Good morning. As the federal election looms, we reveal that Climate 200 is throwing its weight behind candidates in four Labor seats – including one held by a cabinet minister.
Meanwhile, there are calls for faster planning approvals and fewer regulations, as a Productivity Commission report lays bare how home building across Australia has fallen behind and added to the affordability crisis.
Overseas, European leaders are meeting for a hastily arranged summit amid rising diplomatic tensions, as Ukraine warns that Russia will “wage war on Nato” if US support for Kyiv evaporates. Former UK prime minister John Major has accused the Trump administration of “cuddling up” to Vladimir Putin.
Australia
Exclusive | Fundraising vehicle Climate 200 will help bankroll independent candidates in four Labor seats – including one held by a cabinet minister – among 35 campaigns it will back at the federal election.
Housing crisis | The housing construction sector is only building half as many homes relative to the number of hours worked compared with 30 years ago, according to a new Productivity Commission report.
Seeking asylum | New polling commissioned by the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre suggests that a majority of Australian voters expect politicians to take a fair and humane approach to refugees.
Interest rates | The RBA is expected to cut the official cash rate on Tuesday, raising hopes among mortgage holders that high interest repayments will soon ease. But how certain is this, and what happens if there is no cut?
Explainer | Peter Dutton wants to cut public service jobs in Canberra as part of a crusade to cut “waste”, in a move mirroring the US administration’s war on “inefficiency”. What could the impacts be?
World
Russia-Ukraine war | Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia will “wage war on Nato” if US support for Ukraine wanes; Emmanuel Macron convened European leaders for a Ukraine summit amid tensions with the US; and Ukraine recaptured a frontline village amid signs Russia’s advance in the east is slowing.
Major warning | Democracy across the globe is under threat from the retreat of the US into isolationism, and its likely replacement by China on the world stage, former UK prime minister John Major has said.
Gaza crisis | Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel is working closely with the US to implement Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza, which involves the removal of more than 2 million Palestinians; Egypt is drawing up an alternative Gaza reconstruction plan that would exclude Hamas.
US politics | Protesters have targeted Tesla showrooms in the US over Elon Musk’s government cost-cutting, which may promise bumper profits for the private sector. Trump is under fire for likening himself to Napoleon amid attacks on judges – the president’s reshaping of US culture evokes past antidemocratic regimes, David Smith writes.
Awards season | We’re two weeks from the Oscars, and David Tennant is hosting the Baftas at Royal Festival Hall. Catch our live blog to see if Guy Pearce gets a gong. Predictably, the Emilia Pérez controversy took another twist.
Full Story
Greg Jericho on why it’s time for a rates cut
Tomorrow the governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, Michele Bullock, will announce the first – and highly anticipated – decision on interest rates for the year. Greg Jericho tells Nour Haydar why he thinks a failure to cut rates would be one of the RBA’s most political and misguided decisions in recent history.
In-depth
Giridharan Sivaraman has a warning for political leaders. Speaking with us as a series of antisemitic and Islamophobic attacks have shaken Jewish and Muslim communities across Australia, the race discrimination commissioner is concerned that racism could shape campaigns for the upcoming federal election – and is urging political leaders to avoid “weaponising” issues for political gain.
Not the news
For the bulk of his early career, Mikey Robins sat safely behind a radio desk or on a TV set. But in the early 2000s comedy took him to Afghanistan for a two-week stint during the war as an entertainer for the troops. In the latest of our Away with series about travel, the comedian reveals details of a missile scare near Kandahar, a fishy childhood vacation – and the holiday mistake he’s destined to keep repeating.
Sport
Football | Liverpool hold off Wolves’ second-half rally to stretch their lead at the top of the Premier League; pressure eases on Ange Postecoglou after tight Spurs win against Manchester United.
Athletics | Sprint sensation Gout Gout smashes Noah Lyles’ personal best time for 400m in rare one-lap outing.
Golf | Chile’s Joaquin Niemann fires seven-under final round to snatch LIV Golf Adelaide title, beating Mexico’s Abraham Ancer by two shots.
Ice hockey | Canadians have been booing the US anthem over Trump’s proposed tariffs – it’s no wonder that tensions boiled over when they met on the ice.
Media roundup
Plans to threaten US tech giants with hundreds of millions of dollars in Australian charges have been paused as officials work to stave off trade retaliation from the Trump administration, the Age reports. AI is being rolled out at training pools nationally as part of Australia’s bid to top the swimming medal table at the next Olympics, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. Victoria’s mental health nurses feel unsafe and unsupported amid frequent assaults in hospital wards, reports ABC News.
What’s happening today
Release of Productivity Commission report into the construction sector
Annual ABS schools data
Protect Democracy protest at Sydney Town Hall over new hate speech laws banning protest at places of worship
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
