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"I haven’t seen someone that terrified": CCTV of brave schoolgirl after attempted abduction

A chilling incident has shaken the quiet streets of Doncaster East in Melbourne's east, reminding us of the importance of vigilance and community support in ensuring the safety of our children. Depicted clearly in heart-wrenching <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/cctv-emerges-of-schoolgirl-who-hid-in-bushes-during-attempted-abduction-in-doncaster-east-melbourne-c-14243163" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CCTV footage</a> that surfaced recently, an 11-year-old girl's brave escape from a potential abduction has sent shockwaves through the neighbourhood. On March 28, the young girl was making her way home from school along Landscape Drive when a grey Audi Q3 SUV made an abrupt U-turn, pulling up dangerously close to her. The driver, a male stranger, allegedly demanded her to enter the vehicle. But the brave young girl, instead of complying with the stranger's demands, made a split-second decision that possibly saved her life; she sprinted away, seeking refuge in nearby bushes as the car ominously circled back. The harrowing moments that followed were captured on CCTV as the girl, trembling with fear, looked back at the street, her only lifeline a stranger passing by. It was a local dad, accompanied by his own daughter, who extended a helping hand to the distressed child. Recalling the encounter, he described the girl's sheer terror: “She was shivering and shaking and I haven’t seen someone that terrified and petrified like that,” he told 7NEWS. And when the young girl kept apologising to him over and over for asking him to escort her home, he responded: “I said: ‘I’m so proud of you, getting help is a really good skill’.” Meanwhile, the girl's parents, undoubtedly consumed by anguish, expressed their profound gratitude to the stranger who intervened in their daughter's moment of peril. Their daughter, though physically unharmed, had endured a trauma no child should ever have to face. As authorities launched a manhunt for the assailant, details of the suspect emerged. Described as a man in his 30s, of Middle Eastern descent with distinctive features including tan skin, black hair and a prominent beard, the perpetrator remains at large. A computer-generated image has been released by Victoria Police in hopes of eliciting information from the public. In the aftermath of this chilling incident, Detective Senior Constable Brooke Miller echoed the sentiments of the community: “It’s horrible," he said. "A little girl should feel safe to walk home from school.” Images: Victoria Police

Legal

Attempts to access Kate Middleton’s medical records are no surprise. Such breaches are all too common

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/bruce-baer-arnold-1408">Bruce Baer Arnold</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-canberra-865">University of Canberra</a> The <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-20/claim-hospital-staff-tried-to-access-kate-middleton-health-info/103608066">alleged</a> data breach involving Catherine, Princess of Wales tells us something about health privacy. If hospital staff can apparently access a future queen’s medical records without authorisation, it can happen to you. Indeed it may have already happened to you, given many breaches of health data go under the radar. Here’s why breaches of health data keep on happening. <h2>What did we learn this week?</h2> Details of the alleged data breaches, by <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/royals/breaking-kate-middleton-three-london-32401247">up to three staff</a> at The London Clinic, emerged in the UK media this week. These breaches are alleged to have occurred after the princess had abdominal surgery at the private hospital earlier this year. The UK Information Commissioner’s Office <a href="https://ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/media-centre/news-and-blogs/2024/03/ico-statement-in-response-to-reports-of-data-breach-at-the-london-clinic/">is investigating</a>. Its report should provide some clarity about what medical data was improperly accessed, in what form and by whom. But it is unlikely to identify whether this data was given to a third party, such as a media organisation. <h2>Health data isn’t always as secure as we’d hope</h2> Medical records are inherently sensitive, providing insights about individuals and often about biological relatives. In an ideal world, only the “right people” would have access to these records. These are people who “need to know” that information and are aware of the responsibility of accessing it. Best practice digital health systems typically try to restrict overall access to databases through hack-resistant firewalls. They also try to limit access to specific types of data through grades of access. This means a hospital accountant, nurse or cleaner does not get to see everything. Such systems also incorporate blocks or alarms where there is potential abuse, such as unauthorised copying. But in practice each health records ecosystem – in GP and specialist suites, pathology labs, research labs, hospitals – is less robust, often with fewer safeguards and weaker supervision. <h2>This has happened before</h2> Large health-care providers and insurers, including major hospitals or chains of hospitals, have a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/dec/22/st-vincents-health-australia-hack-cyberattack-data-stolen-hospital-aged-care-what-to-do">worrying</a> <a href="https://www.afr.com/technology/medical-information-leaked-in-nsw-health-hack-20210608-p57z7k">history</a> of <a href="https://www.innovationaus.com/oaic-takes-pathology-company-to-court-over-data-breach/">digital breaches</a>. Those breaches include hackers accessing the records of millions of people. The <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/11/medical-data-hacked-from-10m-australians-begins-to-appear-on-dark-web">Medibank</a> data breach involved more than ten million people. The <a href="https://www.hipaajournal.com/healthcare-data-breach-statistics/">Anthem</a> data breach in the United States involved more than 78 million people. Hospitals and clinics have also had breaches specific to a particular individual. Many of those breaches involved unauthorised sighting (and often copying) of hardcopy or digital files, for example by nurses, clinicians and administrative staff. For instance, this has happened to public figures such as <a href="https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-mar-15-me-britney15-story.html">singer</a> <a href="https://journals.lww.com/healthcaremanagerjournal/abstract/2009/01000/health_information_privacy__why_trust_matters.11.aspx">Britney Spears</a>, actor <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/10/nyregion/10clooney.html">George Clooney</a> and former United Kingdom prime minister <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/mar/20/when-fame-and-medical-privacy-clash-kate-and-other-crises-of-confidentiality">Gordon Brown</a>. Indeed, the Princess of Wales has had her medical privacy breached before, in 2012, while in hospital pregnant with her first child. This was no high-tech hacking of health data. Hoax callers from an Australian radio station <a href="https://theconversation.com/did-2day-fm-break-the-law-and-does-it-matter-11250">tricked</a> hospital staff into divulging details over the phone of the then Duchess of Cambridge’s health care. <h2>Tip of the iceberg</h2> Some unauthorised access to medical information goes undetected or is indeed undetectable unless there is an employment dispute or media involvement. Some is identified by colleagues. Records about your health might have been improperly sighted by someone in the health system. But you are rarely in a position to evaluate the data management of a clinic, hospital, health department or pathology lab. So we have to trust people do the right thing. <h2>How could we improve things?</h2> Health professions have long emphasised the need to protect these records. For instance, medical ethics bodies <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/350/bmj.h2255">condemn</a> medical students who <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-14/picture-sharing-app-for-doctors-raises-privacy-concerns/5389226">share</a> intimate or otherwise inappropriate images of patients. Different countries have various approaches to protecting who has access to medical records and under what circumstances. In Australia, for instance, we have a mix of complex and inconsistent laws that vary across jurisdictions, some covering privacy in general, others specific to health data. There isn’t one comprehensive law and set of standards <a href="https://theconversation.com/governments-privacy-review-has-some-strong-recommendations-now-we-really-need-action-200079">vigorously administered</a> by one well-resourced watchdog. In Australia, it’s mandatory to report <a href="https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/notifiable-data-breaches">data breaches</a>, including breaches of health data. This reporting system is currently <a href="https://theconversation.com/governments-privacy-review-has-some-strong-recommendations-now-we-really-need-action-200079">being updated</a>. But this won’t necessarily prevent data breaches. Instead, we need to incentivise Australian organisations to improve how they handle sensitive health data. The best policy <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1475-4932.12693">nudges</a> involve increasing penalties for breaches. This is so organisations act as responsible custodians rather than negligent owners of health data. We also need to step-up enforcement of data breaches and make it easier for victims to sue for breaches of privacy – princesses and tradies alike.<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/226303/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/bruce-baer-arnold-1408">Bruce Baer Arnold</a>, Associate Professor, School of Law, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-canberra-865">University of Canberra</a> 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/attempts-to-access-kate-middletons-medical-records-are-no-surprise-such-breaches-are-all-too-common-226303">original article</a>. Images: Getty

