From 5 hours ago, key events include a Sydney storm causing transport chaos, a blackout hitting 13,000 NSW households and businesses, and Australia offering support to PNG after dozens were killed. There were also 210,000 lightning strikes recorded in part of NSW amid a deluge, and four people were struck by lightning in Sydney’s botanic gardens. The death of a Melbourne Cup-winning horse prompted tributes, and there was an update on a severe thunderstorm warning in NSW. The Prime Minister called the opposition leader’s border policy arguments ‘absurd’, and Bob Brown was arrested at a logging protest. Sydney’s Star casino is set to face a second inquiry, and Dutton accused Albanese of giving ‘green light’ to people smugglers. Former Greens leader Bob Brown was arrested at a logging protest, and Dutton’s border policy comments were described as ‘disturbing’ by Albanese. Severe thunderstorm warnings were issued along the east coast, and hundreds of homes in south-west WA were without power. Dutton said Albanese ‘not telling the truth’ on border policy, and a former immigration official warned politicians ‘not to inflame the rhetoric’ to avoid encouraging people smugglers. Temperatures near 50C were recorded in central-western WA, and asbestos was confirmed at seven new locations in the Sydney region. Schools were closed amid bushfire risk as Perth was set to break a heatwave record. The local share market finished marginally higher, with gains for the big banks and major miners and losses from Lendlease, the broader property sector, and CSL. The Australian dollar was buying 65.44 US cents, from 65.19 US cents at Friday’s ASX close. The storm left a peak of 27,000 customers without power “as a result of lightning activity across wider Sydney,” and more than 30 departures were cancelled at Sydney airport today with 340 services in and out delayed. Commuters in North Sydney were also warned away from trains after lighting struck network equipment.
