South Australians have suffered through record-breaking Australia Day heat as blistering conditions elevate the risk of bushfires in neighbouring states.

Adelaide smashed its January 26 record, with the mercury at 44.4C at 5pm – more than three degrees higher than the 41.1C set on the same date in 2006.

It was hotter still in the northern suburbs and even more so in the west and north of the state, with Ceduna recording an eye-watering 49.5C peak.

A cooler change is expected to bring a measure of temporary relief for coastal areas with milder conditions during the middle of the week, but fire danger and heat stress impacts remain extreme.

While no significant fires had broken out, strengthening northwesterly winds ahead of a change on Tuesday, combined with forecast extreme temperatures in the southeast, meant the danger was far from over.

Gusty winds would elevate the fire danger in both SA and Victoria, as well as the Central Ranges of NSW.

Adding to the complexity, thunderstorms were forecast for much of the region – but from high-based clouds, meaning any rain was expected to evaporate before hitting the ground.

It raises the risk of new fires from dry lightning.

“We’re looking at temperatures that may challenge January or even annual records around the state tomorrow (Tuesday),” warned the Bureau of Meteorology’s Jonathan Fischer.

The temperature is set to reach 45C in Melbourne on Tuesday, while the town of Renmark in SA’s Murray Mallee is looking at a potential top of 48C.

Mildura is forecast to hit 49C, two full degrees above the previous all-time high of 47C.

“If you wanted to go back to when we last saw maximum temperatures of 44 degrees or above (in Melbourne), you’d have to go back to 2009 during Black Saturday,” said the Bureau of Meteorology’s Sarah Scully.

But she said the forecast maximums only told half the story.

“It’s the overnight minimums that are contributing to this persistent heatwave event,” she said.

SA State Emergency Service chief Robert Charlton said the overnight minimums increased the danger of heat stress.

“We talk about those that are vulnerable, but really we’re starting to see everybody impacted by this,” he said.

He warned the prolonged nature of the event, exacerbated by hot overnight temperatures, caused a build-up of fatigue and increased the risk of people making poor and possibly fatal decisions.

“We want everybody to be really aware that as we start to move into this and conditions start to ease, there’s still cumulative effects that will impact people,” he said.

Adelaide was expecting an overnight low of 31C, with temperatures remaining in the mid-30s for much of the night.

The scorching temperatures are being driven by northerly winds, funnelling blistering inland heat towards coastal areas.

SA Country Fire Service commander Ray Jackson implored people not to become complacent.

“Make good decisions, avoid risky behaviours, keep our communities and our firefighters safe,” he said.

He said the state’s 13,500 volunteer firefighters were ready to go at a moment’s notice, with an large air tanker also on standby.

“Know your bushfire plan, be ready to action it and be prepared to leave early,” he said.

Gold has surged to a record high above $US5,000 ($A7,283) ‍an ounce, extending a historic rally as investors piled into the safe-haven asset amid rising geopolitical uncertainties.

Spot gold rose 1.98 per cent ​to $US5,081.18 per ounce by 0323 GMT (2.33pm AEDT) on Monday, after touching $US5,092.71 earlier.

US gold futures for February delivery gained 2.01 per cent to $US5,079.30  per ounce.

The metal soared 64 per cent ⁠in 2025, supported by sustained safe-haven demand, US monetary policy easing, robust central bank buying – with China extending its gold-buying spree for a fourteenth month in December – and record inflows into exchange-traded funds. Prices have gained more than 17 per cent this year.

The latest catalyst “is effectively this crisis of confidence in the US administration and US assets, that was set off by some of the erratic decision-making from the Trump administration ‌last week”, said ​Kyle Rodda, a senior market analyst at Capital.com.

US President Donald Trump abruptly stepped back on Wednesday from threats ‍to impose tariffs on European allies as leverage to seize Greenland.

Over the weekend, he said he would impose a 100 per cent tariff on Canada if it followed through on a trade deal with China.

He has also threatened to hit French wines and champagnes with 200 per cent tariffs in an apparent effort to pressure French President Emmanuel Macron into joining his Board of Peace initiative. Some observers fear the board ​could undermine the United Nations’ role as the main global platform for ‌conflict resolution, though Trump has said it will work with the UN.

