What we learned: Sunday, 17 November
With that, we will wrap the blog for the afternoon.
Rest assured, though – we’ll be back first thing tomorrow for the second last sitting week of the year (yay).
Here are today’s major developments:
The defence minister, Richard Marles, has announced closer military cooperation with Japan and the United States. Marles, who is acting prime minister, said Japan’s amphibious rapid deployment brigade would now be regularly deployed to Darwin, where it would work with Australian and US forces.
Bushfires have destroyed at least one home and killed livestock in Victoria’s west. The state’s emergency management commissioner said soaring temperatures and high winds on Saturday caused 80 fires, five considered significant.
A 68-year-old man who went missing after diving into the Nepean River south of Penrith on Saturday has been found dead.
A 20-year-old pilot and his two teenage passengers have been identified as the three people killed in a light plane crash in eastern Victoria on Saturday evening. The plane was seen circling in east Gippsland before crashing into a paddock and bursting into flames.
And the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has hailed “inclusive trade and investment” at the Apec forum in Peru where leaders are attempting to push against the protectionist policies favoured by US president-elect Donald Trump.
Updated
Wild weather continues to pummel NSW and Victoria
A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for damaging winds and large hailstones over central parts of New South Wales.
Communities in Parkes, Nyngan, Young, West Wyalong, Cobar and Brewarrina are being urged to move cars under cover, secure loose items, stay away from fallen power lines and remain indoors. Severe thunderstorms are no longer occurring in the Riverina district, where a warning has been cancelled.
The Bureau of Meteorology said the storms would continue over the “next several hours”.
A surface trough ahead of a vigorous cold front is producing severe thunderstorms over southern NSW. This activity is expected to shift quickly towards the east this afternoon and evening.
Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds with large hailstones possible in the warning area over the next several hours.
In Victoria, heavy rainfall and damaging winds are hitting the north-east ranges, and damaging winds also possible for the south-west coast.
Flash flooding is possible, with isolated fall totals expected to hit 80mm and peak gusts exceeding 100 km/h at Warrnambool, Portland, Corryong, Bright, Falls Creek and Omeo.
Updated
Children rescued after multiple sail boats capsize in Victoria
Dozens of children have been rescued after their sailing boats capsized in strong wind at Port Melbourne this morning.
More than 60 people, mainly children, competing in a regatta set sail in boats from Williamstown when strong winds forced them overboard into rough waters.
Police were called to assist the children, who were stranded in shipping channel waters just after 11.15am. The channel was swiftly closed while police on jetskis, a Life Saving Victoria rescue chopper and the St Kilda coast guard launched a rescue.
The children, all wearing lifejackets, were safely brought back to land.
Updated
PM ‘very confident’ Australian exporters won’t be slugged with heavy US trade tariffs
Anthony Albanese is seeking to reassure Australian exporters about the fate of their businesses under an incoming US Trump administration. He insists he is confident they will be spared up to 20% tariffs that the president-elect is threatening to impose.
The prime minister told ABC’s Insiders program on Sunday that he did not expect any US move to slap tariffs on incoming goods to include imports from Australia.
I’m very confident. We will put forward Australia’s national interest. I don’t want to pre-empt those decisions, but we’ll advocate for Australia’s national interest. That’s my job to do so, because one in four jobs in Australia is trade-dependent, and that’s why we benefit from it.
Updated
Homeless support workers forced to turn away people fleeing violence or living in cars due to cost-of-living crisis, report finds
Homelessness services are being forced to turn people away and leave phone calls unanswered, according to a report outlining the impact of Australia’s housing and cost-of-living crises.
As AAP reports, a Homelessness Australia and Impact Economics report makes an “urgent” call to the government to beef up support for frontline services.
Here’s how Homelessness Australia’s chief executive, Kate Colvin, put it:
The housing crisis has just become an absolute housing emergency and homelessness support services are just buckling under pressure.
Colvin said they had been unable to identify how many people were being turned away because services were so under pressure.
She said deciding who received a bed each night was a distressing situation for support workers:
Do you say yes to the mum with two small kids who has no where to go that night, or to another mum who has a car?
And then there’s a young guy, only 20 years old, who has run away for a violent home, who do they say no to in that situation?
