News and politics live updates: Jane Hume rules out One Nation alliance, leaves door open for preferences

Environment Minister Murray Watt says more bird deaths are expected following the confirmation of a local transmission of the H5 bird flu strain in Australia.

His comments come after authorities decalred a mass mortality event on an island off South Australia’s south-east coast involving greater crested terns.

“The reality is that we are going to see increased numbers of birds die as a result of this virus. And of course, it can potentially get into mammals as well. So grim news ahead,” he told Radio National.

“Australia is the last continent on earth to have this strain of bird flu come to our shores. It was inevitable that it would come here at some point, but the fact that it has taken a bit of time means that we are well prepared as a country.”

Mr Watt warned the virus was also likely to spread to mammals, including quolls and Tasmnaian devils, as the outbreak evolves.

He said the Federal government had been working to removed feral animals from habitats supporting threatened native species to improve their chances of surviving future disease outbreaks.

“If we can be removing those feral animals and undertaking other activities that build up the resilience of those populations, it means that even if we do lose some of those species to bird flu, we still have a viable population left to rebuild into the future,” he said.

Jane Hume has ruled out any prospect of the Coalition governing alongside One Nation after the next Federal election, while leaving open the possibility of preference arrangements during the campaign.

After categorically rejecting the idea of a coalition with Pauline Hanson’s party on Sunday, the acting Opposition leader reiterated her position when questioned again.

“Not on my watch,” she told Channel Nine.

“Never under my watch will there be a coalition between the Liberal Party and One Nation.

“We are not forming a coalition with One Nation. I can guarantee you of that.”

Ms Hume was less definitive when asked whether the Liberal party would direct preferences to One Nation at the next election, saying those decision would be made clsoer to polling day.

“Preferences are always a discussion that occurs just before an election, once we know who the candidates are, once we know what their policies are,” she said.

Wall Street’s main indices have opened higher on the first trading day of August as signs of de-escalating tensions in the Middle East dragged down crude prices while investors prepared for another week packed with earnings and economic data.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday said talks with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz would take place sometime on Monday although Iran contradicted him.

Brent crude prices slid more than 5.5 per cent while the yield on the two-year Treasury note dipped 3.9 basis points.

Most megacap and growth stocks rose in early trading.

Amazon.com gained 4.8 per cent to reach $US3 trillion ($A4.3 trillion) in market value for the first time.

Traders also weighed a potential consolidation in the healthcare sector after a report said Bristol Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca held preliminary merger talks.

with Reuters

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Donald Trump has declared Iran has a “last chance” to reach a nuclear agreement, claiming talks “are going on right now.”

Speaking in the Oval Office, the US President said the talks were expected to lead the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and provide a pathway for Iran to address US concerns over its nuclear program.

“The first phase is the opening of the straits. The second phase will be the denuclearisation,” Mr Trump said, adding that the process “will take a little time.”

“They are going on right now,” he told reporters when asked about the status of the negotiations, saying the discussions were taking place at the request of Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, among others.

“This is a last chance for them to sign a good document,” Mr Trump said, referring to Iran.

But earlier on Monday, Iran insisted there were no talks underway with the Unites States, prompting Mr Trump to take to social media to accuse Tehran’s leadership of being “unbelievably duplicitous”.

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