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‘He hasn’t asked’: Albanese denies Trump’s claim he requested Australia join Iran war

Michael Koziol - March 21, 2026

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Washington: Anthony Albanese has rejected Donald Trump’s suggestion that Australia refused his request to assist with the war in Iran, with the prime minister arguing Australia has “done what we have been asked to do” in relation to the conflict.

The disagreement came as the US temporarily lifted sanctions on about 140 million barrels of Iranian oil already at sea – its latest bid to boost global energy supplies amid surging prices.

Earlier, Trump told reporters in Washington that he was surprised Australia “said no” to his request to help with the war in Iran, and called on Canberra to “get involved”.

Asked what he wanted Australia to do, Trump said: “They should get involved … I was a little bit surprised that they said ‘no’ because we always say yes to them.”

The president was responding to a question from Sky News Australia as he boarded a US military helicopter to leave the White House, bound for Florida. He did not respond to further shouted questions.

It was not immediately clear what Trump was referring to when he said Australia had refused a request to help. However, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles has previously acknowledged US requests for help with the Iran operation, without offering specifics.

Australia has agreed to provide defensive assistance to the United Arab Emirates by deploying an E-7 Wedgetail surveillance aircraft to the Gulf, following a request from the UAE.

But on Saturday, following Trump’s remarks, Albanese denied there had been any US request for Australia to assist with the war effort.

“I’m not conscious of that at all,” he said. “The truth is that we have said ‘yes’ to the request of the UAE for the E-7 Wedgetail aircraft. That’s operating there, with personnel. We continue to provide the support that we have been asked to provide.”

Pressed on Trump’s comments, Albanese said: “He hasn’t asked. So, I’m not going to go through hypotheticals. We have done what we have been asked to do. I don’t intend to comment on all of what someone else says.”

Marles, also appearing on Saturday, reiterated that there had been no request from Washington for Australia to assist with unblocking the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump has spent weeks pressing allies – particularly North Atlantic Treaty Organisation members – to support the war or assist in reopening the strait, through which a fifth of the world’s oil supply ordinarily moves.

On Monday (US time), Trump called out Australia, Japan and South Korea for not assisting in the operation, at the same time as he said the US did not need their help. “WE NEVER DID!” he said in that post.

However, on Thursday, the leaders of the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Japan said they were ready to contribute to “appropriate efforts” to help unblock the crucial shipping passage.

The British government has now also signed off on allowing the US to use UK military bases for “defensive operations” to degrade Iranian missile sites and capabilities that are being used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

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The choking of global oil supplies has sent the price of Brent crude above $US110 a barrel, placing pressure on consumers and governments around the world.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced late on Friday (US time) that he would temporarily lift long-standing sanctions on Iranian oil to boost supply and calm markets.

“At present, sanctioned Iranian oil is being hoarded by China on the cheap,” Bessent said on X.

“By temporarily unlocking this existing supply for the world, the United States will quickly bring approximately 140 million barrels of oil to global markets, expanding the amount of worldwide energy and helping to relieve the temporary pressures on supply caused by Iran.

“In essence, we will be using the Iranian barrels against Tehran to keep the price down as we continue Operation Epic Fury. This temporary, short-term authorisation is strictly limited to oil that is already in transit and does not allow new purchases or production.

“Further, Iran will have difficulty accessing any revenue generated, and the United States will continue to maintain maximum pressure on Iran and its ability to access the international financial system.”

The move to contain oil prices came as Trump said the US was getting close to achieving its objectives in Iran and that he was considering “winding down” military operations.

He listed those objectives as: degrading Iran’s missile capability, destroying its industrial base, eliminating its navy and air force, preventing it from getting close to developing nuclear weapons, and protecting the US’ Middle Eastern allies such as Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and others.

Trump suggested the US might withdraw and leave policing the strait to allies that were more dependent on oil exports from the Middle East.

“The Hormuz Strait will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other Nations who use it - The United States does not!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“If asked, we will help these Countries in their Hormuz efforts, but it shouldn’t be necessary once Iran’s threat is eradicated. Importantly, it will be an easy Military Operation for them.”

But Trump’s statement seemed at odds with his administration’s move to send more troops and warships to the region and request another $US200 billion ($284 billion) from Congress to fund the war.

The president also rejected the idea of declaring a ceasefire in Iran for now, and expressed confidence that the Strait of Hormuz would “open itself” despite allies’ reluctance to offer assistance.

“It’s a simple military manoeuvre. It’s relatively safe,” he said. “But you need a lot of help, in the sense of: you need ships. You need volume. NATO could help us, but they, so far, haven’t had the courage to do so. And others could help us.”

https://archive.vn/accqK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MlIEwU2Sj8

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Sydney Harbour hosts 31 international warships for navy anniversary

Sydney Harbour is hosting the largest gathering of international warships in over a decade as Australia’s navy marks a historic milestone.

