Good morning. “I live in this world, but I am not of this world.” So said Gareth Train, one of the Wieambilla shooters, in one of his many conspiracy-laden online posts. Investigators will sift through them and other evidence to understand the shocking events of Monday night, which left six people dead including two police officers ambushed by Train and his brother.
Elsewhere, Brittany Higgins has agreed a “confidential” settlement of her compensation claim against the government, and scientists in the United States have made a major leap forward in the quest to harness nuclear fusion.
Australia
Higgins settles | Brittany Higgins, pictured at centre, has settled her personal injury claim against the commonwealth in a “confidential” agreement after a “short mediation”, her lawyers announced last night.
Wieambilla shootings | The Queensland police chief, Katarina Carroll, has promised to “get to the bottom” of why Gareth and Nathaniel Train shot two police officers and a neighbour on their Wieambilla property on Monday. Gareth regularly posted on a conspiracy website, while Nathaniel had been a school principal before apparently becoming disenchanted. Here’s a timeline of what we know.
Morrison questions | Former prime minister Scott Morrison is expected to be asked about his role in setting up the robodebt recovery scheme and what he knew about legal concerns when he appears at the royal commission today.
Energy overrun | The plan to compensate New South Wales and Queensland for imposing a cap on coal prices could run “significantly” above $500m with most of the money directed to coal-fired power plants, according to Treasury briefings.
Cavoodle kerfuffle | A Sydney barrister’s husband was allegedly stalked and accosted by a Nine reporter before reports aired about Oscar, the Insta-famous cavoodle. Edwards is suing Nine over two TV broadcasts and two articles by A Current Affair regarding a bitter custody dispute over Oscar with a former friend.
World
Fusion ‘revolution’ | Scientists in California using lasers to bombard a pellet of nuclear fuel have for the first time proven fusion ignition is possible with the potential to “revolutionise the world” by creating a limitless source of clean energy. In Australia, a coalition of tech companies and academics is chasing the same dream.
‘House of cards’ | Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder and former chief executive of the crypto exchange FTX, has been charged by the US authorities with defrauding investors in the company and building a “house of cards”.
Bridge blast | Ukrainian forces have reportedly damaged a key bridge outside the southern city of Melitopol, a key objective for Kyiv in the region, while Volodymyr Zelenskiy said generators were just as important as armour to surviving the winter..
NHS crisis | An 89-year-old man with a broken hip and shoulder had to be taken to hospital strapped to a plank in the back of a van because there were no ambulances, highhlighting the crisis facing Britain’s NHS crisis.
Kinshasa landslides | At least 100 people have been killed and dozens injured in widespread floods and landslides caused by heavy rain in Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, which is home to 12 million people.
Full Story
How to Covid-proof your Christmas
As Australians head into their first Christmas break without Covid restrictions, the Doherty Institute’s director Prof Sharon Lewin answers your questions about how you and your family can best avoid coronavirus during the festive season.
In-depth
After the shocking shootings in Wieambilla, Joe Hinchcliffe vists the nearby town of Tara and the area where the Trains lived, known locally as “the blocks”. He finds an independent-minded community where many people have gone to find a cheap retirement home and escape the “Covid bullshit”.
Not the news
In Three Things, the Aria-winning musician Katie Noonan, pictured, tells us about why the one item she would save if her house was on fire would be her blue songwriting book, and also about a special teacup and her enduring sadness about the embroidered jacket she left on a plane. “I’m still so sad about that jacket,” she says. “I’ve never replaced it, because I haven’t been able to find one as beautiful.”
The world of sport
Swimming | Emma McKeon, pictured far left, Australia’s most successful Olympian, has set another record with a crucial leg in a new world-record time in the 4x100m relay at the world short-course championships in Melbourne.
AFL | New Hawthorn president Andy Gowers has called for unity at the fractured club after he was elected ahead of Jeff Kennett’s anointed successor Peter Nankivell.
A-Leagues | The Australian Professional Leagues have doubled down on their decision to move the A-League grand finals to Sydney for the next three years despite the “overwhelming” backlash that led APL board director Anthony Di Pietro to resign.
World Cup | Follow the Argentina-Croatia semi-final on our live blog.
Media roundup
The Courier Mail has extensive coverage of the Wieambilla shootings including the “final act” of the killers and how Nathaniel Train became unhappy with his former job as a school principal. The Herald Sun says some public schools are celebrating posting VCE scores that are the equal of many fee-paying institutions. The Adelaide Advertiser says a failed levee threatens a caravan park in Kingston with inundation. And the Central Western Daily says a local man has raised $143,000 in an online auction to help rebuild flood damaged parts of Molong.
What’s happening today
Robodebt hearings| The latest block of robodebt royal commission hearings finish in Brisbane with an appearance by former prime minister, Scott Morrison.
Digital dialogue | The Reserve Bank governor, Philip Lowe, addresses the AusPayNet summit on digital currencies in Sydney.
AOTY exhibition | Australian of the Year exhibition opens at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day – with plenty more on the Guardian’s Puzzles app for iOS and Android. Until tomorrow.
