What we learned, Monday 16 March
That’s where we’ll leave you. Here are some of the top stories from today:
The captain of the Iranian women’s football squad has become the fifth member to withdraw her claim for asylum and leave Australia. Now only two of the seven members who sought asylum remain in Australia.
Matt Canavan, the new Nationals leader, announced changes to the party’s frontbench lineup, with former leader David Littleproud surviving on the frontbench.
An area of low pressure currently building in the Coral Sea off Queensland has a high chance of becoming a cyclone later this week as it heads for the state’s far north coast, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
The federal infrastructure minister, Catherine King, said on Radio National that Australia will not send ships to the strait of Hormuz.
A Virgin Australia flight from Brisbane to Melbourne was met by firefighters after smoke was seen coming from a vape on board.
Updated
One of the two remaining Iranian soccer players in Australia posts Instagram story
One of the two remaining Iranian soccer players in Australia, Fatemeh Pasandideh, has uploaded an Instagram story.
It shows Pasandideh smiling alongside Fifa’s head of football, Jill Ellis, with the caption: “everything will be fine” – followed by smiley and peace sign emojis.
We reported earlier that the captain of the Iranian women’s football squad had left Australia after withdrawing her claim of asylum.
She was the fifth member of the football cohort to change her mind after initially taking up an offer to stay in the country after the Asian Cup.
Updated
Businesses affected by one of world’s longest Covid lockdowns to receive $125m from Victorian government
Businesses affected by one of the world’s longest Covid-19 lockdowns will receive $125m from taxpayers after a state government agreed to settle the matter.
A class action was brought in the supreme court on behalf of businesses affected financially by Victoria’s 2020 lockdowns.
Retail businesses, including lead plaintiff 5 Boroughs NY Pty Ltd, argued the state government should pay them for economic loss resulting from the lockdown as customers were prevented from attending their physical businesses, due to restrictions between July and October.
Read more here:
Updated
Queensland Labor criticises ‘sham’ public vote on name of new theatre
Queensland’s Labor opposition has hit out at the government’s decision to hold a “sham” vote on the name of a new theatre, saying the facility has been “tainted”.
The Guardian revealed on Sunday that arts minister John-Paul Langbroek signed off on the decision to name the building “Glasshouse” months before holding a vote on the name. He ignored a recommendation it be named for famous poet Oodgeroo Noonuccal.
Premier David Crisafulli said yesterday that the government had picked Glasshouse because it was more “marketable”.
“Unfortunately, with all of the goodwill that’s gone into building this fantastic facility, it has now been tainted by this process,” shadow minister for the arts Leeanne Enoch said.
It’s an insult to the legacy of Oodgeroo Noonuccal and to her family. It’s an insult to the many Queenslanders who, in good faith, participated in a process that they now found out is an absolute sham.
John-Paul Langbroek didn’t take questions on Sunday or Monday but attorney general Deb Frecklington said the government didn’t want to announce its preferred name until allowing the public a vote.
“It is made of glass and I can’t be any more transparent than that,” she said.
Updated
High chance of cyclone forming in Coral Sea, with far north Queensland on watch
An area of low pressure currently building in the Coral Sea off Queensland has a high chance of becoming a cyclone later this week as it heads for the state’s far north coast, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
While meteorologists have been watching the area for a week or more, until yesterday computer models were delivering inconsistent results.
Senior meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said that changed over the weekend and the bureau is now saying the tropical low – currently known as 34U – will move west from its current position south of Solomon Islands, with a high chance of becoming a tropical cyclone by Thursday. She said:
The most likely track is west across the Cape York peninsular with a crossing north of Cooktown and then moving out over the Gulf of Carpentaria at tropical cyclone intensity. The watch area is communities through far north Queensland.
The bureau’s current forecast suggests the system will cross the coast some time between Thursday afternoon and Friday morning. If a cyclone does form, it will be called Narelle.
Updated
Kiis FM banned from airing strong sexual content on Kyle and Jackie O shows for five years
Any Kiis FM radio program hosted by Kyle Sandilands and or Jackie “O” Henderson must not air strong sexual content for the next five years or ARN Media could face penalties as serious as the cancellation of the radio station’s licence.
