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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Cait Kelly and Emily Wind (earlier)

Woman and teenage girl found dead in Sydney home – as it happened

Melbourne Australia Alice Springs Andrew Giles Brent Potter Northern Territory Police
NSW police establish a crime scene after a woman and a teenage girl were found dead inside a home in Sydney’s north-west.
NSW police establish a crime scene after a woman and a teenage girl were found dead inside a home in Sydney’s north-west. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

What we learned, Thursday 11 July

And with that, we are going to put the blog to bed. Before we go, let’s recap the big headlines.

Thank you for spending part of your day with us – we will be back tomorrow. Until then, stay safe.

Updated

ASX and All Ords join global risk-on rally, nearing highest-ever close

From AAP:

The local share market has finally joined a global risk-on rally, climbing to its highest intraday level in 100 days and finishing within a whisker of its highest-ever close.

The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index on Thursday gained 72.8 points, or 0.93%, at 7,889.6, less than eight points shy of its record closing high of 7,896.8 set on 28 March.

The broader All Ordinaries gained 75.1 points, or 0.93%, to 8,133.4.

The rally followed a strong lead from Wall Street, where the S&P500 rose 1.0% to close at an all-time high for the 37th time this year following more dovish commentary from the US Fed’s chairman, Jerome Powell.

Updated

Anti-Palestinian protesters to dispute charges on basis targeted business made parts for Israeli fighter jets

From AAP:

A group of pro-Palestine activists charged after a standoff on the roof of a Melbourne factory say they will fight criminal charges on the basis the business manufactures fighter jet parts used in Gaza.

The eight protesters were arrested on 19 February, several hours after they climbed on to the roof of Rosebank Engineering’s aircraft components manufacturing facility at Bayswater in the city’s east.

The group said the business manufactured parts for fighter jets exported and used by the Israel Defence Forces in Gaza – a claim lawyer Madeleine Toohey on Thursday said amounted to a “sudden or extraordinary defence” for the activists.

The company had admitted as much and the protesters would dispute their cases on those grounds, Toohey told Ringwood magistrates court.

Updated

Builders welcome ‘league table’ comparing development approvals from councils

Naming and shaming councils taking too long to approve developments should expand nationwide, builders say.

An online “league table“ ranking councils on how many developments they have approved, and how long it took them, has been set up for greater data transparency in NSW.

The state’s planning minister, Paul Scully, has also delivered an updated statement of expectations demanding councils pitch in to curbi the crisis and outlining appropriate time frames for approvals.

“If a council is found not to be meeting these expectations, the minister can take these matters into consideration as part of determining if it is appropriate to appoint a planning administrator ... to exercise a council’s functions,” the updated statement of expectations warns.

The Master Builders Association of NSW welcomed the move, saying other states should follow:

The dashboard confirms that some council areas need to invest more resources in addressing approval backlogs so builders can get on with the job of delivering new homes.

Updated

Waterways contaminated after factory fire in Melbourne

Chemical runoff from a major fire at a factory in Melbourne’s west has reportedly contaminated nearby waterways.

The fire, caused by a chemical explosion at the factory, was contained by fire crews but locals have been warned not to come into contact with water at Cherry Creek, Anderson’s Swamp and Kayes Drain as runoff from the factory fire site has entered waterways.

Oliver Jones, a researcher in environmental chemistry at RMIT University, said:

It is possible there could be some effects [that] could be seen on local creeks but these are likely to be short term as the water works its way through the system. To be on the safe side, it would be a good idea for people and animals to stay away from waterways in the area for the time being.

Updated

First annual service for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan military action held in NSW

Veterans of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have been honoured in the first annual service for Australians involved in conflicts that cost the nation more than 50 lives, AAP reports.

NSW’s premier, Chris Minns, and veterans minister, David Harris, were among the dignitaries who joined families paying tribute at the cenotaph in Sydney’s Martin Place in what will become an annual commemoration. The premier said:

This day will forever be enshrined in remembrance of these brave men and women.

We recognise their courage and their service, as well as the ongoing toll of their experiences, both visible and invisible.

These veterans continue the proud tradition of our armed forces, serving abroad to protect the Australian way of life at home.

Updated

Butler says vape store owners closing shop after new regulations implemented

Mark Butler, the minister for health, has told Afternoon Briefing he has heard from vape stores that they are closing their doors:

We are receiving direct communication from vape store owners that there are winding up dailies and closing their doors but also receive direct communication from broader convenience stores that stock a lot of different products that they are taking vapes off their shelves as well.

When asked if is concerned stores may try to operate under the radar he says:

I’d be surprised if there wasn’t the odd one continue to operate which is why I’ve tried to be very clear with my message that we are deadly serious about enforcing this.

Updated

Regulator investigating after multiple kangaroos killed in regional Victoria

From AAP:

At least 84 kangaroos have been found dead with gunshot wounds and traumatic injuries from being mowed down by a vehicle in regional Victoria.

The conservation regulator is investigating after at least 65 dead juvenile and adult eastern grey kangaroos were found in Gobarup in central Victoria. About 19 more kangaroos were found dead suffering from similar injuries near Hotham.

Two joeys were rescued and are being cared for by the local shelter.

Officers have spoken with a landowner who is not a person of interest in the alleged crime.

Updated

Bob Carr to join Australian Heritage Council

Former Labor foreign minister and NSW premier Bob Carr has been appointed to chair the Australian Heritage Council, the environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, has announced.

Carr – who led NSW from 1995 to 2005 before making the switch to federal politics in 2012 – was announced among “five distinguished Australians” joining the independent council.

“I am delighted to announce the appointment of the Hon Bob Carr who brings a wealth of experience from his service in parliament to the conservation of our heritage places and the environment, including from his former role as NSW minister for heritage,” Plibersek said in a press release today.

“He received the World Conservation Union International parks merit award for creating 350 new national parks and is a life member of the Wilderness Society.”

Alongside Carr, Plibersek announced historic heritage experts Kristal Buckley and Prof Richard Mackay and Indigenous heritage experts Leah Cameron and Jamie Lowe will also join the board.

“The appointments follow the departure of the Hon Ted Baillieu AO, who served as chair for three years, and historic heritage experts Prof Liz Vines OAM and Prof Helen Lochhead AO,” her office said.

“I look forward to continuing to work with the Australian Heritage Council to identify, protect and conserve our country’s most important heritage sites.”

