Afternoon Update: Melbourne childcare worker charged with sex offences; NSW braces for storm; and a basketball player’s own goal

A Melbourne childcare worker has been charged with more than 70 offences relating to eight alleged victims aged between five months and two years old. Photograph: Diego Fedele/AAP

Welcome, readers, to Afternoon Update.

Victorian health authorities are recommending that 1,200 children are tested for infectious diseases after a Melbourne childcare worker was charged with allegedly sexually abusing infants and children in his care.

Police on Tuesday confirmed that a Point Cook resident, Joshua Brown, 26, had been charged in May with more than 70 offences relating to eight alleged victims aged between five months and two years old.

The infants and children attended a childcare centre in Melbourne’s western suburbs and their families were notified last week of the alleged offending.

Victoria’s premier, Jacinta Allan, said she was “sickened” by the “shocking and distressing” allegations. “My heart just breaks for the families who are living every parent’s worst nightmare,” she said.

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In pictures

Intimate stories of birth, a nude winter solstice swim and a Matildas win – Guardian Australia’s best pictures from around the country in June.

What they said …

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“I’ve been respectful of the president. And I must say that he’s been respectful of me as well.”

Anthony Albanese was on a media blitz this morning to spruik changes coming into effect this financial year but the elephant in the room – Donald Trump – is getting all the focus. Asked whether he should consider telling the US president to “bugger off” after what many perceived to be a recent snub when their meeting on the sidelines of the G7 was abruptly cancelled, the prime minister insisted on a more diplomatic approach.

In numbers

When the law was announced, critics immediately said it would be used as a weapon to demolish institutional opposition in the city. The disbandment of Hong Kong’s League of Social Democrats, an almost 20-year-old opposition party, this week has shown just how comprehensively the law worked.

Before bed read

In today’s culture, responsiveness is a proxy for care. But being in constant rotation has left the speech pathologist, writer and director Miski Omar, tired of the tyranny of being reachable.

Daily word game

Today’s starter word is: BEN. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.

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