Turnbull says Trump ‘lashing out’ at Australia and other allies
Malcolm Turnbull said Donald Trump was “lashing out” and had been left “furious” that the US’s allies, including Australia, weren’t assisting with the war in the Middle East.
The former prime minister spoke to RN Breakfast this morning:
It really just underlines … the importance of Australia being more independent, exercising our own sovereignty and recognising that the course we have been undertaking, really since the Morrison government, of becoming more and more dependent on the United States, is absolutely the wrong course, because we are making ourselves more dependent on the US at a time when the US is less dependable.
Turnbull added that Trump’s remarks show he “doesn’t respect” his allies.
This is a guy that does not respect smaller countries. He believes might is right, he makes no bones about that. He believes he should be able to do and get whatever he wants.
Key events
Richard Scolyer shares ‘disappointing’ news of brain cancer progression, but it’s ‘not the end of the road’
Amanda Meade
Former Australian of the year Richard Scolyer shared an update on his health last night after revealing last year that his brain cancer had returned.
Scolyer wrote on Instagram that he had had another scan of his brain, and it hadn’t been the “best day ever”:
There seems to be further progression of my brain tumour (glioblastoma) affecting brain functioning (as me and a few close friends can feel/see).
Whilst it is a bit disappointing, in the big picture it’s not the end of the road and I’ve got more to do! I love and enjoy challenges. I certainly haven’t stopped yet.
Hopefully I can share more special times with family and friends, and continue to advocate for cancer patients.
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Jordyn Beazley
Youth crime falls in NSW, new data shows
Youth offending in NSW has fallen over the past two years in New South Wales, according to new data, with court actions falling by almost 14%.
The new data released by the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (Bocsar) found significant reductions in the two years to December 2025 in the Far West and Orana region (down by 31%), Illawarra (down by 34.8%) and New England and North West region (down 18.2%).
It found that overall, across the state the number of court proceedings initiated by police towards young people remained stable over the two years, suggesting youth crime has remained stable across NSW.
For adults, Bocsar found that a record number of domestic violence allegations progressed to court in 2025, making up a quarter of all adult court proceedings in the state.
It found that the increase came as domestic violence incidents remained stable:
The rise in domestic violence legal actions does not appear to reflect increased prevalence, but rather increased police enforcement and proactive detection.
In 2025 NSW Police recorded a record number of domestic violence-related intimidation stalking and harassment offences (25,393), along with breaches of Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders (26,063). The offence of coercive control remains much less common but continues to grow, with 326 offences recorded in 2025.
Luca Ittimani
Canberra to get its first rental ebikes from April as Lime moves in
Canberra will be the latest Australian city to bring in rental ebikes, with top provider Lime also selected to operate hire e-scooters.
Lime’s new three-year permit to operate ebikes and e-scooters, starting on 16 April, was announced on Monday.
The ACT government today revealed Lime would have to offer a combined total of at least 1,500 bikes and scooters, up to a maximum of 3,500 devices.
Extra devices could be offered during periods of high demand, a government spokesperson said.
Canberra has never had a large-scale shared ebike scheme before. The city has been home to more than 1,000 hire e-scooters since mid-2020, operated by Beam, which exited in 2024, and Neuron, which is leaving to be replaced by Lime.
Neuron Mobility’s general manager for Australia and New Zealand, Jayden Bryant, said the scooters had enabled millions of trips over the last five years, adding:
We wish every success with its future e-scooter/e-bike programs and hope to have the opportunity to return to Canberra in the future.
Will Peters, head of Lime’s Asia-Pacific operations, said the company was “thrilled to bring Lime to Canberra”. The company has attracted booming numbers of customers, expanding in Sydney and looking for opportunities around the country as it battles growing safety concerns around ebikes.
You can read more here:
Kyle Sandilands sacked and top-rating radio show cancelled as host vows to fight to return to air
Guardian Australia’s Amanda Meade has a full report into the Kyle Sandilands contract saga, and his abrupt fall from grace.
You can read more about that here:
National cabinet to meet on Thursday over fuel supply crisis
Tom McIlroy
National cabinet will meet tomorrow as federal and state governments struggle with fuel supply questions amid the ongoing Middle East war.
Anthony Albanese will hold a virtual meeting from Tasmania with state premiers and chief ministers. The prime minister made the announcement during a speech to the Australian Automotive Dealer Association.
Albanese said the meeting would work “to ensure that coordination, that’s occurring right across our country, maximises the benefit for business, for farmers, for our communities”.
The federal government is under increasing pressure on the question of fuel supplies as strikes in the strait of Hormuz slow some deliveries around the world and panic buying in Australia makes petrol hard to get in some communities.
The energy minister, Chris Bowen, said on Tuesday that all expected deliveries of fuel were arriving as planned and that fuel retailers had told the government there was no concern about supply into next month.
The transport minister, Catherine King, will hold a fuel security roundtable with key stakeholders from the transport industry today.
