Fire situation ‘will get worse before it gets better’ – as it happened

Victorian premier Jacinta Allan says the large fire moving around the Beaufort area is of ‘grave concern’. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP

7.13am GMT

What we learned: Thursday 22 February

And with that, I am going to put the blog to bed. Before we go, let’s recap the big headlines:

• South-east Australia faces extreme fire warnings

• First-time buyers face mortgage stress – Domain

• Andrew Leigh says new evidence shows market concentration has gone up

• Woolworths CEO’s resignation ‘admission of guilt’ on price-gouging by supermarket: Littleproud

• Seven more asbestos sites confirmed across Sydney

• Qantas profit slides as conditions normalise

• Former Bishop of Broome Christopher Saunders charged with alleged sex offences

• Media circus surrounds arrival of Travis Kelce in Sydney

• Queensland attorney general will not re-contest seat

• A third of Australian universities failing to take action against sexual violence

• Visas for Palestinians coming to Australia ‘exactly the same’ as under the former government, Albanese says

• Inner West mayor says asbestos crisis could threaten viability of Biennale

• Catholic Bishops Conference urges thorough investigation over charges

• Gender pay gap drops to 12%, the lowest on record: ABS

• Temporary Queensland police commissioner announced

• ‘Quite large’ fire near Ballarat expected to ‘rapidly grow’: CFA chief

• Inquiry to look at fatal ADF helicopter crash

• Beaufort fire of ‘grave concern’: Victorian premier

Thank you for spending part of your day with us – we will be back tomorrow to do it all again.

Updated at 7.23am GMT

6.59am GMT

Firefighters battling multiple bushfires in Tasmania

In Tasmania, firefighting crews are responding to multiple bushfires, including an out-of-control fire near Bradys Lake in the Central Highlands.

An emergency warning is in place for the Dee community and surrounds.

Tasmania Fire Service deputy chief officer Matt Lowe said five fires were reported in the Bradys Lake, Central Highlands area yesterday afternoon.

“TFS ground crews and aerial firefighting resources were deployed yesterday, and those efforts have continued today.”

“We have about 20 aircraft, as well as 12 crews from Sustainable Timber Tasmania, and 10 Tasmania Fire Service crews on the ground trying to contain the fire.

“The fire remains uncontained, and crews are dealing with tough conditions amid strong gusty winds and dry vegetation.”

Updated at 7.06am GMT