Australia news live: Cash calls on PM to condemn Chinese jet incident; Barnaby Joyce quizzed on One Nation move

8.55pm BST ‘The relationship had broken down’: Joyce says of association with Littleproud Later in the interview, Ferguson referred to a statement from Joyce to his branch members where he said his relationship with the Nationals leader, David Littleproud, had broken down. She asked when the relationship had broken down.Joyce spoke about him being asked to stay in his electorate of New England because he “didn’t reflect what the National party believed in”. He was then pressed by Ferguson, who said “these are all things that happened weeks ago”, to answer directly. Joyce said: This is sounding a very Trumpian, by you, very Trumpian … You’re going very Trump-Zelenskyy here. He later said: I’ve clearly said that is quite apparent to all, that the relationship had broken down. You always hoped that it would reconcile itself, and it wasn’t, right, and therefore you’ve got to, I don’t want to throw the plates around the kitchen. When something breaks down, you want to politely and in a dignified way, remove yourself from the situation. I think a lot of your listeners would understand that, and that’s what I’m doing. 8.49pm BST Barnaby Joyce tight-lipped over possible move to One Nation Barnaby Joyce refused to reveal more information over a possible move to One Nation in a tense interview on Monday night with the ABC. After being asked on 7.30 by Sarah Ferguson if he would run on the Senate ticket for the far-right party in NSW, Joyce said: “I’m not going to discuss private discussions, Sarah,” referring to conversations had with the One Nation leader, Pauline Hanson.He then said: “I know I don’t want this descend into sort of Trump-Zelenskyy Oval Office scenario, but I’m just not going to discuss private discussions.”He was also asked if he would remain with the National party now it appears like it will dump a net zero target before the end of the year. Joyce responded that the move would be a “really good thing”. But after being pressed on whether it would be enough for him to remain in the party, he said: “I’m not going to go through hypotheticals.” 8.44pm BST Michaelia Cash condemns 'dangerous' Chinese action The shadow foreign affairs spokesperson, Michaelia Cash, has called reports of a Chinese fighter jet releasing flares in close proximity to a Royal Australian Air Force surveillance aircraft over the South China Sea “plainly unacceptable”. Cash said the incident was the “third such provocation in less than a year” and called on Anthony Albanese to condemn the “dangerous” action. Ina statement last night, Cash said: This pattern of behaviour represents a serious escalation and poses a direct risk to the safety of Australian defence force personnel. The prime minister must condemn this dangerous action publicly. Australia cannot afford silence or half-measures when the safety of our servicemen and women is at stake. She added that the prime minister needed to use “his supposed improved relationship” with China to make sure it did not happen again. Failure to do so would be a “failure to stand up for Australia’s national interests on the international stage”. Read more here: Related: Australia says Chinese fighter jet released flares near RAAF aircraft in ‘dangerous’ incident 8.27pm BST Welcome Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it’ll be Nick Visser with the main action. And so far today the main action has been at the White House, where the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, met the US president, Donald Trump, signed a big deal, and laughed as his ambassador was told off. We have all the colour and news for you. Also, the rumours over Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce’s potential defection to One Nation rumble on, but Joyce was tight-lipped in a tense ABC interview. And Michaelia Cash has gone on the offensive after a Chinese fighter jet released flares close to an Australian surveillance plane over the South China Sea. She says it was a dangerous provocation, a serious escalation, and must be condemned by the prime minister.