However, the penalty from broadcasting authorities has come two weeks after the Kyle & Jackie O Show was taken off the air and Henderson’s contract with ARN was terminated.
Read more here:
Intensifying storm in northern Australia looms for flood-soaked communities
Northern Australia is staring down the barrel of a possible tropical cyclone that looks set to wreak havoc by twice making landfall across a flood-ravaged region, AAP reports.
The volatile storm in the Coral Sea is intensifying as it inches toward Queensland’s far north just as the area recovers from major flooding.
The system, currently a tropical low, is expected to cross north of Cooktown in the coming days then possibly re-form over the Gulf of Carpentaria and make landfall again in the Northern Territory.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Angus Hines told AAP:
We certainly are seeing an increased chance that this will both strengthen as a weather system and also move on to the far north of Queensland.
This system could affect multiple states over multiple days, but starting with Queensland late this week.
Updated
Danish minister for climate change speaks at royal afternoon tea in Canberra
Lars Aagaard, the Danish minister for climate change, was travelling with the group and gave remarks on behalf of the delegation. He described Australia and Denmark as friends in a world that was rapidly changing.
“Our values are deeply rooted in a strong belief in democracy, freedom of speech, respect for our institutions, respect for science,” he said.
We know now that in this difficult world we’re living in, we need to seek even deeper friendship among countries that share our values and interest.
In times of uncertainty, trust is everything, not only within our society, but also between the nations. And Denmark and Australia indeed, have relations based on trust, friendship and common interest.”
Queen Mary and King Frederik enjoy afternoon tea with parliamentary friends of Denmark
Mary and Frederik were the guests at an afternoon tea hosted by the parliamentary friends of Denmark, in the courtyard of House of Representatives speaker Milton Dick.
Around 16 federal parliamentarians joined the event, including Labor MPs Julian Hill, Andrew Leigh, Alicia Payne and Carina Garland; Coalition MPs Tim Wilson, Susan McDonald and Jono Duniam; and independent Rebekah Sharkie.
Guests were served scones with cream, chocolate crackles, spiced pistachio teacake, and gazpacho in cucumber cups, among other treats
Liberal MP Angie Bell and Labor MP Alison Byrnes, the co chairs of the friends of Denmark group, gave speeches to the event. Bell, who said she spent time in Denmark in her youth on a Rotary exchange, spoke half her speech in Danish - an effort which delighted the royal couple and the travelling Danish contingent.
Updated
That’s all from me. Ima Caldwell will take things from here. Enjoy the rest of your Monday.
Danish royals greeted by cheering public in Canberra
Queen Mary of Denmark was met with cheers as she greeted a packed crowd outside the War Memorial in Canberra on Monday, on the Australian-born royal’s first state visit with husband King Fredrick X.
The king and queen laid a wreath and floral tribute at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and paused at the Roll of Honour for flying officer Henry James Brock, a Tasmanian-born officer killed in action on 27 February 1944 and buried in Denmark.
The couple also placed a poppy at the memorial for flying officer Geoffrey Herbert Brandon Slinn who was killed in action over Denmark on 27 November 1944.
The royal couple were welcomed by Governor-General Sam Mostyn and partner Simeon Beckett SC, and were joined on the state visit by members of the royal court, as well as a delegate of political leaders, including Danish climate minister Lars Aagaard.
The group will travel to Hobart on Thursday.
Hundreds of onlookers, including Danes living in Australia, schoolchildren, and locals, gathered outside the war memorial on Monday morning, many waving flowers or Australian and Danish flags.
A large Danish flag was unfurled over the security fencing.
Outside the memorial, the couple made their way around the crowd, shaking hands, speaking with children, and at one point kneeling down to pat a dog.
Updated
Author Craig Silvey faces additional charges for alleged production and possession of child exploitation material
Western Australia police have laid additional charges against prominent author Craig Silvey, who was charged with possession and distribution of child exploitation material in January.
