Morning Mail: Can Ley rebuild the Liberals? AFL faces gambling hit, Trump woes continue
Starting a special series, we look at how Sussan Ley can make her party electable again; Epstein prosecutor fired by Trump’s justice department
Morning everyone. Can Sussan Ley make the Liberals great again? Today we start a four-part series in which our political reporters ask whether she can survive the internal brawls and forge a more inclusive era of conservative politics. Talking of Maga, Trump supporters are burning their signature hats in protest at their esrtwhile hero’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case. In Victoria, the regulator is considering an unprecedented intervention which could limit the AFL’s wagering revenue, concern grows about rogue tradies preying on the vulnerable, and the 12-year-old swimmer who has qualified for the world championships.
Australia
Super windfall | Major Australian media production companies, including the producers of Neighbours and Home and Away, may be ordered to pay workers millions of dollars in alleged unpaid superannuation after a 2024 tax office ruling.
Wager limit | The Victorian gambling regulator is considering whether to make an unprecedented intervention in a dispute between the AFL and bookmakers, which could set a limit on the league’s revenue from wagering.
Tradie trouble | Governments and consumer groups are becoming increasingly worried about rogue tradies who are targeting vulnerable Australians – especially the elderly – to pressure them into unnecessary work such as roof repairs.
Solitary concerns | Advocates have serious concerns for the wellbeing of Robert Barnes, an Indigenous man who they say has been in solitary confinement in a South Australia prison for “close to 800 days”.
‘Grossly inappropriate’ | Allegations about Mark Latham’s conduct in the NSW parliament have once again raised the issue of how to deal with workplace behaviour. As Anne Davies writes, there’s no easy fix other than leaders making fixing the culture inside political parties and inside parliaments a priority.
World
Epstein prosecutor fired | The Department of Justice has reportedly fired Maurene Comey (pictured), the daughter of former FBI director James Comey and a prosecutor in the federal Jeffrey Epstein case. It came as Donald Trump’s efforts to dismiss the criticism over his administration’s handling of the Epstein files as a “hoax” showed no sign of working as some of his supporters recorded videos burning their signature Make America Great Again hats. Follow developments live. This week’s edition of our Politics Weekly America podcast also discusses the issue.
Gaza attack | An Israeli strike has hit the only Catholic church in Gaza, killing two people and injuring several others including the parish priest, who used to receive daily calls from the late Pope Francis.
Plane all-clear | Air India has said it found “no issues” with the fuel switches on its other Boeing planes after the fatal crash that killed 260 people last month, as a US report suggested investigators have turned their attention to the actions of the plane’s captain.
MI5 sting | A former Tesco worker caught buying a gun in an MI5 sting operation has denied compiling a kill-list of colleagues and customers he had allegedly branded “race traitors”.
Young gun | A 12-year-old swimmer, Yu Zidi, has qualified for the world championships in Singapore after her performance at China’s nationals placed her times among the world’s elite this season.
Full Story
Newsroom edition: why is Jim Chalmers listening to Ezra Klein?
The most-talked about book in Canberra right now is Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson. Nour Haydar asks editor Lenore Taylor and head of newsroom Mike Ticher if the Abundance agenda is right for Australia.
In-depth
In the first of a four-part series, our political reporters have been talking to Liberal party insiders about whether Sussan Ley can move beyond the Dutton years and climate wars and forge a new, more inclusive era of conservative politics. One says: “It feels like we’re moving into a whole new era of more openness … so I think it’s been a breath of fresh air so far.”
Not the news
The trailer for the last season of Stranger Things has just been released and is chock full of heavy metal, demons, tornados and flamethrowers. One of our television critics, Stuart Heritage, is hopeful that the series might have rediscovered its emotional core.
Sport
Golf | World No 1 Scottie Scheffler laid down an ominous marker on the first day of The Open at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland, but local favourite Rory McIlroy is in with a shout.
Rugby union | Lions coach Andy Farrell looks relaxed as the first test approaches but he knows his team can’t be complacent even though the Wallabies have some gaping holes in their selection.
Football | England have staged a remarkable fightback late to force Sweden into extra time in their battle to secure a place in the semi-finals of the Women’s European championship. Follow the action live.
Cycling | A devastating attack from Tadej Pogacar on the Tour de France’s first day in the Pyrenees helped the defending champion reclaim the yellow jersey and leave his rivals trailing after stage 12.
Media roundup
The Liberals are leading the latest polls in the Tasmania election, the Mercury reports, but a minority government remains the most likely outcome. Melbourne’s suburban rail loop project is locked in a $7m compensation battle over its takeover of a park in Burwood, the Age reports. The ABC reports that two men charged with the murders of Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson in Mexico have alleged ties to organised crime, according to court documents. The Sydney Morning Herald claims that Icac raided City of Parramatta offices hours before a council meeting. Billionaire Annie Cannon-Brookes has finished the first part of her revamp of Dunk Island in far north Queensland with the opening of a new beachfront restaurant, the Australian reports.
What’s happening today
Melbourne | Public hearing at University of Melbourne of the “people’s inquiry” into campus free speech on Palestine.
Environment | Social services minister Tanya Plibersek is making an announcement at OzHarvest in Sydney at 9am.
Media | Interlocutory judgment in Antoinette Lattouf’s legal challenge to the ABC.
Sign up
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.
Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.