Morning, everyone. After a long-running pursuit of health data, our medical editor reveals today that more Australians than ever are paying to see a doctor as bulk-billing falls. A health expert praises the “persistence” of our investigation and explores how making the data public could change healthcare for the better.
Ministers have blasted the Greens for what they see as the “sabotage” of emissions reduction plans, and we look at what Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation means for the UK.
Australia
Emissions fight | Tanya Plibersek says Greens voters would be shocked if the party goes ahead with its threat to “sabotage” the government’s emissions reduction plan and votes alongside the Coalition to torpedo the scheme.
Exclusive | The number of Australians fully bulk billed by their GP has dropped significantly in just three years, with one electorate experiencing a decline of 18%, a Guardian Australia investigation reveals. Experts say the decline of bulk billing forces people to visit already overstretched emergency departments. A former senior federal health official says the data shows that where you live matters but also that bulk-billing practices can be successful.
Privacy plan | Australians would be able to opt out of targeted ads, erase their personal data and sue for serious breaches of privacy, under a proposal to be unveiled today by the attorney general, Mark Dreyfus.
Miners missing | A search and rescue effort is under way for two miners who fell into a deep hole after a “ground collapse” at a zinc mine near Mount Isa in north-west Queensland and are now believed trapped 125m below the surface.
Heatwave warning | Large parts of Australia will start to see another spell of hot weather building from today, with heatwaves forecasts for every state.
World
Scottish shock | Nicola Sturgeon is standing down as Scotland’s first minister in a shock decision that she denied was prompted by political troubles over her plans for a fresh independence referendum and a damaging row about trans rights. Possible successors include John Swinney, Kate Forbes and Humza Yousaf. We also consider whether this dashes hopes for the Scottish independence movement.
Special investigation | A team of Israeli contractors who claim to have manipulated more than 30 elections around the world using hacking, sabotage and automated disinformation on social media has been exposed in a new investigation.
Russia’s loss | Vladimir Putin’s army is estimated to have lost nearly 40% of its prewar fleet of tanks after nine months fighting in Ukraine, according to analysts.
Cold facts | Sea ice around Antarctica has hit a record low and is expected to shrink further, exposing the continent’s glaciers to faster melting. But an expedition to study declining sea ice has been cancelled due to ongoing problems with Australia’s icebreaking vessel, RSV Nuyina.
Thai tragedy | Duangpetch Promthep, one of the 12 boys from the Wild Boars football club who were rescued from a flooded Thai cave in 2018, has died in the UK where he was enrolled at a football academy.
Full Story
A turning point for concussion in sport?
A Senate inquiry is examining the link between repeated concussions from contact sports such as AFL and rugby codes and a neurodegenerative disease called CTE. Stephanie Convery talks about the life of the former semiprofessional rugby player Terry Strong, who suffered from severe CTE in his later years.
In-depth
It will be astonishing if Australia avoids a recession given current gloomy economic forecasts, our columnist Greg Jericho writes today, and the pessimism of the RBA governor, Philip Lowe, about the need for higher interest rates to counter inflation looks justified. But our political editor, Katharine Murphy, reckons Lowe has a good “game face” and was masterly at not giving much away at yesterday’s Senate hearing. All the same, our economics editor thinks we could use more light and less heat when he appears before MPs again tomorrow.
Not the news
St Kilda, for a long time Melbourne’s lurid underbelly, has always had its fair share of characters. But none more so than the infamous artist, cartoonist and some-time Espy toilet cleaner, Fred Negro, the subject of a new documentary that captures a life that has shocked, appalled and delighted the city.
The world of sport
Formula One | Lewis Hamilton (pictured at the Mercedes team launch overnight) has insisted he will not be prevented from expressing his opinions despite efforts by Formula One’s governing body to ban drivers from making political statements.
Football | Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, believes small details could be decisive in this morning’s momentous top of the table clash with Manchester City. London rivals Tottenham have denied reports that an Iranian-American financier is ready to offer $3.75bn (£3.1bn) for the club.
Women’s World Cup | The England captain, Leah Williamson, hopes her team will be able to wear the OneLove armband at the World Cup in July.
Media roundup
The Age reports that Catholic school enrolments have fallen for the first time in more than a decade as families switch to independent schools. In Queensland, Annastacia Palaszczuk refused to talk about her deputy’s criticism of the judiciary as anger about the issue mounted at a public forum in Toowoomba, the Courier-Mail says. The NT News reports on fears that some people in remote communities could be coerced into voting to opt out of alcohol bans. And the ABC says the navy has mounted a “surge” of border protection activity north of Australia.
What’s happening today
Environment | A report on the kind of rubbish picked up by Clean Up Australia volunteers expected to show the plastics crisis is getting worse.
Economy | The Australian Bureau of Statistics is due to release its January jobs data at 11.30am.
LGBTQIA+ party | A media call will take place in Sydney before WorldPride launches tomorrow.
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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.
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