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Red tape threatens to remove a man with Down's syndrome from his elderly mother

An elderly mother and her disabled son are at risk of being separated over the woman's aged care home's red tape. Anne Deans, 81, moved into an aged care facility in July and hoped that she would be able to bring her son, Mark, who suffers from Down's syndrome with her. Mark, 56, has always lived with his mother, and despite his disability, has lived a full life and has dabbled in acting, appearing on Aussie TV hit Blue Heelers. But now, the mother and son have been left in limbo by a bureaucratic battle. Despite the family's history and Mark's disability, the government refuses to fund a place for Mark at Anne's aged care home, stating that aged care is "not an appropriate service for people aged under 65". "People with Down's syndrome have a life expectancy of 60 years. That's if we're lucky. So Mark is experiencing all of the age issues that my Mum is," Mark's sister Sharon said. Sharon and her sister Michelle have been lobbying on Mark's behalf, with Michelle saying, "I don't know why it's so hard. There's so much red tape." "There's so many hills to jump, just to have a mum and a son together. It doesn't make any sense." Anne is digging in and appealing to the Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells for help. "I brought him up all these years, and all of a sudden someone's going to walk in and take him out," Anne told <a href="https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/victoria-red-tape-threatens-to-tear-man-with-disability-from-his-mum/df4ef75b-6df1-4507-8a73-dfae0b258e08" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A Current Affair</a>. "It is damn ridiculous. They should open up their eyes and see what it's doing. He's not going anywhere. I don't know how I'm going to stop it, but I will." In a statement, Ms Wells said, "While Aged Care is generally not suitable for people under the age of 65, we recognise there are exceptional circumstances where people may need to enter aged care before this age, including when there is no suitable accommodation for them." "The New Aged care Act includes exceptional circumstances for people to enter Aged Care before they turn 65, including when they would otherwise be at risk of homelessness." "There are processes in place to support people to explore their options and ensure they have safe and appropriate accommodation." "We encourage Mark to continue to work with Ability First Australia and the Aged Care Assessment Teams to explore all the options." Image credits: A Current Affair

Family & Pets

Climate change threatens Australian tourism more than is widely believed. Here’s why

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/freya-higgins-desbiolles-181651">Freya Higgins-Desbiolles</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a> Right now, Australia is one of the <a href="https://www.weforum.org/publications/travel-tourism-development-index-2024/">top five</a> tourist destinations in the world, a distinction the World Economic Forum says it shares with only the United States, France, Spain and Japan. So important is tourism to Australia’s economy that the best estimates are it employs <a href="https://www.tra.gov.au/en/economic-analysis/state-of-the-industry">655,000</a> people, 12 times as many as <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/labour/employment-and-unemployment/labour-force-australia-detailed/jul-2024">Australia’s coal industry</a>. And most of them are employed in <a href="https://www.zurich.com.au/content/dam/au-documents/files/zurich-mandala-climate-risk-index-the-impact-of-climate-change-on-the-australian-tourism-industry.pdf">regional locations</a>, where jobs are scarce. This month a report by the Zurich insurance group and the economic consultancy Mandala found <a href="https://www.zurich.com.au/content/dam/au-documents/files/zurich-mandala-climate-risk-index-the-impact-of-climate-change-on-the-australian-tourism-industry.pdf">half</a> of Australia’s top 178 tourism assets were at risk from foreseeable climate change. There are reasons to believe its findings underplay what we are facing. <h2>All major airports, all national parks at risk</h2> The Zurich-Mandala report examines the impact of a 2⁰C increase in global temperatures on only eight so-called “climate perils”: wind, flood, heat, storm, drought, bushfire, hail and rain. It found that more than half of Australia’s top tourism assets faced a “significant risk from multiple perils” over the next 25 years, including all of Australia’s major airports. Scheduling disruptions and the closure of airports in extreme weather conditions were set to have major impacts on the transport of goods, the transport of tourists and accessibility for emergency services. All of Australia’s vineyards, national parks, scenic roads and railways were at risk. Queensland had the highest number of sites facing significant risk (79%) followed by Western Australia (69%) and the Northern Territory (63%). The report uses the impact of the 2019-20 <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp1920/Quick_Guides/AustralianBushfires">black summer bushfires</a> to estimate that 176,000 jobs might be at risk nationwide from predictable climate change, most of them outside of Australia’s capital cities. <h2>Multiple and interacting threats</h2> Here is why I am fearful that the report underplays the threat Australia’s tourism industry is facing. There are many more threats to tourism from climate change than wind, flood, heat, storm, drought, bushfire, hail and rain. One is the threat to biodiversity. Iconic animals and habitats are an important part of Australia’s brand. <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-28/3-billion-animals-killed-displaced-in-fires-wwf-study/12497976">Three billion</a> animals were killed or displaced in the black summer bushfires. The deaths caused <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/apr/01/alexis-wright-black-summer-bushfires-vigil-sydney-speech-3-billion-animals-killed-are-our-relatives-they-deserve-to-be-mourned">loss and grief</a> that risk indexes are incapable of capturing, but that nonetheless might make tourism less attractive. And biodiversity helps in another way by <a href="https://www.australianwildlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Hayward-Et-Al.-2016-Could-biodiversity-loss-have-increased-Australias-bushfire-threat.pdf">protecting against bushfires</a>, meaning that as species vanish, other risks to tourism climb in ways that aren’t captured in the assumptions used to evaluate risk. <h2>Threats unexamined</h2> What makes holiday locations unattractive is hard to measure, but is fed by extreme weather events. Although temporary, the smoke and heat from the 2019-20 bushfires made parts of Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra almost unlivable for a while, damaging the reputations of Australian capital cities in a way that is <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/not-a-good-look-bushfire-smoke-threatens-to-pollute-sydney-s-tourist-image-20191206-p53hpl.html">probably ongoing</a>. Another curious omission, especially curious given that the report was prepared by an insurance company, is the damage extreme weather events do to the insurability of tourism assets. The report is also silent on the effort to reduce carbon emissions on Australia’s desirability as an international destination. For many tourists, air travel is the only way to get to Australia and it is likely to become more expensive and also less attractive as tourists try to reduce their <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959652614011810">carbon footprints</a>. Australia might increasingly become an Australian rather than an international destination. Our biggest upcoming international promotion, the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games, might lose a good deal of its shine, with Queensland tourism assets at the greatest risk from climate change, and those risks set to climb over time. <h2>The higher the temperature the bigger the threats</h2> Zurich and the Mandala consultancy are to be commended for identifying 178 top tourism assets and examining eight types of risk they face. Their finding that just over half of them face serious threats from those risks is likely to be an underestimate because it excludes other risks and fails to examine the way in which some risks can intensify others. And they will be an underestimate if global temperatures climb by more than 2⁰C. The report says if global temperatures climb to 3⁰C above pre-industrial levels, 80% of the Australian sites it examined will face serious threats. Australia could attempt to limit the increase in global temperatures by taking up the opportunity to co-host the <a href="https://theconversation.com/its-a-big-deal-if-australia-and-the-pacific-are-chosen-to-host-un-climate-talks-heres-why-238320">2026 UN climate talks</a> with Pacific nations. It would give us a shot at making a difference and drawing attention to our present status as one of the world’s top tourism destinations.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/238768/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/freya-higgins-desbiolles-181651">Freya Higgins-Desbiolles</a>, Adjunct professor and adjunct senior lecturer in tourism management, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/climate-change-threatens-australian-tourism-more-than-is-widely-believed-heres-why-238768">original article</a>. </div>

