It was a day of extreme weather across multiple cities in Australia after ferocious winds lashed most of Victoria and the coast of South Australia, while sweltering temperatures threatened to break records in Sydney.

Cyclonic winds reaching up to 110km/h were recorded in parts of Victoria, bringing down hundreds of trees, triggering a mass power outage and even cancelling legacy race event the Geelong Cup.

The windy chaos only became worse in the afternoon as a severe weather warning by the Bureau of Meterology (BoM) urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel.

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READ MORE: City braced for its hottest October day on record

A low pressure system which developed off the southern coast of SA is now moving east and brought with it damaging wind gusts this afternoon.

The windy conditions are expected to ease by tomorrow morning, the BoM said.

Mass power outages as trees fall in Melbourne

Power outages have surged across the city as the wild winds blow a hefty afternoon gale.

Over 17,000 people are without power across Melbourne as of 5pm.

Victoria's State Emergency Service (SES) earlier warned that gale-force winds could down power poles and trigger mass outages.

The SES said it has fielded over 500 calls for assistance across the state today.

There have been 401 trees which have fallen and 109 reports of damage in the city.

The busiest area for incidents has been north-west Melbourne, the SES said.

The winds also caused some trouble on the roads in Melbourne.

An unlucky truck driver on Western Ring Road in Derrimut in the city's west had a traffic light pole topple onto his vehicle earlier today, causing traffic mayhem in the area.

Geelong Cup cancelled

Officials decided to postpone the Geelong Cup after wild winds caused punters to evacuate.

Following advice from emergency services, the remainder of today's meeting was cancelled.

The strong winds made it dangerous for racegoers on the field to be around the marquees.

According to the BoM, wind gusts reached around 80km/h about 3pm in Geelong.

The rest of the Geelong Cup event could take place tomorrow after the weather conditions ease.

Conditions may ease tomorrow

The wild weather is set to ease tomorrow, with only moderate winds forecast for south-east Victoria.

A frontal system connected to a deep low in the Bass Strait will continue tracking east over NSW into the Tasman Sea, the BoM said.

This will result in a "vigorous westerly flow" across the south-east into this evening and early tomorrow morning.

LIVE UPDATES: Major weather events facing millions; Record breaking heat expected in NSW

Destructive weather also batters SA

Similar wet and windy conditions also faced residents in South Australia today.

The BoM issued severe weather warnings for damaging and locally destructive winds, marine wind warnings, and a sheep graziers warning across the state.

The most destructive winds were expected in the Mount Lofty Ranges, Kangaroo Island, Upper South East, Lower South East and parts of the Mid North and Murraylands districts.

There was also a risk of locally destructive gusts along the coast south-east of Robe.

Adelaide was forecast to be drenched with around 30mm of rain today.

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https://x.com/BOM_SA/status/1980720552626020618

Bushfire warning in NSW as millions face catastrophic heat

Multiple fire bans are in place in NSW, including for Sydney, as the state braces for more soaring temperatures after its hottest October day on record.

The Bureau of Meteorology has cancelled a heatwave warning for NSW but Sydney reached a top of 39 degrees today.

And fire bans have been imposed on the greater metro region, as well as other areas including the Illawarra and Hunter.

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‘On Monday, we will see the potential for some very strong winds and heavy rain.’

Sydney residents have sweated through the hottest October day on record, with the temperature surging in minutes this afternoon after a mild morning.

Temperatures reached 39.5 degrees at Penrith in the city's west and 39.8 degrees at Bankstown in the city's south-west, which was the hottest day on record for both communities.

Firefighters have been put on alert as the combination of strong winds and soaring heat pose severe fire dangers to parts of NSW.

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A total fire ban is in place for parts of the state including the Illawarra, Shoalhaven, Upper Central West Plains, Greater Hunter and the Greater Sydney regions.

However several teenage boys did not heed the warning from authorities.

This morning a group lit a fire in bushland next to Lake Parramatta where people were swimming.

The teenagers were seen throwing pieces of paper into the flames however the fire did not spread.

The teenage boys were spoken to by police but they were not fined.

NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Trent Curtin said high temperatures combined with strong winds could lead to high fire danger in many parts of the state, while others could be at risk of extreme fire danger conditions.

"Homes in and around grassed areas, and bush areas of NSW, need to make sure they're prepared, they understand the conditions today and they take steps to protect themselves."

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Fire bans have been imposed on the greater metro region, as well as other areas including the Illawarra and Hunter.

NSW Ambulance Chief Superintendent Steve Vaughan said residents should take care, particularly more vulnerable members of the community, during the heatwave.

"Those who are over 65, pregnant women, babies, young children and those with pre-existing medical conditions," Vaughan said.

"They should be aware of the forecasted temperatures and take appropriate action to stay safe."

A thunderstorm is expected to roll over Sydney this evening, bringing some reprieve to residents with cooler temperatures.

Records tumble in NSW and Queensland

Both NSW and Queensland broke their October temperature record by close to a degree yesterday as temperatures soared well beyond 40 degrees Celsius.

