Good morning. The main company handling Australia’s immigration detention is playing a key role in the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown – and attracting complaints over its treatment of ICE detainees in the US.

And as we continue our investigation into the use of private call centres by government agencies, it’s been revealed the department dealing with workplace standards is set to replace call centre staff with a third-party contractor.

Meanwhile, analysis has shown that the cost of tax breaks for Australia’s landlords vastly outstrips what is spent on social housing, homelessness and rent assistance combined.

AustraliaA DEWR spokesperson said that while the department was meant to prioritise APS employees for core work, ‘limited use of labour hire’ staff was allowed where needed. Photograph: Colin McPherson/Alamy

‘Gobsmacked’ | A group of call centre staff kept on short-term contracts at the government department responsible for workplace standards will be replaced by a third-party contractor, it has been revealed.

‘Deeply concerning’ | The Australia’s government’s main immigration detention contractor – awarded contracts despite claims of “gross negligence” in the US – is playing a key role in Trump’s immigration crackdown.

Exclusive | Australia spends billions of dollars more on tax breaks for property investors than on social housing, homelessness and rent assistance combined, according to new research.

Nursing a skink | Eleven endangered Guthega skinks released into a gated community in Victoria’s Alpine national park could soon become 13, with a female known as Omeo due to give birth in March.

Diplomacy | The PM has defended the government’s invitation made to Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, in the wake of Bondi beach terror attack, as another federal MP joins calls to cancel the visit.

Top job | This week the MP for Flynn, Colin Boyce, announced a tilt at the Nationals leadership, claiming he was “furious” over the implosion of the Coalition. So does he have a chance?

WorldAn Iranian woman walks next to an anti-US mural in Tehran. Photograph: Abedin Taherkenareh/EPAFull StoryA vigil following the shooting of Alex Pretti by ICE agents in Minneapolis. Composite: Will Oliver/EPA

Is Trump waging a war on his own people?

Recent scenes on the streets of Minneapolis have been confronting and terrifying to watch with federal agents shooting two US citizens at near point-blank range, as in the cases of Renee Good and Alex Pretti – all while the White House paints the victims as perpetrators. David Smith speaks with Reged Ahmad about why many are asking if fascism has come to US streets.

In-depthAbout 2,500 people gathered for the Invasion Day rally in central Perth. Photograph: Cole Baxter

Police say a device allegedly lobbed into the middle of an Invasion Day rally in Perth had the potential to explode and injure or even kill “many people”. The incident is being investigated as a potential terrorist act. Already alarmed at a rise in white nationalism and racist sentiment, First Nations people say they have been left shocked at the “surreal” lack of an outpouring of anger or concern among the wider Australian population.

Not the newsGraeme Base: ‘I’m one of the few authors in captivity who doesn’t know what a rejection slip looks like.’ Photograph: Eugene Hyland/The Guardian

Graeme Base admits he had no idea what he was doing when he published his wonderfully weird and fiendishly difficult picture books. They became global hits anyway. Both Animalia and The Eleventh Hour have been selected by Guardian readers as among the 50 best Australian picture books ever published – but, he tells Sian Cain, if you pitched either book now “you’d fail – miserably, I suspect”.

SportAryna Sabalenka reacts during her semi-final match against Elina Svitolina in Melbourne. Photograph: Hollie Adams/Reuters

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, 400 people a week in New Zealand are applying for Australian citizenship. Beloved Australian animated series Bluey has topped the US streaming charts for the second year running, ABC News reports. And billionaire publican Arthur Laundy is emerging as a likely buyer for Nine’s radio network, according to the AFR and the Herald Sun.

What’s happening today

Politics |National cabinet meets today in Sydney to discuss health, hospital funding and the NDIS, as well as the gun buyback scheme.

Sport | The Australian Open action continues in Melbourne.

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Brain teaser

And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.