Hi there. It's Thursday, October 27 and you're reading The Loop, a quick wrap-up of today's news.
Let's start here
Toyota has announced it will temporarily replace one of two electronic "smart" keys with a mechanical one as it races to get cars to Japanese customers.
In a statement, the company said that it apologised for the inconvenience.
"As the shortage of semiconductors continues, this is a provisional measure aimed at delivering cars to customers as quickly as possible," the statement said.
"As for the second smart key, we plan to hand it over as soon as it is ready."
A global chip shortage has caused a severe delay in car production and shipments, with many buyers having to wait years to get theirs delivered. Toyota has also been impacted by natural disasters and other disruptions.
What else is going on
- A federal government decision to slash billions of dollars from public hospitals over the next four years has enraged doctors, who say they're "stunned" the government would cut money on the back of rising inflation, a burnt-out workforce and a huge backlog of elective surgeries. Health Minister Mark Butler has defended the decision, arguing it is based on forecast demand from the states.
- The jury in the rape trial of Bruce Lehrmann has been discharged without a verdict after a juror accessed information that was not presented as evidence in court. Mr Lehrmann was accused of raping his then-colleague Brittany Higgins in Parliament House after a night out drinking in March 2019. He pleaded not guilty and said no sexual activity occurred between the pair. You can read the full story here, and there are more details about the jury being discharged here.
- A five-month-old bar-tailed godwit has smashed the record for long-distance migration after a non-stop, 11-day flight from Alaska to Tasmania. The 13,560-kilometre journey beat the previous record — also held by a godwit — by around 500 kilometres. Birdlife Tasmania convenor Eric Woehler says godwits will die if they land on water because they don't have webbed feet and can't take off again, so the stakes to make it safely to land were high.
What Australia has been searching for online
- Donnell Wallam. After copping a wave of criticism over the past couple of weeks for her decision to opt out of wearing a Hancock Prospecting logo on her national playing dress, the 28-year-old Noongar woman scored the match-winning goal for Australia in their 55-54 win over the England Roses and she was on debut, no less.
- Jerry Lee Lewis. TMZ reported overnight that the 87-year-old had died — fortunately, he's not in fact dead. He's been battling illness lately, but dead he is not. A representative for the musician told Variety that TMZ had "reported erroneously of a bullsh*t anonymous tip". TMZ said in an updated article that it "regrets the error".
You're up to date
Thanks for reading.
ABC/wires