Silvey, the author of the books Jasper Jones and Runt, was first charged after officers executed a search warrant at his Fremantle home on 12 January. Detectives allegedly found him “actively engaging with other child exploitation offenders online”. He was charged with two counts at the time: one for distribution of child exploitation material and one for possession of child exploitation material.
On Monday, detectives charged Silvey with two additional offences: one count of producing child exploitation material and another count of possessing child exploitation material.
He was set to appear in Fremantle magistrates court today.
Police said as part of their investigation they had also identified a woman, 68, who allegedly produced and distributed child exploitation material online. She was arrested on 18 February and has since been charged with two counts of producing child exploitation material, one count of distribution of child exploitation material and three counts of failure to comply with reporting obligations.
She remains in custody and will appear before court on 2 April.
Updated
Daly River in NT to remain at major flood heights for ‘at least a week’
Communities around Daly River in the NT could have to wait several days for water levels to fall enough for them to return to their properties, the Bureau of Meteorology says, as attention turns to the next flood event in southern parts of the NT and northern South Australia.
Senior meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said the Daly River may have peaked but levels will remain at major flood heights “for at least a week”, which will mean it could be “some time yet before those people can return home”.
The Daly River peaked on Sunday morning at 16.42 metres but remained high at 16.33 metres as of lunchtime today. The Katherine River has also started to drop.
In Queensland’s east, river levels are also on a downward track, including in the town of Longreach and Thomson River. The peak has likely been hit there at levels similar to the 2019 flood, but below the level of the town’s new bridge.
A stream of tropical moisture was now moving through central parts of the country that was feeding rain and storms, with a severe weather warning for heavy rainfall currently in place in southwest NT and northern South Australia.
Bradbury said:
The focus for the next few days is moving to the central band of the country. Over the next few days we could have 100mm or more and in local areas it could be much much higher.
Everything is already saturated and the chance we will see riverine flooding again is quite high.
Updated
Here’s the full list of the new Nationals frontbench
We have a full list of the new Nationals frontbench lineup, announced earlier by Angus Taylor and Matt Canavan. The former leader David Littleproud has been dropped from shadow cabinet but will remain on the party’s frontbench.
Here are the roles for the junior Coalition partner:
Shadow cabinet
Nationals leader Matt Canavan: trade, investment and tourism
Nationals deputy leader Darren Chester: agriculture, fisheries and forestry
Kevin Hogan: shadow assistant treasurer
Bridget McKenzie: infrastructure and transport, regional development, local government and territories
Micheal McCormack: shadow minister for water, veterans’ affairs
Susan McDonald: shadow minister for resources and northern Australia
Outer shadow ministry
Sam Birrell: shadow assistant minister for agriculture, regional education
Anne Webster: shadow minister for regional health, regional communications
David Littleproud: shadow minister for tourism, emergency management
Jamie Chaffey: shadow assistant minister for regional development, local government and territories, energy security and affordability
Updated
Victoria settles class action brought by businesses over Covid-19 response
Gabrielle Williams also confirmed the Victorian government had settled a class action brought by businesses that suffered during the state’s deadly second wave of Covid-19 – sparked by failures in the hotel quarantine program – for $125m.
Williams said:
I’m conscious that while there has been a settlement reached, that that settlement has to still be endorsed by the supreme court so I will be very cautious in the comments I make. I understand that the settlement that’s been so, so far reached, but not yet endorsed, is for $125m.
She says the Covid-19 pandemic was unprecedented and governments across the globe had acted to prevent “large scale death”:
We need to look at the actions that were taken in that frame … leaders and decision makers worked really hard to ensure that, through the best of our abilities, with the knowledge that we had at the time, that we were protecting the Victorian community. In terms of the settlement, I will, given that it’s yet to be endorsed by the supreme court, curb my remarks just there. There will be opportunities in down the line for others to make further comments on that. But I think for now, it’s probably safest to leave it there.
No major issues on trial of tap and go payments on Victorian train lines, minister says
The Victorian minister for transport infrastructure, Gabrielle Williams, provided an update this morning on the trial of tap and go payments on four train lines.
