Morning everyone. Working at the limits of fatigue, back-to-back 11- or 12-hour days and a roster system “not fit for purpose”. These are some of the complaints made by Virgin Australia pilots, who say in our exclusive top story this morning that working practices pose a “clear, present safety risk”.
In other news, Anthony Albanese accuses Peter Dutton of having a “wrecking” strategy, a bizarre “two-hour-long pagan mass” given by Argentinian president Javier Milei, and an Australian tourist tells how he escaped death in a terror attack in Afghanistan.
Australia
‘Shallow and shambolic’ | Anthony Albanese begins his third year as prime minister by going on the political attack, accusing Peter Dutton of fuelling division and taking a “shallow and shambolic” approach to policy.
Exclusive | Senior pilots at Virgin Australia have alleged fatigue is widespread in their ranks and raised safety concerns about a roster system some claim is working them “to the limits”. As they fight the private equity-owned airline over a proposal to strip pilots of six days off a year, Guardian Australia has obtained correspondence from senior pilots pleading for action to address worker fatigue.
Exclusive | The services company Serco was fined for having “concealed” the “inappropriate” use of firefighting equipment for crowd control at the Christmas Island detention centre – including on people not involved in riots.
Taxing issue | The accounting firm controlled by the secretive Exclusive Brethren church has announced it will close after an extraordinary raid conducted by the Australian Taxation Office.
‘We were fish in a barrel’ | An Australian tourist targeted in a deadly shooting in Afghanistan thought he would die after coming face to face with an Islamic State gunman who killed three Spanish tourists from the group, as well as three Afghans.
World
Tory ‘dead duck’ | Rishi Sunak has made the embarrassing admission that deportation flights to Rwanda will not leave before the general election, and his ruse of stacking a stump meeting with his own Conservative councillors was exposed. The Tory leader has taken an “astonishing gamble” by going to the polls early, one analyst says, while Keir Starmer is banking that his simple slogan “Change” (pictured) will take him to Downing Street.
‘Smashed good people’ | A reminder of the roots of the Tories’ struggles came overnight when the head of the civil service told the Covid inquiry that the chaos of the Boris Johnson government “smashed good people to pieces”.
Israel-Gaza war | Prisoners held at an Israeli detention camp are being subjected to widespread physical and mental abuses, according to two whistleblowers. And the families of hostages held in Gaza have released footage showing the capture of five female Israeli soldiers on 7 October.
Macron vow | The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has vowed not to force through voting change in New Caledonia after anger over the plans sparked more than a week of unrest. Drone footage showed the damage to buildings in the capital as he arrived.
Directors’ cut | The veteran British film directors Ken Loach and Mike Leigh have resigned as patrons of the Phoenix cinema in London in protest over the venue hosting an Israeli state-sponsored film festival.
Full Story
Newsroom edition: why the Coalition’s nuclear policy makes no sense
As Peter Dutton once again talks up nuclear power as the Coalition’s signature energy policy, editor-in-chief Lenore Taylor and deputy editor Patrick Keneally discuss why a nuclear transition is the wrong path for Australia.
In-depth
“He’s completely screwed me on all counts but I’m convinced he’s our only chance,” says one man in the crowd at a book launch-cum-rock concert staged by Argentina’s far-right president Javier Milei (pictured). Striding around the stage of the 8,000-seat arena in Buenos Aires, Milei screamed into his mic: “I’m the king and I will destroy you!”, and “I eat the elites for breakfast!”. La Nación said it was like nothing ever seen before and described his “performance” as “a two-hour-long pagan mass celebrated by a president in ecstasy”. It’s a must read from Jacundo Iglesia and Tom Phillips.
Not the news
The third season of Prime’s documentary series The Test follows Australia’s men’s cricket team in England for what proved to be a memorable and extremely combustible Ashes contest. From Pat Cummins dealing with an angry mob calling him a cheat to David Warner hurling bats, the camera captures everything. As Mitch Marsh says: “For people to see how heavy Lords was, understand what we went through – it’s special.”
The world of sport
A-League Men | Central Coast may be on the cusp of making history in tomorrow’s grand final but their opponents Melbourne Victory will relish the role of party poopers, writes Joey Lynch.
Tennis | From Swiatek to Sabalenka, and from Garcia to Ostapenko, here’s your guide to the women to watch ahead of the French Open tennis. In the men’s draw, Rafael Nadal has been handed a stiff first-round test in what could be his last appearance.
Premier League | Thomas Tuchel has emerged as the frontrunner to replace Erik ten Hag as Manchester United’s manager if he is sacked, while West Ham confirmed Julen Lopetegui will succeed David Moyes as their head coach.
Cycling | Spare a thought for Australia’s Kaden Groves, who has been pipped on the line for a third time in the Giro d’Italia.
Media roundup
All 18 AFL clubs have been put on notice that they could face a class action over historic racism, the Age claims in an exclusive. The popular New South Wales ski resort of Charlotte Pass has been forced to close weeks before the start of the season because of a fire that destroyed its sewage treatment centre, the Sydney Morning Herald says. Three people have had a miraculous escape after a train derailed at a notorious crossing on the Barwon Highway, the Courier Mail reports.
What’s happening today
Sydney | Hearing for US extradition case against Daniel Duggan at 10am.
Victoria | Police apology to Stolen Generation in Melbourne.
Perth | The latest strategic conference in the Linda Reynolds, David Sharaz, Brittany Higgins defamation case starts at 4.15pm.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
