Good afternoon.
Facebook and Instagram began shutting down half a million accounts of users under 16 years old on Thursday as the deadline for the Albanese government’s social media ban looms. The Young Nationals have urged Labor to scrap the law entirely, arguing many children in regional and remote areas rely on social media to stay connected.
The ban is due to take effect from 10 December. Here’s everything you need to know.
Top news
Starc takes early England wickets as Lyon dropped for second Ashes Test – follow live
Accused childcare paedophile Joshua Dale Brown charged with 83 new offences
Victoria to cut 1,000 public service jobs in bid to slash government spending
Heatwave warning for large parts of Australia as temperatures expected to reach low 40s
Trump pardons entertainment exec indicted by his own justice department
In pictures
Robots demonstrate their boxing ability in front of a crowd at an exhibition in Tokyo in this highlight from the Guardian’s daily wrap of photos from around the world.
What they said …
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“I cannot begin to tell you how retraumatising it is to have your rapist weaponise the legal system against you for daring to speak out.” – Brittany Higgins
The former Liberal staffer has said she feels she can “breathe again” after Bruce Lehrmann lost his appeal against a defamation decision that found he raped her. Richard Ackland has dissected Lehrmann’s solicitor’s description of her client as an “inspiration” – only to “litigants whose cases have crashed and burned”, he writes in the Guardian.
Full Story
Why NDIS plans will soon be computer-generated
A Guardian Australia exclusive report has revealed details of a planned major overhaul to the national disability insurance scheme. Under the new model, funding and support plans will be generated by a computer, with human involvement dramatically reduced.
Senior reporter Kate Lyons speaks to Nour Haydar about what this means for the more than 750,000 Australians relying on the scheme, and why some staff and disability advocates are raising the alarm.
Before bed read
It may be Fred Again, Donna Summer or Barkaa. Your musical “listening age” could be 21, 57 or three. You have listened to 14 minutes or 40,000. But, as Cait Kelly reports, your Spotify Wrapped list is not likely to feature much Australian content.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: ELAN. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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