Another 16 are on standby to be sent to the Coromandel and western Bay of Plenty.

More than 1.4 million Australians are feared to be at risk of mortgage stress after rates were hiked for the second time this year.

Roy Morgan research published today has found the Reserve Bank's decision to increase rates by 0.25 per cent in February raised the number of households at risk of mortgage stress by 1 per cent to 1.3 million people.

That figure is expected to rise again by 1.7 per cent to 1.4 million people – a quarter of all mortgage holders due to the second rate rise last week. 

READ MORE: Commonwealth Bank raises home rates for the second time this month

Households are considered at risk of mortgage stress when repayments are greater than a certain percentage of household income (between 25 and 45 per cent, depending on income and spending).

They are extremely at risk of mortgage stress when the interest-only payments are greater than that percentage of household income.

Currently, Roy Morgan estimates about 918,000 Australians are at extreme risk. 

The research found figures could worsen if there is another 25-basis-point rate rise at the bank's next meeting in May. 

An extra 287,000 people, or a total of 1.6 million people, could be at risk of mortgage stress.

Roy Morgan chief executive Michele Levine, however, warned the US-Israeli war in Iran has put a "considerable amount of uncertainty into global economic forecasts".

"The high degree of uncertainty about how the conflict in the Middle East has introduced an additional, and volatile, variable into the decision-making of the Reserve Bank over the next few months – although the Albanese government has been quick to provide assurances that Australia is well supplied with energy over the next few weeks at least," she said.

The research also found that despite this year's increase in mortgage stress, the number of households at risk was down year on year by 232,000 people.

It attributed the decline to the Reserve Bank's cycle of interest rate cuts, which brought figures down by 0.75 percentage points to 3.6 per cent. 

READ MORE: Inflation eases off for first time in months, but offers little reprieve

The Reserve Bank has reversed two of last year's cuts with its consecutive hikes this year due to resurgent inflation. surprise inflation jump in January and the war in Iran.

Governor Michele Bullock suggested more rate increases could come if inflation does not decrease.

"We don't want to have a recession, but if it's hard to get inflation down, then, you know, we're going to have to deal with that possibly," she said earlier this month.

Currently, inflation is at 3.7 per cent but Treasurer Jim Chalmers has said even a conservative forecast has it rising to 5.5 per cent later this year, and a Roy Morgan poll showed Australians expect it to reach 6.9 per cent in a matter of weeks, a 1.6 percentage-point rise from the last result.

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The US sent Iran a 15-point plan for a possible ceasefire but Iran mocked US President Donald Trump's claim negotiations are under way.

Simon Watts said the proposed water bills are “much higher” than initially signalled.

A 23-year-old man has been charged over the alleged kidnapping and murder of Sydney grandfather Chris Baghsarian.

Police will allege Delkin Donnelly, who was arrested at his Seven Hills home this morning, facilitated the kidnapping and recruited other people to carry out the detention of the 85-year-old Baghsarian.

The widower was taken from his home in North Ryde on February 13th, though police later found he was not the intended target.

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His remains were found 11 days later near a golf club in Pitt Town in Sydney's north-west.

Detective Acting Superintendent Andrew Marks said police would also allege the 23-year-old was responsible for organising the disposal of Baghsarian's remains after he died at a property in Dural, where it is alleged he was detained.

"[We believe] he is not the highest, but a major player in this matter," Marks said.

"That he arranged the kidnapping, he facilitated others to assist in that kidnapping, he facilitated others to detain Mr Baghsarian, hold him at the property in Dural, and also gave directions in the disposal of the body," he alleged.

Donnelly was charged with multiple offences, including murder, taking and detaining in company with intent to ransom, occasioning actual bodily harm, and possessing an unauthorised firearm.

He was also hit with other weapons and drug charges after a shotgun, handgun and drugs were seized from his home, and was refused bail to appear in court tomorrow.

Marks said a breakthrough came when CCTV of three people in the Dural area was released last week, as well as images of a blue Hyundai believed to be connected to the crime.

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The car had been found burnt out on February 26 at Glenbrook train station in the Blue Mountains.

