In Australia, people applying for some visas must travel overseas to get them approved. Despite the health risks – and the possibility this travel could spark another outbreak in Australia – some visa applicants have still been forced to make these trips during the pandemic. Reporter Christopher Knaus explains how this policy has affected the lives of one Brisbane couple, and the moves to change this system.

Why Australia’s visa system is forcing people to fly overseas in a pandemic

You’ve seen the headlines, now hear the Full Story. Every weekday, join Guardian journalists for a deeper understanding of the news in Australia and beyond. You can support The Guardian at theguardian.com/fullstorysupport

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Bruce Lehrmann has lost his defamation case against Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson, bringing to an end a sprawling legal saga which has gripped the nation. In a live oral summary that took two and a half hours, Justice Michael Lee said the former Liberal staffer was not defamed by Wilkinson and Ten when The Project broadcast an interview with Brittany Higgins on Monday 15 February 2021 in which she alleged she was raped in Parliament House. He found that on the balance of probabilities Lehrmann raped Higgins. Guardian Australia’s media correspondent Amanda Meade tells Nour Haydar how Justice Lee reached his verdict.

The Bruce Lehrmann defamation trial verdict

Seven people have died in a stabbing attack at Sydney shopping centre Bondi Junction Westfield, including the perpetrator, Joel Cauchi. Police said he suffered from mental health problems. NSW state correspondent Tamsin Rose tells Nour Haydar what happened on Saturday afternoon, and production editor Nikki Marshall describes what it was like inside the shopping centre at the time of the attack You can support the Guardian at theguardian.com/fullstorysupport

How the Bondi Junction stabbing attack unfolded

This week, the foreign minister, Penny Wong, spoke about finding a pathway to peace in the Middle East, calling for a two-state solution and the recognition of Palestine as a state. In response, Australia’s opposition leader, Peter Dutton, attacked Wong, calling her reckless and accusing her of alienating Australia’s international allies. Gabrielle Jackson speaks with editor Lenore Taylor and head of newsroom Mike Ticher about the response to Wong’s calls to recognise Palestinian statehood

Newsroom edition: Labor’s changing rhetoric on Palestine

A Guardian investigation has revealed that a debit scheme – originally designed to help people on welfare to pay bills and expenses – is exposing people to financial harm. Now advocates say urgent action is needed to protect the most vulnerable. In this episode, Indigenous affairs editor Lorena Allam and chief investigations correspondent Christopher Knaus tell Matilda Boseley how the scheme crashed wildly off course and why repeated calls for reform have gone unanswered You can support the Guardian at theguardian.com/fullstorysupport

How Centrepay plunged vulnerable Australians into debt

The popular social media site has never made a profit and relies on an army of unpaid moderators to keep order. So what difference will a stock market listing make? Alex Hern reports You can support the Guardian at theguardian.com/fullstorysupport

Why Australia’s visa system is forcing people to fly overseas in a pandemic

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