What we learned - Tuesday 6 August
And that’s where we’ll leave you this evening. Here are some of today’s main headlines:
The Reserve Bank left its cash rate unchanged for a sixth meeting in a row as it waits for more proof about inflation and the health of the economy before deciding its next move. RBA governor Michele Bullock effectively ruled out a cut to rates in the next six months.
In day three of Linda Reynolds’ defamation trial against her former staffer, Brittany Higgins, Reynolds recounted the series of events leading up to the publication of Higgins’ allegations she had been raped in Parliament House in February 2021.
Foreign minister Penny Wong said she was still “deeply concerned” about escalation in the “highly risky” Middle East.
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, called on the Australian government to “reconsider” funding a key UN agency delivering aid to Palestinian civilians in Gaza, after the announcement that nine Unrwa staff members had been fired. Dutton also said that if the Coalition wins the next election “Israel would have a more reliable ally”.
A re-elected Queensland Labor government would set up state-owned petrol stations, cap daily fuel price rises and take over operation of council buses from local government, Steven Miles announced.
Former NSW premier Dominic Perrottet has used his valedictory speech to lament Covid-19 vaccine mandates, saying they were “wrong”.
Human remains were located inside a crocodile at Cooktown, in far north Queensland, after a man went missing at the weekend.
Tensions have risen rapidly in the Northern Territory police in the wake of the NT police commissioner Michael Murphy’s landmark apology to Aboriginal people delivered at the Garma festival on the weekend. The Warlpiri elder Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves says he is disappointed the police commissioner didn’t apologise to the community of Yuendumu first.
Richmond player Dustin Martin retired, effective immediately, following a 15-year AFL career.
Thanks so much for your company. We’ll be back first thing tomorrow morning to bring you all of Wednesday’s news. Until then, look after yourselves.
Updated
Brittany Higgins’ communications with fundraising page subpoenaed by Linda Reynolds' legal team
Day three of the defamation trial against Brittany Higgins by her former boss Linda Reynolds has wrapped up.
There were a few last minute twists in the final minutes on Tuesday.
One of those was that Reynolds’ legal team requested a subpoena of any communications between Higgins and a fundraising page for Higgins’ defence created by Saxon Mullins.
Mullins posted on Twitter/X on Monday that Higgins “has endured an endless stream of attacks and is now being sued”. The fundraising page has raised almost $30,000 so far.
Justice Paul Tottle granted the subpoena for any correspondence between the two regarding the statement contained on the fundraising page with a return date of 14 August.
The defence also requested a subpoena of a document tendered to the ACT’s board of inquiry, helmed by Walter Sofronoff.
Higgins’ lawyer, Rachael Young SC, said the document was described as containing correspondence between Reynolds and Bruce Lehrmann’s then barrister, Steven Whybrow.
Young said the document was needed for Reynolds’ cross-examination later this week. Justice Tottle granted the subpoena, ordering the defence to hand a copy to Reynolds’ team once it became available on Thursday.
Updated
