Australia could provide defensive military assistance to countries attacked by Iran, Penny Wong says
Australia is not participating in an “offensive action against Iran” and will not deploy ground troops into Iran, but may play a defensive military role in the conflict in the Middle East, Penny Wong has said.
The foreign minister told Insiders:
Many countries which are non participants have been attacked, by Iran through this. You would anticipate as a consequence, that we have been asked for assistance and we will work through that, carefully. And of course, we are.
When asked by host David Speers if that meant assistance to protect them against Iran’s drone and missile attacks, Wong said:
Correct. And we will work through that in accordance with the position that I have outlined, which is we are not participating in offensive action against Iran. And we’ve made clear we would not participate in any ground troop deployment into Iran.
Asked what that defensive military assistance might involve, Wong said:
If a decision is made, I’m sure that we will be transparent with the Australian people.
Key events
Joe Hinchliffe
When the Gardens of Stone in the Blue Mountains was declared a state conservation area in 2022, it should have been cause of great celebration for Keith Muir. Instead, the plans put forward by the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) for the nature reserve make him weep.
“The geology is spectacular,” he says of the nature reserve:
The pagoda landforms are sculptured natural artworks, that is the only way to describe them. They are symphonies in stone.
Muir’s tears are not of joy but grief and rage – not just for this place he loves, close to his home in Katoomba, but for all wild places of Australia.
NPWS, as land owner, is proposing the construction of a multi-day walk passing through the Gardens of Stone, along with luxury glamping-style accommodation. It will be built in the heart of this protected area, which sits alongside a world heritage area, and leased to a private operator. Amid the wildflowers of the Gardens of Stone, between old growth banksia and unique sandstone formations – that resemble the temples of Angkor Wat – on uncleared bush, will sit 18 twin cabins.
But Muir argues that the proposed cabins are not, as they were labelled in public consultation which closed last Thursday, “bush camps”. Instead, he describes the development as a resort. And if you can develop a resort in the Gardens of Stone, he argues, you can develop a resort anywhere.
Read the full story here:
Adeshola Ore
Captured by IS, Amera began writing letters to her lost brother: ‘I wrote because I was scared, but also because I have hope’
When Islamic State militants arrived at their family’s home in northern Iraq, Amera and her brother were sitting under their grandmother’s fig tree.
The 11-year-old girl had been watching a ripening fig for days but needed her older brother Ali’s height to reach it. Now, with IS beginning an assault on their town’s Yazidi people, she thought this may be her only chance.
The IS members arrived in five cars outside her home in Solagh, a village in Sinjar. They barked orders. Females and males were to be separated. A hand was on her shoulder pulling her towards the other Yazidi women and children.
Amera has not seen Ali since that afternoon of 4 August 2014.
“He told me, ‘my heart always be with you,’” Amera, now 22, recalls.
Amera is one of more than 6,000 Yazidi women and children kidnapped and enslaved by IS. More than a decade after IS began their genocidal campaign against the Yazidis – killing and displacing thousands of the religious minority – she is fighting for the estimated more than 2,700 still missing.
This month, she published a book about her eight months in IS captivity.
Read the full story here:
NSW begins search for private partner to help build Sydney’s second major film studio
The NSW government has opened expressions of interest for the location and management of a prospective new major film studio in Sydney, offering public land for private companies’ development as part of the scheme.
The Minns Labor government has pledged a $100m capital investment into the studio and will consider expressions of interest from the private sector for proposals on both private and government-owned land, it said in a release this morning.
Three government-owned sites were open for applicants to “consider for their suitability to accommodate a world-class studio”, at Bungarribee, Eastern Creek and Prospect, the statement said.
Other locations, including other government-owned locations, would also be considered as part of the EOI process “where applicants can demonstrate evidence of landowner consent”.
Minister for the arts John Graham said:
Sydney is already a popular destination for international film production … Beyond Hollywood, there is large demand for Bollywood films in Australia, with Indian filmmakers continuing to use the visually striking look of Australia in their films.
We know the demand is there, and there’s a critical need [for] more studio space.
Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said:
This second film studio will create new job opportunities for the sector, support local stories, provide huge economic benefit and attract international blockbusters to the state. NSW is, after all, the place for every story.
