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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Charlotte Graham-McLay

Morning Mail: Anger over controversial wicket as Australia wins Ashes test, push for gambling levy, Baltimore shooting

Two AFL players jump for the ball in front of a Sportsbet sign
A federal parliamentary inquiry has recommended a gambling levy be introduced by the government. Photograph: Julian Smith/AAP

Good morning. There’s been a heap of drama and controversy around Australia’s victory at Lord’s in the men’s Ashes – read all about it below. Back home, the idea of charging gambling companies a levy to fund support for addicts – recommended by the recent parliamentary inquiry – is gaining support, though public health experts warn that it should be set high enough to change industry practices.

Plus violence sparked by a police shooting continues in France, and two people are dead, with dozens injured, in a mass shooting in Baltimore.

Australia

World

Police attend the site of the shooting in Baltimore
Two dead and dozens are injured in a mass shooting in Baltimore. Photograph: Kyle Mazza/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

Full Story

A storm builds over the Ichthy’s onshore gas processing facility on Middle Arm in Darwin Harbour.
Some environmental and Indigenous groups are concerned that Middle Arm is simply a vast fossil fuel project that will lock Australia into gas production. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

The Albanese government and the Top End carbon bomb

The Albanese government has committed $1.5bn to Darwin harbour’s Middle Arm precinct – a project that has been sold as sustainable and a contributor to decarbonisation. Environment reporter Lisa Cox explains what the expansion of the gas industry in the Northern Territory could mean for Australia’s emissions – and for traditional owners, some of whom fear the initiative will lock Australia into gas production for 50 more years and endanger priceless Indigenous rock art.

In-depth

Ozempic illustration
Can the diabetes and weight-loss drug break addictions too? Illustration: Victoria Hart

The rapid and controversial rise of semaglutide – commonly known as Ozempic – for weight loss and diabetes has brought increasing reports from patients and doctors about the drug’s dampening of other addictive or compulsive behaviours. Here’s what scientists know so far.

Not the news

Wine expert Thomas Carr taste tests non-alcoholic drinks in the lead up to dry-July.
Guardian Australia’s Thomas Carr taste tests non-alcoholic drinks in the lead up to dry-July. Photograph: Christopher Hopkins/The Guardian

It’s that time of year again when many choose to lay off the booze and go dry for July.
 Conveniently, the Australian drinks industry has seen a surge in upmarket cordials, shrubs, sodas, spritzes and fermented beverages competing for your attention – and your wallet. But are these bougie beverages any good?

Over two-plus hours, Guardian Australia’s Thomas Carr (pictured) and sommelier Samantha Payne sampled almost 100 upmarket non-alcoholic options – and picked some winners.

The world of sport

Australia’s Josh Hazlewood (R) celebrates after taking the wicket of England’s captain Ben Stokes (L).
Australia’s Josh Hazlewood celebrates after taking the wicket of England’s captain Ben Stokes. Photograph: Ian Kington/AFP/Getty Images

Media roundup

It’s wall-to-wall Ashes at nearly every news outlet but beyond that: the Financial Times reports that Joko Widodo will push for an Indonesia-Australia partnership on electric vehicle battery production during his visit here this week. The Australian has analysis predicting that the nation faces a lost year-and-a-half of economic stagnation, with turbocharged migration the only thing preventing the economy from plunging into recession.

What’s happening today

  • State visit | The Indonesian President, Joko Widodo, visits Sydney today.

  • NSW hearing | A special commission of inquiry is looking into the unsolved deaths of LGBTQ+ people (or people presumed to be LGBTQ+) that may have been hate crimes, between 1970 and 2010.

  • Scammers beware | The Albanese government will today launch the National Anti-Scams Centre.

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.

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