What we learned today, Thursday 23 October
We’re ending our live coverage there. Here’s what we learned today:
The opposition leader, Sussan Ley, said the government’s changes to environmental laws would be a ‘handbrake’ on investment.
Former prime minister Tony Abbott welcomed ADF personnel being sent as part of Trump-led Gaza peace force.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, arrived back in Australia after his quick trip to Washington DC.
Andrew Hastie ruled out any switch to One Nation and urged his Coalition colleague Barnaby Joyce to stick to the Nationals.
Pauline Hanson dismissed speculation Joyce could lead One Nation.
The chair of BHP downplayed concerns over a reported Chinese embargo on the company’s sales.
There were 1,700 calls to SES for help across NSW and Victoria after Wednesday’s wild winds.
The NSW opposition unveiled its high-density housing plan for Sydney’s inner west.
Millions of Christmas Island’s red crabs are on the move for annual migration.
Thanks for joining us! We’ll see you again tomorrow.
Updated
Optus executives depart following triple-zero outage
Optus has announced the departure of its chief information officer and chief financial officer just weeks after last month’s triple-zero outages.
Optus’s chief information officer, Mark Potter, will step down from his role to be replaced by John McInerney, while the chief financial officer, Michael Venter, will be replaced by Andy Giles Knopp, both external appointments.
In a statement posted to its website, the telco described the changes as “part of planned leadership transitions”.
In a statement, Optus CEO Stephen Rue said Potter’s departure came after “long-term and open discussions”.
Mark has decided that early next year is the right time to leave Optus after four productive years and having laid strong technology foundations for Optus’ transformation plans. I wish him all the best with his next chapter.
Incoming CIO John McInerney brings a wealth of experience and a proven ability to lead complex transformation programs. I look forward to working with him as we work to evolve our IT capabilities to better serve our customers.
Both Michael and Mark will remain with Optus until March 2026 to ensure a smooth transition during this period of substantial change.
Updated
