What we learned, Thursday 13 February
And with that, we are going to put the blog to bed. Before we go, let’s recap the big headlines:
Workers are doing less unpaid work since right to disconnect laws kicked in. Unions warn that scrapping the measure would add 100 minutes of overtime each week for which employees aren’t compensated.
Government analysis supplied to Guardian Australia suggests the Coalition’s plan to replace retired coal-fired power stations with nuclear power plants would require an additional 508,000 megalitres each year.
The trade minister, Don Farrell, says he doesn’t believe Australia is “flooding” the US market with our aluminium, as suggested by Donald Trump’s senior trade adviser, Peter Navarro.
The electoral reform bill passed the parliament, and will take effect at the election due in 2028. Independent MP Zali Steggall said she believes the electoral reform legislation should be “tested” by the courts.
Survivors of the stolen generations from the Northern Territory, ACT and Jervis Bay Territory will be given an 18-month extension to apply for compensation, the prime minister announced this morning. Anthony Albanese marked the 17th anniversary of the apology to stolen generations.
In a radio conversation with 2GB’s Ben Fordham about the video recording of two NSW nurses allegedly making anti-Israel threats, Peter Dutton said there needs to be a “discussion” about the wider immigration system, and the power of the government to revoke citizenship. Later, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency said the two nurses had been suspended.
The minister for emergency management, Jenny McAllister, gave an update on additional support the government has released. She said about $100m will support farmers, small businesses and NGOs in the area.
The defence department released information about an “unsafe and unprofessional interaction” between Australian and Chinese aircraft in the South China Sea on Tuesday, where flares were allegedly released near the Australian plane.
Thank you for spending part of your day with us. We will be back tomorrow to do it all again.
Updated
Australian share market closes at record high
The local share market has finished ever-so-slightly higher to hit a new record amid potential peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine as US inflation re-accelerated, AAP has reported.
The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index on Thursday rose 4.7 points, or 0.06% to 8,540, breaking Wednesday’s record for its highest-ever close.
The ASX200 also broke its previous intraday record of 8,566.9 set on 31 January, rising as high as 8,572.2 before noon.
The broader All Ordinaries gained 4.6 points, or 0.05%, to 8,804.2.
The record-setting day came after US government statistics released overnight showed monthly headline inflation rose 0.5% in January, its biggest jump since August 2023.
Updated
