What we learned today, Wednesday 5 February
And with that, we are going to put the blog to bed. Before we go, let’s recap the big headlines:
The AFP charged a Victorian man after he allegedly called a political organisation in Canberra and made antisemitic comments.
Labor and the Coalition continue to back a two-state solution after the US president, Donald Trump, announced the US would “take over” the Gaza Strip and “level” it.
Anthony Albanese spoke with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, ahead of the third anniversary of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Zelenskyy posted to X after the meeting, saying he was working to expedite defence aid, and “we must establish all the circumstances surrounding the case of Australian citizen Oscar Jenkins”.
Victoria’s police minister is considering reintroducing bail offences the government scrapped in 2023 after the coronial inquest into the death of First Nations woman Veronica Nelson, denying the coroner’s finding they had a role to play in her death.
The independent senator Lidia Thorpe heckled a press conference by pro-nuclear energy group Nuclear for Australia featuring a former Miss America, yelling that they had “no consent” for the power source.
Labor’s promised federal environment protection agency was officially killed off today, with the motion to formally “discharge” the bill from the Senate notice paper. As we reported on Sunday, Albanese intervened to shelve the EPA indefinitely.
The prime minister said the $1.7bn Medicare boost would increase federal funding to 12% – a record.
The PM was asked repeatedly by Peter Dutton in question time about when he first knew about the planned terror attack in Sydney. He shot back – accusing the opposition leader of playing politics over antisemitic attacks.
Tasmania’s famous overland bushwalking track was closed and walkers were evacuated as a large bushfire burned in the area.
Thank you for spending part of your day with us. We will be back tomorrow to do it all again.
Updated
Australians hold the first Extreme Heat Awareness Day
Today more than 100 organisations and hundreds more individual community members around the country participated in the first-ever Extreme Heat Awareness Day, launched by the Australian Red Cross and Sweltering Cities.
The initiative aims to raise awareness of heatwaves – Australia’s deadliest natural hazard – provide essential resources, and promote community safety in the face of extreme heat.
In recent weeks, most capital cities have experienced extreme heat events. With 2024 recorded as Australia’s second hottest year, research shows 65% of Australians find heatwaves increasingly disruptive, while 26% feel unprepared for weather-related emergencies.
Sweltering Cities’ executive director, Emma Bacon, said:
This is the first Extreme Heat Awareness Day, but not the last. We know that climate change is driving higher dangerous temperatures, but that heatwaves are preventable disasters.
Extreme Heat Awareness Day is a chance for everyone – individuals, organisations, and communities – to take action. Reach out, share advice, and help create safer, cooler spaces for all.
Updated