Marks said police will allege Donnelly was the man holding the phone with the torch on in the CCTV footage, and will also claim he was at Baghsarian's North Ryde home when he was taken.

Donnely's partner was also arrested at the scene, but not in relation to the alleged kidnapping and murder of Baghsarian.

She was charged with contravening a domestic violence order and was released on bail.

The 23-year-old man is the third person arrested in connection with Baghsarian's death.

Daniel Stevens, 24, and Gerard Andrews, 29, are alleged to have "participated in a joint criminal enterprise with other persons" that led to Baghsarian's death. The pair remain before the courts.

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Police believe the man arrested today knew either Stevens or Andrews, but clarified that the pair were not pictured in the CCTV footage released last week.

Marks said police believe up to nine people were involved in the alleged kidnapping and murder, and that they may have been part of different groups.

He said the house at Dural, where Baghsarian was allegedly kept, would have acted as a meeting point for many of the alleged offenders.

There was a group of people who played significant roles in the entire offence," he said.

There was some crossover from the [North Ryde] house to Dural, and the disposal of remains.

"Those persons were all involved in certain aspects [and] the central point would have been Dural."

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The sails of the Sydney Opera House will light up with colour over the next three nights as part of a global celebration of Apple's 50th birthday.

A brightly coloured celebration of creativity will kick off a year of collaboration between Apple and the Sydney Opera House with newly commissioned artworks labelled Illuminating Creativity, which is a showcase of original artwork created on iPad using the Australian app Procreate.

Earlier this month, members of the public were also encouraged to create their own digital art at Apple stores across Australia, with those artworks submitted to be part of this week's projection on the Eastern sails.

Opera House CEO Louise Herron AM said: "The Sydney Opera House, like Apple, is synonymous with creativity. This collaboration is a natural fit between two organisations that continue to search for new ways for people to experience the world. From our first international children's festival to exciting programming highlights throughout the year, Apple's support will enable us to continue to inspire and welcome more of the community in line with our ambition to be Everyone's House."

https://x.com/tim_cook/status/2036653018129875347?s=20

Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, Greg Joswiak, said: "For 50 years, Apple has been at the forefront of empowering creativity, providing tools that allow people to imagine, design, and share their unique visions with the world. The yearlong collaboration with the Sydney Opera House and Illuminating Creativity is a celebration of this legacy, bringing together the incredible talent of Australian artists and the transformative power of iPad and Procreate. We are thrilled to be working with such an iconic Australian cultural landmark to help inspire the next generation of creatives."

Sydney's Opera House lighting up with iPad artworks is part of a global celebration of Apple's 50th birthday, with events taking place across the world in places like China, Bangkok, Seoul, and New York City, where Alicia Keys performed at Grand Central Station.

Some of the artists being highlighted in lights include Aussies Jonathan Zawada from Northern NSW with artwork inspired by the ground beneath your feet, and a stunning underwater-inspired creation "It's Beautiful Down Here" by Perth-based Rebecca Mills.

There's a stunning First Nations artwork by Ryhia Dank, a Gudanji, Wakaja, and Kalkadoon woman whose artwork shows the journey of a goanna moving through the bush.

It's worth getting a harbour-side seat to take in all the art, including a spectacular creation which captures the Aussie surf and sun – tilted "A FRAME" with its wave shape plans with the form of the Opera House Sails and was created by Sydney-based Japanese artist Kentaro Yoshida.

There's even a glimpse of Aussie suburban life, with Phoebe Paradise's "A Brisbane Story" capturing a little balcony in Brisbane to show the sheer "average-ness" of the night sky and a porch light – it's well worth a look.

All these artworks and more will be displayed over the next three nights.

Apple's 50th birthday is officially on April 1.

Tropical Cyclone Narelle could re-intensify into a category five storm as it becomes the first cyclone in over 20 years to hit three states.

The cyclone, which has battered Queensland and the Northern Territory over the last week, is set to move over Western Australia in the coming days.

The storm will gain intensity as it approaches the northern tip of the state, reaching category four late tomorrow or early on Friday, modelling from the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) suggests.

