Key Points
- NSW Liberals warned new leader will not fix deeper issues in party
- COP30 delegates have not yet reached agreement on major issues
- Wallabies plan to avoid further losses as they prepare to take on France
TRANSCRIPT
Kellie Sloane has been elected unopposed as the new leader of the New South Wales Liberals, completing a rapid rise less than two years before the next state election.
The former television presenter and Vaucluse MP replaces Mark Speakman, who resigned on Thursday and backed her bid for the leadership.
Conservative contender Alister Henskens withdrew, while Natalie Ward remains deputy leader.
Ms Sloane, who is 52, entered parliament in 2023 after a long media career and time leading the charity Life Education NSW.
Her elevation comes as the party struggles after federal losses and weak polling in the state, with analysts warning that simply changing leaders won’t fix deeper problems.
Ms Sloane will lead the Coalition alongside new Nationals leader Gurmesh Singh ahead of the March 2027 election
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Delegates at the COP30 climate summit in Belem are waiting for new draft texts, as they fail to reach an agreement on divisive issues, including fossil fuels and climate finance.
The Brazilian hosts of the two-week summit had hoped to secure approval for a deal, but countries continue to negotiate over the global goal on adaptation and four other contentious issues.
There are less than 48 hours until the scheduled end of the summit to find a consensus, which Brazil has framed as a crucial step to ramping up climate action and demonstrating that there is broad support to accelerate turning decades of promises and pledges into concrete action.
Climate policy expert, Jennifer Morgan explains.
"Right now in the talks, the Brazilian presidency is kind of having bilaterals with many different countries to see how to unlock the different sticking points that are there. For example, a key issue at this COP is how to close the ambition gap between what countries have pledged in their national plans and the 1.5 degree goal. And so that they're trying to now pull that together into a text that then countries can negotiate."
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has arrived in South Africa for the G-20 summit, the first to be held on African soil.
Leaders are gathering in Johannesburg over the weekend [[22-23 Nov]] to discuss climate-related disasters, debt relief for low-income nations, energy transition financing, and how producers can benefit from the global demand for critical minerals.
Mr Albanese says it's important for Australia to engage with its G20 partners.
"The G20 is such an important gathering. It's the most important gathering for which Australia is a member. It represents 85 per cent of the global economy, 75 per cent of global trade. And in addition to participating in the forums of the G20 I'll have important bilateral meetings with our trading partners."
However, several major figures will not attend including Donald Trump, who is boycotting the meeting after making discredited claims that South Africa discriminates against white citizens.
Argentina’s President Javier Milei is also staying away, while Russia’s Vladimir Putin will not attend because of the International Criminal Court warrant over the war in Ukraine, and China will send Premier Li Qiang instead of President Xi Jinping.
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Australia’s major airlines are tightening rules on power banks after a rise in lithium battery fires on flights.
Virgin Australia will ban passengers from using power banks to charge phones and tablets from the 1st of December.
Qantas, QantasLink and Jetstar are introducing the same rule from the 15th of December.
Travellers on both airlines will be limited to two power banks, each under 160 watt hours.
The batteries must be kept within reach, in a seat pocket or under the seat, and not in overhead lockers, except in limited cases on Qantas flights.
Both airlines say the changes follow a safety review and reflect growing global concern about battery fires.
Virgin and Qantas say keeping the devices close by allows crew to act quickly if something goes wrong.
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A review has been launched into the pepper spraying of an 87-year-old man at a nursing home in Sydney.
New South Wales Police say he was observed brandishing a metal ornament at the facility in Camden before police arrived and deployed the capsicum spray.
Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden says the man is recovering after being taken to Campbelltown Hospital.
He says the responding officers had little choice but to engage in the way they did.
"These are very challenging circumstances. And I just want to emphasise the conduct of this male in no way reflects the individual, such is the insidious nature of dementia and the challenges it presents. Notwithstanding the age of the man, he still presented a threat to other patients. He still presented a threat to staff and police - and I'm satisfied the matter was resolved expeditiously."
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The Wallabies have recalled NRL recruit Carter Gordon to steer them against European champions France in Paris, as they chase a face-saving end to a bleak tour.
After six losses in their past seven Tests - including heavy defeats to England, Italy and Ireland - coach Joe Schmidt is backing a now-fit Gordon to help avoid Australia’s first four-Test European whitewash in 67 years.
Gordon, who returned to international rugby after his stint with the Titans, picked up a quad injury during his comeback Test in Italy.
Despite scoring a strong try in that match, he was sidelined for the 46–19 loss to Ireland, where James O’Connor took charge.
