Good morning. Today, a story describing how ATO has referred more than 355,000 taxpayers – including welfare recipients – to Recoveriescorp, a private equity-backed debt collector, since January 2024.
Pine Gap, the secretive satellite base outside Alice Springs, has been described as America’s most valuable intelligence site outside US soil. A protest blockade there has raised questions about Australia’s complicity in the Gaza war.
And: Oscar Piastri faces another tough test this morning at the Mexico Grand Prix, with his lead in the F1 drivers’ championship under serious threat.
Australia
AI rebuffed | The government has explicitly ruled out handing tech companies free rein to mine creative content to train their AI models, after a fierce backlash from authors and arts and media groups.
Tax debt threat | The ATO has referred hundreds of thousands of taxpayers to a private equity-backed debt collector, Recoveriescorp, after Australians’ tax debts escalated in the pandemic years.
Nature laws carve-up? | The Coalition wants to break reforms of the federal environment protections in two, prioritising measures to fast-track projects while likely further delaying protections for nature.
Explainer | In a bid to remain competitive, taxi companies in Melbourne and Sydney are trialing flat-fare rides to challenge Uber’s dominance on the airport run. Can they win back customers?
‘Tigers of our rivers’ | A young Murray cod has swum one of the longest ever recorded journeys for the species, travelling about 900km through the Murray River, its streams and backchannels.
World
Gaza crisis | A “temporary” yellow line marking Gaza’s ceasefire is taking an increasingly physical form as Israeli troops reinforce their positions – and hopes of moving to next phase of the truce fade.
Louvre heist | Police have arrested two suspects believed to have helped steal crown jewels from the Louvre museum in Paris, French officials said overnight, a week after the spectacular heist.
Russia-Ukraine war | Trump’s sanctions have had a swift impact, but will the world stop buying Russian oil and gas? Meanwhile Kupiansk’s slow demise reflects the fate of cities on Ukraine’s frontlines.
Landfall looms | Hurricane Melissa has strengthened into a powerful category 4 hurricane, threatening days of catastrophic winds and rain in the northern Caribbean as it nears Jamaica.
New York mayoral race | “He’s become a vehicle for our tensions”: a tour of mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani’s Jewish outreach reveals an electorate fractured over Israel; meanwhile, as Republicans push to deport him, he says that “Islamophobia is endemic”.
UK royal family | Prince Andrew could face a parliamentary debate on his conduct despite the UK government so far saying the royal family wishes parliament to focus on “important issues”.
Full Story
How Centrelink illegally cancelled jobseeker payments
Australia’s welfare system is often described as a safety net for the most vulnerable, but what happens when that safety net is yanked away? Analysis suggests that hundreds of thousands of Centrelink payments have been illegally cancelled since 2020, with many more suspended. Cait Kelly speaks with Nour Haydar about the automated system linked to the cancellations – and the human toll of a broken system.
In-depth
Heavily guarded, Pine Gap – or “the base”, as it is known locally – sits in a secluded, narrow valley near Alice Springs. Little is officially confirmed about its operations, but through leaked documents and whistleblower disclosures its criticality to American global-intelligence gathering is uncontested. Now a protest over the facility’s alleged role in the Gaza war has refocused attention on the secretive US satellite base.
Not the news
According to its creator, the new Hot Mama dessert is neither a latte nor a hot chocolate and certainly not melted ice-cream. But if it’s none of these, then what is it? We visited to Smize and Dream in Sydney’s Darling Harbour to try Tyra Banks’ “revolutionary” hot ice-cream. And the verdict? Well, with its lukewarm temperature and peculiar consistency, you can colour us confused.
Sport
Motorsport | Oscar Piastri is seventh on the grid at the Mexico Grand Prix after a torrid qualifying, as he tries to defend his F1 drivers’ championship lead.
Football | Arsenal move four points clear at top of the Premier League as Eze strike sees off Crystal Palace; Matty Cash sinks Manchester City to maintain Aston Villa’s climb up the table; Real Madrid pull clear of Barcelona in La Liga after a 2-1 clásico victory.
Rugby league | England will require a herculean Ashes effort after its Wembley mauling by Australia; Julia Robinson soars for try of the year contender as Jillaroos shut out Samoa in Brisbane.
Cricket | England crush New Zealand in a final group match at the Women’s Cricket World Cup.
Media roundup
Anthony Albanese and Japan’s new PM, Sanae Takaichi, discussed the strategic threat posed by China at their first meeting on Sunday night, according to the Australian. Amid record cases, doctors are warning that Northern Territory children are being left behind as other states roll out needle-free flu vaccines, NT News reports. A decade after being scrapped, midwife training is set to return to Tasmania next year in a boost for the state’s healthcare workforce, the Mercury reports. Per the Daily Telegraph, a Sydney-wide weekend crime crackdown saw more than 250 police officers deployed. And an inner Melbourne Coles frequently targeted by shoplifters is utilising opera music in a bid to combat antisocial behaviour, the Age reports.
What’s happening today
Canberra | Federal parliament returns.
Canberra | First Nations and Pacific climate leaders are meeting for a climate crisis summit.
NT | The Lesley Turner v Jacinta Nampijinpa Price defamation trial continues in Darwin.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
