Chalmers warns of ‘more polarising politics’ – as it happened

Australia’s foreign affairs minister Penny Wong has urged the US and Iran to return to peace negotiations as a matter of priority. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

5.47am BST

What we learned today, Sunday 12 April

And that’s where we’ll leave you this Sunday afternoon. Here’s what we learned today:

• The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, says Australia and the world are facing “a dangerous moment” because of the war in Iran, and even an immediate end to hostilities won’t stop the global economic fallout.

• A new government advertising campaign will roll out from Monday to encourage the public to minimise their use of fuel amid the global crisis caused by the US-Israel war on Iran.

• The transport and infrastructure minister, Catherine King, said the government was open to considering other kinds of cost-of-living relief for the public.

• Police have appealed for information from the public about the killing of 65-year-old Richard Wills, who was shot dead and buried in a shallow grave on his farm outside Ouyen, north-western Victoria.

• A seven-year-old girl has drowned at a popular swimming spot on the Brisbane River in the south-west of the city.

• Queensland police have charged a woman from Logan with the attempted poisoning murder of a 10-year-old girl.

Thanks so much for your company. We’ll be back with you bright and early tomorrow morning.

Updated at 6.01am BST

4.34am BST

Wong calls failed peace talks between US and Iran ‘disappointing’

Australia’s foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, says it’s “disappointing” that peace talks have failed between the US and Iran, but has urged parties to return to negotiations as a matter of priority.

The US vice-president, JD Vance, departed Pakistan on Sunday without reaching a deal with Iran after a marathon 21-hour first day of talks. Iranian state media said the talks had failed due to the US’s “unreasonable demands”.

Wong said:

It is disappointing that the Islamabad talks between the United States and Iran have ended without agreement.

The priority now must be to continue the ceasefire and return to negotiations. We continue to want to see a swift resolution to this conflict.

Any escalation in the conflict would impose an even greater human cost and further impact the global economy.

Updated at 6.01am BST