What we learned – Sunday 20 November
And that’s where we’ll leave you this evening. Here are today’s highlights:
Federal parliament’s sitting calendar may be extended beyond its scheduled Christmas break as the government hopes to pass a raft of complex legislation and fulfil election promises before the end of the year.
Cybercriminals have released the data stolen from about 1,500 Medibank customers, including details of sexually transmitted infections and treatment for mental health, after the company refused to pay a US$10m ransom.
Flood warnings have been issued across New South Wales and Victoria as rain continues in parts of these states. More than 70 NSW local government areas are subject to disaster declarations.
Queensland police commissioner Katarina Carroll said there are “definitely positives” to be expected in a review of the state’s police service, due for release on Monday.
Victoria’s premier Daniel Andrews has said the state deserves “better than violent extremism” and US-style politics after upper house MP, Catherine Cumming, told a crowd of protesters yesterday that he should be turned into “red mist”.
NSW Labor pledged to ban mobile phones in the state’s high schools if elected next year.
A historic deal to set up a “loss and damage” fund to pay poorer countries harmed by the impacts of the climate crisis has been agreed to at Cop27, after a decades-long fight by climate campaigners and developing nations.
Crikey’s editor-in-chief Peter Fray will take indefinite leave after his “unacceptable” behaviour at the Walkley awards, Private Media CEO Will Hayward announced.
And Twitter’s new owner Elon Musk has reinstated the banned account of former US president Donald Trump.
We’ll be back with you bright and early on Monday morning. In the meantime, look after yourselves and have a lovely evening.
Updated
Crikey's editor-in-chief on indefinite leave after 'unacceptable' behaviour at Walkleys
Crikey’s editor-in-chief Peter Fray will take indefinite leave after his “unacceptable” behaviour at the Walkley awards, Private Media CEO Will Hayward has announced.
Fray heckled the ABC journalists who won the Gold Walkley during their acceptance speech at Thursday night’s gala journalism awards ceremony, repeatedly yelling out, “What about Crikey?”. He apologised on Friday afternoon.
I wish to unreservedly apologise for my actions at last night’s Walkley awards. They were unacceptable. I have apologised to the ABC’s news director Justin Stevens,
— Peter James Fray (@PeterFray) November 18, 2022
the deserved winners of the Gold Walkley, Anne Connolly, Stephanie Zillman and Ali Russell and ABC editorial.
Hayward said on Sunday:
Peter’s behaviour was unacceptable, and does not reflect the standards we aspire to at our company.
I would like to take the opportunity to apologise on behalf of Private Media to Anne Connolly, Stephanie Zillman and Ali Russell and the ABC, and congratulate them on their well deserved win.
Fray, who is also the managing editor of Private Media, said on Sunday his behavior was totally unwarranted, inappropriate and out of character:
I deeply regret my actions at the Walkley awards and again apologise to the worthy Gold Walkley winners – Anne Connolly, Stephanie Zillman and Ali Russell – attendees on the night, the Walkley foundation’s staff and board members and all staff at Private Media.
I will use the period of leave to deeply reflect on my actions and seek appropriate assistance. I can’t undo my actions on that evening, as much I wish to do so. It was wrong for me to question the veracity of the ABC’s work and the excellence of its journalism.
Updated
