Australia news LIVE: PM activates disaster recovery allowance; Labor’s WA election win gives federal government hope​on March 10, 2025 at 2:40 am

Back in Western Australia, where Labor has delivered its second-best election result in the state’s history, Liberal MP and opposition defence spokesman Andrew Hastie has delivered a scathing assessment of the party’s obsession with progressive inner-city seats.

With 41 of 59 seats secured by WA Labor and up to three seats still in play, the shock result has left both parties pondering its impact on the upcoming federal election.

Hastie is one of WA’s most popular Liberal MPs and his seat straddles Perth’s mortgage belt in the south and south-east.

In comments that will raise eyebrows for Liberals looking to unseat teals, Hastie said his party had been too focused on winning progressive inner-city seats while forgetting the opportunities in the outer suburbs.

“The Liberal Party has always stood for forgotten Australians, and in recent years we’ve been too focused on higher socio-economic electorates that are more progressive. But without success,” he said.

“Our greatest swings have been in seats where we’ve made the smallest investment.

“We need to remember our roots, and get back to fighting for working Australians in forgotten parts of WA.”

Read the full story here.

Good afternoon,

I’m Marta Pascual Juanola and I will take over from Josefine Ganko to continue to bring you the latest news from across Australia – and the world – live this afternoon.

But first, here’s a recap of what has occurred today so far:

• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has dismissed Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s argument that Labor used Dutton’s visit to Sydney for a fundraiser during his electorate’s preparations for Cyclone Alfred to gain political advantage.
• Albanese has also called on insurance companies “to do the right thing” in the aftermath of ex-tropical cyclone Alfred and has warned that if they don’t, he will consider legislative measures.
• With a federal election looming, Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce says independents should pre-emptively declare who they would support if the crossbench holds the balance of power.
• Australians are losing hope in the future as economic and housing burdens weigh on their minds. Though inflation has declined and unemployment remains low, one in three Australians have reported financial stress.
• Millions of Australians on welfare will have their payments boosted by thousands of dollars each year under indexation changes due to kick in on March 20.
• Defence Minister Richard Marles says the government is serious about supporting Ukraine when asked if the government would be willing to send peacekeepers to the war-torn country.
• In world news, Israel has announced it is cutting off its electricity supply to Gaza.
• Former central banker Mark Carney won the race to become leader of Canada’s ruling Liberal Party and will succeed Justin Trudeau as prime minister.
• Pope Francis has thanked volunteers for the “miracle of tenderness” they offer the sick, as he continues his treatment for double pneumonia.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has dismissed Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s argument that Labor sought political advantage over his visit to Sydney for a fundraiser during his electorate’s preparations for Cyclone Alfred.

“I think you can make your own judgement on that. I haven’t seen those comments from Mr Dutton, I haven’t seen any comments from Mr Dutton for a while, but we… get on with [it]. I’ve been getting on with doing this job,” Albanese said in response to a question about Dutton’s earlier argument Labor was politicising his Sydney visit.

“That’s what I’ve been doing, giving support to people in a totally non-political way and I think it’s disappointing if there’s any suggestion otherwise. I’ve said very clearly there are no politics involved here and there’s no border.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called on insurance companies “to do the right thing” and warned that if they don’t, he will give consideration to any legislative measures required.

“What I’ve said is that insurance companies need to do the right thing. They have a social licence, and people expect them to make payments in a speedy and effective way when they are due,” he said at a press conference in Lismore.

“This is a time where insurance companies can restore some of their reputation with the public by acting speedily.”

Albanese said that while he could consider any measures required in relation to the insurance industry, there was an expectation that people would receive support when they need it.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese held a press conference in Lismore, as the government announced the activation of financial support for communities affected by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

The disaster recovery allowance will cover up to 13 weeks of income support for eligible workers who have suffered income loss as a result of the natural disaster, with 14 LGAs in Queensland and 17 in NSW covered by the payments.

Hear what the PM had to say below:

Amid speculation that he gave an interview to a Brisbane radio station about Cyclone Alfred while in Sydney for a political fundraiser, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has set the record straight.

Dutton appeared on Brisbane’s 4BC breakfast radio on Wednesday morning last week, where he discussed his preparations for Cyclone Alfred, noting that he was going to do some sandbagging at his elderly aunt’s house later in the day.

When it was later revealed that Dutton had attended a fundraising event at Justin Hemmes’ Sydney mansion on Tuesday night, it was suggested he may have failed to mention that he was in Sydney while speaking about the cyclone on Brisbane radio the following morning.