The council “is the principal adviser to the Australian government on heritage matters, assessing nominations for the national heritage list and commonwealth heritage list,” Plibersek’s office said, and “has also provided input on legislative reforms under the government’s nature positive plan.”

Updated

Investigation launched after two bodies located inside Marsfield home in NSW

The bodies of two women were found inside a home in Sydney’s north-west today, NSW police confirmed.

In a statement police said just after 10.20am on Thursday 11 July, police were called to a home on Menzies Road, Marsfield, following reports of a concern for welfare.

Officers attached to Ryde police area command arrived to find the bodies of two females inside. The woman, believed to be aged in her 50s, and girl, believed to be in her teens, are yet to be formally identified.

A crime scene was established and detectives have commenced an investigation.

Updated

Government confirms two Australians have died in the Philippines

Two Australians have died in the Philippines, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed.

In a short statement, a spokesperson said:

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to the families of two Australians who have died in the Philippines.

We send our condolences to the families at this difficult time.

Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment.

Updated

Many thanks for joining me on the blog today, I’ll hand over to Cait Kelly who will take you through the rest of our rolling coverage. Take care!

Three Australian navy officers graduate from nuclear reactor course in preparation for Aukus

Three Australian navy officers have graduated from the nuclear reactor course in the UK to begin training on UK Astute-class submarines in Scotland.

Australia’s Navy chief, V-Adm Mark Hammond, congratulated the three graduates on the significant achievement of their critical training and said in a statement:

The graduation marks another significant step forward for the Royal Australian Navy’s ability to operate, maintain and support Australia’s future nuclear-powered submarine capability.

The director general of the Australian Submarine Agency, V-Adm Jonathan Mead, said the training was a critical step towards Australia operating and maintaining a sovereign fleet of nuclear-powered submarines from the early 2030s.

The incredible training opportunities we are accessing through our Aukus partners will ensure we can safely operate and maintain our sovereign fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.

Updated

Queensland court hears 8-year-old lay dead for 36 hours as religious sect members told family she would be raised from dead by God

Elizabeth Struhs lay dead in her house for 36 hours after the diabetic 8-year-old died before her father called triple zero, Brisbane’s supreme court has heard.

But members of her family told others in messages that she would be raised from the dead by God, according to Crown prosecutor Caroline Marco.

The 14 adult members of a Toowoomba religious sect, the Saints, are currently on trial at the Brisbane supreme court for her alleged murder and manslaughter. The group allegedly did not believe in medicine.

Struhs died by the morning of 7 January 2022 of diabetic ketoacidosis due to a lack of insulin, the court has heard. Marco said yesterday that Struhs would have been “suffering for days” due to her condition.

An ambulance was not called before she died and father Jason Struhs only reported her death on 8 January, Marco said, with paramedics arriving that evening. Police and paramedics who attended the house found about 20 members of the Saints at the house praying and singing as the child lay dead, she said.

The court heard a work colleague of one of the group later told a member that the names of Elizabeth’s parents had been released to the media. He replied that it was great news because it meant more people would be shocked when Elizabeth comes back from the dead, the court heard.

Marco said the mother, Kerrie Struhs, had recently been released from prison for a previous incident involving Elizabeth. She was due to meet her parole officer on 6 January, but told them she was unwell and had it rescheduled, the court has heard.

The trial continues.

Updated

Racing minister says he is ‘committed to ensuring sustainable greyhound racing industry’

David Harris continued:

I’m absolutely committed to ensuring [a] competitive, responsible, and sustainable greyhound racing industry with the highest standards of animal welfare and integrity. It’s important that the governing bodies and senior leadership of the racing codes meet these standards.

I take concerns about Greyhound Racing NSW very seriously and this inquiry, using the full investigative powers of GWIC, will conduct a thorough and wide-ranging review of all relevant issues.

The NSW government will continue to work with Greyhound Racing NSW and the industry participants to ensure the viability and longevity of the industry in NSW, upholding best practice, and having animal welfare at the top of its priorities.

Updated

Scope of NSW inquiry into greyhound racing announced

David Harris outlined the scope of the inquiry as follows:

  • Greyhound welfare and the care of greyhounds by Greyhound Racing NSW, including management and compliance with welfare standards and any welfare concerns relating to Greyhound Racing NSW’s management of greyhound adoption and rehoming programs, including facilities and its other functions under the Act.

  • Greyhound Racing NSW’s processes and management, including procurement and recruitment practices, concerns regarding any alleged or identified conflicts of interest and the management of conflicts of interest.

  • The accuracy and reporting by Greyhound Racing NSW in relation to greyhounds, and whether that reporting represents the true state of the greyhound racing industry – including the welfare of greyhounds and the state of related programs under Greyhound Racing NSW’s control, awareness, and oversight.

  • The performance and effectiveness of Greyhound NSW’s function under the Act, and the Greyhound Racing NSW operating licence, in relation to racecourse safety, management, and compliance with minimum track standards.

  • Greyhound Racing New South Wales’ management’s response to complaints or concerns regarding organisational and workplace culture and conduct, or any other related matters, arising in the inquiry, and any other matters arising in the course of the inquiry into the matters above that the acting commissioner considers relevant.

The acting commissioner will have until 13 December to report back, Harris said.

Updated

Racing minister officially announces inquiry into Greyhound Racing NSW

The NSW minister for gaming and racing, David Harris, is announcing a public inquiry into greyhound racing in the state – as he flagged yesterday.

Harris said he has appointed mediator and investigator Lea Drake to oversee the inquiry.

Drake has more than two decades’ experience as a member of the fair work commission and served a 5-year term as inaugural commissioner of the law enforcement conduct commission, as well as sitting on civil and administrative and sports misconduct-related tribunals.

The inquiry will examine complaints about Greyhound Racing NSW’s governance and operations, track safety, and animal welfare issues – including claims made by whistleblowers. Drake is an eminently qualified person to lead this inquiry.

Updated

AI-powered cameras installed on major e-scooter fleet in Melbourne

Artificial intelligence-powered cameras will be installed on the Melbourne fleet of a major electric scooter rental company to stop riders travelling on footpaths, AAP reports.

Some Neuron Mobility e-scooters already have the front-facing cameras and 1,250 more will carry the technology by the end of this year. E-scooters are not allowed on footpaths and Victoria police described the practice as extremely dangerous during a crackdown in May.

