Politics live: Penny Wong warns Australians of ‘serious travel disruptions’ due to Iran conflict; NSW to review hospital maintenance after outbreaks of mould and bird lice | Australia news
Smartraveller tells Australians not to travel to most countries in the Middle East
Smartraveller has updated its list of countries to avoid traveling to in the Middle East due to increased conflicts in the region.
Countries include:
bahrain, Iranian, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Train, Syria, United Arab emirates And Yemen.
Australians need to rethink the need to travel, website says Jordan, Oman And Saudi Arabia.
In his statement this morning, the Minister of Foreign Affairs said: Penny WongHe said Australians should be prepared for travel disruptions.
We recognize that this will be a challenging time for many people, especially those with family in the area or travel plans.
The Albanian government’s priority is the safety and security of Australians. Noting that there are limits to what any government can do in a fast-moving and uncertain environment, we will continue to support Australians to get through the disruption ahead by providing regular travel advice updates and consular assistance where we can.
Wong warns that even travelers who aren’t headed to the Middle East should expect some disruptions.
The statement states that Australians should:
-
Follow events and local media closely.
-
Check with the travel agent or airlines directly to confirm plans.
-
Check out travel insurance policies to find out what is covered in case of cancellation.
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Follow Smartraveller for the latest recommendations and subscribe to updates.
important events
Wong has not yet started repatriation flights
Taking a break in the press gallery corridor, Penny Wong He again says that due to the number of Australians in the Middle East, commercial flights will be the quickest way out of the region once the airspace reopens.
He is yet to commit to organizing the Australian government’s repatriation efforts.
As I said, considering the numbers, the fastest way to get people home would be to restart commercial flights. So we want to see if this starts. I think most of us would agree [countries] They are in a similar position considering the number of people in the area.
There is conflict in the region, we see casualties throughout the region, the airspace is not open. So, whether it is an Australian flight or a commercial flight, it is not possible for flights to take place.
On the risk of Iran developing nuclear weapons, Wong said Iran has consistently failed to comply with UN Security Council resolutions regarding its nuclear program.
We know that the nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, has already given evidence of the enrichment stage that Iran has reached, and they also say that Iran refuses to fully comply with the inspection regime. So I think we all understand the intention behind the regime.
Insects, mould, bird lice: NSW announces review of ‘serious’ hospital care issues
Imogen Dewey
As mentioned earlier, the Minister of State for Health Ryan Park He announced overnight that NSW Health was conducting a rapid review into “serious hospital care issues”.
Park said 112 “non-routine” problems have been identified in the ongoing inspection so far. The statement acknowledged that cases of mosquitoes, crickets, bugs and opossums, as well as mould, asbestos and leaking roofs, had been reported in various hospitals, adding other problems to the list, including flies, birds, cockroaches, pigeons, live birds and more opossums.
The Shadow Health Secretary made a highly critical statement on Sunday Sarah Mitchell in question he feared these were “the tip of the iceberg”.
Patients go to hospital for treatment and care to avoid further exposure to danger from toxic mold, bird droppings and dead pigeons in roof spaces and air conditioning units.
Hygiene is very important in hospitals and my heart breaks for the families who lost their loved ones to these diseases.
Legal ‘basis’ of attacks that US and Israel must explain: Wong
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Penny WongHe said Australia had no involvement in attacks on Iran and that the risk of its nuclear program could not continue.
Continuing his interview with ABC News Breakfast, Wong said that he had not spoken to his US counterpart: Marco Rubio“I wouldn’t expect it” as he said Australia was not a central player in the region.
He sidesteps a question about the legality of the attacks and says it is up to Israel and the United States to explain:
One of the differences between Iraq and now is that we did not participate in these attacks. This is the first point I would emphasize. Secondly, I said that the legal basis for this belongs to the USA and Israel.
Clearly, we are not party to the intelligence that both the US and the Israelis reference in their decisions. Therefore, it is up to them to explain the legal basis of this. We support the steps taken to ensure that Iran does not have nuclear weapons.
Wong is asked whether we will see a regime change after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Despite the US president saying this should be the responsibility of the Iranian people. Donald Trump Those who want regime change:
The future of Iran is in the hands of the Iranian people. And what we know from history is that regime change is not something that can be sustainably imposed from outside.
