Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOSTwo young boys have been found dead at a home in a small regional town
with police arresting a woman believed to be their grandmother
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueOfficers visited the property at Coonabarabran
following reports of a concern for their welfare
was taken to hospital for further assessment where she remains under police guard
The deaths are being investigated under Strike Force Darnum
assisted by detectives from State Crime Command's Homicide Squad
Premier Chris Minns described the discovery of the boys' bodies as heartbreaking
"What has occurred is terrible and as a state we share in the community of Coonabarabran's grief at the loss of two young boys who had their entire futures ahead of them," he said."I can not begin to imagine the heartbreak their loved ones are currently feeling
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Picture by Zac Lowe.Some part of Scott Kendell always knew where he would land this year
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueHe might just be 17 years old
but the Tamworth product is already his own man
Having spent 2024 with the Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters
he wanted a change during his last year in the Group 4 under 18s competition
So he signed with the North Tamworth Bears
chief among them his family connections to the club
have donned North Tamworth jerseys in the past
And while Kendell knew deep down that a move to the Bears was on the cards
he could never have predicted what came next
It was not long after his arrival that coach Jermain Walford decided to make him a part of the team's leadership group - although he didn't get the news from Walford directly
"I don't even think he told me, I think Seth Pearson [Bears co-captain] told me actually," Kendell said
"But I was super-excited to be a part of it
If there were questions as to why a newcomer to the side would be entrusted with a significant role
he played a crucial role in defence and gained important metres every time he had his hands on the ball during North Tamworth's 28-0 win over the Aberdeen Tigers
but when I got out there all the nerves went and I just did the job," Kendell said
View +10 PhotosPictures by Zac Lowe."I was happy with how I played
Given that the Tigers had claimed a narrow trial victory over the Werris Creek Magpies
North Tamworth knew that they were no walkovers
That is why Pearson was so pleased with their performance
particularly coming off the back of a disappointing first-round showing against the Dungowan Cowboys
"We just didn't do what was working for us and panicked [against Dungowan]," he said
we did a lot of ball work and structure to redeem ourselves
we were a bit flat and waiting to get into it
The maturity Kendell shows on the field is also a trait he has exhibited in his personal life
having decided last year that school was not for him and instead begun a carpentry apprenticeship at Greentree House Builder
He is so far "loving" the change in direction and this year with the Bears
will be a fitting last hurrah as he eyes the world beyond Tamworth in 2026
"I would love to move up to the Gold Coast with my brother," Kendell said
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueMs Ball moved back to Tamworth in November 2024 with her 12-month-old daughter
and has now unsuccessfully applied for more than 30 rentals in the city
Tennaria Ball has been seeking a low-cost rental in Tamworth since November 2024. Picture by Gareth GardnerInitially renting a room from a friend, Ms Ball was advised to seek assistance from Homes North in the organisation's temporary accommodation (TA) motel units for homeless people to get onto a "priority list" for housing
She has now been living in the TA motel since late January
and finding it impossible to find a rental
"I'm now playing the waiting game," she said
Currently receiving a single parent payment and Family Tax Benefit
Homes North has assessed Ms Ball is capable of affording up to $450 a week in rent
she would ideally like to find a three-bedroom home with a safe outside space
"I've applied for rentals under $450/week and I'm still being rejected for them," she said
"Being a single parent seems to be why I'm being rejected
"I have applied for units and been rejected ..
and most of the time it's because they don't want kids in a unit where there are people next door because of noise."
Anglicare's annual Rental Affordability Snapshot paints a dire picture of the housing crisis in the New England and North West
showing even full-time work isn't enough to guarantee people will be able to find an affordable rental property
The national Snapshot evaluates the available rentals on a given weekend and assesses whether they are affordable and appropriate for a range of people
This year's research was conducted nationally in March
only one rental in the region was affordable for a person on the Job Seeker payment
while a single out-of-work parent can afford just 1pc of properties
with out-of-work couples able to afford just 4pc
A person on Youth Allowance looking for a share-house can afford no rentals
Single retirees living on the Age Pension can only afford 1pc of rentals
with a couple able to afford just 6pc of rentals
A single person working full-time on the minimum wage will find that only 3pc of rentals are affordable
Homes North senior housing manager Nicholas Grimes says a lack of social housing in Tamworth was fuelling the local situation
"The rental market is so tight - we have very few vacant properties and as soon as one becomes available
there are likely three or four properties they can apply for in their affordability range at the moment ..
'The rental market is so tight' in Tamworth says Homes North senior housing manager Nicholas Grimes
from fileMr Grimes said Homes North clients were really struggling because for the three
four or five low-cost properties they could afford
there were 50 to 70 people applying for them
"It's extremely competitive and we just don't have government funding at the moment that would allow us to build more properties," he said
Homes North was seeing a lot of the same people it had been seeing for years
"We're seeing people who have never needed social housing or our help before
and know nothing about the process," he said
"They may still be working but have been priced out of the market
"A lot of people are only one or two pay cheques away from being homeless and needing help from us."
Mr Grimes said Homes NSW had designated Tamworth as a high-demand area
"This demand is growing so fast I don't think there are enough properties being built
to keep up with the demand from people coming here," he said
between 60 and 70pc of people in Homes North temporary accommodation were able to eventually move into social housing or private rentals
"Unless something is done about the existing rental issues
we won't be holding at that figure for very long," he said
"The number of people in TA has tripled since 2023 - there were some weeks where we got down to single digits of clients in motel rooms
but we've not now been below 90 households in at least the past 12 months."
Single mother Tennaria Ball has unsuccessfully applied for more than 30 rentals in Tamworth
Picture by Gareth GardnerWhen asked what would make things easier for her
"More social housing would help not only me but others in the same situation"
"It would be easier if the government invested more in social housing because real estates and landlords seem very set ideas about who they want as tenants in their rentals," Ms Ball said
Anglicare has called on the Federal Government to increase the number of social and affordable homes by doubling the Housing Australia Future Fund
It also wants to see JobSeeker increased to 90pc of the Age Pension
and an increase to the maximum rate of Commonwealth Rent Assistance by 50pc for couples and 40pc for singles
Anglicare also wants the NSW Government to commit to building 25,000 new social and affordable homes over the next five years
expand access to Crown Land for social and affordable housing
and fund wrap-around supports for vulnerable renters and older Australians
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinuePolice say there is no ongoing threat to the community and they are not looking for anybody else
after the bodies of two children were found at a Coonabarabran property on Monday afternoon
were discovered deceased inside a home on Emu Lane by police who were responding to a concern for welfare
Officers attached to the Orana Mid-Western Police District established a crime scene following the tragic discovery
A 66-year-old woman was arrested at the scene and taken to hospital for further assessment
Police have confirmed the woman and children are known to each other
Strike Force Darnum has been established to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident
and local officers are being assisted by detectives from the State Crime Command's Homicide Squad
Two children have been found dead after NSW Police made a grisly discovery in the region's north on Monday
officers attached to Dubbo police attended a home in Coonabarabran - around 90 minutes north of Dubbo - following reports of a concern for welfare
police located two children - aged 8 and 10 - dead
A statement released by NSW Police said the woman
was in custody at Coonabarabran Police Station and is assisting police with their inquiries
The statement NSW Police issued said there "is no further information available at this time"
Police have indicated inquiries into the death of the two children are ongoing
Editor, Daily Liberal, Western Advocate, Central Western Daily
before police claim he ran at her vehicle while armed with a machete
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueJaiden Schutz appeared via video link from Tamworth prison in Tamworth Local Court this week and continually played with and stroked his hair throughout his bid for bail
Jaiden Schutz appeared via video link from Tamworth prison in Tamworth Local Court this week and continually played with and stroked his hair throughout his bid for bail.The court heard the "serious" allegations against Schutz in court after the 27-year-old had spent almost a week in custody before lodging a bid for release
Police prosecutor Sergeant Sarah Miller opposed bail and said Schutz
was a risk of committing further serious offences
She said the allegations show "a weapon brandished towards the complainant"
and "the statement 'I would put a blade through your head'" was concerning
"Then he ran towards her vehicle with a machete," she submitted to the court
The court heard Schutz was put on an intensive corrections order (ICO) - or jail term in the community - in late-March
and was on a Community Corrections Order (CCO) for domestic violence offences
Aboriginal Legal Service (ALS) solicitor Courtney Edstein said her client could live in Inverell under a curfew with family and not leave
She said he would have no contact with the complainants; not to enter Tamworth; not to possess or use any weapons; among a list of conditions
She conceded his record was against him but the strong conditions could mitigate the risks
The court heard he was arrested on the night of April 23
He's accused of intimidating a woman on April 8
as well as April 22; being armed with a machete on the afternoon of April 22 with intent to commit an assault; and knowingly contravening an AVO having twice breached the same order within 28 days
He's also accused of possessing cannabis and a weapon; and resisting officers
as well as using a prohibited weapon contrary to a prohibition order on the night of April 23
"The conditions see Mr Schutz a significant distance ..
from where the alleged offending occurred," Miss Edstein said
Magistrate Julie Soars said the alleged threat to the woman had been recorded
"The complainant is said to have a recording of the threat: 'I'll put a blade through your head'," she said
She said Schutz was on conditional liberty
and the AVO stipulated no contact which "has [allegedly] been breached with a serious threat"
"Unfortunately for Mr Schutz his record is against him," she said
"He's got previous firearm matters on his record
"I can't see the bail conditions reduce the risk ..
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOSA state Liberal leader has brushed off his party's federal election thumping and dismissed concerns its brand has become "toxic"
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueVictoria's opposition leader Brad Battin and his state party were riding high in the polls before being delivered a brutal reality check on Saturday
Voters took a hatchet to the party in Melbourne
with his federal colleagues in Deakin and Menzies to the city's east projected to lose their seats
The Liberals also failed to reclaim Aston after losing the federal seat to Labor in a 2023 by-election
and a quest to claim others in Melbourne's outer suburbs looks set to fall short
Liberal leader Brad Battin says he's confident of an election platform Victorians can have faith in
(Diego Fedele/AAP PHOTOS)Peter Dutton pitched a national policy to build nuclear reactors at ageing coal-fired power stations
including to the state's east in Gippsland
Mr Battin sought to distance himself from the plan during the campaign and claims he was not stunned by voters' repudiation of the Liberals
"I don't believe the Liberal brand is toxic at all," he told reporters at Morwell in Victoria's east
"By the time we get to the next (state) election ..
I am confident that we can go with a policy platform that people can have faith in."
