Australia news live: Jay Weatherill named next high commissioner to UK; former radio host to lead ACT Liberals after leader and deputy step down

4.58am GMT We reported earlier ANZ has reported a 14% decline in profits to $5.8bn, as it sacks staff and pays penalties for misconduct. Analysis from The Australia Institute shows the Big 4 have recorded a collective profit of more than $43 billion, most of it driven by profits from home owners. On average, the big banks make $213,480 on the mortgage of a first-home buyer with a 30-year loan. Greg Jericho, Chief Economist at The Australia Institute: The lack of competition among the big banks has come at the cost of homeowners, and their massive profits from home loans far exceeds the level of risk the banks undertake. The federal government has a huge majority which gives it a huge opportunity to help take the burden off the people who need help the most. A small super profits tax, raising just over $1.7 billion in 2024-25, was imposed by the Coalition in 2017. It’s done little to dent the profits or the market share of the big banks. Increasing that to $5 billion – or more – would take an extra few billion of the banks and give it to battlers. 4.17am GMT That’s all for me, thanks for sticking with us so far. Cait Kelly will be your guide for the arvo. Take care! 4.08am GMT Former radio host Mark Parton elected new ACT Liberal leader The former radio host and racecaller Mark Parton has been elected the new leader of the ACT Liberal opposition in a dramatic day in territory politics. Just hours after former leader Leanne Castley and deputy leader Jeremy Hanson announced they were stepping down from their roles, the Canberra Liberals unanimously appointed Parton as their new leader at a party room meeting on Monday. Rookie MLA Deborah Morris will serve as his deputy, Parton announced in a statement on Monday. Parton is a colourful character in the ACT Legislative Assembly after entering politics following a long career in commercial radio. He has built a brand and a strong social media following (for a local MP) posting cleverly curated videos of everyday life as a Canberra politician. The videos have landed him in trouble at times. In 2021, the then shadow transport spokesperson received a formal caution from police after live streaming himself on TikTok while driving. Parton also attracted headlines after “unwittingly” breaching Western Australia’s strict border restrictions during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. In a statement, Parton – who will resign as speaker to take on the leadership – said: I would like to take this opportunity to thank Leanne Castley and Jeremy Hanson for their work over the last 12 months. It’s vital that we continue to strengthen the cohesion within our Party. By encouraging open dialogue, valuing diverse perspectives, and finding common ground, we can reinforce our shared purpose. Our priority remains clear: continue building an alternative government that delivers for the ACT. Updated at 4.11am GMT 3.40am GMT Victorian government unveils ‘statement of expectations’ to improve behaviour of students in schools The Victorian government will roll out a “statement of expectations” to every public school in the state amid concerns over the worsening behaviour of students in Australia’s classrooms. The deputy premier and minister for education, Ben Carroll, said the statement would set expectations about the values and behaviours it expected to create a safe, inclusive and respectful environment, including clear common language parers and carers could use to talk to school staff and their child. Examples for parents include “modelling respectful behaviour in how you speak to and about school staff, families, and others both in person and online” and “working together with staff if your child is having problems at school to understand and resolve the issue”. The statement was developed after the annual Education State Forum in May, following consultation with teachers, principals, parents and education experts. Carroll said it gave families and schools a “shared understanding of expectations”. Parents and teachers have told us they want clearer standards for behaviour in our schools, and we’ve listened. Updated at 3.50am GMT 3.22am GMT Who is Jay Weatherill, Australia’s next top diplomat in London? As the prime minister just announced, the former South Australian Labor premier and early childhood education advocate Jay Weatherill will be Australia’s next top diplomat in London. Weatherill was South Australia’s 45th premier, replacing Mike Rann, who also went on to become Australia’s high commissioner to the UK. Across more than six years leading the state, he narrowly won the 2014 election, oversaw major changes to the state’s health and energy system and held a royal commission into opportunities to expand SA’s role in the nuclear fuel cycle. He famously clashed with then federal energy minister Josh Frydenberg at