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The traumatic moment that triggered Andrew O'Keefe's downward spiral

As Andrew O'Keefe continues his public battle with drug addiction and charges of assault, <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13863269/andrew-okeefe.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mail Australia</a> has revealed the traumatic experience that triggered his downward spiral. According to the publication, the TV presenter's self-destructive behaviour began barely 72 hours after his "deeply devout" father died. Channel Seven colleagues of O'Keefe's were shocked when he embarked on a brazen, drug-fuelled bender at the Logie Awards in 2014 just a few days after his dad's passing. Daily Mail Australia, who claim the Logies incident is well-known in the industry, marked the start of the concerning behaviour that eventually ended the former Seven star's career, marriage and relationship with his children. Close friends fear O'Keefe - affectionately known as AOK among friends - has now descended so far into "the grip of an addiction he can't beat", he would be better off behind bars for his own safety. One concerned colleague, who worked alongside O'Keefe for more than a decade at Seven, said O'Keefe had confided that he harboured a deep-seated resentment against his father right up to his dying days, revealing to his friend that him he endured a "traumatic childhood" and blamed his strict Supreme Court judge dad for failing to support him. "AOK told me he had a really f***ed-up childhood," the colleague told Daily Mail Australia. "A lot of his trauma relates to the emotional abuse inflicted by his father - there was never anything physical - but he absolutely ignored the pain Andrew was going through." "From what he told me, his dad was this deranged Mel Gibson-type religious zealot and he would hold his own private Catholic masses in their home. He never forgave him for neglecting him in his time of need and never learned how to properly deal with all that pent-up rage." "Now he's in the grip of an addiction he can't beat, and he's pouring through the money he made [while at Seven] and what he got from the sale of his properties. He's cut many of us out of his life and surrounded himself with a new circle of friends who are happy to get high with him, supply him with drugs and bleed him dry." "It's f***ing tragic - maybe going to jail will be the best thing for him, I don't know - we're all just really worried about him and how this will all end." Image credits: Channel Seven

Caring

"Lucky to be alive": Concerning Andrew O'Keefe update

Andrew O'Keefe will remain in jail after his bail was revoked, just days after being arrested on drug charges. The former TV host was arrested on Monday and charged with drug possession after police searched a nearby car and allegedly found methamphetamine. His arrest came just hours after the 52-year-old was discharged from the <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/andrew-o-keefe-rushed-to-hospital" target="_blank" rel="noopener">hospital</a>, after he was revived by paramedics in the early hours on Sunday morning after an alleged drug overdose. In Waverley Local Court on Tuesday, Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge said O’Keefe was “lucky to be alive” as she read a police statement of facts on an application to detain the former TV host rather than let him out on bail again. O'Keefe was out on bail at the time of the alleged overdose, after allegedly breaching a court order, trespassing and intimidating a man in Sydney’s eastern suburbs in July. O’Keefe’s lawyer did not argue against the application and the magistrate revoked his bail, meaning he will remain custody before his return to court in October. “If he wants to stay alive that’s the best thing to do,” Milledge said. O’Keefe’s lawyer suggested a possible application for release on the next occasion for O’Keefe to receive treatment but Milledge said “a “highly persuasive” argument would be required. O’Keefe’s frequent appearances in court are “absolutely tragic” and “very, very sad,” the magistrate said. “He’s a frequent flyer, he’s just so used to it,” she said. “The mental health applications, the rehab, all been tried, and tested, and failed. “I just don’t see the same thing over and over again is going to be working for him and, god help him, it’s a shame that he doesn’t have an epiphany.” Image credits: Seven News

Caring

Andrew O'Keefe rushed to hospital

Andrew O'Keefe has been rushed to hospital after being revived by paramedics at a party in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs over the weekend. The disgraced TV host was partying at a home in Vaucluse at 3:30am on Saturday when emergency services were called after allegedly suffering a drug overdose. Paramedics revived O'Keefe at the scene before transporting him to the nearby St Vincent's Hospital for treatment. The Daily Telegraph reported that he has since been released from hospital. In a statement, NSW Police said of the incident, "Officers attached to Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command were called to a home unit on Old South Head Road at Vaucluse about 3.40am, responding to concerns for the welfare of a 52-year-old man." "NSW Ambulance paramedics rendered assistance to the man before taking him to St Vincent's Hospital where he was reported to be in a stable condition. Inquiries into the incident are continuing." O'Keefe's health incident comes just days after a court upheld his convictions for domestic violence assault, as District Court Judge John Pickering rejected his lawyers' arguments that a woman had inflicted scratch marks on her own arm and later blamed O'Keefe. The troubled former TV star was convicted in January of three counts of domestic violence-related assault, twice contravening an AVO against him, and two charges for possessing a prohibited drug. He was ordered to serve 18 months on a community corrections order, which involves supervision and reporting requirements, and fined $800 for the drug offences. Image credits: JOEL CARRETT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Editorial

