What we learned, Monday 17 November
And with that, we are going to put the blog to bed. Before we go, let’s recap the big headlines:
New analysis by Climate Energy Finance showed taxpayers will need to pay up to $2bn in additional subsidies if the federal and South Australian governments support an “entirely uneconomic” gas-backed plan to rescue the ailing Whyalla steelworks.
The ACT has closed 71 public schools amid concerns that more children’s coloured play sand may contain asbestos. 26 public schools in Canberra will remain closed on Tuesday.
Sussan Ley said immigration numbers “need to be lower”, saying Australians are facing issues in their communities, including difficulties finding “the right commute to work”. Later, she batted away concerns that she could face a leadership challenge from the likes of Andrew Hastie.
Malcolm Turnbull said that he felt sorry for Ley as she attempted to lead a Coalition consumed by a “fact-free, reality-free” climate culture war.
The NSW Nationals leader, Dugald Saunders, has stepped down as leader ahead of Tuesday’s party room meeting, citing family reasons.
Life Saving Victoria urged Victorians to stay safe in the water after recording 12 drownings in spring alone, the highest number for the season since 2001.
The Sydney lord mayor, Clover Moore, called on the NSW premier, Chris Minns, to urgently step up rental protections after key stakeholders identified failings in state legislation.
Home affairs minister, Tony Burke, cancelled the visa of South African man Matthew Gruter after a recent neo-Nazi publicity stunt outside the New South Wales state parliament.
And there were late reports that the Victorian opposition leader, Brad Battin, could face a leadership challenge as early as Tuesday.
Thank you for spending part of your day with us. We will be with you tomorrow to do it all again.
Updated
Man who lit Melbourne synagogue fire was having schizophrenic hallucinations, court told
A man who admitted setting the doors of a synagogue on fire was having hallucinations about zombies, a court has been told.
Angelo Loras, 35, on Monday pleaded guilty to recklessly endangering members of the East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation by setting fire to their synagogue on 5 July.
Loras was arrested the next day and told police he believed the building was a home rather than a place of worship.
Magistrate Malcolm Thomas on Monday accepted Loras had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and he did not intentionally target the synagogue.
The magistrate noted Loras’s schizophrenia symptoms had significantly improved in the past four months as he was receiving medication and treatment while on remand.
– AAP
Updated