Domestic Travel

Robert Irwin threatens to sue Pauline Hanson over "defamatory" cartoon

Robert Irwin has threatened to sue One Nation leader Pauline Hanson for defamation. In the latest episode of Pauline Hanson's cartoon series Please Explain, Irwin claimed that he was mocked after it depicted him and Bluey promoting a new tourism campaign for Queensland. The episode satirically depicted Irwin attempting to show Bluey the best of Queensland, but mocked the state's housing crisis, youth crime, and health care. At one point in the cartoon, the pair mistake a long queue for a rental property for a line at Movie World. FC Lawyers, who are acting on behalf of the wildlife conservationist, have sent a cease and desist letter to StepMates Studios, the production team behind Pauline Hanson’s cartoon series. In the letter obtained by NewsWire, Irwin's lawyer claimed that the cartoon is defamatory and involves the “unauthorised and deceptive use of our client’s image”. “You are potentially liable to our client in respect of defamation, deceptive use of a person’s image, passing off and misleading and deceptive conduct,” the letter sates. “We will commence legal action against you if you do not take down the video immediately.” The letter also claims that the cartoon tarnished Irwin's reputation and misled the public, causing “significant harm to our client’s brand and image”. “We are concerned that the unlawful use of our client’s image may be an attempt to pass off yourself or party as currently being affiliated or otherwise authorised by us, which you are not,” it continues. “This unlawful use has the potential to mislead or deceive consumers into believing that you have. “The use of our client’s image and name on the video is capable of leading not an insignificant number of reasonable and/or ordinary people into erroneously believing that the Pauline Hanson is associated with Robert.” Some people have defended Irwin's move, saying: "It is Pauline Hanson who is the politician and she has a record of trying to sue others when offended." "She likes to dish it out but can’t take it which will cost her at the ballot box!" "What about when Pauline Hanson threatened legal action over Pauline Pantsdown," another added. However, a few others have called him a "snowflake" and told him to "grow up". "Your dad would [have] had a good laugh at Pauline's cartoon. Grow up, stop being a snowflake!" one person wrote on X. "Robert Irwin is very thin skinned he needs a laugh," another added. Images: news.com.au/ Instagram/ Getty

Legal

"Last chance, Mr Banducci": Woolies CEO threatened with jail time

Outgoing Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci has been threatened with jail time for refusing to answer questions about price gouging at a fiery Senate enquiry. The parliamentary probe into supermarket prices has seen Banducci be grilled by senators about how the supermarket raked in record-breaking profits during the ongoing cost of living crisis. During the enquiry on Tuesday, Banducci was repeatedly warned by committee chair and Greens senator Nick McKim about giving evasive answers when asked about his company's return on equity. Banducci repeatedly told the committee that return on equity was not his focus, and Woolworths is instead more interested in return on investment, refusing the question and prompting a 15-minute adjournment. When the enquiry resumed, a similar exchange occurred, leading to another warning for the Woolworths chief executive. "Last chance, Mr Banducci," McKim said. "Do you accept that return on equity is an accepted measure of the financial profitability of a company?" When Banducci replied that "we measure return on investment", the committee was suspended. Its return immediately saw another round of the same questions and answers, with McKim warning Banducci about the consequences of not answering questions clearly. "It is open to the Senate to hold you in contempt, and that carries potential sanctions including up to six months imprisonment for you," he said after saying the Woolworths boss could simply say he didn't know the answer and take the question on notice. "That's why this is a critical matter so I'd just ask you to address your mind with absolute clarity, please, to the question I am asking." "I put it to you the reason you don't want to focus on return on equity is because you don't like the story that it's telling, which is that you are basically profiteering and making off with massive profits at the expense of farmers at the expense of your workers and at the expense of Australian shoppers who you are price gouging," Greens senator McKim said. The enquiry is still ongoing, with Coles counterpart Leah Weckert set to address the same Senate committee later on Tuesday as the government continues to probe allegations of price gouging. Image Credits: ABC - Four Corners

Legal

Rebel Wilson exposes A-lister who "threatened" her over book release

Rebel Wilson has slammed a Hollywood A-lister for allegedly threatening her over the release of her new memoir. The Aussie actress is set to release her autobiography Rebel Rising on April 2nd, which details her rise to stardom from Australia to the US. In the book, she has dedicated a chapter to one particular actor who she had an unfortunate experience with on the set of a movie in 2014. Now, Rebel claims Sacha Baron-Cohen, husband of Aussie actress Isla Fisher, has "threatened" her about the release of such information in the upcoming book. Taking to her Instagram, Rebel named and shamed the actor, writing, “I will not be bullied or silenced with high priced lawyer or PR crisis managers. The ‘a**hole’ that I am talking about in ONE CHAPTER of my book is Sacha Baron Cohen.” "Now the a**hole is trying to threaten me. He’s trying to stop press coming out about my new book. But the book WILL come out and you will all know the truth.” Sacha Baron-Cohen was quick to release a statement in response to the allegations, with his representative sharing the statement with <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2024/03/25/rebel-wilson-calls-out-sacha-baron-cohen-book-memoir/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TMZ</a>. “While we appreciate the importance of speaking out, these demonstrably false claims are directly contradicted by extensive detailed evidence, including contemporaneous documents, film footage, and eyewitness accounts from those present before, during and after the production of The Brothers Grimsby,” the statement said. Wilson and Baron-Cohen worked on the comedy film The Brothers Grimsby in 2014, where Rebel alleges that Baron-Cohen acted sexually inappropriate towards her for the duration of the shoot. Image credits: Getty Images

