Morning, everyone. Australia’s first state is now the last in regards to progressive policy on drug possession. New South Wales is the only state that doesn’t allow cautions for people possessing a small amount of illicit drugs now that Queensland has enacted a three-strike system in use everywhere else. We’ve got a full report, plus why SpaceX engineers cheered even when their latest rocket blew up.
Australia
Carbon fail | Emissions from Chevron’s Gorgon gas development off Western Australia have increased by more than 50%, despite it being home to the world’s largest industrial carbon capture and storage system.
Three strikes | Doctors, police and drug reform advocates have welcomed reforms passed last night that will see Queensland take a more progressive approach to policing the personal consumption of illegal drugs. The state hopes it will help deal with the “underlying causes of substance use”. The move leaves NSW as the odd state out.
Next level | TikTok has increased the location information it collects to include altitude, which could tell it what floor of a building a user is on, according to expert testimony given to MPs and senators.
‘Racist and misogynistic’ | Senator Lidia Thorpe says speculation about her mental health is a “racist and misogynistic narrative” used to discredit outspoken women and claims political opponents including Anthony Albanese are trying to drag her down.
‘Cozzie livs’ | Gendy nooch (gender neutral), cozzie livs (cost of living) and murder noodle (venomous snake) are some of the new words and phrases being used by Australians that could be included in updated editions of the Macquarie Dictionary.
World
SpaceX crash | Elon Musk’s latest SpaceX rocket blew up minutes after being launched in Texas overnight. But SpaceX staff continued cheering even after the unmanned vessel had crashed. The flight was being used to gather data for what Musk hopes will be the first step on a human journey to Mars.
Justice questioned | The US supreme court justice Clarence Thomas’s claims over the luxury gifts he received from a billionaire have been called into question by court records, while the chief justice has been asked to testify to a Senate committee on the court’s ethics.
Film set shooting | Prosecutors have dropped criminal charges against the actor Alec Baldwin over the fatal shooting of a crew member during the filming of Rust in 2021.
Florida feud | The Republican-dominated legislature in Florida has backed Ron DeSantis’s feud with Disney over LGBTQ+ rights by concocting a legal proposal to counter the company’s thwarting of the governor’s earlier plan to seize control of the theme park giant.
Sudan impasse| The leaders of Sudan’s rival military forces have said they are unwilling to negotiate with each other as battles raged for a sixth day.
Full Story
Does Labor have the right priorities?
With the budget fast approaching, Guardian Australia’s editor-in-chief, Lenore Taylor, and head of news, Mike Ticher, discuss the cost of living, the budget and tough choices for Jim Chalmers.
In-depth
The question of whether or not the Reserve Bank has been right to raise interest rates 10 times in the past year is the dog that didn’t bark when yesterday’s big review of its operations was unveiled. But our economics editor reckons that raking over the issue wasn’t really the point of the review, and says most analysts believe the reforms will modernise the the RBA’s functions in line with overseas central banks.
Not the news
The Giants, a documentary about the former Australian Greens leader Bob Brown, is an “inspiring and elegant” film, writes Luke Buckmaster, who say it uses the natural world to wrap an ancient context around contemporary politics and Brown’s drive to save magnificent native trees such as Tasmania’s Eucalyptus regnans.
The world of sport
AFL | The escalation of talking points by pundits such as Kane Cornes are symptomatic of a landscape where all that matters are clicks and outrage, according to Jonathan Horn.
Football | Manchester United plays in the Europa League as it takes on Sevilla.
Tennis | Rafael Nadal is in doubt for the French Open after admitting treatment on the hip injury he suffered in January has not worked.
Media roundup
Plans by the treasurer for super funds to invest in infrastructure projects are not popular with voters, according to polling seen by the Australian Financial Review. Residents in Sydney’s inner west have clashed at a public meeting to discuss plans for a rezoning that would allow the building of 480 homes near Parramatta Road, the Sydney Morning Herald says. People in south-east Queensland will have a month to give their feedback on six proposed new aircraft routes designed to tackle plane noise, the Courier-Mail reports.
What’s happening today
Brisbane | Jim Chalmers hosts a roundtable of investors, banks and energy and climate leaders to discuss clean energy projects.
New South Wales | The Liberals hold their first party-room meeting since the state election, with the leadership up for grabs.
Sydney | There will be a parliamentary select committee hearing on the cost of living.
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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.