The AI technology, called ScootSafe Vision, can detect illegal behaviour in less than a second and issue a warning in real time, Neuron says. The power on the e-scooters may also be reduced and repeat offenders banned from the service.

It’s the first time an entire fleet will be decked out with the multi-million dollar technology in a major city anywhere in the world, the company claims. It follows a six-month trial that trained the AI to recognise Melbourne’s roads and footpaths.

Flinders Street, Elizabeth Street and the bottom end of Collins Street were identified as footpath-riding hotspots during the trial. Some 55% of all footpath riding was detected during the first or last minute of a trip, mainly because parking stations are located on footpaths.

The City of Melbourne backed a trial of an early version of the technology on Neuron and Lime scooters in August 2023.

Updated

Energy reports point to sharp increases in renewables leaving nuclear in the shade

Every year, oil giant BP puts out an energy outlook repor that is looked at closely around the world.

This year they looked at the current trajectory of energy demand and compared it with what’s needed to get to net zero. (The former path sees us use up our remaining chance to keep global heating to less than 2C by about 2040 – a bad result!)

Solar and wind’s rise is notable, with electricity generation almost doubling between 2019 and 2023 (as solar module costs dropped 60% in that time). On the inadequate present pathway, wind and solar generation will jump eightfold; or if net zero is reached, the increase will need to be 14 times versus 2022.

By contrast, nuclear energy merely doubles and hydro power rises about 75% if net zero is to be achieved. (BP wouldn’t have modelled the federal opposition’s plans for seven nuclear reactors since that isn’t the Australian government policy yet.)

Taking all forms of energy use (such as transport, heating, power), then the rise of renewables will be critical with nuclear energy helpful.

Anyway, BP expects fossil fuel use, especially coal, to drop a lot. Some might point to China’s ongoing investment in coal-fired power plants to say that’s not the case. Actually, the remarkable increase in solar and wind energy in China looks to be nudging coal’s contribution lower even if new plants are coming on line.

Updated

NSW police say surviving family from Lalor Park house fire will require ongoing assistance and support

Just circling back to the NSW police press conference on the Lalor Park house fire:

Detective supt Daniel Doherty said the “majority” of the children in the home were the man’s biological children:

But they’re his family, they’re his kids. There’s seven kids in that house … It’s a family home that’s been burned down … three kids [have] lost their lives and the four that are remaining, they’ve lost their siblings and they will need some ongoing assistance and support, I’m sure, as the mother will.

Updated

Albanese announces Labor candidates for Queensland

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is in Queensland today, announcing several Labor candidates for the coming election – due by mid-2025, but tipped by some to come earlier than that.

Albanese announced Rebecca Hack as the candidate for Ryan, the Greens-held seat in Brisbane’s west; and Rowan Holzberger for Forde, the LNP-held seat in the city’s south.

Albanese said of Hack:

She’s a Toowong local, a teacher and a dedicated member of her community. Working with our Labor government, Rebecca Hack will help tackle the things that matter: housing, cost of living, and climate change. She’s ready to be a strong voice for her community in Canberra.

Albanese gave a press conference in Forde, where he again criticised the Coalition’s nuclear energy plan, and once more urged against the idea of faith-based political parties in Australia.

Updated

NSW police will allege domestic violence as part of motive but still investigating specifics

Asked about motive, Doherty said police will allege it is a domestic violence crime:

We allege that there is some type of domestic argument or dispute that may have led to this incident … However, we’re still putting that together.

Updated

Mother released from hospital and attending vigil

Detective supt Daniel Doherty said the mother has been released from hospital and returned to the house to conduct a walkthrough with police:

Obviously [she is] devastated and heartbroken, but was supported through the walk through … She’s getting as much support as possible from family, friends and also from the counselling services.

Physically, she’s recovered. But emotionally, that’s probably a long journey ahead for her. And I do understand that that will be ongoing.

I understand that there’s a possible vigil this afternoon in Lalor Park, that she will be attending, I believe. But I believe that that is all part of the grieving process. It’s very new to her. It’s very raw. And we’ll support her through that.

Updated

Police still determining if weapons were allegedly involved in arson incident

Asked if there were any weapons allegedly involved, Daniel Doherty said “there is some information there may have been a pair of scissors or some sort of sharp implement at some stage”, but this is still being determined.

He alleged:

However, what we can say is that he did light fires in the bedroom and then he went to the rest of the house and we’ll allege that he lit fires, we believe, through the use of an accelerant, and that led to an explosive situation, a large amount of fire and smoke.

Updated

Father charged over Sydney house fire deaths allegedly locked doors to prevent people escaping, police say

Detective supt Daniel Doherty said they will allege the doors of the Lalor Park home had been locked and as a result, it “prevented those inside … to escape the fire.”

The neighbour – who performed very courageously – managed to force entry into the house and initially was able to save the 4-year-old and the 7-year-old boys, then went back in and saved the 9-year-old girl at the same time as the mother, and attempted to try to save the 11-year-old, the oldest. That was prevented by – we’ll allege – was prevented by the 28-year-old man.

Police also had to force entry and “wrestle with this man and wrestle the boy from his grasp, because he was holding onto him”, police alleged. The boy was then rescued.

Fire and Rescue NSW arrived and went into the house, finding the bodies of two boys who subsequently died in hospital, and were unable to save the five-month-old baby.

Updated

NSW police will allege man is solely responsible for setting fires inside Lalor Park premises

Daniel Doherty said the man was taken off sedation last night, and spoke with police then and this morning.

He understands what’s going on ... he understands that three of his children have died as a result of this house fire, and he understands he’s been charged with those nine offences.

He said there is still a lot of work to do in regards to the investigation.

There’s a large amount of forensic evidence still being looked at, there’s a lot of witnesses who have come forward. Still have interviewed the family, that’s ongoing, and also the children have been interviewed by the specialist police from the child abuse squad. There’s family and friend, associates – there’s a large amount of work still to do.

But what I can say in relation to the facts that have been presented to court today: Police will allege this man is solely responsible for setting fires inside the premises at Lalor Park.

Updated

Update on NSW man charged with domestic violence murders after alleged arson blaze kills children

NSW police are providing an update after a man was charged with the domestic violence murder, and attempted murder, of his children.

As we reported earlier, the 28-year-old man has been charged with three counts of murder (domestic violence), five counts of attempted murder (DV) and destroying/damaging property with the intent of endangering life (DV).