Legal

Retiree threatened with $200,000 fine over home egg business

A Queensland retiree has insisted that he will continue to sell eggs from the chooks in his backyard despite authorities threatening him with a fine up to $200,000. Murray Koina said that when he first received the email about his business he thought it was a scam and ignored it. It wasn't until they pushed for him to stop that he immediately realised things were getting serious. "They said it was a health issue, someone could get poisoned by an egg," Murray told Today show hosts Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo. "Well my mother grew eggs from when I was a baby and we've eaten them and given them away and sold them and I don't think anyone's died yet - and I'm 73." Murray added that he could get a licence to avoid the fine and continue his little business, but that costs $630 upfront and then around $450 every year to renew it, so it's just not worth it. "I sell around a dozen cartons a week at $4 a dozen so that wouldn't make sense," he said. "I can't say what I really feel about it, but I'm really, you know, p---ed off." Image: Today

Caring

Fast-moving bushfire threatens Australia Zoo

Australia is no stranger to bushfires, and once again, the country finds itself in the throes of a dangerous blaze. Evacuation warnings have been issued as a bushfire inches dangerously close to the boundary of the beloved Australia Zoo, operated by the Irwin family. The zoo, famous for its conservation efforts and charismatic wildlife, spans an impressive 283 hectares and holds a special place in the hearts of many. The blaze, described as a "large, fast-moving fire", had triggered initial evacuations on Saturday night. However, by 10:30pm, locals were allowed to return home as firefighting efforts temporarily contained the blaze. But the respite was short-lived. The situation escalated, and on Sunday, evacuation orders were issued once more. Firefighters have been working tirelessly to control the blaze, but the threat remains. The fire, as of 5pm on Sunday, was at the "watch and act" level and was steadily advancing toward Hardwood Rd. Residents in the vicinity, specifically those between Steve Irwin Way, Graham Drive, Fraser Rd, and Hardwood Rd, have been urged to be prepared to leave at a moment's notice. The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) emphasised that residents should not expect firefighters to arrive at their doors, as resources are stretched thin. The bushfire near Australia Zoo is not an isolated incident; it is part of a larger crisis that has seen multiple fires raging across Queensland. More than 20,000 hectares of land and 41 homes have been lost near Tara on the Western Downs. Exhausted residents in Landsborough, on the Sunshine Coast, had to evacuate for the second time in as many days as conditions worsened. These repeated evacuations underscore the volatile and unpredictable nature of bushfires. Firefighters are racing against time as they brace for worsening conditions this week, with scorching temperatures forecast. Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Inspector Ross Stacey has warned that Tuesday does not look promising, and they are aware that fires can start rapidly under certain conditions. The local crews have been working non-stop, with reinforcements arriving from interstate and across Queensland. The need for vigilance and preparedness is paramount. The fires have already taken a heavy toll, with more than 70 structures, including 41 homes and 25 sheds, lost over the past week. The tireless efforts of over 70 firefighters and two water bombing helicopters were needed to prevent the blaze from engulfing homes on the outskirts of Landsborough. The fire, which broke out in the forestry outside the town, threatened the iconic Australia Zoo, coming within less than a kilometre of the cherished institution. Authorities remain in close contact with the zoo's staff to keep them informed and ensure the safety of the animals. A fire ban is currently in place for several regions, underlining the heightened fire risk. Image: Australia Zoo / QFES

News

ABC threatened with legal action over coronation coverage

The Australian Monarchist League have threatened to take legal action against the ABC over their coronation coverage, specifically the comments made on their hour-long special The Coronation: A discussion about the Monarchy in 2023. The programme, focussed on the monarchy’s relevance to Australia, featured The Drum’s Julia Baird and Jeremy Fernandez as hosts, with a panel that included the likes of Q&A host Stan Grant and Australian Republic Movement co-chair Craig Foster. Julian Leeser - a Liberal MP and monarchist - and Teela Reid - a Wiradjuri and Wailwan woman - were also involved. The coverage, which broadcast in Australia three hours before King Charles III’s coronation, faced a wave of criticism from the Australian Monarchist League, as well as 3AW radio host Neil Mitchell, ABC audiences, and Liberal MPs. And now, the AML have announced their intention to take their complaints further, with a statement from AML national chair Philip Benwell declaring that their “legal advisers are preparing a formal complaint to the board of the ABC in regard to the production and airing of Saturday's extremely biased pre-Coronation programme specifically designed to attack the Constitution and the Crown. Our Executive and others are meeting this week to formalise our approach. “So vitriolic are their attacks on the King, the monarchy, the British settlement and everything that came thereafter that they forget that they are the very people who want our vote for their Voice to the Parliament.” Brenwell noted that they were inviting “pertinent comments” regarding the broadcast to help compile their formal complaint, specifying that these should “include specific comments made during the programme by interviewers and panellists”. Neil Mitchell, radio host for 3AW, had a lot to say about the coverage too, noting his opinion that it had “misread the mood”, as well as his desire for the ABC to see the broadcaster held accountable. “Somebody in the ABC needs to be accountable for this,” he declared, “as the national broadcaster it should have been the place you go to see the coverage of the coronation, instead you see all this bitterness about our Indigenous history.” He also took the opportunity to point out that the panel had featured four individuals, with “three of them republicans”. The fourth - and only monarchist - Julian Leeser agreed that the broadcast had gotten “the balance wrong” when it came to their panel compilation. As Mitchell added, “to have only one of four panellists as supporters of our existing constitutional arrangements meant there was little opportunity for a panel discussion that reflected the warmth and respect Australians have for King Charles.” Images: Q&A

"I'm done": Why Ed Sheeran is threatening to quit music

Ed Sheehan has made a bold statement about the future of his career, while fighting an "insulting" court case. The British singer-songwriter is currently embroiled in a copyright case which has seen him take the stand in a New York City courtroom to defend his music. Sheeran, 32, is being sued over his 2014 single Thinking Out Loud by Structured Asset Sales, who claim that Sheeran's hit took elements directly from Marvin Gaye's Let's Get It On. On Monday morning local time, Sheeran took to the stand for a second time, expressing his exasperation over the case, and saying he will quit music if he loses the case. "If that happens, I'm done, I'm stopping," Sheeran said, per <a title="People" href="https://people.com/music/ed-sheeran-done-if-he-loses-lets-get-it-on-copyright-lawsuit/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">People</a>, on the stand when his lawyer, Ilene Farkas, asked him what he would do if the court found Thinking Out Loud to be too similar to Gaye's Let's Get It On. "I find it to be really insulting," Sheeran added. "I work really hard to be where I'm at." Sheeran didn't clarify his comments once court has adjourned, leaving many fans concerned over the future of his career. Structured Asset Sales launched the lawsuit against Sheeran in 2018 after purchasing a third of the shares of Let's Get It On from the family of the song's co-writer, Ed Townsend. During the courtroom proceedings, Sheeran was also cross-examined in court by the plaintiff's lawyer, Robert Frank – which prompted the award-winning singer to complain. "You're trying to diminish my success," Sheeran told Frank on the stand in response to his line of questioning. "Thinking Out Loud was my first Grammy." "It was pretty devastating and pretty frightening because it's something we did not do," Thinking Out Loud co-writer Amy Wage said on the stand about the copyright allegations. Sheeran also referenced the plaintiff's musicologist Alexander Stewart's testimony from last week, which saw Stewart argue Thinking Out Loud and Let's Get It On were "very, very similar". "I think what he's doing is criminal here," Sheeran said of Stewart's testimony. "I don't know why he's allowed to be an expert." Image credits: Getty Images