Birdsville in the deep Queensland outback near the border with South Australia hit 46.1 degrees, an entire degree more than the previous record set in 1995.

It's also the eighth-hottest October temperature ever recorded in Australia, and the only figure in the top 10 from outside of Western Australia.

In NSW, Bourke hit 44.8 degrees, almost a full degree more than the 1919 mark of 43.9 set in the same place.

Weatherzone said there were several local monthly heat records across the eastern states, including Queensland's Thargomindah hitting 45.1, obliterating its previous October maximum by a full two degrees, and Tibooburra in NSW climbing to 42.8 degrees, 0.2 degrees hotter than the previous mark.

Records aren't officially declared until 9am the following day but there was no chance of the daily maximums being exceeded overnight. 

"Take action now to protect your life and property," the Rural Fire Service warned yesterday.

"These are dangerous fire conditions. Check your bushfire plan and ensure that your property is fire-ready.

"If a fire starts, take immediate action. If you and your property are not prepared to the highest level, go to a safer location well before the fire impacts."

Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Angus Hines said there was a "bubble" of heat through the eastern interior of the country, covering western Queensland, north-western NSW and northern South Australia.

"The interior is seeing these incredibly hot temperatures, including a top of 31 degrees as the minimum for Thargominhad in the far south-west of Queensland," he said yesterday afternoon.

"Then after a warm morning, there's going to be a warm day."

Local temperature records had already tumbled on Monday across South Australia, NSW and Queensland. 

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Opposition leader Sussan Ley has backtracked on her call for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to sack Kevin Rudd as Ambassador to the United States after his tense exchange with Donald Trump.

Rudd was involved in an awkward moment during Albanese's landmark meeting with Trump at the White House yesterday, where Trump told the former prime minister, "I don't like you, and I probably never will," in response to a question about criticism from years ago.

Despite the incident being laughed off by Albanese, and reports that Rudd had offered an off-camera apology to Trump – which was accepted – Ley still called for the prime minister to take action.

Ley said yesterday Albanese had to, "back him or sack him", calling Rudd's appointment a "captain's pick".

However, in a press conference in Sydney today, Ley appeared to distance herself from her previous stance.

"Kevin Rudd is the prime minister's choice for ambassador, it's a big job," Ley said.

Ley's backtrack follows comments from Liberal senator Jane Hume, who called Ley's remarks towards Rudd "churlish" in an interview on Sky News.

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Ley added: "I welcome all the comments from my talented backbench and I know, like me, that they are focused on all the bread and butter issues that matter to us.

"What was clear yesterday was that the prime minister has a lot of catching up to do with respect to the relationship with the US and the next steps.

"I welcomed, yesterday, that important first moves and meetings have happened."

Albanese, who is now returning from his trip to Washington, signed an $8.5 billion critical minerals deal with the United States, as well as receiving assurances the Trump administration will back the AUKUS pact.

He confirmed there were no hard feelings between the ambassador and the president, and praised Rudd's work in the role during a difficult time.

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"(Trump) said, 'he looks like a good guy, is he a nice guy?', I said 'he is a nice guy' … and he said, 'oh well, all is forgiven'," Albanese said.

"Ambassadors don't meet leaders. I don't meet ambassadors and neither does President Trump.

"But Kevin Rudd has met every single member of Congress, I think. And he is well-liked on the Hill and he gets things done."

Albanese also insisted Trump's rebuke was not to be taken too seriously.

"[It was] pretty light-hearted," Albanese added.

"It says something about how important we place our relationship with the US that we appointed a former prime minister (as ambassador)."

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The incident occurred near Mount Eden Rd about 1.40am on Saturday, August 2.

‘All the horrible phone calls that came to our house … it was all worth it.’

Very strong winds, high-intensity rain and thunderstorms are forecast.

MetService issues highest weather alerts it can for Wellington, Marlborough, Canterbury.

Brittany Higgins has abandoned appeals against her costly defamation battle loss to her former boss, ex-Liberal senator Linda Reynolds.

Reynolds sued Higgins over a series of social media posts the former defence minister believed damaged her reputation.

Western Australia's Supreme Court in August found the posts were defamatory and awarded damages of $315,000 plus $26,109 interest to Reynolds.

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Higgins was also ordered to pay 80 per cent of Reynolds' legal costs, which are estimated to be over $1 million.

The former political staffer in September, appealed Justice Paul Tottle's damages award and finding that she breached a 2021 deed of settlement between the pair with an Instagram post referring to her being a defamation victim.

She also challenged the costs order in another appeal.

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A court spokesperson confirmed discontinuance notices for both appeals were filed on Monday.

It comes about a week after Reynolds launched bankruptcy proceedings against Higgins to recoup the costs awarded in her defamation win.

Reynolds filed a creditor's petition in the Federal Court, claiming Higgins "failed to comply" with a bankruptcy notice issued to her several weeks earlier.

Higgins' husband David Sharaz has also been served with bankruptcy proceedings by Reynolds.

He was also found to have defamed the former politician and was ordered to pay $85,000 in damages plus interest and costs. 

