What we learned, Friday 6 March
And with that, we’ll close the blog for today (and this week!). It’ll be back on Sunday with more live news. I hope you have a great weekend.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, confirmed three Australians were on board a US submarine that torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean. However, he insisted “no Australian personnel had “participated in any offensive action against Iran”, which drew a stringing rebuke from the Greens.
Staying with the Middle East conflict, the first of a handful of commercial flights commissioned to bring stranded travellers home to Australia landed overnight, although it later emerged there were empty seats on some of the planes despite thousands of people being stuck in limbo.
Israel’s new ambassador to Australia, Hillel Newman, tried to cast doubt on the bombing of a school in Iran that killed at least 165, claiming in an interview with the ABC that “one cannot believe pictures or even photos or words that come out of Iran”. A Guardian investigation verified the destruction of the girls’ school.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission put petrol companies on notice amid accusations retailers are using the Middle East conflict as an excuse to gouge their customers.
The Queensland coroner determined that Piper James, the Canadian backpacker found dead on K’gari island in January, died from drowning “in the setting of multiple injuries, due to, or as a consequence of a dingo attack”.
Victorian women will soon be able to get the contraceptive pill from the chemist without a prescription, the premier, Jacinta Allan, announced.
The South Australian Liberals – who are polling dismally ahead of the state election - decried One Nation’s move to rule out preference deals as “highly destructive”.
In other One Nation news, the Guardian revealed the party’s newest senator for New South Wales, Sean Bell, continued to live and work in Queensland in his first four months in the role – while also billing taxpayers more than $6,000 for chauffeured cars in Brisbane.
Jackie “O” Henderson released her first public statement since her controversial breakfast radio show was taken off air after a fall out with her co-host, Kyle Sandilands. Henderson said she “did not quit or resign”.
A Melbourne mosque has closed after a suspicious package found at premises. The mosque was due to host a Iftar dinner in celebration of Ramadan.
And we brought you the news that apple peeling champion Kerrie Stratford had produced a nearly four-metre strip to win her 22nd title at the apple and grape harvest festival’s apple peeling contest in Stanthorpe, Queensland.
Updated
Melbourne mosque says site closed after suspicious package found at premises
A Melbourne mosque was on Friday evening closed and surrounding streets cordoned off after a suspicious package was found at the premises, its management said.
The Islamic Council of Victoria, which houses a mosque and the offices of the peak Muslim body, made an urgent community announcement on Friday evening, saying its mosque was closed because a suspicious package had been identified at the West Melbourne address.
“Police have responded and have completely condoned off Jeffcott Street while they assess the situation. We ask all community members to avoid the area and follow police directions”, the social media post said.
Victoria Police confirmed officers were called to the ICV at about 4pm “to conduct a safety check” but were not able to confirm whether a package had been found.
As of 6.30pm, officers remained on scene and the area cordoned off as a precaution, with minor traffic disruptions while the investigation was ongoing.
All mosque events and activity were suspended. The centre had been due to host an Iftar dinner in celebration of Ramadan after sunset prayers.
Updated