Music

Meghan Markle’s life threatened

A senior police officer has revealed the Duchess of Sussex was subject to several "disgusting" threats on her life, adding they were “very real” and led to prosecutions. Neil Basu, the outgoing assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan police, told Channel 4 News that the threats were all deemed credible, saying Meghan Markle would've felt “under threat all of the time”. These threats were made while Prince Harry and Meghan were still living in the UK, and working as senior members of the royal family. His comments on the threat to Meghan's life could shed new light on Harry's determination to grant the couple extra security for any future visits to the UK. Earlier this year, Prince Harry claimed his family would not feel safe in England under the current security agreements, and The Duke of Sussex subsequently won the right to challenge a Home Office decision not to grant him automatic police protection when he is in the UK – despite offering to pay for it himself. When asked if there had been many credible threats against Meghan’s life, Basu answered, “Absolutely, and if you’d seen the stuff that was written and you were receiving it … the kind of rhetoric that’s online, if you don’t know what I know, you would feel under threat all of the time.” He added, “We had teams investigating it. People have been prosecuted for those threats.” Image credits: Getty Images

News

“You have been warned nicely before”: Neighbours threaten to poison dogs

A Queensland family has been left devastated after a neighbour left an anonymous letter with poisonous treats threatening their dogs if they don’t stop barking. Anthony and Jessica Tuite did not think having pets in their suburban home in Graceville would be an issue until they received a letter. The letter explained to the couple that they have been told “many times” to control their black great dane called Barney and a brown great dane cross ridgeback named Donnie. “If the barking of your dogs does not stop, the chocolate in this envelope will be thrown over your fence in greater amounts ... which will kill them,” it read. “You have been warned nicely many times by people ... but you do nothing.” The letter contained pieces of chocolate which is known to be poisonous and potentially lethal to dogs if consumed. Jessica said she was shocked at the letter and begged that no one hurt her pet dogs. “These dogs are our family .... please, please don’t hurt my dogs,” she told 7News. “They only bark when someone comes into their yard but that’s their job.” Other neighbours rallied with the family saying it is disgusting to leave a threat when they could be working as a community toward a solution. “You just don’t make those threats,” neighbour Phill Keleman said. “You just kind of say ‘Hey listen, how do we work together to make it better?’” Images: 7News

Family & Pets

The magnificent Lake Eyre Basin is threatened by 831 oil and gas wells

The heart-shaped Lake Eyre Basin covers about one-sixth of Australia. It contains one of the few remaining pristine river systems in the world. But new research shows oil and gas activity is extending its tentacles into these fragile environments. Its wells, pads, roads and dams threaten to change water flows and pollute this magnificent ecosystem. The <a href="http://www.publish.csiro.au/MF/MF22063" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study</a>, by myself and colleague Amy Walburn, investigated current and future oil and gas production and exploration on the floodplains of the Lake Eyre Basin. We found 831 oil and gas wells across the basin – and this number is set to grow. What’s more, state and Commonwealth legislation has largely failed to control this development. State and national governments are promoting massive gas development to kickstart Australia’s economy. But as we show, this risks significant damage to the Lake Eyre Basin and its rivers. <h2>A precious natural wonder</h2> The Lake Eyre Basin is probably the last major free-flowing river system on Earth – meaning no major dams or irrigation diversions stem the rivers’ flow. This country has been looked after for tens of thousands of year by First Nations people, including the Arrernte, Dieri, Mithaka and Wangkangurru. This care continues today. The biggest rivers feeding the basin – the Diamantina, Georgina and Cooper – originate in western Queensland and flow to South Australia where they pour into Kathi Thanda-Lake Eyre. As they wind south, the rivers dissect deserts and inundate floodplains, lakes and wetlands – including 33 wetlands of national importance. This natural phenomenon has happened for millennia. It supports incredible natural booms of plants, fish and birds, as well as tourism and livestock grazing. But our new research shows oil and gas development threatens this precious natural wonder. <h2>Massive industrial creep</h2> Our <a href="http://www.publish.csiro.au/MF/MF22063" target="_blank" rel="noopener">analysis</a> used satellite imagery to map the locations of oil and gas development in the Lake Eyre Basin since the first oil wells were established in late 1950s. We found 831 oil and gas production and exploration wells exist on the floodplains of the Lake Eyre Basin – almost 99% of them on the Cooper Creek floodplains. The wells go under the river and its floodplains into the geological Cooper Basin, considered to have the most important onshore petroleum and natural gas deposits in Australia. Our research also shows how quickly oil and gas mining in the Lake Eyre Basin is set to grow. We identified licensing approvals or applications covering 4.5 million hectares of floodplains in the Lake Eyre Basin, across South Australia and Queensland. The <a href="https://www.bioregionalassessments.gov.au/assessments/geological-and-bioregional-assessment-program/cooper-basin/cooper-gba-region-stage-two-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CSIRO</a> recently examined likely scenarios of 1,000 to 1,500 additional unconventional gas wells in the Cooper Basin in the next 50 years. It predicted these wells would built be on “pads” – areas occupied by mining equipment or facilities – about 4 kilometres apart. They would typically access gas using horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. Fracking is the process of extracting so-called “unconventional gas”. It involves using water and chemicals to fracture deep rocks to extract the gas. This polluted water, known to be <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/srep46582" target="_blank" rel="noopener">toxic to fish</a>, is brought back to the surface and stored in dams. Two locations we focused on were in South Australia at the protected, <a href="https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/topics/water/wetlands/coongie-lakes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ramsar-listed Coongie Lakes site</a>, which was recognised as internationally significant in 1987. The other site was in Queensland’s channel country, also on the Cooper floodplain. In total across the Coongie Lakes sites, we found a three-fold increase in wells: from 95 in 1987 to 296 last year. We also identified 869 kilometres of roads and 316 hectares of storage pits, such as those that hold water. Some of these dams could potentially hold polluted fracking water and become submerged by flooding, particularly at Coongie Lakes. <h2>A disaster waiting to happen?</h2> Examples from around the world already show oil and gas exploration and development can reduce water quality by interrupting sediments and leading to elevated <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/4/941" target="_blank" rel="noopener">chemical</a> <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1213871110" target="_blank" rel="noopener">concentrations</a>. Production waste can also degrade floodplain <a href="https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/1515/3/032037" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vegetation</a>. The <a href="https://www.bioregionalassessments.gov.au/assessments/geological-and-bioregional-assessment-program/cooper-basin/cooper-gba-region-stage-two-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CSIRO says</a> risks associated with oil and gas development in the Cooper Basin include: <ul> <li>dust and emissions from machinery that may cause habitat loss, including changes to air quality, noise and light pollution</li> <li>disposal and storage of site materials that may contaminate soil, surface water and/or groundwater through accidental spills, leaks and leaching</li> <li>unplanned fracking and drilling into underground faults, unintended geological layers or abandoned wells</li> <li>gas and fluids contaminating soil, surface water, groundwater and air</li> <li>changes to groundwater pressures could potentially reactivate underground faults and induce earthquakes.</li> </ul> Fracking for unconventional gas also requires drawing <a href="https://www.bioregionalassessments.gov.au/assessments/geological-and-bioregional-assessment-program/cooper-basin/cooper-gba-region-stage-two-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">large amounts of water</a> from rivers and groundwater. <h2>The laws have failed</h2> Our findings raise significant questions for Australian governments and the community. Are we prepared to accept industrialisation of the Lake Eyre Basin, and the associated risk of pollution and other environmental damage? Have the companies involved earned a social licence for these activities? Where do the profits end up, and who will bear the social, environmental and financial costs of such intense development? Clearly, state and federal environmental protections have failed to stop unfettered development of the basin. These policies include the Lake Eyre Basin <a href="https://www.dcceew.gov.au/water/policy/national/lake-eyre-basin/agreement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Agreement</a>, signed by the states, the Commonwealth and the Northern Territory, which has been in place since 2000. Australia’s federal environment law – the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act – is supposed to protect nationally important areas such as Ramsar wetlands. Yet our research identified that just eight developments in the basin were referred to the Commonwealth government for approval and with only one deemed significant enough for assessment. This legislation does not deal adequately with the cumulative impacts of development. And finally, gas extraction and production is <a href="https://theconversation.com/1-in-5-fossil-fuel-projects-overshoot-their-original-estimations-for-emissions-why-are-there-such-significant-errors-177714" target="_blank" rel="noopener">associated with</a> substantial “fugitive” emissions - greenhouse gases which escape into the atmosphere. This undermines Australia’s emissions reduction efforts under the Paris Agreement. The governments of South Australia and Queensland should restrict mining development in the Lake Eyre Basin. And stronger federal oversight of this nationally significant natural treasure is urgently needed. In response to this article, Chief executive of the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association, Samantha McCulloch, said in a statement: <blockquote> The oil and gas industry takes its responsibilities to the environment and to local communities seriously and it is one of the most heavily regulated sectors in Australia. The industry has been operating in Queensland for more than a decade and the gas produced in Queensland plays an important role in Australia’s energy security. </blockquote> This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-magnificent-lake-eyre-basin-is-threatened-by-831-oil-and-gas-wells-and-more-are-planned-is-that-what-australians-really-want-191078" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Image: Shutterstock

