What we learned, Tuesday 11 March
And that’s where we’ll leave you this evening. Here’s the short version of what happened today:
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, accused Labor’s Tony Burke of seeking “political opportunity” out of the caravan hoax.
The NSW premier, Chris Minns, defended calling the caravan hoax “terrorism”.
Malcolm Turnbull said Australia should be “free to speak the truth” about Donald Trump as the Albanese government attempted to secure an 11th-hour exemption to steel and aluminium tariffs.
WA Labor MP Patrick Gorman said Turnbull’s interventions on the US and Trump were “immature” and he was just “looking for some headlines”.
The federal government is facing renewed pressure to substantially increase jobseeker payments as research showed recipients are at a higher risk of suicide and poor health.
The Victorian government announced it will lease the sites of public housing towers to a private consortium, which the Greens have slammed as undermining housing for the most vulnerable.
The NSW arts minister, John Graham, was grilled in state budget estimates over a $30,000 party involving a live “sashimi performance” on a large yellowfin tuna.
The Australian share market plummeted in early trading, shedding more than $A56bn after US markets tanked overnight on recession fears.
High-profile former corporate tycoon Ron Brierley was allegedly caught with child abuse material three years after he was let out of prison on a successful appeal.
Search efforts resumed for a missing surfer in Western Australia, after reports of a shark sighting and a surfer in distress yesterday afternoon.
And the Queensland city of Ipswich appears to have avoided more severe flooding by mere centimetres as Brisbane and Lismore residents returned to inspect damage after ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
Thanks so much for your company today. We’ll be back with you bright and early tomorrow for all of Wednesday’s news. Look after yourselves until then.
Updated
Linda Reynolds urges Nato to make decision on sending troops to Ukraine
The former defence minister, Linda Reynolds, has urged Nato countries, including Italy, Germany and France, to make a decision on whether to base troops in Ukraine ahead of a key meeting in Paris.
It comes as the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has said he will consider any proposals to send Australian peacekeepers to the war-torn region as part of a “coalition of the willing” designed by European leaders.
Australia will be represented by Air Vice-Marshal Di Turton at a meeting of defence force chiefs in Paris in the coming hours. A defence spokesperson said:
Australia continues to stand with Ukraine in its defence against Russia’s unprovoked illegal and immoral aggression.
The Russian ambassador to Australia, Alexey Pavlovsky, warned Australia not to send any troops to Ukraine, flagging it would “entail grave consequences”. He said in a statement first provided to the Sydney Morning Herald:
Once again, western boots on the ground are unacceptable for Russia, and we will not remain passive observers.
Reynolds, who co-chairs the Parliamentary Friends of Ukraine, said the war in Ukraine in “closer to home than ever” and she remained committed to supporting the country’s efforts to defend its democracy.
Asked whether she supported a proposal to send Australian troops to ensure peace in Ukraine, the retiring Western Australian senator said:
Nato nations must step up their efforts and lead the charge in defending their Ukrainian neighbours. With Italy, Germany and France making no decision yet to base troops in Ukraine, these countries must first commit to defending Ukraine.
A defence spokesperson said:
Australia continues to stand with Ukraine in its defence against Russia’s unprovoked, illegal and immoral aggression.
Updated
