| | | 22/02/2024 Bulk-billing decline mapped, water battery breakthrough, Trump asset threat |
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| Martin Farrer |  |
| | | Morning everyone. Australia has lost hundreds of dedicated bulk-billing GP clinics in the past year, according to our analysis of official data, in a trend which one medical expert says is undermining the “universality of Medicare”. That’s our top story this morning; we’re also reporting on the Australian researchers who have made a breakthrough on recyclable “water batteries”, and the alarming rate at which some job agencies are suspending Centrelink payments. Overseas, a UN agency has paused aid to Gaza because of a “breakdown” in public order, and Boeing has ousted the head of its 737 Max program. |
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 | Australia | | Battery breakthrough | An RMIT-led research team has come up with an innovative way to make greener, safer, recyclable “water batteries” that could replace common lead-acid batteries. | Exclusive | Australiahas lost more than 400 dedicated bulk-billing GP clinics in the past year, with some electorates experiencing an almost 30% decline, according to data taken from the government’s health services register. Our interactive maps show what’s happening in your area. | Centrelink stopped | Some of Australia’s outsourced employment service providers have effectively suspended the Centrelink payments of more than 90% of the jobseekers on their books, new data reveals. | Environmental flaws | New national environment laws being developed by the Albanese government fail to address flaws in the existing system and would continue to allow widespread deforestation, according to three organisations familiar with the plans. | Privacy warning | Apple says an Australian proposal to force tech companies to scan cloud data for child abuse material could lead to mass surveillance with global repercussions. |
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| World | | Gaza aid on hold | A UN effort to deliver critical food aid to northern Gaza has been paused because of a breakdown in public order amid acute “hunger and desperation” across the battered territory. An Israeli rape crisis centre says it has found evidence of “systematic and intentional” rape and sexual abuse during the Hamas attack on 7 October that ignited the war. | Trump asset threat | The New York state attorney general, Letitia James, says she will seize Donald Trump’s assets if he does not pay the $355m civil fraud fine stemming from his financial fraud trial. | Assange prosecution | Criminal charges were brought against Julian Assange because he named sources and encouraged theft and hacking, not because of politics, lawyers for the US government have claimed at a critical extradition hearing. | Reputation battle | Boeing has ousted the head of its 737 Max program, an internal memo reveals, as the planemaker fights to repair its reputation after a terrifying cabin panel blowout. | ‘Catastrophic’ | Despite the huge success of Barbie, a new study has shown that the number of female leads in Hollywood movies is at a 10-year low with only 30 of last year’s top 100 films featuring a female lead or co-lead. |
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| Full Story | | More boats, more votes: why Dutton is manifesting a crisis Chief political correspondent Paul Karp discusses how the arrival of an asylum seeker boat has reignited a war of words about Operation Sovereign Borders. | |
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| In-depth | | It’s a mode of travel that is synonymous with one of the most notorious transport disasters ever – the crashing of the Hindenburg. But airships could be about to see a renaissance as a French company, Flying Whales, hopes to start building them in Victoria (using non-flammable helium) for use carrying large cargo such as wind turbines to hard-to-reach areas. Elias Visontay finds out more about new-age dirigibles. |
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| Not the news | | After a lifetime of living at the beach, diehard surfers Lissie Turner and her husband decided to sell up their two acres at Brunswick Heads in northern New South Wales and make a big move inland. She explains how on a patch of old farming land, on the banks of a river calling for care, they have found a kind of calm they never knew possible. |
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| The world of sport | | Cricket | Tim David produced a final-ball win for the ages by striking a boundary off Tim Southee as Australia chased down New Zealand’s 3-215 for a six-wicket win in the first T20 international in Wellington last night. | Champions League | Arsenal travel to Porto and Napoli host Barcelona in the last 16 ties this morning, while Liverpool are at home to Luton in the Premier League. Follow all the action on our live blogs. | Football | Sir Jim Ratcliffe has vowed to knock Manchester City and Liverpool “off their perch” after taking control of football operations at Manchester United, while Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel will leave at the end of this season. |
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| Media roundup | Heavy rains have swamped Tasmania’s north-east with flood warning issued for a number of towns, the Mercury says. Writing in the Australian, Paul Kelly tries to capture the appeal of Taylor Swift, describing her as “the girl next door, with a pistol in her purse”. The Northern Territory chief minister has criticised voluntary assisted dying “scare campaigns”, NT News reports, amid concerns about how legislation could affect Indigenous and vulnerable patients. |
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| What’s happening today | New South Wales | Road safety summit will hear ideas from Scandinavian countries about reducing fatalities. | Alice Springs | The inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Walker continues with Sgt Lee Bauwens giving evidence. | Sydney | Pop star Katy Perry appeals trademark loss against fashion designer Katie Perry at federal court. |
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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. | |
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| Contact us | If you have a story tip or technical issue viewing this newsletter, please reply to this email. If you are a Guardian supporter and need assistance with regards to contributions and/or digital subscriptions, please email customer.help@guardian.co.uk |
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| | | Lenore Taylor | | Editor, Guardian Australia |
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| | I hope you appreciated this newsletter. Before you move on, I wonder if you would consider supporting Guardian Australia. As we look ahead to the challenges of 2024, we’re aiming to power more rigorous, independent reporting.
In 2023, our journalism held the powerful to account and gave a voice to the marginalised. It cut through misinformation to arm Australians with facts about the referendum and exposed corporate greed amid the cost-of-living crunch. It sparked government inquiries and investigations, and continued to treat the climate crisis with the urgency it deserves.
This vital work is made possible because of our unique reader-supported model. With no billionaire owner or shareholders to consider, we are empowered to produce truly independent journalism that serves the public interest, not profit motives.
And unlike others, we don’t keep our journalism behind a paywall. With misinformation and propaganda increasingly rife, we believe it is more important than ever that everybody has access to trustworthy news and information, whether they can afford to pay for it or not.
If you can, please support us on a monthly basis from just $2. It takes less than a minute to set up, and you can rest assured that you’re making a big impact every single month in support of open, independent journalism. Thank you. | | |
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