The Greens call for greater telecommunications regulation following the resignation of Optus's C-E-O. Populist outsider Javier Milei claims victory as Argentina's new president. Solomon Island Prime Minister Manesseh Sogavare opens the Pacific Games in Honiara.
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TRANSCRIPT
In this bulletin:
- The Greens call for greater telecommunications regulation following the resignation of Optus's CEO.
- Populist outsider Javier Milei claims victory as Argentina's new president.
- Solomon Island Prime Minister Manesseh Sogavare opens the Pacific Games in Honiara.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young says Optus needs to show leadership to restore trust, after C-E-O Kelly Bayer Rosmarin announced her resignation following the major network outage on the 8th of November.
In a Senate hearing on Friday, Ms Bayer Rosmarin was forced to answer tough questions about the hours-long outage, which left more than 9 million customers unable to make calls or access the internet.
Ms Hanson-Young has thanked Ms Rosmarin for fronting last week's senate inquiry and "taking responsibility".
But the senator says the inquiry will be pushing for "stronger and better" regulation to ensure telecommunications companies operate in the public interest.
"What we now know is that it's up to the Optus board and to the rest of the leadership there, to fix the problems. To make it clear to the Australian people that this kind of outage won't happen again, and if it does, Optus will have a proper risk management plan in place and communicate properly with its customers."
The newly elected President of Argentina Javier Mileihas accepted victory, saying the "reconstruction" of the country can now begin.
The populist libertarian ran on a platform of radical reforms which he claims will fight soaring inflation and fix Argentina's embattled economy, including shutting the country's central bank and ditching the peso.
His victory against Left-wing opponent and Economy Minister Sergio Massa was the widest margin in a presidential race since Argentina's return to democracy in 1983.
Mr Milei, who calls himself an "anarcho-capitalist", has told a crowd of supporters a new era has begun in Argentina.
"Today the impoverishing, omnipresent state model is over. Today the idea that the state is a spoils to be shared among politicians and their friends is over. Today, the vision that the victimizers are the victims, and the victims are the victimizers is over. Today, we return to the path that made this country great. Today we embrace again the ideas of freedom, the ideas of (Juan Bautista) Alberdi."
Companies could be subject to tougher anti-competitive merger laws under possible reforms suggested by the federal government.
The Australia Competition and Consumer Commission has been pushing for stronger rules so it can prevent companies from joining forces if there is a risk firms will then gain too much market power.
The ACCC says excessive market concentration can lead to higher prices for consumers and impact productivity.
While a Treasury consultation paper has noted the benefits of mergers, the Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Assistant Minister for Competition Andrew Leigh have said current laws are "too permissive".
A pilot and a T-V camera operator have been named the two people missing in a crash in Victoria's Mornington Peninsula, with police continuing to search for wreckage.
Crews have scoured Port Phillip Bay for any sign of camera operator James Rose and the pilot Stephen Gale, who were on board when a Jetworks Aviation flight crashed into the water on Sunday afternoon.
Police have been unable to confirm whether another aircraft, which later landed safely at Essendon Airport, collided with the first plane.
Inspector Terry Rollins says the search will continue until the wreckage is found, and police are now considering it a recovery mission.
"Divers haven't entered the water as yet I understand and won't do until there is some wreckage that's located. I believe the search that's being undertaken now is to find any debris that may be floating, and also I think sonar equipment is being used to try and locate anything that might be on the sea floor."
In sport.
The 2023 Pacific Games has kicked off with an opening ceremony in the Solomon Islands capital Honiara.
More than 5,000 competitors from 24 Pacific nations will take part in the competition over the next fortnight.
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manesseh Sogavare has acknowledged the People's Republic of China as the most significant donor.
He has also named key partnerships with other countries including Saudi Arabia and Australia.
"The Pacific Games represents the true spirit of the Pacific. It showcases the very best in sport. But it also plays a vital role in building economic, social, spiritual and cultural bridges."
