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Gina Rinehart says she doesn\u2019t understand justification to prosecute former soldiers<\/p>\n
Billionaire mining magnate Gina Rinehart said in a statement she doesn\u2019t understand how it is \u201cjustified\u201d to spend millions in taxpayer dollars to try and bring SAS veterans \u201ctowards criminal proceedings\u201d, including the recent arrest of Ben Roberts-Smith.<\/p>\n
Rinehart said she believes the money used to prosecute former soldiers would have been better served \u201cstraightening Australia\u2019s security\u201d, saying she hopes Roberts-Smith\u2019s contributions to the nation are \u201cnever forgotten\u201d. She went on:<\/p>\n
double quotation markHave we lost sight of the fact that in our inadequately defended country, facing uncertain times, the morale of our defence force has already been brought to its lowest ebb since inception, our defence personnel numbers are inadequate, and recruitment is suffering.<\/p>\n
Surely, the more than $300 million of taxpayers\u2019 money would have been far better spent strengthening Australia\u2019s security and keeping Australians safe from terrorism, including removing terrorists and their supporters from our country.<\/p>\n
Like many Australians, I hope that compassion and the Aussie spirit is extended to Ben and his family and his duty to our country in the hardship of war is never forgotten.<\/p>\n
Mining billionaire Gina Rinehart. Photograph: Hollie Adams\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.18 EDT<\/p>\n World held hostage by reliance on fossil fuels, Christiana Figueres warns<\/p>\n Countries are being \u201cheld hostage\u201d by their reliance on fossil fuels, a former UN climate chief has warned, describing the health impacts of climate change as \u201cthe mother of all injustices\u201d.<\/p>\n Christiana Figueres, an international climate negotiator who helped deliver the Paris agreement signed in 2016, made the comments as she was announced on Wednesday as co-chair of a Lancet Commission examining how sea-level rise is reshaping health, wellbeing and inequality.<\/p>\n Lancet Commissions are international collaborations that analyse major global health issues and influence policy. This commission will examine legal frameworks to hold countries accountable for the health harms of sea-level rise. It will report by September 2027.<\/p>\n Read more here:<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Trump suspends Iran threat for two weeks after negotiations with Pakistan<\/p>\n US president Donald Trump has delayed his ultimatum to Iran after speaking with leaders in Pakistan. The delay will last for two weeks.<\/p>\n Trump said the country had requested he hold off on \u201cthe destructive force being sent tonight to Iran\u201d amid an agreement for the \u201cCOMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz\u201d. He wrote on Truth Social<\/a>:<\/p>\n double quotation markThis will be a double sided CEASEFIRE! The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East. \u2026<\/p>\n Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated.<\/p>\n Donald Trump speaks to reporters at the White House. Photograph: The Washington Post\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.55 EDT<\/p>\n Cyclone-hammered reefs can take many years to recover, study finds<\/p>\n Storm-ravaged coral reefs might never have the years required to recover if tropical cyclones become more intense and frequent due to climate change, marine researchers say.<\/p>\n AAP reports a study of coral reefs off Queensland\u2019s Whitsunday Islands hammered by severe category four Cyclone Debbie in 2017 showed it could take many years for corals and their fish populations to recover.<\/p>\n \u201cEven six years after Cyclone Debbie, we still found that coral cover remained up to 69% less than it was before,\u201d lead researcher Maya Srinivasan said.<\/p>\n An aerial view of the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of the Whitsunday Islands. Photograph: Sarah Lai\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Debbie sat on the reefs for hours, snapping off robust, large boulder corals and leaving them upside down. Climate change models predict tropical cyclones will become more intense and frequent, which is bad news for the Great Barrier Reef and its lucrative tourist industry.<\/p>\n Coral reefs hard hit by severe cyclones might need 10 to 15 years to make a full recovery, Dr Srinivasan, of the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), told AAP.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Canavan expresses concern about using civilian court system to try soldier Ben Roberts-Smith<\/p>\n Canavan said the arrest of Ben Roberts-Smith yesterday has left him concerned about using a civilian court system to weigh accusations against a member of the military.