Legal

Erin Patterson charged with EIGHT counts of murder and attempted murder

Erin Patterson has been arrested and charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder following the tragic death cap mushroom incident that occurred on July 29. The incident in question involved a mushroom lunch that resulted in the death of three people and severe illness in several others. Patterson's arrest and the subsequent investigation have brought this harrowing case to the forefront of public attention. On Thursday, just after 8am, 49-year-old <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/erin-patterson-arrested-over-fatal-mushroom-meal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Patterson was taken into custody</a> by homicide squad detectives and brought to the Wonthaggi police station for questioning. Her Leongatha home was searched extensively with the assistance of Australian Federal Police technology detector dogs, specifically trained to identify items like electronic devices, sim cards and USB drives. As the investigation progressed, the grim reality of the situation emerged. Following that interview, Patterson was charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder, and she was remanded in custody to appear at Morwell Magistrates’ Court the following morning. The murder charges and two of the attempted murder charges are linked to the mushroom lunch incident that took place on July 29. Three victims, Heather Wilkinson, Gail Patterson and Don Patterson, lost their lives after allegedly consuming a beef wellington at Erin Patterson's residence. Heather's husband and Baptist church pastor, Ian Wilkinson, miraculously survived but was hospitalised in critical condition for nearly two months. He was released in September, appearing at his wife's memorial last month. Patterson's two children were also present during the ill-fated lunch but did not partake in the same meal. The three additional attempted murder charges pertain to separate alleged incidents occurring between 2021 and 2022. According to Victoria Police, a 48-year-old Korumburra man fell ill after consuming meals on these dates. It has been revealed that these charges are related to Patterson's ex-husband, Simon Patterson. The investigation at Patterson's residence on Thursday was a significant event, as police and their canine units combed through the property. They scrutinised a garage, shed, green bin and car while the trained dogs inspected the premises. Authorities suspect that the symptoms experienced by the diners were consistent with poisoning by death cap mushrooms, a highly toxic variety. Homicide detectives had previously identified Patterson as a suspect in the case. In her statement to the police, Patterson claimed that she had prepared a beef wellington using button mushrooms from a major supermarket and dried mushrooms from an Asian grocery store. She even stated that she had consumed a portion of the meal and later suffered from severe stomach pains and diarrhoea. This statement contrasts with the detectives' suggestion that she did not experience any ill effects. Throughout the investigation, Patterson has consistently denied any wrongdoing. Images: A Current Affair

