australia-news-live:-conservation-group-lashes-coalition-promise-to-fast-track-decision-on-expanding-woodside-gas-project
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Australia news live: conservation group lashes Coalition promise to fast-track decision on expanding Woodside gas project

Posted bywamdiness

Albanese says Coalition promise on North West Shelf decision ‘another thought bubble’

Back at Anthony Albanese’s press conference, he has taken a question about the Coalition’s promise to fast-track a decision on Woodside’s North West Shelf if it wins the election.

The prime minister said the state government had the project “for a long period of time” but it has been with the federal government “just for a matter of weeks”.

We’ll go through that process in accordance with the law. Do we support the gas sector? Yes, but subject, of course, to environmental approvals.

Albanese said this was another “thought bubble” – but really “like a soap bubble, because it lasts about as long as a bit of a soap bubble that that comes up from a bubble bath or something, it just disappears into the ether”.

Within hours, they just come up with these things. Then they walk away from them, whether it’s referendums, whether it be zonal taxation rates, whether it be the other statements that Peter Dutton makes …

The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, is holding a press conference in Western Australia.

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He is announcing the Coalition is promising to fast-track a decision on Woodside’s North West Shelf gas extension if it wins the upcoming federal election.

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He accused the environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, as being the “minister for no mining”, and said:

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n

Why would they destroy jobs and economic activity in WA? Because they want to chase green votes in inner-city Sydney and Melbourne. And I think West Australians are smart enough to realise that they’re being duped by a prime minister who is no Mark McGowan, no Roger Cook, and frankly, he’s a prime minister that is against mining and is against agriculture and is against development.

n

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Back at Anthony Albanese’s press conference, he has taken a question about the Coalition’s promise to fast-track a decision on Woodside’s North West Shelf if it wins the election.

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The prime minister said the state government had the project “for a long period of time” but it has been with the federal government “just for a matter of weeks”.

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n

We’ll go through that process in accordance with the law. Do we support the gas sector? Yes, but subject, of course, to environmental approvals.

n

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Albanese said this was another “thought bubble” – but really “like a soap bubble, because it lasts about as long as a bit of a soap bubble that that comes up from a bubble bath or something, it just disappears into the ether”.

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n

Within hours, they just come up with these things. Then they walk away from them, whether it’s referendums, whether it be zonal taxation rates, whether it be the other statements that Peter Dutton makes …

n

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As we just flagged, the Coalition is promising to fast-track a decision on Woodside’s North West Shelf gas extension if it wins the upcoming federal election.

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The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, has vowed a Coalition government would make a ruling on Woodside’s application within 30 days under a new “national interest” test that forces decision-makers to give more weight to a project’s social and economic benefits as part of the environmental assessment.

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Woodside wants to extend the life of its massive gas processing plant on the Burrup Peninsula in the state’s remote north-west out to 2070.

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Scientists and conservation groups have described the project as a “climate bomb”, with one estimate suggesting the total emissions from Burrup Hub could reach 6bn tonnes once the gas was exported and burned overseas.

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The environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, last month deferred a ruling on the application until 31 March, avoiding a decision ahead of the WA state election.

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If the federal election is called before the revised deadline, a decision on the project could not be made until after the poll.

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In a statement, Dutton said it was “of national importance” that the project not be delayed any further.

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n

We would expedite consideration of the North West Shelf project as a matter of urgency because, unlike Labor, we recognise the significance of the North West Shelf to the WA economy and the importance of secure and reliable gas supplies in pushing down energy prices.

n

The Albanese Labor Government has been the most anti-resources, anti-mining, anti-WA federal government in living memory.

n

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In a separate move to stop “activists” blocking projects, a Coalition government would legislate a “statute of limitations” to prevent third-parties from challenging approvals that were issued more than 12 months earlier.

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Dutton and the shadow environment minister, Jonno Duniam, will make the announcements on Wednesday in WA, a state in which Coalition is desperate to regain ground after losing five seats at the 2022 election.

