Morning everyone. As the Covid pandemic hit more than three years ago and the world scrambled for protective equipment, the Coalition government agreed to pay $100m to an obscure company to supply masks and gowns. Today our exclusive investigation exposes how the deal went disastrously wrong and left the taxpayer with unusable gear. And, in breaking news, Australia’s Optus network has suffered a major, apparently national outage. Our live news blog has the latest.
And Glenn Maxwell has smashed one of the most astonishing one-day innings of all time to secure Australia’s place in the World Cup semis.
Australia
Next stop the Pacific | Anthony Albanese is on his way to the Pacific Islands Forum today after a diplomatic reset with China which includes an agreement to create a new multi-entry visa to facilitate exchanges and closer links between people. Topping the agenda in the Cook Islands will be concerns about whether the Aukus submarine deal is stretching the region’s nuclear treaty.
Exclusive | An alarming letter from doctors to ministers pleading for massive amounts of personal protective equipment set in train a deal to pay a largely unknown company, Australian Business Mobiles (NSW) Pty Ltd, $100m to source 50m face masks and 4m isolation gowns. Most of the masks turned out to be unusable in a story raising questions about the waste of taxpayer dollars, Covid-era procurement processes and taxation.
Boat turnbacks | The Albanese government turned vessels back or returned asylum seekers aboard them seven times in its first nine months in office, quietly continuing the Coalition’s Operation Sovereign Borders policy.
Rain relief | Significant rainfall across parts of Queensland has provided firefighters with a much-needed reprieve and given some relief to drought-hit farmers. In New South Wales, residents have been urged to introduce water-saving measures before a looming drought causes major water storages to drop.
Big four block | Partners at big four consultancy firms could soon be banned from being board members of a regulator that investigates the conduct of their colleagues due to conflict of interest concerns.
World
‘Reaping the whirlwind’ | As Israel’s military continues its attempt to wipe out Hamas in response to the attacks of 7 October, the UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories says it will only breed further radicalisation and the international community is “reaping the whirlwind”. We also have a special report on how Hamas planned the 7 October attack and kept it secret.
Biden test | Millions of Americans have begun voting in elections and ballot measures that could offer an interim verdict on Joe Biden’s presidency a year out from his bid to retain the White House. Follow developments live.
‘Unprecedented incident’ | A South African government minister has been robbed and her bodyguards have had their guns stolen, say police, in what authorities in the country described as an “unprecedented incident”.
King’s speech | King Charles has delivered his first king’s speech, outlining the UK government’s plans for laws to create dividing lines with Labour before the next general election. But there seems little to attract voters as time runs out for rishi Sunak’s government.
Cancer hope | Almost 300,000 women in England at higher risk of developing breast cancer are being given access to a drug that can halve their risk in a “major step forward” in the fight against the disease.
Full Story
Why the Qantas AGM blew up
Our transport and urban affairs reporter, Elias Visontay, explains what led to the explosive Qantas annual general meeting, why shareholders are so angry and the many challenges still facing the national airline.
In-depth
They have become ubiquitous on the shelves of bottle shops, challenging the hegemony of established brands. But craft brewers across the country are struggling with post-Covid debts, taxes and rising costs. Royce Kurmelovs went to find out more.
Not the news
The ABC’s new six-part series Australian Epic is a mixture of musical and documentary parodies using Australia’s “most defining stories” to poke fun at a kind of wannabe western nation stranded in the middle of nowhere. Created by the comedy group the Chaser, some of the subjects work better than others – and Luke Buckmaster concludes that “it’s boisterous entertainment that feels a little empty”.
The world of sport
Cricket | Glenn Maxwell produced one of the most astonishing one-day innings of all time to rescue Australia from what appeared to be a certain defeat against Afghanistan and steer them home to victory by three wickets in Mumbai. He smashed 10 sixes in his unbeaten 201 to ensure Australia make the semi-finals next week where they will face South Africa.
Champions League | Dortmund are hosting Newcastle United this morning and Milan entertain PSG in the “group of death”. Follow the action live.
Premier League | Spurs player Dejan Kulusevski says the team was “too hyped” as Ange Postecoglu’s men suffered their first defeat of the season in chaotic style against Chelsea.
Media roundup
Two men who allegedly fled the scene of a fatal car crash in Sydney are in hospital under police guard, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. The RBA governor, Michele Bullock, has been forced to “calm tensions” with the government after yesterday’s rate rise, the Fin Review says. The Melbourne Cup is regarded as a glamorous day out but the Herald Sun thinks it has a “feral” problem. A climate protester who allegedly plotted to attack the home of Woodside Energy’s boss has copped a hefty fine rather than allow police to access to his devices, the West Australian reports.
What’s happening today
Pacific Islands Forum | Anthony Albanese arrives at the regional leaders’ summit in the Cook Islands.
Canberra | National Press Club address – Malcolm and Lucy Turnbull.
Perth | Linda Reynolds v Brittany Higgins and David Sharaz defamation cases.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day – with plenty more on the Guardian’s Puzzles app for iOS and Android. Until tomorrow.
