TRANSCRIPT
- Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton criticise each other over border security
- Penny Wong summons the Russian envoy over the death of Alexei Navalny
- Australia's women secure a multi-format series victory over South Africa in a Test thrashing
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton have traded blows over Australia's border security after the arrival of a boat carrying a group of asylum seekers landed north of Broome.
Mr Albanese has accused the opposition leader of undermining Australia's border safety after the group reportedly from Pakistan and Bangladesh via Indonesia, were found near a remote Indigenous community on Friday morning.
More than 20 men were detected at first, although ABC News has reported that another group of 13 men from Bangladesh and India have since been found in the same area.
Operation Sovereign Borders commander Rear Admiral Brett Sonter has warned politicians of the risks of public comment on the nation's security regime.
But Mr Dutton says the Prime Minister has not been tough enough on the issue.
"Well, there's just no question about the fact that Operation Sovereign Borders is not supported by the Albanese government. I ran Operation Sovereign Borders, I know exactly how these people smugglers work, they will react to a weak Prime Minister and to a weak minister, and if they see vulnerabilities they will exploit them."
Mr Albanese says he does not want to politicise national security.
"We don't talk about the detail of operational matters, but I'm very comfortable that the Operation Sovereign Borders has been put in place. It's the same system that operated before and we will make announcements about what has occurred there through Operation Sovereign Borders imminently or when that occurs."
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Foreign Minister Penny Wong has instructed her department to summon Russia's Australian envoy to relay serious concerns over the death of Alexei Navalny.
Prime Minister Anthony and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton were among leaders holding Russian President Vladimir Putin responsible after Russia's prison service reported his most formidable domestic opponent had died in a remote penal colony.
Russian authorities claim Mr Navalny, who was serving a 19-year sentence on extremism charges he said were false and politically motivated, fell unconscious and died after a walk at the "Polar Wolf" Arctic prison.
World leaders have paid tribute to Mr Navalny and held Mr Putin responsible, with U-S President Joe Biden and the leaders of France and Germany saying the reported death shows the importance of providing more aid to Ukraine.
Senator Wong says the Albanese government is considering its next steps.
"We have already issued a great many sanctions against the Russian regime. We obviously, I obviously don't speculate on what further action the government might take on that front."
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Ex-Tropical Cyclone Lincoln has continued to deliver strong winds and heavy rain to already flood-affected areas in northern Australia.
The Bureau of Meteorology has downgraded the system, which is expected to drift towards Western Australia's Kimberly region by Monday.
Forecasters say it does have the potential to redevelop into a tropical cyclone later next week.
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Nickel producers in Western Australia will receive a financial assistance program to save thousands of jobs and keep alive the state's ambition of processing the world's battery minerals.
W-A Premier Roger Cook has announced an 18-month rebate on royalty payments to help producers to ride out the slump in prices for the metal.
Nickel prices have fallen sharply in recent months as Indonesia ramps up supply with China's backing, leading to six W-A operating facilities announcing they were scaling back operations.
Mr Cook says the industry, which supports almost 10,000 jobs in W-A, and generated sales of more than $5 billion last financial year, is an essential component of the state's vision of becoming a global hub for battery metals.
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The Australian women have secured victory in their multi-format series against South Africa in a one-sided Test at the WACA Ground.
Australia were in an unlosable position after amassing a women's world record score of 9 for 575.
South Africa were then bowled out for 215 in their second innings to secure an Australian victory by an innings and 284 runs inside just three days in Perth.
The Test win follows on from 2-1 victories in the O-D-I and T-20 series, where South Africa fought hard to achieve their first ever wins over Australia in each format.
All-rounder Ellyse Perry told Fox Sports South Africa had shown "great spirit" throughout the multi-format series.
"They've been wonderful competition, so it's probably no surprise that they came out and played the way they did, but yeah ultimately really satisfying for us to wrap it up today, and you know so many awesome performances across the test, but yeah a really good day in the field for us in the end."
