Australia news live: Qantas lifts fares amid Middle East conflict; Sydney to get first new cathedral in more than a century
Qantas lifts fares and adds Europe flights amid conflict, redeploying from US and domestic network
Jonathan Barrett
Qantas has redeployed aircraft to fly to Paris and Rome, and lifted fares, amid a surge in travel demand away from airlines that transit through the troubled Middle East.
The Australian airline says it has redeployed capacity from its US and domestic network to take advantage of the strong interest in Europe-bound travel, according to a market update released this morning.
Middle Eastern airlines have been reducing services due to the Iran conflict, prompting passengers to seek alternatives.
While Qantas is benefiting from demand for flights that transit through Asia, it says its jet fuel bill is rising sharply due to surging oil prices.
“The group has taken action to mitigate the impact of the conflict in the Middle East, including international network changes, capacity adjustments and fare increases,” Qantas says.
Key events
Taylor says permanent residents should be excluded from 5% deposit scheme
Angus Taylorthe opposition leader, said the opposition will push scrapping the government’s 5% deposit scheme for permanent residents.
Taylor spoke to 2GB earlier, saying the program should be exclusively for Australian citizens. He said:
Seriously, this is a scheme designed for Australians to get into a home. Young Aussie citizens.
So let me give you a sneak preview of the speech I’m going to give at 11 o’clock today. I will say at that speech that we will restrict that programme to Australian citizens.
One Nation’s Pauline Hanson has been pushing content lambasting the scheme in recent days.
Andrew Messenger
Palestine protestor Jim Dowling to plead not guilty
Palestine protestor Jim Dowling has told a court he plans to plead not guilty of reciting a banned expression on the basis that the law is insane.
Dowling was arrested last month at a protest outside Boeing’s Brisbane headquarters, in the CBD. He was carrying a sign which read: “From the River to the Sea, Brisbane will be free of Boeing”.
Under laws passed last month the expression is banned if reciting or publishing it would menace, harass or offend.
He appeared briefly in Brisbane arrest court this morning, without legal representation.
“I’d like to plead insanity. I think the charge is insane and anyone who takes it seriously is a bit sus as well,” he said.
Magistrate Belinda Merrin said she would make a note that the charge was being contested. He will appear again on 29 April.
Outside court Dowling said he would use the case to protest against the arms trade and mass murder.
I was arrested for holding a simple sign that said ‘From the River to the Sea, Brisbane will be free of Boeing’.
No mention of anything to do with any other politics, just Boeing … whatever happens to me in court’s not a big issue.
Duniam adds we’re not ‘copying America’
Duniam said the immigration proposal would not echo Trump policies in America.
We’re looking at Australian law for Australian circumstances.
We’re not talking about copying America in any way. That is not where we’re going.
Shadow immigration minister questioned about details of Coalition’s hardline immigration plan
The shadow immigration minister, Jonathon Duniam, said the Coalition’s new hardline immigration plan is designed to “fix a broken system”, saying the opposition would also target about 65,000 people who have overstayed their visas, had protection visa claims denied or exhausted their efforts to stay in Australia.
Duniam spoke to Sky News a moment ago, saying the proposal would focus on those who the opposition believes do not support Australian values. He said:
This is about getting in the people who, we believe, are right for our country, that share our values.
He said plans to check travellers’ social media accounts would apply to those coming from areas “deemed higher risk” by law enforcement:
If people are making an application for a tourist visa from certain jurisdictions that might be deemed higher risk by intelligence or law enforcement agencies, then yes, that they would go down that pathway.
When asked if AI would be used as part of that process, Duniam said “of course” the government should take advantage of such tools if it would help the vetting process.
Qantas lifts fares and adds Europe flights amid conflict, redeploying from US and domestic network
Jonathan Barrett
Qantas has redeployed aircraft to fly to Paris and Rome, and lifted fares, amid a surge in travel demand away from airlines that transit through the troubled Middle East.
The Australian airline says it has redeployed capacity from its US and domestic network to take advantage of the strong interest in Europe-bound travel, according to a market update released this morning.
