What we learned; Friday 13 October
Before we close the blog for today, let’s recap the big headlines:
Ken Wyatt, who resigned from the Liberal party after Peter Dutton announced the party would campaign against the voice, said the party had used “Trumpian tactics” in the campaign.
Anthony Albanese said the government is in conversation with Egypt to get a family of four Australians who are from Adelaide out of Gaza through the southern border.
An Australian man was arrested after a Perth-bound flight turned back to Singapore.
An inquiry heard Visit Victoria spent $1.9m on marketing for the cancelled Commonwealth Games.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton rejected the suggestion the Asio statement calling on politicians to refrain from stoking division with Middle East rhetoric was directed at him.
Acting NSW police commissioner Dave Hudson said he believes the state has reached the threshold to give police increased searching powers and the ability to demand proof of identity at the pro-Palestinian rallies planned for Sunday.
Qantas said Australians on repatriation flights out of Israel scheduled for today and Sunday will arrive in Sydney on Wednesday.
The organisers of a demonstration planned for Sydney on Sunday said they are considering launching a court bid to stop police from using extraordinary stop-and-search and identification powers.
Thanks for reading.
Updated
Out-of-control bushfire bears down on Queensland community
Queensland emergency services have issued an emergency order to seek shelter from an out-of-control bushfire bearing down on a community south-west of Brisbane.
Two sheds have already been wrecked on Mount French Road, near Boonah. No injuries have been reported.
The Queensland Fire and Emergency Service declared Boonah cultural centre on High Street refuge centre on Friday afternoon.
In an advisory, the service advised residents “do not try to leave. Driving now could be deadly”.
A spokesperson for the QFES said the blaze is a “large fast-moving grass fire” which is being driven by strong winds.
The blaze is affecting properties between Mount French Road, Sommers Road and Frenches Creek Road, including Schubel Road.
The QFES have deployed 10 crews to the scene, with another 12 on the way. QFES has also deployed a water bomber, the spokesperson said.
Crews are doing structural protection along Mount French Road to defend other structures at risk from the blaze.
The fire began about 12.15pm, with the blaze escalating at about 2pm as the wind changed direction.
Updated
