Morning, everyone. There have been more than 1,000 in New South Wales, more than 500 in Queensland and it’s a similar pattern in other jurisdictions: police are fielding hundreds of complaints about misuse of information, and in particular unauthorised access of police databases. Our investigation today exposes the growing problem.
Plus, fire ants might be spreading on defence bases, England have been beaten by India in the T20 World Cup, and Queensland have sealed a historic three-game Origin series.
Australia
Shorten blast | A Labor-chaired parliamentary committee has flagged human rights concerns with the Albanese government’s proposed changes to the NDIS, while Bill Shorten blasted the opposition and the Greens for delaying the legislation in a move that he says will cost $23m a day.
Revealed | A Guardian Australia investigation has found that police forces around Australia have fielded hundreds of complaints about the misuse of information since 2020.
‘Decarb death knell’ | A nuclear-powered economy would result in higher-cost electricity and would “sound the death knell” for decarbonisation efforts if it distracted from renewables investment, a report by Bloomberg New Energy Finance argues.
Dutton dilemmas | Peter Dutton has suggested the Coalition may go to the next election with no alternative to Labor’s revamped stage-three income tax cuts, and also told a conference audience that voters in his Dickson electorate would riot if a windfarm were planned for the area.
Train delay | The long-promised train link to Melbourne airport appears to have hit yet another snag after the prolonged standoff between the state government and the airport intensified despite federal-imposed mediation.
World
Biden v Trump II | Joe Biden and Donald Trump will go head to head in the first presidential debate later today that will revive memories of the ugly exchanges when the two debated face to face four years ago. Here’s what you need to know about the clash in Atlanta, Georgia.
Purdue pain | The US supreme court has rejected a bankruptcy settlement plan for the painkiller maker Purdue Pharma that included a measure to protect its Sackler family owners from further liability over the country’s opioid epidemic.
Le Pen vow | Marine Le Pen expects her far-right party to win an absolute majority in France’s general election, form a government and take over at least some defence and armed forces decision-making – including on Ukraine.
Police punters? | The number of Metropolitan police officers under investigation over bets on the timing of the UK general election has risen to at least seven, the force has said, as the scandal continues to overshadow the election campaign.
Woolly thinking | New genetic analysis suggests that a freak event such as an extreme storm or a plague was to blame for the extinction of the woolly mammoth on an Arctic island about 4,000 years ago.
Full Story
Newsroom edition: Was Labor right to compromise on banning vapes?
After Labor’s compromise on vaping legislation, Bridie Jabour speaks to Guardian Australia deputy editor Patrick Keneally and head of news, Mike Ticher, about getting the balance right on reform.
In-depth
Defence bases pose a “huge risk” when it comes to stopping the spread of invasive fire ants in Australia after what some have called “a massive surveillance failure”, with the pests being detected at seven defence sits within Queensland’s 700,000-hectare containment zone. But now fire ants have been found at an eighth site outside the zone – Swartz Barracks in Oakey, 130km west of Brisbane. Defence officials say specialist pest managers are routinely engaged across the department’s properties but experts believe the nests at the barracks went undiscovered for years. Daisy Dumas is on the case.
Not the news
Sophia Forrest is about to star in a three-week run of the celebrated play Prima Facie in their hometown of Perth, a role they describe as “the hardest thing I’ve ever done”. Not only are they following in the footsteps of Jodie Comer’s award-winning Broadway success in playing all 26 parts in Suzie Miller’s play, but the work’s subject matter of sexual assault brings its own intensity. They speak to Rosamund Brennan about the challenge.
The world of sport
Women’s State of Origin | Queensland have won the women’s Origin decider 22-6 in Townsville to secure their fourth shield in five years thanks to a controlled performance and a masterful display from their five-eighth, Tarryn Aiken.
World Cup 2026 | It’s groundhog day for the Socceroos as they face a repeat of qualification matches against Japan, the side they lost to twice on the way to Qatar, as they look to progress to the finals in the USA from a group also containing Saudi Arabia.
England v India | The T20 World Cup final will be India v South Africa after England crashed out of the semi-final this morning with a dismal batting display. Here’s how the action unfolded.
Rugby union | One of England’s top club sides, Leicester Tigers, have appoiunted the former Wallabies supremo Michael Cheika as their head coach to take over from his fellow Australian Dan McKellar.
Media roundup
A woman has won $283,000 in damages from a Sydney council after slipping on mulch in a park, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. A Brisbane council has cancelled its annual Christmas carols show and hiked its rates to meet its bills and pay for two big sporting facilities, according to the Courier-Mail. The Nightly says Australia’s most stunning homestead is up for sale featuring a pool, an Olympic-level equestrian facility and a self-contained cottage.
What’s happening today
Economy | Jim Chalmers will give a speech at the A50 economic forum.
Technology | Meta, TikTok, Snap and Google are to give evidence to the social media inquiry.
Melbourne | Zoe Daniel and Tim Costello will give a press conference on banning gambling ads.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
