Complaints from cricket fans as Ashes tickets go on sale - as it happened

44m ago 03.13 EDT Ticketek denies reports of problems with online Ashes ticket sales Ticketek has denied reports of widespread problems with its online sales platform after a chorus of complaints from Cricket fans attempting to buy tickets to the Ashes series, insisting its bot protection services are designed to protect customers. Earlier today, Guardian Australia reported fan frustration at Ticketek’s online queue for the presale window, which opened today, with staggered start times for different states. Several people claimed that after spending hours in the queue, when they were nearing the front, they lost their place due to a computer glitch, and when they were able to rejoin the queue more than 180,000 people were ahead of them. Other people have claimed their tickets “timed out” while they were checking out. A Ticketek spokesperson told the Guardian: The demand for Cricket Australia’s Summer of Cricket today has sold at an unprecedented rate, all without issue. We recognise that when we have high-demand events with limited inventory that some fans will miss out and will be disappointed. We encourage all customers not to use multiple browsers when trying to access tickets. Our systems are designed to prevent and block access from bots, and customers attempting to access the site with multiple browsers may be flagged by our bot prevention service.” In a statement, Cricket Australia said it had recorded its highest individual day of ticket sales in history. Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg said “to surpass our previous ticket sales record even before NSW and WA tickets had gone on sale is a remarkable achievement and reaffirms our position as Australia’s national sport”. Share Updated at 03.22 EDT

49m ago 03.08 EDT WA Police charge e-scooter rider with dangerous driving occasioning death after hitting Perth father Police have charged an e-scooter rider for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol and hitting a Perth father who later died. The incident occurred in Perth’s CBD on Saturday night, when Thanh Phan was allegedly struck by the 24-year-old riding the e-scooter. The 51-year-old father was rushed to Royal Perth hospital, where he underwent brain surgery for swelling on the brain. In a statement released on Tuesday, the Western Australia Police Force confirmed that Phan had died. The statement also announced updated charges against the 24-year-old e-scooter rider, which include one count of dangerous driving occasioning death under the influence of alcohol, and one count of dangerous driving occasioning bodily harm under the influence of alcohol. Share Updated at 03.13 EDT

1h ago 03.00 EDT Caitlin Cassidy Macquarie University staff feel ‘absolutely sick’ about job and course cuts The Macquarie Univeristy cuts reported below bring total job losses at New South Wales universities to more than 1,000 in the past year, according to the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) after similar announcements at UTS, the University of Wollongong and Western Sydney University. Macquarie NTEU branch president, Dr Nicholas Harrigan, said he and other staff had an “absolutely sick feeling” in their stomachs when the cuts were announced. We are real people whose lives are being turned upside down for the sake of thin arguments about budgets and prioritisation. “The clear targeting of humanities and social sciences is an attack on the fundamental inherited legacy of human knowledge that charts over 2,000 years.” Share Updated at 03.03 EDT

1h ago 02.49 EDT Caitlin Cassidy Sydney’s Macquarie University to cut as many as 60 jobs, reduce courses Macquarie University has announced it will cut up to 60 roles and reduce its course offerings in response to “external pressures” facing the tertiary sector. The proposed “academic workforce realignment” in the faculties of arts and science and engineering comes after the university reported a $3.7m deficit in 2024. It is expected to generate about $15m in savings. If implemented, 50 to 60 roles would be cut and bachelor degrees in a range of courses including archeology, music and ancient history would be removed. Bachelor of Arts students wouldn’t be able to study politics, gender studies, criminology or psychological studies as majors. The university’s vice-chancellor, Prof Bruce Dowton, said the proposal was about “strengthening Macquarie for the future”. Universities in Western democracies are facing a range of external pressures and Australia is no exception. Accordingly, we are acting with a clear vision and a strong sense of responsibility to ensure our education and research remain relevant, impactful and sustainable. We understand that changes of this nature can be unsettling, and we do not take them lightly.” Share Updated at 02.52 EDT