Detective supt Daniel Doherty said the matter was heard in Parramatta local court today, and that the man appeared via a bedside court hearing.

The matter has now been adjourned to Penrith local court on 6 September, and the man has been bail refused, police said.

Updated

Alice Springs mayor says he trusts Northern Territory police commissioner’s discretion

Paterson says there was one minor event during the curfew period, and people involved have been arrested. He said there are now additional police officers in Alice at the moment.

Speaking about the police commissioner, he said:

He’s got enough resources in Alice Springs. For any Territorian listening, I do, and you should be trusting the police commissioner’s discretion to run his agency and allocate the resources he needs to keep Territorians safe.

Updated

Police Minister: Alice Springs curfew ‘played the role it needed to’

Potter:

I think the curfew played the role it needed to. We saw three of the four major incidents occurring at night time, where alcohol was involved.

Updated

Authorities confirm Alice Spring curfew will not be extended

In Alice Springs authorities have announced they will not be extending a curfew.

Northern Territory’s Police Minister, Brent Potter, is speaking.

Updated

‘Our focus is on the long term’ for Alice Springs, police commissioner says

The NT’s police commissioner, Michael Murphy, said that an additional ten officers started duty in Alice Springs yesterday with an additional 19 due to start in two weeks and 15 to be posted to the town at the end of the month.

The [public disorder declaration] is not a long-term solution, and I am mindful of the impact that decision has had on the broader community.

As commissioner of police I have a responsibility to listen to the community, to make sure that the best decisions are made to uphold the law and to maintain social order. The PDD has assisted in the short term by providing relief to the frontline, but our focus remains on the long term.

Police will continue to work collectively with government stakeholders, community members, and local service agencies to find long term solutions to the issues currently facing Alice Springs.

Updated

Alice Springs curfew won't continue, police commissioner says

The Northern Territory police commissioner says the curfew in Alice Springs will not be extended. The curfew declaration will conclude at 12.55pm today, local time.

A 72-hour stay-at-home order was issued on Monday for the red centre after a spate of violent incidents, including a brawl involving 80 people and a knife attack on a 42-year-old woman.

The commissioner, Michael Murphy, said in a statement that during the past three days, police engaged with 159 people, directing 93 to leave the area. Twenty were conveyed to the “care of other agencies” and 18 removed from the area by police.

No arrests were made in relation to the public disorder declaration, he said.

The declaration has had a noticeable effect in preventing public disorder within the CBD and I would like to thank the Alice Springs community for working with us.

There is currently no reasonable grounds for me to extend the declaration and I am confident we have capable police resourcing in Alice Springs to react and respond to any instances of crime or antisocial behaviour.

Updated

Human Rights Law Centre calls on University of Melbourne to drop disciplinary cases against students

The Human Rights Law Centre has called on the University of Melbourne to drop ongoing disciplinary cases against students, warning it is opening itself up to “potential challenges” and could be operating in counter to the law.

Pressure is mounting on the university over the use of surveillance footage in its issuing of misconduct notices to around 20 students, which included CCTV footage and wifi location data.

David Mejia-Canales, a senior lawyer at the Human Rights Law Centre, said it was a “dark day in our democracy” when universities were “tracking and punishing their own students for peacefully protesting for human rights”.

Instead of tracking and monitoring student location data to be weaponised against students protesting a war, universities should be encouraging peaceful, respectful debate where diverse perspectives are respected and heard.

Mejia-Canales said the use of surveillance technology by the University of Melbourne to monitor protests “goes against the principles of privacy and human rights upheld by Victorian and international law”.

The University of Melbourne’s use of surveillance technology to target students during protests may undermine these fundamental principles and opens the university up to potential challenges.

A University of Melbourne spokesperson said it would not comment on individual matters. Prof Nicola Phillips said that “freedom of speech is foundational to our values and polices” at the university.

We have consistently stated that we recognise the right of students and staff to participate in peaceful protest.

Updated

Religious group faces court over death of 8-year-old diabetic after alleged opposition to use of insulin

The trial of a Toowoomba religious sect over the death of 8-year-old diabetic Elizabeth Struhs is ongoing.

The court has heard father Jason Struhs was gradually convinced to join the group known as “the Saints” while his wife, Kerrie, spent time in jail. He was finally baptised in August 2021.

She spent five months behind bars for failing to supply the necessaries of life to Elizabeth in relation to a 2019 incident. The young girl was taken to hospital after a severe case of diabetic acidosis by her father, the court has heard.

The court heard the religious group allegedly believed she should not use insulin.

Crown prosecutor Caroline Marco laid out a series of phone conversations, letters and other messages between members of the group about their attempts to convince Jason to stop aiding her treatment program. Another member stopped using his glasses as a result of the belief, she said.

Elizabeth died in January 2022. The trial continues.

Updated

ACCC to take The Good Guys to court

As reported earlier, the ACCC has said it will take electronic retailer The Good Guys to court over alleged breach of consumer law.

The Good Guys have released a statement responding to the allegations, authorised by chairman Stephen Goddard:

The Good Guys takes its compliance with the law very seriously and has a comprehensive compliance program in place. The Good Guys has always sought to provide value and benefits to its customers and has worked cooperatively with the ACCC throughout its investigation.

As this matter is the subject of proceedings in the federal court, JB Hi-Fi is unable to make any further comment.

(The Good Guys is a subsidiary of JB Hi-Fi).

Updated

CEO of Grains Producer Australia in US hospital after being reportedly assaulted on work trip

The CEO of an Australian farming lobby group is in intensive care in the US after he was reportedly assaulted while on a solo work trip.

Colin Bettles, the CEO of Grain Producers Australia, was returning to his hotel in San Francisco after a casual work dinner on 4 July when he was reportedly assaulted and his phone and wallet were stolen. His injuries were so severe that he was placed in an induced coma.

His family sought the assistance of Nationals MP Michael McCormack when they were unable to reach him for several days. McCormack asked foreign minister Penny Wong to track him down. Bettles, a former journalist who was the inaugural president of the National Rural Press Club, worked for McCormack as a media adviser in between leaving journalism and taking up his role at Grain Producers Australia.

McCormack told News.com.au: “We found him thanks to consular officials going hospital to hospital, ward to ward.”

In a statement, Grain Producers Australia said Bettles had “experienced an injury while in the United States and is currently in hospital receiving care”.

