Morning everyone. Australia’s defence capability has been front and centre this week with high-profile overseas meetings. Now the prime minister has given an interview to Guardian Australia in which he says he likely would have signed up to the Aukus pact if it had been up to him. He also discussed how Labor intends to deal with “an insecure world”.
Peter Dutton has been asked to be “constructive” ahead of more voice to parliament wrangles today. And Italy’s top court has ruled in favour of children who do not want to see their grandparents.
Australia
Energy slug | Renters and families already struggling with energy bills have been hit by another disproportionately hefty gas price hike in four states, consumer groups say, with prices up by as much as $480 a year in Victoria. Homeowners are also facing more outgoings with another rate rise likely next week.
Exclusive | Anthony Albanese has set himself against an illustrious Labor predecessor, Paul Keating, by suggesting that he would have signed up to the Aukus security agreement with the US and the UK had the party been in power in 2021. The former prime minister said the pact diminishes Australia’s strategic sovereignty but the incumbent said Aukus had to be part of the country’s new defence capability.
Capsule found | A tiny radioactive capsule that was lost in the Australian outback for more than two weeks has been found by the side of the road south of the town of Newman.
Voice bill | A bill to allow for the Indigenous voice to parliament will be introduced next month, with referendum campaigning soon expected to accelerate. Albanese called on Dutton to bring “an open heart” when he meets Indigenous leaders today.
Scooter power | A Japanese backpacker has set off on a 3,000km journey from Melbourne to Cairns – travelling only by foot-powered scooter.
World
UK strikes | Public sector service workers and the government are no nearer a peace deal after a day of widespread strike action closed thousands of schools across England and Wales, shut down the rail system and caused delays at borders.
Haley run | The former South Carolina governor and US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley will announce her run for the Republican presidential nomination in her home state on 15 February, a local newspaper reported.
Nonna no-go | Italy’s top court has ruled that children do not have to see their grandparents if they do not want to after an appeal by the parents of two children who had been forced by a lower court to do so.
‘Anger and rage’ | A California police department is facing a backlash after footage revealed that officers fatally shot a double amputee and wheelchair user who appeared to be hobbling away on the ground before he was killed.
Ukraine bust | The woman leading the Kyiv tax authority has been accused of a multimillion-dollar fraud after a raid on one of her four homes, as Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s campaign against state corruption in Ukraine continues.
Full Story
The deep roots of the crisis in Alice Springs
Sarah Collard reports from Alice Springs and Indigenous affairs editor Lorena Allam explores why 20 years of government interventions failed to prevent this social crisis.
In-depth
Last year more than 239,000 scams worth $570m were reported to Scamwatch. But many Australians struggle to get their money back, prompting the competition regulator and the Consumer Action Law Centre to push for a code accepted in Britain where banks reimburse consumers found to be ripped off. Cait Kelly finds out more.
Not the news
Once lockdown had given Adam Daniel the idea to watch the same film every day for a year, the natural choice was, of course, Groundhog Day. He discusses how repeat viewing reveals more and more previously unseen depth and, “like every piece of worthwhile art, it can also sustain its own deep interrogation”.
The world of sport
Cricket | Visa issues have left Pakistan-born batsman Usman Khawaja at risk of being stranded in Sydney while his teammates assemble in India for this month’s Test tour.
NBA | Lebron James has moved within 89 points of breaking the NBA career scoring record and climbed into fourth place on the assists list as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the New York Knicks 129-123 in overtime.
Football | Australia defender Harry Souttar has been rewarded for a breakout World Cup campaign with a big-money move to Premier League club Leicester City.
Media roundup
The Canberra Times reports on the appointment of retired judge Walter Sofronoff to investigate the ACT police handling of the Bruce Lehrmann case, one “laced with politics”. The Sydney Morning Herald says there will be notable absentees from George Pell’s funeral including the governor general, the NSW governor, the prime minister, the NSW premier, the NSW opposition leader and the Sydney lord mayor. The Age reports that public satisfaction with Victoria police has hit a five-year low.
What’s happening today
George Pell | A mass will be held for the cardinal at St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney.
LGBTQ inquiry | A NSW special commission of inquiry into historical LGBTQ+ deaths is set to start in Sydney.
Economics | The IMF will give an update on Australia’s economy, and the ABS releases building approval figures.
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Brain teaser
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