Higgins previously apologised to Reynolds after the former defence minister emerged victorious from the duo's high-profile five-week defamation trial, which ended in September 2024.

Justice Tottle found Higgins' social media posts carried an array of imputations.

They included Reynolds engaged in a campaign of harassment against Higgins, mishandled her rape allegation and engaged in questionable conduct during Bruce Lehrmann's aborted criminal trial for rape.

The 360-page judgment made factual findings about the events involving Reynolds and Higgins, including her alleged 2019 rape and the events in the years after it.

Higgins made 26 false or misleading statements in media interviews after her alleged sexual assault, it said.

She alleges former co-worker Lehrmann raped her in the senator's ministerial suite.

A Federal Court judge overseeing a defamation case launched by Lehrmann against Network Ten found Higgins was, on the balance of probabilities, raped by her former co-worker in the office.

Lehrmann is appealing that finding.

He has always denied the rape allegation and his criminal trial was derailed by juror misconduct.

Support is available by calling 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service on 1800 211 028.

With temperatures soaring in parts of Australia today, plenty of people will be slathering on sunscreen – but what should you do if the bottle in your beach bag has been recalled?

More than 20 sunscreens have been pulled from shelves over SPF claim concerns, according to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

Here's a full list of the recalled sunscreens, what to do if you own one, and how to get a refund.

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Sunscreens that have been recalled in Australia

Ultra Violette's Lean Screen SPF 50+ sunscreen was one of the first to be pulled from shelves in August.

Since then, the following sunscreens have been recalled as they use the same base formulation:

• Aspect Sun Physical Sun Protection SPF50+
• Aspect Sun Tinted Physical SPF50+
• Aesthetics Rx Ultra Protection Sunscreen SPF50+
• People4Ocean SPF50+ Mineral Bioactive Shield Lightly Tinted Cream (10g and 45g)
• BEAUTI-FLTR Lustre Mineral SPF 50+ Illuminating Facial Sunscreen
• MCoBeauty SPF 50+ Mineral Mattifying Sunscreen
• Outside Beauty & Skincare SPF 50+ Mineral Primer
• Salus SPF 50+ Daily Facial Sunscreen

Additional sunscreens using the same base formulation have voluntarily cancelled their listing on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) and are under review by the TGA.

They include the following: 

• New Day Skin Good Vibes Sunscreen SPF50+
• New Day Skin Happy Days Sunscreen SPF50+
• Beauti-FLTR Lustre Mineral SPF50+
• GlindaWand The Fountain of Youth Environmental Defence Cream SPF50+

Some sunscreens have paused supply in Australia and are also under review by the TGA.

They include the following: 

• Found My Skin SPF 50+ Tinted Face/Body Cream
• Ethical Zinc Daily Wear Light Sunscreen
• Ethical Zinc Daily Wear Tinted Facial Sunscreen (Dark)
• Ethical Zinc Daily Wear Tinted Facial Sunscreen (Light)
• Endota Mineral Protect SPF50 Sunscreen
• We are Feel Good Inc Mineral Sunscreen SPF50+
• Naked Sundays Collagen Glow Mineral Sunscreen

Allganics Light Sunscreen SPF50+ has not been recalled, cancelled or paused but is under review by the TGA.

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Why are sunscreens being recalled in Australia?

Sunscreen products are being pulled from shelves due to concerns that their SPF may actually be lower than advertised.

That could increase the risk of sunburn when using a product and reduce the long-term effectiveness of preventing skin cancer.

Many of the recalled products use the same base formulation from manufacturer Wild Child Laboratories.

This is the same base used in Ultra Violette's Lean Screen SPF 50+ sunscreen, which reportedly returned an SPF rating of just 4 in Choice's independent testing.

The TGA also expressed concerns about UK-based testing company Princeton Consumer Research (PCR Corp).

A number of Australian sunscreen brands have used PCR Corp for SPF testing, including Ultra Violette.

The TGA is "considering whether to take regulatory action" with regard to SPF claim concerns.

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How does sunscreen testing work?

SPF, which stands for sun protection factor, is a measurement of how well a product protects your skin against ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.

The higher the rating, the better and more long-lasting the protection.

SPF is measured by testing a product on human skin and measuring how long it takes to burn.

The TGA is not responsible for testing sunscreen sold here in Australia; that responsibility falls to individual sunscreen brands.

They send their products to accredited laboratories, many of which are overseas, for testing.

Testing involves applying the product to a person's skin and exposing them to a solar simulator that imitates sunlight.

The lab measures how long it takes the skin to react where the product has been applied and where it has not, then compares the data.

Per the international standard for sunscreen testing, a product must be tested on at least 10 volunteers to calculate a product's SPF accurately.

The SPF is the mean (average) of the SPF from each valid test.

Results can vary between different labs, often due to human error.

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What to do if you have a recalled sunscreen

If you already own one of the sunscreens that have been recalled, you may be entitled to a refund.

The TGA advises consumers to return the product to the place you purchased it, then contact the sponsor (the brand behind the sunscreen) for a refund.

A full list of recalled sunscreens and sponsor contact details can be found on the TGA website here.

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