Afternoon Update: Socceroos coach quits; Labor warned of census ‘damage’; and Oprah’s star-studded Harris rally
Good afternoon. Football Australia says it hopes to appoint a new Socceroos head coach “in the coming days”, after Graham Arnold announced he was stepping down from the national team with immediate effect.
In his six-year reign as the Socceroos’ longest-serving coach, Arnold led Australia to their best ever finish at a World Cup and two quarter-final exits at the Asian Cup. However, the 61-year-old’s departure comes amid a run of underwhelming performances, with the national team picking up just one point from a possible six in their opening two games of third-round World Cup qualifying.
“I said after our game against Indonesia that I had some decisions to make,” said Arnold in a statement. “After deep reflection, my gut has told me it’s time for change, both for myself and the program.”
With the Socceroos scheduled to face China in less than three weeks, the FA chief executive, James Johnson, said he hoped to appoint a new, permanent coach rather than an interim one.
Top news
Labor warned of census ‘damage’ | Newly released documents show the ABS warned the government that excluding questions on sexual orientation and gender identity from the census could increase feelings of exclusion in the LGBTQ+ community and even risk the success of the data collection exercise.
Bowen says nuclear increases blackout risk | The Coalition’s proposal to cap large-scale renewable energy and eventually build nuclear power plants would lead to “massive” electricity supply shortages, according to analysis by the energy department released by the federal government.
Greens MP to visit Jewish Museum after ‘tentacles’ trope | The NSW MP Jenny Leong apologised and donated $4,000 after a complaint was lodged with the Australian Human Rights Commission over comments she made at a pro-Palestine forum in December 2023.
NSW nurses and midwives to strike | The NSW nursing union said its members were “furious” and would stop work for 24 hours on Tuesday, after the state government gave “no indication they intend to move” on their initial offer of an annual pay rise of 3%.
Gasfitter pleads not guilty to killing newborn | The man denies being criminally negligent over the death of a newborn baby who was given nitrous oxide instead of oxygen in a Sydney hospital in 2016.
Man fighting for life after home invasion | Police alleged the 46-year-old man was shot twice in the abdomen when a group of intruders entered his home in the small town of Hillston, near Griffith in the NSW Riverina region.
Head of exploding pager company questioned | The president and founder of the company linked to pagers that exploded across Lebanon has been questioned in Taiwan. In Lebanon, mourners have expressed their shock as dozens of funerals were held for those killed in the blasts.
Oprah hosts star-studded ‘virtual rally’ for Harris | Kamala Harris sat down for a wide-ranging interview with the TV legend, during which the vice-president attacked Donald Trump’s stance on reproductive rights but largely kept her guard up.
Two killed by police in New Caledonia | Two men were shot dead by officers near Nouméa during an operation to detain activists suspected of involvement in May’s deadly unrest sparked by attempts to change voting rights in the French Pacific territory, officials said.
In pictures
Ten children drew their favourite sea creatures. Then Australia’s leading artists responded
Ken Done, Jonathan Zawada, Blak Douglas and other artists were asked to create companion pieces to children’s artworks celebrating sharks and rays. The new works are now on display alongside their inspirations in a new exhibition at the Australian Museum.
What they said …
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“We stand for a new era of politics, where collaboration and inclusivity drive innovative policies and meaningful change for all Australians.”
Lucy Bradlow and Bronwen Bock, the Melbourne women who had planned to run for the now-abolished seat of Higgins as independent “job-sharing candidates”, now say they will run for the Senate – as a single senator. The pair plan to share a laptop and travel to Canberra in alternate weeks – though questions remain about whether their bid is constitutional.
In numbers
Fire and Rescue NSW says that lithium-ion batteries are the “fastest growing fire risk” in the state. Since 1 January this year, the firefighting agency says it has attended more than 210 fires caused by lithium-ion batteries, where people were injured and property severely damaged, with two fatalities.
Before bed read
‘Fame is like going through puberty’: Chappell Roan on sexuality, superstardom and the joy of drag
She’s gone from obscurity to the A-list, but not without struggle. On the road in the UK, the singer talks teenage angst, her queer inspirations – and why she hasn’t endorsed Kamala Harris.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: LAMA. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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