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

<p>Daniel Morcombe's parents have reflected on the day their son was kidnapped and murdered, on the 20th anniversary of his disappearance. </p> <p>Bruce Morcombe appeared on <em>Sunrise</em> on Thursday morning, sharing how the date is always a painful one to live through. </p> <p>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. </p> <p>“It’s always a tough day but what we think about is Daniel’s brothers, our other two sons, and our grandkids,” he said.</p> <p>“They lost a brother, a twin brother. They will be hurting equally the same.”</p> <p>Since Daniel disappeared, the Morcombes have dedicated their lives to keeping other children safe, establishing the Daniel Morcombe Foundation shortly after his murder. </p> <p>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.</p> <p><em>Sunrise</em> 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.”</p> <p>“It’s irrefutable that they have stopped so much child abuse over the years, just extraordinary,” she added.</p> <p>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.</p> <p>“Remember this was a young boy of 13, 12 days short of turning 14. He never made it to 14,” he said.</p> <p>“It happened to Daniel, it can happen to you. Daniel was an innocent kid, like anybody else.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Sunrise</em></p>

Caring

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Ambulance report contradicts Daniel Andrews’ car crash statement

<p>A newly discovered ambulance report has contradicted Daniel Andrews’ statement about a 2013 car accident on the Mornington Peninsula that almost killed a teenager.</p> <p>The Victorian premier was being driven by his wife Catherine in their family Ford Territory when it collided with a bike being ridden by 15-year-old Ryan Meuleman.</p> <p>The incident occurred near the Melbourne Rd and Ridley St intersection in Blairgowrie around 1:30pm on January 7, 2013.</p> <p>Meuleman suffered a punctured lung, broken ribs, internal bleeding and was left with just 10 per cent of his spleen. He was in The Royal Children’s Hospital for 11 days.</p> <p>Mrs Andrews wasn’t breathalysed following the accident, and the teen wasn’t given a chance to give a statement to police.</p> <p>Mr Andrews and his wife have held up their claims that Mueleman was at fault as the premier told reporters in 2017 that the teen was “moving at speed” when he “absolutely T-boned the car”.</p> <p>However, a document obtained by the <em>Herald Sun</em>, put together by Ambulance Victoria paramedics who were present at the scene, challenges the couple’s claims that they came to a “complete stop” and “turned right from a stationary position” moments before the collision.</p> <p>The “Patient Care Report” reads, 15YO on bike. Struck on L side by car travelling 40 to 60kmh … PT onto bonnet, then onto windscreen which cracked on impact … thrown onto roadway.”</p> <p>The document has only now been uncovered as Mr Mueleman, now 25, has escalated legal action.</p> <p>Speaking to the<em> Herald Sun</em>, barrister Daryl Dealehr said, “The serious injuries to the left side of Ryan’s body and the observations made by the ambulance officers who attended the crash are completely inconsistent with the claims to police made by Mr Andrews and his wife that their vehicle was travelling at a low speed,”</p> <p>“The evidence appears completely at odds with what Daniel and Catherine Andrews have been claiming since the collision.”</p> <p>The outlet reported in late 2022, before the November state election, that Meuleman had contacted lawyers to re-examine the accident and the circumstances surrounding the investigation and legal settlement that followed.</p> <p>The ambulance report was not in the files that were originally handed over by law firm Slater &amp; Gordon.</p> <p>According to the<em> Herald Sun</em>, The Meuelemans are seeking pre-trial discovery against the law firm and the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) in an attempt to uncover any further “missing” documents.</p> <p>After the accident, Mueleman was paid $80,000 by the TAC, though his family have raised “concerns” over the proceedings.</p> <p>The teen’s parents insist they never engaged Slater &amp; Gordon, a Labor-aligned law firm, to represent their son while the firm refuses to reveal what led to its involvement.</p> <p>“I hadn’t seen this report until a week ago,” Mueleman told the Herald Sun.</p> <p>“The lawyers never showed it to me. They just told me to agree to the deal and kind of, you know, shut up. I was 15 years old, mate. I was a kid. Seriously, I was 15. I am pretty blown away to be honest. I just wish I had it to show everyone 10 years ago. It would have changed everything. People would have known that they hit me, not the other way around.”</p> <p>In 2017, the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission examined the police response to the crash, including failing to use a breathalyser after the crash.</p> <p>Mr Andrews and his wife were not formally interviewed until nearly a month after the incident.</p> <p>In November 2017, uncovered police photographs obtained by the</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> saw the extent of damage to the vehicle.</p> <p>In his signed statement on February 2013, the Premier said, “We had turned right from a stationary position into Ridley St. Moments after we turned, a cyclist collided heavily with the side of our vehicle … the cyclist was travelling at speed and hit our car at a perfect right angle very heavily. I want to make it clear — the cyclist hit our vehicle.”</p> <p>In the statement, Mrs Andrews said, “I turned from Melbourne Rd after coming to a complete stop … just after we turned into Ridley St our car was struck heavily on the front driver’s side by a cyclist who it seems was attempting to cross Ridley St at speed from the bike path.”</p> <p>In a press conference in November, shortly after Mr Mueleman's new claims were revealed, Mr Andrew rejected several questions from reporters.</p> <p>“I’ve got nothing further to say,” he said.</p> <p>A spokesperson for the Premier said that the matter had been "dealt with" by Tourism Minister Steve Dimopoulos at a press conference that morning.</p> <p>“This is over a decade old,” Mr Dimopoulos told reporters.</p> <p>“The most appropriate authorities have investigated this thoroughly and have made no adverse findings. Beyond that, the Premier himself has answered questions on this almost as many times as he’s answered questions on Covid. This has been thoroughly examined and I really don’t have any more to say.”</p> <p><em>Image credit: Getty</em></p>