She said as of 9am, there’s been almost 1,200 “tap-ons” across 650 devices:
That’s pretty healthy numbers for day one. What we expect to see though over the course of coming days and weeks, is the awareness grow about the trial across those four lines, and those numbers start to steadily increase.
Williams says there’s been “no significant issues” so far.
This is obviously the point of a trial, and we expect that over coming days and weeks, as the numbers of people using this new technology grow, that we will effectively be stress testing the system, and that’s what it’s all about – building confidence … so that we can get this technology rolled out across the network as soon as possible, but also as safely as possible.
Updated
‘Never seen this happen’: small town Victorian service station owner says fuel shortage unprecedented
A small town service station owner says his business is in the midst of the worst fuel shortages in more than 25 years, AAP reports.
Nathan Falvo was forced to ration the latest fuel delivery at his petrol station in Robinvale, in Victoria’s far north-west, after running completely dry over the weekend.
Falvo said the shortage had spread to the town’s two other stations, which have also introduced a $50 sales limit.
“Basically the whole town, which is one of the fruit bowls of Australia, was out of fuel,” Mr Falvo told AAP on Monday morning.
I’ve been here at this business for 25 years and I’ve never seen this happen before. All three stations were out.
The conflict in the Middle East has caused huge disruption to fuel supply, sending unleaded petrol prices in Australia above $2.20 a litre, and diesel to more than $2.60 a litre.
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NSW fuel shortages ‘not so much a supply issue as a distribution issue’, premier says
The NSW premier, Chris Minns, has told an emergency roundtable convened to discuss fuel shortages that the state is experiencing “not so much a supply issue as a distribution issue” amid concerns created by the conflict in the Middle East.
The meeting between the government and regional mayors and farmers, as well representatives from unions and the fuel and transport industries has now concluded. The chair, the NSW energy and environment minister, Penny Sharpe, told the meeting that about 32 out of 3,000 fuel stations in the state were “problematic” according to the latest information.
Addressing the roundtable at its start this morning, Minns said:
I think there’s acute challenges as it stands today in regional NSW. It’s not so much a supply issue as a distribution issue, and there’s key intelligence and information that the government can gather to help fuel companies and the commonwealth government better distribute that fuel so that we’re not seeing acute shortages in regional towns.
At a press conference this morning, Minns told reporters NSW had the onshore supplies to deal with its energy needs if consumers acted “in a common sense way” and did not panic buy or stockpile, which he said was already causing shortages for consumers and businesses in regional NSW.
He said the roundtable would focus on “contingencies with a timeline based on the length of the conflict in the Persian Gulf”.
The premier has previously flagged that contingencies have been discussed for hospitals and emergency services, in particular the provision of diesel for ambulances and generators. He announced today a fuel compliance check blitz by NSW Fair Trading “to ensure that there is appropriate and legal distribution of petrol at the retail level” was being brought forward by a week and the number of inspectors doubled.
Updated
Littleproud survives on Nationals frontbench and McCormack back, Canavan announces
Matt Canavan, the new Nationals leader, has announced changes to the party’s frontbench line-up, with former leader David Littleproud surviving on the frontbench.
Pat Conaghan is among the losers from the shake-up but Littleproud will stay, as the shadow minister for emergency services and tourism. Canavan is the shadow minister for trade, investment and tourism.
Former leader Michael McCormack is back on the frontbench too. He takes on the water and veterans’ affairs portfolios. Susan McDonald takes on resources and northern Australia.
The former deputy leader Kevin Hogan replaces Conaghan as the new shadow assistant treasurer and shadow minister for financial services.
“The Nationals understand that we won’t restore our living standards without a strong economy and we will be at the forefront of the economic debate,” Canavan said in a statement.
Updated
Canavan prepares changes to Nationals frontbench
Matt Canavan, the new Nationals leader, is preparing to announce changes to the party’s frontbench line-up, with David Littleproud and Pat Conaghan expected to be among losers from the shake-up.
Littleproud quit the leadership last week, saying he was “buggered” after a tumultuous nine months since the election. The period included two splits with the Liberal party and often chaotic decisions from within the Coalition.
Littleproud is expected to be relegated to the backbench. He said last week he would serve in whatever capacity the party’s new leader decided was appropriate.
