The editors of Australia's most popular satirical news site, The Betoota Advocate, say they are "back to earning peanuts" after their page momentarily became one of today's casualties in Facebook's shock ban on Australian news.

When Facebook began to block all Australian news sites, it also blocked a number of state health pages, the Bureau of Meteorology, domestic violence services, and satirical news pages like Betoota and The Chaser.

After the Betoota Advocate Facebook page was blocked to its audience of some 800,000 people, editors Clancy Overell and Errol Parker told nine.com.au they found themselves in a tricky situation.

READ MORE: How to follow 9News on digital and social media platforms

What was your reaction to the shut down?

"We got turned off and then turned back on again so it did get scary there for a moment," Mr Overell told nine.com.au.

"We thought we'd really have to lean our other social channels, but thankfully, by the grace of God, Facebook decided to let us get through the gates."

Despite the shock announcement, the editors of the Betoota Advocate had no trouble maintaining a sense of humour.

https://twitter.com/BetootaAdvocate/status/1362175409945604096

"When we did get turned back on, we thought that the late Kerry Packer was right in saying that social media and the internet is indeed just a passing fad," Mr Parker said.

"We were looking forward to going back to the old days of journalism, big days, company card, big lunches, long lunch breaks … But by a twist of cruel fate we've gone back to bloody writing online earning peanuts."

Did today's shutdown blur the lines of what is considered news?

"When the Bureau of Meterology got shut down that definitely blurs some lines about what is and isn't news," Mr Overell said.

"I thought when the BoM had their Facebook page closed down it was because of all the fake weather reports they've been doing.

READ MORE: Emergency Facebook pages returning after 'inadvertent' bans

https://twitter.com/BetootaAdvocate/status/1362279752103391233

"I hopped off my jet plane here in Sydney and they'd said no rain and it's bloody pissing down."

"Not to mention all this alarmist climate change nonsense, maybe the Bureau deserves to be closed down."

How important is social media in public interest journalism?

Mr Overell said while social media is an important part of their platform, they are confident news sites don't rely solely on Facebook to share their news.

"Social media does help because for whatever weird thing a journalist pulls out, it could be a kitten water skiing, social media is where you will find people who are interested in that. You're not going to get them through the traditional channels."

"As for the election results and the footy results, we have tried and true media (like) nightly news and papers, which people go to."

Defence Minister Linda Reynolds has broken down in the Senate and was unable to continue as questions continue to swirl over the Federal Government's response to Brittany Higgins' alleged rape.

Ms Higgins, a former Liberal staffer, alleged she was raped by a male staffer in Ms Reynolds' ministerial office in the early hours of March 23, 2019.

Ms Reynolds was Defence Industry Minister at the time of the alleged sexual assault.

During Question Time in the Senate today, the Western Australian Senator became emotional as she said she was deeply sorry Ms Higgins didn't feel supported.

At one point she became so overcome with emotion she was unable to respond to questions unrelated to the alleged incident.

"If I… could ask, Mr President," she said before taking a moment.

"If I could have indulgence to answer this on Monday? I think I'd be in a better position to answer this one Monday.

"If… can you just give me a minute. Or can I take it on notice?"

It was revealed yesterday a steam-cleaning of Ms Reynolds' office was ordered by the Department of Finance in the hours after Ms Higgins' alleged rape.

The incident, first reported by news.com.au, has been confirmed by 9News but conflicting statements have been given by two departments.

Today, the Australian Federal Police released a statement confirming a senior member of the AFP met with Ms Reynolds and her chief-of-staff on 4 April 2019 in relation to Ms Higgins' allegations.

"The AFP has engaged with the Department of Parliamentary Services and Presiding Officers a number of times," the statement said.

"The matter is an open investigation and further commentary could be prejudicial. The AFP will not be making further comment on this matter."

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Scott Morrison today used Question Time to respond to comments made by Ms Higgins yesterday in which she accused him of victim blaming.

"I'm very sorry she feels that way Mr Speaker. She must be under tremendous stress," Mr Morrison said.

"She has shown great bravery. I have been listening to what she has been saying and Mr Speaker, I am seeking to put in place arrangements whether it is the support of staff who are here in this building here and now, and will be feeling, I think, increasingly fragile or vulnerable because of the nature of these events that have arisen this week."