Caring

Andrew O'Keefe clashes with press after bail hearing

Andrew O'Keefe has clashed with reporters outside a courtroom after he was granted bail following an interaction with police where he claims a crack pipe allegedly found in his pocket belonged to someone else. The disgraced former TV host sat quietly in the dock as his lawyer, Sharon Ramsden, applied for his release on bail at Waverley Local Court on Monday morning. Police allege the former Deal or No Deal host returned a positive drug test while driving after he was stopped shortly before midday on Sunday in Sydney’s affluent Bellevue Hill. Officers also allege that the 52-year-old also threatened a man in Point Piper shortly before he was stopped by police. The court was told Mr O’Keefe allegedly confronted the man at the property “potentially as a matter of jealousy” following a “rekindling” with his former partner. After O'Keefe was released on bail, chaos ensued outside Waverley police station as the TV host tried to make a quick exit. O'Keefe was followed by reporters as he stepped out into traffic and walked briskly away as he tried to avoid the camera crews. Footage captured by Channel 10 shows Mr O’Keefe handing a reporter her phone after it is dropped before telling her, “get out of my face”. Mr O’Keefe was ultimately granted bail despite magistrate Jacqueline Milledge telling the 52-year-old there were “a lot of aspects of the police facts that are of concern”. “There is a real concern you were somewhere you shouldn't have been and that drugs might still be a factor in your life, but I'm prepared to give you an opportunity to continue with your treatment,” she said. Mr O’Keefe will return before court next month as he faces a single charge each of intimidation and breach a court order, with police foreshadowing more charges pending forensic examination. Image credits: JOEL CARRETT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Editorial

Legal

Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest's major win over scam ads

Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest has had a major win against Facebook owner Meta, with a US court allowing him to continue to sue the platform over fake advertisements using his name. The scam Facebook ads show him promoting fake cryptocurrency and other fraudulent investments. The ruling means that the court will consider whether Meta breached its duty by publishing the advertisements, and whether they operated in a way that facilitated scam ads by using defective screening and review procedures. US District Judge Casey Pitts in San Jose, California, made the decision on Monday, and said that Forrest can try to prove Meta's negligence and whether his name and likeness was misappropriated by Meta, and not just by fraudsters behind the bogus ads. "Dr Forrest claims that Meta profited more from ads that included his likeness than it would have if the ads had not," Pitts wrote. "This is enough to adequately plead that the alleged misappropriation was to Meta's advantage." Forrest said that there were over 1000 ads scam ads using his name that appeared on Facebook in Australia between April and November 2023, leading to millions of dollars in losses for victims. The billionaire reportedly first raised the fraudulent advertisements with Meta back in 2014, but nothing happened, according to the Herald Sun. This is the first time a social media company was unable to invoke Section 230 immunity in a US civil case over its advertising business. It's a significant move, as social media companies in the US are usually immune from liability in the US for content posted by third parties. "This is a crucial strategic victory in the battle to hold Facebook accountable," Forrest said. The billionaire is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. Image: Dinendra Haria/LNP/ Shutterstock Editorial

Legal

Steve Price fires up over Dan Andrews' special honour

Steve Price has sparked a bitter row on-air with his co-hosts of The Project, as he spoke out against former premier Dan Andrews being named on the King’s Honours list this year. Andrews, the former premier of Victoria who saw the state through the Covid pandemic, has been recognised on the prestigious list for his “eminent service to the people and parliament of Victoria, to public health, to policy and regulatory reform, and to infrastructure development”. After the announcement of Andrews' upcoming recognition, Price let loose on The Project as he condemned the former premier. “It’s got to be some sort of sick joke,” he said as he began his rant. “Who would expect Daniel Andrews would get the highest honour that you can possibly get from the King? It’s the equivalent of a Knighthood! This is a bloke who locked Victoria up longer than anywhere else in the word. Apart from Covid, this bloke wasted 600 million dollars not holding the Commonwealth Games.” <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8B5Ft8Pe0k/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8B5Ft8Pe0k/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by The Project (@theprojecttv)</a> </div> </blockquote> He continued, “Every infrastructure project he’s [Andrews] ticked off on is either over budget or over time. And we give him an award? I mean it is pathetic!” “I have never heard people today so angry about something like this. Daniel Andrews should be run out of the State, not given an award. It’s pathetic!” As co-host Waleed Aly began to share his own thoughts on the matter, Price butted in to ask, “You’re not going to defend Andrews are you?” “Will you let me say something?” replied Aly awkwardly, as Price nodded his head. “Premiers usually get these awards, but they don’t usually get them this quickly,” continued Aly. “And the weird thing about this is that it isn’t for services to the State, it’s for services to health. And that makes it about the pandemic disproportionately. If this was happening in a few years, I don’t think we’d be having this conversation.” Despite Price's claims that many were angry with the decision to award Andrews with the honour, it turns out most of the outrage was directed towards Price himself as many condemned his "embarrassing" rant. “What criteria is The Project applying to Steve Prices opinion? The short man is a self serving blowhard that has no credible platform for his opinions. Surely in 2024 there are better options in Australia,” ranted one annoyed viewer. A second person commented, “If it makes Steve Price mad then it’s a great decision!!” with another replying, “Like anybody should give credibility to anything Steve Price says”. The onslaught of remarks didn’t end there, with another firing back, “Steve Price is jealous and miserable,” while a similarly annoyed viewer wrote, “Dan living rent free in Price’s head, embarrassing”. Image credits: The Project / AMES ROSS/EPA-EFE / Shutterstock Editorial

