Morning everyone. Anthony Albanese will dangle a big childcare subsidy to voters today in his government’s latest bid to wrestle the cost-of-living beast to the ground.
Plus: the Israeli military said it had struck most of the strategic weapons stockpiles in Syria in the past 48 hours, as well as two Syrian navy facilities. Back home, Peter Dutton has copped flak from a former CSIRO director for “politicising” the agency, and police had to intervene when an entire taxi rank refused to take metered fares – because they wanted to charge more.
Australia
Exclusive | The federal government today releases a 10-year plan to address inequitable health outcomes for queer people designed to tackle the frustration LGBTI+ people can face when attending their GPs. Sharna Ciotti says: “I’m having to educate the person who is supposed to be helping me.”
Child’s play | Labor will unveil another step towards achieving its long-term goal of universal childcare as it plans to give families earning up to $530,000 a year access to the childcare subsidy for three days a week.
‘Wild ride’ | Michele Bullock, the Reserve Bank governor, showed signs of a more dovish approach to borrowing costs after yesterday’s monetary policy meeting, but it’s still more than likely that rates won’t come down until after the election.
‘Incredibly disappointing’ | A former CSIRO energy director has said Peter Dutton’s suggestion that the agency’s damning report on the cost of nuclear energy was influenced by the government is “incredibly disappointing” and “absurd”.
Rank behaviour | Victoria’s taxi industry wants a crackdown on rogue drivers after police had to be called to force drivers at Flinders Street station to turn on their meters amid reports of fares of $200 for five-kilometre rides.
World
Syria offer | Israel’s military says it has struck most of Syria’s strategic weapons stockpiles and two navy facilities, saying its aim is to stop weapons falling into the hands of Islamic extremists. Syria’s new leadership has offered rewards for senior army and intelligence officers involved in war crimes as the Assad regime’s sudden fall brought hopes of justice for the many atrocities of one of the world’s most brutal dictatorships. Follow developments live.
RFK Jr ‘unfit’ to serve | Seventy-seven Nobel laureates have signed a letter urging the US Senate to reject Robert F Kennedy Jr as Donald Trump’s nominee for health and human services secretary, arguing that he is unfit for office. Follow developments in Washington live.
Family clue | The family of Luigi Mangione, the suspect in the murder of the UnitedHealthcare CEO, Brian Thompson, reported him missing in November after he withdrew from social contact following surgery on his back.
Lula surgery | The Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, is recovering in intensive care, having undergone emergency surgery after a brain bleed was detected during an MRI scan.
‘Fake’ Santa | A popular festive event at one of Britain’s finest medieval halls has had to offer refunds because its new Father Christmas was “blatantly fake” in a scene that left “kids in tears”.
Full Story
The ‘senseless, shocking and preventable’ deaths at the centre of a landmark domestic violence inquiry
Nour Haydar speaks to our Indigenous affairs editor, Lorena Allam, and Indigenous affairs reporter, Sarah Collard, about the four women at the centre of an inquest into domestic violence deaths in the Northern Territory.
In-depth
From a beer ad to Tina Arena, 10 sounds summing up Australia have been preserved for posterity under the National Film and Sound Archive’s 2024 annual Sounds of Australia collection. Any Australian over the age of 30 will instantly recognise Victoria Bitter’s “big cold beer” ad from the 1980s and 90s voiced by the actor John Meillon, but fewer might know an Australian co-wrote the Doctor Who theme tune. Others include the Tina Arena hit Chains, Nova Peris’s inaugural speech to parliament, and recordings by Jimmie Barker, a Muruwari man, to preserve First Nations culture.
Not the news
How much would you want to spend on a Christmas grazing platter? Ann Ding has done the research for you and reckons that with strategic shopping and some homemade additions, $20 is enough to pull together an abundant party plate of meat, cheese and dips.
Sport
Cricket | Spinner Keshav Maharaj took five wickets as South Africa secured a 109-run victory and 2-0 series win over Sri Lanka to keep on track for a World Test Championship showdown with Australia in June.
Football | The Champions League returns this morning with a must-win game for Real Madrid at Atalanta, while table-topping Liverpool travel to Girona.
Swimming | US Olympic champion Gretchen Walsh continued her sparkling year by shattering the 15-year-old world record for the 50m butterfly overnight.
Media roundup
The Australian reckons that the Reserve Bank has given Labor hope of a pre-poll rate cut. The NSW government policy to allow high-rise apartment blocks next to transport hubs is being pared back, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Strong ticket sales for the Boxing Day Test mean the Melbourne Cricket Ground could be on course for a record crowd this year, the Herald Sun says. A Territory couple got a fright when they found a baby crocodile in their laundry, the NT News reports.
What’s happening today
Economy | ABS to release figures on overseas arrivals and departures.
Federal politics | Anthony Albanese will outline the government’s new childcare policies in Brisbane.
Queensland | The state’s youth crime bill could pass into law today.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