Updated
US defence secretary says trilateral training with Australian and Japanese troops will strengthen each nation
The US secretary of defence, Lloyd Austin, says Japan’s decision to join “annual trilateral amphibious training” with Australia and the US in Darwin will further strengthen the capabilities of all three nations.
Here’s what Austin said at a press conference in Darwin earlier today:
Today, more than ever, we’re taking concrete actions that will deepen our trilateral cooperation. The three of us are here to see the results first-hand.
Darwin is a focal point for our expanding trilateral relationship, and our bond is delivering real security, deterrence and interoperability.
We will continue to grow our trilateral intelligence sharing and to increase our surveillance and reconnaissance activities.
Updated
‘Violent altercation’ broke out on Newcastle nightlife strip before man, 22, stabbed to death, police allege
NSW Police will investigate an alleged altercation that broke out before a 22-year-old man died from “significant stab wounds” in Newcastle in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Officers were called to Beaumont Street in Hamilton, a suburb of Newcastle, about 2.40am after reports of a stabbing.
NSW police superintendent Kylie Endemi said the man was a Newcastle resident:
We know so far that a violent altercation did occur between this young man and a group of people on Beaumont Street at Hamilton.
The circumstances leading up to that altercation and what transpired during that incident are still very much under investigation.
So far, no one has been charged.
Endemi called for anyone who saw the altercation on a busy nightlife strip to contact police or crime stoppers.
Officers have been working extremely hard throughout the day, obtaining evidence and information to assist us in identifying what led to this young man’s death.
Please come forward and help our investigators find out who is responsible for this terrible incident.
Updated
David Crisafulli stares down LNP division on abortion and nuclear power
The Queensland premier, David Crisafulli, has told Liberal National party members the party “does not exist for culture wars” in an address seeking to stare down potential division about his positions on abortion rights and nuclear power.
Crisafulli’s speech to the LNP state council meeting in Rockhampton on Sunday was his first opportunity to speak directly to the organisational wing and party members since last month’s state election victory.
Despite the election success, LNP sources say there remains consternation in the ranks about the way the party handled divisive issues, including abortion and nuclear power, where the views of the grassroots membership – and the private views of many MPs – are at odds with Crisafulli’s promises not to change existing laws.
The premier did not directly mention either issue. But his speech to members hinted at “scare campaigns” by Labor during the election and said these would not work in four years if the party kept its word.
One thing I can guarantee you about me … that is my word counts for something and I value a culture when you say you’re going to do something you do it, and when you say you won’t do something, you won’t do it.
That’s how we keep faith. That’s what we’re going to do in the next four years.
Updated
Pilot, teens identified as trio killed in plane crash
A 20-year-old pilot and his two teenage passengers have been identified as the three people killed in a light plane crash in eastern Victoria.
The plane was seen circling at Tinamba West in east Gippsland before crashing into a paddock and bursting into flames at about 5.45pm on Saturday, Victoria Police said.
The three people onboard were boys aged 15 and 16 from Tongala in central Victoria and the pilot from Tinamba West, police said.
Edge Aviation founder and chief flying instructor Lorraine MacGillivray said the pilot worked as a flight instructor. She spoke to AAP:
I saw a couple of the family members and like you’d expect, with any families, they are devastated and trying to come to terms with what’s occurred.
In communities in regional areas like this, there are a lot of people that know each other and stuff like that, so there’s a significant ripple effect, I understand going through those communities.
MacGillivray said it would be inappropriate to speculate on the cause of the crash and the tragedy had also affected the aviation community.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating the crash, describing the plane as an “amateur-built light aircraft”.
– AAP
Updated
Marles announces closer military cooperation with Japan and US
The defence minister, Richard Marles, is holding a press conference in Darwin, where he is announcing closer military cooperation with Japan and the United States.
Marles, who is acting prime minister while Anthony Albanese is in South America for international summits, said Japan’s amphibious rapid deployment brigade will now be regularly deployed to Darwin, where it will work with Australian and US forces.
This is a very important statement to the region, and to the world, about the commitment that our three countries have in working with each other.
This is going to build interoperability between our three countries.
Marles said the increased cooperation between the three nations would “provide an assertion of the global rules-based order, which all of our countries are so deeply committed to”.
