Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Stories
US nuclear submariners give glimpse into life at sea
US navy submariners on the USS Asheville have given a glimpse of what life will be like for Australian sailors on a nuclear-powered submarine. March 18, 2023 Highly trained US submariners live in tight and tough conditions aboard their nuclear-powered vessels but they’re immensely proud of the dangerous work they do deep below the surface ...
Read MoreTorres Strait flooding fears as sea-level peak imminent
Traditional owners in the Torres Strait say rising sea levels continue to damage their islands, with fears an imminent tidal peak could inundate communities. February 19, 2023 Beneath the roots of a weathered almond tree on a remote island in Australia’s north, traditional owners enrich the soil of their homeland with the blood and DNA ...
Read MoreStruggle to survive in Torres Strait Island ‘paradise’
Traditional owners in the Torres Strait Islands are being forced to leave their archipelago homes amid the soaring cost of living and lack of housing. February 5, 2023 The Torres Strait Islands are like a tropical paradise to outsiders but for many traditional owners it has more in common with a failed state as they struggle to survive amid ...
Read More‘War zone’ fears over NT cops’ weapons
A policeman has told an inquest into the death of an Indigenous teen shot dead by Northern Territory officers he feared his town would become a “war zone”. September 8, 2022 When a local policeman spotted Alice Springs officers arriving in his outback community with high-powered weapons to arrest an Indigenous teenager, he worried it ...
Read MoreNT police shooting response ‘racist’
An inquest into the death of an Indigenous teen shot dead by a Northern Territory policeman has heard the incident is evidence of systemic racism in the force. September 7, 2022 The cousin of an Indigenous teenager shot dead by a Northern Territory constable has told an inquest that racism drove the police response to ...
Read MoreWalker inquest told of NT police deception
Northern Territory police deceived Kumanjayi Walker’s community about his death because they were fearful of the repercussions, an inquest has been told. September 6, 2022 A terrified Indigenous community was tricked into believing one of their sons was still alive hours after he had been shot dead by Northern Territory police, an inquest has been told. ...
Read MoreSong and dance in bush court over Santos
Tiwi Island traditional owners have sung and danced as they gave evidence to a bush court hearing a case about a massive Northern Territory gas project. August 22, 2022 Traditional owners have given evidence to a bush court in song and dance in a bid to stop a massive Northern Territory offshore gas project. Tiwi ...
Read MoreTelegraph line that changed us turns 150
It’s 150 years since the telegraph line described as Australia’s greatest engineering feat of the 19th century was finished, changing the nation forever. August 21, 2022 The overland telegraph line that changed the way Australia communicated with the outside world and boosted national wealth is turning 150 years old. News of the day, British parliament’s ...
Read MoreHistoric Indigenous Voice heard at Garma
The prime minister’s historic Indigenous Voice to parliament speech at Garma Festival has been the highlight of the four-day celebration of Yolngu culture. August 1, 2022 The red dust may be settling as this year’s Garma Festival draws to a close but the memories of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s historic Indigenous Voice to parliament speech will long remain. It ...
Read MorePM’s Garma push for Voice referendum
The prime minister has recommended changes to the constitution and committed to a public vote on an Indigenous Voice in an historic speech in Arnhem Land. July 30, 2022 Australia could be on the cusp of historic change, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese outlining plans for constitutional amendments and a referendum for an Indigenous Voice ...
Read MoreNT triple murderer reveals why he did it
Convicted triple murderer Benjamin Hoffmann has taken the stand during sentencing submissions to tell his side of the story for the first time. July 25, 2022 A gunman convicted of murdering three people and killing another during a drug-fuelled Darwin shooting spree has told his side of the story for the first time. Benjamin Hoffmann ...
Read MoreGas fracker ‘havoc’ on NT cattle station
A pastoralist is trying to overturn a court order granting a gas fracking company access to a Northern Territory cattle station, saying it’s causing “havoc”. June 20, 2022 A pastoralist fighting to stop a gas fracker exploring its Northern Territory cattle station says the company is causing “havoc” and will eventually force the stock from its paddocks. ...
Read More‘Humanitarian’ concerns amid NT unrest
A “humanitarian situation” has developed in the Northern Territory after fearful residents fled a violent feud in a remote Indigenous community. May 5, 2022 Some displaced residents may not return to their homes in a remote Northern Territory Indigenous community over fears for their safety amid a violent feud between rival clans. One man is ...
Read More‘Tense times’ as 500 flee NT social unrest
Some displaced Aboriginal residents may not return to their homes in a remote Northern Territory community over fears for their safety amid violent unrest. May 5, 2022 Some displaced residents may not return to their homes in a remote Northern Territory Indigenous community over fears for their safety amid a violent feud between rival clans. One man ...
Read MoreDarwin port plan sparks health concerns
A Darwin Harbour industrial development backed by the Morrison government could have severe impacts on human health, an environmental report says. April 17, 2022 A new Darwin port industrial hub spruiked by the deputy prime minister could have severe impacts on human health, a Northern Territory government environmental report says. Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce on Tuesday ...
Read MoreConcern over NT Indigenous voter enrolment
The Northern Land Council says the electoral commission has failed to use automatic enrolment in the Northern Territory’s remote areas, excluding many voters. April 11, 2022 A powerful Northern Territory land council has raised concerns about low voter enrolment in many Indigenous communities. The Northern Land Council says the Australian Electoral Commission has failed to ...
Read MoreOrigin Energy questioned over Russian link
Origin Energy denies any wrongdoing over its links to a Russian billionaire and says it will comply with any directions from the Australian government. March 25, 2022 A gas company exploring the Northern Territory’s Beetaloo Basin has denied any wrongdoing over its links to a Russian billionaire on Australia’s sanctions list. Origin Energy says it ...
Read MoreKakadu land handback not just symbolic
The return of nearly half of Kakadu National Park to traditional owners is expected to create hundreds of business opportunities for Aboriginal people. March 24, 2022 The return of nearly half of Kakadu National Park to traditional owners isn’t just symbolic, it’s set to create hundreds of business opportunities for Aboriginal people. The massive land ...
Read MoreTop End Never Never country handed back
The homestead depicted in Jeannie Gunn’s groundbreaking novel We of the Never Never has been handed back to traditional owners in the Northern Territory. March 24, 2022 Jeannie Gunn’s groundbreaking novel We of the Never Never painted a picture of Australian frontier life at Elsey Station in the North Territory outback. Fast forward more than ...
Read MoreWhat the jury didn’t hear in NT cop’s trial
The Northern Territory policeman acquitted of murdering Kumanjayi Walker assaulted an Indigenous man and lied about it under oath, a court has heard. March 18, 2022 A Northern Territory policeman cleared of murdering teenager Kumanjayi Walker assaulted an Aboriginal man and lied about it under oath, a court has heard. The finding was not put ...
Read MoreNT Chief denies interfering in Rolfe case
Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner has denied politically interfering in a murder investigation involving a policeman and an Aboriginal teen. March 14, 2022 Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner has denied politically interfering in a murder investigation in the days after a policeman fatally shot an Aboriginal teenager. Mr Gunner has admitted telling the ...
Read MoreNT policeman’s murder acquittal stirs rage
Indigenous leaders have reacted with sadness and anger after a jury found a Northern Territory policeman not guilty of murdering teenager Kumanjayi Walker. March 11, 2022 A remote Indigenous community is in pain after a jury acquitted a Northern Territory policeman of murdering one of their young men, with an activist decrying the justice system ...
Read MoreNT cop’s murder trial a cover-up: lawyer
Lawyer David Edwardson QC says Constable Zachary Rolfe should never have been prosecuted for murder and the prosecution hasn’t come close to proving his guilt. March 9, 2022 An Aboriginal teenager was “in many respects the author of his own misfortune” when shot dead by a Northern Territory policeman, his murder trial has been told. ...
Read MoreNT triple fatality ‘not deaths in custody’
The coroner has found three Indigenous Northern Territorians killed in a Christmas Day car accident as they fled from police were not deaths in custody. March 7, 2022 Three Indigenous Northern Territorians killed in a car crash on Christmas Day as they sped away from police were not deaths in custody, a coroner has found. ...
Read MoreNT shipwreck reveals sailors’ secrets
A Japanese shipwreck in waters off the Northern Territory hides a tale of conflict, tragedy and secret friendship with the Aboriginal people. January 22, 2022 Deep beneath the waves on a remote part of the Northern Territory coastline, a Japanese shipwreck hides a tale of conflict, tragedy and secret friendship with the Aboriginal people. Pearling mothership ...
Read MorePre-paid power access ‘amplifying poverty’
Pre-paid access to electricity is putting many Indigenous Australians living in remote communities at risk, a new university study says. December 17, 2021 Pre-paid access to electricity is putting disadvantaged Australians living in substandard housing at risk, particularly when their power is cut on dangerously hot days, researchers say. In some remote Northern Territory communities, ...
