Listen to Australian and world news, and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts.
TRANSCRIPT
- The PM confirms three Australians were onboard a U-S sub that sank an Iranian vessel...
- Calls for action on petrol prices as the Iran conflict continues...
- Australia's flagbearers for the Winter Paralympics Opening Ceremony announced.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed three Australian military personnel were on board the US submarine that sank an Iranian navy ship off Sri Lanka on Wednesday.
Mr Albanese has told Sky News they were not involved in the attack, and were on the submarine under strict rules of conduct, as part of training arrangements under the AUKUS agreement.
"Australian Defence Personnel, where they're embedded in third countries' defence assets, they act in accordance with Australian law, with Australian policies, and that, of course, is taking place across the board."
Mr Albanese has also maintained Australia's support for the US and Israeli military action against Iran is justified.
He says that is because of what the government deems to have been Iran's involvement in at least two attacks on Australian soil in 2024, as well as current attacks by Iran against countries where Australians live and work.
The federal opposition is accusing the government of not telling the truth about petrol prices in the wake of the Iran conflict.
Government ministers say petrol prices have not yet risen too sharply since the conflict began, while Opposition Transport spokeswoman Bridget McKenzie alleges prices have gone up by 20 per cent in five days.
She says some petrol station operators need to be prosecuted for ripping off consumers.
The government has asked the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to monitor any attempt at petrol price-gouging, but the Senator says they need to do more than that to help consumers.
"People are making money off this war from petrol, and diesel, that was already onshore. That's unconscionable. It also needs ot be addressed. And right now, we've got a Treasurer who is more interested in doing reels for Instagram, showing he's writing letters to the ACCCC commissioners than actually getting on the ground and facing up to the fact that Australians are facing a homegrown cost of living crisis, and this is being piled on the top of the family budget."
The Greens are calling for more transparency over the banning of hate groups.
Legislation to ban the Islamist group Hizb ut-Tarir has passed federal parliament in the first use of tough laws introduced following the Bondi terror attack.
It's now a crime to be a member of Hizb ut-Tahrir, to recruit for them, or to provide training, support, or funding for the group.
But Greens senator David Shoebridge says, if the government is trying to build social cohesion through the ban, they're going about it the wrong way.
"The key problem with the legislation that passed is that all of the information, all of the rationale, all of the decision-making, happens in secret. That is not how you build public confidence, and that is one of the reasons why we opposed the legislation. Things that happen ind ar rooms, things that happen in secret, don't build social cohesion... they build suspicion and concern."
Katherine Hospital in the Northern Territory is being evacuated due to a flood warning.
Authorities say the Katherine River is currently at 16.75 metres and rising, and is expected to reach the major flood level of 17.5 metres at some point today.
21 patients from the hospital, as well as staff, will transported by air to Darwin, 320 kilometres north-west.
James O'Brien from Northern Territory Police says the excessive rain has made road travel dangerous.
"Expect that the Stuart Highway itself, just south of the town centre, may have some water over it later today, if not already. Please watch out for that. And, as the warning says, if it is flooded, don't go in there, please."
Ben Tudhope and Georgie Gunew have been named Australia's flagbearers for the Winter Paralympics Opening Ceremony at the Verona Arena today.
Georgie is making her debut at the Games - but Ben is lining up for his fourth, with his bronze in para snowboard Australia's only medal at the 2022 Beijing Paralympics.
The 26-year-old is also the first Australian winter Olympian or Paralympian to win 50 World Cup medals.
Team Australia will be represented by 12 athletes and two guides across four sports at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.
