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Severe thunderstorm warning for western NSW
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of New South Wales.
Residents in the state’s west have been told to expect damaging winds, large hail and heavy rainfall:
⚠️ SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING issued for parts of Central West Slopes and Plains, Riverina, Lower Western and Upper Western Forecast Districts.
DAMAGING WINDS, LARGE HAIL, and HEAVY RAINFALL are possible.
Details: https://t.co/tYiUXby2yr pic.twitter.com/5FTpftgRVV
— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) October 15, 2024
The bureau earlier warned of possible thunderstorms across much of the country’s south east:
George Negus dies at 82
Veteran broadcaster George Negus has died at the age of 82.
In a statement, Negus’ family said he had Alzheimer’s disease and “passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones”, the ABC reports.
“Despite the challenges diseases like Alzheimer’s inflict on families, we still shared beautiful times, laughter and happiness together in recent times.
“We also learnt a lot.”
The family thanked healthcare workers for their support.
Emily Wind
Many thanks for joining me on today’s blog, Daisy Dumas will be here to take you through the rest of our rolling coverage. Take care.
Australian shares hit another record high
The Australian share market has climbed to another record high, AAP reports, with contributions from the big banks and the major miners.
The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 58 points, or 0.7%, to 8,310.8 at noon – its first time ever above 8,300. The broader All Ordinaries was up 55.4 points, or 0.65%, to 8,584.1.
Eight of the ASX’s 11 sectors were higher at midday, with energy and utilities lower and consumer staples basically flat.
The heavyweight financial sector was the biggest gainer, rising 1.3% as Westpac and CBA both climbed 1.7%, NAB added 1.5% and ANZ gained 0.9%. In the heavyweight mining sector, BHP was up 1.1%, Fortescue had added 2.3% and Rio Tinto had advanced 1.6%.
The energy sector was lower after Brent crude slumped to a 12-day low of $US75 a barrel after bearish economic data out of China. Woodside was 1.6% lower, Santos had dropped 1.3% and Whitehaven Coal had dropped 2%.
The Australian dollar was buying US67.32c, from US67.41c at Monday’s ASX close.
Watch: emergency services respond to chemical flash at Sydney uni
As we reported earlier, three people have been taken to hospital after a minor chemical flash at the University of Sydney’s Sports Aquatic Centre in Darlington this morning.
One employee and two bystanders were affected by the acid-based chemicals, with one person sustaining burns to his hands. The area has since been secured and analysed, before being decontaminated and rendered safe.
Here’s some footage from the scene, thanks to our video team and Fire and Rescue NSW:
Opera House to be lit up for King after coronation snub
The sails of the Sydney Opera House will be lit up for the upcoming royal visit, AAP reports, despite the New South Wales premier previously axing plans to similarly mark the King’s coronation due to cost.
The state government plans to illuminate the landmark at 8pm on Friday with pictures of previous royal visits to Sydney. King Charles III and Queen Camilla will tour the NSW capital and Canberra after landing on Australian soil on 18 October.
The green light to illuminate the sails comes almost 18 months after the premier, Chris Minns, dumped plans set by the former Coalition state government to light up the venue for the King’s coronation. The cost of $80,000-$100,000 per night was too much for taxpayers to bear, he said at the time.
But Minns today said it was important the King was warmly welcomed during his visit to Sydney, and the “primary objective” in lighting up the Opera House would be to focus on events taking place in the state capital.
The Opera House sails were illuminated for 23 days in 2012 but that ballooned to more than 70 days in 2022, costing taxpayers up to $7m annually. Requests to the government were still increasing and included “trivial matters”, the premier said previously.
Friday’s display will include a four-minute looping montage of images from previous royal visits.
Australia’s peak humanitarian body decries ‘lack of consistency’ on sanctions
Daniel Hurst
Australia’s peak body for humanitarian agencies has accused the Australian government of a lack of consistency in ensuring accountability for human rights violations, citing a failure to impose any sanctions on Israeli government or military officials.
The federal government announced today that it was imposing targeted financial sanctions and travel bans on five Iranian individuals linked to Iran’s missile program.
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, said Iran’s missile program posed “a material threat to regional and international security” and that its ballistic missile attack on Israel on 1 October “was a dangerous escalation that increased the risk of a wider regional war”.
The Australian Council for International Development (Acfid) said in a statement that it was “horrified at the rising bombardment and civilian death toll in Northern Gaza over the last several days”.
The peak body said it “urges the Australian government to assert accountability and apply autonomous sanctions on Israeli officials engaged in killing civilians, consistent with the approach it has taken towards other combatants committing war crimes”.
Naomi Brooks, the humanitarian lead for Acfid, said:
The Australian government has implemented sanctions on 200 Iran-linked individuals and entities. Despite over 40,000 deaths in Gaza, the Australian government has not yet sanctioned any Israeli government or military officials. This now looks like a lack of consistency and proportionality in how we hold governments committing gross human rights violations to account.
