What we learned: Sunday 5 November
We’re wrapping the blog for the evening. Here are today’s major developments:
Prime minister Anthony Albanese has received the red carpet treatment as he arrived in Shanghai at the start of his trip to meet with Xi Jinping.
There is speculation about a potential rate rise by the RBA when it meets on Tuesday.
Three people are dead after a plane crashed in outback Queensland while assisting fire crews.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has rejected claims he is interfering in the operation of the RBA.
Unpredictable conditions have hampered firefighting efforts in Western Australia as blazes continue to burn south of Perth.
Australian officials are still seeking safe passage for citizens fleeing Gaza.
Panda diplomacy underway as Adelaide Zoo begins negotiations to extend the stay of resident pandas Wang Wang and Fu Ni.
A large crowd has gathered in Melbourne to attend a rally in support of Palestine.
Senator David Pocock has urged the government to abandon its sea dumping bill.
China will pursue membership of regional trade pact.
With that, we’ll leave it there for today. Join us first thing tomorrow when we’ll bring you all the latest.
Updated
Queensland to ban sale of knives to juveniles
Selling knives and replica firearms to juveniles will be banned in Queensland, as part of a range of measures to tackle youth crime.
Police Minister, Mark Ryan, says it will become an offence to sell knives, certain other bladed items and replica firearms, including gel blasters, to anyone under 18.
Items being banned include: daggers, double-ended blades, machetes, sickles or scythes, spear-guns, spears, axes, tomahawks and swords.
It will also be an offence to try to use a fake ID to buy the contraband.
These laws will assist in keeping dangerous items out of the hands of young criminals, before violent offences can occur.
This will go hand in hand with the expansion of Jack’s Law, which is saving lives and reducing violence across Queensland every single day.”
The Labor government has expanded legislation allowing police to use personal metal detectors or “wands” to search people in so-called “Safe Night Precincts” as well as on public transport.
Officers have used the hand-held scanners in crime hotspot areas since March after the extension of Jack’s Law, created after the stabbing death of 17-year-old Jack Beasley on the Gold Coast in 2019.
Police say 904 people have been charged with almost 1600 offences between April and November, mostly drugs and weapons related.
Retailers will be required to display signs regarding the prohibition and can’t advertise certain weapons as “suitable for combat”.
– AAP
Updated
