Morning everyone. A group calling itself Reform Australia was handing out leaflets at a Put Australia First rally on the weekend. But who are they, and are they connected to Reform in the UK? We dig in.
In South Australia, a powerful American Christian group is supporting a woman’s objections to an “inclusivity” presentation at her child’s school, and in Victoria Helen Garner says the changes at the state library are a “disgrace”.
We also analyse the Wallabies’ tough World Cup draw and reveal Australia’s top Google searches of the year.
Australia
‘Like Uluru’ | Mineworkers in a remote region of Northern Territory have described their astonishment after they were caught in huge dust storms two days running. “It reminded us of Uluru,” one said.
Right turn | The Put Australia First rally in Sydney last weekend saw the emergence of a new right-wing group, Reform Australia, handing out recruitment leaflets. But with no link to Nigel Farage’s surging Reform UK, who is behind the group and how is it connected to other similar organisations in Australia?
‘Disgrace on our city’ | Helen Garner says the State Library of Victoria has been turned into “party central” and a plan to cut jobs and focus on digital projects will “bring disgrace on the name of our city”, as hundreds of writers express alarm. One of them, Gideon Haigh, is aghast at this “crude self-lobotomy”.
Immigration warning | A Liberal senator has condemned the “inflammatory and irresponsible” language being deployed in the debate over immigration levels, challenging colleagues to approach the policy in a “respectful and honest way”.
‘Freedom’ fight | A US-based global organisation – Alliance Defending Freedom, which says it “advances the God-given right to live and speak the truth” – has thrown its support behind a South Australian woman who says her daughter was exposed to inappropriate sexual content at school.
World
Ukraine loan | The European Commission will move ahead with a long-awaited proposal to fund Ukraine with a loan based on Russia’s frozen assets. Here’s how it might work. Pope Leo says Europe must be involved in the Ukraine peace talks and suggested Italy could be mediator. Check out our visual guide to what Russia wants.
Epstein files | House Democrats have released images and video taken in 2020 at Jeffrey Epstein’s private Caribbean island. Meanwhile, in the US, we reveal a huge new internal database of non-US citizens that is raising fears of a fresh crackdown on immigrants. Follow the action from Washington.
Under water | Thames Water – once owned by Macquarie Bank – faces the prospect of a collapse as talks stall over how to service its huge $35bn debt pile.
A dog’s life | Having a dog in the home could help boost teenagers’ mental health, research suggests, with scientists adding this could in part be down to the sharing of microbes.
UK | The Women’s Institute in the UK will no longer accept transgender women as members from April after the supreme court ruling on the legal definition of a woman.
Full Story
Why NDIS plans will soon be computer-generated
Senior reporter Kate Lyons speaks to Nour Haydar about her exclusive story revealing how the government plans to make NDIS plans computer-generated. Kate has also written this piece about what advocates have dubbed “roboplanning”, with one telling her the plans are “a serious threat to our human rights and to the NDIS that we were promised”.
In-depth
Greg Jericho delves into yesterday’s national accounts and finds reasons to be cheerful – for example, higher household spending and living standards above pre-Covid levels. However, further digging reveals that some numbers are better news than others if you care about the environment.
Not the news
A list of the most-Googled things in Australia this year is a window into what concerns the nation. The top three were quite weighty news topics – Cyclone Alfred, Charlie Kirk and the federal election – but the top 10 also included the disgraced health blogger Belle Gibson, the American serial killer Ed Gein and the England v India Test series.
Sport
Rugby World Cup | The Wallabies will have a familiar opponents in their World Cup pool after the hosts were drawn to play the All Blacks in the probable tournament opener in Perth in October 2027. Their other matches will be against Chile and Hong Kong and they know they must improve after a dismal end to this year. England have a favourable start against Wales, Tonga and Zimbabwe.
Cricket | Pat Cummins could make a dramatic late return to Australia’s starting XI in the second Test in Brisbane later today after recovering from a back injury. He will strengthen an attack already boasting Mitchell Starc, the man former Ashes victims say is a “devastating weapon” with the pink ball.
Football | Players say an A-Leagues website crash symbolises greater incompetence as their union warns of a possible strike. There are more Premier League matches this morning as well. Follow them here.
Media roundup
A tunnel worker has won $2.4m in damages after being diagnosed with silicosis, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. A 4,000km wide, 46C heat storm is about to bake outback Queensland for six days, the Courier Mail reports. West coast anglers have been banned from fishing for the rare species demersal until 2027 while commercial fishing has been banned for good, according to WAtoday.
What’s happening today
Economy | Parliamentary Budget Office to release the 2025-26 national fiscal outlook.
Melbourne | Victorian healthcare workers to strike and march on parliament over threatened pay cuts.
Security | The Sydney Dialogue summit on technology and security policy takes place.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
