred between 1am and 9am, with a remarkable 241.4mm in eight hours.
Other nearby weather stations exceeded 300mm, including a station at Horseshoe Bay on Magnetic Island, just off Townsville, which recorded 351mm.
Roads and schools were closed after Townsville's heaviest day of rain this century. The most intense rain fell early on Wednesday morning. Our story explains the factors behind the deluge. https://t.co/4e1csKP5oJ pic.twitter.com/j4OvUcNKrx
— Weatherzone (@weatherzone) March 19, 2025
Updated
Dutton says letters targeting exiled Hong Kong dissidents in Australia ‘deeply concerning’
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, has described the delivery of letters and pamphlets targeting two exiled Hong Kong pro-democracy advocates living in Australia as “deeply concerning”.
On Monday, Guardian Australia revealed Ted Hui and Kevin Yam were both subjects of anonymous letters and pamphlets that were mailed from Chinese-controlled territories. It is not clear who created and posted the material, which the Australian government has condemned.
Both Hui and Yam, along with the federal government and human rights groups, believe the letters were designed to intimidate and scare the men, who are wanted by Hong Kong authorities for allegedly breaching a controversial national security law.
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has also raised concerns about the letters and has pledged to discuss them with officials from Hong Kong and China.
Dutton has now commented on the targeted letters and called on the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, to provide an update on the issue:
I am very worried about this. I think the prime minister should provide a national update in relation to what action, if any, the government has taken.
I think it is deeply concerning where a foreign power is trying to influence somebody here in Australia. It is against Australian law.
Every effort should be made by the Albanese government to deal with the issue, and to deal with it promptly. I think the prime minister owes an explanation to the Australian public and we hope it is provided soon rather than later.
Updated
Liberal candidate rubbishes referendum idea at press conference alongside Taylor
The Liberal candidate for a crucial Tasmanian seat has waved away the Coalition’s idea for a referendum on stripping citizenship from dual nationals, telling a press conference – alongside the shadow treasurer, Angus Taylor – that “nobody’s talking about this” in his electorate.
As we reported yesterday, there was some split opinions in the Coalition about Peter Dutton’s referendum idea, with many MPs in favour but some raising major concerns – and several saying the idea hadn’t been discussed in either the Nationals nor Liberals party rooms.
Taylor was in Braddon, a battleground seat in Tasmania, this morning with the Liberal candidate, Mal Hingston. It’s held by the Coalition, but the current member, Gavin Pearce, is not standing again, and Labor desperately wants to win it.
Taylor, asked about the referendum idea, said:
We’ve said we’d consider all options. We’ve been absolutely clear on that throughout.
Hingston was asked about the idea too, and whether anyone in his electorate had been talking to him about such a constitutional change. His response, according to a transcript from Taylor’s office:
No, they’re not. People in Braddon are talking about access to health and health services, and they’re talking about cost of living. Nobody’s talking about this here. But I am supportive of anything that’s going to keep Braddon members safe and secure, and give them that sense of security. So, you know, I’m open to these conversations, but it’s not a hot topic at the moment.
So we have an idea how the referendum idea is going down in battleground seats, at least.
Updated
Dutton rejects claim pre-approval of gas project would be legal risk
Peter Dutton also rejected the claim that flagging his pre-approval would be a legal risk, and told reporters:
No, I don’t think we see that risk at all. There’s already a national interest test within the act now, [the environment minister] Tanya Plibersek just chooses not to use it – again, because this is not about environmental concerns, this is about political gain.
And Tanya Plibersek is stopping the gas extension from going ahead in WA, and [independent MP for Curtin] Kate Chaney is urging her to stop it, because they’re more worried about green votes than they are about jobs within the mining sector here in Western Australia.
Updated
Dutton promises ‘approval’ of North West Shelf project in 30 days if elected
Just back to some more of the comments Peter Dutton made around Woodside’s North West Shelf gas project:
He argued that the Western Australian economy “cannot survive, manufacturing cannot survive, electricity cannot be produced, without gas in the system.”
I’m seeking a mandate from the Australian people, in particular from the people of Western Australia, to make sure can keep mining going and keep investments and approval processes flowing because without it, there are no jobs. And if we shut down the WA economy as Tanya Plibersek is trying to do than it would be devastating not just for this local economy but for our national economy as well.
The Coalition has promised to fast-track the decision on the project – but Dutton implied he is going to approve it, saying “we will make sure that this approval is arrived at in 30 days.”
If we’re elected, which will strongly support the WA mining sector, we will make sure that projects are approved in a timely way.
Updated
Dutton says only Coalition will make ‘people hear we are the best country in the world’
A reporter asked about the Coalition’s intention to add a question on antisemitism in the citizenship test – would it be an automatic fail if people get it wrong?
Peter Dutton did not answer directly, but answered:
We should make it clear that when people come here to our country, we want people to adhere to the rule of law, and we want people to be treated equally who are already here in our country [and] not to be discriminated against because of their religion or because of their skin colour or because of their religious affiliation or because of their political affiliation.