<\/p>\n Roberts-Smith was yesterday charged with \u201cfive counts of war crime \u2013 murder\u201d and will appear before court for the first time as a defendant today. He has denied any wrongdoing.<\/p>\n Canavan was asked about the former soldier. He told RN Breakfast:<\/p>\n double quotation markI feel very uncomfortable passing any judgment on someone that put their life on the line for our country. I haven\u2019t been in that circumstance. Clearly, though, we\u2019re a country of high standards and they must be applied.<\/p>\n I\u2019m not exactly sure about the wisdom of subjecting military personnel to a civilian court process. I mean, the basic English common law principle here is a judging of your peers. Who are Ben Roberts-Smith\u2019s peers?<\/p>\n \u2026 I view his peers as his fellow soldiers and normally or previously we would have applied a military tribunal to these sort of cases. We have made decisions to apply the civilian court system to it. I worry about putting too much stress on that system in these cases.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.14 EDT<\/p>\n Canavan says Trump\u2019s threats have \u2018gotten out of hand\u2019<\/p>\n Nationals leader Matt Canavan said Donald Trump\u2019s threats towards Iran underscored the need for Australia to try to de-escalate the rhetoric coming out of the US.<\/p>\n He told RN Breakfast:<\/p>\n double quotation markI think it\u2019s incumbent on us to implore our friends in the United States to de-escalate this and de-escalate it fast. It\u2019s gotten out of hand very quickly.<\/p>\n Now\u2019s the time for Australia and the prime minister to make it very clear that we can\u2019t support this type of approach to any kind of conflict \u2026 we\u2019ve got to try and find an off ramp here, both for the people of the Middle East and also for the world that\u2019s suffering the horrific consequences of this conflict.<\/p>\n Canavan is due to speak before the National Press Club later today.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.14 EDT<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s deadline on Iran expires at 10am<\/p>\n Donald Trump has given Iran a deadline of 8pm EDT, or 10am AEST, to comply with his demands or risk an entire civilisation dying \u201ctonight\u201d.<\/p>\n The declaration has prompted condemnation from Democrats in the US, concern from a small cadre of Republicans and left many waiting with bated breath.<\/p>\n We\u2019ll bring you updates on any Australian reactions here as the day unfolds, but you can follow along with our Middle East liveblog below:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Minister says Australia has received assurances from foreign trading partners over fuel supplies<\/p>\n Matt Thistlethwaite, the assistant minister for foreign affairs and trade, spoke about a signed statement of understanding between Australia and Singapore over fuel deliveries this morning, saying the government had been receiving assurances from other countries as well.<\/p>\n Thistlethwaite was asked if the government would like to see agreements with other fuel suppliers, including those in South Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan and Japan, as Anthony Albanese prepares to fly to Singapore this week.<\/p>\n Thistlethwaite told RN that while Australia remained confident that fuel would continue to be delivered, the turmoil in the Middle East could undercut that faith, prompting the outreach to foreign trading partners. He said:<\/p>\n double quotation markObviously, the potential of the conflict to destabilise the deliveries is a concern. So we\u2019re seeking assurances from nations regarding supply. And thankfully, we\u2019ve been receiving those assurances.<\/p>\n Those assurances do give us confidence. And obviously, those nations that we\u2019re meeting with want to know from Australia\u2019s perspective that many of our exports will continue to get through as well.<\/p>\n Matt Thistlethwaite. Photograph: Brendon Thorne\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.31 EDT<\/p>\n Good morning, Nick Visser here to take over the blog. Let\u2019s get to it.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Canavan calls for tariff-led \u2018manufacturing renaissance\u2019 The new Nationals leader, Matt Canavan, is speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra today. He will outline what he calls \u201ca Patriot Agenda for an Australian Economic Revival\u201d.<\/p>\n The plan involves five areas of focus, including an Australian \u201cmanufacturing renaissance\u201d.