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Infrastructure minister says no Australian ships will head to strait of Hormuz
Catherine King, the federal infrastructure minister, said earlier this morning that Australia will not send ships to the strait of Hormuz, a vital oil shipping corridor that’s been effectively shut down amid the ongoing war in the Middle East.
King told RN Australia was “well prepared” as a nation this morning, but added:
double quotation markIt’s clear, obviously, the longer that the war continues, the greater the impacts will be felt, not just by us, but obviously the Asia-Pacific region overall. We’ll continue to monitor those events as they occur.
But at this stage, all of the ships that are planned, were planned to come into Australia are coming in. The fuel supply is holding.
She admitted that there were obviously local distribution issues, but said the national fuel stockpile would hold Australia “in good stead”.
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Sarah Basford Canales
Opposition cautious about US call for military assistance
The Coalition defence spokesperson, James Paterson, is cautious about sending Australian ships to assist the US military as Donald Trump urges allies to join its operation against Iran in the strait of Hormuz.
Speaking to Channel Nine’s Today show this morning, Paterson said he didn’t believe a request would come but added:
double quotation markIf one came, we’d have to very carefully consider it against our national interest and particularly whether we have the relevant naval vessels available that could safely do that mission.
Trump has claimed that “many countries” affected by the closure of the key shipping route between Iran and the United Arab Emirates would send warships to assist with its reopening. While Trump did not directly mention Australia, he said “hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others” would assist the US with its war against Iran.
“In the meantime, the United States will be bombing the hell out of the shoreline, and continually shooting Iranian Boats and Ships out of the water. One way or the other, we will soon get the Hormuz Strait OPEN, SAFE, and FREE!” Trump said on social media.
Guardian Australia has contacted the offices of the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, and defence minister, Richard Marles.
James Paterson. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAPShare
Updated at 19.36 EDT
Captain of Iranian women’s football team fifth to withdraw asylum claim and leave Australia
The captain of the Iranian women’s football team has withdrawn her claim of asylum and left Australia, AAP reports.
Zahra Ghanbari became the fifth member of the football cohort to change her mind after initially taking up an offer to stay in the country after the Asian Cup.
Her decision to join fellow players in Malaysia was reported by Iranian state news agency IRNA, which has seized on the about-face from all but two members of the cohort as a propaganda coup for the nation’s under-siege regime.
Seven members of the Iranian soccer group, including six players and one support staff member, were initially granted humanitarian visas to remain in Australia.
Iran captain Zahra Ghanbari during the Women’s Asian Cup. Photograph: Dave Hunt/AAPShare
Updated at 19.22 EDT
Jillian Ambrose
Why attacks on Iran’s Kharg Island could keep oil prices high
About 20 miles off the coast of Iran lies the source of the petrostate’s economic lifeblood and the latest target of US military aggression: an 8 sq mile coral island through which nine in every 10 barrels of Iranian crude passes each day.
The US president’s decision to launch a weekend attack on Kharg Island, the home of Iran’s processing hub and the heart of its economy, is an unsurprising counterstrike to the Iranian regime’s ongoing chokehold on the oil market’s trade artery.
A view of oil facilities on Iran’s Kharg Island. Photograph: NurPhoto SRL/Alamy
But uncertainty over future oil production by one of the world’s largest producers, is also likely to cause further market volatility after weeks of historic price increases.
Any damage to Kharg Island’s oil infrastructure could force Iran to cut production at its oilfields, potentially erasing another 1m barrels from global markets already roiled by cuts from neighbouring Gulf nations unable to ship their crude to international buyers.
Read more here:
Vape ignites on Virgin flight to Melbourne, prompting urgent landing
A vape activated in the cabin during a Virgin flight from Brisbane to Melbourne on Sunday afternoon, causing a small fire and prompting an urgent landing.
Virgin Australia said the flight, VA328, was on its descent into Melbourne when the vape activated, prompting the aircraft to declare a PAN, a radio signal that indicates a flight needs urgent assistance.
The flight landed safely and all guests and crew disembarked normally, in line with standard procedures. Firefighters followed the aircraft on arrival and removed the device.
A Virgin spokesperson said:
double quotation markThe safety of our guests and crew is our highest priority, and we thank our crew for their swift response in containing the device.
