Morning mail: Djokovic’s Australian Open exemption, NSW hospital staff struggling, marine heatwave

Wednesday: Tennis tournament organisers confirm world No 1 will play grand slam. Plus: how the pandemic changed parenting

Good morning. Weeks of speculation about Novak Djokovic's involvement in the Australia Open have come to an end after the world No 1 last night revealed he has a medical exemption to get around Melbourne's strict quarantine rules. Meanwhile, more hospital staff in NSW speak out about the pressure of staff shortages and record Covid infections.

Djokovic is on his way to Melbourne to defend his Australian Open title after he refused to divulge his Covid vaccination status. Australian Open organisers confirmed he had received a medical exemption and said two panels of experts had reviewed the case. The Australian Technical Advisory Group allows exemptions for reasons including acute major medical conditions to any serious adverse effect from previous doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. The reason for Djokovic's exemption is unclear and has garnered mixed responses from his peers.