The GPA Board is supporting his family and authorities to provide assistance where possible. GPA is grateful to our networks, the authorities and US health professionals for their assistance in ensuring his welfare and ongoing care.

Updated

ACCC taking electronic retailer Good Guys to court over alleged breach of consumer law

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) are taking electronics retailer Good Guys to court over more than 100 promotions, run over four years.

The ACCC is alleging the Good Guys made false or misleading representations about their store credit and ‘StoreCash’ promotions, failing to provide store credit to eligible consumers.

The ACCC says thousands of consumers were affected due to details in the terms and conditions, including that they only had 7-10 days to claim the credit, “which many consumers were unaware of.”

The ACCC said 116 promotions were run between July 2019 and August 2023. It alleged the Good Guys said the only requirement to receive store credit was to make a qualifying purchase, which was not the case, because consumers were also required to opt into marketing communications.

ACCC chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said the commission was concerned that “consumers may have purchased products from The Good Guys which they might not have done otherwise,” due to the alleged conduct.

The ACCC is seeking consumer redress, penalties, declarations, compliance orders, publication orders and costs. The Good Guys have been approached for a response.

Marles attends White House while taking part in Nato summit

Deputy prime minister Richard Marles has shared some more photos from the United States, where he has been attending the Nato summit in Washington, DC in Anthony Albanese’s place.

Marles wrote that Nato “comes at a critical time for global security”.

An honour to join Nato and Indo-Pacific leaders at the White House this evening for the 75th anniversary of the historic alliance. We all share a vision for a world that is open, peaceful and prosperous.

NSW Health says influenza still circulating but may soon ‘plateau’

NSW health’s latest respiratory surveillance report, for the period ending 6 July, shows there are still high levels of influenza in the community.

The report states that influenza activity remains high, “with some indication of a plateau in emergency data and notifications”. NSW Health says there will probably be continued flu activity over the next few weeks, with test positivity increasing to 26%.

Considering all RSV indicators, activity is at a moderate level. Pertussis and pneumonia continue to be unseasonably high in school-age children.

Covid-19 activity continued to decline during the week, NSW Health says.

Updated

Melbourne’s Derrimut factory fire disrupts some mobile phone services

Telstra says that the Derrimut factory fire, west of Melbourne, has damaged one of its mobile sites and is causing some disruption to mobile services.

A spokesperson says there is overlapping coverage from other sites in the area, but “customers may notice slower data speeds and patchy coverage in places”.

We’re working closely with emergency services and will get in to assess the damage as soon as it is safe to do so.

Updated

The Bureau of Statistics has published this graph, demonstrating Australia’s ageing population compared with 1981:

An intergenerational report, published last year, showed that over the next 40 years life expectancy at birth is projected to continue to increase.

It is predicted to increase from 81.3 years for men and 85.2 years for women in 2022-23, to 87 years for men, narrowing the gap with women, who are projected to have a life expectancy of 89.5 years by 2062-63.

Australia’s population is projected to reach 40.5 million in 2062-63.

Updated

PNG minister to fight domestic violence charge in Sydney

Papua New Guinea’s petroleum minister will fight an accusation that he assaulted a woman during a domestic dispute in Sydney, AAP reports.

Jimmy Maladina, 58, pleaded not guilty in Waverley local court today after being charged on the weekend with allegedly attacking a 31-year-old woman. Police were called to a property in the eastern Sydney suburb of Bondi on Saturday, when they found the woman with facial injuries.

Maladina appeared in court represented by high-profile barrister Margaret Cunneen. The PNG minister stepped down from his government role earlier in the week while the case was before the courts.

He remains on bail under conditions including that he not contact the alleged victim or anyone she has a domestic relationship with. The bail conditions state:

You must not approach or be in the company of [the alleged victim] for at least 12 hours after drinking alcohol or taking illicit drugs.

Maladina is due to return to court on Wednesday before a scheduled hearing.

Updated

Second day of Toowoomba murder trial starts

The second day of the trial of the Toowoomba religious group the “Saints” for alleged murder and manslaughter is under way.

All 14 adult members of the group are on trial for the death of 8-year-old Elizabeth Struhs in 2022, who had type 1 diabetes. The court heard yesterday that the sect held “extreme” beliefs against medicine, and members believed she should not use insulin to treat her condition.

Crown prosecutor Caroline Marco has continued laying out her case this morning.

Yesterday, she told the court that Elizabeth had been hospitalised for a month in 2019 after a severe case of diabetic ketoacidosis and had been given a treatment program after her release, which Marco said was unusual.

Kerrie Struhs, Elizabeth’s mother, reassured child safety officers that the program would be followed, but she was allegedly taken off insulin in 2022 and died days later, the court has heard.

The trial continues.

Updated

Rob Rogers to retire as NSW RFS commissioner in early 2025

The commissioner of the NSW Rural fire service, Rob Rogers, says he will retire from the role at the end of the coming bushfire service.

Rogers has led the emergency service agency for nearly five years, after taking over from Shane Fitzsimmons in 2020. Rogers spent 40 years as a member and nine years as deputy commissioner prior to this.

As deputy commissioner, he played an important role during the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires. Rogers says he would continue in the role of commissioner until early 2025, supporting the transition to new leadership.

It has been a privilege to serve alongside such dedicated individuals and witness their unwavering commitment to protecting our communities.

I have a deep sense of gratitude for having had the opportunity to contribute to the safety and wellbeing of our State.

The resilience and spirit of our 70,000-plus members inspire me every day and I am confident that they will continue to uphold the values of courage and service that define the RFS.

Updated

Businesses can return on ‘case-by-case basis’ following Derrimut factory fire

Fire Rescue Victoria deputy commissioner of community safety, Joshua Fischer, says businesses surrounding the Derrimut factory fire in Melbourne’s west will be allowed to return on a case-by-case basis.

In excess of 3m litres of water and 40,000 litres of foam has been used to suppress this fire.

We have three appliances currently undertaking firefighting operations to continue to suppress the fire and we still have a further 11 appliances on scene supporting and in time going through a decontamination process.

We are now currently managing runoff of contaminated water as a result of the firefighting effort and contaminants in the building, alongside the EPA. It is a dynamic situation and we are undertaking atmospheric monitoring so we can allow businesses in the area to return to premises on a case-by-case basis.

Updated

Lithium-ion battery in ebike explodes, sparks fire in Sydney unit overnight

A lithium-ion battery from an ebike exploded in a unit in Sydney overnight, with seven people being treated for smoke inhalation.