Updated at 18.43 EDT
Three fishermen found dead off South Australia coast
Three fishermen have died in South Australia off the coast of Beachport.
Police said alarms were raised at about 2.30pm on Sunday after the three men did not return to shore. Officials immediately began searching for the trio using water operations, drones and aircraft.
All three men, aged 65, 67 and 74, were found dead and their bodies have been recovered. They were all from New South Wales.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
Updated at 18.20 EDT
Ben Smee
Discovery of fire ant nest at New Farm park reflects growing need to deal with threat, group says
Last week, the Invasive Species Council said fire ant nests had been detected and destroyed in World Heritage rainforest in the Gold Coast hinterland. The ants have also been detected on sporting fields across Brisbane and surrounds, including at Mount Gravatt, Rocklea, Coorparoo and the Redlands.
Reece Pianta, the Invasive Species Council advocacy manager, said the detection at New Farm underscored the need for ongoing suppression while eradication efforts were ongoing.
double quotation markThat’s an iconic location in Brisbane. If we don’t eradicate fire ants, this is going to happen everywhere in the country. Brisbane is getting a taste of it now.
Pianta said state funding for suppression efforts ran out in July and that it was important that it continue.
double quotation markLocal sporting clubs need to be alert to this. For the time being it’s an increased maintenance burden for them.
The council said it was continuing to work with state and federal governments to manage the spread of fire ants through south-east Queensland.
Updated at 18.05 EDT
Fire ant nest discovered in popular inner Brisbane parkBen Smee
A nest of red imported fire ants has been discovered in Brisbane’s popular New Farm park, raising new alarm about the spread of one of the world’s most invasive species across south-east Queensland.
Authorities in Brisbane confirmed that the nest was discovered last week on soccer fields on the outskirts of the heritage-listed public park, which is one of Brisbane’s largest and most significant public spaces.
“A fire ant nest was detected on the grounds of the New Farm Soccer Club last week,” a Brisbane city council spokesperson said, after questions about the detection from Guardian Australia.
double quotation markAn insecticide which instantly kills fire ants was injected directly into the nest. The affected area was temporarily closed while treatment was under way but has since reopened and is safe to use.
The ants are described as a “social menace”, swarm aggressively and inflict a sting that can itch and burn for an hour. In rare cases, people have died from allergic relations.
Photograph: Lyle RadfordShare
Updated at 18.09 EDT
Man dead after shooting near Sydney Olympic Park
A man has died after receiving multiple gunshot wounds in an early morning shooting at a suburban apartment, AAP reports.
Emergency services were called to a unit in Lidcombe in Sydney’s west just after 4am on Monday following reports of gunfire.
They located a 38-year-old man at the scene suffering gunshot wounds. He was rushed to hospital, but died a short time later.
A second man was found at the scene with non-life threatening injuries and he was also taken to hospital. A crime scene has been established with a large police presence.
Katherine mayor says NT town in ‘recovery phase’ after severe flooding across Top End
Joanna Holden, the mayor of Katherine in the Northern Territory, said the town is moving into the “recovery phase” after severe flooding across central Australia and the Top End.
Holden told RN Breakfast that hundreds of residents were displaced by the floods:
double quotation markThere are still a lot of people in the community impacted, but it will take them a long time to be able to rebuild, to clean up and get back to where they were a week and a half ago. And I’m encouraging the community to remember them. …
We have community members where it will be months before they will be back to where they were a week and a half ago. So we need to keep reaching out. We need to keep checking in on them. We need to keep giving them support.
NT floods: emergency service convoy travels along flooded Victoria Highway near Katherine – videoShare
Updated at 17.26 EDT
Australians in with a chance as Oscars kick off this morning
Rose Byrne is Australia’s greatest hope at the Academy Awards but the Sydney-born actor will take to the stage for the ceremony whether or not she wins an Oscar, AAP reports.
Byrne is one of the award presenters at the 98th Oscars, to be hosted by comedian Conan O’Brien, that kick off at 10am AEDT on Monday at the Dolby theatre in Los Angeles.
Jacob Elordi and Rose Byrne. Composite: Getty Images
Australian Hollywood duo Byrne and Jacob Elordi are nominated for best actress and best supporting actor respectively. They are joined by a third Australian potentially in line for a major gong, with Nick Cave getting a surprise nod for best original song.
