What we learned today, Tuesday 30 September
That’s where we’ll wrap up for the day. I hope you have a lovely evening. These were the top stories today:
The Reserve Bank left interest rates on hold at 3.6% as it continues its bid to further drive down inflation. The decision was widely expected, but will still disappoint mortgage holders hoping for a bit more relief.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said Optus had failed in its handling of recent triple zero outages. The communications minister, Anika Wells, asked Optus’s parent company, Singtel, to appoint an external reviewer in a meeting in Sydney this morning.
Albanese had quite a bit more to say before he flew home to Australia from the Middle East. He urged the United Arab Emirates grocery giant Lulu to enter the Australian market and separately welcomed the Gaza peace plan, urging all parties to “engage seriously” with it.
Albanese was also sounding positive about the Aukus pact after reports this morning that the Pentagon’s review of the security deal found the massive submarine project should go ahead.
The Productivity Commission came under fire for failing to consult artists or model the impact of a key recommendation in its AI report on the creative industry, with First Nations rapper Adam Briggs urging the advisory body to protect creative workers.
A woman who was illegally strip-searched by New South Wales police was awarded $93,000 in a landmark class action that lawyers believed would “render thousands of strip-searches” at music festivals unlawful.
Victorian Labor MP Emma Vulin, who was last year diagnosed with motor neurone disease, announced she won’t recontest the seat of Pakenham at the 2026 state election.
In more Victorian news, four teenagers were charged overnight after an allegedly stolen vehicle was driven into Bourke Street Mall in Melbourne’s CBD yesterday afternoon, before it was abandoned after allegedly striking a pedestrian.
Updated
Humpback whale calf entangled in shark nets off Gold Coast beach
And in some Queensland news, another humpback calf has become entangled in shark nets off Kirra beach, making it the thirteenth whale trapped this season.
Whale scientist Dr Vanessa Pirotta said the number of entanglements this season had been “exceptionally large”, with them starting early and continuing throughout, in a situation that was “distressing for everyone”.
She said:
How many entanglements does it take for us to have more of a serious conversation?
As long as the nets are going to be in, we’re going to see entanglements. It’s been happening for years.
Is it now time for the government to sit down with experts in the field to really seriously talk about proactive ways to try and reduce this?
You can read more on this here:
Updated