Travel Trouble

This single spending habit could threaten your savings

As inflation rates hit record highs - at 7.75 percent for Australia and 7.3 percent for New Zealand - many are finding their savings are taking a hit under the soaring cost of living. But it isn’t just rising fuel and food prices you need to worry about, according to ANZ Plus team member Danielle Curry. In fact, there’s one commonly forgotten expense that’s making staying on top of our finances even trickier: phone apps. Apps like Uber Eats, Afterpay services, and those for your favourite stores, along with “must-have” shopping trends are making it so that mobile apps are driving our desire to spend money easily and beyond our means. According to new research from ANZ Plus, over recent years Aussies have consistently “overspent” the most on eating out and takeaway, with 53 percent noting that their top expenses were food-related. “There’s this real immediacy of spending that is becoming very normal for Australians,” Ms Curry told <a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/money/budgeting/out-of-control-the-spending-habit-threatening-your-savings/news-story/f38d98db818c8f01191a4069106eb6af" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a>. “And especially during the pandemic, we saw a lot of restaurants convert to home delivery services so people were still ‘eating out’ but just a bit differently.” A noticeable surge in online shopping and subscribing to streaming services also coincided with thousands starting to work from home during pandemic-induced lockdowns, accounting for Aussies’ overspending by 35 percent and 19 percent respectively. “And with the advent of things like buy now, pay later services it has really allowed that real immediacy of spending,” Ms Curry added. “Twenty years ago you couldn’t order something from Amazon and have it arrive the next day … so if you’re not tracking your expenses, are you really sure exactly how much you’re spending on things like Amazon?” Ms Curry said one of the most concerning findings from the research was that a third of Ausies struggle to manage their finances, with 1.5 million of those surveyed admitting they “don’t feel in control of their money at all”. Though data from Westpac suggests that the average Australian has around $22,000 in savings, big savers that skew the data means that a more realistic figure is closer to $3500. In response to skyrocketing electricity bills and other living expenses, many have chosen to cut down on “unnecessary expenses” and try to save any way they can. Ms Curry said that even though most are trying to make ends meet, poor budgeting skills could leave many blindsided. “We know that a lot of people don’t feel in control and it’s because they don’t have the knowledge about their own finances,” she said. “But the first thing to understand is that it’s going to be different for every single Australian … and it’s important that everyone understands their own situation. “(It’s different) for some who might be financially struggling to make ends meet has to make choices between food and the electricity bill versus someone who is financially comfortable and is quite able to make a luxury purchase.” But, there are some ways we can take back control of our finances, such as tagging and categorising your spending through your banking app. This can help you identify “unnecessary” or passive purchases that can be stopped, such as forgotten subscriptions. “Everyone is at a different stage in their lives and make custom everyday expenses,” Ms Perez said. “(But) once we can really understand what we’re doing with that money we can see if there are trade-offs … to find that extra five dollars to add towards our savings.” Digital budgeting apps and tracking tools, including those offered in banking apps can also help you set up savings goals, a budget, and a savings buffer based on your financial situation. “Using these kinds of nifty features that we’ve got around expense categorisation and setting up savings goals, really help push your finances to the next level,” Ms Curry said. Image: Getty Images