Byrne’s performance in indie film If I had Legs I’d Kick You has already earned her the best actress prize at four key pre-Oscars events including the Golden Globes.
Updated at 17.07 EDT
Minister says members of Iranian women’s football team would have faced ‘very, very difficult’ choice
Catherine King added the government had done what it could to let members of the Iranian women’s football team know there were opportunities for them in Australia when granted them asylum.
She told RN those decisions were obviously “incredibly hard and very, very difficult” to make, adding:
double quotation markWe can’t remove the context in which these players are making incredibly difficult decisions. And so we’ve obviously made the offer for humanitarian visas. They have been accepted and then we understand there are a number who have taken the decision now to return to their home country. …
They would have been facing enormous pressure from what was happening overseas in their home country as well … Certainly we are very proud that Australia has offered that choice to these women.
Minister for infrastructure, Catherine King. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAPShare
Updated at 16.54 EDT
Minister maintains Australia well prepared to withstand oil turmoil
Catherine King, the minister for infrastructure, maintained Australia is well prepared to withstand the turmoil in the Middle East, which has affected petrol prices across the globe.
King said Australia currently has 37 days of petrol, 30 days of diesel and 29 days of jet fuel in reserve as part of its minimum stock obligation.
King told RN Breakfast:
double quotation markWe’re obviously well placed. We’ve been conscious for a long period of time that fuel security is a significant issue for Australia, given how reliant we are on overseas markets. And the volatility of the global world has obviously had our attention for some time in relation to this. It’s why we introduced the minimum stock holding obligation.
Photograph: Jay Kogler/AAPShareFifth member of Iranian women’s football squad leaves Australia
A fifth member of the Iranian women’s football squad left Australia overnight after withdrawing her claim of asylum.
The office of the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, confirmed the woman had left after Australia initially granted asylum to seven team members, including a player handler, last week while they were in the country for the Asian Cup.
Members of the Iran women’s soccer team before a match at the Asian Cup on 8 March. Photograph: Dave Hunt/AP
Yesterday, after three of the women decided to return to Iran, Burke said:
double quotation markAfter telling Australian officials they had made this decision the players were given repeated chances to talk about their options.
While the Australian government can ensure that opportunities are provided and communicated, we cannot remove the context in which the players are making these incredibly difficult decisions.
Read more here:
Updated at 16.40 EDT
Hybrid sales hit record high as petrol car sales shrink
Ima Caldwell
New data from the Australian Automobile Association (AAA) shows petrol-electric hybrid vehicles have reached record sales, while traditional fuel cars lose ground.
In the fourth quarter of 2025, 55,458 new hybrids were sold, accounting for 19.13% of all new light vehicle sales. This comfortably eclipsed the previous record of 16.7% set in the September quarter of 2024. In addition, 15,411 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles were sold – 5.32% of light vehicle sales, up from its previous record of 4.82% in the January quarter of 2025.
Internal-combustion engine vehicles fell to a record quarterly low of 66.3%, down from nearly 70% in the previous quarter.
Battery-electric vehicles (BEV) sales saw a slight dip in momentum: from 9.7% market share, to the to 9.25% in the final quarter of 2025.
While battery-electric vehicles briefly outsold hybrids in early 2023, hybrids have now outsold BEVs for 10 consecutive quarters.
A record 29,298 battery-electric vehicles were sold in the September quarter, 54 more than the previous three months’ total, the previous high.
Updated at 18.32 EDT
Good morning
Good morning, and happy Monday. Nick Visser here to take you through the day’s news. Here’s what’s on deck:
Hybrid vehicle sales have surged to a new record, while those of traditional petrol-powered cars have reached a quarterly low, according to new data from the Australian Automobile Association. The figures come shortly after Australia said it would release nearly 20% of its fuel stockpile amid surging petrol prices.
A man has died from multiple gunshot wounds in an early morning shooting at an apartment near Sydney Olympic Park. Emergency services were called to the area just after 4am, where they tried to revive the man. He died at hospital a short time later.
The Oscars will take place this morning, with both Rose Byrne and Jacob Elordi up for acting awards. Byrne will also be one of the presenters at the 98th Academy Awards, hosted by Conan O’Brien. The event begins at 10am AEDT.
Stick with us.