Seven Fire and Rescue NSW trucks and 28 firefighters responded to an automatic fire alarm in a 26-storey unit block on George Street at about 11.50pm.

A battery was charging in the lounge room of a level-six unit when it exploded and caught fire, a statement said. The occupants managed to escape and the automatic sprinkler system extinguished the fire.

FRNSW evacuated an additional 80-100 people as a precaution, however they were able to return a short time later.

The occupants of the unit were treated on scene by paramedics for smoke inhalation but were not taken to hospital.

Updated

Man charged with murder, attempted murder following fatal house fire in Sydney’s west

A man has been charged over a fatal house fire in Sydney’s west at the weekend where three children died.

A 29-year-old woman, three boys – aged four, seven and 11 – and a nine-year-old girl were taken to hospital following the fire at Lalor Park on Sunday. The woman has since been discharged, and the children remain in stable conditions.

Three children – a two-year-old boy, six-year-old boy and five-month-old girl – died at the scene. Police saay they are yet to be formally identified and post-mortem examinations are being conducted to determine the cause of death.

A 28-year-old man, who police earlier confirmed was the children’s father, remains at Westmead Hospital under police guard.

He has been charged with three counts of murder (domestic violence), five counts of attempted murder (DV) and destroying/damaging property with the intent of endangering life (DV).

The matter will be heard in Parramatta local court today and the man is expected to appear via a bedside court hearing.

Updated

Students protest this afternoon amid disciplinary action for pro-Palestine encampments

Victorian students facing disciplinary action for their participation in university encampments are leading the seventh student strike for Palestine this afternoon, renewing calls for tertiary divestment from weapons companies and institutions connected to Israel.

More than two dozen students across Monash, La Trobe, Deakin and the University of Melbourne have been threatened with suspension or expulsion for their participation in university protest action. Some have been dropped, while others are ongoing.

Jasmine Duff, co-convener of Students for Palestine and a Deakin student facing disciplinary action, says she will not back down.

Thirty-nine thousand people, including over 15,000 children, have been killed in Gaza. Our universities have chosen this moment to target student protestors when they should be standing against Israel. Rather than opposing the genocide itself, the priority of our universities is repressing students.

Monash queer officer Madeline Curkovic, who recently won her case against an academic penalty for involvement in a Gaza solidarity camp, says universities seemed to be prioritising profits ahead of free speech.

Our own universities have chosen to repress us rather than respond to our demands that they cut ties with this ongoing genocide.

Updated

Household spending rises in June but renters still feeling the squeeze

The latest household spending index from Commbank suggests spending picked up in June for a second month in a row even as renters cut back again.

However, the 0.6% increase to 150.5 was a modest one. From a year ago, spending was up 3.9%, roughly in line with inflation.

The survey tracks spending from 7m accounts and is a helpful guide to consumption in the economy.

However, there is a big difference in spending according to home ownership status. Renters spent 0.9% less last month, with spending by outright owners up 2.1%. Despite all the speculation about another Reserve Bank rate rise, mortgage holders spent 1.5% more last month, too.

CBA’s chief economist Stephen Halmarick says younger Australians “who are more likely to be renting, are tightening their wallets and likely spending more on essentials, given these are the fastest growing spending categories so far this year”.

What the RBA will do next could hinge on the June quarter inflation figures due for release on 31 July (with markets continuing to pare their bets on an August RBA rate rise - now about a 22% chance, according to the ASX tracker).

Updated

First Nations students to get $8.5m funding boost to improve schooling outcomes

The federal government will provide $8.5m to two First Nations organisations in a bid to improve schooling outcomes amongst Indigenous young people.

In 158 of the 200 most educationally disadvantaged schools in Australia, the student population is more than 50% Indigenous.

Some $4m will be funnelled into the GO Foundation’s scholarships, while an additional $4.5m will support the Aurora Education Foundation’s Redefining Indigenous Success in Education (RISE) initiative. The program helps Indigenous high school students via tutoring, camps and mentoring programs.

The minister for education, Jason Clare, says he wants more children to “finish school and get a crack at going to university”.

These scholarships are part of this. The work that Aurora and GO Foundation are doing is working. It is increasing attendance rates. It is also helping more Indigenous students to finish school and go on to TAFE or university.

The minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney, says education is the key to “empowering young people to dream big and build great careers”.

Updated

Derrimut factory fire ‘most significant’ blaze in Melbourne in recent years

Fire Rescue Victoria deputy commissioner Michelle Cowling says Melbourne’s Derrimut fire is the most significant blaze in Melbourne in recent years and required an aggressive attack.

During a fire at the same building in October 2023 – which was also sparked by an explosion – one worker died and two were injured. But Cowling says there is no connection between that incident and yesterday’s fire, although the cause of the Derrimut fire is still under investigation.

The factory houses multiple businesses, including chemical blenders and fuel distribution, with drums containing kerosene, fuel, methylated spirits, methanol and other substances stored at the site.

Emergency services are working to stop any contaminated runoff entering local waterways and anyone who does not need to be in the area over the next few days should stay away, Cowling says.

Updated

Cheaper materials take edge off home-building costs

Easing growth in home-building costs bodes well for builders, their customers and the inflation outlook, AAP reports.

Labour, materials and other construction costs have been rising strongly for a long period but CoreLogic’s latest index suggests prices are coming off the boil.

The 0.5% lift in construction costs in the June quarter compared with a 0.8% increase in the three months before, and compares to a one per cent pre-Covid decade average. Costs lifted at their slowest pace annually in 22 years – up only 2.6%.

CoreLogic research director Tim Lawless says the slowdown in residential cost growth is a welcome development in the fight against inflation.

Residential building costs are a key input for the housing component of the consumer price index, which is the chief inflation gauge the Reserve Bank of Australia draws on to set interest rates. However, Lawless says the central bank would likely see less progress on rents – another component of the index.

It’s likely the easing in the growth of construction costs over the past six months, alongside higher established housing prices, will gradually help to repair builder profit margins and flow through to providing more confidence around pricing for new builds and renovations.

Updated

US resident arrested in Sydney amid investigation into international drug trafficking organisation

A United States resident has been charged in Sydney, with police alleging the man attempted to possess 250kg of methamphetamine.

The man, aged 40, was charged as part of a joint investigation with the US Homeland Security Investigations and the Australian Federal Police, into an American-based drug trafficking organisation suspected of importing border controlled drugs into Sydney.