an extraordinary press conference in 2017, in which he accused the Turnbull government of being the “most anti-South Australia Commonwealth government in living history”. Jay Weatherill. Photograph: Julian Smith/AAP He lost the 2018 election to the Steven Marshall-led Liberals, ending a 16-year political career. Weatherill was later tapped to review federal Labor’s shock 2019 election defeat before moving to Perth to lead the Thrive By Five early childhood education initiative at Andrew Forrest’s Minderoo Foundation. He was recently appointed to lead a snap review of Victoria’s childcare sector after allegations of sexual abuse by a worker. Weatherill will replace Stephen Smith, a former Rudd and Gillard minister, at Australia House. His appointment means three of the past five ambassadors to the UK have been South Australians after Rann and Alexander Downer served in the key diplomatic posting. Updated at 3.50am GMT 3.09am GMT Former long-term Queensland police union chief Ian Leavers has died Ian Leavers served as general president and CEO of the Queensland police union of employees from 2009 until 2024 to take up the role of cross-border commissioner. He was a Queensland police officer for over 35 years. He was found dead on Monday morning at his home in Mount Ommaney, in Brisbane’s south. Premier David Crisafulli said Leavers had been a “strong voice” as the state’s cross border commissioner and paid respect to his long-term role as head of the union: Ian earned the respect of Queenslanders for saying it how it was, and always standing up for the Police Service he loved. He was dedicated, principled, and driven to make a difference for this State. Queenslanders will remember his leadership during some our State’s most tragic and defining events. He left a strong contribution first as a member of the Queensland Police and later as President of the Queensland Police Union. He championed safer working environments for police and advocated for them to be well-resourced and supported. On behalf of all Queenslanders, we extend heartfelt condolences to Ian’s family and friends during this difficult time. Updated at 3.12am GMT 2.54am GMT Albanese hails John Laws as a resonant figure in Australian media Albanese shared a tribute to the late broadcaster John Laws, saying he was an “iconic Australian”. The prime minister said: His voice resonated throughout our nation. People trusted John Laws. They listened to John Laws. And they engaged with John Laws. He was a permanent feature of our media landscape. And those Golden Tonsils, leaning into that golden microphone, was something that Australians felt was a part of their everyday experience for not just years, but for decades. Related: John Laws, Australian radio’s ‘Golden Tonsils’ who dominated airwaves for six decades – obituary Updated at 2.59am GMT 2.46am GMT Under-16s social media ban won’t be ‘perfect’, but will help ‘kids be kids’, Albanese says The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has been speaking at a media conference in Canberra about the upcoming social media ban for under-16s. The prime minister said: This is about letting kids be kids. It’s also about empowering parents to be able to have those discussions with their children. We don’t argue that these laws will be perfect in their implementation. We do argue, very strongly, though, that this is the government of Australia setting down what we expect to happen, including reminding social media companies that they have a social responsibility, and that they need to be conscious about their social licence, like other businesses. Anika Wells, the communications minister, said the new laws will give Australians under 16 “three more years to build community, and to build resilience, in the real world”, adding: Our social media laws are not a cure, but they are a treatment plan. We want children to have their childhood and we want parents to have peace of mind. Updated at 2.48am GMT 2.24am GMT Twice as effective as nets: shark-spotting drones to become ‘permanent fixture’ on Queensland beaches Queensland will roll out shark-spotting drones to more beaches, after a major study found drones detected more than double the number of sharks caught in adjacent nets. But while drones would become a “permanent fixture” of the state’s shark-control operations, the Department of Primary Industries said Queensland would continue to rely on “traditional measures like nets and drum lines”, despite evidence of their deadly impact on dolphins, whales, turtles and dugongs. Rob Adsett, the chief remote pilot at Surf Life Saving Queensland, said the drones were a “really good surveillance tool” that gave lifeguards a better view of everything at the beach. Drones were used to collect data on beach conditions and manage risks associated with sharks, with the added benefit of aiding search and rescue efforts. Read more here: Related: Twice as effective as nets: shark-spotting drones to become ‘permanent