Anna Shreeves - March 21, 2026

The Royal Australian Navy has welcomed a fleet of 31 international warships into Sydney Harbour, marking its 125th anniversary with a powerful display of global maritime cooperation.

From 6am on Saturday, the ships cruised through the waterway, heading west towards the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

At 2pm, a ceremonial Fleet Review will be held in what is set to be the largest gathering of international warships on Sydney Harbour in more than a decade, with 31 ships from 19 countries assembled in the historic port.

While fleet reviews were once wartime preparations, this commemorative event now signifies the unity of global partners and their collective dedication to maritime security and international cooperation.

Vessels from 19 nations sailed into Sydney Harbour on Saturday March 21 for the Exercise Kakadu Fleet Review, commemorating 125 years since the foundation of Australia’s Navy.

The review is being held in conjunction with Exercise Kakadu, the Royal Navy’s premier multinational maritime exercise.

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Governor General Sam Mostyn will be joined by the Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, Defence Force chief Admiral David Johnston and Navy chief Vice Admiral Mark Hammond will all conduct the ceremonial review of the Australian and international ships.

“The Fleet Review highlights the depth of our partnerships across the region, demonstrating the strength of the relationships and the importance of working together to ensure a secure maritime domain,” ADM Hammond said.

“For 125 years, Australia’s navy has defended our nation, protected our maritime approaches and supported regional stability but we have never done it alone. Our partners and allies have played a critical role in our 125-year history.”

An aerial display is to fly overhead at 2:45pm followed by a ceremonial gun salute an hour later.

The display of naval might will conclude with a historical flotilla procession at 6.45pm.

The fleet will be visible from several key vantage points, including Woollahra’s Lyne Park, the Sydney Opera House and the Rose Bay Foreshore.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/sydney-harbour-hosts-31-international-warships-for-navy-anniversary/news-story/35885b2395882bc706bea1ebe8e53110

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=po6rTU1xAFo

https://www.navy.gov.au/community-engagement/events/2026-03-21/exercise-kakadu-fleet-review

https://www.navy.gov.au/navy-activities/exercises/exercise-kakadu

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Exercise Kakadu 2026 (KA26)

Royal Australian Navy

Mar 18, 2026

Exercise Kakadu is the Royal Australian Navy’s premier multinational maritime engagement exercise, conducted biennially to strengthen maritime security cooperation, enhance interoperability, and build partnerships across the Indo-Pacific.

Exercise Kakadu 2026 (KA26), held 2-31 March, will involve more than 6,000 personnel from Australia and 18 partner nations, with activities conducted across northern and eastern Australia.

Through multinational training, professional exchange and complex maritime scenarios, KA26 strengthens collective readiness and enhances the ability of maritime forces to operate together in demanding environments, supporting a region that is safe, secure and prosperous.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5X7C9NFagQ

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Australia joins UK, Japan pledging ‘appropriate efforts’ in Strait of Hormuz

Australia is now among 22 countries issuing a stark warning after Iran’s actions threaten global energy supply and international security.

Nathan Schmidt - March 22, 2026

Australia has joined other US allies pledging readiness to “contribute to appropriate efforts” to ensure safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz after the Albanese government said it would not send warships to the region.

The United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan and Canada jointly issued the March 19 statement which condemned Iran for its attacks on commercial ships and the “de facto closure” of the Strait of Hormuz.

On Sunday, the statement was updated to include commitments from Australia, as well as New Zealand, Estonia, Romania, Sweden and Norway, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.

US President Donald Trump has been pressuring US allies, including the NATO alliance, to step up defensive actions in the strait, where about one fifth of the world’s oil transits.

The statement noted disruptions to international shipping and global energy supply chains “constitute a threat to international peace and security” under United Nations Security Council Resolution 2817, and called for a moratorium on attacks on civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas installations.

“We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait. We welcome the commitment of nations who are engaging in preparatory planning,” the statement read.

“We welcome the International Energy Agency decision to authorise a coordinated release of strategic petroleum reserves.

“We will take other steps to stabilise energy markets, including working with certain producing nations to increase output.

“Maritime security and freedom of navigation benefit all countries. We call on all states to respect international law and uphold the fundamental principles of international prosperity and security.”

Last week, Defence Minister Richard Marles said Australia had not received any request from the United States in relation to the strait.

“We’re not contemplating sending a ship, but we we’ve not received a request,” he said.

That comment mirrored remarks last week by Transport Minister Catherine King, who also noted Australia had not been asked to, and was not contemplating, sending warships to the strait.

