Australia news live: NSW anti-slavery commissioner questions handling of Iranian football squad’s departure; earthquake felt north of Canberra

Anti-slavery chief questions process before football squad returned to Iran; Queensland police say car found near flood zone. Follow updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastChalmers maintains country well-placed to deal with the ‘worst’ of the economic fallout from Middle East conflictTreasurer Jim Chalmers said this morning the government is not considering a cut to the fuel excise amid the turmoil in the Middle East, but maintained the country is well placed to weather the economic impacts of the ongoing war.I can assure people that we have enough fuel in total and where there are issues in particular regional areas or different pockets of Australia, we work closely with the industry and the ACCC to try and ensure supply to those areas. … Obviously we share that concern about developments in the Middle East flowing through to our own economy.We won’t be immune from these developments, but we are incredibly well placed as a country and as an economy to deal with the worst the world can throw at us.This conflict in the Middle East is already putting additional pressure on Australians. We understand that. Continue reading...