What we learned today, Thursday 16 April
We’re going to close the live blog now, thank you for joining us.
Here are today’s top headlines:
An explosive fire at a Geelong oil refinery – which supplies half of Victoria’s fuel and 10% of the nation’s – has been extinguished, though petrol production continues to be affected and authorities warn the full extent of the damage is still unknown.
New South Wales’ highest court has struck down an anti-protest law brought in after the Bondi beach terror attack which gave police the power to restrict marches, including at the anti-Herzog rally earlier this year.
One Nation’s claim to the seat of Narungga has hit a snag weeks after the South Australian election. Uncounted ballot papers were discovered on Thursday, forcing a recount in the Yorke Peninsula seat, which One Nation’s Chantelle Thomas won by just 58 votes.
A former New South Wales minister found by Icac to have engaged in serious corrupt conduct has been feted as one of the “esteemed luminaries of the Liberal party” at an election fundraiser headlined by the state opposition leader, Kellie Sloane.
Victorian motorists are being warned to brace for a spike in petrol prices of up to 20c a litre due to a huge blaze at Viva Energy’s oil refinery in Geelong, but oil and supply chain experts say the effects should be short-lived.
The federal court of Australia has warned the legal profession about the dangers of using generative artificial intelligence in legal proceedings, issuing new rules for its use, with potential financial or legal consequences if AI errors frustrate court cases.
See you tomorrow for another day of breaking news.
Updated
Cathy Freeman presented with nation’s highest civilian honour
Gold medallist Cathy Freeman has been heralded for her social impact in advancing reconciliation and her glittering athletic career at an investiture ceremony in Canberra, AAP reports.
The governor-general, Sam Mostyn, presented Freeman with a medal as a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC), the nation’s highest civilian honour, at the ceremony at Government House on Thursday.
Freeman, who won the Australian of the Year award in 1998, is famously known for securing gold in the 400-metre final at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
Since hanging up her running shoes in 2003, Freeman has established a foundation that boosts educational outcomes for remote First Nations children and their families.
Updated
