What we learned, Tuesday 18 February
With that, we will wrap the blog for the evening.
Here were today’s major developments, leading with the RBA’s long anticipated decision to cut interest rates.
The Reserve Bank has announced a quarter-point reduction in the cash rate to 4.1% for the first time since 2020. All four major banks have passed on rate cut to borrowers, the treasurer confirmed.
Don’t get too excited, though. Governor of the reserve bank, Michelle Bullock, said the RBA needed “more evidence” of declining inflation for another rate cut.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission has announced it will investigate the six individuals referred to the body after the robodebt royal commission, after an independent review.
The competition watchdog has proposed to authorise a partnership between Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways that will effectively double the amount of flights the Doha-based carrier operates to Australia.
The foreign minister, Penny Wong, has cautioned about Russian misinformation and Moscow’s “propensity to provide us with incorrect information”, when asked about the video which emerged overnight of Australian man Oscar Jenkins who was captured while fighting in Ukraine.
And Gerald Ridsdale, a paedophile priest convicted of abusing more than 70 children over three decades, has died in prison aged 90.
Updated
Influencer sent footage of nurses making anti-Israel threats to police
The Israeli influencer who released footage of two nurses allegedly making anti-Israel threats has said on social media he delivered the full unedited version of the footage.
Speaking on TikTok, Max Veifer said:
Yesterday, I spoke with the NSW police again. Since this is an ongoing investigation, I can’t share details, but I’m confident they have enough evidence, including my uncut video.
The two nurses have since been stood down and police are investigating.
No one has been charged in relation to the incident.
Updated