I think it’s time for us to assert our values and make sure that people hear very clearly that not only are we in the best country in the world, we’re going to make sure that that’s the case into the future, and we can only do that if there is a Coalition government elected after the election.
With that, the press conference wrapped up.
Updated
Dutton defends move for referendum to deport dual citizenships
On his proposal for a referendum to allow ministers to deport dual citizens, a reporter asked whether voters may view this as being aligned too closely with Donald Trump?
Peter Dutton said no, and spoke of his time as minister for home affairs:
I cancelled visas of about 6000 people who were non-citizens … They were people who were involved in terrorist activities. They were people who are involved in outlaw motorcycle gangs, who are probably the most evil networks of criminal enterprise in our country. And I cancelled those visas, and it made our country a safer place …
I want a mandate from the Australian people to be able to implement the laws which are necessary to keep us safe. The prime minister dismisses it as a thought bubble.
Multiple Coalition MPs have said this is not an official policy – Josh Butler has put together a timeline of the various comments made on this:
Updated
Dutton asked if gas has more prominent role than nuclear under Coalition plan
A reporter has asked if this move by the Coalition is an admission that gas has a more prominent role to play in energy than nuclear under its plan.
(David Littleproud weighed in on this earlier today, which you can read here.)
Peter Dutton says:
This is an announcement by us today which recognises that, yes, under our plan, nuclear is 44% cheaper than the government’s renewables-only policy, but in the interim, we can bring down prices if we increase the gas supply.
Updated
Dutton takes aim at Labor over energy bill relief promise
Peter Dutton also took aim at the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, for promising “on 97 occasions” to deliver a $275 price reduction on people’s electricity bills.
The pledge was first made before Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Dutton told the media just now:
Almost at the end of this terrible term of government, the treasurer refuses to even mention that [$275]. So how could you believe anything that Jim Chalmers says going into the next election if they didn’t deliver on their last promises? How can you believe them on the promises that they’re making this time around?
Updated
Dutton addressing media in WA
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, is holding a press conference in Western Australia.
He is announcing the Coalition is promising to fast-track a decision on Woodside’s North West Shelf gas extension if it wins the upcoming federal election.
He accused the environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, as being the “minister for no mining”, and said:
Why would they destroy jobs and economic activity in WA? Because they want to chase green votes in inner-city Sydney and Melbourne. And I think West Australians are smart enough to realise that they’re being duped by a prime minister who is no Mark McGowan, no Roger Cook, and frankly, he’s a prime minister that is against mining and is against agriculture and is against development.
Updated
Watch and act for Charters Towers amid rising river heights
Just following on from the previous post, an emergency watch and act alert has been issued for Charters Towers due to rising river heights at Charters Towers Weir.
Residents have been advised to prepare for level 5 water restrictions, should the river continue to rise.
Heavy rainfall warning issued for parts of north Queensland
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning of heavy rainfall for parts of north Queensland.
The BoM says it will be a continuation of heavy showers and a few thunderstorms about the coast and ranges of the Herbert and Lower Burdekin district. Six-hourly rainfall totals of between 100mm and 160mm are possible, with isolated totals of 190mm possible.
Conditions are set to ease during Wednesday afternoon.
Locations which may be affected include Ayr, Giru, Alva Beach, Woodstock and Clare.
Up to 211mm of rain has already been recorded in the six hours to 8.18am at Apjohn St, Horseshoe Bay.
Updated
Lehrmann inquiry head Walter Sofronoff engaged in ‘serious corrupt conduct’, review finds
Former Queensland judge Walter Sofronoff engaged in “serious corrupt conduct”, the ACT Integrity Commission has found, after reviewing his inquiry into the prosecution of Bruce Lehrmann.
The commission released a report on Wednesday into Sofronoff’s conduct as a Board of Inquiry into the prosecution.
It found that “Sofronoff’s conduct fell within several elements of the definition of ‘corrupt conduct’”, through his disclosures to two journalists: Janet Albrechtsen at The Australian newspaper and Elizabeth Byrne at the ABC.
Updated
Hazard reduction burns being conducted in Greater Sydney area
The NSW Rural Fire Service has said a number of hazard reduction burns are continuing throughout Greater Sydney today.
It warned the smoke from these burns may settle in the local area throughout the evening.
You can view the full list of hazard reduction burns on the RFS website.
Hazard reduction burning continues today, with land managers and fire agencies conducting several burns in the Greater Sydney and Blue Mountain areas. The smoke from these burns may settle in the local area throughout the evening. For more info, visit: https://t.co/XrE2qbcxpn pic.twitter.com/DPeyE3H8Cd
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) March 18, 2025
Updated
In US talks, a cautious NZ is keeping its head down
In some news from across the ditch via AAP: New Zealand is cautiously resetting its relationship with the United States as it watches radical shifts in policy and style from Donald Trump’s administration.
Two months on from Trump’s inauguration, the deputy prime minister, Winston Peters, has enjoyed talks in New York City and Washington DC. His self-declared mission statement?