Penry Buckley
NSW police release CCTV of three sought for questioning over alleged kidnapping and murder of Sydney grandfather
The NSW police have released CCTV footage of three further men sought for questioning in relation to the alleged kidnapping and murder of Sydney grandfather Chris Baghsarian last month.
Two men, Daniel Stevens, 24, and Gerard Andrews, 29 have been charged with murder and taking or detaining in company with intent to ransom, occasioning actual bodily harm. Police allege the 85-year-old was kidnapped from his North Ryde home last month in a case of mistaken identity. His remains were found at a golf club on 24 February.
In footage released today as part of a public appeal for more information, another three men are pictured walking towards what police allege was the kidnappers’ stronghold in north-western Sydney on the night Baghsarian went missing, 13 February. In CCTV from the following day, a blue Hyundai sedan with a missing hubcap on its left side is seen arriving at and leaving the Dural address just after 12pm.
The NSW police commissioner, Mal Lanyon, told ABC Radio Sydney this morning:
We believe these males may be involved. It’s important that we identify who they are and either rule them in or eliminate them from our inquiries. I think we’ve indicated we’re going to be incredibly thorough with this investigation. The CCTV also indicates a blue coloured Hyundai sedan which is missing a hubcap on the left hand side. That vehicle was seen to go out to a house that we believe Mr Baghsarian was held captive during his ordeal.
Luca Ittimani
Australian households fear double whammy of rate hikes and higher petrol prices will lead to recession
Surging interest rates and petrol prices have stripped more than $1bn a month from Australian household budgets as economists warn of recession risks.
Consumers are preparing for rates to surpass their recent highs after the Reserve Bank delivered back-to-back hikes ahead of an inflation spike driven by the US war on Iran.
Dougal Warby was among the thousands of Australians who bought their first homes when the RBA was expected to cut its target interest rate from 4.1% to 3.1% or lower by today.
On Tuesday, as he approached the one-year anniversary of buying his Brisbane apartment, rates rebounded back to 4.1%, adding more than $200 to his monthly repayments.
“We’ve seen two drops, two raises, which pretty much brings us back to square one,” he said. “Unsettled is the word.”
Read more here:
Benita Kolovos
The Victorian Greens will today call on the state government to make public transport free next month to provide immediate relief from cost of living pressures and shift people away from cars as petrol prices soar.
The party’s state leader, Ellen Sandell, says the short term measure should be introduced next month while the government works on longer term cost of living relief. A parliamentary budget office commissioned by the party found that making public transport free for a month would cost the government approximately $79.4m but could save a commuter household up to $500 from their family budget for that month.
She said Victoria had among the most expensive public transport in the country, while other states such as Western Australia and Queensland had lowered their fares.
Sandell said:
Petrol prices are surging and people across Victoria are feeling the pain. Making public transport free for the next month is something the state government could do right now to immediately help people with cost-of-living pressures.
Hastie says Trump’s remarks criticising allies ‘petulant’
Andrew Hastie, the shadow minister for industry, said Donald Trump’s criticism of Australia was a “petulant” remark.
Hastie spoke to RN this morning, where he was asked about the US president’s statement that the country did not need or “desire” assistance from Australia, Japan, South Korea or Nato allies during the ongoing turmoil in the Middle East. He said:
Look, I thought it was a petulant post from a president under immense pressure. … Relationships that are longstanding, you show respect and I don’t think it was a respectful post at all.
We’ve got a proud history, and I just don’t think that’s how you treat allies. I think it’s a reflection on his character more than us.
Greens senator says party ‘pleased’ Labor open to CGT reform
Greens senator Nick McKim is railing against the capital gains tax discount this morning.
McKim said the Greens were “pleased” that the government is considering options for reform, saying the discount remained the “most unfair tax break on the books”, skewing housing towards investors.
He told RN:
It blows overwhelmingly to wealthier older Australians and it is time for change. This is a historic opportunity for government and we hope they take it.
The evidence is overwhelming that the capital gains tax has not only skewed the mix of the housing stock in Australia away from owner-occupiers, which means that renters trying to buy their first home just can’t get in to the market. But it’s also contributed to rising house prices, which is again taking the Australian dream of owning your own home further and further away from more and more.
Turnbull says Trump ‘lashing out’ at Australia and other allies
Malcolm Turnbull said Donald Trump was “lashing out” and had been left “furious” that the US’s allies, including Australia, weren’t assisting with the war in the Middle East.
The former prime minister spoke to RN Breakfast this morning:
It really just underlines … the importance of Australia being more independent, exercising our own sovereignty and recognising that the course we have been undertaking, really since the Morrison government, of becoming more and more dependent on the United States, is absolutely the wrong course, because we are making ourselves more dependent on the US at a time when the US is less dependable.
Turnbull added that Trump’s remarks show he “doesn’t respect” his allies.
This is a guy that does not respect smaller countries. He believes might is right, he makes no bones about that. He believes he should be able to do and get whatever he wants.