fixture’ on Queensland beaches 2.03am GMT Nine to cut 50 jobs in streaming and broadcast divisions Nine will cut 50 jobs in a new round of redundancies after working to bring together teams from several brands, including Stan, Channel 9 and 9Now. While the cuts will impact 50 jobs, the number of people leaving could be lower as there are open roles that some of those individuals could be redeployed into. Nine currently employees about 2,900 people across its streaming and broadcast divisions. A spokesperson said in a statement: We have today commenced consultation with some team members, whose roles within Nine’s Streaming and Broadcast division are impacted by our new operating model. The new operating model formally brings together teams across Stan, Channel 9 and 9Now. It is designed to reduce duplication, drive greater collaboration and deliver commercial growth for Nine, while working to offset the challenging external advertising market. Updated at 2.06am GMT 1.50am GMT ACT Liberal leader and deputy leader step down The leader and deputy of the ACT Liberal opposition have both stood down without explanation, after a fortnight of controversy over the suspension of the former opposition leader. Leanne Castley said in a statement that she and her deputy, Jeremy Hanson, would stand down as the leaders of the ACT’s Liberal party. In a post on social media, featuring a photo of the pair, Castley wrote: To give the Canberra Liberals the best possible chance of success in the 2028 election, we have made the decision to step down from leadership. A vote will be held to elect a new leadership team, and neither of us will be contesting any leadership positions. We extend our full support and best wishes to those who will take on these important roles. Castley gave no firm reason for the move. Instead, she added: “In the spirit of ensuring a genuine fresh start for the new team, we will not be commenting publicly on the circumstances that have led to this decision.” Castley has come under scrutiny over a decision to suspend the former Liberal leader, Elizabeth Lee, and fellow Liberal Peter Cain from the party room, after they crossed the floor on a vote in the ACT parliament. Liberal backbenchers are traditionally free to cross the floor and vote against agreed party policy. Updated at 1.53am GMT 1.38am GMT No link between paracetamol in pregnancy and autism or ADHD in children, review finds A wide-ranging review into paracetamol use by pregnant women has found no convincing link between the common painkiller and the chances of children being diagnosed with autism and ADHD. Publication of the work was fast-tracked to provide prospective mothers and their doctors with reliable information after the Trump administration urged pregnant women to avoid paracetamol – also known as acetaminophen or Tylenol – claiming it was contributing to rising rates of autism. Speaking at the White House in September, the US president said women should talk to their doctor about limiting the use of the painkiller while pregnant and followed up with far stronger language, telling women to “fight like hell” not to take it. While rates of autism have risen in recent decades, many scientists believe the trend is driven by greater awareness, improvements in diagnosis and a substantial broadening of the criteria doctors use to describe the condition. In an umbrella review published in the British Medical Journal on Monday, researchers analysed previously published scientific reviews on whether paracetamol raised the likelihood of pregnant women having children who are diagnosed with autism or ADHD. They concluded the quality of the reviews ranged from “low to critically low”, while any apparent link between the painkiller and autism was probably explained by family genetics and other factors. Read more: Related: No link between paracetamol in pregnancy and autism or ADHD in children, review finds 1.20am GMT ANZ sacks 1,000 staff in two months ANZ has sacked over 1,000 staff in the first two months of its cost-cutting plan, which workers say has raised stress and chaos. The bank’s chief executive, Nuno Matos, in September announced ANZ would cut 3,500 full-time roles from its 40,000-plus workforce by September 2026. Handing down the bank’s annual results today, Matos said nearly a third of those were already gone and the majority of targeted roles will be gone by March. The bank had also stood down 1,000 consultants, he said, telling investors this morning: In order to reduce uncertainty for our people, we have moved at pace. The Finance Sector Union today warned the cuts were putting workers on edge, with national president, Wendy Streets, saying: We’re hearing from people who can’t sleep, who’ve developed panic attacks, and who dread going to work. One worker told the union: Everything is chaos – roles are changing weekly, workloads are huge, and no one knows who will still have a job next month. Matos in September said the cuts had