"It's always a tough day": What has changed in the 20 years since Daniel Morcombe's death

Daniel Morcombe's parents have reflected on the day their son was kidnapped and murdered, on the 20th anniversary of his disappearance. Bruce Morcombe appeared on Sunrise on Thursday morning, sharing how the date is always a painful one to live through. Daniel was 13-years-old old when he was kidnapped from a bus stop on Queensland's Sunshine Coast on December 7th 2003, with Peter Cowan later being convinced for his murder in 2014. “It’s always a tough day but what we think about is Daniel’s brothers, our other two sons, and our grandkids,” he said. “They lost a brother, a twin brother. They will be hurting equally the same.” Since Daniel disappeared, the Morcombes have dedicated their lives to keeping other children safe, establishing the Daniel Morcombe Foundation shortly after his murder. As well as raising awareness on child safety, the couple offer practical advice for families, such as creating a “family password” with your kids as a way to keep them safe. Sunrise host Monique Wright became emotional while speaking to the Morcombes, saying, “Bruce and Denise Morcombe, they have just changed so many lives through their tireless work.” “It’s irrefutable that they have stopped so much child abuse over the years, just extraordinary,” she added. Bruce added that while it is a sad day as they remember their son, it is important to remind people of his legacy while keeping others safe. “Remember this was a young boy of 13, 12 days short of turning 14. He never made it to 14,” he said. “It happened to Daniel, it can happen to you. Daniel was an innocent kid, like anybody else.” Image credits: Sunrise

Caring

“Petty”: Steve Price’s bid to ban Dan Andrews called out

It seems that golf, the sport known for its calm demeanour and leisurely strolls, is continuing to become a battleground for political disagreements. Move over, parliamentary debates; we've got a straight-up fairway feud on our hands. It all started when former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews decided he wanted to swap the political arena for the green one. Little did he know that his membership application to the Portsea Golf Club would turn into a full-blown scandal, complete with threats to <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/travel/travel-trouble/i-ll-quit-steve-price-s-fairway-feud-with-dan-andrews" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tear up memberships</a> and accusations of petty behaviour. The took another turn on a recent episode of The Project, where hosts Waleed Aly and Sam Taunton found themselves caught in the crossfire of their co-star Steve Price's golfing fury. The dispute centres around the fact that more than 100 club members have written a strongly-worded letter, demanding that Andrews be rejected. Price, the self-proclaimed defender of fairways and greens, threatened to "tear up" his Portsea Golf Club membership if Andrews gets the green light. Aly, doing his best to keep the peace, questioned Price about the gravity of the situation. "But why is it a big deal?" he asked Price on the panel. "If he gets admitted, you don’t have to walk around the golf course." Price, however, had a different concern: "I have to go into the bar, and he might be having food." Ah, the horror of sharing a clubhouse with a former premier! Taunton, sensing the absurdity of the situation, almost called the whole debacle "petty" before wisely biting his tongue. But Price, ever the instigator, goaded him to finish his sentence, to which Taunton finally admitted, "No, I was going to say it is petty. It was years ago, and at some point, don’t you move on? Why?" Price, standing firm as the guardian of golfing justice, declared, "No. Because we don’t want him there!" It seems the only thing harder to overcome than a water hazard is a political grudge. In the grand scheme of things, it's a bit bewildering that a golf club membership is causing such a ruckus. You'd be forgiven for thinking they were discussing nuclear disarmament, not whether Andrews should be allowed to practice his swing in peace. As the world anxiously awaits the fate of Andrews' golfing aspirations, we're left to wonder: will he get the coveted membership, or will Price be left tearing up his golf club card like a rejected love letter? Only time will tell if this golfing saga will go down in history as a hole-in-one or just another bogey. Images: Network Ten

