LIVE - Updated at 21:42
Follow live.
Triple America's Cup skipper and dual Australian Olympian Sir James Hardy has died in Adelaide aged 90, AAP reports.
The yachtsman, vintner and community leader died peacefully yesterday.
A member of the America's Cup Hall of Fame, Hardy helped set the tone for Australia's momentous and nation-building victory in the famous race.
He skippered Australia's America Cup challenges in 1970, 1974 and 1980 and was a key adviser for the Australia II crew, led by John Bertrand, that in 1983 ended the 132-year US dominance of the race. In a 2021 interview he said:
Basically I was back-up skipper for Bertrand, and he did pinch a nerve in his neck and he was off the boat. I believe it was nine or 10 races.
Known as "Gentleman Jim", Hardy was made an OBE in 1975 and knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1981 for services to yachting and the community.
Australian Sailing president Alistair Murray said:
There will never be another Sir James. His contribution to the sport cannot be overstated. He was beloved by everyone he met and could not have given more of himself to driving the success of sailing in Australia. Personally, he was my hero, and I was proud to call him my friend. On behalf of Australian Sailing, I would like to share our sadness at the news and pass our condolences to his family and the many sailing friends he made along the way.
There will never be another Sir James. His contribution to the sport cannot be overstated. He was beloved by everyone he met and could not have given more of himself to driving the success of sailing in Australia.
Personally, he was my hero, and I was proud to call him my friend. On behalf of Australian Sailing, I would like to share our sadness at the news and pass our condolences to his family and the many sailing friends he made along the way.
Hardy competed in consecutive Olympic Games, Tokyo in 1964 and Mexico City in 1968.
Australian Olympic Committee president Ian Chesterman said Hardy was a giant of his sport:
James Hardy's name is inextricably bound with the sport he loved over so many decades. He ignited Australia's obsession with claiming the America's Cup trophy, eventually achieved in 1983, with Sir James advising winning skipper John Bertrand.
He is survived by his wife Joan, brother David, sister Pamela, and sons David and Richard.
A private funeral will be held in Adelaide, with a memorial service to follow at a later date.
Good morning and welcome to our rolling news coverage. I'm Martin Farrer, here to get you up to speed on the main stories while my colleague Natasha May fires up the Mac.
A second female politician has accused Liberal senator David Van of sexual harassment. This follows allegations by Lidia Thorpe on Wednesday, which he strenuously denied. He's been dumped from the party room by leader Peter Dutton, who said the parliamentary workplace support services would now investigate the claims. We'll have the latest as it happens.
A cracked windscreen, oil leaks and seatbelts that didn't work were among the defects found by police when they raided two depots of the bus company Linq Busline at the centre of the Hunter Valley crash tragedy last night.
And the latest data shows Australia's population grew 1.9% last year, the fastest for 13 years, thanks to returning foreign students and migrant workers after Covid. The population at 31 December 2022 was 26.3 million people, the ABS said. There were 619,600 overseas migration arrivals and 232,600 departures, resulting in Australia's population growing by 387,000 people from overseas migration. It means a potential boost for growth but, with further rate hikes a possibility, we look at whether recession is likely or not.
And in news out overnight, triple America's Cup skipper and dual Australian Olympian Sir James Hardy has died in Adelaide. The yachtsman, vintner and community leader died peacefully yesterday.