Good morning. The Liberal party is looking for lessons in its convincing Victorian election defeat at the hands of Daniel Andrews’ Labor. One suggested area to work on is that there is “absolutely no doubt that fewer women are voting for the Liberal party than used to”, according to Jane Hume. The state party also needs to find a new parliamentary leader.
And, in China, Xi Jinping is facing a wave of protests and civil disobedience not seen in the country since he took power as patience with stringent Covid restrictions wears increasingly thin.
Meanwhile the World Cup rolls on with more upsets and a do-or-die match coming for Australia after its win over Tunisia.
Australia
Victoria election | The Coalition must improve its offering to female voters and oppose electoral laws that entrench incumbent Labor governments, federal Liberals have suggested. We have an analysis of the Liberals’ woes and a piece examining how a “Greenslide” failed to eventuate.
Opinion | Victoria’s voters ignored News Corp’s anti-Labor campaign but the controversy let Dan Andrews skate, writes Matthew Ricketson.
Teal ripple | The “teal” candidate Kate Lardner has called for reform of Victoria’s “unfair” campaign donation laws with the number of independents in the state’s parliament certain to go backwards after the weekend’s election.
Infrastructure | Potholes, warped rail lines and washed-away roads: flood-hit regions are facing an infrastructure crisis. Just how bad is it?
Workplace reform | Labor looks to have the votes it needs for its industrial relations bill after a deal with the independent senator David Pocock.
Global heating | Concern about the climate crisis was the No 1 issue that prompted Australians to switch their vote to an independent candidate at this year’s federal election, according to in-depth social research.
World
China | Protests against China’s stringent Covid restrictions have intensified as a wave of civil disobedience triggered by a deadly fire in the far west reaches levels not seen in the mainland since Xi Jinping assumed power a decade ago.
Donald Trump | The January 6 select committee’s final report into its investigation is expected to focus heavily on Donald Trump’s involvement in the Capitol attack and his potential culpability, opening a rift on the panel weeks before its scheduled release in mid-December.
Ukraine | A young couple who helped citizens and Kyiv’s army tell of torture and endurance during the Russian onslaught.
Pakistan | Imran Khan has vowed to fight to the “last drop of blood” in his first rally since being shot.
Iran | A niece of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has called on foreign governments to cut all links with Tehran’s “murderous and child-killing” regime in a video posted online two days after she was arrested.
Full Story
Who will foot the bill for global climate disasters?
Developing countries had a win at this year’s international climate summit Cop27, with developed countries agreeing to chip in to a fund to cover loss and damage from climate disasters. In today’s Full Story, Jane Lee speaks to Guardian Australia’s environment and climate editor, Adam Morton, and Vanuatu’s climate change minister, Ralph Regenvanu, about what this means for countries vulnerable to climate disasters and the path ahead for international climate talks.
In-depth
Which capital cities have bounced back from Covid best? Visits for retail and recreation have boosted activity in Sydney and Melbourne but work-from-home preferences are keeping office trips low. New analysis outlined here shows why the business community is heartened by a surge in recreational visits that is expected to “rebalance” Australian cities.
Not the news
Switch off the news and lose yourself for a few hours with the help of Mark Kermode’s top 20 music documentaries.
The world of sport
World Cup | Australia exploded with joy after the Socceroos’ first World Cup win in 12 years with a 1-0 defeat of Tunisia. Overnight, Morocco shocked Belguim 2-0. And, in a battle of the titans, Germany is facing Spain.
AFLW | Melbourne have won their maiden AFLW premiership, defeating Brisbane in a grand final thriller.
Rugby Union | The Wallabies ground out a comeback win over Wales in a context-free match neither team needed but neither could afford to lose, writes Daniel Gallan.
Media roundup
The plight of two boys in out-of-home care in NSW has been detailed in a court case that has sparked an urgent government review of the multimillion-dollar sector, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. Pubs and clubs across the state will have their trading hours extended into Thursday morning – but only if they put the Socceroos on the big screen, according to the Daily Telegraph. And plans to drill in the Kimberley using hydraulic fracturing technology have been scrapped by a tiny Perth-based oil company that once promoted a vision of a $77bn development in WA’s far north, the Age reports.
What’s happening today
Scott Morrison | The Labor cabinet will meet to decide if the former PM should be censured.
Politics | Parliament resumes today.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day – with plenty more on the Guardian’s Puzzles app for iOS and Android. Until tomorrow.
