Morning Mail: thunderstorm asthma – four dead, three critical, ABC bosses defend music cuts, Crowded House at Opera House

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Guardian Australia's Morning Mail Friday 25 November 2016 g Melbourne's 'thunderstorm asthma': four dead, three critical Good morning, and welcome to the Morning Mail. Sign up here for our Guardian Today email, sent every day at noon, and you can sign up to our new Guardian Australia sport email here. Among the stories leading our website this morning is the 'thunderstorm asthma' event that has killed four people, with three still in a critical condition in Melbourne hospitals. It appears to be the most lethal episode of thunderstorm asthma on record, but what causes the condition? Here's an explainer. Keep reading for the rest of the top stories this morning, including the launch of our special investigation on the private health insurance system, with more news from around Australia and the world.

Headlines Greens push Australia-first clauses in building code as test for NXT and Hanson Companies would be required to hire local workers and use local steel in amendments to the code attached to ABCC industry watchdog bill Obama administration rushes to protect public lands before Trump takes office Environmental groups hope Utah, Nevada and Grand Canyon will be included in rapid conservation efforts as Trump plans to expand fossil fuel extraction Meet Fran Kelly, disc jockey: ABC bosses defend their music cuts There are still tunes on RN, says ABC management – on the breakfast show; Crinkling News inspires imitator; and the Australian pays up in intoxicating libel case Honours even as Australia and Warner caught short by Du Plessis declaration Australia and South Africa shared the honours on day one in Adelaide, where Faf du Plessis scored a sweet captain's century and made a daring declaration. Direct Action carbon reduction policy running out of steam With 83% of the fund spent, the government's central climate policy is almost exhausted, with no further funding committed Australian news and politics Vickie Roach: 'I was set up for abuse by my childhood' The fourth in a series of portraits of women tackling Indigenous domestic violence, writer and activist Roach reflects on the cycle of incarceration and what she learned duing her own time in jail Australian Sara Connor ​fails​ to get Bali murder case thrown out Connor and her British boyfriend, David Taylor, are accused of murdering police officer Wayan Sudarsa in August Crowded House at Sydney Opera House – in pictures Twenty years after their farewell show on the steps of the Opera House, Crowded House have returned for a series of gigs 'Anglican house is burning,' bishop tells abuse inquiry Greg Thompson tells royal commission he has been warned by parishioners he is not safe after alleging abuse as a young man by senior clerics Lower house rejects Senate's 10.5% backpacker tax amendment – as it happened Lambie amendment supported in Senate by Labor, Greens, One Nation and Leyonhjelm. As it happened Doctor's overdose death prompts warning over misuse of anaesthetics NSW coroner finds Dr Beata Vandeville self-administered a cocktail of drugs including the powerful drug propofol Backpacker tax: parliament split as House rejects Lambie's 10.5% plan Senate is expected to debate the legislation again as the government says the levy will revert to the default of 32.5% Around the world Suicide truck bomber kills scores of Shia pilgrims in Iraq Most of the victims of attack in Hilla, which has been claimed by Islamic State, were Iranian nationals, security official says Tens of thousands evacuated as Israeli wildfires rage Russia, Turkey and Cyprus send firefighting planes to Israel as hundreds of homes damaged in worst wildfires since 2010 Vigil held in German town for woman dragged through streets Hundreds gather in Hamelin to attend vigil for attack victim who is in coma after being tied to a car and dragged for 250 metres Rohingya flee to Bangladesh to escape Myanmar military strikes As Bangladesh boosts border controls, UN official says Myanmar wants to ethnically cleanse country of Muslim minority Iranian online shopping site launches its own version of Black Friday Bamilo says it has more than 100,000 pre-subscribers to its Harajome, or Friday sale, with over 600 retailers participating

One last thing Crowded House review: 'What a glorious night to be alive on the planet' Neil Finn's band returns to the scene of their 1996 farewell show, with two hours of hits and jamming in front of 6,000 enraptured fans. Have an excellent day and if you spot something I've missed, let me know on Twitter at @earleyedition.

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