He is expected to appear in a Sydney court today, after being arrested by AFP officers at Sydney Olympic Park yesterday.

The AFP are expected to provide an update after 9am.

NSW councils taking too long to approve planning proposals will be ‘named and shamed’

Councils taking too long to approve planning proposals will be named and shamed in NSW’s latest bid to tackle the housing crisis, AAP reports.

A ‘league table’ ranking councils on how many houses they’ve approved and how long they are taking to approve them has been set up for greater transparency.

Planning minister Paul Scully has also delivered an updated statement of expectations demanding councils pitch in to curbing the crisis and outlining appropriate time frames for approvals.

Councils found to be “consistently underperforming” will be forced to take action to improve outcomes, as set by the local government minister. Approvals and completions have consistently lagged the required tally of 75,000 per year. Scully says:

If we don’t measure performance then we can’t monitor it properly … councils approve the vast majority of residential development in our state, so tracking their performance is critical if we together want to meet our housing targets.

The updated Statement of Expectations, alongside improved monitoring, reporting, support and compliance initiatives, will help councils and the state to speed up development assessments and improve transparency and accountability in the planning process.

Updated

Avoid water downstream of Derrimut factory fire, emergency services warn

Fire Rescue Victoria has issued a new ‘advice’ level alert for communities surrounding the Derrimut factory fire.

The threat to the community is now reduced in Altona, Altona North, Derrimut, Laverton, Laverton North and Truganina, the alert said. Smoke may be visible from nearby roads and communities, and people should continue to monitor conditions.

People were also warned to avoid the immediate area of the fire and keep roads clear for emergency services.

Meanwhile, people have been told to avoid contact with water at Cherry Creek, Anderson’s Swamp and Kayes Drain. The alert reads:

Avoid contact with the water (including pets) downstream of the fire location until further notice. Odours may be observed in the area. Avoid areas where odours occur.

Alice Springs mayor expects curfew will soon be extended

Speaking to ABC RN about the curfew in Alice Springs, mayor Matt Paterson says that although a decision has not yet been made, he expects it will be extended.

He says a decision is expected after lunchtime, local time.

Ultimately, it’s a double edged sword when we do these curfews. I think yes, we feel safe, [but] we’re on national news and every front page of every paper for the wrong reasons and that’s the part that we just need to be aware of.

Updated

Cause of Derrimut factory fire still under investigation

At a press conference this morning, Fire Rescue Victoria said the cause of the Derrimut factory fire is still under investigation:

We have our FRV fire investigators, together with Victoria Police [and] WorkSafe undertaking a joint investigation, but it is too early to ascertain the exact cause.

As we reported earlier, a concern for firefighters has been contaminated water runoff.

Updated

Alice Springs mayor says long-term plan needed amid curfew discussions

The mayor of Alice Springs, Matt Paterson, spoke to ABC News Breakfast just earlier as authorities meet to determine whether a three-day curfew on the central Australian town will be extended.

He is “still waiting to hear” whether the curfew will be extended – a decision for the police commissioner. Asked whether he believes it should be extended, Paterson says:

It’s obviously worked in the CBD, but we are hearing that it is pushing crime out into the suburbs. So we’ll wait to see what happens. Ultimately, the community gets to have a breath while there’s extra resources and police in town, so we’ll just wait to see what’s decided …

The curfew is a reaction to events over the past week or so, and we can’t continue to put these in. We need to think about the long-term solutions.

But let’s be quite frank here – this is 30 years of policy-on-the-run that’s got Alice Springs and central Australia to where we are, and it’s decisions driven out of Canberra and Darwin with people without their finger on the pulse of what happens in central Australia, without realising unintended consequences. So I think that there is a vision for a long-term plan, and I think that that is welcomed.

Updated

Australians using more methamphetamines and MDMA, drug monitoring report finds

Methamphetamine use also rose steadily, according to ACIC’s latest wastewater drug monitoring data. This per capita popularity was seen particularly in regional areas, with the December 2023 data suggesting regional use reached its highest since August 2022 while capital city use was at its highest since August 2016.

MDMA consumption has also been increasing, according to the data, with the December 2023 data suggesting national average consumption across capital cities and regional sites were at their highest level since August 2020.

Cannabis was the most popular substance nationwide but the data suggests differing tastes between cities. In Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra, methamphetamine was the second most popular illicit substance, followed by cocaine. In Melbourne and Perth, methamphetamine was the second most popular substance, followed by heroin.

Updated

Australians consuming record numbers of illicit drugs, wastewater report says

Australians are consuming record numbers of illicit drugs, with cocaine use becoming more popular across the country in recent months and methamphetamine use increasing in cities, as cannabis remains by far the most consumed substance nationwide.

The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission has released its latest wastewater drug monitoring program data covering December 2023 to February 2024, which revealed several key differences between drug use habits in capital cities and regional areas.

Cannabis consumption remained Australia’s most popular illicit drug “by a large margin”, according to the report, although use in regional areas is “substantially higher”, on average, than in capital cities. While remaining the most consumed of the substances, its use dropped off slightly in the most recent data in capital cities and regional areas.

Cocaine consumption has been increasing across both regional areas and capital cities, and has increased in most jurisdictions since record lows in August 2022. National average cocaine consumption in December 2023 was at the highest level since reporting began in August 2016.

Updated

About 50 firefighters remain at Derrimut factory fire; contaminated water running off site

Firefighters have provided an update on the Derrimut factory fire that sent thick, black smoke billowing over Melbourne yesterday.

Here is what a Fire Rescue Victoria spokesperson told reporters this morning:

This is a challenging, complex and dynamic environment for [Fire Rescue Victoria]. This is our first ‘seventh alarm’ fire since the formation of FRV in 2020. It’s obviously still an active fire area. There’s lots of contaminants, there’s contaminated water runoff that we need to manage …

Our current focus is obviously continuing to suppress this fire, management of the atmosphere and the environment surrounding [it], but also our firefighter wellbeing. They’ve been exposed to this incident for a long duration so we have lots of support around our firefighters, including medical monitoring.

Victoria’s alarm ratings are based on how many resources are needed to put out a fire. The Derrimut fire was a chemical fire, hence the seventh alarm rating.

Reports indicate about 50 firefighters remained at the scene of the fire overnight. We’ll bring you more information as it filters through.

