Good morning. Russia has widened its assault on Ukraine, hitting a military base near Poland, killing at least 35 people. Scott Morrison has left open the possibility of a petrol excise cut in budget. And the Baftas are currently under way with the winners to be announced this morning.
The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, is muscling up for another fight with business and the federal government as he pushes forward with Australia’s first paid sick leave trial. “The notion that we all collectively benefit from people not having any sick pay and having to choose between keeping their family fed or keeping their community safe, they’re not choices people should have to make,” Andrews said. He was unapologetic about the need to raise money to pay for social reform, and clearly prepared to contrast his record with that of the prime minister, Scott Morrison, federally.
The Morrison government has been criticised for its “fumbling” response to the floods disaster by dozens of the nation’s top emergency chiefs who say the government was warned in October about the prospect of massive flooding over summer. “The government knew what was coming and it did not adequately prepare our communities or first responders,” New South Wales fire and rescue commissioner Greg Mullins said. Meanwhile, two Queensland mayors have backed calls for the federal government to help underwrite insurance companies against future inundations, so that homeowners aren’t left to cover “catastrophic” financial risks as the climate crisis and a legacy of poor planning coalesce. And helicopter aircrew have shared their experiences rescuing people from snakebites, landslides and rising flood waters.
Russia has escalated its war in Ukraine with strikes on a major military base close to the Polish border, killing at least 35 people and injuring 134 more. The attack happened hours after the Kremlin had warned that western supply lines into the embattled country were “legitimate targets”. Ukraine says at least 1,300 of its soldiers have been killed so far during Russia’s invasion, as the country begins to publicly acknowledge its losses. US journalist Brent Renaud was killed by Russian forces in a town outside Kyiv, and the pope has come out to condemn the invasion and called for the “unacceptable armed aggression” to end.
Australia
The Labor leader, Anthony Albanese, said he is “hungry” for victory, and had learned from the “mistakes” from the Rudd/Gillard era during a 60 Minutes interview. Albanese also predicted the federal election will be on 14 May, and suggested voters were growing tired of Scott Morrison.
Farmers are seeking urgent clarity on who owns the ground beneath their properties after allegations that “deviated” drilling by a gas company has occurred beneath multiple properties without notifying landholders.
Unionist Linda White is leading the race to replace Victorian Labor senator Kim Carr, after a backroom push in the final weeks before the election.
The $30bn plan to build a giant solar farm in northern Australia has moved a step closer with billionaires Mike Cannon-Brookes and Andrew Forrest contributing to a $210m capital raising.
The world
Iran has claimed responsibility for a missile strike near the US consulate in Iraq, saying it was retaliation for an Israeli strike in Syria that killed two of its revolutionary guards.
France will lift most of its Covid restrictions on Monday as the government vows to ease pressure on people’s daily lives despite a rise in infections.
Meanwhile, China’s Covid cases doubled yesterday, forcing lockdowns on virus hotspots as the country contends with its gravest outbreak in two years.
Recommended reads
“Over the years, I think my temperament has become more optimistic,” says Talking Heads frontman David Byrne. “I can, in some ways, convey that to an audience without telling them, without saying, ‘be hopeful,’ I can show them. By what we do on stage, who we are and how we work together, they see evidence that things can be different.” Byrne spoke with Guardian Australia about his new song with Australian musician Montaigne, the bravery of Taylor Swift and leaving Spotify.
The public pool, like the corner store or local pub, is a community hub, a rare spot where families, retirees, young couples and teens from different backgrounds and circumstances meet and play. Arising in the most unlikely of places – whether it be the middle of the Pilbra or the edge of the Murray River – the public pool is the holy grail of refreshment on a hot day, a space to gather, gossip and – for many – learn to swim. Caitlin Cassidy is well acquainted with the public pool due to a chronic back injury, and has shared her top picks from around the country.
Insomnia doesn’t happen overnight. For Mark Starmach it started with a few bad nights, and soon he was waking every night at 2am, unable to nod back off. “As my eyes popped reliably open at 2am, I felt painfully awake – heart and mind racing, feet writhing against the bedsheets, wishing and wishing to sleep. Perhaps the hardest thing about insomnia is how isolating it is, how quiet you have to be.”
Listen
Communities in Queensland and northern NSW are facing the daunting task of cleaning up the damage caused by historic floods earlier this month. Some are angry, others devastated and most are wondering whether government support will be enough to rebuild and recover. Guardian Australia’s Jane Lee speaks to reporter Christopher Knaus on the daily challenges being faced by residents as they rebuild in today’s Full Story.
Full Story is Guardian Australia’s daily news podcast. Subscribe for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any other podcasting app.
Sport
The AFLW has long been a summer offering despite the frustration of players and supporters for whom summer is no time for footy. For this reason, last week’s tabling of an August start to next season came as a surprise … The AFL has to change the start date but due process and consultation with the players appears to be missing, writes Rana Hussain.
Naomi Osaka was reduced to tears after being heckled during her second-round defeat to Veronika Kudermetova in Indian Wells. A spectator reportedly shouted “Naomi, you suck” early in the match, and it was undoubtedly a major factor as she lost 6-0, 6-4.
Media roundup
Northern Territory police are investigating a disturbance at the Alice Springs correctional centre involving more than 50 inmates, in which inmates started fires and caused damage to doors, locks and windows in accommodation blocks, reports the ABC. UnitingCare Australia is calling for a $4bn wage injection for the aged care sector to highlight the enormity of the staffing crisis ahead of the election, reports the Brisbane Times.
Coming up
Election promises are ramping up, with Labor expected to make an announcement about manufacturing and Barnaby Joyce is set to do the same on infrastructure.
And all the glitz, glamour and winners from the Baftas.
And if you’ve read this far …
Singer Rod Stewart is doing his own form of public service by filling in potholes near his Essex estate “because no one can be bothered to do it”. “People are bashing their cars up,” he said. “The other day, there was an ambulance with a burst tyre. My Ferrari can’t go through here at all.”
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