Key events
Melbourne sinkhole close to site of boring machines for North East Link
More on the Melbourne sinkhole, which has appeared in the suburb of Heidelberg.
The sinkhole appears to be extremely close to the where two tunnel boring machines, nicknamed “Zelda” and “Gillian”, are currently located.
A Victorian government website for the North East Link shows both machines, which operate 24 hours a day, near the Warringal Parklands.
The sinkhole opened up at the AJ Burkitt Oval in that park.
Victoria police appealing for information after suspicious fires
Victoria police are appealing for information after a series of suspicious fires in the state’s Goldfields region over the past few months.
Officials said emergency services responded to two suspicious fires in the areas of McIntyre and Cochranes Creek on 12 and 20 December. Police said they believe two more fires were deliberately lit near O’Briens Dam and Rheola-Bealiba roads, Whela on 4 January.
Investigators said they think the fires may be connected to a series of suspicious fires lit during the December 2024 to January 2025 period in the same area. Victoria police said:
Detectives are keen to speak to anyone that may have information, CCTV/dashcam footage or anyone that may have seen any suspicious activity in the area at the time
There were 59 offences relating to causing a bushfire during the last bushfire season, including 23 linked to reckless behaviour.
Pocock says a federal royal commission is needed, even if it is ‘embarrassing’ for government
Pocock added that a federal royal commission was needed as antisemitism and violent extremism are a national problem.
He went on:
This isn’t just a New South Wales issue, and I think we need a national response, and we ideally need every state and territory to have some sort of involvement in that. …
While some of it may be a little bit inconvenient, potentially a little bit embarrassing for the government, this is a time to put that aside and actually say we want the deepest dive into the details of this. …
Given this was the worst terror attack in Australia’s history, I think it’s really important that the government listens to and responds to the overwhelming community feedback.
David Pocock says federal parliament should return early to address Bondi terror attack and calls for ‘national response’
Independent senator David Pocock said he believes the prime minister should have already announced plans to bring federal parliament back early to address the Bondi beach terror attack.
Pocock spoke to RN Breakfast this morning, saying:
I take the point that drafting takes time, but we’ve seen plenty of times previously where government can pull together legislation very quickly when it wants to. … I think coming back early really sends a signal to the community that the government is taking their concerns seriously and moving quickly in response.
Pocock added parliamentarians needed a “much deeper look” into antisemitism and violent extremism more broadly.
This is a national issue, and I think we need a national response led by the commonwealth, led by the federal government, in conjunction with states and territories.
Large sinkhole appears in Melbourne’s north-east
A large sinkhole has appeared in the Melbourne suburb of Heidelberg, with authorities warning residents to stay away as it could continue to grow in size.
The sinkhole occurred in the AJ Burkitt Oval in Heidelberg, with emergency services setting up an exclusion zone. The ABC reports the sinkhole is near tunneling works for the North East Link road project.
Banyule city council said officials were investigating the sinkhole, writing on social media:
For everyone’s safety, Victoria Police have cordoned off the affected area. Please avoid the area until further notice. Council is working closely with relevant agencies to assess the situation and determine what’s next.
We’ll provide further updates as information becomes available.
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NSW police commissioner to decide on extension of protest ban
Protesters will soon learn whether they will be allowed to return to Sydney’s streets as police decide whether to lift a ban on rallies, AAP reports.
NSW police commissioner Mal Lanyon is expected to decide on Tuesday whether to use his controversial powers to restrict public assemblies for another fortnight.
While some rallies – including a march condemning US strikes on Venezuela – have taken place despite the ban, civil liberties groups and activists warn extending it will prevent people from seeking official authorisation to protest.
Laws rushed through NSW parliament in the aftermath of a deadly mass shooting at Bondi Beach have given the commissioner the ability to ban protests in key metropolitan areas following a declared terrorist incident.
Lanyon deployed his powers almost immediately after they were granted, restricting protests for two weeks from Christmas Eve.
The current declaration restricts public assemblies in Sydney’s southwest, northwest and central metropolitan areas and can be extended fortnightly for up to three months.
Good morning, and happy Tuesday. Nick Visser here to take over the blog. Let’s get to it.
Another Victorian Liberal MP to quit
The problems facing the party’s new leader, Jess Wilson, have deepened after another MP, Wendy Lovell, announced that she would be stepping down as well.
Sam Groth, the former tennis player and deputy leader of the party, said on Monday he will resign from parliament at the November state election, citing infighting within his party and after a defamation battle with News Corp.
Lovell had planned to stand down but had reportedly been asked by Wilson to delay her announcement. However, she went ahead with her statement on Monday.
“The Liberal party’s values embody the aspirations of all Victorians, and I am very thankful to have been given the opportunity to represent those values as a country Liberal MP,” Lovell said, an upper house MP for the Northern Victoria region since 2002.
Labor MPs and activists join calls for royal commission into antisemitism and Bondi attacks
A group of former Labor MPs and activists have written an open letter to Anthony Albanese calling on him to hold a royal commission into antisemitism and the Bondi terror attack.
They said democracy was “at stake” if the prime minister failed to heeds the calls.
We commend NSW premier Chris Minns for calling a NSW royal commission but such a commission cannot compel institutions and individuals beyond its jurisdiction to give evidence or provide commonwealth officers with the necessary legal protection to speak frankly.
Only a commonwealth royal commission can unpack the dynamics of Jew hatred including aspects such as the social media threat, how hate and incitement is weaponised in Australia and how we can come together across the nation to defeat it.
Read our full story here:
Rain would probably be welcome in south-eastern states, where extreme heat is expected to build and soar into the mid-40s this week.
Yesterday we talked to the BoM about the forecast:
PM to visit flood-hit areas of Queensland
Anthony Albanese will visit flood-hit areas of Queensland today as the state faces more heavy rain.
Some northern and western parts of the state received between 200-500mm of rain at the weekend to leave small towns such as Winton cut off for days. Though the main worry in Winton appears to be for uninformed tourists:
Bondi shooting suspect Naveed Akram moved to Goulburn Supermax
The surviving Bondi shooting suspect, Naveed Akram, has been moved to Goulburn Supermax prison as he awaits a court appearance.
Akram, who has been charged with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act, will next face court again on 8 April.
Corrective Services NSW said:
Community safety remains this government’s top priority and Corrective Services NSW takes its responsibility to appropriately manage serious offenders incredibly seriously.
The high-risk management correctional centre is the most secure prison in the state and is equipped to accommodate inmates who pose the highest levels of risk.
We are not able to comment on the specific circumstances of individual inmates.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories before your morning blogger kicks into action.
Bondi terror suspect Naveed Akram has been moved to Goulburn Supermax prison, where he will remain until he faces court again in April. He faces 59 charges, including 15 murder counts.
Anthony Albanese will visit flood-hit areas of Queensland today as the state faces more heavy rain.