News

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Harry Potter star reveals huge family update

<p>Daniel Radcliffe, star of the Harry Potter movies, has confirmed he and long-term partner and fellow actor Erin Darke are expecting their first child together. </p> <p>The couple - who have been together for 10 years - confirmed the news to<em> People </em>through a representative after they were spotted out and about in New York City, with Darke sporting her baby bump. </p> <p>And as a source told <em>news.com.au</em>, “they have kept it pretty quiet until now but she can’t hide her bump anymore.” </p> <p>The same source revealed that Radcliffe is thrilled about becoming a father, telling them that “[he] is so excited to be a dad. His relationship with Erin is really special and everyone thinks they will be amazing parents.” </p> <p>In October, Radcliffe actually spoke to Newsweek about what he wanted for his children, “if and when they exist”, and how he hoped to see him on film sets - something that he may now have every opportunity to experience. </p> <p>“A dream would be for them to come onto a film set and be like, 'God, you know, I'd love to be in the art department. I'd love to be something in the crew;,” Radcliffe explained. "Film sets are wonderful places. I think a lot of the time it can be wonderful for kids. </p> <p>“But it's really the fame side of it that should be avoided at all costs."</p> <p>Something that Radcliffe and Darke know all too well, with their years working in film and TV. Something the two have experienced together on more than one occasion - as well as starring in <em>Don’t Think Twice</em>, the two also worked together on the third season of Radcliffe's <em>Miracle Workers</em>. </p> <p>Radcliffe described the latter as something that “was incredibly special and felt lovely”, but wasn’t likely to become something they would do regularly, adding that “we definitely like [working together], but it's not something we want to do all the time.”</p> <p>The couple met in 2012 while filming <em>Kill Your Darlings</em>, and although they primarily keep their relationship private, Radcliffe has discussed what it was like to first get to know each other, once confessing in an interview that it would be “a hell of a story to tell our kids one day because of what our characters do with each other.</p> <p>"Our characters are meeting and flirting with each other, so there is this kind of sweet record of us just meeting for the first time and flirting."</p> <p>The 33-year-old admitted in another interview that he felt an immediate attraction to Darke, and that “there’s a moment when she makes me laugh, and I’m laughing as me and not as my character.</p> <p>“She was incredibly funny and smart. I knew I was in trouble.” </p> <p>Despite the length of their partnership, and multiple rumours that they have gotten engaged - or in more extreme stories, married - Radcliffe’s focus remains on maintaining the strong friendship they’ve forged, especially as they look ahead to their thrilling new chapter.  </p> <p>“I think that’s the kind of relationship I always aspire to have with someone I’m in a relationship with,” Radcliffe explained. “You want that person to be your best friend. In the case of Erin, we definitely are.” </p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Today weather presenter weds former AFL star in lavish ceremony

<p>Former Miss Universe Australia and <em>Today </em>weather presenter Scherri-Lee has said “I do” in a stunning ceremony with fiancé - now husband - Daniel Venables.</p> <p>Scherri-Lee announced their happy news with a post to social media, sharing an image of herself swept up in a kiss by the former West Coast Eagles player, along with the caption “The Venables”.</p> <p>The couple’s big day was held at the Swan Valley’s popular Old Young’s restaurant - a venue decked out for the event, and on full display across the stories of their guests. </p> <p>Those same stories also revealed that Scherri-Lee walked down the aisle to an acoustic cover of Tina Turner and Jimmy Barnes’ ‘(Simply) The Best’, and that they had their first dance to Leon Bridges’ ‘Beyond’. </p> <p>Their invite list featured a number of notable names - from Eagles players’ partners to stylists, TV personalities, and some of Scherri-Le’s own co-hosts. And the love for the newlyweds didn’t stop with their celebrations, with many of their guests - and fans - making use of Scherri-Lee’s comment section to congratulate them. </p> <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-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp_nlYGPTvX/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;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/p/Cp_nlYGPTvX/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Scherri-Lee Biggs (@scherri)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“The best day!!” declared fellow TV presenter and wedding guest Tracy Vo. </p> <p>“Absolutely stunning gorgeous girl!” gushed Natalia Cooper, who punctuated her message with two red hearts, “congratulations to you both”.</p> <p>“Congratulations!!!” wrote <em>The Block</em>’s Shaynna Blaze. </p> <p>“Obsessed with this. What a wedding,” admitted one celebrant, who shared Scherri-Lee’s post as well. </p> <p>“So happy to cater for your wedding at @oldyoungskitchen guys!” wrote Chef Rizzy, whose team handled the event’s food. “I hope the night was as great as it all sounded from the kitchen!”</p> <p>“Congratulations!! I hope the day was everything you dreamed of,” came <em>Perth News</em> reporter Kelly Neves’ well-wishes. </p> <p>The congratulations went on and on, with hundreds delighted to share in the happy moment through the screen. A moment they hadn’t had to wait for long, with the couple only having announced their engagement in December of 2022. </p> <p>At the time, Scherri-Lee had announced the news with a post to her Instagram account. It featured a picture of the two embracing at sunset on the beach, and the caption “Christmas came early this year. Forever isn’t enough with you.”</p> <p>The news came after Scherri-Lee had been spotted wearing a diamond ring while at another wedding. Their relationship had only been confirmed in May of the same year, after rumours had begun to swirl that the two had paired up. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

