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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Martin Farrer

Morning Mail: Israel’s ‘intensified’ plan to seize Gaza, the voters that swung to Labor, Liberals in crisis

Gazans evacuate as smoke rises from an Israeli strike in Khan Yunis.
Gazans evacuate as smoke rises from an Israeli strike in Khan Yunis. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

Morning everyone. Israel has announced a new plan for an “intensified” offensive in Gaza, which officials said was about “conquering” the territory, moving the population and establishing a sustained presence.

At home the fallout from Labor’s spectacular election win continues. We look at key seats where Chinese Australians turned against the Coalition, and the waning power of the Murdoch press. In the US, the White House is dealing with pushback against Donald Trump’s plan to slap tariffs on foreign films.

Australia

  • Batavia rethink | The story of the Batavia shipwreck has long been accepted as the result of one “madman” wreaking terror with rape and murder. But a Dutch academic now argues that it was more complicated than that.

  • Chinese factor | Labor was helped towards its election win by huge swings of up to 30% from Chinese Australian voters in key marginal seats, bringing warnings from strategists and analysts that the Liberal party has failed to rebuild trust with the community after the harsh anti-Beijing rhetoric of the Morrison era.

  • Woman held | A 66-year-old woman is being held in police custody after two children aged six and seven were found dead at a house in Coonabarabran in north-west New South Wales.

  • Nurses’ fight | The Queensland union movement has warned the state’s conservative government it will be in for a “hell of a bloody fight” if it pursues threats to strip nurses and midwives of back pay if they enact their legal right to strike.

  • Stellar show | With no moon in the sky this week, Australian stargazers have a good chance to see the annual Eta Aquariids meteor showers as they streak across the sky.

World

Full Story

The ‘bloodletting’ and crisis inside the Liberal party

As insiders warn about an existential crisis facing the Liberals after their electoral rout, Nour Haydar talks to our chief political correspondent, Tom McIlroy, about what comes next for the party.

In-depth

We have an excellent selection of analysis about what shaped the election result, and what lessons can be drawn from the outcome. First, our number crunchers have been trying to identify the main demographic groups that swung to Labor – and they include urban voters, women, young people and Australians whose first language is not English. One of the most salient lessons from the election is that Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp press no longer has the power to influence elections, writes Margaret Simons, with nothing to show for full-throated editorial support in papers across the country. Another lesson, our environment editor argues, is that there will never be a better chance to strike ahead with more ambitious plan for renewable energy.

Not the news

It’s 41 years since Paul Kelly used the experience of a 13-hour bus journey from Melbourne to Sydney to write the opening line of his celebrated song, From St Kilda to Kings Cross, as he dossed at Don Walker’s house. What is less well known perhaps is that Kelly was at that point past his last chance in the business, writes Andrew Stafford, until the subsequent album, Post, released 40 years ago, transformed his career.

Sport

  • Formula One | Lando Norris’s aggressive approach to battling the world champion, Max Verstappen, has received the backing of his McLaren team despite it likely costing the British driver a shot at victory at the Miami Grand Prix won by Oscar Piastri.

  • Rugby union | Ireland and Leinster captain Caelan Doris is set to undergo a “procedure” on a shoulder injury, casting doubt on whether he will be fit for the Lions tour of Australia.

  • Football | Trent Alexander-Arnold has announced he is leaving Liverpool and is expected to join Real Madrid on a free transfer. In the Premier League, Nottingham Forest need a win at Crystal Palace.

Media roundup

A political adviser writing in the Sydney Morning Herald says she tried five times to tell Peter Dutton about his “women problem” but was rejected each time. The Herald Sun claims an exclusive in revealing that New Zealander Mike Bush will be Victoria’s new police chief. The Courier Mail boasts footage of the “horrific moment” a swarm of grasshoppers smashed against a motorist’s windscreen.

What’s happening today

  • Environment | Hearing in Sydney in case of EnergyAustralia sued over “greenwashed” carbon neutral product.

  • Canberra | US rightwing commentator Candace Owens in high court appeal against visa refusal.

  • Economy | Monthly household spending indicator and building approval figures released at 11.30am.

Sign up

If you would like to receive this Morning Mail update to your email inbox every weekday, sign up here, or finish your day with our Afternoon Update newsletter. You can follow the latest in US politics by signing up for This Week in Trumpland.

Brain teaser

And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.

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