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"There is a possibility it will hit category 5 strength while located to the north of WA," Weatherzone's Ben Domensino said.

He added a southern turn in the storm on Friday could see it make landfall in between Exmouth and Yanchep, potentially in the Shark Bay area, while still being classified as a tropical cyclone.

Senior BoM Meteorologist Angus Hines said similar conditions could be expected for those in the firing line of the cyclone in the coming days.

"We could see wind gusts in excess of 140 kilometres an hour there later this week," he said.

"Widespread heavy rainfall expected all the way from Port Hedland and Exmouth all the way down to Bunbury and Albany."

Hines said areas around Perth could expect between 50-100mm of rain.

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Domensino said if this happens, it means the cyclone would be a historic one.

"Narelle will become the first tropical cyclone since Ingrid in 2005 to make landfall in three Australian states as a tropical cyclone," he said.

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Cyclone Narelle caused widespread damage to the top end of Australia last week, hitting communities like Cape Yorke in the far north of Queensland particularly hard.

It caused widespread floods across the state, but no deaths or serious injuries were reported.

Winds as high as 185km/h were recorded as it moved west across the top of Australia.

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Donald Trump is now represented by a Democrat in his home district in Florida, after a massive swing in a by-election today.

Emily Gregory claimed an upset win in the typically conservative state house seat in Palm Beach County, which includes Trump's country club Mar-a-Lago.

Gregory will replace Mike Caruso, a Republican who had represented the area since 2018. He won his last election in the seat by 19 points.

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Caruso resigned the seat to take up another position in local government.

Trump himself had won the district by 10 points.

The president voted in today's election by mail, a method he is pushing to ban.

He also urged his supporters to turn out to vote for Republican Jon Maples.

"TO ALL GREAT PATRIOTS IN FLORIDA STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 87: GET OUT AND VOTE FOR JON MAPLES!" Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.

Maples campaigned as a Trump ally, even holding an event at Mar-a-Lago.

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Gregory ran on a platform focused on affordability, a key issue for voters.

Elsewhere in Florida, Democratic candidate Brian Nathan also narrowly edged the Republican in a conservative Senate seat.

Up until recently, Florida has been the key swing state in presidential elections.

But the state has swung hard to Trump in the past eight years.

Today's election results indicate that even in his strongest turf, Trump is not popular.

An Ipsos poll released today showed just 36 per cent of voters approved of Trump. 

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If voters in the rest of the country swung to Democrats at the same rate as they did in Florida today, the Republicans would be absolutely trounced.

Every House of Representatives seat and a third of Senate seats will be up for election this November.

The party in the White House has a long history of losing seats in midterm elections.

Republicans hold an edge of just a handful of seats in both chambers.

READ MORE: Trump says Iran has sent an expensive 'gift' to US, but won't say what

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Exclusive: The dust is yet to settle on One Nation's surge in the South Australian election, but Pauline Hanson says she is already preparing for another orange wave to descend on Victoria.

Hanson is now eyeing seats in the November state election and but denies her success in the polls is simply about voter dissatisfaction with the major parties.

The senator claims Victorians are "screaming out" for One Nation's arrival.

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"The Liberal Party have failed in Victoria, with the change of leadership constantly all the time," Hanson told Nine.com.au in the wake of her party's victory in SA.

"The biggest thing is the escalating crime that's happening in Victoria. They haven't replaced the policing for the increased population.

"They've allowed everything to slide."

Political strategists have warned that aftershocks from the One Nation earthquake in SA could easily be felt in Victoria.

Two polls conducted earlier this month place One Nation on the Coalition's tail with 23-24 per cent of the vote.

One Nation's representation in Victoria is thin after failing to secure any seats in the 2022 state election, but the party's success in SA after clinching two lower house seats could pave the way for a similar rise.

The Liberal party's disastrous result in SA could spell doom for both Opposition Leader Jess Wilson, a first-term MP who stepped up to the plate in November following a leadership coup against Brad Battin, and embattled Premier Jacinta Allan's Labor party.

Both parties bled voters to One Nation in SA and the orange lightning bolt could strike already-shaky ground in regional and outer suburban seats.

