Morning everyone. Confirming what many already know when surveying real estate websites, figures out today show that affordable housing is beyond the reach of people living in Australia’s eastern capitals. We have the full story, plus a warning that we could run out of gas (even as global oil bosses pour scorn on the push to switch to renewables), and the UK’s privacy watchdog is investigating attempts to access the Princess of Wales’s private medical records.
Australia
Lattouf stoush | A union meeting of ABC journalists has called for the broadcaster’s chief content officer, Chris Oliver-Taylor, to stand down after what they say is his mismanagement of the removal of casual radio presenter Antoinette Lattouf (pictured).
‘Broken system’ | According to new Parliamentary Library analysis released by the Greens, the average annual salary needed to buy a home without financial stress is $164,400. Only in two cities – greater Perth and Darwin – will people find a unit that doesn’t put the average earner under housing stress with the Greens calling for negative gearing and capital gains perks to be pared back.
Gas warning | Southern Australia could face gas shortages during “extreme peak demand days” from 2025 as Bass Strait supplies dwindle and exports increase, the Australian Energy Market Operator has said.
Exclusive | A Victorian supreme court judge has raised concerns an increased public focus on crime may be causing authorities to take a “more conservative approach” when it comes to assessing bail suitability for children.
Custody call | An alliance of parliamentary crossbenchers has backed a call from senator Lidia Thorpe for the federal government to urgently address recommendations in reports on Indigenous deaths in custody and child removals.
World
‘Abandon the fantasy’ | The bosses of the world’s leading oil and gas companies have poured scorn on efforts to move away from fossil fuels, saying campaigners should “abandon the fantasy”. Meanwhile, the Biden administration announced new regulations overnight on exhaust emissions that constitute the strictest-ever limit on pollution from the nation’s cars.
‘Personal and political’ | The Irish prime minister, Leo Varadkar, has announced that he is standing down and also relinquishing his role as the leader of the governing Fine Gael party, in a surprise move for “personal and political” reasons.
Ukraine plea | Ukraine could make 2m drones a year – double the existing rate of production – with extra financial support from the west and private citizens, the country’s minister for digital transformation has claimed.
Royal privacy | The UK’s privacy watchdog is investigating whether the London Clinic delayed notifying it about claims staff tried to access the Princess of Wales’ private medical records.
Banksy defaced | A mural of a tree painted by Banksy on a residential building in north London has been defaced with white paint two days after it first appeared.
Full Story
Karen Middleton on the state of Australian politics
Our new political editor, Karen Middleton, tells Nour Haydar how she got hooked on politics.
In-depth
If you’d noticed the price of your favourite cocktail going up and up, you’re not wrong. While the cost of a bottle of wine has remained fairly stable despite inflation, other drinks have soared because they are taxed in a different way. Australians pay 20 times more alcohol tax on a shot of gin, for example, as they might on a standard glass of shiraz. Josh Nicholas hears why some think tax should be standardised, while others think the current system works.
Not the news
From Sean Lock to football mascots looking solemn, and from an Irish donkey derby from 1994 to a Dutch satire about cricket, the musician comedian David O’Doherty shares what he thinks are the funniest things he’s ever seen on the internet.
The world of sport
Football | Several Lebanon players will find western Sydney familiar as they prepare to take on the Socceroos in a World Cup qualifier tonight.
Tennis | Fellow players have rallied around Aryna Sabalenka at the Miami Open after the death of the world No 2’s boyfriend, Konstantin Koltsov.
Football | Police have arrested at least six people and raided the headquarters of the Spanish Football Federation and a residence belonging to its former president, Luis Rubiales, as part of an investigation into allegations of corruption and money laundering.
Media roundup
The Hobart Mercury judges that Labor leader Rebecca White was the clear crowd favourite after her debate showdown with premier Jeremy Rockliff before Saturday’s Tasmania election. It will cost Queensland $400m to fund improved transport links to the planned Olympic athletics venue, the Courier Mail reports. Victoria’s schools will be short of 5,000 teachers by 2028, according to a report cited in the Herald Sun.
What’s happening today
Aukus | The UK’s foreign and defence secretaries will be in Canberra for talks with ministers.
New South Wales | Findings of the inquest into the death of Brandon Rich, who died after being restrained by police, to be handed down.
Women’s cricket | Bangladesh v Australia ODI starts 2.30pm.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
