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TRANSCRIPT:
- The coalition calls for additional action as more petrol stations run out of fuel;
- Iran denies US claims it's in talks to end the war in the Middle East;
- Cricket Australia still committed to the expansion of the Big Bash League.
Shadow Energy Minister Dan Tehan says the federal government needs to do more to respond to fuel supply issues.
Federal Energy Minister, Chris Bowen has told federal parliament 109 outlets in Victoria had run out of at least one grade of petrol; 47 outlets in Queensland were without diesel and 32 without regular unleaded.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns says 105 outlets in his state are without diesel.
Mr Tehan he wants to see more intervention ahead of Easter.
'Well, he has to be looking at all options because we're heading towards Easter. Diesel is over $3. Unleaded is headed to $2.50. Families are really really struggling. People who are losing out on that are the Australian people. And they are losing out. Look at what they're potentially going to be facing in terms of the food crisis we're about to hit because we can't get the fertiliser now. And what is Chris Bowen's plan to do that?'
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US President Donald Trump has continued to insist envoys are holding talks with a respected Iranian leader, despite Tehran saying his earlier claim of high level communications between the countries was false.
Mr Trump announced he was postponing his threatened military action against Iran's power plants hours before a 48-hour deadline, saying it was to allow for five days of diplomacy after what he said were productive talks.
But Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf has emphatically denied Mr Trump's remarks.
Iran's state media presenter has read his statement on air.
"In reaction to Trump’s false claim, the Speaker of the Parliament emphasized that no negotiations have taken place with the US. Mr. Qalibaf (shared) a message on social media saying that “our people demand the complete and humiliating punishment of the aggressors.” And mentioned that “all officials stand firmly behind their leader and people, until this goal is reached,” and that no negotiations have taken place with the US. Mr. Qalibaf emphasized in this message that fake news has been spreading in order to manipulate the financial and oil markets, and this is an attempt to escape the quagmire that the US and Israel have been trapped in."
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London mayor Sadiq Khan has condemned an arson attack on ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity in the city.
The four ambulances belonging to the Hatzolah Northwest group were set on fire in an incident that Metropolitan police are investigating as an antisemitic hate crime.
Though it has not been classified as a terrorist incident, counter-terror officers have been put in charge of the investigation.
Mr Khan says those responsible must be found.
"Hatzolah are volunteers who come together to provide a public service for everyone. The idea that somebody would attack somebody because they're Jewish or they would attack Hatzolah is perverse."
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A man has been critically injured by a woman falling from a building in Melbourne.
Victoria Police say the woman fell onto the man as he stood on the footpath on a street in the CBD.
She did not survive.
He is reported to be in a serious condition in hospital.
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Australia is on the brink of signing a major trade deal with the European Union, after years of delays over the use of product names like prosecco, feta and parmesan cheese.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is currently in Australia to meet with the prime minister and seal a long-awaited trade deal.
Previous negotiations have fallen apart largely because the Australian side has been keen for meat producers to sell more of their products to Europe, while the EU has wanted to protect their farmers from competition.
Hamish McIntyre from the National Farmers Federation has told SBS that farmers don't want to be left worse off by whatever is ultimately decided.
"There's no need to rush this. There could not be a worse time for a bad deal with what's going on globally, with conflict and our supply chain issues with fuel and fur. So we're anxious but we believe the government stands with us - sure as they will - to give us better access for our commodities that they do want in Europe, when they require them."
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Australia has almost doubled the size of its national parks and reserves since 2010, but biodiversity experts say conservation efforts are not happening in the right areas.
Research by the University of Queensland has identified 160 threatened species, about 10 per cent of all listed plants and animals, have little to no coverage in the current national reserve system.
The study was led by U-Q Professor James Watson, who says bioprotection has grown "fast, but not smart".
He says if Australia is serious about stopping species extinctions, Australia must start putting protection in the places that matter the most for biodiversity.
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To sport,
New Zealand has rejected an offer to join the Big Bash League.
Cricket Australia has tabled a proposal for private BBL ownership, with a decision expected mid-April.
But the Kiwis politely declined the offer to field a team from 2028, saying they prefer their own T20 domestic series.
Cricket Australia's chief executive Todd Greenberg says he isn't surprised by New Zealand's decision - but in the meantime, argues expansion is still a goal for the League.
