Guardian Essential report: power v poise
At the electoral crossroads, Guardian Australia's political reporter Krishani Dhanji talks to Essential Media's executive director Peter Lewis about what risks and rewards await Peter Dutton and Anthony Albanese as they gamble over the projection of strong v steady leadership to win the hearts and minds of Australian voters. Plus: who would people most want to have a beer with?
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The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
Crossbenchers call for federal intervention after ‘deeply shocking' revelations about prison deaths
Key crossbenchers have called for the federal government to intervene to drive reforms to state prison systems after revelations that 57 Australians died from hanging points that were known to authorities but not removed. A Guardian Australia investigation on Tuesday revealed that inaction to remove known hanging points from 19 prisons across the country had caused a shocking death toll, more than 30 years after state governments promised to make prisons safe in the wake of the Aboriginal deaths in custody royal commission. In one case, 10 inmates hanged themselves from the same type of ligature point at Brisbane's Arthur Gorrie prison over almost 20 years, despite early warnings that it be immediately addressed. Guardian Australia has spent five months investigating the deadly toll of Australia's inaction to remove hanging points from its jails, a key recommendation of the 1991 royal commission into Aboriginal deaths in custody. The main finding – that 57 inmates died using known ligature points that had not been removed – was made possible by an exhaustive examination of coronial records relating to 248 hanging deaths spanning more than 20 years. Reporters combed through large volumes of coronial records looking for instances where a hanging point had been used repeatedly in the same jail. They counted any death that occurred after prison authorities were made aware of that particular hanging point. Warnings were made via a prior suicide or suicide attempt, advice from their own staff or recommendations from coroners and other independent bodies. Guardian Australia also logged how many of the 57 inmates were deemed at risk of self-harm or had attempted suicide before they were sent into cells with known hanging points. In adherence with best practice in reporting on this topic, Guardian Australia has avoided detailed descriptions of suicide. In some instances, so that the full ramifications of coronial recommendations can be understood, we have made the decision to identify types and locations of ligature points. We have done this only in instances where we feel the public interest in this information being available to readers is high. In another, four inmates were able to hang themselves from the same hanging point at the Adelaide Remand Centre after the state government was explicitly warned to either remove it or minimise its risk. In many cases, prisoners who were known suicide risks – like Gavin Ellis, a beloved son whose mother still mourns his loss – were sent into cells with hanging points that had been used in prior deaths. The revelations prompted immediate calls from crossbenchers for the Albanese government to show national leadership on the issue and pressure state governments to engage in reform of their justice and prison systems. The independent senator David Pocock said the cases were 'deeply shocking' and highlight 'a widespread failure in our prison system'. 'I would support more federally coordinated action to better address these persistent failures, whether through a Senate inquiry or action by national cabinet,' he said. The Greens justice spokesperson, David Shoebridge, said the 57 deaths showed Australia's prison system was 'fundamentally broken and killing people, even though governments have been on notice for decades'. He said it was time for the federal government to intervene. 'Thirty-four years after the Royal Commission, First Nations people are still dying from government inaction and broken promises,' he said. 'It's impossible to imagine something more awful than families losing their loved ones because a hanging point, that the authorities knew had killed before, still hadn't been removed.' The deaths disproportionately affected Indigenous Australians, who remain vastly overrepresented in the system. Seven Indigenous Australians hanged themselves in 2023-24, a number not recorded since 2000-01. The independent senator Lidia Thorpe said Guardian Australia's findings revealed 'shocking negligence'. She said the federal government could not keep 'pretending this is just a state issue'. 'That's not only misleading – it's a shameful abdication of responsibility,' Thorpe said. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion 'The Prime Minister needs to show leadership. These are preventable deaths. This is life or death. And it's long past time for action.' Thorpe called for the coronial system to be overhauled, and 'real accountability mechanisms' to be put in place. She also wants to see someone tasked with the responsibility of overseeing and driving the implementation of the royal commission recommendations. 'Thirty years after the Royal Commission, people are still dying in exactly the same way. Governments are sitting on their hands while our people die in these brutal facilities,' Thorpe said. 'Implementing the Royal Commission recommendations won't just help First Nations people – it will save lives across the entire prison system.' The independent MP and former barrister Zali Steggall said the deaths represented a 'systemic human rights failure' that 'demands immediate action'. 'I call on the government for firm national leadership,' she said. 'There urgently needs to be commitment and a timeline for the implementation for reform and previous recommendation. 'It's been more than 30 years since the Royal Commission of Aboriginal Deaths in Custody and countless more inquiries, and little has changed. It's clear that a step change on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policy is needed by the government who have done very little to push progress since the referendum.' In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Indigenous Australians can call 13YARN on 13 92 76 for information and crisis support. Other international helplines can be found at
The Guardian
11 hours ago
- The Guardian
Morning Mail: staggering prison death toll revealed, LA braces for more unrest, Albanese to deliver key speech
