What we learned today, Thursday 25 September
We will wrap up the live blog here for the evening.
This is what made the news today:
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, made his first speech to the United Nations general assembly, stating all countries can bring new strength to the organisation’s enduring mission.
Liberal MP Andrew Hastie said he supports the opposition leader, Sussan Ley, and anyone suggesting otherwise is “being mischievous”, rubbishing speculation he is preparing a tilt at the leadership.
The communications minister, Anika Wells, has asked to meet Optus’s parent company, Singtel, next week in Australia.
Wells also rejected questions raised by Elon Musk’s X platform on whether the under 16s social media ban could violate the human rights of children.
The Greens communications spokesperson, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, said Optus’s licence to operate as a telecommunications company should be reviewed after last week’s triple zero outage.
The Liberal candidate for Bradfield, Gisele Kapterian, conceded the race more than four months – 145 days – after the federal election, after a final review of ballot papers showed her behind independent Nicolette Boele.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has praised Australia’s efforts to keep children aged under 16 off social media, calling it a bold decision by a country determined to improve online safety.
Penny Wong said she met the Iranian foreign minister “to look him in the eye” and explain why Australia made its decision to expel its ambassador over intelligence Iran directed antisemitic attacks.
Victoria’s crime rate has increased again – by 13.8% – with theft the biggest driver.
Bruce Lehrmann’s rape case has been delayed after a pre-trial hearing set for Friday in Toowoomba was put off to next month.
The University of Wollongong has become the eighth university to sign an enforceable undertaking with the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) after underpaying thousands of staff more than $6m.
Until tomorrow, enjoy your evening.
Updated
DNA test to determine if heart belongs to Queensland man whose body was repatriated from Bali
DNA testing is being carried out on a heart that is claimed to be that of Queensland man Byron Haddow, who died in Bali in May.
The FIFO worker was found dead in the plunge pool of his Bali villa while on holiday. The body of the 23-year-old was returned to Australia four weeks later, and a second autopsy found his heart was missing.
The family’s legal representative in Bali, Ni Luh Arie Ratna Sukasari, told Guardian Australia there was a “possibility” the heart that was then returned – two months after Haddow’s death – was not his.
She said:
This possibility is under examination. The returned heart is undergoing DNA testing in Queensland to verify that it is indeed Byron’s. The family insists on certainty, full transparency, and dignity for their son.
Read more here:
Updated
