Federal politics live: Six Australian crisis teams deployed to Middle East as conflict continues
Foreign Minister Penny Wong says six Australian crisis consular teams are being deployed to the Middle East to help stranded travellers.
Follow all the updates in our live blog.
Key Events
- 44 minutes agoWed 4 Mar 2026 at 2:50am
- 48 minutes agoWed 4 Mar 2026 at 2:46am
- 1 hours agoWed 4 Mar 2026 at 1:46am
- 7 minutes agoWed 4 Mar 2026 at 3:27am
PM calls for Iran to 'cease attacks immediately' on civilian areas
By Courtney Gould
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says there was "no justification" for Iran's attacks on civilian areas in the Middle East.
The strikes, launched in response to the US and Israel's attacks on Iran, have targeted the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and other Gulf states.
"We have called for Iran to cease attacks immediately," he said.
The PM spoke with the UAE president overnight, and welcomed the news more than 200 Australians were currently aboard an Emirates flight from Dubai bound for Sydney.
8 minutes agoWed 4 Mar 2026 at 3:26am
Chalmers defends Labor's public board appointment reforms
By Joshua Boscaini
Mackellar MP Sophie Scamps has stepped up to ask about the process for public board appointments.
She's asked why the government ignored a recommendation from a review into appointments to legislate an independent selection process.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has stepped up to represent Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, who sits in the Senate.
Chalmers says the government has appointed the best people to board positions and reformed the system to make appointments merit based.
He says the government's reform to the board appointments system goes further than the Briggs review, which looked into the process for appointments to public boards.
"We're extending it beyond government boards to cover departmental secretaries, agency heads, statutory officeholders across the Commonwealth," Chalmers says.
The treasurer says the best model is for ministers to be accountable for the board appointments they make.
18 minutes agoWed 4 Mar 2026 at 3:17am
Economy the theme for today
By Courtney Gould
Well, I think we can firmly say the theme for the opposition today is the economy.
Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson gets the next question, asking about falling real wages and if the PM accepts the buck stops with him.
Anthony Albanese begins by offering Wilson two thank yous. The first is for asking a question on the economy (a bit of a running gag this week. Labor's been making fun of the opposition for not focusing on it) and for not signing the question.
I was busy blogging Penny Wong's presser but friend of the blog Tom Crowley informs me Wilson broke out into song in his 90 second statement before QT kicked off. Fun.
Anyway back to the actual question at hand. Albanese says the Coalition must have missed the recession Australia, unlike other countries, avoided.
"Just look across the ditch at New Zealand, for example, as well as the UK and other countries as well," he says.
After the PM concludes, Speaker Milton Dick gives Simon Kennedy the boot for repeatedly interjecting.
24 minutes agoWed 4 Mar 2026 at 3:10am
'This is Question Time, not quotation time'
By Joshua Boscaini
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor is up with the first question of today's Question Time, this time on the economy.
"US, UK, France, Denmark have all seen rising living standards, whilst ours have reversed. After four years of Australia going backwards, will the prime minister finally accept the buck stops with him?" Taylor asks.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has poked fun at the opposition leader, accusing him of finally taking an interest in the economy.
Albanese starts quoting Liberal frontbencher Andrew Hastie, who this morning criticised a newspaper columnist for questioning the opposition's tactics this week in Question Time.
Manager of Opposition Business Dan Tehan has stepped up on a point of order on relevance, saying "this is Question Time, not quotation time".
He's been told to sit back down by Speaker Milton Dick.
The PM has returned to the despatch box, albeit a little lively, spruiking the federal government's economic credentials.
"Australia has a lower unemployment rate than Canada, France, Italy, the United States. We have stronger employment growth than France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States. Higher participation rates than Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States and the UK," Albanese says.
34 minutes agoWed 4 Mar 2026 at 3:01am
Government looking at how to get Australians out of conflict zone
By Courtney Gould
The government is working on contingencies to get Australians out of the Middle East.
"You would anticipate that, of course, those being scoped with our partners," Foreign Minister Penny Wong says.
But she says the best way for people to return is via commercial flights.
She says the government is in contact with the airlines.
35 minutes agoWed 4 Mar 2026 at 3:00am
🚨 Question Time is about to start 🚨
By Joshua Boscaini
Hey folks, welcome to the federal politics blog if you've just joined us!
It's a sitting week here in Canberra and it's approaching 2pm on the east coast, which means it's nearly Question Time!
MPs are taking their seats in the House of Representatives as I type, ready for the third questions without notice for the week.
Buckle in and get ready for us to take you through the next 80 minutes or so!
