What we learned today – Friday 21 November
And with that, we are going to put the blog to bed. Before we go, let’s recap the big headlines:
Former attorney general Mark Dreyfus called for the government to renew the republic campaign, and to push for four-year federal terms, in his first major comments since he was relegated to the backbench.
Anthony Albanese became the first Australian prime minister to visit South Africa since 2013 as he jetted off to the G20 leaders’ summit where climate change, trade and security are expected on the agenda.
The Victorian government will make it free for trans and gender diverse people to officially change their gender on a birth certificate.
Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia will ban the use of power banks on board aircrafts over the next few weeks amid a rise in safety risks associated with damaged or defective lithium batteries.
As Tropical Cyclone Fina headed for the NT coast, Kristy McBain, the federal minister for emergency management, said officials are urging people to “prioritise their safety” and heed cyclone warnings and advice. Authorities said the worst of the conditions in Darwin are expected to be during the day tomorrow and tomorrow evening.
Kellie Sloane, the NSW Liberals’ health spokesperson, was appointed as leader of the opposition. She was given unanimous support to take the top job. The 52-year-old former journalist replaced Mark Speakman, who led the party since the March 2023 election.
Australian shares are down sharply this morning, after a Nvidia-fuelled global rebound gave way to enduring concerns that a stock market bubble has engulfed Wall Street.
Queensland state coroner Terry Ryan begun releasing his findings into how three members of the Train family shot dead two police officers and a neighbour at their Wieambilla property nearly three years ago.
The eSafety commissioner added video streaming platform Twitch to the list of platforms that will be required to ban under-16s in Australia from having an account in less than three weeks.
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Updated
Australia to join countries at Cop30 calling for fossil fuel phase-out
There have been growing calls for the Australian government to join a group of about 80 countries that have called for the UN Cop30 climate summit in Brazil to agree to develop a roadmap to transition away from fossil fuels.
Greenpeace has issued statements during the week. The independent MP Zali Steggall today issued a media release with 100 signatures from people in business, academia, civil society and politics.
The climate change minister, Chris Bowen, has so far been silent on the issue, but it has been a significant focus at the conference. Backers include countries from Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Pacific and Europe. The UK, Germany, France and Norway have signed on.
The Guardian has been told Australia will join them.
Bowen had planned to sign up to a declaration on transitioning away from fossil fuels at an event at Cop30 on Thursday afternoon. It was cancelled when the conference centre in the Amazonian city of Belem was evacuated due to a fire.
It is expected he will add Australia’s support to the call on Friday while also trying to wrangle a deal that would lead to him being named “president of negotiations” at the Cop31 summit next November.
That deal, flagged by Bowen on Wednesday when it was announced Australia’s bid to co-host the summit with Pacific nations had failed, is still yet to be finalised. Negotiations are expected to resume tonight – on Friday morning local time.
Updated
