Good afternoon. The Labor-Greens deadlock on the federal government’s signature housing bill is over. The Greens have agreed to support the legislation after securing an additional $3bn in immediate funding for public and community housing.
In announcing the deal, the Greens admitted it was unable to get a Labor commitment to freeze or cap rent increases – a key sticking point that had stalled the legislation.
“We will not stop fighting. We will not rest until we get a cap and freeze on rent increases,” the Greens MP, Max Chandler-Mather, said. The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, thanked the Greens leader, Adam Bandt, “for the constructive discussions that we have had” and accused the Coalition of being of “great irrelevancy in Australian politics” for having opposed the bill.
Top news
Australian police ready to assist if Luis Rubiales investigated | NSW police say they are willing to work with Spanish authorities and assist with an investigation “where required” if they receive a report over Luis Rubiales grabbing and kissing midfielder Jenni Hermoso during last month’s Women’s World Cup.
Flyer distributor charged with child labour breaches | Ive Distribution, one of Australia’s largest catalogue distribution companies, has been hit with more than 2,400 criminal charges for allegedly breaching Victorian child employment laws, by allegedly hiring youths aged under 15 without permits. In a statement, Ive Distribution said it has been granted individual permits and a company-wide licence.
Third dingo euthanised on K’gari | Another dingo has been put down on Queensland’s K’gari after a number of “high risk” incidents, including biting a woman on a beach. Rangers had tagged this specific dingo in January and noticed increased behavioural problems including stalking and biting.
Sydney smoke haze | Air quality was degraded to “very poor” conditions in Sydney’s east after a blanket of smoke covered parts of the city this morning from hazard reduction burns at the weekend.
Alleged car abduction and stabbing in Melbourne | Four people have been arrested after a man was allegedly abducted and stabbed in Melbourne’s inner north-east, prompting a police chase. Police allege they tailed the car from a distance and saw a man with facial injuries leave the vehicle at an intersection in the city’s north. The man was taken to hospital.
Djokovic wins US Open | The Serb beat Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 7-6, 6-3 in his third major of 2023.
Small island nations take big polluters to court | In a landmark hearing, a group of small island nations disproportionately affected by the climate crisis – including the Bahamas, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Antigua and Barbuda among others – will take on high-emitting countries in a court in Hamburg, Germany, in what is being seen as the first climate justice case aimed at protecting the ocean.
Morocco earthquake | Help has yet to arrive in the village of Moulay Brahim in the Atlas mountains, where many homes have been reduced to rubble and survivors are sleeping on the street. “It lasted for six seconds,” one survivor recalled. “It felt like we were being bombed.”
Full Story
The chilling rise of AI scams
Criminals are cloning voices and making calls to trick victims into sending them money. How can they be stopped? Listen to this 23-minute episode.
What they said …
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“The threshold for rental stress across the nation is actually 30%. But in my region, we see that everyday people are paying 44% of their income in rent.” – Helen Haines, Indi MP
The independent MP introduced an “unlocking regional housing” private member’s bill to parliament today to boost funding for housing in regional and rural Australia.
In numbers
Have we reached peak China? Facing a slowing economy and a less secure jobs market, China’s educated elite are left negotiating a new central bargain with the government.
Before bed read
Neighbours is back, and the Guardian review is in: three stars.
“It feels like seeing a distant relative come back from the dead. Sure, you are pleased to see them, but it’s all a bit disconcerting,” writes Frances Ryan.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: SAY. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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