Andrew Messenger
The Iranian football team has just arrived at the Gold Coast airport.
The bus pulled up in the back part of the domestic terminal, away from the general public.
But media can see players leaving the bus, travelling into the domestic terminal. A large number of media and some protesters are present.
A large number of police – both Queensland and federal cops – are surrounding the domestic terminal.
The bus has just left – it appeared to be empty of passengers.
Updated at 00.29 EDT
Key events
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Kylie Moore-Gilbert: offering asylum to Iranian football players ‘a rare opportunity to hold the regime to account’
Kylie Moore-Gilbert, the a security studies expert at Macquarie University who spent 804 days in a prison in Tehran, has commended the way the government handled giving asylum to the Iranian women’s football team.
“I think they acted swiftly and did the right thing,” she told the ABC just now. “I commend Albanese’s swift action on this. I think it became a global story and it became politically unfeasible for them not to do anything … given the evidence, that perhaps some of these women were being coerced and controlled by the Iranian delegation.”
She said it was “concerning” that the rest of the team were on their way to the airport and would leave Australia soon. “Whether or not that’s what they desire is still unknown,” she said, continuing:
double quotation markThis is a rare opportunity to hold the regime to account for the way it treats women and girls, and if there’s any evidence of [coercion], seize upon it and do our very best to protect these women in a very difficult situation.
Speaking about Motjaba Khamenei, Iran’s new supreme leader, she said:
double quotation markHe’s said to be even more hardline than his father, and he’s even closer to the IRGC.
I think it’s going to get really, really messy and this crisis will become protracted.
Updated at 01.34 EDT
Iran’s women’s football team face ‘serious risks to their safety’: Amnesty International
Ben Doherty
Amnesty International Australia has raised urgent concerns for the safety of members of Iran’s women’s football team and is calling on Australian authorities to ensure all players have been clearly informed of their right to seek protection in Australia.
“The Iranian women’s football team face serious risks to their safety if they return to Iran. We stress that they have the right to seek protection and safety in Australia and must have an opportunity to exercise that right”, said Zaki Haidari, Strategic Campaigner at Amnesty International Australia.
He continued:
double quotation markCustoms and immigration officials, as well as Australian Border Force officers, have an opportunity to intervene and remind the team of their rights to seek protection in Australia.
Amnesty International Australia understands that the players’ families remain at risk and are facing ongoing pressure from Iranian authorities. We call on the Australian Government to extend their offer of protection to their families as well.
Five members of the team have been granted humanitarian visas to stay in Australia after telling Australian government officials they did not wish to return to Iran. It is unclear whether other players, or members of the travelling party, will also seek to stay in Australia. The group has travelled to the Gold Coast airport, and it is expected they will leave Australia tonight.
Iran players pose prior to Sunday’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup match against the Philippines on the Gold Coast. Photograph: Dave Hunt/ReutersShare
Updated at 01.24 EDT
Albanese acknowledges ‘genuine and personal’ interactions with Littleproud
The prime minister says David Littleproud informed him that that he would be stepping down as leader of the Nationals before today’s question time.
In a statement, Anthony Albanese said the conversation was, “as always … genuine and personal”.
“I have always valued that and I thank him for it,” he said, continuing:
double quotation markDavid and I come from very different political traditions and backgrounds but we share a mutual respect for the great honour of serving in the Parliament of Australia and have been able to work together on many issues affecting his community, the regions and our national interest.
It is a significant achievement to be chosen to lead your party and David can look back on his four years as Leader of Nationals and ten years as Member for Maranoa knowing he has given his utmost.
I wish him well and I am sure he will continue to make a contribution on the backbench in the service of his regional Queensland electorate.
Updated at 01.16 EDT
Daisy Dumas
Thank you, as ever, Krishani Dhanji. It’s been a big day so far, let’s dive straight in to the remainder of the day’s news.
Krishani Dhanji
Thank you all for joining me today. From start to finish it’s been an extremely hectic day, and it’s certainly not over yet! In the words of David Littleproud, I’m buggered.
I’ll leave you with the wonderful Daisy Dumas for the afternoon, and I’ll see you here bright and early tomorrow.
Updated at 01.06 EDT
Taylor says Littleproud made a ‘great contribution’ as leader
Speaking to journalists following David Littleproud’s announcement, the Liberal leader, Angus Taylor, describes the outgoing Nationals leader as a man of his word and a “man of his handshake”.