Keep our head down. Wait until the dust settles before we make any decisions.
Peters, in his third stint as New Zealand’s foreign minister, met with American counterpart Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, today in the climax to talks on this week-long visit.
Peters described his trip as a “seriously valuable time” to be in the US, allowing him to see first-hand the maelstrom of changes and help Kiwi diplomats chart a pathway forward with the superpower.
Unlike Australia, New Zealand is not a formal defence ally with the US, though Washington and Wellington collaborate on many defence, intelligence and security projects.
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Albanese says Australia-Canada relations ‘very separate’ to Canada-US relations
On Canada’s deal with Australia to develop an Arctic radar system, as we reported earlier, the prime minister was asked whether this is an example of how countries can diversify their defence supply chain to be less reliant on the US?
Anthony Albanese said it was an “excellent” one on one call last night, and provided a “good opportunity for us to get to know each other personally”:
Canada, of course, has an excellent relationship with Australia, and one of the things that the prime minister confirmed is that he is looking at what we have, which is our … radar network technology … We want to export wherever possible, and this will be a significant export if this deal is finalised.
The PM went into more detail about the call:
Last night we talked about … other areas as well, of potential cooperation … Obviously, there are issues taking place – particularly between Canada and the United States – that I wouldn’t have expected to have been happening in my lifetime, but we have a very separate relationship with Canada, and it’s a very good one.
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PM on Coalition intention to add antisemitism question to citizenship test
Asked if he would support the Coalition’s intention to add an “antisemitism” question to the citizenship test (see earlier post), Anthony Albanese responded:
It’s another soap bubble. We’ll see if it lasts until, you know, a couple of hours away. Yesterday’s didn’t make it to lunchtime, so we’ll wait and see what happens.
The Coalition have run a campaign complaining that too many Australians were making the citizenship pledge, who’d been in the queue, some of them for years, in order to become Australian citizens.
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PM lashes Coalition’s lack of economic policy and intention to cut public sector jobs
Anthony Albanese continued to lash the opposition and argued it needed to “start getting serious about policy”.
He took aim at the shadow treasurer, Angus Taylor, saying he had been on a tour this week before the budget but has “no economic policy”:
He put out a range of things when asked that weren’t actually economic policy, and no one has any idea what they stand for, except for $600bn on nuclear power plants.
On the Coalition’s intention to cut public sector jobs, Albanese said:
$350bn they say, is wasteful expenditure … The National Emergency Management Agency did not exist before we came to government. They are under the gun.
These public servants aren’t in Canberra. They’re in Hervey Bay, in a car park, helping people. And Peter Dutton regards them as being waste.
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Albanese says Coalition promise on North West Shelf decision ‘another thought bubble’
Back at Anthony Albanese’s press conference, he has taken a question about the Coalition’s promise to fast-track a decision on Woodside’s North West Shelf if it wins the election.
The prime minister said the state government had the project “for a long period of time” but it has been with the federal government “just for a matter of weeks”.
We’ll go through that process in accordance with the law. Do we support the gas sector? Yes, but subject, of course, to environmental approvals.
Albanese said this was another “thought bubble” – but really “like a soap bubble, because it lasts about as long as a bit of a soap bubble that that comes up from a bubble bath or something, it just disappears into the ether”.
Within hours, they just come up with these things. Then they walk away from them, whether it’s referendums, whether it be zonal taxation rates, whether it be the other statements that Peter Dutton makes …
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Coalition promising to fast-track decision on Woodside's North West Shelf
As we just flagged, the Coalition is promising to fast-track a decision on Woodside’s North West Shelf gas extension if it wins the upcoming federal election.
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, has vowed a Coalition government would make a ruling on Woodside’s application within 30 days under a new “national interest” test that forces decision-makers to give more weight to a project’s social and economic benefits as part of the environmental assessment.
Woodside wants to extend the life of its massive gas processing plant on the Burrup Peninsula in the state’s remote north-west out to 2070.
Scientists and conservation groups have described the project as a “climate bomb”, with one estimate suggesting the total emissions from Burrup Hub could reach 6bn tonnes once the gas was exported and burned overseas.
The environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, last month deferred a ruling on the application until 31 March, avoiding a decision ahead of the WA state election.
If the federal election is called before the revised deadline, a decision on the project could not be made until after the poll.
In a statement, Dutton said it was “of national importance” that the project not be delayed any further.
We would expedite consideration of the North West Shelf project as a matter of urgency because, unlike Labor, we recognise the significance of the North West Shelf to the WA economy and the importance of secure and reliable gas supplies in pushing down energy prices.
The Albanese Labor Government has been the most anti-resources, anti-mining, anti-WA federal government in living memory.
In a separate move to stop “activists” blocking projects, a Coalition government would legislate a “statute of limitations” to prevent third-parties from challenging approvals that were issued more than 12 months earlier.