Middle Eastern airlines have been reducing services due to the Iran conflict, prompting passengers to seek alternatives.
While Qantas is benefiting from demand for flights that transit through Asia, it says its jet fuel bill is rising sharply due to surging oil prices.
“The group has taken action to mitigate the impact of the conflict in the Middle East, including international network changes, capacity adjustments and fare increases,” Qantas says.
NSW premier says EV plans will give families a ‘real alternative’ to petrol vehicles
The NSW premier, Chris Rememberssaid the EV strategy was about making it simpler for families to go electric and increase savings over time. He said:
Families are feeling the pressure every time they fill up.
This is about giving people a real alternative, one that’s cheaper to run and with this rollout, easier to access.
Julie Delvecchiothe chief executive of the EV Council, said:
NSW is pushing on the right barriers to unlock EV uptake and help people access cost-of-living savings that come from making the switch.
Filling regional charging gaps, expanding support for heavy vehicle fleets and investing in workforce training are practical steps that will get more Australians into EVs sooner.
EV funding blitz to get more gas guzzlers off NSW roads
The NSW government unveiled its 2026 EV strategy on Tuesday in an effort to give confidence to motorists hesitant about switching from their increasingly pricey petrol cars, AAP reports.
Rolling out more fast-charging stations in regional and remote areas to encourage EV take-up among non-city dwellers will be one of the top priorities in the $100m package.
EVs currently make up about 15% of new car sales in NSW but the likelihood of purchases accelerating during the fuel crisis has exacerbated the need for more infrastructure.
The government says switching to an EV from a petrol-run vehicle can cut fuel costs by up to $3,000 a year, or entirely if using home solar, making the choice an economic one for those frustrated at the bowser.
Australia to join latest Hormuz summit this week
Tom McIlroy
A senior military officer or diplomat is expected to represent Australia at this week’s summit on reopening the strait of Hormuz, set to be led by France and the UK.
The British prime minister, Sir Keir Starmersaid overnight the summit of at least 40 countries would seek to “advance work on a coordinated, independent, multinational plan to safeguard international shipping when the conflict ends”.
The defence industry minister, Pat Conroytold ABC radio it was yet to be confirmed who would attend the talks on behalf of Australia, expected to take place towards the end of the week.
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wongattended the first summit remotely earlier this month.
“The key thing is there’s the coalition of nations that are really keen to see a diplomatic resolution of the conflict,” Conroy said.
Qantas flight from Brisbane circles off coast for nearly three hours after technical issue found shortly after takeoff
A Qantas flight bound for Perth from Brisbane last night circled near its departure airport for nearly three hours after a technical issue was discovered just after takeoff.
Pilots aboard QF943which left Brisbane airport around 8.20pm on Monday night, reported a technical issue related to an airspeed indicator. They followed standard procedures and the aircraft circled off the coast over Stradbroke Island to reduce fuel prior to landing.
The plane landed safely in Brisbane just after 11pm and all passengers were provided accomodation overnight. An additional flight to Perth was scheduled to leave this morning.
The aircraft will be inspected before returning to service.
Harry and Meghan touch down in Australia
Prince Harry and Meghan have reportedly touched down in Melbourne to begin a four-day visit to Australia.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will visit Melbourne and Sydney together, while Harry will head to Canberra solo, for a private trip one royals expert has described as a “faux-royal” tour.
You can read details about their schedule, including several expensive ticketed events, here:
Shadow minister says immigration proposal reflects need to have the ‘right people in our country’
Melissa McIntosh, the shadow minister for the NDIS, said it is “about time” the Coalition lay out a harder stance on immigration.
McIntosh was asked this morning on RN Breakfast if migrants were an asset to Australia. She replied:
Of course. I come from a migrant family. My dad came here in the 1950s to create a better life for him and his family and worked really hard for us.
This is the story of Australia, but we need to have the right people in our country who love our country, who share our values.
You have to be sticking your head in the sand if you can’t see that there are issues now with some of that, stemming from the people who are coming here who don’t share our values.
