What we learnt today
And that’s where we’ll wrap up for the afternoon. Here’s your cheat sheet for today’s events:
• Defence minister Richard Marles said Australia has “absolutely not” committed to back the US in the event of an invasion of Taiwan by China. He said Australia would not automatically commit the new submarines to support the US in any future war, with decisions to enter conflict up to the government of the day.
• Trade minister Don Farrell described Aukus as a “sensible” arrangement for the strategic circumstances Australia faces in 2023 – but played down the potential impact on the overall project to “stabilise” the relationship with China.
• NSW Liberals rallied supporters in the western Sydney marginal seat of Penrith as the party makes its final push for votes before polling day, with Dominic Perrottet pledging a 20% discount on weekly public transport costs.
• Victorian premier Daniel Andrews says the human rights of trans people are “not negotiable” and that “Nazis aren’t welcome”, after transgender rights protesters clashed with neo-Nazis in Melbourne yesterday after the controversial UK figure Kellie-Jay Keen appeared at an event in the city.
• A farmer helping volunteer firefighters conduct a hazard reduction burn in NSW has died after becoming trapped by the fire.
• A woman and a child have been flown to hospital after being stung by a suspected irukandji jellyfish in Queensland last night.
• Labor’s Manuel Brown has declared victory with nearly 70% of the two-candidate-preferred vote in the byelection for a remote Northern Territory electorate after the former local member’s unexpected death.
• Geelong great Gary Ablett Sr has become the latest high-profile former AFL footballer to reveal a brain damage diagnosis as a result of head injuries sustained during his playing career.
• It was the hottest March day on record for parts of New South Wales as temperatures soared into the high 30s and low 40s. A cool change will move through the state tonight.
We’ll be back with more news bright and early tomorrow morning. Look after yourselves.
Updated
Research points to ‘unlikely’ need for new coalmines
A bill to establish a contentious safeguards mechanism policy is expected to pass the lower house when parliament returns but the government needs the Greens and two extra votes to get it through the Senate, AAP reports.
The mechanism, which applies to the 215 biggest emitters in the country, aims to reduce emissions by 205m tonnes by 2030.
But the Greens have said they will support the proposal if the government commits to a ban on new coal and gas projects.
The minor party commissioned a parliamentary library research brief on domestic coal demand and supply, which found existing mines in Australia were “adequate” to meet coal-fired electricity demand through to 2040.
The brief said it was “unlikely” new coalmines would be needed to keep up with expected electricity demands:
If additional domestic supply was required, there is ample available product in the export-bound production to supplement any shortfall.
Greens leader Adam Bandt said the research showed new coalmines were not needed to maintain power supplies.
When coupled with research by the Australia Institute thinktank, which showed new gas wasn’t needed to meet domestic demand, Bandt said the parliamentary library brief confirmed no new coal or gas projects were needed to keep the lights on:
Labor is yet to give any convincing explanation why they want to open new coal and gas mines in a climate crisis when Australia already has enough of both.
We have offered to support Labor’s safeguard mechanism, despite all its faults, if Labor stops opening up new coal and gas.
Coal and gas are the biggest causes of the climate crisis and we simply do not need any more.
Updated
