Happy Friday! The Presbyterian Church of Australia raised eyebrows today after they called for the right to exclude students from leadership positions if they were in a same-sex relationship or having premarital sex, in a submission to the review of anti-discrimination laws.
The deputy prime minister, Richard Marles, pushed back against that idea, saying he “can’t see a situation where we’re inadvertently discriminating against kids”. And on a happier note to end the week, The White Lotus duo Jennifer Coolidge and Mike White are coming to Sydney for a public speaking event.
Top news
Church submission on LGBTQ+ students | Two Queensland government ministers added to the criticism of the Presbyterian church’s submission. The youth affairs minister, Meaghan Scanlon, said the Queensland government would not “tolerate” discriminatory views in a state school. The church suggested the students “would not be able to give appropriate Christian leadership”.
Kerry O’Brien’s impassioned plea for the voice | The prominent journalist delivered a passionate defence of the Indigenous voice at a parliamentary inquiry, saying the nation is at an “absolutely pivotal moment” in demonstrating “our ability to learn the lessons of the past”. Meanwhile, Bridget Archer, the Liberal backbencher who has vowed to campaign for a yes vote, has co-authored this op-ed outlining her reasons for supporting the voice.
Cyclone Ilsa moves inland | The cyclone has been downgraded from a severe level 5 to 2, but it left a trail of destruction in its wake. The eye of the cyclone passed close to the Pardoo Roadhouse, 150km east of Port Hedland, with owner Kelly Anne Martinez saying the damage would cost $4m.
Jarryd Hayne jailed | The former NRL player has been jailed ahead of his sentencing hearing after being found guilty of two counts of rape. Hayne had “remarkably” remained on bail after being found guilty on two counts of sexual intercourse without consent earlier in April, a New South Wales supreme court judge said.
Paramedic stabbed to death at McDonald’s | The 29-year-old father was grabbing a bite during an early morning shift break in Sydney’s south-west before he was fatally stabbed. A 21-year-old man has been taken into custody. No charges have been laid.
Six-week abortion ban in Florida | One of America’s most populous states is on the verge of enacting the extreme abortion measure, after the Republican-controlled legislature approved the ban.
Serbia denies Ukraine arms supply | Serbia, a traditional Russian ally, has rejected claims in a leaked Pentagon report that it had agreed to supply weapons to Ukraine.
Jennifer Coolidge and Mike White to appear in Sydney | Tickets are on sale for an event at Sydney’s Vivid festival featuring The White Lotus duo. Coolidge delivered the news in a video filmed from a bed while wearing a robe, saying: “Hey Australia, it’s Jennifer Coolidge and I’ve just got really exciting news.”
North Korea’s ICBM | North Korea claims it has successfully tested a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time – a breakthrough that the country’s leader, Kim Jong-un, warned would make its enemies “suffer in endless fear”.
In pictures
The hair potential of guinea pigs makes me envious, as I twirl my frizzy curl. Check out the stunners at this year’s Sydney Easter show’s Royal Cavy competition.
What they said …
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“The scope of the voice as described by the prime minister is deliberately undefined. So that means the prime minister can’t rule out that the voice has the de facto veto rule on, for example, our national days of commemoration such as Australia Day or Anzac Day.” – Sussan Ley
Fact check: the voice doesn’t have any veto power at all, let alone over national holidays.
In numbers
ExxonMobil made A$82.5bn in profits, or $9.3m an hour, last year after the war in Ukraine ignited a surge in global oil and gas prices. The oil industry’s outsized profits were criticised as “outrageous” by the US president, Joe Biden, during his State of the Union address in February. Biden has previously accused Exxon of making “more money than God”.
Before bed read
A stranger paid for this family’s motel bill – kindness is indeed alive in our selfish world.
“I love remembering and telling this story to whoever will listen … it reminds me to look for opportunities to help, care for and encourage my fellow human beings. This simple act of kindness by a stranger truly changed my life.”
A feelgood story to end the week.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: CREE. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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