Follow today’s news headlines liveExclusive: Labor backs household batteries in bid to win over voters on cost-of-living and climate worriesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastNew Joint Strike Fighters ‘absolutely critical’ to Australia’s national security, says PatersonParterson has spoken about the Coalition’s announcement today that if elected, it would commit $3b to obtaining an additional 28 Joint Strike Fighters for Australia’s military arsenal, bringing the total number to 100.As far back as the defence white paper in 2009, David, it was articulated that fifth generation strike fighters were going to be absolutely critical to Australia’s national security and our defence, and that we would need 100 of them. And it was the Bipartisan Policy of both parties for a decade that we should acquire 100 of the Joint Strike Fighters.This is a down payment on our commitment for increased and faster defence spending given the deteriorating security.We wouldn’t want China to misinterpret what is happening in Europe … we want the Americans to continue to support Ukraine, because it is possible that China would take lessons out of that for our own region, including, obviously, in relation to Taiwan, that would be a disaster.There is no retreat for America from the Pacific, and we shouldn’t expect to see that on this administration. Continue reading…Follow today’s news headlines liveExclusive: Labor backs household batteries in bid to win over voters on cost-of-living and climate worriesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastNew Joint Strike Fighters ‘absolutely critical’ to Australia’s national security, says PatersonParterson has spoken about the Coalition’s announcement today that if elected, it would commit $3b to obtaining an additional 28 Joint Strike Fighters for Australia’s military arsenal, bringing the total number to 100.As far back as the defence white paper in 2009, David, it was articulated that fifth generation strike fighters were going to be absolutely critical to Australia’s national security and our defence, and that we would need 100 of them. And it was the Bipartisan Policy of both parties for a decade that we should acquire 100 of the Joint Strike Fighters.This is a down payment on our commitment for increased and faster defence spending given the deteriorating security.We wouldn’t want China to misinterpret what is happening in Europe … we want the Americans to continue to support Ukraine, because it is possible that China would take lessons out of that for our own region, including, obviously, in relation to Taiwan, that would be a disaster.There is no retreat for America from the Pacific, and we shouldn’t expect to see that on this administration. Continue reading…
Mark Butler says the Labor government’s urgent care clinics program is on the Coalition’s “chopping block”.
Speaking at a press conference in western Sydney, the health minister said a short time ago:
When we launched this program, the Liberal Party described our urgent care clinics as a disaster and as the wrong fit for Australia. And since then, Angus Taylor repeatedly has described our investment in urgent care clinics as wasteful spending, and indicated very clearly it would be on the chopping block in the event of a Liberal government.
And frankly, we should expect nothing different from an alternative government led by a man who has shown right throughout his career that he favours an American-style user pay system for our healthcare system. Well, that’s not our approach.
Anthony Albanese says that even if the US withdraws its support from Ukraine, Australia will give its “unequivocal and unconditional support” to the “brave struggle of the people of Ukraine.”
Speaking with media in western Sydney just now, he said:
Ukraine is defending its national sovereignty, but it’s also defending the international rule of law, and that is why Australia has a national interest in providing support. We’ve already provided $1.5 billion of support, of which $1.3 billion has been military and defense support.
“I agree that President Zelenskyy is a hero,” he said.
He has provided leadership at an extraordinarily difficult time. Russia is a very large country which borders Ukraine, they have a substantially larger military and and capacity. And at the time of the illegal and immoral Russian invasion of Ukraine, there were many people writing at the time that this was a conflict that would last days or weeks, maybe a month, but there weren’t many suggesting that, more than three years later, now, the Ukrainian people are continuing to defend their sovereignty and their nation.
They have shown great bravery, and President Zelenskyy has shown leadership.
Mark Butler says the Labor government’s urgent care clinics program is on the Coalition’s “chopping block”.
Speaking at a press conference in western Sydney, the health minister said a short time ago:
When we launched this program, the Liberal Party described our urgent care clinics as a disaster and as the wrong fit for Australia. And since then, Angus Taylor repeatedly has described our investment in urgent care clinics as wasteful spending, and indicated very clearly it would be on the chopping block in the event of a Liberal government.
And frankly, we should expect nothing different from an alternative government led by a man who has shown right throughout his career that he favours an American-style user pay system for our healthcare system. Well, that’s not our approach.
PM calls Labor’s commitment to Medicare a “stark contrast to our opponents”
Anthony Albanese is spruiking Labor’s urgent care clinics in western Sydney this morning.
The moment is very much skewed towards the upcoming elections.
At a press conference, the prime minister said Labor’s commitment to Medicare was a “stark contrast to our opponents”.
They’re led by someone who, when he was the health minister, ripped $50bn out of the health and hospital system, someone who wanted to abolish bulk billing by introducing a GP tax every time people visited a doctor, someone who wanted to introduce a tax every time people visited an emergency department, and a tax on pharmaceuticals. The contrast can’t be clearer.
And if you have a $600bn nuclear power commitment in the 2040s that is going to be built and funded by taxpayers, then you have to find that money somewhere …
Who do you trust to look after your health care and that of your family? Only Labor can be trusted to do that.