nothing to do with AI and did not mention the technology this morning, focusing on his efforts to turn around the bank’s slow revenue growth and rising costs. Banks across Australia have been cutting jobs in 2025 but ANZ’s are the biggest by far. Read more about the cuts here: Related: ‘We are teaching the machine to take our job’: Banks bet big on AI as thousands of jobs cut Updated at 1.23am GMT 1.04am GMT Tony Abbott leaves War Memorial council Former prime minister, Tony Abbott, has not been reappointed to the Australian War Memorial council, with Kim Beazley to remain chair. Abbott was first appointed to the council in 2019 for a three-year term, and reappointed in 2022. Veterans’ affairs minister Matt Keogh announced the changes, with Dan Keighran VC and outgoing national RSL president Greg Melick also leaving the council. Melick will be replaced by incoming national RSL president Peter Tinley. Beazley and Wing Commander (retired) Sharon Bown have both been reappointed. Keogh announced Maj Gen Wade Stothart (retired), director of the Office of Australian War Graves and Lesley Alway, chair of the Geelong Arts Centre Trust and former Opera Australia board member to join the Council. In a statement, Keogh said the new appointments would bring a “fresh, broader perspective”. Beazley said he would welcome the “insight” of the incoming members: “We thank Minster Keogh for these inspired appointments to the Memorial’s Council. Peter, Lesley and Wade bring with them a wealth of experience and expertise that will guide the Memorial in continuing to fulfil its duty to all Australians.” Updated at 1.11am GMT 12.46am GMT NSW records lowest average October rainfall since 2019 New South Wales has recorded its lowest average October rainfall since 2019 and areas with long-term rainfall deficiencies have expanded in the state’s south, according to the Bureau of Meteorology’s latest drought statement. NSW and parts of Victoria, south-eastern Queensland and parts of southern and central Western Australia all experienced below average rainfall in the lowest 30% of all Octobers since 1900. The bureau said soil moisture deficits had expanded and intensified across much of the eastern mainland and streamflow was below average at many sites across southern Australia and central eastern Queensland, with some locations recording their lowest October streamflow on record. By contrast, much of WA, Tasmania, south and central South Australia, the northern and western Northern Territory and northern Queensland experienced above average monthly rainfall in the highest 30% of all Octobers since 1900. The bureau said long-term rainfall deficiencies in southern Victoria and Tasmania had eased in severity and extent. For the summer outlook, the BoM’s long-range forecast for December to February says above average rainfall remains likely for areas of north-east and central Queensland and parts of coastal and inland NSW, while rainfall is likely to be below average for most of WA and the northern half of the NT, and parts of south-west Tasmania. Maximum temperatures are likely to be above average for most of Australia and minimum temperatures are very likely to be above average. Updated at 12.48am GMT 12.33am GMT Hauser adds hazy portents about future of rate cuts More from the Reserve Bank’s deputy governor: Andrew Hauser, says you don’t have to be “mad” to think more rate cuts are coming. But as noted below, Hauser reckons the economy is struggling to grow without adding to inflation. So even though Hauser’s far from being definitive about what happens to interest rates from here, the vibe is very much that mortgage holders shouldn’t hold out too much hope for further relief, if any at all. I don’t think you have to be mad or sort of fanatic to think that future rate cuts could be coming; or plausibly, perhaps at the moment, you might worry about how much remaining room there is. Hauser outlined scenarios where the RBA needed to hold from here, or where they lowered the cash rate, but no mention of the prospect for higher rates – which some economists have raised. “You can take different views about the outlook for interest rates. I’m not sure we’re far, we’re close,” he said. So these are debates, perhaps around adjustments at the margin, rather than large adjustments. Updated at 1.11am GMT 12.23am GMT Minns rejects claim neo-Nazi approval showed ‘double standard’ Minns rejected the claim by pro-Palestine activists that allowing the rally to go ahead showed a “double standard” in NSW police’s approach to protests. He said: That would only be the case if anyone were willing to reject the fact that police have not only granted but worked with Palestine Action Group organisers for hundreds and hundreds of rallies in Sydney. Asked about the threats allegedly received by Kellie Sloane and Allegra Spender, Minns said: This is another example of what particularly women in public life have to put up with. My hat’s off to both of them, the