Read MoreTelegram that changed Australia turns 150
It’s 150 years ago this month since the words “Advance Australia” were sent to Darwin in the first telegram to arrive in the country from overseas. November 13, 2021 Described as the internet of the 19th-century, it’s 150 years ago this month since the telegraph line linked Australia to the outside world. A Morse Code ...
Read MoreAccused NT murder’s shame over dead mate
Accused murderer Ben Hoffmann sat with his head in his hands as a forensics expert detailed the injuries suffered by his third alleged victim, who was a mate. October 18, 2021 As a forensic pathologist detailed the gruesome shotgun injuries suffered by a man found dead in a Darwin car park, the man accused of ...
Read MoreNT plumber finds headless shooting victim
After hearing a loud bang outside Darwin’s Buff Club, plumber Malcolm Smith walked into the car park and discovered the third victim of an accused gunman. September 28, 2021 Two mates made a gruesome discovery after hearing a loud bang in the car park at Darwin’s Buff Club, dropping their beers and running outside to ...
Read MoreConfused cop lets Darwin shooter slip by
A Northern Territory policeman failed to follow Ben Hoffmann after he allegedly murdered his third victim because the officer was confused, a court has heard. September 28, 2021 A confused Northern Territory policeman did not follow an accused murderer’s car after he allegedly shot a man in the head despite a witness alerting him to the incident, ...
Read MoreDarwin shooter pointed gun at me: witness
A man accused of shooting four people dead in Darwin blasted his way into a room at the Palms Motel as two terrified occupants hid and pellets hit the walls. September 23, 2021 As the gunman accused of murdering four people in Darwin allegedly fired his first shot into room 15 at the Palms Motel, ...
Read MoreGlencore community funds allegedly misused
The Northern Territory government and miner Glencore have been accused of misusing millions of dollars set aside to help Aboriginal traditional owners. June 27, 2021 The Northern Territory government and a massive lead and zinc mine have been accused of misusing millions of dollars set aside for the benefit of traditional owners. Glencore’s McArthur River Mine ...
Read MoreUS Marines in Top End ready for action
With more than 2000 Marines in Australia’s north, commander USMC Colonel David Banning says the force isn’t just in the Top End to train, it’s ready for action. June 26, 2021 US Marines stationed in Australia’s north aren’t just in the Top End to train, says their commanding officer. USMC Colonel David Banning insists his ...
Read MoreSafety concerns before soldier’s death
Safety officers failed to notice a young soldier who was fatally shot was in danger zone when a live-fire exercise in the NT was paused due to safety concerns. May 26, 2021 A young soldier was fatally shot in the head two minutes after a live-fire exercise was restarted after being paused due to safety ...
Read MoreAssault and bullying in disabled care home
A royal commission has heard a carer at Sydney residential facility for disabled people was charged with assault over his treatment of a blind and autistic man. May 24, 2021 A supervisor at a NSW residential care home for disabled people was charged with assault, stalking and intimidation over his treatment of a blind and ...
Read MoreJuukan inquiry for NT traditional owners
Traditional owners are likely to travel to Canberra to make submissions to the Juukan inquiry about Glencore’s McArthur River Mine in the Northern Territory. May 16, 2021 A delegation of Northern Territory traditional owners will likely testify before a federal inquiry into a massive lead and zinc mine’s impacts on Aboriginal sacred sites. Glencore’s McArthur River ...
Read MoreIndia COVID flights may stress NT Health
Howard Springs quarantine facility in the Northern Territory is set to receive three flights of the most urgent cases from India. May 7, 2021 The Northern Territory is doing its bit to help Australians stranded in India amid a COVID-19 emergency, but will its health system be able to cope? Darwin’s Howard Springs quarantine facility ...
Read MoreKakadu site closure amid racism claims
Jawoyn traditional owners have voted to symbolically close a popular site at Kakadu National Park amid allegations of racism by Parks Australia management. May 6, 2021 A popular site at World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park will be symbolically closed by traditional owners amid allegations of racism by federally funded Parks Australia. Gunlom – a cascading ...
Read MoreRefugees unlawfully detained in NT: lawyer
Lawyers for five refugees detained in a Darwin hotel for more than a year have launched a legal case against the federal government for false imprisonment. April 28, 2021 Five refugees detained in a Darwin hotel for more than a year are taking the federal government to court for false imprisonment and negligence after witnessing ...
Read MoreMicroplastics contaminating food and water
Airborne microplastics have become so widespread that humans are breathing, drinking and eating them on a daily basis, with fears they could cause cancers. April 14, 2021 Airborne microplastic particles from broken-down rubbish have become so widespread that humans are breathing, drinking and eating them on a daily basis. The near-invisible, dust-like pieces leach chemicals ...
Read MoreKakadu wants sacred site case dropped
The Northern Territory government has been asked to drop court action over an allegedly illegally disturbed Aboriginal sacred site in Kakadu National Park. April 8, 2021 Kakadu National Park management has asked the Northern Territory government to drop court action over an allegedly illegally disturbed Aboriginal sacred site. Parks Australia – which is part of the ...
Read MoreQld ‘very concerned’ over PNG virus spread
Queensland’s top doctor says she’s worried about Papua New Guinea’s soaring COVID-19 infection rate as health officials race to vaccinate far north communities. April 3, 2021 Papua New Guinea’s soaring COVID-19 infection rate has Queensland’s top doctor worried as health officials race to vaccinate vulnerable communities in the state’s far north. PNG, which is just ...
Read MoreNT mine talks over Aboriginal sacred site
One of the world’s biggest zinc and lead mines is set to enter negotiations with traditional owners after alleged damage to Aboriginal cultural sites. April 1, 2020 A massive Northern Territory mine dogged by environmental incidents and alleged damage to Aboriginal cultural sites is set to start negotiations with traditional owners. McArthur River Mine says it ...
Read MoreHope as Australian environment fights back
The Australian environment has shaken off some of the toughest years on record and started a slow recovery, according to Australia’s Environment Report. March 31, 2021 The Australian environment has started a slow recovery from some of the toughest years on record, a new study has concluded. Researchers found robust species rebounded in 2020, despite ...
Read MoreKakadu managers call for Commonwealth help
Kakadu National Park will ask the federal government to intervene in a court case after it allegedly disturbed an Aboriginal sacred site. March 29, 2021 Kakadu National Park management is set to ask the Commonwealth Attorney-General to intervene after it was sued for allegedly illegally disturbing an Aboriginal sacred site. Parks Australia – which is ...
Read MoreNative title laws not balanced: study
Weak native title laws allow mining companies to legally start mining projects without obtaining traditional landowner consent, a study has found. March 20, 2021 Some top mining companies are flouting international human rights conventions when negotiating with Indigenous Australians over land use, a study has found. Companies, including Origin Energy and Glencore, have failed to ...
Read MoreNT and ACT join forces over euthanasia law
The Northern Territory and ACT have upped the pressure on the federal government over a law banning the territories from passing legislation on assisted dying. March 4, 2021 The Northern Territory and ACT are again calling on the federal government to restore their right to make voluntary euthanasia laws. NT Attorney-General Selena Uibo and the ...
Read MoreNT mine to impact Indigenous sacred site
Glencore’s McArthur River Mine in the Northern Territory is likely to impact an Indigenous sacred site, a federal parliamentary inquiry has been told. March 2, 2021 The expansion of a massive Northern Territory mine is likely to impact an Indigenous sacred site, a federal parliamentary inquiry has been told. A growing waste rock pile over ...
Read MoreLand council wants sacred site law reform
The Northern Territory Central Land Council wants laws overhauled to give traditional owners more say over development on country not protected by land rights. March 2, 2021 A Northern Territory Indigenous land council wants laws reformed to give traditional owners more say over development in areas not protected by Top End land rights legislation. The Central ...
Read MoreDingo landscape impact seen from space
The effects dingoes have on the environment have been captured in 32 years of NASA satellite imagery along Australia’s 5600km dingo fence. February 24, 2021 The environmental impacts of eradicating dingoes from the landscape are visible from space, a new study shows. Researchers studied 32 years of satellite imagery along the dingo fence which stretches ...
Read MoreNT cop’s murder trial may be on YouTube
The trial of Northern Territory police officer Zachary Rolfe, who is charged with the shooting murder of a young Indigenous man, could be webcast on YouTube. February 23, 2021 The trial of a Northern Territory police officer charged with the shooting murder of a young Indigenous man could be broadcast on YouTube. Zachary Rolfe, 29, ...