“Been very clear about what our contribution is in relation to requests, and so far that is to the UAE, obviously providing aircraft to assist with defence, particularly given the number of Australians that are in that area in particular,” she told ABC Radio National.

“But we won’t be sending a ship to the Strait of Hormuz.

“We know how incredibly important that is, but that’s not something that we’ve been asked (or) we’re contributing to.”

On the weekend, Mr Trump told Sky News he was “very surprised” Anthony Albanese did not send troops to the Middle East.

Asked about his criticism of Australia, South Korea and Japan, Mr Trump said he would like them to “get involved”.

“I was a little bit surprised they said no … we always say yes to them.”

The Republican has ramped up criticism of US allies who he has accused of failing to meaningful enter the war on Iran after the United States and Israel’s surprise attack.

Iran overnight reportedly fired missiles towards the US-UK military installations on the Chagos Islands, also known as the British Indian Ocean Territory.

The attack is the farthest reaching yet by the Islamic Republic three weeks into the war.

https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/australia-joins-uk-japan-pledging-appropriate-efforts-in-strait-of-hormuz/news-story/d637c33ec43ebe4ead303da9eff83362

https://x.com/mofauae/status/2035326341596446810

https://www.mofa.gov.ae/en/MediaHub/News/2026/3/21/UAE-Strait-of-Hormuz

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Bowen warns of future ‘bumps’ in oil supplies as six ships cancelled

Nicola Smith - Mar 22, 2026

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Energy Minister Chris Bowen has foreshadowed disruptions to fuel supply due to the Middle East conflict, revealing that six out of about 80 monthly fuel tanker deliveries to Australia in the next month have been cancelled or deferred.

However, he stressed the government was not currently planning to invoke emergency powers to ration fuel as prices surge and some petrol stations run dry because of Iran’s threat to supplies transiting the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Bowen told ABC Insiders that the government’s latest stocktake had shown that the level of petrol and diesel available in Australia had slightly risen since before the United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran three weeks ago.

The country had 38 days’ worth of petrol and 30 days of diesel and jet fuel as both of its onshore refineries worked “full pelt” and supply ships delivering from Asia were arriving “in good numbers”, said Bowen.

“The flow of oil to Asian refineries has slowed, and that has had downward impacts on us,” he said.

“But also, I don’t want people to think … all the ships are coming now, and one day they’ll all stop in one go. That is highly unlikely to be the case.

“It’s much more likely that there’ll be bumps in supply, but that governments will work with the refiners and the importers to manage those and minimise impact.”

The energy minister said the government was “aware” of six fuel tanker deliveries that had been cancelled or deferred out of an average of 81 per month, adding that “some of those have already been replaced by the importers and refiners with other sources”.

He did not specify which ships had been cancelled, signalling only that they were from a combination of Australia’s main suppliers in Asia, and that some replacement shipments were coming from Malaysia.

Malaysia is Australia’s top supplier of crude and the third-largest source of petrol and diesel. The nation last week warned that shipments to Australia could be interrupted if the conflict in the Middle East drags on.

China and South Korea have already imposed export curbs on some refined fuel products, raising the stakes for Australia, which imports about 90 per cent of its oil.

Bowen said cancellation of the six ships was not linked to government policy. “It’s a matter of the refineries seeing some supply problems with their crude oil, which is then impacting on their ability to deliver to their customers, including Australia, but not exclusively Australia.”

A government source, speaking on condition of anonymity to talk more freely, confirmed the ships had been diverted elsewhere due to the spot market, adding that the government was consulting closely with diplomatic partners to secure supplies.

The crisis underscored the government’s commitment to establishing a strategic fleet of Australian-flagged ships to be called upon during national emergencies, said the source.

Security and industry experts have warned for years that the nation’s lack of Australian-flagged and -crewed fuel tankers, large cargo vessels, or international trading ships has left it more vulnerable to supply chain shocks.

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The National Security Committee, which draws together senior cabinet ministers and intelligence agencies, will continue to meet throughout the week to update contingency plans on fuel supplies. But Bowen confirmed the government was not currently considering invoking powers under the 1984 Liquid Fuel Emergency Act.

“It’s never been invoked, ever, not through the first two Gulf Wars, COVID. It’s not designed to be invoked lightly,” he said. “I would need to be satisfied that there’s a real shortage and that the powers under that act are useful.”

The legislation is designed to manage severe national-level liquid fuel shortages, allowing the minister to direct industry to manage stock, prioritise essential users and implement rationing.

“We are not contemplating at this point needing to use any of those powers,” he said, adding that the existence of the law should still reassure Australians that there were plans for worst-case scenarios.

