Good morning. Crossbench MPs have heaped scorn on the Albanese government after its decision to exclude topics on gender, sexual orientation and variations of sex characteristics in the next census. New legislation coming into effect this week could see more rights for gig workers, and we dig into “born alive” misinformation being spread by some anti-abortion activists.
Australia
Good gig | Food delivery riders and parcel couriers could be granted minimum employment standards such as superannuation and injury insurance for the first time as changes to employment law come into effect.
Census concern | Crossbench MPs are seeking an urgent explanation from the Albanese government about why it dumped new topics on sexuality and gender diversity from the next census – a decision that left the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras “deeply concerned and disappointed”.
Metro expansion | Brisbane’s Metro bus rapid transit service is to expand to the outer suburbs of the city in time for the 2032 Olympics in a plan which now has the backing of the Labor state government.
Rape allegations | A high-profile Sydney man accused of raping five women raped one 19-year-old woman in his home while she was undertaking an internship with him, a court has heard.
High flyer | A female peregrine falcon has become an internet hit after becoming the latest bird of prey to nest on a Melbourne skyscraper.
World
Hostage freed | A member of Israel’s Bedouin minority who was kidnapped by Hamas on 7 October last year has been reunited with his family amid conflicting accounts about his rescue from Gaza.
Wall games | Republicans have accused Kamala Harris of a policy flip-flop after she embraced an immigration crackdown that would involve expanding the US southern border wall, which she once called “un-American”. The rules have reportedly been set for the 10 September presidential debate, and a special counsel has filed a new indictment against Donald Trump in the 2020 election subversion case.
UK pain | Keir Starmer has given his strongest hint yet of tax rises to come in October’s budget, warning he will have to make “painful” decisions after finding what Labour says is a £22bn black hole in the public finances.
Covid censorship? | Meta’s boss, Mark Zuckerberg, has said he regrets bowing to what he claims was pressure from the US government to censor posts about Covid on Facebook and Instagram during the pandemic.
‘Vile’ website | A Scottish politician has called for the closure of an “utterly vile” Spanish website that ranks countries by the number of their tourists who have died or been injured after falls from balconies.
Full Story
What Labor’s loss in the NT means for Australian politics
After Labor’s devastating loss to Lia Finocchiaro’s Country Liberals (above) in the Northern Territory elections, Tamsin Rose speaks to political editor Karen Middleton and Queensland state correspondent Ben Smee on how the parties are reading the results.
In-depth
Some religious groups and conservative politicians in Australia have claimed babies are being “born alive” after abortions and left to die alone. Tory Shepherd examines the questions raised by these campaign – including whether the claims are actually true, whether doctors have a duty of care and if babies really are left alone for hours after birth.
Not the news
The Australian Chamber Orchestra launched its 50th anniversary season this month and next year will mark the 35th year of Richard Tognetti’s artistic leadership, which began when he dazzled the boss of Commonwealth Bank with a virtuoso display on a 1759 Giovanni Battista Guadagnin violin. Kelly Burke catches up with managing director Richard Evans to hear about their treasured instruments and the bold new program. “We’ve got a very adventurous audience,” he says. “They want to learn, they want to be pushed and pulled.”
The world of sport
Tennis | Australian No 1 men’s hope Alex de Minaur played his first-round match in New York this morning as the US Open continues. Thanasi Kokkinakis beat Stefanos Tsitsipas and Jordan Thompson (pictured) became the fifth Australian to reach the second round overnight when he beat Constant Lestienne 6-1 6-3 6-2. Follow the action live.
Football | Chelsea are weighing up whether to make an offer for Brentford’s Ivan Toney as they attempt to sign a striker before Friday’s transfer deadline. Arsenal have signed Mikel Merino from Real Sociedad and Manchester United hope to bag Manuel Ugarte from PSG.
Paris Paralympics | Australia has dozens of gold medal prospects in the Paris Games beginning today, with competitors fielded in 17 of the 22 Paralympic sports.
Media roundup
Locals have warned that a 100km stretch of the Bruce Highway is too dangerous to drive after two more crashes forced the road to be closed yesterday, the Courier Mail reports. The new foreign student cap will “devastate” the Victorian economy, the state treasurer, Tim Pallas, has told the Age. There’s excitement in the Newcastle Herald as it claims there could be fast rail to Sydney by 2037 as a “tunnel plan emerges”. A Western Australia council meeting ended in disarray after residents called for a ban on books “sexualising children”, WAtoday reports.
What’s happening today
Pacific | Anthony Albanese is in Tonga for Pacific Islands Forum.
Media | Nine Entertainment’s chief officer, Mike Sneesby, will front a media briefing as the company publishes its results.
Canberra | The Greens leader, Adam Bandt, will address the National Press Club.
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.
