News live: Fijian deputy PM says many hotel guests drank the pina coladas suspected to have poisoned four Australian tourists

‘Many’ pina colada cocktails served on night tourists fell sick: Fijian deputy PM

Viliame Gavoka described pina colada cocktails as a “pretty harmless drink” and said “many” were served that evening across five bars at the resort – but those who have fallen ill were all at the one bar.

In the same bar, there were many pina coladas served that evening. And with this resort, there are five bars altogether … so in the other four bars, pina colada was also served. No ill effects. So we really want to get down to the toxicology and really get to understand what really happened.

Key events

Bushfire threat downgraded in West Wimmera

Earlier we reported a Watch and Act alert had been issued due to a bushfire at Casterton-Edenhope Road in the West Wimmera region of Victoria.

The Country Fire Authority says the threat has been reduced, lowering the bushfire to advice level – meaning there is no immediate danger, and to stay up to date in case the situation changes.

Gavoka says four of the six will be released from hospital today

Viliame Gavoka said the resort where this occurred is “very highly rated” with high standards.

We don’t think anything untoward happened, and that the industry itself is a very caring one. We have no fear that anyone would be doing anything untoward.

Asked if this was methanol poisoning, the deputy PM said “we would like to wait for the results of the tests”.

That would be really in the extreme … We don’t believe it’s possible in Fiji.

He said that of the six people who are ill, four will be released from hospital today – but due to privacy concerns he wouldn’t disclose the nationalities.

‘Many’ pina colada cocktails served on night tourists fell sick: Fijian deputy PM

In the same bar, there were many pina coladas served that evening. And with this resort, there are five bars altogether … so in the other four bars, pina colada was also served. No ill effects. So we really want to get down to the toxicology and really get to understand what really happened.

Gavoka says ‘Everyone is in a state of disbelief’

Taking questions, Viliame Gavoka was asked whether there is any possibility this was a deliberate action. He said the bar was full that evening, and the bartender has 16 years’ experience and is “someone who is known for their caring attitude”.

Pina colada is the drink here. A lot of people drank pina colada but it only affected these six or seven people. I don’t think that is the case. I think there’s something else we need to identify.

He said those affected were from different travelling parties. Toxicology results could take three or four days, he said.

We’re really keen to see the result of that. Everyone is in a state of, you know, disbelief this has happened.

Deputy Fijian prime minister providing update on suspected alcohol poisoning cases

The deputy prime minister of Fiji, Viliame Gavoka, is speaking to reporters in Suva amid news Australians were in hospital amid suspected alcohol poisoning.

He said this was a “very isolated incident” and authorities are waiting on the results of ongoing investigations and lab tests.

The resort management has assured us that they have not engaged in practices such as substituting ingredients or altering the quality of drinks served to guests. The incident occurred at only one bar and six tourists, ranging in the age from young to older, fell ill. Management is concerned, as we are, and are fully cooperating with the minister of health and other authorities to identify what happened and to ensure the safety of all guests.

He said Fiji has close to a million visitors annually and “this is the only reported case of its kind that we have experienced in memory.”

Updated hottest temperatures so far today, in each state and territory

Earlier we brought you the hottest temperatures recorded so far in each state and territory today.

Some even higher temperatures have now been recorded, according to the Bureau of Meteorology, including:

Queensland: Urandangi – 45.3C at 1.06pm
NSW and ACT: Smithville – 45.1C at 1.12pm
South Australia: Renmark Airport – 45.1C at 12.47pm
Northern Territory: Jervois – 45C at 12.36pm
Western Australia: Mardie – 41.3C at 11.07am
Tasmania: Low Rocky Point – 36C at 2.10pm

Victoria still has the hottest temperature recorded so far today – 45.4C at Walpeup, at 1pm.

Firefighters battle a grassfire at Westgate Park in Melbourne

Firefighters in Victoria have been responding to a grassfire at Westgate Park, directly under the West Gate bridge.

The fire is not yet under control, and is burning at advice level – meaning there is no immediate danger, and to stay up to date in case the situation changes.

Here is a photo from the scene, from AAP just earlier:

Firefighters battle a grassfire at Westgate Park in Melbourne. Photograph: Diego Fedele/AAP

Total fire ban for Mallee and Wimmera districts tomorrow

Amid the extreme heat, a total fire ban has been declared for the Mallee and Wimmera districts in Victoria tomorrow.

No fires can be lit, or be allowed to remain alight, in the open air from 12.01am to 11.59pm, the Country Fire Authority said.

This follows a total fire ban for two-thirds of the state today.

Walpeup, in the Mallee region, has recorded the hottest temperature in Victoria so far today, reaching 45.4C at 1pm.