The government is set to introduce legislation next week to increase the penalty from $50 million to $100 million for misleading and deceptive conduct in fuel supply, as part of a wider effort to ensure the distribution of supplies and avoid shortfalls in remote regions.

Bowen said there was no “one-size-fits-all” approach to tackling the global fuel crisis in response to sweeping recommendations from the International Energy Agency, including working from home and limits on the number of cars on the road.

Working from home was already part of Australian life, but it was not an option for everyone, said Bowen.

“I think people would already be looking at their options to minimise their fuel use … So I don’t think a one-size-fits-all approach is necessary.”

https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/bowen-warns-of-future-bumps-in-oil-supplies-as-six-ships-cancelled-20260322-p5rmfv

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRtjElNJk2s

Labor’s Malinauskas secures second term in landslide despite significant One Nation surge

Rob Harris - March 22, 2026

Peter Malinauskas has claimed a commanding second-term victory in South Australia, using a landslide result to call for a more generous and inclusive politics even as a surging One Nation carved deeply into the major parties’ vote.

With counting well advanced on Saturday night, Labor was on track to secure at least 32 of the 47 seats in parliament, cementing the premier’s authority despite a modest primary vote swing against the government. The Liberals were reduced to a handful of seats, while One Nation’s vote surged across regional and working-class areas, securing the seat of Hammond and boosting its upper house presence.

In a victory speech that leaned as much on tone as triumph, Malinauskas reached beyond his base, invoking the bush ethos of Henry Lawson’s poem The Duty of Australians to frame his appeal for unity.

“When we all combine, we can achieve anything,” he said. “When we work together, diversity has always been our greatest strength.

“If we focus on what unites us – a shared love of living in a peaceful, prosperous place, a state full of hard-working people that value care and compassion – then we can harness this moment with our newfound confidence.”

The result delivers Labor one of its strongest mandates in the state’s history, even as it underscores a shifting political landscape. Labor’s primary vote settled around 38 per cent, ahead of One Nation on about 21 per cent and the Liberals languishing near 19 per cent – a dramatic collapse of 16 per cent from four years ago.

Malinauskas, careful to temper the scale of the win, warned colleagues against complacency.

“Although this is a historic result, although it is the best result our party has ever achieved, it’s very important that no one confuses tonight’s result as adulation,” he said. “Instead, we should see it as only being an invitation to continue to work our guts out for the next four years.”

The premier confirmed he had received concession calls from Liberal leader Ashton Hurn and One Nation’s Cory Bernardi, signalling a willingness to work across an increasingly fractured parliament.

“I say to both Ashton and Cory, along with leaders of other political parties elected tonight, that my government stands ready to work with each and every one of you for as long as it is in the interests of South Australians,” he said.

The scale of the Liberal defeat was quickly apparent. Hurn conceded before 9.30pm, describing the outcome as “a tough night” and acknowledging the need for deep reflection. The party’s vote collapsed in suburban Adelaide and across key regional centres, squeezed by Labor on one side and One Nation on the other.

The party’s primary vote was sitting at single digits in several seats, including Kaurna, Reynell, Cheltenham, Ramsay, Florey, Elizabeth, Port Adelaide, Playford, Black, Giles, and Hurtle Vale.

Former leader Vincent Tarzia was among the casualties, losing Hartley.

“There’s absolutely no doubt about it, that things are tough,” Hurn said. “And lessons must be learnt.

“The voters never get it wrong. It’s up to us to heed their advice. Now is the time to come together as a party.”

The rise of One Nation, led federally by Pauline Hanson, translated strong polling into electoral gains, with at least one lower house seat. The party’s state leader Bernardi secured an upper house seat for himself and declared an “earthquake” had rattled the major parties.

Hanson said she felt “vindicated”, pointing to the result as part of a broader national shift. “I think the rest of Australia is going to be watching what’s happening here tonight,” she said, linking the outcome to looming contests including the Farrer byelection and November’s Victorian poll.

She later added the surge was “just the start”, describing an “undercurrent” of voters turning away from the political mainstream.

“It’s not just a protest vote … you have no idea what the hell has happened in this country, there is a movement and there is an undercurrent, and it is people saying we’ve had a gutful, we want our country back,” she said.

The election result reinforces Labor’s dominance – the party has now won five of the past six state elections – but also highlights the volatility beneath the surface. More than a third of votes were cast early, and several seats will remain in doubt for days as complex preference flows are counted.

