Morning, everyone. Joe Biden has made a surprise visit to Kyiv to pledge more military aid to Ukraine, in a symbolic and significant gesture of support for the country a few days before the first anniverary of Russia’s invasion. At home, our latest Guardian Essential poll shows that an increasing number of voters think the Albanese government shares some of the blame with the Reserve Bank over rising interest rates, and the risk of blackouts will increase in coming years as renewable projects lag behind the closure of coal power stations.
Australia
Qantas case | Workers could see their rights watered down if the high court upholds Qantas’s decision to sack staff ahead of industrial action, according to the union submission in the airline’s case seeking to overturn the finding that it illegally outsourced 1,700 ground handling jobs.
Poll findings | A majority of voters believe the Reserve Bank has overreacted in jacking up interest rates to tame inflation, and more than 70% say the Albanese government has to to share some or a lot of the blame, according to the latest Guardian Essential poll. But it’s not all bad news for the prime minister, with Labor thought more likely to bring down the cost of living, improve public services and manage the climate crisis.
Blackout risk | Australia risks blackouts in years to come as ageing coal plants are expected to shut down faster than new renewables and storage projects come on line, the market operator says in an update today.
Queensland switch | The Palaszczuk government has backflipped by deciding to charge children with criminal offences for breaching bail conditions in a move that lawyers say will lead to an “explosion” of youngsters in adult watch houses.
‘We have to fight’ | A class action will be launched within weeks by over-65s who are seeking compensation for a decade of lower-quality disability support, potentially adding millions to the annual cost of the NDIS. “We have to fight,” one of them tells Guardian Australia.
World
‘Democracy stands’ | Joe Biden has announced additional US weapons supplies for Ukraine on a surprise visit to Kyiv during which he also met held Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, and delighted citizens of the embattled city. Here’s how the US leader pulled off his visit to an active war zone.
Fresh Turkey earthquakes | A powerful 6.4-magnitude earthquake has hit Turkey’s southern province of Hatay, followed by a major aftershock, terrifying those left in a region devastated by powerful twin earthquakes two weeks earlier.
PNG hunt | Police in Papua New Guinea have launched a rescue operation to find an Australian professor and three local researchers who were taken hostage in the country’s remote highlands, the nation’s police commissioner has announced overnight.
‘Gobblefunk’ | Roald Dahl’s work should just be allowed to fade away and be replaced by contemporary writers, the author Philip Pullman has said, as the UK prime minister, Rishi Sunak, joined critics of the decision to rewrite some of the author’s books. Is the move really Orwellian or just commercially savvy?
Family’s ‘agony’ | The partner of the missing woman Nicola Bulley has described his family’s “agony” after a body was found more than three weeks after she disappeared.
Full Story
The people suing the government over the NDIS
Helen Bonynge, the proposed lead plaintiff in the NDIS class action, describes how being deprived of help changed her life, while our political correspondent Paul Karp breaks down the legal arguments behind the case and what it means for the scheme.
In-depth
With many people feeling the strain of higher mortgage costs, we look at ways to ease the burden. These include calling your bank to renegotiate your terms, refinancing on a different deal, switching to interest-only payments, and maybe even trying to delay payments.
Not the news
Cassie Tongue was invigorated by performance art, drumming, dance, meditation, video offerings and much more at two queer endurance parties in Sydney which offered “a glimpse at creative minds trying to remake the city into something more caring and more inclusive”.
The world of sport
Cricket | Australia will consider sending some players home as their tour to India descends further into disarray, with laissez-faire coaching and poor preparation blamed for the problems.
Football | Jürgen Klopp has said it was “proper torture” to relive last season’s Champions League final defeat by a Real Madrid team who will provide the ultimate test of Liverpool’s recovery at Anfield.
Paralympics | America’s most successful Paralympian, Oksana Masters, tells us about growing up in the shadow of Chernobyl and Ukrainian resilience.
Media roundup
A surge in cases of silicosis may be linked to major tunnelling projects, according to the Age and the Sydney Morning Herald. The Daily Telegraph reports on a dispute between federal, NSW and international police investigating drug trafficking. Queensland’s construction watchdog has cracked down on more than 500 building firms over alleged financial irregularities as the housing slump piles pressure on businesses, the Courier-Mail says. The NT News reports on people living in near Alice Springs who the paper says have been fighting for basic amenities for 40 years.
What’s happening today
Economy | RBA monetary policy meeting minutes are expected to provide more detail about the latest cash rate increase.
New South Wales | Planning commission hearings begin examining Airbnb and short-term rentals in Byron Bay.
Tasmania | A case management hearing will be held for the coronial inquest into the Hillcrest jumping castle tragedy.
Sign up
If you would like to receive this Morning Mail update to your email inbox every weekday, sign up here. And finish your day with a three-minute snapshot of the day’s main news. Sign up for our Afternoon Update newsletter here.
Prefer notifications? If you’re reading this in our app, just click here and tap “Get notifications” on the next screen for an instant alert when we publish every morning.
Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords and free Wordiply game to keep you entertained throughout the day – with plenty more on the Guardian’s Puzzles app for iOS and Android. Until tomorrow.
Contact us
If you have a story tip or technical issue viewing this newsletter, please reply to this email.
If you are a Guardian supporter and need assistance with regards to contributions and/or digital subscriptions, please email customer.help@guardian.co.uk
