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| | | | 20/03/2025 Labor to cut medicine costs, Bob Carr’s Aukus warning, Rowling sparks Harry Potter feud |
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| Martin Farrer |  |
| | | Morning everyone. It feels like the campaign for an election that hasn’t even been called yet is in full swing. Labor is unveiling plans to slash the cost of medicines in next week’s budget and Coalition MPs are pleading with Peter Dutton for a cost-of-living policy to sell on the stump. We also have a fascinating insight into the social trends and attitudes that will shape the election, Bob Carr condemns the Aukus pact as risking a “colossal surrender of sovereignty”, and we reveal the winner of this year’s hot cross bun taste test. |
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Australia | |
| Aukus ‘surrender’ | Australia faces a “colossal surrender of sovereignty” if promised US nuclear-powered submarines do not arrive under Australian control, former foreign affairs minister Bob Carr has said, arguing the US is “utterly not a reliable ally” to Australia. | Medicinal benefit | A re-elected Labor government would reduce the price of PBS-listed medicines to no more than $25 a script in a major election pledge coming in next week’s budget. It comes as Peter Dutton faces internal pressure to match Labor’s budget giveaways as Coalition MPs hope to neutralise a potentially potent Labor attack during the campaign. | Tasmania | Anthony Albanese plans to rush through contentious legislation next week to protect Tasmania’s salmon industry from a legal challenge over the industry’s impact on an endangered fish species. | Exclusive | Victoria only awarded one new crime prevention grant in the past financial year and several programs supporting young people at risk of reoffending will be cut unless the government increases funding. | Energy | High gas prices and a shift towards running homes and businesses on electricity has put off a forecast gas shortage in Australia’s southern states until 2028, a government agency says. |
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World | |
| ‘War on the rule of law’ | Donald Trump has “declared war on the rule of law in America” and is pitching the country into a constitutional crisis, a prominent former conservative federal judge has said. The comments come as Trump’s press secretary called a federal judge who has blocked the deportation of immigrants a “Democrat activist”. Follow developments live. Elon Musk is claiming, without evidence, that Democrats have been using welfare fraud to attract immigrants and win more votes. | Zelenskyy hope | Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukraine is ready to implement a limited ceasefire on attacks on energy infrastructure after a “frank” telephone call with Donald Trump. Israel has launched a fresh wave of airstrikes in Gaza on the second day of its resumed offensive in the Palestinian territory. | Expelliarmus | Harry Potter author JK Rowling appears to have criticised the three leading actors of the eight-film franchise in a post on social media after falling out with them over trans rights. | Migrants missing | Six people have died and 40 are missing after a boat carrying migrants from Africa sank off the Italian island of Lampedusa on Tuesday. | Gaza war | Israeli forces have launched a “limited ground operation” to retake the Netzarim corridor in a new escalation of its new offensive in Gaza. The UN called for an investigation after a staff member was among 20 people reportedly killed in renewed airstrikes. |
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Full Story | |
| The fake terrorism plot and the real threats to free speech Nour Haydar speaks to Jordyn Beazley about why pressure is now mounting on the New South Wales government to repeal laws rushed through after the discovery of the caravan filled with explosives. | | |
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In-depth | |
| With the election looming, researcher Rebecca Huntley looks at social trends and finds that Australians have lost hope in the concept of the “fair go” and place more value in security and personal freedom. She finds that driving this change is the unaffordability of housing and declining engagement with politics, and has some suggestions about how to fix the problem. |
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Not the news | |
| When it comes to supermarket hot cross buns, shoppers should stock up at Coles according to Australian consumer group Choice, which evaluated 19 traditional, chocolate and gluten-free varieties in its annual taste test. In a finding that may horrify purists, a bun containing choc chips received the highest overall score. |
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What’s happening today | Sydney | Peter Dutton speaks at the Lowy Institute at 10.45am. | Economy | Unemployment figures released at 11.30am. |
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Brain teaser | And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow. | |
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A message from Lenore Taylor editor of Guardian AustraliaI hope you appreciated this newsletter. Before you move on, I wonder if you would consider supporting our work as we prepare for a pivotal, uncertain year ahead.
The course of world history has taken a sharp and disturbing turn in 2024. Liberalism is under threat from populist authoritarianism. Americans have voted to install a president with no respect for democratic norms, nor the facts that once formed the guardrails of public debate.
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| Lenore Taylor
Editor, Guardian Australia |
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