Morning everyone. After a board meeting last night, the Sydney Swans AFL club says it will penalise players for a “serious breach” of standards over an incident early on Monday morning.
The government is expected to complete the passage of its controversial NDIS bill through the lower house today after making a deal in the Senate, and Erin Patterson begins her appeal against her mushroom murder convictions.
Plus, Princess Diana’s brother promises “the truth” about his sister in a new book, and a report looks at the death of locally made free-to-air drama on Australian TVs.
Australia
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Patterson appeal | Three judges will sit in Victoria’s highest court today to begin hearing an appeal by Erin Patterson over her conviction in the mushroom murders case.
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Swans dive | The Sydney Swans will sanction players for a “serious breach” of standards over an incident in Melbourne at the weekend linked to a report of sexual assault. The AFL’s chief executive, Andrew Dillon, said the allegations were “deeply concerning”. No arrests have been made and no charges have been laid.
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Bill victory | The government’s controversial NDIS bill will pass into law today after “substantial” amendments were agreed to in a deal between Labor and the Coalition, but some of the changes drew heavy criticism from the Greens, the ACT senator David Pocock and the disability community.
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Treatment fear | The federal government should fund treatment for thousands of women with breast cancer or endometriosis, and children with gender dysphoria, according to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme’s advisory committee.
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Early draws | Pauline Hanson says people struggling to make ends meet should be allowed early access to their super savings. Our economics editor explores whether that would be a good idea.
World
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‘Death is waiting’ | Our correspondent Luke Harding reports from Kyiv on the Ukrainian unit posting videos of Russian soldiers being hunted down and killed by drones. They say their work shows “death is waiting” for those who join the war. Andy Burnham says the UK will continue to “support Ukraine 100%” after Russia threatened consequences after strikes by British-made drones.
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Algorithm on trial | Lawyers representing 29 US states have accused Meta of covering up internal research showing Instagram was addictive for teenagers, in a packed courtroom on the opening day of a landmark US$200bn legal challenge.
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Oil rises | Oil prices have risen again after the two-month window to negotiate a peace deal in the US-Israel war on Iran expired on Monday.
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Syria protests | Syrians have protested over the death of a man who was arrested and allegedly beaten by security forces, sparking widespread anger at a practice thought to have ended with the fall of Bashar al-Assad.
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Diana ‘truth’ | Charles Spencer, brother of the late Princess Diana, says he intends to write a book to “tell the truth” about his sister as the 30th anniversary of her death approaches.
Full Story
Does Australia have a gun problem?
New South Wales will become the first state to undertake Australia’s biggest gun buyback in 30 years in a jointly funded scheme in response to the Bondi beach terror attack.
Rafqa Touma speaks to reporter Penry Buckley about whether the gun buyback will work and why the scheme has angered so many.
In-depth
Bluey is still one of the world’s most popular kids’ shows, but the number of homegrown TV commissions has plummeted as commercial networks are no longer obliged to meet quotas for children’s viewing. And the problem isn’t just in children’s TV: free-to-air drama is declining too, as Emma Joyce reports.
Not the news
Alcoholic drinks are widely marketed as “low carb” and “gluten-free” in order to create a so-called “health halo”. But in our latest Antiviral column, Melissa Davey asks if it is really possible for alcohol to be healthy.
Sport
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Football | One of Gianni Infantino’s closest allies has said he would “take a bullet” for the embattled Fifa president amid mounting pressure. It comes as Israel announced it was joining other Uefa members in withdrawing support for Infantino.
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Cricket | Joe Root says he is not planning on “ripping up” the work of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum as his England side prepare to face Pakistan in the first Test in Leeds, on the Yorkshireman’s return to the captaincy.
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Basketball | The WNBA has apologised after at least three fans were asked to cover shirts that had messages about transgender women participating in women’s sports.
Media roundup
Austrac has referred hundreds of mortgage brokers, lawyers and accountants to police, tax officials and the corporate regulator over suspected mortgage fraud, the Fin Review. A “massive new tax” planned by the Victorian government will push up the cost of building new homes, the Herald Sun claims.
What’s happening today
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Technology | National AI skills forum in Canberra featuring Andrew Giles, Amanda Rishworth and Richard Branson.
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Politics | Assistant treasurer Daniel Mulino addresses the National Press Club about superannuation.
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Economy | Wages figures released this morning, and fireside chat with RBA deputy governor Andrew Hauser later.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
