What we learned today, Saturday 15 July
That’s where we’ll leave the blog for today – thanks so much for joining us. Here is a wrap of the day’s biggest stories:
The New South Wales government says it will hold off any decision about the future of the country’s largest power station until at least next month, after it receives a “health check” on the state’s energy security.
Qantas and Virgin now account for 95% of Australia’s domestic aviation market, a dominance that dwarfs industries such as banking and supermarkets and has allowed the airlines to jack up profit margins, the national airport body has warned.
A woman found injured outside a leisure centre in Kununurra has died, prompting police to open a homicide probe.
The former Victorian Liberal MP Moira Deeming has given the opposition leader, John Pesutto, seven more days to respond to a legal ultimatum or face defamation action in court.
The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, says Labor has “realistic expectations” about the Fadden byelection, considering it is a strongly held Coalition seat. He says Labor’s key message for the electorate is that it intends to focus on cost-of-living pressures.
The NSW government has pledged $1.7m to expand the Singleton Roosters clubhouse and facilities following the wedding bus tragedy that rocked the community in June.
Updated
‘Glimmer of hope’ for community after wedding bus crash
Local AFL club players rocked by the deadly Hunter Valley bus crash have made a difficult return to the field as a new memorial for those who lost their lives was announced, AAP reports.
Attending the Singleton Roosters’ first games back on Saturday afternoon, the NSW premier, Chris Minns, acknowledged the grief felt by the community and promised funding to expand the club’s facilities.
Many of the 10 people killed in the Greta crash in June were members of the close-knit club.
Minns said:
There’s no consolations after a terrible tragedy like this but if there’s a glimmer of hope it’s that the community’s been able to lean on one another to get through the last few weeks.
The state government has pledged $1.7m to upgrade the club, used by more than 22,000 people, an amount that is hoped to go some way to helping them heal.
Updated
