SBS News in Easy English 23 September 2022
The governor-general, prime minister, and opposition leader have all attended a special service to remember Queen Elizabeth II’s life, together with politicians, ambassadors, and other guests.
A minute of silence was observed in the Queen's honour to start the service, which was held in Parliament House's Great Hall.
Governor-General David Hurley was the first speaker, declaring the day to be one of reflection and celebration.
"Today is a sad day, a day of national mourning. The passing of the Queen, while we knew it to be inevitable, her still struck with an impact that has exceeded any expectation here in Australia, in the United Kingdom, and indeed, across the globe. History will remember a few like Queen Elizabeth the second, while we mourn her passing, we are grateful that we have witnessed and benefited from her remarkable life. "
Foreign Minister Penny Wong says Australia will continue to provide military support to Ukraine as world leaders condemn Russia's decision to recruit citizens into its war against Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin escalated the conflict overnight, calling up around 300,000 reservists to fight in the war and threatening to use nuclear missiles to defend his country.
Minister Wong has condemned Russia for the move.
"I don't think that we should be giving Mr. Putin what he wants, in our responses and I simply again say it was, It is both unthinkable and irresponsible for those threats to be made. We are in contact with our Ukrainian colleagues. We understand the extraordinarily difficult circumstances they face. We will continue to work with partners to support Ukraine and we will continue to consider the requests that are being made."
Demonstrators have taken to the streets in several cities in Russia to protest the move.
Thousand of people have reportedly been arrested at anti-mobilisation rallies in the cities including Moscow and St Petersburg.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the Kremlin must be punished for taking its territory.
"A crime has been committed against Ukraine, and we demand just punishment. The crime was committed against our state borders. The crime was committed against the lives of our people. The crime was committed against the dignity of our women and men. The crime was committed against the values that make you and me a community of the United Nations and Ukraine to mass punishment for trying to steal our territory."
A day after 230 whales were found stranded on Tasmania’a West coast, only 35 were still alive as rescue and release efforts continue.
Marine conservationists launched a rescue mission on Wednesday on Ocean Beach near Macquarie Harbour, but Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service Manager Brendon Clark confirmed that most of the mammals had died.
Mr Clarke claims the exposed conditions on the beach contributed to the high death rate and more may still die.
"Unfortunately, we do have a high mortality rate out on this particular stranding. That's predominantly due to the exposed conditions out on Ocean Beach, as opposed to the stranding that we had two years ago, where we had many of those animals in the estuary of the harbor and so they were actually stranded in much more sheltered waters. So, the environmental conditions, the surf out there on the exposed west coast, Ocean Beach, is certainly taking its toll on the animals"
A band of clouds continues to threaten floods in several areas of New South Wales, with weather warnings inland and all the way to the coast.
Significant rain is predicted today across communities along the Mid-North Coast, Hunter, and Northern Rivers.
Thunderstorms are likely to form in the afternoon, and up to 120mm of locally heavy rain could fall in six hours.
The Mid-North Coast and Northern Rivers may see flash flooding as a result of the heavy rain today and into tomorrow.
