Australia could provide defensive military assistance to countries attacked by Iran, Penny Wong says
Australia is not participating in an âoffensive action against Iranâ and will not deploy ground troops into Iran, but may play a defensive military role in the conflict in the Middle East, Penny Wong has said.
The foreign minister told Insiders:
double quotation mark Many countries which are non participants have been attacked, by Iran through this. You would anticipate as a consequence, that we have been asked for assistance and we will work through that, carefully. And of course, we are.
When asked by host David Speers if that meant assistance to protect them against Iranâs drone and missile attacks, Wong said:
double quotation mark Correct. And we will work through that in accordance with the position that I have outlined, which is we are not participating in offensive action against Iran. And weâve made clear we would not participate in any ground troop deployment into Iran.
Asked what that defensive military assistance might involve, Wong said:
double quotation mark If a decision is made, Iâm sure that we will be transparent with the Australian people.
Key events
The NSW Government has opened expressions of interest for the location and management of a prospective new major film studio in Sydney, offering public land for private companiesâ development as part of the scheme.
The Minns Labor government has pledged a $100m capital investment into the studio and will consider expressions of interest from the private sector for proposals on both private and government-owned land, it said in a release this morning.
Three government-owned sites were open for applicants to âconsider for their suitability to accommodate a world-class studioâ, at Bungarribee, Eastern Creek, and Prospect, the statement said.
Other locations, including other government-owned locations, would also be considered as part of the EOI process âwhere applicants can demonstrate evidence of landowner consent.â
Minister for the arts John Graham said:
double quotation mark Sydney is already a popular destination for international film production⌠Beyond Hollywood, there is large demand for Bollywood films in Australia, with Indian filmmakers continuing to use the visually striking look of Australia in their films.We know the demand is there, and thereâs a critical need [for] more studio space.
Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said:
double quotation mark This second film studio will create new job opportunities for the sector, support local stories, provide huge economic benefit and attract international blockbusters to the state. NSW is after all, the place for every story.
Cost of seats on commercial flights out of Middle East âdisappointingâ, assistant minister says
The Australian government has let airlines know it is âdisappointedâ at the cost of tickets for commercial flights out of the Middle East, assistant minister for foreign affairs and trade Matt Thistlethwaite has said.
Thistlethwaite told Sky News this morning the government maintained that commercial flights were still the best option for the 115,000 Australians who are in the region.
He said:
double quotation mark The best option at the moment â because the airspace is only open on an ad-hoc basis, the safety authorities in those countries have to make an assessment of when itâs safe to fly â the best option is for Australians to take commercial flights. Now, weâve seen that some of those flights havenât been full. Weâve seen the cost of tickets. Weâre pretty disappointed by that, to be honest. And weâve made that disappointment known to the airlines.
He advised Australians in the region to âmaintain your booking on your flight if youâve already got one booked, and then they shouldnât be able to jack up the prices, and to work with your travel agent and the Australian officials that are on the ground.â
Thistlethwaite would not say whether or not the government supported the decision of the US military to sink an Iranian warship that was on a naval exercise with India in the Indian Ocean at the time, killing 87 people.
He said:
double quotation mark Thatâs a matter for the United States ⌠that was their offensive operation. And as the prime minister pointed out, Australian Defence Force personnel were not involved in any offensive capacity in that operation ⌠Our support is for ensuring that Iran cannot acquire a nuclear weapon and that they reduce their capacity to acquire that.
Wong is asked about Australians onboard submarine that sank Iranian warship
Wong was asked about the Australian defence force personnel who were on the submarine that torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean on Wednesday, killing at least 87 people, given her comments on Australia not being involved in offensive actions against Iran.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said earlier this week that Australian forces were in compliance with international law, and that âNo Australian personnel have participated in any offensive action against Iran.â
You can read more about this incident here:
Wong told Insiders that this âthird country deploymentâ was ânot a new thingâ:
double quotation mark It is not new for Australian defence personnel to be engaged in this way. When they are deployed in that way, we always have arrangements to ensure that any personnel comply with Australian law, Australian policy and Australian directives.
Asked if there was any point at which Australia would say they didnât want their personnel onboard for those operations, Wong said:
double quotation mark We we will make decisions in accordance with the principles Iâve outlined about what Australiaâs position is. But what I do want to emphasise is, wherever there is a third country deployment, Australian law and policy and directives continue to apply, and they will do so.
Wong would not say whether that meant Australia was asked if it was OK to have ADF personnel onboard during the action.
Australia could provide defensive military assistance to countries attacked by Iran, Penny Wong says
Australia is not participating in an âoffensive action against Iranâ and will not deploy ground troops into Iran, but may play a defensive military role in the conflict in the Middle East, Penny Wong has said.
The foreign minister told Insiders:
double quotation mark Many countries which are non participants have been attacked, by Iran through this. You would anticipate as a consequence, that we have been asked for assistance and we will work through that, carefully. And of course, we are.
When asked by host David Speers if that meant assistance to protect them against Iranâs drone and missile attacks, Wong said:
double quotation mark Correct. And we will work through that in accordance with the position that I have outlined, which is we are not participating in offensive action against Iran. And weâve made clear we would not participate in any ground troop deployment into Iran.
Asked what that defensive military assistance might involve, Wong said:
double quotation mark If a decision is made, Iâm sure that we will be transparent with the Australian people.
