Australia’s Wong rules out offensive strikes on Iran but flags military support in Middle East
Australia has clarified it will not engage in offensive military action against Iran but is considering requests for defensive assistance in the Middle East, as the government grapples with the fallout from the conflict, a massive repatriation effort, and severe domestic weather crises.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong told the ABC’s Insiders programme that while Australia would not participate in “offensive action against Iran” or deploy ground troops, it was responding to calls for help from nations hit by Iranian attacks. “Many countries which are non participants have been attacked, by Iran through this,” Senator Wong said. “You would anticipate as a consequence, that we have been asked for assistance and we will work through that, carefully.” She confirmed this related to protecting against drone and missile strikes, adding that any decision would be made transparently.
Repatriation effort amid airspace closures and ticket price concerns
The escalating conflict has triggered what the government describes as the largest consular operation in Australia’s history. As of early Sunday, official figures stated 1,549 Australians had been repatriated on nine direct flights. Two further Emirates flights from Dubai were due to land—one in Perth and another in Sydney—with more scheduled to depart, assuming airspace remains open.
However, the operation faces significant hurdles. Airspace over Dubai and Doha has been repeatedly closed due to missile and drone attacks, causing global travel disruption. Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Matt Thistlethwaite said commercial flights remained the primary and fastest option for the estimated 115,000 Australians in the region, but expressed frustration at their cost. “We’ve seen that some of those flights haven’t been full. We’ve seen the cost of tickets. We’re pretty disappointed by that, to be honest. And we’ve made that disappointment known to the airlines,” he said. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has advised Australians not to travel to several Middle Eastern countries.
As part of its contingency planning, Australia has deployed military assets including RAAF C-17 Globemasters and KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transports, along with six crisis response teams to the region.
Australian personnel on US submarine that sank Iranian warship
Questions over Australia’s military role intensified following the revelation that three Royal Australian Navy personnel were on board a US submarine that torpedoed and sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, killing at least 87 people. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has stated the personnel were part of a training program linked to the AUKUS defence pact and “did not participate in any offensive action against Iran.”
Pressed on the incident, Senator Wong described such “third country deployments” as standard practice, with arrangements to ensure Australian law and policy are followed. “We will make decisions in accordance with the principles I’ve outlined,” she said, declining to specify if Australia was consulted prior to the action.
On the broader political future of Iran, Senator Wong diverged from recent US statements, saying, “The future for Iran and its governance ultimately is a decision for the Iranian people… We have seen that regime change being sought by external parties historically. And I think we all know that for there to be sustainable change… it has to be something that the people of that nation back and seek.”
Major flooding threatens Northern Territory and Queensland
Domestically, severe weather is battering northern Australia. In the Northern Territory, major flood warnings are in place for the Daly, Katherine, and Waterhouse rivers following heavy rainfall from tropical lows. The Daly River is expected to exceed 1957 levels, while the Katherine River peaked at 19.2 metres, its highest since deadly floods in 1998. Evacuations by air have been conducted from the remote community of Daly River (Nauiyu), with the Stuart and Victoria highways closed around Katherine.
In Queensland, a severe weather warning is in effect for the north-west and Sunshine Coast, with a tropical low moving south-east. The Bureau of Meteorology has warned of isolated six-hourly rainfall totals up to 170mm. A flood watch covers most of the state, with major flooding possible on the Georgina, Lower Flinders, and Thomson rivers. Flash flooding in the Gladstone region led to multiple rescues on Saturday, including 34 people from a stranded bus.
Teenagers charged with murder after ‘good Samaritan’ killing
In Victoria, three teenagers have been charged with murder following what police described as a “savage” stabbing attack at Mernda train station in Melbourne’s north-east. Homicide Squad detectives said a 22-year-old man was killed on Friday evening after intervening to help a 14-year-old schoolboy who was being set upon by a group. The man had walked the boy away from the station before being followed and assaulted with “edged weapons”. A 16-year-old, a 17-year-old, and an 18-year-old have been charged with murder and armed robbery.
Victorian Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said the incident was “very concerning” and pointed to recently toughened youth crime laws, stating, “Young people that are committing violent crimes are about to discover that they will be doing adult time.”
Other news across the nation
On the NSW Central Coast, two men died after being pulled from the water at Little Beach, Bouddi. Police recovered the body of a 46-year-old man on Saturday evening and, after expanding their search, found a 67-year-old man.
In NSW, the Minns government has opened expressions of interest for a private partner to build Sydney’s second major film studio, pledging a $100 million capital investment. Three government-owned sites at Bungarribee, Eastern Creek, and Prospect are on offer, with other locations to be considered.
A conservation debate is brewing in the Blue Mountains over plans by NSW National Parks for a multi-day walk and luxury glamping-style accommodation within the Gardens of Stone state conservation area. Conservationist Keith Muir has labelled the proposed development a “resort” that threatens the unique “pagoda” rock formations.
Meanwhile, a story of survival and advocacy has emerged with the publication of a book by Amera, a 22-year-old Yazidi woman who was kidnapped and enslaved by Islamic State militants in 2014. She writes about her eight-month captivity and continues to campaign for the estimated 2,700 Yazidis still missing a decade after the IS genocide campaign.