Money & Banking

5 times the Mona Lisa was threatened

Since the Mona Lisa began hanging in the Louvre Museum in Paris in 1804, many have attempted to either vandalise or steal the priceless artwork. Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is widely considered one of the most beloved artworks in the world, with millions of people each year flocking to see her elusive smile. This level of fame has left the Mona Lisa vulnerable to threats of vandalism and theft, with five notable attempts leaving the artwork subject to much higher security. 1911: The Mona Lisa is stolen In 1911, Italian handyman Vincenzo Peruggia and his two accomplices hid in a closet in the Louvre until the museum closed to steal the Mona Lisa. The artwork, which was considered a minor work by da Vinci at the time, was taken by the men and stashed in the floorboards beneath Peruggia’s Paris apartment. Two years after the theft, Peruggia attempted to sell the work to a dealer in Florence, Italy, who inevitably called the police on the thief. Peruggia spent six months in prison and the painting was returned to the Louvre. 1956: A rock is thrown at the Mona Lisa In the year of 1956, the Mona Lisa was vandalised twice by two different assailants. First, the vandal attempted to take a razor blade to the painting, though no damage ended up being inflicted. Then, a Bolivian man named Hugo Unjaga Villegas tossed a rock at the painting. “I had a stone in my pocket and suddenly the idea to throw it came to mind,” he said at the time. Thankfully, the painting was already behind glass, meaning the rock did no permanent damage. 1974: The Mona Lisa is nearly damaged while on tour in Tokyo When da Vinci’s masterpiece was on display for a limited time at the National Museum in Tokyo, 1.15 million people came to see the painting. One of those people was Tomoko Yonezu, a 25-year-old Japanese woman who tried to spray paint the canvas in red on its first day on view. In the days before the opening, the presentation had been the subject of discussion among disability activists, who claimed that in refusing access to those who needed assistance in the name of crowd control, the National Museum was discriminating against the disabled. In an act of defiance, Yonezu managed to spray between 20 and 30 droplets of paint on the artwork, which was able to be restored. Yonezu was convicted of a misdemeanour and made to pay a fine of 3,000 yen, as the National Museum set aside a day when the disabled could exclusively visit the Mona Lisa. 2009: The Mona Lisa is hit with a teacup On an otherwise ordinary day at the Louvre, a Russian woman came to the gallery in 2009 and smashed a teacup against the iconic artwork. She had come to the museum with the cup concealed in her bag, with representatives at Louvre claiming she had let loose because she had been denied French citizenship. Thanks once again to her glass case, the Mona Lisa was not damaged. Still, some took the attempted vandalism as proof that greater security was needed, as the Louvre eventually upgraded the glass on the Mona Lisa in 2019. 2022: The Mona Lisa gets caked In May 2022, the painting was targeted by climate change activists who <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/mona-lisa-gets-caked-in-climate-activist-stunt">smeared cake</a> on the protective glass of the artwork. The 36-year-old man who staged the vandalism had arrived at the museum in a wheelchair dressed as a woman, as some caught the aftermath of the event on video and posted it to social media. “There are people who are destroying the Earth,” the man said in one video, speaking in French. “All artists, think about the Earth. That’s why I did this. Think of the planet.” The man was immediately detained, and the Louvre has filed a criminal complaint, with the Mona Lisa once again remaining intact. Image credits: Getty Images

Art

10-year-old arrested for threatening to carry out mass shooting

A 10-year-old boy has been arrested for threatening to carry out a mass shooting via text message. The 5th grader from Patriot Elementary School in Cape Coral, in the state of Florida, was pictured in handcuffs and being walked to a police car on Saturday evening. He was interviewed and charged with making a written threat to conduct a mass shooting, coming just days after 19 children and two of their teachers were killed in a mass shooting in Texas. “This student’s behaviour is sickening, especially after the recent tragedy in Uvalde, Texas,” Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said in a statement. “Right now is not the time to act like a little delinquent. It’s not funny. This child made a fake threat, and now he’s experiencing real consequences.” The sheriff’s office’s School Threat Enforcement Team was tipped off about the message and quick to act. “Making sure our children are safe is paramount,” Sheriff Macreno said. "My team didn’t hesitate one second, not one second, to investigate this threat.” While police in Texas were on the scene within minutes of the shooting at Robb Elementary School, officers have come under fire for waiting almost 80 minutes to enter the classroom and kill gunman Salvador Ramos. The Texas Department of Public Safety has since admitted that law enforcement’s response fell disastrously short. “From the benefit of hindsight where I’m sitting now, of course it was not the right decision,” Director Steve McCraw said on the delay. Image: Lee County Sheriff's office

Legal

Boss threatens to sue employees over wage talk

An employee has called out her manager after he threatened to fire staff for talking about their wages. The business owner of Planet Fitness gym in Kentucky, US, hung a poster on the wall informing staff not to talk about their wages because it is illegal. However, under the National Labor Relations Act, employees are entitled to speak about their wages freely. “ATTENTION ALL SUBORDINATES,” the letter, which was shared to Reddit began. “Effective immediately, conversing about wages (both on duty and off duty) is strictly forbidden, “This is considered proprietary information and as such, it is protected legally. “If you are overheard speaking (OR LISTENING TO!!) a conversation in which wages are discussed, you will receive disciplinary action up to and including termination.” One of the gym’s employees, Shelly, did not accept her boss's premise and decided to get back at him. Another photo shared to the post shows multiple hammers and sickles drawn on it - representative of the communist party. “Seeing as you’re a manager in the great illustrious word (sic) of Planet Fitness gym franchises, it may behoove (sic) you to become familiar with the laws pertaining to it,” Shelly wrote. “Sprinkling legalese and word-salad across an 8.5x11 paper you printed does not make a legal doc. “Needless to say, you can’t legally tell us not to discuss wages in the good ol’ U.S. of A. We will continue to do so.” She ended the note with “Love, $10.50 an hour Shelly” which then saw her colleagues write their own wages. Viewers commended Shelly for the move which showed a united front against the boss who was very much in the wrong. "I LOVE $10.50 an hour Shelly!" someone wrote. "Long Live Shelly. I hope she is $25.00 an hour Shelly very very soon,” another commented. “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of SHELLY SHELLY!" another joked. Images: Reddit