Victorian voters head to the state polls in November 2026
seen as a drag on the federal party's support
was only invited to appear once with Anthony Albanese on the campaign trail
But she crowed about the result being vindication of Labor's management of the state
where it has spent all but four years in power since 1999
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made only one campaign appearance with Premier Jacinta Allan
(Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)Another issue to cross federal and state lines over the course of the campaign was Melbourne's controversial Suburban Rail Loop
a planned 90km orbital rail line from Cheltenham to Werribee via the airport
The mega rail project was in the gun when Mr Dutton threatened to pull Labor's $2.2 billion in committed federal funding if he won government
Ms Allan suggested the election result provided a renewed mandate to build the $34.5 billion project
particularly in seats where the line's eastern section is slated to pass through
"This project has the support of the Victorian community," she said at a tunnel boring machine launch site in Clarinda on Monday
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueUPDATED 05/05/2025 5:00pm:After announcing pricing for the entry-level Pro variant on February 28
Volkswagen Australia has now confirmed pricing for the all-wheel drive ID.4 GTX flagship
Volkswagen launched the ID.4 overseas in December 2020
with first Australian deliveries initially due in late 2023
then March 2025 and now finally "around mid-2025"
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2025 Volkswagen ID.4 price and specsIn that time
Australia's electric vehicle (EV) market has gone through a significant period of growth but has now slowed down
despite more affordable models being introduced to local buyers
The ID.4 will arrive priced from $59,990 before on-road costs
That sees it undercut the upcoming, updated Tesla Model Y Launch Series by about $3400
with Volkswagen's EV boasting a better driving range to the tune of about 80km
2025 Volkswagen ID.4 price and specsThe ID.4 Pro is also $1000 more affordable than the related Cupra Tavascan Endurance
which has identical outputs but a slightly shorter driving range and lower DC fast-charging rate
the Cupra is produced in China while the ID.4 comes from Germany
priced exactly $10,000 higher than the base Pro but bringing more power and AWD
There's just one variant available at launch
2025 Volkswagen ID.4 price and specsDimensions2025 Volkswagen ID.4 price and specsWarranty and ServicingThe Volkswagen ID.4 is backed by a five-year
Service intervals and pricing are yet to be announced
The Volkswagen ID.4 has not yet been issued an Australian safety rating by ANCAP
however it achieved a five-star result in New Zealand and Europe after testing conducted in 2021 by Euro NCAP
2025 Volkswagen ID.4 price and specsStandard safety equipment includes:
The local Volkswagen ID.4 lineup will consist of two variants
2025 Volkswagen ID.4 price and specsThe ID.4 Pro features:
An Exterior Style package is available on the Pro for an extra $900
Volkswagen hasn't yet detailed the exterior paint colour choices for the ID.4 Pro
it's confirmed metallic paint will be a $1000 option while premium metallic finishes will cost $1300 on the GTX
MORE: Everything Volkswagen ID.4
Content originally sourced from: CarExpert.com.au
Photo: Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOSLabor may have expanded its ranks in parliament
but the prime minister says he won't race to lock in a new cabinet
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueFollowing Saturday's landslide victory
attention has turned to the makeup of Anthony Albanese's frontbench for his second term and how his "ambitious" agenda will be implemented
But the prime minister said he would wait to reshuffle his ministry with some seats still too close to call
"We're going to try and slow the pace down a little bit over coming days
I'll consult with colleagues about forming a front bench down the track," he told reporters on Monday
"Obviously there are a number of results that are unclear in electorates
but it's very clear that we will have a substantial majority in the House of Representatives."
Anthony Albanese isn't willing to speculate on his new ministry until more results are known
(Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)Labor has claimed 85 seats in the new parliament
an increase from the 78 it held in the last term
Members of Labor's left and right factions will meet later this week to determine which of its representatives will be put forward for cabinet positions
The members will be signed off by the entire Labor caucus afterwards
before the prime minister selects portfolios
We have so many people you could put forward," the prime minister said
"We have an incredibly talented team on the frontbench but also in the caucus."
The jostling for positions within the new cabinet has already begun
with the prime minister set to choose replacements for positions such as NDIS minister and assistant treasurer
But Mr Albanese declined to comment on speculation Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek could be shifted to the NDIS portfolio
While a date for when parliament will sit has not been locked in
the first piece of legislation will be laws to cut 20 per cent off HECS debt for university students
Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOSLABOR POLICIES TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN SECOND ALBANESE TERM
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinue* HECS debts will be cut by 20 per cent for those with student loans
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese flagged this as the first piece of legislation that will be introduced when parliament resumes
* Bulk-billing will be expanded to 90 per cent by 2030 with an extra $8.5 billion to be spent on a boost to Medicare
* A further 50 Medicare urgent care clinics will be build across the country
* Tax cuts of up to $268 will be rolled out from July 2026
with a further cut of $536 in July 2027 and every financial year after that
Australians can expect tax cuts under the second-term Labor government
(Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)* Taxpayers will receive an instant $1000 deduction when they complete their tax return
* A scheme allowing a five per cent deposit to first-home buyers will be expanded to all people looking to buy their first property
* Labor has promised to build 100,000 homes solely for the purchase of first-home buyers
* Non-compete clauses will be banned for workers changing jobs if they earn less than $175,000 a year
* Households will get a 30 per cent discount to install electric batteries from July 2025
* The Albanese government has promised to set up a national environment protection agency
after plans were stalled in his first parliament
* Work will be done to bring the port of Darwin back to Australian ownership
* A critical minerals strategic reserve will be set up to stockpile mining materials to trade on global markets
Photo: Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOSYears after his wife died while kayaking
a man has been accused of murder and trying to claim more than $1 million in life insurance
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueGraeme Davidson
has been charged over the death of his wife Jacqueline
drowned while kayaking with her husband at Lake Samsonvale
She could not be revived when they returned to shore and died at the scene despite onlookers and emergency services performing CPR
Her death was considered an accidental drowning
But police investigations for a report to the coroner uncovered further evidence and a homicide probe was launched "18 months to two years" after her death
"Police are alleging the male person was involved in the drowning in the lake," Detective Acting Inspector Steve Windsor told reporters on Monday
Graeme Davidson was charged with murder and fraud after a 'complex and lengthy' investigation
(HANDOUT/QUEENSLAND POLICE SERVICE)Under Operation Victor Harlow
detectives gathered witness and expert statements including information about the lake's conditions at the time of Ms Davidson's death
The "complex and lengthy" probe led to Davidson being charged with murder
fraud and attempted fraud following his arrest in Brisbane on Sunday
"The cause of death was drowning but it was a case of talking to witnesses and gaining further evidence that the matter appeared suspicious," Insp Windsor said
"Incidents are not always what they initially seem
so I thank the detectives for their diligent work in this lengthy and arduous investigation."
Insp Windsor said the married couple were living together but police would allege there was "some form of breakdown in the relationship" at the time of Ms Davidson's death
He said police would allege Davidson made a life insurance claim and attempted to make another after his wife's death
confirming they related to the fraud charges
"The combined life insurance was in excess of $1 million," Insp Windsor said
Police evidence included the lake's conditions at the time of the woman's death
(Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS)He said Davidson had been living in Thailand for a "number of years"
But Insp Windsor said police chose "not to go down that path" and instead charged Davidson when he visited Brisbane for family reasons
Davidson was refused police bail and his matter went before Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday
He did not appear in court and was remanded in custody after his matter was adjourned until May 19
Photo: Jason O'BRIEN/AAP PHOTOSSEAT COUNT IN 2025 FEDERAL ELECTION
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueSEAT NUMBERS
* Labor - 85 seats (+7 from 2022 election)
* Independents/Minor parties - 10 seats (-1)
with 77.8 per cent of the national tally counted
* Melbourne (Vic) - Greens leader Adam Bandt is in danger of losing his seat to Labor challenger Sarah Witty
A high number of postal votes are flowing to Labor over the Greens
* Kooyong (Vic) - Independent MP Monique Ryan faces a challenge from Liberal Amelia Hamer
with the teal leading 50.7 per cent to 49.3 per cent
* Bradfield (NSW) - Just 501 votes separate independent challenger Nicolette Boele and the Liberals' Gisele Kapterian in the former safe seat for the coalition
* Bullwinkel (WA) - Barely anything splits Labor and the Liberals in the newest WA seat
with Labor's Trish Cook leading by just 85 votes over Liberal Matt Moran
* Goldstein (Vic) - A razor-thin margin of 95 votes separates leading independent MP Zoe Daniel and Liberal challenger Tim Wilson
with the result to come down to preferences
* Longman (Qld) - Coalition MP Terry Young is ahead of Labor's Rhiannyn Douglas by a mere 102 votes in a seat previously held by the LNP with a margin of 3.1 per cent
* Wills (Vic) - Labor MP Peter Khalil faces a challenge from Greens candidate Samantha Ratnam
with the incumbent ahead 51.6 per cent to 48.4 per cent
* Ryan (Qld) - A three-way contest has emerged in the Brisbane-based seat between Greens MP Elizabeth Watson-Brown
the coalition's Maggie Forrest and Labor's Rebecca Hack
but the result will come down to preference flows from the party that finishes third
* Fremantle (WA) - A close battle in one of Labor's safest seats
with Labor MP Josh Wilson under threat from independent challenger Kate Hulett
* Bean (ACT) - The Labor stronghold held by MP David Smith is being challenged by independent Jessie Price who is leading 50.1 per cent to 49.9 per cent for Smith
who previously held the seat by more than 12 per cent
Photo: Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOSPrime Minister Anthony Albanese has taken his election landslide as a mandate to press ahead with key reforms as he stares down the Greens on housing
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueDespite winning a substantial majority
Mr Albanese insists the government would turn to priority reform and not get ahead of itself
Legislation to slash student debt by 20 per cent will be the introduced when parliament resumes
"I didn't get ahead of myself in the last three years
we had a lot to turn around," he said in Canberra on Monday
Housing will remain a major priority with the prime minister ready to take on the Greens
who still hold the balance of power in the Senate despite losing two seats to Labor in Brisbane
Greens leader Adam Bandt has pledged to use the balance of power to force progressive reform but the prime minister took a stern tone after the Liberals and Greens lost their housing spokespeople
"We have a clear mandate to build more housing
criticising the Greens and coalition for stalling Labor's housing policies
then they'll receive the same response that the housing spokespeople for the Liberal Party and the Greens got on Saturday."
Mr Albanese also outlined his priorities abroad
He will travel to Canada for a G7 summit in June
with Indonesia to be his first international bilateral trip
Mr Albanese's ministry is expected to showcase many new faces in the party room
(Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)The prime minister has spoken with a number of global counterparts including US President Donald Trump since his re-election and more conversations have been lined up as his leadership team meets on Monday to decide on a new cabinet
the delicate factional balance in the ministry could stir a wider reshuffle under an ascendant left wing
Caucus will also meet after the final ballots have been counted and seats determined
Labor picked up in excess of a dozen seats
with more on the table as ballot counting continues
The government needed at least 76 out of 150 lower house seats to win and could end up with 85 or more
The government faces a weakened opposition with the battered Liberals losing at least 13 seats and as many as 19
Peter Dutton is the highest-profile casualty among the Liberals who could lose as many as 19 seats
(Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)Peter Dutton was the highest-profile casualty
becoming the first opposition leader to lose his seat as three Liberal frontbenchers were booted from parliament by Labor candidates
the leadership frontrunners include shadow treasurer Angus Taylor
defence spokesman Andrew Hastie and immigration spokesman Dan Tehan
Some Liberal senators concede the coalition had failed to offer voters a substantial policy platform
"You've got to have the ambition to lead on the economy and ..