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Victorian man’s anti-Dan Andrews plates deemed “offensive” by government

<p dir="ltr">A Victorian man could lose his personalised number plates referencing Premier Daniel Andrews after the state government’s transport body said they had deemed them to be “offensive” and “inappropriate”.</p> <p dir="ltr">In September, Peter Dunlevie received plates that read, “DANOUT”, from VicRoads and attached them to his 2003 Commodore ahead of the state election on November 23.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Well, I want Andrews gone,” he told <em>7NEWS</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m just sick of him.”</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-907adc51-7fff-b3f2-85a0-ade8c73e54ba"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">The plates are accompanied by other anti-Andrews messages, including stickers reading, “Save Victoria” and “SACK ANDREWS”.</p> <p dir="ltr"><img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/11/danout1.jpg" alt="" width="880" height="495" /></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Peter Dunlevie attached plates reading ‘DANOUT’ to his white Commodore. Image: 7NEWS</em></p> <p dir="ltr">However, VicRoads has since written to the Gippsland man and told him to return the plates, writing that the plates are “negative”, “offensive” and “inappropriate”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“A review of our records has identified that the combination ‘DANOUT’ has specific negative references, and may be considered offensive by the broader community,” the letter read.</p> <p dir="ltr">Dunlevie has questioned VicRoads’ assessment of the plates, telling the news outlet that it’s just “a bit of fun”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“What’s offensive about them?” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This is just an old bloke having a bit of fun.”</p> <p dir="ltr">While VicRoads has the authority to cancel personalised plates, Dunlevie said he felt like the transport authority was “trying to gag me”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Following the letter from VicRoads, the state’s Department of Transport has begun a review into the decision to remove the plates from Dunlevie.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-2976ccdd-7fff-1b07-2086-9bc20f7378ca"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: 7NEWS</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Daniel Radcliffe speaks out against J.K. Rowlings's transphobic allegations

<p>Daniel Radcliffe has spoken out about J.K. Rowling amid ongoing transphobic allegations. </p> <p>In a recent interview with IndieWire, the <em>Harry Potter</em> actor claimed he "wouldn't be able to look at himself" if he didn't take a stand against her harmful views. </p> <p>Radcliffe said he felt it was his responsibility to protect his fans from Rowling's rhetoric, while making clear he does not share the same views. </p> <p>He said, “The reason I felt very, very much as though I needed to say something when I did was because, particularly since finishing ‘Potter,’ I’ve met so many queer and trans kids and young people who had a huge amount of identification with ‘Potter’ on that.”</p> <p>“And so seeing them hurt on that day I was like, I wanted them to know that not everybody in the franchise felt that way. And that was really important.”</p> <p>Radcliffe’s letter was aired on the website of The Trevor Project, a non-profit organisation which focuses on suicide prevention efforts in the LGBTQI+ community.</p> <p>“It was really important as I’ve worked with the Trevor Project for more than 10 years, and so I don’t think I would’ve been able to look myself in the mirror had I not said anything,” Radcliffe added. </p> <p>“But it’s not mine to guess what’s going on in someone else’s head.”</p> <p>Rowling, 57, has come under fire numerous times for sharing messages on Twitter of a transphobic nature, which began with a tweet in June 2020, in which she disparaged use of the inclusive term “people who menstruate”.</p> <p>After several trans-exclusionary tweets, Radcliffe decided to share his own message of support, writing a piece addressing the saga, saying “Transgender women are women."</p> <p>“Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people and goes against all advice given by professional health care associations who have far more expertise on this subject matter than either Jo [Rowling] or I.”</p> <p>Radcliffe added, “To all the people who now feel that their experience of the [‘<em>Harry Potter</em>’] books has been tarnished or diminished, I am deeply sorry for the pain these comments have caused you." </p> <p>“I really hope that you don’t entirely lose what was valuable in these stories to you.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Caring

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“We’ve been expecting you”: Daniel Craig receives royal honour

<p dir="ltr">Daniel Craig has been awarded one of the highest royal honours - the same one held by the character he is most well-known for playing: James Bond.</p> <p dir="ltr">Craig was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on Tuesday.</p> <p dir="ltr">In Ian Fleming’s Bond novel, <em>From Russia With Love</em>, a Soviet spy chief notes that 007 received the honour in 1953, and that it’s “an award usually given only on retirement from the Secret Service”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Outside of fiction, spies aren’t the only recipients of the honour, with diplomats and Brits working overseas also receiving it in recognition of their services to the UK “internationally”.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-478ce96c-7fff-9a7f-a77e-852543e43824"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Craig, who holds citizenship in the US and is listed on the Investiture roll as being from New York, received the CMG in recognition of his service to film and theatre in the 2022 New Year Honours.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">We’ve been expecting you…</p> <p>🎖️The Princess Royal presents Daniel Craig with The Order of St Michael and St George - the same honour held by his character James Bond - in recognition of his outstanding contribution to film and theatre. <a href="https://t.co/X20TP6BogL">pic.twitter.com/X20TP6BogL</a></p> <p>— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) <a href="https://twitter.com/RoyalFamily/status/1582319162307018752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">He was presented with the medal during Tuesday’s ceremony by Princess Anne, with the royal family sharing a photo of the pair on social media with the playful caption, “We’ve been expecting you”.</p> <p dir="ltr">After 15 years, Craig ended his time as the martini-slinging spy in 2021, starring in the film <em>No Time To Die</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">As for who will take the reins after Craig, Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson told <em><a href="https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/bond-producers-barbara-broccoli-and-michael-g-wilson-on-the-fate-and-future-of-007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Empire</a></em> that <em>No Time To Die</em> wasn’t the end of the story for 007 - but it could take some time to find the actor’s replacement.</p> <p dir="ltr">"When you change the actor you have to reimagine the direction the film's gonna go in. When you hire an actor, you're hoping you're going to spend a decade at least with them and make four or five or six films with them,” Broccoli said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It's not just flicking through <em>Spotlight</em> and saying, 'Oh, there's a guy who's 6'1"' We're going to take our time. We want to get a sense of where we want to go with the series and we want to do that before we bring anybody else on.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-d8cb95c6-7fff-c6e0-95a1-43d9141b8e48"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: @RoyalFamily (Twitter)</em></p>

