What we learned today, Monday 26 January
It’s time to wind down our live news coverage. Here’s what’s been keeping us busy today:
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, officiated at a large citizenship ceremony in Canberra this morning and took the opportunity to make a case for Australian “unity, not division”.
Ted O’Brien, the deputy leader of the opposition, said while it had been a “tough week” for the Liberal party, he did not believe there would be a leadership spill. Leader Sussan Ley, meanwhile, dismissed the speculation as a “media frenzy”.
Multiple beaches were closed after shark sightings in Sydney.
In Sydney, a man was arrested and was expected to be charged with hate speech after allegedly making antisemitic comments at the March for Australia protest in Moore Park. Despite the arrest, police said most protesters were peaceful.
About 10,000 people marched in Sydney’s Invasion Day rally, which began with a minute’s silence for Lake Cargelligo shooting victims Sophie Quinn, John Harris and Nerida Quinn.
In Melbourne, riot police moved in after anti-immigration protesters clashed with Invasion Day marchers.
Perth’s Invasion Day protest descended into chaos when police were forced to move the crowd after a “threat” was made in Forrest Place. One person was taken into custody over the incident.
Senator Pauline Hanson appeared at Brisbane’s March for Australia rally, where the One Nation leader and veteran politician was mobbed by fans.
More than 300 firefighters were engaged in a ground and air assault on Victoria’s Otways bushfire, with tomorrow’s heatwave conditions expected to heighten its danger. VicEmergency urged residents near the Otways fire to evacuate immediately.
Thank you, as ever, for joining us. We’ll be back bright and early tomorrow with more breaking news.
Updated
Estimated 1,000 people at Invasion Day rally where ‘threat’ was made
Some more accounts of the Perth Invasion Day rally incident, with Noongar photographer Cole Baxter saying he estimates there were about 1,000 people in attendance this afternoon.
Baxter told Guardian Australia that it made for a “tense environment” before things began to settle and the attenders continued after changing their route:
Those environments, they’re already prone to be stressful and triggering, whether or not something super crappy is happening, so it made it even more tense.
Eventually it just did its normal trajectory and did its normal thing and it ended up being a pretty good showing.
Updated
