| | | 20/10/2023 Labor fast-tracks anti-racism strategy, renewables need ‘drastic’ boost, Gaza ground invasion fears |
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| | | Morning everyone. Australia’s view of itself as one of the world’s most successful multicultural nations has taken a battering in the past two weeks after the failed voice referendum and the stirring of intra-communal tension by the eruption of conflict in the Middle East. Our exclusive story this morning reveals that the Albanese government is so shaken that it plans to bring in a new national anti-racism strategy. We have another scoop that a centre-right thinktank is at odds with the Coalition by calling for a “drastic” boost in Australia’s renewable capacity, and is the push for state treaties falling apart? |
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| Australia | | Exclusive | TheBlueprint Institute argues in a report today that Australia needs more green energy, batteries and grid infrastructure, potentially undermining Peter Dutton’s opposition to a bigger rollout. However, it also says small nuclear reactors (pictured) could still play a part in the mix by 2050. | Exclusive | The minister for multicultural affairs, Andrew Giles, says there is a “renewed sense of urgency” about launching a new anti-racism campaign “given the events of recent weeks”. The polarising referendum campaign and domestic anxieties about the Middle East conflict had left him “very concerned”. | Treaty breach | The government has been forced to revoke carbon neutral certification given to a big tobacco company after the endorsement was found to be in breach of a World Health Organization treaty. | Flood failure | Only one in 10 flood-affected homeowners in the New South Wales northern rivers have received a guarantee their house will be bought by the government, and none has had their home retrofitted or raised. | ‘I was trying to do the right thing’ | Kathleen Davies and Chris Vanderstock tell us what drove them to take on the Victorian government’s EV charge and how they feel about their win. |
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| World | | ‘Intellectual bankruptcy’ | A veteran US state department official has quit over what he described as the Biden administration’s “intellectual bankruptcy” in sending more weapons to Israel, as Gaza health officials said Israeli bombing had killed more than 3,700 people. Israel’s defence minister has told troops they will soon see Gaza “from the inside”. Relatives of campaigners killed by Hamas, such as Hayim Katsman, are among the few Israelis arguing against revenge, while Palestinian Americans with family in Gaza have spoken of their daily anguish about whether their loved ones will survive the war. | Uncertain future? | Back in the UK, Guardian analysis has found that Sunak’s controversial “Future Fund” to support startups during the Covid pandemic invested nearly £2m in companies linked to his wife. | ‘Golden passport’ fears | The EU has raised security concerns about the trade in “golden passports” after revealing five Caribbean states have sold citizenship to 88,000 individuals from countries including Iran, Russia and China. | House stalemate | Republican congressman Jim Jordan has shelved his bid to become House speaker and instead is supporting increased powers for the temporary holder, Patrick McHenry. Donald Trump’s former lawyer, Sidney Powell, has pleaded guilty in the Georgia election interference case. | ‘Unconditional love’ | Will Smith has made an emotional speech in support of his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, describing their marriage as “a sloppy public experiment in unconditional love”. |
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| Full Story | | | Where does the court ruling on Victoria’s EV charge leave Labor? Lenore Taylor and Mike Ticher discuss what the court decision on Victoria’s EV charge means for electric vehicle take-up in Australia and if it will kick Labor into action on transport emissions. | |
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| In-depth | | The New South Wales government will review part of its state treaty consultation plan in the wake of the voice referendum defeat, with sources saying there are a lot of conversations going on in the Minns government about the next step and that Indigenous leaders are “shell-shocked” after Saturday. Our exclusive report comes after Queensland’s premier Annastacia Palaszczuk backed away from her treaty plan in a move that our state correspondent says leaves her backed into a corner. |
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| Not the news | | Older generations might see the teenage fad for mullets as shocking, inexplicable, or just plain social suicide. Van Badham can’t help but be repelled, yet at the same time she relates back to her own post-punk tresses dyed an “unforgivable shade of burgundy” and identifies the futility of attempts by some schools to ban mullets. She concludes: “They are not like us, these kids. Thank god, these kids are not like us.” |
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| The world of sport | | Netball | Australia paid the price for costly late misses to lose 56-53 to New Zealand’s Silver Ferns in Invercargill last night but remain in the box seat to retain the Constellation Cup. | A-League Men | When the season kicks off tonight with Central Coast’s visit to Adelaide, it will be chance for the competition to reset after the grand final stoush. | Cricket | India have cantered to victory over Bangladesh in the latest World Cup match in Pune with Virat Kohli leading the chase of 257 with an unbeaten 103. |
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| Media roundup | A quarter of NSW Labor MPs have broken ranks with the party and declared support for Palestine, the Sydney Morning Herald says. Anthony Albanese and Joe Biden will announce major economic partnerships on energy, climate change and defence when the prime minister visits Washington next week, the Australian says. The Victorian government fears the EV tax ruling leaves other state charges such as on gaming machines vulnerable to challenge, says the Age. Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has backed away from the state’s Indigenous treaty commitment after the LNP’s backflip on the issue, reports the Courier Mail. |
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| What’s happening today | Hearing | Public inquiry into Australia’s human rights framework | Century spread | It’s the 100th anniversary of the Vegemite brand |
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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. | |
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