Good morning everyone. Our top story today reveals a staggering death toll from government inaction. In a five-month investigation, scouring coronial findings from 248 deaths, Guardian Australia has found that 57 inmates in Australian jails hanged themselves in the past two decades using ligature points that were known to authorities but not removed. Plus: Anthony Albanese will map out his priorities for his second term in a key speech today, Los Angeles braces for more unrest, and we hear about a time when Monet, Cezanne et al were panned by the critics. 'Meet the moment' | Anthony Albanese will tell the National Press Club today that government and democratic institutions 'including a free media' can meet the demands of global uncertainty, despite growing attacks around the world and the shooting of an Australian reporter covering the Los Angeles unrest. 18C 'battle' | A Sydney cleric being sued in the federal court for alleged racial discrimination of Jewish people has described his case as an existential battle 'between Islam and unbelievers'. Koala cut | New South Wales environmental activists say an area that is home to endangered koalas and southern greater gliders has been left out of the Minns government's assessment for its proposed great koala national park. Tasmania tangle | After a week of drama in Tasmanian politics, the premier, Jeremy Rockliff, is expected to visit the state's governor on Tuesday to request a state election. Greensill case | The Australian financier Lex Greensill has told a court in London that senior managers at SoftBank 'felt threatened' by his relationship with Masayoshi Son, the founder of the Japanese tech investor that pumped millions into Greensill's company before its collapse. Veteran warning | As crowds gathered in Los Angeles for a fourth day of protests against immigration detentions, veterans warned the Trump administration's deployment of national guard troops to the city over the head of California's governor is a major escalation that risks the politicisation of the US military. Unions have demanded the release of a leader arrested and injured during the Ice raids in the city on Friday. You can follow developments live, and also learn more about the protests with our visual explainer. AI 'limits' | Apple researchers have found 'fundamental limitations' in cutting-edge artificial intelligence models, in a paper raising doubts about the technology industry's race to develop ever more powerful systems. Russia threat | Russia could be ready to attack westwards within five years, Nato's chief has warned, with member states expected to agree to increase military spending to 5% of GDP later this month. Ukraine claims to have damaged two fighter jets in another audacious raid deep inside Russia. Western guests including Elon Musk's father will speak at a pro-Putin conference being held in Moscow. Boat blocked | A boat with Greta Thunberg and fellow activists on board is being held in an Israeli port ahead of deportation hearings after the country's military seized the vessel when the group tried to break the blockade on Gaza. Celebrity defamation | A judge has dismissed Justin Baldoni's US$400m defamation claim against Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, finding that Lively's accusations of sexual harassment against Baldoni were legally protected. Trump takes on the LA protesters and Elon Musk Washington DC bureau chief David Smith tells Nour Haydar why Donald Trump's reaction to the LA protests is a diversion from his feud with billionaire Elon Musk. Sorry your browser does not support audio - but you can download here and listen $ There's a shrine in Karen Reid's home to her son Luke. His white hard hat sits on top of a toolbox. His old vape is there, tucked inside one of his favourite sneakers. Luke died in 2022 at 27 years old on his first night on remand. He took his own life by hanging in a prison cell that authorities knew contained a dangerous ligature point, but failed to remove. As part of a new Guardian Australia investigation launched today, Karen speaks out, saying government negligence allowed her son to die. She calls on authorities to take seriously their responsibility to keep inmates safe, and to urgently remove known hanging points from prison cells, 'so that no other mother and family has to go through this pain'. We have also asked other states why they haven't removed ligature points. The National Gallery of Victoria's new show, French Impressionism, celebrates some of the greatest names in art such as Monet, Renoir, Degas, Morisot and Pissarro. But the curator of the show tells Sian Cain that when they first started one critic said the style 'makes me sick'. Sign up to Morning Mail Our Australian morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Test cricket | The World Test Championship starts tomorrow with Australia taking on South Africa at Lord's. Martin Pegan examines where the match will be won and lost. AFL | Collingwood showed why they are flag favourites by edging out the Demons by one point in a tense game at the MCG. Football | After sacking Ange Postecoglou last week, Tottenham have approached Brentford over appointing Thomas Frank as their new head coach. Former federal minister Eric Abetz is a 'creditable candidate' to be Tasmania's new premier, a key backer tells the Hobart Mercury. The De Bortoli winemaking family tell the Herald Sun they are 'doing the unthinkable' and ripping out vines amid a slump in wine sales. Circular Quay will be transformed by a giant half-woman half-whale sculpture, according to Sydney Morning Herald. Business | NSW premier Chris Minns and treasurer Daniel Mookhey will speak at a NSW Economic Review event ahead of the state budget. Technology | Summit in Sydney to discuss energy and water challenges faced by the data centre sector. If you would like to receive this Morning Mail update to your email inbox every weekday, sign up here, or finish your day with our Afternoon Update newsletter. You can follow the latest in US politics by signing up for This Week in Trumpland. And finally, here are the Guardian's crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow. Quick crossword Cryptic crossword
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Scottish Sun
Moment LA cops shoot reporter on live TV while Brit photographer is hospitalised by rubber bullet during street anarchy
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THIS is the moment a TV journalist was shot live on air as she reported on the violent immigration riots in Los Angeles. Australian reporter Lauren Tomasi was covering the protests for Nine News when she was blasted at close range by a rubber bullet, collapsing in agony mid-broadcast. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Lauren Tomasi was reporting live from the streets of LA amid the violent protests in the city 2 The Australian reporter was shot with a rubber bullet by riot police live on air Credit: X 'The LAPD are moving in on horseback and firing rubber bullets at protesters,' Tomasi told viewers, as loud bangs echoed across Downtown LA. Suddenly, a police officer swung his weapon towards her, and a cloud of smoke erupted near the correspondent. Caught on camera, Tomasi doubled over in pain, live on air. 'You just f***ing shot a reporter!' a furious protester screamed at police, as others rushed to help the injured Aussie. Despite the shocking moment, Tomasi managed to yell back, 'I'm good, I'm good.' Her network later confirmed she was 'left sore but otherwise unharmed' by the impact — but the image of a journalist being targeted has already sparked outrage. It comes after a British photojournalist was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery when a 'sponge bullet' tore through his thigh during the same night of violence. Nick Stern, 60, from Hertford, said he had made himself clearly visible as a member of the press when he was shot while photographing a standoff between protesters and riot cops. 'I felt this horrific shooting pain impacting my leg. I felt down immediately and felt this large lump … protesters came to help and I was just saying, 'Sit me down, sit me down'… then I blacked out,' he told The Times. More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos. Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X at @TheUSSun
