The Informer: Nation mourns for beloved TV icon Bert Newton

"Old Moonface", as he was affectionately known, died on Saturday aged 83.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said: "Australia loved Bert. There will never be another like him". Comedian and media personality Rove McManus said Newton was a "mentor and friend" and comedian Adam Hills said "Australian TV wouldn't be what it is without Bert".

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said there would be a state funeral for Newton.

Newton died while undergoing palliative care at a private clinic in Melbourne.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister met face-to-face with French President Emmanuel Macron as the pair exchanged a few brief words on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rome. It came days after a phone call between the pair, which was the first time they had spoken since Australia scrapped a $90 billion submarine deal with a French-owned company.

While there are no formal talks scheduled between the two, Morrison indicated that he would like to speak further with Macron.

"I went up and just put my arm on his shoulder, I said 'g'day Emmanuel and look forward to catching up over the next couple of days', which I assure you, that's the way these things work," Morrison told reporters.

Ahead of the UN climate conference in Glasgow this week, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce finally revealed some of the detail the Nationals secured in agreeing with the plan for net zero emissions by 2050. This included a regional fund to assist in the transition, however, he did not divulge how big the fund would be.

NSW recorded 177 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday and one new death. It is the first time in nearly three months that case numbers have been below 200.

In Victoria, there were 1036 new cases and 12 new deaths. More than 700 Victorian virus patients remain in hospital and 128 are in intensive care with 80 of them receiving ventilation.

There were seven new COVID-19 cases in the ACT.

It comes as international borders will open tomorrow in NSW and Victoria as fully vaccinated Australian residents will no longer have to undergo 14 days of hotel quarantine.

Reunions will also happen across state borders, as free travel will resume between NSW, Victoria and the ACT.

It's Halloween today and while some Australians may never be accepting of the American tradition, a Daylesford man has embraced Halloween through handcrafting a variety of spooky items including demons, ghouls and ghosts.

Greg Michael has an extraordinary collection of monstrous exhibits which populate a Victorian house which, in some months' time, will be open to the public.

Michael says the handcrafted creations have helped to turn his life around following a series of mental health struggles.

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*This edition of The Informer was written by Canberra Times reporter Lucy Bladen. If you'd like to show your support for the team behind The Informer, why not forward us to a friend?

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