Morning everyone. Our exclusive top story this morning is the Victorian Liberals’ new leader distancing himself from Peter Dutton’s nuclear plans, while our latest Essential poll shows the Coalition losing more ground on Labor.
We have another exclusive interview with the finance minister, Katy Gallagher, as she vows to slash the number of consultants employed in Canberra. Plus, Katy Perry has flown into space, Donald Trump has doubled down on deportation threats and why an art exhibition in Melbourne has become an unlikely blockbuster.
Australia
Wrong track | Anthony Albanese says Liberal campaign tactics such as releasing a hip-hop diss track against Labor are “beyond my comprehension”, accusing his opponents of “borrowing ideas” in their election pitch.
Exclusive | The finance minister, Katy Gallagher, has vowed to continue slashing the number of consultants employed by the federal government and to begin rebuilding departments within the public service if re-elected, while accusing the Coalition of importing a Doge-style agenda from the US.
Essential poll | Labor has pulled further ahead of the Coalition as the election campaign continues, opening up a larger lead in the latest Essential poll after two weeks of policy confusion and backdowns from Peter Dutton’s Liberals.
Supply snag | Australia does not have enough construction workers and other trades to meet election pitches to boost housing supply, experts say, casting doubt over the major parties’ pledges to address housing affordability.
‘Swept under the rug’ | A Melbourne grandmother is among hundreds of people who are losing support for complex mental health issues due to the closure of the Care Finder program.
World
Hungary ban | Amid street protests (pictured), Hungarian lawmakers have voted through a controversial constitutional amendment that campaigners described as a “significant escalation” in the government’s efforts to crack down on dissent, including a ban on LGBTQ+ gatherings.
US deportations | Maryland father Kilmar Abrego García is in a situation that can only be described as abusrdly Kafkaesque, writes our correspondent Andrew Roth, after García was sent to El Salvador by mistake and is now trapped there – despite a US supreme court order. Donald Trump was unapologetic and has escalated his rhetoric on deportations. Meanwhile the chief executive of Goldman Sachs says Trump’s tariffs have “increased” the chances of a US recession.
Gaza doubt | Hundreds of former operatives from Israel’s intelligence agency have criticised the return to war in Gaza amid growing frustration over the failure to bring home the remaining hostages held by Hamas.
Ukraine invitation | Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Donald Trump to visit Ukraine to see the devastation caused by Russia’s invasion, while the US president appeared to play down Moscow’s deadly attack on Sumy, the worst on civilians this year, calling it “a mistake”.
Blue yonder | Six women – including the pop star Katy Perry and US morning TV host Gayle King – have completed a trip to the edge of outer space and back from a private Texas ranch on Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin rocket.
Full Story
Is the US descending into authoritarianism?
Australians are increasingly avoiding travel to the United States under Donald Trump’s second presidency, fresh data shows, with forecasters expecting tourist numbers to plummet further throughout the year. Our Washington bureau chief, David Smith, tells Reged Ahmad why experts fear the US is nearing “Defcon 1 for our democracy”.
In-depth
Peter Dutton’s poll woes today comes as Victoria’s opposition leader, Brad Battin (pictured), distanced the state party from the opposition’s controversial nuclear policy, saying he will concentrate on gas and that the federal leader has his “own campaign”. In a wide-ranging interview with our state correspondent Benita Kolovos, Battin explains how he would fix the justice system, why he “grew up differently” to fellow former cop Dutton and that he’s counting the days to the state’s next election (599 to go).
Not the news
It seems unlikely that the work of a 96-year-old Japanese artist could be the most popular exhibition in Australian history, topping even Van Gogh for visitor numbers. But Yayoi Kusama’s show at the NGV, with its bright colours, polka dots and flowers, has done just that – prompting our own Sian Cain to find out why.
Sport
Formula One | Senior figures at Red Bull held crisis talks after the Bahrain Grand Prix finished with a deeply dissatisfied Max Verstappen beaten into sixth place by Oscar Piastri’s brilliant drive.
Golf | Rory McIlroy has warned the members of Augusta National they will have to “wheel me out of here when I am 90 years old” after finally ending his wait to win the Masters.
Football | Bournemouth entertain Fulham in the Premier League this morning. Follow the action live.
Media roundup
As well as our own poll showing Labor improving its lead over the Coalition, the Age and Sydney Morning Herald have their survey indicating a stronger lead for Anthony Albanese thanks to a Trump backlash. Liberal party members in Victoria are plotting to oust MP Moira Deeming in an operation that could reignite the party’s factional war, the Herald Sun claims. There’s good news for Sydney commuters, the Telegraph says, as bendy buses are back to ease transport woes. Port Adelaide star Willie Rioli has posted on social media about how he hates Hawthorn for causing his family “deep-seated pain”, the Advertiser reports.
What’s happening today
Economy | The RBA’s latest monetary policy meeting minutes will be released at 11.30am.
Leaders | Peter Dutton and Anthony Albanese continue their election campaign.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
