Australia news live: ski fields reach July temperature high; diesel prices surge

Liberal senator ‘strongly disagrees’ with Tony Abbott on multiculturalismThe Liberal senator Andrew Bragg says he “strongly disagrees” with Tony Abbott after the former prime minister said that multiculturalism had “failed in Australia”.Bragg has been asked on the ABC’s Insiders about the comments made by Abbott, the current president of the Liberal party, in a video posted to social media.Bragg says: double quotation markWell, I don’t agree with that, and I’d make the point that liberalism has actually created multiculturalism because it creates a framework for people to have freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of conscience. And the Liberal party built modern Australia, if you look at the Menzies government opening up after the war, the Holt government abolishing parts of the White Australia policy, and then, of course, Malcolm Fraser’s actions to promote multiculturalism and introduce things like the SBS. So we have a very proud record to stand on, and I think it’s very important that we’re clear about that. Asked if Abbott should stop commenting on the issue, Bragg says: “He’s entitled to his views, and I strongly disagree with them.”Liberal senator Andrew Bragg. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAPKey events12m agoLiberal senator ‘strongly disagrees’ with Tony Abbott on multiculturalism1h agoSki fields reach July temperature high on SaturdayTom McIlroyJane Hume says Hanson’s UK tour ‘un-Australian’The deputy Liberal leader, Jane Hume, has criticised Pauline Hanson for statements about migration and multiculturalism at the CPAC conference in London, telling Sky she condemns the One Nation leader’s comments.“I think that they were unnecessary. They were divisive. They were inflammatory, and they were totally un-Australian,” Hume said.“That’s not the way we operate in Australia. We have had a proud history of multiculturalism. We’re a great migrant nation.”Hume said Hanson was wrong to lament the removal of the White Australia policy in the 1960s and 1970s. double quotation markIf we’re going to have the prosperous and progressive society that we have always wanted, that we’ve always enjoyed in Australia, we need to make sure that we have a migration program that’s delivering for our country, that’s driving productivity, not taking away from it, but restoring a White Australia policy is not part of that. Deputy leader of the opposition, Jane Hume. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAPTom McIlroyHanson ‘taking us nowhere’ on divisive race debate: LaborPauline Hanson’s appearances with far-right activist Tommy Robinson and at a conservative political conference in London have been criticised at home, with Labor frontbencher Andrew Charlton calling the One Nation leader “incredibly divisive”.Pauline Hanson listens to a speech by Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage at the CPAC Great Britain summit. Photograph: Carl Court/Getty ImagesThe assistant minister for science, technology and the digital economy told Sky News Hanson’s comments about migration and multiculturalism weren’t adding to the national political debate.“Australia is a multicultural country,” he said. double quotation markWaves of migrants have added a huge amount to our country, and I just think it’s incredibly divisive to be saying that some groups should be here and suggest that other groups shouldn’t be here. Now that’s divisive, and importantly, I just don’t think it takes us anywhere as a nation. It doesn’t address any of the real challenges that we have in this country. It’s not building new homes. It’s not helping people with cost of living. It’s not reforming our tax system. Luca IttimaniRising fuel prices could force interest rate riseShane Oliver, chief economist at AMP, said fuel prices could rise another 10 cents as the rebound in oil prices had not yet fully flowed through, in a note on Friday.Oil prices would rise further if the conflict in the Middle East continued and global stockpiles ran short, Oliver said. double quotation markThe longer the strait remains closed and the war escalates, the greater the risk that oil prices will have to rise to around $US150/barrel to bring demand down to match the hit to supply. Prices are set to rise a further 16 cents when the federal government’s partial fuel relief expires on 2 August. Oliver predicted the government would extend the excise cut.Rising prices would add to inflation, increasing the chance of an interest rate hike from the Reserve Bank. Markets on Friday were betting on a 65% chance of a hike by December, up from about 50% a week earlier.Luca IttimaniDiesel prices rise 15 cents in five daysDiesel prices have risen 15 cents a litre in five days as Donald Trump’s war in Iran lifts global oil prices.Oil and fuel costs have risen to their highest levels in over a month. Brent crude oil prices fell to nearly US $70 a barrel after the mid-June peace deal between the US and Iran but have risen to US$88 after over a week of strikes.Rising oil costs have pushed up wholesale prices for diesel and petrol, with service stations passing the increase on to motorists.Diesel prices have risen from 192.8 to 209.9 cents per litre from Monday to Saturday in Melbourne, according to MotorMouth average data. Diesel hit 207.1 cents in Brisbane, 205.1 in Sydney, 204.3 in Adelaide and 201.5 in Perth.Unleaded petrol prices are up seven cents per litre in a week, at 177.5 cents per litre in Brisbane, 175.8 in Melbourne and 172.5 in Sydney.A man pumps fuel into a vehicle at a petrol station in Sydney. Photograph: Hollie Adams/ReutersSki fields reach July temperature high on SaturdayPetra StockIt was a remarkably warm day in the Australian alps yesterday, with several ski fields reaching temperatures that look set to be record-breaking (the records are yet to be confirmed by the Bureau of Meteorology’s climate team).Mount Hotham reached 11.1C. That’s 2.4C higher than the previous July record of 8.7C set in 1994.Perisher ski resort in June. Photograph: Mike Bowers/AAPFalls Creek hit 11.5C, topping it’s previous highest July maximum of 9.8C in 1992.Perisher in New South Wales hit 11.9C, which also looks set to be a new July high.Dr Andrew Watkins, a research associate at Monash University who posted the observations to social media, remarked: double quotation markBig slow moving high pressure systems creating large areas of descending & warming air hitting a radiation inversion = warm air trapped above the ground. Plus climate change… Back in June, the BoM was anticipating poorer conditions for snow, with a warmer and drier winter forecast.Penry BuckleyWelcomeGood morning, and thanks for joining us. I’m Penry Buckley and I’ll be taking you through today’s breaking stories. Let’s get started.Several ski fields have recorded temperatures that look to be record-breaking on a remarkably warm day in the Australian alps yesterday. More details on that soon.Diesel prices have risen 15 cents a litre in five days as Donald Trump’s war in Iran lifts global oil prices, with fighting escalating over the strait of Hormuz.