Federal government set to invest a further $4.6 billion into the AUKUS agreement; the European Union proposes using frozen Russian assets to purchase weapons for Ukraine, and in sport, the Socceroos beat Lebanon 2-0 in their 2026 World Cup qualifier.
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TRANSCRIPT
- Federal government set to invest a further $4.6 billion into the AUKUS agreement
- The European Union proposes using frozen Russian assets to purchase weapons for Ukraine
- The Socceroos beat Lebanon 2-0 in their 2026 World Cup qualifier.
The federal government is set to boost the AUKUS agreement by spending over $4.6 billion to speed up production of its nuclear-powered submarines.
The money will be given to the Rolls Royce factory in the British city of Derby to facilitate the creation of the submarines.
The announcement is expected to be made today by Defence Minister Richard Marles and his United Kingdom counterpart Grant Shapps, who are visiting the submarine hub in Adelaide.
They're also expected to announce that the vessels will be jointly built by the Australian Submarine Corporation and the UK firm BAE Systems at Adelaide's Osbourne shipyard.
The government has already allocated over $2 billion towards the construction of the Osbourne submarine construction yard.
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European Union leaders are discussing a new proposal to use billions of euros from frozen Russian financial assets to purchase more weapons for Ukraine.
The European Commission this week proposed taking an estimated 2.5-3 billion euros per year from Russian assets frozen in Europe and transferring 90 per cent to the Ukrainian government.
Under the proposal, 90 per cent of the profits would be sent through the European Peace Facility fund to buy weapons for Ukraine, whilst the remaining ten per cent is to be used for recovery and reconstruction.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo says he welcomes the plan.
"I think it's a good proposal and we already had taken a first step as of two years ago, is that the taxation incomes of the proceeds coming from the frozen assets -- we never used that for our budget. We isolated it and use it 100 per cent for buying weapons and providing humanitarian assistance to the to the Ukrainians. We've always been clear this is taxation on the on the misery of the Ukrainians that has been inflicted to them by the by the Russians."
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The head of the World Health Organisation says the future of an "entire generation" in Gaza is in peril as the enclave faces imminent famine.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says so little food has been allowed into Gaza that up to 16 per cent of children under five are now malnourished, compared to one per cent before the war began.
The World Bank has found that of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million, more than half of whom are under 18, there were 1.1 million in the highest risk category for famine.
Doctor Tedros has called for an immediate ceasefire so therapeutic food can be delivered to malnourished children.
"Once again, we ask Israel to open more crossings and accelerate the entry and delivery of water, food, medical supplies and other humanitarian aid into and within Gaza. Once again, we call for health care to be protected and not militarised."
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A new report has found the lifetime pollution from Woodside Energy's proposed Burrup Hub would cancel out the entire savings from all existing rooftop household solar systems in Australia for over 344 years.
A report released by the Australian Conservation Foundation says the proposed $50 billion gas project would be a climate disaster.
The Conservation Foundation says the project will create over six billion tonnes of emissions over its lifetime and that the hub would be in the top ten biggest carbon damagers globally.
Woodside Energy rejects the findings.
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A new taskforce in Victoria is to investigate false advertising for rental properties and those which don't meet certain standards.
It will strengthen rules around rule-breaking landlords and real estate agents who are not lodging bonds.
Consumer Affairs Minister Gabrielle Williams says the taskforce will start responding to complaints this year.
She says some landlords have continued to behave badly despite the state government implementing more than 130 rental reforms in 2021.
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To sport now, the Socceroos have inched one step closer to securing a spot in the final round of World Cup qualifications after defeating Lebanon 2-0.
The win was soured slightly by injuries to Jordy Bos and Riley McGree, who both came off in the first half.
Maiden international goals from Keanu Baccus and Kye Rowles helped the team secure victory in front of over 27,000 fans at Commbank stadium in Sydney.
Kye Rowles spoke after the match.
" Yeah to be honest it's pretty special. To be here in front of our home fans and all that, I have majority of my family up in the stands and to have them all here to witness that is pretty special. Words can't really describe it to be honest."
