What we learned, Wednesday 24 July 2024
That’s all for today’s rolling news coverage. Here is a wrap-up, in case you missed it.
An independent grouping of Australia’s top technologists said small modular reactors won’t be fully commercially available until the late 2040s at least. The report comes amid public debate that erupted when the federal opposition announced its nuclear policy in June.
The federal government outlined $77.6m to be given to public and non-government schools for age-appropriate and evidence-based lessons on consent – part of a national push for consent and respectful relationship education.
Nine’s director of sport, Brent Williams, reminded staffers in Paris to remain vigilant after two of them were assaulted in an attack he says was of a “serious physical nature”.
The world’s hottest day on record, which was declared on Sunday 21 July with an average surface temperature of 17.09C, has already been beaten. It took just one more day to set a new high mark, at 17.15C, as clocked by Europe’s Copernicus climate change service.
An “unprecedented” rise in Islamophobia around Australia has been reported since the 7 October terrorist attack by Hamas in Israel, according to the leading group tracking such incidents in this country, a Senate committee heard.
Ministerial reshuffle rumours are doing the rounds again, and politicians doing the media rounds were getting asked those questions too. Finance minister Katy Gallagher said this morning that such issues are “matters above my pay grade” and “matters for the prime minister”.
A large military exercise in the Northern Territory was suspended after one of the participating aircraft crashed. The pilot ejected from the aircraft and is “safe and well”, according to Australian defence officials.
Thanks for joining us, see you back on the blog tomorrow.
Updated
The Queensland attorney general, Yvette D’Ath, will appeal sentences given to two juvenile offenders convicted over a home invasion involving the Kefu family, after advice from the director of public prosecutions, she said in a statement.
Her statement continues:
Appeals have been lodged on the grounds the sentences imposed were manifestly inadequate, having regard to the maximum penalty and the declaration that some of the offences were heinous.
Given this appeal process is now underway, no further comment will be made on the matter.
Updated