Updated

Study questions whether Australians will earn more than parents did at same age

The long-term trend of children earning more than their parents may be starting to falter, AAP reports.

People raised by the highest and lowest earners were more likely to follow in their parents’ footsteps, research from the federal government’s independent productivity body has found.

Almost 70% of people aged between 41 and 48 were found to be earning more than their parents did at about the same age, the Productivity Commission says in a report.

The outcome leaves Australia nestled between Scandinavian countries on income generational mobility, in a welcome finding for commission chair Danielle Wood.

Yet it is an “interesting question” as to whether the trend will continue, she says, with younger Millennials born in the 1990s not making the same progress as previous generations because of negligible income growth.

That really speaks to me about the importance of economic growth and ensuring future income growth if we are going to see each generation be better off than the one before.

Despite Australia’s strong track record on income mobility, the commission found evidence of advantage and disadvantage passing onto children at the top and bottom of the income distribution.

Almost 15% of people with parents in the bottom income decile stayed there, while just 6% ended up in the top decile. Inheritances, investment in education, as well as parents helping children onto the property ladder all contributed to the persistence of wealth across generations.

Updated

Good morning

And welcome back to the Australia news live blog – many thanks to Martin for kicking things off for us. I’m Emily Wind, and I’ll take you through our rolling coverage this Thursday.

As always, you can get in touch via X, @emilywindwrites, or you can send me an email, emily.wind@theguardian.com, with any thoughts, tips or feedback. Let’s get started.

Updated

After a childhood 'messing about in boats', V-Adm David Johnston becomes new defence chief

The incoming chief of the Australian defence force will relive his childhood pastime many times over as he officially steps into his new role, AAP reports.

V-Adm David Johnston, who spoke at a changing-of-command parade in Canberra yesterday, is taking over the military as it focuses on expanding naval efforts to counter threats in the Pacific region after a major defence review.

He said:

From a childhood that my wife described as ‘messing about in boats’, I have lived all my life in the ADF.

I have witnessed the extraordinary contribution ADF members make in war-like operations, peacekeeping and protecting our border and engaging with our partners.

It is a great honour to be in your service and I commit to giving you my all, every day, as your (chief).

A review into the defence force recommends it refocus on being able to project its firepower deeper into the Pacific to meet the rise of China, with new nuclear-powered submarines a core element.

Johnston says his career moves around the Indo-Pacific and Asia will be useful in his new role.

This experience greatly aids my understanding of our history and role in the region.

A review of the navy’s surface fleet led to a decision by defence minister Richard Marles to scrap a planned build of larger ships to make room for a bigger fleet.

The number of navy warships will increase from 11 to 26 by the mid-2040s, with the fleet to include remote-controlled vessels as the military places a greater emphasis on drones.

The vice admiral took over from Gen Angus Campbell after serving as the vice chief.

Updated

Alice Springs curfew may be extended after further violence

Renewed violence in Alice Springs has raised the possibility that the town’s 72-hour curfew declared on Monday could be extended this morning, AAP reports.

Police say most residents have complied with the restrictions this week but yesterday afternoon they arrested five people involved in a family feud on Bath Street in the town’s centre.

Police say the families are known to each other.

There are reports they are the same families at the centre of a feud that sparked a three-week curfew in March and April following the death of an 18-year-old man, who had been left trapped under a stolen vehicle.

While no-one was injured in the latest clash, weapons - including nulla-nullas, spears, a baseball bat and a machete – were seized by police.

Acting Southern Commander Drew Slape says the “reprehensible behaviour” has no place in the community.

Our dedicated officers have responded to calls to assist and we will have extra members working tonight, giving up their time off in order to keep Alice Springs residents safe.

It is not known if the curfew will be extended because of the disturbance.

Northern Territory police minister Brent Potter says the decision to extend the curfew will be made this morning after he and police commissioner Michael Murphy have reviewed the “most up-to-date” information.

Updated

Derrimut factory fire: fire crews work overnight to battle blaze

Firefighters have worked through the night battling a blaze at a chemical factory that sent toxic smoke billowing over Melbourne, AAP reports.

The fire was sparked by a large explosion at the Derrimut factory in the city’s west yesterday morning.

Chemical drums were sent flying into the air at the height of the blaze, making the emergency response more dangerous for firefighters.

No one was injured and it was declared under control in about four hours, but the fire is expected to burn for days.

Fire Rescue Victoria deputy commissioner Michelle Cowling said it was the most significant blaze in Melbourne in recent years and required an aggressive attack.

The nearby Western Freeway was shut for several hours and thousands of residents were urged to stay indoors because of health risks.

Here’s our full story:

Updated

Welcome

Good morning and welcome to our rolling news coverage. I’m Martin Farrer and I’ll be bringing you the top overnight stories before Emily Wind picks up the slack.

Our top story this morning is an exclusive story about another flashpoint between the Australian military and China in the South China Sea underlining continued tensions in the disputed region. An Australian helicopter was flying south-east of China’s Shandong peninsula but outside its territorial waters when a Chinese fighter aircraft released flares in its path, new documents show. Australia’s HMAS Hobart warship was also being shadowed by a People’s Liberation Army navy destroyer and another Chinese helicopter at the time of the 4 May standoff. It adds to the in-tray of Vice Adm David Johnston who took over as head of the ADF yesterday. More coming up.

The immigration minister, Andrew Giles, had released one murderer and one person convicted of “attempt or solicit murder” into community detention even before the high court ruled that indefinite immigration detention was unlawful. In June Guardian Australia revealed that 25 of the then 153 people affected by the high court’s ruling had already been released into community detention by ministerial discretion but Giles refused to say if he was responsible for the release of those with the worst offending. Now a freedom of information release shows the minister did sign the release of two of the detainees in question in December 2022.

Fire crews have worked through the night to try to contain the huge blaze that broke out at a chemicals factory in Melbourne’s west yesterday. Although firefighting chiefs say the fire in Derrimut is under control, it is expected to burn for days and cause a health hazard for the city from plumes of toxic smoke. More coming up.

Northern Territory police minister Brent Potter will meet police commissioner Michael Murphy this morning to decide whether or not to extend the 72-hour curfew that was set for Alice Springs on Monday. Although police said most residents had abided by the restrictions, there were renewed clashes in the town yesterday afternoon in what police said was a feud between two families. Potter said a decision on any extension would be made today with the “most up-to-date” information. More coming up.

Updated

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