Legal

Why this pilot was charged with 83 counts of attempted murder

An off-duty pilot, identified as Joseph David Emerson, has been charged with 83 counts of attempted murder following an alleged attempt to crash an Alaska Airlines flight en route to San Francisco. The incident unfolded as Flight 2059, operated by Horizon Air, took off from Everett, Washington, shortly before 5:30pm local time on a seemingly routine Sunday evening. However, what transpired mid-flight left passengers and the aviation community in disbelief. Emerson, who was sitting in the cockpit's jump seat behind the captain and first officer, reportedly attempted to activate the jet's fire suppression system. This system, when triggered, would have closed a valve in the wing to cut off the flow of fuel to the engines. The consequences of such an act could have been catastrophic, potentially leading to a loss of engine power and a potentially fatal crash. The vigilant crew of Flight 2059, including the captain and first officer, quickly responded to subdue Emerson, preventing the activation of the fire suppression system. Their swift actions were pivotal in averting a potential disaster. The aircraft was forced to make an emergency diversion to Portland International Airport, where Emerson was taken into custody by the Port of Portland Police. Thankfully, no injuries were reported during this harrowing incident. The charges against Emerson are nothing short of severe. The Multnomah County District Attorney's Office has confirmed that he faces 83 counts of attempted murder in the first degree, 83 counts of recklessly endangering another person, and one count of endangering an aircraft in the first degree. Emerson is currently held in custody at the Multnomah County Detention Centre in Portland, Oregon, awaiting arraignment. The investigation into this troubling incident is ongoing, with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies collaborating to determine the motive behind Emerson's actions. When interviewed by police, Emerson said he had a “nervous breakdown” after not sleeping for 40 hours and stated he had taken psychedelic mushrooms for the first time. “I didn’t feel okay. It seemed like the pilots weren’t paying attention to what was going on. They didn’t … it didn’t seem right,” Emerson told police, according to an affidavit. The affidavit does not state whether Emerson was under the influence of the mushrooms while on the plane, but he later added: “I pulled both emergency shut off handles because I thought I was dreaming and I just wanna wake up.” The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has also become involved in the case, supporting investigations into the incident. The Air Line Pilots Association International (ALPA) commended the flight crew for their swift response, emphasising the priority of safety for the flying public and crews. ALPA noted that the airline pilot profession is one of the most highly vetted and scrutinised careers, with pilots undergoing continuous evaluations throughout their careers through training and medical exams. Emerson's pilot certification, which was updated just last month, underscores the importance of self-reporting any mental health conditions for aviators. This aspect of the case will likely be closely examined as part of the ongoing investigation. In a statement, the Portland office of the FBI assured the traveling public that there is no continuing threat related to this incident. While the shocking episode has left many questions unanswered, it serves as a testament to the professionalism and dedication of flight crews in ensuring passenger safety, even in the face of such extraordinary challenges. Images: Facebook / FlightAware

Travel Trouble

Man’s desperate attempt to avoid baggage fees goes viral

One man’s plight to avoid excess baggage fees has been caught on camera and gone viral. In the video, the male passenger can be seen kicking and shoving his bag into the luggage size checker as an airline staffer looked on. The man’s desperate efforts amused those around him, with giggling being heard in the background from fellow travellers, including the person filming. The video, which has now been viewed over 26 million times, was captioned, “Don’t die for EasyJet.” Eventually, the man was able to convince the staff member that his bag was the right size to count as carry-on luggage, only for it to then be stuck inside the metal frame. <div class="embed" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; caret-color: #323338; color: #323338; font-family: Roboto, Rubik, 'Noto Kufi Arabic', 'Noto Sans JP', sans-serif; outline: none !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 610px; max-width: 100%; outline: none !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7135000263911329029&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40hotasfo_o%2Fvideo%2F7135000263911329029&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign-va.tiktokcdn.com%2Ftos-maliva-p-0068%2Fb9ac55874a8840a382735f0dbbb4f95d_1661246711%7Etplv-tiktok-play.jpeg%3Fx-expires%3D1662991200%26x-signature%3DlT8PTmNwIg0BVzmFm2u%252F1Vfwtc0%253D&key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> "He's going to miss his flight trying to get that out," one person quipped in the comments. "Rumour has it he is still trying to get it back out," another joined in. Meanwhile, some thought the staff member was clearly also just having a laugh. "The staff guy was just having a laugh, knowing well what was about to unfold," one person said. Others empathised with the traveller for trying to avoid the extra fees, with one person sharing, "EasyJet made me pay extra for my carry-on pillow, I still haven't recovered from the shock." Image credits: TikTok

Travel Tips

Doctor and family member charged with attempted murder of 6yr old girl

Two people, including a general practitioner, have been charged with the attempted murder of a six-year-old girl. Police allege that one of the child's family members visited the GP clinic in Western Australia on January 17th to obtain a prescription for a drug that would end the child's life. It is also alleged that the doctor is aware of what the drug would be used for. "It will be further alleged that person left the appointment with a prescription from the GP in order to be able to access a drug to be used to end the child's life, and that the GP was aware of the intended use of the drug," a WA police spokesperson said. After the girl became unwell in late January, another family member took the child to a medical centre, where she was stabilised before being flown to Perth's Children's Hospital. "It will be alleged the child's health had deteriorated as the result of being administered the drug that had been sought," police said in a statement.Police arrested and charged the 40-year-old female relative of the child with attempting to unlawfully kill the girl on Friday January 28th.Police then arrested the doctor and he was charged with the same offence on Wednesday February 2nd.Both suspects have been refused bail and are due to appear in court on February 16th. Image credits: Getty Images

News

Is it even possible to regulate Facebook effectively? Time and again, attempts have led to the same outcome