Conaghan, the outgoing shadow assistant treasurer and financial services minister, issued a statement confirming he had been dumped. His announcement pre-empted the news from Canavan.
“In politics, a change to the party leadership signals a change in the ministerial teams and last week’s events have triggered this for the National party,” he said.
While I am of course disappointed by the decision, I respect that this is the process and remain absolutely committed to the National party and our role in representing the real needs of regional people right across this beautiful country of ours.
Under Coalition rules, Canavan nominated Nationals MPs to be part of opposition leader Angus Taylor’s frontbench line-up.
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Australian soldiers’ bodies ‘very likely’ disturbed by Israeli bulldozing at Gaza cemetery, senator says
The bodies of Australian soldiers buried in Gaza have “very likely” been disturbed, the independent senator David Pocock says, as new photos tendered to parliament show widespread damage of graves by Israeli bulldozers.
About 146 of the 263 graves of Australian soldiers buried in Gaza have been damaged, Senate estimates heard last week.
New pictures tendered to Senate estimates show damage to headstones, as well as tonnes of earth displaced and pushed into high berms.
The director of the Office of Australian War Graves, Maj Gen Wade Stothart, also told estimates that it was “quite possible” that the bodies of soldiers had been disturbed, moved or damaged.
Read more here:
Follow the Guardian’s live coverage of the Middle East crisis:
Oil prices rise after Trump claims US ‘totally demolished’ Iran’s Kharg Island export hub
Oil prices have climbed again amid mounting supply fears after the US struck Iran’s vital Kharg Island oil hub and Donald Trump demanded allies help reopen the strait of Hormuz.
Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose 1.8% to $104.98 a barrel during early trading on Monday.
Another weekend of violence across the Middle East compounded concerns over the conflict, and its ramifications for global energy markets.
The US president claimed on Saturday that US strikes had “totally demolished” most of Kharg Island, telling NBC News that its military may hit site “a few more times just for fun”.
Read more here:
Updated
No Oscar for Jacob Elordi
Australia just missed out on its first Oscar win of the evening, a best supporting actor nod for Jacob Elordi in Frankenstein.
The Academy Award went to Sean Penn for his role in One Battle After Another.
There’s still some hope yet, with Rose Byrne and Nick Cave up for awards, as well as costume and production designer Fiona Crombie.
Updated
Victoria attorney general announces increased penalties for ram raids
The Victorian attorney general, Sonya Kilkenny, held a press conference at Forest Hill shopping centre this morning to announce new laws increasing penalties for ram raiding have come into effect.
Ram raiding involves using a vehicle to smash into a building to steal, cause damage or commit an assault. A high-profile ram raid occurred at Forest Hill shopping centre in late 2024, when thieves used a SUV to break through glass entry doors and ram into shopfronts before stealing several items, including a safe.
Kilkenny told reporters the offending is “violent, it is dangerous and it is highly traumatising for retail workers and also for community and businesses”.
Under the new laws, offendings caught ram raiding will now be charged with aggravated burglary, rather than theft or burglary. The offence carries a maximum penalty of 25 years’ imprisonment.
It will also fall under the government’s “adult time for violent crime” laws, which came into effect in February. This means children charged with ram raiding will face the county court instead of the children’s court, where the maximum penalty is only three years.
Kilkenny said:
Previously, police would lay charges for burglary, assault or a driving offence. We are now making sure that the seriousness of ram raiding, using a vehicle, is reflected in the charge that is available for police. So ram raiding will be charged as aggravated burglary, with a maximum penalty of up to 25 years in jail.
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Crowds cheer as Queen Mary arrives
Denmark’s King Frederik and Queen Mary arrived at the Canberra war memorial earlier this morning, waving to cheering onlookers as they entered.
Their 11-car motorcade rolled up Anzac Parade and into the memorial forecourt, delighting the several hundred people who’d gathered to see them. Mary waved to the crowds as she stepped out of her car.
“We love you Mary!” one person called.
“Welcome home!” yelled another.
