Australia news live: Randa Abdel-Fattah to appear at Sydney writers’ festival; record renewable capacity added to grid

A total of 2.1GW of wind and solar power came on to the grid in the three months to December. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastShadow defence minister says allowing Australians in Syria to return ‘dose pose a risk’James Paterson, the shadow defence minister, said the government has a duty to protect Australians at home amid discussion about 34 women and children stuck in Syria who are the wives and children of dead of jailed Islamic State fighters.The truth is, allowing people to return to Australia who left our country to join a reprehensible, violent terrorist organisation like ISIS does pose a risk to Australians. Continue reading...