Australia ‘didn’t help us’, Trump says of US effort in Iran
Nick Visser
The US president, Donald Trump, has criticised Australia for what he said was a lack of help during the ongoing war in Iran.
At a media conference, Trump continued to take a hard line against Iran, saying he believes the US military is doing “unbelievably well” in the Middle East while threatening that Iran could be “taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night”.
He added that he remained frustrated with Nato, calling the bloc a “paper tiger” the US “didn’t need”.
“They haven’t helped at all,” he said, adding:
double quotation mark It’s not just Nato. You know who else didn’t help us? South Korea didn’t help us. You know who else didn’t help us? Australia didn’t help us. You know who else didn’t help us? Japan.
Key events
Attorney general says government remains committed to gun buyback scheme
Rowland said the federal government would continue to press ahead with its gun buyback scheme, despite some resistance from state and territory leaders.
The New South Wales government is so far the only clear supporter for the gun reforms, with Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory all ruling out their support. The federal government recently said those localities are “standing in the way” of an effort to remove dangerous weapons from the streets.
Rowland maintained it is up for those leaders “to explain to their constituency why that is the case”.
double quotation mark But the fact remains that we will continue to prosecute this case through our national cabinet processes. The government’s committed to it.
She said it is supposed to be a “national” buyback scheme, and states and territories should recognise it won’t work without a national buy-in.
Attorney general says Australia should continue to call for de-escalation in Iran amid Trump critiques
The attorney general, Michelle Rowland, was asked about Trump’s remarks on RN Breakfast this morning.
She said Australia’s position remains calling for “an urgent de-escalation of this conflict”, adding:
double quotation mark Australians and innocent people right around the world and in the region are being impacted by events that they didn’t cause, but it is having lasting impacts. It’s having impacts on our supply chains and causing real anxiety for Australians.
Rowland said the best thing Australia could do would be to continue those calls, saying it’s not the first time Trump had made inflammatory remarks.
double quotation mark I think ultimately the United States will need to answer for itself.
Nick Visser here to grab the reins. Let’s get to it.
‘Increasing’ chance Topical Cyclone Maila will hit Queensland at weekend
Tropical Cyclone Maila could hit the coast of far north Queensland this weekend, three weeks after the same area was smashed by Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle, the Bureau of Meteorology said last night.
It was tracking halfway between Solomon Islands and Papua New Gunea at 10.45pm last night, according to the latest update from the bureau.
The BoM said:
double quotation mark Maila is expected to remain well away from the Queensland coast during the next few days, but confidence is increasing in Maila moving towards the far north Queensland coast later in the week, potentially crossing the coast on the weekend.
The storm is classed as a category three, with sustained winds near the centre at 150km/h and wind gusts up to 205km/h.
Read our full story here:
Australia ‘didn’t help us’, Trump says of US effort in Iran
Nick Visser
The US president, Donald Trump, has criticised Australia for what he said was a lack of help during the ongoing war in Iran.
At a media conference, Trump continued to take a hard line against Iran, saying he believes the US military is doing “unbelievably well” in the Middle East while threatening that Iran could be “taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night”.
He added that he remained frustrated with Nato, calling the bloc a “paper tiger” the US “didn’t need”.
“They haven’t helped at all,” he said, adding:
double quotation mark It’s not just Nato. You know who else didn’t help us? South Korea didn’t help us. You know who else didn’t help us? Australia didn’t help us. You know who else didn’t help us? Japan.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it’ll be Nick Visser with the main action.
Road safety advocates say the subject must be better embedded in school curriculums after another deadly Easter period in which at least 14 people have been killed on the nation’s roads. Deaths on Australia’s roads rose 4.4% in the year to February. More coming up.
Tropical Cyclone Maila could hit the coast of far north Queensland this weekend three weeks after the same area was smashed by Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle, the Bureau of Meteorology said last night. More coming up.
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