Good morning. New evidence uncovered by Guardian Australia reveals serious police failings in the murders of Hannah Clarke and her three children that were overlooked by the coronial inquest and never investigated by homicide detectives.
Also today we reveal how would-be authors were fooled by AI staff and virtual offices in a suspected global publishing scam.
Donald Trump’s climate policies have drawn the ire of Tuvalu at the Cop30 summit. And, a property buy-back plan could be on the cards as some Queensland households suffer the noise and poo of protected flying foxes.
Australia
‘Loud, smelly and poo a lot’ | Gympie council is considering a property buy-back scheme for residents of properties plagued by growing numbers of “loud and smelly” – but protected – flying foxes.
Explainer | We used to have the cheapest energy in the world, but prices have gone up a long way over the past decade or so. Are Australians really paying more for electricity than other countries?
Lost in the plot | Book publishing websites in Australia, the UK and New Zealand appear to be using fake testimonials and AI staff pages to lure aspiring writers into handing over their money.
Panthera | One of Australia’s largest debt collecting firms attempted to claw back more than 200,000 individual debts in Victoria while allegedly banned from doing so by the state’s regulator.
Townsville votes | Nick Dametto, a former MP from Katter’s Australian party, has claimed victory in Townsville’s mayoral race – in perhaps one of the biggest swings in Australian electoral history.
World
Cop30 criticism | The South Pacific nation of Tuvalu has called out Donald Trump’s climate policies and rebuked the US president’s “shameful disregard for the rest of world” at the Cop30 summit; thousands hit streets of Belém to call for action during crucial Cop30 summit.
Nuclear talks? | Tehran is willing to restart nuclear talks with Washington as long as it is treated with “dignity and respect”, Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi says.
Mexico clashes | At least 120 people were injured as thousands of gen Z protesters took to the streets of Mexico City and across the country to voice their anger at corruption and drug violence.
Russia-Ukraine war | The widow of the first Soviet engineer to die in the Chornobyl nuclear power plant explosion has been killed in a Russian drone strike on Kyiv; Volodymyr Zelenskyy pledges to “clean up” Ukraine’s energy sector amid corruption scandal.
Maga infighting | Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene called Donald Trump’s remarks labelling her a traitor and a lunatic “hurtful” – but hopes she and the US president can “make up”.
Full Story
Broken Trust: how police failed Hannah Clarke and her children
Today we launch a Full Story special, as part of the Broken Trust investigation, which looks at the national crisis of domestic violence in Australia. In this series Queensland correspondent Ben Smee uncovers evidence and allegations of serious police failures in several cases involving intimate-partner violence, including the murder of Hannah Clarke and her children. Listen to episode one in your Full Story podcast feed today, and look out for episode two tomorrow.
In-depth
Hannah Clarke and her three children died a violent death at the hands of her estranged husband in February 2020. The coroner presiding at the inquest into their deaths found that it was unlikely anything more could have been done to prevent Rowan Baxter from killing his family.
But new evidence casts doubt on that finding.
The previously unreported material – uncovered by Guardian Australia as part of an exclusive two-year investigation, Broken Trust – shows that Clarke made repeated disclosures to a police officer that were not logged in police systems. And it reveals that after the murders, detectives turned the spotlight on the victim – investigating the “veracity and motive” of her allegations of domestic violence and coercive control.
Not the news
There are six Threshold Choirs in Australia, part of a worldwide movement to sing gentle songs to the dying and provide comfort, peace and release to both the suffering and the singers. Louise Southerden spoke with those who sing quietly and harmoniously to people at the threshold of life.
Sport
Tennis | Jannik Sinner is taking on Carlos Alcaraz to decide the champion of the men’s ATP Finals tennis tournament in Turin.
Cricket | Brendan Foster shares his memories of England’s first Test in Perth – including a terry towelling hat and Dennis Lillee’s aluminium bat; Ollie Pope believes pressure on his England place will push him to deliver in Ashes.
Football | Arsenal fail to break down Tottenham in WSL derby stalemate; Harry Kane scored twice against Albania as England continue their march to the World Cup; Portugal qualify for World Cup with 9-1 rout of Armenia.
Rugby union | The Wallabies were meant to prove they’re back. But instead they have gone backwards, Daniel Gallan writes.
Media roundup
Australia’s energy chiefs have warned against the country turning away from its net zero ambitions despite rising costs, ABC News reports. Thermal cameras and AI could change how Australians cross the road, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. Neurodivergent university students are falling through the cracks as research exposes major gaps in support, the Advertiser reports.
What’s happening today
ACT | A public hearing in the inquiry into the Thriving Kids initiative is scheduled in Canberra.
QLD | Public hearings are scheduled in Brisbane in the Commission of Inquiry into Child Safety.
Business | The Endeavour Group annual general meeting is being held today in Sydney.
NSW | A hearing is due at the federal court in Sydney over the First Nations child removal discrimination class action.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
