What we learned today, Saturday 18 February
That is where we will wrap up the live blog for Saturday.
Here’s what made the news today:
Brittany Higgins wants the investigation into the Bruce Lehrmann case to look into the circumstances that resulted in her private diary being leaked to the Australian, as former defence minister Linda Reynolds claims in an interview she was the victim of “a very well-orchestrated political hit” over false allegations she covered up Higgins’s alleged rape.
New Zealand’s death toll from Cyclone Gabrielle has risen to nine as the clean-up continues.
The NSW Liberal MLC Peter Poulos has been disendorsed as a candidate in the upcoming election and banned from the Liberal party for six months following the revelation he had shared an explicit photo of a former rival five years ago.
The NSW premier, Dominic Perrottet, says he was “horrified” and “disgusted” by the scandal.
The Indigenous Australians minister, Linda Burney, has told a packed community forum in Sydney to “be patient” about the voice to parliament. She later said she hopes to see a “big fat yes” vote at the referendum.
Sea Shepherd and Action for Dolphins have called for shark nets to be removed at Bronte beach in Sydney after a dolphin died after getting caught in the nets.
We will be back with you again tomorrow. Have a good evening.
Updated
Polystyrene waste halves after voluntary ban introduced, Conservation Volunteers Australia says
The amount of polystyrene packaging making its way to pristine reef environments has dropped dramatically since a voluntary ban was introduced, AAP reports.
Conservation Volunteers Australia found the share of polystyrene in waste collected from urban waterways halved after the move to curb quantities of the packaging came into effect.
In March 2021, business were asked to phase out the material in packaging and food containers or face a mandatory ban.
Polystyrene accounted for more than one-fifth of litter collected from September 2020 to August 2021, the conservation group reported, the year the voluntary ban was introduced.
It fell to 11% the year after, while figures for rubbish collected between September 2022 and January 2023 show it is on track to remain at a similar level.
“Polystyrene has long been the worst offender in our waterways,” the Conservation Volunteers Australia chief executive, Phil Harrison, said.
“To see its volume halve in just 12 months on the back of a voluntary ban suggests real progress can be achieved when government, business, science and conservation volunteers all work towards common, common-sense goals.”
Conservation Volunteers Australia is part of a campaign to stop ocean litter at its source – including in creeks and rivers – before it can flow to the Great Barrier and Southern reefs.
Lightweight plastic bags accounted for about 2% of waste collected, which the conservation group said demonstrated state and territory bans were working.
Cigarette butts are now the biggest polluter of reefs.
Updated
