Australia news LIVE: October 7 anniversary commemorated; Qantas ...

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Back to world news, and Florida is preparing for its largest evacuation since 2017 as Hurricane Milton intensifies on its path toward the US state’s western coast, coming on the heels of the devastating Hurricane Helene.

While forecast models vary widely, the most likely path suggests Milton could make landfall Wednesday in the Tampa Bay area and remain a hurricane as it moves across central Florida into the Atlantic Ocean.

Discarded items from homes that filled with floodwater from Hurricane Helene in St Petersburg, Florida.Credit: AP

That would largely spare other southeastern states ravaged by Hurricane Helene, which caused catastrophic damage from Florida into the Appalachian Mountains and a death toll that rose to at least 230 people.

Hurricane Milton is intensifying rapidly and will likely be a major hurricane before it slams into the storm-ravaged Gulf Coast midweek.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said while it remained to be seen where Milton would strike, it was clear the state was going to be hit hard.

“I don’t think there’s any scenario where we don’t have major impacts at this point,” he said.

“You have time to prepare — all day today, all day Monday, probably all day Tuesday to be sure your hurricane preparedness plan is in place,” DeSantis said.

“If you’re on that west coast of Florida, barrier islands, just assume you’ll be asked to leave.”

With Milton achieving hurricane status, this is the first time the Atlantic has had three simultaneous hurricanes after September, according to Colorado State University hurricane scientist Phil Klotzbach. There have been four simultaneous hurricanes in August and September.

DeSantis expanded his state of emergency declaration to 51 counties and said Floridians should prepare for more power outages and disruption, making sure they have a week’s worth of food and water and are ready to hit the road.

About 7 million people were urged to evacuate Florida in 2017 as Hurricane Irma bore down on the state. The exodus jammed freeways, led to hours-long lines at gas stations that still had fuel and left evacuees frustrated and, in some cases, vowing never to evacuate again.

Reuters, AP

Coalition frontbenchers Bridget McKenzie, Michaelia Cash, Simon Birmingham and Jane Hume have attended a pro-Israel event outside Parliament House to commemorate the anniversary of October 7 and condemn anti-Semitism.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott and Israel’s ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, were also there, as were independents Bob Katter and Jacqui Lambie.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott addressing the crowd outside Parliament House.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Abbott, who addressed the crowd, spoke about contributions made by Jewish people to Australia as he shared his hope they would always be able to “thrive and flourish in the greatest country on earth”.

“This is a tragic day, but it’s also, in a way, a brave day. Because while we grieve for the dead, and we mourn with those who mourn, we also admire the courage, the resilience, the ‘never say die’ spirit, and that yearn to triumph, which exists in the Israeli people and the Israeli government,” he said.

Describing a “day of infamy” that occurred last year, Abbott said Hamas militants who attacked southern Israel had been unlike “even the Nazis” who sought to hide their actions.

“That’s why it is absolutely right that these murderers and the organisations which put them to it, should be utterly destroyed. And that’s exactly what the Israeli government has been doing every day since then,” he said.

“And sure, we lament the civilian casualties, and we admire the way that Israel has been so incredibly fastidious in trying to avoid them, and we admire the extraordinarily clever and successful way in which the Israeli military and government have fought back.

“May God bless the Israeli nation, that mighty warrior nation, in its great struggle. And I’m happy to be here with all of you in solidarity with them.”

Former Australian treasurer Josh Frydenberg is holding out hope for the safe return of hostages on the anniversary of the October 7 attacks on Israel.

“There’s a lot of sadness today. There’s also hope – hope that the 101 remaining hostages can return,” he told Sky News Australia.

“There’s also a sense of resolve, a sense that Israel, which is fighting a war on seven separate fronts in the West Bank, in Gaza, in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and against the Houthis – and of course, the puppet master, Iran – that Israel is making gains at great cost against the terrorists.