Canberra crowds gather for visit by Danish royals
Several hundred Canberrans have gathered in hopes of getting a glimpse of Denmark’s King Frederik and Australian-born Queen Mary this morning at the war memorial.
The royal couple are in Canberra today. A few hundred men, women and children are here, including a school group and many people waving paper flags of Denmark.
Numerous people are dressed in the shade of red on Denmark’s flag, while we’ve also seen a few well-wishers wearing plastic crowns and royal regalia. A contingent of visiting Danish media are at the scene too.
Updated
Australia not sending warships to strait of Hormuz, infrastructure minister says
Catherine King, the federal infrastructure minister, said earlier this morning that Australia will not send ships to the strait of Hormuz, a vital oil shipping corridor that’s been effectively shut down amid the ongoing war in the Middle East.
King told RN Australia was “well prepared” as a nation this morning, but added:
It’s clear, obviously, the longer that the war continues, the greater the impacts will be felt, not just by us, but obviously the Asia-Pacific region overall. We’ll continue to monitor those events as they occur.
But at this stage, all of the ships that are planned, were planned to come into Australia are coming in. The fuel supply is holding.
She admitted that there were obviously local distribution issues, but said the national fuel stockpile would hold Australia “in good stead”.
Updated
Opposition cautious about US call for military assistance
The Coalition defence spokesperson, James Paterson, is cautious about sending Australian ships to assist the US military as Donald Trump urges allies to join its operation against Iran in the strait of Hormuz.
Speaking to Channel Nine’s Today show this morning, Paterson said he didn’t believe a request would come but added:
If one came, we’d have to very carefully consider it against our national interest and particularly whether we have the relevant naval vessels available that could safely do that mission.
Trump has claimed that “many countries” affected by the closure of the key shipping route between Iran and the United Arab Emirates would send warships to assist with its reopening. While Trump did not directly mention Australia, he said “hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others” would assist the US with its war against Iran.
“In the meantime, the United States will be bombing the hell out of the shoreline, and continually shooting Iranian Boats and Ships out of the water. One way or the other, we will soon get the Hormuz Strait OPEN, SAFE, and FREE!” Trump said on social media.
Guardian Australia has contacted the offices of the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, and defence minister, Richard Marles.
Updated
Captain of Iranian women’s football team fifth to withdraw asylum claim and leave Australia
The captain of the Iranian women’s football team has withdrawn her claim of asylum and left Australia, AAP reports.
Zahra Ghanbari became the fifth member of the football cohort to change her mind after initially taking up an offer to stay in the country after the Asian Cup.
Her decision to join fellow players in Malaysia was reported by Iranian state news agency IRNA, which has seized on the about-face from all but two members of the cohort as a propaganda coup for the nation’s under-siege regime.
Seven members of the Iranian soccer group, including six players and one support staff member, were initially granted humanitarian visas to remain in Australia.
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Why attacks on Iran’s Kharg Island could keep oil prices high
About 20 miles off the coast of Iran lies the source of the petrostate’s economic lifeblood and the latest target of US military aggression: an 8 sq mile coral island through which nine in every 10 barrels of Iranian crude passes each day.
The US president’s decision to launch a weekend attack on Kharg Island, the home of Iran’s processing hub and the heart of its economy, is an unsurprising counterstrike to the Iranian regime’s ongoing chokehold on the oil market’s trade artery.
But uncertainty over future oil production by one of the world’s largest producers, is also likely to cause further market volatility after weeks of historic price increases.
Any damage to Kharg Island’s oil infrastructure could force Iran to cut production at its oilfields, potentially erasing another 1m barrels from global markets already roiled by cuts from neighbouring Gulf nations unable to ship their crude to international buyers.
Read more here:
Vape ignites on Virgin flight to Melbourne, prompting urgent landing
A vape activated in the cabin during a Virgin flight from Brisbane to Melbourne on Sunday afternoon, causing a small fire and prompting an urgent landing.
Virgin Australia said the flight, VA328, was on its descent into Melbourne when the vape activated, prompting the aircraft to declare a PAN, a radio signal that indicates a flight needs urgent assistance.