I don't think that's been evident over the last few years," Liberal senator Andrew Bragg told ABC radio on Monday
Angus Taylor is among leadership contenders but is under fire for the Liberal election campaign
(Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)The coalition needed to avoid culture wars that target minorities and become more inclusive to win back the middle ground
while branding a decision to preference One Nation as "misguided"
was scathing of Mr Taylor's role in the defeat saying "the economic narrative was just completely non-existent"
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said it would be "extraordinary if Angus Taylor was rewarded with a promotion after the diabolical contribution that he made to this history-making coalition defeat"
which stretches into every state and territory
Today's is written by Stock Journal senior journalist Paula Thompson
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueLife on the land is tough
Drought makes it nigh unbearableSouth Australia is grappling with a once-in-a-century drought and its effects are far-reaching - both financially and psychologically
I've been privileged to be able to sit down with farmers who have opened up about what it has done to their businesses and mental health
including one you went to school with and who you've known all your life
through no fault of their own but simply due to the massive financial pressure you're under
A farmer told me that conversation was the hardest day he'd had in 20 years of farming
Imagine setting up a business you think is almost bulletproof
through investing in cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art facilities
only to produce a small fraction of what you would in a typical season
Imagine seeing $2 billion worth of investment being poured into the state's steelworks to keep it going
while you wait months to see if you can access a few thousand from government support programs
It's not only the drought causing serious heartbreak
it is coupled with the massive rise in the cost of living and electricity prices that are through the roof
Even if a break does happen in South Australia
which some forecasts are predicting won't happen until June
One farmer I spoke to said it would take at least eight years to recover from this past season
I've had farmers seriously questioning why they do what they do when it can result in such heartbreak
I could see why they did what they do - they had an amazing operation
farmed in a beautiful part of the world and ran a mob of obviously very contented livestock
but I hope by listening to what they had to say
But the only factor that will really help is the heavens opening and the much-yearned-for break to the season finally happening
Paula Thompson is Stock Journal's senior journalist. She has been an agricultural journalist for more than 20 years. She covers a wide range of areas for the Stock Journal, including livestock markets and the grains industry.
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe 54-year-old was stopped by Oxley police just after 9.20pm on Friday night
which targeted drink and drug driving and general road compliance around Tamworth and Gunnedah
Three people were charged with drink-driving offences as part of Operation Fume
Picture from fileThe man was charged with drive with high range PCA and given a future court attendance notice to appear at Quirindi Local Court on Wednesday
A total of three people were charged with drink-driving offences as part of the two-day operation on Friday and Saturday
Officers conducted 227 random breath tests and 30 random drug tests
The high-visibility operation involved officers attached to the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command
who were supported by general duties officers from the local commands
The operation involved mobile and stationary random breath testing
as well as random drug testing and proactive patrols of known 'hot spots'
three people were charged with drink-driving offences
while six drivers returned positive drug tests
and 15 other traffic infringements were issued
The licences of all drivers returning a positive roadside drug test were suspended for 24 hours
with further action dependent on the outcomes of secondary results
a 20-year-old man has been banned from getting behind the wheel for six months after he was caught driving at 54km over the speed limit on Thunderbolts Way
Officers attached to New England Highway Patrol were patrolling the popular tourist route at about 4.45pm on Sunday
when a grey Mercedes was allegedly detected travelling 154km/h in a signposted 100km/h area
The driver was stopped and subjected to a roadside breath and drug test
and allegedly returned a positive detection for methamphetamine
and a secondary oral fluid test was conducted for further analysis
and police will await the results of secondary testing before deciding on any further action
The man was issued with an infringement notice for P2 driver exceed speed 45km
Photo: HANDOUT/WESTERN AUSTRALIA POLICE FORCEA man accused of running over and killing a policeman in a bid to avoid arrest has told a jury the officer shot him with a stun gun and it caused him to lose control of a stolen car
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueReagan Ainslie Chown
pleaded not guilty to manslaughter in the West Australian Supreme Court on Monday over the June 8
2023 incident that led to Constable Anthony Woods' death
Prosecutor Justin Whalley told the jury Chown and two others fled from police in a stolen Holden Cruz before stopping in a cul-de-sac
opened the Holden driver's door and attempted to detain Chown
Chown allegedly attempted to drive off and Const Woods fired his Taser before "falling and being dragged under the accused's vehicle to his ultimate death"
Constable Anthony Woods fired his Taser after attempting to detain the stolen vehicle's driver
(Andrew Ritchie/AAP PHOTOS)Mr Whalley said the Taser's two barbs struck Chown in his right elbow and left upper thigh
CCTV footage showed the Holden reversing at speed
mounting a kerb and stopping after it hit a bollard
Const Woods can be heard twice saying "stay where you are" and "Taser" as the vehicle moved backwards
with Mr Whalley explaining to the jury it was the sound of Const Woods' Taser firing
"Const Woods became trapped under the accused's car," Mr Whalley said
"He was taken to hospital but his injuries were not survivable."
The jury heard his death several days later was due to complications of cardiac arrest caused by mechanical compression of the chest and abdomen
Chown's barrister Paul Bevilacqua said the Taser had deprived his client of the capacity to control his body and he was not responsible for Const Woods' death
He said the CCTV showed after the stun gun was fired
the car was out of control as it moved backwards
Mr Whalley said Chown was attempting to flee the scene before Const Woods Tasered him and expert evidence would show the electrical pulse into his body had nothing to do with the car continuing to reverse
said the officer "got caught up somehow and dragged under the front wheels"
showed him move to the front of the Holden and bend down with a torch to check on Const Woods
mate?" he can he heard saying in the video
Sgt Fisher said Const Woods was unresponsive and he and other officers used a trolley jack to lift the Holden off their colleague
A video shows Constable Anthony Woods being dragged under a moving vehicle
(Richard Wainwright/AAP PHOTOS)The footage showed Sgt Fisher handcuffing Chown and the two other people in the Holden when Const Woods was struck
Chown can repeatedly be heard asking "is he OK?" in reference to Const Woods
as Sgt Fisher finds a knife in his possession
told the jury Chown "stiffened up" when the Taser barbs hit him
He said Chown had one hand on the steering wheel and the other on the gear stick at the time and the car started moving backwards
Mr Whalley told the jury Chown was under the influence of methamphetamine and in possession of the drug when the incident happened
He detailed Chown's interview with investigators before Const Woods died
when he allegedly said: "if I didn't get shot with the Taser none of this would have happened"
Photo: Callum Godde/AAP PHOTOSAdam Bandt may be staring down the barrel of defeat but the Greens leader isn't entertaining the thought of losing his seat or party control
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe Greens are ahead in the Queensland seat of Ryan but have lost nearby Brisbane and Griffith after their primary vote fell by about 0.4 per cent across the country
Mr Bandt's seat of Melbourne remains in doubt
trailing Labor's Sarah Witty by almost 2900 estimated votes after initial preference counts
Elizabeth Watson-Brown (left) has an early lead in the hotly contested seat of Ryan
(Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS)The minor party leader said numbers would move around in coming days but his scrutineers were "confident" of retaining the seat despite postal vote preference flows traditionally favouring Labor
"What they haven't done in Melbourne is conduct a full two-preference count of all the ordinary votes and told that that's something that might not even happen until later in the week," he told reporters on Monday morning
Labor is on track to squash the Greens' charge to flip the seat of Wills in Melbourne's north
with incumbent Peter Khalil leading challenger Samantha Ratnam by just over 2800 votes
argued the Greens bled votes from people swinging to Labor to prevent Peter Dutton becoming prime minister or cast their ballot strategically for independents in winnable contests
"When there is a big shift from Liberal to Labor
it has flow-through consequences," he said
"We expect we'll have between one and four seats in parliament once the final votes are counted
we are feeling very good in Ryan and Wills but there are a lot more votes to count before we have a final determination about those."
He pushed back when questioned if the Greens centred too much of their campaign on Australia's response to the Israel-Gaza war instead of core issues such as climate change
"We were the only ones talking about real action on climate change and calling on the government to stop opening new coal and gas mines," he said
we wanted to see an end to the invasion and an end to the occupation and ..
an end to the bombs being dropped on children."
Despite shedding at least two lower-house seats with possibly no pick-ups
Mr Bandt spruiked the Greens potentially holding the balance of power in the Senate and said he intends to continue as party leader
"Under my leadership over two elections now
we've delivered a record high House vote at the last election and a record high Senate vote for this election," he said
"But obviously that's up to my colleagues."
