Morning everyone. Today, our investigation into specialist care finds that availability is a “postcode lottery”, and many people are just not aware that they can be referred to public clinics.
We also report on how the latest rejection of a McDonald’s restaurant in Melbourne’s Northcote is part of a long history of such fights, with the company prepared to “wait years” to win these battles.
Plus: the first 30 of our best-ever Ashes cricketers, and food reviewer Nicholas Jordan gets cracking on his latest – and driest – taste test.
Australia
Ancient ‘drop crocs’ | Crocodilian eggshells unearthed in a grazier’s back yard in regional Queensland are believed to be the oldest ever found in Australia at 55m years old and likely belong to a group of extinct creatures known as mekosuchines (some of which have been nicknamed “drop crocs”).
Healthcare lottery | Specialist healthcare in public hospitals is a “postcode lottery” and many patients are often unaware they can find free treatment at one of the clinics, we report in the latest instalment in our series on the health system.
Rallying point | Amid anger about how the neo-Nazi protest was allowed to take place outside NSW parliament over the weekend, there are many questions to answer such as could police have prevented it from the get-go? And are the new laws announced by state premier Chris Minns yesterday necessary or effective?
Family fortunes | People who are the first in their family to go to university – such as education minister Jason Clare – should be recognised as disadvantaged or risk being left behind, a new report says.
‘Spectacular nonsense’ | The Coalition debate about net zero has been characterised by “spectacular nonsense”, our environment editor writes today, as renewables are not to blame for rising electricity prices.
World
‘People were screaming for help’ | Witnesses to the Delhi car bomb have been describing horrific scenes with the huge explosion heard for many kilometres and people “blown to pieces”. Police are investigating the bombing, which killed eight people, under anti-terror laws. In Pakistan, at least 12 people have been killed in a blast in Islamabad as the defence minister said a surge in terror attacks had put the country in a “state of war”.
Number 10 | Downing Street has launched an extraordinary operation to protect Keir Starmer amid fears among the UK prime minister’s closest allies that he is vulnerable to a leadership challenge.
Flight delays | Air travellers should expect worsening cancellations and delays this week even if the US government shutdown ends. Donald Trump has claimed a “very big victory” as the shutdown-ending bill splits Democrats. Follow it all live.
BBC blast | The outgoing BBC boss, Tim Davie, has hit out at the “weaponisation” of criticisms of the BBC, as he addressed staff after his shock resignation as its director general.
Wicked idea | The actor Jeff Goldblum says he has stopped eating meat after working on Wicked, adding that discussions about animal cruelty with director Jon Chu had led him to turn pescatarian.
Full Story
Why was the Sydney neo-Nazi rally allowed to happen?
Jordyn Beazley speaks to Reged Ahmad about why NSW police allowed the Sydney protest to take place and if future rallies can be stopped.
In-depth
As one planning expert puts it, you can’t spend your whole life trying to stop a McDonald’s. Opponents of a proposed restaurant in the Melbourne suburb of Northcote have won the first round after Darebin council rejected the fast-food giant’s plan. But now, Catie McLeod discovers, they face the dilemma of continuing the fight against a multinational that is “very organised, very strategic and prepared to wait years”.
Not the news
Our latest supermarket taste test – wheat crackers – has been one of the hardest to collate, Nicholas Jordan confesses, and also one of the driest. Nicholas and friends whittled down the 100 or so products that could have qualified, lined up the dips and cheese, and got, well, cracking. But there was only ever going to be one winner …
Sport
Cricket | The first 30 of our 100 greatest Ashes players has arrived with Australian legend David Boon, for example, weighing in a No 94 and Nathan Lyon at 71. One name who might be rather nearer the top of the list, Ian Botham, has hit out at England’s preparations for the current tour, saying the team needed more than one tour match to “acclimatise”. We also have the story of the 1897 Sydney riot that set the tone for 150 years of Ashes rivalry.
Tennis | Carlos Alcaraz has beaten Taylor Fritz (2)6-7 7-5 6-3 in a thrilling ATP finals match in Turin and will advance to the last four if if Alex de Minaur beats Lorenzo Musetti this morning.
Rugby league | Australia were comfortable winners of the Ashes series, prompting soul-searching in England about how they can improve.
Media roundup
Westpac boss Anthony Miller tells the Telegraph the government must give more incentives for developers to build affordable homes in Sydney. Three generations of the same family have been caught up in a triple fatal collision in Stoneleigh in Victoria’s west, the Geelong Advertiser reports. The City of Melbourne has warned the state government that its planned 73% hike in the car parking levy will cripple the CBD, the Age reports.
What’s happening today
Victoria | Directions hearing at the supreme court over confiscation of triple murderer Erin Patterson’s property.
Canberra | Judgment in the case of the Russian federation v commonwealth of Australia.
Foreign affairs | Kazuhiro Suzuki, Japan’s ambassador to Australia, speaks at the National Press Club.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