Read MoreMore pressure on Woolies over NT grog shop
Health and community organisation have called on Reconciliation Australia to dump Woolworths over a controversial Dan Murphy’s megastore in Darwin. February 23, 2021 More than 30 health and community organisation leaders have called on Reconciliation Australia to distance itself from Woolworths over a controversial Dan Murphy’s megastore in Darwin. A letter sent to Reconciliation Australia ...
Read MoreDarwin WWII bombing attack remembered
One of the last surviving WWII Darwin bombing veterans remembers the day war came to Australia’s backyard on the wings of 188 Japanese planes a lifetime ago. February 19, 2021 Mervyn Ey was a 20-year-old Australian Army private stationed in Darwin when bombs rained down on him and his mates 79 years ago. Now 99, ...
Read MoreParole board sounds warning on NT jails
Drug use, failing rehabilitation and staff resistance to change have pushed Northern Territory jails to a tipping point, the head of the parole board says. February 18, 2021 The Northern Territory’s overcrowded jails are at a “critical tipping point” with widespread drug use, failing rehabilitation programs and staff resistant to reform, the head of the ...
Read MoreNT Labor sacks MP for ‘dishonest acts’
A Territory Labor MP has been dumped by the party for allegedly lying about an inappropriate relationship amid media claims of illegal drug use by unnamed MPs. February 18, 2021 Northern Territory Labor has dumped a member of its parliamentary team for allegedly lying about an inappropriate relationship. Former policeman turned politician Mark Turner was ...
Read MoreFracking ‘risks NT groundwater ecology’
A study in the Northern Territory has found more work is needed to ensure gas fracking doesn’t endanger tiny subterranean shrimp critical to groundwater health. February 16, 2021 More research is needed to ensure proposed gas fracking in the Northern Territory’s Beetaloo Basin doesn’t endanger tiny subterranean shrimp critical to groundwater health, a study has found. ...
Read MoreFight over NT mine’s environmental bond
The Northern Territory government is facing a legal challenge after it lowered the environmental security bond paid by a massive lead and zinc mine. February 15, 2020 Traditional owners have launched legal action against the Northern Territory government after it slashed the environmental security bond paid by a massive lead and zinc mine. Borroloola community ...
Read MoreDarwin protest over detained refugees
Supporters of 15 refugees detained in a compound at Darwin airport have gathered to protest the group’s treatment and demand their release. February 13, 2021 About 200 protesters have gathered in Darwin to demand the release of refugees detained in a compound at the city’s airport for a year. Supporters of the 15 say they ...
Read MoreScientists use AI to help save coral reefs
Australia’s tropical marine research agency is set to use cloud computing and artificial intelligence to better understand and conserve threatened coral reefs. February 13, 2021 Australia’s tropical marine research agency is turbocharging facial recognition technology to analyse coral reef survey photos in a bid to keep pace with the rapid change in the threatened environments. ...
Read MoreMedical drones set to take off in Top End
Northern Territory scientists are studying if drones can deliver medical supplies and collect pathology samples from the Top End’s 80 remote health clinics. February 9, 2021 Scientists have teamed up with the Northern Territory government to investigate if drones can help deliver health care in remote communities. It’s hoped drones will also be able to ...
Read MoreNT mine slammed over environmental issues
Environmental mismanagement at the McArthur River Mine could have a devastating impact on a remote Northern Territory Indigenous community, researchers say. February 8, 2020 Acidic waste rock and a leaking dam at a massive Northern Territory mine could have a devastating impact on a remote Indigenous community and the local environment, a report has found. ...
Read MoreHeartbreak as bushfire destroys sanctuary
As an out-of-control bushfire raced across the Perth Hills, disabled zoologist Claire Stratford rushed to save her animals before the blaze destroyed her home. February 6, 2021 When zoologist Claire Stratford lost her dream job at Perth Zoo due to disability a decade ago, her rural home and the animal refuge she built became her ...
Read MoreHomes lost in WA bushfire revised up to 81
The number of homes lost to a bushfire in Perth’s northeast has been revised up to 81 as firefighters battle the blaze in gusty winds for the fourth day. February 4, 2020 The number of homes destroyed by an out-of-control bushfire in Perth’s northeast has been revised up to more than 80 as firefighters battle ...
Read MoreAnimals find WA bushfire refuge in stables
Perth’s premier thoroughbred auction house has flung open its stable doors to homeless animals following the devastating bushfires in the city’s northeast. February 4, 2020 Perth’s premier thoroughbred auction house has become a Noah’s Ark following devastating bushfires that have destroyed dozens of homes and forced hundreds of rural properties to be evacuated. The massive ...
Read MoreAir tankers save homes from WA bushfire
Strong winds are set to again test firefighters battling a blaze in Perth’s northeast after air tankers saved more homes from burning overnight. February 4, 2020 An out-of-control bushfire in Perth’s northeastern suburbs has been stopped from claiming more homes overnight, but strong winds are set to test firefighters for the fourth day. The massive ...
Read MorePerth bushfire flares as 71 homes lost
Gusty winds are pushing an out-of-control Perth bushfire that’s destroyed more than 70 homes towards suburbs in the city’s northeast. February 3, 2020 An out-of-control bushfire in Perth’s northeast has destroyed more than 70 homes, with residents to the north of the blaze told to evacuate as southerly winds whip up. The massive blaze with ...
Read MoreMore than 50 homes lost in Perth bushfire
A bushfire raging across Perth’s northeast has destroyed 56 homes, with authorities checking if lives have been lost in one badly hit area. February 2, 2021 An out-of-control bushfire burning in Perth’s northeastern suburbs has destroyed 56 homes, with authorities checking if lives have been lost in one badly hit area. The massive blaze with ...
Read MoreFacebook putting children at risk: Dutton
Peter Dutton has used the opening of a national centre for fighting child exploitation to lash out at Facebook for failing to combat the problem. October 23, 2020 Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has accused Facebook of putting profit ahead of children’s safety by refusing to work with authorities to stop sexual abuse. Mr Dutton ...
Read MoreInexperience caused fatal Qld plane crash
Crash investigators say a pilot and an instructor who died in a far north Queensland light aircraft accident had no recent experience in the plane. October 21, 2020 A rusty light aircraft pilot and an inexperienced flight instructor died in far north Queensland after their plane slammed into the ground during a training exercise, a ...
Read MoreMan lied about Aboriginality to win NT job
A former Northern Territory government security manager falsified his certificate of Aboriginality 15 times to land a job, the Top End corruption watchdog says. October 16, 2020 A former police officer lied about his Aboriginality to dishonestly land a Northern Territory government job after his grandmother told him he was Indigenous, the Top End’s corruption ...
Read MorePrime Minister slams Qld border rules
Queensland remains firm on border closures as new virus cases emerge in NSW, despite Scott Morrison’s criticism the state is missing out on the tourism trade. October 15, 2020 Prime Minister Scott Morrison has slammed Queensland’s tough COVID-19 border rules, despite the heightened state of alert in New South Wales. Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles ...
Read MoreInfamous bikie ‘executed’ at Qld home
Queensland outlaw motorcycle gang member Shane Bowden has been shot dead through his car window in his Gold Coast home’s garage. October 12, 2020 Notorious “ballroom blitz” brawl bikie Shane Bowden has been “executed” at his Gold Coast home during the second assassination attempt on him this year. The 48-year-old was gunned down at his ...
Read MorePM and Qld deputy premier’s war of words
Queensland Labor pledges to hire 9475 health staff if re-elected as the prime minister and deputy premier sledge each other over campaigning comments. October 11, 2020 Queensland Labor has promised to hire more than 9000 frontline health staff, including 1500 doctors, if re-elected as the deputy premier and prime minister trade barbs while campaigning. Premier ...
Read MoreQueensland border closure war hots up
Queensland is sticking to its guns in its COVID-19 border war with NSW as the premier launches a broadside at the prime minister over a national hotspot plan. October 10, 2020 Queensland is refusing to budge over its COVID-19 border closure as the war of words with NSW escalates and the premier launches a broadside ...
Read MoreQld terror suspect’s case returns to court
A Gold Coast man accused of multiple terrorism charges after being deported from Turkey has had his case briefly mentioned in court. October 9, 2020 Prosecutors want more time to prepare their case against a Queensland terrorism suspect who allegedly boasted about killing non-Muslims on social media. Agim Ajazi, 31, did not appear in Brisbane ...
Read MoreAdani back in court over Qld coal project
The Morrison government’s assessment of Adani’s scheme to pump Galilee Basin floodwater to its Carmichael coal mining project is being challenged in court. October 6, 2020 Adani is back in court over its controversial scheme to pump Galilee Basin floodwater to its Carmichael coal mining project in central Queensland. The Indian mining giant wants to ...
Read MoreMystery COVID-19 cases worry Vic Health
A concerning series of mysterious Victorian COVID-19 cases and an uptick in 14-day rolling average are a “call to arms”, the state’s chief health officer says. October 5, 2020 A series of mysterious Victorian COVID-19 cases has the state’s health officials worried following an uptick in the 14-day rolling average. There were 13 mystery cases ...