fact that they’re prepared to stand up, put their views, put their beliefs for civic life in New South Wales. Updated at 12.27am GMT 12.18am GMT Minns does not know how high application for neo-Nazi rally reached The NSW premier, Chris Minns, has said he does not know how high within NSW police an application for a neo-Nazi rally outside parliament on Saturday reached. Speaking to reporters earlier, the premier, was asked how high the application, which was automatically approved after it was not rejected within 7 days, reached after NSW police local area command initially reviewed it. Minns said: I don’t, other than, you know, obviously I take the commissioner at his word and [police minister Yasmin Catley] at her word that they weren’t aware of it. I know I wasn’t part of the review. Minns says the government is investigating whether hate speech laws, including a ban on Nazi symbols, can be expanded to include “Nazi speech, Nazi behaviours on Sydney Streets”. He also says the government is also seeking to “clarify and codify” to make sure an approved form 1 protest application does not give protesters a “free pass” when it comes to hate speech laws. 11.59pm GMT RBA deputy governor says monetary policy may need to stay tight The Reserve Bank deputy governor has cast more doubt on the prospect of another rate cut, saying monetary policy may need to stay tight in an economy “boxed in by its own capacity constraints”. The RBA held its cash rate steady at 3.6% on Melbourne Cup day after inflation jumped in the September quarter, reversing a steady two-year decline. Andrew Hauser told an investment bank conference that “we find ourselves in an unusual place”, where the economy is only one year into a recovery yet is already struggling to pick up speed without adding to price pressures. Businesses in the post-pandemic economy have struggled with supply constraints, as a shortage of materials and skilled workers has crimped their potential to ramp-up activity. Hauser said normally businesses at the start of an upswing in demand would have plenty of spare capacity to increase activity without their costs rising rapidly. “But this time looks different,” he said, adding: Our central estimate suggests that demand was slightly above potential output at the time GDP growth started to pick up last year – the tightest economic backdrop to a recovery since at least the early 1980s. How much spare capacity exists in the economy will help determine whether we get further rate cuts over coming months, he said. Updated at 1.24am GMT 11.38pm GMT Brisbane homeless crisis worsens ahead of Olympics, according to report The number of Queenslanders accessing homelessness services rose 20% in the last year, and Brisbane’s 2032 Olympics risks making the city’s housing crisis worse, unless action is taken immediately, according to the state’s peak housing body The city already has Australia’s tightest rental market, at just 1.1%, according to the report by Queensland Shelter and the Commonwealth-funded Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute. The report reveals an 114% increase in the number of homeless households living in hotels and motel rooms paid for through the state government’s immediate housing response program, in the seven Brisbane local government areas, over the last year. Brisbane city council had by far the largest problem, with 1,901 households, more than doubling since 2024. QShelter CEO Fiona Caniglia said the games were a “unique opportunity to create a legacy we can be proud of that will make a real impact on homelessness, not in four years when it will be too late”: With possible early signs of housing pressure and displacement emerging, the race is really on now for the benefits from that additional funding to be realised. 11.22pm GMT Allegra Spender says NSW police allowing neo-Nazi rally a ‘stuff-up’ amid threats against her and another MP Returning to the serious threats allegedly received by female politicians after their condemnation of Saturday’s neo-Nazi rally outside NSW parliament, Wentworth MP Allegra Spender told the ABC she is “not easily intimidated”: I was shocked when I heard [about the threats] but to be honest, let’s remind ourselves who these people are. They are extremists, and they do not represent Australian values, where we live, I think in one of the most tolerant, welcoming and open countries in the world, and I think most of us really celebrate that. Asked about how the rally was allowed to go ahead, Spender says: I think it’s very unclear so far from the New South Wales government, and also the New South Wales police really what should have happened, instead of what actually did happen. And I think it really was a stuff-up. What does it say to people, when you go: “We’ve got these new [hate speech] laws, but we’re not going to do anything if we think people are in breach of that”. So I think that’s the other big question, don’t think we’ve got an answer to. The NSW