Anthony Albanese's government swings the axe on the NDIS with huge changes as costs soar past $48.5billion a year
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The Guardian
26 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Morning Mail: Israel expands Gaza offensive, how to fix childcare, Epstein files to remain sealed
Good morning. Israel's military has announced it is expanding its offensive in Gaza City as Benjamin Netanyahu ordered generals to accelerate 'the defeat of Hamas'. In Australia, a leading doctor and public critic of Israel has stepped down from chairing a medical insurance provider. We look at what Jason Clare has to do to fix childcare at tomorrow's meeting with state ministers, a US judge rules the Epstein files must remain sealed, and how a French live-streamer has died live online. Flood warning | People in New South Wales have been warned to 'stay ready and stay safe' as another bout of intense rainfall hits the state, bringing possible floods. Doctor's call | High-profile emergency physician Dr Stephen Parnis has stepped down as chair of the board of a leading medical insurance provider in an apparent response to concerns about statements he has made on social media opposing the war in Gaza. Childcare crunch | As the education minister, Jason Clare, prepares to meet his state counterparts today to discuss reforms to the childcare sector, Kate Lyons traces how – despite review after review making recommendations to the government – little has been done to create a proper national system of regulation. Netanyahu 'inflammatory' | Australia's peak Jewish group has lambasted Benjamin Netanyahu for his attack on Anthony Albanese as 'inflammatory and provocative', adding that it showed a 'woeful lack of understanding of social and political conditions in Australia'. Emmanuel Macron has described as 'abject' Netanyahu's claims of an antisemitic surge in France. Winter's over | Tasmanian Labor has replaced Dean Winter as parliamentary leader, with Josh Willie elected unopposed to serve as the state's new opposition leader after a failed bid to unseat the premier, Jeremy Rockliff. Epstein ruling | A federal judge in New York who presided over the sex-trafficking case against the late financier Jeffrey Epstein has rejected the government's request to unseal grand jury transcripts. Israel offensive | Israel has announced it is expanding its military operation in Gaza City as Benjamin Netanyahu said the aim was to speed up the timetable 'for seizing control of the last terrorist strongholds and the defeat of Hamas'. In the UK, a court heard that the terror charge brought against the Kneecap rapper Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh for flying the Hezbollah flag should be thrown out. Moscow red line | Moscow has said it must be part of any international talks on Ukraine's security as Russia continues to stall on Donald Trump's push for a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. We're looking at what it all means for the prospects of peace in Ukraine. Online death | French authorities are investigating the death of a man during a live video stream on the Kick platform, where he had regularly been shown enduring violence and humiliation. Lai trial | A lawyer for Jimmy Lai has argued that it is not wrong to support freedom of expression as he began his final argument in the Hong Kong democracy activist and newspaper founder's landmark national security trial. Can the government keep kids safe in childcare? After revelations about abuse at childcare centres, Kate Lyons talks to Reged Ahmad about whether the government can restore faith in the sector. Sorry your browser does not support audio - but you can download here and listen $ Discussion at today's sessions of the government economic roundtable will be dominated by the thorny issue of tax: how much we should be paying, and which form that tax should take. Our economics editor, Patrick Commins, casts his expert eye over the key questions, while economist Nicki Hutley argues that the focus should really have been about creating an economy that's good for everyone. The subject of Luke Buckmaster's critical lens this week is Kangaroo Island, a relationship-centric family drama by first-time feature director Timothy David, starring Rebecca Breeds and set on the eponymous South Australian idyll. The landscape is something of scene-stealer in a 'tonally uneven' film, but just when it seems destined for 'Hallmarkian slosh' it has moments that resonate. Sign up to Morning Mail Our Australian morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Tennis | On the eve of her final tournament, double Wimbledon champion and Australian Open finalist Petra Kvitova explains why she has no regrets about her career. Rugby union | The Wallaroos begin their World Cup campaign against Samoa in Manchester on Saturday night AEST and the young squad is hoping to spring a few surprises. Football | Experts are concerned that local laws are not robust enough to tackle illegal international online gambling on football, especially with the Women's Asian Cup taking place in Australia next year. The Telegraph highlights a 'billion-dollar' spending spree by two cousins that could transform Sydney's Hills district. The Adelaide Crows' case against Izak Rankine's ban has gone into overtime with the hearing delayed 24 hours, the Age reports. Tempers are at boiling point on the Gold Coast over increased parking charges at Burleigh Heads, according to the Bulletin. The Mercury looks at how the Tasmanian premier, Jeremy Rockliff, outmanoeuvred Labor 'at every turn'. Business | Full-year earnings from Whitehaven, Domain and Star Entertainment Group. Brisbane | Pre-trial hearing begins for the Australian company charged with bribery over its conduct on Nauru a decade ago. Environment | AGL reveals its climate action plan. If you would like to receive this Morning Mail update to your email inbox every weekday, sign up here, or finish your day with our Afternoon Update newsletter. You can follow the latest in US politics by signing up for This Week in Trumpland. And finally, here are the Guardian's crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow. Quick crossword Cryptic crossword
The Guardian
29 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Oregon city that tried to ban homeless encampments agrees to ensure 150 camping spaces
