What we learned: Thursday 19 December
That’s where we’ll leave the blog for today.
Here were today’s major developments:
The federal court has fined AGL $25m for wrongly taking money from the pockets of welfare recipients who were no longer its customers using the government-run Centrepay system.
The federal government announced it would slow visa processing in place of its failed blanket caps on international students with a new ministerial direction.
The New South Wales Icac has announced it will not investigate the premier, Chris Minns, over his involvement in the proposal to turn Rosehill racecourse into 25,000 homes.
Sydneysiders have been warned to expect imminent disruptions across the city’s rail network – including in the lead-up to the busy New Year’s period – after a court quashed the state government’s bid to halt industrial action, paving the way for unions to resume work stoppages.
Jaclyn Symes has been sworn in as Victoria’s first female treasurer in a reshuffle by the premier, Jacinta Allan, after Tim Pallas quit politics on Monday.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics has revealed for the first time that an estimated 4.5% of Australians 16 years and over are lesbian, gay, bi, trans or gender diverse, or intersex (LGBTI+).
The Australian federal police says it has charged a second Colombian national with debt bondage and servitude offences in relation to alleged human exploitation at their home in Adelaide.
And a hiker has been found safe and well, six days after she went missing in bushland in the Blue Mountains.
Have a good evening, wherever you are.
Updated
Melbourne expected to hit 40C on Boxing Day
Residents of Melbourne are in for a scorcher on Boxing Day, the weather bureau has predicted.
The Bureau of Meteorology has released some of its forecasts for 26 December, showing the Victorian capital is in for a top of 40C.
It’ll be hot in Canberra too, where the temperature is expected to reach 37C.
Adelaide can expect a top of 34C.
Sydney and Hobart are both set for a maximum temperature of 31C.
We have more details on the Christmas Day forecasts here:
Updated
