Key events
Sydney to swelter through Sunday before cold front brings relief
Sydney has been staring down the barrel of its hottest March day as it swelters through a weekend heatwave but a cold front sweeping through southern Australia is expected to bring relief later on Sunday.
A hot air mass settled across south-east Australia on Saturday, bringing temperatures as high as 44C in Ceduna, South Australia and above 42C in other parts of the state.
Victoria peaked at above 40C, with the mercury reaching 35C in Melbourne. Further north, temperatures spiked to around 39C in Western Sydney, with a very warm night developing.
The Bureau of Meteorology says there’s more hot whether in store until the fever breaks with senior meteorology Jonathan How says New South Wales can expect to see maximum temperatures of between 6c and 12c above average.
That means we will see temperatures soaring into the mid-to-high 30s inland, even pushing 40C through western parts of the state.
We’ll see temperatures reaching the mid-to-high 30s, including the Illawarra, the Hunter and in Sydney, the temperature will reach 37C in the city and 37C-to-38C in Western Sydney.
How also warned of increased fire risk across New South Wales, South Australia and parts of Victoria.
Australia willing to consider joining peacekeeping effort in Ukraine
Anthony Albanese has told European allies that Australian would consider contributing to a future peacekeeping effort in Ukraine.
The PM spoke to the UK prime minister Keir Starmer and other European leaders overnight where he committed Australia to a “Coalition of the Willing” that would continue to provide support to Ukraine as it seeks to defend itself against Russia.
Albanese described Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as “imperialistic” and said Australia would continue to stand with Ukraine “for as long as it takes”.
It is the right thing to do and it is in Australia’s national interest. Because what happens in the Euro-Atlantic has serious implications for our region – the Indo-Pacific – and vice versa.
This is a struggle not just for the people of Ukraine and their national sovereignty. This is a struggle for the international rule of law.
President Putin’s regime has imperialist designs, for Ukraine and beyond.
The PM said Australia has already committed $1.5bn to help Ukraine defend itself, including $1.3bn in military support including equipment and training.
The “Coalition of the Willing” is a throwback to the collection of companies that George Bush organised to facilitate the invasion of Iraq.
Greens leader Adam Bandt will speak to ABC insiders host David Speers on Sunday.
Meanwhile Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell has been doing the rounds on Sky News this morning, with the Coalition’s Sussan Ley following on his heels.
We will bring you the latest as it happens.
Good morning
Royce Kurmelovs
And welcome to another Sunday morning Guardian live blog.
Anthony Albanese has told the UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, that Australia will consider joining a future peacekeeping effort in Ukraine as part of a “coalition of the willing”. Albanese made the pledge in a virtual meeting overnight where he reiterated Australia’s support for Ukraine in its defence against Russia.
Sydney is braced for a very hot day with gusty winds after a warm evening but the Bureau of Meteorology says a cool change is on the way. A cold front has swept through South Australia and parts of Victoria overnight, and is expected to bring relief through the Sydney area later on Sunday.
I’m Royce Kurmelovs and I’ll be taking the blog through the day.
With that, let’s get started …