The Oregon city at the heart of a major US supreme court homelessness ruling has agreed to ensure camping spaces for at least 150 people as part of a settlement reached with a disability rights group that sued the city over its camping rules. Disability Rights Oregon, which sued Grants Pass in January, said on Friday that it had reached a settlement agreement. The advocacy group accused the city of discriminating against people with disabilities and violating a state law requiring cities' camping regulations to be 'objectively reasonable'. Grants Pass has received national attention for its efforts to ticket and prosecute unhoused people sleeping outside. The city's legal battle resulted in a supreme court ruling dictating that local governments across the US can criminalize camping even when there is no shelter available for the homeless population. 'This settlement represents a significant step forward in ensuring people with disabilities experiencing homelessness have places to rest, basic necessities like drinking water, and real opportunity to stabilize their lives,' Jake Cornett, executive director and CEO of Disability Rights Oregon, said in a statement. Grants Pass mayor, Clint Scherf, said in an email on Tuesday that the city appreciates having reached an agreement and will 'continue to work toward effective measures to benefit all members of our community'. A copy of the settlement agreement showed the city signed off on it earlier this month. Josephine county circuit court judge Sarah McGlaughlin issued a preliminary injunction in March blocking the city from enforcing its camping rules unless it increased capacity at city-approved sites for camping and ensured they are physically accessible to people with disabilities. City ordinances prohibit sleeping or leaving personal property in a park overnight in most cases. Those found in violation can be fined up to $50. The city said Friday on Facebook that law enforcement 'will begin noticing the parks, and occupants will have 72 hours to remove their belongings'. The city's website shows three 'designated resting locations' in the downtown area, near City Hall and the police station, where people can stay for four days before having to relocate. The time limit can be enforced unless disability accommodations are necessary, the city said on Facebook. At resting sites, individuals are limited to spaces that are 8ft by 8ft (2.4 metres by 2.4 metres), with buffers of 3ft (0.9 metres) between spaces, as outlined in city code. Under the settlement, Grants Pass must ensure that at least 150 camping spaces are available in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act for the next 12 months. Drinking water and hand washing stations must be available on-site. The city must also provide $60,000 in grant funding to a non-profit for homeless services. Sign up to Headlines US Get the most important US headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion Grants Pass, a small city of about 40,000 along the Rogue River in the mountains of southern Oregon, has struggled for years to address the homelessness crisis and become emblematic of the national debate over how to deal with it. Its parks in particular became a flashpoint, with many of them becoming the site of encampments blighted by drug use and litter. Last June, in a case brought by the city, the US supreme court ruled communities can ban sleeping outside and fine people for doing so, even when there are not enough shelter beds. After the high court ruling, Grants Pass banned camping on all city property except locations designated by the city council, which established sites for the town's hundreds of homeless people in a bid to move them from the parks. Upon taking office in January, the new mayor and new council members moved to close the larger of the two sites, which housed roughly 120 tents, according to Disability Rights Oregon's complaint, which said the sites were frequently crowded with poor conditions and inaccessible to people with disabilities because of loose gravel. After the lawsuit was filed, the city reopened a second, smaller site. McGlaughin's order in March said the city had to increase capacity to what it had been before the larger site was closed. Elsewhere, the California city of San Jose is similarly planning to open sanctioned camping sites in addition to the 'safe parking' it offers for people who live in vehicles such as RVs. The city of San Rafael, also in the San Francisco Bay Area, also has a sanctioned camping program. Homelessness increased 18% last year nationwide, driven mostly by a lack of affordable housing as well as devastating natural disasters and an increase in migrants in some areas.
Sky News
an hour ago
- Sky News
'Alarm' over exclusion of child sexual exploitation from strategy to tackle violence against women and girls
The shadow minister for safeguarding has written to the government demanding action on child sexual exploitation after being "alarmed" by a Sky News story revealing plans to exclude it from their Violence Against Women and Girls strategy. which stated that child sexual abuse and exploitation was not "explicitly within the scope" of their upcoming strategy to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). Shadow minister for safeguarding, Alicia Kearns, has written to safeguarding minister, Jess Phillips, saying that "survivors of sexual violence have been left bereft" by the decision. The government insists that its strategy, due to be published next month, will include action to tackle child sexual abuse, but that a distinctive programme will also be announced to address the specifics of the crime. In her letter "demanding answers," Ms Kearns urged the minister to "be transparent and explain why sexual violence has been purposefully excluded" and to "set out when a separate strategy on tackling sexual violence will be published". Poppy Eyre was sexually abused and raped by her grandfather when she was four. Her grandfather was later convicted and died in prison. She told Sky News on Friday: "VAWG is violence against women and girls. If you take child sexual abuse out of it, where are the girls?" 2:58 The Centre of Expertise on Child Sexual Abuse, which is funded by the Home Office, estimates that 500,000 children will experience some form of sexual abuse every year in England and Wales, Rape Crisis told Sky News ministers have failed victims of abuse if they don't consider the "scale of child sexual abuse and exploitation" within their strategy. The campaign group said, "for any strategy to be effective," that the plans "must include all forms of gender-based violence against all women and girls", suggesting there is a "danger" in having a separate plan for child sexual abuse. A Home Office spokesperson said the department was "working tirelessly to tackle the scourges of violence against women and girls and child sexual abuse". In a statement, the spokeperson said: "These issues are complex and run deep within the fabric of society. "The government wholly recognises that they overlap. "But it also recognises that concerted action is needed to tackle child sexual abuse, which is why we have set out a range of actions... and why we are launching a national inquiry into grooming gangs."
