What we learned, Wednesday 5 November
We will be leaving it there – thanks for joining us. Here’s what we covered today:
The teal independents will oppose Labor’s rewrite of environment protection laws when the bill is put to a vote in the lower house in coming days.
Sussan Ley said she will convene the Liberal party in the next fortnight to finally decide on a net zero and climate position, after weeks of uncertainty over their position and pressure from the Nationals and rightwing Liberals to dump the 2050 target.
The government announced that two new platforms were being added to the social media ban for under-16s including Reddit and Kick.
The government passed its bill to establish a centre for disease control through the Senate with amendments from the Greens.
The government and Coalition voted on David Pocock’s amendment to the motion to force the government to provide the government board appointments report by 24 November.
Data published by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare revealed that that total government expenditure on public health has fallen by nearly 30%.
Two hospital employees have been seriously injured after a car struck them while they stood at the entrance to a Sydney hospital.
Updated
Communications minister says replacing Optus CEO will not assure triple zero
Anika Wells, the communications minister, said replacing Optus chief executive officer Stephen Rue would not help assure the triple zero system, responding to calls for him to resign on ABC’s Afternoon Briefing.
She said the Optus CEO’s position is “not a question for me to decide”:
As the steward of the telco system, my question is, if he is not going to do it, who is going to do it?
We all have a role to play here, but of all of us, Optus has the biggest role to play.
That is why they will face more punitive measures from Acma when the Acma investigation comes back.
Updated
