Australia live news update: Albanese meets King and British PM ahead of Queen’s funeral; Australia won’t ban Russian tourists

Australia won’t be banning Russian tourists: Marles

Marles also won’t be drawn into making calls for Russia to leave Crimea and restore Ukraine’s border to where it stood in 1991, saying only that the Ukrainian government must be “empowered” to determine its future “on its own terms”.

Marles is also asked about whether Australia will follow other countries and prevent Russian tourists from entering the country.

We have a range of sanctions in place and the focus of our sanctions is on the Russian government, those who are perpetrating what has happened in relation to Ukraine, not focused on the Russian people themselves, so this is not something we are considering at the moment, but we are very much a part of the global base of sanctions against the Russian regime.

Similar visa bands in Europe have been contentious with critics charging that their implementation binds the Russian people closer to the Russian government by cutting off avenues of escape from crackdowns on dissent.

Deputy PM Richard Marles.
Deputy PM Richard Marles. Photograph: François Mori/AP

Updated at 20.55 EDT

Key events

It’s a bit wet in Victoria today. Check the warnings in your area and look after yourselves.

Updated at 21.19 EDT

Pressure mounts on Pacific campaign to recognise climate harm in international law

An alliance of activists, students and environmental groups have staged a flotilla outside of the United Nations headquarters in New York as part of a push by Pacific islands countries to have the International Court of Justice consider climate change.

The protesters called for a yes vote on a bid by Vanuatu for an International Court of Justice advisory opinion on climate change as part of a long-running campaign by Pacific nations.

The opinion would clarify legal questions related to climate change such as states’ obligation to other countries and may have implications for climate change litigation.

Sepesa Rasili, senior campaigner at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said in a statement the moment was a “wake up call for leaders and representatives” arriving at the UN General Assembly.

“Pacific youth have experienced untold devastation, and know the worst is yet to come,” Rasili said. “Yet despite this, they are not looking to assign blame or create division. Instead, they are simply looking to protect the world’s most vulnerable, for all of humanity, and our collective future.”

Leaders should heed this message, and translate it to action. An ICJ advisory opinion will have real global impact, including cementing consensus on the scientific evidence of climate change, compelling more ambitious action under the Paris Agreement, and integrating human rights law and environmental law.

Voting yes to the ICJ advisory opinion resolution at the UN General Assembly is a simple act, but an incredibly powerful one. With a single vote, states can help ensure Pacific island nations have a greater voice on the international stage, and provide a legal framework for countries around the globe.

For more on the movement to recognise climate harm at law, read this story by Guardian Australia’s Pacific editor Kate Lyons:

Updated at 21.23 EDT

Minutes of the Reserve Bank of Australia’s board meeting will be watched closely, with analysts on the lookout for more clues regarding future rate hikes, AAP reports.

The minutes, due on Tuesday, will provide some context for the fifth consecutive rate hike that was announced by the central bank on 6 September.

The RBA came under scrutiny last week, with governor Philip Lowe and senior staff grilled by a parliamentary committee about its aggressive rate-hiking strategy.

During the hearing, Dr Lowe said the board would likely be choosing between a 25 basis-point or 50 basis-point increase at the next rate decision in October.

Updated at 21.15 EDT

Arrest made after fatal stabbing outside Brisbane gym

An alleged murderer has been arrested after a stabbing execution outside a Brisbane gym.

Queensland police arrested the 24-year-old man after five days on the run.

Levi Johnson was killed on Monday when two cars boxed in his vehicle and four men began smashing the windows.

Johnson escaped across the road but was caught by his attackers who stabbed him multiple times before he died at the scene.

Updated at 20.52 EDT

Magnitude 2.2 earthquake near Melbourne

If you felt the earth shake in Melbourne this morning, it was a 2.2-magnitude earthquake.

The movement follows a 6.6-magnitude quake near Taiwan overnight.

Taiwan is regularly hit by earthquakes as the island lies near the junction of two tectonic plates. The island does not issue tsunami warnings unless a quake is more powerful than magnitude 7.0.

Some earthquakes of 6.0 or more can prove deadly, although much depends on where the quake strikes and at what depth.

Updated at 20.59 EDT

Kieran Pender

Kieran Pender

The Wollongong 2022 road world championships get underway

The UCI Road World Championships has just got underway in Wollongong this morning.

The elite women’s time trial, a 34km race against the clock, is the opening event of a week-long festival of cycling.

The #Wollongong2022 road world championships are underway! Germany’s Ricarda Bauernfiend the first down the ramp. This is the first time in @UCI_cycling history that the men and women have contested the same course over the same distance on the same day. And the view isn’t bad! pic.twitter.com/rJwQsvHG8G

— Kieran Pender (@KieranPender) September 17, 2022

Australia’s Grace Brown is on the course now and is considered a medal contender, after winning gold in the discipline at the recent Commonwealth Games. Tasmania’s Georgia Baker will ride later this morning.

