Good morning. Our top story reports that the Scott Morrison government paid millions to a businessman in Nauru to provide offshore processing services – even after he was convicted for bribing local officials over phosphate mining deals. And NSW officials say they won’t “allow the lights to go off” after admitting renewable energy projects will take longer and cost more.
Overseas, Ron DeSantis has confirmed his run for president, before a Twitter broadcast with Elon Musk. And tributes are flowing after the death of rock legend Tina Turner.
Australia
‘It’s very challenging’ | Renewable energy zones in NSW will be delayed for as long as two years and cost more to build, with opposition to transmission lines partly to blame.
Bribery | The Coalition government continued to pay millions to a Nauru businessman to provide offshore processing services, even after he pleaded guilty to bribing Nauruan officials.
Wood block | A plan prepared last year to end the controversial and loss-making timber extraction from native forests in NSW was blocked by the Nationals.
Clare Nowland | The 95-year-old woman Tasered by police at an aged care facility has died in hospital, with a senior constable now facing charges.
Health services | A Senate committee is due to table its report recommending that the Albanese government work with states and territories to boost access to abortion at public hospitals.
World
Simply the best | Tina Turner, the pioneering rock’n’roll star who became one of the biggest acts in the world and one of the defining pop stars of the 1980s, has died aged 83.
Yevgeny Prigozhin | The head of the Wagner mercenary force has warned of revolution in Russia after confirming that 20,000 of its fighters have been killed in the battle for the Bakhmut.
‘Digital bridge’ | A paralysed Dutch man has been able to stand and walk with an aid after doctors implanted a device that reads his brain waves and sends instructions to his spine to move the right muscles.
Hat in the ring | Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, has announced his 2024 US presidential bid – but he still lags behind Donald Trump in polling of the Republican field.
‘Nobody will be forced to leave’ | Proposals to encourage thousands of homeless people and asylum seekers to leave the Paris before next year’s Olympic Games have sparked anger in France.
Full Story
Stan Grant stands down: Australian media’s racism problem
As he stood down from his role as Q+A host, Stan Grant said the ABC’s management had failed to support him against “relentless” racial abuse stoked by rightwing media. It has been called a moment of reckoning for the Australian media. Rhianna Patrick and Mariam Veiszadeh speak to Jane Lee about how media organisations are failing their staff – and what needs to change.
In-depth
The Albanese government will double the rebates offered to US studios, spending millions in an attempt to lure Hollywood productions to Australia. Over the past 15 years, successive federal governments have ploughed almost $4bn into the international screen industry in the form of tax rebates and cash subsidies. But these films don’t tell Australian stories, and may be making it harder for the local industry to compete.
Not the news
When rewilding facilitator Gina Chick first arrived at her Alone Australia site, she took off her shoes and danced around on the moss. Many thought they had her pegged: here was the hippy comic relief in the inaugural local season of the beloved survival series. But viewers soon realised after watching her succeed again and again, episode after episode, there was a deep intent behind that dance: connection with the land.
The world of sport
Cricket | Nothing builds anticipation like some well-aimed barbs: the slurs and slights of pre-Ashes “phoney war” are all part of the show.
Football | Brighton take on Manchester City in the Premier League; Manchester United consider bid for striker Harry Kane.
Rugby union | Australian Eddie Jones says he has “no emotional attachment” to the England side he coached for seven years.
Media roundup
Telehealth medical startups are facing a crackdown over quick quiz prescriptions, reports the Age. A bid to tighten the safeguards on major road and rail projects has been blocked in federal parliament after Labor and the Coalition joined forces, says the Sydney Morning Herald. Health spending and cost-of-living relief will be the centrepieces of Tasmania’s budget announcement, reports the Mercury.
What’s happening today
NSW | Coroner set to release its findings from the inquest into Melissa Caddick’s disappearance.
Canberra | The inquiry into ACT police handling of allegations against Bruce Lehrmann continues.
Tasmania | Officials will hand down the 2023-24 state budget.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day – with plenty more on the Guardian’s Puzzles app for iOS and Android. Until tomorrow.
