![\"Jonathan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1773704709_543_Jonathan_Barrett.png\")
Jonathan Barrett<\/p>\nRegulator summons fuel giants over price hikesJonathan Barrett<\/p>\n
The consumer watchdog is calling major fuel suppliers and retailers to an emergency meeting today to demand explanations for the recent surge in petrol prices.<\/p>\n
Fuel prices have surged in recent weeks and some regional retailers have even run dry<\/a>, with customers panic-buying petrol over concerns the Middle East conflict will lead to shortages.<\/p>\n Representatives of major fuel suppliers and retailers, including Chevron, BP and Ampol, have been called in to the meeting run by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, said:<\/p>\n double quotation markToday the regulator will get a chance to make the retailers and suppliers justify their prices. I\u2019ve made it very clear that if they find evidence of misconduct, we expect the ACCC to throw the book at them.<\/p>\n Petrol prices have started to push past 230c per litre in most state capitals.<\/p>\n Global oil prices have surged by about 40% in March in response to the Middle East conflict and closure of the crucial strait of Hormuz, prompting fears of a breakout in global inflation.<\/p>\n Determining the direct impact of global oil prices on pump prices has historically proven difficult due to the supply chain\u2019s complexity.<\/p>\n Donald Trump has called on regional partners to assist in securing the strait, which is largely controlled by Iran.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.12 EDT<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n Confidentiality clauses \u2018silence\u2019 students\u2019 complaints, ombudsman says<\/p>\n Students may be choosing not to seek support from their universities over sexual harassment and assault complaints because of confidentiality clauses preventing them from speaking with anyone about their experience, a new report has found.<\/p>\n The National Student Ombudsman\u2019s first report, published on Tuesday, found 21 universities used confidentiality clauses in their complaints \u2013 applying to around 770,000 students. The clause often automatically apply to students when they lodge a complaint, preventing them from speaking with anyone outside of the university about their experience or the complaint\u2019s outcome.<\/p>\n In some instances, student wellbeing and recovery were put at risk, including a university beginning misconduct proceedings against a student when it alleged they breached confidentiality after reporting sexual harassment to their university.<\/p>\n The ombudsman, Iain Anderson, said students \u201cshould have the right to talk to others for support and seek external advice after they have made a complaint to their higher education provider\u201d.<\/p>\n double quotation markExcessive confidentiality can cause a complainant to feel silenced or disempowered \u2026 I am concerned that students \u2026 could be left unable to discuss the situation with a support person, seek legal advice, contact a health professional for support, or take ownership of how they talk about a traumatic experience including gender-based violence.<\/p>\n The ombudsman was established last year to tackle gender-based violence<\/a> on university campuses.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.43 EDT<\/p>\n No arrests after police operation in Sydney\u2019s west<\/p>\n A police operation in Lidcombe has ended with no arrests, no injuries and no shots fired, police say.<\/p>\n As we reported a short time ago<\/a>, police were called to a unit block in Lidcombe at about 7.20am after numerous reports to triple zero of a man acting suspiciously following an argument between a woman and a man at the address.<\/p>\n A perimeter was established, and the public was urged to avoid the area.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.33 EDT<\/p>\n Victorian farmers urge commuters to swap cars for public transport<\/p>\n The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has asked commuters to leave their cars at home and use public transport to relieve pressures on fuel supplies.<\/p>\n VFF president Brett Hosking said that for most Victorians, a fuel shortage means \u201ccancelled plans, longer queues and a tighter weekly budget\u201d, but that for farmers, \u201ctiming is everything\u201d:<\/p>\n double quotation markFarming runs on narrow weather windows, and if the tank is empty at the wrong moment you can\u2019t just wait for prices to settle, you lose the opportunity, and sometimes the entire crop.<\/p>\n Keeping farmers moving is in everyone\u2019s interest. Victorian farmers grow almost a quarter of Australia\u2019s food and feed millions more across the globe.<\/p>\n Should just one in five Victorian car commuters adopt public transport, it would save enough fuel to plant roughly half of Australia\u2019s wheat, barley, canola and lentil crop, he said. He continued:<\/p>\n double quotation markA little would go a long way. Even taking one or two trips a week on the train, tram or bus instead of driving can leave more fuel in the system for the jobs that keep supermarket shelves stocked.<\/p>\n The VFF is calling on the state government to temporarily make public transport free across Victoria and to run services more often.<\/p>\n Farmland in Victoria. Photograph: AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.31 EDT<\/p>\n Peak bodies urge federal government to rebuild Australia\u2019s research sector after strategic review paints a dire picture<\/p>\n Australia\u2019s leading scientists say \u201curgent attention\u201d is needed to reform the nation\u2019s Research and Development (R&D) system after a strategic review<\/a>, commissioned by the federal government and released on Tuesday, found the system was underfunded, underperforming and under-coordinated.