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe HiLux chalked up 4121 sales in April to head off the Ranger – the second-best selling vehicle – by a mere 90 units as it claimed bragging rights for the month
It wasn't the closest fight between the two brands in April, with the Ford Everest – the Ranger's SUV spinoff – outselling the Toyota Prado by a single unit
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VFACTS: Toyota HiLux takes back top spot from Ford RangerThe Ranger still holds a healthy 2137 sales lead over HiLux year-to-date with 17,257 deliveries against 15,120 ahead of the arrival of the Ranger PHEV (plug-in hybrid) next month
Ford also unveiled its Ranger Super Duty – with the promise of a 4500kg braked towing rating – at its 100th anniversary event last month
though the muscled-up Ranger isn't due in local showrooms until early 2026
A new-generation HiLux is set to go hybrid when a new generation hits showrooms
the HiLux is offered with V-Active 48V mild-hybrid technology introduced in 2024
which Toyota Australia has avoided calling 'hybrid' given its fuel economy advantage didn't match the gain typical of its hot-selling hybrid models
VFACTS: Toyota HiLux takes back top spot from Ford RangerThe two utes have been the pin-ups for Australia's dual-cab obsession
with HiLux becoming Australia's best seller in 2016 and staying at the top for the next eight years
The perennial bridesmaid Ranger first knocked off the HiLux for a full calendar year in 2023 and repeated the performance in 2024, almost quadrupling its advantage to 9004 sales last year as the HiLux slipped to third behind the Toyota RAV4
April's win by HiLux is its first month back at the top – and its first ahead of Ranger – since September 2023
It was a record month where the HiLux notched 5766 deliveries to the Ranger's 5429
but the Ranger had what proved to be an unassailable lead to top sales for the year by 2245 units
VFACTS: Toyota HiLux takes back top spot from Ford RangerThe Ranger went on to become the first Ford to top Australia's annual sales charts since the Ford Falcon in 1995
Behind the HiLux and Ranger in April 2025, the Isuzu D-Max was the third-best selling ute with 2107 sales
making it sixth overall and the only other ute in the top ten
The BYD Shark 6 was the fourth-most popular ute claiming 16th overall to outsell the Mazda BT-50, Mitsubishi Triton and Nissan Navara
The Toyota brand topped April 2025 sales ahead of Ford and Mazda
delivering more vehicles during the month than those two brands combined
MORE: Everything Ford RangerMORE: Everything Toyota HiLux
Photo: Con Chronis/AAP PHOTOSWestpac shares have sold off after posting weaker than expected first-half profit
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueAustralia's oldest bank was the worst performer of the big four
down more than three per cent per cent to $32.40 around 1pm AEST on Monday after it first half profit dipped to $3.3 billion
Chief executive Anthony Miller touted the group's balance sheet as it navigates an economically uncertain backdrop and volatile market conditions
"The foundations of the bank have strengthened materially over the last two decades," he said
A common tier T1 equity ratio of 12.6 per cent was more than six percentage points higher than pre-global financial crisis levels
while the bank's deposit-to-loan ratio was at a record high of 84.5 per cent
"These foundations will support us to navigate increasingly volatile and uncertain conditions stemming from trade and geopolitical tensions," Mr Miller said
Westpac CEO Anthony Miller (right) says he is looking forward to working with a Labor government
(Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)Recent instability due to US President Donald Trump's trade tariffs has also impacted global credit markets
particularly over those last couple of months
has increased the cost of credit in the International and wholesale markets," Mr Miller said
will mean that as and when we need to access the markets for incremental funding
Westpac also said there was welcome relief on the way
now that the Reserve Bank of Australia appeared to be turning into an interest rate easing cycle
"The resilience of customers who have navigated significant cost-of-living challenges over the past few years is impressive," Mr Miller said
"This resilience is reflected in the improvement in credit quality metrics
indicating we may have passed the low point in the cycle."
The bank's mortgage delinquencies and impairment charges remain low
Westpac was the worst performer of the big four banks
(Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)Mr Miller congratulated federal Labor on its landslide win after the weekend election
noting the clear result would be a boon for the nation
the consistencies and certainty that that re-election delivers is quite profound," he said
"It certainly sets us aside and sets us apart from many other countries around the world
and given the inconsistency of the volatility that we're seeing."
including those flagged in Westpac's most recent consumer survey
"Business confidence has also weakened; this could lead to softer consumer spending and business activity," Mr Miller said
Westpac announced an interim dividend of 76 cents per share
one cent higher than the previous corresponding period
Photo: AP PHOTOKatherine Heigl has accepted she won't be "the ingenue forever"
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe 46-year-old actress achieved many of her career ambitions during her 20s
when she starred in movies such as Knocked Up
The Ugly Truth and 27 Dresses - but Heigl accepts that she's now entered a new chapter in her life
"I wasn't thinking about [ageing] in my 20s
and I was getting to do all the roles I had always wanted to be able to do," The Hollywood star told Us Weekly
Katherine Heigl concedes she's at a different phase in her career
(AP PHOTO)"I started as a child actor but by the time I got into my mid to late teens
"So I was so excited and on cloud nine getting to do what I had been sort of hustling to do for so many years
And you don't think about the expiration date on it."
Heigl concedes she's now entered a different phase in her career
there's a young generation that's coming up and I had my time and it was glorious
"And not to say that I can't be the romantic lead in something at 46 - that women in their 40s don't have a romantic love life or that they aren't funny or that
And I feel like so many women in their 40s and 50s and 60s have compelling
interesting lives that we'd all be interested in seeing
and the ingenue is really a valuable role in Hollywood
but I am still a value and it might look different and it might feel different
the story's worth telling.' It's a different fight."
while admitting he didn't know his opponent
Photo: Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOSAnthony Albanese has held a "warm and positive conversation" with US President Donald Trump following his decisive election victory
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe two leaders discussed the election outcome as well as tariffs imposed by the US on allies including Australia
"I had a very warm and positive conversation with President Trump," Mr Albanese told reporters in Canberra
"I thanked him for his very warm message of congratulations
We talked about AUKUS and tariffs and we'll continue to engage
"We will engage with each other on a face-to-face basis at some time in the future ..
and I thank him for reaching out in such a positive way
"He was fully aware of the (election) outcome
and he expressed the desire to continue to work with me in the future."
"He's very good," President Donald Trump said of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
(Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)It was the third time the leaders have spoken
and the first since tariffs of 10 per cent were imposed on all Australian exports to the US
The two leaders will come face-to-face at the upcoming G7 meeting in Canada
after Mr Albanese was invited to the summit by newly elected Canadian prime minister Mark Carney
The phone call comes as Mr Trump praised Mr Albanese after Labor's landslide election win
with the US leader not addressing suggestions his presidency contributed to a drop in coalition support
Speaking to the media at the White House on Monday
Mr Trump said he had a good relationship with Australia's re-elected leader
I don't know anything about the election other than the man that won
"I have no idea who the other person is that ran against him
and you know (Albanese and I) have had a very good relationship."
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton sought to distance himself from Trump policies during the campaign
(Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)Mr Trump did not respond to questions on whether his policies had caused a rethink from voters in Australia on support for the coalition
Peter Dutton sought to distance himself from Mr Trump's agenda
But the coalition was criticised for attacking the public service and taking inspiration from Mr Trump's 'department of government efficiency'
Mr Trump's policies were a key factor in the recent election in Canada
which returned its centre-left government and punished the right-wing opposition
Mr Albanese and Mr Dutton had campaigned on who would be best placed to deal with the Trump White House
following the president's imposition of tariffs on US allies
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueLate Sunday afternoon
he was feeling lots of emotions as the dust started to settle on the 2025 federal election campaign
and I'm humbled by the level of support from across the electorate," he said
says he will represe not every person in the electorate
Picture by peter HardinMr Chaffey's introduction to federal politics involved a nine-month campaign
during which he travelled 36,000 kilometres and knocked on 24,000 doors
"There were certainly a lot of supportive people I met along the way
and lots of those people even turned up - not always members of The Nationals - to help on polling booths and show support," he said
and while the national results show a different story
Mr Chaffey said The Nationals look set to hold all their seats
"It was a big step [going from mayor to federal candidate] but I hit the ground running once the polls had been declared," he said
and I'm very proud to be part of the team."
Mr Chaffey had received more than 60 per cent of the two-party preferred vote against Labor's Nathan Fell
in a seat The Nationals have held for the past 41 years
"To have a two-party preferred vote of just under 63 per cent for a first-time candidate in a field of 10 candidates is
"That is a swing away from The Nationals but [former Member for Parkes] Mark Coulton - who retired after 17 years - had worked for that long to build up a two-party preferred vote to about 68pc
"To hold it around - I think it's floating between 63pc and 64pc [as of Sunday] - I'm absolutely amazed and humbled by the support I've been given right throughout the Parkes electorate by those who have put their trust in me
"I've now got three years to prove myself, to put their trust into The Nationals as The Nationals' representative in the seat of Parkes.
While Mr Chaffey is yet to be officially declared the Member for Parkes - that is now all but a formality - he is keen to get to work
"The Parkes electorate represents 51pc of NSW and it needs its representative," he said
"Then it's down to work - obviously federal government is not local government but I will be approaching it the same way
"I've been given the honour of being the Member for Parkes and my focus will be to represent every single person that lives in the electorate
View +3 PhotosPictures supplied"There is a lot of work to do and I'll go about it in the same tradesman-like fashion that I did as the mayor of Gunnedah and as I do with everything in life."
Mr Chaffey already has challenges in his sights: cost of living
"I think a lot of people got sick of hearing about the cost-of-living crisis during the campaign
"Knocking on all those doors [during the campaign]
and a lot of [the Coalition's] policies were really focused on relieving some of that cost pressure
"A lot of our community's population level is not increasing
the pressure on a lot of our provision of services in regional communities is increasing
"Retention and attraction of people has to be the test that everything is done by in the Parkes electorate - you can't continue to keep going backwards in population
"The common issues in each community holding us back from attracting people are aged care
Nationals candidate Jamie Chaffey with his wife Judy and team at Dubbo
Picture by Ciara BastowHaving travelled so many kilometres during the campaign
Mr Chaffey said the road network was simply not getting the funding it needs
"Councils need better support to be able to provide the level of service for roads - whether they are gravel or sealed - require in the Parkes electorate," he said
Telecommunications was another major issue
Mr Chaffey noting it was a "major burden" for many communities within the electorate
With the support of The Nationals and the Coalition
Mr Chaffey was able to make election commitments during the campaign
I will still be working extremely hard to make sure the minister of those particular areas
understand how important it is for our communities that great consideration is given to help fund some of those projects," he said
"Because it's all about people - if we don't get the infrastructure and services right
we won't even retain the people that are here."