Read MorePalmer’s wife promoted to UAP executive
Two days after announcing she would run as a United Australia Party candidate in the Queensland election, Anna Palmer has been appointed state deputy leader. October 4, 2020 Clive Palmer’s wife has been appointed Queensland deputy leader of his United Australia Party, two days after announcing she would run as a candidate in the state ...
Read MoreNew Zealand border deal ‘big win’ for NT
Chief Minister Michael Gunner is urging New Zealand travellers to come to the Northern Territory, saying “the fish are biting” and “the beers are cold”. October 2, 2020 Chief Minister Michael Gunner says a deal struck to allow New Zealand travellers into the Northern Territory is a “big win” for Top End tourism and jobs. ...
Read MorePalmer adviser cleared of kidnap plot
Queensland Director of Public Prosecutions has dropped charges against an ex-Sydney Swans player and Clive Palmer’s media adviser over an alleged kidnap plot. October 2, 2020 Clive Palmer’s media adviser, a former AFL player and a former police officer have been cleared of charges related to an alleged plot to kidnap a banking executive on an ...
Read MoreJail for corrupt Ex-Qld mayor
Former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale has been jailed for at least 27 months’ imprisonment for corruption and sexually assaulting a woman in his mayoral chambers. September 30, 2020 A Queensland judge has slammed a former mayor for disgracefully abusing his position to prey on a young woman and undermining the integrity of local government. Paul ...
Read MoreJobKeeper cuts will hit Qld families hard
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has warned that Queensland families will be impacted by federal cuts to the JobKeeper wage subsidy. September 28, 2020 Queensland’s premier has warned families will bear the brunt of federal JobKeeper wage subsidy cuts, saying many are relying on it to get through the COVID-19 economic crisis. “We’re very concerned,” Annastacia Palaszczuk told ...
Read MoreQld police to appeal DV leaker’s sentence
Queensland police have sought permission to appeal the sentence handed to an officer for computer hacking after a court reduced the punishment. September 28, 2020 Queensland police will attempt to appeal the sentence handed to an officer who leaked the address of a domestic violence survivor to her ex-husband. Neil Glen Punchard, 54, used police computers ...
Read MoreEx-mayor Pisasale admits sexual assaults
Former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale has admitted sexually assaulting a woman in his mayoral chambers in 2016 and unlawful possession of Viagra. September 24, 2020 Former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale wanted to help the “beautiful people” of his city, instead, he’s admitted to sexually assaulting a woman in council chambers, official corruption and unlawful drug ...
Read MoreSamoa wants pig-head chucker extradited
A man who threw a pig’s head in a Queensland church while Samoa’s prime minister was visiting faces extradition to the Pacific nation over conspiracy to murder. September 22, 2020 The Samoan government wants to extradite a political activist who threw a pig’s head in a Queensland church to insult the Pacific nation’s prime minister ...
Read MoreWhale in croc-infested NT river swims free
A humpback whale trapped in the Northern Territory’s crocodile-infested East Alligator River has swum free of the murky waterway and out to sea. September 21, 2020 A humpback whale that took a wrong turn into a crocodile-infested Northern Territory river has swum free after more than two weeks in the murky waterway. It’s the first time ...
Read MoreQld police fear more attacks after brawl
Police are concerned there will be retribution attacks after a man died during a fight between two groups of about 20 people in northern Brisbane. September 14, 2020 Queensland police fear there will be revenge attacks following a deadly brawl between members of Brisbane’s African community. A man in his 20s died after the fight ...
Read MoreQld school racially discriminated against longhaired boy
A Brisbane Christian school racially discriminated against a five-year-old Cook Islands’ boy, when it threatened to expel him if he did not cut his hair. July 11, 2020 A private Christian school in Brisbane has been found to have racially discriminated against a five-year-old Cook Islands boy for threatening to expel him for having long ...
Read More$3m fine following Qld’s first industrial manslaughter conviction
A Queensland court has handed down the state’s first industrial manslaughter sentence after a worker was hit and killed by a forklift at a car wrecking yard. June 11, 2020 Queensland’s first sentence for industrial manslaughter has been handed down, with an auto wrecking company fined $3 million over the death of a worker. Tiger Barry ...
Read MoreQld man jailed for running down police
A man, who almost killed a policeman when he ran him down with a stolen car in Brisbane, will spend at least eight years behind bars. June 5, 2020 A Queensland judge has warned that a violent attack which left a policeman fighting for his life has the potential to encourage US-style police brutality. Senior Constable ...
Read MoreQld man who ran down cop faces sentence
Craig Aland Townshend faces jail time after almost killing a policeman when he ran him down with a stolen BMW in Brisbane. June 4, 2020 A police officer run down by a stolen car and left for dead with critical injuries says every day of his miracle recovery is a battle. Senior Constable Aaron Izzard’s ...
Read MorePalmer claims QN judgment as a win
A judge has rejected a Queensland Nickel liquidator’s $102 million claim against Clive Palmer’s flagship company Mineralogy. June 3, 2020 Outspoken billionaire businessman Clive Palmer has thwarted a liquidator’s bid to claw back more than $100 million over his failed nickel refinery. However, Justice Deborah Mullins found Queensland Nickel refinery traded insolvently in the days ...
Read MoreQld child safety dept ‘failed’ Mason Jet Lee
Queensland’s child safety department failed in its duty to protect toddler Mason Jet Lee from serious harm in the months before his death, a coroner has found. June 2, 2020 Had any of the Queensland child safety officers tasked with looking after an abused toddler done their job in the weeks before his horrific death, ...
Read MoreHigh Court rejects FMG native title appeal
The High Court has dismissed Fortescue Metals Group’s application to appeal a native title ruling covering its Solomon iron ore mine in Western Australia. May 29, 2020 Australia’s highest court has rejected a bid by one of the nation’s largest iron ore producers to appeal a native title ruling. The High Court on Friday dismissed Fortescue ...
Read MoreFirst Qld industrial manslaughter sentence
A Queensland court is hearing sentencing submissions for the state’s first industrial manslaughter case after a worker was hit and killed by a forklift. May 28, 2020 An unlicensed forklift driver fatally struck a colleague at a wrecking yard that lacked safety barriers, a court hearing Queensland’s first industrial manslaughter prosecution has been told. Tiger Barry ...
Read MoreBoot scoot scam trips up Qld line dancers
A Queensland father and son have been charged over a line-dancing holiday scam, which allegedly ripped off would-be boot scooters for more than $400,000. May 7, 2020 A Queensland father and son accused of ripping off boot scooters for hundreds of thousands of dollars in a line-dancing holiday scam used elaborate disguises while on the ...
Read MoreViolent Qld rapist handed seven life sentences
Queensland man Nicholas Crilley has been handed seven life sentences for systematically raping and burning a woman during 23 days of drug-induced violence. May 1, 2020 A Queensland man, who took pleasure as he systematically raped and burned a woman during three weeks of drug-induced violence, has been handed seven life sentences. Nicholas John Crilley’s vicious ...
Read MoreMan jailed for stabbing wife after she asked for a divorce
An Indian national, who stabbed his wife more than 20 times at their Brisbane home after she asked for a divorce, has been sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment. April 28, 2020 An Indian man has been jailed for stabbing his wife more than 20 times during a frenzied attack at their Brisbane home after she ...
Read MoreSerial rapist sentenced for sex attacks in jail
Notorious rapist Raymond Henry Garland indecently assaulted fellow inmates at a Queensland prison in the months before he was released and raped three people. April 24, 2020 A notorious rapist, who has spent almost four decades behind bars, has been sentenced for historical sex attacks on two young men in a Queensland prison. Raymond Henry ...
Read MorePolish nanny death due to Qld rape: lawyer
A prosecutor says a Polish nanny deliberately drove her car into the path of a truck in a bid to take her own life after being violently raped in Queensland. April 22, 2020 A Polish national deliberately drove her car into the path of a truck to end her life after being bashed and raped ...
Read MoreQld man raped and tortured woman for three weeks
A Queensland man raped and burned a woman during 23 days of depraved violence that grew more brutal as her injuries worsened. April 21, 2020 A Queensland man systematically raped and burned a woman during three weeks of drug-induced violence that grew more brutal as her injuries worsened. Nicholas John Crilley, 34, pleaded guilty to ...
Read MoreSixth Queenslander dies from COVID-19
Another Queenslander has died from COVID-19 after travelling on a cruise liner, while eight people have tested positive for the disease overnight. April 18, 2020 A sixth Queenslander has died after contracting the coronavirus while onboard a cruise ship as the state’s infection rate continues to creep forward. The tragic news comes as the Palaszczuk government boosts ...
