Morning everyone. Armed with two large stacks of folders, the independent MP Andrew Wilkie ended the parliamentary week with an extraordinary set of accusations about the Hillsong church, including using funds for shopping that “would embarrass a Kardashian”. We’ve got the full story, plus how climate change could cause a shortage of your favourite coffee beans, and the day that cricket met Game of Thrones.
Australia
Coffee shock | Australians could run short of their favourite beans because changing climate conditions that reduce the yield have become more frequent over the past four decades, raising the prospect of “systemic shocks” to production, researchers say.
Hillsong claims | Andrew Wilkie has used parliamentary privilege to accuse the mega-church Hillsong of money laundering and tax evasion which he says is proved by leaked documents. Wilkie claimed the church had used “private jets like Ubers” and lavished money on luxury watches, luggage sets and holidays. But the church has disputed many of the accusations as false or out of context.
Church charge | A Catholic order is expected to argue today it should be shielded from abuse claims relating to one of the worst paedophiles in the New South Wales Catholic school system because he is dead, despite allegedly concealing his crimes from authorities for decades.
NSW election | The Perrottet government has introduced new rules that will grant coalmines licences for water from the drinking catchment for Sydney and the Illawarra region, in what opponents called a “cynical” move.
‘It’s ginormous’ | An out-of-control bushfire in New South Wales’s central west could keep going for weeks, the Rural Fire Service has warned, after it blazed through properties and scorched bushland.
World
‘No evidence’ | Dominion Voter Systems and Fox News have exchanged further barbs. The voting machine company is asking a judge to settle its $1.6bn libel case in its favour because Fox had “produced no evidence” supporting its claims of vote rigging in the 2020 election.
Missile barrage | Russia has unleashed its largest missile attack on Ukraine in weeks, targeting energy infrastructure including the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, while Kyiv’s forces are still holding on in Bakhmut despite heavy casualties.
Trudeau pressure | Justin Trudeau is under mounting pressure to explain how his government has responded to the threat of Chinese interference in Canadian elections after damning intelligence leaks.
‘Jaw-dropping’ | The pay packet for the recently departed chief executive of Shell jumped more than 50% to nearly £10m (A$18m) in 2022 including a bonus labelled “jaw-dropping” by campaigners.
‘Are you kidding?’ | Basic Instinct star Sharon Stone says judicial prejudice caused her to lose custody of her son after the presiding judge in her 2004 divorce case asked the four-year-old whether he knew his mother made “sex movies”.
Full Story
Is the UK adopting Australia’s cruel mistakes? – with Lenore Taylor
As the British government launches its own “stop the boats” policy, Lenore Taylor and Mike Ticher discuss the enduring inhumanity of Australia’s immigration regime and whether the UK will learn from our mistakes.
In-depth
Australia is expected to buy both US and British-designed nuclear submarines in a deal that is anticipated to be unveiled next week when Anthony Albanese attends an Aukus defence pact summit with the British prime minister, Rishi Sunak, and the US president, Joe Biden, in San Diego. Our defence correspondent, Daniel Hurst, has been talking to the man in charge of the nuclear subs project, V Adm Jonathan Mead, who has hailed it as a “generational challenge” that will transform Australia’s “strategic personality”.
Not the news
Our writers have been sifting through the best Australian books to be published this week (pictured) and they include Sam Neill’s eagerly awaited memoir, Did I Ever Tell You This?, as well as Infidelity and Other Affairs by Kate Legge, which details the impact of her husband’s 30-year-long philandering. We’ve also got Margaret Simons’s biography of Tanya Plibersek, forged, apparently, by a mutual love of Jane Austen.
The world of sport
Cricket | Usman Khawaja’s resilient century has put Australia into a position of dominance after the first day of the fourth Test, confirming his place as currently the team’s most important batsman. The cricket was preceded by a bizarre political rally for Indian PM Narendra Modi which also featured Anthony Albanese, pictured.
Football | Manchester United have added Chelsea’s Mason Mount to a list of attacking midfield targets including Jude Bellingham, along with a possible bid for Harry Kane.
Women’s World Cup | Corinne Diacre has been sacked a coach of the French women’s team after some stars refused to play in the World Cup.
Media roundup
The Herald Sun says there are fears for jobs at the Maryvale Mill, Latrobe Valley’s biggest employer, with the state government accused of not doing enough to save the sector. The NT News reports on a “dramatic” navy rescue of six people on board a luxury yacht that got into difficulties in the Arafura Sea off Indonesia. And the Australian reports on a Senate committee that’s recommending the government set up a trial of a four-day work week.
What’s happening today
Canberra | An inquiry into supporting democracy in the region will hear from the Australian Council For International Development, the Australian Electoral Commission and Save the Children.
WikiLeaks | Supporters of Julian Assange will gather to unveil a statue of the detained whistleblower in Sydney.
Victoria | Committal mention for retired independent MP Russell Northe on 45 charges brought by Ibac.
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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.
