Good morning. The extensive housing portfolios of MPs and senators has been laid bare in a survey of the register of interests. A big town in Victoria has lost its only bulk-billing clinic, leaving thousands of patients struggling to access GP care and their medical records. And Taiwan has fired a warning shot at a Chinese drone.
Federal MPs and senators have impressive property portfolios, owning or having an interest in almost two properties each on average. Of our 151 MPs and 76 senators, 38 have property in the nation’s capital, Canberra, or in nearby Queanbeyan, for which they are entitled to claim a $299-a-night travel allowance for parliamentary business. Among the biggest property owners in parliament is the shadow home affairs minister, Karen Andrews, who owns her residence in Clear Island Waters (Queensland) and six investment properties.
About 15,000 patients in and around the rural city of Mildura in Victoria’s north-west have been left without a bulk-billing doctor and are struggling to access their medical records. The Tristar medical group, which owns the Mildura clinic, went into voluntary administration in May, and the clinic has closed its doors. It comes as Victoria and New South Wales announced a joint plan to establish 50 urgent care clinics.
Taiwan fired warning shots at a Chinese drone that buzzed an offshore islet shortly after the president, Tsai Ing-wen, said she had ordered Taiwan’s military to take “strong countermeasures” against what she termed Chinese provocations. It was the first time warning shots have been fired in such an incident amid a period of heightened tension between China and Taiwan, which Beijing views as its own territory. Taiwan strongly disputes China’s sovereignty claims.
Australia
Chris Dawson has been found guilty of murdering his wife, Lynette Dawson, on or about 8 January 1982. Here are five of the reasons that Justice Ian Harrison said helped him reach that verdict.
Most women in their 20s have experienced sexual violence, according to a new Australian study.
The Australian War Memorial should not be given a “blank cheque” to cover further cost blowouts in its controversial $550m expansion, a government MP has warned.
National cabinet will on Wednesday debate cutting Australia’s Covid isolation period from seven days to five, a move championed by the NSW premier, Dominic Perrottet. If the change is made, how will it work and will infections increase? Here’s everything you need to know.
As Sydneysiders brace for yet another day of disruptions on the train network on Wednesday, the heads of the state’s rail unions will be locked away with the NSW transport minister, David Elliott, in a bid to finally end a months-long industrial standoff.
The world
Renewable energy is set for an unprecedented boom in the US in the wake of its first ever climate bill, with the capacity of solar and wind projects expected to double by the end of the decade and providing the bulk of total American electricity supply, new analysis has shown.
Ukraine says an attempt to retake ground in a counteroffensive is under way but Russia has dismissed its prospects of success. Here’s everything you need to know.
Top US Secret Service official Tony Ornato, who has become a figure of intense interest to the congressional committee investigating the January 6 Capitol attack, has retired from the agency.
Charlbi Dean, the South African actor and model currently starring in festival circuit hit Triangle of Sadness, died on Monday at a New York City hospital of a sudden illness at the age of 32.
Recommended reads
In Three things, our weekly interview about objects, footy player-turned-actor Aaron Fa’aoso tells us about two precious pieces of jewellery: one he treasures and one he misses. And if that hasn’t piqued your interest, he also says: “I’m not a prepper, but I can live off-grid for months on end.”
The Fly is now streaming in Australia on Disney+ so Adam Fleet has revisited the 1986 body horror classic starring Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis. Or, as he describes it: “96 minutes of grotesque, vomit-soaked bedlam – and David Cronenberg’s best film.”
Listen
As the cost of living rises, the Albanese government is facing pressure to scrap $243bn worth of tax cuts legislated under the Morrison government that predominantly benefit the wealthiest Australians. Critics, including former Reserve Bank governor Bernie Fraser, say these cuts are expensive and bad policy and the pandemic has made them even less affordable. In today’s Full Story, political reporter Amy Remeikis talks to Laura Murphy-Oates about whether Australia can afford tax cuts for the rich, and why Labor is standing by them.
Full Story is Guardian Australia’s daily news podcast. Subscribe for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any other podcasting app.
Sport
Daniel Gallan thinks the sibling rivalry that defines Springboks v Wallabies is losing its sheen: “It would be a shame if this great union of two contrasting philosophies morphed into apathy.”
Media roundup
Australia’s election watchdog asked TikTok to remove footage shot inside counting centres at the last federal election, to counter “stolen election” narratives pushed by fringe groups, the ABC reports. And the Australian Financial Review reports that one of our ageing Collins class submarines was last week stranded in Hawaii, with technicians scrambled to fly out there to get it moving.
Coming up
The national cabinet is meeting in person in Sydney.
Mark Scott will address the National Press Club.
The winners of the Eureka prize will be announced.
And if you’ve read this far …
Check out these brilliant pictures charting 50 years of New York’s legendary Coney Island.
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