Penny Wong is asked how far Australia would go to support the war in Iran
Foreign minister Penny Wong has reiterated her claim that Australia is ânot in a position to determine the legal basis of decisions that the United States and Israel have madeâ in attacking Iran.
Asked about how far Australia would go to support the war, Wong told ABC TVâs Insiders:
double quotation mark In these circumstances, itâs best for us to always come back to what is our position, both as a matter of objectives and also as a matter of conduct, which is why we have also said, you know, we are not engaged in offensive conduct, offensive action against Iran.
Asked about US President Donald Trumpâs statements that the US must be involved in choosing the next leader of Iran, Wong said:
double quotation mark The future for Iran and its governance ultimately is a decision for the Iranian people. And thatâs not just a values judgment, itâs also a pragmatic judgment ⌠We have seen that regime change being sought by external parties historically. And I think we all know that for there to be sustainable change, a change of regime, it has to be something that the people of that nation back and seek.
Victorian Health and Ambulance Services Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said her thoughts were with the family of the victim of Fridayâs alleged stabbing attack, saying the horrific incident was very concerning.
She referred to the governmentâs toughened youth crime laws, which came into effect just over a week ago and could result in youth offenders being dealt harsher punishments for serious crimes.
Thomas said on Saturday:
double quotation mark Young people that are committing violent crimes are about to discover that they will be doing adult time.
Opposition police spokesperson Brad Battin said in a statement the incident highlighted Laborâs failure to tackle youth crime and remove machetes from the streets.
double quotation mark With nearly 2000 vacancies on police rosters, more than 40 stations closed or operating on reduced hours and PSOs to be stripped from 120 train stations, Victorians continue to pay the price for Laborâs community safety failures.
– AAP
Three teenagers face murder charges after a good Samaritan was killed in an allegedly âsavageâ stabbing attack after trying to intervene and help a 14-year-old schoolboy.
Emergency crews were called to Mernda train station in Melbourneâs northeast on Friday evening following reports of a fight among teenagers.
A group of passers-by, including a 22-year-old Mernda man, stepped in to intervene after a group of teens set upon a 14-year-old boy.
The passers-by tried to diffuse the situation, with the man taking the boy and walking him away from the situation and outside the train station, Homicide Squad Detective Acting Inspector Nigel LâEstrange told reporters on Saturday.
LâEstrange continued:
double quotation mark Unfortunately, those four offenders followed both of them and then, in what could only be described as a savage attack, assaulted the 22-year-old male physically, both fists, kicking, and they used edged weapons.
The victim suffered life-threatening injuries and was treated by paramedics but died at the scene.
Four male teens were arrested. A 16-year-old, from Whittlesea, and a 17-year-old from Geelong and an 18-year-old from Mill Park were charged with murder and armed robbery. A 17-year-old from the City of Yarra is under police guard at hospital and yet to be interviewed.
The eldest suspect will face Melbourne Magistratesâ Court on Sunday.
LâEstrange said:
double quotation mark This is just a tragic situation where our victim here is just a good Samaritan who was trying to do the right thing.Heâs intervened, tried to protect this 14-year-old schoolboy, hasnât been aggressive at all, tried to remove him from the scene, and as a result of his interaction, heâs now lost his life.
– AAP
Two men die after being pulled from water on NSW Central Coast
Two men have died after being pulled from the water on the NSW Central Coast yesterday evening.
Emergency services were called to Little Beach, Bouddi, on Saturday after reports of a body in the water, NSW Police said in a statement early on Sunday morning.
Brisbane Water Police District, PolAir and Marine Area Command attended the scene, alongside NSW Ambulance Paramedics, and Marine Rescue NSW volunteers.
A 46-year-old man was pulled from the water before being assessed by NSW Ambulance paramedics but died at the scene.
At about 6.10pm, police learned there was a second man believed to still be in the water and commenced a search. At about 8pm, the body of the second man, aged 67, was found and pulled from the water.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner.
Two repatriation flights from UAE expected to land
Some 1,549 Australians have been repatriated from the Middle East as of 5.30am this morning on nine direct flights, the prime ministerâs office has said. Two flights from the United Arab Emirates are expected to land today and two more flights are scheduled to depart Dubai airport, assuming the airspace remains open.
The flights expected to land today are:
-
EK406 to Melbourne (ex Dubai), due at 1245hrs AEDT, carrying approximately 151 Australians.
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EK412 to Sydney (ex Dubai), expected to land at about 1950hrs AEDT.
The flights scheduled to depart the UAE today:
At about 7pm AEDT yesterday, Dubai International Airport was forced to briefly close as Iran launched missiles and drones at targets across the Gulf. The airport was subsequently reopened.
The first three buses carrying Australians from Doha, Qatar, are arriving this morning in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with 92 Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate family members on board, the PMO said.
Qatar Airways has advised the Albanese government that 68 Australians departed Doha yesterday on Qatar Airways flights to different European destinations.
Good morning
Welcome to Guardian Australiaâs Sunday live news blog. My name is Stephanie Convery and Iâll be bringing you all the latest news today.
First up this morning, 1,549 Australians have been repatriated from the Middle East as of 5.30am this morning on nine direct flights, the prime ministerâs office has said. Two flights from the United Arab Emirates are expected to land today and two more flights are scheduled to depart Dubai airport pending airspace remaining open. Weâll bring you more on that in a moment.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning for parts of north and south-east Queensland as heavy rainfall continues. It is expected to increase over Sunday and continue into Monday. More on that soon, too.
Grab a coffee and letâs get stuck in.
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