PM says ‘we are concerned about regional escalation’ but supports ‘action’ against Iran
Anthony Albanese has reiterated Australia’s support for the US and Israeli actions in Iran.
He says Australia’s priority is the safety of Australians in the region.
We have long recognised that Iran, Iran’s nuclear [program] is a threat to global peace and security.
We have called for the Iranian regime to uphold the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Iran’s citizens. Sadly [these calls have] gone unheeded and action has now been taken.
We support the states acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent Iran from continuing threaten international peace and security.
We are concerned about regional escalation and urge the protection of civilians for those on the ground.
Key events
More flights to Middle East cancelled
Several airlines have now cancelled additional flights from Australia to the Middle East, including flights due to leave late on Sunday night.
Earlier, we reported that Emirates and Etihad had advised travellers that Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports – along with others in the Gulf – were closed pending until this evening.
Most Emirates flights due to leave Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane tonight are now listed as cancelled. One Melbourne flight remains scheduled, and travellers should check their flight status with the airline.
Virgin Australia has advised customers of several cancellations of Qatar Airways flights travelling via Doha.
Pro-democracy rally to be held at Iranian embassy in Canberra
Australia-based supporters of democracy in Iran will hold a rally at the Iranian embassy in Canberra this afternoon.
The Association to Defend Freedom and Human Rights in Iran – Australia say supporters will gather at 3pm AEDT to demand democratic reforms after the US-Israel backed strikes.
In a statement the group said: “This huge uprising made it very clear that the people want no more dictatorship – no Supreme Leader, no Shah – they want a secular democratic republic.”
One teen charged after Perth out-of-control gathering, police say
WA police have charged a 15-year-old boy after officers declared an out-of-control gathering in Perth on Saturday night.
Police said they were called to Wembley Downs, in north-western Perth, at about 8.15pm on Saturday after receiving multiple reports of antisocial behaviour at a residential party.
Police identified a group of 150 juveniles in the street, allegedly fighting, shouting and refusing to leave the area. A number of them were observed to be intoxicated and behaving in a disorderly manner, police said.
A 15-year-old male was arrested and charged with one count of assaulting a public officer. He is due to appear in the Perth children’s court on 6 March.
A second 15-year-old was arrested and later released with a formal caution.
Peak Jewish group ‘profoundly disturbed’ by reports of foiled terror plot to attack mosques and public buildings
Australia’s peak Jewish body says it is “profoundly disturbed” by reports of a foiled alleged terrorist attack targeting a number of public buildings and Islamic places of worship.
WA police on Friday charged a 20-year-old man with preparing a terrorist attack.
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry said it backed calls made by the WA premier for an end to “dog whistling” and the “language of division” in public discourse, regardless of the issue.
Daniel Aghion KC, president of the council, said
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry is profoundly disturbed by reports of a terror plot that included plans to attack a number of mosques in WA as well as the police.
As a community that has suffered a series of attacks over the past two and a half years, including arson and vandalism at our places of worship, and culminating in the horrors of 14 December 2025, we are keenly aware of how distressing and unsettling such threats can be.
It is for this reason that we have advocated so strenuously for legislation that protects not just Jewish Australians but all Australians from the hateful actions and hateful speech that have cost us so dearly since October 7, 2023.
Victoria police extend retail crime operation until the end of the year
Victoria police will extend a crime crackdown on Melbourne shopping centres until the end of the year.
Police arrested more than 450 people since Operation Pulse launched in December. A man who allegedly stole $2,000 worth of knives is among those arrested.
In a statement, Victoria police said almost 1,000 charges had been laid in the first nine weeks of the operation. Of these charges, almost half are for retail theft and drug offences.
Acting deputy commissioner Libby Murphy said:
We’ve also had a lot of positive feedback from both retailers and shoppers in relation to this operation, and they are regularly approaching our members to tell them they feel much safer and have noticed a considerable drop in crime.
‘She’s in the sky’: K’gari tragedy teen farewelled
Mourners from across the world have farewelled a teenager who died alone on an Australian beach surrounded by a pack of dingoes, AAP reports.
Close friends and family gathered in the Campbell River Baptist Church in the Canadian province of British Columbia to remember Piper James, the 19-year-old backpacker whose life was cut short on the Queensland island K’gari on 19 January.
Her Australian friends joined the service in spirit, watching online on Sunday morning to farewell the brave teenager who ran toward danger, who loved deeply and was filled with joy.
James and her best friend, Taylor Stricker, were on the trip of a lifetime when World Heritage-listed K’gari captured their hearts.
The pair landed a job on the island working at a hostel before James took a dawn walk on the beach from which she never returned.
Iranian government is ‘murderous regime’: Executive Council of Australian Jewry
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry says it welcomes military strikes in Iran, while “regretting the necessity for military action and the risks it poses to the people of Israel and Iran”.
In a statement, the peak body for Australia’s Jewish community says such action was “unavoidable and inevitable”.
President Daniel Aghion said the Iranian government was “a murderous regime”.
”It has attacked synagogues and Jewish targets in Australia and around the world. It funds terrorist groups Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis. It massacres its own civilians.
“Western nations, led by Israel and the US, must curtail the nuclear aspirations of the Iranian government, disrupt its international terrorism network, and protect the Iranian people from their own leadership.
“At this time, our thoughts are with the people of Israel and Iran.”
Albanese says Australians should leave Middle East and Gulf countries ‘if it is safe to do so’
The prime minister says there is limited consular assistance available to Australians who might be in Iran, after the decision to close the embassy in Tehran last year.