1h ago 02.36 EDT Fatima Payman: Some may say Albanese ‘hypocritical’ about Dorinda Cox The former Labor senator, Fatima Payman, who quit the party last year to sit as an independent, has suggested Anthony Albanese was hypocritical in drawing a distinction between her and Senator Dorinda Cox, who defected from the Greens to Labor this week. Earlier today, the prime minister said he viewed Payman’s exit from the Labor party differently to Cox’s move. Albanese criticised Payman, who was elected to the Senate on a Labor party ticket at the 2022 election, suggesting she “could have put herself before the people of Western Australia [at the most recent federal election] on May 3” as an independent, as opposed to when her term is up at the next election. View image in fullscreen Senator Fatima Payman says she’s glad Dorinda Cox has suffered the ‘smear campaign’ she experienced when she left the Labor party. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian Both Cox and Payman were elected at the 2022 election with terms that expire at the next election. However, Albanese appeared to view the defection of Cox – who helped the Greens campaign in the May election and was critical of the government as recently as last week – differently. Payman, speaking to ABC TV a short time ago, said: Some people may call the prime minister hypocritical. And, let’s call a spade a spade, but that being said, I’m just glad that Senator Cox hasn’t had to deal with all the name-calling and the smear campaign that I had to deal with.” Payman said she had spoken to Cox on Monday and would be in communication with her. She added: I was a member of the Labor Party and on a matter of principle I left. As it stands, Senator Cox said that, you know, her value alignment is with the Labor Party and I just wish her all the very best.” Share Updated at 02.49 EDT

2h ago 02.01 EDT Boele’s lead narrows in recount for Sydney seat of Bradfield The recount for the Sydney electorate of Bradfield is progressing, with independent Nicolette Boele’s lead over Liberal candidate Gisele Kapterian narrowing to 25. View image in fullscreen Nicolette Boele and Gisele Kapterian remain neck and neck as the recount grinds on. Composite: AAP Independent electoral and polling analyst Kevin Bonham said of the recount a short time ago: The Willougby booths are now gone with Boele leading by 25. There are only three Wahroonga booths to go (two are small and none seem likely to help Kapterian) plus two tiny booths. Unsure if there are any non-ordinary counts remaining.” Share Updated at 02.08 EDT

2h ago 01.53 EDT Sydney M5 East tunnel’s city bound lanes still closed Motorists in Sydney have been warned that a major road remains closed as commuters start their evening commutes. Earlier today, a crane crashed inside the M5 East tunnel, closing traffic in both directions. Fire and Rescue New South Wales said it was on the scene “containing a large hazardous oil spill after a crash involving a crane truck on its side”. A short time ago, NSW transport authorities said all westbound lanes of the M5 East have since reopened. However, all city bound lanes of the M5 East are still closed. Share Updated at 02.08 EDT

2h ago 01.34 EDT Cricket fans frustrated by long online Ticketek queues and technical problems for Ashes tickets We’re hearing reports of cricket fans encountering technical issues as they attempt to buy tickets to the Ashes series in Australia. Guardian Australia is aware of widespread fan frustration at Ticketek’s online queue for the presale window, which opened today, with staggered start times for different states. Several people have claimed that after hours in the queue when they were nearing the front, they lost their place due to a glitch, and when they were able to rejoin, they faced a queue of more than 180,000 other people ahead of them. Others have claimed their tickets “timed out” while they were checking out. Guardian Australia has contacted Ticketek and Cricket Australia for comment. Share Updated at 02.09 EDT

3h ago 01.13 EDT Man charged with murder after body found in Sydney’s south west A man, 32, has been charged with murder after emergency services discovered the body of a person in a home in Croydon Park, NSW. Police allege the victim, 29, had stab wounds to his neck. They arrested the 32-year-old at the scene and took him to the hospital for assessment. He was released later that day, but was returned to the police station and charged with murder. He will appear before Burwood local court later today. Police have appealed for information on another man who may be able to help with their investigations, described as being of Asian appearance, with a solid build and wearing a black jumper with red symbols on the back. Share Updated at 01.19 EDT

3h ago 00.57 EDT More on Victoria’s warmest autumn on record, with temperatures 1.9C above average The BoM said yesterday that Victoria had its warmest autumn on record, surpassing a record last set in 2016. Temperatures were 1.9C above average for the season. But things were balmy around the entire country, which saw its fourth-warmest autumn since national observations began in 1910. View image in fullscreen This graphic shows temperature anomalies in Victoria from 1910 to 2025. Photograph: BOM Weatherzone’s Anthony Sharwood writes the levels are notable for several reasons: No part of Australia saw below-average temperatures this autumn; temperatures in NSW were above average overall despite heavy rainfall and flooding in some ares; and a large patch of southern Australia spanning Victoria, SA and NSW all saw record-breaking or much higher than average temperatures. View image in fullscreen Australian rainfall deciles for autumn 2025. Photograph: BOM A large swath of southern Australia also saw rainfall very much below average. In Victoria, it was the ninth-driest autumn on record. Share

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