Read MoreQueensland offers $200m bailout to Virgin
Cash-strapped airline Virgin Australia has been offered a $200 million lifeline by the Queensland government but it comes with strings attached. April 18, 2020 The Queensland government has offered $200 million to help rescue Virgin Australia, as the cash-strapped airline struggles to survive. The airline suspended trading in its shares to continue talks on financial aid ...
Read MoreQld wife killer uses Pell case at appeal
Convicted wife killer John Chardon has attempted to use the High Court’s recent decision on Cardinal George Pell to overturn his manslaughter conviction. April 16, 2020 A Queensland millionaire has attempted to use the High Court’s decision on Cardinal George Pell to have his conviction for killing his wife quashed. John William Chardon, 72, also ...
Read MoreJailed Brit say COVID-19 has created hysteria in Qld jail
A British man charged with the possession and supply of dangerous drugs over $90 million of illegal drugs wants bail so he can move to a detention centre. April 14, 2020 A British national with alleged links to an international drug syndicate that attempted to import $90 million of illegal drugs into Queensland has applied for ...
Read MoreBackpackers struggle under COVID-19 rules
Stranded backpackers are struggling to adhere to social distancing regulations in crowded youth hostels across Australia as they wait for flights home. April 3, 2020 Stranded international backpackers risk hefty fines and coronavirus infection as they wait for flights home in crowded youth hostels across Australia. Many continue to flout social distancing regulations in hotspots ...
Read MoreNigerian romance scammer fleeces Qld woman
A Nigerian student who posed as a diplomat to fleece a vulnerable Brisbane woman out of $105,000 via a romance scam has avoided spending more time in jail. April 2, 2020 A Nigerian student who posed as a diplomat to scam a vulnerable Brisbane woman after she had been scammed by another man posing as ...
Read MoreQueensland terrorism suspect gets COVID-19 bail
A Queensland man accused of attempting to support a terrorist organisation will be released on bail amid the coronavirus crisis. April 2, 2020 An alleged terrorism sympathiser will be released from jail after a Brisbane court was told the coronavirus crisis will have a severe impact on his wellbeing. Alaa Adam Atwani is charged with ...
Read MoreChild safety ignored police over toddler
In the months before Mason Jet Lee died, Queensland child safety officers failed to pass on information to police despite two search warrants demanding it. March 25, 2020 Queensland child safety officers failed to pass on information to police about neglected toddler Mason Jet Lee despite two search warrants demanding it. The 21-month-year-old was struck ...
Read MoreMurdered Qld teen never had a chance
The Queensland man who killed pregnant teen prostitute Tiffany Taylor previously spent 15 years in jail for murder and will now likely die in prison. March 20, 2020 Pregnant teenager Tiffany Taylor never had a chance. She was living with a man almost three times her age and working as a prostitute when she agreed ...
Read MoreQld teen’s murderer had killed before
The Queensland man found guilty of murdering pregnant teen sex worker Tiffany Taylor in 2015 murdered his elderly neighbour about 40 years earlier. March 20, 2020 The Queensland man who murdered pregnant teen prostitute Tiffany Taylor had killed before. Rodney Wayne Williams, 65, was convicted on Friday of murdering the 16-year-old after meeting her on ...
Read MoreToddler’s injuries worst a doctor had seen
In the months before Queensland toddler Mason Jet Lee died, he was seriously sick and suffering the worst injuries his veteran doctor had ever seen. March 17, 2020 Toddler Mason Jet Lee suffered the worst injuries a veteran Queensland doctor had ever seen in the months before he died. The pediatrician, who cannot be identified ...
Read MoreAccused murderer gloated on social media
A man who allegedly murdered a teen sex worker gloated about his knowledge of the female body on a social networking website, a Brisbane court has been told. March 12, 2020 The man who allegedly murdered teen call girl Tiffany Taylor gloated about his knowledge of the female body on social media, a court has ...
Read MoreAccused murderer wanted submissive women
A man who allegedly murdered a teen sex worker said he was looking for submissive females on a social networking website, a Brisbane court has been told. March 11, 2020 The man who allegedly murdered teen sex worker Tiffany Taylor advertised for submissive females on a social networking website, a court has been told. Rodney ...
Read MoreSlain Qld teen tried to blackmail lover
Teen sex worker Tiffany Taylor attempted to blackmail a man for thousands of dollars before she disappeared in 2015, a Brisbane court has been told. March 11, 2020 Missing teen call girl Tiffany Taylor attempted to blackmail a man she met for sex for thousands of dollars claiming she had been raped, a court has ...
Read MoreSlain Qld teen’s fraught messages for cash
Teen sex worker Tiffany Taylor sent dozens of messages on a website offering sex for cash in the days before she disappeared, a Brisbane court has been told. February 28, 2020 Teen call girl Tiffany Taylor sent dozens of messages offering sex for cash in a desperate bid to pay her rent in the days ...
Read MoreFamily of slain teen tried to protect her
Relatives of missing teen Tiffany Taylor tied to stop her starting a relationship with a man more than two decades older, a Brisbane court has been told. February 27, 2020 The family of pregnant teen Tiffany Taylor was desperate for her to cut ties with a “user” boyfriend more than two decades her senior before ...
Read More‘Lock the maggot up’ Qld murder trial told
Missing pregnant teen Tiffany Anna Taylor’s boyfriend has called the man accused of her murder a maggot after he finished giving testimony in a Brisbane court. February 26, 2020 The boyfriend of missing Brisbane teenager Tiffany Taylor has called the man accused of her murder a maggot as he stepped from the witness box. Harrowing ...
Read MoreMissing teen’s life as call girl revealed
Missing pregnant teen Tiffany Anna Taylor’s life as a call girl has been laid bare at the Queensland trial of her accused murderer Rodney Wayne Williams. February 26, 2020 The harrowing details of pregnant teenager Tiffany Taylor’s life as a call girl have been laid bare at a Queensland murder trial. The 16-year-old disappeared on ...
Read MoreDreamworld’s owner may face prosecution
A Queensland coroner has referred Dreamworld’s owner Ardent Leisure for possible prosecution over the 2016 accident which killed four people. February 24, 2020 With staff writers Dreamworld’s owners could be fined $3 million if prosecuted over the 2016 accident that killed four holidaymakers, whose families claim the theme park put profits ahead of safety. Cindy Low, ...
Read MoreDreamworld ride safety ‘frightening’
A Queensland coroner says Dreamworld had “frighteningly unsophisticated” systems protecting patrons on the Thunder River Rapids ride. February 24, 2020 AAP staff writers Dreamworld had “frighteningly unsophisticated” systems protecting patrons on the Thunder River Rapids ride, a coroner has found. Cindy Low, Kate Goodchild, her brother Luke Dorsett and his partner Roozi Araghi died in ...
Read MoreMan found guilty of double toolbox murder
Queensland man Tuhirangi-Thomas Tahiata has been found guilty of murdering two drug dealers who were locked in a toolbox and dumped in a creek. February 21, 2020 A Queensland man who helped dump two drug dealers locked inside a toolbox into a creek where they died has been found guilty of murder. Tuhirangi-Thomas Tahiata, 28, ...
Read MoreToolbox murder accused confessed twice
A man accused of murdering two people, who were forced into a toolbox and dumped in a Brisbane creek, confessed to police twice, a court has been told. February 17, 2020 A man accused of murdering two drug dealers, who were forced into a toolbox and dumped in a creek, confessed to police twice within ...
Read MoreToolbox murder accused grateful to police
A man accused of murdering two people, who were found in a toolbox in a creek, says he was “grateful” to be arrested and wanted to get the truth off his chest. February 13, 2020 A man accused of murdering two drug dealers, who were forced into a toolbox and dumped in a creek, told ...
Read MoreFatal BBQ bashing sentence unfair: family
The family of a man who died after he was attacked at a Brisbane barbecue says they are “gutted” by the manslaughter sentence handed to one of his attackers. February 13, 2020 Relatives of a man fatally beaten at a Brisbane barbecue for making an offensive but trivial comment say they’re gutted one of his attackers could ...
Read MoreQld toolbox murder victims began to float
A Brisbane man accused of murdering two people, who were forced into a toolbox and dumped in a creek, says the bodies began to float. February 13, 2020 A man accused of murdering two drug dealers, who were forced into a toolbox and dumped in a creek, says the decomposing bodies began to float days ...
Read MoreCliff death plan for murdered toolbox duo
A Brisbane man accused of murdering two people, who were forced into a toolbox and dumped in a creek, says a mate wanted to throw the pair off a cliff. February 13, 2020 A man accused of murdering two drug dealers forced into a toolbox at knifepoint and dumped in a creek says one of ...