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The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is giving a press conference about the disaster relief payments being given in the aftermath of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

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n

As of last night, there’s been $80m paid in disaster relief payments. That’s making a difference, whether it be the $1,000 payments or $400 for children, or whether it be the more complex, 13-week payment that can come for people who are unable to continue to work.

n

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The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, has issued a short statement hitting back at a report in the Herald Sun, which alleged the police commissioner and deputy commissioner were removed from their roles last month due to a conspiracy.

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According to the report in the Herald Sun, the former Victoria police deputy commissioner Neil Paterson filed a complaint with the state’s anti-corruption watchdog alleging “corruption and misconduct in public office” by Allan and another minister.

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He alleges the Allan government approached the then emergency management commissioner Rick Nugent to replace the police commissioner, Shane Patton, weeks before a vote of no confidence in him by 87% of police members.

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premier Jacinta Allan.”,”caption”:”Victorian premier Jacinta Allan.”,”credit”:”Photograph: Con Chronis/AAP”}},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Patton resigned in the days after the vote, with Allan at the time saying the result was “overwhelming” and could not be ignored. Paterson’s contract was not renewed days later.

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Paterson alleges the government “conspired” to remove both Patton and himself due to their “frank and fearless advice”.

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Guardian Australia has approached the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission for comment.

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In her statement, Allan said the allegations were “completely untrue”:

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n

I am disappointed that people are seeking to politicise Ibac and the important work they do by making these baseless allegations. My focus is always on supporting the hardworking men and women of Victoria police, and passing our tough new bail laws this week.

n

“,”elementId”:”f5ef740f-c5e9-402c-814b-b4ab677d457a”}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1742338094000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”18.48 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1742338670000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”18.57 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1742338486000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”18.54 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”18.54″,”title”:”Allan denies reports police commissioner and deputy removed due to conspiracy”,”contributors”:[{“name”:”Benita Kolovos”,”imageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2022/03/03/Benita_Kolovos_2.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=d3f0a5f1842f00e9418475562a58b666″,”largeImageUrl”:”https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2022/03/03/Benita_Kolovos.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=5eab712ba445dc6cf12cdc0f9a1eff16″}],”primaryDateLine”:”Tue 18 Mar 2025 21.19 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Tue 18 Mar 2025 15.21 EDT”},{“id”:”67d9ed298f086eb9fef42f11″,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

The Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, has announced a C$6bn deal with Australia to develop an Arctic radar system.

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As AFP reports, Carney made the announcement on the final leg of his first official trip as prime minister since taking over from Justin Trudeau last week.

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Carney – who has previously described the US under Donald Trump as a country Canada “can no longer trust” – characterised the radar deal as part of a broader effort to assert Canadian sovereignty over the Arctic.

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n

The world is changing. International institutions and norms that have kept Canada secure are now being called into question. And the United States’ priorities, our ally, once closely aligned with our own, are beginning to shift. We cannot and should not look first to others to defend our nation.

n

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Australia is a leader in “over-the-horizon” radar, an advanced system that allows for continuous threat-tracking over a vast area. Carney’s office said in a statement announcing the deal:

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The radar system’s long-range surveillance and threat tracking capabilities will detect and deter threats across the north.

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Victoria’s energy minister, Lily D’Ambrosio, has denied claims in a report in The Australian that suggests the state government asked the operator of the Yallourn coal power plant to extend operations beyond its mid-2028 closure date.

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The report, published last night, suggested there was a discussion between EnergyAustralia, the Victorian Department of Energy Environment and Climate Action (Deeca) and the Australian Energy Market Operator (Aemo) amid “fears of ­devastating electricity shortages”.

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But in a statement, D’Ambrosio said Deeca, Aemo and EnergyAustralia had all confirmed that the claims are wrong:

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The three agencies also confirm that no such discussions have occurred and nor have there been ‘rolling talks’. Aemo has not advised the Victorian government that Yallourn would need to be extended beyond 2028, as claimed in The Australian. Before publication, EnergyAustralia confirmed to The Australian that the plant would close in 2028.

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She said the Australian did not contact the Victorian government for comment prior to publication.

