What we learned, Wednesday 19 October
And that’s where we’ll leave you this evening. Here’s what we learned:
A second man has died in Victorian flood waters, as premier Daniel Andrews said the state government will be providing $10,000 one-off payments to farmers affected by flooding, as well as $54m for small business, and $4.4m for mental health.
It came as the BoM announced it does not forecast a return to major flooding in the state.
The body of a man has been recovered from flood waters in NSW this afternoon. It is believed to be that of a missing 63-year-old man last seen in Hillston on Tuesday.
Dave Sharma, the former Liberal MP for Wentworth and former Australian ambassador to Israel, said the Labor decision to reverse the recognition of West Jerusalem as the capital of Israel “sets peace back”.
Teal MPs Allegra Spender and Zoe Daniels also criticised the decision.
Nearly three-quarters of businesses have told an industry survey the goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2050 does not go far enough.
The environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, shot down the Bureau of Meteorology’s request for people not to call it the BoM, saying Australians should be free to call it whatever they like.
The One Nation leader, Pauline Hanson, will have to pay $250,000 in damages after defaming former senator Brian Burston on the Today Show.
Health insurer Medibank has gone into a trading halt after telling customers it had received messages from alleged data hackers.
Updated
Man's body recovered from NSW flood waters
The body of a man has been recovered from flood waters in NSW this afternoon. It is believed to be that of a missing 63-year-old man last seen in Hillston on Tuesday.
NSW Police confirmed this afternoon they have located the body in the state’s west, after receiving reports of a body being seen on a rural property at Wallanthery, about 35km north-east of Hillston.
Officers received the reports at around 8.30am this morning, and attended the property and retrieved the body, with assistance from NSW SES.
While the body is yet to be formally identified, it is believed to be that of the missing man.
Murrumbidgee Police District, PolAir, Police Rescue, NSW SES, and NSW Ambulance along the Lachlan River were all involved in the search for the man.
Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the man’s death continue and a report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.
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