The flight landed safely and all guests and crew disembarked normally, in line with standard procedures. Firefighters followed the aircraft on arrival and removed the device.
A Virgin spokesperson said:
The safety of our guests and crew is our highest priority, and we thank our crew for their swift response in containing the device.
Updated
Three fishermen found dead off South Australia coast
Three fishermen have died in South Australia off the coast of Beachport.
Police said alarms were raised at about 2.30pm on Sunday after the three men did not return to shore. Officials immediately began searching for the trio using water operations, drones and aircraft.
All three men, aged 65, 67 and 74, were found dead and their bodies have been recovered. They were all from New South Wales.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
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Discovery of fire ant nest at New Farm park reflects growing need to deal with threat, group says
Last week, the Invasive Species Council said fire ant nests had been detected and destroyed in World Heritage rainforest in the Gold Coast hinterland. The ants have also been detected on sporting fields across Brisbane and surrounds, including at Mount Gravatt, Rocklea, Coorparoo and the Redlands.
Reece Pianta, the Invasive Species Council advocacy manager, said the detection at New Farm underscored the need for ongoing suppression while eradication efforts were ongoing.
That’s an iconic location in Brisbane. If we don’t eradicate fire ants, this is going to happen everywhere in the country. Brisbane is getting a taste of it now.
Pianta said state funding for suppression efforts ran out in July and that it was important that it continue.
Local sporting clubs need to be alert to this. For the time being it’s an increased maintenance burden for them.
The council said it was continuing to work with state and federal governments to manage the spread of fire ants through south-east Queensland.
Updated
Fire ant nest discovered in popular inner Brisbane park
A nest of red imported fire ants has been discovered in Brisbane’s popular New Farm park, raising new alarm about the spread of one of the world’s most invasive species across south-east Queensland.
Authorities in Brisbane confirmed that the nest was discovered last week on soccer fields on the outskirts of the heritage-listed public park, which is one of Brisbane’s largest and most significant public spaces.
“A fire ant nest was detected on the grounds of the New Farm Soccer Club last week,” a Brisbane city council spokesperson said, after questions about the detection from Guardian Australia.
An insecticide which instantly kills fire ants was injected directly into the nest. The affected area was temporarily closed while treatment was under way but has since reopened and is safe to use.
The ants are described as a “social menace”, swarm aggressively and inflict a sting that can itch and burn for an hour. In rare cases, people have died from allergic relations.
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Man dead after shooting near Sydney Olympic Park
A man has died after receiving multiple gunshot wounds in an early morning shooting at a suburban apartment, AAP reports.
Emergency services were called to a unit in Lidcombe in Sydney’s west just after 4am on Monday following reports of gunfire.
They located a 38-year-old man at the scene suffering gunshot wounds. He was rushed to hospital, but died a short time later.
A second man was found at the scene with non-life threatening injuries and he was also taken to hospital. A crime scene has been established with a large police presence.
Katherine mayor says NT town in ‘recovery phase’ after severe flooding across Top End
Joanna Holden, the mayor of Katherine in the Northern Territory, said the town is moving into the “recovery phase” after severe flooding across central Australia and the Top End.
Holden told RN Breakfast that hundreds of residents were displaced by the floods:
There are still a lot of people in the community impacted, but it will take them a long time to be able to rebuild, to clean up and get back to where they were a week and a half ago. And I’m encouraging the community to remember them. …
We have community members where it will be months before they will be back to where they were a week and a half ago. So we need to keep reaching out. We need to keep checking in on them. We need to keep giving them support.
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Australians in with a chance as Oscars kick off this morning
Rose Byrne is Australia’s greatest hope at the Academy Awards but the Sydney-born actor will take to the stage for the ceremony whether or not she wins an Oscar, AAP reports.
Byrne is one of the award presenters at the 98th Oscars, to be hosted by comedian Conan O’Brien, that kick off at 10am AEDT on Monday at the Dolby theatre in Los Angeles.
Australian Hollywood duo Byrne and Jacob Elordi are nominated for best actress and best supporting actor respectively. They are joined by a third Australian potentially in line for a major gong, with Nick Cave getting a surprise nod for best original song.
