What we learned; Tuesday 3 February
That’s where we’ll leave things for today. Have a nice evening. Here were our top stories:
The Reserve Bank hiked rates for the first time in more than two years, and signalled there could be more to come, with mortgage holders to bear the brunt of dealing with a sharp and unexpected jump in inflation. The cash rate target has lifted from 3.6% to 3.85%.
As it coincided with a federal parliamentary sitting day, the RBA’s decision was the source of much debate in question time. The opposition sought to blame Labor, saying overspending was behind the rate hike, while the government said the rise was expected due to higher than expected inflation.
Elsewhere in politics, Sussan Ley extended an offer to the Nationals to reunite with the Coalition – with conditions. Ley’s proposal would force the three National senators who defied the shadow cabinet to oppose Labor’s hate speech laws to sit on the backbench for six months.
The Palestine Action Group announced it planned to march against the Israeli president, Isaac Herzog’s, visit to Sydney next week, despite the New South Wales police commissioner extending a restriction on protests.
In other Sydney news, the city’s Mardi Gras party, which attracts thousands of revellers after the city’s famous annual parade, was cancelled due to cost pressures.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) says it has charged a Melbourne airport worker who allegedly performed a Nazi salute directed towards a group of Jewish school-aged children in one of the terminals on Monday.
And the Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, announced a plan to allow GPs to diagnose and prescribe medication for ADHD.
Updated
Melbourne passengers warned of delays with some services through new Metro Tunnel affected
Some services running through the new Melbourne Metro Tunnel have been rerouted, on only the tunnel’s second day of operating at full capacity, due to a power fault further up the line.
The Victorian transport department issued a statement just after 6pm, saying buses are replacing trains on the Cranbourne/Pakenham and Sunbury lines between West Footscray and Caulfield stations due to a problem with overhead wires near Armadale.
This suspension is impacting some services running through the Metro Tunnel, the statement said.
Cranbourne/Pakenham passengers are advised to change at State Library or Town Hall to the City Loop and use Frankston Line services to Caulfield.
Those on Sunbury services are advised to switch to a Werribee or Williamstown line service at West Footscray station.
While trains will continue to run between Caulfield and Cranbourne/Pakenham, and Sunbury and West Footscray, delays are likely.
V/Line services on Traralgon and Bairnsdale services are also affected.
Updated
