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The day in summary
By Sarah McPhee
That is where we will leave today’s live blog. Thank you for reading.
If you are just joining us now, here’s what you need to know:
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused the West of cowardice while another top official said Russia was trying to split the nation in two, like North and South Korea. Speaking of the defenders of the besieged port city of Mariupol, Zelensky said, “If only those who have been thinking for 31 days on how to hand over dozens of jets and tanks had 1 per cent of their courage”.
- Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk says the country has no plans to open any humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians from besieged cities on Monday because of intelligence reports warning of possible Russian “provocations” along the routes.
- Australians will be given a cut in fuel excise for at least six months in a federal budget plan to reduce the rate by more than 10 cents a litre to help households with the soaring price of oil. We’ll be bringing you all the budget action in a separate, dedicated blog from 6pm tomorrow.
Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is preparing to hand down the next federal budget.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
- Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has tested positive for COVID-19. In a statement issued this morning, Mr Andrews said he had mild symptoms and will isolate for the next seven days. James Merlino will step into the role of acting Premier.
- Star Entertainment Group CEO Matt Bekier announced his resignation, following damaging revelations about the group’s failure to stop money laundering and organised crime risks in its casinos.
- Across the country, a total of 46,888 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded and six deaths - three in NSW and three in South Australia.
This is Sarah McPhee signing off on the blog for today. Broede Carmody will be back with you tomorrow morning. Good night.
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Evacuation orders issued for North Lismore, parts of South Lismore
The NSW State Emergency Service has issued evacuation orders for North Lismore and parts of South Lismore tonight.
People in North Lismore are being asked to evacuate the “high danger area” by 9pm. The affected region covers:
• In the north, Alexander Parade, Winterton Parade. Tweed Street, Arthur Street, Pitt Street, Bridge Street, Slater Street, Flick Street, Wotherspoon Street, Baillie Street, Exton Street, Terania Street, Currie Street, Boorie Street, Bray Street and Peate Streets.
• In the north-west, Lake Street, Hallam Street, Gibbon Street and Macaulay Streets.
• South Lismore streets bounded by Terania Street, Casino Road, Union Street and Wilson Street.
People along the Wilsons River within South Lismore are asked to evacuate by 10pm. The affected areas are:
• The area bordered by Casino Street, Bruxner Highway, Caniaba Street and the Lismore Airport.
• Norco Lane, River Road, Elliott Road, Foleys Road, Taylor Street, Wardell Street and Riverview Park.
• The northern end of Cabiaba Street, Meadow Drive, Charlton Avenue and Scott Place
The agency had earlier issued evacuation warnings. Under the evacuation orders, people are asked to stay with family or friends, where possible, or make other arrangements for accommodation. An evacuation centre has been set up at Southern Cross University, Military Road, Lismore.
In a social media post, sharing the formal evacuation orders, Lismore mayor Steve Krieg said: “Act early and stay safe.”
More than 50,000 fans could farewell Warne at the MCG
By Jon Pierik
More than 50,000 fans are expected to flock to the MCG and farewell Shane Warne at his state memorial service on Wednesday, with the event even prompting breakfast news programs to abandon their traditional coverage from Canberra of the federal budget.
The Melbourne Cricket Club said that 48,709 free tickets had been allocated as of 5pm today, while there is a strong chance that this will surpass 50,000 by late Wednesday.
Tributes left earlier this month at a makeshift memorial at the Shane Warne statue at the MCG.Credit:Eddie Jim
The two-hour event will be broadcast live on all major Australian free-to-air networks along with Fox Cricket, beginning at 7pm. Such is the magnitude of the death of the cricketing great that Seven, Nine and the ABC have opted to not have their breakfast show presenters head to Canberra for the follow-up of Tuesday night’s budget.
Instead, the presenters will be based in Melbourne on Wednesday, with Nine’s Karl Stefanovic and Ally Langdon planning to be based at the MCG. (Nine is the owner of this masthead.)
Warne’s daughter Summer took to social media at the weekend to thank the public for the support she and her family have received.
“Thank you for all your amazing support and love over the past couple of weeks, it truly is really appreciated. See you all there,” Summer wrote on Instagram. “When we lose someone we love we must learn not to live without them, but to live with the love they left behind.”