Movies

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Daniel Johns discusses Silverchair shooting tragedy

<p dir="ltr">In 1995, a 16-year-old boy in the state of Washington, aided by his friend, opened fire and killed both his parents and brother. </p> <p dir="ltr">When the shooter was apprehended, they were allegedly playing Silverchair’s <em>Israel’s Son</em>, which was released the same year and boasts controversial and hateful lyrics. </p> <p dir="ltr">Now, 27 years on, Silverchair frontman Daniel Johns has opened up about the tragedy. </p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s pretty devastating to write a song when you’re a teenager and then have lives taken because apparently it influenced the people to murder someone — that’s too much,” Johns told American radio personality Megan Holiday on <em>In The Mind of Daniel Johns</em> docuseries. </p> <p dir="ltr">An in-depth report on the murders published by Spin magazine in their September 1996 issue cited evidence that the shooter pulled a blood-spattered cassette out of his father’s hand, shrieking “That’s my f***ing tape!” It was Silverchair’s debut album <em>Frogstomp</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">The shooter’s friend alleged that he put the tape in the stereo and rewound it to the track <em>Israel’s Son</em>. </p> <p dir="ltr">The witness’s version of events, which unfolded at his trial in January 1996, had his friend kicking the deceased bodies of his parents as the song played.</p> <p dir="ltr">The shooter’s lawyer Tom Copland would cite the lyrics of <em>Israel's Son</em> at an evidentiary hearing: “Hate is what I feel for you/I want you to know that I want you dead’. </p> <p dir="ltr">They petitioned the court to be allowed to play the song in his opening statement, as he claimed the song’s lyrics were “almost a script” for the killings.</p> <p dir="ltr">Johns, who was just 16 at the time, said he internalised his trauma after hearing the horrific news. </p> <p dir="ltr">“It affected me, but I had to act like it didn’t,” he said. “I couldn’t acknowledge it, I guess that was part of the patterns.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The Aussie rocker said he didn’t want fans to look to him for meanings or “guidance”. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I don’t like that people look to me for guidance in the songs. I don’t like it,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Music

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“What a low act!": Daniel Morcombe's parents outraged at upcoming film

<p dir="ltr">The devastated parents of murdered Queensland boy Daniel Morcombe have blasted an upcoming film about their son’s death. </p> <p dir="ltr">Daniel Morcombe was only 13 years old when he was abducted and murdered on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast in December, 2003.</p> <p dir="ltr">In August 2011, Brett Peter Cowan was arrested and later found guilty of Daniel’s murder.</p> <p dir="ltr">Now parents Denise and Bruce Morcombe have come out attacking the film <em>The Stranger</em>, which tells the story of an undercover detective trying to catch a killer in Australia.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>The Stranger</em> premiered at Cannes earlier this year and will play at the Melbourne International Film Festival in August.</p> <p dir="ltr">A statement from the Morcombe’s was shared on the Daniel Morcombe Foundation Facebook page calling the film a “low act” and have asked people not to watch it. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">The movie “The Stranger” is not supported by the Morcombe family. Individuals who make money on a heinous crime are parasites. They are callously disrespectful to Daniel, the DMF &amp; the Morcombe family. We find the making of the movie morally corrupt and cruel. Shame on you. <a href="https://t.co/9FEFAp5g0G">pic.twitter.com/9FEFAp5g0G</a></p> <p>— Denise Morcombe OAM (@DeniseMorcombe) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeniseMorcombe/status/1547358728286261248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“What a low act! I won’t be going to watch this movie. I won’t be recommending anyone go. The movie is not supported or sanctioned in any way by the Morcombe family,” the statement read.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s appalling storyline ignores our family‘s pain and chooses to profit from 13-year-old Daniel Morcombe.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Next year will mark 20 years since we lost Daniel. The passage of time does not make it any easier. Personally, I find the making of this movie morally corrupt and a cruel, callous, selfish cash grab by all involved. Shame on you.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I recommend the public stay away from it and either save their money or consider donating it to the Daniel Morcombe Foundation.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Mrs Morcombe took it further and called the movie makers “parasites” for disrespecting her son. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">We are not amused! How can anyone give oxygen to a crime that is so, so evil? Connections of the movie have blood on their hands.</p> <p>— Bruce Morcombe (@BruceMorcombe) <a href="https://twitter.com/BruceMorcombe/status/1547361223804481536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“The movie ‘The Stranger’ is not supported by the Morcombe family. Individuals who make money on a heinous crime are parasites,” she wrote. </p> <p dir="ltr">“They are callously disrespectful to Daniel, the DMF &amp; the Morcombe family. We find the making of the movie morally corrupt and cruel. Shame on you.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Morcombe responded to his wife’s tweet saying: “We are not amused! How can anyone give oxygen to a crime that is so, so evil? Connections of the movie have blood on their hands.” </p> <p dir="ltr">Director Thomas M Wright said he made the film to share a different perspective of the story because he could not “presume” what the family was going through. </p> <p dir="ltr">“One reason I chose not to show the child or family (in The Stranger) was to make a film with a clear moral perspective,” he previously said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I couldn’t presume to know anything of the experience of that family. But I could see that there was a story about empathy and making meaning in the wake of violence, not violence itself.”</p> <p dir="ltr">According to Hollywood reporter, “the film offers a fictionalised portrait of the massive undercover operation that cracked the infamous cold case of 13-year-old Daniel Morcombe, who went missing in 2003.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Daniel Morcombe Foundation</em></p>