The Australian government’s <a href="https://theconversation.com/this-is-why-australia-may-be-powerless-to-force-tech-giants-to-regulate-harmful-content-169826">recent warning</a> to Facebook over misinformation is just the latest salvo in the seemingly constant battle to hold the social media giant to account for the content posted on its platform. It came in the same week as the US Senate heard <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-58805965">whistleblowing testimony</a> in which former Facebook executive Frances Haugen alleged the company knew of harmful consequences for its users but chose not to act. Governments all over the world have been pushing for years to make social media giants more accountable, both in terms of the quality of information they host, and their use of users’ data as part of their business models. The Australian government’s <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_LEGislation/Bills_Search_Results/Result?bId=r6680">Online Safety Act</a> will <a href="https://perma.cc/95A5-T79H">come into effect in January 2022</a>, giving the eSafety Commissioner unprecedented powers to crack down on abusive or violent content, or sexual images posted without consent. But even if successful, this legislation will only deal with a small proportion of the issues that require regulation. On many such issues, social media platforms have attempted to regulate themselves rather than submit to legislation. But whether we are talking about legislation or self-regulation, past experiences do not engender much confidence that tech platforms can be successfully regulated and regulation put in action easily. Our <a href="https://aisel.aisnet.org/ecis2021_rip/35">research</a> has examined previous attempts to regulate tech giants in Australia. We analysed 269 media articles and 282 policy documents and industry reports published from 2015 to 2021. Let’s discuss a couple of relevant case studies. <h2>1. Ads and news</h2> In 2019, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/publications/digital-platforms-inquiry-final-report">inquiry into digital platforms</a> described Facebook’s algorithms, particularly those that determine the positioning of advertising on Facebook pages, as “opaque”. It concluded media companies needed more assurance about the use of their content. Facebook initially welcomed the inquiry, but then <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/Facebook_0.pdf">publicly opposed it</a> when the government argued the problems related to Facebook’s substantial market power in display advertising, and Facebook and Google’s dominance of news content generated by media companies, were too important to be left to the companies themselves. Facebook argued there was <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/Facebook.pdf">no evidence of an imbalance of bargaining power</a>between it and news media companies, adding it would have no choice but to withdraw news services in Australia if forced to pay publishers for hosting their content. The standoff resulted in Facebook’s <a href="https://theconversation.com/facebook-has-pulled-the-trigger-on-news-content-and-possibly-shot-itself-in-the-foot-155547">infamous week-long embargo on Australian news</a>. The revised and amended News Media Bargaining Code was <a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/Final%20legislation%20as%20passed%20by%20both%20houses.pdf">passed by the parliament in February</a>. Both the government and Facebook declared victory, the former having managed to pass its legislation, and the latter ending up striking its own bargains with news publishers without having to be held legally to the code. <h2>2. Hate speech and terrorism</h2> In 2015, to deal with violent extremism on social media the Australian government initially worked with the tech giant to develop joint AI solutions to improve the technical processes of content identification to deal with countering violent extremism. This voluntary solution worked brilliantly, until it did not. In March 2019, mass shootings at mosques in Christchurch were live-streamed on Facebook by an Australian-born white supremacist terrorist, and the recordings subsequently circulated on the internet. This brought to light <a href="https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/christchurch-shooting/111473473/facebook-ai-failed-to-detect-christchurch-shooting-video">the inability Facebook’s artificial intelligence algorithms</a> to detect and remove the live footage of the shooting and how fast it was shared on the platform. The Australian government responded in 2019 by <a href="https://www.ag.gov.au/crime/abhorrent-violent-material">amending the Criminal Code</a>to require social media platforms to remove abhorrent or violent material “in reasonable time” and, where relevant, refer it to the Australian Federal Police. <h2>What have we learned?</h2> These two examples, while strikingly different, both unfolded in a similar way: an initial dialogue in which Facebook proposes an in-house solution involving its own algorithms, before a subsequent shift towards mandatory government regulation, which is met with resistance or bargaining (or both) from Facebook, and the final upshot which is piecemeal legislation that is either watered down or only covers a subset of specific types of harm. There are several obvious problems with this. The first is that only the tech giants themselves know how their algorithms work, so it is difficult for regulators to oversee them properly. Then there’s the fact that legislation typically applies at a national level, yet Facebook is a global company with billions of users across the world and a platform that is incorporated into our daily lives in all sorts of ways. How do we resolve the impasse? One option is for regulations to be drawn up by independent bodies appointed by governments and tech giants to drive the co-regulation agenda globally. But relying on regulation alone to guide tech giants’ behaviour against potential abuses might not be sufficient. There is also the need for self-discipline and appropriate corporate governance - potentially enforced by these independent bodies. Image credits: Shutterstock This article first appeared on <a rel="noopener" href="https://theconversation.com/is-it-even-possible-to-regulate-facebook-effectively-time-and-again-attempts-have-led-to-the-same-outcome-169947" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>.

Technology

15-year-old charged with attempted murder over Wallabies stabbing

A 15-year-old boy has been charged with the attempted murder of Wallabies player Toutai Kefu, after the boy and two other armed youths allegedly robbed the star’s home. Queensland Police believe the Kefu’s Brisbane home was being burgled when the trio were confronted by an adult family member, who had woken to noises at about 3.15am on Monday morning. The offenders allegedly threatened the family with violence if they didn’t hand over their car keys, according to police. “During this time, very significant injuries occurred to the family as a result of what we will allege were the actions of the offenders who had broken into the family’s home,” Detective Superintendent Tony Fleming said. Kefu was allegedly stabbed in the stomach and was initially in critical condition. After undergoing hours of emergency surgery, Kefu is expected to survive. <img style="width: 500px; height:281.53846153846155px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843187/dd51b742ea83b10d04d21b32ed7fd7c1b5826267-16x9-x0y0w1920h1080.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/8342161cd1124b7c95f1efbb803c2e6d" /> Image: 7NEWS According to Fleming, Ketu’s wife suffered “very, very serious lacerations to her arm and I’m told her wounds are very significant”. Two of the couple’s children, aged 21 and 18, were also injured. “The adult male suffered terrible wounds to [his] arm and back and I understand one of the female children has cuts to her hand and arm,” Fleming said. “Whilst the outcome is absolutely tragic and I’m appalled by the injuries this family has suffered in their own home in the middle of the night, all credit to all those people coming to the aid of each other.” Olivia Kefu, the rugby player’s other daughter, shared an update on her family’s condition on Tuesday morning. “Hey everyone! Just wanted to give a quick update. Both Josh and Dad had their surgeries yesterday and are recovering well,” she wrote. “Madi and Mum will have their operations this morning. “Thank you to everyone for all the kind messages and support, it means the absolute world to use all.” A woman who attempted to stop a car from being stolen, which police believe was used to arrive at the scene and flee, was also “shoved over”. Police said they charged one of the teenagers late on Monday afternoon with four counts of attempted murder and three counts of assault causing grievous bodily harm, as well as one count each of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, break and enter, burglary, and deprivation of liberty. The teen was refused bail and is expected to appear in Brisbane Children’s Court. A second 15-year-old boy has also been taken into custody after he went to South Brisbane Hospital with injuries. Police have also located an axe, but Fleming said a machete was also allegedly involved due to the nature of the injuries. <img style="width: 500px; height:178.46153846153848px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843186/5f944b014b66fa656e80db57a34d8827918c8b35.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/a8ecca71c6094bc790486cb209328a70" /> Image: Queensland Police Police are appealing for anyone who may have seen the stolen silver-coloured Hyundai, taken from Forest Lake, to come forward. Members of the rugby world have since rallied around Kefu and his family, while Premier Anastacia Palaszczuk also sent the family her thoughts and prayers.

