Australia’s embassy in Tehran has suspended operations and the government is ordering officials to depart Iran, foreign minister Penny Wong said, over concerns about “the deteriorating security environment”.
As alarm grows about the conflict between Iran and Israel, Wong said the Australian ambassador to Iran would “remain in the region to support the Australian Government’s response to this crisis”, while consular staff are being deployed to neighbouring Azerbaijan “including its border crossings, to support Australians departing Iran.”
The government is trying to assist Australians to leave Iran, but Wong said options were limited.
“The Australian Government has directed the departure of all Australian officials and dependents and suspended operations at our Embassy in Tehran, based on advice about the deteriorating security environment in Iran,” Wong said in a statement this morning.
“We urge Australians who are able to leave Iran to do so now, if it is safe. Those who are unable to, or do not wish to leave, are advised to shelter in place.”Wong said the government was “continuing planning to support Australians seeking to depart Iran” - but that at this stage, “our ability to provide consular services is extremely limited due to the situation on the ground. The airspace remains closed.”
“DFAT will also continue to provide support through the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre, direct contact with Australian citizens who have registered on our crisis portal and updates to travel advice,” she said.
“The suspension of embassy operations is consistent with steps taken by other countries, including New Zealand and Switzerland.”Australians in Iran seeking consular assistance should call the Australian Government’s 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 outside Australia and 1300 555 135 (in Australia), Wong said.
Israel’s deputy foreign minister says her country’s war with Iran is an “Israeli mission” and that the country is capable of fighting Iran without America’s direct involvement.
Speaking with ABC’s 7.30, Sharren Haskel also said that Israel had “a very close collaboration” with Australia.
She said that given “such an enormous amount of bombardment and missiles and ballistic missiles” had been fired by Iran, some had penetrated Israel’s Iron Dome and two other layers of defence.
The Knesset member went on to say the war was “an Israeli operation”:
Americans are very close allies of Israel. They were informed, and they are still informed, with all of the details of the operation as well. They are working with us to defend the country, but this is an Israeli mission. This is our target.
President Trump is considering Americans’ interest, and I understand that. He knows how Iran is a threat to humanity … They’re doing their consideration, but we had to take into account our interests and to make sure we are capable of defending our people and our children.
She said Trump’s America, should it decide to “join in”, may be capable of eliminating Iran’s nuclear threat, as Israel sees it, “in a shorter time, with much more sophisticated or direct equipment, advanced equipment”. But that, even if it took longer, Israel was targeting what it needed to keep its people safe.
She said Israel has “a very close collaboration” with Australian security agencies but did not elaborate, when asked, on whether that included sharing intelligence about Iran’s nuclear program with Australia.
Unravelling the Northern Beaches hospital deal is proving very complex because the private and public hospital facilities are interwoven in the same building, which is owned by a third entity.
There are separate public and private wards but all services – from theatres, pathology, x-ray, IT, reception and cleaning to nursing support – are shared.
If a mutual agreement is not reached, the proposed amendments would give the health minister the power to issue a termination notice to Healthscope.
In addition, the treasurer would have the power to ensure that compensation negotiations occur in a reasonable timeframe and to appoint an independent person to determine compensation if agreement cannot be reached.
The alternative to this approach is for the NSW government to exercise its voluntary termination rights, the government said.
Under the PPP contract this would see compensation to Healthscope’s receivers and lenders run into the hundreds of millions of dollars.
The health minister,Ryan Park, said: “We’ve made it clear from the very beginning that we don’t support this sort of arrangement.
This is a complex contract but the community deserves certainty.
The Minns Labor government is arming itself with new powers to terminate the public-private partnership (PPP) withbankrupt Northern Beaches hospital operator Healthscopein the event that it cannot reach an agreement.
The government announced today it would introduce amendments to a private member’s bill brought forward by the member for Wakehurst,Michael Regan, next week so it could – if required – terminate the Northern Beaches PPP contract.
This follows the appointment of receivers to the parent entities of Healthscope, which the NSW government considers a default under the contract.
Healthscope has argued that the termination would be “ voluntary” and would attract compensation as set out on the contract. The government said this would run to hundreds of millions of dollars.
“This is not a decision we take lightly,” the NSW treasurer,Daniel Mookhey, said.
But we are now in a position where the Liberals’ privatisation mess means Healthscope’s receivers are negotiating the future of the Northern Beaches hospital.
While an agreed exit from this failed PPP contract remains my preference, I must ensure the government has the right to step in and protect the Northern Beaches community from this dragging on.
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’mMartin Farrerwith the top overnight stories and thenNick Visserwill be in the hot seat.
Israel’s deputy foreign minister told the ABC’s 7.30 last night that her country had “a very close collaboration” with Australian security agencies. However, when pressed on the question she did not elaborate on whether that included sharing intelligence about Iran’s nuclear program. More coming up.
The Minns Labor government is arming itself with new powers to terminate the public-private partnership (PPP) with bankrupt Northern Beaches hospital operator Healthscope in the event that it cannot reach an agreement. More coming up on that too.