Good morning. Three months after Dezi Freeman fled into remote bush after three police officers were shot at his Porepunkah home, we take a look at the rumours, conjecture and questions still surrounding the case.
Staff in the Australian Taxation Office’s outsourced call centres say inferior working conditions are behind the extraordinarily high staff turnover rates, amid complaints that those on the phones aren’t experienced in tax matters.
European nations have proposed a radical alternative peace plan for Ukraine in crunch diplomatic talks – after Donald Trump accused Kyiv of showing “zero gratitude” for his efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
Australia
‘Whole thing stinks’ | Outsourced workers at the ATO’s call centres are shocked at their working conditions – while the Tax Ombudsman has received complaints from callers irked by call staff who cannot provide informed responses.
Three months without a trace | Is Dezi Freeman’s still in the Porepunkah area, being harboured by locals? Is he dead? Or he is somewhere else, on the lam? Nino Bucci considers the many questions about the case.
Exclusive | Labor is pledging action as a survey on “what it means to be a man in Australia” reveals that one-third of NSW respondents admitted to sexually harassing a woman in the past month.
Exclusive | Labor is quietly advancing plans for universal childcare in Australia, with new laws to require private operators to hand over sensitive commercial data needed to design a new national system. Meanwhile, years of debate about environmental law reform have come down to a tense standoff in the final sitting week of parliament for the year, with Labor claiming it can do a deal this week.
Analysis | Tech companies ensnared in the social media ban are rushing to be ready in time, as Labor brushes aside concerns about teething issues. But what if the policy doesn’t work as promised?
World
Russia-Ukraine war | Donald Trump claims Ukraine has shown no gratitude for US efforts to end the war, as American, Ukrainian and international negotiators meet to discuss his “peace plan”.
Cop30 summit | The world is not winning the fight against the climate crisis but it is still in that fight, the UN climate chief said in Belém, Brazil, after a bitterly contested Cop30 reached a deal. In Australia, activists say Labor must back up its Belém promises with action.
Middle East crisis | Israel claimed that it killed the Hezbollah chief of staff in an airstrike in Beirut southern suburbs; Gaza’s hospitals are running out of supplies as Israeli airstrikes continue, medics say; Palestinians from Gaza who were in Israel on 7 October 2023 have been left stranded between exile and war.
Doge gone | Launched as a symbol of Donald Trump’s pledge to slash spending, the once Elon Musk-led US department of government efficiency – “Doge” – has apparently been quietly dissolved.
Titanic auction | A gold pocket watch that belonged to a man who died onboard the Titanic when it sank has sold for more than $3.6m at auction, the highest amount ever paid for Titanic memorabilia.
Full Story
What went wrong at Wieambilla
A Queensland coroner has found that the three members of the Train family behind the 2022 Wieambilla shootings were not terrorists, but instead killed two police officers and a neighbour due to their shared “persecutory” delusions. Andrew Messenger speaks with Reged Ahmad about the coroner’s findings into what happened that day – and whether anything could have been done to prevent it.
In-depth
In September, the criminal defence lawyer and human rights advocate Asta Hill became the first Greens-backed mayor of Mparntwe/Alice Springs, where she grew up and is now raising two young children. Determined to rewrite the story of her beloved home town, she talks with Joe Hinchliffe about trying to put human rights at the centre of her leadership – without shying away from addressing community safety.
Not the news
In the latest of our Kindness of strangers series, we hear from a reader who was saved from a perilous situation having lost her footing while teetering on stiletto heels amid a surge of commuters at a train station. Thanks to that good Samaritan’s quick thinking, only her pride was damaged.
Sport
Cricket | Brendan McCullum is “planning how to bounce back” after England’s Ashes flop in Perth; England’s Ashes confidence seems misplaced after two days, Geoff Lemon writes; England must avoid Perth 2025 becoming the new Adelaide 2006, Ali Martin writes.
Motorsport | McLaren apologise to Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri and fans for Las Vegas Grand Prix disqualifications, as Max Verstappen’s win puts him back in the F1 title race.
Football | Brilliant Eze hits hat-trick as Arsenal thump Spurs to extend the title race lead; Aston Villa rally to put Leeds in trouble with Morgan Rogers double; Virgil van Dijk admits Liverpool are in a mess after latest loss.
Rugby union | Wallabies fans are entitled to be frustrated but it’s not all grim for this tired, talented side, Daniel Gallan writes.
Media roundup
New rent affordability data reveals that an already “dire” situation has worsened across regional Australia in the last year but stabilised in some major cities, ABC News reports. Celebrated chef Skye Gyngell – the first Australian woman to win a Michelin star – has died aged 62, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. The Labor government is being urged to take action to close loopholes enabling Russian-origin oil to enter Australia, the Age reports.
What’s happening today
Diplomacy | The National People’s Congress of China chair is to visit Canberra.
Sport | The winners of this year’s AFLW “W awards” will be revealed this evening.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