Money & Banking

Man who threatened to kill Jacinda Ardern causes stir in court

A man who threatened to kill New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern made claims he had been “kidnapped” by police and illegally detained during an outburst in court. Richard Trevor Sivell was arrested at a rural property in Te Puke, in the Western Bay of Plenty on the North Island, which is owned by the Ministry of Education. He claimed he owned the property through “allodial title”, an archaic law meaning that the property had no owner. His arrest was filmed by his supporters and shared online and later re-shared by anti-conspiracy theorist groups on social media. <iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=315&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FDebunkingConspiraciesAotearoa%2Fvideos%2F381405037137867%2F&show_text=true&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="430" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> He was later charged with three offences, including intentionally obstructing a police officer during the arrest, failing to comply with police, and threatening to kill. The details of the threatening to kill charge have been suppressed and cannot be reported, per the <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/court-outburst-richard-sivell-charged-with-threatening-to-kill-pm-forced-by-police-into-dock/JFTRYCT6MOCWOC5FGRQDAZH5Y4/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NZ Herald</a>. Mr Sivell went on to appear before the Tauranga District Court on Monday, where he repeatedly chose to stand in the public gallery and refused to enter the dock when instructed by Judge Thomas Ingram. Prior to his appearance in the courtroom, Mr Sivell arrived with a Bible and a one-page document which he called a “counterclaim”, as reported by <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/300557520/man-who-threatened-to-kill-pm-dragged-into-dock-by-police-after-refusal-to-move?fbclid=IwAR2-VkhHDyZXBR1xATPr33YsTvYHoBQcFcS6QGMvfMtTaizRX0na0GmrYOg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stuff</a>. After presenting the document to the court office, he sat in the courtroom, maskless, and asked to be referred to by his first name rather than his last name by the judge. When he still refused to go beyond the public gallery, two police officers and a court security officer forcibly moved him to the dock - a distance of about 10 metres - and even carried him by the arms and legs at one stage. After continuing to resist the officers, Mr Sivell was pinned to the ground and handcuffed, at which point he accused the officers of assaulting him. “I’m a man of peace, stop assaulting me, I haven’t done anything, I haven’t broken the law. You guys are traumatising me again,” he said. When he was in the dock, Judge Ingram asked if he wanted a few minutes to catch his breath. “I appreciate this is not a lot of fun for you,” the judge said. “You certainly will be somewhat traumatised … by what’s occurred.” Mr Sivell then asked if the judge had received “the data”, to which Judge Ingram replied, “I’ve seen a piece of paper from you, yes.” “Without receiving the data we can’t proceed, your honour,” Mr Sivell replied. Judge Ingram said: "You can parrot that as much as you want Mr Sivell, but I'm going to proceed with the matter on the basis that the law of the land applies to you as it applies to everybody else." After refusing to acknowledge the judge's questions, the case was adjourned for half an hour. When he reappeared, he continued to refuse to speak, even when asked whether he wanted legal representation. "I'm a man of peace, I'm here under duress. I've been assaulted and kidnapped," Mr Sivell said. The case was then adjourned for two weeks, and Mr Sivell was remanded on bail on the condition that he made no contact with Ms Ardern or used a device capable of connecting to the internet. Threats appeared on Telegram Mr Sivell tracked the arrival of police through a series of posts on Telegram - the encrypted messaging app which has become home to conspiracy theorists and Nazi sympathisers. According to the <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/police-stand-off-with-richard-sivell-who-allegedly-made-death-threats-against-prime-minister-jacinda-ardern/VUJLWAJCY3LWQZBMMIE3ANMBG4/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NZHerald</a>, Mr Sivell used the same account to post what could be considered as threats to kill Ms Ardern and several journalists. “They are going to die. We are not going to allow them to share this world with us anymore,” Mr Sivell said in an audio message posted to the Counterspin channel on Telegram. “Same as Jacinda. She is going to die. Execute these motherf***ers. I look forward to hearing their necks snap.” Fake journalists and accusations of communism Outside the court, Mr Sivell was met by his supporters, as well as members of the public posing as journalists. One of the 'journalists' interviewed Mr Sivell, who said New Zealand was becoming a "communist police state" and accused Ms Ardern of being a communist. He said those responsible for the vaccination program, which he described as a "bioweapon", should be held accountable under "Nuremberg law". Image: Getty Images

Legal

Wild weather warning for more life-threatening floods

Areas of Australia that have been hit hardest by the recent floods have been warned to brace themselves for more as another dangerous weather system looms, per <a href="https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/northern-nsw-told-to-brace-for-intense-rainfalls/news-story/f7ac2f4edd6e96a602748f7b0d25c731" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a>. The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) issued a severe weather warning for southeast Queensland and northeast New South Wales on Sunday afternoon that said up to 200mm of isolated rainfall across these regions could lead to life-threatening flash flooding. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Severe Weather Update: Dangerous and life-threatening flash flooding for SE QLD, NE NSW. Video current: 12:00pm AEDT 27 March 2022 Know your weather, know your risk. For the latest forecasts and warnings, go to our website <a href="https://t.co/4W35o8zIoh">https://t.co/4W35o8zIoh</a> or the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BOMWeather?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BOMWeather</a> app <a href="https://t.co/eD0MJKxLsP">pic.twitter.com/eD0MJKxLsP</a> — Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) <a href="https://twitter.com/BOM_au/status/1507912530957545472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2022</a></blockquote> An emergency warning was also issued for the Queensland town of Dalby, after it received more than 160mm of rainfall within the last 24 hours. The council for the Western Downs Region - which includes Dalby - issued a “watch and act” alert on Monday morning at 5.10am urging residents in low-lying areas to “warn neighbours, secure property and belongings, and prepare to move to higher ground”. It comes as the Sunshine Coast town of Pomona recorded 121mm of rain, and as 106mm was recorded at Bowenville to the west of Dalby, and south at Black Mountain. BOM has issued severe weather warnings for heavy rain for the Northern Rivers, Northern Tablelands, parts of the NSW Mid North Coast and southeast Queensland. “Locally INTENSE RAINFALL leading to dangerous and LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODING is possible with thunderstorms with six-hourly rainfall totals in excess of 180mm,” BOM’s warning for northern NSW <a href="http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDN21037.shtml" target="_blank" rel="noopener">read</a>. Flood warnings have also been issued for several areas of northern NSW, including Tweed Heads, Murwillumbah, Byron Bay, Lismore, Yamba, Grafton, Coffs Harbour and Dorrigo. Heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected to hit the region on Monday and Tuesday, with the rain expected to continue for the first half of the week. With catchments in the area already saturated from the previous bouts of severe weather, minor to moderate flooding could be possible in the first half of the week. <iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FNSWSESRichmondTweed%2Fposts%2F342257557942937&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="660" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> “We have seen flash flooding and fatalities occur (during the recent floods) with only moderate falls,” BOM meteorologist Jackson Browne said. “And with heavy-to-intense falls, this risk is very significant for flash flooding.” Mr Browne said parts of southeast Queensland were also under a general flood watch, with between 60 and 100mm of rain predicted to lash Brisbane on Monday before the weather system moves south into NSW on Tuesday. “It’s likely that we’ll see (the general flood watch) extended into the Brisbane and Sunshine Coast areas,” he said. “There are minor flood watches over large areas of New South Wales and moderate (flood watches) especially up in recently flood-affected parts of northern New South Wales.” The Northern NSW SES has also warned that several regions are at risk, including: <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Tweed and Rouse Rivers – minor to moderate flooding </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Brunswick River and Marshalls Creek – minor flooding </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Wilsons River – minor to moderate flooding </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Richmond River – minor to moderate flooding </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Clarence River – minor flooding </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Orara River – minor to moderate flooding </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Coffs Coast – localised flooding </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Bellinger and Kalang Rivers – minor flooding </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Nambucca River – minor flooding </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Hastings River – minor flooding </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Camden Haven River – minor flooding </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Manning and Gloucester Rivers – minor flooding </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Wollombi Brook and Lower Hunter River – minor flooding </li> </ul> Image: Getty Images