Legal

“I’ll quit”: Steve Price’s fairway feud with Dan Andrews

Steve Price, the Sky News shock jock and host of The Project, has threatened a full-scale membership mutiny of his hallowed Portsea Golf Club, turning Victoria's Mornington Peninsula into the stage for a golf-centric feud that looks set to make more divots than a toddler with a sand wedge. Price has vowed to unleash the ultimate golf club warfare if former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews dares to follow through on his ambition to become a member of his beloved club. Price declared on Sky News Australia that if Andrews is welcomed into the exclusive golfing enclave, he would take his membership and tear it into more pieces than a scorecard after a disastrous round. “This is the premier who stopped us playing golf for two years during Covid,” Price exclaimed in much the same way one would (1 wood? too much) if Andrews personally walked up and confiscated his seven-iron. “No way should that man come into the golf club.” Former pro golfer Mark Allen joined the chorus of disapproval, claiming that other golf clubs along the Mornington Peninsula were contemplating a similar blockade against Andrews. The uproar stems from the dark days of Covid when golfers in certain parts of the Mornington Peninsula were banned from fairways and greens, as well as a specific restriction that allowed certain parts of the peninsula to carry on playing, while others areas were banned altogether. Andrews, in his role as the "lockdown czar", earned the ire of golf enthusiasts who found solace only on the "wrong" side of the bay. “Remember one side of the peninsula they were able to play and get around, the other side of the peninsula, they were not allowed to play,” explained Allen. In a stunning display of commitment to the cause, golf clubs were allowed to reopen in September 2021, but toilets remained off-limits, prompting golf enthusiasts to question whether they were being punked by an elaborate Candid Camera-style golf course edition. Andrews, who recently announced his retirement from politics, now plans to spend more time with his family and on the golf course. However, the threat of being ostracised from the Peninsula's golfing elite looms large, like a shadow on the putting green. As the turf wars intensify, it's clear that the Mornington Peninsula is not just a geographical location; it's a battlefield, where the clash of golfing ideologies may rival the intensity of a Ryder Cup final day. Will Andrews dare to follow through on his membership application, knowing the potential fallout? Will Price stick to his membership-ripping threat, or will he ultimately decide that a day on the green is more important than a political greenhorn? In this gripping saga of fairways and fracas, the only certainty is that the Mornington Peninsula has become ground zero for a golfing soap opera that will have enthusiasts on the edge of their golf carts, eagerly awaiting the next putt-plot twist. Images: Sky News

Travel Trouble

Lilie James' grieving family breaks silence as body is found in manhunt for suspect

Lilie James' devastated family have spoken out for the first time, following her <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/slain-st-andrew-s-staffer-identified" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tragic death</a>. The 21-year-old water polo coach was found dead with serious head injuries at the gymnasium bathroom of St Andrew’s Cathedral School on Wednesday night. Her male colleague and ex-boyfriend Paul Thijssen is believed to be involved in her <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/tragic-new-details-emerge-in-alleged-murder-of-lilie-james" target="_blank" rel="noopener">alleged murder</a>, when he went missing at The Gap in Vaucluse, after reportedly calling the police informing them of a body on school grounds. A body has reportedly been found at the base of the cliffs in Diamond Bay Reserve, however police are currently unable to confirm whether the body was that of 24-year-old Thijssen. “A police operation is currently underway to retrieve a body in Vaucluse,” NSW Police said in an earlier statement. “No further information is available at this time.” Detectives are currently investigating the possibility that Thijssen had taken his own life, as The Gap is a notorious suicide spot, and Thijssen's backpack and an item linked to the alleged homicide was found there. On Friday morning, her family have broken their silence following the grim discovery. “We are devastated and heartbroken by the loss of our beautiful Lilie James,” the family said in a statement released by the police. “She was vibrant, outgoing, and very much loved by her family and friends. We are tremendously grateful for the support of our community at this difficult time. “As a police investigation is underway, we will not be providing further comments. “We ask that you please respect our privacy.” Students have been paying tribute to the fallen water polo coach with a growing flower memorial at the school's entrance. A few of the students she coached also told 7NEWS.com.au that she was an “amazing” and “encouraging” coach. "She always had a smile on her face,” one student said. “You will be in all of our prayers and hearts. Thank you for making PE so much fun, thank you for being an amazing and strong coach, and thank you for being there. We love you,” another student said. Images: 7NEWS/Facebook

News

Slain St Andrew’s staffer identified

The body of a female staff member at St Andrew’s College in Sydney has been identified, just hours after she was found dead in the school’s gymnasium. Lilie James, 21, was the water polo coach at the prestigious school, and was <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/young-female-staffer-found-dead-in-school-bathroom" target="_blank" rel="noopener">found dead</a> with serious head injuries just before midnight on Wednesday. Police are continuing their investigation into her alleged murder, while also searching for Ms James’ friend and colleague Paul Thijssen. Mr Thijssen, who is also a sports coach at the college, is wanted for questioning by police, as it is believed he could help with inquiries into her “apparent” homicide. On Thursday morning, police established a second crime scene near The Gap in Vaucluse that they believe is linked to Ms James’ death. Superintendent Martin Fileman said, “We don’t want to make any assumptions of the fact that that person may have taken his own life, but that’s just another line of inquiry we’re looking at at the moment.” Fileman also confirmed that the two school staffers were known to each other, saying, “There’s nothing to indicate that there was any domestic violence, any [apprehended violence orders] or anything between both of them,” he said. A post-mortem examination has yet to be conducted to formally determine the cause of the woman’s death. “From her injuries, it was apparent that she was a victim of homicide,” Fileman said. “As you can probably imagine, it’s an extremely daunting experience, a very sad time for everybody. Not only the families, the students also who are turning up today to be confronted by this.” The grim discovery was made after emergency services were called to the scene following reports of concern for the woman's welfare. The Superintendent went on to say the crime scene at the elite school was "confronting" for the officers who found the body. "Last night police from Sydney city police area command were responding to a welfare check and attended the school at St Andrew's cathedral where police located the body of a female in her early 20s in the gym area of the school," he said. "From her injuries it was apparent she was a victim of a homicide.” Image credits: Facebook