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general view of the Yallourn power station.”,”caption”:”A general view of the Yallourn power station.”,”credit”:”Photograph: Diego Fedele/AAP”}},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

In 2021, EnergyAustralia announced it would close the station in 2028 – four years earlier than planned – and built a battery at a nearby gas-fired plant to compensate for the loss.

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Yallourn produces about a fifth of Victoria’s electricity and is the state’s oldest power station.

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Moving to Gaza, Richard Marles said the ceasefire breakdown is “very disappointing” and Australia wanted to “see the entire terms of the ceasefire fulfilled”.

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n

And to be clear, that does mean the return of hostages to Israel. That was part of the terms of the ceasefire …

n

I think for all of us, there has been so much death in the Middle East over such a long period of time. Now, we don’t want to see this continue and we’ll be exercising our voice to see that a ceasefire is maintained.

n

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The AFL has unveiled the new mascot for the Tasmanian Devils – Rum’un – and it’s safe to say it has drawn some … mixed reactions.

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sports mascot costume in the form of a Tasmanian devil with dark green fur and yellow snout”,”caption”:”The new Tasmania Devils club mascot, Rum’un the Devil.”,”credit”:”Photograph: Ethan James/AAP”}},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Some X users have called the mascot a “joke”, something “out of a horror movie” and a piñata. One person said “I want to cry”, another said it looked reminiscent of AI, while another mused “it looks like Wes Anderson greenlit a sequel to Fantastic Mr Fox”.

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There have been some interesting comparisons in the Guardian office this morning – to the Ferals TV show, Where the Wild Things Are, and the Big Banksia from Snugglepot and Cuddlepie. Others have been more welcoming of the new mascot:

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n

I love Rum’un. Justice for Rum’un.

n

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player Katie Foale and Rum’un.”,”caption”:”Junior player Katie Foale and Rum’un.”,”credit”:”Photograph: Ethan James/AAP”}}],”attributes”:{“pinned”:false,”keyEvent”:true,”summary”:false},”blockCreatedOn”:1742331500000,”blockCreatedOnDisplay”:”16.58 EDT”,”blockLastUpdated”:1742333308000,”blockLastUpdatedDisplay”:”17.28 EDT”,”blockFirstPublished”:1742331967000,”blockFirstPublishedDisplay”:”17.06 EDT”,”blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone”:”17.06″,”title”:”AFL draws mixed reactions with new Tasmanian Devils mascot”,”contributors”:[],”primaryDateLine”:”Tue 18 Mar 2025 21.19 EDT”,”secondaryDateLine”:”First published on Tue 18 Mar 2025 15.21 EDT”},{“id”:”67d9db2b8f08cb5f227fdb4a”,”elements”:[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”

Angus Taylor also said the Coalition was looking to add an “antisemitism” question to the citizenship test:

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n

We have already said [we] will strengthen our citizenship test to make sure there is a specific question there, [a] criterion around antisemitism, because we have seen rampant antisemitism in this country. It’s completely unacceptable.

n

And those coming to this country, we need to be confident that they’re not going to perpetuate that unacceptable behaviour that we have seen in recent times.

n

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The shadow treasurer, Angus Taylor, has been asked to clarify if a referendum on giving ministers the ability to deport dual citizens who commit a serious crime is actually Coalition policy.

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As Josh Butler reports, at 7am yesterday Peter Dutton was publicly discussing reports of his suggestion for this. But by mid-morning, the opposition leader’s shadow attorney general, Michaelia Cash, was telling media the party had “no plans to hold a referendum at this stage”.

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Speaking to ABC RN just now, Taylor said “we’ll always look at any option that might ensure that Australians are safe”:

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n

Now this is not our policy, but it is something – like any option that will ensure that Australians are safe – that we’re prepared to consider.

n

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For the whole timeline of this “thought bubble”, as the prime minister has labelled it, you can have a read below:

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Emily Wind here, signing on for the Australia news live blog – I’ll be taking you through all of our rolling coverage today.

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As always, you can reach out with any tips or questions via email throughout the day: emily.wind@theguardian.com. Let’s get into it.

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A flood-weary region is bracing for yet more rain, stalling its recovery from a deluge that turned deadly, AAP reports.

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A severe weather warning has been issued for a saturated north Queensland after enduring days of downpours.