Cost of seats on commercial flights out of Middle East ‘disappointing’, assistant minister says
The Australian government has let airlines know it is “disappointed” at the cost of tickets for commercial flights out of the Middle East, assistant minister for foreign affairs and trade Matt Thistlethwaite has said.
Thistlethwaite told Sky News this morning the government maintained that commercial flights were still the best option for the 115,000 Australians who are in the region.
He said:
The best option at the moment – because the airspace is only open on an ad-hoc basis, the safety authorities in those countries have to make an assessment of when it’s safe to fly – the best option is for Australians to take commercial flights. Now, we’ve seen that some of those flights haven’t been full. We’ve seen the cost of tickets. We’re pretty disappointed by that, to be honest. And we’ve made that disappointment known to the airlines.
He advised Australians in the region to “maintain your booking on your flight if you’ve already got one booked, and then they shouldn’t be able to jack up the prices, and to work with your travel agent and the Australian officials that are on the ground.”
Thistlethwaite would not say whether or not the government supported the decision of the US military to sink an Iranian warship that was on a naval exercise with India in the Indian Ocean at the time, killing 87 people.
He said:
That’s a matter for the United States … that was their offensive operation. And as the prime minister pointed out, Australian Defence Force personnel were not involved in any offensive capacity in that operation … Our support is for ensuring that Iran cannot acquire a nuclear weapon and that they reduce their capacity to acquire that.
Wong is asked about Australians onboard submarine that sank Iranian warship
Wong was asked about the Australian defence force personnel who were on the submarine that torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean on Wednesday, killing at least 87 people, given her comments on Australia not being involved in offensive actions against Iran.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said earlier this week that Australian forces were in compliance with international law, and that “No Australian personnel have participated in any offensive action against Iran.”
You can read more about this incident here:
Wong told Insiders that this “third country deployment” was “not a new thing”:
It is not new for Australian defence personnel to be engaged in this way. When they are deployed in that way, we always have arrangements to ensure that any personnel comply with Australian law, Australian policy and Australian directives.
Asked if there was any point at which Australia would say they didn’t want their personnel onboard for those operations, Wong said:
We we will make decisions in accordance with the principles I’ve outlined about what Australia’s position is. But what I do want to emphasise is, wherever there is a third country deployment, Australian law and policy and directives continue to apply, and they will do so.
Wong would not say whether that meant Australia was asked if it was OK to have ADF personnel onboard during the action.
Australia could provide defensive military assistance to countries attacked by Iran, Penny Wong says
Australia is not participating in an “offensive action against Iran” and will not deploy ground troops into Iran, but may play a defensive military role in the conflict in the Middle East, Penny Wong has said.
The foreign minister told Insiders:
Many countries which are non participants have been attacked, by Iran through this. You would anticipate as a consequence, that we have been asked for assistance and we will work through that, carefully. And of course, we are.
When asked by host David Speers if that meant assistance to protect them against Iran’s drone and missile attacks, Wong said:
Correct. And we will work through that in accordance with the position that I have outlined, which is we are not participating in offensive action against Iran. And we’ve made clear we would not participate in any ground troop deployment into Iran.
Asked what that defensive military assistance might involve, Wong said:
If a decision is made, I’m sure that we will be transparent with the Australian people.
Penny Wong is asked how far Australia would go to support the war in Iran
Foreign minister Penny Wong has reiterated her claim that Australia is “not in a position to determine the legal basis of decisions that the United States and Israel have made” in attacking Iran.
Asked about how far Australia would go to support the war, Wong told ABC TV’s Insiders:
In these circumstances, it’s best for us to always come back to what is our position, both as a matter of objectives and also as a matter of conduct, which is why we have also said, you know, we are not engaged in offensive conduct, offensive action against Iran.
Asked about US President Donald Trump’s statements that the US must be involved in choosing the next leader of Iran, Wong said:
The future for Iran and its governance ultimately is a decision for the Iranian people. And that’s not just a values judgment, it’s also a pragmatic judgment … We have seen that regime change being sought by external parties historically. And I think we all know that for there to be sustainable change, a change of regime, it has to be something that the people of that nation back and seek.
Victorian Health and Ambulance Services Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said her thoughts were with the family of the victim of Friday’s alleged stabbing attack, saying the horrific incident was very concerning.
She referred to the government’s toughened youth crime laws, which came into effect just over a week ago and could result in youth offenders being dealt harsher punishments for serious crimes.
