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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Paul Gallagher

Morning Mail: high court asked to rule on new detainee group, Trump trial to go ahead, Israel raids Gaza hospital

Attorney general Mark Dreyfus, home affairs minister, Clare O’Neil and immigration minister Andrew Giles.
The attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, the home affairs minister, Clare O’Neil, and the immigration minister, Andrew Giles. Dreyfus has asked the high court to rule on indefinite immigration detention. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

Good morning. In a case that could see the release of hundreds more long-term immigration detainees, the government is going back to the high court in a sequel to the NZYQ decision. The attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, has asked the court to rule on whether the commonwealth can continue detaining those who refuse to cooperate with efforts to determine if they can be deported.

Elsewhere: a New York judge has refused to dismiss the hush money case against Donald Trump, with a trial date now set for late March. And Israeli special forces have raided the largest hospital still functioning in the Gaza Strip.

Australia

A view from directly above a residential suburb of Melbourne.

World

Former US president Donald Trump walks to the courtroom after speaking to the press at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City.

Full Story

Barnaby Joyce in the House of Representatives in Canberra this week.

Newsroom edition: Barnaby Joyce and the politics of privacy

Barnaby Joyce was filmed lying on a Canberra footpath, swearing into his phone, and blamed the incident on the interaction between alcohol and prescription medication. Some critics called for his resignation, others called for his privacy to be respected. Gabrielle Jackson talks to Lenore Taylor and Mike Ticher about the line between a public’s right to know and a politician’s right to privacy.

In-depth

Anthony Albanese and Jodie Haydon

In a social media post on Thursday morning, Anthony Albanese shared a photo of himself and his partner, Jodie Haydon, with the latter showing off a new diamond ring. “She said yes,” the caption read. As anticipation builds over how Australia’s wedding of the year may play out, here’s the where, when and how of their big day (all hypothetical, of course).

Not the news

Musician Molly Lewis

Sydney-born, Los Angeles-based Molly Lewis has carved out an enviable career as a professional whistler, living a life most surreal. Her lips her preferred instrument, she has become an in-demand collaborator since entering competitive whistling in 2012. She appeared on the Barbie soundtrack and has worked with the likes of Dr Dre, Karen O and Mac DeMarco. Now she has a debut album of her own, dedicated to classic cinema and jazz clubs.

The world of sport

Gary Clark of the Illawarra Hawks is challenged by Bryce Cotton of the Perth Wildcats

Media roundup

From a fish shop to the Lodge. The Sydney Morning Herald asks who is Anthony Albanese’s fiancee, Jodie Haydon? The Telegraph says there are fears asbestos contamination could have spread to private homes with soil fill supplied in back yards. Australia’s nickel industry is in danger of collapse without government intervention because of cheap Indonesian imports, the West Australian warns. The Hobart AFL stadium plan is “dead” according to the Australian after the premier’s cost cap.

What’s happening today

  • New South Wales | Public hearing into the feasibility of undergrounding the transmission infrastructure for renewable energy projects.

  • Perth | Meta (Facebook) versus Andrew Forrest at the district court of Western Australia.

  • Melbourne | Taylor Swift begins her concert tour at the MCG.

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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.

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