Legal

Cheeky attempt to cash in on Coon cheese name change

In what appears to be a tongue in cheek post, a man has posted an empty packet of "vintage" Coon cheese for sale after it was rebranded to Cheer. Critics came after the 85-year-old dairy product, stating the original name had racist connotations which is what prompted the brand to announce the name change last week. Now a man in Perth is looking for ways to make a quick buck after he posted the empty packet on Facebook Marketplace and priced it at $50. “Vintage cheese packaging. No longer in circulation, you may have seen these about,” the seller writes on the post. “Some people found theirs to be racist but I can assure you this one was named after its creator, not under any bad motives. “One previous owner before me, stored in safely in a fridge. “Used to access the contense (sic) but is in as new condition. “Absolutely 100 per cent genuine, can post or deliver within Perth for a fee.” However, there is a fatal flaw in the man's plan as the old brand will remain on shelves until July. Shoppers can buy a full packet of cheese from supermarkets for between $6 to $8. The cheese was originally named after “Coon” after American cheese pioneer Edward William Coon who died in 1934, but the word is a racist slur against people of colour.

Money & Banking

Mother pleads guilty to attempting to murder her children

A mother has pleaded guilty to attempting to murder her children by setting fire to a home in Canberra. The 48-year-old woman and her two primary school-aged children were dragged from their burning house in Canberra's south in July of 2019. All three were flown to hospitals in Sydney in a critical condition. Police investigators uncovered that the fire had been deliberate. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837121/aged-care-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/8e845eb0ce764bb6afda909829475f2e" /> The woman was charged with attempted murder and committing arson intended to endanger life and was due to face trial in August this year. On Wednesday morning, the mother instead pleaded guilty to the two counts of attempted murder. Prosecutors have said they will not be pursuing the remaining charges. Documents filed in court around the time of her arrest claimed the woman had owed $175,000 to her ex-husband as part of a divorce settlement and had she had failed to pay the first instalment. It is believed a neighbour who was walking his dogs noticed the curtains of the home on fire and heard the two children inside screaming. The neighbour banged on the doors trying to raise the alarm to no avail. The woman remains in custody and will return to court in December.

Family & Pets

Adelaide man attempts to sell stockpile of 5,400 toilet paper rolls

An Adelaide man has reportedly reached out to independent supermarkets to sell his stockpile of 5,400 toilet paper rolls. A local grocer told <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/coronavirus/adelaide-man-approaches-supermarkets-after-hoarding-5400-rolls-of-toilet-paper/ar-BB12dxny?li=AAgfYrC">9News</a> they had been approached by the man after stocks in the community ran low. The man had reportedly been banned from selling the item online. Online platforms such as Amazon Australia and Ebay Australia have been working to <a href="https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2020/03/amazon-ebay-toilet-paper-panic-buy-scalping/">remove any listings of basic products with inflated prices</a>. The report came after supermarket giant Woolworths announced it sold <a href="https://mumbrella.com.au/woolworths-takes-out-full-page-ads-to-explain-toilet-paper-shortage-and-new-covid-19-safety-measures-623770">20.5 million rolls in the last week</a>. “Despite much more stock coming in, we’re still not where we need to be,” CEO Brad Banducci said in a statement. “It is slowly improving, but please help everyone by only buying what you need.” Limits on toilet paper and other basic goods remain in place at supermarkets around the country amid pre-Easter high-trading period.

Money & Banking

Am I guilty of a crime if I attempted and failed?