Dutton and the shadow environment minister, Jonno Duniam, will make the announcements on Wednesday in WA, a state in which Coalition is desperate to regain ground after losing five seats at the 2022 election.
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PM giving press conference on cyclone disaster relief payments
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is giving a press conference about the disaster relief payments being given in the aftermath of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
As of last night, there’s been $80m paid in disaster relief payments. That’s making a difference, whether it be the $1,000 payments or $400 for children, or whether it be the more complex, 13-week payment that can come for people who are unable to continue to work.
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Australian Conservation Foundation lashes Coalition plan to extend Woodside’s NW shelf until 2070
The Australian Conservation Foundation has accused the Coalition of “confusing the national interest with the commercial interests of a big fossil fuel company”, after reports emerged it would extend Woodside’s North West Shelf gas plant until 2070 if elected.
The ABC and Australian newspaper reported overnight the Coalition would approve the extension within 30 days of the election, and would limit the ability of protest groups to challenge approval decision.
In a statement, the ACF’s national nature policy adviser Brendan Sydes said:
If it gets the green light, Woodside’s North West Shelf expansion would emit billions of tonnes of carbon pollution to 2070, drive demand to open new gas fields and continue the deterioration of ancient First Nations rock art at Murujuga, which is being eaten away at by acid emissions from the neighbouring facility Woodside hopes to extend.
The proposal to limit the rights of Australians to challenge approval decisions would be a win for the gas lobby and a loss for the community.
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Bandt calls for sanctions on Netanyahu amid latest deadly airstrikes on Gaza
The Greens leader, Adam Bandt, says Australia needs to move “from words to action” in its response to the latest airstrikes in Gaza, and put pressure on the Israeli government.
In a post to X, he wrote that civilians “cannot be asked to pay the price again” of the hostages being released:
Netanyahu’s decision to resume airstrikes on Gaza is horrific. More than 400 people have been killed already. Australia needs to move from words to action, and put pressure on Netanyahu’s extremist government to stop the genocide.
The Greens have always called for all hostages to be released unconditionally, but civilians cannot be asked to pay the price again. Our government should be sanctioning Netanyahu and his extremist government, ending the two-way arms trade, and recognising Palestine.
Israel has faced multiple accusations that its actions in Gaza amount to genocide, including most recently from the UN:
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Allan reiterates that allegations of conspiracy to remove police commissioner and deputy are ‘baseless’
Jacinta Allan also held a press conference in Brunswick East this morning, where she faced questions over the report. She reiterated the allegations were “baseless” and said:
I’ve seen these reports, and I want to be really clear, these reports are completely untrue. These allegations, they’re baseless, completely untrue. It is really disappointing that there are some people who are choosing to politicise Ibac, politicise an integrity agency by making these absolutely baseless allegations.
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Nugent says allegations ‘completely untrue’
Continuing from our last post: Rick Nugent also released a statement rubbishing the allegations as “completely untrue”.
There was absolutely no discussion between myself and government about me stepping into the Acting Chief Commissioner role prior to the weekend of 15-16 February.
This was after the vote of no confidence result on 14 February.
There was no condition Deputy Commissioner Paterson be removed for me to return to Victoria Police.
I look forward to assisting Ibac and the Ombudsman to resolve this matter.
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Allan denies reports police commissioner and deputy removed due to conspiracy
The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, has issued a short statement hitting back at a report in the Herald Sun, which alleged the police commissioner and deputy commissioner were removed from their roles last month due to a conspiracy.
According to the report in the Herald Sun, the former Victoria police deputy commissioner Neil Paterson filed a complaint with the state’s anti-corruption watchdog alleging “corruption and misconduct in public office” by Allan and another minister.
He alleges the Allan government approached the then emergency management commissioner Rick Nugent to replace the police commissioner, Shane Patton, weeks before a vote of no confidence in him by 87% of police members.
Patton resigned in the days after the vote, with Allan at the time saying the result was “overwhelming” and could not be ignored. Paterson’s contract was not renewed days later.
Paterson alleges the government “conspired” to remove both Patton and himself due to their “frank and fearless advice”.
Guardian Australia has approached the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission for comment.
In her statement, Allan said the allegations were “completely untrue”:
I am disappointed that people are seeking to politicise Ibac and the important work they do by making these baseless allegations. My focus is always on supporting the hardworking men and women of Victoria police, and passing our tough new bail laws this week.
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Advocacy group calls for seniors dental benefit scheme
Sixteen thousand Australians over the age of 65 were admitted to hospital for the urgent treatment of painful dental issues in 2022-23, according to new data from the Australian Dental Association.
The ADA expects that figure to increase by 42% to 22,630, by 2027-28.
Patricia Sparrow, the chief executive officer of older people advocacy group COTA Australia, said the statistics should be a wake-up call and prove the need for a seniors dental benefit scheme.
Every day our governments delay action on providing affordable dental care for those who need it most, more and more older people are falling ill and being forced into our hospital system unnecessarily. That’s not good for anyone.
