Canavan says Trump’s threats have ‘gotten out of hand’
Nationals leader Matt Canavan said Donald Trump’s threats towards Iran underscored the need for Australia to try to de-escalate the rhetoric coming out of the US.
He told RN Breakfast:
I think it’s incumbent on us to implore our friends in the United States to de-escalate this and de-escalate it fast. It’s gotten out of hand very quickly.
Now’s the time for Australia and the prime minister to make it very clear that we can’t support this type of approach to any kind of conflict … we’ve got to try and find an off ramp here, both for the people of the Middle East and also for the world that’s suffering the horrific consequences of this conflict.
Canavan is due to speak before the National Press Club later today.
Key events
Canavan expresses concern about using civilian court system to try soldier Ben Roberts-Smith
Canavan said the arrest of Ben Roberts-Smith yesterday has left him concerned about using a civilian court system to weigh accusations against a member of the military.
Roberts-Smith was yesterday charged with “five counts of war crime – murder” and will appear before court for the first time as a defendant today. He has denied any wrongdoing.
Canavan was asked about the former soldier. He told RN Breakfast:
I feel very uncomfortable passing any judgment on someone that put their life on the line for our country. I haven’t been in that circumstance. Clearly, though, we’re a country of high standards and they must be applied.
I’m not exactly sure about the wisdom of subjecting military personnel to a civilian court process. I mean, the basic English common law principle here is a judging of your peers. Who are Ben Roberts-Smith’s peers?
… I view his peers as his fellow soldiers and normally or previously we would have applied a military tribunal to these sort of cases. We have made decisions to apply the civilian court system to it. I worry about putting too much stress on that system in these cases.
Canavan says Trump’s threats have ‘gotten out of hand’
Nationals leader Matt Canavan said Donald Trump’s threats towards Iran underscored the need for Australia to try to de-escalate the rhetoric coming out of the US.
He told RN Breakfast:
I think it’s incumbent on us to implore our friends in the United States to de-escalate this and de-escalate it fast. It’s gotten out of hand very quickly.
Now’s the time for Australia and the prime minister to make it very clear that we can’t support this type of approach to any kind of conflict … we’ve got to try and find an off ramp here, both for the people of the Middle East and also for the world that’s suffering the horrific consequences of this conflict.
Canavan is due to speak before the National Press Club later today.
Trump’s deadline on Iran expires at 10am
Donald Trump has given Iran a deadline of 8pm EDT, or 10am AEST, to comply with his demands or risk an entire civilisation dying “tonight”.
The declaration has prompted condemnation from Democrats in the US, concern from a small cadre of Republicans and left many waiting with bated breath.
We’ll bring you updates on any Australian reactions here as the day unfolds, but you can follow along with our Middle East liveblog below:
Minister says Australia has received assurances from foreign trading partners over fuel supplies
Matt Thistlethwaite, the assistant minister for foreign affairs and trade, spoke about a signed statement of understanding between Australia and Singapore over fuel deliveries this morning, saying the government had been receiving assurances from other countries as well.
Thistlethwaite was asked if the government would like to see agreements with other fuel suppliers, including those in South Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan and Japan, as Anthony Albanese prepares to fly to Singapore this week.
Thistlethwaite told RN that while Australia remained confident that fuel would continue to be delivered, the turmoil in the Middle East could undercut that faith, prompting the outreach to foreign trading partners. He said:
Obviously, the potential of the conflict to destabilise the deliveries is a concern. So we’re seeking assurances from nations regarding supply. And thankfully, we’ve been receiving those assurances.
Those assurances do give us confidence. And obviously, those nations that we’re meeting with want to know from Australia’s perspective that many of our exports will continue to get through as well.
Good morning, Nick Visser here to take over the blog. Let’s get to it.
Canavan calls for tariff-led ‘manufacturing renaissance’
Tom McIlroy
The new Nationals leader, Matt Canavan, is speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra today. He will outline what he calls “a Patriot Agenda for an Australian Economic Revival”.
The plan involves five areas of focus, including an Australian “manufacturing renaissance”.
Canavan says that would be delivered “through the protection of key industries against unfair competition” and calls for all available tools be used, including the reintroduction of tariffs.
He says Australia’s border should be closed to “mass migration” and net zero by 2050 policies for carbon emissions should be scrapped, and calls for a new national works program, construction of new cities and a new baby boom.
“I don’t agree with Donald Trump that ‘tariff’ is the most beautiful word in the English language, but it’s not a dirty word either,” Canavan will say.
“A tariff is just a tool – a tool we already use when we apply anti-dumping actions, albeit in an ad hoc way.
“Other countries are trying to steal our jobs and our industries. We must respond with a more permanent approach to protecting the industries that are crucial to our sovereign capability.”
Albanese and Chinese premier discuss energy security in phone call
Krishani Dhanji
The prime minister has spoken to Chinese premier Li Qiang over the phone to discuss energy security, as the government moves to secure fuel supplies with nations across Asia.
Anthony Albanese confirmed on Tuesday he would be flying to Singapore this week to lock in fuel imports.
The PM’s office said the two leaders spoke on Tuesday and agreed to increase communication and ensure Australia and China are “both working in support of regional energy security”. China is a key exporter of jet fuel to Australia.
The government says engagement with china are “central to a mature, stable and constructive relationship”.
Ben Roberts-Smith to appear in court this morning
Kelly Burke
Australia’s most decorated living soldier will appear in a Sydney local court today.
The former SAS corporal and Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith was arrested by the Australian federal police on Tuesday. He has been charged with unlawful killings during Australia’s military campaign in Afghanistan.
He was held at Silverwater correctional centre overnight and designated as a high-profile detainee, so was allotted a single cell, although he was technically not in solitary confinement.
He is expected to apply for bail at the hearing. Roberts-Smith has always denied any wrongdoing in Afghanistan.
The charges against Roberts-Smith, 47, comes after a landmark civil ruling in 2023.
In that defamation case, which Roberts-Smith himself initiated against the Sydney Morning Herald, the Age, and the Canberra Times, a federal court judge found to the civil standard of substantial truth that the soldier had been involved in four murders while deployed in Afghanistan.
However, that defamation trial is irrelevant to the criminal proceedings. The standard of proof required for a criminal conviction (beyond reasonable doubt) is far higher than that needed in a civil case (balance of probabilities).
Those findings included the 2009 killing of a handicapped man at a compound known as Whiskey 108 and the 2012 kicking of a handcuffed prisoner, Ali Jan, off a cliff in Darwan.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it’ll be Nick Visser with the main action.
Anthony Albanese spoke to Chinese premier Li Qiang over the phone last night to discuss energy security, as the prime minister prepares to travel to Singapore as part of efforts to secure fuel supplies with nations across Asia. More coming up.
Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia’s most decorated living soldier, will appear at a Sydney local court today charged with five war crime murders. We have more details coming up, and will bring you updates as the story unfolds today.
