Good afternoon. A reminder that today is the last day to enrol to vote or update your details for the 2023 referendum. You can do so until 8pm by visiting the AEC website.
Still with the voice, senior Liberals are warning that Warren Mundine’s support for treaties and moving Australia Day will jeopardise his chances of taking a vacant Liberal Senate seat. Mundine has been a leading no campaigner, but raised eyebrows among conservatives yesterday when he said the failure of the voice would increase the likelihood of treaties with First Nations people.
Top news
Labor backed by mining companies in coalmines case | The Greens say the environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, is “defending the indefensible” as the federal court hears a challenge to the government’s approval of two coalmines in New South Wales.
ANU stabbing | Three people have been taken to hospital after a stabbing at the campus in Canberra this afternoon, ACT police have confirmed. Of those transported to hospital, two have stab wounds and a third person was allegedly assaulted. One person is in custody.
Albanese urged to stop prosecution of ATO whistleblower | Louise Beaston, the wife of whistleblower Richard Boyle, has privately pleaded with the prime minister and attorney general to intervene and end his prosecution, describing the ordeal as a nightmare and an injustice that has shattered their lives. Boyle spoke out in 2018 about the ATO’s aggressive pursuit of tax debts from small businesses, which he said was destroying lives and causing unnecessary trauma to help the agency meet revenue goals.
Brisbane becomes centre of footy world | Cross-code solidarity is engulfing Brisbane with the AFL’s Lions and NRL’s Broncos both hosting preliminary finals this weekend. “Queenslanders love to back a winner no matter the sport and when that winner is a Queensland team, we all celebrate,” Stirling Hinchliffe, the state sports minister, said.
Matildas game switched to larger stadium | Soaring demand for Matildas tickets has prompted Football Australia and the Western Australian government to move their World Cup qualifier against the Philippines to the 60,000-capacity Optus Stadium on 29 October.
Online dating code of practice | The federal government has issued an ultimatum to dating apps in order to address sexual harassment on platforms – do better or face regulation. The government has requested the industry develop a voluntary code of practice, or risk government intervention if nothing improves.
Khartoum landmarks in flames | Fighting continues to rage in Sudan, devouring landmarks of the Khartoum skyline, including the Ministry of Justice and the Greater Nile Petroleum Oil Company tower – a conical building with glass facades that had become an emblem of the city. “It’s distressing to see these institutions destroyed like this,” Badr al-Din Babiker, a resident of the capital’s east, said.
Taiwan urges China to stop military activities | Taiwan has reported a sharp rise in Chinese military activities near the island, including its fighter jets crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait over the past 24 hours.
Russell Brand rape allegations | A woman alleging that Brand raped her by pushing her against a wall has hit out at his wellness persona. “He’s saying one thing and I know the demon underneath it … He wants to help with meditation, he’s all in this wellness world … It just makes me so mad that he has a platform for that,” the woman, using the pseudonym Nadia, said. “What do I want out of this? Just for him to stop … I’m just sick of seeing men get away with this.” Brand has denied the allegations.
Drew Barrymore postpones talkshow return | Barrymore, who drew criticism for taping new episodes of her daytime talkshow despite the ongoing writers’ and actors’ strikes, now says she’ll wait until the labour issues are resolved. Hours later, another CBS talkshow, The Talk, also decided to delay its return.
In pictures
Australians march for yes
Thousands turned out across Australia over the weekend in support of a yes vote – see the photo gallery.
What they said …
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“The only person in danger when the police broke into our mother’s home was our mother.” – family of Krista Kach
The family of the 47-year-old woman who died shortly after being Tasered by NSW police last week have released a statement criticising police actions as “a disturbing and heartbreaking response … to a vulnerable person”.
In numbers
A growing number of householders are turning off gas and bans on new connections are spreading.
Before bed read
An explosion aboard the tanker Pablo off the Malaysian coast has revealed a secret, shadowy network of vessels transporting sanctioned oil across the world.
“The shadow trade of ships like the Pablo is only growing in size and scale – taking journeys that thread their way through the world’s geopolitical hotspots; from the oilfields of Iran, to the factories of China, all the way to the frontline of Russia’s war against Ukraine.” Read the feature.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: BRU. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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• This article was amended on 18 September 2023 to remove an image that said it showed the start of a fire at the Greater Nile Petroleum Company building in Khartoum. In fact, the photo was of the Corinthia hotel in Khartoum, and Agence France-Presse, which supplied the image, had previously stated that it had been digitally manipulated to add the flames.
