Morning everyone. The teal class of 2022 has lost one of its most prominent members and another is on the ropes as the federal election count goes into overtime. The fightback might help the Liberals regain some pride but whoever succeeds Peter Dutton as leader faces “instability”, MPs say.
We also report on Labor’s election mastermind, how queer Australians fear travelling to the US and a comeback for Mr G. Speaking of the US, the victorious Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, has had an interesting trip to the White House overnight.
Australia
Border fear | Queer Australians are axing travel plans to the World Pride festival in the US as Donald Trump targets LGBTQ+ rights and fears grow about entering America. Mik Bartels from Canberra (pictured), says “given my appearance as identifiably queer”, they would not be confident of being able to gain entry.
Wilson wins | Tim Wilson looks likely to reclaim his inner-Melbourne seat from the teal independent Zoe Daniel in a nail-biting race that swung the Liberals’ way on postal votes. Another class-of-2022 independent, Monique Ryan, is under threat in nearby Kooyong from Liberal challenger Amelia Hamer, while Greens leader Adam Bandt might be ousted in Melbourne. The next Liberal leader faces period of “instability” and must be prepared to be regularly criticised and challenged, MPs have said, as the party wrestles with its future following its disastrous election defeat.
Trading up | Labor insiders say assistant trade minister Tim Ayres’ move to pass up promotion last year in favour of female colleagues will all but guarantee him a spot in Anthony Albanese’s looming reshuffle. Meanwhile economists hope that the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, will work to boost productivity after the fall of inflation.
Windy gap | Successive cyclones have opened up a gap a few dozen metres wide in an uninhabited strip of Bribie Island, leaving the Sunshine Coast vulnerable to storm surges, residents fear.
Pain relief | Helping people with chronic pain manage their emotions can lessen their experience of pain, according to an Australian-led study, with participants joining online therapy reporting up to a 10-point decrease on a 100-point scale for pain intensity.
World
‘Just friends’ | Donald Trump has said he “just wants to be friends with Canada” after his first post-election meeting with Mark Carney, who shot down any prospect of his country becoming the 51st state. Here are five takeaways from this fascinating encounter. Meanwhile the US supreme court has allowed Donald Trump’s ban on transgender members of the military to take effect.
Gaza ‘destroyed’ | A far-right Israeli government minister has vowed that “Gaza will be entirely destroyed” as a result of a victory by his country’s forces and that its Palestinian population will “leave in great numbers to third countries”, raising fears of ethnic cleansing.
Bundestag bungle | The German parliament has formally elected Friedrich Merz as the country’s 10th postwar chancellor after a humiliating loss in the first round of voting that raised doubts about the stability of the next coalition government.
Moscow grounded | Moscow’s airports have closed as Ukrainian drones targeted the city for second night ahead of a major military parade.
Bear attack | A black bear has killed a man and his dog in Florida in what is believed to be the first fatal mauling of a human by a bear in the state.
Full Story
The mushroom murders trial begins
Reged Ahmad speaks to reporter Nino Bucci about the first week of Erin Patterson’s trial for murder.
In-depth
In his victory speech on Saturday night, Anthony Albanese described him as “a “magnificent campaign director”. But who is Paul Erickson, the mastermind behind Labor’s win? Henry Belot traces his rise from student politics in Melbourne through the Labor machine. As one observer says: He’s a true believer who wants to beat Tories and get Labor governments elected to do good things.”
Not the news
When it came out nearly 20 years ago, Chris Lilley’s Summer Heights High took a place in the comedy pantheon, but more recently has been mired in controversy. Now Lilley is back with a mock podcast in which the show’s main character, Mr G, revisits those imagined wrongs. But our own Luke Buckmaster thinks it exposes how Lilley has failed to move on, saying it feels “a little desperate”.
Sport
Cycling | Caleb Ewan, at his peak as one of Australian cycling’s greatest talents, has stunned the sport by announcing his immediate retirement. Ewan won five Tour de France stages but never fully recovered from a heavy crash in 2021.
Rugby union | The Wallabies coach, Joe Schmidt, tells us how he is preparing his team for the Lions tour and what he can learn from AFL.
Football | Inter host Barcelona in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final with the tie level at 3-3.
Media roundup
The Age reveals that the Victorian Liberal party went into the election campaign in turmoil with a possible Fair Work dispute hanging over senior figures. Catholic schools in NSW believe children are being nudged towards easier subjects by distortions in the HSC exam award system, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Liberals are in revolt at the party’s policy unit for holding back a raft of officials policies so long that candidates had no chance to talk them up, the Australian reports. Emotional scenes for the Adelaide Advertiser as the owners of Valerie the dachshund are reunited with their dog.
What’s happening today
Sydney | Experts will give evidence at the Fair Work hearing between the NSW government and psychiatrists.
Health | The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health measures survey will be released at 11.30am.
Foreign policy | A discussion on the future of Australia’s alliance with the US at La Trobe University with Gareth Evans and Robert Manne will take place.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
