What we learned: Wednesday 9 October
We will wrap the live blog here for today. Here’s what made the news:
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, apologised a second time for referring to Tourette syndrome during an exchange with the shadow treasurer, Angus Taylor, during question time yesterday.
More than 120 academics as well as mental health and youth organisations wrote an open letter to the prime minister arguing against plans to ban younger teens from social media.
The federal government introduced legislation to make it harder for a future government to privatise the NBN, as the opposition questioned why it was needed.
Patricia Karvelas announced she was leaving Radio National Breakfast after three years, but will take on a new role at the ABC.
Former Labor turned independent senator for WA, Fatima Payman launched her political party, Australia’s Voice.
Labor re-introduced its help-to-buy housing legislation into the House of Representatives.
Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) governor Adrian Orr cut the official cash rate to 4.75%.
Two students were arrested at Western Sydney University (WSU) after a pro-Palestine protest on campus.
One more sitting day this week tomorrow, and we will be back in the morning with all the news.
Updated
Hail lashes south-east Queensland and NSW in wake of severe storms
There has been hail up to 7cm in size after severe thunderstorms in southern Queensland and northern NSW on Wednesday afternoon, Weatherzone has reported.
There was reportedly 35mm of rain in Inverell in 30 minutes, and flooding in Southport, Queensland, as well as between 50 to 70mm in rainfall across northern NSW and Southern Queensland over the seven hours from 9am.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warnings in place for areas between the Capricornia and the southern downs in Queensland, and the northern slopes and plains in NSW.
BoM has said the thunderstorm risk will subside tomorrow, but there will still be showers along the east coast of Australia, with anywhere between 50 and 100mm of rain in those hardest hit across Wednesday and Thursday.
Updated