Movies

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Daniel Johns ordered to complete community service over drunk driving incident

<p>Daniel Johns has narrowly avoided jail time with a 10-month intensive corrections order to be served in the community over a high-range drink-driving car crash.</p> <p>The former Silverchair frontman has also been disqualified from driving for seven months and ordered to fit an alcohol-reading interlock device to his car for 24 months when he gets his driver's licence back.</p> <p>In March this year, Johns was charged with high-range drink driving after a head-on crash at North Arm Cove, north of Newcastle.</p> <p>When tested, he returned a blood alcohol reading three times the legal limit.</p> <p>The police report states that Johns was heading north when his SUV crossed onto the wrong side of the Pacific Highway and collided with a light commercial truck travelling in the opposite direction.</p> <p>Both vehicles ended up on a nearby nature strip, with the 51-year-old driver of the van and his 55-year-old female passenger being treated at the scene by paramedics. </p> <p>Johns entered rehabilitation of his own will for four weeks after the crash and the court was told he had not touched alcohol since.</p> <p>In his sentencing submission, defence lawyer Bryan Wrench said his client suffered from complex mental health issues from his time as a child musical star.</p> <p>"He was a very successful musician. He was 14 when that came to him in an unwanted fashion and that came with attacks and vitriol," Mr Wrench said.</p> <p>"He is a recluse, his house is his only safe place."</p> <p>These defence submissions are what helped Johns avoid time behind bars, as Magistrate Ian Cheetham said Johns was best served to continue with psychiatric treatment in the community.</p> <p>"There is no doubt a custodial sentence will not achieve an appropriate result for him or the community," Magistrate Cheetham said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Legal

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How to Murder Your Husband author sentenced to life in prison

<p>The author who once penned an essay “How to Murder Your Husband” was sentenced to life in prison for murdering her husband at his workplace. </p> <p>Nancy Crampton Brophy, 71, was found guilty of second-degree murder for shooting dead her chef husband Daniel Brophy, 63, back in June 2018. </p> <p>Following the seven week trial, Nancy was sentenced to life in prison on June 13 and will only be eligible for parole after serving 25 years in custody. </p> <p>Prosecutors told the court that Crampton Brophy killed her husband to claim her husband’s $1.4 million life insurance policy. </p> <p>They said that she was collecting gun pieces in the moments leading to Daniel’s death before killing him at the Oregon Culinary Institute. </p> <p>Footage presented to the Multnomah County courtroom showed that Crampton Brophy in fact owned the same make and model of the gun that killed her husband.</p> <p>She was also seen driving to and from the culinary institute when Daniel was killed and found by his students. </p> <p>Her defence team argued that she was collecting them for a new book she was writing - about a woman who slowly collected gun parts to complete a weapon and get back at her abusive husband.</p> <p>They said that Crampton Brophy and Daniel were in a loving relationship for almost 25 years. </p> <p>The jury of five men and seven women deliberated the case for eight hours before delivering the guilty verdict.</p> <p>One of Crampton Brophy’s attorneys, Lisa Maxfield said they are looking to appeal.</p> <p>Crampton Brophy is due to be sentenced on June 13.</p> <p><em>Images: Twitter</em></p>

Legal

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“How to Murder Your Husband” author convicted for murdering husband

<p dir="ltr">An author who wrote an essay about “How to Murder Your Husband” has been convicted of murdering her husband.</p> <p dir="ltr">Nancy Crampton Brophy, 71, was found guilty on Wednesday of second-degree murder for shooting dead her chef husband Daniel Brophy, 63, back in June 2018. </p> <p dir="ltr">Prosecutors told the court that Crampton Brophy killed her husband to claim her husband’s $1.4 million life insurance policy. </p> <p dir="ltr">They said that she was collecting gun pieces in the moments leading to Daniel’s death before killing him at the Oregon Culinary Institute. </p> <p dir="ltr">Footage presented to the Multnomah County courtroom showed that Crampton Brophy in fact owned the same make and model of the gun that killed her husband.</p> <p dir="ltr">She was also seen driving to and from the culinary institute when Daniel was killed and found by his students. </p> <p dir="ltr">Her defence team argued that she was collecting them for a new book she was writing - about a woman who slowly collected gun parts to complete a weapon and get back at her abusive husband.</p> <p dir="ltr">They said that Crampton Brophy and Daniel were in a loving relationship for almost 25 years. </p> <p dir="ltr">The jury of five men and seven women deliberated the case for eight hours before delivering the guily verdict.</p> <p dir="ltr">One of Crampton Brophy’s attorneys, Lisa Maxfield said they are looking to appeal.</p> <p dir="ltr">Crampton Brophy is due to be sentenced on June 13.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Twitter</em></p>

