Morning Mail: pressure mounts over Gaza, agency warned about Centrepay, Taylor Auerbach to return to stand
Morning everyone. The pressure on Australia to take more action against Israel after the Gaza aid worker killings intensified overnight when the charity involved urged the governments of the staff who died to join its call for an independent inquiry. At home, we reveal how the government was warned repeatedly about the controversial Centrepay debit scheme, and US shipyards are already up to three years behind on work on the new Aukus submarines.
Australia
Aukus ‘delayed’ | US shipyards are running up to three years late in building new Virginia-class submarines, despite suggestions from a senior US diplomat that the Aukus pact with Australia will help deter Beijing from seizing Taiwan.
Centrepay warnings | The corporate regulator repeatedly warned Services Australia that it should review and consider removing more than 100 companies from the government-run Centrepay debit scheme that allows early access to welfare payments.
Auerbach returns | Former Seven producer Taylor Auerbach will return to the stand in the federal court in Sydney today to continue giving evidence at the Bruce Lehrmann defamation trial after yesterday’s dramatic claims.
Gas surplus hope | Australia’s east coast is expected to have a small surplus of gas in the third quarter of 2024, with an improvement in forecast supply since the gas market code was introduced.
Neo-Nazi threat | Australian white supremacists and neo-Nazis who are creating crowdfunding campaigns and “active clubs” to train members in combat must be monitored more closely, a prominent global counter-extremist organisation has told a Senate inquiry.
World
‘Historic’ heatwave | A “historic heatwave” is sending temperatures soaring across south-east Asia with 44C recorded in central Myanmar, 40.2C in southern Thailand and 40.6C in north-west Vietnam.
India power play | The Modi government assassinated individuals in Pakistan as part of a wider strategy to eliminate enemies living on foreign soil, according to Indian and Pakistani intelligence operatives who spoke to the Guardian.
Gaza call | The international food charity World Central Kitchen has called for an independent investigation into the Israeli strikes and asked the governments of Australia, Canada, the UK, Poland and the US to back the demand. US president Joe Biden discussed the incident with the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, in a call overnight, telling him the aid strikes were “unacceptable”.
‘100-year Maga’ | Steve Bannon, Donald Trump’s White House strategist, believed before the 2020 election and the January 6 attack on Congress that a “Maga movement” of Trump supporters “could rule for a hundred years”.
Six million galaxies | The biggest ever 3D map of the universe, featuring more than 6m galaxies, has been revealed by scientists who said it raised questions about the nature of dark energy and the future of the universe.
Full Story
Israel divided: Netanyahu’s coalition crisis
A cabinet split over military service for ultra-Orthodox Jews and large street protests demanding the release of hostages are threatening the Israeli prime minister’s grip on power. Bethan McKernan reports from Jerusalem.
In-depth
When thousands of Australians began receiving demands for back tax from the ATO last year, many assumed they were the only ones to receive the letter. But Guardian Australia went on to reveal the campaign, quickly dubbed “robotax”, was designed to capture up to 1.8 million taxpayers of one description or another, mainly individuals, and raise in excess of $15bn. Jonathan Barrett unravels how the scheme started, how people reacted and what politicians are doing in response.
Not the news
With Anzac Day just three weeks away, the timing of the new Australian film Before Dawn about the nation-making events of the first world war can be expected. The problem is, writes Luke Buckmaster, so is just about everything else in the movie directed by Jordan Prince-Wright and starring Levi Miller. It “deploys the sorts of scenes and messages we’ve seen many times before” such as soldiers bonding despite pushing through perilous terrain, and doesn’t have the big budget of superior productions to cover up the shortcomings.
The world of sport
AFL | The Gather Round got under way in Adelaide last night but it was a chastening night for co-hosts the Crows as they went down to the Demons.
Women’s T20 | Tayla Vlaeminck has boosted her injury comeback as Australia’s women’s cricket team wrapped up a triumphant tour of Bangladesh with a 77-run victory in the third T20 international.
Tennis | Saudi Arabia has won the race to host the next three editions of the WTA Finals, the flagship tour event in women’s tennis, offering a record prize money of close to A$24m.
Media roundup
Samantha Murphy’s husband says he “needs to be strong” as he opens up to the Herald Sun. Perth’s median house price has hit a record of $620,000 as buyers “battle against interstate investors and a surging population”, the West Australian says. The Adelaide Advertiser hails South Australia’s premier for trying to turn the state into the country’s “surest bet for sport”.
What’s happening today
Sydney | More new evidence in Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation case against Ten.
Economy | Figures on retail trade and international trade for February.
Clare Nowland | Arraignment for police officer Kristian White on a manslaughter charge for allegedly tasering the 95-year-old dementia patient in Cooma.
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Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.