Byrne’s performance in indie film If I had Legs I’d Kick You has already earned her the best actress prize at four key pre-Oscars events including the Golden Globes.
Meet your final slate of presenters for the 98th #Oscars.
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 11, 2026
The biggest moments are still to come — tune in LIVE Sunday, March 15, at 7e/4p on ABC and Hulu to see it all unfold. #OnlyAtTheOscars pic.twitter.com/dw5Yl37VLI
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Minister says members of Iranian women’s football team would have faced ‘very, very difficult’ choice
Catherine King added the government had done what it could to let members of the Iranian women’s football team know there were opportunities for them in Australia when granted them asylum.
She told RN those decisions were obviously “incredibly hard and very, very difficult” to make, adding:
We can’t remove the context in which these players are making incredibly difficult decisions. And so we’ve obviously made the offer for humanitarian visas. They have been accepted and then we understand there are a number who have taken the decision now to return to their home country. …
They would have been facing enormous pressure from what was happening overseas in their home country as well … Certainly we are very proud that Australia has offered that choice to these women.
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Minister maintains Australia well prepared to withstand oil turmoil
Catherine King, the minister for infrastructure, maintained Australia is well prepared to withstand the turmoil in the Middle East, which has affected petrol prices across the globe.
King said Australia currently has 37 days of petrol, 30 days of diesel and 29 days of jet fuel in reserve as part of its minimum stock obligation.
King told RN Breakfast:
We’re obviously well placed. We’ve been conscious for a long period of time that fuel security is a significant issue for Australia, given how reliant we are on overseas markets. And the volatility of the global world has obviously had our attention for some time in relation to this. It’s why we introduced the minimum stock holding obligation.
Fifth member of Iranian women’s football squad leaves Australia
A fifth member of the Iranian women’s football squad left Australia overnight after withdrawing her claim of asylum.
The office of the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, confirmed the woman had left after Australia initially granted asylum to seven team members, including a player handler, last week while they were in the country for the Asian Cup.
Yesterday, after three of the women decided to return to Iran, Burke said:
After telling Australian officials they had made this decision the players were given repeated chances to talk about their options.
While the Australian government can ensure that opportunities are provided and communicated, we cannot remove the context in which the players are making these incredibly difficult decisions.
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Hybrid sales hit record high as petrol car sales shrink
New data from the Australian Automobile Association (AAA) shows petrol-electric hybrid vehicles have reached record sales, while traditional fuel cars lose ground.
In the fourth quarter of 2025, 55,458 new hybrids were sold, accounting for 19.13% of all new light vehicle sales. This comfortably eclipsed the previous record of 16.7% set in the September quarter of 2024. In addition, 15,411 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles were sold – 5.32% of light vehicle sales, up from its previous record of 4.82% in the January quarter of 2025.
Internal-combustion engine vehicles fell to a record quarterly low of 66.3%, down from nearly 70% in the previous quarter.
Battery-electric vehicles (BEV) sales saw a slight dip in momentum: from 9.7% market share, to the to 9.25% in the final quarter of 2025.
While battery-electric vehicles briefly outsold hybrids in early 2023, hybrids have now outsold BEVs for 10 consecutive quarters.
A record 29,298 battery-electric vehicles were sold in the September quarter, 54 more than the previous three months’ total, the previous high.
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Good morning
Good morning, and happy Monday. Nick Visser here to take you through the day’s news. Here’s what’s on deck:
Hybrid vehicle sales have surged to a new record, while those of traditional petrol-powered cars have reached a quarterly low, according to new data from the Australian Automobile Association. The figures come shortly after Australia said it would release nearly 20% of its fuel stockpile amid surging petrol prices.
A man has died from multiple gunshot wounds in an early morning shooting at an apartment near Sydney Olympic Park. Emergency services were called to the area just after 4am, where they tried to revive the man. He died at hospital a short time later.
The Oscars will take place this morning, with both Rose Byrne and Jacob Elordi up for acting awards. Byrne will also be one of the presenters at the 98th Academy Awards, hosted by Conan O’Brien. The event begins at 10am AEDT.
Stick with us.