Legal

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Daniel Johns facing jail time

<p dir="ltr">Former Silverchair frontman Daniel Johns risks being thrown into jail following a horrific head-on collision while drink-driving.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 42-year-old, who is in a rehabilitation centre, entered a guilty plea to high-range drink driving through his lawyer Bryan Wrench. </p> <p dir="ltr">Wrench told the court that his client wanted the matter dealt with immediately because it was causing him anxiety during his three month stint in rehab. </p> <p dir="ltr">Magistrate Ian Cheetham rejected the premise saying the matter was too serious and that Johns could face jail time.</p> <p dir="ltr">The case was adjourned to June 22 for sentencing with Johns ordered to contact Corrective Services NSW officers to complete an assessment report.</p> <p dir="ltr">Wrench previously submitted documents to the courts to avoid his client being interviewed by Corrective Services.</p> <p dir="ltr">He noted that Johns knew the serious nature of the offence was suffering from mental health issues. </p> <p dir="ltr">The lawyer told the court that Johns was also prepared to stop drinking alcohol as part of an intensive corrections order if it would help him avoid jail. </p> <p dir="ltr">Police allege that Johns was three times over the legal alcohol limit when his car merged onto the other side of the road and crashed into a van in the NSW Hunter region about 10.30pm on Wednesday, March 23.</p> <p dir="ltr">The van driver, 51, and his female passenger, 55, were treated at the scene and the woman was taken to hospital.</p> <p dir="ltr">Johns was breathalysed and returned a shocking blood alcohol level of 0.157.</p> <p dir="ltr">He admitted himself to a rehabilitation facility telling his followers on Instagram that he was focusing on his mental health. </p> <p dir="ltr">“As you know, my mental health is a work in progress. I have good days and bad days but it’s something I always have to manage,” Johns wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Over the last week I began to experience panic attacks. Last night I got lost while driving and I was in an accident. I am OK, everyone is OK.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I have to step back now as I’m self-admitting to a rehabilitation centre and I don’t know how long I’ll be there. Appreciate your love and support as always.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Legal

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Daniel Craig opens up on private moment with the Queen

<p>Actor Daniel Craig has reflected on the time he spent with Queen Elizabeth while filming the opening <em>James Bond</em> skit for the London 2012 Olympics. </p> <p>The 53-year-old actor appeared on <em>The Late Show with Stephen Colbert</em> on Wednesday, where the talk show host asked what Her Majesty is like behind closed doors. </p> <p>"I understand that you may not be able to answer this question, but I'm gonna ask anyway: What's she like in private?" the US TV host said.</p> <p>To which the 007 star replied, "Very funny. Very funny."</p> <p>He said the Queen was "cracking a joke" at the actor's expense when they were posing for a photo opportunity. </p> <p>Daniel recalled, "We were having our photographs taken and she just went, 'Oh no, he's the one that doesn't smile. Fair enough!'"</p> <p>He also admitted that in between filming the skit in Buckingham Palace, he was "rolling around on the floor" with the Queen's corgis.</p> <p>He said, "I think they have their own footmen, they're very friendly."</p> <p>In the famous skit, Daniel Craig portrays his famous <em>James Bond</em> persona, as he arrives at Buckingham Palace to escort the Queen to the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. </p> <p>The memorable scene ended with stunt performers, doubling for Bond and the Queen, jumping out of the helicopter and parachuting into the stadium.</p> <p>Speaking about the skit in 2012, Daniel said, "It wasn't supposed to be funny. It was supposed to be serious."</p> <p>"She was fun, incredibly game. We had a short space of time and I was a bit grumpy as it was my day off and suddenly I am at the Palace with the Queen at her private chamber."</p> <p>"And she improvises a little bit. She was supposed to be sitting at the desk and she asked if she could write, so she pretended to write."</p> <p>In 2019, the Queen's dressmaker and confidante Angela Kelly revealed it took "just five minutes" to persuade Her Majesty to appear in the skit. </p> <p>You can watch the iconic skit below. </p> <p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1AS-dCdYZbo" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p><em>Image credits: YouTube - Olympics</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Dan Andrews' wife speaks out after vile act