Sparrow said the risks of poor oral health increase as people age – not only “embarrassment and social isolation, but also increased risk of diabetes, heart disease and even chromic malnutrition in older people”:
It’s particularly difficult for more vulnerable older people and those living in rural and remote areas of the country.
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Motorists urged to stay off roads in north-east Queensland amid heavy rain
Heavy rainfall will continue across north-east Queensland this morning.
According to the Queensland Fire Department, Fire and Rescue’s swiftwater crews have already been called to multiple vehicles in flood water. It wrote on X:
If you need to be on the roads today, please stay safe and do not enter floodwater. If it’s flooded, forget it.
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Canada PM announces $6.6bn Arctic radar deal with Australia
The Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, has announced a C$6bn deal with Australia to develop an Arctic radar system.
As AFP reports, Carney made the announcement on the final leg of his first official trip as prime minister since taking over from Justin Trudeau last week.
Carney – who has previously described the US under Donald Trump as a country Canada “can no longer trust” – characterised the radar deal as part of a broader effort to assert Canadian sovereignty over the Arctic.
The world is changing. International institutions and norms that have kept Canada secure are now being called into question. And the United States’ priorities, our ally, once closely aligned with our own, are beginning to shift. We cannot and should not look first to others to defend our nation.
Australia is a leader in “over-the-horizon” radar, an advanced system that allows for continuous threat-tracking over a vast area. Carney’s office said in a statement announcing the deal:
The radar system’s long-range surveillance and threat tracking capabilities will detect and deter threats across the north.
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Victorian energy minister denies suggestions of talks to extend Yallourn coal power plant
Victoria’s energy minister, Lily D’Ambrosio, has denied claims in a report in The Australian that suggests the state government asked the operator of the Yallourn coal power plant to extend operations beyond its mid-2028 closure date.
The report, published last night, suggested there was a discussion between EnergyAustralia, the Victorian Department of Energy Environment and Climate Action (Deeca) and the Australian Energy Market Operator (Aemo) amid “fears of devastating electricity shortages”.
But in a statement, D’Ambrosio said Deeca, Aemo and EnergyAustralia had all confirmed that the claims are wrong:
The three agencies also confirm that no such discussions have occurred and nor have there been ‘rolling talks’. Aemo has not advised the Victorian government that Yallourn would need to be extended beyond 2028, as claimed in The Australian. Before publication, EnergyAustralia confirmed to The Australian that the plant would close in 2028.
She said the Australian did not contact the Victorian government for comment prior to publication.
In 2021, EnergyAustralia announced it would close the station in 2028 – four years earlier than planned – and built a battery at a nearby gas-fired plant to compensate for the loss.
Yallourn produces about a fifth of Victoria’s electricity and is the state’s oldest power station.
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Marles asked about diplomatic approach to Israel after latest deadly strikes on Gaza
Back on Gaza, Richard Marles was asked if there would be any diplomatic approach to Israel about ending or pausing the fighting. He responded:
We’ve consistently used our voice, bilaterally in respect of Israel, but internationally as well, around supporting a ceasefire – about supporting humanitarian efforts for those in Gaza. But also, importantly, seeing the return of the hostages to Israel.
The steps that Hamas took back on October 7 in 2023 were utterly unacceptable. They were an act of terror. It was completely reprehensible and we’ve stood in condemnation of Hamas and we continue to do that.
We need to see the return of hostages to Israel. We need to see humanitarian assistance flowing to the people of Gaza. And we need to see an end to this conflict.
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Marles says Putin needs to be held to account for being ‘aggressor’
Richard Marles was also up on ABC News Breakfast this morning, and was asked if Vladimir Putin could actually be trusted to stand by any ceasefire proposal.
The deputy PM said: “At the end of the day, [Putin is] the reason why this conflict started in the first place”:
He is the aggressor here. He is the one who has completely flouted the global rules-based order by the invasion of Ukraine in the first place. So it’s very important that whatever is put in place absolutely holds Vladimir Putin to account.
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Australia will continue pushing US for tariff exemption, Marles says
Richard Marles was also asked if the trade minister, Don Farrell, had been able to make a deal with Trump, to secure an exemption for Australia from tariffs on aluminium and steel.
The deputy PM said the United States is doing “what they said they were going to do … as far back as the lead-up to the last US election”:
What matters here is that we are doing everything we can to be arguing for Australian trade, and we’ll continue to do that.
Is it going to work? Marles responded: “Let’s see what happens.”
Last time it took the better part of nine months before there were any exemptions provided to Australia. We will continue to make the argument to the United States about the importance of trade.
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Marles says Australia will ‘exercise its voice’ to see ceasefire maintained in Middle East
Moving to Gaza, Richard Marles said the ceasefire breakdown is “very disappointing” and Australia wanted to “see the entire terms of the ceasefire fulfilled”.
And to be clear, that does mean the return of hostages to Israel. That was part of the terms of the ceasefire …
I think for all of us, there has been so much death in the Middle East over such a long period of time. Now, we don’t want to see this continue and we’ll be exercising our voice to see that a ceasefire is maintained.
