Smartraveller tells Australians not to travel to most countries in the Middle East

Smartraveller has updated its list of countries not to travel to in the Middle East, as conflict escalates in the region.

The countries include:

Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Qatar, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

The website says Australians should reconsider the need to travel to Jordan, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

In a statement this morning, the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, said Australians should expect travel disruptions.

double quotation markWe understand this will be a challenging time for many people, particularly those with family in the region or travel plans.

The Albanese government’s priority is the safety and security of Australians. We will continue to support Australians to navigate the disruption ahead, providing regular travel advice updates and consular assistance where we can, noting there are limits to what any government can do in a fast-moving and uncertain environment.

Wong warns that even travellers not going through the Middle East should expect some disruptions.

The statement says Australians should:

• Closely monitor events and local media.

• Check directly with their travel agent or airlines to confirm their plans.

• Review their travel insurance to understand what is covered in the event of cancellations.

• Follow Smartraveller for the latest advice and subscribe for updates.

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Updated at 15.10 EST

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Insects, mould, bird lice: NSW announces review of ‘serious’ hospital maintenance issues

Imogen Dewey

As mentioned earlier, state health minister Ryan Park announced overnight that NSW Health is conducting a snap review of “serious hospital maintenance issues”.

So far, Park said, the ongoing review has identified 112 “non-routine” issues. His statement acknowledged reported instances of mosquitos, crickets, beetles and a possum, as well as mould, asbestos and a leaking roof, across a range of hospitals – and added further issues to the list including flies, birds, cockroaches, pigeons, bird live, and more possums.

In a highly critical Sunday statement, shadow health minister Sarah Mitchell said she feared these were “the tip of the iceberg”.

double quotation markPatients go to hospital for treatment and care, not to be put in further danger due to toxic mould, or conditions caused by bird droppings and dead pigeons in roof cavities and air-conditioning units.

Hygiene in hospitals is paramount and my heart breaks for the families who have lost loved ones to these illnesses.

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Legal ‘basis’ for strikes for US and Israel to explain: Wong

The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, says Australia has had no involvement in the strikes on Iran, and that the risk of a nuclear program cannot continue.

Staying on her interview with ABC News Breakfast, Wong says she has not spoken to her US counterpart, Marco Rubio, and “would not expect to” as she says Australia is not a central player in region.

She sidesteps a question about the legality of the strikes and says that it’s up for Israel and the US to explain that:

double quotation markOne of the distinctions with Iraq, between Iraq and now, is that we are not participating in these strikes. That’s the first point I’d make. The second is, what I’ve said is that the legal basis of this is for the United States and Israel to explain.

We’re obviously not party to the intelligence that both that the United States and the Israelis are referencing in their decisions. That is why it is for them to explain the legal basis of this. We do support action taken to ensure Iran does not have a nuclear weapon.

Wong is asked whether we will see a regime change after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. She says that should be up to the Iranian people, despite the US president, Donald Trump wanting a regime change:

double quotation markThe future of Iran is in the hands of the Iranian people. And what we do know from history is that regime change is not something that can sustainably be externally imposed.

In relation to Ayatollah Khamenei, as you said, no one will mourn his passing. This is the leader who has been responsible for brutally murdering his own people.

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Updated at 15.28 EST

115,000 Australians in the Middle East region

As Australians are warned not to travel to the Middle East, Penny Wong says there are about 115,000 Australians in the region, and about 11,000 travelling regularly in and out of Australia on Etihad, Emirates and Qatar Airways.

Speaking to ABC News Breakfast this morning, Wong says Australians will get home most quickly if the government can help people get on to commercial flights over repatriations.

Wong says currently there are no flights to get Australians home:

double quotation markIt’s very difficult at the moment for government to provide a great deal of assistance in circumstances where flights are being cancelled, disrupted and their space is closed.

First we need to see if commercial flights will restart. Given the numbers of people in the region, people will get home most quickly if they, if, if we can facilitate people getting on to commercial flights. At the moment, the issue is not who is flying, it’s that people are not flying.

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Updated at 15.10 EST

Smartraveller tells Australians not to travel to most countries in the Middle East

Smartraveller has updated its list of countries not to travel to in the Middle East, as conflict escalates in the region.

The countries include:

Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Qatar, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

The website says Australians should reconsider the need to travel to Jordan, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

In a statement this morning, the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, said Australians should expect travel disruptions.

double quotation markWe understand this will be a challenging time for many people, particularly those with family in the region or travel plans.

The Albanese government’s priority is the safety and security of Australians. We will continue to support Australians to navigate the disruption ahead, providing regular travel advice updates and consular assistance where we can, noting there are limits to what any government can do in a fast-moving and uncertain environment.

Wong warns that even travellers not going through the Middle East should expect some disruptions.

The statement says Australians should:

• Closely monitor events and local media.

• Check directly with their travel agent or airlines to confirm their plans.

• Review their travel insurance to understand what is covered in the event of cancellations.

• Follow Smartraveller for the latest advice and subscribe for updates.

Share

Updated at 15.10 EST

Krishani Dhanji

Good morning, Krishani Dhanji here with you for a very busy sitting day ahead.

There will be lots of domestic reaction to the unfolding situation in Iran and the Middle East with the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, issuing a statement this morning warning Australians about travel disruptions. Wong and the defence minister, Richard Marles, will be doing the media rounds this morning for the government, so we’ll bring you those interviews as they come in.

As mentioned earlier, the House of Representatives is going to look pretty different today with Angus Taylor in the hot seat (opposition leader’s chair) for the first time since he ousted Sussan Ley. He’ll also have his new look frontbench sitting with him.

I’ve got my coffee, I hope you’ve got yours, let’s get straight into it.

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Updated at 15.07 EST

House prices flatline in Sydney and Melbourne

Cotality’s latest Home Value Index shows home values in Sydney and Melbourne have flatlined, even as mid-sized capitals post bumper monthly gains. Perth remains the nation’s standout performer, with prices surging 27.1% in the past year.

Dwelling values climbed 2.3 % in February alone, adding more than $22,500 to the median home. Brisbane and Adelaide are also outperforming, rising 1.6% and 1.3%, respectively.

By contrast, median homes in Sydney and Melbourne saw zero growth over the month, rounding out a quarter of mild declines.

Cotality’s research director, Tim Lawless, described the “two-speed conditions” as extraordinary, saying the property markets of major and mid-sized capitals had been drifting apart for years. Tight supply and high demand are driving outsized gains in other capitals, he said.

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Updated at 15.06 EST

Welcome

Good morning and welcome to Guardian Australia’s politics live blog.

Federal parliament is sitting as Anthony Albanese marks 30 years in politics and Angus Taylor his first week in Canberra as opposition leader. The Coalition is expected to press Labor on the return of women and children held in a camp in Syria, as well as speculated changes to capital gains taxes on investment properties.

The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has warned Australians to expect “serious travel disruptions” in coming days due to the conflict unfolding in Iran, including changes at short notice to Europe routes. In a statement this morning, her office noted “many Australians in the Middle East are unable to leave due to airspace closures, including around major transit hubs”.

As New South Wales readies for budget estimates, the state health minister, Ryan Park, has ordered a snap review of “serious” hospital maintenance issues including instances of cockroaches, possums, bird lice, as well as mould, roof leaks and asbestos.

Krishani Dhanji will be with you soon.

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Updated at 15.05 EST