Updated
‘Watch and act’ fire warnings for residents in Chetwynd and Kadnook
Two out-of-control bushfires in Victoria have forced townships to evacuate and destroyed at least one home as parts of Australia’s east remain on alert for fires, wild winds and storms.
Firefighters were on Sunday morning working to contain the fires in Victoria’s west, with flash flooding and heavy rainfall possible in the state’s north-east, south-east New South Wales and north-east Tasmania.
Residents of the Australian Capital Territory and potentially parts of Sydney are expected to be battered over the next 48 hours.
In Victoria, “watch and act” fire warnings were in place for residents at Chetwynd and Kadnook near the Grampians and 10 communities in the Otway ranges at the start of the Great Ocean Road, including Lavers Hill, where it remained unsafe to return.
Victoria’s emergency management commissioner, Rick Nugget, said it was an “incredibly challenging day” for the state, particularly in the west and south-west.
Updated
Allan warns Victorians 'now is the time' to plan for summer bushfires
The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, has provided an update on this weekend’s bushfires across the state, urging households to prepare their fire plan ahead of summer.
Posting to X, she thanked everyone involved in protecting Victorians through “challenging conditions”.
A Total Fire Ban has been declared for the Wimmera until midnight tonight.
The Great Ocean Road has reopened this morning after being closed in both directions. Multiple ‘watch and act’ warnings remain in place across the state and today, and a ‘severe weather warning’ is also in place for heavy rainfall and damaging winds in north east.
Allan warned if Victorians hadn’t prepared for summer – “now is the time to do so”.
I implore you to make a fire plan today. Yesterday we saw conditions uncommon for November - you never know when you may need it.
Updated
Injuries during first weekend of schoolies at Surfers Paradise
Thousands of teenagers celebrating schoolies on the Gold Coast are as “safe as they can be”, Queensland’s police minister says, as the marathon of parties and excessive drinking gets under way.
But there have been some injuries during the first weekend of festivities at Surfers Paradise. Gold Coast Safety Response was visited by almost 10,000 school leavers picking up a wristband for events on Saturday, the first day of celebrations.
Queensland Ambulance Service said 16 patients have been assessed so far at an emergency treatment centre, one of whom was taken to hospital.
Police minister Dan Purdie told the media there was “no safer place for our young people to be in Surfers Paradise” while at the celebrations on Saturday evening.
School leavers will also flock to the Sunshine Coast, Airlie Beach and Byron Bay during the nationwide celebrations, which run until 1 December.
Pill testing will go ahead at the Gold Coast event after the Liberal National government backtracked on plans to dump the service.
–AAP.
Updated
Severe thunderstorm warning for southern NSW
A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for southern New South Wales, including damaging winds and large hailstones as a “vigorous cold front” moves east.
The Bureau of Meteorology:
A surface trough ahead of a vigorous cold front is producing severe thunderstorms over southern NSW. This activity is expected to shift quickly towards the east this afternoon and evening.
Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds and large hailstones in the warning area over the next several hours. Locations which may be affected include Griffith, Narrandera, Lake Cargelligo, Lockhart and Darlington Point.
The State Emergency Service has advised residents to secure loose items, move cars away from trees and stay indoors and away from windows.
Updated
Man found dead after diving into Sydney river
A 68-year-old man who went missing after diving into the Nepean River south of Penrith on Saturday has been found dead.
Police were called to Nortons Basin at Mulgoa, about 20km south of Penrith, about 11am on Saturday.
They were told the man had jumped into the river to retrieve his fishing rod but didn’t resurface.
A search was launched on Saturday before being called off at 5.30pm. The search, including police divers, resumed at 9am on Sunday.
The man’s body was discovered at 10.40am. A report will be prepared for the coroner.
Updated
Man in his 20s dead after stabbing in Newcastle
A man has died after being stabbed in Newcastle this morning.
NSW Police say they were called to Beaumont Street in Hamilton about 2.40am and found a man in his 20s with stab wounds.
NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the man before he was taken to hospital, where he later died. The man is yet to be formally identified.
Police have established a crime scene and commenced an investigation, with the assistance of the State Crime Command’s homicide squad.