News

"He leaves a broken state behind him": Aussies react to Dan Andrews' resignation

Victorian premier Dan Andrews has announced he will be resigning from his role after nine years in the job, prompting a very mixed response from Aussies. Andrews made the announcement on Tuesday, describing his time as premier as the “honour and privilege of my life”. For many Aussies, the news of his resignation came as a shock, with the announcement prompting a wave of mixed responses. Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto had one of the strongest reactions to the news, saying Mr Andrews had “trashed Victoria’s reputation”. “I wish Daniel Andrews well. But we have to face the facts. He’s leaving because Victoria, under his leadership, is falling apart,” he said. Shadow Immigration Minister Dan Tehan also had little nice to say about the outgoing premier, claiming he made the state of Victoria “poorer” while in the top job. “I think he’ll be remembered as a very good politician, very good at politics, but I think, sadly, over time, his legacy is going to be one in which he made the state of Victoria poorer, and he made Victorians poorer,” Mr Tehan said via Sky News Australia. “While we wish him and his family well, the sad reality is it’s Victorians who are going to have to pick up the pieces of his nine years in charge of this state.” Throughout his time as premier, Andrews attracted his fair amount of controversy, particularly around his harsh stance on Covid lockdowns, which saw Melbourne go through one of the longest continuous lockdowns on the planet. One of Mr Andrews’ biggest critics, 3AW host Neil Mitchell, was also thrilled to bid the premier farewell, telling him, “Let’s hope we don’t see you in public life again”. He told 3AW Mr Andrews had done “enormous damage to Victoria” and claimed to have been predicting his resignation for months. “I reckon he’s been thinking for some time. He’s been out of sorts for months. He’s been making unusual political errors. He’s seemed disinterested, he’s snappy at press conferences. I’ve said on air for some months, ‘he’s thinking about getting out’,” Mitchell said, adding “It’s time for him to go”. Liberal Party powerbroker Michael Kroger argued that Mr Andrews had over the years “got away with murder”, politically speaking. “Record debt. Small businesses are still broken and have not recovered from these extreme measures during the lockdown,’’ Mr Kroger told Sky News. “He leaves a broken, bankrupt state behind him. That’s his legacy. The financial recklessness of Daniel Andrews is unprecedented. And will take a generation to recover from." “Victoria will be better for Daniel Andrews having left today.” Despite many harsh words from his critics, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was quick to praise Andrews' time as premier. He wrote in a lengthy post on Facebook that it had been a pleasure working “alongside an old friend”. “Daniel Andrews is a person of deep conviction, great compassion and fierce determination and he brought all those qualities to his time as Premier of Victoria,” Mr Albanese said. “As Prime Minister, it was a pleasure for me to work alongside an old friend – and a leader of such vision and ambition. It made a huge difference to sit at the National Cabinet table with someone who believed so deeply in the power of government to change lives for the better." “Nearly nine years as Premier is a remarkable achievement. Dan Andrews can be proud that he didn’t waste a minute. I wish Dan, Cath and their children all the very best for their future together.” Image credits: Getty Images

Legal

Andrew O’Keefe breaks down in court

Andrew O’Keefe has broken down in court after promising the magistrate he would steer clear of drugs. The embattled TV host and his lawyer fronted court to make an unexpected guilty plea, after he was arrested for allegedly breaching an AVO. On August 19th, police were called to a unit in Point Piper and took O’Keefe to Waverley Police Station where he was charged with contravening a restriction of prohibition of an apprehended violence order. He was then refused bail in Parramatta Bail Court the following day, with the matter set down for August 30th. However, O’Keefe’s solicitor Sharon Ramsden fronted court on Friday for an unexpected mention where she told Magistrate Greg Grogin her client would be entering a plea of guilty. Ramsden told the court that O’Keefe was at the apartment, which he was prohibited from attending, to collect some of his belongings. “There was no contact between the parties, and she returned to the property at 11:45pm having been on a walk,” Ms Ramsden said. Ms Ramsden asked the Magistrate to consider sentencing O’Keefe to a conditional release order without a conviction, to which the police prosecutor Michael Cleaver did not oppose. Magistrate Grogin then addressed O’Keefe directly, asking if the former television presenter could abstain from drugs which aren’t prescribed by his doctors. “One thing I don’t do, I don’t try to set people up to fail … can you fulfil that obligation?” the magistrate asked. O’Keefe responded: “Your Honour, I can guarantee that will be my sincere endeavour.” Mr Grogin sentenced O’Keefe to a conditional release order with no conviction, to which O’Keefe thanked the magistrate through tears. “Mr O’Keefe, on a personal basis you have been through some hard times,” the magistrate said. “You’re going to have good days and bad days and you’re going to go forward and go back, you must comply with court orders … the leniency will not be extended forever.” Image credits: Getty Images

