What we learned: Sunday 2 November
And that’s where we’ll leave you this afternoon. Here’s a summary of what learned today:
Anthony Albanese has said he’d like to see “more cooperation” between China and the US on AI, but felt that the meeting between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping in Korea this week was “an important step forward”.
The Nationals have unanimously decided to scrap net zero commitments after a party room meeting this morning.
Nationals leader David Littleproud said he informed Liberal leader Sussan Ley of the details of the policy position the Nationals were considering days ago and she was “fully cognisant” of the proposal.
Nine people attending a school fair were injured by giant hailstones in a supercell thunderstorm in Queensland yesterday and a woman attending a wedding in Biloela was hospitalised after giant hailstones, rain and destructive winds pummelled parts of Australia’s east on Saturday afternoon.
The federal environment minister, Murray Watt, defended his current overhaul of environmental laws, including the powers of the minister to still approve projects going ahead on grounds of national interest – even if they are deemed too damaging to the environment.
The Liberals are “not ruling anything out” when it comes to their revised energy policy – including abandonment of the Paris agreement – shadow minister for the environment, Angie Bell, has said.
All passengers who were onboard the luxury Coral Adventurer cruise have been disembarked and flown home after the 60-day journey was cancelled after less than a week after the death of passenger Suzanne Rees, aged 80.
Thanks so much for your company this afternoon. Politics Live will be back bright and early tomorrow morning. Until then, look after yourselves.
Updated
2,500 homes still without power in Queensland after weekend’s storms
About 2,500 homes remained without power in Queensland this afternoon as the state attempts to recover after wild storms on Saturday.
Representatives for the State Emergency Service told media earlier today that it received about 226 calls in a 24-hour period with 102 requests for assistance. About 90 calls were from the Toowoomba region in the path of the supercell storm activity.
The storm brought power lines down in some parts of Queensland, and hailstones reported to be as large as 7cm.
Updated