Gunnedah has been Mr Chaffey's home for 30 years
his new role means "a lot of time away" on the road
"There are electorate offices in Broken Hill
that is the job and that is where the work will take me," he said
and there are a lot of commitments across this vast electorate outside of those times
Jamie Chaffey in Gunnedah on Monday after his election win
I'll look to spend as much time here as I can
Explore more: basqhouse.com.au
Tucked in a tiny laneway in the heart of Byron Bay's bustling village centre
which opened in June last year with a focus on health and wellness
Basq House is the brainchild of Melbourne duo Matt Walsh and Shane Wilkinson
The pair have been friends for decades and wanted to create a feeling of "staying at your best friend's place"
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueTHE SETTING One of the best things about Basq House is its location
It's within walking distance of Main Beach
Clarkes Beach and surfing hotspot The Pass
Walk a little further and you'll hit the famed Wategos Beach and Cape Byron walking track to the lighthouse
The hotel's chic interiors.You can't enter Basq House without a pass
making it feel very exclusive - like a retreat just for you and a privileged few
The design of the hotel is inspired by two distinct cultural influences - a Bohemian spirit combined with bold colours and wild brush strokes of Fauvism paintings
with a comfortable queen-sized bed with a striking headboard and private balcony
there are other rooms at the hotel that offer swimming pool views
Inside one of the guestrooms.Peppered around the room I find little treats - an old-fashioned copy of the classic
Room amenities include high-definition TVs with Chromecast
Mr Smith toiletries and a minibar loaded with local treats - from Soulsome's Cheesy Nuts & Seeds (they were delicious) to Stone & Wood beers
The Living Room has an extensive collection of books with low-slung leather sofas and a large open fireplace
daybeds and cabanas are where most guests hang out
The pool is perfect for relieving stress and soothing sore muscles
The hotel's chic interiors.The rooftop has excellent views and spaces for yoga and meditation
You'll have access to the hotel's push bikes
You can also access the hotel's two vehicles if you want to explore neighbouring towns such as Bangalow or Newrybar
Sweat it out in a sauna and "take the waters" in mineral baths
The walk along Main Beach to the Pass by sunset was simply breathtaking
Carla Mascarenhas is the NSW correspondent covering breaking news, state politics and investigations. She is based in Sydney. Contact her on carla.mascarenhas@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Photo: AP PHOTOTen people are dead after "sudden strong winds" capsized four boats carrying tourists in southwest China
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe last missing person was found about noon on Monday local time but showed no vital signs
The Xinhua News Agency said 74 people had been rescued in the accident which occurred on Sunday in Guizhou province
The vessels carrying tourists capsized on a river in Guizhou province on Sunday
(AP PHOTO)Authorities sent 70 people to hospital to be treated for "non-life-threatening conditions"
Nearly 500 rescue workers were mobilised to deal with the accident as Chinese President Xi Jinping instructed provincial authorities to "do everything possible"
Xi also said authorities should enhance safety measures to curb the growing number of accidents at tourist attractions and major public places
Photo: James Ross/AAP PHOTOSErin Patterson had shared with true crime fans her love of mushrooms
excitement over buying a food dehydrator and plans to cook beef Wellington
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe 50-year-old mother of two has pleaded not guilty to all counts against her
including three murder charges for killing her estranged husband's family after feeding them lunch at her Leongatha home
Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson all died in hospital from death cap mushroom poisoning after eating a beef Wellington Patterson had prepared for them on July 2023
Heather Wilkinson and Don and Gail Patterson died after eating lunch at Erin Patterson's home
(HANDOUT/INTRAWORK BUSINESS SERVICES)Patterson claims it was "a terrible accident"
Three members of a true crime Facebook group Patterson was part of gave evidence on day five of her Supreme Court trial in Morwell
The group was created to go over the case of convicted baby killer Keli Lane
she was a really good researcher," group member Christine Hunt said about Patterson's online reputation
said in 2023 Patterson had shared photos of a black dehydrator with mushrooms inside
"She was a bit excited that she'd purchased a food dehydrator," Ms Barkley said via video link
Screenshots of Patterson's messages to the group were also shown to the jury
"I've been hiding powdered mushrooms in everything
the kids had no idea," she wrote in one post
Simon Patterson finished his evidence to the jury after almost three days in the witness box
said Patterson "seemed to really like mushrooms"
In the weeks before the deadly mushroom meal
Patterson asked the group if anyone had cooked a beef Wellington and if they had advice
Erin said she was making beef Wellington," Ms Hay said
"I think she was at the supermarket and she messaged us something about the beef that she was buying."
She said Patterson had told them the mushrooms came from an Asian grocer
Ms Hay said Patterson asked her for tips on how to make sure the beef Wellington pastry did not go "soggy"
as it was one of Ms Hay's favourite dishes
said she joked: "I'd make a tofu Wellington"
so we had a good laugh about that," she said
Patterson's estranged husband Simon finished his evidence to the jury after almost three days in the witness box
Simon Patterson said his mother stopped reading messages from Erin after trying to solve a dispute
(Diego Fedele/AAP PHOTOS)Defence barrister Colin Mandy SC put it to Simon that he had asked Erin - two days after the lunch - "is that what you used to poison them?"
"I did not say that to Erin," Simon responded
The jury of 15 people were shown messages from a family group Signal chat between Simon
his former wife and his parents - in December 2022 - after he last week claimed she had sent "extremely aggressive" messages to his mother and father
which he said were from a few months later
having a crack at me and accusing me of some things in response to what I'd messaged her about," he said
After his parents tried to help Erin and Simon resolve a dispute over his child support payments
his mother Gail took a step back and stopped reading messages from Erin in the group chat
"Mum really struggled with anxiety," he said
The trial before Justice Christopher Beale will continue on Tuesday
Photo: Dan Peled/AAP PHOTOSThe federal government says it will stand up for the Australian film industry
in response to Donald Trump's 100 per cent tariffs on film productions made outside the US
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinue"The Movie Industry in America is DYING a very fast death
Other Countries are offering all sorts of incentives to draw our filmmakers and studios away from the United States," the US president posted on Truth Social on Sunday
Australia is such a popular location for foreign film productions
it is sometimes dubbed "Hollywood Down Under" with recent large-scale productions including The Fall Guy
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes and Thor: Ragnarok
State and federal rebates entice foreign film productions to Australia
(HANDOUT/ROADSHOW)The federal government's location offset scheme offers a 30 per cent rebate for big budget film projects shot in Australia
with additional post-production rebates and state governments offering further sweeteners
But the imposition of tariffs could mean these incentives are no longer attractive enough for productions aimed at the massive US market
Trump's move will send shockwaves through the industry globally
according to industry peak body Screen Producers Australia (SPA)
it is unclear what this announcement means in practice or how it will be applied and implemented"
there's no doubt it will send shockwaves worldwide."
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday said he has had a "warm and positive" conversation with Donald Trump
But he did not specifically mention to reporters the film industry tariffs Mr Trump announced
US President Trump says foreign productions damage his nation's film industry
(HANDOUT/Sony Pictures Publicity)Minister for the Arts Tony Burke said he was monitoring the situation closely
"Nobody should be under any doubt that we will be standing up unequivocally for the rights of the Australian screen industry," Mr Burke said in a statement
Foreign productions are big business for the local screen industry
according to the latest Screen Australia figures
Just under half of the $1.7 billion spent on screen production in Australia during 2023/24 was on international productions
with $767 million spent making foreign film and television
It's not yet clear how the tariffs might be imposed but they could also affect the export of Australian content to the US market
potentially making tickets more expensive for films such as George Miller's Mad Max series
In Mr Trump's announcement on social media
he described film incentives as a threat to the US by foreign nations
"This is a concerted effort by other Nations and
a National Security threat," Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Sunday
which he says are harmful to many neurodivergent children
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueCharlie
said the practice of "whole body listening" made school difficult for him
leading to anxiety and not wanting to go to school
leaves neurodivergent kids feeling distressed and emotionally exhausted
The practice also requires students to keep "quiet hands" and make eye contact
was once told he was being rude when he was looking away from the teacher
"I knew [whole body listening] was not good and not many people knew it was affecting them
and the teachers didn't know they were doing it," Charlie said
"For a while I was thinking of a way of how you could stop it
and then I thought the idea to send a letter to the principals
Charlie wrote a letter addressed to principals and decision makers
kickstarting his student-led Forced4Good campaign
"We're writing to let you know that many students have been struggling with whole body listening expectations in schools," the letter says
"These expectations are hurting our well-being and making it harder to learn
our brains and bodies don't all work the same way - and that's okay
"We need accessible listening practices that help us learn
not ones that leave us out or make us feel wrong."
Charlie said schools can make learning more accessible for neurodivergent students through inclusive learning
That includes fidgeting or using sensory stimulation tools
standing or moving around and taking breaks when needed
Charlie believes he can be a force for good
Picture by Enzo Tomasiello'Learn in the way that works for them'About 15 to 20 per cent of Australia's population is diagnosed as neurodivergent
38 per cent of students in Grades 1 to 10 were chronically absent
"Every student deserves to learn in the way that works for them," Charlie wrote in the letter
"When we're trusted and supported to manage our own bodies and attention
we can truly engage and get the education we deserve - because learning is a basic human right
"But being told how to listen makes us choose between blending in and actually learning
"That's a choice no student should ever have to make."
The campaign wasn't about blaming teachers
it's just more something that hasn't been covered," Charlie said
Charlie and his mum said the support they've received has been overwhelming
the campaign has been viewed more than 10,000 times
A petition on Change.org has more than 1200 signatures
The campaign is named in reference to Star Wars
He used "Star Wars Day" - May 4 - as a day to encourage neurodivergent students to write to their schools to call for change and share their experiences
Charlie said he wanted his campaign to reach politicians
including federal education minister Jason Clare
"It's not the kind of thing you change in two months," he said
it'll probably keep going until we can get that full goal
"We're hoping that we can get a few more schools on board
we'll probably try and start doing some stuff at the state level."
To read Charlie's letter visit brilliantlittlegems.com.au/charliesletter
Jonathon has been living and working in Bendigo since March 2021, currently working as a general reporter. Contact him on jonathon.magrath@austcommunitymedia.com.au.
Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOSA brazen serial groper who preyed upon 18 women in a nightclub has avoided jail time after a judge found his risk of reoffending was low
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueDavid Maria Anthony Rayan
was facing up to 10 years in prison but was instead sentenced to a two-year community corrections order on Monday
He dodged reporters' questions as he left the Victorian County Court
The former PwC IT worker pleaded guilty to 17 charges of sexual assault and one count of attempted sexual assault over the attacks at Revolver Upstairs in Melbourne's inner east
CCTV footage from the nightclub showed Rayan groping his victims on the buttocks
stroking their backs and kissing them on the arms and shoulders
The attacks happened on three separate occasions in September and October 2023
Rayan admitted to police he touched one of the women accidentally
but claimed he could not remember the other incidents because he was too drunk
Victorian County Court Judge Peter Rozen said he held reservations about those claims as he sentenced Rayan over the "brazen" attacks
The attacks occurred at Revolver Upstairs in Melbourne's inner east
(Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)"Your offending was deliberate and you knew what you were doing," he said
The women were entitled to feel safe in the nightclub and the scale of Rayan's crimes was concerning
He noted that three victim impact statements were read to the court
where the women described their ongoing anxiety and shattered sense of security
Judge Rozen also decided Rayan's moral culpability was considerable and said the 34-year-old lacked insight into his offending
But the judge accepted the sexual assaults were at the lower end of seriousness
given Rayan's victims were adults and the attacks were fleeting
The sentencing judge said David Rayan's offending was out of character
(Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)His risk of reoffending was also low
no pending charges and no diagnosed mental health conditions
"I accept this offending was out of character for you," the judge said
Rayan was sentenced to a two-year community corrections order with 180 hours of unpaid community work
He will also have to complete treatment for alcohol abuse and programs to reduce his risk of reoffending
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
Photo: James Ross/AAP PHOTOSA maintenance worker accused of killing gangland lawyer Joseph Acquaro has walked from court a free man after his murder charge was dropped
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueVincenzo Crupi
was accused of shooting dead Mr Acquaro as he left his East Brunswick gelato store on March 15
He pleaded not guilty to murder and was awaiting trial in the Victorian Supreme Court but prosecutor Jeremy McWilliams on Monday confirmed the case had been discontinued
Joseph Acquaro was shot dead in front of his East Brunswick gelato shop in March 2016
(Julian Smith/AAP PHOTOS)Mr McWilliams did not detail in court the reason why prosecutors dropped the murder charge
Justice Jane Dixon confirmed Mr Crupi was not in custody on any other matters so she allowed him to the leave the dock for the rest of the brief hearing
Mr Crupi hugged his lawyers outside the courtroom but declined to comment
He was first charged in 2018 with Mr Acquaro's murder and was committed to stand trial in the Victorian Supreme Court the following year
But the case was repeatedly delayed due to a legal fight over confidential material
Victoria Police sought to withhold more than 600 pages of documents from Mr Crupi's lawyers
arguing it could identify a police informant known as Informer Z
A Supreme Court judge ruled against the police in 2018
saying the documents could substantially assist Mr Crupi in his defence
always denied shooting Joseph Acquaro dead
(James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)The police commissioner then appealed the decision to the High Court
with three justices overturning the judge's original ruling in September 2024
The case was sent back to the Supreme Court but no new trial date was listed
always denied the allegation he shot dead Mr Acquaro
Police had alleged Mr Crupi carried out the murder following a dispute over payment for tiling work he carried out at Mr Acquaro's gelato store
But Mr Crupi claimed Mr Acquaro was an informer and it was reasonably possible he was killed by someone who had learnt of his discussions with police
Mr Acquaro had represented prominent gangland figures during his time as a lawyer and he had strong ties with Melbourne's Calabrian community
it was revealed he had shared information about at least one of his clients to police although he was never formally registered as an informer
Photo: AP PHOTOYemen's Houthi rebels say they will impose a "comprehensive" aerial blockade on Israel by repeatedly targeting its airports
in response to Israel expanding its operations in Gaza
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe Iran-aligned Houthis claimed responsibility for a missile strike that hit near Israel's Ben Gurion Airport
saying they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to retaliate
Most attacks from Yemen have been intercepted by Israel's missile defence systems
though a drone strike hit Tel Aviv in 2024
Sunday's missile was the only one of a series launched since March that was not intercepted
The Houthis' Humanitarian Operations Coordination Centre
a body set up in 2024 to liaise between Houthi forces and commercial shipping operators
issued the warning about targeting Israeli airports
saying Ben Gurion Airport would be the top target
The statement attached an email it said was sent to the International Air Transport Association
and the United Nations' International Civil Aviation Organisation
Houthi forces called "upon all international airlines to take this announcement into serious consideration ..