Most criminal offences in New South Wales require the prosecution to prove a number of ‘essential elements’, or ingredients, beyond a reasonable doubt for a person to be found guilty. For example, to establish <a href="https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/criminal/offences/sexual-offences/sexual-assault/">the offence of sexual assault under section 61I of the Crimes Act 1900</a> the prosecution must prove that the defendant: <ol> <li>Had sexual intercourse with another person;</li> <li>Did not have the other person’s consent; and</li> <li>Knew, was reckless or had no reasonable grounds to believe the other person consented.</li> </ol> Similarly, the offence of <a href="https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/criminal/legislation/crimes-act/kidnapping/">kidnapping under section 86 of the Crimes Act</a> requires the prosecution to prove that the defendant: <ol> <li>Took or detained a person;</li> <li>Did so without the person’s consent</li> <li>Did so with the intention of holding the person to ransom, committing a serious indictable offence or obtaining any other advantage</li> </ol> Clearly, the offences require a physical act to be performed – sexual intercourse in the case of sexual assault and taking or detaining a person in the case of <a href="https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/criminal/legislation/crimes-act/kidnapping/">kidnapping</a>. However, a ‘catch-all’ provision of the Crimes Act seeks to ensure that those who attempt to commit offences are subjected to the same maximum penalties as those who actually commit the offences. Attempts <a href="http://www5.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/ca190082/s344a.html">Section 344A of the Crimes Act 1900</a> provides that: (1) Subject to this Act, any person who attempts to commit any offence for which a penalty is provided under this Act shall be liable to that penalty. (2) Where a person is convicted of an attempt to commit an offence and the offence concerned is a serious indictable offence the person shall be deemed to have been convicted of a serious indictable offence. The section makes clear that attempts are subject to the same penalties as though the offences had been committed, and that those who are convicted of ‘serious indictable offences’ – which are those that carry maximum penalties of at least five years in prison – are to be considered (for the purpose of any other legislation) to have been convicted of that offence. It should be added, however, that it can often be difficult for the prosecution to prove guilt for an offence if the physical act it encompasses was never carried out. Written by Ugur Nedim. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/blog/am-i-guilty-of-a-crime-if-i-attempted-and-failed/">Sydney Criminal Lawyers.</a>

Legal

Barnaby Joyce makes surprising attempt for old job

<div class="body_text "> Former deputy prime minister Banarby Joyce has announced that he will challenge MIchael McCormack for the leadership of the Nationals at Tuesday’s party room meeting if there is a spill. Sky News host Laura Jayes reported that Joyce would stand if both positions, for the deputy leadership and leadership of the Nationals, were put to a vote. The ABC’s Lucy Barbour also confirmed the news. “If there is a spill I will stand. It is entirely up to them if they wish to spill,” Mr Joyce told her. “A spill is a real option but not a certainty.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Breaking: Barnaby Joyce has told Sky News he will stand for the leadership of Nationals if there is a spill. He says a spill is a real option but not a certainty. Partyroom meets tomorrow <a href="https://twitter.com/SkyNewsAust?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SkyNewsAust</a> — Laura Jayes (@ljayes) <a href="https://twitter.com/ljayes/status/1224047841372332032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2020</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Can confirm, <a href="https://twitter.com/Barnaby_Joyce?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Barnaby_Joyce</a> will stand for the Nats leadership (Michael McCormack’s job) if there is a spill tomorrow. “If there is a spill I will stand. It is entirely up to them if they wish to spill,” Joyce said. “A spill is a real option but not a certainty.” <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/auspol?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#auspol</a> — lucy barbour (@lucybarbour) <a href="https://twitter.com/lucybarbour/status/1224061461296644096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2020</a></blockquote> Joyce then appeared on Channel 7’s Sunrise to remove any doubt about his decision. “If there is a spill on I will put my hand up,” he said. “Obviously after a spill, there is technically no leader. That is a right in a Westminster system of government. It is up to others if there is a spill. “I believe that I’ve done the job before. Every seat we’ve got is one I’ve won at the previous election. But I’ll leave that up to my colleagues, they can make the call.” “Have you been told that they will make the call for a spill?” host David Koch asked. “Well I’m going to leave that up to them, Kochie,” Mr Joyce said. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BREAKING</a>: <a href="https://twitter.com/Barnaby_Joyce?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Barnaby_Joyce</a> confirms he will stand for Nationals leadership if there is a spill <a href="https://t.co/YeZroBd2tc">pic.twitter.com/YeZroBd2tc</a> — Sunrise (@sunriseon7) <a href="https://twitter.com/sunriseon7/status/1224069148243722240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2020</a></blockquote> “No, you must know though. You must have some sort of political stooges in the party who’ve said, ‘Mate, we’re going to call for a spill, are you going to run?’” Koch said. “If they choose to do it, they choose to do it. I never put a certainty on anything. I’ve said every time people have asked me, if there’s a vacancy I will stand. And I’ll leave it up to my colleagues to make a choice of what they wish.” “Yeah but going on national TV the day before a party room meeting like this is pretty clear that you’re putting your hand up,” Koch’s fellow host Natalie Barr pointed out. “Going on national TV on a Monday on Sunrise is what I do every week, and of course it’d be more odd if I all of a sudden didn’t appear,” said Mr Joyce. “But it’s what you’re saying, we’re talking about. You’ve just said that you’ll put your hand up if there’s a spill. You want to be the leader, don’t you?” she pressed. “That’s correct,” he said. Also appearing on the show was Labor’s Joel Fitzgibbon, who described Joyce’s move as a “vote of no confidence” in the leadership of the Nationals. “Barnaby Joyce just told us that the National Party is dysfunctional, and indeed hopeless. My concern is that a dysfunctional government just got a whole lot more dysfunctional.” The leadership has been thrown into question after the sports rorts scandal, which lead to Bridget McKenzie’s resignation. McKenzie resigned after an investigation by the prime minister’s department boss Phil Gaetjens found that she did not properly declare memberships of gun clubs that received grants while she was sports minister. While McKenzie did not personally benefit, it is still a breach of ministerial standards. </div>