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/malinauskas-on-the-cusp-of-victory-as-one-nation-hit-by-election-day-scandal-20260321-p5rmby.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqzkQ3J-PlA

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Coalition plans assault on One Nation’s credibility to avoid South Australia-style wipeout

Paul Sakkal - March 22, 2026

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Opposition Leader Angus Taylor will lead an assault on One Nation’s credibility and warn about Pauline Hanson’s aim to form government, in a new plan to avoid a South Australia-style drubbing at a federal by-election in May.

As Prime Minister Anthony Albanese warned on Sunday against attacks on multiculturalism, the Coalition is planning to reveal big-picture economic reform, put more focus on its anti-net zero stance, and explain to voters the economic pain that would be caused by Hanson’s zero-immigration policy.

“There’ll be no ‘deplorables’ moment,” one senior Liberal source, who asked to remain anonymous in order to discuss internal party matters, said, referring to Hillary Clinton’s infamous remarks about Donald Trump’s supporters.

A Liberal MP added: “Just like Labor savages the Greens to keep progressives in the tent, we need to do the same on our side.”

South Australian Labor Premier Peter Malinauskas was re-elected with a thumping majority on Saturday. The Liberal Party will be left with about four lower house seats, with votes bleeding to One Nation, whose primary vote of 22 per cent was higher than that of the Liberals at 19 per cent.

Albanese delivered a veiled warning against One Nation’s brand of politics in a speech in Melbourne on Sunday.

“There are some, including some in political life, who want to turn back the clock to an Australia that is no longer who we are,” he said at the Immigration Museum in the CBD, warning about politicians harking back to the White Australia era.

“We need to call out those people.”

The federal Coalition’s senior shadow cabinet members held talks on Friday to formulate a strategy to claw back support from One Nation. A day later, the populist outfit rocked the political establishment by out-polling the Liberal Party in South Australia. It is also polling ahead of the Coalition nationally.

After months of confusion about how forcefully to attack Hanson and her recruit, Barnaby Joyce, the Coalition group reached consensus that it must attack Hanson and reject calls from conservative commentators to form some sort of right-wing coalition with her party.

Five sources familiar with the opposition’s strategy meeting, unable to talk about the confidential meeting publicly, confirmed elements of the discussion. The Liberal Party and Nationals directors, Andrew Hirst and Lincoln Folo, delivered briefings on voter attitudes towards One Nation, as the parties prepared to use social media to mobilise against One Nation ahead of the Farrer byelection sparked by Sussan Ley’s retirement.

Although Saturday’s South Australian election was influenced by local factors, the surge of support for One Nation proved that Hanson could turn support in opinion polling into votes, although preference distribution may mean the party ends up with only one seat.

Ahead of the Farrer byelection, Taylor is planning to announce the Coalition’s own plan to cut the migration intake. But the opposition wants to highlight the folly of reducing net migration to zero, as Hanson proposes, by warning tradespeople how badly the building sector would be hurt.

Opposition MPs intend to target what they see as Hanson’s hubris as she aims to supplant the Coalition.

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Nationals senator Matt Canavan received blowback from some sections of his right-wing base after he labelled Hanson’s brand of race politics divisive earlier this month. The opposition is wary of being criticised for attacking Hanson personally given her tendency to portray herself as a persecuted figure speaking for the voiceless.

Hanson has claimed she is aiming to win an election, a prospect Coalition MPs want to elevate in the public discourse.

“Even her supporters think the prospect of her running the country is ridiculous,” one Liberal MP familiar with party research said.

Echoing remarks from frontbencher James Paterson, the opposition will also point out that 70 per cent of MPs elected under the One Nation banner have quit the party, and that Hanson had achieved few policy wins.

MPs who attended the Friday meeting acknowledged it was critical to differentiate the Coalition from One Nation by offering voters a compelling economic vision on tax and material living standards as it aims to release major policies midterm rather than just before the election as they did last term.

Opposition health spokeswoman Anne Ruston blamed the state election collapse on the Coalition’s inability to articulate its values.

“Australians don’t know what we stand for,” she said on Sky News’ Sunday Agenda. “History would suggest to you that that’s probably not the case. You know, we’ve seen the rise and fall of One Nation on numerous occasions around the country.”

Malinauskas outlined a vision for progressive patriotism in his acceptance speech on Saturday, showing the salience of the national debate over identity and culture that is fuelling One Nation’s rise.

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/coalition-plans-assault-on-one-nation-s-credibility-to-avoid-south-australia-style-wipeout-20260322-p5rmga.html

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Albanese urges 'vigilance' against those seeking to 'turn back the clock' on Australia

Jake Evans - 22 March 2026

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The prime minister says the country must be "vigilant" against politicians seeking to return to a bygone era of Australia that was less accepting of migrants, following the South Australian election in which One Nation overtook the Liberal Party on a platform that included opposing migration and multiculturalism.

