What we learned: Monday 19 February
That is all for today’s blog – here are your main takeaways:
Temperatures neared 50C in central-western WA, while Perth broke its record for the most 40C days in one month – today being the seventh day. Some schools were closed due to the heat and increased bushfire risk.
A former immigration official warned politicians “not to inflame the rhetoric” to avoid encouraging people smugglers, after more than 40 asylum seekers were taken to Nauru after being found in a remote part of Western Australia.
Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton got into a back and forth over the matter, with the opposition leader arguing Albanese is “not telling the truth” on border policy and accusing the prime minister of giving the “green light” to people smugglers. Albanese labelled Dutton’s comments “absurd”.)
Asbestos was confirmed at seven more sites in and around Sydney, including a school and supermarket, taking the number of sites detected to have bonded asbestos to 41.
Former Greens leader Bob Brown was arrested for trespass in a logging protest along the edge of the Tasmanian wilderness world heritage area. It is his fourth arrest in recent years.
A second inquiry will be held into the Star casino in Sydney after a gaming watchdog was left unsatisfied by its progress in proving it should regain its licence.
And four people were taken to hospital with burns after being struck by lightning in Sydney’s botanic gardens amid damaging storms that affected trains running in northern Sydney and delayed hundreds of flights at Sydney airport.
Also, Taylor Swift landed in Sydney.
Farewell, see you back on the blog tomorrow.
Updated
Miners and banks give Australian bourse a little boost
The local sharemarket has finished marginally higher, with gains for the big banks and major miners and losses from Lendlease, the broader property sector and CSL.
The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index today finished up 6.8 points, or 0.09%, to 7,665.1. The broader All Ordinaries rose 7.7 points, or 0.1%, to 7,913.3.
The Australian dollar was buying 65.44 US cents, from US65.19c cents at Friday’s ASX close.
– Australian Associated Press
Updated
