Morning everyone. NSW’s anti-protest laws have come into sharp focus with the jailing of environmental protester Deanna “Violet” Coco. This morning we can reveal the scramble to get the laws passed in April amid a media furore over climate protests.
Elsewhere, sick children were facing emergency department waits of up to 12 hours at Melbourne royal children’s hospital which is struggling to cope with a surge of demand, and crowds packed Sydney airport last night to welcome home the Socceroos.
Australia
Hospital crisis | Melbourne’s royal children’s hospital has warned parents to seek alternative care as its emergency department struggles to cope with demand and sick children face waits of more than 12 hours to be seen.
Climate crackdown | The bill that led to climate activist Deanna “Violet” Coco being jailed for 15 months had not even made it through the New South Wales parliament in April when ministers were pushing to have it rubber-stamped by the state’s governor.
Robodebt wrangle | A royal commission may be unable to fully scrutinise the commonwealth ombudsman’s crucial role in the robodebt saga unless the watchdog voluntarily agrees to cooperate.
Labor asset | Scott Morrison’s unpopularity was the single biggest vote winner for Labor, the party’s post-election review found, but there were concerns for the party in the suburbs.
World
Iran protests | Iranian shopkeepers and truck drivers staged a walkout in nearly 40 cities and towns after calls for a three-day nationwide general strike as protests against the government continue.
Georgia showdown | A former long-term girlfriend of Herschel Walker has spoken of the violence and abuse she says he subjected her to, in a television interview airing just before the Republican candidate’s Senate runoff in Georgia on Tuesday.
Russia targeted | Explosions at two Russian airbases far from the frontlines have raised the possibility that Kyiv has found a way to target Russia’s long-range bombers used in attacks against Ukraine’s infrastructure.
‘You don’t look so good’ | The actor Sacha Baron Cohen reprised his character Borat and stole the show at the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors in the US, targeting his satire at the former president Donald Trump, the rapper Kanye West and antisemitism.
Full Story
The Australian investors caught in the crypto crash
About 30,000 Australian investors were caught up in the collapse of cryptocurrency platform FTX last month. With concerns growing about how it obtained a licence, Josh Taylor explains how it came to operate in Australia.
In-depth
The Reserve Bank is expected to raise borrowing costs again today, although the monthly rate-setting meeting will air concerns about the impact on households’ mortgage costs. Our economics editor, Peter Hannam, sifts through the forecasts, while we also take a look at efforts to curb soaring rents and why landlords must accept more regulation.
Not the news
In between bouts of interrupted sleep and endless loads of laundry, three new parents tell how they buy sustainable clothes for their babies. “They’ll look incredibly cute in anything,” one says. “You have to remember that and not get carried away with [buying] everything.”
The world of sport
World Cup | Croatia won their third World Cup penalty shootout in a row, when they overcame Japan after the teams were level 1-1 after 120 minutes of their last-16 tie. Follow the Brazil v South Korea game on our live blog.
Footballers coming home | Socceroos players have returned to a heroes’ welcome at a packed Sydney airport, after a historic run to the knockout stages at the World Cup.
Cricket | England claimed their first Test match victory in Pakistan for 22 years after a memorable final session which saw the home side lose their final five wickets for 11 runs in 19.3 nail-biting overs.
Media roundup
The Sydney Morning Herald has a poll saying that almost 80% of Australians support an energy price cap. The Herald Sun says the crisis in Victoria’s health system could last “well past Christmas”. The Central Western Daily says police have found an item of clothing belonging to Esther Wallace, who disappeared on a hiking trip last Wednesday. The Kimberley Echo says a man bitten by a crocodile in Kunanurra regaled drinkers in the pub with the tale hours later.
What’s happening today
Data dump | The Australian Statistics Bureau releases the balance of payments figures and an experimental indicator of household spending using banks’ transaction data.
AGM protest | The Financial Services Union is holding a rally outside the Bank of Queensland annual general meeting in Brisbane to call for better pay and conditions.
Mortgage accused | Committal mentions in Sydney for three men charged with breaching director duties over “interest-free” mortgages offered by Remedy Housing.
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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.