More details of the service will be released tomorrow, when Eddie McGuire, whose production company, Jam, has played a key role in organising the event, will front a press conference, alongside Warne’s great mate, former AFL footballer Aaron Hamill.
Mariupol mayor fears humanitarian catastrophe, as Ukraine announces no new humanitarian corridors
The southern Ukrainian city of Mariupol is on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe and must be completely evacuated, its mayor said on Monday.
Mayor Vadym Boichenko said about 160,000 civilians were trapped in the city without power.
Russian army tanks move down a street on the outskirts of Mariupol, Ukraine, on March 11.Credit:AP
Twenty-six buses were waiting to evacuate civilians, but Russian forces had not agreed to give them safe passage, he said.
“The Russian Federation is playing with us,” he said.
Russia denies targeting civilians and blames Ukraine for the repeated failure to agree on safe corridors for trapped civilians.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk has said the country has no plans to open any humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians from besieged cities on Monday because of intelligence reports warning of possible Russian “provocations” along the routes.
UK defence officials say Russian forces have made no significant progress in the past 24 hours amid continuing supply problems and aggressive resistance from Ukrainian fighters.
Poor morale and a lack of momentum have compounded the problems facing Russian forces, Britain’s Ministry of Defence said in its latest intelligence briefing.
Heavy fighting continues around Mariupol as Russian forces try to capture the port on the Sea of Avov, which connects to the Black Sea, the ministry said in a briefing posted on Twitter.
Earlier, the ministry said Russia was maintaining a blockade of Ukraine’s Black Sea coast, cutting off maritime trade with the country. The Russian navy is also launching “sporadic” missile strikes against targets in Ukraine, the ministry said.
Reuters, AP
Nationals claim foreign worker win with symbolic ag visa agreement
By Mike Foley
A new scheme to bring more foreign farm labourers into the country is underway, with the federal government signing an agreement to open negotiations with Vietnam for an agricultural visa.
The controversial ag visa has been a long-standing commitment by the Nationals, and topped the wishlist of the National Farmers Federation for the past four years, including claims there is a shortage of 10,000 workers under a UK trade deal.
Details of the scheme are yet to be finalised, but the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it would start with a “small initial cohort” of workers.
Foreign Minister Marise Payne said today the bilateral agreement, covering workers for horticulture, dairy, wool, grains, fisheries and forestry industries, would strengthen ties with Vietnam.
Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said his party fought hard for the visa and the achievement created a test of the opposition’s rural policy.
Melbourne radio station suspends Russian volunteer broadcaster after complaints over ‘offensive’ programs
Melbourne ethnic community radio station 3ZZZ has suspended a Russian broadcaster after receiving complaints the program was broadcasting Kremlin propaganda on the war with Ukraine.
In a statement on behalf of the 3ZZZ council, issued today, president George Salloum said the station “condemns all acts of war and violence”.
He said 3ZZZ broadcasters were reminded of their obligations following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, however listeners had complained “that a Russian broadcaster was broadcasting offensive materials in conflict with our codes of practice”.
Mr Salloum said 3ZZZ management had acted in response, including advising the volunteer broadcaster of the complaints, requesting a formal response to the allegations, meeting with the volunteer “to emphasise the seriousness of the matter” and moving to suspend them.
He said the Russian programs were translated into English by independent, accredited translators.
ASX could record its best performance in 17 months
By Lucy Battersby
The ASX is on track to record its best performance in 17 months, as materials, energy, and financial stocks off-set declines in the technology sector, which remains exposed to rising interest rates.
The local stock market had a flat day ahead of Tuesday’s Budget with the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 closing at a new ten-week high of 7,412.4 points, a gain of just 6.2 points or 0.1 per cent. It did get 0.6 per cent higher during the day, before declining as US futures weakened.
Oil prices softened as China imposed more lockdowns to curb a new COVID-19 outbreak, including a four-day lockdown for half of megacity Shanghai. US oil dropped 3.2 per cent, while Brent crude fell 2.9 per cent during Asian trade.
Chief investment officer at Burman Invest, Julia Lee, said the ASX200 was so far enjoying its best month since November 2020. The index was up 5.3 per cent since the end of February with three trading days left in March.