opposition confirmed that Kellie Sloane MP has allegedly received death threats after her condemnation of the rally. Updated at 11.24pm GMT 11.01pm GMT NSW police commissioner says actions at rally ‘despicable’ as investigation into event continues Mal Lanyon just spoke to Radio Sydney, saying police needed to investigate each group on a “case by case” basis, but said those who gathered at the neo-Nazi rally on Saturday seemed to hold an ideology backing a “white Australia policy”. He said the actions of the group were “despicable”, adding that the police were deeply investigating the 60-person rally to gather evidence that could be used in the future if NSW police needed to step in if there was a filing for another such event. The purpose of investigating the matter so thoroughly on the weekend is that we have evidence … that will obviously form [a] basis if we were to go to the supreme court and oppose [anything in the future]. … We have to work within the current legislation, we work very closely with government in terms of that legislation. Earlier this morning, Lanyon said there was an “internal communication error” that led to the rally’s approval, telling Channel Nine’s Today that NSW police had already managed more than 1,000 protests this year alone. From time to time, matters aren’t briefed up … Based on their actions on the weekend, and that’s why we’re investigating, it may well be that I would object in the supreme court to any further protest, but obviously, we need to make sure that we’ve got a case that we can go forward Updated at 11.04pm GMT 10.52pm GMT Female NSW politicians refer threats received after condemning neo-Nazi rally to police Federal MP Allegra Spender and NSW state MP Kellie Sloane have reported threats they received after their condemnation of Saturday’s neo-Nazi rally outside state parliament to the police. Speaking on ABC Radio Sydney earlier, the shadow health minister, Sloane, said she had began to receive dozens of “pretty hateful” messages on X on Sunday, including some “concerning enough to forward to police”, and had since deactivated her account: I think there are a lot of keyboard cowards, and I’m a pretty resilient individual, and I’m not easily bothered by these things. I don’t want them to think they’ve had any kind of win over me because I’ve exited Twitter or X … But I won’t be intimidated by them, and I won’t stop speaking up about behaviour that is racist and offends the majority of decent people in New South Wales. Asked about how the protest was able to go ahead, after the premier, Chris Minns, and the NSW police commissioner, Mal Lanyon, put it down to a failure of communication, Sloane says: “I’d suggest it’s a complete stuff up.” The ABC has reported Spender has reported threats allegedly posted to the neo-Nazi group’s Telegram channel made in response to her condemnation of the rally – including a call for followers to “rhetorically rape” the Wentworth MP – to the Australian Federal Police. Updated at 10.55pm GMT 10.46pm GMT ANZ profits slide ANZ has reported a 14% decline in profits to $5.8bn, as it sacks staff and pays penalties for misconduct. The bank warned in late October it would report $1.1bn in one-off costs for the year to September, with staff redundancies accounting for more than half of the difference. It also paid a $240m Asic lawsuit over widespread misconduct and took millions more in costs after closing money-back platform Cashrewards, taking over Suncorp Bank and its investment in an Indonesian bank. If one-off significant items are excluded, ANZ’s profit was stable compared with the prior year at $6.9bn. Household savings with the bank rose $10bn and home loans picked up $17bn, while fewer borrowers fell behind on their repayments. But ANZ has seen its profit margin weaken significantly in recent years, with net interest margin sliding to 1.54% in the six months to September – the lowest in years. Updated at 10.47pm GMT 10.33pm GMT Prime minister says John Laws was an extraordinary figure, and there won’t be ‘another like him’ The PM also spoke about the death of veteran broadcaster John Laws, who he called “a legend,” adding: “He was such an extraordinary figure in Australian’s lives.” Albanese went on: I spoke to him many times as PM, and as leader of the opposition, and as minister going back a long, long way and you could just have a genuine conversation with him. And he was interested, he allowed you to speak. He had strong views that he would put himself, but it was a genuine conversation and I don’t think there’ll be another like him, certainly, to be on top for such a long period of time. Updated at 10.47pm GMT 10.26pm GMT Albanese says outrage over Joy Division shirt ‘load of nonsense’ Anthony Albanese has finally commented on the non-furore about his Joy Division T-shirt, calling it “a load of nonsense”. The prime minister did a round of radio interviews this morning to spruik the upcoming children’s social media ban, and