Australia news as it happened: Government launches review into Optus outage; High Court rules indefinite detention is unlawful

Optus says it will give customers access to bonus data, rather than monetary compensation, after its mass outage yesterday.

The telco is offering customers on its postpaid mobile plans 200 gigabytes of bonus data, and its prepaid customers access to unlimited data on weekends until the end of the year.

More than 10 million customers and businesses were caught up in the outage, with customers left unable to make and receive calls or access the internet for 12 hours.

The telco’s managing director Matt Williams told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald that compensation in the form of bonus data would be more meaningful to customers than the dollar value of a day’s outage.

“We wanted to do something that has much more value and that is what we’re doing with this data offering. This amount of data would be worth over $100, and that compares to something like $1 per day in terms of the typical plans our customers buy.”

He said that the data represented a way to “thank customers for their patience”.

Gladys Berejiklian, Optus’ managing director of enterprise and business and the former premier of NSW, said that the offer would also be valid for small businesses, who will receive extra data rather than monetary compensation.

“Look, I just want to emphasise how deeply sorry we are about the impact of the outage on all of our business customers of all sizes,” she told this masthead.

“But obviously, we have a really strong record of supporting businesses of all sizes. That will continue, and yesterday is obviously a day where we understand there were many businesses impacted but the relationship we have with our businesses we will continue to build on.”

Thank you for your company this evening, this is where we’ll leave our live coverage of the day’s news.

Here’s what you need to know about the day:

• Optus says it will give customers access to bonus data – but no monetary compensation – after its mass outage yesterday
• Hamas leaders have explained their October 7 attack calculations, saying that “now no one in the region is experiencing calm”.

• The government has suffered a symbolic defeat over its controversial industrial relations reforms after the Senate voted to effectively split the bill.

• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced the government will spend $350 million on climate-related infrastructure and energy projects in the Pacific.

• In NSW, a long-time Sydney mayor has been dumped from office after the state’s corruption watchdog found he engaged in serious corrupt conduct.
• In Victoria, a Supreme Court jury has awarded a child sex abuse victim $5.9 million in damages after finding the Western Bulldogs Football Club was negligent in protecting him from harm.

And if you’re still waiting to get your hands on Taylor Swift tickets, tomorrow’s the day when resales begin and a few more restricted view seats open up. Get a good night’s sleep – and good luck.

See you tomorrow.

A Rohingya man convicted of raping a 10-year-old boy has been released on strict visa conditions after winning a High Court legal battle against the Commonwealth to overturn a 20-year-old legal precedent that could see the release of more than 90 people the government cannot deport.

Immigration Minister Andrew Giles said the government would do everything possible to ensure community safety but couldn’t act without the advice of the Solicitor General, who warned the High Court on Wednesday that the cohort featured convicted murderers, sex offenders and people smugglers.

“The High Court has just handed down a decision which has substantially changed the operation of the law insofar as it relates to immigration detention,” he said.

Read the full story here.

Teachers at a fiery rally in front of South Australia’s parliament house have threatened further strikes if they aren’t offered better pay and conditions, but the state government is still hopeful of a resolution.

Thousands of Australian Education Union (AEU) members walked off the job on Thursday in the second strike in two months, with discussions over a new enterprise bargaining agreement reaching a deadlock.

AEU SA branch president Andrew Gohl threatened more disruption if the government does not deliver increased pay and reduced workloads.

“We have 1800 students in South Australia right at this very moment who have no regular teacher in front of them,” he told crowds massed before the steps of parliament.

“This is a government that is fixed on the short-term and political imperative without a view to what’s best for South Australian people, what’s best for public education in the long term.”

Hundreds of schools across the state shut their doors or offered modified classes but physics and accounting SACE exams for about 1000 year 12 students went ahead as planned.

AAP

As the severe weather moves through Sydney and the state, we’ve got a photo of the moment lightning strikes Sydney’s train network.

Lightning hit a train line pole around Casula, in Sydney’s southwest, earlier this afternoon, resulting in a fiery explosion, pictured. The overhead wiring collapsed.

Train services between Liverpool and Glenfield have been suspended as transport authorities attempt to safely repair the damage.

If you’re in NSW, run for cover – or at least get out a heavy-duty umbrella.

A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for the Hunter region, with heavy rain expected from Gosford to Gilgandra this afternoon.

The Bureau of Meteorology is also warning of heavy rainfall south to Hornsby and Mona Vale, but rain is expected this afternoon up and down most of the state.

“Heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding is likely,” the Bureau said.

The radar shows the rain hitting populated coastal regions at about 4.30pm.

After 118 fractious days, the Hollywood actors’ strike appears to be over.

The negotiating committee of the union that represents thousands of actors, SAG-AFTRA, has reached a tentative agreement on a new three-year contract with major studios represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).

“In a unanimous vote this afternoon, the SAG/AFTRA TV/Theatrical Committee approved a tentative agreement with the AMPTP bringing an end to the 118 day strike,” the union said in a statement.

“The strike officially ends at 12:01am on Thursday, November 9.”

Read the full story here.