Legal

Andrew O'Keefe back behind bars

Andrew O'Keefe, the once-celebrated television personality, has found himself under fresh legal scrutiny after an alleged incident on Saturday evening in a residential unit located in the serene eastern districts of Sydney. O'Keefe is now slated for a prolonged stay behind bars, as a result of his arrest on charges of reportedly violating the terms of an apprehended violence order. The 51-year-old was apprehended at a residence in Sydney's eastern suburbs, with his subsequent hours spent within a police holding cell. Law enforcement intervened in response to a situation at an address on Longworth Avenue in Point Piper, an enclave within Sydney's eastern quarters, at approximately 11:45 pm on Saturday. Appearing via remote video link at Parramatta Local Court on Sunday, the former host of Deal or No Deal was formally charged with violating the terms of the restraining order. According to a statement from New South Wales police: "Officers attended a unit on Longworth Avenue, Point Piper, following reports that a 51-year-old man was at the unit in breach of an Apprehended Violence Order. The man was arrested and taken to Waverley Police Station where he was charged with one count of contravene restriction/prohibition in AVO (domestic)." Bail was denied, and he will remain in custody until his upcoming appearance at Downing Centre Local Court on August 30. O'Keefe's legal woes extend to multiple charges stemming from previous incidents, encompassing accusations of resisting arrest, drug possession, and domestic violence-related assault in connection to a purported event at Point Piper in September 2021. Charges related to an alleged occurrence in January 2022 at his Sydney CBD residence were dropped in February after the sole witness and alleged victim, the prosecution's key source, left the country. According to police, O'Keefe was accused of choking a 38-year-old woman and subsequently assaulting her within his Sydney CBD dwelling in January 2022. O'Keefe, who previously practiced law and is the son of former NSW Supreme Court justice Barry O'Keefe, maintained that his actions were grounded in self-defense. Earlier this year, police prosecutor Michael Cleaver withdrew charges of intentional choking without consent, common assault, and assault causing actual bodily harm. In June 2021, O'Keefe managed to evade a domestic violence conviction, as charges were resolved under the purview of the NSW Mental Health Act. In May 2022, he was conditionally released to attend a rehabilitation facility for a period of up to 12 months, aimed at addressing his struggles with cocaine, methamphetamine, and cannabis misuse. In April, O'Keefe encountered charges after purportedly operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs in Sydney's eastern suburbs, arising from a routine roadside test in Point Piper in January. Images: Seven News

Money & Banking

Unseen photo of Dan Andrews slammed after gas ban fury

Dan Andrews has come under fire after a photo emerged of him cooking on a gas stove, just weeks after announcing a state-wide ban on natural gas in new homes. The Victorian premier has been slated online after Liberal MP for Mornington Chris Crewther shared a photo of Mr Andrews cooking on a gas stove inside his home during Covid-19 lockdown in April 2020. “I agree with what Dan does: cooking with gas. It’s much better!” the Liberal MP wrote alongside the photo. “But I don’t agree with what Dan says: banning gas cooking in new homes from next year. Future cooking quality is going to go downhill!” <iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FCrewtherChris%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0cbvPq9wQyCJXLcfBXyPj9fucoxTvNUiaRnTYXtS35m3G1xmSPaGcyWqgGu1Q6rcJl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="658" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> Angry Victorians were quick to slam the premier in the comments of the photo, which has racked up over 6,000 comments. One person on Facebook said it was “proof we are truly living in a socialist dictatorship”. Another described Mr Andrews as a “menace”, while someone else asked “Why can’t we just have a Dan ban?” Slamming the new initiative, one commented wrote that “homeowners should be free to have the choice of gas or electricity”. The photo comes just weeks after Dan Andrews announced that from January 1st 2024, no new homes or residential subdivisions requiring a planning permit in Victoria would be connected to gas. The state government is dubbing the move as a measure to reduce cost of living pressures, claiming households will save up to $1,000 off their annual energy bills while reducing household emissions. The all-electric requirement would also apply to all new government buildings which have not yet reached design stage, including schools, hospitals, police stations and public housing. Despite the public backlash of the initiative, the Energy Efficiency Council applauded the decision. CEO Luke Menzel said “all-electric homes are all-good for Victorian families. They are cheaper to run, healthier to live in, and help lower emissions.” “Given the upfront costs of building an all-electric home are comparable to building a home with a gas connection, that makes going all-electric a no-brainer,’’ he said. Image credits: Facebook / Getty Images

Legal

“You’re a flop!” Kyle Sandilands hits back at Dan Andrews’ controversial new policy

