What we learned: Friday, 28 February
With that, we will wrap the blog for the evening. Thanks for joining us, and Happy Mardi Gras! I’m off to put a rainbow tutu on my lab.
Here are today’s big developments:
The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service is urging travellers to leave K’gari, Inskip and Cooloola coastal camping areas amid Tropical Cyclone Alfred. The cyclone is expected to stay offshore for the next few days but severe weather is still forecast due to its proximity to the coast.
The US president, Donald Trump, needed to be reminded what the Aukus deal was when asked a question about it during a meeting with the British prime minister in the Oval Office.
The New South Wales coroner has directed police to investigate the death of a two-year-old boy from Sydney’s Northern Beaches in September last year.
AAP is reporting that Taiwan’s representative to Australia has urged closer intelligence sharing and cooperation, after concerns about China’s intention in sending warships near Australia. China’s ambassador to Australia says the country has nothing to apologise for, after warships conducted unannounced live-fire drills in the Tasman sea, which led to dozens of flight diversions.
The Victorian health department has warned of a measles outbreak in the state, after two people were infected in Melbourne.
Updated
Jacqui Lambie says most Australians don’t trust Chinese Communist party
Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie says “most Australians do not trust the Chinese Communist party” after its execution of live fire drills off Australia’s coast.
Appearing on ABC’s Afternoon Briefing, Lambie said China had been doing these exercises for “many, many years”.
They come down here, they cry wolf, they want the attention, they get the attention and then they say they are mates with us. Most Australians do not trust the Chinese Communist party; they never have; nothing will change in that area.
This is what they do. They come down here, beat their chest and say, here we are, we’re still here and we say, yes, whatever. For people down here in Australia, this is normal but it is disgraceful behaviour by China. This is what they do.
Updated