<\/p>\n Among its 20 recommendations were lifting the PhD stipend<\/a> to $50,000 in priority areas, which currently languishes at $34,315 (below the Henderson Poverty line of $690.50 per week) and better supporting and funding the CSIRO<\/a>.<\/p>\n Australian Academy of Science president Professor Chennupati Jagadish AC said the government should have been prioritising R&D decades ago:<\/p>\n double quotation markSenator the Hon Tim Ayres, Minister for Science, has recognised that business must play a greater role if Australia is to lift overall investment in R&D. They must. However, the Australian Government must also reverse its own underinvestment<\/a>. Putting research at the centre of the Government\u2019s productivity agenda is essential for our future prosperity. Rebuilding Australia\u2019s research system will take multiple budgets \u2013 but it must start with this one.<\/p>\n The chief executive of Universities Australia, Luke Sheehy, said for \u201ctoo long Australia has been falling behind in the global race for research and innovation, while our economy remains heavily reliant on digging things out of the ground instead of building new industries\u201d. He continued:<\/p>\n double quotation markIt\u2019s now up to the government to make the most of this opportunity and respond with ambition.<\/p>\n Universities Australia CEO, Luke Sheehy. Photograph: Lukas Coch\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.17 EDT<\/p>\n Major police response in Sydney\u2019s west after reports of man acting suspiciously<\/p>\n Heavily armed police have swarmed a unit block just a day after a man was killed in a gangland-style shooting nearby, AAP reports.<\/p>\n Police were called to a unit block in Lidcombe about 7.20am after numerous reports to triple zero of a man acting suspiciously.<\/p>\n Heavily armed police, some carrying semi-automatic weapons and wearing camouflage, set up a perimeter around the block of units, located near Stadium Australia.<\/p>\n The public is urged to avoid the area. Police said there had been no reports of injuries.<\/p>\n Tuesday\u2019s dramatic police presence follows a fatal shooting inside a Lidcombe unit on Monday. There is no reported link between the two events.<\/p>\n NSW police have been approached for comment.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Brisbane Roar football club welcome two Iranian women\u2019s team players<\/p>\n The Brisbane Roar welcomed two Iranian women\u2019s team players this morning, saying the pair had been invited to the club\u2019s training facilities to train with its squad.<\/p>\n The club wrote on X:<\/p>\n double quotation markWelcome, Fatemeh and Atefeh \ud83e\udd81<\/p>\n Today, Brisbane Roar officially welcomed both Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh to the club\u2019s training facilities to take part in training with our A-League Women squad and remain committed to providing a supportive environment for them whilst they navigate the next stages.<\/p>\n Welcome, Fatemeh and Atefeh \ud83e\udd81<\/p>\n Today, Brisbane Roar officially welcomed both Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh to the club\u2019s training facilities to take part in training with our A-League Women squad and remain committed to providing a supportive environment for them\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/p0BNohIT21<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Brisbane Roar FC (@brisbaneroar) March 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Bluesfest collapse leaves punters, suppliers reeling<\/p>\n Ticketholders are not the only ones dudded by the sudden collapse of music festival Bluesfest, with one small business left $90,000 out of pocket, AAP reports.<\/p>\n Uniform Print Lab was supplying merchandise for the Byron Bay festival and spent six weeks printing about 15,000 items including T-shirts, stubby holders, hats and lanyards. The family business in the NSW town of Tweed Heads was organising to deliver it all on Friday when they heard the festival had entered liquidation.<\/p>\n Photograph: Jason O\u2019Brien\/AAP<\/p>\n Bluesfest is one of a string of Australian music festivals to hit the wall in recent years, along with Splendour in the Grass and Groovin the Moo.<\/p>\n Promoter Peter Noble had advertised 2025 as the final year of Bluesfest, but when it attracted more than 100,000 patrons across four days, he decided to return in April 2026.<\/p>\n The festival\u2019s collapse has left an estimated $23m in ticket sales in limbo, with appointed liquidators warning ticketholders are unlikely to be refunded.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.33 EDT<\/p>\n Regulator summons fuel giants over price hikes The consumer watchdog is calling major fuel suppliers and retailers to an emergency meeting today to demand explanations for the recent surge in petrol prices.<\/p>\n Fuel prices have surged in recent weeks and some regional retailers have even run dry<\/a>, with customers panic-buying petrol over concerns the Middle East conflict will lead to shortages.<\/p>\n Representatives of major fuel suppliers and retailers, including Chevron, BP and Ampol, have been called in to the meeting run by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, said:<\/p>\n double quotation markToday the regulator will get a chance to make the retailers and suppliers justify their prices. I\u2019ve made it very clear that if they find evidence of misconduct, we expect the ACCC to throw the book at them.