Police have asked anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Updated
Outer-suburb university students to get new study hubs to boost participation
University students living in fast-growing Australian outer suburbs will have greater access to campuses after the federal government unveiled the first 10 suburban study hubs.
The Universities Accord recommended the hubs to boost participation among underrepresented groups outside major capital cities by providing support and campus-style resources closer to home.
Currently, 41 are operating regionally, supporting about 4,500 students, with five more expected to open by the first semester of 2025.
Victoria will have new hubs in Broadmeadows, Epping and Melton, while NSW will welcome centres in Macquarie Fields and Kurri Kurri.
Elizabeth in South Australia, Strathpine in Queensland, Sorrell in Tasmania and Western Australia’s Armadale, Ellenbrook and Mandurah will also have hubs. All 10 are expected to welcome students by mid-2025.
The minister for education, Jason Clare, said almost one in two young people in their 20s and 30s had a university degree but not in Australia’s outer suburbs or regions.
That’s why we are doubling the number of University Study Hubs, to bring universities closer to them. We know they work.
The evidence is they increase the number of people going to uni and finishing a uni degree. Now for the first time, we are putting these University Study Hubs in the outer suburbs.
Updated
Measles alert after infectious case visits Sydney service station, pub and medical centre
NSW Health has urged people in Sydney’s inner west to be alert for symptoms of measles after a confirmed case visited several locations while infectious.
The acting director of public health at the Sydney local health district, Dr Isabel Hess, said people who had been to the below destinations should be aware of symptoms.
Metro Petroleum Enmore Road, 379 Enmore Rd, Enmore, on Thursday 7 November 2024 between 6.15am and 7am.
Philter Brewing Public Bar, 92-98 Sydenham Rd, Marrickville, on Thursday 7 November 2024 between 6.30pm and 10pm.
Marrickville Medical Centre, 5/296 Marrickville Rd, Marrickville, on Sunday 10 November 2024 between 9.15am and 11am.
Hess said people who had visited these locations should watch for “fever, sore eyes and a cough, usually followed three or four days later by a red, blotchy rash that spreads from the head and face to the rest of the body”:
It can take up to 18 days for symptoms to appear after an exposure, so it’s important for people who visited these locations to look out for symptoms up until 28 November 2024.
Anyone who develops symptoms should call ahead to their GP or emergency department and say that they may have measles to ensure they do not spend time in the waiting room with other patients.
Updated
Liberals concede defeat in Black byelection in Adelaide’s south
Labor has won South Australia’s Black byelection after a massive swing against the Liberals, which were trying to hold the Adelaide seat after former opposition leader David Speirs’ resignation.
The result adds to the majority of Peter Malinauskas’ government. It is a blow to the Liberals and new opposition leader, Vincent Tarzia, after the party suffered a byelection loss in Dunstan earlier in 2024.
Labor’s Alex Dighton had received 60% of the two-candidate preferred vote against the Liberals’ Amanda Wilson at the close of counting on Saturday night.
Tarzia conceded defeat, telling the party faithful that “unfortunately, it hasn’t been our night” after Labor’s “effective, short, hard” campaign.
We’ve got to be better, we’ve got to be united, we’ve got to be focused, we’ve got to be disciplined and we’ve got 16 months to turn it around.
Updated
Japanese forces to train with Australian and US troops in NT
Japanese troops will join US Marine rotations in the Northern Territory as the three nations deepen defence ties in a bid to counter China’s military strength.
The acting prime minister, Richard Marles, will on Sunday host the US defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, and the Japanese defence minister, Nakatani Gen, for the trilateral ministers’ meeting in Darwin – the first to be held in Australia.
Marles, also defence minister, said after annual “2+2” talks with his Japanese counterpart in September, both nations looked to how they could build greater familiarity between their defence forces:
We have spoken to Japan about having their amphibious rapid deployment brigade doing training with our own defence force, with our own army, and with the US Marines.
Having a more forward-leaning opportunity for greater training with Japan and the US together is a really fantastic opportunity.
AAP
Updated
Hundreds of Victorians call for help as storms lash state
Wild weather has led to more than 70 requests for help from the Victorian State Emergency Service in Shepparton, in the state’s north-east.
