Good morning. The Nationals are unhappy about reports the Labor government may cut major regional infrastructure plans announced in the Coalition’s last budget. The world of cinema has lost one of its most influential directors. And up to 100 Clarence House staff have been told they will lose their jobs when King Charles moves into Buckingham Palace.
The federal opposition has raised concerns about Labor’s “commitment to regional Australia”. Former Nationals ministers Barnaby Joyce and Bridget McKenzie are unhappy at reports the Labor government may cut funding for major Coalition infrastructure proposals. Joyce said the projects “were driven by people of the area, not designed by me”.
A political party in Victoria that wants to legalise cannabis has asked the state electoral commission to reject the registration application of the new Legalise Marijuana Party arguing it is “designed to confuse voters to siphon votes”. Legalise Cannabis Victoria’s secretary wrote to the Victorian electoral commissioner questioning the legitimacy of the new party which last month applied to register ahead of November’s state poll.
Ukraine consolidated its control of the Kharkiv region on Tuesday, raising flags on towns and villages occupied by Russian troops for six months, and reclaiming areas seized by Moscow on the first day of Vladimir Putin’s invasion. In the space of a few days, Ukraine has pushed the Russians out from more than 6,000 sq km of territory – can Ukraine actually win?
Dozens of Clarence House staff have been given notice of their redundancy as the offices of King Charles and the Queen Consort move to Buckingham Palace after the death of the Queen. Up to 100 employees at the King’s former official residence, including some who have worked there for decades, were told they could lose their jobs as they were working round the clock to smooth his elevation to the throne. The news came as the Queen’s coffin arrived at Buckingham Palace, welcomed by crowds of mourners.
Australia
Continued pressure on the New South Wales health system has seen patients waiting longer than ever for ambulances and facing long delays before seeing a doctor in hospital.
The Albanese government has appointed three women with environmental backgrounds to the board of the Climate Change Authority in a bid to counter concerns the advisory body was taken over by business leaders under the Coalition.
Confirmation that Australia will experience its third La Niña event in a row is good news for bushfire risk and agricultural output, but analysts have warned some regions may experience crop damage or losses due to heavy rainfall.
Favourable growing seasons and rising commodity prices have driven extraordinary agricultural land price rises across much of Australia, but analysts warn that investors may get burned if interest-rate rises and global disruptions change the picture.
The world
More than two decades after the Hollywood film The Beach was shot at Thailand’s glittering Maya Bay, the kingdom’s supreme court has ordered officials to press ahead with environmental rehabilitation work.
Jean-Luc Godard, the maverick French-Swiss director who revolutionised postwar cinema in Europe, died by assisted dying, his lawyer has confirmed.
The world’s chances of avoiding the worst ravages of climate breakdown are diminishing rapidly, as we enter “uncharted territory of destruction” through our failure to cut greenhouse gas emissions and take the actions needed to stave off catastrophe, leading scientists have said.
Armenia has said nearly 50 of its soldiers have been killed in clashes along the border with Azerbaijan, in the worst escalation of hostilities since a 2020 war.
Recommended reads
In our weekly interview about objects, three things, Take 5 host Zan Rowe tells us about the time she made Paul McCartney sign her record and her teenage music obsessions. “I reckon teenage Zan was too hard on Take That. Being so militant about what defined ‘good’ music was so 90s, and so dull.”
There is no ‘magic wand’ for Australia’s healthcare system but we desperately need a rethink, writes Ranjana Srivastava in a vivid and thought-provoking column. “A nurse sits in a corner with her head in her hands, a forlorn image that sums up the state of disillusioned providers.”
Listen
King Charles III comes to the throne with a nation in political flux and economic turmoil. In today’s Full Story, Robert Booth looks at the challenges the new monarch faces.
Full Story is Guardian Australia’s daily news podcast. Subscribe for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any other podcasting app.
Sport
A strangely inconsistent and vulnerable New Zealand are still under siege ahead of the midweek clash with Australia, writes Angus Fontaine. “Despite their inconsistency the Wallabies are still in a position to win the Rugby Championship as well as the Bledisloe Cup.”
Collingwood fans are paying well over $1,000 for flights to Sydney for the AFL preliminary final on Saturday, infuriating some and leaving others to organise car pools.
In the NRL places in the preliminary finals are at stake with the Raiders wary of an Eels ambush, and the Sharks hosting the Souths on “home” turf.
Media roundup
Opal reader machines on Sydney’s rail platforms will be completely turned off next week in the latest stage of an ongoing industrial dispute with the NSW government, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. And the Financial Review warns Australian shares are poised to tumble after heavy losses in New York overnight.
Coming up
The national cabinet is meeting via video link.
It’s the second day of the Australian Pacific Aviation summit 2022 with Virigin and Qantas in Adelaide.
And if you’ve read this far …
Features writer Sirin Kale asks a question for our age – will we ever truly escape the tyranny of the WhatsApp group?
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