Thomas said on Saturday:
Young people that are committing violent crimes are about to discover that they will be doing adult time.
Opposition police spokesperson Brad Battin said in a statement the incident highlighted Labor’s failure to tackle youth crime and remove machetes from the streets.
With nearly 2000 vacancies on police rosters, more than 40 stations closed or operating on reduced hours and PSOs to be stripped from 120 train stations, Victorians continue to pay the price for Labor’s community safety failures.
– AAP
Three teenagers face murder charges after a good Samaritan was killed in an allegedly “savage” stabbing attack after trying to intervene and help a 14-year-old schoolboy.
Emergency crews were called to Mernda train station in Melbourne’s northeast on Friday evening following reports of a fight among teenagers.
A group of passers-by, including a 22-year-old Mernda man, stepped in to intervene after a group of teens set upon a 14-year-old boy.
The passers-by tried to diffuse the situation, with the man taking the boy and walking him away from the situation and outside the train station, Homicide Squad Detective Acting Inspector Nigel L’Estrange told reporters on Saturday.
L’Estrange continued:
Unfortunately, those four offenders followed both of them and then, in what could only be described as a savage attack, assaulted the 22-year-old male physically, both fists, kicking, and they used edged weapons.
The victim suffered life-threatening injuries and was treated by paramedics but died at the scene.
Four male teens were arrested. A 16-year-old, from Whittlesea, and a 17-year-old from Geelong and an 18-year-old from Mill Park were charged with murder and armed robbery. A 17-year-old from the City of Yarra is under police guard at hospital and yet to be interviewed.
The eldest suspect will face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Sunday.
L’Estrange said:
This is just a tragic situation where our victim here is just a good Samaritan who was trying to do the right thing.
He’s intervened, tried to protect this 14-year-old schoolboy, hasn’t been aggressive at all, tried to remove him from the scene, and as a result of his interaction, he’s now lost his life.
– AAP
Two men die after being pulled from water on NSW Central Coast
Two men have died after being pulled from the water on the NSW Central Coast yesterday evening.
Emergency services were called to Little Beach, Bouddi, on Saturday after reports of a body in the water, NSW Police said in a statement early on Sunday morning.
Brisbane Water Police District, PolAir and Marine Area Command attended the scene, alongside NSW Ambulance Paramedics, and Marine Rescue NSW volunteers.
A 46-year-old man was pulled from the water before being assessed by NSW Ambulance paramedics but died at the scene.
At about 6.10pm, police learned there was a second man believed to still be in the water and commenced a search. At about 8pm, the body of the second man, aged 67, was found and pulled from the water.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner.
Two repatriation flights from UAE expected to land
Some 1,549 Australians have been repatriated from the Middle East as of 5.30am this morning on nine direct flights, the prime minister’s office has said. Two flights from the United Arab Emirates are expected to land today and two more flights are scheduled to depart Dubai airport, assuming the airspace remains open.
The flights expected to land today are:
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EK406 to Melbourne (ex Dubai), due at 1245hrs AEDT, carrying approximately 151 Australians.
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EK412 to Sydney (ex Dubai), expected to land at about 1950hrs AEDT.
The flights scheduled to depart the UAE today:
At about 7pm AEDT yesterday, Dubai International Airport was forced to briefly close as Iran launched missiles and drones at targets across the Gulf. The airport was subsequently reopened.
The first three buses carrying Australians from Doha, Qatar, are arriving this morning in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with 92 Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate family members on board, the PMO said.
Qatar Airways has advised the Albanese government that 68 Australians departed Doha yesterday on Qatar Airways flights to different European destinations.
Good morning
Welcome to Guardian Australia’s Sunday live news blog. My name is Stephanie Convery and I’ll be bringing you all the latest news today.
First up this morning, 1,549 Australians have been repatriated from the Middle East as of 5.30am this morning on nine direct flights, the prime minister’s office has said. Two flights from the United Arab Emirates are expected to land today and two more flights are scheduled to depart Dubai airport pending airspace remaining open. We’ll bring you more on that in a moment.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning for parts of north and south-east Queensland as heavy rainfall continues. It is expected to increase over Sunday and continue into Monday. More on that soon, too.
Grab a coffee and let’s get stuck in.