The state’s emergency management commissioner, Rick Nugent, has just provided details at a press conference:
Storms with hail and lightning have started to impact across the state. 70 requests for assistance have been received in Shepparton alone and that relates to building damage, fallen trees and downed power lines. Over 200 requests for assistance have been received over the last 24 hours right across the state.
A severe weather warning is in place for the state’s north-east. Keris Arndt, a senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology, said conditions could worsen.
We have seen significant storm activity through parts of central Victoria and Shepparton in particular. These storms are moving eastwards and a band of rain is starting to impact the ranges. We are expecting that rain to increase this morning and become quite heavy.
Updated
Bushfire in Victoria’s west to turn ‘dynamic’ as winds increase, warns CFA
A bushfire near Kadnook in Victoria’s west will be difficult to extinguish, says the Country Fire Authority (CFA) chief officer, Jason Heffernan.
Hundreds of firefighters remain on the ground across Victoria seeking to suppress those fires that started yesterday.
Heffernan said the Kadnook fire was burning in blue gum plantations with undulating terrain, making it challenging for firefighters to contain.
It is not safe to return.
Firefighters are conducting assessments, particularly around dangerous trees. So we do ask the community to refrain from getting into that area.
It will be dynamic this afternoon when those winds continue to pick up.
Heffernan said he expects the blaze near Chapple Vale, which has burnt more than 700 hectares, to continue to burn for “quite some time”.
Updated
Bushfires raze at least one home in Victoria's west
Bushfires have destroyed at least one home and killed livestock in Victoria’s west, authorities have confirmed.
The state’s emergency management commissioner, Rick Nugent, said soaring temperatures and high winds on Saturday caused 80 fires, five of which are considered significant.
We still have two fires that are not yet under control. Watch and act warnings remain in place for those two fires. In Chapple Vale, over 700 hectares has been burnt. In Kadnook, where 1250 hectares has been burnt.
Nugent confirmed one home had been destroyed in the Kadnook fire.
We also believe possibly two more homes have been lost and we will continue to do assessments and confirm in due course. There are stock and agricultural losses in those areas and our teams will continue to make assessments of the impact throughout the day.
A community fire refuge is also activated for our community in the Lavers Hill area. The Great Ocean Road was closed from around 10:30pm until 4am, due to the risk of fire and smoke impacting on people travelling in that area.
Updated
Greens lash PM for not guaranteeing 2035 emission target release before election
The Greens have criticised the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, for not guaranteeing the release of the government’s 2035 emission reduction target at a major climate summit and before the next federal election.
In an interview with ABC’s Insiders this morning, Albanese was asked whether his government could match the UK’s 2035 commitment to cut emissions by 81% on 1990 levels. He replied:
I’ll leave each nation state to do their [nationally determined contribution] and to put forward their targets. We have got a target that we introduced when we came into office.
As part of the Paris Agreement, Australia is due to submit its 2035 target at some stage next year. When asked whether the target would be revealed before the next federal election, which is due by late May, Albanese said:
Our focus is on achieving the 2030 target. 2030 comes before 2035.
The Greens leader, Adam Bandt, has issued a statement calling on the government to reveal the 2035 target at the COP29 summit in Azerbaijan:
With Donald Trump now US [president-elect] and Peter Dutton spruiking nuclear here, Labor must stop lifting emissions and join the UK in pushing for strong action by 2035, otherwise we won’t stop global warming.
The only 2035 target consistent with a safe climate is net zero. At the climate summit, Labor must match and raise the UK’s climate ambition and give voters peace of mind that this government takes climate change seriously.
Updated
Search resumes for fisher missing after jumping into river west of Sydney
NSW emergency services are continuing search for a man who disappeared after jumping into the Nepean River, south of Penrith.
Police were called to the Nortons Basin at Mulgoa, about 20km south of Penrith, about 11am on Saturday.
They were told the 68-year-old man jumped into the river to retrieve his fishing rod but didn’t resurface.
The search was suspended about 5.30pm on Saturday and resumed at 9am today.
So far, the search involves police, the state emergency service, fire and rescue and paramedics. Police divers are expected to assist later today.
Updated
Billionaire mining magnate backs fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty as ‘only solution’ to climate crisis and rising energy costs
The Australian billionaire mining magnate, Andrew Forrest, has backed a global push for a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty, declaring the perpetrators of the climate crisis will be “more and more exposed to the wrath of society”.