News

Stowaway galah's crazy attempt to find family on cruise ship holiday

An inadvertently intrepid galah has become the subject of a remarkable (if at times confusing) story, escaping home as its family prepared for a cruise holiday, only to find itself aboard a different cruise ship bound for New Zealand. Michelle and Brett Cozzi, and their four-year-old daughter Georgia, feared the worst when, as they were preparing for their own trip, their pet galah Harri escaped. <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2F7NewsBrisbane%2Fposts%2F1811700665509444&width=500" width="500" height="609" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true"></iframe> Remarkably, Harri ended up at Portside Wharf Cruise Ship Terminal, as though she’d been inspired by the family’s travel plans! Harri snuck aboard the next ship leaving, which was Carnival’s Sea Princess, and before long she was headed across the ditch. Understandably distraught, the Cozzi’s thought they might never see Harri again and boarded their ship, Carnival’s Pacific Aria, which was headed around Queensland. After a few days aboard the family received some news from staff. The Sea Princess’ crew had found Harri on the vessel as it approached Milford, and after alerting New Zealand authorities they were told Harri could stay in a separate cabin. The crew checked Harri’s microchip and found out her family were onboard the separate ship, and have been providing regular updates on the bird ever since. Carnival Australia spokesman David Jones <a href="http://www.news.com.au/" target="_blank">told News.com.au</a> this was a first for the line. “It’s a classic feel-good story with everyone in the two cruise lines and government authorities doing everything they can to achieve a great family reunion,” he said. “Needless to say, the lines are running hot between Sea Princess and Pacific Aria to give the family regular updates on Harri’s progress.” What are your thoughts? Hero image credit: Facebook / 7 News Brisbane

Cruising

Four injured after attempted terror attack in New York

Witnesses have described terrifying scene of people “running for their lives” after a man detonated a homemade bomb inside the New York subway system during Monday morning rush hour. Authorities called the explosion in the terminal at 42nd Street and Eighth Avenue an "attempted terrorist attack" and police identified the suspect in custody as Akayed Ullah, 27. The suspect, a former cab driver believed to be from Bangladesh, strapped an improvised pipe bomb to his body with velcro and zip ties that exploded in an underground passageway. <img width="398" height="299" src="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/080b6834f11ec8649f756eb2d21b2398" alt="Akayed Ullah pictured on his 2011 driver’s licence shows. Picture: New York Department of Motor Vehicles via AP" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> The New York Post report he carried out the attack as revenge, saying from his hospital bed according to law enforcement sources the Post spoke to: “They’ve been bombing in my country and I wanted to do damage here.” New York governor Andrew Cuomo described the explosive as an unsophisticated “low-tech device” that the suspect learnt how to make on the internet. He told CNN the man “wound up hurting himself” when the device partially detonated in the passageway. The New York Police Department said Akayed was in custody at Bellevue Hospital in a serious condition suffering burns and lacerations to his hands and abdomen. Three people suffered minor, “non-life-threatening” injuries including ringing in their ears n, the New York Fire Department confirmed. One of the injured was a Port Authority police officer.

News

Shots fired in attempted Bunnings robbery

Staff working at a Bunnings in Sydney’s south west have had a lucky escape from an armed robber who opened fire in their store. A manhunt is underway for the gunman who attempted to rob the Sydney store last night. Just before 9pm, the man fired several shots inside the Prestons store and threatened staff before fleeing empty-handed into a silver Mitsubishi Lancer. Detectives describe the suspect as being of “caucasian appearance, about 170cm tall, and wearing dark-coloured jeans and a long-sleeved white shirt”. No one was harmed in the attempted robbery. Liverpool police have established a crime scene at the Bunnings and are asking anyone with information to come forward.

Domestic Travel

Excited puppy attempts to dig a hole in the toilet

An adorable black Labrador puppy has gotten up to some mischief in its Scotland home. The owner of the pup caught the dog attempting to dig in the toilet shortly after learning how to fig in the backyard. <iframe width="400" height="300" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GoaPIUI4S_M?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Once she discovered her pup with its head down the toilet the owner said, “What are you doing? What is wrong with you?” The pup immediately take its head out of the toilet and shakes off all the water from its fur. What is the naughtiest thing your pet has done? Let us know in the comments below. Video credit: Jill MacLachlan via Storyful

Home & Garden

Pre-schoolers crash parents’ car in an attempt to visit grandma

Two US pre-schoolers had a lucky escape after they crashed their parents' car in Washington state, while attempting to drive to their grandma's house. Federal Way Police Department posted a photo of the SUV to their Facebook page, along with the caption: "What happens, when a 5-year-old and a 3-year-old want to go and visit grandma without telling anyone." "Thank goodness no one was seriously injured." After taking their parents' keys, the pre-schoolers managed to start the car, and get out of the driveway. The children then drove into an intersection where they t-boned another vehicle. When she heard the "explosion", from the crash, a neighbour who came out to assist, asked the children, "Where's your mum?" "Sleeping," one of the kids responded. "I want to go to my grandma's house." The driver of the other vehicle escaped with minor cuts and bruises, reports Fox 12 News. <img width="494" height="693" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/27187/driving-kids.png" alt="Driving Kids" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/> The police department's Facebook post proved polarising. Many commenters were quick to blame the children's parents for not providing adequate supervision, while others shared stories of similar incidents. "I did that as a kid," wrote one commenter. "Somehow got my mom's car to back up into a fence. My brother jumped out the window and left me…" "Kids have been escaping when their parents were asleep (or thought the kids were asleep) since forever," reads another comment. "Thank goodness they were not hurt." When I asked other mums and dads to tell me the most dangerous things their children have done, one mum shared that her kids aged 7,5 and 2 locked themselves in a car and rolled it down the embankment. Thankfully, her quick-thinking five-year-old pulled the handbrake and "saved the day." Another mum received a shock when she walked into the Airbnb they were staying in to find her toddler holding two knives, one in each hand "as long as his arms." One mum had a terrifying experience when she heard a noise and thought her four-year-old had turned on the vacuum. Her son had been refusing to get ready to go to the shops so she'd gone upstairs with her toddler to get ready herself. When she came downstairs to have a look however, she discovered her son had pushed his chair over to the fridge, reached her car keys, taken to them to the car, opened the garage door, put on his seatbelt and started the car. "I didn't know the way to the shops to find you," her little one said, bursting into tears. Poor mum, as you can imagine, was incredibly shaken! One mother recalls taking to her younger brother's head with a pair of scissors when she was 5-years-old. "Gave him a couple of bald patches," she said, "but no blood shed." And a father told me his child climbed on the sideboard to get matches off the top of the fridge and then lit some of the messages on the fridge alight. As it happens, one of my younger siblings did exactly the same thing when we were kids. While the babysitter was in the bathroom, somehow – and I'll admit the details are sketchy – the bright yellow Safety House paperwork on the fridge was set aflame. Oh the irony… Kids. What's the most dangerous thing your children or grandchildren have done? Tell us in the comments below! Written by Ariane Beeston. First appeared on <a href="http://Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz.</a> Related links: <a href="/news/news/2016/09/6-year-old-girl-tries-to-stop-axe-wielding-robber/">6-year-old girl tries to stop axe-wielding robber</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/09/single-mum-dresses-as-dad-for-sons-father-son-school-breakfast/">Single mum dresses as dad for son’s father-son school breakfast</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/09/grandma-surprised-with-monster-truck-experience/">Daughters surprise monster truck-obsessed mum with high-octane adventure</a>