As for Ayatollah Khamenei, as you said, no one can mourn his death. This is the leader responsible for brutally murdering his own people.
115,000 Australians in the Middle East region
While Australians are warned not to travel to the Middle East Penny Wong It says there are about 115,000 Australians in the region, with about 11,000 flying in and out of Australia regularly on Etihad, Emirates and Qatar Airways.
Speaking to ABC News Breakfast this morning, Wong said Australians could return home as quickly as possible if the government helped people switch to commercial flights for repatriation.
Wong says there are currently no flights to take Australians home:
It is currently very difficult for the state to provide major assistance in this regard in an environment where flights are cancelled, disrupted and places are closed.
First, we need to see whether commercial flights will restart. Given the number of people in the area, if we can make it easier for people to get on commercial flights, people will get home quickest. Right now it’s not about who flies, it’s about people not flying.
Smartraveller tells Australians not to travel to most countries in the Middle East
Smartraveller has updated its list of countries to avoid traveling to in the Middle East due to increased conflicts in the region.
Countries include:
bahrain, Iranian, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Train, Syria, United Arab emirates And Yemen.
Australians need to rethink the need to travel, website says Jordan, Oman And Saudi Arabia.
In his statement this morning, the Minister of Foreign Affairs said: Penny WongHe said Australians should be prepared for travel disruptions.
We recognize that this will be a challenging time for many people, especially those with family in the area or travel plans.
The Albanian government’s priority is the safety and security of Australians. Noting that there are limits to what any government can do in a fast-moving and uncertain environment, we will continue to support Australians to get through the disruption ahead by providing regular travel advice updates and consular assistance where we can.
Wong warns that even travelers who aren’t headed to the Middle East should expect some disruptions.
The statement states that Australians should:
-
Follow events and local media closely.
-
Check with the travel agent or airlines directly to confirm plans.
-
Check out travel insurance policies to find out what is covered in case of cancellation.
-
Follow Smartraveller for the latest recommendations and subscribe to updates.
Krishani Dhanji
Good morning, Krishani Dhanji I’m here with you for a very busy sitting day ahead.
There will be many reactions domestically to the situation that has emerged with the foreign minister in Iran and the Middle East. Penny Wongissued a statement this morning warning Australians of travel disruptions. Wong and the defense minister Richard Marleswill be making media tours on behalf of the government this morning, so we’ll bring you those interviews as they come.
As mentioned earlier, the House of Representatives will look quite different today. Angus Taylor In the hot seat (opposition leader’s seat) for the first time since his ouster Susan Ley. It will also have a new-look front bench.
I got my coffee, I hope you got your coffee too, let’s get right to the point.
House prices remain flat in Sydney and Melbourne
communityThe latest House Value Index shows house values in Sydney and Melbourne remain stable, despite mid-sized capital cities posting monthly increases. Perth remains the country’s standout, with prices rising by 27.1% last year.
Home values rose 2.3% in February alone, adding more than $22,500 to the average home. Brisbane and Adelaide are also outperforming, up 1.6% and 1.3% respectively.
By contrast, average housing in Sydney and Melbourne recorded zero growth for the month, rounding out a quarter of the slight declines.
Cotality’s research director, Tim LawlessHe described the “two-gear conditions” as extraordinary, saying that the real estate markets of large and medium-sized capitals have been diverging from each other for years. He said tight supply and high demand led to big gains in other capitals.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to Guardian Australia’s live politics blog.
The federal parliament sits as follows Anthony Albanese Celebrating 30 years in politics Angus Taylor It’s his first week in Canberra as opposition leader. The coalition is expected to pressure Labor over the return of women and children held in a camp in Syria and speculation on capital gains taxes on investment properties.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong, He warned Australians to expect “serious travel disruptions” in the coming days, including changes to European routes at short notice, due to the emerging conflict in Iran. “Many Australians in the Middle East are unable to leave the region due to airspace closures, including major transit hubs,” his office said in a statement this morning.
The state’s health minister said as New South Wales prepared its budget forecasts. Ryan Park, He ordered a rapid review of “serious” hospital care problems such as cockroaches, possums, bird lice, as well as mould, roof leaks and asbestos.
Krishani Dhanji We will be with you soon.
