Australia news live: Albanese says Dutton’s ‘bizarre’ push for Woolworths boycott would cost jobs

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Albanese says Dutton’s ‘bizarre’ push for Woolworths boycott would cost jobs

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has spoken to 2HD mornings, taking aim at Peter Dutton over his call to boycott Woolworths for not stocking Australia Day merchandise.

He said “of course” people can make those choices, but he finds it “bizarre” that “the so-called party of the free market is calling for a boycott of a company that employs 200,000 Australians”.

Now think about the implications of this. If everyone boycotted Woolworths, that’s 200,000 people who would lose their jobs. It’s an extraordinary overreach by a guy in order to make a point on a radio interview. It’s just extraordinary, and an example of how Peter Dutton will say anything without thinking through the implications of it.

Albanese noted that Kmart made a similar decision more than a year ago.

[Dutton is] always looking for a culture war. What I’m engaged in is a war on inflation.

Prime minister Anthony Albanese. Photograph: Diego Fedele/AAP

Updated at  17.48 EST

Worker dies at central Queensland coalmine

A worker has died at a coalmine in central Queensland.

The worker was fatally injured in a vehicle-related incident at BHP Mitsubishi Alliance’s Saraji coalmine, at Dysart, the ABC reported.

The Mining and Energy Union said the whole mining community was shocked and saddened by the incident. Union district president Mitch Hughes said:

This is the worst news we can ever receive.

We are devastated that a coal miner is not returning home at the end of their shift.

Hughes said union safety inspectors were investigating.

We will ensure no stone is left unturned in understanding what has occurred and preventing future fatalities and injuries.

Operations at the mine are suspended.

– via AAP

Updated at  17.50 EST

Man charged after vandalism of Brisbane Woolworths store

Queensland police have arrested and charged a man after the vandalism of a Woolworths store in Brisbane yesterday morning.

Police will allege that around 5am, the man set off a flare at the Teneriffe business, causing the fire alarm to be activated. Police also observed graffiti at the store upon arrival.

A 40-year-old Ormiston man was arrested in Fortitude Valley about 7.45pm last night, and has been charged with one count each of wilful damage and wilful damage by graffiti.

He is expected to appear at Brisbane magistrates court on 21 February.

Yesterday, police said they were investigating after the Teneriffe Woolworths was vandalised.

The store was allegedly painted with the words “Boycott Woolies” on the doors and “5 days 26 Jan Aussie Oi Oi Woolies fuck u” on the exterior.

It comes after Woolworths decided to stop stocking Australia Day merchandise, citing a lack of demand from customers.

The Woolworths store that was allegedly vandalised in Teneriffe. Photograph: The Guardian

Updated at  17.40 EST

Two teenagers killed in Sydney car crash last night

Two teenage boys were killed and another seriously injured in a crash in Sydney’s north-west last night, Australian Associated Press reports.

Emergency services were called to Windsor Road at McGraths Hill about 9.40pm on Monday on reports a car had struck a power pole.

Two teenage boys, who were passengers in the car, were critically injured and died at the scene, police said.

The 17-year-old male driver was treated by paramedics for chest and internal injuries before being taken to Westmead hospital where he was reported to be in a stable condition.

Police were told the car had struck another car before leaving the road and striking a power pole.

The driver of the other car stopped and rendered assistance, calling triple zero, and was taken for mandatory blood and urine testing.

Updated at  15.25 EST

Aid groups urge Wong to push for ceasefire

Aid organisations want foreign minister Penny Wong to push for a ceasefire to the war between Israel and Hamas during her visit to the Middle East, Australian Associated Press reports.

Wong will meet regional counterparts during her visit to Israel and the Palestinian Territories, along with Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.

Aid group Amnesty International said Wong’s visit to the region should be focused on ways for a ceasefire to be undertaken.

The organisation’s Palestinian Territories and Israel spokesperson, Mohamed Duar, said the 100 days since the start of the war had seen a “chilling disregard of human rights”.

Amnesty has repeatedly documented war crimes being committed by all parties to the conflict.

The scale of death and destruction we witness in Gaza today is unparalleled.

For these reasons, Penny Wong must reiterate Australia’s support for a ceasefire, and for Israel to allow unhindered and immediate humanitarian aid to enter Gaza during her trip.

Wong will be the most senior representative from Australia to visit the region since the current conflict broke out on 7 October and the first from an Australian foreign minister since 2016.

Penny Wong will meet with regional counterparts during her Middle Eat visit. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Updated at  15.28 EST

Heavy rain likely to cause flooding in northern Australia as rivers rise

More forecast rain and strong winds will likely mean ongoing flooded homes, submerged streets, and belongings damaged by fallen trees in multiple states and territories, AAP reports.

Parts of the Northern Territory and Queensland are due to experience dangerous winds and flash flooding today.

A monsoon trough extending from the northern Kimberley of Western Australia to the Cape York Peninsula, as well as a tropical low over the NT is making for a big wet in Australia’s north. The Bureau of Meteorology expects the tropical low to move southeast today, with continued rain.

Flood warnings have been issued for the Cape York Peninsula and Gulf of Carpentaria, and for the NT’s north-west.

“We’re already starting to see river rises in some of these areas and further river rises are anticipated over the coming days,” meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said.

There’s also more rain forecast at centres including Darwin, Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra on Tuesday. Winds in some metropolitan areas could reach up to 50km/h.

Updated at  15.33 EST

Welcome

Good morning and welcome to our rolling news coverage. I’m Martin Farrer and I’ll be bringing you the best of the overnight news before my colleague Emily Wind takes the reins.

The Middle East crisis deepened overnight when a US cargo ship was hit by Houthi missiles, making Penny Wong’s visit to the region beginning today even more sensitive. It follows remarks by Anthony Albanese last night declaring that the Australian government won’t participate in the international court of justice (ICJ) proceedings initiated by South Africa against Israel, and that his government is seeking a “political solution”.

Our top domestic story is an exclusive report that a senior psychologist treating children in the Cairns police watch house sent a “cry for help” letter detailing “horrendous” conditions and alleged human rights abuses in the lockup. The letter, seen by Guardian Australia, includes claims young people are not being provided adequate food, medical attention or legal support.

More than half of people trying to access emergency financial support for domestic and family violence are having their claims rejected, new data has revealed. Between July and September last year, 57,041 applications were made for the escaping violence payment (EVP) but only 29,437 were found eligible.

And we will be keeping a close eye on northern Australian, with parts of the Northern Territory and Queensland forecast to experience dangerous winds and flash flooding – more on that soon.

Updated at  15.20 EST