<\/p>\n Photograph: Jay Kogler\/AAP<\/p>\n Petrol prices have started to push past 230c per litre in most state capitals.<\/p>\n Global oil prices have surged by about 40% in March in response to the Middle East conflict and closure of the crucial strait of Hormuz, prompting fears of a breakout in global inflation.<\/p>\n Determining the direct impact of global oil prices on pump prices has historically proven difficult due to the supply chain\u2019s complexity.<\/p>\n Donald Trump has called on regional partners to assist in securing the strait, which is largely controlled by Iran.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.12 EDT<\/p>\n Scientists have welcomed a ‘pivotal’ review of Australia\u2019s research sector The final report of the federal government\u2019s Strategic Examination of Research and Development (SERD) in industry was released last night. It recommends a simplified system focusing on six priority areas: health and medical, agriculture and food, defence, environment and energy, resources, and technology.<\/p>\n The review, chaired by Robyn Denholm, pushes for a \u201cmove away from an underperforming system that is the result of often trifling, incremental improvements, risk aversion and Band-Aid solutions\u201d, and recommends more investment in competitive grant schemes to better fund science research.<\/p>\n The minister for science, Tim Ayres, said:<\/p>\n double quotation markMeeting Australia\u2019s big collective challenges \u2013 food and agriculture, energy security, new industrial and tech processes, water security and dealing with the human, animal and plant diseases of the future, to name just a few \u2013 requires a modern and fit for purpose research and development system. This report charts out a long-term reform roadmap for me, and for the government to consider over coming months.<\/p>\n Jas Chambers, the president of Science and Technology Australia, said:<\/p>\n double quotation markThis is the first pivotal step in tackling the longstanding challenges facing Australia\u2019s research, development and innovation system that will lead to lasting and intergenerational opportunity.<\/p>\n Our sector is hurting. An STA survey last year found nearly half of Stem professionals are thinking about leaving their role. Action is needed to improve job security and pay, which are the main reasons behind low morale.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.53 EDT<\/p>\n SA opposition leader says Liberals will preference One Nation in her home seat<\/p>\n Ashton Hurn, the South Australia opposition leader, said the Liberals will preference One Nation over the Labor party in her seat of Schubert in the state\u2019s upcoming election.<\/p>\n Hurn spoke to RN Breakfast this morning, saying there were a \u201cnumber of different scenarios\u201d the Liberals had planned across dozens of seats, but the priority was \u201cgetting rid of the ALP\u201d.<\/p>\n She said:<\/p>\n double quotation markWe\u2019re in the business of getting rid of the ALP. The ALP are a bad government here in South Australia. They have proven time and time again that they\u2019re more interested in PR and politics than they are on delivering practical outcomes for South Australians.<\/p>\n But this is not a vote of confidence in One Nation. In fact, far from it. But you\u2019ve got to put people somewhere on the ballot. That\u2019s the decision that we\u2019ve made. And this is a vote of no confidence in the government. And that\u2019s who I\u2019m focused on defeating at the election on Saturday.<\/p>\n Hurn said she wasn\u2019t concerned about One Nation becoming the opposition party in SA.<\/p>\n Read more about the swing to One Nation here:<\/p>\n Ashton Hurn. Photograph: Matt Turner\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.29 EDT<\/p>\n Details of revamped disability community program released<\/p>\n The federal government has announced its revamped disability community program will deliver $90m to 62 disability support and advocacy organisations in its first year.<\/p>\n The NDIS minister, Jenny McAllister, will announce today $50m will be given to 38 organisations to support people with disabilities, their carers and families with workshops, mentoring programs and referral services.<\/p>\n Another $40m will be shared between 24 groups aimed at offering information and advice to help the disability community access relevant supports and services.<\/p>\n It comes as the NDIS undergoes a number of changes while the start date for the Thriving Kids program<\/a> has been delayed to October<\/a>.<\/p>\n McAllister said:<\/p>\n double quotation markWe want to make sure that people with disability and their families are empowered by a broad network of supports and services on the ground in their communities.<\/p>\n It\u2019s essential for the ILC Program to reflect the genuine needs of the disability community to provide quality, targeted supports to those who need them most.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/5730.jpg\")
Photograph: Jay Kogler\/AAP<\/p>\n![\"Caitlin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1773704711_28_Caitlin_Cassidy,_L.png\")
Caitlin Cassidy<\/p>\nCaitlin Cassidy<\/p>\nJonathan Barrett<\/p>\n![\"Donna](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Donna_Lu.png\")
Donna Lu<\/p>\n![\"Sarah](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1773704711_673_Sarah_Basford_Canales.png\")
Sarah Basford Canales<\/p>\n