Morning everyone. “We’re going down the same path as Amazon. We’re not robots, we’re humans,” says one Woolworths warehouse worker about new working arrangements seen by staff as a “bullying” tactic. More on that below.
Elsewhere, the Queensland LNP’s plans on a potential law change on abortion came up again at last night’s last leaders debate, after Guardian Australia revealed David Crisafulli’s position on a conscience vote. Plus: how to dispose of used solar panels, creatives team up to condemn AI and Australia’s outback answer to Succession.
Australia
Mixed message| Queensland LNP leader David Crisafulli (above right) told a leaders’ debate last night that the abortion laws would not change if he wins power despite footage emerging of an interview he gave in 2023 in which he said he would allow MPs a conscience vote on changes to legislation.
‘Bullying’ tactic | Woolworths warehouse staff are pushing back at a new working framework introduced by the supermarket giant in the name of efficiency but which workers describe as “bullying” and unsafe.
Meta accusation | Meta has accused a federal parliamentary committee of ignoring “the realities of how our platforms work” and the value Facebook and Instagram bring to news outlets, as a fight reignites over the news media bargaining code and funding of media publishers.
Royal rumpus | Lidia Thorpe confronted King Charles with a series of claims when she shouted at him at Parliament House on Monday. But do her claims stack up? You can also check out our video report from the royal couple’s visit to Sydney yesterday.
‘WTF was that?’ | Some students in New South Wales were left stumped by this week’s HSC maths papers. How would you fare with these sample questions?
World
Gaza’s ruins | Gaza’s ruined economy will take 350 years to restore to its prewar level, according to UN, as Anthony Blinken held talks overnight with Benjamin Netanyahu to revive the US ceasefire plan.
US election exclusive | Donald Trump’s ground game in Arizona and Nevada may be undermined by canvassers working for Elon Musk’s America Pac organisation using GPS spoofing to pretend they have knocked on doors when they haven’t. Arnold Palmer’s daughter says Donald Trump disrespected her late father’s memory by fawning over the size of the champion golfer’s penis at a campaign rally over the weekend.
Jefffries arrested | The former Abercrombie & Fitch chief executive Mike Jeffries has been arrested as part of a criminal sex trafficking investigation by federal prosecutors and the FBI in Brooklyn, according to news reports.
Putin posture | As Vladimir Putin hosted 36 world leaders at a Brics summit in Moscow, a video from the frontline of his war against Ukraine exposed the high Russian death toll – but also the indifference of the Russian population to the losses.
‘Unjust threat’ | Abba’s Björn Ulvaeus, the actor Julianne Moore and the Radiohead singer Thom Yorke are among 10,500 signatories of a statement from the creative industries warning artificial intelligence companies unlicensed use of their work is a “major, unjust threat” to artists’ livelihoods.
Full Story
The ‘doomsday cult’ recruiting Australian university students
The Shincheonji church is accused of bizarre recruitment strategies at some Australian universities. Melissa Davey speaks to Reged Ahmad about the experiences of members inside this alleged “doomsday cult”.
In-depth
How to dispose of used solar panels has become a major headache for Australia’s renewable industry. For a range of reasons, panels that could operate for 20 to 30 years are being pulled off rooftops and solar farms after 10 or 12 years, causing a “staggering” number to end up in landfill. But there is some hope as Petra Stock visits a company in Brisbane that is finding ways to make money from unwanted panels.
Not the news
Think “Succession in the outback” or “Yellowstone, in Australia” and you’re coming close to what to expect from the power jostling and fraught family dynamics of Netflix’s new drama set on a Northern Territory cattle station, writes Luke Buckmaster. The Lawson family are a headstrong bunch, as you might expect, and a bit dangerous, with the dramatic intrigue coming partly from not knowing what they’re capable of. Robert Taylor and Anna Torv lead a strong cast.
The world of sport
Rugby union | After falling to 10th in the world, the Wallabies head to the UK and Ireland for the Autumn Internationals with a point or two to prove.
Bold+Italics | Real Madrid entertain Dortmund and Arsenal host Shakhtar among this morning’s Champions league matches.
Commonwealth Games | The rugby community has led a chorus of disappointment after the game was among 12 sports also including hockey that were shunted from the streamlined 2026 Games in Glasgow.
Media roundup
The daughter of dead camper Russell Hill plans to sue Greg Lynn, the former pilot found guilty of murdering her father’s partner Carol Clay, according to an Age exclusive. Former Liberal treasurer Peter Costello has slammed the Victorian government’s “moronic” Covid-era curbs, the Herald Sun reports. Crews are working around the clock to finish the long-awaited Bussell Highway project before Easter and ease holiday traffic congestion, WAtoday claims.
What’s happening today
Society | There’s a public hearing for the Senate inquiry into wage justice for early childhood education and care workers.
Canberra | Independent MP Allegra Spender will address the National Press Club.
Business | The first case management hearing for the ACCC’s case against Coles and Woolworths will be held.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