38 minutes agoWed 4 Mar 2026 at 2:57am
Legality of strikes a matter for US and Israel: Wong
By Courtney Gould
Penny Wong has been asked about Canada PM Mark Carney's comments about the legality of US and Israeli strikes on Iran.
As my colleague Stephen Dziedzic reported earlier, Carney said: "Prima facie, it appears these actions are inconsistent with international law".
Wong repeats the same line she's used in recent days, saying she's made it clear that it's a "matter for Israel and the US".
"As the prime minister has said, we're not party to all the intelligence that is being referenced. It is also important to note that this did not begin with the strikes," she says.
"We support action to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent Iran from continuing to be a risk to global peace and security."
"The fact that Iran is a risk to peace and stability has been demonstrated in these last few days ... where they have attacked no less than 10 countries, including non-participants."
She also noted Iran was engaged in attacks on Australian soil.
Key Event
44 minutes agoWed 4 Mar 2026 at 2:50am
Six crisis teams head to Middle East to assist Australians
By Courtney Gould
Six crisis teams are being sent to the Middle East to provide consular support to Australians in the region.
Travel has been halted out of the Middle East as air strikes forced the shutdown of airspace in the region over the weekend.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the six crisis teams would support the team already on the ground.
She did not say how the team is travelling there for security reasons.
There are an estimated 115,000 Australians in the region. Wong said over 20,000 are in the UAE alone.
Key Event
48 minutes agoWed 4 Mar 2026 at 2:46am
More than 200 Australians on flight home from Dubai
By Courtney Gould
More than 200 Australians are aboard a flight from Dubai to Sydney, Foreign Minister Penny Wong has confirmed.
The flight took off around 9.30am AEDT and is due to touch down at 10.30 tonight. It is the first flight from the UAE bound for Australia since the conflict broke out on Saturday.
"We thank the UAE for their support. Obviously, we still have a lot more work to do. But it's pleasing to see a commercial option being provided," the senator says.
1 hour agoWed 4 Mar 2026 at 2:31am
Greens frustrated over establishment of defence committee
By Courtney Gould
While we've been preoccupied with Iran and the treasurer's press conference, parliament has been going about its business.
Part of that was a vote on a bill to establish a new defence committee, which would act similarly to the parliamentary joint committee on intelligence and security.
It would look at the defence force, veterans' affairs and areas such as the AUKUS submarine agreement with the US and the UK.
It passed the parliament with the Coalition's support. But the Greens are frustrated because it will mostly hold closed-door hearings. The make-up of the committee would also be chosen by the prime minister, with consultation with other party leaders.
Greens senator David Shoebridge warned the committee would "exclude any critical voices" from the minor party and other crossbenchers.
"We know this bill was a backroom deal between Liberals and Labor who are scared of the blow torch being turned on the dangerous AUKUS deal," he said in a statement.
"This committee will be filled with Liberal and Labor insiders furiously agreeing on tying ourselves to the US and reinforcing groupthink. It's not good for public accountability, transparency or Australia's independence."
1 hour agoWed 4 Mar 2026 at 2:19am
Government should have learnt from COVID: Wilson
By Courtney Gould
Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson has accused the government of not adequately preparing for international shocks amid concerns the conflict in the Middle East will lead to petrol price rises.
The Liberal frontbencher said the government should have made adjustments to address vulnerabilities in supply changes exposed by the pandemic.
"I want prices to be as low as possible but it's a failure of the government to prepare for this and he's trying to deflect it onto the regulators rather than take responsibility," he says.
The treasurer has directed the competition watchdog, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission, to monitor fuel prices.
1 hour agoWed 4 Mar 2026 at 2:07am
Tim Wilson laughs off fuel excise 'clanger'
By Courtney Gould
Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson is now holding a press conference of his own.
He wants to talk about the national account figures, but reporters keep pressing the Liberal frontbencher on remarks he made this morning about the fuel excise.
Earlier today he told Sky News the government would collect more tax when fuel prices rise. Treasurer Jim Chalmers later labelled that statement a "clanger".
But Wilson laughs mid-question when that's put to him.
"We've had four years of clangers, inflation clangers, from Jim Chalmers. He's clearly not across his portfolio," he says.
"He clearly has forgotten that the excise is indexed to CPI twice a year. He's also clearly forgotten that in addition to excise there's also GST, so petrol prices go up."
Asked if he can accept that he got it wrong this morning, Wilson responds:
"I think you need to be realistic. If you don't think there's a correlation between inflation and energy prices ... and there explicitly is," he says.
