Australia news live: volcano erupts in Java; Sussan Ley to outline defence priorities

Indonesia’s Mount Semeru is the highest peak on Java island and its eruption has prompted evacuations. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastContinuing on from that last post:Ley will also focus on Australia’s role in resolving tensions within our region but warns Australia will have to “credibly deter others” from using force by increasing Australia’s military power and honour commitments it has made to defend friends and allies.Australia should make its view known that the realisation of one nation’s destiny cannot be through the destruction of another’s.Australia must be able to credibly deter others from using force. We must make the cost of using aggression too high to endure. We do this through increasing our military power and the commitments we make to defend our friends and allies.We cannot shape our region and the wider world in our interests if we do not strengthen our defence force, hone our intelligence capabilities and have the tough conversations. Continue reading...