Key Points
- Iran denies reports of Qatar-brokered ceasefire, despite US President's post
- Richard Marles says Australia will choose optimal path in AUKUS submarine deal
- Atletico Madrid ousted from Club World Cup
TRANSCRIPT
Iran is denying widespread reports that it has reached a ceasefire deal with Israel, brokered by Qatar.
The news first broke via Donald Trump on social media.
The United States president posted on his own platform, Truth Social this morning saying the countries had agreed to a total and complete ceasefire.
Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani had reportedly secured Tehran's agreement to the White House' proposal for a halt in the conflict between Israel and Iran, during a call with Iranian officials.
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The number of Australians who have registered for assistance to leave the Middle East now stands at around 2,900 in Iran and 1,300 in Israel.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong says Australia suspended bus evacuations from Israel following the U-S attack on Iranian nuclear facilities but is preparing for potential evacuations if airspace is reopened over Israel.
Australia has also sent two aircraft to the Middle East, to assist with civilian evacuations.
The Prime Minister and Senator Wong say Australia's security agency ASIO [[ay-zee-oh]] is continuously monitoring terror threat levels and there are currently no changes to travel advice.
"There are always risks - not only from escalation in the region, but also potential risks more broadly. I have indicated publicly that I have asked my department to consider whether - if there is any alteration to travel advice more generally."
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Defence Minister Richard Marles has declined to comment whether the government would be prepared to boost investment in the US industrial base, to secure nuclear submarines.
Experts have raised concerns that Australia could be forced to increase its investment or miss out on acquiring a vital stop-gap capability.
Speaking at a press conference in London, Mr Marles insisted Australia is focused on pursuing the best path.
As part of the trilateral AUKUS pact, Australia has committed $3 billion to helping the U-S improve its defence manufacturing, in exchange for being allowed to purchase Virginia class submarines.
Australia could potentially have Virginia class submarines from 2032.
"We are working at a pace to implement the AUKUS arrangement, and this is a major step forward for both the United Kingdom and Australia. I mean - underpinning AUKUS will be the idea that in the future Australia and the U-K will be operating at the same class of submarine. That's a very significant step to take in terms of binding our two countries together and there's much work to do to achieve that."
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A jury which will decide the fate of a woman accused of murdering three people with toxic mushrooms, is set to return to a regional Victorian court this week, to receive the trial judge’s final directions.
50-year-old mother of three, Erin Patterson denies she intentionally poisoned four members of her estranged husband's family when she served them a beef Wellington allegedly containing death cap mushrooms for lunch in July 2023.
Justice Christopher Beale is set to spend two days giving his final directions to the jury in the court in Morwell, about two hours east of Melbourne.
The jury will then deliberate on whether Ms Patterson is guilty or not guilty of three murders and one attempted murder.
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The Queensland state government is set to walk back cost-of-living relief measures when it hands down its budget today, as it looks at long-term budget repair before hosting the 2032 Olympics.
Queensland's Liberal National government is promising a "responsible" budget, after winning the 2024 election, ending Labor's nine-year tenure.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli spoke to Channel Seven's Sunrise program earlier, saying they are doing everything they can to fulfill the government's election promise.
"That is to lift home ownership. Home ownership rates in Queensland are at 63.5 per cent. That's the lowest in the country, and my vision is to go from last to first within a decade. And we're doing everything we can to get people into a home."
Treasurer David Janetzki is looking at bringing down Queensland's projected total debt of almost $220 billion, ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Games.
Under the former Labor government's 2024 budget, Queenslanders were treated to $1000 energy rebates and a 20 per cent reduction in car registration costs.
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And in football, a late strike from Antoine Griezmann has handed Atletico Madrid a 1-0 win over Botafogo - but the victory could not save the Spanish giants from a group stage exit at the Club World Cup.
Following Paris St Germain's 2-0 over Seattle Sounders in Monday's other Group B game, the French side finished level on six points with Botafogo and Atletico.
However, European champions PSG secured top spot thanks to a superior goal difference, with South American champions Botafogo also advancing to the last 16 after finishing second.
Atletico, in third, and Seattle, bottom with no points after three games, were eliminated.
PSG will face the Group A runners-up on Sunday, while Brazil's Botafogo will take on the Group A winners on Saturday.