The men are racing this afternoon – Lucas Plapp will be Australia’s lone representative. Today’s time trials are a significant step towards gender equality in cycling; it is the first time the world titles have been decided on the same day, across the same distance on the same course.

Updated at 20.33 EDT

Albanese pays tribute to the Queen, remains unmoved on republic

Josh Butler

Josh Butler

Prime minister Anthony Albanese says it was a “great honour” to meet King Charles in London, but says he hasn’t had cause to reconsider his views about the monarchy and its value to Australia.

Albanese is in the UK to attend Queen Elizabeth’s funeral. Overnight (Australian time) he met new British PM Liz Truss, as well as having an audience with the King, after attending the Queen’s coffin lying in state at Westminster Abbey and signing the condolence book.

Today Jodie and I signed the condolence book at Lancaster House. In this time of great grief, we are thankful to be here paying our respects to the Queen for her services to duty, faith, family and the Commonwealth. pic.twitter.com/YF2cWvapxW

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) September 17, 2022

At a press conference soon after, Albanese – a long-time supporter of an Australian republic – spoke warmly of his meetings.

I was given the honour of an audience with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace and that was a great honour and an opportunity for me to express my personal condolences to King Charles but also condolences on behalf of Australia.

Albanese called his visit to Westminster “a very emotional experience”. He has been asked numerous times about a potential Australian republic, and has consistently said this is currently not the time for such a conversation.

However, asked at the press conference whether his week in London had led him to “revise any views that you have about the monarchy and its value to a society”, Albanese also pushed back.

No, I think this is something that is about respect for Queen Elizabeth and her quite extraordinary service over 70 years, and that’s something that I’ve admired and respected for a long period of time.

It was an honour to meet with His Majesty King Charles III at Buckingham Palace. I extended my personal condolences and those of the Australian people to the King. pic.twitter.com/2mP4yfZzRt

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) September 17, 2022

The PM said King Charles would be “always a welcome visitor” to Australia. Palace protocols dictate that meetings with the monarch are off-record, so Albanese didn’t give any details of their conversation, other than to call it a “very good” chat.

Albanese was also asked about King Charles’ environmental and climate advocacy.

I’m not going to discuss any of that detail either, as protocol requires. But King Charles, of course, has been on the record on his views over a very long period of time about environmental issues and including about climate change.

Updated at 20.05 EDT

‘My position hasn’t changed’: Marles on his support for the republican movement

Finally Marles is asked whether it is possible to reconcile the Queen’s death and his support for the republican movement.

Irrespective of one’s views about our constitutional arrangement, I think Australians have been really moved by what has occurred. There has been an outpouring of grief. I felt that myself. Partly it is about – this is around event that has never occurred in our lives before. There is a sense of history in the moment, and I think whenever that happens, we all kind of walk down an introspective path about our own life’s journey, but it is about the person, about her, a person who has given a life of unparalleled service and wanting to show gratitude to that.

On the republican movement itself:

My position hasn’t changed but we will have plenty of time to talk about all that. The other point to make is that the foundational questions in our country matter. The ones we are focused on in this term of government, the Uluru Statement from the Heart, voice to parliament, that’s what the Albanese government will be focusing on in this term, and we will have plenty of time to do all of that.

Right now, though, I think it is fair that we acknowledge the life of a genuinely remarkable human being and a person who has given an enormous amount of to our nation.

Anthony Albanese signs a book of condolence at Lancaster House in London.
Anthony Albanese signs a book of condolence at Lancaster House in London. Photograph: Reuters

Updated at 19.52 EDT

Australian submarine design ‘not a competition’ between US and UK

There are a series of questions about interoperability of hardware to enable the Australian defence forces to be able to use and swap military material with their counterparts in the US. Speers asks if this raises questions about the type of submarine that is going to be developed, but Marles stresses the design – yet to be determined – is “not a competition” between US and UK options.

It is important not to see the whole process when it comes to submarines as some kind of competition between the United States and the United Kingdom because it genuinely isn’t. Both countries are working very closely with us to help us acquire this capability. To walk down this path is a huge step for our nation.

Updated at 19.54 EDT

Marles on Aukus and Australia’s efforts to obtain nuclear subs

Marles:

The most important platform that can have in shaping its strategic circumstances in building strategic space for diplomacy, for trade, is a long-range capable submarine, and what is absolutely clear, as we move into the 2030s and 2040s, that will require that submarine to be nuclear-powered.

The recharging of batteries in a conventional submarine and what is required there is going to make that capability increasingly redundant as we get into the 2030s, and 2040s, as important as the Collins class submarines have been for us up to this point of time.

We are committed to acquiring this capability.

Australian Collins class submarines at HMAS Stirling Royal Australian Navy base in Perth.
Australian Collins class submarines at HMAS Stirling Royal Australian Navy base in Perth. Photograph: Richard Wainwright/EPA

Updated at 19.46 EDT