1 hour agoWed 4 Mar 2026 at 1:56am
Chalmers responds to reports Herzog visited ASIO headquarters during Australia visit
By Joshua Boscaini
Israel's President Isaac Herzog reportedly visited the headquarters of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) during his visit to Australia.
SBS reports the Israeli president met with the Director-General of Security Mike Burgess during the visit.
Asked whether he's concerned that a non-Five Eyes head of state visited ASIO, Treasurer Jim Chalmers says he's not aware of the details.
"I'm sure in their characteristically diligent way our agencies would have made sure in every way that they could that that visit was appropriate and I trust the decisions and the judgements made by our agencies," Chalmers says.
Key Event
1 hour agoWed 4 Mar 2026 at 1:46am
Treasurer says tax system 'could have a role to play' in attracting investment
By Joshua Boscaini
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says he's open to changing company tax to attract more investment, as long as it's affordable.
The treasurer says he thinks Australia's tax system could play a role in attracting more investment.
"When it comes to company tax reform, I have publicly and privately expressed a willingness for company tax reform, so long as it's affordable," Chalmers says.
"I do think that the tax system could have a role to play in attracting even more investment to making our pools of capital broader and deeper to help make our economy more productive if we can find a way to pay for that."
The treasurer also repeated that the next federal budget will include more savings.
Key Event
2 hours agoWed 4 Mar 2026 at 1:33am
Chalmers leaves door open for future tax changes
By Joshua Boscaini
Asked if he's considering new tax measures in the next federal budget, Jim Chalmers says there is an appetite for tax reform.
The treasurer says the government has already made several changes to superannuation and income tax.
But Chalmers appears to have left the door open to future tax changes in the next federal budget in May.
"We've got a big agenda already, we will consider next steps in the usual way in the lead up to the budget," Chalmers says.
"We haven't made any decisions, we haven't changed our tax policies, but any further changes in tax policies or any further tax reforms would be a matter for the cabinet in the usual way."
Key Event
2 hours agoWed 4 Mar 2026 at 1:28am
Chalmers won't cut fuel excise, criticises opponent for 'massive clanger'
By Joshua Boscaini
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the government hasn't been considering cutting the fuel excise amid the conflict in the Middle East.
Chalmers says the federal government has found other ways to help people with the cost of living.
He says he's asked the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to ensure petrol stations don't price gouge.
Chalmers has also taken a jab at Shadow Treasurer Tim Wilson for claiming that the government collects more tax when fuel prices rise.
He says the shadow treasurer has "dropped another massive clanger".
"My opponent, the new shadow treasurer, has now made his second serious error in only a couple of weeks in the job," Chalmers says.
"Tim Wilson was wandering around the press gallery this morning saying that the excise goes up when the petrol price goes up. It doesn't."
"The excise is levied on volume, not on price, and he should know that."
2 hours agoWed 4 Mar 2026 at 1:21am
Chalmers says global economic uncertainty will feed into budget decision
By Joshua Boscaini
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the "quite intense global economic uncertainty" will feed into the government's decisions for the next federal budget.
Chalmers says hostilities have been dialled up over the weekend following the strikes in Iran by the US and Israel.
He says the global economic uncertainty is informing the government's considerations for the federal budget.
"This is essentially a conflict which is involving all if not most of the region so the economic consequences are uncertain but they are like to be very substantial," Chalmers says.
He says the severity of the conflict will be determined by how long it lasts.
Chalmers says there's a risk that damaged oil production facilities in the Middle East and stranded ships will slow global growth.
2 hours agoWed 4 Mar 2026 at 1:15am
Treasurer monitoring economic impact of Middle East conflict 'very closely'
By Joshua Boscaini
Treasurer Jim Chalmers says the federal government is monitoring developments in the Middle East.
Chalmers says the situation in the region is changing rapidly and that the impacts are expected to be "substantial" on the economy.
He says he is monitoring the oil, gas, fertiliser, travel and insurance markets and their relation to Australia "very closely".
Yesterday, Chalmers asked the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to monitor oil prices in the wake of the conflict.
2 hours agoWed 4 Mar 2026 at 1:10am
Chalmers says inflation, productivity and global uncertainty still a challenge
By Joshua Boscaini
Dwelling growth has increased and business investment grew again 4.4 per cent through the year, Jim Chalmers says.
The treasurer says expectations for investment were revised up $200 billion which he says defies expectations from some experts.
"So overall what we have here is a really encouraging set of numbers, a really welcome set of national accounts," Chalmers says.
"We know that we've got three big substantial pressing challenges in our economy - inflation, productivity and global uncertainty and those three challenges are our focus
