Good morning. We’re on the ground this morning in the Hunter Valley, where locals are awaiting official confirmation of who died in the tragic wedding bus crash. Meanwhile, parliament is back in session, with Anthony Albanese due to address a state of the nation conference this morning – likely buoyed up by a Guardian Essential poll that shows Labor is the preferred party to deal with the cost of living crisis. Plus, we have reports and analysis about the death of Silvio Berlusconi: “nation builder” or “bunga bunga” buffoon?
Australia
Bus tragedy | As a 58-year-old man from Maitland prepares to face court in Cessnock this morning charged with causing death by dangerous driving in the Hunter Valley bus crash, local people are still waiting for answers about what exactly happened and await official confirmation of the identity of the victims.
Poll lead | Voters are still reluctant to blame the Albanese government for the continued rise in interest rates according to our latest Essential poll. The sample shows 63% thought that prices going up had “a lot” to do with it, while 40% believed the RBA was overreacting and 38% blamed the federal government. It also finds that support for the Indigenous voice is holding steady and remains high.
‘Meaning of life’ | The former prime ministers Tony Abbott and John Howard are among six Australians who have joined a global group fronted by Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson to discuss “the meaning of life”.
Pay gag | A Melbourne woman has spoken out after she was sacked from her job at a bookshop for discussing the details of her pay rise with colleagues in a case that will test new federal laws that prevent employers gagging workers for speaking about their pay.
Greens offer | Labor has guaranteed a minimum of $500m will be paid out of the housing Australia future fund every year in a bid to win Greens support for the bill to help build social and affordable housing.
World
Berlusconi dies | Silvio Berlusconi (pictured), the scandal-ridden former prime minister of Italy, has died aged 86, after a career which divided opinion but which saw trust in politicians fall. Some called him a “builder of modern Italy”, while one successor as PM commented “Many loved him, many hated him.” Our obituary traces his rise and fall, noting that few areas of Italian life were not influenced by its longest-serving prime minister.
Macabre find | The destruction of Nova Kakhovka dam in Ukraine has left mudflats littered with skeletons likely to be from a battle fought between the Nazis and the Soviets during the second world war.
Abortion sentence | A woman in the UK has been sentenced to 28 months in prison after pleading guilty to taking drugs to induce an abortion after the legal time limit had expired.
Tories at war | Rishi Sunak has gone on the offensive against Boris Johnson in the row over the former British PM’s failed attempt to give peerages to several close allies, saying he was asked to do something he “wasn’t prepared to do”.
Slip, slap, slop | Partly inspired by Australia’s famous “slip, slop, slap” advertising campaign, the Dutch will be offered free sunscreen in public spaces this summer to tackle a rise in skin cancer cases.
Full Story
Halting our extinction crisis: live at Vivid Sydney
Full Story has staged its first live conversation and we recorded it for you. Laura Murphy-Oates speaks to our climate and environment editor Adam Morton, Gunditjmara man Dr Denis Rose, ACT senator David Pocock and environment advocate Felicity Wade.
In-depth
The sentencing of Scott Johnson’s killer last week marks a significant milestone in his family’s pursuit of justice, writes his brother Steve. It also serves as a testament to the determination of those who fought for the truth and overcame the “extraordinary” efforts of Sydney police to close his case and that of many other gay people who died in suspicious circumstances.
Not the news
First appearing on our screens as a contestant in the Bachelor, Abbie Chatfield has used her charm and quick wit as a platform to build a successful media career that today includes a radio show, a popular podcast and her recent live Trauma Dump tour. She talks to Katie Cunningham about men, reality TV and her new show FBoy Island Australia.
The world of sport
Women’s World Cup | Sweden’s players had to “show their genitalia for the doctor” at the 2011 Women’s World Cup to prove they were women, the team’s centre-back Nilla Fischer (pictured) has revealed, weeks before the tournament comes to Australia.
Football | Pep Guardiola, fresh from leading Manchester City to the treble, has all but decided that he will leave the club in 2025.
Ashes | In case you didn’t know, the Ashes starts at Edgbaston on Friday and we’ve got a full guide to both teams to get you focused on the series.
Media roundup
The Daily Telegraph leads its coverage of the Hunter wedding bus tragedy with a report that the families of victims of the crash face a long wait for formal identification, while the Adelaide Advertiser says that a South Australian woman is among those feared dead. The Australian claims that the country’s defence industry is becoming frustrated over the government’s much-discussed defence strategic review, warning that it is “vague, underfunded, and becoming mired in bureaucracy”. The Courier Mail says the “posh Brisbane suburb” of Hendra is one of the worst car crime hotspots in Queensland.
What’s happening today
Politics | Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton speak at the Committee for Economic Development of Australia’s state of the nation conference.
Canberra | The Australian Local Government Association national general assembly meets.
New South Wales | The housing minister Rose Jackson is to release a plan to fix the housing crisis.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day – with plenty more on the Guardian’s Puzzles app for iOS and Android. Until tomorrow.
