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In this bulletin;
- Hastie warns Australians are losing faith in the US-Australia alliance;
- Pentagon reportedly preparing for weeks long ground operation in Iran;
- And in the NRL, Penrith's Mitch Kenny receives one-game ban ahead of Good Friday blockbuster.
Shadow industry minister Andrew Hastie says the war in Iran was a huge miscalculation, warning that the credibility of the United States is being damaged.
Speaking to ABC's Insiders program, the senior shadow minister says that as a close ally of the US, Australians may be losing faith in the alliance and have a right to ask hard questions.
According to polling conducted for the Guardian, only one in four Australians approve of the US-Israel war on Iran, and just a third back the decision to send a military plane and troops to the region.
Asked if he agrees with Mr Hastie's position, Health minister Mark Butler says the US remains Australia's most important ally.
"Well, this is still the most important security alliance Australia has. It underwrites a whole range of important projects that we're undertaking together, not just us and the Americans, but with the Brits as well. Here in South Australia, none is more important than AUKUS. So this is still through different political complexions. This has been the most important security alliance Australia has had for decades and it still is."
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The Pentagon is reportedly preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran, with the Washington Post citing US officials as the war stretches into week five.
The plans could involve Special Operation raids and conventional infantry troops according to the Post, who also note uncertainty around whether President Trump will approve the plans.
The Trump administration has already deployed Marines to the region and is planning to send thousands of soldiers to the region soon.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the US does not need to send ground troops, but acknowledged they have already done so for what he says is maximum flexibility.
"But we can achieve all of our objectives with our ground troops, but we are always going to be prepared to give the President maximum optionality and maximum opportunity to adjust to contingencies should they emerge.”
Thirteen US service members have been killed in the war so far.
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Authorities in Western Australia are working to restore power to communities hit hard by ex-Cyclone Narelle as popular tourist town Exmouth remains effectively cut off.
After lashing coastal communities with 250km/h winds, the now sub-tropical low brought a year's worth of rain to parts of WA in a single day.
Exmouth bore the brunt of the system, losing power as roofs were blown away and homes flooded, forcing residents to abandon wind damaged evacuation centres.
Providing updates, WA Premier Roger Cook says economic relief will be provided.
"I can announce this morning that the Premier's relief payments have been activated and will be available to victims of the cyclone. These payments are between $2000 and $4000 will be available as immediate financial assistance for residents to secure shelter or temporary accommodation purchase essential food and clothing and secure emergency transport."
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has joined Australia's Greek community in marking Greek Independence Day.
Greek Independence Day marks the commencement of the Greek people's struggle for independence against the Ottoman empire in 1821.
Australia has a large and longstanding Greek community, with the city of Melbourne home to one of the largest Greek populations outside of Greece.
Speaking at an event in Sydney, Anthony Albanese paid tribute to the Greek Australian communities contributions to Australia.
"Australia without Greeks is beyond imagining. You are cherished. You are celebrated and well and truly cemented into how we see ourselves as a country. I thank Greek Australians for all you have added to Australia through your energy, aspiration and hard work. The small businesses you've created those small businesses that have grown into very large and successful businesses indeed."
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And in NRL,
Penrith hooker Mitch Kenny has received a one-game ban despite coach Ivan Cleary questioning whether his shot on Parramatta's Isaiah Iongi was actually a hip-drop tackle.
With an early guilty plea, Kenny will be banned from the Good Friday blockbuster against Melbourne in the first major setback for the Panthers on their unbeaten start to 2026.
Kenny will miss an additional game against Canterbury in round six if he takes his case to the judiciary and loses.
High-profile Bulldogs duo Lachlan Galvin and Viliame Kikau both went on report in Saturday's loss to Newcastle but can accept fines for grade-one dangerous contact.
The latest suspension comes after Kenny received a two-game ban for a hip-drop tackle on Sydney Roosters forward Nat Butcher early last season.
