Church bodies cannot obtain insurance, forcing states to strike indemnity deals
Taxpayers on hook for church abuse claims, Palmer sues Australia, Bakhmut ‘retreat’ | The Guardian
11/05/2023
Taxpayers on hook for church abuse claims, Palmer sues Australia, Bakhmut ‘retreat’
Martin Farrer
Morning everyone. To the long list of institutions that have failed amid the ongoing saga of child abuse at the hands of clergy, we can now add the insurance market. In an exclusive story today we reveal how an inundation of survivor claims means insurers have abandoned religious institutions, leaving state governments and taxpayers to pick up the slack. We’ve also got an exclusive on Clive Palmer’s plans to sue the commonwealth for billions, as well as a meet with Australia’s Eurovision superfans.
Exclusive | State governments are being forced to strike confidential deals granting taxpayer-funded indemnity to church bodies for child abuse because the organisations cannot obtain insurance. Queensland alone has brokered temporary deals relating to 18 organisations providing out-of-home care and youth homelessness services.
Budget blowback | The budget increase in welfare payments has been welcomed, but some people on benefits say it’s “just a Band-Aid” that won’t help low-income earners with housing unless there is also reform of the private rental market. Budget cuts, meanwhile, have cast doubt over the first national space mission to build satellites to detect and respond to bushfires and floods.
La Niña clue | Smoke from Australia’s 2019-20 black summer fires may have resulted in the rare “triple dip” La Niña that lasted from 2020 to 2022, researchers have suggested in work that might help predict future climate cycles.
‘Revolving door’ | Almost half (48%) of internal tobacco company lobbyists held positions in government before or after working in the industry, research by the Cancer Council NSW shows.
Pakistan crisis | Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan has been presented before a judge in Islamabad, 24 hours after his arrest by scores of paramilitary officers that led to nationwide uproar.
Hacking claim | The UK television presenter Piers Morgan knew about illegal phone hacking when he was editor of the Daily Mirror, it has been alleged at the high court in a trial initiated by Prince Harry.
As the online gambling industry grows, at least one Australian football league is taking a greater share of its revenue. Henry Belot explains why this is a problem for fans, punters and even some players.
In-depth
As part of our series marking 10 years of Guardian Australia, we look back on a scoop that changed the government’s harsh immigration detention regime: the Nauru files. Reporters, editors, subeditors and our data editor, Nick Evershed (pictured), recall how the unexpected gift of a single USB file containing first-hand accounts from guards, caseworkers and teachers of self-harm, violence and hunger strikes sparked a top-secret operation to make the most of the exclusive.
Not the news
“Eurovision is life to me,” says Deb Shaw from Adelaide, one of Australia’s many superfans who will be watching when it reaches a climax in Liverpool this weekend. Another, Kate Hansen (pictured), has been to the event twice and holds her own ticketed Eurovision-themed events in Perth. Tom Gill finds out why it means so much, and you can also try our Eurovision quiz to see how much of a fan you are.
The world of sport
Cricket | The English Cricket Board has warned of the potentially cataclysmic impact of the rising power of overseas franchises such as the IPL while the appeal of Test cricket declines.
Football | Inter took on Milan in the city derby in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.
Cycling | Remco Evenepoel’s hopes of winning the Giro d’Italia took an unexpected hit when he crashed after swerving to avoid a stray dog during the fifth stage.
Media roundup
Doctors tell the Age that the extra money for medicare in the budget won’t be enough to make out-of-pocket costs cheaper in cities, while the Sydney Morning Herald reports that an AI program developed by researchers in Sydney and Boston could help predict Parkinson’s disease up to 15 years before symptoms appear. The Canberra Times leads with what is calls a “blistering attack” by Catholic bishops on the way the ACT government decided to take over Calvary public hospital. Queensland has passed a law giving Indigenous people a formal body to negotiate changing geographical names and financial payments to settle historic injustices, the Courier Mail says.
What’s happening today
Economy | The trade minister, Don Farrell, travels to Beijing for talks aimed at ending trade disputes with China.
Sydney | A directions hearing in a civil case against Marist College over a deceased paedophile priest’s historic child abuse.
Melbourne | Adirections hearing for Jetstar pilot and avid camper Greg Lynn, who denies murdering missing campers Russell Hill and Carol Clay.
Sign up
Enjoying the Morning Mail? Then you’ll love our Afternoon Update newsletter. Sign up here to finish your day with a three-minute snapshot of the day’s main news, and complete your daily news roundup.
Brain teaser
And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day – with plenty more on the Guardian’s Puzzles app for iOS and Android. Until tomorrow.
If you have a story tip or technical issue viewing this newsletter, please reply to this email.
If you are a Guardian supporter and need assistance with regards to contributions and/or digital subscriptions, please email customer.help@guardian.co.uk
Make sense of the headlines
Every weekday, join Guardian journalists for a deeper understanding of the news in Australia and beyond.
You are receiving this email because you are a subscriber to Morning Mail. Guardian News & Media Limited - a member of Guardian Media Group PLC. Registered Office: Kings Place, 90 York Way, London, N1 9GU. Registered in England No. 908396
