double quotation markBecause of the fact that we have had such military success [against Iran], we no longer \u2018need\u2019 or desire the Nato countries\u2019 assistance \u2013 we never did!<\/p>\n
Likewise, Japan, Australia, or South Korea.<\/p>\n
In fact, speaking as president of the United States of America, by far the most powerful country anywhere in the world, we do not need the help of anyone!<\/p>\n
It is unclear whether he has asked for assistance from Australia. On Tuesday the deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, said Australia had not received any formal request for help in the strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n
Key events<\/p>\n Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n Chalmers says rate rise not the decision \u2018Australians were hoping for\u2019 <\/p>\n Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the government would continue to tackle inflation, but said yesterday\u2019s rate rise would increase pressure on Australians already reeling amidst a cost of living crisis.<\/p>\n Chalmers told ABC News this morning:<\/p>\n double quotation markThis is not the decision that a lot of Australians were hoping for, at a time when they were already under significant pressure.<\/p>\n The treasurer said the government was still pushing cost of living relief measures, including upcoming tax cuts, efforts to slash student debt and making medicines cheaper.<\/p>\n double quotation markThere\u2019s a whole range of things that we\u2019re doing in the responsible way that we can.<\/p>\n Chalmers would not comment on any changes to the capital gains tax discount, but said the government was \u201cconsidering its options on tax reform\u201d.<\/p>\n Treasurer Jim Chalmers. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Good morning, it\u2019s a rainy one over in Sydney. Nick Visser here to take you through the day\u2019s news. Let\u2019s get to it.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.14 EDT<\/p>\n Victoria to release final planning controls for inner-Melbourne \u2018activity centres\u2019<\/p>\n The Victorian government will today release the final planning controls for the first 25 activity centres near train and tram stations in Melbourne\u2019s inner-city suburbs.<\/p>\n The premier, Jacinta Allan, and the planning minister, Sonya Kilkenny, will release the maps for areas including North Brighton, Middle Brighton, Hampton and Sandringham stations along the Sandringham line.<\/p>\n The duo first unveiled the plan in Middle Brighton, leading to a much-publicised protest led by Liberal MP James Newbury.<\/p>\n Five of the 25 maps were released to the media ahead of today\u2019s announcement. These include maps for a large stretch of Sydney Road from Coburg through to Brunswick, where the proposed height limit increased from 16 storeys in the draft to 20 in the final planning controls.<\/p>\n Victorian premier Jacinta Allan (right) and planning minister Sonya Kilkenny speaking to media at Parliament House in Melbourne. Photograph: James Ross\/AAP<\/p>\n In Middle Brighton, Oakleigh and Kew Junction, the plans are largely unchanged from the drafts.<\/p>\n The government has said it letterboxed from more than 140,000 Victorians and received feedback from 12,500, which \u201cdirectly shaped the final plans\u201d including changes to height limits.<\/p>\n Allan said in a statement:<\/p>\n double quotation markFor years, some of Melbourne\u2019s best-connected suburbs have been locked up and it\u2019s pushing young people and families out. We\u2019re changing that. These reforms cut delays and give clear rules \u2013 so more millennials get into a home faster.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s what we wrote when the drafts were released last year:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a016.10 EDT<\/p>\n Cyclone Narelle forms in Coral Sea A tropical low developing in the Coral Sea off Queensland\u2019s coast has been declared a cyclone.<\/p>\n On Tuesday afternoon, the Bureau of Meteorology confirmed that the area of low pressure, which is heading for the state\u2019s far north coast, had developed into a cyclone called Narelle.<\/a><\/p>\n It could intensify to a category four system when it makes landfall later this week.<\/p>\n Narelle could cross Queensland\u2019s Cape York as early as Friday before moving into the Gulf of Carpentaria over the weekend, according to the BoM.<\/p>\n It is then expected to head towards the Northern Territory, which has been hit by record-breaking floods this month.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Trump lashes out at Australia over absence of allies against Iran<\/p>\n Donald Trump has listed Australia among the allies he appears to be bitterly disappointed with, for not wanting to get involved with his war against Iran.<\/p>\n In a social media post overnight the US president said his country \u201chas been informed by most of our Nato \u2018allies\u2019 that they don\u2019t want to get involved \u2026 despite the fact that almost every country strongly agreed with what we are doing\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI am not surprised by their action,\u201d he said, because he always considered Nato a \u201cone way street \u2013 we will protect them, but they will do nothing for us, in particular, in a time of need\u201d.<\/p>\n The president wrote<\/a>:<\/p>\n double quotation markBecause of the fact that we have had such military success [against Iran], we no longer \u2018need\u2019 or desire the Nato countries\u2019 assistance \u2013 we never did!<\/p>\n Likewise, Japan, Australia, or South Korea.<\/p>\n In fact, speaking as president of the United States of America, by far the most powerful country anywhere in the world, we do not need the help of anyone!<\/p>\n It is unclear whether he has asked for assistance from Australia. On Tuesday the deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, said Australia had not received any formal request for help in the strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n US president Donald Trump during the Friends of Ireland luncheon at the US Capitol on Tuesday. Photograph: Niall Carson\/PAShare<\/a>Chalmers downplays RBA\u2019s warning of possible recession Jim Chalmers has sought to downplay the Reserve Bank of Australia\u2019s warning that a recession may be unavoidable after a second consecutive rate rise.<\/p>\n On Tuesday, the RBA increased interest rates to 4.1%<\/a> amid a global energy shock that threatens to push Australian inflation towards 5%. The RBA governor Michelle Bullock said if the central bank could not bring inflation down it would have to deal with the possibility of a recession.<\/p>\n Speaking to the ABC\u2019s 7.30 on Tuesday night, the federal treasurer said:<\/p>\n double quotation markThat\u2019s not something that we\u2019re anticipating or forecasting or expecting.<\/p>\n We\u2019re running a lot of scenarios at the moment as you would expect \u2026. in the numbers we\u2019re running right now we\u2019re not expecting that outcome.<\/p>\n Chalmers said the government would do the \u201cbest\u201d it could with available forecasts amid global uncertainty due to the Middle East conflict.<\/p>\n Treasurer Jim Chalmers. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAPShare<\/a>Welcome<\/p>\n Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I\u2019m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then Nick Visser will take the reins.<\/p>\n After a day of grim headlines yesterday, with economists forecasting recession for Australia<\/a>, Jim Chalmers has come out fighting, telling 7.30 last night \u201cthat\u2019s not something that we\u2019re anticipating or forecasting or expecting\u201d. Read more in a moment.<\/p>\n And Donald Trump has named Australia among the allies he appears to be disappointed don\u2019t want to get involved in his war against Iran. On the other hand, he insisted in capital letters, \u201cwe do not need the help of anyone!\u201d<\/p>\n More on that soon.<\/p>\n![\"US](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/2208.jpg\")
US president Donald Trump during the Friends of Ireland luncheon at the US Capitol on Tuesday. Photograph: Niall Carson\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Benita](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1773778931_253_Benita_Kolovos.png\")
Benita Kolovos<\/p>\n![\"Adeshola](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1773778931_127_Adeshola_Ore.png\")
Adeshola Ore<\/p>\nAdeshola Ore<\/p>\n