"I keep saying all the time, Victoria is a basket case. And a lot of our new membership is coming out of Victoria," Hanson said.

"People actually want representation in Victoria from One Nation.

"They're screaming out for it. They're crying out for it."

READ MORE: 'Growing and growing': Joyce's bold prediction on One Nation's future

Before Victorians head to the polls, a byelection will be held in the seat of Farrer in south-west NSW, a seat vacated by former opposition leader Sussan Ley.

David Farley is One Nation's federal candidate for Farrer, where Hanson's party will focus sharply on the region's water issues.

"The the main thing that we're gonna home in on there is protect[ing] the farming sector," Hanson added.

"But the big one is gonna be the water issue with the Murray-Darling [Basin]. That has never been sorted out."

Hanson rebranded from Pauline Hanson's One Nation to simply One Nation last year.

Dropping Hanson's name from the ballot appears to have worked wonders for the conservative party, particularly after poaching former Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce and recruiting former SA Liberal senator Cory Bernardi.

But Hanson laughed off any suggestion that she has an image problem.

"I'm not interested in what they say," she said.

"I can tell you, I think I'm the only political party that hasn't had a challenge [of] leadership.

"So that tells you something."

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Both the LNP and Nationals have changed federal leaders in 2026. Labor has not changed leadership.

Voter disaffection from the Coalition's split has been partly credited for One Nation's surge in popularity.

Hanson denied this is the case.

"That's a decision that the public have to make. But they had the opportunity to vote for the Liberals in South Australia and clearly they didn't want to," she said.

"And the Coalition was back."

She cited the Coalition's failure to unite on net zero and the Paris Agreement as the crux of its internal problems.

Hanson also claimed the LNP and Nationals can't agree on an immigration policy.

But as a new legion of voters move away from the major parties, there are no plans yet for a major policy refresh – and certainly no softening on immigration.

"The problem in the country is because of mass migration," Hanson claimed, citing an unproven figure of 1800 migrants entering Australia each day.

This figure, loosely taken from Overseas Arrivals and Departures (OAD) data, does not accurately reflect the number of migrants coming to the country

"That's not the Australia I grew up in," she added.

"Those policies, we're actually going to be taking to the next federal election."

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Iran is considering turning the Strait of Hormuz into the world's most expensive toll booth, charging vessels an immense sum for safe passage.

Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is pushing for ways to monetise its control of the narrow body of water, through which 20 per cent of the world's oil passes.

Iranian news outlet Daily Javan said charging vessels for safe passage would "compensate Iran's losses in the war".

READ MORE: Trump considering ground invasion of critical Iranian island: reports

To pay for the damage Iran has suffered in the war, the article wrote oil tankers could be taxed $US50 a barrel – a 50 per cent markup.

Such a move would send oil prices surging worldwide, including in Australia.

But ships from Israel and the US would not be allowed in through strait at all.

This would not be a major concern for the US, which produces much of its own oil. It would be a blow to Israel's refined petroleum supplies, however.

Already Iran is reportedly charging shipping companies about $2.8 million in order to let their vessels through the strait unscathed.

Iran's parliament is now considering legislation to codify taxes for safe passage into law.

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"Collecting US$2 million as transit fees from some vessels crossing the strait reflects Iran's strength," top politician Alaeddin Boroujerdi said.

President Masoud Pezeshkian's rhetoric implied many vessels were free to travel through.

"The Strait of Hormuz is open to all except those who violate our soil," he said. 

"We firmly confront delirious threats on the battlefield."

Already four vessels from India have been able to go through the strait. It is not known whether they paid Iran in order to do so.

At its narrowest, the Strait of Hormuz is just 34km wide.

READ MORE: Trump says Iran has sent expensive gift to US, but won't say what it is

Missile launch sites dot the Iranian coastline of the Strait, including underground bases.

They also have small vessels capable of laying mines stealthily.

An Iranian drone or missile strike on a cargo vessel trying to get through the strait could result in a fiery death followed by a watery grave.

Even a military escort of cargo tankers would provide limited protection from an Iranian strike.

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