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More heavy rain may lead to flash flooding on the north-east tropical coast spanning Cardwell down to Ayr, with six hourly totals up to 160mm possible on Wednesday.

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There’s also a risk of severe thunderstorms from Cairns down to Bowen, the Bureau of Meteorology warned.

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The region is still reeling from record February falls which triggered widespread flooding that forced people to evacuate and isolated communities.

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Factcheckers will be in operation on posts on Facebook and Instagram during the Australian federal election this year, with the move to ditch factcheckers limited to the US for now.

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In a blog post on Tuesday night, Meta’s head of policy in Australia, Cheryl Seeto, said Agence France-Presse and the Australian Associated Press would continue to independently review content during the federal election campaign.

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Where content is debunked, a warning label will be attached to the posts and its distribution will be limited. However, this will not apply to content posted by politicians – except if they’re sharing a post that has been already factchecked.

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AAP will also work with Meta on a new media literacy campaign to help Australians “critically assess the content they view online”.

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The company said it would remove the “most serious kinds” of misinformation, including threats of violence or physical harm, or those that attempt to interfere with voting.

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Meta will also apply labels to AI-generated content where it is determined to be AI-generated, and AI content is also eligible for factchecking.

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The revision of Meta’s hateful conduct policy now applies globally, however, meaning political advertising that previously wouldn’t have been allowed on Meta’s platform may now be allowed. The company would not speak on hypotheticals, but it is understood the controversial Clive Palmer ads in newspapers last week would have been allowed.

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The Greens are spruiking grants and low-interest loans to electrify households and small businesses, which they say will reduce energy bills and reduce emissions.

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The electrification plan would provide support for homes and small businesses to disconnect from gas, through technologies like induction cooktops, heat pumps and EV chargers. Grants of up to $10,000 and low-interest loans of up to $20,000 would be on offer for households, while small businesses would get access to grants of up to $25,000 and low-interest loans of up to $100,000.

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The proposal also includes grants and low-interest loans for households and small businesses to get battery storage.

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Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) costings show the plan to get households and small businesses off gas would cost around $5bn in the forward estimates, and support to install batteries would cost around $3bn.

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The Greens leader, Adam Bandt, says in a wealthy country, “everyone should have clean, cheap energy”.

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n

Getting homes off gas reduces pollution and helps bring down energy bills. It’s good for your health and it’s good for the environment.

n

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Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it’ll be Emily Wind with the main action.

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The leaders of Australian business and workers will face off today at the National Press Club to debate the future of workplace relations. Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive, Andrew McKellar, will argue in a debate with union leader Michele O’Neil that whoever wins this year’s federal election must repeal labour laws that he says have stalled productivity and disadvantaged businesses. Separately, a report warns that more Australian businesses will fold this year because of US disruption. More coming up.

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Talking of the election, the head of policy in Australia for Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, said the news agencies Agence France-Presse and the Australian Associated Press will continue to independently review content during the federal election campaign. Cheryl Seeto said the company’s controversial move to ditch factcheckers was limited to the US for now. More details soon.

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The Greens are spruiking grants and low-interest loans to electrify households and small businesses, which they say will reduce energy bills and reduce emissions. More coming up.

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Key events

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Dutton defends move towards referendum to deport dual citizenships

On his proposal for a referendum to allow ministers to deport dual citizens, a reporter asked whether voters may view this as being aligned too closely with Donald Trump?

Peter Dutton said no, and spoke of his time as minister for home affairs:

I canceled visas of about 6000 people who were non-citizens … They were people who were involved in terrorist activities. They were people who are involved in outlaw motorcycle gangs, who are probably the most evil networks of criminal enterprise in our country. And I canceled those visas, and it made our country a safer place …

I want a mandate from the Australian people to be able to implement the laws which are necessary to keep us safe. The prime minister dismisses it as a thought bubble.

Multiple Coalition MPs have said this is not an official policy – Josh Butler has put together a timeline of the various comments made on this:

Dutton asked if gas has more prominent role than nuclear under Coalition plan

A reporter has asked if this move by the Coalition is an admission that gas has a more prominent role to play in energy than nuclear under its plan.

