Australia news live: Queensland premier defends laws after two protesters arrested over use of ‘from the river to the sea’ phrase
Crisafulli defends new laws banning ‘from the river to the sea’ phrase
Andrew Messenger
On Wednesday an 18-year-old woman was charged under the new laws for wearing a shirt reading “from the river to the sea”. An organiser was charged for allegedly speaking the same phrase.
Asked what harm the arrests prevented, the Queensland premier, David Crisafulli, said:
The laws have been implemented, and police will police them in a fair way. And I think the fact that you can have something like that where people are able to express their views and they can do so, I think, shows that the laws can work.
A journalist then put to him that people aren’t able to express their views without being arrested.
“People are able to express their passion about Palestine, about the freedom of that – there’s two things and they’re directly around the eradication of a race of people.
Earlier in the press conference a journalist put it to the premier that the organiser’s speech did not “menace, harass or offend”, as required under the act. He was asked what training police had been given about the laws.
“Governments make laws and police implement them, and I have faith in police implementing laws in a calm and measured way,” Crisafulli said.
Key events
Flood waters in western Queensland reach outskirts of Longreach
The Thomson River at Longreach is now at 6.12 metres and is rising slowly, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
It is likely to peak close to 6.5 metres, with a major flood warning in place.
The peak will most likely occur this afternoon or this evening, though continued small rises are possible overnight into early tomorrow.
Due to the slow swelling of the river, residents will experience a “blue sky flood”, with sunny weather and tops of 31C.
Keep up to date with latest flood warnings via the BOM’s website.
Jonathan Jerusalem
Iran’s attacks ‘almost unhinged’, UAE minister says
Iran’s attacks on Gulf countries are “almost unhinged”, UAE minister for international cooperation Reem Al Hashimy has told ABC news.
Iran has fired more than 1,800 missiles and drones at the Emirates, more than any other country targeted by Tehran in the conflict, upending its aura of tranquillity despite its air defence intercepting a vast majority of the projectiles.
Al Hashimy called it “unprecedented”.
We’ve borne the brunt of most of the missiles and drone attacks, and it’s really quite surprising for us that Iran has taken such an irrational path to fight the Gulf states and act in this quite unlawful, quite unacceptable manner.”
Crisafulli defends new laws banning ‘from the river to the sea’ phrase
Andrew Messenger
On Wednesday an 18-year-old woman was charged under the new laws for wearing a shirt reading “from the river to the sea”. An organiser was charged for allegedly speaking the same phrase.
Asked what harm the arrests prevented, the Queensland premier, David Crisafulli, said:
The laws have been implemented, and police will police them in a fair way. And I think the fact that you can have something like that where people are able to express their views and they can do so, I think, shows that the laws can work.
A journalist then put to him that people aren’t able to express their views without being arrested.
“People are able to express their passion about Palestine, about the freedom of that – there’s two things and they’re directly around the eradication of a race of people.
Earlier in the press conference a journalist put it to the premier that the organiser’s speech did not “menace, harass or offend”, as required under the act. He was asked what training police had been given about the laws.
“Governments make laws and police implement them, and I have faith in police implementing laws in a calm and measured way,” Crisafulli said.
Greens urge Chalmers to overrule RBA on interest rates
The Greens have called on the RBA to hold interest rates steady this Tuesday, urging treasurer Jim Chalmers to intervene is another hike is delivered.
The Greens leader, Larissa Waters, said current inflation is being driven by an “illegal war that Labor is supporting”.
“If the RBA decides to lift rates on Tuesday, the Treasurer must overrule the decision,” she said.
Greens senator Nick McKim said Chalmers can use Section 11 powers of the Reserve Bank Act to overrule the central bank if it chooses to hike rates.
McKim said:
Higher mortgages and higher rents will only punish people who had nothing to do with causing this inflation and have no power to fix it …
If the government is serious about easing pressure on households, it should stop supporting this war instead of forcing Australians to pay the price for it.
Queensland premier defends rejecting recommendation to name state’s new theatre after Indigenous poet
Andrew Messenger
The Queensland premier, David Crisafulli, has defended his government’s decision to ignore recommendations that the state’s new theatre be named after Oodgeroo Noonuccal.