on Nova FM was asked about his latest trip to the corporate box as he attended the Oasis concert in Sydney over the weekend. Host Ryan Fitzgerald asked: “You didn’t wear the Joy Division T-shirt, did you?”, referencing the opposition leader Sussan Ley’s recent eyebrow-raising criticism of Albanese’s clothing. The PM responded: What a load of nonsense that was, hey? … It was rather extraordinary, I’ve got to say, but a few people commented exactly that on Friday night. Related: Did Sussan Ley really think her Joy Division attack would work – or was she just flailing? | Josh Butler On the social media ban, Albanese said it was “certainly not the case” that it would further a so-called “digital ID” system. He said the change, coming in from 10 December, was about “giving [kids] back their childhood”. Updated at 10.28pm GMT 10.11pm GMT EV and hybrid sales soar in Australia as internal combustion cars fall below 70% market share for first time Electric car sales in Australia continue to reach new record levels, according to figures that reveal the market share for internal combustion engine vehicles fell below 70% for the first time. The latest quarterly sales data from peak motoring body the Australian Automobile Association (AAA) shows electric vehicles accounted for 9.7% of new cars sold in the three months to September, the highest proportion on record. While welcoming the figures, the Electric Vehicle Council has urged state and territory governments to reinstate axed EV subsidies to help drive the level of sales projected to be required for Australia to meet its emissions reductions goals. Read more here: Related: EV and hybrid sales soar in Australia as internal combustion cars fall below 70% market share for first time 9.50pm GMT High-speed testing begins on delayed Sydney metro extension High-speed testing of trains on Sydney’s Southwest Metro extension begins this week, bringing some hope for passengers forced on to replacement buses following the closure of the former heavy rail line. The NSW government says trains will now begin running at speeds of up to 100 km/h along the line, up from low-speed testing at 25 km/h, which began in April. Once completed, the line will connect the existing M1 line from Tallawong to Sydenham to former T3 line stations out to Bankstown, including Marrickville and Lakemba, with trains running every four minutes at the peak. The Sydney Morning Herald has reported that Transport for NSW expects the extension – originally planned to open in late 2025 – will open in September 2026, two years after the heavy rail line closed. The NSW transport minister, John Graham, has thanked residents for their patience in using replacement buses. “The T3 Bankstown line was a notorious bottleneck and a Metro will open more doors to job and education opportunities while also bringing more business to this part of Sydney.” Updated at 9.54pm GMT 9.31pm GMT More from Split Enz, who will head out on their first Australian tour in 20 years Split Enz aren’t just headlining the Byron Bay Bluesfest next year, they’re touring the country, too. Neil Finn said in a statement: Split Enz was my first band, my initiation into the magic of music and collaboration. It feels very special to be reuniting with that feeling and reigniting the flame. We’ll be in top form I know it, out of respect for the songs and our audience. The tour will hit Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Adelaide, with tickets on sale this week. 9.14pm GMT NSW police minister says neo-Nazi rally authorised by police ‘deeply distressing’ Yasmin Catley, the NSW police minister, said a neo-Nazi rally outside state parliament on Saturday was “deeply distressing”, reaffirming that hate speech has “no place in our community”. Related: NSW police accused of ‘sickening’ double standard over neo-Nazi rally as Jewish groups demand answers Catley spoke to RN Breakfast after about 60 men clad in black stood outside parliament, calling for the abolition of the Jewish lobby as some speakers related antisemitic tropes. The event was authorised by New South Wales police. Catley said the event was not emblematic of free speech, saying police needed greater powers to counter such events. She told RN: They’re very tricky these neo-Nazis, they skirt around the edge of the law. The come in with a quick protest, [it] doesn’t make a lot of public ruffles, but certainly a big online presence. It’s very difficult for police to make decisions in real time, whilst all this is going on, whether or not this has crossed the line from freedom of speech to hate speech. Updated at 10.18pm GMT 9.02pm GMT Liberal senator’s remarks about Sussan Ley ‘unhelpful’ and ‘undisciplined’, colleague says Maria Kovacic, the shadow assistant minister to the leader of the opposition, said Liberal senator Sarah Henderson’s remarks that opposition leader Sussan Ley was “losing support” of some colleagues were not helpful, saying she remained a firm supporter of the