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Marles says Ukraine needs to be able to ‘resolve this on their own terms’
The deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, has responded to news Vladimir Putin has agreed to a limited ceasefire against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure – but declined to commit to a month-long full truce, after a high-stakes phone call with Donald Trump.
Marles told the Today Show that Russia should “not [be] rewarded in what is put forward here and how this plays out”:
We do want to see peace, but it can’t be peace on any terms. At the end of the day, Russia are the aggressors here. Russia are the ones who have done wrong. And we need to be standing with Ukraine and Ukraine needs to be able to resolve this on their terms.
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AFL draws mixed reactions with new Tasmanian Devils mascot
The AFL has unveiled the new mascot for the Tasmanian Devils – Rum’un – and it’s safe to say it has drawn some … mixed reactions.
Some X users have called the mascot a “joke”, something “out of a horror movie” and a piñata. One person said “I want to cry”, another said it looked reminiscent of AI, while another mused “it looks like Wes Anderson greenlit a sequel to Fantastic Mr Fox”.
There have been some interesting comparisons in the Guardian office this morning – to the Ferals TV show, Where the Wild Things Are, and the Big Banksia from Snugglepot and Cuddlepie. Others have been more welcoming of the new mascot:
I love Rum’un. Justice for Rum’un.
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Taylor defends cost of potential referendum, says Coalition would make budget position stronger
Back to the Coalition’s referendum suggestion – ABC RN host Sally Sara asked if it was appropriate to float this idea in the middle of the cost-of-living crisis, given the last one cost more than $400m and the Coalition was critical of this spending.
Angus Taylor said the Coalition would “make sure that our budget position is stronger than Labor’s”:
[We will] re-establish fiscal rules to make sure that we have a strong budget position to be able to pay for the essential services, for defending the country, for all the things that we need.
Taylor denied the opposition had not released enough economic policies in the lead-up to the election. He pointed to the Coalition’s opposition to “Labor spending”, and a “series” of policies to “get rid of unnecessary red tape”.
They are the policies we’ve been announcing. We will continue to.
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Taylor says Coalition may introduce ‘antisemitism’ question to citizenship test
Angus Taylor also said the Coalition was looking to add an “antisemitism” question to the citizenship test:
We have already said [we] will strengthen our citizenship test to make sure there is a specific question there, [a] criterion around antisemitism, because we have seen rampant antisemitism in this country. It’s completely unacceptable.
And those coming to this country, we need to be confident that they’re not going to perpetuate that unacceptable behaviour that we have seen in recent times.
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Taylor says referendum on deporting dual citizens ‘not our policy’
The shadow treasurer, Angus Taylor, has been asked to clarify if a referendum on giving ministers the ability to deport dual citizens who commit a serious crime is actually Coalition policy.
As Josh Butler reports, at 7am yesterday Peter Dutton was publicly discussing reports of his suggestion for this. But by mid-morning, the opposition leader’s shadow attorney general, Michaelia Cash, was telling media the party had “no plans to hold a referendum at this stage”.
Speaking to ABC RN just now, Taylor said “we’ll always look at any option that might ensure that Australians are safe”:
Now this is not our policy, but it is something – like any option that will ensure that Australians are safe – that we’re prepared to consider.
For the whole timeline of this “thought bubble”, as the prime minister has labelled it, you can have a read below:
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Sinodinos describes ‘tussle’ between Trump and Netanyahu on ‘who will get the upper hand’
On what is occurring in Gaza – after more than 400 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes overnight – Arthur Sinodinos said:
President Trump has leverage over prime minister Netanyahu, but prime minister Netanyahu is determined to do things his way. So it’s an interesting tussle between these two characters as to who will get the upper hand.
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Former ambassador to US says Russia-Ukraine negotiations ‘never going to be solved in 24 hours’
The former ambassador to the US, Arthur Sinodinos, says Russia is trying to draw ceasefire negotiations out “as long as they can to get as many concessions as they can get”.
Vladimir Putin has agreed to a limited ceasefire against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, but the Russian leader declined to commit to a month-long full truce, after a high-stakes phone call with Donald Trump.
Speaking on the Today Show, Sinodinos said Russians are “very good at drawing this process out” while Trump is “impatient”, adding:
He showed he was impatient with that contretemps with Zelenskyy at the White House. But this is negotiating with the Russians – this is what it’s all about. That’s why it was never going to be solved in 24 hours.
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Littleproud: nuclear is ‘what Coalition will transition to’ with focus on gas in short term
The housing minister, Clare O’Neil, and the Nationals leader, David Littleproud, were both up on Sunrise this morning to discuss the latest polling numbers on the Coalition’s nuclear policy.
A new RedBridge poll has found the portion of voters who believe nuclear energy is unsafe has increased from 35% in 2024 to 39% in 2025.
O’Neil took aim at the policy, arguing it has “gone into witness protection recently”.