Instead it was called the Glasshouse theatre. Crisafulli said the name would “make a remarkable ability to market it”.
“The name is fitting of what that facility is. It’s clearly able to be marketed across the globe,” he said.
In years to come, when people say the Glasshouse theatre, they will know where it is, what it looks like and its key attributes. There couldn’t be a more appropriate name, which is why Queenslanders backed it.
Guardian Australia exclusively revealed that the arts minister, John-Paul Langbroek, signed off on the change months before holding a vote on the name. The vote didn’t include Oodgeroo’s name as an option.
But the premier said they’re considering naming something else after the Indigenous poet from Minjerribah/North Stradbroke Island.
“Regarding honouring that individual, we should find ways to do that; she’s significant and we should,” Crisafulli said.
You can follow the Guardian’s live blog covering the Middle East crisis here:
How is the disruption in Iran’s strait of Hormuz affecting Australia?
The Middle East conflict is causing huge disruptions to energy supplies, with knock-on effects reaching far beyond petrol prices.
Guardian Australia’s Catie McLeod and Jonathan Barrett have explained five ways the “largest supply disruption in history” in global oil markets is affecting Australia.
From the cost of crucial imported goods to the purchasing decisions made by consumers, read the explainer here:
Petra Stock
Deadly South Australian algal bloom is still spreading one year on
The largest and most destructive algal bloom in Australia’s history is persisting along parts of the South Australian coastline, a year on from when it was detected.
From a distance, it can be hard to grasp just how unusual and devastating the crisis has been.
Most harmful blooms only last a few weeks. This one has been unrelenting.
Since March last year, it has affected 20,000 sq km of coast – an area twice the size of greater Sydney – and ranks among the worst for marine mass mortality globally, killing millions of sea creatures – from tiny shellfish to top predators like white sharks.
Read more here:
Sunrise visit to waterhole
Denmark’s King Frederick and Queen Mary have ended the first leg of their Australian visit with a sunrise trek to a famous Uluru watering hole, AAP reports.
The royal couple woke before dawn on Sunday to walk to the Muṯitjulu waterhole in Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa national park with traditional owners.
The culturally significant site is one of the few permanent water sources around the sandstone monolith and a regular attraction for visiting dignitaries.
Read more about the royal visit here:
Listen: Paul Daley on Australia’s appeasement of Trump and his war on Iran
As Australia risks becoming entangled in Trump and Netanyahu’s war on Iran, Guardian Australia columnist Paul Daley questions whether appeasing the White House at all costs indulges a US-Australia relationship that no longer exists.
Listen to the latest episode of Full Story’s Sunday read series for more:
‘Not a building’ in Daly River not under water, NT chief minister says
Authorities say little can be done to salvage flooded homes along the Top End’s swollen Daly River, AAP reports.
Everyone in the affected area, including the community of Daly River, has been safely evacuated north to Darwin but their homes are inundated.
The Northern Territory chief minister, Lia Finocchiaro, told reporters yesterday:
There is not a building in Daly River that is not under water, many of which are under water to the roof.
We have to let that river go down before we can take any further steps.
Guardian Australia highlighted the scale of northern Australia’s record-breaking floods revealed in data and maps.
Read more here:
F1 cancels Bahrain and Saudi Arabia grands prix
Formula One has cancelled the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia grands prix because of the war in the Middle East.
The races were due to take place on 12 April in Bahrain and 19 April in Saudi Arabia but the sport was approaching the point at which a decision on cancellation needed to be made to prevent more freight being sent to Bahrain.
The sport’s governing body, the FIA, and F1 conceded it had been left with no choice but to cancel the races for the safety of everyone involved.
Read more here:
Danish royals Frederik and Mary begin Australia tour in red centre
King Frederick and Queen Mary of Denmark have kicked off their first trip to Australia since taking the throne, AAP reports.
The six-day state tour, which includes visits to Canberra, Melbourne and Hobart, aims to deepen trade ties between Queen Mary’s adopted and home countries.
The royal couple exchanged handshakes with Aṉangu traditional owners at Uluru Kata Tjuṯa Cultural Centre after touching down late yesterday.
The normally arid desert region was a sea of green after weeks of heavy rain soaked the outback tourist site, sending waterfalls cascading down the rock.
Read more here:
