Afternoon. Anthony Albanese has warned stepping away from 2030 emissions targets would be “catastrophic”, saying he was “very confident” those targets can be met.
The prime minister was on the front foot today over the Coalition’s policy to ditch the 2030 emissions target, taking aim at Peter Dutton who he says “has never believed in taking action on climate change” and is “worse than Scott Morrison” on the issue.
Our correspondent, Daniel Hurst, writes from Canberra that the attack was notable, with Albanese “evidently feeling it’s an area of vulnerability for the Coalition in the run-up to the next federal election”.
Top news
Most Australians oppose allowing schools to sack gay teachers | Polling commissioned by the advocacy group Just.Equal Australia, shows 52% oppose laws allowing faith-based schools to legally sack or refuse to hire teachers on the basis of sexuality and gender identity, as the proposed changes to discrimination and religious discrimination law once again reach a political deadlock.
Sydney council ordered to pay back pork-barrelling grants | Hornsby shire council, in the city’s north, will need to repay $36m it controversially received from a grants fund awarded to almost entirely Coalition electorates under the former New South Wales government. The current state Labor government described the scheme as “egregious” pork barrelling.
Coles limits egg purchases | Signs in physical stores and on the Coles online store have notified customers around the country of the restrictions, after a deadly strain of bird flu hit farms in Victoria.
Indigenous singer allegedly refused taxi service in Perth | The acclaimed Gumbaynggirr-Yamatji soul singer Emma Donovan has alleged she was refused service by multiple taxi drivers at Perth airport, with one driver allegedly telling her that he didn’t serve her “kind of people”. “I know this wasn’t because of a short fare, I know this was racism at its finest,” Donovan wrote on Facebook.
US consulate in Sydney vandalised | The consulate on Miller Street in North Sydney was vandalised with a sledgehammer, New South Wales police say, after it was painted with a symbol used by some pro-Palestinian activists.
Populist right makes gains in EU but pro-European centre holds | The far right made stunning gains in France, Germany and Austria in the weekend’s European elections – but despite that, the pro-European centre appeared to have held in a set of results likely to complicate EU lawmaking.
Belgium headed for new government | The outgoing governing coalition headed by the liberal prime minister Alexander De Croo has lost its ability to form a majority after the country’s general elections. Meanwhile, an expected surge for far right Vlaams Belang failed to materialise. De Croo will remain caretaker prime minister until a new coalition, currently involving seven parties, is formed.
UK police more than six times more likely to strip-search black children | A new study shows that black adults were 4.7 times more likely than white adults to be told they must strip, and black children are 6.5 times more likely than their white counterparts.
In pictures
Vivid Sydney 2024
It’s once again that time of year, when Sydney becomes a canvas for the brilliant display of creativity, innovation and technology that is the Vivid festival. Click here for the photo gallery.
What they said …
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“A lot of people out there … do great things, but don’t have a lot of money, and they’re doing great things around their own community. Why they continue to give politicians awards is beyond me. Really gets up my nose. I have to be honest with you, we get paid to do the job for you. We shouldn’t be getting awards on top of it. Full stop.” – Jacqui Lambie
The independent senator was responding to former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews being awarded a Companion of the Order of Australia.
In numbers
But seven in 10 surveyed said they were reluctant to compromise their retirement lifestyle, according to new research by the banking and superannuation company AMP.
Before bed read
A new trend is sweeping TikTok: #boysober. Its rules? No dating apps, no dates, no exes, no hook-ups. Thousands of women are uploading videos describing why they have gone boy sober and extolling its benefits.
What could cause this kind of heterosexual exodus? Read more.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: PLED. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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