With just over half of the vote counted, One Nation has received about 22 per cent of the vote in SA, with the Liberals trailing behind at 19 per cent — an enormous 16.9 per cent swing against the party, almost entirely to the benefit of One Nation.

One Nation's federal party proposes deporting about 75,000 migrants currently residing in Australia on overstayed visas, capping visas to 130,000 a year, and banning migration from countries "known to foster extremist ideologies".

The party also opposes multiculturalism.

Barnaby Joyce, who defected to One Nation last year, told Sky News this morning that if people were upset by the party's demand for assimilation, "then be upset".

"When you get cultural Balkanisation, you get friction, you get heat, you get death," Mr Joyce said.

"We took a long while to get over the Catholic-Protestant thing, and we don't want to go back there again.

"There has got to be a form of assimilation … you have to conform with an Australian culture no matter where you come from."

Labor mounts defence of multiculturalism

One Nation has maintained an anti-immigration stance since its inception in the 1990s, but the party has rarely received more than a fraction of the federal vote.

Mr Joyce said the party's result at the SA election confirmed months of polling showing One Nation was no longer on the fringe of politics.

At his victory speech on Saturday night, returned Premier Peter Malinauskas reflected on a conversation he'd had with a Vietnamese man at a polling booth that morning, who had expressed pride in being able to vote.

Mr Malinauskas then read a poem about patriotism written by Henry Lawson not long after federation at the turn of the 20th century.

"It is the duty of Australians in the bush and in the town to forever praise their country, but to run no other down," Mr Malinauskas read aloud.

"It is our duty when he is foreign and his English very young to find out and take him somewhere where he will hear his native tongue."

The premier said Australians should be proud of Australia's "distinct" patriotism, which "sometimes means sitting with a stranger and having a cuppa or a frothy, and having an argument about the footy, not our faith".

This morning, speaking at an event recognising Vietnamese Australians, Mr Albanese mounted a defence of multiculturalism, saying Australia at its best was a beacon to the world of how a nation could be enriched by people of different faiths and backgrounds coming together.

Mr Albanese noted that it was only just before the wave of Vietnamese refugees arrived in Australia in the late 1970s that the former Whitlam government officially ended the longstanding White Australia policy, which restricted non-European immigration to Australia.

"We need to be vigilant. There are some, including some in political life [who] want to turn back the clock to an Australia that is no longer who we are, and we need to call out those people, and we need to continue to cherish our diversity as a strength for our nation, which it is," Mr Albanese said.

"The fact that people have come from all over the world … people who are now our doctors, our nurses, our teachers, our academics, our construction workers, our people who have made such an incredible contribution to Australia. We should not take it for granted."

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The ongoing war in Gaza has fuelled social tensions in Australia, and on Friday the prime minister was heckled while attending Eid prayers at a mosque in Lakemba, in western Sydney over the government's stance on the conflict.

Those social tensions have fed the debate on immigration to Australia, particularly after the antisemitic terror attack at Bondi Beach last year.

Liberal South Australian senator Alex Antic said One Nation's result at the state election was a reaction from voters who were never asked whether they supported "mass migration".

"This is the reality of the Australia we have created. It is a very, very different place … we now are seeing an Australia which is divided on a range of grounds, some of them religious, some of them demographics of economics," Senator Antic told Sky News.

"I don't think Australians ever asked for what they saw in the footage [at the Lakemba mosque]."

Push to cut migration

Net overseas migration has fallen from its peak of 755,000 over the year to September 2023, after borders reopened post-pandemic, to about 306,000 last financial year.

But while the migration rate has fallen close to pre-COVID levels, the issue remains a priority for voters, the majority of whom, according to Lowy Institute polling, say remains too high.

On Friday, Shadow Immigration Minister Jonno Duniam said while the migration rate had returned to its long-term average, Australia needed time for infrastructure and services to catch up.

"It'd be fine to bring those people in if you had put in place the houses, the hospital beds, the schooling places, the roads and rail needed for them to get about efficiently, all of that would be fine. But the reality is we haven't," Senator Duniam told 2GB.

"We've got to catch up with what people in this country need in order to preserve the way of life we have."

Australia however also faces a shortage of workers in critical fields, including health care and housing construction, and is reliant on migration to fill those gaps.

The Coalition campaigned at the 2025 federal election with a promise to slash migration to ease pressure on housing, and suffered the worst defeat in its history at that election.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-22/albanese-defends-multiculturalism-after-one-nation-swing-in-sa/106483540

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPhZGIFc9iw

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Zev Serebryanski avoids further jail over child sexual abuse of Manny Waks in a Melbourne synagogue almost four decades ago

A child abuser exposed making “stock pedophilic justifications” for his behaviour in a documentary has learned his fate.

