What we learned today, Monday 13 March
And that’s where we’ll leave you this evening. Thank-you for following along. Here’s a wrap of the main highlights today:
Prime minister Anthony Albanese arrived in California and met with UK prime minister Rishi Sunak ahead of the Aukus submarine announcement tomorrow, along with US president Joe Biden. The deal is expected to cost an estimated $200bn over three decades. The Coalition’s defence spokesperson Andrew Hastie has pledged bipartisan support.
An evacuation notice was issued to residents along Muttama Creek near Cootamundra due to flash flooding, however the alert was downgraded throughout the day as waters receded. Meanwhile, historic flooding in north-west Queensland continued with more rain forecast for tomorrow.
A man who fired several shots at police vehicles in a Townsville suburb was found dead inside a home after a near 10-hour siege. Police said the man fired several shots, hitting nearby houses, a car and responding officers’ vehicles, however no one else was injured. Lifeline 13 11 14 / beyondblue 1300 22 4636
Everything Everywhere All at Once won big at the 95th Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, taking out seven awards including best picture. Michelle Yeoh won the best actress Oscar for her role in the film, beating Australia’s Cate Blanchett who was nominated for Tár.
Senator Penny Wong and Dr Helen Haines were awarded the 2022 McKinnon prize for political leadership. Wong was named the political leader of the year, while Haines was recognised as the emerging political leader of the year.
NSW premier Dominic Perrottet defended a proposed future fund for the state’s children after being questioned on whether if favours wealthy families. He said low to middle income earners “will get an automatic $200 without having to make a co-contribution.” Labor leader Chris Minns criticised the policy, saying he would rather the money be spent on education.
Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced a state parliamentary inquiry into vaping, amid concerns children as young as primary school age are addicted to e-cigarettes.
Updated
McGowan to visit Beijing next month
Mark McGowan will become the first Australian state premier to travel to China since before the COVID-19 pandemic, AAP reported earlier today.
Western Australia’s premier confirmed he plans to visit Beijing in late April to discuss the lucrative trade relationship between the two.
He also expects to visit Guangzhou to address the resumption of direct flights between Perth and the massive port city.
McGowan said:
It obviously needs approval from the Chinese authorities but that’s the plan.
Reinstating direct flights and making sure that the relationships, particularly in relation to our major export industries, remain strong (is the priority).
WA exported $136 billion worth of goods to China in the 2022 financial year, with iron ore accounting for the bulk of the trade.
Foreign minister Penny Wong travelled to China in December last year, the first visit by a federal government minister since 2019. Prime minister Anthony Albanese has also expressed interest in visiting.
Trade minister Don Farrell is also preparing to visit China as the two nations continue talks on dropping billions of dollars worth of trade sanctions against Australian industries, including seafood, cotton and timber.
Updated
