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TRANSCRIPT
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese thanks ceasefire negotiators
- Benjamin Netanyahu says the ceasefire does not include Lebanon
- FIFA opens disciplinary proceedings against the Spanish Football Federation over Islamophobic chants
The Prime Minister has welcomed a ceasefire agreement by the United States and Iran but says US President Donald Trump's rhetoric was inappropriate.
President Trump has agreed to suspend the bombing of Iran for two weeks in an announcement made less than two hours before his deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face widespread attacks on its civilian infrastructure.
In a statement, Prime Minister Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong say they support and thank negotiators - including Pakistan, Egypt, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia - for their part in advancing de-escalation efforts.
Mr Albanese has told Sky News, the ceasefire is a positive step, but he distanced himself from President Trump's earlier threat to destroy a "whole civilisation" in Iran.
"I don't think it's appropriate to use language such as that from the president of the United States. We've said very clearly that the conduct of any conflict must be within international law. And that provides for making sure that civilians who aren't parties to the conflict are given every protection possible."
Opposition leader Angus Taylor has also welcomed the ceasefire deal.
He says small business owners are among those who have been hardest hit by surging fuel prices, alongside farmers and agricultural workers.
Mr Taylor says he's hopeful the deal will mean less pressure on Australian fuel supply and costs but also distances himself from President Trump's rhetoric overnight.
"Oh, look, they're not the words I would use, you know that, but the outcome is what I want to see. The outcome that is an imperative here is that we have an opening up at the Strait of Hamas. We have oil and refined products moving through, coming to Australia, putting downward pressure on prices at the bowser here in this country."
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Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he supports the decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks but says the ceasefire does not include Lebanon.
In a statement, Mr Netanyahu says Israel also continues to support what he describes as US efforts to ensure that Iran no longer poses a nuclear, missile and terror threat to America, Israel and Iran's Arab neighbours.
However, the Israeli Prime Minister says Lebanon is not included in the agreement, despite Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif earlier announcement on social media that the immediate ceasefire includes Lebanon and elsewhere.
Lebanon was drawn into the war after the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel.
Attacks on Lebanon by Israel — which launched a ground invasion in Lebanon's south in March — have killed more than 1,400 people, according to the Lebanese health ministry, and displaced more than 1.3 million.
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Nationals leader Matt Canavan has called for what he describes as a 'manufacturing renaissance' in Australia.
Speaking at the National Press Club, Senator Canavan has advocated for what he proposes is a new, more patriotic approach to managing the Australian economy.
The Nationals leader says key manufacturing industries must be protected against unfair competition.
He says Australia must make better use of all available tools to ensure this protection, including tariffs.
"And part of that involves the more judicious use of tariffs. Now, I don't agree with Donald Trump. I don't agree with Donald Trump on a few things lately, but I don't agree with Donald Trump that tariff is the most beautiful word in the English language, but I don't think it's a dirty word either. It's just a tool. It's a tool we already use through the anti-dumping regime, but we just do so in a pretty ad hoc band-aid, knee-jerk fashion."
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In sports,
World governing body FIFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against the Spanish Football Federation over Islamophobic and xenophobic chants made during a friendly match between Spain and Egypt.
A message warning fans against xenophobic cheering was displayed on screens before and during the game.
But the chants were made several times throughout the match at the RCDE stadium in Barcelona on March 31.