“In a rising interest rate (and) high inflation environment, commodities are where people are investing,” Ms Lee said.
“Without BHP our market would be flat, or in the red. It’s about the support from the commodities and financial space.”
If you missed it, you can read today’s markets news back on our dedicated blog.
Evacuation warning issued for low-lying parts of Lismore
By Sarah McPhee
The NSW State Emergency Service has issued evacuation warnings for low-lying parts of North Lismore and South Lismore, after the Bureau of Meteorology predicted possible flooding along the Wilsons River.
“Residents and visitors to these areas should take action now to prepare for possible flood impacts,” the SES said.
“NSW SES is advising residents in low-lying areas of the following locations that they may need to evacuate due to rising flood water.”
For North Lismore, these areas include Winterton Parade, Pitt Lane, Pitt Street and Wotherspoon Street.
In South Lismore, the areas identified are:
- The area bordered by Casino Street, Bruxner Highway, Caniaba Street and the Lismore Airport.
- Norco Lane, River Road, Elliott Road, Foleys Road, Taylor Street, Wardell Street and Riverview Park.
- The northern end of Caniaba Street, Meadow Drive, Charlton Avenue and Scott Place.
The SES said residents should monitor weather conditions and road closures and “make informed decisions early based on individual circumstances”.
Sandbags are available at the agency’s Woodburn unit at 3 Uralba Street, Woodburn. If evacuation is required, an evacuation centre has been set up at Southern Cross University, Military Road, Lismore.
The bureau has warned moderate to major flooding may occur along the Wilsons River at Lismore, and is likely to exceed the minor flood level of 4.2 metres overnight.
“River rises to the moderate (7.20 m) and major flood levels (9.70 m) are possible from early Tuesday morning. With forecast rainfall, river levels may reach around 10.50 m to 10.6 m during Tuesday afternoon,” the flood warning states.
Yesterday, Acting NSW Premier Paul Toole acknowledged it was a “very difficult time” for the Northern Rivers communities, facing a mammoth clean-up after the flood crisis earlier this month.
Russia trying to encircle Ukrainian troops: British intelligence
Russia’s troops are trying to encircle Ukrainian forces facing the two separatist-held areas in the country’s east, says Britain’s Defence Ministry.
If successful, it would cut the bulk of Ukraine’s military off from the rest of the country.
Moscow claims its focus is on seizing the entire eastern Donbas region, which has been partially controlled by Russia-backed separatists since 2014.
Last week, a high-ranking Russian military official said that troops were being redirected to the east from other parts of the country.
Davyd Arakhamia, a Ukrainian delegate in talks with Russia on ending the war, said in a Facebook post that the countries would meet in Turkey from Monday.
However, the Russians then announced the talks would start on Tuesday. The sides have met previously, but failed to reach a deal.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky signed a new law over the weekend that bans reporting on troop and equipment movements that haven’t been announced or approved by the military.
Both Ukrainian and foreign journalists that violate the law could face three to eight years in prison.
AP
Germany considers missile defence shield made in US or Israel
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says Germany is considering acquiring anti-missile defences in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Options in play include the United States-manufactured Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) missile shield and the Israeli-made Arrow 3 system, said Marcus Faber, spokesman on defence for the Free Democratic Party caucus in the German parliament.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.Credit:Getty Images
A final decision around ways to modernise their military is yet to be made.
An anti-missile defence is “definitely part of the things we are discussing, for good reason,” Scholz said in an interview with broadcaster ARD on Sunday, Berlin time.
Faber said Germany’s current 12 Patriot air-defence missile units can’t protect the entire country.
Scholz discussed the idea last week with Eberhard Zorn, Germany’s armed forces Chief of Staff, Bild am Sonntag reported.
This comes after an announcement on Sunday, Berlin time, from Sholz’s government, which includes the Free Democrats, to commit 100 billion euros (over $145 billion) to beef up Germany’s defence.
The Israeli system under consideration, also known as Iron Dome, would probably cost less than 2 billion euros (nearly $3 billion), said Faber, and production could begin immediately.
Bloomberg
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2022-03-28 08:55:32Z
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