But in a new interview on 4BC, Dutton clarified that he was back in Brisbane when he gave the interview.

“I’m very happy to put it all into context because I think, to be honest, Jim Chalmers and Murray Watt and Anthony Albanese look for political opportunity, which I think is actually pretty poor form in the time of the natural disaster,” Dutton said.

“I caught the first flight home on Wednesday. I was back in Brisbane when I spoke to you…” Dutton told 4BC host Peter Fegan.

Dutton again insisted there was nothing unusual in his trip to Sydney.

“The prime minister will be out doing fundraisers and attending events, as I am, in the run-up to the election. The cyclone event happened on Friday, so I was home well ahead of that. Again, people have tried to find political opportunity in that and that reflects on them more so than it does me.”

Rome: Pope Francis has thanked volunteers for the “miracle of tenderness” they offer the sick, as he continues his treatment for double pneumonia and doctors reported some positive news.

After more than three weeks in the hospital, the 88-year-old pope is responding well to treatment and has shown a “gradual, slight improvement” in recent days.

Francis watched the opening day of a week-long spiritual retreat in the Vatican for Holy See officials by video conference. He could see the officials, but they couldn’t see him in the Gemelli hospital, the Vatican press office said. Francis also participated in Mass at the hospital’s private chapel.

For the fourth consecutive Sunday, Francis didn’t appear for his weekly noon blessing, but the Vatican distributed the text he would have delivered if he were well enough. In it, the Argentine pope thanked all those who were caring for him and others who were sick and experiencing a “night of pain”.

Francis’ message read:

Brothers and sisters, during my prolonged hospitalisation here, I too experience the thoughtfulness of service and the tenderness of care, in particular from the doctors and health care workers, whom I thank from the bottom of my heart.

And while I am here, I think of the many people who in various ways are close to the sick, and who are for them a sign of the Lord’s presence. We need this, the ‘miracle of tenderness’ which accompanies those who are in adversity, bringing a little light into the night of pain.”

Francis was hospitalised on February 14 with bronchitis. The infection progressed into a complex respiratory tract infection and double pneumonia that has sidelined Francis for the longest period of his 12-year papacy and raised questions about the future.

In his absence, the Vatican’s day-to-day operations continued alongside celebrations of its Holy Year, the once-every-quarter-century Jubilee that brings millions of pilgrims to Rome.

AP

With minority government looking increasingly likely ahead of what’s expected to be an incredibly close federal election, Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce says independents should pre-emptively declare who they would support if the crossbench holds the balance of power.

“It’s incumbent on the independents, to say to people, if you determine the government, which government would it be,” Joyce told Seven’s Sunrise this morning.

“Otherwise, people will go to the election thinking they are voting for a Liberal-National government and end up voting for a Labor government (or vice versa).”

Joyce concluded that people have the “right” to know which way the independents would go.

In 2010, a Labor minority government was formed in the days after the election after both parties vied for the support of crossbenchers.

Australians are losing hope in the future as economic and housing burdens weigh on their minds.

Though inflation has declined and unemployment remains low, one in three Australians have reported financial stress and a similar proportion believed their lives have worsened over the past year, pushing life satisfaction to its lowest levels since the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, the latest Australian National University election monitoring survey found.

And many do not think things will get better any time soon as more than half of Australians believe that their children will be worse off.

“Everyone can see the real struggle younger Australians have in getting a foot in the property market, which appears to be translating into pessimism about the future,” report author and ANU professor Nicholas Biddle said.

This erosion of hope will be an important factor with voters set to head to the ballot boxes by May 17. Pessimism reduces trust in government institutions. Confidence in the federal government is at its lowest point since the 2019-2020 Black Summer bushfires. One-third of Australians expressed confidence in the federal government, down from half after the previous election.

AAP

Millions of Australians on welfare will have their payments boosted by thousands of dollars each year under indexation changes due to kick-in.

More than five million recipients, including pensioners, renters, and job seekers will receive increases from March 20.

A single pensioner will pocket an extra $3913 each year, with couples to receive an additional combined $5902. People on JobSeeker payments will get an extra $3374 to $5038, with single parents, mainly women, set to be more than $7500 better off annually.

The maximum single rate of pension for those on the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension and Carer Payment will increase by $4.60 to $1149.00 a fortnight.

Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said the government was helping with cost of living pressures.

“We’ve spent the past three years strengthening our social security system, so that it helps Australians at whatever age or stage they’re at in life,” she said.

“Indexation is a critical part of our social security safety net. For pensioners and other payment recipients receiving this financial boost, this will help ease some pressure.”

AAP