Morning everyone. The recent rate cut has not helped Anthony Albanese recover any ground, according to our latest Essential poll, but voters aren’t convinced a Dutton-led government would leave them better off.
Meanwhile, nearly 75% of Australian employers have a gender pay gap that favours men, figures reveal today. South-east Queensland is bracing for Cyclone Alfred, Donald Trump has launched another verbal attack on Ukraine and even the Oscars are working out well for Moscow.
Australia
Gender gap | Nearly three-quarters of all employers in Australia have a gender pay gap that favours men, with women earning on average $28,425 less than their male counterparts in the 12 months to March 2024, according to latest figures from the government’s Workplace Gender Equality Agency.
Essential poll | More than half of Australians believe last month’s cash rate cut was too little too late and a sign the Labor government’s economic plan is not working, but voters think Anthony Albanese is better placed than Peter Dutton to deliver cost-of-living relief and higher wages and safeguard Medicare. Our latest poll showed Albanese’s net approval rating down to minus eight.
Odd one out | New South Wales has secured a deal with the commonwealth to fully fund public schools by 2034, leaving Queensland as the country’s only outlier ahead of the federal election.
Exclusive | Gambling companies are preparing to ramp up their use of harmful inducements that encourage people to spend more money, in response to the AFL’s push for a bigger slice of gambling revenue.
Cyclone warning | Cyclone Alfred is tracking towards the south-east Queensland coast and could make landfall on Thursday, and surging tides are already hitting Bribie Island. Joe Hinchliffe talks to residents about how they are preparing for the onslaught and here’s what you need to know about this unusual storm.
World
Fragile truce | The Israeli government is reportedly planning to ratchet up its blockade on Gaza as part of what it has called a “hell plan” to pressure Hamas into further hostage releases. The six-week-old ceasefire is in limbo, and both sides are taking contingency steps to return to a war footing.
France plan | France is proposing a partial one-month truce between Russia and Ukraine as European efforts to bolster support for Kyiv accelerate in the face of uncertain US backing. Donald Trump, meanwhile, again attacked Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, accusing him of not wanting peace.
Youth curse | A burgeoning youth mental health crisis in Australia and five other English-speaking countries is upending the traditional pattern of happiness across our lifetimes, with more people feeling better about life as they get older.
Germany killings | A car has been rammed into crowds in the centre of the German city of Mannheim, killing at least two people and injuring several others after police had warned of terrorist threats at regional carnival festivities.
And the winner is … | If changing attitudes in Washington were not enough, Russian state propagandists had more to cheer as they celebrated the Oscar success of Anora and its cast of largely sympathetic Russians.
Full Story
Censorship and the ongoing fallout from the Venice Biennale saga
Nour Haydar tells Reged Ahmad how the Venice Biennale deselection fiasco unfolded and why the move has left many outraged about the precedent it sets.
In-depth
Three years on from the devastating floods in Lismore, which destroyed 4,000 homes in the area, the housing crisis crisis has only deepened. The buyback process is excruciatingly slow. Many locals have taken to living in condemned properties but, like Chris Gurr and his son (pictured), face being moved on. Other houses have been occupied by outsiders in a modern-day squatting spree. Jordyn Beazley reports, and Elise Derwin adds evocative photos.
Not the news
When Bertin Huynh’s doctor told him he could do with losing a few kilos, he started going to the gym. Over the following months he noticed he was putting on muscle and losing weight, but slowly “felt like I had a new lens on life” where the next goal of the perfect body still feels out of reach and “body dysmorphia lingers”.
Sport
AFL | The big kickoff is coming and Jonathan Horn looks at the teams he think will finish 18th to 9th – and it’s bad news for Cats and Blues fans.
Tennis | Novak Djokovic’s partnership with coach Andy Murray will continue at Indian Wells this week and at the Miami Open this month, according to reports.
NBA | A brutal season for the Phoenix Suns hit a new low with a humiliating 116-98 home loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, prompting star player Kevin Durant to say the team “embarrassed” themselves .
Media roundup
Anthony Albanese’s hopes of another term have been hit by a “damaging” row with the teal independents, the Sydney Morning Herald claims. The Coalition would force public servants to work from the office, Jane Hume tells the Australian Financial Review. The Courier Mail warns about the growing intensity of Cyclone Alfred as it heads towards south-east Queensland, and of panic buying at the shops. Victoria police have relaxed recruiting rules to boost frontline numbers, the Herald Sun reports.
What’s happening today
Equality | WGEA to publish next set of private sector employer gender pay gaps.
Business | AFR business summit including speeches by RBA deputy Andrew Hauser, and Woodside and Qantas bosses Meg O’Neill and Vanessa Hudson.
Foreign policy | Kevin Rudd speaks at an ANU webinar on the US-Australian alliance.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
