What we learned today; Monday 4 November
As we wind down our breaking news coverage for the day, here’s a look at what’s been keeping us busy:
The secretary of the transport department defended his and other top bureaucrats’ membership to Qantas’s exclusive Chairman’s Lounge, insisting he and such colleagues don’t make regulatory decisions affecting airlines.
Independent MPs Allegra Spender and Kate Chaney have quit their Qantas Chairman’s Lounge membership as the fallout from Anthony Albanese’s flight upgrades rolls on. Spender’s move was labelled “grandstanding” by the Labor MP Luke Gosling.
Westpac delivered a $7bn profit as more mortgage holders fell behind.
In question time, Peter Dutton accused the government of “reckless spending” to reduce student debt.
Also in QT, the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, said his shadow counterpart, Angus Taylor, should acknowledge the latest “very encouraging” inflation data.
The acting secretary of the Department of Parliamentary Services, Jaala Hinchcliffe, confirmed the National Anti-Corruption Commission executed warrants on the department last month, as first revealed by Guardian Australia.
The far-right provocateur Candace Owens has demanded the Australian government overturn its rejection of her visa for a planned national speaking tour.
Finally, the search for an 11-year-old boy swept out to sea is to enter its third day.
As ever, thank you for joining us. We’ll be back again bright and early tomorrow.
Updated
Search for boy swept out to sea on Central Coast set to enter third day
The land, air and sea search for an 11-year-old boy who was carried out to sea on the New South Wales Central Coast has been paused for the day.
The 11-year-old was walking with his three siblings and father at The Entrance when disaster struck about 5pm on Sunday.
AAP is reporting that the extensive search was called off at 4pm and that crews are set to return at 8am on Tuesday.
The family was visiting from Sydney and fishing in the area when it’s believed they took a shortcut across a channel between an estuary and the ocean before the boy was swept away while the tide was going out.
Updated
