What we learned, Sunday 19 October
We will shut the live blog here for Sunday. Thanks for tuning in. This is what made the news:
Anthony Albanese flies to Washington DC today to meet President Donald Trump on Monday (which will be very early Tuesday morning, Australian time).
The Nationals leader, David Littleproud, called for Barnaby Joyce to remain with the party after the maverick MP announced his intention to quit.
Asked about the hundreds of Palestinians from Gaza approved for visas in Australia and whether the ceasefire changes anything, the home affairs minister Tony Burke said he’s not sure all of those approved for visas are still alive.
The shadow home affairs minister, Jonathon Duniam, said Australia needs to help Palestinians fleeing to Australia from Gaza “get back to their country where they belong”.
Burke announced there will be a national disruption group targeting illegal tobacco.
Guests at a luxury resort in far north Queensland snapped a visitor swimming in their pool – a juvenile crocodile making itself right at home.
Police used pepper spray on protesters at multiple sites in Melbourne’s CBD as anti-immigration demonstrations and anti-fascist counter-protests moved through the city this afternoon.
One man was arrested, police said, after two officers were injured during the protests when projectiles were thrown by counter-protesters in Melbourne.
Tasmania police said the search for missing bushwalker Daryl Fong has continued through the weekend, despite challenging weather.
Until tomorrow, enjoy your evening.
Updated
Two police injured in Melbourne protests
Victoria police say a small group of counter-protesters in Melbourne CBD threw projectiles at police, causing two officers to be injured and needing transportation to hospital.
Police say that projectiles began to be thrown by counter-protesters on Swanston Street at about 12.30pm. The projectiles included rocks, glass bottles and fruit.
A female sergeant is suspected of sustaining a broken hand, while a male senior constable sustained a non-life-threatening laceration to his lower leg.
Police say other officers were struck by projectiles with such force that it cracked their protective shields.
Victoria police confirmed that its public order response team deployed flash-bang devices and pepper spray during the incident, which Guardian Australia reported earlier.
One man has been arrested following the incident.
Commander Wayne Cheeseman, North West Metro region said:
We make no apologies for officers having to use force to separate and safely disperse crowds during protests where police have been presented with an extremely volatile and violent environment.
Police do not attend protests with the aim of using force, but it is always in response to the actions of protestors whether it be violence between different groups, or towards officers.
We want our CBD to be a place where families can safely come for the day that businesses can operate on weekends without hassle. This type of behaviour impacts the broader Melbourne and Victorian community, and we are sick of it.
Officers working at protests have reported being threatened, hit with objects such as bottles and rocks, and being grabbed, pushed or held.
Updated
