Good morning. Guardian Australia today reveals previously secret Defence advice that urged the Labor government not to publicise problems with Pacific patrol boats. Documents show the Labor government was warned that announcing the issues could harm regional relationships or be exploited by criminals or bad actors – but it overruled it.
Also today: more stories of survival from the site of New Zealand’s deadly floods, and an in-depth interview with Bernie Sanders.
Australia
Exclusive | The Australian government decided to release information about problems with Pacific patrol boats despite a warning from defence officials that this could harm important regional relationships.
‘Rising above politics’ | Until now, the Indigenous voice to parliament has been a “Canberra” story: dominated by and about politicians. At the start of a national week of action by the yes campaign, Guardian Australia outlines the identities and groups who have declared themselves on each side so far.
Dreams ‘ripped away’ | Lawyers have called on the federal government to “stop playing with people’s lives” as it moves to re-detain dozens of people who were released from immigration detention over Christmas.
Floods fallout | A year ago the first of two catastrophic floods wiped out communities in the NSW northern rivers. Susan Chenery’s report from Lismore shows the crisis is nowhere near over.
Concession crackdown? | Australia’s superannuation system must be “equitable and sustainable”, the federal government has declared, in a move that will fuel speculation about a budget crackdown on tax concessions at the top end.
World
New Zealand | Residents of Hawkes Bay, living in apocalyptic scenes after deadly floods a week ago, are banding together to clean up and guard against looters – and say they are seeing humanity’s best and worst.
Ukraine | The US said it believes China may be about to provide lethal aid to help Russia in the war in Ukraine. And the EU foreign affairs chief said the war will be over unless Europe can speed up the provision of ammunition to Ukraine.
Bernie Sanders | The veteran senator, still fighting his country’s vast inequalities, is now part of Joe Biden’s inner circle. He sat down for a Guardian interview.
Turkey-Syria quake | Turkey said rescue teams have stopped recovery efforts in all but two hardest-hit provinces, a fortnight after the catastrophic earthquake that laid waste to parts of the country.
Baftas | The Guardian is reporting live from the Baftas – here’s the red carpet glamour, and who’s winning.
Full Story
Could the New South Wales election spell the end of another Coalition government?
After 12 years of Liberal/National governments in NSW, voters will soon decide whether to grant the Coalition a fourth term in office or try a new Labor government. After a string of electoral defeats for rightwing parties nationwide, Laura Murphy-Oates speaks to our NSW state correspondent, Michael McGowan, about whether Dominic Perrottet can hold on. For more on the election, Guardian Australia asked the experts to assess the rival parties’ clean energy plans.
Since the mid-80s, a handful of scientists around the world have doggedly pursued the idea that a virus or a bacterium could play a role in Alzheimer’s disease, despite antipathy from those studying more accepted theories about the disease. Colleagues snubbed them, leading scientific journals and conferences rejected their work and funding had been threadbare. But slowly and surely they have built an increasingly compelling case.
Not the news
A small sculpture of a balloon dog valued at US$42,000 (A$61,000) by the renowned artist Jeff Koons has been broken at the opening night of an art fair in Miami by a woman who gave it a little tap. Bemused guests gathered around the shards of the piece, “like how a car accident draws a huge crowd on the highway”, one onlooker reported.
The world of sport
Australian cricket | Australia lost nine wickets in one session in their humiliating second Test defeat to India.
Matildas | The Australian women’s football team defeat world No 7 side Spain 3-2 in a World Cup warm-up.
Premier League | Spurs beat West Ham 2-0. Manchester United triumphed over Leicester 3-0.
Media roundup
The Sydney Morning Herald speaks to workers who are dying of the lung disease silicosis after inhaling dust when cutting kitchen bench tops. One of Anthony Albanese’s constitutional advisers has decried a faction of the yes campaign in remarks criticised by Indigenous leaders, the Australian reports. And the ACT government will consider how a popular swimming spot is marketed after two deaths there, according to the Canberra Times.
What’s happening today
Robodebt inquiry | As the royal commission’s final public hearings begin, Guardian Australia explains the big questions that remain.
Daniel Andrews | The Victorian premier marks day 3,000 in office today – a milestone qualifying him for a statue outside his office.
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