Morning everyone. Yesterday it was a long line of Labor backbenchers, and today it is a former Reserve Bank governor telling Jim Chalmers he has to raise the jobseeker rate. Meanwhile the home affairs minister, Clare O’Neil, will today call for major reforms of the “broken” immigration system. It’s also been a big news night overseas with Donald Trump accused of rape, and Disney suing Ron DeSantis.
Australia
Guest workers | Australia’s “broken” migration system encourages 1.8 million people to be “permanently temporary” due to strict caps on permanent migration, a landmark review due to be published today by Clare O’Neil has found.
Jobseeker calls | The Albanese government “needs to start using its power for the people like it promised it would,” former RBA governor Bernie Fraser has said, as he joined calls for a lift to the jobseeker rate. He said the unemployment payment was one of the “many areas desperately needing attention” in the coming budget.
Nazi ban | Asio has welcomed a Coalition bill to ban Nazi symbols such as the Sieg Heil salute and has told a parliamentary inquiry it would help prevent recruitment and radicalisation by far-right extremists.
Power failure | Staff and former board members at Sydney’s Powerhouse allege the museum’s collections have been neglected and put at risk of damage, as the nation’s flagship science and technology museum undergoes a controversial $500m conversion into a commercially driven creative arts and events space.
‘Reproductive violence’ | Women with disabilities face forced sterilisations, abortions and contraception amounting to a regime of “reproductive violence”, a Senate inquiry into universal access to reproductive healthcare will hear.
World
Trump accused | The advice columnist E Jean Carroll has told a New York jury that Donald Trump raped her, leaving her unable to have a romantic relationship, and then “shattered my reputation” by denying the alleged attack occurred.
Ukraine talks | Xi Jinping will send a delegation to Ukraine to hold talks with all parties on resolving the conflict there after his first phone call with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy since Russia’s invasion.
Disney ‘targeted’ | Disney is suing Ron DeSantis, the Republican governor of Florida and possible US presidential candidate, saying he had subjected it to “a targeted campaign of government retaliation” over attempts to gain control of Disney World.
‘Asylum shoppers’ | Britain’s home secretary Suella Braverman has said people who enter the UK illegally on small boats “possess values which are at odds with our country” as well as “heightened levels of criminality”. Robert Jenrick, the immigration minister, said the migrants were “asylum shoppers”.
Close of duty | The Call of Duty game developer Activision Blizzard has accused the UK of being “closed for business” after the competition regulator blocked its attempted $105bn takeover by Microsoft, which would have been the largest acquisition in gaming history.
Full Story
Australia’s skyrocketing student debt
The Hecs-Help debt of millions of Australians will rise by 7% this year – the biggest hike in decades. Higher education reporter Caitlin Cassidy explains what’s going wrong in the student debt system.
In-depth
New research suggests the social divide between Sydney’s western and eastern suburbs – demarcated by the so-called “latte line” between wealthy and less wealthy areas – is deepening. And with landlords ramping up their rents, it’s no surprise that one in five renters are among more than 1 million people living in poverty in the state. The data on this issue is coming thick and fast with a study by Anglicare saying that less than 1% of private rental properties are affordable for full-time workers on the minimum wage. And the latest Grogonomics points out that although the cost-of-living crisis is easing, renters ares still feeling the pain.
Not the news
The British comedian Paul Foot takes time out from his tour of Australia to share the things that make him laugh online, which turns out to be grandmas, brides, journalists and just anyone else falling over.
The world of sport
Football | Manchester City are taking on Arsenal this morning in a Premier League title showdown at the Etihad Stadium.
Snooker | The seven-time winner Ronnie O’Sullivan is out of the world championships after losing 13-10 to Luca Brecel in their quarter-final after the Belgian won seven frames in a row.
Rugby union | Rugby Australia has announced a surplus of $8.2m at its 2022 annual general meeting, returning the business to profit for the first time in four years.
Media roundup
The Australian says the voice to parliament yes campaign is going to launch an advertising blitz amid softening support for the plan. The Daily Telegraph thinks that the chances of another interest rate hike next week have plunged after the latest inflation number wasn’t as high as feared. Protesters opposed to a drag story time event have disrupted a Monash city council meeting after councillors refused to scrap the family friendly activity, the Age reports. Reports that Hobart’s Macquarie point area will be redeveloped for an AFL stadium have not gone down well with the state opposition leader or federal and independent senators, the Mercury reports.
What’s happening today
Canberra | Home affairs minister Clare O’Neil speaks at the National Press Club.
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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.
