Breaking: Bob Brown arrested at Tasmania logging protest, PM slams Dutton’s border policy as ‘absurd’ – Live updates from Australia

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.