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What we covered today By Cassandra Morgan 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:
A damning inquiry into Australian supermarkets dominated our blog coverage today, as Coles and Woolworths defended themselves against ACCC findings they have an “entrenched position in an oligopolistic market”. Labor and the Coalition traded blows following the release of the ACCC’s findings, particularly when it came to the opposition’s pitch for supermarket divestiture to strike fear into retailers. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton vowed to continue pursuing divestiture, while Labor argued the ACCC report includes “no suggestion” the idea would deliver better outcomes for farmers or consumers. Australian flights were among those diverted and cancelled after Britain’s Heathrow Airport closed when an electrical substation fire knocked out its power. Treasurer Jim Chalmers says Australians can expect his fourth budget to be similar to his first three, as he prepares to send the documents to the printers at the weekend before delivering the federal budget on Tuesday. In NSW, a third Sydney mosque in as many weeks has been the subject of online threats referencing the 2019 Christchurch massacre, with police believing two of the incidents are linked. Victoria tightened its bail laws following a late-night parliamentary debate, making freedom less likely for home invaders, carjackers and robbers, and removing the need for the justice system to consider remand as a last resort. In business news, Nine Entertainment, the publisher of this masthead, confirmed it is in talks to sell its 60 per cent stake in Domain to US group CoStar. Thanks again for joining us. This is Cassandra Morgan, signing off.
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5.51pm
Qantas flight cancelled after Heathrow Airport closure A Qantas flight has been cancelled following the closure of London’s Heathrow Airport, while passengers on diverted flights are set to be bussed into the city.
The QF1 and QF9 services departing Sydney and Perth on Friday (local times) are scheduled to operate as normal to London.
The London Fire Brigade said around 70 firefighters were tackling the substation blaze in the west of London. Credit: Twitter
However, Friday’s QF10 flight from London to Perth has been cancelled and customers will be put on other flights, Qantas said.
The cancellation follows the airport’s closure due to a nearby electrical substation fire.
Friday’s QF2 London to Singapore flight will also likely be impacted, the airline said.
“Our Singapore-London and Perth-London services were diverted to Paris today, with buses arranged to take customers on to London,” a spokesperson for the airline said.
“Our teams are working hard to support impacted customers and we thank them for their patience.”
Customers will be contacted directly if their flight is affected.
5.23pm
Supermarkets would b
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