What we learned today, Thursday 5 December
With that, we will wrap up the blog for the afternoon. Stay cool and dry out there – depending on what part of the country you’re reading in.
Here were today’s major developments:
A flight from Adelaide to Fiji appears to have made an emergency landing in New Caledonia after an issue mid-flight.
Joe Rogan’s podcast is the most popular in the world on Spotify. And his podcast is also the most popular among listeners in Australia, the streaming company’s wrapped data shows.
The Labor minister Katy Gallagher claimed she is the underdog in her ACT Senate race against David Pocock. Pocock said he did not accept the territory had “only ever been in a marginal seat contest” and doubted her characterisation. Meanwhile, the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, said it was possible Labor would lose the next federal election after only one term in government.
The New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, made an impassioned defence of his conduct as he faces a referral to the state’s anti-corruption watchdog over his involvement in the government’s plan to sell a racecourse in western Sydney.
The Victorian deputy premier and education minister, Ben Carroll, announced $92m in funding for more school swimming lessons after an increase in drownings last summer.
And the Greens announced a new election policy for a federal expansion of pill testing, involving the creation of a new drug testing agency.
Updated
Adelaide to Fiji flight makes unscheduled landing in Noumea
A flight from Adelaide to Fiji appears to have made an emergency landing in New Caledonia after an issue mid-flight.
Fiji Airways flight 960 departed Adelaide at about 1.45pm on Thursday bound for Nadi in Fiji, but its flight path changed as it was passing over New Caledonia, where it began circling.
The Boeing 737 Max 8 squawked 7700 – which indicates an emergency onboard the aircraft – and began descending in altitude.
The flight appears to have performed an emergency landing at Noumea airport, the capital of New Caledonia.
It is unclear what forced the captain to declare an emergency.
Fiji Airways and Noumea airport have been contacted for comment.
Updated