“This Trump administration has caused a permanent rupture in the way things are done, and so ​now everyone’s kind of running to gold as the only alternative,” Rodda added.

Meanwhile, a rising yen dragged the dollar ‍broadly lower early on Monday, with markets on alert for possible intervention in the yen and investors cutting dollar positions ahead of this week’s Federal Reserve meeting.

A weaker dollar makes greenback-priced gold more affordable for holders of other currencies.

“We expect ​further ​upside (for gold). Our current forecast suggests that prices will ​peak at around $US5,500 later this year,” said Philip Newman, director at ​Metals Focus.

“Periodic pullbacks are likely as investors take profits, but we expect each correction to be short-lived and met with strong buying interest,” Newman added.

Spot silver was up 5.79 per cent at $US108.91 ($A158.65) per ounce, after hitting a record of $US109.44. Spot platinum rose 3.77 per cent to $US2,871.40 ($A4,182.67) per ounce, after hitting a record high of $US2,891.6 earlier in the session, while spot palladium rose 3.2 per cent to $US2,075.30 ($A3,023.01) per ounce, a more than three-year high.

Silver climbed above the $US100 mark for the first time on Friday, building on its 147 per cent rise last year as retail-investor flows and momentum-driven buying compounded ‍a prolonged spell of tightness in physical markets for the metal.

Gold surged past $US5,000 ($A7,283) per ounce early on Monday following a turbulent week where tensions over Greenland ‍and Iran rattled sentiment, while markets remained on tenterhooks after a rout in bonds and violent spikes in the yen.

The yen firmed 0.5 per cent to 154.84 per dollar as of ​0052 GMT, after sharp spikes on Friday sparked speculation over potential intervention. The New York Federal Reserve conducted rate checks on Friday, sources told Reuters, raising the chance of joint US-Japan intervention to ⁠halt the currency’s slide.

“The cat-and-mouse game with the yen is likely to carry over to the new week’s activity, but the one-way market has been broken, at least for the time being,” said Marc Chandler, chief market strategist at Bannockburn Capital Markets in New York.

Japan’s Nikkei dropped 1.6 per cent in early trading while S&P 500 futures fell 0.4 per cent and Nasdaq futures were 0.7 per cent lower as traders awaited the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting later in the week.

US President Donald Trump provided temporary relief to markets last week by reversing tariff ‌threats and downplaying potential forceful ​action against Greenland. However, further sanctions targeting Iran have reinforced market anxiety.

Increased US pressure against Iran is pushing oil prices higher and lifting safe-haven ‍gold to record peaks above $US5,000 ($A7,283) per ounce. Precious metals, including silver, have surged in a blistering rally so far this year.

While authorities in Tokyo declined to comment on the yen’s wild swings, sources told Reuters that the New York Federal Reserve conducted rate checks on Friday, leaving traders on edge at the prospect of an intervention that could come anytime.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Sunday her government will take necessary steps against speculative market moves.

Michael Brown, senior research strategist at Pepperstone, said rate checks ​are typically the last warning before interventions take place, noting the Takaichi administration appears to “have a much, ‌much lower tolerance for speculative FX moves than their predecessors.”

“The risk/reward has now tilted massively out of the favour of short JPY positions, as nobody will be wanting to run the risk of being caught ​5/6 big figures offside if/when the MoF, or their agents, do indeed pull the trigger.”

A steep bond market rout in Japan last week had put the spotlight ‍on Takaichi’s expansionary fiscal policy as she called a snap election that is due for February 8. The bond market has since stabilised somewhat, but investors remain jittery.

The yen was broadly firmer against other currencies too on Monday, inching away from the record low against euro and Swiss franc and multi-decade lows against ​sterling.

Charu ​Chanana, chief investment strategist at Saxo, said the rate check style ​warning could help reset positioning and remind the market there’s a line near 159–160.

“With the ​dollar starting to look softer, this is actually a cleaner window for Japan to lean against yen weakness. Intervention works better when it’s going with the broader USD tide, not fighting it.”

The dollar index, which measures the US currency against six rivals, was hovering near its four-month low at 97.224 after dropping 0.8 per cent on Friday in its biggest one-day drop since August.

