Morning Mail: Hanson and Pocock’s unlikely alliance, Trump’s crypto billion, getting ‘Murdoched’

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Morning everyone.

The campaigner and former senator Rex Patrick has achieved many things, but bringing together Jacqui Lambie, Pauline Hanson and David Pocock in one cause – ending secrecy around the storage of Aukus nuclear waste – is among his most notable.

We’re also reporting on fears that datacentres could stoke inflation, and how the mortgage repayment burden is definitively bigger than 36 years ago.

Plus, the angry backlash at Donald Trump’s “crypto corruption”, what it means to “get Murdoched”, and England are through to the next round of the World Cup after a rather unconvincing defeat of DR Congo.

Degree difficulty | Arts degrees will continue to cost $50,000 https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jul/02/arts-degrees-cost-measures-to-lower-university-fees-put-on-hold-australia">for another two years, says the man charged with reforming the Morrison-era Job-ready Graduates program.

Exclusive | Jacqui Lambie, Pauline Hanson and David Pocock https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jul/01/lambie-hanson-and-pocock-form-unlikely-alliance-to-protect-transparency-campaigner-rex-patrick">have formed an unlikely alliance in a push for the government to stop a legal threat against Rex Patrick, after bureaucrats unexpectedly escalated a transparency case to the federal court.

Data boom | Transport for NSW and the Reserve Bank https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jul/02/ai-datacentres-australia-competition-for-industrial-land-frieght-logistics-housing-economy">have warned datacentres could take scarce land from logistics firms and housing developments, pushing up prices and overheating the economy.

Mortgage burden | Australia’s national mortgage burden https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jul/02/australia-mortgage-burden-above-1989-levels">is heavier now than it was when interest rates reached 17% at the end of the 1980s, KPMG says.

Flu fallout | With the arrival of bird flu in Australia https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jul/02/what-does-the-arrival-of-bird-flu-in-australia-mean-for-poultry-and-will-eggs-be-more-expensive">we examine what it means for the poultry industry and whether the price of eggs will go up.