Liberals have ‘a lot of work to do’ after SA wipeout, Anne Ruston says – As it happened

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Australia not ‘contemplating’ fuel rationing but state and federal governments have powers, Bowen says

State governments also had fuel rationing powers, Chris Bowen said.

When I was a kid … in the 80s in Sydney, I remember petrol rationing was done by state governments – the state governments do have powers there.

Yes, the Commonwealth government, under the fuel emergency act, has powers.

It’s not designed to be invoked lightly. It really has powers primarily around defence and health, in the first instance, to ensure that those key areas are getting diesel that they need, but also other forms of fuel.

I would need to be satisfied that there’s a real shortage and that the powers under that act are useful.

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World faces gas supply cliff edge as Gulf’s final LNG shipments approach ports – Financial Times

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  1. World faces gas supply cliff edge as Gulf’s final LNG shipments approach ports  Financial Times
  2. Exclusive: Iran attacks wipe out 17% of Qatar’s LNG capacity for up to five years, QatarEnergy CEO says  Reuters
  3. What to know about South Pars, the largest natural gas field in the world and lifeline for Iran, after Israeli strike  abcnews.com
  4. Exclusive-Qatar's energy boss says he had warned of dangers of provoking Iran  Yahoo
  5. Trump’s Complaint About Israeli Strike on Gas Field Exposes Divergent Strategies  The New York Times
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Meloni v the judges: high stakes for Italian PM in vote on judiciary overhaul

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National referendum is being seen as a de facto confidence vote on the government – and the polls are neck and neck

In the run-up to a referendum in Italy on a government quest to overhaul the judiciary, a campaign flyer circulated online quoting Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister, taking aim at judges and feminists. “Judges block the deportations of rapists. Where are the feminists? Vote yes – there will not be another opportunity,” it read.

The flyer, posted on the Facebook page of Meloni’s Brothers of Italy, a party with neofascist roots, was subsequently removed. But its tone has defined a campaign dominated by inflammatory rhetoric rather than meaningful debate.

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Election in Slovenia Will Test Europe’s Political Mood – The New York Times

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  1. Election in Slovenia Will Test Europe’s Political Mood  The New York Times
  2. Slovenia’s Freedom Movement Party takes narrow election lead: Exit poll  Al Jazeera
  3. Slovenians vote in close race between ruling liberals and populist right  Reuters
  4. A spy scandal upends Slovenia’s election campaign  The Economist
  5. Slovenia goes to polls in election marked by claims of anti-Romany rhetoric  The Guardian
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France Chose Thousands of New Mayors on Sunday. Here’s Why It Matters. – The New York Times

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  1. France Chose Thousands of New Mayors on Sunday. Here’s Why It Matters.  The New York Times
  2. After 25 years of socialist rule, where does Paris go now?  CNN
  3. French Local Elections Are Yardstick for Far Right. Initial Results Are Mixed.  The New York Times
  4. Socialists battle to hold Paris as France holds mayoral elections  BBC
  5. French election: Socialists take Paris, far right wins in Riviera — live updates  politico.eu
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Six fuel ships bound for Australia cancelled as Bowen concedes ‘flow of oil to Asian refineries has slowed’

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Energy minister says war on Iran creating ‘uncertain environment’ but insists government doing ‘all the preparatory work’

Six oil ships bound for Australia have been cancelled in recent days but the federal government is not yet considering any drastic measures, the energy minister, Chris Bowen, says.

Bowen said on Sunday that six ships from Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea, that had been expected to arrive next month, were cancelled or deferred. The federal government was working to replace the ships, with some already substituted, the minister told ABC TV.

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Iran strikes near Israeli nuclear research center as Trump threatens attacks on Iranian power plants – Politico

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  1. Iran strikes near Israeli nuclear research center as Trump threatens attacks on Iranian power plants  Politico
  2. Tehran strikes two Israeli communities near nuclear research site after Iran's Natanz enrichment plant hit  CNBC
  3. Israel says 'war is not close to ending' as its nuclear research center is targeted for first time  Fortune
  4. Iran attacks near Israeli nuclear site, fires long-range missiles for first time  Reuters
  5. Number of injured in Iranian missile strike on Arad rises to 84 — MDA  The Times of Israel
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Flights Are Still Taking Off as Missiles Rain Down in the Middle East – WSJ

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  1. Flights Are Still Taking Off as Missiles Rain Down in the Middle East  WSJ
  2. Planes are landing, taking off within five minutes of missile alerts in UAE, WSJ report reveals  Yahoo
  3. MAPPED: 65 planes were diverted as a drone strike caused flight chaos at Dubai Airport once again  Business Insider
  4. Emirates resumes limited flight schedule from DXB  Time Out Dubai
  5. An Emirates aircraft prepares for landing as smoke rises from an ongoing fire near Dubai International Airport on March 16  themercury.com
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Trump’s mixed messages on Iran: ‘Winding down’ the war and easing sanctions but adding more troops – AP News

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  1. Trump's mixed messages on Iran: 'Winding down' the war and easing sanctions but adding more troops  AP News
  2. The Memo: Frustrated Trump struggles against perception that he’s losing control of Iran war  The Hill
  3. Congress looks for Trump’s exit plan as the Iran war drags on  AP News
  4. There’s a reason no president before Trump authorized war with Iran  The Washington Post
  5. Trump Had No Plan B for Iran  The Atlantic
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