Read MoreToolbox murder accused blames his ‘mates’
A Brisbane man accused of murdering two people, who were forced into a toolbox and dumped in a creek, says old school friends were behind the killings. February 12, 2020 A man accused of murdering two drug dealers forced into a toolbox at knifepoint and dumped in a creek says his mates planned the killings ...
Read MoreQld murder accused ‘stoned’ in confession
A Brisbane man accused of murdering two people, who were forced into a toolbox and dumped in a creek, may have been on drugs when he confessed to police. February 12. 2020 A man accused of murdering two drug dealers who were forced into a toolbox at knifepoint and dumped in a creek may have ...
Read MoreQld murder accused feared for his life
A man accused of murdering two people, who died after being forced into a toolbox and dumped in a creek, says he feared for his life before killing the pair. February 11, 2020 A man accused of murdering two drug dealers who were forced into a toolbox and dumped in a creek told police he ...
Read MoreMurder accused ‘too busy on drugs’ to kill
A Brisbane man accused of murdering two people, who died after being forced into a toolbox and dumped in a creek, said he was too busy using drugs to kill them. February 11, 2020 A Brisbane man accused of murdering two drug dealers who were shoved in a toolbox and dumped in a creek told ...
Read MoreMurdered Qld drug dealer knew he would die
A murdered drug dealer who was bashed, stabbed and shoved into a toolbox before being dumped in a creek knew he would die, a court has been told. January 7, 2020 A murdered drug dealer knew he was going to die when his killers ordered him into a toolbox that they later dumped into a ...
Read MoreMurdered toolbox duo’s ‘bloody’ last day
Two murdered drug dealers were stabbed and bashed before being forced into a toolbox and thrown in a creek, a Brisbane court has been told. February 6, 2020 Two drug dealers were stabbed, bashed and forced into a toolbox at knifepoint before being dumped in a creek, a court has been told. Cory Breton and ...
Read MoreHefty price on murdered toolbox drug dealer’s head
A murdered drug dealer had “$50,000 on his head” before he was locked in a toolbox that was thrown in a creek, a court has been told. February 5, 2020 A murdered drug dealer with “$50,000 on his head” was preparing to flee a day before he was locked in a toolbox with an associate ...
Read MoreToolbox murder victims ‘pleaded for lives’
Two drug dealers, who allegedly died after they were lured to a home, locked in a toolbox and thrown into water, screamed for their lives, a court has heard. February 4, 2020 Two drug dealers screamed out and pleaded for their lives from inside a toolbox as it was pushed into a creek before they ...
Read MoreQld triple murder accused to be released
A man charged with the 1978 murders of three people in North Queensland has been given bail after some of the evidence against him was found to be exaggerated. January 31, 2020 A former prison guard charged over the murder of three friends on an outback motorcycle adventure four decades ago will be released on ...
Read MoreMass evacuations as fire conditions worsen
Thousands of people have evacuated communities in Australia’s bushfire-ravaged southeast ahead of extreme fire-weather forecast for the weekend. January 3, 2020 Thousands of people have fled Australia’s bushfire-ravaged southeast as the death toll rises and catastrophic fire conditions approach. The worst fires are burning in Victoria’s east and on the NSW south coast, where eight ...
Read MoreThousands flee extreme bushfire threat
Thousands of people are evacuating fire-threatened communities in Australia’s southeast as extreme weather conditions are forecast for the weekend. January 2, 2020 Traffic queues, blocked roads and fuel shortages are hampering a mass evacuation of Australia’s bushfire-ravaged southeast ahead of extreme fire-weather forecast for the weekend. The worst blazes are burning in Victoria’s east and ...
Read MoreNSW and Vic bushfires claim eight lives
Eight people have been confirmed dead and hundreds of homes have been destroyed as out-of-control bushfires savaged NSW and Victoria. January 1, 2020 Eight people have died, others are missing and hundreds of homes have been destroyed as fire crews battle dozens of out-of-control bushfires in Australia’s southeast. The worst of the blazes are in ...
Read MoreFive missing, two dead as nation burns
Five people are missing, two more are dead and thousands are cut off in remote communities as out-of-control bushfires savage NSW and Victoria. January 1, 2020 Fire crews battling hundreds of blazes are facing another tough day across Australia as burnt out communities begin counting their losses. Five people are missing, two more are dead ...
Read MoreTwo dead, five missing as Australia burns
Australia’s military has been called in to help with evacuations in devastated areas of Victoria as two people died fighting bushfires in NSW. December 31, 2019 A father and son have died and five people are missing as deadly bushfires force thousands of people to shelter on beaches and the military is called to help ...
Read MoreFirefighters face wall of flame
A firefighting emergency is gripping southern Australia as bushfires continue to burn out of control, with multiple emergency warnings in place. December 30, 2019 Fire crews are battling catastrophic fire dangers in Victoria with flames leaping 20 metres into the air and massive smoke columns creating thundery lightning storms. Multiple emergency alerts have been issued ...
Read MoreSino-Aussie fraudster jailed for expat scam
A Chinese-Australian man who stole identities and forged passports to secure loans to repay debts and fund his lifestyle has been jailed for 10 years. December 6, 2019 A failed Queensland gambler and alleged associate of ex-Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale used a private eye and forged passports to help steal Chinese expatriates’ identities, a court ...
Read MoreChinese expats lose millions in Qld fraud
A Queensland court has heard a failed Chinese-Australian gambler stole identities and forged passports to secure loans to repay debts and fund his lifestyle. December 4, 2019 A failed Queensland gambler stole identities and forged passports to gain control of Chinese expatriates’ homes so he could secure loans to repay millions of dollars in debts ...
Read MoreWoman jailed over Qld toolbox murders
A Queensland woman has been jailed for manslaughter after she helped clean up a home where a couple was forced into a toolbox before being dumped in a creek. December 3, 2019 A mother of seven who helped to clean a Brisbane unit where a couple were tortured before being forced into a metal toolbox ...
Read MoreMurderer had co-accused women under spell
Two women convicted of manslaughter for helping their manipulative lover murder one of their ex-husbands were controlled by him, a Brisbane court has heard. November 29, 2019 Two vulnerable women under the spell of a violent and manipulative killer helped him plot the bloody murder of one of their ex-husbands, a Queensland court has heard. ...
Read MoreQld man left for dead in pool of blood
Two women are set to be sentenced for manslaughter after a Queensland man was ambushed by two sword-wielding men and left for dead in a pool of his own blood. November 29, 2019 Two more people are set to be sentenced after a Queensland man was ambushed by two sword-wielding attackers and left for dead ...
Read MoreQld sword murderers get life in prison
Two men who ambushed a Queensland father with swords and left him to bleed to death in front of his family at a rural property have been jailed for life. November 28, 2019 Two men drove 1000km to ambush a Queensland father, “brutally” attacked him with swords then left him bleeding to death to silence ...
Read MoreQld teen beaten purple by murder accused
The man accused of killing a teenager and stuffing her body in a barrel will stand trial for murder after a witness testified he beat the 16-year-old purple. November 28, 2019 An associate of body-in-barrel victim Larissa Beilby says she tried to help the battered teen after the man accused of her murder “beat her ...
Read MoreBody-in-barrel suspect ‘gave teen drugs’
A friend of the body-in-barrel victim Larissa Beilby has told a Brisbane court about hotel room sex and drug-taking with the teen and her accused murderer. November 27, 2019 A family friend of the body-in-barrel victim has recalled nights of hotel room sex and drug-taking with the teen and her accused murderer to a Queensland court. ...
Read MoreQld body-in-barrel injuries shocked pathologist
The man accused of murdering a Brisbane teen and stuffing her body in a barrel talked about “knocking her” the day she died, a court has heard. November 26, 2019 The doctor who examined a murdered Brisbane teen found stuffed inside a barrel had done thousands of autopsies, but the injuries inflicted on Larissa Beilby ...
Read MoreBushfires force rethink about how we live
Australians are being told to rethink everything from health to housing as more than 130 bushfires rage across drought-parched Queensland and NSW. November 14, 2019 Lives will change as bushfire seasons become longer and more fierce, a health expert has warned. Australians are being told to rethink everything from health to housing as more than ...
Read MoreIraq nurse warned ambassador before shooting
An inquest into the death of a security contractor at Australia’s embassy in Iraq has heard a nurse raised concerns about the contractors with the ambassador. November 7, 2019 A former nurse at the Australian Embassy in Iraq told the ambassador about careless weapons handling and alcohol abuse by security contractors before a bodyguard’s death, ...
Read MoreWitness to ex-soldier’s death a ‘loose canon’
An inquest into the death of a former soldier at the Australian embassy in Iraq has heard a man in the room when he died was a ‘loose cannon’. November 6, 2019 A former commando who saw a colleague shoot himself in the head after a drinking session at the Australian embassy in Iraq was ...