Investor focus this week will also be on the Fed. The central bank is expected to hold rates steady at a meeting overshadowed by a Trump administration criminal investigation of Fed Chair Jerome Powell, whose term ends in May.

In commodities, oil prices eased slightly after rising about 3.0 per cent on Friday, with traders weighing the impact of Trump pressuring Iran through more sanctions on vessels ‍that transport its oil.

Brent crude futures eased 0.18 per cent to $US65.74 ($A95.76) a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude slipped 0.2 per cent to $US60.92 ($A88.74) ​per barrel.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says his government has no intention of pursuing a free trade deal with China.

He was responding to US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose a 100 per cent tariff on goods imported from Canada if it  went ahead with a trade deal with China.

Carney said his recent agreement with China merely cuts tariffs on a few sectors that were recently hit with tariffs.

Trump suggests otherwise, posting “China is successfully and completely taking over the once Great Country of Canada. So sad to see it happen. I only hope they leave Ice Hockey alone! President DJT”.

The prime minister said under the free trade agreement with the United States and Mexico, there are commitments not to pursue free trade agreements with non-market economies without prior notification.

“We have no intention of doing that with China or any other non-market economy,” Carney said.

“What we have done with China is to rectify some issues that developed in the last couple of years.”

In 2024, Canada mirrored the United States by putting a 100 per cent tariff on electric vehicles from Beijing and a 25 per cent tariff on steel and aluminium.

China had responded by imposing 100 per cent import taxes on Canadian canola oil and meal and 25 per cent on pork and seafood.

Breaking with the United States this month during a visit to China, Carney cut its 100 per cent tariff on Chinese electric cars in return for lower tariffs on those Canadian products.

Carney has said there would be an initial annual cap of 49,000 vehicles on Chinese EV exports coming into Canada at a tariff rate of 6.1 per cent, growing to about 70,000 over five years.

He noted there was no cap before 2024.

He also has said the initial cap on Chinese EV imports was about three per cent of the 1.8 million vehicles sold in Canada annually and that, in exchange, China is expected to begin investing in the Canadian car industry within three years.

Trump posted a video on Sunday in which the chief executive of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association warns there will be no Canadian car industry without US access, while noting the Canadian market alone is too small to justify large scale manufacturing from China.

“A MUST WATCH. Canada is systematically destroying itself. The China deal is a disaster for them. Will go down as one of the worst deals, of any kind, in history. All their businesses are moving to the USA. I want to see Canada SURVIVE AND THRIVE! President DJT,” Trump posted on social media.

Trump’s post on Saturday said that if Carney “thinks he is going to make Canada a ‘Drop Off Port’ for China to send goods and products into the United States, he is sorely mistaken”.

“We can’t let Canada become an opening that the Chinese pour their cheap goods into the US,” US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told US broadcaster ABC.

Police and political leaders are pleading for cool heads to prevail on Australia Day following a summer of simmering community tensions.

Every major capital across the nation will host Invasion Day protests on Monday, with tens of thousands expected to turn out in Sydney and Melbourne.

March for Australia rallies have been organised in Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra and Hobart.

Police in NSW, Victoria and Queensland have promised to come down hard on any troublemakers.

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden foreshadowed a “strong tone” from the force following the Bondi Beach terror attack on December 14 and several other alleged hate crimes.

About 1500 officers will flood metropolitan Sydney to monitor the competing events.

“Anyone that turns up tomorrow for Australia Day for any activity (that) engages in any anti-social, threatening, intimidating conduct will be arrested, will be charged and removed from the environment,” Mr McFadden said.

Temperatures are forecast to soar to 45C in Adelaide and 37C in Brisbane but won’t reach those highs in Canberra (32C), Melbourne (30C), Sydney (27C), Hobart (24C) and Perth (23C).

While Victoria Police has no intelligence to suggest a heightened risk of violence, frontline officers will wear helmets for an extra layer of protection following a trial in late 2025.

“Victoria Police will not tolerate anyone intent on causing unruly, anti-social behaviour,” it said.

Motorists have been warned to brace for rolling road closures in Brisbane but Queensland police anticipate the city’s protests will be peaceful.

January 26 is a day of mourning for many Indigenous people, marking the First Fleet’s 1788 arrival in Australia and the start of British colonisation.

But the latest polling suggests support is firming for Australia’s national day to remain on January 26.