Kyle Sandilands has called out Dan Andrews and the Victorian government, as they move to ban all new homes in the state from using gas. The state government is dubbing the move as a measure to reduce cost of living pressures, claiming households will save up to $1,000 off their annual energy bills while reducing household emissions. Upon hearing the news of the proposal, the KIISFM radio host branded the Victorian Premier “a flop” and the policy “some bull***t.” “I’m sick and tired of everyone thinking we’re idiots,” he said on The Kyle & Jackie O Show. “These laws are for idiots. Losers are doing these jobs.” “They will be banning Bic lighters next, we will be rubbing two sticks together to get a cigarette lit.” “That government sucks ass. That wandering eyed flop down there can’t have the Commonwealth Games because he can’t budget, now he thinks ‘’Oh, I’ll get the woke losers to vote for me by getting rid of gas’. You’re a flop!” From January 1st 2024, planning permits for new homes and residential subdivisions will only connect to all electric networks. To encourage new homeowners to go all-electric and abandon gas, eligible new home builders, as well as existing homeowners and renters, can access $1,400 solar panel rebates and interest free loans of $8,800 for household batteries. All Victorian households and businesses are also eligible for gas to electric rebates to upgrade heating and cooling and hot water heaters. Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio said getting Victorians on more efficient electric appliances would lead to big savings on bills, while also helping to reduce emissions. “We know that with every bill that arrives, gas is only going to get more expensive,” she said. “That’s why we’re stepping in to help even more Victorians get the best deal on their energy bills.” “Reducing our reliance on gas is critical to meeting our ambitious emission reduction target of net zero by 2045 and getting more Victorians on more efficient electric appliances which will save them money on their bills.” Image credits: Getty Images / KIISFM

Legal

"Gross exaggeration": Sporting officials slam Dan Andrew's Comm Games spending

Dan Andrews has been the subject of a blistering attack by sporting officials just hours after announcing the 2026 Commonwealth Games would not go ahead. The Victorian premier broke the news in a press conference on Tuesday, saying the <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/money-banking/i-m-not-here-to-apologise-dan-andrews-fires-up-as-comm-games-is-scrapped" target="_blank" rel="noopener">event has been cancelled</a> due to ongoing funding issues. He shared that the event, which was due to be held in numerous regional Victorian towns and was first expected to cost $2.6 billion, would now blow the budget out to a whopping $7 billion. However, following Andrews' announcement, Commonwealthh Games Australia Executive Officer Craig Phillips said the premier's cost update doesn't add up, with the $7 billion figure being a "gross exaggeration". “Beyond disappointing for us,” he said on Tuesday. “It’s a comprehensive let-down for the athletes, the excited host communities, First Nations Australians who were going to be at the heart of the Games and which millions of fans that would have embraced the sixth home Games in Australia.” Phillips also accused Andrews of telling misinformation surrounding the process in which the government put its hand up to host the event. After being confirmed to host in April 2022, planning documents showed the intentions were to establish hubs in Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland, each with an athlete’s village. Shepparton was also planned to host events, and the MCG would have hosted the opening ceremony. In a statement released on Tuesday afternoon, Phillips made bombshell claims government officials ignored advice to save costs by moving events to existing stadiums and facilities in Melbourne. Phillips also said Commonwealth Games Australia was not notified about the changed budgetary estimates until the government had already made its decision. He said, “The detailed budgetary implications announced today have not been sighted or discussed with the CGF or CGA ahead of being notified of the Government’s decision." “The stated costs overrun, in our opinion, are a gross exaggeration and not reflective of the operational costs presented to the Victoria 2026 Organising Committee board as recently as June." “Beyond this, the Victorian Government wilfully ignored recommendations to move events to purpose-built stadia in Melbourne and in fact remained wedded to proceeding with expensive temporary venues in regional Victoria." Many were up in arms over the Games being cancelled, including Victorian opposition senator Anne Ruston, who has called on prime minister Anthony Albanese to “take responsibility” for Victoria’s decision to cancel the Commonwealth Games, arguing it has dented Australia’s international reputation. “I say to the prime minister: Australia’s reputation has been damaged today and you should be very worried about the damage this does to Australia’s international reputation,” Ruston said. “This is a terrible decision for Australia but it is also very disingenuous and I think as we dig into the decision this morning, which we will do through our Senate inquiry, you will see that the Victorian government is hiding its incompetence behind a smokescreen of saying this is a budget blowout.” Image credits: Getty Images

Legal

"I'm not here to apologise": Dan Andrews fires up as Comm Games is scrapped

Dan Andrews has fired up at disappointed journalists after making the shock announcement that the 2026 Commonwealth Games would be cancelled. The Victorian premier shocked the nation with the announcement during a press conference on Tuesday, saying the event would not go ahead due to funding issues. He said the government had considered “every conceivable option” to still hold the games, but new budgets revealed the event, which was originally tipped to cost $2.6 billion, would likely blow out the budget to $7 billion. “I’m not here to apologise for not spending $7bn to deliver an event,” he said. “It’s about, do you deliver it at any cost or not? And the answer is we’re not.” Journalists then quizzed Andrews on what the cost of abandoning the event would be, which he refused to answer but assured the costs would be “fully accounted for” at a later date. While he said he would not “speculate” on discussions, he confirmed “very little costs had been incurred to this point”. Regional Victoria were awarded the rights to host the 2026 event last year after no other countries in the Commonwealth Games Federation volunteered. The Games were set to be held from March 17th to 29th in the regional towns of Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat, Gippsland and Shepparton. Andrews went on to say the state could benefit much more from allocating the hefty multi-billion budget to other areas. “Today it’s not about finding fault with those cost estimates,” Mr Andrews said. “I will not take money out of hospitals and schools in order to fund an event that is three times the cost as estimated and budgeted for last year.” Mr Andrews said he had informed the Commonwealth Games authorities the state would seek to terminate the contract and said the subsequent meetings had been “amicable and productive”. In lieu of the Games, Mr Andrews announced the government would deliver the legacy benefits of the “housing, sporting infrastructure and tourism” benefits through other policies, using funds from the allocated $2.6 billion budget. Image credits: Getty Images