and to cancel all their flights to the airports of the criminal Israeli enemy
in order to safeguard the safety of their aircraft and passengers"
A ceasefire between Hamas and Israel collapsed in March and air and ground attacks have resumed
(AP PHOTO)Israel's security cabinet approved plans for an expanded operation in the Gaza Strip
adding to signs that attempts to stop the fighting and return hostages held by Palestinian militant group Hamas have made no progress
Since the collapse of an earlier ceasefire agreement in March
Israeli troops have been carving out wide buffer zones in Gaza
squeezing the 2.3 million population into an ever narrower zone in the centre of the enclave and along the coast and shutting off the entry of aid trucks
Aid groups have warned the Israeli blockade risks a humanitarian disaster
Israel's campaign on Gaza has laid waste to much of the enclave and so far killed more than 52,000 people
That Hamas offensive killed 1200 people and led to 251 people being taken hostage
Photo: AP PHOTOFormer US vice President Mike Pence has repeatedly invoked the constitution
after receiving the John F Kennedy Profile in Courage Award
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinuePence received the award for his refusal to endorse President Donald Trump's efforts to remain in office after losing the 2020 election
The award recognises Pence "for putting his life and career on the line to ensure the constitutional transfer of presidential power on January 6
Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol chanted that they wanted to "hang Mike Pence"
we have to find common ground," Pence said
"I hope in some small way my presence here tonight is a reminder that whatever differences we may have as Americans
the constitution is the common ground on which we stand
"It's what binds us across time and generations
His comments came hours after an interview with Trump aired in which he was asked whether US citizens and non-citizens both deserve due process as laid out in the fifth amendment of the constitution
I don't know," Trump said when pressed in an interview with NBC's Kristen Welker
Pence never mentioned Trump during his 10-minute speech but made several references to the Trump administration
Referencing what he called "these divided times
in these anxious days," he acknowledged that he probably had differences with the Democrats in the room but also with his own Republican Party "on spending
tariffs and my belief that America is the leader of the free world and must stand with Ukraine until the Russian invasion is repelled and a just and lasting peace is secured"
Trump pressured Pence to reject election results from swing states where the Republican president falsely claimed the vote was marred by fraud
When a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol
some chanted that they wanted to "hang Mike Pence"
Pence was whisked away by Secret Service agents
narrowly avoiding a confrontation with the rioters
"Mike Pence didn't have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution
giving States a chance to certify a corrected set of facts
not the fraudulent or inaccurate ones which they were asked to previously certify," Trump wrote at the time on Twitter
as rioters moved through the Capitol and Pence was in hiding with his family
aides and security detail inside the building
Pence rejected Secret Service advice that he leave the Capitol
staying to continue the ceremonial election certification of Democrat Joe Biden's presidential victory once rioters were cleared
Photo: AP PHOTORussia continues to press its offensive in eastern Ukraine with high intensity
with more than 200 clashes in a single day
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueUkraine's General Staff said on Facebook fighting had intensified particularly around the strategic city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region
where Ukrainian forces said they repelled 70 attacks over the course of Sunday
The town serves as a key transport hub and Russian forces are reportedly approaching from the east
The information could initially not be independently verified
Attempts by Russia to break through to the west into the neighbouring industrial area of Dnipropetrovsk have so far been repelled by Ukraine
Russia's air defence systems destroyed 26 Ukrainian drones overnight
TASS news agency reported on Monday citing Russia's defence ministry data
The attacks come despite ongoing diplomatic efforts by the United States to broker a ceasefire between Moscow and Kiev
US President Donald Trump recently proposed an unconditional 30-day truce
a plan Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accepted
Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected the offer
Putin has declared a unilateral 72-hour ceasefire to coincide with the annual Victory Parade on Moscow's Red Square to mark the end of World War II
The ceasefire is scheduled to start at midnight Wednesday-Thursday in Moscow and end at midnight Saturday-Sunday
Kiev has rejected the limited pause and demanded that the ceasefire be extended to 30 days
"The Russians are asking for a ceasefire on May 9 and are themselves firing at Ukraine every day
This is cynicism of the highest order," Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram on Sunday
Photo: Bianca De Marchi/AAP PHOTOSA man who stabbed six weekend shoppers could have been reconnected with mental health support well ahead of the tragedy after a plea by his mother for assistance
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueJoel Cauchi was known to Queensland police for suspected mental health concerns more than a year before he armed himself with a 30-centimetre long knife and launched his unprovoked and deadly mall attack
the 40-year-old killed six people and injured 10 others in Sydney's Bondi Junction Westfield on April 13
2024 before being shot dead by police inspector Amy Scott
Cauchi called police to his family home in Toowoomba
after his father Andrew took his collection of knives
This included a knife that was the exact type used in the mall attack
body-worn video from a senior constable called to the Toowoomba house was played in the NSW Coroners Court on Monday
It's pretty expensive and he won't give it back," Cauchi says on the roadside outside the home as the officer approaches
He is seen persistently urging the officer
to talk to his parents and get the knives back right away
Inspector Amy Scott shot Joel Cauchi dead after he had killed six people in the mall
(Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)While claiming he would become financially broke or homeless without the knives
a female constable was chatting with the then-39-year-old's mother Michele who said her son had stopped taking his medication years before and was now believed to be hearing voices
"She was asking for help," the officer told the court
Cauchi was a "high-functioning" schizophrenic who had a university degree
could speak two languages and was studying to become an English teacher
His parents told police attending their home they held concerns for their son's mental health
including that he had been up at 3am pacing around
Michele Cauchi told the officers her husband Andrew took the knives out of concern
Cauchi was "in a rage" after they were taken
pushing his father and swearing at his mother
In an email sent that night to the Queensland police mental health incident co-ordinator
the more senior officer requested a follow-up
"It's likely we will have further calls for service to the house," he wrote
"If a follow-up could be made of the family … that would be great."
State Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan is overseeing the inquest
(HANDOUT/NEW SOUTH WALES DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITIES AND JUSTICE)But nothing was organised after an "oversight" meant the email was seen but then forgotten about by a co-ordinator after being called to another job
Cauchi had been successfully treated for decades through anti-psychotic medication and psychiatric visits
But by March 2020 he had been completely detached from the mental health system
When asked by police about his mental health at the January 2023 call-out
Cauchi said he felt "really good" and "terrific"
He also said he felt much better since ceasing his medication which he claimed caused numerous side-effects
the inquest also heard evidence from a Brisbane highway patrol officer who pulled Cauchi over in September 2021 because of "erratic driving"
saw Cauchi "brake checking" his silver Toyota sedan by stopping and starting the vehicle before swerving sharply into the right-hand lane
He activated lights and sirens before pulling the vehicle over
Cauchi told the officer he did not realise how he was driving
The officer said when he searched for prior history
he was unaware there had been a pattern of behaviour with the then 38-year-old pulled over for similar driving twice before
The inquest before State Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan continues on Tuesday
Photo: Ben McKay/AAP PHOTOSJust a year after being sworn in as Solomon Islands prime minister
Jeremiah Manele may be swept from office by a new "grasshopper" coalition
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe shifting sands of politics in the Melanesian nation appear to be giving way under Mr Manele
who will face a no-confidence motion when parliament resumes on Tuesday
Mr Manele succeeded Manasseh Sogavare as prime minister following an April 2024 election
with Mr Sogavare becoming finance minister in a three-party coalition following government formation talks
Jeremiah Manele is calling for calm as he stares down a no-confidence vote in parliament
Mr Sogavare led a walkout of almost half the cabinet and other government MPs last week
The wily 70-year-old has since formed a new grouping including Opposition Leader Matthew Wale
which claims a parliamentary majority and intends to vote Mr Manele out
Pacific analyst Richard Herr said frenzied negotiations between MPs would be taking place ahead of Tuesday's vote
"Everyone seems to be holding their breath ..
Central to the uncertainty is whether the grouping can unite behind a new choice for prime minister
Mr Sogavare or another option will emerge as leader and presumptive prime minister in waiting
The no-confidence motion has been moved by Central Honiara MP Gordon Darcy Lilo
Dr Herr said the new grouping also had both pro-China MPs
and those who weren't supportive of the 2019 diplomatic switch from recognising Taiwan to Beijing
A lack of agreed leadership or positioning would leave a new coalition open to the same sort of collapse Mr Manele's government has suffered in the last week
"It doesn't seem on the face of it a particularly solid coalition," Dr Herr said
Mr Sogavare denies seeking the prime ministership but said he would take it if offered
who was Mr Manele's deputy PM before resigning last week
said Mr Sogavare was the instigator of the crisis
saying he "wasn't a happy man" after missing out on the prime ministership
it would be a fifth stint as the country's leader at age 70
and insisting his government for national unity and transformation (GNUT) coalition can survive
"The resignation of senior ministers is a blessing in disguise," he told local journalists at a press conference on Friday
"It is the dawn of a new era to usher in fresh
young and energetic leaders who are willing to take up the challenge to lead our people and country
both Mr Wale and Mr Manele called for calm among Solomon Islanders amid the political crisis
given previous impasses have led to unrest
Local newspaper Island Sun reports the police have indicated a low chance of security issues
there is no potential threat coming or being picked up by our intelligence ..
