News live: Penny Wong has ‘grave concerns’ for missing Australians in Nepal; capital city house prices fall below $1m

Aid on way to Nepal amid grave concerns for missing Australians, Wong saysJosh TaylorAn RAAF flight containing hygiene kits, shelter, and solar lights will leave for Nepal this morning, as the foreign minister and acting prime minister, Penny Wong, says grave concerns are held over the 43 missing Australians after the Nepal-Tibet flash flood.More than 4,400 people are still missing on both sides of the border, with more than 930 people confirmed dead. Wong told ABC’s 7.30 program last night that the federal government is urgently seeking to find the whereabouts of the 43 missing Australians.She said the Australian government has provided $8m in aid so far, and noted that Australian citizens had donated $2m to a public appeal – something that the federal government is matching.More aid will leave today, she said: double quotation markWe are deploying an RAAF aircraft to deliver these kits which are designed to support people in circumstances of natural disasters that destroy infrastructure and their shelter. Whether it’s shelter kits, lights, hygiene kits, these are the things needed for those people who are facing the devastation of their homes and their communities. On the 43 missing Australians, Wong said Australia has been engaging with the Nepali and Chinese governments but the recovery and search effort is “very difficult”.Nine of the 43 missing were on the Chinese side of the border at the time of the floods, but no more information was available on the 43 missing, she said. double quotation markI first want to again express what I’ve been expressing to the families and friends of the 43 Australians who are not accounted for, that this is such a difficult time, it’s an incredibly distressing, traumatic time. I think all Australians are with you. And certainly we are with you. We are working to do whatever we can and to provide any information we obtain. Key events7m agoMost capital city home prices fall below $1m in August11m agoAid on way to Nepal amid grave concerns for missing Australians, Wong says12m agoWelcomeMost capital city home prices fall below $1m in AugustLuca IttimaniThe typical capital city home price has slipped back below $1m as buyers fail to show up in a “buyers’ market”, property data firm Cotality has reported. The median price in the capitals surpassed $1m for the first time back in October but has steadily fallen this year with demand suppressed by rising interest rates and weak confidence in the economy. By the end of August, it fell to $990,394, Cotality found.The typical home price in Perth passed $1m in March, but slipped to $999,987 by the end of August.Sydney and Brisbane are back to being the only capitals with median prices above $1m. Sydney’s is at $1.22m, $93,000 below its peak earlier this year, while Brisbane is at $1.08m, down $30,000 from its peak.Cotality’s research director, Tim Lawless, said nearly every capital city suburb had now seen prices fall, yet far fewer homes were being sold compared with this time last year, meaning listings on the market were building up. He said: double quotation markLonger selling times, larger vendor discounting and persistently low auction clearance rates all point to a buyer’s market, yet buyers are lacking the confidence to transact at the moment. Adeshola OreMembers of Melbourne’s Nepali and Tibetan communities gathered in the city’s Federation Square last night to remember the victims of the Nepal-Tibet flood.More than 40 Australians are among thousands of people who remain missing after the natural disaster last week. The overall death toll is at least 810 people.At the vigil, volunteers unfurled a sign on the ground – encircled by candlelights – that read “Vic united for Nepal”.The event, organised by the Non-Resident Nepali Association’s Victorian branch, was attended by the Victorian premier, Ben Carroll, and Labor and opposition MPs.Speaking to the crowd of about 400 people, Carroll said: double quotation markI know so many of your hearts are breaking right now. Look around you, all of Victoria stands behind you and every candle in Federation Square is lit up for you. You are not alone. Carroll said the Victoria government had pledged to donate $100,000 to Australia’s immediate efforts in Nepal.Josh Taylor‘A lot of anger…but very few real solutions’, Wong says of HansonPenny Wong has said Labor accepts there’s a message from WA Labor’s loss to One Nation in the Secret Harbour byelection, but says One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has “very few real solutions”.Wong told ABC’s 7.30 program the loss was “very disappointing”, but that Labor knows many Australians “believe the status quo is not delivering for them”.She pointed to policies such a investment in Medicare, childcare, and schools, as well as tax cuts and tax changes as the federal government’s response. Wong accepted that the public had not taken the changes on board in their vote in WA, but said Hanson was not offering solutions.She said: double quotation markI accept there’s a message sent in this byelection for us. I accept that. And I think we understand that. We understand the importance of delivering real change and as someone who sits in the Senate with Pauline Hanson, what I would say to you is that she is … there’s a lot of anger and a lot of complaints, but really very few solutions. You can read political editor Tom McIlroy’s analysis on the byelection here:Aid on way to Nepal amid grave concerns for missing Australians, Wong saysJosh TaylorAn RAAF flight containing hygiene kits, shelter, and solar lights will leave for Nepal this morning, as the foreign minister and acting prime minister, Penny Wong, says grave concerns are held over the 43 missing Australians after the Nepal-Tibet flash flood.More than 4,400 people are still missing on both sides of the border, with more than 930 people confirmed dead. Wong told ABC’s 7.30 program last night that the federal government is urgently seeking to find the whereabouts of the 43 missing Australians.She said the Australian government has provided $8m in aid so far, and noted that Australian citizens had donated $2m to a public appeal – something that the federal government is matching.More aid will leave today, she said: double quotation markWe are deploying an RAAF aircraft to deliver these kits which are designed to support people in circumstances of natural disasters that destroy infrastructure and their shelter. Whether it’s shelter kits, lights, hygiene kits, these are the things needed for those people who are facing the devastation of their homes and their communities. On the 43 missing Australians, Wong said Australia has been engaging with the Nepali and Chinese governments but the recovery and search effort is “very difficult”.Nine of the 43 missing were on the Chinese side of the border at the time of the floods, but no more information was available on the 43 missing, she said. double quotation markI first want to again express what I’ve been expressing to the families and friends of the 43 Australians who are not accounted for, that this is such a difficult time, it’s an incredibly distressing, traumatic time. I think all Australians are with you. And certainly we are with you. We are working to do whatever we can and to provide any information we obtain. WelcomeGood morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it will be Nick Visser with the main action.