Good morning. As missile strikes continue, Tehran is warning that it will deem energy and desalination infrastructure across the Middle East a legitimate target if Donald Trump follows through on threats to bomb Iran’s power plants.
Meanwhile, there has been disbelief as a former police detective is appointed to Queensland’s Legal Aid board – despite having been described in federal court documents as a “principal antagonist” in events surrounding the Palm Island riots in 2004.
Elsewhere, former staff at the ATO’s outsourced debt collector Recoveriescorp claim they were treated “like battery hens”. And we take stock after the Matildas’ stinging defeat by Japan in the Women’s Asian Cup final.
Australia
Exclusive | Queensland’s government has been accused of “opening old wounds” by appointing a former police detective who was heavily criticised for his role in events before and after the 2004 death in custody of Mulrunji Doomadgee and subsequent rioting in the Palm Island community to the state’s Legal Aid board.
‘Like battery hens’ | Former workers at the ATO’s private debt collector, Recoveriescorp, claim they faced much worse conditions than those in public service amid high rates of resignations.
War fears | A new study by the Australian National University suggests that nearly half of Australians believe a foreign military will attack their country within the next five years.
Analysis | Amid the oil shock caused by the Iran war, Australia is quietly considering ways to exert leverage on countries that buy our resources – gas, coal and more – to guarantee our future oil supplies.
SA elections | One Nation will win at least one South Australian lower house seat, and is leading in others, as the Liberals consider “sobering lessons” from a thumping election loss to Labor.
World
Middle East crisis | Tehran has said it will “irreversibly destroy” essential infrastructure across the Middle East if the US attacks its energy sites; “threats and terror” only strengthen Iran’s unity, its president has said; and as Israel’s military reports a wave of Iranian missiles, Benjamin Netanyahu hopes destroying Iran’s “axis of evil” will rehabilitate his image, Emma Graham-Harrison reports.
West Bank violence | Israeli settlers have carried out a series of violent attacks across the occupied West Bank, setting homes and vehicles on fire and wounding several Palestinians.
‘Fantastic guy’ | Trump has lauded Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán, who faces a tough challenge in what could be Europe’s most consequential parliamentary election this year.
Shutdown standoff | ICE agents will be deployed to US airports this week in an operation the Trump administration has cast as helping airport staff who have been working without pay because of a partial US government shutdown.
Is the truth out there? | US officials have registered the aliens.gov web domain – just a month after Trump pledged to release UFO‑related files in the US government’s possession.
Full Story
Why the Christchurch terror attack still awaits a full reckoning
In 2019, a white supremacist murdered 51 worshippers at two mosques in Christchurch in what was New Zealand’s worst mass shooting. Across the Tasman, some say we have yet to reckon with the massacre which was perpetrated by a man raised and radicalised in Australia. Imam Alaa Elzokm and investigations reporter Ariel Bogle speak with Reged Ahmad about why Australia struggles to confront its connection to the massacre.
In-depth
“Social cohesion.” The phrase should evoke optimism, positive thoughts about the future, trust and belonging. But for many people in Australia, social cohesion has lost its feelgood vibe. It seems almost out of reach in a chaotic world. Now, the term provokes cynicism, confusion – even anger. So, Julianne Schultz asks, what will it take to offer a fair go for all?
Not the news
The latest in our Internet wormhole series takes a whiff of the nostalgia-driven world of fragrance TikTok. Perfume obsessives are making online fragrance-inspired mood boards for everything from “seeing your childhood bestie for the last time” to “looking at old photos”. Eleanor Burnard finds these perfume slideshows strangely comforting – and a reprieve from reality TV fight clips, ragebait content and AI slop.
Sport
Football | The Matildas’ near misses sting but their Asian Cup final suggests this great team are not done, Samantha Lewis writes; the Spurs also got that sinking feeling after a loss to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League; Ollie Watkins put the seal on Aston Villa’s win over West Ham; and Nico O’Reilly scored twice as Manchester City beat Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final.
AFL | A bereft Bombers poked, prodded and pointed fingers against Port. What were they even trying to do?, Jonathan Horn asks.
Cricket | England’s Brendon McCullum has been told to improve relations with counties after an Ashes review.
Tennis | Serena Williams has courted drama once again as the game of “will she won’t she” goes on.
Media roundup
After a successful recent trial during Mardi Gras weekend, 24-hour public transport services could soon become a reality in Sydney, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. Parental contributions are causing a “moral dilemma” at some schools in Victoria as fewer than half of families pay the voluntary fee, the Age reports. Eyebrows have been raised after Cricket Australia unveiled the most congested schedule in the sport’s history for the summer ahead, per ABC News. And according to the Mercury, there are warnings cancer patients in Tasmania face a crisis as oncology services in the state “buckle”s.
What’s happening today
Diplomacy | The European Union president Ursula Von der Leyen is due to begin an official visit to Australia today.
ACT | Federal parliament is sitting.
Queensland | A coronial inquest is scheduled in Brisbane into the disappearance of Mount Isa man Tallis Ahfat.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
