Good morning. Labor’s draft 2026 national platform, obtained exclusively by Guardian Australia, has some interesting changes: ending a longstanding opposition to mandatory jail terms, for example.
The US president, Donald Trump, has taken to social media overnight to lash out at his allies, telling countries like the UK to “start learning how to fight for yourself, the USA won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us”.
And 20-year-old Socceroo Nestory Irankunda scored twice last night, turning a friendly against Curaçao into a showcase for his burgeoning talents.
Australia
Exclusive | The combination of the capital gains tax discount and negative gearing rules has turbocharged debt-fuelled property speculation over recent decades, likely pushing up prices, according to a new analysis of hundreds of thousands of property investments.
Future plans | Labor’s longstanding opposition to mandatory jail terms has been omitted from the first draft of its new national party platform, after the Albanese government backed minimum sentences on several occasions.
Market reaction | House prices in Sydney and Melbourne are falling as interest rate rises and economic uncertainty caused by conflict in the Middle East saw buyers leave the market during the last quarter.
Transparency plea | The family of aid worker Zomi Frankcom has urged the Albanese government to press Israel for a serious independent investigation into her death, including the release of audio from the drone strike which blew up a humanitarian convoy in Gaza in 2024.
Deepwater discoveries | Marine scientists have discovered more than 110 new fish and invertebrate species in the Coral Sea – a figure they believe could exceed 200 as more are identified.
World
Fuel crisis | In a post on Truth Social, the US president, Donald Trump, has suggested that allies in Europe should build up the “courage” to go to the strait of Hormuz and “just take” fuel. Follow our Middle East crisis live blog here.
Diplomacy | Pakistan and China have released a joint five-part proposal for peace in the Middle East, after Pakistan’s foreign minister flew to Beijing on Tuesday to seek Chinese support for the country’s faltering efforts to negotiate an end to end the war.
Environment | A US government panel on Tuesday exempted oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico from the Endangered Species Act (ESA), a move which critics say could doom a rare whale species and harm other marine life.
AI litigation | Penguin Random House has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging its chatbot ChatGPT violated copyright by mimicking and reproducing the content of a popular series of German children’s books.
Douze points | Eurovision is expanding into the Asian market by hosting a version of its song contest in Bangkok this year, just as the original annual event is being buffeted by discord and boycotts on the eve of its 70th anniversary edition.
Full Story
What Labor’s changes mean for the price of your petrol
Despite previously saying there would be no cut to the fuel excise, that is exactly what Anthony Albanese has done. Political reporter and chief-of-staff Josh Butler speaks to Reged Ahmad about whether this will bring down fuel prices and what restrictions and measures consumers could face if the crisis continues.
In-depth
The use of injectable peptides as “glow up potions” is on the rise, with numerous influencers as well as the US health secretary, RFK Jr, touting their benefits. In the latest Antiviral column, Natasha May speaks to experts about the latest beauty trend, who warn about the lack of clinical trial data and risks of possible side effects like skin cancer, kidney dysfunction and brain swelling.
Not the news
With the holiday coming up this weekend, Nicholas Jordan has meticulously evaluated 29 Easter egg products to crack the case of which reigns supreme. An expert panel of six adults ranked the confections on taste and texture. Along the way, Jordan encounters “the lowest-scoring product of all 600-plus supermarket items I’ve tried for the three years I’ve been writing this series”.
Sport
Football | Celebrating with a backflip-infused, Michael Jackson-inspired dance, Nestory Irankunda scored twice on Tuesday night in Melbourne to propel the Socceroos to a 5-1 victory over Curaçao.
AFL | North Melbourne star Tristan Xerri would have risked a heftier AFL ban had he not shown remorse for wiping blood on the face of Essendon captain Andrew McGrath.
Tennis | While Jannik Sinner’s duopoly with Carlos Alcaraz looks unbreakable, Aryna Sabalenka is dominating despite a more competitive women’s top 10.
Media roundup
Waiting times for electric vehicles have blown out due to the ongoing oil crisis, reports the Financial Review. Thousands of South Australia’s most disadvantaged children are slipping through the cracks as the state’s poverty crisis deepens, the Advertiser reports. And the ABC reports on two Queensland boaties who found an unusual stowaway on their vessel – a sugar glider.
What’s happening today
Politics | Federal parliament will have its last sitting day before the budget
Canberra | Former Treasury secretary Dr Martin Parkinson and SSI chief executive Violet Roumeliotis will address the National Press Club on Australia’s workforce and productivity crisis
Health | The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing will appear before the Community Affairs References Committee for questions about the Support at Home Program
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