After over a year of conflict, we have continued to see atrocities throughout Gaza, including horrific scenes at Al-Aqsa hospital where civilians were burned alive. The human toll has been beyond catastrophic. We urgently need a ceasefire.
Comment is being sought from the Australian government.
Teenager accused of woman’s murder seeks police evidence
A teenage boy accused of murdering a grandmother during a carjacking has been granted a court order for prosecutors to disclose all evidence in the case, AAP reports.
Vyleen Joan White, 70, died after being stabbed in the chest outside a shopping centre at Redbank Plains, west of Brisbane, on 3 February. Police alleged White was killed during the theft of her 2009 model Hyundai Getz hatchback.
A 16-year-old boy from the nearby suburb of Bellbird Park was arrested two days later and charged with one count each of murder and unlawful use of a motor vehicle, and three counts of stealing.
The youth’s charges were mentioned in Ipswich children’s court today, but he was not required to appear in person or via video link from custody. Prosecutor Andy Iordache told acting magistrate Paul Byrne she could have a complete brief of evidence ready within three weeks.
The youth’s solicitor, Farshad Sarabi, asked Byrne for an order for prosecutors to produce the last items of evidence. Byrne ordered the prosecution to disclose the last items of evidence by 5 November and adjourned the matter until 26 November.
Sarabi said outside court that the case was “sad for everyone” and “there are no winners in this situation”.
When asked about the time it had taken for evidence to be disclosed, Sarabi said: “I think everyone is frustrated by the delays.”
The Bureau of Meteorology has released a severe weather update, with possible severe thunderstorms forecast for much of the southeast:
Oasis announces fifth and final Australian concert after shows sell out
Rock band Oasis has announced a fifth and final Australian concert as part of their 2025 reunion tour, after huge demand.
All four stadium shows in Melbourne and Sydney sold out within 90 minutes of going on sale. A fifth and final concert has now been announced for Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium on Monday 4 November.
This means Oasis will perform three nights in Melbourne, and two at Accor Stadium in Sydney, on the following dates:
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Friday 31 October – Marvel Stadium, Melbourne (SOLD OUT)
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Saturday 1 November – Marvel Stadium, Melbourne (SOLD OUT)
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Monday 4 November – Marvel Stadium, Melbourne (EXTRA SHOW ADDED)
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Friday 7 November – Accor Stadium, Sydney (SOLD OUT)
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Saturday 8 November – Accor Stadium, Sydney (SOLD OUT)
A statement said there would be a presale for existing registered fans who missed out during the initial presale ballot. Tickets will go on sale for the general public from midday this Friday, 18 October.
Bureau of Meteorology releases 2025 weather calendar
The Bureau of Meteorology has released its weather calendar for 2025, featuring space weather, a total solar eclipse and an elusive optical effect caused by light bending through fog.
The photos traverse throughout Australia’s many climate zones – from Tasmania’s central highlands in the south to the Arafura Sea off the Northern Territory – taken by professional and amateur photographers.
National community information manager Andrea Peace said the images were selected from more than 500 entries, with each month featuring a different weather phenomenon “alongside a meteorological description written by the Bureau’s meteorologists.”
The weather calendar is now in its 41st year and can be bought online here. Here are some of the photos featured in this year’s calendar:
Dutton says Labor’s ban on debit card surcharges merely ‘a plan for a plan’
Josh Butler
The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, claims the government’s announcement about banning debit card surcharges was only “a plan for a plan”, criticising Labor for not yet following through on promised reforms to gambling ads and social media age limits.
Returning to his earlier press conference in Sydney, Dutton said the Coalition was “very happy to look at anything the government is going to propose, but it’s not an announcement. It’s just that they’re looking at it and it could come in in 2026.”
Australian families need help now from this government. At the moment, it’s a plan for a plan.
Dutton went on to note:
The government promised to introduce reforms to online gambling – nothing’s happened. They promised to introduce age verification – nothing has happened. The government makes all of these announcements, but never delivers anything, and I think this is just the latest example.
It’s a line reminiscent of Anthony Albanese’s criticism of Scott Morrison before the last election, accusing the then PM of being “all photo op, no follow-up”.
Dutton’s opposition seem keen to point out the government’s delay on various promises; in parliament’s question time last week, Coalition MPs asked Labor several questions on the long-delayed gambling ad reforms.
Now, 16 months after Peta Murphy’s report recommending a full ad ban, it is unclear when the government will announce its response. The communications minister, Michelle Rowland, last week promised a response before the election.
More information on chemical flash at University of Sydney
Fire and Rescue NSW has just released some more information on the chemical reaction at the University of Sydney, as we flagged a moment ago.
The chemical reaction occurred outside the University of Sydney Sports Aquatic Centre in Darlington, about 10am.
One employee and two bystanders were affected by the acid-based chemicals, FRNSW said, which were being moved for disposal.
One person received burns to his hands and was taken to hospital, and a further two people were also transported as a precaution.
The area has since been secured and analysed, before being decontaminated and rendered safe. SafeWork and the NSW EPA have been notified of the incident.