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“One hopes that there can be peace in the Middle East but certainly right now, it’s a very dark time.”

Frydenberg said he had been “very disturbed” by the extent of antisemitism released after the attacks.

The former treasurer, who is Jewish, said antisemitism was not just the Jewish community’s problem.

“This is Australia’s problem because these are Australia’s values that are being undermined,” he said.

“This has been Australia’s social cohesion that has been broken, and we need stronger leadership across the board if we’re going to bring Australians together, as we should, not see them move further apart.”

In world news, New Zealand’s defence force has launched a formal court of inquiry into the “shocking” sinking of HMNZS Manawanui, which sank at the weekend after striking a reef in Samoa’s south.

The embarrassing disaster is NZ’s first naval loss during peacetime, and first since World War II.

HMNZS Manawanui in a file [photo.Credit: New Zealand Police via AP

It has also started the clock on an urgent clean-up job, and investigation into whether the wreckage can be salvaged from the sea floor.

On Saturday night, the 85-metre vessel ran aground about two kilometres south of the Samoan village of Siumu, causing Captain Yvonne Gray to order the crew to abandon ship via life rafts and smaller vessels.

All 75 on board – including seven scientists and four non-NZ military personnel – made it to shore in rough seas, which took at least five hours during the night.

One life raft capsized on the reef, requiring those on board to walk to shore on the reef, where several required medical treatment.

On Sunday morning, the listing boat caught fire and sank.

Defence Minister Judith Collins said her top priority, given all crew were safely transported from the sinking vessel early on Sunday, was “the environmental side”.

“It’s got a lot of oil on board. It’s got all sorts of things. It’s got lubricating oil, hydraulic oil, diesel ... it’s got a lot of stuff in it,” she told Newstalk ZB.

“I don’t think we can leave it like that.”

The Manawanui, a specialist hydrographic vessel, was in the region to map the ocean floor in the area for the first time in almost 40 years.

“They were dealing with a reef that has changed ... there have been earthquakes, there’s been tsunamis, there’s been changes to that reef and that’s why that survey was taking place,” Collins said.

She said the court of inquiry, which will take up to two months, would explain how the ship lost power and ended up on the reef.

AAP

Good afternoon, and thanks for reading the national news blog.

I’m Cassandra Morgan, taking over from Josefine Ganko. If you’re just joining us, here’s a look at what you’ve missed so far today.

Politicians are commemorating the anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel as vigils and solemn ceremonies are held across Australia to mark one year since the deadly events.In NSW, a sunrise vigil overlooking the water at North Bondi in Sydney marked the anniversary, while both pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian vigils are planned around the city this evening.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to attend a vigil in Melbourne tonight. A pro-Palestine vigil is also planned.The prime minister said in a statement this morning that Jewish Australians had felt the “cold shadows of antisemitism” since October 7 last year.Qantas will fly Australians from Cyprus to Sydney on two flights, with the first plane carrying 220 people expected to land on Tuesday evening.Outgoing NDIS Minister Bill Shorten has suggested it’s time for Victoria to consider implementing a permit system for protests, like that in NSW.Iran’s foreign ministry has summoned the Australian ambassador in Tehran over what it said was his country’s biased stance on Iran’s attack against Israel, drawing the ire of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The department said: “The Australian government condemned Iran’s reckless missile strikes on Israel. They were a dangerous escalation and increased the risks of a wider regional war.”Australia has seen a 300 per cent surge in antisemitic comments and threats in the past year, according to Jewish leaders who say their community feels under siege.

Keep following the national news blog with us into this evening.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has hit back at Tehran for summoning Australia’s ambassador to Iran, stating Australia “makes no apology” for its views and describing Iran’s missile attacks as a “dangerous escalation”.

Earlier this morning, Iranian state-media outlet Tasnim reported that Australia’s top diplomat in Iran, Ian McConville, was summoned due to Australia’s “repeated bias”, including on Iran’s response to what it called “the Zionist regime”, meaning Israel.

