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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Paul Gallagher

Morning Mail: Nationals accused of serving tobacco lobby on vaping; supermarkets face massive fines; 1,300 die in hajj heat

Vapes on sale
The AMA president says the Nationals’ push to regulate vapes like cigarettes is a ‘tax grab’ that shows ‘complete disregard’ for health. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP

Good morning. Parliament is back this week and should take a crucial vote on the government’s anti-vaping restrictions. The Australian Medical Association has hit out at the Nationals for taking the advice of the tobacco lobby over health experts, saying the junior Coalition partner’s push for vapes to be regulated the same way as cigarettes is “a tax grab that shows a complete disregard for the health of Australians”.

After a flood of consumer and supplier complaints about their soaring profits, supermarkets may face billions in fines for breaches of the grocery code of conduct as Labor commits to pushing through reforms proposed by Craig Emerson’s independent review.

And the results of an international survey suggest that only 60% of Australians accept that human activity is driving ongoing “climate disruption”.

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The chill that remains in the Australia-China relationship

The Australian government rolled out the red carpet for China’s premier, Li Qiang, last week. Both countries were keen to signal that relations were positive, but protests and an attempt to block the view of an Australian journalist hinted at tensions sitting just beneath the surface. Jane Lee speaks to Daniel Hurst about Australia’s changing relationship with China.

In-depth

A Senate inquiry has heard that Australian women experiencing menopause are being held back from their full potential because they are not finding adequate support for their health needs from medical professionals. At the same time, commercial interests are trying to take advantage of the gap by selling them ineffective treatments. The transition towards no more periods can impact a woman’s job, finances, retirement and health.

Not the news

In the latest of our weekly Three Things interviews with prominent Australians on the objects that shaped them, the Killing Heidi singer and solo artist Ella Hooper tells us about “crushing it” with a crucial kitchen gadget, reveals the one thing she most regrets losing – and talks about the “snack-sized” guitar that changed her life.

The world of sport

Media roundup

With 1.5 million Australians now living with diabetes, advocates are pushing the government to protect the supply of drugs such as Ozempic and fund glucose-monitoring technology, the Age reports. There are calls for increased government support for child protection workers in northern WA amid a backlog of “unallocated” cases involving scores of at-risk children, ABC News reports. The union representing staff at 250 NSW private schools is demanding pay rises to “maintain the traditional premium” above public schools, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

What’s happening today

  • Victoria | The jury will continue to consider a verdict for Greg Lynn, the man accused of killing campers Russell Hill and Carol Clay.

  • NSW | The trial of those accused of murdering Amber Haigh continues in Wagga Wagga.

  • Victoria | The treasurer and minister for housing are to appear in public hearings at the Yoorrook justice commission.

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Brain teaser

And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.

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