Morning Mail: Iran vows to fight on, capital gains tax benefit in wealthy suburbs, drone surveillance fears
First message in the name of new supreme leader says Iran will continue oil blockade; richest Australians take bulk of CGT discount, report says
Morning everyone. A message issued in the name of Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has vowed to fight on and continue blocking oil supplies, while Donald Trump risked a Marie Antoinette moment by saying that America makes money when oil prices go up.
Iraq has pleaded with Australia to repatriate suspected Islamic State fighters released from prison in Syria, a report shows how a few wealthy urban enclaves account for a huge chunk of capital gains tax discounts, and the creators of the hit show Deadloch talk crocs and Olivia Colman.
Australia
Capital gains tax | Property investors in the wealthy electorate of Wentworth in Sydney’s eastern suburbs claimed about $1.8bn from the 50% capital gains tax discount, according to new research. It reveals how a handful of rich enclaves in Australia’s two biggest cities account for a fifth of the annual benefit from the tax break.
Fighter plea | A senior Iraqi government official has implored Australia to repatriate a group of suspected Islamic State fighters, raising the issue with Canberra’s ambassador just weeks after the detainees were transferred out of Syria to a prison in Baghdad.
Iran inquiry | Australian police investigated a complaint involving an Iranian regime-linked handler for the nation’s football team after a group of activists alleged he threatened to kill them at a Women’s Asian Cup match last week.
Water block | Conservation groups have accused the US mining company Alcoa of blocking scrutiny of the effects of its operations on Perth’s drinking water after new documents revealed catchment inspectors were shut out of its sites.
New South Wales | A state minister says she is “not going anywhere” amid mounting calls for an independent review into why the state government allowed a convicted triple killer to live in a home with two foster children.
World
‘The enemy will be vulnerable’ | Iran has issued its first message in the name of its new supreme leader. In a statement read out on TV but not delivered live or on video, Khamenei said Iran would keep the strait of Hormuz closed and continue to attack US bases. Trump has dismissed the economic toll the war is taking on petrol prices across the United States, writing on social media that “when oil prices go up, we make a lot of money”. Oil markets are now facing the “largest supply disruption in history” as the war continues to block tankers from producing and shipping millions of barrels of crude each day, the world energy watchdog has warned. Israel has issued a sweeping new displacement order for south Lebanon and the UK defence secretary says Vladimir Putin’s hand can be seen behind Iranian drone tactics. Trump also said Iran should not participate in the upcoming World Cup “for their own life and safety”. Follow developments live.
US | A man who rammed his vehicle into a Michigan synagogue on Thursday is dead after he was confronted and shot at by security staff.
Moscow outage | Muscovites have been turning to walkie-talkies and pagers amid unexplained disruptions to internet services in the Russian capital, as the Kremlin appears to ramp up control over online activity.
‘I lived in fear’ | A woman imprisoned and forced to work for a mother of 10 for more than a quarter of a century in “Dickensian” conditions has said nothing can give her back her lost years as her abuser was sentenced to 13 years.
‘Unbelievably unequal’ | Just 1% of Mexicans own 40% of the country’s wealth, a report has shown, and the fortunes of the country’s 22 billionaires doubled in last five years, reaching unprecedented collective wealth of US$219bn.
Full Story
Newsroom edition: Labor is walking a tightrope as the politics of war hits Australia
Jo Tovey sits down with Gabrielle Jackson, Mike Ticher and Ben Doherty to discuss the tests Labor faces back home as Australia’s involvement in war in the Middle East escalates.
In-depth
Police drones have been operating over Moree since early January with the NSW force spruiking the advantages of the hi-tech tactic. But Ima Caldwell and Jack Larkin report on critics’ worry about the impact of increased surveillance on an Aboriginal community scarred by generations of distrust in law enforcement.
Not the news
As the Emmy-nominated Deadloch returns for a second season, Walter Marsh catches up with its creators, Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan, about crocs (there’s lots of them), comedy set-pieces and Olivia Colman.
Sport
Football | The Matildas’ hopes of Asian Cup glory have been dealt a major blow after star duo Hayley Raso and Steph Catley were ruled out of tonight’s quarter-final with North Korea in Perth. And David Squires casts his sardonic eye over the impossible situation Iran’s women’s team faced at the tournament.
Formula One | Max Verstappen has once more expressed his discontent with the new Formula One regulations and warned that he would leave the sport if he ceased to enjoy it.
Football | Aston Villa are taking on Lille in the Europa League this morning while Nottingham Forest play Midtjylland soon.
Media roundup
A man died while being restrained by police in Melbourne’s inner north, the ABC reports. Angus Taylor is set to unveil his tax proposals, according to The Australian. And students at Deakin University are demanding a refund for fees after claiming that lectures are being delivered by AI, the Geelong Advertiser reports.
What’s happening today
Canberra | Senate inquiry resumes into job and program cuts at the CSIRO at Parliament House.
Melbourne | A candlelight vigil at 8pm for off-duty security guard Aidan Becker, who was stabbed to death at Mernda train station on 6 March.
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