(David Littleproud weighed in on this earlier today, which you can read here.)

Peter Dutton says:

This is an announcement by us today which recognises that, yes, under our plan, nuclear is 44% cheaper than the government’s renewables-only policy, but in the interim, we can bring down prices if we increase the gas supply.

Dutton takes aim at Labor over energy bill relief promise

Peter Dutton also took aim at the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, for promising “on 97 occasions” to deliver a $275 price reduction on people’s electricity bills.

The pledge was first made before Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Dutton told the media just now:

Almost at the end of this terrible term of government, the treasurer refuses to even mention that [$275]. So how could you believe anything that Jim Chalmers says going into the next election if they didn’t deliver on their last promises? How can you believe them on the promises that they’re making this time around?

Dutton addressing media in WA

The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, is holding a press conference in Western Australia.

He is announcing the Coalition is promising to fast-track a decision on Woodside’s North West Shelf gas extension if it wins the upcoming federal election.

He accused the environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, as being the “minister for no mining”, and said:

Why would they destroy jobs and economic activity in WA? Because they want to chase green votes in inner-city Sydney and Melbourne. And I think West Australians are smart enough to realise that they’re being duped by a prime minister who is no Mark McGowan, no Roger Cook, and frankly, he’s a prime minister that is against mining and is against agriculture and is against development.

Watch and act for Charters Towers amid rising river heights

Just following on from the previous post, an emergency watch and act alert has been issued for Charters Towers due to rising river heights at Charters Towers Weir.

Residents have been advised to prepare for level 5 water restrictions, should the river continue to rise.

Heavy rainfall warning issued for parts of north Queensland

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe weather warning of heavy rainfall for parts of north Queensland.

The BoM says it will be a continuation of heavy showers and a few thunderstorms about the coast and ranges of the Herbert and Lower Burdekin district. Six-hourly rainfall totals of between 100mm and 160mm are possible, with isolated totals of 190mm possible.

Conditions are set to ease during Wednesday afternoon.

Locations which may be affected include Ayr, Giru, Alva Beach, Woodstock and Clare.

Up to 211mm of rain has already been recorded in the six hours to 8.18am at Apjohn St, Horseshoe Bay.

Lehrmann inquiry head Walter Sofronoff engaged in ‘serious corrupt conduct’, review finds

Former Queensland judge Walter Sofronoff engaged in “serious corrupt conduct”, the ACT Integrity Commission has found, after reviewing his inquiry into the prosecution of Bruce Lehrmann.

The commission released a report on Wednesday into Sofronoff’s conduct as a Board of Inquiry into the prosecution.

It found that “Sofronoff’s conduct fell within several elements of the definition of ‘corrupt conduct’”, through his disclosures to two journalists: Janet Albrechtsen at The Australian newspaper and Elizabeth Byrne at the ABC.

Hazard reduction burns being conducted in Greater Sydney area

The NSW Rural Fire Service has said a number of hazard reduction burns are continuing throughout Greater Sydney today.

It warned the smoke from these burns may settle in the local area throughout the evening.

You can view the full list of hazard reduction burns on the RFS website.

Hazard reduction burning continues today, with land managers and fire agencies conducting several burns in the Greater Sydney and Blue Mountain areas. The smoke from these burns may settle in the local area throughout the evening. For more info, visit: https://t.co/XrE2qbcxpn pic.twitter.com/DPeyE3H8Cd

— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) March 18, 2025

“}}”>

Hazard reduction burning continues today, with land managers and fire agencies conducting several burns in the Greater Sydney and Blue Mountain areas. The smoke from these burns may settle in the local area throughout the evening. For more info, visit: https://t.co/XrE2qbcxpn pic.twitter.com/DPeyE3H8Cd

— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) March 18, 2025

In US talks, a cautious NZ is keeping its head down

In some news from across the ditch via AAP: New Zealand is cautiously resetting its relationship with the United States as it watches radical shifts in policy and style from Donald Trump’s administration.

Two months on from Trump’s inauguration, the deputy prime minister, Winston Peters, has enjoyed talks in New York City and Washington DC. His self-declared mission statement?

