Morning Mail: Secret childcare ratings leave NSW parents in dark, Albanese poised for climate action, Sam Kerr scores on Chelsea return
Fears of safety gaps in NSW childcare system; Labor prepares for a week of climate announcements
Good morning. There are fears of glaring safety gaps in New South Wales’s childcare system, as we reveal that parents were kept in the dark over the findings of a secret rating system used by education officials, which were sometimes starkly different to public ratings.
As Labor gets ready to release its much anticipated 2035 emissions reduction target this week, we survey the federal government’s climate action ambitions.
The Christmas Island flying fox (described as “cute” and “chonky”) is at risk of extinction. And Sam Kerr has scored in her return to the pitch for Chelsea after 20 months out.
Oh, and it’s time to choose your bird of the year.
Australia
Conservation | The “incredibly cute and fluffy” Christmas Island flying fox is critically endangered – and with no recovery plan, scientists fear it could be just one cyclone away from extinction.
Childcare centres | A NSW childcare centre was approved as “meeting” government standards in the publicly available rating system – but flagged months later as a “very high risk service” in a secret rating system maintained by the Department of Education.
Economics | New analysis suggests workers are now reaping a greater share of the national income than before the Covid pandemic – with a tighter labour market driving those changes.
Bird of the year | Australia has the greatest diversity of avian life in the world – and we want to hear which birds should be shortlisted for the Guardian/Birdlife Australia bird of the year poll next month.
‘A facility for them’ | The US will be able to use a major naval precinct in Western Australia to dock its own nuclear-powered submarines, the government has confirmed, after committing $12bn to the project.
World
Russia-Ukraine war | Poland’s foreign minister has said the Russian drone incursion into Polish airspace was an attempt by the Kremlin to test Nato’s reactions, with drones now detected over Romania.
‘My conscience is clear’ | Prince Harry has talked about the cost of war, his portrayal in the press and his family, as the Guardian joined him on a secretly planned trip to Kyiv.
Gaza crisis | Medics at the largest hospital still functioning in Gaza say they will soon be overwhelmed by a wave of newly displaced Palestinians; US secretary of state Marco Rubio is in Israel for talks to limit diplomatic damage over Qatar strikes; Guy Pearce and Annie Lennox are among celebrities to join call to end “normalised horror” for children in Gaza.
Charlie Kirk shooting | The Utah governor has claimed that Tyler Robinson, the man suspected of killing rightwing activist Charlie Kirk, has a “very different ideology” to his conservative family.
Epstein fallout | Peter Mandelson’s role as the UK ambassador to the US was seen as “worth the risks” despite warnings in the vetting process over his links with Jeffrey Epstein, a senior official has said.
Full Story
Who’s responsible for our plastic problem?
Many had hoped that a global UN plastics treaty would finally curb pollution. But last month talks between representatives from more than 180 countries failed to reach a deal. Petra Stock talks with Nour Haydar about Australia’s rising plastic waste problem – and lays out what needs to be done to tackle one of the biggest environmental threats of our time.
In-depth
The scale of the Albanese government’s climate action ambition for the next decade will be set this week with the anticipated release of its 2035 emissions reduction target. The target is one of several expected announcements revealing the “intense and scary” risks posed by the climate crisis. Adam Morton and Dan Jervis-Bardy take a look at what the government intends to do – and how it might achieve those aims.
Not the news
Sydney kicked off the millennium with an unforgettable Olympic Games that included Cathy Freeman’s jubilant win, Ian Thorpe’s first gold, Kylie Minogue with a giant thong and a city-wide party. Now, 25 years since the “best Olympic Games ever”, we take a look back at some of the indelible images that came out of Sydney’s moment in the global spotlight.
Sport
AFL | Home and away chaos banished as four best teams land in AFL preliminary finals, Jonathan Horn writes.
Athletics | Torrie Lewis rues a slow start in the 100m semi-final exit as Jess Hull reaches the 1500m final at the World Athletics Championships; Melissa Jefferson-Wooden surges to 100m gold and a place among the fastest women ever.
Football | Sam Kerr scores on her Chelsea return after a 634-day absence; Mohamed Salah on the spot as Liverpool break Burnley hearts in stoppage time; Erling Haaland doubles up as City sweep United aside in Manchester derby.
Cycling | Jonas Vingegaard wins the Vuelta e España after the final stage was cancelled amid pro-Palestinian protests in Madrid.
Cricket | Brendon McCullum mulls appointing Harry Brook as England vice-captain for Ashes.
Media roundup
New research has highlighted how Australian dads are taking a back seat in sex education at home as boys miss out on key information, the ABC reports. A massive subterranean railway station will allow commuters to cross from one side of the Sydney CBD to another without going above ground, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. An urgent health safety alert has been issued due to rising human cases of Q fever – a “nasty” animal-borne bacterial disease – in South Australia, the Advertiser reports.
What’s happening today
Diplomacy | Anthony Albanese is heading to Papua New Guinea for independence celebrations and bilateral talks.
NSW | A public hearing is scheduled in the parliamentary inquiry into the issue of antisemitism in New South Wales.
QLD | The Queensland Clean Energy Summit is being held in Brisbane.
NSW | The Tech Council of Australia’s annual National Tech Summit is on in Sydney.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.