Morning everyone. Getting from A to B is becoming progressively more expensive for Australians as new data in our top story today shows that transport costs now represent almost a sixth of household expenses. We’re also looking at how the corruption watchdog found a conflict of interest in the robodebt inquiry, Paul Keating’s latest assault on Aukus, Nancy Pelosi’s “life goal” to stop “Bozo” Trump, and Australia’s athletes find a silver lining in Paris.
Australia
Silver lining | After Australia’s best ever day at an Olympics, there was heartache for athletes overnight. Moesha Johnson had to settle for silver in the marathon swim after being overtaken by Holland’s Sharon van Rouwendaal, while Australia’s men’s K4 sprint kayak team were pipped for gold by Germany.
Cost of living | Australians are being forced to spend more of their income on transport, with spending on driving, petrol, tolls and public transport fares rising at almost three times the rate of inflation, new data reveals.
‘51st state’ | Australia’s participation in the Aukus defence pact risks handing military control of the country to Washington and becoming the “51st state of the United States”, according to Paul Keating.
Corruption call | The national anti-corruption commissioner, Paul Brereton, removed himself from the process that decided whether the agency should pursue individuals referred by the robodebt royal commission due to a “relationship” and “close association” with a person he anticipated would be referred.
Exclusive | Victoria’s environment watchdog has launched a compliance blitz of waste facilities that produce cheap landscaping soil after a Guardian Australia investigation revealed systemic problems with similar recycled products in New South Wales.
World
Pelosi’s ‘life goal’ | Nancy Pelosi says her “life goal” is to prevent Donald Trump returning to the White House, referring to the former president as “Bozo, a snake-oil salesman, whatisname and the Creature from the Black Lagoon”. A new poll shows Kamala Harris six points ahead of Trump among likely voters. Plus, Harris and Trump have agreed to stage a debate on 10 September. Follow all the developments live.
Iran rethink? | Iran may be rethinking the scale and format of its planned reprisal against Israel in the wake of the assassination of Hamas’s political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, amid a lack of open support from other Islamic countries.
Catalan caper | Catalan police are hunting Carles Puigdemont after the fugitive former regional president returned to Spain for the first time in seven years to address a crowd of a few thousand in Barcelona before promptly disappearing.
‘Turning point’ | Senior police have described a “turning point” in the disorder seen across England in the past week after expected far-right rallies failed to materialise yesterday. Elon Musk shared a fake newspaper article claiming Keir Starmer was considering sending rioters to “emergency detainment camps” in the Falklands.
Kyiv push | Ukraine has publicly justified its attack into Russian territory for the first time, amid reports that its forces are advancing towards a village 20km inside the Kursk region.
Full Story
Newsroom edition: ‘alert but not afraid’ – the changing nature of terrorism
Bridie Jabour speaks to Guardian Australia’s head of news, Mike Ticher, and deputy editor Gabrielle Jackson about why the threat of terrorism is rising around the world and what we can do to stop it.
In-depth
An ambiguous directive by the New South Wales government about working from home has sent officials into a tailspin trying to explain what it means for the biggest employer in the southern hemisphere. But it also raises questions about how employers are managing flexible working, and the wider future of work, writes our transport and urban affairs reporter, Elias Visontay.
Not the news
Fashion has become an annual central point at Darwin’s Aboriginal arts festival, which got under way this week with the fashion awards and Country to Couture, a vibrant highlight (pictured) which sees young models being mentored by the older generation. Michelle Maynard, a manager at Indigenous Fashion Projects, says: “Fashion is an opportunity for us to really lean into some of the things that we never get an opportunity to say and talk about, because our voice has been oppressed … It’s about time people see us as exquisite.” And, in case you missed it, here’s our gallery from the runway.
The world of sport
Shot surprise | Raven Saunders (pictured) made a splash during the women’s shot put on Thursday, competing at the Stade de France in a full face mask and sunglasses.
Rugby union | Joe Schimdt’s new-look Wallabies face their biggest challenge so far as they prepare to take on world champions South Africa in a two-Test showdown starting this weekend in Brisbane and concluding next Saturday in Perth.
Olympics | More drama has emerged from the Indian wrestling team in Paris after the sister of one of their competitors was detained by police for attempting to enter the athletes’ village with her sibling’s accreditation.
Media roundup
An $805m loss reported by housing developer Mirvac shows there is no money in building apartments, the Fin Review argues, despite the housing shortage. Victorians face big changes in how their rubbish is disposed of and collected, according to a Herald Sun story. The West Australian says Qantas is scrapping its “signature Perth to London flight” because of Middle East tensions.
What’s happening today
Business | News Corp releases its full-year results.
Sydney | Hearing of the NSW parliamentary select committee into the planned sale and development of Rosehill racecourse.
Airlines | First creditors’ meeting after Rex was placed into administration.
Sign up
If you would like to receive this Morning Mail update to your email inbox every weekday, sign up here, or finish your day with our Afternoon Update newsletter. And check out the full list of our local and international newsletters, including The Stakes, your guide to the twists and turns of the US presidential election.
Prefer notifications? If you’re reading this in our app, just click here and tap “Notifications” on the next screen for an instant alert when we publish every morning.
Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