Money & Banking

Andrew Johns quits radio over on-air family feud

Andrew and Matthew Johns are familiar faces in the world of NRL, and while they may have achieved legendary - or ‘Immortal’, in Andrew’s case - status in their sport, their public feuds have become a significant contributor towards their wider fame over the years. As recently as May 2023, the Johns brothers had an on-air disagreement over the year’s State of Origin series, in which each of them backed an opposing team. Joey is a staunch supporter of the NSW Blues side - and was a former player for the squad, regarded by many as one of the game’s best - and took issue with his brother’s praise and admiration for the QLD Maroons, as well as Matthew’s support for the side’s coach, Billy Slater. Matthew ‘Matty’ Johns set things off when he noted that Queensland were coming prepared, and when Andrew asked if that meant New South Wales didn’t, Matty confirmed it. “Mate I’m sick of you rapping Queensland, that’s what I’m sick of,” Andrew then declared. Their spat continued from there, with Andrew going on to share that he “couldn’t give a s**t. I don’t even look at Queensland”. But he wasn’t done there, concluding his take when he told his brother, “you’re blowing smoke up their backsides, I couldn’t care about Queensland. “He [Matty] said they’re easy to admire - they’re the enemy,” he said, before informing their audience, and co-host Andrew Webster, that the two had grown up “hating” the Maroons together. And now, according to Fox Sports, Andrew ‘Joey’ Johns has reportedly stepped down from his position at SEN’s Morning Glory with Matty Johns for the rest of the year in the wake of the argument. Additionally, the head of SEN Craig Hutchison had reportedly tried to keep the peace between them by suggesting that he’d take the two out for a lunch to clear the air, once the 2023 State of Origin series had wrapped up. It has even been reported that Andrew and Matty haven’t spoken since the on-air incident, with Matthew revealing that Andrew was “off me” after making his own return to the show. Meanwhile, Hutchison - who is also the host of Nine’s Footy Classified - had more to add on the matter, and the likelihood of mending the rift and getting Andrew back on air with them. “We love Joey and we love Matt,” he began. “They’ve been a fantastic part of SEN 1170 on Friday mornings. “We respect Joey’s wishes to concentrate on Origin at the moment. We understand he’s got a fair bit on his plate. And I probably underestimated how worked up he is. “We look forward to sitting down with him after Origin and welcoming him back with open arms. I’ll get them both together for a bite to eat and go from there.” Images: Getty

Prince Andrew “terrified” to leave Royal Lodge amid eviction rumours

Prince Andrew is refusing to exit his royal residence as renovations are carried out on the Windsor property, despite advice to the contrary. According to The Daily Mail, the 63-year-old is putting his foot down over fears that he “might never get back in”, likely in response to circulating rumours that his brother - King Charles - wants to evict Andrew from the home as part of his grand plan to scale back the monarchy. While Andrew no longer holds any official royal duty after his involvement in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, he still maintains his claim on the mansion with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson. And now, that same property is set to become “virtually a building site”, with Andrew having hired builders to undertake necessary repair work on the property, tackling everything from damp to mould. As a source told Page Six, Andrew was reportedly advised to vacate “while work was undertaken” over the course of a few months, “but he’s refused because he’s so terrified that the property might be seized in his absence. “In the meantime, Harry and Meghan vacated Frogmore after being told they needed to leave to make way for Andrew but he is refusing to go there, even though he was given the keys. “He’s allowing Eugenie to stay there. She’s just given birth to her second child so while she recovers and gets back on her feet, she’s staying in Frogmore to be near her mum and dad.” And while some believe the temporary move would make sense for Andrew, his fears remain at the forefront. “It’s become farcical,' an insider told The Daily Mail. “Andrew has roof repairs scheduled later this summer which will take several months to complete and has been advised that staying in the house during those renovations could prove problematic. But he is reluctant to leave.” Buckingham Palace has yet to comment on the rumours, but another source is adamant that the Duke of York will remain in the property, <a href="post.php?post=134779&action=edit&classic-editor">regardless of alleged drama and financial woes</a>. As Page Six noted, Andrew has been making the most of money left to him by the late Queen Elizabeth to fix up the house, with one source explaining that “he’s been quite open about where the money has come from because he doesn’t want people to think he’s come up with it through other means. “The costs are expected to reach into the hundreds of thousands of pounds.” And, as they surmised, Andrew “is adamant that he will see out the end of his [75-year] lease at Royal Lodge.” Images: Getty

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