Liam Beatty - March 20, 2026

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A child abuser caught on a hidden documentary camera making “damning admissions” has avoided further jail time after a jury found him guilty of four crimes.

Zev Serebryanski, 62, was sentenced to 22 months imprisonment in the County Court of Victoria on Friday morning however 19 months of the sentence was “wholly suspended” for a period of three years.

With three months spent on remand in a New York prison before his extradition to Melbourne in 2023 recognised as time served, Serebryanski walked free from court.

The convicted abuser showed little reaction but was seen at one time turned to the right with his hands cupped to his ear as Judge John Kelly read his sentencing remarks.

Almost four decades earlier and aged between 22 and 24, Serebryanski sexually assaulted Manny Waks, then a boy aged between 10 and 12, at the Yeshivah Centre in St Kilda East, a synagogue and learning centre for Melbourne’s Jewish ultra-orthodox community.

Mr Waks, now a prominent advocate for survivors of child sexual abuse in Jewish communities, has given permission to be identified in relation to the case.

The court was told on the first night of the religious Shavuot festival in 1986, 1987 or 1988, Serebryanski followed Mr Waks upstairs at the centre when he went to rest on a bench about 1am to escape the “noisy debate” of the men downstairs.

Mr Waks gave evidence Serebryanski had previously made him feel uncomfortable at community events by staring at him.

Serebryanski began groping the young boy before leading him into a women’s bathroom where he sexually assaulted him.

He was found guilty late last year by a jury of three counts of indecently assaulting a person under the age of 16 and sexually penetrating a child aged between 10 and 16.

The court was told Serebryanski, who was born in New York City, moved to Melbourne with his parents and five siblings aged six for his father to serve as a minister for the ultra-orthodox Jewish community.

He returned to the United States in 1994 where he remained working a computer programmer until his arrest on April 19, 2023.

In 2017, Serebryanski was confronted outside his brownstone apartment by Mr Waks and Israeli journalist Yuval Agassi who secretly recorded the interaction with a hidden car key-shaped camera for a documentary about pedophiles in Jewish communities outside of Israel.

Judge Kelly said Serebryanski made “several damning admissions” and a “partial apology” in the footage which was played at trial but also gave “stock pedophilic justifications” for his behaviour, including claiming he was only following Mr Waks’ lead.

“I was completely infatuated with you and wanted to do what I thought you wanted,” he said at one point in the footage.

The judge told Serebryanski: “All child sex offending is grave, aberrant, transgressive and exploitative … it does enormous damage”.

“It is an attack on innocence, it is an attack on childhood.”

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Judge Kelly said the abuse had left a profound impact on Mr Waks but applauded him for his “tenacity” in becoming a victims’ advocate.

He said Mr Waks’ father had been “shunned” by the community for supporting his son, but noted Serebryanski was not responsible for this, rather it was a demonstration of the “collateral effect”.

Multiple character references were provided to the court, with Judge Kelly saying they described Serebryanski as a “moral, charitable member of his community”.

Rabbi Shimon Hecht, who leads a Brooklyn Synagogue and has known the convicted abuser for 25 years, said he was a “trustworthy and respectful person” and a “integral member of the Synagogue”.

Judge Kelly said he accepted Serebryanski was emotionally, socially and sexually immature due to his restrictive upbringing.

He said he did not belief Serebryanski would offend again and found his prospects for rehabilitation are “sound”.

“I do not believe you will reoffend; the trauma of being arrested in New York, the confinement in detention there for three months and the extradition to Melbourne should deter you,” he said.

Outside of court, Serebryanski did not respond to questions from the media, with his lawyer Tony Hargreaves remarking; “go away”.

Ahead of the hearing, Mr Waks said from his perspective, the sentence makes “little difference”.

“My battle is over. I got him convicted for his heinous crimes against me - it’s now up to the judge to decide his sentence,” he said.

“My ongoing battle has never been about revenge or retribution - rather, it’s about justice, accountability and prevention.

“I’m really looking forward to finally putting all of this behind me and to move forward.”

https://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/courts-law/zev-serebryanski-avoids-further-jail-over-child-sexual-abuse-of-manny-waks-in-a-melbourne-synagogue-almost-four-decades-ago/news-story/aa9a78e3ab706c37008fb85ed44afc61

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Velvel Serebryanski, convicted of sexually abusing Manny Waks, walks free from court

Natasha MacFarlane - 20 March 2026

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A member of Melbourne's ultra-orthodox Jewish community now living in Israel says he feels vindicated and free despite his abuser walking free from court and avoiding more jail time.

Velvel Serebryanski, 61, was last December found guilty of three counts of indecent assault and one count of sexual penetration of a child between 10 and 16.