Read MoreEx-soldier put gun to head, Qld inquest hears
An inquest in Brisbane into the death of a former soldier at the Australian embassy in Iraq has heard about his last moments before dying from a gunshot wound. November 4, 2019 An elite former soldier protecting Australian embassy staff in Iraq put a gun to his head and pulled the trigger, an inquest has ...
Read MoreBushfire-ravaged Qld community struggling
A Gold Coast hinterland bushfire has been extinguished, but residents are battling a mammoth and costly task of making their homes liveable again. October 8, 2019 A month after a massive Gold Coast bushfire destroyed eight on her street, Binna Burra resident Sharon Innis is struggling in the aftermath of the massive blaze. The 43-year-old cleaner ...
Read MoreNSW dad who underfed daughter faces jail
A single dad’s failure to properly care for his severely disabled daughter after her mother abandoned them could see him jailed by a Queensland court. September 25, 2019 A dumped Sydney’s dad’s failure to properly feed and care for his severely disabled daughter after her mother abandoned them could see him jailed. Ronald Gary Smith, ...
Read MoreSacked Qld workers ‘used as pawns’: union
A union representing 150 sacked Queensland workers says they were used as pawns in a failed bid to win government approvals for a controversial coal project. September 20, 2019 Sacked Queensland workers were used as pawns in a failed bid to win government approvals for a controversial $900 million coal project, the CFMEU says. About ...
Read MoreSacked coal workers hope for Qld govt help
Sacked coal workers are hoping the Queensland government will immediately approve a controversial mining project and save 150 jobs. September 19, 2019 Queensland miners “gutted” at being retrenched as approvals for a controversial coal project stalled are hoping the state government will intervene to save hundreds of jobs. After three weeks of staff negotiations, 150 ...
Read MorePM called on to stop Qld shark kill ban
Queensland’s tourism minister says the prime minister could have “blood on his hands” if he doesn’t act to allow shark culling on the Great Barrier Reef. September 18, 2019 Queensland’s tourism minister says Prime Minister Scott Morrison could have “blood on his hands” if he doesn’t intervene on a ban preventing shark culling on the ...
Read MoreDesperate farmers fight Qld mine for water
Drought-ravaged Queensland graziers say they won’t stop fighting to stop the New Acland coal mine, which they claim threatens their water supply. September 16, 2019 Drought-stricken Queensland farmers fighting to stop a controversial coal project they say threatens their water supply are refusing to give up despite the failure of a major legal challenge. More ...
Read MoreQueensland ‘zombie’ drug importer jailed
A Brisbane man who was busted for importing a million dollars worth of “zombie” drugs has been sentenced to more than nine years in prison. September 10, 2019 A million-dollar “zombie” drug haul has resulted in more than nine years jail for a Brisbane man after police intercepted the shipment from China. Sammuel Bartrim, 26, ...
Read MoreNervous wait for Qlders in bushfire zones
A Gold Coast hinterland resident evacuated due to a bushfire threat says she has her most precious possession with her. September 7, 2019 Binna Burra resident Sophie Bryden doesn’t know if her home is still standing. And she may not find out for days due to the ongoing bushfire threat near her property. “You don’t know what ...
Read MoreQld murder accused gave to the poor and then had sex with them
A Gold Coast businessman accused of murdering his wife denies he demanded sex in exchange for helping students and says he couldn’t take up all offers of sex. September 2, 2019 A Gold Coast businessman accused of murdering his estranged wife amid a bitter divorce row says he’s not Superman and couldn’t have sex with ...
Read MoreQld murder accused: ‘I’m not Superman’
A Gold Coast businessman accused of murdering his wife denies he demanded sex in exchange for helping students – and says he couldn’t take up all offers of sex. September 2, 2019 A Gold Coast businessman accused of murdering his estranged wife amid a bitter divorce row insists he couldn’t have sex with everyone who ...
Read MoreQld murder accused tried to hire hitman
A Gold Coast man on trial for his estranged wife’s murder tried to hire a hitman and discussed throwing her off a cliff, a court has heard. August 23, 2019 A Gold Coast man accused of murdering his wife tried to hire a Filipino hitman and discussed throwing her off a cliff, a court has ...
Read MorePalmer’s $100M QN loans never ‘sinister’
Clive Palmer’s lawyers at the Queensland Nickel collapse trial say the billionaire businessman’s $100 million loans were transparent and just business. August 21, 2019 Clive Palmer’s $102 million unrepaid loans from the cash-strapped Queensland Nickel refinery was transparent and never “sinister”, a court has heard. The series of massive loans to Mr Palmer’s flagship company, ...
Read MoreAdani bankrupts traditional owner in Qld
An indigenous opponent to Adani’s central Queensland coal mine has been made bankrupt so the mining giant can recover $600,000 in legal costs. August 15, 2019 Mining giant Adani has bankrupted an indigenous traditional owner opposed to its central Queensland coal mine in a bid to make him pay $600,000 in legal costs. Self-represented Wangan ...
Read MoreNo bail for Olympian over $200m drug haul
Olympic silver medallist Nathan Baggaley has been denied bail in Brisbane over an alleged plot to import more than half a tonne of cocaine. August 15, 2019 World champion kayaker and Olympic silver medallist Nathan Baggaley has been denied bail following his alleged involvement in a botched plot to import $210 million worth of cocaine ...
Read MorePalmer blinks in Qld Nickel collapse fight
Mining magnate Clive Palmer has agreed to pay liquidators $18 million to settle Queensland Nickel’s $88 million unpaid rail transport debt owed to Aurizon. August 2, 2019 Clive Palmer has blinked first during his $200 million standoff with Queensland Nickel’s liquidators, agreeing to pay $18 million to settle $88 million in unpaid rail transport fees. It’s the first concession ...
Read MorePalmer settles $90m Qld Nickel claim
Clive Palmer has settled a $90 million claim over the collapse of Queensland Nickel following two nights of out of court discussions, a court has been told. August 1, 2019 Clive Palmer has settled part of his massive $200 million lawsuit with liquidators over the collapse of Queensland Nickel, a court has heard. A lawyer for the liquidators, Shane ...
Read MorePalmer paid $1 for failed Qld refinery
Billionaire businessman Clive Palmer paid one dollar for his Townsville refinery, that collapsed in 2016 leaving hundreds unemployed and owning millions. July 26, 2019 Clive Palmer paid one dollar for Queensland Nickel when he purchased it from BHP seven years before it collapsed with the loss of hundreds of jobs and owing millions, a court ...
Read MoreUS expert slams Palmer Qld Nickel deal
A deal between Clive Palmer and Queensland Nickel, days before administrators were called to the cash-strapped refinery, was worthless, a court has heard. July 23, 2019 An international expert says two of Clive Palmer’s Queensland mining assets were worthless when the billionaire allegedly signed two multimillion-dollar deals with the cash-strapped Queensland Nickel refinery. The $235 ...
Read MorePalmer signing deals as workers sacked
Queensland Nickel was losing $5 million a month and Clive Palmer signed a deal that would strip it of $135 million more, a court has heard. July 17, 2019 As Clive Palmer’s Queensland Nickel hurtled towards collapse, the ailing company was said to be $25 million in the red and losing $5 million more each a ...
Read MorePalmer’s Qld Nickel ‘insolvent for months’
Clive Palmer’s Townsville nickel refinery was cash-strapped months before administrators were called in and hundreds of workers lost their jobs, a court heard. July 17, 2019 Clive Palmer’s Queensland Nickel refinery was trading insolvently months before administrators were called in to oversee the cash-strapped company, a court has heard. They ultimately decided the business was ...
Read MorePalmer acted in own interests, court told
Clive Palmer protected himself ahead of his employees’ and suppliers’ interests in days before Queensland Nickel went into administration, a court has heard. July 16, 2019 As Queensland Nickel crumbled around him, billionaire businessman Clive Palmer took steps to protect himself ahead of his workers, a court has heard. The billionaire businessman is defending a ...
Read MoreCourt fight a moral responsibility: Palmer
Clive Palmer says he’s fighting a $200 million claim over the collapse of his Queensland Nickel business for the “greater good”. July 15, 2019 Billionaire businessman Clive Palmer says he won’t be settling a multi-million dollar claim by the liquidators of Queensland Nickel, which collapsed in early 2016 with the loss of hundreds of jobs. ...
Read MoreAccused Qld murderer ‘gave himself away’
A cash-strapped Queensland man accused of murdering his wealthy uncle over money accidentally outed himself for the crime to two ex-cops, his trial has heard. June 18, 2019 Tipsy on free whiskey, a cash-strapped Queensland man accused of murdering his wealthy uncle accidentally outed himself to two ex-cops at a strip joint, his trial has ...