Resolve Political Monitor put backing for the current date at 68 per cent, up from 56 per cent in January 2024 and 47 per cent in January 2023.

A survey from Roy Morgan indicated support could be even higher at 72 per cent.

Away from the politics of the day, local councils will hold citizenship ceremonies and hand out awards.

Ahmed Al Ahmed, who famously disarmed one of the alleged Bondi gunman before he was shot, will be honoured with a key to the City of Canterbury Bankstown in Sydney’s southwest.

In a video message wishing people a “happy Australia Day”, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese issued a call for unity.

“Whilst this summer has tested our nation, once again, as ever, in the worst of times, we have seen the very best of the Australian character,” he said.

“As we draw inspiration from that truth, let us look to the year ahead united by pride in our country and faith in each other.”

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, who migrated to Australia with her family when she was 13, vowed to continue to fight for and protect national symbols.

“This year especially, Australians deserve leadership that lifts us up, not voices that seek to divide us,” she said at an Australia Day ceremony on Sunday night in Corowa, known as the birthplace of federation.

“We should be proud of our country, confident in our values, and united in celebrating what brings us together rather than what pulls us apart.”

From an Olympic legend to the sharpest legal minds, groundbreaking researchers and leading politicians, Australians from all walks of life have been recognised for their contributions to the nation.

Some 680 people were recognised with awards in the general division of the Order of Australia as part of the annual Australia Day honours list.

It’s been more than 25 years since Cathy Freeman sprinted across the finish line in first place during the women’s 400m race at the Sydney Olympics in a gold-medal run that united the nation.

An estimated 8.8 million people were watching across Australia when the Kuku-Yalanji and Biriri Gubba woman took her victory lap barefoot at the 2000 Games.

Ms Freeman is among 10 people appointed the highest honour, the Companion (AC) of the Order of Australia, recognised for her services to athletics, social impact across Australia and as a role model to youth.

Fellow AC appointee Chris Kourakis has presided over South Australia’s Supreme Court as chief justice since 2012.

But the senior jurist, who will be replaced at the head of the state court in February, is most pleased to be recognised for his contribution to the Greek community.

As one of 10 children of migrant parents, it was his upbringing that led him to a career in law.

“The experiences of migrant communities in Australia have shaped a lot of my views and thinking about equal opportunity, so I’ve been keen to support migrant communities establish themselves,” Chief Justice Kourakis told AAP.

“My mother’s family had a strong social justice commitment … they were full of ideas about how the world should be organised and by the end of high school, there was really no doubt I wanted to be a lawyer.”

Chief Justice Kourakis recently published formal guidelines for the use of generative AI in the legal profession, reminding lawyers of their professional and ethical obligations.

Another top legal mind, barrister and former NSW Supreme Court judge Geoffrey Bellew SC also said it was special to receive recognition for his work outside of the law, given his father Tom received a similar award 40 years ago.

Mr Bellew was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for his work in the law but also for his contribution to rugby league as a former NRL director and head of the sport’s judiciary.

His father also “essentially ran the game” for a period, making the award particularly significant as the duo had a very close relationship throughout their lives.

A memorable moment in his career was presiding over the trial of disgraced ex-policemen Roger Rogerson and Luke McNamara, who were found guilty in 2016 of murder.

Hours after the verdict was handed down, Mr Bellew sat as NRL judiciary chairman to preside over a high-tackle case.

Other AC recipients include NSW Chief Justice Andrew Bell, cancer and epidemiology expert Bruce Armstrong, biomedical researcher Anne Kelso, climate expert Peter John Cook, cancer researcher Paula Fox and quantum physicist Michelle Simmons.

Federal minister-turned-OECD secretary-general Mathias Cormann, the first female NSW premier, Kristina Keneally, and longstanding now-former Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk are among the politicians recognised.

Governor-General Sam Mostyn said the diverse accomplishments of the recipients reflected the value Australians placed on service, community, kindness, curiosity, tenacity and care.

“As the list so vividly showcases, so many Australians continue to give the best of themselves across many endeavours, in the interest of others,” she said.

The youngest recipient was Nicholas Pearce, 32, who was recognised for helping homeless youths.

The eldest living recipients are Janina Archabuz and Derrick Hammon, both aged 99.