”We have travel advice for Israel, Lebanon, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar United Arab Emirates travel. Australians should leave now if it is safe to do so,” Albanese says.
”The closure of transport hubs in the Middle East will likely lead to flight disruptions.”
Legality of attack is a question for US and others involved, Albanese says
Albanese is asked whether he believes the attacks were legal under international law.
He says such judgments were for the United States and others involved in the attack.
”What I would say is that the threat to international peace and of the Iranian regime is real,” Albanese said.
”The fact that they orchestrated attacks here, from the other side of the world, underlines the threat that this regime presented to the rule of law and to international norms of behaviour.”
PM says ‘we are concerned about regional escalation’ but supports ‘action’ against Iran
Anthony Albanese has reiterated Australia’s support for the US and Israeli actions in Iran.
He says Australia’s priority is the safety of Australians in the region.
We have long recognised that Iran, Iran’s nuclear [program] is a threat to global peace and security.
We have called for the Iranian regime to uphold the human rights and fundamental freedoms of Iran’s citizens. Sadly [these calls have] gone unheeded and action has now been taken.
We support the states acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent Iran from continuing threaten international peace and security.
We are concerned about regional escalation and urge the protection of civilians for those on the ground.
Ayatollah Khamenei ‘will not be mourned’: Albanese
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, says Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is believed dead in US-Israeli airstrikes in Iran, “will not be mourned”.
Australia stands with the brave people of Iran in their struggle against what is oppressive regime. Ayatollah Khameini was responsible for the regime’s nuclear program, support for armed proxies and its brutal violence and its own people. This claimed countless lives in Iran, but also internationally. He was responsible for orchestrating attacks on Australian soil. He will not be mourned.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is due to address reporters in Sydney in a few minutes.
Queensland ‘adult time, adult crime’ laws to be expanded to more offences
The Queensland government has said it will expand its signature “adult crime, adult time” laws to 45 offences including a number of domestic and sexual violence offences.
Children as young as 10 face potential life sentences under the Queensland LNP’s youth crime regime, which it concedes is contrary to state and international human rights law, is discriminatory and will disproportionately affect First Nations people.
The premier, David Crisafulli, says the laws will be expanded to include 12 new offences, in addition to more than 30 already subject to the “adult time” rules, which mean children can face punishment on par with adults.
The new offences include assault occasioning bodily harm, stalking, conspiracy to murder, and riot.
They also include indecent treatment of a child under the age of 16, domestic violence choking, aiding suicide, and administering poison with intent to harm.
The government says it is following the recommendations of its hand-picked expert panel.
Travellers in limbo after flights between Australia and Middle East cancelled
International flights between Australia and major hubs in the Middle East have been cancelled, leaving travellers in limbo.
Virgin Australia says four Qatar Airways flights headed from Australia to Doha have been turned around.
Emirates and Etihad flights from Sydney and Melbourne to Dubai and Abu Dhabi – common stops on long-haul flights to Europe via Gulf carriers – were cancelled on Sunday morning.
Emirates says it has “temporarily suspended” all flights in and out of Dubai, until at least 10pm AEDT on Sunday.
“We apologise to customers affected by disruptions for any inconvenience caused, and we are assisting them with rebooking, refunds, or alternative travel arrangements,” the airline said in a message to passengers.
“The safety and security of our passengers and crew remain our highest priority.”
Etihad has issued an update to passengers saying it had suspended arrivals and departures until 9pm AEDT. Any flight scheduled to arrive beforehand has been cancelled, but services due to arrive after were still “expected to operate, subject to operational conditions”.
The airline says it is dealing with a high volume of calls.
“Affected guests are being contacted directly and are being supported with rebooking options and hotel accommodation where necessary.
“Situation remains fluid and further adjustments may be required.”
Activists say trans woman with Palestinian flag was ‘violently restrained’ by police at Mardi Gras
The activist group Pride in Protest says a trans woman holding a Palestinian flag was “violently restrained” by police at the Sydney Mardi Gras on Saturday night.
The NSW police released a statement on Sunday commending the crowd for its behaviour. It said there were no charges laid but that four people – who were part of a group that had been prevented from marching – were arrested for a breach of the peace.
Pride in Protest had been blocked from participating in the parade due to social media posts criticising Jewish group Dayenu.
“[The people who were arrested] were removed from the parade ground and were issued with move on directions, which they complied with. No charges were laid as a result of the incident,” a police statement said.
Pride in Protest said police were seen “assaulting a trans woman attendee of the parade, yanking a Palestinian flag out of her hand”.
“As [a] float entered the road to prepare to march, NSW police officers with the riot squad grabbed a Palestine flag away from a trans woman participant and violently restrained her, with four officers grabbing her,” a statement issued by the group said.
”The woman was heard crying out ‘help me’ and other participants called for the police to let her go.”
Travel advice updated for Middle Eastern countries: Wong
Penny Wong has confirmed travel advice has been updated for Israel, Lebanon, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
She says Australia is engaged with international partners and consular staff around the world.
“We have activated our crisis centre to provide consular support to Australians in the region and this morning we are opening our registration portal in Iran and Israel.”
Wong dodges question on legal basis for US-Israel attacks on Iran
Penny Wong has been asked about the legal basis for the bombings under international law.
“I will leave it for the United States and Israel to speak of the legal basis for the attacks.
“What I would say to Australians is that Iran has been a destabilising force in the region for decades. It has orchestrated attacks on Australia and I think we all understand this issue did not start yesterday.”
Asked about assistance for Australians seeking to come home, Wong says the government does anticipate a difficult period ahead but won’t be drawn on repatriation flights.
“In this situation, the airspace is closed.”