Low rainfall in the Adelaide Hills has left thousands on the brink
As parts of Australia remain on high cyclone alert, others are struggling with drought. Guardian Australia’s Tory Shepherd explores South Australia’s drinking water crisis:
Across the Adelaide Hills and other parts of SA, thousands of residents are running out of water – or have already run out – as drought conditions bite.
“They can’t drink water. They can’t flush the toilet. They can’t wash their hands, their linen,” Adelaide Hills resident Robyn Saunders says.
Those who are not on mains water and rely on dams and tanks are having to wait weeks for water deliveries. One of about a dozen water carters servicing the hills says they have 500 people waiting.
A navy ship is bound for the Coral Sea after a Lithuanian man rowing from San Diego to Brisbane got into trouble.
Aurimas Mockus activated his emergency beacon on Friday night about 740km east of Mackay, Queensland, and 90km west of Tropical Cyclone Alfred, AAP reports.
Mockus, who is travelling alone, was battling winds of 80km/h and heavy seas when he called for help, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said.
A Cairns-based Challenger jet didn’t spot the vessel on Saturday but managed to make contact with Mockus, who said he was tired.
An aircraft was sent from air force Base Edinburgh near Adelaide and another will be dispatched on Sunday to maintain communications.
HMAS Choules, a 16,000-tonne navy landing ship, is en route from Brisbane into the Coral Sea to assist.
“Further information on the condition of the rower and his boat will be sought from him today,” an AMSA spokesperson said.
Thanks, Jordyn Beazley. I’ll be taking the reins of our live news blog for the rest of the morning and into the afternoon. Good to be joining you, readers.
Following from our last post …
While Andrew Hastie backed in the Coalition’s support for Ukraine, he told Sky News it was important for Australia to be a “heavy lifter” and not a “free rider” on the US.
Hastie pointed to Australia’s reserves of critical minerals and the Aukus alliance as evidence of an advantage in the relationship but said more investment in defence was needed.
We have a strong hand when it comes to rare earths. And we also have a strong hand with our alliance with [the] United States, with the strategic depth that we provided for many years now.
But the signal is very clear from the Trump White House, don’t be a free rider, be a heavy lifter. Invest in your own security, invest in the defence force, and that’s what we’re doing today by announcing the fourth squadron of F-35s.
The opposition will commit $3bn to acquire 28 fighter jets after controversy over a flotilla of travelling Chinese warships in the Tasman.
Peter Dutton and the shadow defence minister Andrew Hastie said the $3bn would add a fourth squadron of F-35A jets to increase air combat capacity and bring the total number of that aircraft to 100.
Hastie told Sky News this morning the Coalition would “rebuild” the ADF, but he wouldn’t say where the money would come from.
Under Labor, our defence force has been driven into the ground. Morale is at an all-time low, we have a recruiting crisis, we have a retention crisis, we have a readiness crisis … And given today’s dangerous strategic circumstances, we are investing in it.
Hastie was also asked on Sky about the tense meeting between Donald Trump and the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy:
President Zelenskyy is fighting for his country … I’m not going to comment on an exchange between president Trump and president Zelenskyy, of course we support Ukraine. Of course, we have supported them, with military and material aid over the years.
High spirits after Sydney’s Mardi Gras, which called for greater protection of trans kids
The confetti and glitter have settled on another Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras after tens of thousands of revellers partied with a clear message of support for transgender members of the community.
The clean-up has begun after 11,000 people marched, danced and celebrated the 47th Mardi Gras Parade, displaying Australia’s rich and diverse queer culture.
Those with stamina were sitting on crates early on Sunday morning nursing headaches, half-finished cans of beer and puffing on cigarettes as council workers swept streets and dragged massive rubbish bags.
Groups representing rainbow families, transgender people, queer people with disability, people with Tourette’s and others with a deep love for deafening motorcycles were among more than 180 distinct communities and corporations adding to the colour of Saturday night.
Political leaders including prime minister Anthony Albanese, Sydney lord mayor Clover Moore and federal independents Allegra Spender, Zali Steggall and Senator Lidia Thorpe were among those to march along the 1.3km route through Darlinghurst.
Underscoring the parade’s return to its progressive political roots, hundreds in the parade adopted a second unofficial theme to “Free to Be”, holding signs demanding the community “Protect trans kids”.
– AAP
Paterson declines to commit to secretary of home affairs if Coalition elected
Paterson has declined to express confidence in the secretary of home affairs amid concerns about “the way the Department of Home Affairs has conducted itself on several issues”.
He pointed to Senate estimates revealing that Tony Burke, the minister for home affairs, held “industrial scale election eve express citizenship ceremonies”.
Paterson said that Burke had arranged 25 citizenship ceremonies “according to his personal availability, even though it’s not necessary for him to be there to officiate these ceremonies”.
He said:
21 of them were held in Labor seats, and Tony Burke ensured that the Labor MPs were invited to this day, but liberal MPs weren’t. So I think this has been a real problem. I think the department could have and should have pushed back more on that.
Asked if the Coalition would stick with the current secretary of home affairs, Stephanie Foster, if elected, he said:
It is not appropriate for me to canvass that publicly prior to the election, as you know, it’s not the role the minister to choose the secretary of the department, it’s a role [for] the prime minister to do that, and we’ll make those decisions if and when we win the election, not before.