A further 269 Australians were honoured with separate awards for their work in the military, emergency services and the public service.

As a little girl, Katherine Bennell-Pegg looked to the stars and dreamed of leaving earth.

Now, she’s been awarded one of the nation’s highest honours.

In 2024, Ms Bennell-Pegg qualified to travel to space – the first Australian to do so under the nation’s flag.

The trailblazing space engineer has been recognised for her achievements on the national stage, winning the 2026 Australian of the Year award.

While she’s yet to actually go to space, Ms Bennell-Pegg says she’s ready to do so when the opportunity arises.

“When I grew up I was mesmerised by the stars above me, but they felt very far away,” she told reporters in Canberra on Sunday afternoon, before her award was announced.

“Seven out of 10 Australian kids under 12 want to go to space. It’s pinch-me stuff to be in this position.”

She said she was inspired by Paul Scully-Power and Andy Thomas – astronauts who grew up in Australia but travelled to space as American citizens in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.

Ms Bennell-Pegg said she hoped to use the award to inspire young people to chase their dreams.

“There’s never been a path for Australian astronauts before. So I hope that what I’m doing is opening that door further for more to follow,” she said.

Born in Sydney, Ms Bennell-Pegg grew up on the city’s northern beaches and studied aeronautical engineering and physics at Sydney University.

She then studied two masters degrees in Europe and in 2021 was invited to undertake astronaut training with the European Space Agency.

In 2024, she became the first Australian to graduate from the program and the nation’s first-ever female astronaut.

The 41-year-old now calls Adelaide her home, where she volunteers with the West Beach Surf Life Saving club.

In December 2024, she was also appointed as an Air Force reservist.

She takes over as Australian of the Year from AFL legend Neale Daniher, who received the honour in 2025, for his work raising well over $100 million for research into motor neurone disease.

Awards for Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year and Local Hero were also handed out on Sunday night.

Former electrician-turned-ultra-marathon-runner Nedd Brockmann took out the Young Australian category, recognised for running from Perth to Sydney to raise money for a homelessness charity.

Pioneering dementia researcher Henry Brodaty won Senior Australian of the Year for his work identifying cost-effective, targeted interventions to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

The local hero award was given to Frank Mitchell, a Noongar man from Western Australia who has created more than 70 upskilling roles for Indigenous people in the construction and electrical industries.

Defence department boss Greg Moriarty has been appointed Australia’s next ambassador to the US, replacing former prime minister Kevin Rudd.

Mr Moriarty has led the department since late 2017 and previously served as chief of staff to then-Liberal prime minister Malcolm Turnbull.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made the announcement on Sunday ahead of Dr Rudd’s scheduled exit from the role at the end of March.

“Mr Moriarty is an outstanding Australian public servant,” Mr Albanese told ABC’s Insiders program.

“I’ve been impressed by the dignified way in which he handles himself, by his connections in the United States.

“The AUKUS relationship is central to our relationship with the United States and he’s in a very strong position to be on top of all of that detail.”

Dr Rudd, a former Labor prime minister, was appointed in 2023 but resigned from the role a year early.

He faced a tumultuous period under the Trump administration, having previously been a strident critic of the US president.

Mr Albanese said Dr Rudd could look back on his time as ambassador “with real pride”.

Mr Trump recently sparked outrage after claiming troops from NATO countries had stayed away from the front line in Afghanistan, leading to condemnation from UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and other allies.

Forty-seven Australians were killed in the 20-year conflict, while 261 of the nation’s personnel were wounded before troops were withdrawn in mid-2021.

Mr Albanese labelled Mr Trump’s comments “unacceptable” while noting the US president had since walked back the remarks.

“Those 47 Australian families who will be hurting by these comments, they deserve our absolute respect, our admiration,” he said.

“They were certainly on the front lines along with our other allies, to defend democracy and freedom and to defend our national interest.”

RSL national president Peter Tinley slammed the US president’s remarks as factually wrong, historically ignorant and deeply offensive.

“I call on the prime minister and the leader of the opposition to reaffirm, in the clearest terms, that Australia’s service in Afghanistan was conducted with courage, professionalism and distinction,” he said.

In an interview with Fox Business Network, Mr Trump earlier said he was not sure NATO would be there to support the US if and when requested.

