Australia sends $5 million and a specialist team to Nepal as missing Australians rises to 39; ministers deny refugee intake backflip as Anthony Albanese confirms 20,000 cap; Wallabies reshuffle forward pack and the captain's armband for a Test match against Argentina.
Listen to Australian and world news and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts.
TRANSCRIPT
- Australia sends $5 million and a specialist team to Nepal as missing Australians rises to 39
- Ministers deny refugee intake backflip as Anthony Albanese confirms 20,000 cap
- Wallabies reshuffle forward pack and the captain's arm band for a Test match against Argentina
The Australian Government is establishing a $5 million dollar assistance package for affected communities in Nepal, with the number of missing Australians rising to 39.
The government is sending a specialised team to the region, which has been devastated by flash flooding that has killed at least 392 people with around 1,500 missing.
Speaking to Nine's Today Show, Foreign Minister Penny Wong says DFAT is currently assisting with 43 consular cases related to the matter.
"I did speak to the ambassador in Nepal yesterday afternoon to talk to him about what we needed to do and the support we wanted to provide. We provided, we've got about 20 people on the ground. We are providing more assistance in terms of rapid response team to help with the humanitarian response, and also my consular officers, we'll build on that over the coming days."
---
More than 17,000 children affected by the devastating floods in Nepal are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance.
UNICEF says 18 schools have been destroyed and another 20 damaged, leaving children without safe spaces to learn and recover.
The agency is distributing emergency supplies, including hygiene kits, while providing support across health, nutrition, clean water, sanitation and child protection.
UNICEF Nepal's Preena Shrestha says the immediate priority is keeping children safe.
"UNICEF is on the ground. We're working with the government and partners to assess the situation, to understand what it is that children and families need and to respond accordingly. But our priority first and foremost is the children, to make sure that they're safe, protected and eventually able to recover from this disaster."
---
Federal ministers are denying that an intervention from the prime minister on Australia's refugee intake was a back-flip on migration numbers.
Anthony Albanese has confirmed the annual refugee intake will remain at 20,000 after reports suggesting it could be cut by one-third at the next federal budget.
Opposition leader Angus Taylor says the Coalition will consider lowering the refugee intake, without revealing any numbers.
Speaking to Seven's Sunrise program, cabinet minister Mark Butler says the prime minister was simply clearing up any confusion.
"It may well be that there was some communication about the need for a budget renewal process. But to the extent there was any confusion in the public commentary yesterday about this, the prime minister dispelled that, and that reflects, as I understand it, the ongoing position of our government, which was to maintain a reasonable humanitarian intake number of 20,000."
--
The Northern Territory has passed a bill to legalise voluntary assisted dying, with restrictions placed on accessing and initiating conversations about the practice.
Recipients of VAD in the NT will be required to have an end-of-life prognosis of no more than a year before gaining access, after proposed amendments around eligibility were rejected.
A gag clause will also prevent medical professionals from initiating conversations about VAD, with government members voting down two attempts to remove it.
Country Liberal Party member for Karama Brian O’Gallagher supported attempts to remove the gag clause.
"Now we can trust them to have a conversation with a family when someone's on life support. That is why I can't understand why wouldn't we trust our same medical professionals to have a sensitive and confidential conversation with patients about their options."
--
The Wallabies will field a reshaped forward pack against Argentina in San Salvador, with Allan Alaalatoa taking over as captain.
Regular captain Harry Wilson has been rested, with Josh Canham and Jeremy Williams returning to the second row.
Isaac Kailea will make his first Test start in two years, while Rob Valetini, Tom Hooper and Fraser McReight form a new-look back row.
Coach Les Kiss has kept the same backline that impressed in Australia's 56-17 win over Japan in Townsville earlier this month.
The Wallabies face the Pumas on Sunday morning Australian time.
