What we learned: Wednesday, 29 November
With that, we will wrap up the blog for the evening. Stay safe and dry out there.
Here are today’s major developments:
Anthony Albanese announced the federal government was reopening the Morrison government’s Australian thalidomide survivor support program “to ensure that anyone who may have missed the previous opportunity to apply does not miss out on the support they need and deserve” after issuing a national apology to those harmed.
Labor has signalled it would support further extensions to the truce between Israel and Hamas to allow the further release of hostages and delivery of “much-needed” aid to Gaza.
The environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, has reached a deal with the independent senator David Pocock that should see the government pass its Murray-Darling legislation in the Senate.
The October consumer price index has come in at 4.9%. Economists had forecast the annual pace to be 5.2%, slowing from the 5.6% increases reported by the ABS for September.
With Eden Foster now formally declared the new Labor MP for Mulgrave, replacing Daniel Andrews, Victoria’s parliament has reached gender parity for the first time.
And the father of reconciliation, Patrick Dodson, gave his final speech in the Senate today after bowing out of politics due to ill health.
Updated
Storm warnings on east coast
South-east Queensland, south-east New South Wales including Sydney and parts of eastern Victoria are subject to storm warnings.
A number of areas are under “flood watch” and expected to be elevated to “flood warnings” in the next 24 hours, the Bureau of Meteorology said.
These warnings could be in place for several days.
⚠️⛈️ Severe Thunderstorm Warning updated to include Giant Hail (>5cm) and Destructive Winds (>125km/hr) for the cell passing to the south of Esk. This thunderstorm is very dangerous. See: https://t.co/FBmpsInT9o pic.twitter.com/knj0Rf8utb
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) November 29, 2023
⚠️⛈️ Severe Thunderstorm Warning update: Sydney Basin could experience Damaging Wind Gusts, Large Hail and Heavy Rainfall that may lead to flash flooding. Keep up to date with the current warnings at https://t.co/jJWt2wlxel pic.twitter.com/HXrOfqZzEz
— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) November 29, 2023
Updated
