Hi Welcome You can highlight texts in any article and it becomes audio news that you can hear
  • Sun. Dec 22nd, 2024

As it happened: PM unveils antisemitism taskforce after Melbourne synagogue firebombing deemed ‘terrorism’; Unions protest outside RBA

As it happened: PM unveils antisemitism taskforce after Melbourne synagogue firebombing deemed ‘terrorism’; Unions protest outside RBA

Key posts 1 of 5

What we covered today By Lachlan Abbott Thanks for reading the national news blog. This is where we’ll end today’s coverage.

To conclude, here’s a look back at the day’s major stories:

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has revealed a new federal police antisemitism taskforce after authorities deemed an arson attack on one of Australia’s busiest synagogues a “likely” terrorist attack.

Australia will be able to use a new treaty to block China and other countries from striking any security or telecommunications deals with Nauru in exchange for $140 million in financial support from Australian taxpayers to the tiny Pacific island.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen has rubbished the Coalition’s advisers on nuclear power despite his own department paying $1.2 million to a consulting firm for analysis, as Peter Dutton accused the CSIRO of bias in its findings that nuclear is the most expensive energy source.

In NSW, the severely decomposed body of a woman has been found covered in plastic in dense bushland near Sydney Airport.

In Victoria, Premier Jacinta Allan’s inaction on a pledge to consider overhauling electoral laws is likely to trigger a High Court challenge by independent candidates who say the rules create an unconstitutional constraint on political communication.

In Queensland, it has been revealed underground blasts in the heart of Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast that sparked chaos and shut down part of the tourist hotspot on Sunday afternoon were caused by an electrical fault.

In Western Australia, officers from the police riot squad rushed to Rottnest Island to control around 400 high school students who were congregating in large groups, leading to the assault and abuse of other holidaymakers and police.

In business news, ANZ has tapped an international banker to replace its long-serving chief executive Shayne Elliott.

In world news, ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad fled to Moscow, Russian media has reported, after a stunning rebel advance took over the capital of Damascus and ended the Assad family’s 50 years of iron rule. Thanks for your company. Have a good night.

Latest posts

5.38pm

ASX finishes flat after banks, miners retreat By Daniel Lo Surdo The Australian sharemarket closed flat on Monday, after losses driven by the energy giants and ANZ were curtailed by growth in the consumer discretionary and healthcare sectors.

Loading

The S&P/ASX 200 rose 2.1 points, up less than 0.1 per cent, to 8423 points at the close. Eight of the 11 industry sectors traded positively.

The Australian dollar saw marginal losses and
Read More

Click to listen highlighted text!