What we learned: Sunday, 17 March
With that, we will wrap the blog for the evening. Have a wonderful rest of your Sunday, and, especially for our NT and Queensland readers, stay safe and dry.
Here were the major developments of the day:
Top End residents have been warned to expect days of wild weather as Tropical Cyclone Megan moves towards the coast. It was upgraded to a category three system this afternoon and is forecast to hit the coast sometime tomorrow.
Interest rates have been on pause at 4.35% for the past two Reserve Bank meetings and are likely to stay unchanged for a third when the board meets this week.
New South Wales police are investigating after a man was found critically injured on a road in Tamarama in Sydney’s east this morning.
Shadow home affairs minister James Paterson says he has been “extensively briefed” by “the intelligence community on the danger of TikTok” but it “wouldn’t be appropriate for me to go into detail” about the nature of that briefing. In an interview on ABC’s Insiders, Paterson said TikTok was a “bad faith actor” and a risk to Australia’s national security.
Updated
Authorities warn people to leave or take shelter as Tropical Cyclone Megan approaches
In the case of medical emergencies amid road closures, NT police Supt Sonia Kennon says authorities will consider “other options” including flying in and out of high risk communities.
The additional responses are being considered amid heightened risk of the cyclone intensifying to a category three system.
That additional response is consideration for the safety and movement of potential community in there that are not in a house or in an area that is able to provide sufficient emergency shelters … the local area controller at the moment is reviewing the population.
Badly affected communities are being urged to “self relocate” if possible, and to use a four-wheel drive.
If they are and they do have to remain in that location, they need to enact their household emergency plan. Now, their safety is the utmost importance, because what we’re here to do is to ensure that no lives are lost during this weather event.
We need you to prepare your property and secure your loose items … check on your neighbours to make sure that they have prepared as well. Prepare to take shelter. Listen to the emergency services warnings. Decide if you’re going to stay or leave if it’s not too late to do so.
Updated