The push for a treaty to end fossil fuel development has slowly gained momentum, with support from 14 countries, including Colombia and several vulnerable island states, the European parliament, the World Health Organization, 25 banks and more than 3,000 scientists.
Forrest announced he was backing the treaty while attending the Cop29 UN climate summit in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku. He has become a vocal investor in and advocate for clean energy and called for countries and businesses to aim for “real zero” greenhouse gas emissions by eliminating fossil fuels,
Forrest said global emissions continued to rise despite nearly 200 countries supporting a transition away from fossil fuels at last year’s Cop28 summit in Dubai.
I stand in solidarity with the Pacific Island nations and pledge my support to them, both as a business leader and philanthropist.
Devastating hurricanes and flooding across the world are causing unprecedented economic damage and mortality, all due to our warming oceans …The only solution that can bring our energy costs down and decarbonise the planet at the same time is to stop burning fossil fuels.
The fortnight-long UN climate summit is due to finish on Friday. The climate change minister, Chris Bowen, is attending the second week. Read more about his role here:
Updated
Warning for heavy rainfall, damaging winds and potential flash flooding in north-east Victoria
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning for the north-east of Victoria, with forecasts of heavy rainfall and “damaging to locally destructive wind gusts”:
Heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding is forecast with areas of rain and thunderstorms for the northeast of Victoria from Sunday morning.
Six-hourly rainfall totals of 30 to 60mm are likely, with isolated totals up to 80mm possible. 24-hourly rainfall totals of 60 to 80mm are likely, with isolated falls of 100mm possible.
A separate severe thunderstorm warning will be issued if very dangerous thunderstorms with intense rainfall are detected.
In the alpine region, 131 km/h wind gusts were recorded at Mount Hotham and Mount Buller this morning. Falls Creek recorded a 104km/h gust at 7.20am.
It’s a different story in the state’s west, where bushfire “watch and act” warnings are in place.
Updated
Rudd’s US appointment ‘sign of how seriously we take this relationship’, PM says
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has now repeated his declaration that Australia’s ambassador to Washington, Kevin Rudd, won’t be going anywhere.
On Sky News, Albanese agreed that Rudd would still be in the job a year from now. On ABC’s Insiders, Albanese went further:
He’s Australia’s appointment. It says something about the importance of the United States that we have appointed a former prime minister.
That’s a sign of how seriously we take this relationship, which is a relationship between our peoples, based upon our common values.
Updated
Kevin Rudd will remain as ambassador, PM says
Anthony Albanese says Kevin Rudd will remain Australia’s ambassador to Washington and is doing “a very good job”.
Asked on Sunday if Rudd would still be in the job a year from now, Albanese responded: “Yes.”
The work that he did with Aukus was a difficult task to get that through the Congress and the Senate. But when I was there, one of the things that struck me was just how extensive the links that Kevin Rudd had developed … at the US Congress and the Senate.
He said Rudd had been “a very good ambassador” and “continues to do the job”:
He has developed relationships across the political spectrum in the United States, as I expect any ambassador to do, and that’s why he received praise from people such as Tony Abbott, as well as Malcolm Turnbull, as well as Peter Dutton, for the job that he’s been doing.
Updated
Trump promises PM ‘perfect friendship’ but tariff exemption for Australia not discussed
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, says he didn’t directly ask the incoming US president, Donald Trump, to exempt Australia from a new tariffs regime.
Trump has flagged tariffs of between 10 and 20% on imports to the US and up to 60% on Chinese goods.
Here’s the exchange on ABC’s Insiders with host David Speers a short time ago:
David Speers: “Did you ask Donald Trump in your phone call to give Australia an exemption from any tariffs?”
Anthony Albanese: “No, I pointed out, though, to [president-elect] Trump, that the United States has a trade surplus with Australia. It’s had that trade surplus since Truman was president. So both the United States and Australia benefit from the trade between our two countries.”
Speers: “Would it be a perfect relationship, as he called it, if he slapped tariffs on Australia?”
Albanese: “He said we’re going to have a perfect friendship. I’m very confident that the relationship with the United States will stay strong.”
