What we learned today, Friday 17 November
We’re going to close the blog now, but before we do, let’s recap the big headlines:
A volunteer firefighter was killed after being struck by a falling tree in northern NSW.
Speaking about a pro-Palestine rally that gathered near a synagogue in her electorate, Independent MP for Goldstein Zoe Daniel said anxiety and tension in our communities is “unprecedented”.
Thousands of students took to the streets across Australia for the latest School Strike 4 Climate. Meanwhile, the former diplomat Gregory Andrews was taken away from Parliament House in an ambulance, more than two weeks into a hunger strike that drew attention to the need for urgent climate action.
The Queensland treasurer has called the infrastructure cuts unfair.
Optus released its submission to the Senate inquiry about last week’s outage. Its CEO said the telco is “deeply sorry.” The inquiry was told hundreds of triple-zero calls during Optus outage did not go through.
South Australian schoolchildren will be allowed back in the ocean after the fear of shark attacks brought on a snap ban.
The SA police officer killed in the shooting at Senior has was identified.
The Victorian education secretary has apologised for “catastrophic failures” at the state’s sexual abuse at public schools inquiry.
TV presenter Lisa Wilkinson’s legal bid to have Network Ten pay a six-figure legal bill upfront will be heard “promptly” as she battles a defamation case launched by ex-Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann.
Anthony Albanese said Apec leaders are “very interested” in Australia’s Tuvalu deal, amidst a busy agenda at the summit.
Workplace safety charges were laid in relation to a Tasmanian primary school jumping castle tragedy that killed six students.
Whistleblower David McBride has pleaded guilty to three offences after the ACT supreme court held certain evidence could be withheld due to national security issues.
That’s a wrap – enjoy your weekend.
Updated
Department has provided ‘clarification’ on energy guidelines, spokesperson says
A spokesperson for the Department of Planning and Environment said the guidelines for the wind energy sector were “designed to promote faster decisions, provide certainty to investors and industry and improve transparency for communities”.
Unfortunately, some stakeholders weren’t clear on one of the maps in the draft wind energy guideline currently on exhibition.
The department has provided clarification and looks forward to submissions to inform the final version of the guide.
You have until 18 December to lodge a submission, if you’re so inclined.
Updated