leader. Related: Liberal MPs insist Sussan Ley’s position safe for now despite senator claiming leader is ‘losing support’ Kovacic spoke to RN Breakfast this morning, saying of Henderson’s remarks: Those comments aren’t helpful, and look, my view is we back in our leader. To actually suggest that a leader who is doing exactly what they said they would do, which is to listen to all colleagues … I think it’s actually unhelpful and to be frank, undisciplined. Updated at 9.09pm GMT 8.49pm GMT Kiwi legends Split Enz to headline Byron Bay Bluesfest Music fans will be happy that history sometimes does repeat, with legendary Kiwi band Split Enz reuniting to headline the resurrected Byron Bay Bluesfest, AAP reports. Best known for hits including I Got You, I See Red, History Never Repeats, Message to My Girl and Six Months in A Leaky Boat, the progressive/art rock pioneers will perform their first Australian headline show in almost 20 years at the four-day Easter music festival in northern NSW. Led by original members Tim Finn, Neil Finn, Noel Crombie and Eddie Rayner, the group has reformed to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Split Enz top the rollcall of 35 artists in the 2026 festival’s first lineup announcement, which also includes Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Earth, Wind and Fire, blues treasure Buddy Guy, The Pogues, The Black Crows, Counting Crows and Sublime. Bluesfest’s return comes after the festival director, Peter Noble, previously declared 2025 would be the event’s last hurrah. Updated at 9.19pm GMT 8.43pm GMT Communications minister says ban will roll out in one month, saying young people should ‘take steps to prepare’ In her own statement to mark one month until the ban’s start, the communications minister, Anika Wells, heralded the national education campaign as a success. Wells said the eSafety website had recorded more than 290,000 page views from more than 200,000 users since the campaign launched three weeks ago. The minister said: We are heartened to see hundreds of thousands of Australians engaging in our education resources so they can have meaningful conversations about this significant change. Now is the time for people with under-16s in their lives to start having conversations about what the new law means for them, and talk through any concerns or worries. Young people who expect to have their accounts deactivated from 10 December can also take steps to prepare and make sure they stay connected to the people and things they love, including by backing up content and photos and exploring other ways to keep in touch. Updated at 8.48pm GMT 8.35pm GMT Opposition calls on government to address ‘uncertainties’ around social media ban for under-16s The federal opposition is demanding the Albanese government urgently address “uncertainties” surrounding the social media age limit ahead of its commencement in a month’s time. The world-first restrictions will start on 10 December, requiring platforms including Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, YouTube, X and TikTok to prevent under-16s from creating or holding an account. The shadow communications minister, Melissa McIntosh, said several issues remained unclear, including the final list of platforms that would be captured. The government last week added message board Reddit and video streaming platform Kick to the banned list while leaving the door open to further, delayed inclusions – such as gaming platform Roblox. McIntosh said: The intent of the ban is to protect kids online, but with this rushed, last-minute approach to adding new platforms, will the social media companies be ready in time, and what age verification mechanisms will they use? Additional platforms being added to the banned list is happening in a hasty way. Last week, the Minister said there would ‘still be room for movement’ heading into the 10 December implementation date. With urgency, the government needs to confirm the full list of platforms children can’t be on. McIntosh criticised the government’s public information campaign to promote the ban as “lacklustre”, saying parents, schools and children weren’t given enough time to prepare. 8.25pm GMT Good morning Good morning, and welcome to Monday. Nick Visser here to start the week off. Here’s what’s on deck: Politicians and celebrities have paid tribute to talkback legend John Laws, who died on Sunday. Russell Crowe remembered Laws as a “wise mentor” and “mischievous mate” while Kyle Sandilands called the man known as the “Golden Tonsils” as “one of the true originals”. “He said what he thought, didn’t care who he offended, but could also show deep compassion when required. I’m devastated to have lost a mentor and a mate”, Sandilands wrote on social media. Opposition leader Sussan Ley said Australia had lost a “true pioneer of broadcasting”, saying Laws helped “shape public debate with a style that was fearless, perceptive and unmistakably his own”. Let’s dive in.