News

SAS soldier claims Ben Roberts-Smith threatened to shoot him in the head

A former soldier who served alongside Ben Roberts-Smith <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/ben-roberts-smith-defamation-trial-new-witness-claims-bullying-death-threat/7df734b2-d86b-44c5-ab2d-a57f1e26a7d3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">has testified</a> in the SAS soldier’s ongoing defamation trial, claiming Roberts-Smith bullied and threatened to kill him during their time serving together. The soldier, known as Person 1, told the Federal Court he was a victim of a seven-year intimidation campaign while giving evidence for Nine newspapers. During the trial, the court heard of a mistake Person 1 made during a 2006 mission in the Chora Valley, with the same mission seeing Mr Roberts-Smith receiving a Medal for Gallantry for single-handedly fighting off 16 Taliban insurgents. Person 1 admitted that his machine gun jammed at least three times during the mission because he forgot to bring his weapon oil. His error later prompted a commanding officer to issue him a warning for “not performing to standard”. The incident was followed by several alleged run-ins between Person 1 and Mr Roberts-Smith which the witness claimed became threats. “[He] said words to the effect of ‘if your performance doesn’t improve on the next patrol, you’re gonna get a bullet in the back of the head’,” Person 1 said. Nine’s barrister Nicholas Owens SC <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-17/soldier-tells-oourt-ben-roberts-smith-threatened-to-shoot-him/100833982" target="_blank" rel="noopener">asked</a> the witness what he understood Mr Roberts-Smith to mean by that comment, to which Person 1 replied: “That he was going to shoot me in the back of the head on the next patrol if my performance doesn’t improve”. Person 1 told the court he lodged a formal complaint about the remark, which he said led to another confrontation. “If you’re going to make accusations **** you better have some f***ing proof,” he claimed Mr Roberts-Smith said to him. “Not only did I have to worry about the Taliban, but I also had to look over my own back at my own people,” Person 1 told the court. He also claimed that even after he switched patrols and climbed the ranks, Mr Roberts-Smith described him to other soldiers as “incompetent” and a “coward”. When they entered mediation in 2013, the soldiers agreed to disagree and shook hands. Mr Roberts-Smith has denied the claims while giving evidence last year and said Person “just wasn’t a very good soldier”. He also accused the witness of attempting to “cover up his poor performance”. The soldier’s testimony comes as part of Mr Roberts-Smith’s defamation trial, in which he is suing Nine newspapers over articles alleging he is a war criminal. Image: 9News

Legal

"I'm so angry": Man fumes after threatened with fine for sleeping in his van

A Queensland man has taken to social media to share his fury at the local council after he was issued a move-on directive while sleeping in his van.Mark Pemberton shared his story on the Facebook page Van Life Australia, recounting how council workers shone a torch into the window of his van which was parked on a suburban street.“I’m so angry,” he wrote.“Last night (Tuesday) I parked in a very quiet spot at around 8pm. (Gold Coast) 10.50pm, council came around and knock (sic) on the door.“They were very nice, but told me it was a $680 fine for sleeping in the street in a van and I had to move.”He then questioned why he had been approached while countless other people who were sleeping rough in Surfers Paradise were left alone by Gold Coast Council workers.“Now the thing is, I live in a unit in Surfers Paradise. I was in the van for various reasons,” he continued.<img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/02/53992333-10492397-His_Facebook_post_on_the_page_Van_Life_generated_plenty_of_discu-m-1_1644461096527.jpg" alt="" width="634" height="476" />Image: Daily Mail Australia“I see the homeless drunk, swearing, begging and sleeping in the street on a daily basis in the middle of Surfers.“I also see a guy who I won’t name, but is semi-famous and walks around in a bikini, sleeps in the street cuddling a teddy.”Mr Pemberton questioned why the council thought it was acceptable to let that individual walk around in public in front of kids, when he wasn’t allowed to sleep “down a dark street in a registered vehicle”.“This is ridiculous. This is not about an individual, this is about the stupidity of the Council,” he concluded.Though his post generated plenty of discussion, it has since been deleted by page administrators.The former business executive who once earned a $200,000 salary is now unemployed, with the pandemic and other personal circumstances seeing him “lose everything”.“My van is registered and roadworthy and was also legally parked on a street in Paradise Point,” he told <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10492397/How-fined-sleeping-car-Australia.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mail Australia</a>.He recalled being almost asleep when two council workers shone a torch into his van. “I explained my situation and I will say they were sympathetic, but I was told I had to move on elsewhere,” he told the publication.“I understand they are doing their job, but surely the council could focus on other issues at hand?”<img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/02/217397376_1146034059251748_5444362758567874310_n.jpg" alt="" width="652" height="960" />Mark Pemberton was inspired to take up living the van life after his travels through Europe. Image: Herc the Merc (Facebook)Mr Pemberton said the council should focus on addressing issues such as “homelessness and mental health”, rather than “people minding their own business in a registered van”.Having lived out of a van during his previous travels through Europe, Mr Pemberton is convinced it is the lifestyle for him.“After my personal dramas, van life was great for mental health,” he said.“I understand it isn’t for everyone, but in my eyes it is a great opportunity to see the world differently.”Image: Mark J Pemberton (Facebook)

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Red tape threatens to remove a man with Down's syndrome from his elderly mother

Climate change threatens Australian tourism more than is widely believed. Here’s why

Robert Irwin threatens to sue Pauline Hanson over "defamatory" cartoon

"Last chance, Mr Banducci": Woolies CEO threatened with jail time

Rebel Wilson exposes A-lister who "threatened" her over book release

Retiree threatened with $200,000 fine over home egg business

Fast-moving bushfire threatens Australia Zoo

ABC threatened with legal action over coronation coverage

"I'm done": Why Ed Sheeran is threatening to quit music

Meghan Markle’s life threatened

“You have been warned nicely before”: Neighbours threaten to poison dogs

The magnificent Lake Eyre Basin is threatened by 831 oil and gas wells

This single spending habit could threaten your savings

5 times the Mona Lisa was threatened

10-year-old arrested for threatening to carry out mass shooting

Boss threatens to sue employees over wage talk

Man who threatened to kill Jacinda Ardern causes stir in court

Wild weather warning for more life-threatening floods

SAS soldier claims Ben Roberts-Smith threatened to shoot him in the head

"I'm so angry": Man fumes after threatened with fine for sleeping in his van

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