Key posts
- Greens say more detail on Voice needed
- Albanese covered in petals as he works on India trade deal
- Russians claim control over Bakhmut’s east
- This morning’s headlines at a glance
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Greens say more detail on Voice needed
The Greens have joined the opposition in demanding more detail on the Indigenous Voice to parliament, while a key adviser on Labor’s Indigenous expert panel also called for the government to release more information.
Greens First Nations spokeswoman Dorinda Cox, who strongly supports the Voice and who has pledged to work with Labor, said the Albanese government “needs to communicate what the referendum is all about more effectively”.
Greens First Nations spokeswoman Dorinda Cox.Credit:James Brickwood
Cox said: “There is no pathway to Truth and Treaty if we have a No vote to Voice”.
In sharp contrast with Lidia Thorpe, her predecessor as the Greens’ spokesperson, Cox said she wants “to work with the Albanese government and secure a Yes vote, but I’m also saying where is Makaratta [treaty]?”
Read more on what detail the Greens want for the Voice.
Albanese covered in petals as he works on India trade deal
Meanwhile, a cascade of flowers welcomed Anthony Albanese to India during a Hindu festival that saw the prime minister covered in petals while surrounded by dancers and musicians.
The prime minister called his return to India, a country he first visited as a backpacker, one of the “honours of my life” while celebrating the Holi festival with political leaders in the northern city of Ahmedabad.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during a Holi celebration in Ahmedabad, India.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
Albanese began his official visit with a stop at the Sabarmati ashram where Mahatma Ghandi once lived, a place visited by thousands today.
With Australian exports to India worth more than $24 billion, according to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, this week’s visit is seen as a way to accelerate a larger trade agreement between the two countries.
Read more on the prime minister’s visit to India here.
Russians claim control over Bakhmut’s east
The head of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group says his fighters have captured all the eastern part of Bakhmut, and NATO’S secretary general said the rest of the Ukrainian city could fall to the invading army in the next few days.
But as one of the bloodiest battles of the year-long war ground on amid the ruins, Ukrainian defenders – who last week appeared to be preparing for a tactical retreat from Bakhmut – remained defiant.
Volunteer soldiers prepare to fire towards Russian positions close to Bakhmut.Credit:AP
Ukrainian military and political leaders now speak of hanging on to positions and inflicting as many casualties as possible on the Russians to grind down their fighting capability.
Read the full story courtesy of our world desk.
This morning’s headlines at a glance
Good morning, and thanks for your company.
It’s Thursday, March 9. I’m Caroline Schelle, and I’ll be anchoring our live coverage for the first half of the day.
Here’s what you need to know before we get started:
- Australians face using a record share of their pay to cover mortgage costs as housing becomes less affordable. This comes after the 10th consecutive rate rise from the Reserve Bank.
- Staying with economic news, bank gains from the rate rises are “all but done” and they are now trying to attract customers with better deals for savers.
- Kooyong MP Monique Ryan and her estranged chief-of-staff Sally Rugg could have settled their dispute over working hours for under $300,000, and now Australia’s Attorney-General has been drawn into the case.
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is the first Australian leader to visit India since 2017, and is seeking to strengthen a trade deal with the country.
- The Greens have called for more detail on the Voice to parliament, to ensure a Yes vote while a key adviser said the referendum risked “dying on principles”.
- In overseas news, Ukraine has lost control over the eastern part of the key city of Bakhmut, but fighters remain defiant.
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