Good morning. Power prices are the topic du jour in the wake of the budget. But what to do about them without driving inflation, which has hit a 32-year peak, to even greater heights? Threatening gas companies with export limits could help, former competition watchdog boss Rod Sims says. Meanwhile, new data shows people as young as 13 are contacting Quitline trying to kick their vaping habit. And Russia has staged a drill practising its response to a nuclear attack, as Australia announces it will help train Ukrainian troops in the UK.
For the first time in the history of Quitline, teenagers as young as 13 are contacting the service for help because they are addicted to vaping. Dr Sarah White, the director of Quit Victoria, says the calls from teens to the Victorian branch of the service “is unprecedented in our 30-year history”. Counsellors are also fielding calls from parents whose children are addicted and experiencing side-effects such as coughing and chest pain.
Rod Sims says the Albanese government could solve the energy price crisis by threatening gas companies with limits on how much they could export. Sims, the ex-chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, says the federal government should pressure the owners of the country’s three east coast gas export plants, all based in Queensland, to sell fuel on the local market at a level that met demand and at a price of less than $10 a gigajoule – less than half this year’s spot prices. Speaking of power prices, Katharine Murphy writes: Australian voters were betrayed, but not by Labor’s budget.
Existing pledges to cut greenhouse gas emissions will lead to global heating of 2.5C, a level that would condemn the world to catastrophic climate breakdown, according to the United Nations. Only a handful of countries have strengthened their commitments substantially in the last year, despite having promised to do so at the Cop26 UN climate summit in Glasgow last November. Deeper cuts are needed to avoid the worst ravages of extreme weather.
Australia
Climate change is rendering terms like “one-in-100-year” flood useless and flood maps across Australia need to be uniformly updated so communities and agencies can better mitigate disasters, experts say.
Up to 70 Australian defence force personnel will be deployed to the UK to train Ukrainian troops, in the latest increase in Australia’s support for Kyiv. In Russia, Vladimir Putin has been watching troops practise nuclear drills.
Advocates have expressed deep unease about the lack of action for people on income support and are repeating calls to lift the jobseeker rate to $73 a day.
Bruce Lehrmann’s lawyers accused former prime minister Scott Morrison of making a “particularly egregious” remark during his apology to Brittany Higgins which risked prejudicing his chance of a fair trial, according to a newly released judgment.
The world
The Dutch government has said it is investigating reports that Chinese police forces have illegally opened at least two stations in the Netherlands since 2018, using them in part to keep tabs and put pressure on overseas dissidents.
Ukraine’s government is advising refugees living abroad not to return until the spring amid mounting fears over whether the country’s damaged energy infrastructure can cope with demand this winter.
Iranian security forces have opened fire on protesters who had gathered in their thousands in Mahsa Amini’s home town to mark 40 days since her death, a human rights group has said.
The UK foreign secretary, James Cleverly, has been criticised for telling gay football fans they should show respect to Qatar, which criminalises their sexuality, when attending the World Cup in the emirate.
Recommended reads
Promoter Stephen “Pav” Pavlovic spent weeks on tour with bands like Nirvana and Hole in the 1990s. “I hoarded everything,” he says – and a new exhibition reveals all and takes you backstage on Nirvana’s first – and only – Australian tour.
What to do with bits of brie, pieces of parmesan, and all the other odd knobs in your fridge? The preserving professionals from Cornersmith have 46 ways to use up leftover cheese.
Listen
In 2021, Grace Tame became a household name after she was recognised as Australian of the Year for her work advocating for survivors of child abuse. In today’s Full Story, Grace Tame speaks to Laura Murphy-Oates about sharing her story in her own words in her memoir The Ninth Life of a Diamond Miner, keeping power accountable, and how her foundation is creating meaningful change for victim survivors of child sexual abuse.
Full Story is Guardian Australia’s daily news podcast. Subscribe for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any other podcasting app.
Sport
In a perfect sporting moment, Australian Diamonds debutant Donnell Wallam’s last-minute lay-up goal sealed a thrilling victory against England in the opening Test in Newcastle. Wallam became the third Indigenous Australian woman to play in the team, after being in the spotlight for her opposition to a Hancock Prospecting sponsorship.
Ireland have stunned England in the T20 World Cup, winning by five runs in a rain-affected game and throwing the group wide open to set up a high-stakes match against Australia.
Australia must find form ahead of next year’s World Cup but face a tough assignment in the first match of their European tour, writes Angus Fontaine, arguing they need to rediscover their fear factor of old.
Fossil fuel companies spend an estimated $14m to $18m a year sponsoring the top tiers of Australian sport, according to a new report.
Media roundup
More men than women are now reporting having intimate videos and photos used against them online in “sextortion” attempts, reports the Sydney Morning Herald. And with the industrial relations bill about to hit parliament, the Australian reports that the CFMEU will be banned from multi-employer bargaining and the Financial Review reveals employers will face forced arbitration if they refuse a request by an employee for more flexible work arrangements.
Coming up
The Reserve Bank of Australia releases its annual report.
Noel Pearson will deliver the first of the 2022 Boyer Lecture series.
And if you’ve read this far …
A juvenile bar-tailed godwit appears to have set a new world record for marathon bird flights and it’s an absolutely mind-boggling distance.
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