<p dir="ltr">Catherine Andrews, wife of Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, has spoken out after footage emerged from a protest in Melbourne featuring people making violent threats towards her husband.</p> <p dir="ltr">On Tuesday, roughly 1000 protestors gathered outside Victorian parliament, with some threatening to take over the building and others chasing journalists. In a video posted to Twitter, one woman with a megaphone was heard saying, “I look forward to the day I get to see you dance on the end of a rope”, which was believed to be directed at the premier. A man with a megaphone yelled about taking over parliament, shouting, “If those police allow us to go through those doors and take over parliament, we will. We will lead the state to freedom.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">"If those police allowed us to go through those doors and take over parliament we will."<br /><br />🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/auspol?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#auspol</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MelbourneProtest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MelbourneProtest</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/QAnonCult?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#QAnonCult</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/VictoriaPolice?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VictoriaPolice</a> <a href="https://t.co/b6RsUpcgp7">pic.twitter.com/b6RsUpcgp7</a></p> — Media Analyst (@MediaAnalystOz) <a href="https://twitter.com/MediaAnalystOz/status/1460421871246069760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2021</a></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Tuesday’s protest follows an earlier one on Monday evening where protestors jeered when an inflatable replica of Andrews was placed next to makeshift gallows on the steps of parliament.</p> <p dir="ltr">The protests were part of a series of rallies organised against vaccine mandates and pandemic legislation that is currently before the Victorian parliament. Just last week, Andrews was<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/protestors-force-daniel-andrews-to-abandon-press-conference" target="_blank">forced to abandon</a><span> </span>a press conference in Bendigo because of police concerns about protestors’ behaviour.</p> <p dir="ltr">Cath Andrews spoke about the chaos for the first time, taking to Twitter to thank people for their support. She wrote, “We have received so many beautiful messages today from all over. Thank you. We are reminded that the light shines in the darkness and the darkness will not overcome it. As ever #IStandWithDan #GoHigh".</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">We have received so many beautiful messages today from all over. Thank you. We are reminded that the light shines in the darkness and the darkness will not overcome it. As ever <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IStandWithDan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IStandWithDan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoHigh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoHigh</a></p> — Catherine Andrews (@CathLAndrews) <a href="https://twitter.com/CathLAndrews/status/1460515809621524484?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2021</a></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The wife of deputy premier James Merlino, Meagan Porch, also spoke out about the violent threats and imagery, describing them as “so far over the line”. “If that was about my husband, James Merlino, I’d be calling the police to put a stop to it,” she wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“In what world is it okay for Cath and the kids to have to stand by and watch this as if everything is okay? This is so far over the line it’s ridiculous.”</p>

News

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Protestors force Daniel Andrews to abandon press conference

<p dir="ltr">Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews cancelled a press conference on Wednesday, following advice from police after protestors picketed his appearance at the opening of a regional TAFE.</p> <p dir="ltr">Andrews was touring a new TAFE in the regional Victorian city of Bendigo, but after protestors, chanting “kill the bill” and “coercion is not consent”, arrived outside the campus, the premier decided not to take questions from the media because of safety concerns raised by Victorian Police.</p> <p dir="ltr">The protestors were demonstrating against new pandemic laws introduced by the state government, as well as vaccine mandates.</p> <p dir="ltr">Before leaving, Andrews told the crowd, "to perhaps give you a quieter time, I'm going to go now". Protestors could be heard shouting insults such as “sack Dan Andrews” as the premier was ushered into a waiting car.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Daniel Andrews shows his face in public once and this is what happens... <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DanNext?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DanNext</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KillTheBill?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KillTheBill</a><br /><br />Shot in Bendigo after a press conference. <a href="https://t.co/GLuHkjgUhW">pic.twitter.com/GLuHkjgUhW</a></p> — The Altruistic Capitalist (@kimchi2613) <a href="https://twitter.com/kimchi2613/status/1458269530283593732?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 10, 2021</a></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The incident coincided with daily protests in Melbourne’s CBD, including a protest on Monday night that saw roughly 200 people gather on the steps of the Victorian Parliament. COVID-19 response commander Jeroen Weimar and Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton had to be escorted by police through the crowd.</p> <p dir="ltr">Meeting again on Tuesday, the crowd of protestors outside Parliament included Shadow Treasurer David Davis and Liberal Democrat David Limbrick.</p> <p dir="ltr">The laws being protested have been strongly criticised by Victorian Liberals and the Victorian Bar for being too broad and lacking proper scrutiny. Despite this, they passed the Legislative Assembly last month and are now awaiting the support of three crossbench MPs to pass the Legislative Council.</p> <p dir="ltr">The proposed laws seek to replace existing state of emergency powers, and would empower the premier and health minister of the day to declare pandemics and enforce health directions. Under existing laws, only the state’s chief health officer, who is not an elected official, has these powers.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images</em></p>

News

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Two teens dressed up as two of the pandemic’s most recognisable faces for Halloween

