Morning, everyone. Peter Dutton may be dreaming of a nuclear dawn for Australia but our top story this morning heaps pressure on him to shed some more light on how he thinks it’s going to cut bills. One expert tells us the plan could see household outgoings rise by $1,000 a year. We’re also reporting on Victoria’s secret deal with the Israeli defence ministry, how the King of Tonga could have a say in the coed row engulfing a top Sydney school, and we look back on the life of acting great Donald Sutherland, who has died aged 88.
Australia
Tonga lobby | A Sydney barrister and Newington College old boy leading the fight against the private school’s coed shift has sent an impassioned email to alumni, detailing his plans to fly to Tonga this week to lobby King Tupou VI.
Bill shock | Australians could face an increase in annual household power bills of up to $1,000 under a Coalition plan to slow the rollout of large-scale renewable energy and use more gas-fired electricity before nuclear plants are ready, analysts say. NSW’s chief scientist has debunked Peter Dutton’s claim that small modular reactors could be up and running in a decade, arguing that it could take up to 20 years.
Israel agreement | The Victorian government quietly signed an agreement with Israel’s defence ministry to capitalise on “global tensions” and countries wanting to “protect their national interests” militarily, internal documents reveal.
Pertussis problem | A sharp rise in the number of whooping cough cases – made worse by a shortage of medicine – has prompted doctors to urge people to ensure their vaccinations are up to date
Mackay charges | Police are investigating how a 31-year-old man charged with murdering a woman in front of two children in north Queensland gained access to a firearm.
World
‘A life well lived’ | Donald Sutherland, whose acting career spanned six decades and included starring in such highly acclaimed films as Don’t Look Now, M*A*S*H and The Hunger Games, has died aged 88.
Boeing accused | Families of the victims of two Boeing 737 Max 8 crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia have demanded that the plane-maker be criminally prosecuted and fined $25bn for “the deadliest corporate crime in US history”.
New-look Nato | The outgoing Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, will become the new head of Nato after Klaus Iohannis, the Romanian president, withdrew from the race.
IDF transfer | The Israeli military has quietly handed over significant legal powers in the occupied West Bank to pro-settler civil servants working for the far-right minister Bezalel Smotrich.
Tory turmoil | The UK gambling watchdog is looking into a second Conservative candidate over an alleged bet on the timing of the general election. Laura Saunders, the party’s candidate in Bristol North West, is married to the party’s campaigns chief.
Full Story
Newsroom edition: ‘It’s the cost of living, stupid’
Bridie Jabour speaks to Guardian Australia’s editor-in-chief, Lenore Taylor, and head of news, Mike Ticher, about why Australian politics is defined by the cost-of-living crisis.
In-depth
A major scrap is developing over the future of the rights to televise major sporting events. The Albanese government wants to add events such as AFLW and NRLW finals to those deemed of national importance such as the Olympics and Test cricket to ensure they don’t end up behind a paywall. But the lobby group for free-to-air broadcasters want the changes tweaked because they’re worried the proposals could result in homes that don’t have a terrestrial TV connection, or use a smart TV, missing out on seeing those sports for free. Josh Butler has the answers to all your questions.
Not the news
Midwinter has felt like a proper cold season for much of eastern Australia this week with the mercury below 2C in Melbourne. But for Andrew Herrick the solstice is a time to bask in the warm glow of his orange tree as the fruit comes to perfect ripeness and “helps brighten my spirit through another dark season of the soul”.
The world of sport
Euro 2024 | England laboured to a 1-1 draw against Denmark and Serbia scored a late equaliser against Slovenia to draw 1-1 and keep alive their hopes of progressing. And Spain have beaten Italy 1-0 in Gelsenkirchen.
T20 World Cup | India defeated Afghanistan by 47 runs in their opening Super Eight clash in Barbados.
Tennis | British No 1 Jack Draper has claimed arguably the biggest victory of his career by beating the top seed and defending champion, Carlos Alcaraz, at Queen’s Club.
Media roundup
Health authorities have urged GPs to cut back on prescribing some antibiotics to children amid a surge of pneumonia, whooping cough and other respiratory viruses, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. A WA Nationals MP has quit the party over alleged bullying by her own leader Shane Love, the West Australian reports. The Hobart Mercury says thousands of brave souls are preparing for the “biggest ever” nude solstice swim this morning.
What’s happening today
Wieambilla shootings | There will be a pre-inquest conference looking into the deaths of Rachel McCrow, Matthew Arnold, Alan Dare, Stacey Train, Gareth Train and Nathaniel Train.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
