Good morning. Schools set up by the secretive Exclusive Brethren receive generous taxpayer subsidies while students are subject to strict surveillance, need approval to access external counselling and are discouraged from going to university, a Guardian Australia investigation has found.
In France a last-minute alliance of left-green parties, alongside tactical voting, has relegated Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally to third place in the French election, according to projections. Polls had predicted NR would perform much better, perhaps even forming government.
And back home analysis has found that 7 million people living in Australia’s major cities face huge barriers in accessing reliable public transport. It means they have little choice but to rely on their cars – and lower income suburbs appear to be the worst off.
Australia
Public transport woes | One in two residents of Australia’s five largest cities do not live within walking distance of public transport that is frequent enough for them to ditch their reliance on cars, new analysis has found.
Protest crackdown | Academics and students at the University of Sydney have blasted “draconian” measures requiring permission for megaphones to be used or posters to be put up on campus.
‘No one cared’ | Local attitudes to renewable energy projects are often troubled. One neighbour to a solar farm in Kingaroy, Queensland, says she has been left unable to sell her property.
Mehreen Faruqi | The Greens deputy leader has hit back at claims Fatima Payman’s resignation from Labor was orchestrated – and says Muslim women are “stereotyped” as being unable to make their own decisions.
‘We know this doesn’t work’ | A top social services body has criticised a Queensland LNP proposal to sentence many youth offenders as adults, saying it is a “dreadfully cruel” and ineffective step.
World
French elections | Exit polls show a surprise win for a leftwing alliance in the pivotal second round of voting, while Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally dropping to third. But the shape of France’s future government remains uncertain after no group won an absolute majority.
Gaza crisis | The Israeli government has been accused of trying to sabotage the Gaza ceasefire proposal. And reports claim Israel’s armed forces employed what is known as the “Hannibal protocol” during the 7 October attack – a directive to use force to prevent the kidnapping of soldiers even at the expense of hostages’ lives.
US election | Resisting calls to step out of the race, Joe Biden has pledged to “unite America”. Meanwhile a senior Democrat said Kamala Harris could decisively beat Donald Trump if Biden dropped out.
‘End to the Brexit era’ | Britain’s new Labour government is seeking a joint declaration with the EU to usher in a wide-ranging security pact covering issues including defence, energy and illegal migration.
‘We sell it in secret, like drugs’ | Trade in shark meat in Brazil is booming but worried conservationists say it is putting species under threat.
Full Story
Who cared? The disappearance of Amber Haigh, part 2
In Wagga Wagga the trial of Robert and Anne Geeves for the murder of Amber Haigh is now in its third week. Ben Doherty updates Bridie Jabour on what was heard in court last week. For the first time prosecution witness testimony about what has been referred to as “the tying up evidence” was heard, and witnesses gave evidence about Amber’s Haigh’s five months as a mother before she disappeared.
In-depth
Ben Woodbury, a former student of the schools set up by the Exclusive Brethren, says his school years were the “darkest moments” of his life. Being gay in a church that forbids homosexuality, Woodbury felt isolated, alone and suicidal, and says he was unable to access the external psychological support he needed. Former teachers have raised concerns about access to psychological help under a new “student support” policy introduced to the schools last year which they say undermines student confidentiality.
A spokesperson for OneSchool Global said student welfare was a top priority and that the approval process was designed to make sure students got the right help.
Today’s story is the first part of a Guardian Australia investigation that looks into the culture of the schools, which are closely connected to the notoriously secretive church led by Sydney-based Bruce Hales.
Not the news
As disabled actors fight for authentic casting, there are still complex impediments to access – and, says Prisoner alumna Kate Hood, “we see cripping up all the time”. Hood, 65, counts herself as lucky because she trained in acting overseas before she acquired disability. But, she says, “a person who is born with a disability has a snowflake’s chance in hell of being trained”.
The world of sport
Rugby union | A golden era is kicking off at last as Australian rugby climbs off the canvas, Angus Fontaine writes.
Wimbledon | Carlos Alcaraz sinks Ugo Humbert to progress to the quarter-finals; Emma Raducanu’s winning run ends with defeat to Lulu Sun; Jannik Sinner takes down Ben Shelton.
Cycling | Anthony Turgis pips Tom Pidcock at the line on stage nine as Tadej Pogačar attacks his rivals on gravel at the Tour de France.
Motorsport | Lewis Hamilton thrills a home crowd by winning the British F1 GP for ninth time.
Media roundup
A finalist in the Blake prize for religious or spiritual art has been taken off a gallery wall after an intense campaign by Christian activists offended at Jesus Christ being portrayed as a Looney Tunes character, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. Sex work will be banned from being funded through the NDIS, ABC News reports. Melbourne airport has backed down from its demand for an underground station for the airport rail link, the Age says.
What’s happening today
NSW | The trial of Robert and Anne Geeves, accused of the murder of Amber Haigh, continues in Wagga Wagga.
Olympics | Australia will announce its athletics team for the Paris Games due to start on 26 July.
Victoria | The International Conference on Thinking will begin in Melbourne.
Sign up
If you would like to receive this Morning Mail update to your email inbox every weekday, sign up here, or finish your day with our Afternoon Update newsletter. And check out the full list of our local and international newsletters, including The Stakes, your guide to the twists and turns of the US presidential election.
Prefer notifications? If you’re reading this in our app, just click here and tap “Notifications” on the next screen for an instant alert when we publish every morning.
Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
