Good morning. The Hecs debts of about 3 million students and graduates grow by a total of $1bn today. There are calls for changes to make the system fairer for young Australians already suffering cost-of-living pressures.
We take a close look at the Gold Coast, where moves to expand the powers of council patrols to remove homeless people from state-owned land could erase a last refuge for vulnerable rough sleepers.
We also look at the snags and hitches facing consumers as AI generated models are used to sell fashion online. And big names continue to fall at Roland Garros in this year’s French Open.
Australia
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‘Monstrous catch-22’ | Moves to enable Gold Coast council rangers to clear homeless people from state-owned land could lock vulnerable people into an endless cycle of punishment, advocates say.
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Exclusive | University graduates would save more than $3bn in total over a decade if the government changed the date of indexation on Hecs debts, dubbed a “broken system” in its current form by one MP.
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Market slump | Home prices in Australia’s capital cities have begun to fall as high interest rates and inflation stretch buyer budgets, as experts predict the decline could wipe as much as 10% from values.
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Follow the thread | When an Australian e-commerce retailer started using AI-generated models instead of real people to sell its products, Alyx Gorman had to see if the garments were more than mere pixels.
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Gas use wanes | The use of gas in Australia has peaked and entered a “structural decline”, according to a Grattan Institute report that warns it must fall further if climate targets are to be met.
World
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Middle East crisis | Israeli troops have captured a medieval clifftop castle in their deepest incursion into Lebanon in more than 26 years; and could Donald Trump’s Iran “excursion” be a bigger global turning point than Vietnam, Patrick Wintour asks?
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Ebola outbreak | WHO officials have urged community cooperation to help contain the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, amid protests over the handling of victims’ remains.
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‘Gamechanger’ | A daily pill can double survival time in patients with pancreatic cancer, the world’s deadliest, according to the results of a clinical trial some call one of the biggest breakthroughs in decades.
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‘This is censorship’ | A Facebook whistleblower was forced to sit in silence on stage at an event at Hay festival, after lawyers advised her not to speak due to ongoing legal action brought by Meta.
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Football violence | French police have detained 780 people involved in violent clashes after PSG defeated Arsenal to win the Champions League title.
Full Story
Why is Tony Abbott back?
The former prime minister Tony Abbott didn’t exactly disappear from the limelight after he lost his seat in the “teal” wave of 2019, but his new role as Liberal president has many asking: why is the party bringing him back now? Dan Jervis-Bardy speaks with Nour Haydar about how Abbott’s appointment could change the party – and shape conservative politics in Australia.
In-depth
June Oscar, the long‑time women’s advocate and former Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social justice commissioner, has spent her life championing safety for women and girls and pushing to better the lives of First Nations people around the country. The Bunuba woman spoke with Sarah Collard about the need for courage to keep the dream of reconciliation alive.
Not the news
In the latest of our Kindness of strangers series, we hear from a reader who suffered a heart attack while out mountain biking. As the sound of sirens grew louder they heard a voice ask: “Where do you live? We’ll take your bike home.” Returning from the hospital, there the bike was, leaning against the garage.
Sport
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AFL | “Flagmantle” is no longer a joke. The Dockers are a team to love, fear and trust, Jonathan Horn writes.
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Tennis | Iga Świątek has an unhappy birthday after falling to Marta Kostyuk at the French Open; teenager Rafael Jódar came from two sets down to set up an Alexander Zverev quarter-final.
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Football | Socceroos showed resilience and spark but missed chances against Mexico in a final audition for the World Cup, Jack Snape writes; Manchester City thrashed Brighton to seal the Women’s FA Cup title; Liverpool will hold talks with Andoni Iraola and seek the swift appointment of a head coach.
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Cricket | Josh Hazlewood took two wickets as the Royal Challengers Bengaluru retained their IPL title with victory over the Gujarat Titans.
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Cycling | Jonas Vingegaard completed a Grand Tour set with his Giro d’Italia triumph.
Media roundup
The Melbourne Fringe board has rejected artists’ request for a “fair cut” of festival takings made in an open letter signed by almost 600 people, ABC News reports. Peter Falconio’s mother has made a rare public plea 25 years after his outback murder, NT News reports. The opening of a metro rail line to Sydney’s new international airport now risks being delayed until 2028, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
What’s happening today
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Public holidays | Today is a public holiday in ACT and WA.
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VIC | An inquest is scheduled in Melbourne into the deaths of two men killed in an aircraft collision over Port Phillip Bay.
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VIC | An inquest is scheduled in Melbourne after a man was ejected from a party in Canbourne and found dead in a nearby paddock days later.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
