Morning everyone. Governments frequently appoint “friends” to high-level positions in publicly owned businesses and agencies, in a practice that often “looked like patronage and nepotism”. That’s the judgment of a scathing review that was finally released by Labor today, a year and a half after it was finished.
Plus, we look at how Victoria could become the first state to ban certain intersex surgery, you have a wonderful read in the second part of our Speaking to country series, and there’s advice on what to wear when moving from the beach to the bar this summer.
Australia
Age of consent | With just over a week to go before under-16s are banned from some social media platforms, our tech reporter investigates how Meta’s face analysis system works to verify users as over 16.
Briggs review | The major parties have abused appointments to government boards so routinely that the public fears being lumped with “overpaid political hacks” who cannot do important jobs properly, a scathing report by Lynelle Briggs to the Albanese government has found.
Speaking out | In the second part of our Speaking to country series, we report from the first Aboriginal bilingual school in New South Wales where success is judged by the unconventional metric of happiness.
Shucks! | South Australians are being urged to feast on local oysters and then donate the shells to restore native reefs, which will filter ocean water and help fight harmful algal blooms.
Intersex change | Victoria will become the first state to ban unnecessary surgeries on intersex children, with legislation to be introduced to parliament to ensure procedures are deferred until patients are old enough to consent to them.
World
Flood disaster | Sri Lanka and Indonesia have deployed military personnel as they race to help victims of devastating flooding that has killed more than 1,300 people across four countries in Asia.
Trump scan | Donald Trump said he will release the results of an MRI scan conducted in October – but was unable to tell reporters what part of his body was under investigation. Overnight the White House has been under pressure over a strike on a drug-smuggling boat, with questions on whether Pete Hegseth ordered a second fatal strike.
Venezuela ultimatum | Donald Trump reportedly gave Nicolás Maduro an ultimatum to relinquish power immediately during their recent call – but Venezuela’s authoritarian leader declined, demanding a “global amnesty” for himself and allies.
West Bank attack| Israeli settlers have attacked and robbed a group of Italian and Canadian citizens who had volunteered to help protect Palestinians in the West Bank.
AI challenge | We have a special report on the AI technology race that could transform or perhaps destroy humanity. Amid the danger of an AI stock bubble, we ask not whether it will happen but what the fallout will be when the inevitable does occur? In Australia, the Albanese government has decided against legislation to manage artificial intelligence.
Full Story
Is 2026 the year Albanese’s political honeymoon ends?
Guardian Australia political editor, Tom McIlroy, and the chief political correspondent, Dan Jervis-Bardy, join Nour Haydar to discuss what lies ahead for Labor as the sun sets on the 2025 parliamentary year.
In-depth
Victoria’s electoral matters committee is expected to hand down a long-awaited report this week into alternatives to the state’s controversial group voting tickets in upper house elections. The aim is to end the anti-democratic influence of back-room preference deals. But what could replace it, and who would it put in parliament? Our data team does The Crunch.
Not the news
Lucianne Tonti gets in to the seasonal swing as she assesses how to dress for the summer transition from beach to bar. She advises to go easy on the hair and makeup, keep your swimmers on (“they can make a chic bodysuit-top”), and go for a classic cover-up such as a terry towelling dress.
Sport
Cricket | Marnus Labuschagne says Australia’s experience of playing day-night Tests will see them start the second Test on Thursday with an in-built advantage, while England could include spinning all-rounder Will Jacks in their team.
Rugby union | The Wallabies will be afforded a favourable route to the 2027 Rugby World Cup quarter-finals when the draw for the competition takes place in Sydney tomorrow night.
Formula One | The Mercedes teenage driver Kimi Antonelli has been subjected to death threats after Red Bull suggested he deliberately moved out of Lando Norris’s way in the closing stages of the Qatar Grand Prix.
Media roundup
A Gold Coast family face deportation to Vanuatu by Christmas because of a government error, according to the Bulletin. The city of Perth is set to deny Gina Rinehart’s application for a helipad in the CBD, WAtoday reports. South Australia’s McLaren Vale wine community is mourning the death of prominent winemaker Peter Fraser, who has died aged 51, the Advertiser reports.
What’s happening today
Victoria | Google faces fine for search engine deals with Telstra and Optus at federal court.
Brisbane | Second round of public hearings in CFMEU inquiry.
Canberra | Matt Keogh addresses the National Press Club on 12 months of the royal commission into defence and veteran suicide.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