Updated
Free trade and climate action push not aimed at Trump, says PM
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, says his comments in support of free trade and taking action to address climate change were not directed at the US president-elect, Donald Trump.
Here’s what Albanese told ABC Insider’s host, David Speers, a short time ago:
[My comments were] squarely aimed at one thing – Australia’s national interest.
We’re a trading nation and I support free and fair trade. One-in-four Australian jobs depends on trade. 75% of our trade occurs with Apec nations.
Climate change is something that we have to deal with. It’s in Australia’s national interests [to do so]. I see climate change as not just a challenge, which it is, but also an opportunity and a particular opportunity for Australians.
Updated
PM hints at May election
Anthony Albanese has renewed election-timing speculation with an off-the-cuff remark declaring it would occur in May next year.
In an interview with Sky News on Sunday, Albanese was asked about media reports that he had spoken to the West Australian premier, Roger Cook, about shifting WA’s election date,now fixed for 8 March.
Describing it as “a completely nothing story”, Albanese initially gave an unclear response, saying the government would “go to an election sometime between [then and] May”. He then became definitive:
We have a budget scheduled for March and the election will be in May.
Pressed to confirm the May date, he returned to more generic language.
Well, that’s when it’s due. Or it could be beforehand.
Updated
Albanese hails 'inclusive trade and investment' at Apec forum in Peru
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has hailed “inclusive trade and investment” at the Apec forum in Peru where leaders are attempting to push against the protectionist policies favoured by US president-elect Donald Trump.
We’ll hear from the PM on ABC Insiders shortly.
When speaking at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders summit, which assembles 21 of the world’s largest economies, Albanese said Apec leaders consistently “spoke about the importance of free and fair trade between our economies to lift up the living standards of people throughout this region”.
Albanese also said he had a “friendly” private discussion with the US president, Joe Biden, at the meeting, who he described as “in good form”. Albanese confirmed he did not speak to China’s president, Xi Jinping.
Asked about work to lift trade tariffs with China, Albanese said:
I’m not a commentator … but what I’ve done with China is work in the way that we said we would before the election.
Whether it’s coal, barley, wine, other products, including seafood and others, people are in employment in Australia today because of our trade.
Updated
Emergency fire warnings for Victoria’s west
There are several emergency fire warnings in Victoria’s western district this morning after soaring temperatures in the mid-30s on Saturday.
A “watch and act” alert has been issued for those living in Chapple Vale, Crowes, Gellibrand Lower, Johanna, Johanna Heights, Lavers Hill, Stalker, Wangerrip, Wattle Hill, Yuulong and Wattle Hill to the Great Ocean Walk.
Here’s the guidance emergency services issued just after midnight:
Don’t wait, leaving now is the safest option – conditions may change and get worse very quickly. Emergency services may not be able to help you if you decide to stay.
By choosing to stay, you and your family may be at risk of serious injury or death.
A watch and act message has also been issued for the towns of Chetwynd, Connewirricoo, Kadnook:
If you left Chetwynd, Connewirricoo or Kadnook it is Not Safe to Return. Be aware of potential dangerous bushfire and tree hazards.
Updated
Three killed after plane crashes into paddock
A pilot and two passengers have died after a light plane crashed into a paddock and caught alight, AAP reports.
Emergency services were called to the crash in Tinamba West in Victoria’s East Gippsland on Saturday afternoon.
Police were told the aircraft was circling the area before it crashed and set on fire.
The pilot and two passengers, who were the only occupants onboard, died at the scene. They are yet to be formally identified
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating the crash of the “amateur-built light aircraft” and is calling for witnesses or anyone with photos or video of it to come forward.
Updated
Good morning
Hello and welcome to another day of the Australia news live blog. Pour yourself a cup of strong coffee, and let’s get into it.
Much of the world’s attention today is in Peru, where the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) is hosting leaders from around the world. The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is there pushing back against protectionist policies. He’ll speak with ABC Insiders this morning.
We’re also keeping a close eye on active bushfire warnings across Victoria’s west after soaring temperatures on Saturday.
We’re also watching another big international forum: the Cop29 UN climate summit in Azerbaijan. Our environment editor, Adam Morton, is there, and we will have updates from him this morning.
Updated
