Morning Mail: Defence suicide plea, AFP reviews Lehrmann leaks, Trump’s $1.2bn bonus
Morning everyone. As Anzac Day dawns, we have an exclusive interview with the commissioner into defence and veterans’ suicide in which he urges the military to consider a way of formally honouring the serving and former personnel whose service causes wounds or costs their lives away from the battlefield.
We also have the second part of our exclusive report into bullying inside the Australian Border Force, plus: Donald Trump will receive a $1.2bn bonus from his failing media business – and the stats that show why Test cricket is the greatest game of all.
Australia
Mumbai to Melbourne | The share of Australians born overseas has surpassed 30% for the first time since 1893 after record migration in the year to June 2023. The Indian-born population grew the most by 90,000 to a total of 846,000.
Out of action | There are factors in military service “that cause suicidality to occur that are not related to battle”, the commissioner for defence and veterans’ suicide, Nick Kaldas, tells Guardian Australia today, as he reflects on a startling revelation ahead of his report due in September. He urges defence chiefs to take more responsibility for the problem, saying it has been missing.
Bullying ‘normalised’ | Bullying and harassment “are normalised” in some sections of the Australian Border Force according to a damning report, which suggests the cultural issues identified in a secret report revealed by Guardian Australia yesterday are not confined to its marine unit.
Cobram charge | A 39-year-old man has been charged with intentionally and recklessly causing injury over the death of a 49-year-old woman whose body was found at a home in Cobram in northern Victoria on Tuesday.
Lehrmann probe | The Australian federal police are conducting an internal review into whether any officers leaked material obtained for the criminal investigation and rape trial of the former ministerial adviser Bruce Lehrmann.
‘Anti-democratic’ | It would be “anti-democratic” for Facebook to again remove news content from Australian feeds, the assistant treasurer Stephen Jones has argued, adding the government would press social media companies to pay for content from media outlets.
World
Student protests | Tensions over pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University and other college campuses have continued to rise as Mike Johnson, the Republican House speaker, prepared to visit the New York institution to address what he called “virulent antisemitism” at colleges nationwide.
Iran crackdown | Harrowing first-hand accounts of women being dragged from the streets of Iran and detained have emerged as human rights groups warned of a new crackdown on hijab rules since the regime’s missile strike on Israel.
‘Era of peace is over’| Ukraine’s foreign minister has urged western countries to boost defence spending because “the era of peace in Europe is over” after US president Joe Biden welcomed the passage of a long-delayed $61bn military aid package for Ukraine.
Trump’s $1.2bn bonus | Former president Donald Trump qualified for a bonus worth $1.2bn after shares in his social media company remained above a certain value, despite falling sharply in recent days.
Rebel clause | The UK edition of Rebel Wilson’s memoir will be published with redacted passages relating to her experience on set with Sacha Baron Cohen best summarised by a chapter titled: “Sacha Baron Cohen and Other Assholes”.
Full Story
Is Elon Musk above Australian law?
Josh Taylor examines how Australia got into a stoush with Elon Musk, and if it’s possible to stop the spread of violent material and misinformation online.
In-depth
We’re likely to hear some familiar numbers today such as how many troops lost their lives serving the nation as we commemorate Anzac Day. But, Paul Daley argues, we too often accept these figures without challenging the reasons for going to war as we continue to do. What we don’t hear about so often is that one serving or former defence force member has a suicide-related contact with emergency services every four hours – and that’s the tragic, forgotten story of today.
On a lighter note, our in-house baking queen, Kate Waldegrave, searches for the perfect Anzac biscuit.
Not the news
It’s a very Australian feud. An artist in Wagga Wagga has inflamed the controversy around the origin of the Chiko roll by displaying a 2m-tall tribute to the much-loved savoury snack and claiming it for the town. Nonsense say the good folk of Bendigo and Bathurst. Rafqa Touma investigates.
The world of sport
Football | Socceroos legend Harry Kewell (pictured) has enjoyed the greatest moment of his coaching career by guiding Yokohama F.Marinos into the Asian Champions League final after a dramatic penalty shootout triumph over Ulsan.
Cricket | Who was the Australian who had the best average against the great West Indies quicks? And you might not believe which bowler was the first to dismiss Tendulkar five times. This week’s edition of The Spin will astound you.
Tennis | Rafael Nadal says he will not return to the French Open for a final appearance in the tournament he has won 14 times unless his physical condition improves significantly in the coming weeks.
Media roundup
An alleged youth terror cell targeted by police raids in Sydney yesterday was going to attack again, according to the Daily Telegraph. Lisa Wilkinson has hit out at Network Ten for refusing to pay her legal costs in the Bruce Lehrmann defamation case, the Australian reports. A man found not guilty of killing a toddler in 2015 has been arrested over the death of a woman in Cobram in northern Victoria, the Age reports. And NT News says that the controversial practice of crocodile culling is going to resume in the Territory.
What’s happening today
Anzac Day | Events marking the national day of remembrance will be held around the country and Anthony Albanese continues walking the Kokoda Track ahead of the dawn service in PNG.
Bondi attack | The family of stabbing victim Faraz Tahir is to speak in Marsden Park at 12.30pm
Sport | Essendon take on Collingwood in the big holiday AFL clash at the MGC, while the Dragons host the Roosters in NRL.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
