What we learned today, Friday 20 March
We are shutting the live blog here for the evening. This is what made the news:
Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle crossed the Cape York coast this morning. There have been no reported incidents, apart from minor damage to structures and fallen trees. Flooding and power outages have occurred in some areas, but there have been no rescues required.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, was heckled at an Eid event at Lakemba Mosque this morning. Albanese suggested those who heckled him were unhappy he had banned Hizb ut-Tahrir, and he was broadly well received at the event.
At least 107 fuel stations in NSW do not have any diesel, while 42 have no fuel at all amid supply issues caused by the conflict in the Middle East.
The resources minister, Madeleine King, said a new fuel taskforce would prioritise regional areas as petrol and diesel flows from the nation’s stockpile.
On the eve of the South Australian election, Labor asked the electoral commission to take a look at One Nation’s use of a plane registered to mining magnate Gina Rinehart’s company S Kidman & Co.
Four flight attendants on a flight descending into Sydney were injured by turbulence, Delta Air Lines confirmed.
The Australian Conservation Foundation called for an immediate new 25% super profits levy on all Australian gas exports, following reports the Treasury department was asked to work up options.
The New South Wales government called for the distribution of GST according to overall population.
Iran’s foreign affairs ministry suggested the country’s two remaining footballers who sought asylum in Australia were being forced to remain in the country.
Until next time, enjoy your evening.
Updated
Greens want permanent windfall tax
The Greens senator David Shoebridge told ABC’s Afternoon Briefing that the Greens would want to see a windfall model for gas companies floated as a potential in reports today, and then it could be legislated in the next sitting fortnight.
He said:
It’s a matter of urgency. We’ve these large gas corporations again making record super-profits from a war, and from conflict, and ordinary Australians are paying through the nose for energy.
There is no better time than the next fortnight to legislate for a windfall tax and then let’s make it permanent.
Let’s put some real meaningful tax on the gas industry so we can afford the things we need.
We can start by taxing windfall profits next week and start providing basic relief for Australians in a cost-of-living crisis.
Updated
