Key Points
- Iran takes two cargo ships, accusing three vessels of breaching blockade
- Opposition MPs report lack of consultation on NDIS changes
- St George Illawarra’s Reed positive ahead of his weekend debut
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TRANSCRIPT
Iranian forces have targeted three container ships overnight, seizing two.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard says its naval forces stopped two ships attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz and directed them to Iranian waters.
It is accusing them of breaching its blockade of the route.
Iranian news agency Tasnim says one of the ships that was seized "ignored warnings from Iran's armed forces".
Britain's maritime security agency [[UKMTO]] says an Iranian gunboat fired at a container ship off the coast of Oman, while a ship off Iran was also fired upon.
Meanwhile, Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, says the Islamic republic would not reopen the Strait of Hormuz as long as the US naval blockade remained in place, calling it a "blatant violation of the ceasefire".
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UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has welcomed the United States' announcement that it would extend a ceasefire, calling it an important step toward de-escalation.
President Donald Trump says the US is indefinitely extending its ceasefire with Iran, as a new round of peace talks is put on hold.
Iran has acknowledged the ceasefire extension, but didn't say if it is ready to attend a new round of talks to end the war.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric says Mr Guterres says diplomacy is the best way forward.
"This is an important step toward creating critical space for diplomacy and confidence-building between Iran and the United States. We encourage all parties to build on this momentum, refrain from actions that could undermine the ceasefire, and engage constructively in negotiations to reach a sustainable and lasting resolution. The secretary-general fully supports Pakistan’s efforts in facilitating further talks, and he hopes that these efforts will contribute to creating conditions conducive to a comprehensive and durable resolution to the conflict."
Pakistan had planned to host a second round of talks, but the White House suspended Vice President JD Vance’s planned trip to Islamabad - as Iran rebuffed efforts to restart negotiations.
Pakistani officials say authorities will keep security arrangements in place in Islamabad in case US and Iranian delegations ultimately arrive.
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The Federal Opposition says there hasn't been proper consultation over changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Health Minister Mark Butler says the government will be aiming to cut the number of participants down to 600,000 by the end of the decade through tightened eligibility.
The NDIS is costing $50 billion dollars a year with around 760,000 participants.
Shadow NDIS Minister Melissa McIntosh says there has been no proper consultation with the Coalition.
"The minister has made his big announcement reducing growth to 2 per cent with no plan. He's going to be ramming this through parliament in a couple of weeks, and he has had zero consultation with the Coalition when we have promised the government to work with them."
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Nationals leader Matt Canavan says the federal government needs to consider local options to secure oil supplies
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been meeting with regional leaders as he tries to secure additional fuel supplies during the current crisis.
But Matt Canavan says there also needs to be a focus on developing a local oil industry.
"Why is the prime minister meeting with world leaders all through our region when he won't meet with the Queensland premier who wants to drill for oil in Australia to create Australian jobs? And if we were to produce oil here in Australia, that would guarantee our fuel security much longer than any of the deals we're doing now, which are band-aid solutions at best."
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Food rescue charity OzHarvest says it's struggling to keep up with rising demand for help from people struggling to put food on the table.
CEO James Goth says demand has increased 30 per cent in recent weeks due to the war in the middle east, from an already elevated level, with 280,000 people seeking food support each month.
Mr Goth says demand is outstripping supply at a level they've not seen before.
"The charities we supply food to, they're telling us that one in every five people that's presenting to them for food relief they're having to turn away because they don't have enough food to give them. We also, I said that's for the charities we supply food to, we are now for the first time in our history we have more charities on our waiting list waiting to get food from us than charities we serve. So we serve 1500 charities right across Australia, there are now 1600 charities on our waiting list, 2.5 years ago that number was 800-850 charities."
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In Rugby League, St George Illawarra’s Kade Reed says he's looking forward to his Anzac Day debut against the Roosters.
The 20-year-old says nerves won't be problem because he feels well supported.
"I haven't felt all that external pressure. Like I said, all the boys have been so confident in mean and Dean's so confident in me so that just takes away all that pressure and just releases it all. They just want me to go out and play my game so doesn't bother me."
