CANBERRA: Medicare has reported an upsurge in Australians seeking counselling and psychological or psychiatric help in the wake of the public spat between former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and US President Donald Trump.

A Medicare spokesperson said it was not unusual to see an upsurge in claims for such services at times of major public events with potentially traumatic impacts.

“We have seen in recent days a jump in claims for medical consultations by Australians seeking professional support,” the spokesperson said.

“Analysis of the claims reveals that those seeking medical advice are facing severe personal conflicts because while most don’t like Trump, they totally agree with his description of Turnbull as a weak and ineffective leader.”

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BRISBANE: Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has provided further details to defend his decision to attend a fundraising event in Sydney for the Liberal Party’s federal election campaign while his own Dickson electorate near Brisbane and communities in Queensland and NSW faced Cyclone Alfred and flood threats.

Mr Dutton pointed to the statement he made on Sky News to refute criticism by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese when first quizzed about the event in which he said: “I think it’s really the occasion for the prime minister to be governing, not campaigning.”

This morning he clarified the remark about the fundraising event by saying he had been upfront and open about the event but his comment had been misreported by other media outlets and should have read: “I think it’s really the occasion for the prime minister-to-be. Governing? Not! Campaigning!”

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WASHINGTON, DC: US President Donald Trump says he has struck “a great deal” that resolves the problem of lengthy delays and price rises for new jets to replace the ageing Boeing 747s designated as Air Force One when transporting him within the USA and overseas.

Mr Trump has been highly critical of aircraft maker Boeing for the delay and rising price of the replacement jets. (below)

“I have signed an executive order terminating Boeing’s contact for the new Air Force One planes,” he said at a White House news conference. “I can also announce the great deal that I have struck personally with an alternative aircraft supplier to provide the first of two new jets to be used as Air Force One.” (below)

Mr Trump gave no further details of the new planes and did not respond to a question asking if the new jets would be US-made.

Instead, he directed that the reporter asking the question be evicted from the news conference and banned from attending future ones.

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