Morning Mail: housing crisis to worsen, ads to tackle misogyny, Stella winner announced
Morning everyone. Increased migration, the tax system and a lack of social housing are singled out by the government’s new expert council as the main factors that will continue to worsen Australia’s housing crisis. We have an exclusive story on the “woefully inadequate” funding for children with disabilities, a startling observation in the Sumatran jungle, and why a Trump ally asked: “What have we done?”
Australia
Tackling misogyny | A government ad campaign will urge parents to learn about harmful misogyny online and discuss it with their children as part of the federal government’s suite of measures to tackle men’s violence against women. NSW police said last night that a police officer had been charged with five counts of domestic violence and was bailed to appear in court on 16 May.
‘Significant shortfall’ | In its first report on the state of the housing market, the new National Housing Supply and Affordability Council says the government’s target of 1.2m new homes in the next five years will fall short by more than 200,000.
Exclusive | Principals and teachers say funding to support students with disabilities is “woefully inadequate”, with schools diverting resources from other areas of their budgets to meet their needs.
Misinformation mistake | The government’s laws to force tech companies to act on misinformation should not be based on the current voluntary industry code as planned, because those standards are not being met, a technology thinktank has said.
Funeral ire | Almost a third of the federal government’s $97m support scheme for the thousands of Aboriginal people who fell victim to the predatory funeral fund insurer ACBF-Youpla will be chewed up by its own administration.
World
‘Hidden Brexiteers’ | The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has described European nationalists as “hidden Brexiteers” selling the public the “same lies” as those who campaigned for Britain to leave the European Union. And with the Tories facing huge losses in local elections in England and Wales (pictured), we look at the wild ideas spread by the far-right Reform UK party.
‘What have we done?’ | As Donald Trump emerged as the winner on election night in 2016, his criminal trial heard today that an attorney who brokered hush-money payments seemed shocked that his efforts had worked, texting his longtime confidant: “What have we done?”
Gaza rebuild | Rebuilding homes in Gaza destroyed during Israel’s military offensive could take until 2040 in the most optimistic scenario and cost up to A$60bn, UN experts estimate. Turkey has reportedly suspended all trade with Israel over its Gaza policy.
‘Order must prevail’ | Joe Biden has defended the right to protest but insisted that “order must prevail” as arrests on college campuses passed 2,000 amid pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
Orangutan remedy | A male Sumatran orangutan has been seen treating an open facial wound with sap and chewed leaves from a plant known to have pain-relieving properties – a first in wildlife observation.
Full Story
Newsroom Edition: Political lessons from Scott Morrison’s faith
Scott Morrison’s new book places his faith front and centre. But is this something new? Or has religion always been a part of Australia’s democracy? Editor-in-chief Lenore Taylor and deputy editor Patrick Keneally discuss the nuanced relationship between faith and politics.
In-depth
Has Alexis Wright (pictured) written “the great Australian novel”? The 73-year-old Waanyi writer has just collected $60,000 for winning the Stella literature prize last night, after garnering rave reviews for her 736-page epic Praiseworthy, set in a fictional Carpentaria town of the same name. Stella’s chair of judges, Beejay Silcox, said: “Praiseworthy is not only a great Australian novel – perhaps the great Australian novel – it is also a great Waanyi novel.”
Not the news
It’s not quite got the glamour of the Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenny buying the Welsh football team side Wrexham, but the story of how an IT entrepreneur from western Sydney came to bid for the struggling English football club Southend United has many similarities. In today’s long read, Tim Burrows details how “Australian chap” Justin Rees (pictured) became a messiah in a small corner of Essex.
The world of sport
A-League Women | As Melbourne City or Sydney FC go head to head to become the first club to win five ALW titles, Joey Lynch looks forward to Saturday’s heavyweight grand final.
Formula One | The F1 circus is back in Miami and an expected 90,000 crowd for Sunday’s grand prix shows that it is likely to be in the US to stay.
Football | Ange Postecoglu’s Spurs are in Premier League action against Chelsea this morning, while Roma host German champions Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa league semi-final.
Media roundup
Friends and family paid tribute to Molly Ticehurst at her funeral in Forbes yesterday, saying they “lit up the night” for the woman allegedly killed by her partner last week, the Central West Daily reports. A crown prosecutor feared a migrant detainee would reoffend but failed to oppose bail before he allegedly attacked a pensioner, the Age claims. The Courier Mail says a “well-known, cashed-up buyer” was poised to bid for Bonza before the airline’s planes were seized this week. A desperate search is under way in Mexico for two brothers from Perth who have gone missing on a surfing holiday to the Baja California region, the West Australian reports.
What’s happening today
Melbourne | Potential judgment in public housing towers class action.
New South Wales | State government to announcement reforms of foster care system.
Media | The 2024 RSF Press Freedom Index is published
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