Keep our head down. Wait until the dust settles before we make any decisions.

Peters, in his third stint as New Zealand’s foreign minister, met with American counterpart Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, today in the climax to talks on this week-long visit.

Peters described his trip as a “seriously valuable time” to be in the US, allowing him to see first-hand the maelstrom of changes and help Kiwi diplomats chart a pathway forward with the superpower.

Unlike Australia, New Zealand is not a formal defence ally with the US, though Washington and Wellington collaborate on many defence, intelligence and security projects.

Marco Rubio (right) and Winston Peters.
Marco Rubio (right) and Winston Peters. Photograph: Will Oliver/EPA

Albanese says Australia-Canada relations ‘very separate’ to Canada-US relations

On Canada’s deal with Australia to develop an Arctic radar system, as we reported earlier, the prime minister was asked whether this is an example of how countries can diversify their defence supply chain to be less reliant on the US?

Anthony Albanese said it was an “excellent” one on one call last night, and provided a “good opportunity for us to get to know each other personally”:

Canada, of course, has an excellent relationship with Australia, and one of the things that the prime minister confirmed is that he is looking at what we have, which is our … radar network technology … We want to export wherever possible, and this will be a significant export if this deal is finalised.

The PM went into more detail about the call:

Last night we talked about … other areas as well, of potential cooperation … Obviously, there are issues taking place – particularly between Canada and the United States – that I wouldn’t have expected to have been happening in my lifetime, but we have a very separate relationship with Canada, and it’s a very good one.

PM on Coalition intention to add antisemitism question to citizenship test

Asked if he would support the Coalition’s intention to add an “antisemitism” question to the citizenship test (see earlier post), Anthony Albanese responded:

It’s another soap bubble. We’ll see if it lasts until, you know, a couple of hours away. Yesterday’s didn’t make it to lunchtime, so we’ll wait and see what happens.

The Coalition have run a campaign complaining that too many Australians were making the citizenship pledge, who’d been in the queue, some of them for years, in order to become Australian citizens.

PM lashes Coalition’s lack of economic policy and intention to cut public sector jobs

Anthony Albanese continued to lash the opposition and argued it needed to “start getting serious about policy”.

He took aim at the shadow treasurer, Angus Taylor, saying he had been on a tour this week before the budget but has “no economic policy”:

He put out a range of things when asked that weren’t actually economic policy, and no one has any idea what they stand for, except for $600bn on nuclear power plants.

On the Coalition’s intention to cut public sector jobs, Albanese said:

$350bn they say, is wasteful expenditure … The National Emergency Management Agency did not exist before we came to government. They are under the gun.

These public servants aren’t in Canberra. They’re in Hervey Bay, in a car park, helping people. And Peter Dutton regards them as being waste.

Albanese says Coalition promise on North West Shelf decision ‘another thought bubble’

Back at Anthony Albanese’s press conference, he has taken a question about the Coalition’s promise to fast-track a decision on Woodside’s North West Shelf if it wins the election.

The prime minister said the state government had the project “for a long period of time” but it has been with the federal government “just for a matter of weeks”.

We’ll go through that process in accordance with the law. Do we support the gas sector? Yes, but subject, of course, to environmental approvals.

Albanese said this was another “thought bubble” – but really “like a soap bubble, because it lasts about as long as a bit of a soap bubble that that comes up from a bubble bath or something, it just disappears into the ether”.

Within hours, they just come up with these things. Then they walk away from them, whether it’s referendums, whether it be zonal taxation rates, whether it be the other statements that Peter Dutton makes …

Coalition promising to fast-track decision on Woodside’s North West Shelf

Dan Jervis-Bardy

Dan Jervis-Bardy

As we just flagged, the Coalition is promising to fast-track a decision on Woodside’s North West Shelf gas extension if it wins the upcoming federal election.

The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, has vowed a Coalition government would make a ruling on Woodside’s application within 30 days under a new “national interest” test that forces decision-makers to give more weight to a project’s social and economic benefits as part of the environmental assessment.

Woodside wants to extend the life of its massive gas processing plant on the Burrup Peninsula in the state’s remote north-west out to 2070.