We haven’t heard a lot about it. That is because it is an absolute dog of a policy. $600bn won’t deliver any power into the grid until the 2040s, and even when it does, it only helps us with 4% of our power needs as a country. So whatever issues people experience, please note nuclear is not the answer for our country, that is why our country is so strongly opposed to it.
Littleproud, however, defended the policy as “cheaper in the long term” and argued the short-term plan was to “flood the market with gas”.
So nuclear is what we’re saying we will transition to. In the short-term, the next 6-12 months, to get your power bill down and your grocery bill down … you have to get gas in. That is the only energy source to get in quickly to give you hope. That is the other part of our policy … we will be announcing more detail on it very soon.
Last year, Labor already announced that as part of its energy plan, gas would remain a central part of Australia’s energy and export sectors to 2050 and beyond.
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Good morning
Emily Wind here, signing on for the Australia news live blog – I’ll be taking you through all of our rolling coverage today.
As always, you can reach out with any tips or questions via email throughout the day: emily.wind@theguardian.com. Let’s get into it.
Leigh says inequality challenge ‘not insurmountable’
Andrew Leigh will finish the speech by saying the challenge inequality creates is “not insurmountable”:
Australian history reminds us that inequality is never inevitable. It expands or shrinks based on the decisions we make collectively as a society. Together, we can create a society where dignity, justice, and opportunity are the lived reality for every Australian.
Growing inequality erodes social cohesion – Leigh
In his speech, Andrew Leigh will say growing inequality is an issue because it erodes social cohesion.
When wealth is concentrated among a few, society becomes fragmented. Our sense of collective responsibility diminishes, and the fabric that binds us as Australians weakens.
And he will argue the Labor government has done more to address inequality than any government in well over a decade.
This approach contrasts with our predecessors, whose tax policies disproportionately benefited the highest earners, widening the gap between rich and poor. By maintaining a fair and responsible tax structure, we can fund essential public services while ensuring that the most fortunate Australians contribute their fair share.
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Leigh to deliver speech outlining growing inequality in Australia
The assistant minister for competition, charities and treasury, Andrew Leigh, will give a speech today outlining the growing inequality in Australia and how the Labor party has responded to the issue.
Leigh will begin but outlining how the postwar period between 1940s and 1970s, with its stronger unions, progressive taxation, expanded public services, and affordable housing policies, dramatically reduced inequality.
Yet since the 1980s, Australia has seen what economists describe as a ‘Great Divergence’, reversing the gains of earlier decades.
Today, the top 1% of income earners receive nearly 10% of national income, nearly doubling their share from 40 years ago. Wealth inequality is even more extreme, with the richest 10% owning more than 60 times the wealth of the bottom 10%.
He will say this “widening gap” is “not just economic”, but “profoundly affects people’s everyday lives”.
Those at the bottom face greater health challenges, including a stark difference in life expectancy – Australians in the richest fifth of the population live an average of six years longer than those in the poorest fifth.
The poorest Australians have seven fewer teeth on average due to poor dental care. In education, the wealth gap translates into substantial resource disparities between affluent and poorer communities.
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Is the Coalition serious about a referendum on deporting criminals?
George Brandis has called it “as mad an idea as he has heard in along time” and Anthony Albanese called it a “thought bubble”. So we asked Josh Butler to dig into whether Peter Dutton really serious about wanting to hold a referendum on deporting criminals?
Australian businesses at risk of failure as Trump’s tariffs threaten economic recovery
More Australian businesses could go bust in coming months as US tariffs dash hopes for a soft economic landing, according to report this morning.
Businesses have already struggled to pay their trading partners due to tough economic conditions, with CreditorWatch’s February business risk index recording a 47% increase in invoice payment defaults in the 12 months to February 2025, AAP reports.
Though the economy has recently shown some signs of recovery, Donald Trump’s decision to impose 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium imports and threats to expand this regime risk a bumpier landing for Australia.
This could have consequences for business confidence, share prices and employment, which could result in more insolvencies. CreditorWatch chief executive Patrick Coghlan said:
We certainly hope that the worst-case scenario of a global recession doesn’t eventuate, but businesses should nevertheless be taking steps now to manage that risk.
Businesses in western Sydney and Queensland’s south-east are at the greatest risk of failure as they are more exposed to construction and generally have lower income levels.
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Chalmers says cost-of-living relief would be revealed in budget
Jim Chalmers urged Peter Dutton to support his promised “meaningful but responsible” cost of living help in the forthcoming federal budget, accusing the Coalition of opposing key cost-of-living relief measures brought forward by the Labor government over the past term.
One of the most surprising and disappointing elements of this parliament has been whenever we’ve tried to help people with cost-of-living, the Coalition has opposed that. They didn’t want a tax cut to every taxpayer, energy bill relief, cheaper medicines, rent assistance, cheaper early childhood education, fee-free TAFE, wages moving again.