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Former Channel Seven host Andrew O'Keefe is being treated at Prince of Wales Hospital after being charged with assaulting his partner, a court heard today.

The 49-year-old was charged with common assault after NSW Police were called to a unit at Randwick last month during an incident involving his then-partner Orlee Lavee.

O'Keefe will try to have the matter dealt with under mental health legislation.

https://twitter.com/AirlieWalsh/status/1362175344032145408

His lawyer indicated O'Keefe would enter a guilty plea to the charges if an application under section 32 of the Mental Health Act is unsuccessful.

O'Keefe did not appear at the last court mention a fortnight ago however his former lawyer, Claudette Chua, said O'Keefe was "not the aggressor" in the incident.

"I have had an opportunity to review the facts of matter and I will say this, Mr O'Keefe was certainly not the aggressor in this situation and Dr Lavee will have a lot to answer for," Ms Chua said at the time.

A third inquest into the unsolved murder of New South Wales teenager Bronwynne Richardson has heard her former boyfriend, a key suspect, is no longer thought to be involved.

Bronwynne, 17, was abducted, sexually assaulted and murdered in Albury in October 1973.

New evidence at the inquest suggests Bronwynne's ex-boyfriend Geoffrey Brown is not the killer as previously suspected.

READ MORE: Key suspect in decades-old cold case dead

Another man, Ross Eames, is also not believed to have been involved.

The inquest heard new evidence suggests Bronwynne's assault lasted longer than initially thought, which placed Mr Brown at a Burrumbuttock hotel 30km from Albury at the time.

Detective Sergeant Steve Morgan told the inquest there was new evidence to show that Bronwynne's cousin Colin Newey and Max Martin were in the area at the time of her abduction and murder.

A third man, Kevin Newman, is also thought to be involved, however all three men have died.

READ MORE: Sydney mum 'butchered like she was nothing' by daughter

Detective Sergeant Morgan told the inquest he believed Mr Newey made two anonymous phone calls to police which were designed to and succeeded in diverting attention away from him.

Mr Newey was charged with the abduction, rape and murder of Bronwynne, but the case collapsed due to insufficient evidence.

Bronwynne's brother Gary, who worked with Mr Newey, today gave evidence for the first time in relation to his sister's death.

When asked whether he thought Mr Newey was involved in Bronwynne's death, he replied: "Yes, I believe he was and I believe Max Martin was the instigator."

One person has died in a crash between a truck and a car in Canterbury.The collision happened about 6pm at the intersection of Main Rakaia and Northbank Rds in Southbridge in the Selwyn District on Thursday. Another person…

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has labelled Facebook's decision to ban Australian news from the platform as "arrogant" and "disappointing".

Ironically posting on Facebook, Mr Morrison said the social media giant had sought to "unfriend Australia", and essential information and health services were blocked.

He said he was in "regular contact" with leaders of other nations, who were interested in the tense to-and-fro between the government and Facebook.

READ MORE: Emergency Facebook pages returning after 'inadvertent' bans

https://www.facebook.com/scottmorrison4cook/posts/3992877800756593

Despite the ban, Mr Morrison said he intends to continue legislating the government's proposed news media bargaining code.

"We will not be intimidated by BigTech seeking to pressure our Parliament as it votes on our important News Media Bargaining Code," Mr Morrison wrote.

"Just as we weren't intimidated when Amazon threatened to leave the country and when Australia drew other nations together to combat the publishing of terrorist content on social media platforms."

READ MORE: How to follow 9News on digital and social media platforms

The PM said technology companies like Facebook and Google "may be changing the world, but that doesn't mean they run it".

"These actions will only confirm the concerns that an increasing number of countries are expressing about the behaviour of BigTech companies who think they are bigger than governments and that the rules should not apply to them," Mr Morrison said.

Facebook turned off viewing or sharing Australian news this morning in response to the code going before parliament.

Indefinitely, Australian users cannot share links or view content produced by Australian news publishers.

READ MORE: Worldwide backlash against Facebook's ban on Australian news

Many peripheral pages – such as emergency services and charities – were caught up in the ban.

The majority of their pages have been restored.

A full explainer of the ban and what it means for you can be found here.

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