Taylor has many kind words for Littleproud, and says he’s glad the Nationals MP will continue to represent his Queensland seat of Maranoa.
double quotation markHe has played a crucial role, as he said in his press conference a few moments ago, in shaping the direction of the Coalition, shaping the direction of policy across our side of politics over the last four years.
David is a man of great dignity who has led his party with great energy and commitment … I know he will continue to support the National party, the Coalition and this great country. And I thank him for his extraordinary service.
Taylor doesn’t take any questions.
Updated at 01.04 EDT
Littleproud takes a veiled swipe against Ley
On his way out (of the leadership) Littleproud takes a few swipes at the former Liberal leader, Sussan Ley, under whom he at one point said his party could not “be part of a shadow ministry”.
He says it was a mistake for the Coalition to dissolve all of its policies and start afresh, saying “all we did was leave a vacuum for someone else to walk into”.
He also says that he came out “swinging” after four of his party members went the backbench.
double quotation markWhere I come from, if one of your mob gets knocked over, and it’s not for the right reason you come swinging back. That’s how we operate.
Littleproud also sings the praises of Angus Taylor, who dumped Ley.
double quotation markI just look you the eye, shake your hand. That’s how you do business. You know, I can do that with Angus Taylor, and the new leader will be able to do that.
Updated at 01.03 EDT
Littleproud to stay on as MP for Maranoa
Littleproud gets emotional as he says he’s not giving up his seat of Maranoa, but will be stepping down as leader, so he can spend more time with his family.
He says he’s proud of what he’s achieved as leader of the party over the last three years.
double quotation markI want to come back to this place, as I did when I first got into parliament, with that spring in my step, the excitement of coming here, throwing a few grenades, having a couple of beers and enjoying myself, and I haven’t had that for a while.
Littleproud won’t say who he thinks will put their hand up to take over the leadership.
He also says he’ll be happy to serve the party in “whatever capacity” but that he doesn’t have the “energy” to lead.
Outgoing Nationals leader David Littleproud and his wife, Amelia Littleproud. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAPShare
Updated at 00.53 EDT
David Littleproud announces he is stepping down as Nationals leader
Tom McIlroy
David Littleproud and his wife, Amelia Littleproud, made the shock announcement at Parliament House just after question time.
First elected in 2016, Littleproud is a former agriculture and water resources minister, and has led the Nationals since May 2022.
Littleproud says:
double quotation markI’ve got to a juncture where I believe it’s time. I believe that it is now time to transition to a new leader. I had intended to leave the leadership after the Coalition was reformed, but I thought it was my responsibility to transition into a new leadership and the Coalition and I’m satisfied from what I’ve seen of Angus Taylor, and the way that he has handled itself, that we are now competitive.
I’m buggered. I’ve had enough.
Littleproud has led the party through a rocky nine months since last years election, twice splitting with the Liberal party and helping scuttle Sussan Ley’s brief tenure as the leader of the opposition. His main rival in the job, former leader Barnaby Joyce, defected to One Nation in November.
Littleproud survived a challenge from fellow Nationals MP Colin Boyce in January.
Outgoing Nationals leader David Littleproud. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAPShare
Updated at 00.40 EDT
Question time ends
After a final dixer to Jason Clare, the PM calls time on question time for the day.
But before everyone leaves, the prime minister and Angus Taylor pay tribute to Les Cook, who was regarded as the last surviving Australian to fight in the battle of Crete. Cook passed away aged 103.
Bowen asked (again) to assure no fuel shortages
Liberal shadow minister Melissa McIntosh asks the government if it can assure the public that there’s no fuel shortage in western Sydney.
Chris Bowen, a western Sydneysider himself, says that the country has 1.56bn litres of petrol in reserve (which means in the country or on Australian assets, not overseas).
For the millionth time, he tells Australians to stop panic buying.
double quotation markThe best way we can do that is to remind people that our fuel supplies are secure and there is no need for panic buying.
And we can remind people that, because of the actions of this government, we have 2.97bn litres of diesel in our minimum stock obligations. And we have 1.56bn litres of petrol in reserve.
And for what feels like the billionth time, the opposition tries to make another point of order on relevance against Bowen. It doesn’t get far.
Bowen tells the opposition that if it wants to make a constructive suggestion, “we’ll listen in good faith”.
Updated at 00.14 EDT