TRANSCRIPT
- Australian rescue teams say saving lives is their first priority after a deadly earthquake in Vanuatu
- The Opposition criticises the government's economic management
- Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior named FIFA men's player of the year
Australia's disaster assistance response team has laid out their goals on deployment to Vanuatu following a deadly 7.3 magnitude earthquake.
The Red Cross has raised the death toll to 14 so far, with numerous aftershocks registering up to 6.1 in magnitude complicating rescue efforts in the capital Port Vila.
Three Royal Australian Air Force transport planes are departing for Vanuatu today, carrying the AUS-1 DART disaster assistance response team.
Taskforce leader, Chief superintendent Douglas May, says the coordinated team is made up of firefighters, paramedics, volunteer engineers, canine handlers and doctors.
He says priority number one is saving the lives of those trapped under collapsed buildings.
"Ultimately we know there are lives to be saved there right now. We're hearing it from the ground live. So absolutely, that is the first priority. After that, we'll be able to help locate the deceased and then helping with any other disaster assistance that the country might request that we're able to provide such as water purification supply or what we call 'beyond the rubble' work to help them make areas safe or giving some advice on how to go about taking the next steps until the medium and long-term recovery efforts begin."
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles says there are no reports of Australian casualties from the earthquake.
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The Federal Opposition has criticised the Albanese government following a mid-year budget update that projects significant budget deficits to come.
After two consecutive surpluses, Treasurer Jim Chalmers has confirmed the budget is headed for four deficits in a row, amounting to $143.9 billion, almost $22 billion more than projected in May.
Projections have shown a $1.3 billion improvement in the budget bottom line for the current financial year which is now set to result in a deficit of $26.9 billion.
Opposition spokesman for Treasury Angus Taylor says the government's spending is unsustainable and Australians are paying the price.
"This is the biggest spending government we've seen outside of wartime and crisis. We've seen seven consecutive quarters of family recession, of household recession, where G-D-P has gone backwards. We've never seen that before in this country. Australians are paying a price for a government that has simply had the wrong priorities and has consistently made the wrong decisions when we're facing a cost of living crisis and we're facing an economy that has been grinding to a halt."
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his ground forces will continue to occupy a buffer zone on the border with Syria seized after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown by rebels.
The Israeli military has used the instability in Syria to seize land along the border and rain down hundreds of air strikes across the country in a fierce bombardment they claim is aimed at insuring Israel's security.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has delivered an address on the Syrian side of the strategic Mount Hermon summit, looking down upon Damascus.
He says his forces will not leave the demilitarized done until security guarantees are granted by Syria's new leadership.
"I am here on the summit of Mount Hermon with the Defence Minister, the IDF Chief-of-Staff, the Head of Northern Command, the Director of the ISA and senior commanders. We are holding this assessment in order to decide on the deployment of the IDF in this important place until another arrangement is found that ensures Israel's security."
Meanwhile, Israel has pledged on Sunday to double its population in the occupied Golan Heights.
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In football,
Brazil and Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior has been named FIFA men's player of the year in Doha, with Spain and Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati winning the women's award for the second year in a row.
Vinicius scored 24 goals in 39 appearances across all competitions to help Real Madrid clinch the LaLiga and Champions League double, scoring in their Champions League final win.
The Brazilian won the award ahead of Spain and Manchester City midfielder Rodri and his teammate at Real, England's Jude Bellingham.
The 24-year-old, who narrowly missed out on the Ballon d'Or to Rodri in October, was in Doha to collect the award.
“Truly, I am very happy. This is a dream come true. To come from a very poor place in Brazil and to get here is something improbable, but not impossible. And I’m here today for all the kids who dream big and so they know they can get here. And I’m going to continue to fight so that we can keep doing more big things for soccer.”