It comes after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemned Iran’s ambassador to Australia Ahmad Sadeghi for praising slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah as a “blessed martyr”.

In a statement, DFAT backed Australia’s stance against Iran.

Australia’s ambassador to Iran, Ian McConville.Credit: DFAT

“Australia makes no apology for the views it has expressed about Iran’s actions or the actions of its ambassador to Australia,” the department said.

“The Australian government condemned Iran’s reckless missile strikes on Israel. They were a dangerous escalation and increased the risks of a wider regional war.

“The Australian government continues to call on all parties to exercise restraint and de-escalate. The destructive cycle of violence in the region must stop.”

Victorian farmers are preparing for the potential arrival of a strain of deadly bird flu that has the power to devastate the state’s poultry industry.

More than 1 million birds have been destroyed due to an H7N3 outbreak at seven Victorian poultry and duck farms this year, but the Victorian Farmers Federation says farmers are now preparing for the potential arrival of the H5N1 strain.

More than one million chickens have been destroyed since the bird flu outbreak in May.Credit: Jason South

H5N1, the deadliest strain of the flu, known as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, primarily affects animals, but of 900 human infections across the globe, more than half were fatal, according to the World Health Organisation.

It has also led to an unprecedented number of deaths in wild birds and poultry across the globe.

The current H7N3 outbreak is mainly concentrated in the Golden Plains region in the state’s north-east, which produces a quarter of Victoria’s eggs.

Victorian Farmers Federation vice president Danyel Cucinotta said additional urgent action was needed to bolster biosecurity measures to protect the state’s poultry farmers from the H5N1 strain.

“We cannot afford to be complacent,” she said today.

“The H5N1 strain is a serious threat to both our poultry industry and our environment.”

It’s believed the H5N1 virus will enter Australia through wild birds. No cases of H5N1 avian influenza have yet been detected in Australian animals but there are concerns it could cause significant damage to native wildlife and poultry.

Billions of animals are believed to have died in the global outbreak, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health.

AAP

Australia has had a 300 per cent surge in antisemitic comments and threats in the past year, according to Jewish leaders who say their community feels under siege.

“These are numbers without precedent in this country and an increase without parallel anywhere in the world,” said Alex Ryvchin, the co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, a peak body.

“It is incumbent on all Australians to fight this hatred. It cannot be that it is the Jewish community alone who stands up to this.”

Co-chief executive Alex Ryvchin and head of legal Simone Abel of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry held a press conference this morning.Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

Lawyer Simone Abel said reports gathered by the group included Jewish students at universities being spat on, told to “go home to Europe” and threatened.

“Today being a Jewish student, academic or employee at an Australian university is a toxic experience,” she said at a press conference in Double Bay.

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“It’s being fuelled by extremist outside interference and also by carefully concealed foreign funding which we need to expose and get to the bottom of.”

She declined to give specific information about outside influence fuelling antisemitism, saying more research was being done on the topic.

“Unfortunately until the universities can even recognise and agree on what antisemitism is, we have a serious problem.”

Ryvchin claimed many people attending pro-Palestine demonstrations were antisemitic and questioned whether they were really concerned about civilian casualties in Gaza.

At least 40,000 people are thought to have been killed by Israel in Gaza since October last year and 101,000 injured, according to data endorsed by the World Health Organisation and the United Nations.

“The 40,000 is a Hamas figure,” Ryvchin claimed.

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“Before citing 40,000 you need to understand that we’re dealing with 18 to 20,000 Hamas fighters.

“If they [protesters] were concerned for civilian loss of life they could do it on any other day,” he said.

The war should continue until Hamas was destroyed, Ryvchin said.

“I think the line of all civilisation and humanity was crossed on October 7,” he said.

“The fact that a single civilian has died is a tragedy but it’s the fault entirely of Hamas.”