Read MoreAccused Qld murderer confessed: ex-cop
A former Queensland police officer says accused murderer Robert Wagner confessed to killing his wealthy uncle during a heated discussion. June 17, 2019 A cash-strapped Queensland man accused of murdering his wealthy uncle over money confessed his crime to a “petrified” former police officer, a trial has heard. Robert James Wagner, 57, is accused of ...
Read MoreQld murder accused ‘hunted for alibi’
A former business partner of a Queensland man accused of murdering his wealthy uncle over money says he was offered money for an alibi. June 17, 2019 A cash-strapped Queensland man accused of murdering his wealthy uncle over money offered to pay a business associate for an alibi, a witness says. Robert James Wagner, 57, ...
Read MoreDead Qld pilot’s note provides crash clues
A hand-written note found in the wreckage of a light aircraft has helped solve why a Brisbane flight instructor and a student pilot crashed and died. May 22, 2019 A flight instructor’s hand-written note found in the wreckage of a light-aircraft was the vital clue investigators needed to understand why two men died when the ...
Read MoreANZAC vets march with pride in Brisbane
Crowds have cheered as thousands of serving and ex-servicemen and women marched through Brisbane’s streets on Anzac Day. April 25, 2019 Veteran Paul La Forest says he owes it to his mates, who were killed in Vietnam, to march in Brisbane’s Anzac Day parade. The 74-year-old spent a year and a day near Nui Dat with Tiger ...
Read MorePride and sadness mark Anzac Day in Qld
Thousands of Queenslanders have attended dawn services and parades on Anzac Day to honour serving and ex-servicemen and women. April 25, 2019 Sandra Davis didn’t serve in the military but for more than 25 years she has proudly marched on Anzac Day to commemorate her father’s service in World War II. Her dad, Bill Wharton, survived ...
Read MoreCoal train activist’s sanity questioned
A man has faced court following his five-hour protest on a Queensland coal train, which cost the freight company $1.3 million. April 20, 2019 A Queensland magistrate has questioned an anti-coal activist’s sanity after he stepped in front of a moving train to protest against climate change. The five-hour protest on an Aurizon coal train ...
Read MoreDad snatches toddler son from dingo’s jaws
A father has rescued his toddler son from a dingo that was dragging him off into the bush on Fraser Island in Queensland. April 19, 2019 A toddler is in hospital with a fractured skull and cuts to his head and neck after a dingo dragged him from his bed on Queensland’s Fraser Island. The ...
Read MoreEnraged Qld dad who killed toddler jailed
A Queensland man has been jailed for torturing his toddler son before fatally hurling him against a wooden bedhead. April 11, 2019 An enraged Queensland father, who slammed his disobedient toddler son on a bed with so much force it killed him, will spend at least 10 years in prison. Shane Purssell Akehurst, 37, was ...
Read MoreFreed Qld dad flies home after Egyptian detention
The family of a Egyptian-Australian man held without charge for more than a year say he’s on his way home to Brisbane. April 3, 2019 An Egyptian-Australian detained for more than a year without charge in Cairo and blocked by officials from leaving Egypt after he was released is on his way home to Brisbane, ...
Read MoreGreat Barrier Reef shark culling to end
Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority will no longer be permitted to cull sharks following the Administrative Appeals Tribunal decision. April 2, 2019 Sharks will no longer be culled on Great Barrier Reef following a court challenge to the Queensland government’s shark control program by the Humane Society. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority ...
Read MoreQld trawler diver found body by touch
An inquest in Gladstone investigating the deaths of six fishermen lost off the Queensland coast has heard police divers found two bodies by touch. March 27, 2019 A Queensland police diver who found the first of six missing men after a fishing trawler capsized had to push aside floating mattresses, kitchen gear and ropes as he felt ...
Read MoreRopes may have choked trawler’s propeller
An inquest investigating the deaths of six fishermen off the Queensland coast has heard ropes may have led to their boat capsizing. March 27, 2019 Ropes wrapping around the propeller of a fishing trawler that capsized in rough seas off the Queensland coast could have caused six men to die, an inquest has heard. But ...
Read MoreNT residents shelter in path of cyclone
Residents from communities in the north are sheltering in Darwin and Katherine in the largest evacuation before a cyclone in the NT’s history. March 22, 2019 The last family has been evacuated from the tiny Northern Territory town of Borroloola ahead of Cyclone Trevor, as the powerful weather system intensifies to category three and picks up speed. Speaking ...
Read MorePriest’s trial hears boy posed for lewd photos
One of Michael Endicott’s young students in the 1970s has testified about the then priest asking him to pose for photos with his swimming costume pulled down. March 6, 2019 A former student at a Brisbane Catholic school has testified a priest made him pull down his “budgie smugglers” to take lewd photos of him. ...
Read MoreQld town demands Tamil asylum seeker family’s release
Supporters of a Tamil asylum seeker family taken into custody from their Queensland home 12 months ago have used a newspaper advert to demand their release. March 5, 2019 A small Queensland town fighting for the return of a Tamil asylum seeker family taken into custody a year ago have stepped up their battle to ...
Read MoreConcern grows for Qld man held in Egypt
The family of a Queensland man held without charge for more than a year in appalling conditions in an Egyptian prison fear for his health. February 10, 2019 When Brisbane man Hazem Hamouda landed in Egypt for a dream holiday with his Australian-born family, he never imagined it would land him in prison. The devoted ...
Read MoreNauru refugee’s burns death raises concern
Iranian refugee Omid Masoumali died in a Brisbane hospital after suffering burns to 57 per cent of his body on Nauru, the Queensland coroners court has heard. October 11, 2018 It took 31 hours for the Australian government to get Omid Masoumali to a specialist burns unit after the Iranian refugee set himself alight to protest ...
Read MoreFat solves 558-million-year science puzzle
A student scientist has found fat in ancient fossils, solving a 558-million-year-old riddle and ending a global paleontology feud over the creature’s origins. September 21, 2018 A piece of fat has helped solve a 558-million-year-old riddle and looks set to shoot a university student to scientific stardom. When Professor Jochen Brocks received a call from ...
Read MoreQld terror victim’s parents open sanctuary
The parents of London terror attack victim SaraZelenak have launched Australia’s first holistic healing centre for people suffering traumatic grief. August 28, 2018 Julie Wallace received the phone call every parent fears four days after the London Bridge terrorist attack last year. Her daughter, Sara Zelenak, had missed her daily call home to Brisbane after three men drove a ...
Read MoreQld stock routes full as NSW drought bites
Stock routes are being denuded as NSW farmers drive their herds north, competing for feed with Queensland graziers like Peter Cookson. August 23, 2018 When Queensland grazier Peter Cookson pushed his cattle onto stock routes to find feed, he hoped it might get him through to the rains. But after two months of droving through ...
Read MoreWater going to waste on drought-hit farms
Hundreds of drought-stricken farms across Queensland and NSW could be protected from the dry spell using bore water from the Great Artesian Basin. August 17, 2018 The sheep on the Stokes family’s southern Queensland farm can have food or water, but they can’t have both. Kate and Steve Stokes’ 50,000-acre Mulga Downs property, just north ...
Read MoreIndonesia tougher than Somalia for refugees
After Somalian militants burned down her hotel, Igra fled to Indonesia for safety, but the former business owner has fallen through the aid safety net. April 2, 2018 Somalian refugee Igra hadn’t heard of Indonesia before being dumped in Jakarta by people smugglers. The former hotel owner fled her civil war-wracked country in 2015 after militants threatened to cut off her ...
Read MoreRefugees in Indonesia selling sex to survive
Somalian refugees fleeing war and violence are being taken by people smugglers to Indonesia where many turn to sex work to survive. April 2, 2018 Homeless mother-of-three, Sahra, fled to Indonesia for safety after Islamists killed her family in Somalia, but with prostitution as the only way to survive, she tearily says life in Jakarta is “much ...
Read MoreRefugees in Indonesia may be put to work
The UNHCR wants refugees in Indonesia to be able to work for food and shelter as resettlement options dry up and international aid budgets are stretched. April 2, 2018 Refugees in Indonesia may be put to work as the UN Refugee Agency battles a growing global humanitarian crisis, fewer resettlement options and stretched aid budgets. The humanitarian agency has asked the ...
Read MoreHomeless refugees do it tough on Indonesia streets
Photo essay: People-smugglers promised them new lives in Australia, instead, they were dumped penniless on Jakarta’s streets where they’re forced to sleep rough. April 2, 2018 Some of the saddest stories I have heard are those of Somalian women living rough on Jakarta’s streets. Most had lost their family to war or were raped – ...
Read MoreFaces: Somalian refugee women in Indonesia
Photo essay: Penniless Somalian refugee women forced to live rough on Jakarta’s streets after their families were killed by Islamic militants and they were smuggled to Indonesia in the hope of finding a better life. April 2, 2018 ...
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