News

Why you should (and how to) attempt a skydive when you’re 60-plus

iFLY skydiving instructor, Matt Boag, shares his advice on why and how to attempt a skydive when you’re 60-plus.“Don’t let age be a barrier. The sense of achievement and thrill you’ll get from trying indoor skydiving will feel great. It is not difficult, and the endorphins created from challenging yourself and having fun is so good for your health.” 1. RELAXThe most important tip of all is that you must be relaxed. Slow, smooth deep breaths are what makes this such an easy activity.2. STRETCH  Mild stretching before and after flying will make a great difference to your overall stamina after each session.3. EAT RIGHTWe burn as much calories as if we were running/jogging, so keeping our energy levels up is a must.4. KEEP HYDRATEDAs part of doing this sport regularly we must stay hydrated, drinking water before, after and during sessions is ideal.5. STAY CURRENTYou will see much more positive results as a regular flyer, as opposed to flying once every few months. <img width="499" height="665" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/3792/skyguys_499x665.jpg" alt="Skyguys" style="float: left;">               6. STAY ACTIVEFlying with a healthy and active lifestyle is ideal. 7. KEEP AN OPEN MINDThis is an easy and fun activity for people of all ages. We have flown people up to 93 years old, so don't think you can’t fly because of your age.8. SET YOURSELF GOALSThis sport has such a rapid learning curve where we sometimes forget how much we have actually learnt. Document your flying9. TAKE IT TO THE SKYDon’t be afraid to take it to the next level, skydiving from 14000ft is an experience of a lifetime.10. HAVE FUNThis is an awesome experience, participated by people all around the world. ENJOY IT! Related links:<a href="/finance/insurance/2015/02/adventurous-seniors/" target="_blank">These over-60s prove you’re never too old to take on extreme adventures</a><a href="/finance/insurance/2014/12/outdoor-summer-activities/" target="_blank">Fun outdoors activities to enjoy now</a><a href="/finance/insurance/2014/12/exercise-and-alzheimers/" target="_blank">Can exercise reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s?</a>

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"I haven’t seen someone that terrified": CCTV of brave schoolgirl after attempted abduction

Attempts to access Kate Middleton’s medical records are no surprise. Such breaches are all too common

Erin Patterson charged with EIGHT counts of murder and attempted murder

Why this pilot was charged with 83 counts of attempted murder

Man’s desperate attempt to avoid baggage fees goes viral

Doctor and family member charged with attempted murder of 6yr old girl

Is it even possible to regulate Facebook effectively? Time and again, attempts have led to the same outcome

15-year-old charged with attempted murder over Wallabies stabbing

Cheeky attempt to cash in on Coon cheese name change

Mother pleads guilty to attempting to murder her children

Adelaide man attempts to sell stockpile of 5,400 toilet paper rolls

Am I guilty of a crime if I attempted and failed?

Barnaby Joyce makes surprising attempt for old job

Stowaway galah's crazy attempt to find family on cruise ship holiday

Four injured after attempted terror attack in New York

Shots fired in attempted Bunnings robbery

Excited puppy attempts to dig a hole in the toilet

Pre-schoolers crash parents’ car in an attempt to visit grandma

Why you should (and how to) attempt a skydive when you’re 60-plus

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Entertainment

Travel

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Lifestyle

Finance

Property

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"I haven’t seen someone that terrified": CCTV of brave schoolgirl after attempted abduction

Attempts to access Kate Middleton’s medical records are no surprise. Such breaches are all too common

Erin Patterson charged with EIGHT counts of murder and attempted murder

Why this pilot was charged with 83 counts of attempted murder

Man’s desperate attempt to avoid baggage fees goes viral

Doctor and family member charged with attempted murder of 6yr old girl

Is it even possible to regulate Facebook effectively? Time and again, attempts have led to the same outcome

15-year-old charged with attempted murder over Wallabies stabbing

Cheeky attempt to cash in on Coon cheese name change

Mother pleads guilty to attempting to murder her children

Adelaide man attempts to sell stockpile of 5,400 toilet paper rolls

Am I guilty of a crime if I attempted and failed?

Barnaby Joyce makes surprising attempt for old job

Stowaway galah's crazy attempt to find family on cruise ship holiday

Four injured after attempted terror attack in New York

Shots fired in attempted Bunnings robbery

Excited puppy attempts to dig a hole in the toilet

Pre-schoolers crash parents’ car in an attempt to visit grandma

Why you should (and how to) attempt a skydive when you’re 60-plus

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