Morning everyone. So now we know how the real succession works: Rupert Murdoch makes a short announcement to his own newspaper that he is stepping down because the “time is right”, and Lachlan, his eldest son, is taking over. But the drama around the 92-year-old media mogul surely won’t end there and we have full news and analysis about his decision to end seven decades at the top. Also, we’re reporting on new calls for Gary Johns to be booted from the no campaign after more offensive comments were unearthed online and the fight for euthanasia access.
Australia
Indigenous voice | Claims that a yes vote in the Indigenous voice referendum could lead to “apartheid” or the United Nations taking over people’s land are among the wild suggestions contained in pamphlets (pictured) being handed out by activists opposed to the proposal, a Guardian Australia investigation shows.
Sacking call | The Indigenous Australians minister, Linda Burney, has called on the no campaign to sack Gary Johns after he described the voice to parliament as a “grab for power” and said “very, very heavy cultural intervention” was needed for Aboriginal children in newly unearthed comments. But as an antidote to the negativity, we have Thomas Keneally writing today about why we must vote yes.
Budget boon | The Albanese government has been given a major boost after the first federal budget surplus in 15 years was revised up to $22.1bn thanks to higher tax receipts and higher commodity prices.
TikTok scrutiny | TikTok has twice removed a video criticising the damage caused by gambling advertisements, while simultaneously increasing the amount of wagering content on the platform.
Exclusive | A plan to automatically activate body-worn cameras when New South Wales police officers draw Tasers or guns has been delayed indefinitely, despite a series of fatal incidents.
World
‘Time is right’ | Rupert Murdoch has announced he is stepping down from his roles as head of his media companies Fox and News Corp to be emeritus chair of the organisations. The long-awaited departure of the hugely influential tycoon sees his son Lachlan take over, with Murdoch Sr praising him as a “passionate, principled leader” in a note to staff. You can read about how Lachlan won the race for the top job, and whether Rupert has jumped ship at just the right moment. Guardian US columnist Margaret Sullivan says the damage he has done “may last forever”.
Bulgarians accused | Five Bulgarians living in the UK have been charged by the Crown Prosecution Service, accused of being engaged in a conspiracy to spy for Russia between August 2020 and February this year.
MBS interview | The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, has said in an interview that he will seek a nuclear arsenal if Iran develops one, and also said that he “doesn’t care” about accusations of sports washing.
Zelenskiy grilled | Volodymyr Zelenskiy has faced tough questions about Ukraine’s war against Russia as he makes a plea for more military assistance at the White House in the midst of a spending standoff in Washington.
Scandi sandal | The careers of two of Norway’s most powerful female politicians are hanging in the balance after their husbands were found to be secretly trading in shares.
Full Story
Newsroom edition: is the housing crisis finally being taken seriously?
Gabrielle Jackson speaks to Guardian Australia’s editor Lenore Taylor and head of news Mike Ticher about whether the small steps taken by Victoria and New South Wales in recent days can make a big difference in the housing crisis.
In-depth
Euthanasia is legal in Victoria, but that doesn’t mean it is available to everyone. Melissa Davey and Donna Lu have the powerful story of how a woman with motor neurone disease who wanted to end her suffering was denied access by her Catholic palliative care hospital. “It was cruel,” says Jane Morris (pictured), of Dying with Dignity Victoria, who is now fulfilling Sally’s wish that her predicament be publicised to enable a more open debate.
Not the news
It’s only a few weeks before schools will be thronged with voters on referendum day and many will partake in the sausage sizzle on offer. Our cartoonist, Fiona Katauskas, salutes the Australian institution and the real heroes behind it – the school P&Cers who spend weeks making sure the food is ordered, the veggie options are in place, and that there’s enough gas in the bottles.
The world of sport
NRL| The people of Penrith are uniting around their NRL team as the Panthers bid for a fourth-straight grand final when they play Melbourne Storm tonight.
Football | You can follow the latest European football involving Liverpool and others here, and we’re also dissecting Manchester United’s latest crisis.
Swimming | Swimming Australia remains the most prominent sporting organisation not to explicitly give its support to the yes campaign, claiming it is unable to speak on behalf of its state member organisations.
Media roundup
Rupert Murdoch’s the Australian leads with the boss’s departure from the big chair with veteran columnist Paul Kelly paying glowing tribute to a “leader of drive and audacity”. Rugby Australia has backed out of a private equity investment worth $200m when the governing body balked at the demand for 20% stake in the game, the Daily Telegraph says. Victoria’s housing plan is dependent on investment from overseas and tax breaks, the Age reports. And the Courier Mail is worried that the sausage sizzle is under threat from new food safety rules that might make it harder to find someone to cook the snags.
What’s happening today
New South Wales | Judgment in $269.7m lawsuit against the state over sight lines for Barangaroo development.
Sport | Australia play India in Mohali as the three-match ODI World Cup warmup series begins.
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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.