<\/p>\n Canavan says that would be delivered \u201cthrough the protection of key industries against unfair competition\u201d and calls for all available tools be used, including the reintroduction of tariffs.<\/p>\n He says Australia\u2019s border should be closed to \u201cmass migration\u201d and net zero by 2050 policies for carbon emissions should be scrapped, and calls for a new national works program, construction of new cities and a new baby boom.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t agree with Donald Trump that \u2018tariff\u2019 is the most beautiful word in the English language, but it\u2019s not a dirty word either,\u201d Canavan will say.<\/p>\n \u201cA tariff is just a tool \u2013 a tool we already use when we apply anti-dumping actions, albeit in an ad hoc way.<\/p>\n \u201cOther countries are trying to steal our jobs and our industries. We must respond with a more permanent approach to protecting the industries that are crucial to our sovereign capability.\u201d<\/p>\n Nationals leader Matt Canavan will speak at the National Press Club today. Photograph: Mick Tsikas\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.17 EDT<\/p>\n Albanese and Chinese premier discuss energy security in phone call The prime minister has spoken to Chinese premier Li Qiang over the phone to discuss energy security, as the government moves to secure fuel supplies with nations across Asia.<\/p>\n Anthony Albanese confirmed on Tuesday he would be flying to Singapore this week to lock in fuel imports.<\/p>\n The PM\u2019s office said the two leaders spoke on Tuesday and agreed to increase communication and ensure Australia and China are \u201cboth working in support of regional energy security\u201d. China is a key exporter of jet fuel to Australia.<\/p>\n The government says engagement with china are \u201ccentral to a mature, stable and constructive relationship\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.12 EDT<\/p>\n Ben Roberts-Smith to appear in court this morning Australia\u2019s most decorated living soldier will appear in a Sydney local court today.<\/p>\n The former SAS corporal and Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith was arrested by the Australian federal police on Tuesday. He has been charged with unlawful killings during Australia\u2019s military campaign in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n He was held at Silverwater correctional centre overnight and designated as a high-profile detainee, so was allotted a single cell, although he was technically not in solitary confinement.<\/p>\n He is expected to apply for bail at the hearing. Roberts-Smith has always denied any wrongdoing in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n The charges against Roberts-Smith, 47, comes after a landmark civil ruling in 2023.<\/p>\n In that defamation case, which Roberts-Smith himself initiated against the Sydney Morning Herald, the Age, and the Canberra Times, a federal court judge found to the civil standard of substantial truth that the soldier had been involved in four murders while deployed in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n However, that defamation trial is irrelevant to the criminal proceedings. The standard of proof required for a criminal conviction (beyond reasonable doubt) is far higher than that needed in a civil case (balance of probabilities).<\/p>\n Those findings included the 2009 killing of a handicapped man at a compound known as Whiskey 108 and the 2012 kicking of a handcuffed prisoner, Ali Jan, off a cliff in Darwan.<\/p>\n Ben Roberts Smith is due to appear in court today. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.11 EDT<\/p>\n Welcome<\/p>\n Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I\u2019m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it\u2019ll be Nick Visser with the main action.<\/p>\n Anthony Albanese spoke to Chinese premier Li Qiang over the phone last night to discuss energy security, as the prime minister prepares to travel to Singapore<\/a> as part of efforts to secure fuel supplies with nations across Asia. More coming up.<\/p>\n Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia\u2019s most decorated living soldier, will appear at a Sydney local court today charged with five war crime murders<\/a>. We have more details coming up, and will bring you updates as the story unfolds today.<\/p>\n![\"Melissa](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Melissa_Davey2.png\")
Melissa Davey<\/p>\n![\"Tom](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775604130_298_Tom_McIlroy.png\")
Tom McIlroy<\/p>\n![\"Krishani](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1775604131_450_Krishani_Dhanji.png\")
Krishani Dhanji<\/p>\n![\"Kelly](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Kelly_Burke.png\")
Kelly Burke<\/p>\n