Morning Mail: Bradley Murdoch dead at 67, warning to Labor over inequality, the $1 housing blueprint | The Guardian

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Bradley Murdoch, who was convicted of the murder of British backpacker Peter Falconio, has died of throat cancer aged 67.

16/07/2025

Morning Mail: Bradley Murdoch dead at 67, warning to Labor over inequality, the $1 housing blueprint

Martin Farrer

Morning everyone. The notorious outback killer Bradley Murdoch is dead at 67, according to reports. He died in custody 20 years after being found guilty of killing Peter Falconio on a remote highway north of Alice Springs. Ending inequality has always been a tough ask for any government, but new social services minister Tanya Plibersek’s own officials have warned that global conflicts and trade disputes are leaving her with an uphill battle. The government sees hope in another policy area however, with figures showing lower take-up of vapes among young people, while New South Wales is planning to give homebuyers heavily discounted architectural aid to speed up the building process. And find out which TV show leads the Emmy nominations.

Australia

Outback killer dead | Bradley John Murdoch, the man who killed British backpacker Peter Falconio in 2001, has died from throat cancer at the age of 67. The body of Falconio has never been found, and Murdoch always maintained his innocence.

Peak vape? | The federal government believes rates of dangerous vaping may be about to decline after years of rapid growth, with new research showing take-up could have peaked among teenagers and high school-age children.

‘Political polarisation’ | Tanya Plibersek has an uphill battle to justify and prioritise Australia’s multibillion-dollar social services system, her department has warned, as global conflicts and trade wars worsen inequalities and “entrench disadvantage”.

Productivity fix | Fixing the nation’s broken environment protection laws is the most important reform the Albanese government can pursue to boost productivity, and holds the key to meeting climate and housing targets, according to the former treasury secretary Ken Henry.

Lehrmann loss | The former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann has lost an application for an interim restraining order against a Daily Mail journalist he alleges stalked him.

Masterchef exit | The Australian-born UK MasterChef presenter, John Torode, will not return to the BBC cooking show after allegations about him using racist language.

World

Day 4 of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, WisconsinU.S. Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) attends Day 4 of the Republican National Convention (RNC), at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S., July 18, 2024. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

Maga pushback | The Maga stalwart Marjorie Taylor Greene has criticised Donald Trump over his pledge to send more weapons to Ukraine, although the Ukrainians themselves are still waiting for details about the “billions of dollars” worth of supplies promised by the US president. Republican lawmakers have moved to block a Democratic effort to force the release of the so-called Epstein files amid an internal battle among US conservatives over the issue beloved of conspiracy theories.

Afghan scheme | Thousands of Afghans who helped British forces during the allied occupation of the country have been relocated to the UK under a secret scheme set up after their personal details were revealed by a data leak.

‘Moronic mission’ | Two men who carried out a “moronic mission” to fell the Sycamore Gap tree on Hadrian’s Wall fuelled by “no more than drunken stupidity” have been jailed.

Exclusive | An Irish tourist was jailed by the US authorities for more than 100 days after overstaying a visit by three days, prompting him to warn that “nobody is safe” from the country’s immigration system.

Le travail | France’s government has proposed scrapping two public holidays as part of radical measures aimed at reducing the country’s ballooning deficit, boosting its economy and preventing it being “crushed” by debt.

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In-depth

A home design by the architecture firm Saha in the NSW housing pattern book.

The NSW government is releasing a housing pattern book today which contains eight blueprints for architect-designed homes at a cost of just $1, with council approval expected in no more than 20 days. The idea is to speed up the construction process, Anne Davies reports, and help alleviate cost-of-living pressures.

Not the news

Adam Scott and Britt Lower in Severance.

The workplace thriller Severance leads the race for Emmys after amassing 27 nominations for its second series. It will face off for best drama series against Andor, The Diplomat, The Last of Us, Slow Horses, The White Lotus and the first seasons of Paradise and the hospital series The Pitt. The breakout drama Adolescence made an impressive showing with 13 nominations.

Sport

International Rugby Union - Australia vs Georgiaepa11488776 Rob Valetini of the Wallabies (C) scores a try during the International Rugby Union match between the Australian Wallabies and the Georgia Lelos at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 20 July 2024. EPA/JAMES GOURLEY AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

Rugby union | The Wallabies will be hoping that their big back row forwards will help them