Simon Holmes à Court, director of The Superpower Institute and convener of Climate 200, has penned an opinion article looking at the Coalition’s nuclear energy plan – you can have a read of this below:

Australian shares on track for fifth day of losses

The local share market is on track for a fifth day of losses in its longest stretch since mid-April, AAP reports, with the mining sector the biggest drag.

At lunchtime, the benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was down 21.8 points, or 0.26%, to 8,274.2, while the broader All Ordinaries was down 28.3 points, or 0.33%, to 8,522.0.

Barring an afternoon turnaround, the ASX’s losing stretch will equal a similar five-day streak from April 11-17. Five of the ASX’s 11 sectors were lower at midday and four were higher, with the bourse’s two consumer sectors both basically flat.

Materials/mining was the biggest mover, dropping 1.2% as the price of iron ore fell. BHP and Rio Tinto were both down 1.4%, while Fortescue had fallen 2.3%. Goldminers were also down as the precious metal traded around US$2,652 an ounce, with Newmont falling 3.3% and Evolution down 1.6%.

The big four banks were mostly higher, with ANZ and NAB both up 0.2% and Westpac advancing 0.4%. CBA was the outlier, basically flat at $158.15. Insurance companies were faring better, with IAG and Suncorp both up 1.3%.

The Australian dollar was up to 63.71 US cents, from 63.58 US cents at Friday’s ASX close.

Watch and act alert issued for bushfire in West Wimmera

A watch and act alert has been issued for a bushfire in the West Wimmera region of Victoria.

The bushfire is at Casterton-Edenhope Road and is not yet under control, the Country Fire Authority said, travelling in a south-east direction with spot fires and embers starting fires up to 500m ahead of the main blaze.

A wind change was expected around 1pm, causing the fire to change directions towards Connewirricoo.

Conditions can become very dangerous and unpredictable.

Communities in Chetwynd, Kadnook and Powers Creek are told that leaving now is the safest option:

Don’t wait, leaving now is the safest option – conditions may change and get worse very quickly. Emergency services may not be able to help you if you decide to stay.

Hottest places so far today in each state and territory

As we’ve already flagged, much of the country is experiencing heatwave conditions today, with some places expected to reach their hottest December days on record.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, these are the hottest temperatures recorded so far today in each state and territory:

Victoria: Walpeup – 45.4C at 12.31pm
Queensland: Birdsville – 44.6C at 11.45am
South Australia: Renmark Airport – 44.3C at 12pm
NSW and ACT: Smithville – 44.2C at 12.50pm
Northern Territory: Jervois – 44.1C at 11.02am
Western Australia: Roebourne Airport – 40C at 9.46am
Tasmania: Low Rocky Point – 35C at 12.45pm

Petra Stock

Pleasant weather for carolling in Sydney on Saturday

The Christmas Day forecast is still a couple of days away, but carollers in Sydney and Melbourne are getting their first look at predicted conditions for the annual outdoor singalong.

Jonathan How, senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology, said the forecast for Sydney’s Carols in the Domain on Saturday is mostly sunny, with a maximum of 27C.

It will be quite a pleasant evening. We’ll have some cooler winds coming through in the evening. Definitely a warm day, but bring a jacket if you are going to the Domain.

Melbourne’s Christmas Eve carols are still just outside the Bureau’s weekly forecast range, How said, but the latest guidance indicated it could be dry and mild. As Melburnians know, the forecast could change quite dramatically, he said, so “watch this space”.

It’s too early to know the Christmas Day forecast until at least 18 December, even though some media outlets began offering forecasts three weeks out. You can read more on this below:

NSW police investigating fire in Sydney’s south-west

New South Wales police say they are investigating the cause of the fire that engulfed a pallet yard in south-western Sydney early this morning. In a statement police have said:

Officers attached to Campbelltown City Police Area Command and firefighters were called to the factory in Huntsmore Road about 12.30am … after fire was seen in pallets stacked inside a factory.

Fire and Rescue NSW extinguished the blaze, with damage contained to pallets and a truck. No buildings were damaged.

Police say they have set up a crime scene which they will examine later today. They have asked anyone with information about the fire to contact Crime Stoppers.

Firetrucks partially melted due to intense heat while responding to Sydney blaze overnight

A dozen firetrucks responded to a large fire at a pallet yard in Sydney’s south-west, which caused some of the trucks to partially melt due to the extreme heat.

Fire and Rescue NSW said more than 50 firefighters responded to the blaze at Minto just after 12.30 this morning. The yard, around 20m by 50m in size, contained stacked pallets that were engulfed by fire with two adjacent factories were under threat.

The intense radiant heat posed “significant challenges”, FRNSW said, with the sides of trucks – parked 20 metres away – partially melted and spot fires ignited in nearby stacks of wood.

It took around two hours to get the fire under control. The site has been handed over to NSW police for further investigation into the cause of the fire.