Protesters try to block bus as Iranian women’s football team depart Gold Coast hotel
Protesters have briefly blocked a bus taking the Iranian women’s football team out of their Gold Coast hotel.
The group of a few dozen physically sat in front of the vehicle to block it. They chanted “save our girls” as the vehicle attempted to make its exit. Protesters say they believe the bus is heading to the Gold Coast airport.
A group of Queensland police officers moved them on.
The bus is now leaving.
The Guardian saw at least one of the football players through the window in tears.
Updated at 23.29 EDT
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Back to the crossbench, independent MP for the seat of Calare in NSW’s central west, Andrew Gee, asks the infrastructure minister when a promised bridge will finally be delivered to replace the “convict bridge”. Part of the Great Western Highway has been closed because the convict bridge has failed. Gee says it “defies belief that the main access road in and out of the Central West relies on a bridge built by a convict chain gang in the 1800s.”
He asks if the minister will put pressure on the NSW government to deliver an expressway into Sydney.
Catherine King says the federal government is waiting for the NSW government to make a request for help.
double quotation markWhat the New South Wales Government went and did is another study of the highway to look at where are the projects that are sensibly we with work on together.
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Andrew Messenger
The Iranian football team has just arrived at the Gold Coast airport.
The bus pulled up in the back part of the domestic terminal, away from the general public.
But media can see players leaving the bus, traveling into the domestic terminal. A large number of media and some protesters are present.
A large number of police – both Queensland and federal cops – are surrounding the domestic terminal.
The bus has just left – and it appeared empty.
Bowen asked again about fuel shortages
The pressure remains on Chris Bowen as Liberal MP Rick Wilson asks the energy minister about Dom, a potato farmer who says that he called to order fuel and was told there was no fuel and a three week waiting list for deliveries. So when will Dom get the fuel he needs, asks Wilson.
There’s not much else Bowen adds on his previous answers, and repeats that regional communities are facing issues of shortages, but the shortages are due to panic buying not supply into the country.
Bowen says that the Coalition should come up with an alternative action.
Dan Tehan tries to make a point of order because Bowen hasn’t said when Dom will get access to fuel again, but that doesn’t go anywhere.
Bowen says:
double quotation markThere can be real pressures on regional supply of diesel while our national fuel supply is in very good shape – which is the point the government has been making.
It is the massive spikes in demand we are seeing which is causing supply chain constraints, not an interruption of shipping to Australia.
Updated at 00.00 EDT
Chaney calls for greater funding for AI safety
Will the upcoming budget include money for AI opportunities and safety, asks independent MP Kate Chaney, saying Australians current national AI plan is largely “hands off” and leaves risks up to an AI safety institute.
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, says he doesn’t accept that the government’s AI plan has been “silent” on the AI challenges, and that the government has “made a commitment to robust legal, regulatory and ethical frameworks.”
Chalmers won’t say what money there might be in the budget for AI safety, but says the government will be “attentive” to the concerns raised by the public.
double quotation markWe have made a commitment to robust legal, regulatory and ethical frameworks. We are engaging internationally to protect rights and build trust so that we can deal with some of the issues that the member has raised.
Jim Chalmers. Photograph: Hilary Wardhaugh/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 23.57 EDT
Difficulties not ‘as a result of a lack of fuel’ in Australia: Bowen
The Nationals leader, David Littleproud, takes to the dispatch box next and says an independent fuel distributor in his electorate is receiving just 10% of their normal fuel volumes, and asks Chris Bowen when farmers can expect their fuel supplies to return to normal.
Bowen goes back to his point that the problem is not supply, saying that the latest shipment of fuel into Australia came in as expected.
He says the problem is people panic buying 200% of what they would normally order.
double quotation markFor those farmers, and for the other farmers who are experiencing difficulties getting diesel, I can say this very clearly.
The difficulties you are experiencing are not currently as a result of a lack of fuel coming to our country.
Chris Bowen during question time in the House of Representatives. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAPShare
Updated at 23.51 EDT
Biggest risk to fuel security is panic buying, Bowen says
The spotlight remains on Chris Bowen as Liberal MP Mary Aldred asks him “where there are fuel supply shortages” and what the government is doing to fix it.
