As it happened: Brisbane on Monday, November 17

Qantas’ next-generation Airbus A321XLR aircraft will touch down at Brisbane Airport for the first time at 6pm today as it commences its Sydney-Brisbane return route.

The extra long-range craft will be used on return services between Brisbane and Sydney, marking the newest route for the state-of-the-art Airbus – which Qantas launched in September.

The A321XLR features a wider and longer cabin than previous-generation narrow-body aircraft, wider seats, higher ceilings, larger windows, free Wi-Fi and space for about 60 per cent more bags than Qantas’ Boeing 737s – and also uses less fuel per seat than the 737 it replaces.

The national carrier is only the fourth airline in the world to operate the A321XLR and the first in the Asia-Pacific region.

Qantas Domestic chief executive Markus Svensson praised the technology and comfort improvements of the A321XLR.

“We’ve had great feedback from customers who have flown on the aircraft, with its 60 per cent larger onboard baggage space a real drawcard and a much quieter cabin than previous-generation aircraft,” he said. “The A321XLR is also far more efficient than the previous-generation aircraft it is replacing, which is helping us to progress toward our sustainability goals.”

Brisbane Airport boss Gert-Jan de Graaff said the aircraft was a great addition to the Brisbane-Sydney route, one of the busiest in the country, as the airport undergoes major improvements.

“As Brisbane Airport celebrates 100 years and Qantas marks 105 years since its birth in Queensland, we are forging a future together focused on sustainably connecting the world,” he said. “The introduction of this aircraft complements the transformation currently under way in our terminals.”

Thanks for joining us. Here are some of today’s big stories:

• ‘Don’t go and buy that $3000 e-bike’: Parents warned after boys’ deaths
• Phone data is central to Bruce Lehrmann’s Queensland rape case
• Where Brisbane is spending more money on coffee (and food)
• From “unliveable” 1930s Queenslander to $2.7 million street record
• Key public servant speaks out on ‘alarming’ health program ban
• Cybercriminals unleash fake Centrelink scam on vulnerable Australians
• Sketch: Sussan Ley, the travelling saleswoman, is spruiking Hastie’s wares

Brisbane News Live will return early tomorrow.

Support for One Nation has hit a record high in the latest Australian Financial Review/Redbridge poll, while the Coalition continues to tank.

The poll revealed the Coalition’s primary vote fell 5 percentage points in a month – to its lowest-ever rate of 24 per cent – while support for One Nation rose 4 points to a record high of 18 per cent.

Sussan Ley’s support as preferred prime minister has tanked to 10 per cent, compared with Anthony Albanese’s 40 per cent.

Redbridge poll director Kos Samaras told the Australian Financial Review the Coalition vote was “fragmenting in real time”.

“This is now the lowest combined vote for the conservative side of politics since federation,” he said.

“Worse still, once you strip out the Nationals, the Liberal Party is sitting on roughly 20 per cent, propped up in large part by the LNP vote in Queensland.”

Sussan Ley says she has been underestimated a lot in her life amid ongoing speculation her leadership is in jeopardy.

2GB Radio confronted Ley this morning with audio clips of callers saying they wanted Andrew Hastie to lead the Coalition.

Ley said people were entitled to their views. “I’m not here for a sense of ego about me,” she said.

“I remember when a lot of blokes told me I couldn’t fly an aeroplane, and did a lot to keep me out of the front seat, and I flew an aeroplane.

“I flew a mustering plane in very small circles, very close to the ground, and that was pretty tough at the time.

“But once again, it’s actually not about me, it’s about the Australian people, and they’re what motivates me every single day.”

Nationals senator Matt Canavan has said this morning that young people are not as concerned about emissions and the climate as they are about the cost of living as he defended the Coalition’s dumping of net zero targets.

Asked how the Coalition plan to sell their new energy policy to young voters concerned about climate action, Canavan insisted this was not the number one priority for young Australians.

Speaking to Sky News, Canavan said, “We’ll come to emissions, but, but again, when I speak to young people right around this country right now, their biggest fear is they’re not going to have the same opportunities that their parents have.

“They’re not going to be able to afford their own home and delay having children because because we have gone back to having living standards at 2011 levels, and that impacts young people more than anyone else.”

The Coalition announced its dumping of net zero carbon emissions target yesterday following a joint party room meeting.