<p dir="ltr">Two Melbourne teens have stolen the show this Halloween with their couples’ costume: premiers Daniel Andrews and Gladys Berejiklian as we know them best, giving their daily COVID-19 press conferences.</p> <p dir="ltr">The two VCE students shared a series of videos of them in costume as the former NSW premier and current Victorian premier ahead of Halloween this weekend, with one video of the pair shaking hands and then twerking racking up over one million views.</p> <p dir="ltr">Two of the videos feature Andrews ‘punching’ at Berejiklian, most likely hinting at the interstate rivalries that have only become more stark during the pandemic. Berejiklian is currently facing an<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/it-didn-t-stack-up-icac-investigation-into-gladys-berejiklian-begins" target="_blank">ICAC inquiry</a><span> </span>into her conduct as premier, particularly in relation to her<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/maguire-s-icac-testimony-full-of-personal-revelations" target="_blank">clandestine relationship</a><span> </span>with former NSW Liberal MP Daryl Maguire.</p> <p dir="ltr">A third video features the pair strutting and dancing to the post-lockdown anthem consisting of a remixed version of Andrews’ famous rallying cry of ‘get on the beers’.</p> <blockquote style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" class="tiktok-embed" data-video-id="7021646020287204609"><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@jupiterofpentaclez" target="_blank" title="@jupiterofpentaclez">@jupiterofpentaclez</a> <p>@daniel.andrews please please <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/vce" target="_blank" title="vce">#vce</a> <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/melbourne" target="_blank" title="melbourne">#melbourne</a></p> <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/VOID-BY-LIL-NAS-X-7007925875408767750" target="_blank" title="♬ VOID BY LIL NAS X - lil nas x">♬ VOID BY LIL NAS X - lil nas x</a></blockquote> <blockquote style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" class="tiktok-embed" data-video-id="7021665270150237442"><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@jupiterofpentaclez" target="_blank" title="@jupiterofpentaclez">@jupiterofpentaclez</a> <p>DAN PLEASE @daniel.andrews we love you</p> <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/I'm-Legit-6791240344357832706" target="_blank" title="♬ I'm Legit - Nicki Minaj">♬ I'm Legit - Nicki Minaj</a></blockquote> <blockquote style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" class="tiktok-embed" data-video-id="7021645419335716098"><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@jupiterofpentaclez" target="_blank" title="@jupiterofpentaclez">@jupiterofpentaclez</a> <p>@daniel.andrews notice us daddy Dan <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/melbourne" target="_blank" title="melbourne">#melbourne</a> <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/vce" target="_blank" title="vce">#vce</a> <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/year12" target="_blank" title="year12">#year12</a></p> <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/Get-on-the-Beers-6888114271511644161" target="_blank" title="♬ Get on the Beers - Mashd N Kutcher">♬ Get on the Beers - Mashd N Kutcher</a></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The costumes look relatively simple - business casual clothing, wigs, glasses, and masks, naturally - but the cardboard backgrounds featuring the NSW Health and Victorian State Government logos really seal the deal, and are an obvious highlight.</p> <p dir="ltr">User jupiterofpentaclez, who posted the videos, commented ‘please get this on The Project’ underneath one of the videos, prompting people, including comedian Nazeem Hussain, who regularly appears on the program, to tag The Project in an effort to draw their attention.</p> <p dir="ltr">Being VCE students, the pair would currently be in the middle of their examination period, so what better way to blow off steam than dress up as some of the country’s best known politicians and dance?</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: jupiterofpentaclez/Tiktok</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Why Daniel Johns will never perform live again

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He was once the frontman of one of Australia’s biggest homegrown acts. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But now Silverchair lead singer Daniel Johns has said he will never perform live again. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a candid interview with </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Project</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">, the 42-year-old musician said he has long struggled with shutting down persistent rumours that Silverchair, who split up in 2011, would eventually reform. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He said, </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">"I was like, 'This is really starting to affect my mental health'. Because I am saying 'that's it', and every time I try to tell the truth, someone told a lie."</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"So I was like, 'I wouldn't get Silverchair back together with a gun to my head for $1 million'. Maybe that was too harsh in hindsight."</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He discussed how Silverchair’s sudden rise to fame after the release of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Frogstomp</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in 1995, when Daniel was just 16, took a toll on his emotional wellbeing. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Just months after the album’s release, Silverchair saw international notoriety, as they even opened for Red Hot Chili Peppers at New York’s Madison Square Garden. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Daniel said that the level of fandom was “extreme”, as he was always looking over his shoulder. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"And I have pretty much constantly had that since the second album, since I saw the hysteria of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Frogstomp</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">," he said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When discussing why he would not reform the band, he said there is too much emotional baggage from the highest points of the band’s fame to consider it. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"It's not that I am not proud of the work – I am actually really proud of the work. It's just that it's emotionally triggering for me."</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He said he needed to walk away from the band to be "internally happy", something he has achieved since the band’s end in 2011.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"But it took me years and years and years of really, really heavy, heavy therapy.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"And if I didn't do that work, I don't think I'd be here."</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The trauma of the band’s success prompted Daniel to say he has no desire to play live again, but that doesn’t mean he won’t release new music in the future. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"I don't even go to live shows because I hate that environment. So why would I want to be the focus? I honestly don't think you ever will [see me play live].”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"There is so much music coming and I am really proud of it. You don't need to see it live. Just listen."</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">You can check out the full interview with </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Project</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> here:</span></p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2N53j1Own8c" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credits: Getty Images</span></em></p>

Music

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Man digs backyard hole to “imprison” Dan Andrews

<p dir="ltr">A Melbourne man has been accused of causing damages of up to $1 million to a Telstra phone tower, as well as a strange plot to capture Victorian premier Dan Andrews.</p> <p dir="ltr">Nathan Glover, 44, appeared in court on Thursday, where a police summary was read about the events of October 7th.</p> <p dir="ltr">The report claimed that the man rode an electric scooter to the Telstra tower about 1.5 kilometers from his home, broke in and started a fire.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Glover denies any involvement in the act of arson.</p> <p dir="ltr">The fire caused about $1 million in damage and took telecommunications offline, endangering public safety by limiting access to emergency services.</p> <p dir="ltr">Upon searching the man’s home, police found magic mushrooms, cannabis, wire cutters, petrol, two samurai swords, and an electric scooter and clothing that match CCTV footage of the offender.</p> <p dir="ltr">They also found a six metre-by-1.5 metre hole in Mr Glover's backyard, which he allegedly told police was to imprison the Victorian premier.</p> <p dir="ltr">Police allege that an account on the encrypted messaging app Telegram with the name “Nate Glove” volunteered in September for “special ops”, in the chat group titled Hoodlums of Melbourne Special Ops.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m down for special ops, but only if I get to burn something down,” the account allegedly posted.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Those 5G towers would make a nice fire,” the chat’s administrator allegedly responded.</p> <p dir="ltr">“My thinking exactly,” the Nate Glove account allegedly replied.</p> <p dir="ltr">Nathan Glover has been charged with criminal damage by fire, possessing a prohibited weapon, possessing cannabis, possessing drug of dependence, and committing an indictable offence while on bail.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Facebook / Getty Images</em></p>

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