Bowen says again that panic buying is the “biggest risk” to fuel security.
double quotation markIt is very important that we all communicate that the biggest risk to fuel availability in Australia right now is panic buying.
We need to be honest with people – stockpiling fuel in a property is not an undertaking without risk.
The opposition tries to make another point of order, which Milton Dick says is “pushing the friendship”.
Bowen repeats his previous answer that he is meeting with stakeholders to come up with actions on how to help the situation.
Updated at 23.51 EDT
Speaker threatens to remove the Coalition’s ability to make points of order
Back to the Coalition, and Nationals MP Jamie Chaffey asks Chris Bowen what the government is doing to address fuel shortages.
Bowen again says he understands the pressure the regions are facing, and concerns over supply chain pressures. He says the National Oil Emergency Supply Committee has been convened three times, and has met with state and territory ministers and stakeholders.
Before he can get further, the Nationals deputy leader, Kevin Hogan, tries to make a point of order, because he says “meetings aren’t action” … it doesn’t go well.
Milton Dick says:
double quotation markHe [Bowen] couldn’t have been more directly relevant … As I said, if this continues, I will simply not take points of order. I just won’t take them.
Bowen adds to his answer that he will ensure that minimum stock obligation requirements will now be collected weekly and reported weekly rather than quarterly.
Updated at 23.37 EDT
Bowen asked about diesel subsidies
To the crossbench, independent MP Nicolette Boele asks “the very busy and important minister for climate change and energy” why the government continues to subsidise diesel fuel by $11bn a year.
double quotation markWhy does the government jeopardise our energy security by keeping miners, farmers and motorists hooked on taxpayer-funded, artificially cheap and unreliable diesel?
Chris Bowen says that the government’s first priority is to secure the security of liquid fuels that the country relies on.
He then says the government is focused on renewable energy and the manufacturing of low emissions fuels.
But on the diesel subsidy, he says the status quo remains:
double quotation markOur policy in relation to the diesel fuel rebate hasn’t changed. It does provide support for farmers in particular in relation to their farm operations.
If you want to read more on the diesel subsidies, read below:
Updated at 23.36 EDT
Protesters try to block bus as Iranian women’s football team depart Gold Coast hotel
Protesters have briefly blocked a bus taking the Iranian women’s football team out of their Gold Coast hotel.
The group of a few dozen physically sat in front of the vehicle to block it. They chanted “save our girls” as the vehicle attempted to make its exit. Protesters say they believe the bus is heading to the Gold Coast airport.
A group of Queensland police officers moved them on.
The bus is now leaving.
The Guardian saw at least one of the football players through the window in tears.
Updated at 23.29 EDT
‘This is an international crisis … not a political opportunity’: Bowen
The focus is fuel reserves today, and Dan Tehan is up next, asking the government again to say where there are fuel shortages in Australia.
Tehan says industry is required under law to provide the energy department detailed weekly updates on fuel stock levels across the country.
Before Bowen can get a full sentence in, the speaker, Milton Dick, calls out Liberal MP Andrew Wallace for interjecting too much. Instead of nodding, Wallace talks back (a big no-no for Dick) and is promptly yeeted out of the chamber.
Now back to Bowen who acknowledges there are real issues for rural and regional communities across Australia, but that there aren’t supply problems and panic buying is making the situation worse. He warns the Coalition not to politicise the issue.
double quotation markAn agency informed us they have seen demand increase in Mildura, for example, by 100% at their service stations. In the Adelaide Hills and Barossa, by 280%. Now, Mr Speaker, I think most reasonable people would understand that puts pressure on supply chains.
When demand goes up so much, it puts huge pressure on supply chains. But it can also be the case, and it is also the case, that fundamentally Australia’s fuel security is good because of the minimum stock obligations that we have put in place.
This is an international crisis, not an economic opportunity or a political opportunity.
Chris Bowen speaks during question time in the House of Representatives. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAPShare
Updated at 23.18 EDT