Scientists and conservation groups have described the project as a “climate bomb”, with one estimate suggesting the total emissions from Burrup Hub could reach 6bn tonnes once the gas was exported and burned overseas.

The environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, last month deferred a ruling on the application until 31 March, avoiding a decision ahead of the WA state election.

If the federal election is called before the revised deadline, a decision on the project could not be made until after the poll.

Peter Dutton.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton. Photograph: Nadir Kinani/AAP

In a statement, Dutton said it was “of national importance” that the project not be delayed any further.

We would expedite consideration of the North West Shelf project as a matter of urgency because, unlike Labor, we recognise the significance of the North West Shelf to the WA economy and the importance of secure and reliable gas supplies in pushing down energy prices.

The Albanese Labor Government has been the most anti-resources, anti-mining, anti-WA federal government in living memory.

In a separate move to stop “activists” blocking projects, a Coalition government would legislate a “statute of limitations” to prevent third-parties from challenging approvals that were issued more than 12 months earlier.

Dutton and the shadow environment minister, Jonno Duniam, will make the announcements on Wednesday in WA, a state in which Coalition is desperate to regain ground after losing five seats at the 2022 election.

PM giving press conference on cyclone disaster relief payments

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is giving a press conference about the disaster relief payments being given in the aftermath of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

As of last night, there’s been $80m paid in disaster relief payments. That’s making a difference, whether it be the $1,000 payments or $400 for children, or whether it be the more complex, 13-week payment that can come for people who are unable to continue to work.

Australian Conservation Foundation lashes Coalition plan to extend Woodside’s NW shelf until 2070

The Australian Conservation Foundation has accused the Coalition of “confusing the national interest with the commercial interests of a big fossil fuel company”, after reports emerged it would extend Woodside’s North West Shelf gas plant until 2070 if elected.

The ABC and Australian newspaper reported overnight the Coalition would approve the extension within 30 days of the election, and would limit the ability of protest groups to challenge approval decision.

In a statement, the ACF’s national nature policy adviser Brendan Sydes said:

If it gets the green light, Woodside’s North West Shelf expansion would emit billions of tonnes of carbon pollution to 2070, drive demand to open new gas fields and continue the deterioration of ancient First Nations rock art at Murujuga, which is being eaten away at by acid emissions from the neighbouring facility Woodside hopes to extend.

The proposal to limit the rights of Australians to challenge approval decisions would be a win for the gas lobby and a loss for the community.

Woodside-operated north west shelf project Karratha Gas Plant on Burrup Peninsula.
Woodside-operated North West Shelf project Karratha Gas Plant on Burrup Peninsula. Photograph: Krystle Wright/The Guardian

Bandt calls for sanctions on Netanyahu amid latest deadly airstrikes on Gaza

The Greens leader, Adam Bandt, says Australia needs to move “from words to action” in its response to the latest airstrikes in Gaza, and put pressure on the Israeli government.

In a post to X, he wrote that civilians “cannot be asked to pay the price again” of the hostages being released:

Netanyahu’s decision to resume airstrikes on Gaza is horrific. More than 400 people have been killed already. Australia needs to move from words to action, and put pressure on Netanyahu’s extremist government to stop the genocide.

The Greens have always called for all hostages to be released unconditionally, but civilians cannot be asked to pay the price again. Our government should be sanctioning Netanyahu and his extremist government, ending the two-way arms trade, and recognising Palestine.

Israel has faced multiple accusations that its actions in Gaza amount to genocide, including most recently from the UN:

Benita Kolovos

Benita Kolovos

Allan reiterates that allegations of conspiracy to remove police commissioner and deputy are ‘baseless’

Jacinta Allan also held a press conference in Brunswick East this morning, where she faced questions over the report. She reiterated the allegations were “baseless” and said:

I’ve seen these reports, and I want to be really clear, these reports are completely untrue. These allegations, they’re baseless, completely untrue. It is really disappointing that there are some people who are choosing to politicise Ibac, politicise an integrity agency by making these absolutely baseless allegations.

Source: www.theguardian.com