I would like to thank the people," Royal Solomon Islands Police Force commissioner Mostyn Mangau said
We're removing the level crossing to make it safer to access Glen Innes Station.
Every day, large numbers of people use Glen Innes Station for work, school, errands and connecting with whānau.
From next year, even more people will use the station. The City Rail Link will unlock more frequent trains and new connections, making it easier to get around Auckland. Eastern Line trains will increase to every 5 minutes during peak times, and there is the potential for more in the future.
Currently, you have to walk across the tracks to the station platform. This is called a level crossing. To provide safer access to stations and make way for more trains, we’re removing or replacing these types of crossings. Without removing level crossings there would be a higher safety risk and safety gates would be closed more often, impacting travel times.
To replace the level crossings at Glen Innes Station, we will build a new pedestrian bridge to provide safe access to the station platform.
We will build a new bridge to give the community a safer way to access the station and make train journeys quicker.
The new bridge will be fully accessible. This means it can be used by parents with prams, cyclists and wheelchairs. We propose putting it between the car parks to keep Glen Innes town centre connected and minimise disruption.
There are currently 2 crossings where people walk directly on the rail tracks. We will permanently close them and replace them with this new, safer, accessible pedestrian bridge. We will remove access to the station via the current Merton Road walkway. People coming from that direction will need to walk along Apirana Avenue to the new pedestrian bridge. This will take an extra 1 to 2 minutes.
We will be making it easier to walk this way by improving the shared path along Merton Road through the Links to GI project. We will finish this work by the end of 2025.
The existing underpass access to the rail station platform, located at the northern end of the station, will still be available to use.
To make sure we’re ready for the City Rail Link, we expect to begin main construction in December while the rail network shuts down for summer upgrade work. However, we will look to do some initial work from October. As the project timeline progresses, we will continue to update you.
We are working with the community, station users, and local businesses to gather feedback on the pedestrian bridge designs before any works happen. When construction starts, we will work closely with the community to minimise impact.
The designs for the footbridges and further information are now live on our Have Your Say website and open for feedback.
Photo: HANDOUT/DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCENew Zealand will spend billions replacing the Defence Force's aging maritime helicopters
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueAlong with the $NZ2 billion ($A1.85b) for the helicopters
the government said it would increase baseline spending by $NZ239 million ($A207m) for the Defence Force each year over the next four years
"It is very clear that New Zealand is not immune from the increasing tensions being felt throughout the world," New Zealand Defence Minister Judith Collins said in a statement on Monday
(HANDOUT/DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE)"(This) sets us on our path for defence spending to reach two per cent of GDP by 2032-33," she said
New Zealand's Defence Force has struggled with systemic underspending over the past several decades
which amounts to just over one per cent of GDP now
the government said it would boost defence spending with $NZ9 billion ($A8b) of new funding over the next four years
"There is no economic security without national security
and Defence personnel need the right equipment and conditions to do their jobs," Collins said
"As a maritime nation we are prioritising naval capability," she said
New Zealand's first national security review in 2023 called for more military spending and stronger ties with Indo-Pacific nations to tackle climate change and strategic competition among the West
New Zealand has eight SH-2G(I) Seasprite maritime helicopters
Collins said replacing these will increase the defensive and offensive capabilities and surveillance range of New Zealand's frigates
Collins added she will have more to say about defence investments in the coming year when the government unveils its budget
New Zealand's budget is scheduled for May 22
and will outline spending for the 12-month period to June 30
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueEdward Morgan
appeared by video link in Tamworth Local Court on Monday
keen to have his say in support of a bail application
who is facing charges of intimidation and trespass
has failed in a bail application in Tamworth Local Court
Picture from fileThe West Tamworth man's Aboriginal Legal Service solicitor Sarah Chia attempted to shut him down a number of times during the appearance
and it took a rebuke from magistrate Julie Soars to quieten him so the court could hear the solicitor's petition clearly
Morgan is yet to enter pleas for charges of intimidation
and trespass for entering inclosed land without a lawful excuse
Police documents tendered to court allege that between 6.33am and 7am on April 28
Morgan entered the CTC Tobacconist shop in Hobbs Lane
without permission of the owner and then intimidated the owner
Ms Chia offered a number of strict conditions
including Morgan not having contact with the complainant
not entering the Hobbs Lane CTC Tobacconist
The list also included Morgan making an appointment with the Tamworth Aboriginal Medical Service and accepting recommended treatment
Ms Chia admitted her client had a criminal history but had been offence-free for the past "few years"
Ms Soars said there was "a strong prosecution case" against Morgan
including CCTV footage of the alleged incident and witnesses
She noted the intimidation charge carried a potential five-year prison sentence
and Morgan had faced this charge in the past
warrants and failure to appear" incidents went against his release on bail
"[Morgan] has endangered the safety of the complainant and the community," Ms Soars said
but he poses a serious threat to the community
and the bail conditions do not reduce his failure to appear or endanger the community
As Ms Soars ordered Morgan receive medical treatment while in custody
and the magistrate ordered him cut off quickly at the end of his matter
Morgan will return to Tamworth Local Court in May
Photo: Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOSA dog's simple sniff at a music festival could lead to a multimillion-dollar payout in a massive class action lawsuit targeting police strip searches
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThousands of people were strip searched at music festivals as officers allegedly given inadequate training and supervision routinely conducted the inspections over a six-year period
An "extraordinary" and unlawful strip search by police at a popular music festival and the conduct of authorities defending it is leading the class action in NSW
A woman underwent a humiliating and unlawful search that found nothing
(Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)Raya Meredith alleged she was subjected to assault
battery and false imprisonment by police at the Splendour in the Grass music festival in July 2018 after a drug detection dog sniffed in her direction
She was stopped and directed to a makeshift inspection area of open cubicles with tarpaulin screens near the entrance
A male police officer allegedly walked in to the area where Ms Meredith was being searched
as a female officer interrogated and inspected her
which was allegedly conducted with inadequate privacy
and was threatened with ejection from the festival
barrister Kylie Nomchong SC told the Supreme Court on Monday
which did not comply with legislated safeguards
"This is an extraordinary story … but it is not an isolated one," Ms Nomchong said
NSW is accused of deploying large numbers of officers to festivals to do strip searches en masse
(Samantha Lock/AAP PHOTOS)The state allegedly deployed large numbers of officers to music festivals with the intention of routinely doing strip searches en masse between 2016 and 2022
The directions given were "woefully inadequate" and senior echelons of the force failed to ensure officers were properly trained and supervised
expose her genitals and remove a tampon during the search - "akin to things that would happen during a sexual assault," Ms Nomchong told the court
The state's conduct in defending the claim had also increased the harm to the lead plaintiff and aggravated damages would be sought
the state persisted with hurtful allegations and unjustifiable
The state conceded in March she was unlawfully strip-searched but has not accepted fault in relation to more than 3000 others part of the class-action
NSW Police acknowledged failures highlighted in a watchdog's audit of strip searches in 2023
(Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)The state's barrister Julian Sexton SC told the court there may be limitations on damages and the amount that could be paid
A sum of $50,000 sought for exemplary damages could exceed $150 million if applied across the class action participants
for what are alleged to be systemic failures rather than individual instances
NSW Police blamed a change in priorities during COVID-19 public health orders and restrictions when acknowledging failures highlighted in a watchdog's audit of strip searches in 2023
They included a finding more than half of the officers who carried out strip searches in preceding years had not completed specialist training
initially scheduled to be heard over four weeks
has been adjourned until May 13 with further written submissions due in the coming days
Photo: Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOSTeal independents Monique Ryan and Zoe Daniel are clinging on in their election races after strong postal returns for the Liberals
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueDr Ryan's margin over Liberal candidate Amelia Hamer in the high-profile seat in Melbourne's leafy inner east has shrunk to 1891 votes following postal returns
The former paediatric neurologist declared victory on Saturday night
with her husband holding up a "Kooyong we did it!" sign before she addressed supporters
But Dr Ryan said she no longer felt safe in the contest
declaring the outcome was a "50-50" proposition
in (election analyst) Antony Green we trusted," she told ABC Radio Melbourne on Monday morning
"But postal votes have been very much pro the conservative side so I think at this point Kooyong is very much in the air
Independent candidate Zoe Daniel is fighting to retain her seat as postal votes are counted
(Diego Fedele/AAP PHOTOS)Ms Daniel's lead over Liberal candidate Tim Wilson has dwindled to fewer than 100 votes after postal returns
The former journalist said on Sunday it would take days for the result to be confirmed
If Mr Wilson or Ms Hamer are able to turn the tables on the teals
they're likely to be the Liberal's only federal representatives in metropolitan Melbourne
Liberal frontbencher Michael Sukkar has lost his ultra marginal seat of Deakin
with Menzies too close to call as up-and-coming MP Keith Wolahan narrows Labor's lead
Aaron Violi is projected to hold onto the neighbouring seat of Casey after trailing Labor's Naomi Oakley on the night but fellow Liberal Zoe McKenzie's battle with independent Ben Smith is too close to call
who survived a primary vote swing of five per cent against him
said the Liberals "double trouble" attack on Anthony Albanese and Premier Jacinta Allan failed to land with voters
"It just didn't cut through at all," he said
Labor's Sarah Whitty is ahead of Greens leader Adam Bandt in Melbourne and long-time Labor MP Peter Khalil leads Wills over the Greens former state leader Samantha Ratnam
But Lisa Chester's race with Nationals candidate Andrew Lethlean in Bendigo
Ms Allan claimed credit for Labor's stunning result in Victoria when speaking to reporters on Sunday
declaring it wasn't in spite of her government's work but because of it
Deputy Prime Minster Richard Marles wasn't so sure
suggesting people voted on federal issues and the choice between Mr Albanese and Peter Dutton
"I was confident in the context of Victoria ..
that as we got closer to the election people would ultimately see that that was the choice," he said
Former Liberal strategist turned pollster Tony Barry led off recriminations of the party on election night
calling the state branch a "broken institution"
He noted state Liberal leader Brad Battin promoted outspoken MP Moira Deeming to become his "representative to the western suburbs" during the campaign as she continues to pursue former leader John Pesutto for legal costs following her defamation trial win
Photo: Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOSFederal Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce has been praised for being "very brave" after revealing he will undergo surgery for prostate cancer
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe one-time deputy prime minister
who comfortably won his regional NSW seat of New England in Saturday's election
received the diagnosis following a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test
Barnaby Joyce decided to keep his diagnosis to himself until after the election
(Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS)The test came back with an elevated result and a subsequent MRI and biopsy revealed he had prostate cancer
told Seven's Sunrise program he kept his diagnosis quiet until after the election
"I waited until obviously after the election - I didn't want a big circus going on," he said
straight down the road and straight into surgery."
before noting that was normal with a disease like prostate cancer
you go to the toilet a bit more than you should," he added
Federal Labor frontbencher Tanya Plibersek praised Mr Joyce for going public with his diagnosis
"It's very brave of Barnaby to share his experience," she told Seven
"I really do think that having high-profile people like Barnaby talk about their health challenges is really important to encourage other men to get the test."