“You know, they’ll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan or this or that – and they did, they stayed a little back, a little off the front lines,” he said.

Mr Trump on Sunday morning posted a message on Truth Social praising the “great and very brave soldiers of the United Kingdom” and said they “were among the greatest of all warriors”.

The online post came after a discussion between Mr Trump and Sir Keir about the issue on Saturday, UK officials said.

With preparations possibly under way to roll Sussan Ley, key Liberal backers insist she will remain as leader of the opposition.

A leadership spill is shaping up for early February when parliament returns after a week of chaos that resulted in the coalition splitting for the second time since the 2025 federal election.

Conservatives Angus Taylor and Andrew Hastie are seen as the frontrunners to challenge Ms Ley.

But Liberal frontbencher and moderate Julian Leeser declared she had his “unequivocal support”.

“During this period where Australia has been in a period of national crisis, she has shown the leadership that the prime minister has failed to do,” he told Sky News on Sunday.

Asked if Mr Hastie, who has publicly spoken about his leadership ambitions, would be effective at countering rising support for One Nation, Mr Leeser replied: “Sussan Ley is our leader and Sussan Ley is the person that I support in that role.”

Liberal sources have spoken of internal anger towards Nationals leader David Littleproud for having blown up the political alliance on Thursday, which is being viewed as an act of intervention in the senior coalition party.

Mr Littleproud has repeatedly denied he demanded Ms Ley resign in a phone call during the week.

He said the three Nationals senators who resigned from the shadow cabinet after voting against Labor’s hate speech laws needed to be reinstated before the parties could reconcile.

“That’s the threshold question that our party room took,” he said.

“That’s the threshold question that was given to Sussan, she wasn’t prepared to accept it.”

By voting against Labor’s laws, an agreed position, the three senators broke the convention of shadow cabinet solidarity, triggering their resignations – which were accepted by Ms Ley.

Opponents of a proposed fracking project in Australia’s remote north are lining up to appeal a “failed” approval decision, as big business eyes future development of the region.

Western Australia’s Environmental Protection Authority has recommended approving the Valhalla Gas Exploration and Appraisal Program in the Canning Basin, about 120km southeast of Derby.

It could result in Bennett Resources, a subsidiary of US-based Black Mountain Energy, drilling up to 20 wells in the Fitzroy River flood plain to target fossil fuels located up to four kilometres underground.

Outraged conservation groups have vowed to appeal the regulator’s decision, with a record number of submissions expected to be lodged with investigators before a February 10 deadline.

Environs Kimberley says the community doesn’t want the region turned into Texan gas fields.

“The risk to our clean water, threatened species and the National Heritage listed Martuwarra Fitzroy River is too high,” executive director Martin Pritchard said.

“Our grounds of appeal include that the (authority) has failed to adequately assess risks to threatened species, risks to human health and social surroundings, including toxic chemicals.”

Conservation Council WA said the regulator “got it seriously wrong” but the final decision rests with WA Environment Minister Matt Swinbourn.

“It’s clear the WA community doesn’t want fracking in the Kimberley,” executive director Matt Roberts said.

The regulator has not adequately addressed the project’s potential risks, including the impact on groundwater and the stygofauna that live in it, the council said.

“By engaging with this appeals process, we hope to provide the minister with the information he needs to make the right decision,” Mr Roberts said.

Gas explorer and producer Buru Energy Limited said the authority’s recommendation for the Valhalla project was a “win” for WA and reinforced the critical role Kimberley onshore gas could play in securing its “urgent” energy needs.

“It signals to investors and the community that the Canning Basin is open for responsible, regulated energy development,” chief executive Thomas Nador said in a release to the ASX.

WA Premier Roger Cook previously said the EPA’s decision was “not a green light for fracking”.

“The EPA has made a recommendation that the particular project in question, the Valhalla Project, can have its environmental impacts managed in a way that means they are comfortable that it goes ahead,” he said.

“I suspect that decision will be appealed, so I won’t make further comment.”

Mr Swinbourn said he would consider the appeals convenor’s advice once the process was finished.

Fracking is banned in 98 per cent of WA.

However the government said its policies were “informed by an independent scientific inquiry, which said fracking could occur in WA with appropriate regulations”.