Chalmers continued to be coy about what form the cost-of-living relief would take:
We’ll announce our cost-of-living relief in the budget … we would obviously ask the opposition to do away with this habit they’ve formed of opposing all of our cost-of-living help. Everyone in the parliament recognises that people have been under pressure in the last few years but the difference is only the Labor party has been there for people to help them with cost of living and that is rolling out right now despite the Coalition, not because of it.
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Chalmers says budget will focus on resilience amid time of ‘seismic changes’
The forthcoming federal budget will focus on resilience and withstanding global uncertainty in a time of “seismic changes”, the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, has said.
Speaking to ABC TV last night, Chalmers said Australia was not immune from the escalating trade tensions around the world, especially given the heavy reliance the country has on exports, and those changes in the global economy would necessarily have an effect on the budget, due to be delivered next week.
Nobody wins from a trade war and especially a trade-exposed country like ours … When you consider not just what’s happening in Washington DC but Beijing and elsewhere around the world, we are seeing the breakdown, that the rules of global economic engagement are being rewritten. They are seismic changes. It’s a whole new world in the global economy and that will impact our own economy and our own budget.
Asked whether the global uncertainty would have an impact on Australia’s attempts to bring down inflation, Chalmers reiterated comments he made earlier in the day, that the tariffs imposed by the US government and other escalating trade tensions would push prices up:
I think as the Productivity Commission made clear today and the OECD made clear overnight as well, two of the consequences of escalating trade tensions are slower growth and higher inflation and, again, it would be strange to conclude that we’d be immune from that.
When these tariffs are imposed and when there’s the retaliatory nature of these escalating trade tensions, we do expect higher prices. That’s one of the obvious consequences of tariffs. We’ll see that around the world and we are at risk of seeing it here.
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Severe weather warning for north Queensland
A flood-weary region is bracing for yet more rain, stalling its recovery from a deluge that turned deadly, AAP reports.
A severe weather warning has been issued for a saturated north Queensland after enduring days of downpours.
More heavy rain may lead to flash flooding on the north-east tropical coast spanning Cardwell down to Ayr, with six hourly totals up to 160mm possible on Wednesday.
There’s also a risk of severe thunderstorms from Cairns down to Bowen, the Bureau of Meteorology warned.
The region is still reeling from record February falls which triggered widespread flooding that forced people to evacuate and isolated communities.
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Meta to keep factcheckers for Australian election
Factcheckers will be in operation on posts on Facebook and Instagram during the Australian federal election this year, with the move to ditch factcheckers limited to the US for now.
In a blog post on Tuesday night, Meta’s head of policy in Australia, Cheryl Seeto, said Agence France-Presse and the Australian Associated Press would continue to independently review content during the federal election campaign.
Where content is debunked, a warning label will be attached to the posts and its distribution will be limited. However, this will not apply to content posted by politicians – except if they’re sharing a post that has been already factchecked.
AAP will also work with Meta on a new media literacy campaign to help Australians “critically assess the content they view online”.
The company said it would remove the “most serious kinds” of misinformation, including threats of violence or physical harm, or those that attempt to interfere with voting.
Meta will also apply labels to AI-generated content where it is determined to be AI-generated, and AI content is also eligible for factchecking.
The revision of Meta’s hateful conduct policy now applies globally, however, meaning political advertising that previously wouldn’t have been allowed on Meta’s platform may now be allowed. The company would not speak on hypotheticals, but it is understood the controversial Clive Palmer ads in newspapers last week would have been allowed.
Greens offer help for home electrification
The Greens are spruiking grants and low-interest loans to electrify households and small businesses, which they say will reduce energy bills and reduce emissions.
The electrification plan would provide support for homes and small businesses to disconnect from gas, through technologies like induction cooktops, heat pumps and EV chargers. Grants of up to $10,000 and low-interest loans of up to $20,000 would be on offer for households, while small businesses would get access to grants of up to $25,000 and low-interest loans of up to $100,000.
The proposal also includes grants and low-interest loans for households and small businesses to get battery storage.
Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) costings show the plan to get households and small businesses off gas would cost around $5bn in the forward estimates, and support to install batteries would cost around $3bn.
The Greens leader, Adam Bandt, says in a wealthy country, “everyone should have clean, cheap energy”.
Getting homes off gas reduces pollution and helps bring down energy bills. It’s good for your health and it’s good for the environment.
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Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it’ll be Emily Wind with the main action.
The leaders of Australian business and workers will face off today at the National Press Club to debate the future of workplace relations. Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive, Andrew McKellar, will argue in a debate with union leader Michele O’Neil that whoever wins this year’s federal election must repeal labour laws that he says have stalled productivity and disadvantaged businesses. Separately, a report warns that more Australian businesses will fold this year because of US disruption. More coming up.
Talking of the election, the head of policy in Australia for Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, said the news agencies Agence France-Presse and the Australian Associated Press will continue to independently review content during the federal election campaign. Cheryl Seeto said the company’s controversial move to ditch factcheckers was limited to the US for now. More details soon.
The Greens are spruiking grants and low-interest loans to electrify households and small businesses, which they say will reduce energy bills and reduce emissions. More coming up.
