An Australian Defence Force member is injured after an explosion in Lebanon. A man and woman are rescued after becoming stuck in a cave in New South Wales. Australian Michael Zerafa's dream of winning a world title is crushed in Las Vegas.
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TRANSCRIPT
- An Australian Defence Force member is injured after an explosion in Lebanon.
- A man and woman are rescued after becoming stuck in a cave in New South Wales.
- Australian Michael Zerafa's dream of winning a world title is crushed in Las Vegas.
An Australian Defence Force member involved in United Nations peacekeeping operations in southern Lebanon has been injured in an explosion.
The Defence Department says the serving member's injuries are not life-threatening.
The member was deployed as part of Operation Paladin, under which Australia supports the U-N organisation overseeing truces across Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
The peacekeeping mission is stationed in southern Lebanon to monitor hostilities between Lebanon and Israel.
A Department spokesperson says the member has been transported to a health centre at a nearby military base for treatment and has since been released to recover.
The United Nations has condemned the explosion while Israel has denied responsibility.
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon spokesman Andrea Tenenti says an investigation is underway.
“We have been in touch with everyone, with both sides. And we have been in touch even when we are doing patrolling. We inform the parties that we are going to different locations. And UNIFIL, we are very visible, we have white vehicles with the UN written on it, big blue flags, so (it is) very difficult to think that we are somebody else. So we have been informing the parties, we are working with them and we are coordinating also during this investigation.”
A man and a woman have been rescued from a cave in New South Wales after becoming stuck in a narrow passage for hours.
Emergency services were called to the Jenolan Caves, west of Sydney in the Blue Mountains, around 7pm last night to assist.
The pair were a part of a larger group who were able to exit the cave and call for help.
Oberon SES member Craig Gibbons was one of seven members who assisted in the rescue.
He says cave rescues are often a complex operation conducted in dark and confined spaces.
"They were quite calm. The temperature in the cave was, it's not too bad, but obviously being in a sedentary position for that long, he is starting to cool down. So obviously hypothermia was a concern. He was in a relatively comfortable position, I guess. So there was no any other concern other than probably just his remaining calm. Just making sure that hopefully the hypothermia didn't set in."
The man and women were retrieved from the cave just before 5am this morning.
The federal government has continued to defend its proposed laws aimed at forcing detainees to co-operate with their deportation from Australia under the threat of jail.
It last week tried to push through the laws, which would impose a minimum one year prison sentence - and up to five years - for deportees who don't co-operate.
The coalition, Greens and the entire Senate crossbench blocked the push and instead sent the legislation to a committee that will report its findings on the 7th of May.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong told Sky News the laws are integral to maintaining a strong immigration system.
"First, I'd emphasise that this is one tool and not the only tool that we would use to try and ensure we keep a sensible, strong migration system. The second point I would make is it's a power that would only be able to be exercised in consultation with the person in this job. So it's a foreign minister, and there may be other diplomatic avenues you would try and go through before you get to that point."
While Greens Home Affairs spokesman David Shoebridge says stopping people from coming to Australia only punishes migrant communities.
"Well, if anyone's committed a crime, they should go to jail and serve their time in accordance with the law. But we don't have indefinite detention. I mean, we have jails all across the country which deal with awful crimes. People do their sentence and then get released into the community after they've done their time and after they've done their sentence. There's no reason to say that somebody who has claimed asylum or a refugee shouldn't have the same due process having done their time, having then been released out into the community."
Millions of Christian Australians have marked Easter with morning church services, family time and egg hunts.
Themes of forgiveness and renewal feature heavily at Easter, with that message reiterated by religious leaders and political figures.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has thanked those working over the long weekend, while the Opposition leader has labelled Easter a time for rest and reflection.
Mr Albanese has also reminded people to be careful on the roads.
"For Christians here and across the world, it's a moment to reflect on the resurrection. Celebrations and services across the country remind us of the importance of forgiveness, grace, and kindness to those in need. Qualities that are so much a part of the compassion and virtue of this, the greatest country on earth. And as many of us take this chance to catch up with family and friends, we think of everyone working through the long weekend."
And in boxing,
Erislandy Lara has shattered Michael Zerafa's dream of winning a world title with the Cuban-American retaining his W-B-A middleweight crown in Las Vegas.
Fighting on the blockbuster Tim Tszyu-Sebastian Fundora card, Zerafa's night ended in the second round after he was sent tumbling to the canvas at T-Mobile Arena.
The Victorian had dedicated the fight to his older sister Michelle, who had surprised Zerafa by being ringside despite undergoing treatment for breast cancer.