On Friday the Victorian County Court handed Serebryanski a 22 month jail sentence, with 19 months suspended, meaning he would only be required to serve three months behind bars.

But because he had already spent time on remand in the United States in 2023, Serebryanski was able to walk free from court.

Serebryanski was also handed a three-year good behaviour bond and is now a registered sex offender.

Manny Waks, 49, who now lives in Israel, was of primary-school age when the assault happened in the women's bathrooms of Melbourne's Yeshivah Centre synagogue, in St Kilda East, in the 1980s. The assault occurred on the first day of Shavuot, an annual Jewish celebration.

Mr Waks watched the sentence being handed down by videolink from Israel in the early hours of Friday morning.

After the hearing, Mr Waks celebrated the outcome and described it as a significant milestone.

"I feel vindicated and that justice has prevailed," he said.

"I know he has walked away today but … for me it's not about punishing him and making him miserable for the rest of his life.

"It hasn't been about revenge and retribution, it's about justice, accountability and prevention."

Since 2011, when Mr Waks went public with the assault, he has been a vocal advocate for Jewish victims and survivors of child sexual abuse.

He founded several organisations to help support and give a voice to abuse victims within the ultra-orthodox Jewish community.

Mr Waks was an advocate for victim-survivors in the case against Malka Leifer, the former principal at the ultra orthodox Adass Israel School in Melbourne.

Mr Waks was also successful in advocating for the 2015 Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual abuse to examine the response to allegations of child sexual abuse by three people at the Yeshivah Centre and the Yeshivah College in Melbourne.

He says while he is still dealing with the ongoing trauma of the assault, he will continue to fight for victim-survivors and will move towards helping people deal with PTSD and their mental health struggles.

"Years ago, uttering the words 'child sexual abuse' wasn't really accepted. You could see people feel uncomfortable," he said.

"[But] when I started talking about this issue, we have seen there has been a significant change in society.

"There is a lot to be done, but probably the most important thing is to talk about it openly and to change the culture around these issues."

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Perpetrator 'socially cloistered', exploited trust

In sentencing Serebryanski, Judge John Kelly acknowledge his cloistered upbringing within the ultra-orthodox Jewish community in Melbourne, and his lack of access to mainstream media and sexual education.

Justice Kelly described the abuse of Mr Waks, who was only 10 or 12 at the time, as profound.

"Your abuse of him occurred inside one of the most sacred sites in the Jewish community, the synagogue," Justice Kelly said.

"You knew the victim's family, they trusted you … you exploited a high holy day."

Justice Kelly also denied Serebryanski's claims about how the offending unfolded.

"You said you were only following the victim's lead … that you were the inexperienced one … you suggested he was more sexually advanced than you," Justice Kelly said.

"I accept that you were unworldly and socially cloistered.

"But it does not excuse your offending."

Serebryanski extradited to Australia in 2023

The court heard how Serebryanski, who was in his early 20s at the time, had developed a sexual interest in Mr Waks, and followed him upstairs at the Yeshivah Centre one morning at 1am, where he had gone to rest during a late night study session during Shavuot.

The prosecution outlined that Mr Waks had become aware he was being followed and lay down on a bench near another boy thinking it would be the safest place to be.

However, Serebryanski came over to Mr Waks and began touching him around his groin, undid his belt and unzipped his pants.

Serebryanski then led Mr Waks to the women's bathroom and continued to assault Mr Waks by touching his genitals and performing oral sex.

The court also heard how Mr Waks felt like he "blacked out" at some point and didn't know how long the assault lasted, but remembered getting up from the bathroom floor, dressing himself, and being in a state of shock over what had happened.

As an adult, Serebryanski moved to New York, but was eventually extradited back to Australia in 2023 after he was arrested and spent time in a New York jail.

In 2017 Mr Waks tried to confront Serebryanksi about his offending, and turned up at his home in New York with a documentary film maker.

During that filmed interaction Mr Waks received an apology from Serebryanski, who denied, in part, his guilt.

'"I tried to do what I thought you wanted and … as it seems now that it had caused you pain, I am extremely sorry for that," Serebryanski said at the time.

"I never wanted that … that was the last thing I wanted."

Justice Kelly took that interaction into consideration in sentencing and described his remorse as "tricky".

Serebryanski was also described in court as "compassionate, trustworthy and charitable" by multiple character references put forward by friends.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-20/velvel-serebryanski-walks-free-court-manny-waks-sexual-abuse/106478824

https://7news.com.au/video/news/paedophile-walks-free-after-historical-abuse-conviction-bc-6391242178112

https://qresear.ch/?q=Manny+Waks