Morning everyone. Queensland’s commitment to new laws to prevent faith-based schools from discriminating against gay teachers is being sacrificed as part of the Labor government’s electoral calculus, our exclusive story reveals today. In federal politics, Peter Dutton’s calculation about reigniting the climate wars for potential electoral gain comes under our microscope.
Overseas, the US and Ukraine sign a 10-year security agreement, and Sam Kerr commits to Chelsea for another two years.
Australia
‘Thanks for the free rent’ | Cheng Lei, the journalist who was detained in China for three years, joked about her “rent-free accommodation”, weight loss and living in a cell with the lights on all the time when she made her comedy debut in Melbourne last night.
Exclusive | The Queensland government will renege on its promise to pass new anti-discrimination laws before the October state election – a move that advocates say will leave women fleeing domestic violence, people with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ+ community at risk.
Vaccine lag | Immunisation rates are lagging in Australia’s most vulnerable populations – the very young and old – with experts blaming practical barriers as well as misinformation and vaccine hesitancy that took off during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Bat plea | Conservationists have urged the environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, to reassess an application for land clearing at Daly River because it could endanger the already threatened ghost bat. She is also facing a legal challenge from anti-coalmining groups over approvals for two developments in NSW.
Clocking off | The Media Watch host Paul Barry is “hanging up the mic” after 11 years and will leave the ABC show in December.
World
Moscow ‘meddling’ | The UK, US and Canada have accused Russia of a plot to interfere in Moldova’s presidential election and referendum on EU membership later this year as leaders of the G7 gathered for a summit in Italy. Joe Biden and Volodymyr Zelenskiy (pictured) will sign a 10-year bilateral security agreement at the summit where leaders also agreed a US$50bn loan to Kyiv based on frozen Russian assets.
Abortion victory | The US supreme court has voted unanimously to maintain availability of the common abortion pill mifepristone in a major victory for activists trying to keep access. Donald Trump has been serenaded by Republican leaders on Capitol Hill in his first visit since 6 January 2021, but Nancy Pelosi likened it to “returning to the scene of a crime”.
Rafah bombardment | Israeli tanks rolled into the western part of Rafah overnight as the city came under intense helicopter, drone and artillery fire in what residents described as one of the worst bombardments of the area so far.
PCOS hope | An anti-malarial drug used in ancient Chinese medicine could be an effective treatment for polycystic ovary syndrome, a groundbreaking study suggests.
Whale sightings | An unexpectedly high number of whales have been spotted off the east coast of America, including an unusually high number of an endangered species, scientists who study the animals say.
Full Story
Newsroom edition: the consequences of Peter Dutton’s climate war
Our political editor, Karen Middleton, writes today about how the bad-tempered exchanges between Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton over climate policy show that both sides are “stress-testing” their messaging ahead of next year’s election. And in today’s newsroom edition of the Full Story podcast, Lenore Taylor and Adam Morton discuss the opposition’s leader’s strategy and why he has put politics before country.
In-depth
From the everyday practicality of gym memberships or a coffee cart, to the more unlikely offerings of a drum kit or kombucha on tap, employers are hoping a refreshed range of workplace perks will lure pandemic-weary staff out of their home offices and back to face-to-face work. Daisy Dumas checks out the funky new furniture.
Not the news
In our monthly feature on up and coming acts it’s the turn of Dobby, the Murrawarri-Filipino drummer and rapper who has released what Sian Cain says “might be the most genuinely radical hip-hop album of the year”. It’s certainly true that there aren’t many hip-hop records about the degradation of the Murray-Darling Basin but Warrangu: River Story is just that.
The world of sport
Football | Sam Kerr has signed a contract extension at Chelsea, keeping the Matildas captain at the club until 2026.
Swimming | Kaylee McKeown narrowly missed breaking her own world record in the 200m backstroke at the Olympic trials in Brisbane last night, falling 0.16 seconds short. Kyle Chalmers secured selection for a third Olympics by winning the men’s 100m freestyle.
Euro 2024 | With Germany and Scotland kicking off a month of action at roughly this time tomorrow, our writers – and fans from the 24 countries – forecast who will win, who will score the most goals and what they want from the world’s second-biggest tournament.
Media roundup
A private school principal tells the Age that teachers are “competing with Andrew Tate” in trying to educate boys about respecting women. Only Hong Kong has less affordable housing than Sydney, according to a survey cited in the Daily Telegraph, with Melbourne ranked seventh. An LNP government would scrap Queensland’s Pioneer-Burdekin pumped-hydro power plan proposed by the state government, the opposition leader, David Crisafulli, tells the Courier Mail. With one chef and just the owner front of house, a less than ideal Adelaide Advertiser dining review offers a cautionary tale for would-be restaurateurs.
What’s happening today
Politics | The proposed redistribution of New South Wales electorates will be released.
Agriculture | Public hearing on ending live sheep exports.
NSW | Findings of the inquest into the death of a woman from a dog attack in Vincentia.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