Ms Plibersek noted that Labor Party national president Wayne Swan
was diagnosed with prostate cancer at the age of 48
"Wayne had surgery decades ago and his health is terrific," she said
Prostate cancer was generally very treatable if caught early
Labor had a landslide victory at the election
reducing the coalition to one of their worst performances at the polls
after Liberal Leader Peter Dutton lost his own seat
Photo: EPA PHOTOLady Gaga's team say they learned about a plot to bomb her gig on Copacabana Beach in Rio De Janeiro "via media reports this morning"
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueAccording to the Rio city hall
2.1 million people attended the free concert of the American pop icon on Saturday
working in co-ordination with the Justice Ministry
said the bomb plot was orchestrated by a group promoting hate speech against the LGBTQI community and the radicalisation of teenagers
More than two million fans attended the free concert on Copacabana beach
police said the group sought to radicalise and recruit teenagers to carry out attacks using Molotov cocktails and improvised explosives
"We learned about this alleged threat via media reports this morning," a spokesperson for Gaga said in a statement first issued to The Hollywood Reporter
nor any communication from the police or authorities to Lady Gaga regarding any potential risks
"Her team worked closely with law enforcement throughout the planning and execution of the concert and all parties were confident in the safety measures in place."
Gaga - whose real name is Stefani Germanotta - did not address the incident
but said: "Nothing could prepare me for the feeling I had during last night's show - the absolute pride and joy I felt singing for the people of Brazil
"The sight of the crowd during my opening songs took my breath away
I hope you know how grateful I am to have shared this historical moment with you
"An estimated 2.5 million people came to see me sing
the biggest crowd for any woman in history
"I wish I could share this feeling with the whole world - I know I can't
you can find your way back if you believe in yourself and work hard."
authorities arrested two people in connection with the planned attack - the alleged leader of the group on illegal weapons possession charges in Rio Grande Do Sul
and a teenager on child pornography charges in Rio
The operation was based on a report by the ministry's cyber operations lab following a tip-off from Rio state police intelligence
which uncovered digital cells encouraging violent behaviour among teenagers using coded language and extremist symbolism
A man described as the group's leader was arrested in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul for illegal possession of a firearm
while a teenager in Rio de Janeiro was detained for storing child pornography
Authorities carried out over a dozen search and seizure warrants across the states of Rio de Janeiro
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An independent news site based in New England, NSW, Australia
Photo: AP PHOTOPresident Donald Trump has announced a 100 per cent tariff on all films made outside the United States
saying the US movie industry is dying a "very fast death" because of the incentives offered by other countries
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinue"This is a concerted effort by other Nations and
messaging and propaganda," Trump said in a post on Truth Social
Trump is authorising the relevant US government agencies to immediately begin the process of imposing a 100 per cent tariff on all films produced abroad that are then sent into the United States
Trump added: "WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick posting on X said: "We're on it"
Neither Lutnick nor Trump provided any details on how the tariffs would be implemented
Trump appointed three Hollywood veterans Jon Voight
Movie and TV production has been exiting Hollywood for years
heading to locations with tax incentives that make filming cheaper
Crew members were hoping for a rebound in Los Angeles after strikes by writers and actors in 2023
but statistics show the comeback has been slow
The wildfires that destroyed sections of Los Angeles in January accelerated concerns that producers may look elsewhere
sound technicians and other behind-the-scenes workers may move out of town rather than try to rebuild in their neighbourhoods
Donald Trump asked Mel Gibson to make Hollywood "bigger
better and stronger than ever before"
(AP PHOTO)Film and television production in Los Angeles has fallen by nearly 40 per cent over the last decade
a non-profit that tracks the region's production
Governments around the world have offered more generous tax credits and cash rebates to lure productions
and capture a greater share of the $US248 billion ($A385 billion) that Ampere Analysis predicts will be spent globally in 2025 to produce content
The post by Trump comes after he has triggered a trade war with China
and imposed global tariffs which have roiled markets and led to fears of a US recession
Former senior Commerce official William Reinsch
a senior fellow with the Center for Strategic and International Studies
said retaliation against Trump's foreign movie tariffs would be devastating
We have a lot more to lose than to gain," he said
adding that it would be difficult to make a national security or national emergency case for movies
one of San Francisco's most popular tourist destinations
Photo: AP PHOTOUS President Donald Trump says he is directing the Bureau of Prisons to reopen the infamous Alcatraz prison to "house America's most ruthless and violent offenders"
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinue"REBUILD
AND OPEN ALCATRAZ!" he posted on the Truth Social platform
we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals
and keep them far away from anyone they could harm."
The closure of the federal prison in 1963 was attributed to crumbling infrastructure and the high costs of repairing and supplying the island facility
because everything from fuel to food had to be brought by boat
It is now one of San Francisco's most popular tourist destinations
The prison — infamously inescapable due to the strong ocean currents and cold Pacific waters that surround it — was known as the "The Rock" and housed some of the nation's most notorious criminals
including gangster Al Capone and George "Machine Gun" Kelly
It has long been part of the cultural imagination and has been the subject of numerous movies
including The Rock starring Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage
Nearly all were caught or didn't survive the attempt
The Alcatraz prison once housed gangster Al Capone and has been the subject of numerous movies
(AP PHOTO)Trump said he'd come up with the idea to reopen Alcatraz because of frustrations with "radicalised judges" who have insisted those being deported receive due process
A spokesperson for the Bureau of Prisons said in a statement the agency "will comply with all Presidential Orders"
a California Democrat whose district includes the island
questioned the feasibility of reopening the prison after so many years
"It is now a very popular national park and major tourist attraction
The President's proposal is not a serious one," she wrote on social media platform X
The order to reopen Alcatraz comes as Trump has been clashing with the courts as he tries to send accused gang members to a notorious prison in El Salvador
Trump has also talked about wanting to send American citizens there and to other foreign prisons
Trump has also directed the opening of a detention centre at Guantanamo Bay
to hold up to 30,000 of what he has labelled the "worst criminal aliens"
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe self-described nerd took out the title at one of the biggest pop culture conventions in the US
dressed as hunky 300-year-old elf Halsin from the video game Baldur's Gate 3
"It's kind of the world's best cosplay crafters all in one space," explained Beaton
from the costume and prop-making studio Hench & Scrap
Cosplay involves dressing up as characters from films
books and video games - often in costumes that feature obsessive levels of detail
It's a relatively small movement in Australia when compared to the US and Japan
but local cosplayers have been making an impact internationally
Australian cosplay designer Clare Beaton has been crowned a global champion
Photo: Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOSBeaton's winning Halsin outfit included silicon prosthetic elf ears and facial scars
a glowing lantern with flexible resin spikes and shoulder pieces constructed from more than 100 individually embossed leather leaves
She said she felt a connection to the seven-foot tall polyamorous game character
who has the power to transform into a bear
due to Halsin's kindness and affinity with nature
She completed the project in her spare time over about two years
using skills that ranged from metalwork to resin moulding
the Halsin costume helped her to take out the Australian Cosplay Central Crown Championships title for a second time at the nation's biggest gaming convention
That win came with a ticket to represent the nation at the US event
Beaton is well aware that from the outside
cosplayers can seem obsessive and eccentric
it's the antidote to a more widespread pop-culture fandom that is based in consumerism
"You can be creative and contribute back to fandom
and express something you love through doing something constructive," she said
Video game costume design is an unusual niche but also a growing industry
(Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOS)Her cosplay artistry has taken years to develop after getting her start at 14 working alongside her father at renowned special effects and animation studio Weta FX
Her first job was working on Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy
but she soon found the film industry too specialised for her unique combination of skills
she met her business and life partner Oarin Tremont - otherwise known as Scrap - at a gaming convention
where they bonded over their cosplay outfits from the same video game
Having realised they could make a living creating costumes and props
the couple moved from Sydney to Adelaide so they could afford a large fabrication workshop with space for their equipment
Most of the clients at Hench & Scrap are video game companies
"It's an unusual niche but it's definitely a growing industry," Beaton said
"We'll build a project and show off on social media how we make things
Beaton will join the cosplay judging panel at the upcoming PAX Aus convention
Photo: AP PHOTOAustralia's F1 world championship leader Oscar Piastri has won the Miami Grand Prix
besting pole-sitter Max Verstappen to lead a McLaren one-two finish
All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinuePiastri claimed his third straight race win after starting fourth at Hard Rock Stadium on Monday (AEST)
joined on the podium by teammate Lando Norris
The McLaren duo boasted a massive 37.644-second buffer over third-placed George Russell
while four-time defending world champion Verstappen finished the 57-lap race in fourth
Australian Oscar Piastri crosses the finish line to take out the Miami Grand Prix
(AP PHOTO)Melbourne-born Piastri now boasts a career-best four wins this season with a 16-point lead in the standings over Norris
after previously going back-to-back in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia
the 24-year-old became the first McLaren driver to win three straight races since Mika Hakkinen's haul in 1997-98
There were high-fives galore after Oscar Piastri's victory in Miami
(AP PHOTO)"To now have won the grand prix by over 35 seconds to third is an unbelievable result
who was the last Australian driver to win four races in a season in 2010
Red Bull's Verstappen gave up his lead on lap 13 after braking too late at the first corner
losing more ground to Norris five laps later
Verstappen could only lament his luck on the team radio: "F*** brakes
jumped Verstappen on lap 30 after a strategic pit stop under the virtual safety car
An engine issue suffered by Haas rookie Oliver Bearman had brought out the safety car
McLaren ace Norris also pulled off an impressive drive to recover from sixth for a podium finish
had plummeted down the order on the first lap after Verstappen forced him wide at the second turn
Red Bull heavyweight Verstappen had only just recovered from locking up his wheels at the previous turn
He was not punished by the race stewards for his incident with Norris
McLaren drivers Lando Norris (left) and Oscar Piastri are all smiles on the podium in Miami
(AP PHOTO)"I paid the price for not doing a good enough job today
Australian rookie Jack Doohan's race ended just seconds into the opening lap after a wheel puncture
The under-pressure Alpine driver had collided with Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson at turn one
had started in 14th after out-qualifying teammate Pierre Gasly for the first time
along with Kick Sauber driver Gabriel Bortoleto
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