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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Paul Gallagher

Morning Mail: murderer among detainees released by ministerial discretion; warning over payday lenders; Murdoch marries again

View of the High Court of Australia in Canberra
Those ex-detainees released into community detention include a murderer and three people convicted of domestic violence offences. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

Good morning. Today we reveal that 25 of the 153 people affected by the high court’s ruling on indefinite detention had already been released into the community under ministerial discretion – including one murderer and one person convicted of “attempt or solicit murder”.

Plus, we detail how payday lenders are targeting Australia’s most vulnerable – and the ongoing “whack-a-mole” fight to crack down on them.

And the African National Congress says it will not entertain demands for the South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, to step down, as the final results in the country’s seismic election confirm the ANC has lost its majority.

Australia

World

Full Story

Will another immigration scandal topple a minister?

The Albanese government is once again under pressure over immigration detention, this time because an independent tribunal gave visas back to non-citizens with serious criminal convictions. Paul Karp tells Jane Lee why the Coalition has demanded the immigration minister’s resignation.

In-depth

As Labor’s first term in power has progressed, many people have been left wondering if the political deadlock on our nation’s climate policy has really been broken. Climate scientist Joëlle Gergis writes that while Rome wasn’t built in a day, the Albanese government’s lack of action on climate change does not reflect the urgency of the crisis. Are the climate wars really over, she asks, or has a new era of greenwashing just begun?

Not the news

As we edge into the cooler months, people may be seeking something new to watch as they head for the cozy comfort of their sofas. In his Stream lover column, Luke Buckmaster shares his highlights of what’s coming to Australia’s streaming services this month, including The Bear, House of the Dragon, Glen Powell as a fake hitman – and a very entertaining new ABC comedy.

The world of sport

Media roundup

Victoria’s Treasury has quietly sought advice from investment banks this year to find out how much money could be raised from privatisation of public assets, reports the Age. A groundbreaking worldwide study involving dozens of Australians is paving the way for pre-surgery immunotherapy to become the global standard for combating melanoma, reports the Sydney Morning Herald. Thousands of Australian households are being charged electricity prices based on their single biggest point of usage across an entire month, fuelling claims power firms are using sneak tactics to gouge consumers, reports ABC News.

What’s happening today

  • Fair Work Commission | The Annual Wage Review 2023–24 decision is due to be handed down this morning.

  • Football | The Matildas are set to face China tonight in Sydney, in their second international friendly.

  • Victoria | The trial of Greg Lynn, accused of murdering Russell Hill and Carol Clay, continues at the supreme court 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.

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