Nationals accused of vaping 'tax grab' | Morning Mail from Guardian Australia

Labor to push through changes to grocery code of conduct

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24/06/2024 Nationals accused of serving tobacco lobby on vaping; supermarkets face massive fines; 1,300 die in hajj heat   Hi there! We've just launched a new weekly AFL newsletter, bringing Jonathan Horn's expert analysis of the week's biggest footy stories direct to your inbox. Click to sign up here! - Mike Hytner, sport editor   Paul Gallagher   Good morning. Parliament is back this week and should take a crucial vote on the government's anti-vaping restrictions. The Australian Medical Association has hit out at the Nationals for taking the advice of the tobacco lobby over health experts, saying the junior Coalition partner's push for vapes to be regulated the same way as cigarettes is "a tax grab that shows a complete disregard for the health of Australians". After a flood of consumer and supplier complaints about their soaring profits, supermarkets may face billions in fines for breaches of the grocery code of conduct as Labor commits to pushing through reforms proposed by Craig Emerson's independent review. And the results of an international survey suggest that only 60% of Australians accept that human activity is driving ongoing "climate disruption". Australia Supermarket pricing | Labor has promised to legislate massive new fines for breaches of the grocery code of conduct, which would be made mandatory under changes proposed by an independent review. Exclusive | The AMA has accused the Nationals of "gambling with people's health" by taking the advice of the tobacco lobby over health experts on vaping. Climate crisis | A global survey has found that Australians are among the most sceptical around the world that "climate disruption" is being caused by humans. Housing | Should Australia recognise housing as a human right? Two crossbenchers are taking up the cause and are preparing to introduce a private members' bill in both chambers this week. Feeling the pinch | Australia's "broken" childcare system is being blamed for a cost-of-working crisis – and, as Labor's more generous subsidies are eroded by rising fees, many are pushing for reforms. World Gaza crisis | Israel's defence minister, Yoav Gallant, has flown to the US for "critical" talks on Gaza and Lebanon, amid concerns in Tel Aviv about arms shipments; Israeli soldiers are under investigation after a wounded Palestinian man was tied to the bonnet of their military vehicle. US politics | Donald Trump is freewheeling on the campaign trail in the lead-up to the televised debate against Joe Biden, while the US president hunkers down to rehearse his lines at Camp David. Russia-Ukraine war | Ukraine is enduring widespread blackouts as Moscow's renewed assault on its energy grid has led to the worst rolling outages since the invasion began. Saudi Arabia | At least 1,300 people have died during the hajj pilgrimage, according to government figures, many of them after having walked long distances in intense heat. Rishi Sunak | The British prime minister is facing a growing clamour to come clean about the election betting scandal engulfing Westminster after a fifth figure was drawn into the row. Advertisement Full Story The chill that remains in the Australia-China relationship The Australian government rolled out the red carpet for China's premier, Li Qiang, last week. Both countries were keen to signal that relations were positive, but protests and an attempt to block the view of an Australian journalist hinted at tensions sitting just beneath the surface. Jane Lee speaks to Daniel Hurst about Australia's changing relationship with China. In-depth A Senate inquiry has heard that Australian women experiencing menopause are being held back from their full potential because they are not finding adequate support for their health needs from medical professionals. At the same time, commercial interests are trying to take advantage of the gap by selling them ineffective treatments. The transition towards no more periods can impact a woman's job, finances, retirement and health. Not the news In the latest of our weekly Three Things interviews with prominent Australians on the objects that shaped them, the Killing Heidi singer and solo artist Ella Hooper tells us about "crushing it" with a crucial kitchen gadget, reveals the one thing she most regrets losing – and talks about the "snack-sized" guitar that changed her life. The world of sport Cricket | Afghanistan's magical rise continues with T20 World Cup giant slaying of Australia; England thrash USA by 10 wickets to reach T20 World Cup semis. AFL | Forget fairness: AFL's fixture of inequities and quirks does the sport few favours, writes Jonathan Horn. Football | Scotland take on Hungary and Switzerland face hosts Germany at Euro 2024; Harry Kane reminds past England greats of their failures. Motorsport | Max Verstappen holds off a Lando Norris surge to win the F1 Spanish Grand Prix. Media roundup With 1.5 million Australians now living with diabetes, advocates are pushing the government to protect the supply of drugs such as Ozempic and fund glucose-monitoring technology, the Age reports. There are calls for increased government support for child protection workers in northern WA amid a backlog of "unallocated" cases involving scores of at-risk children, ABC News reports. The union representing staff at 250 NSW private schools is demanding pay rises to "maintain the traditional premium" above public schools, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. What's happening today Victoria | The jury will continue to consider a verdict for Greg Lynn, the man accused of killing campers Russell Hill and Carol Clay. NSW | The trial of those accused of murdering Amber Haigh continues in Wagga Wagga. Victoria | The treasurer and minister for housing are to appear in public hearings at the Yoorrook justice commission. Sign up Enjoying the Morning Mail? Then you'll love our Afternoon Update newsletter. Sign up here to finish your day with a three-minute snapshot of the day's main news, and complete your daily news roundup. And check out the full list of our local and international newsletters, including The Stakes, your guide to the twists and turns of the US presidential election. Get the Afternoon Update newsletter Stay informed with Antoun Issa's three-minute snapshot of the day's news. 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