News

Placeholder Content Image

Cleo Smith’s family speaks with new details

<p><em>Image: Facebook</em></p> <p>Police are now focusing on a “worst-case scenario” in the hunt for missing four-year-old Cleo Smith – as her shocked parents revealed she had been sleeping metres from her baby sister before she disappeared from the family’s tent.</p> <p>A disturbing picture of what happened the night she vanished is emerging, with police revealing there were a “lot of people” circulating the campsite at the time and Cleo’s parents revealing horrifying details about the moment they realised she was gone.</p> <p>Four-year-old Cleo was last seen at 1:30 am on Saturday near the Blowholes campsite north of Carnarvon in Western Australia before she vanished.</p> <p>Cleo’s mother Ellie Smith said she had woken up around 6 am on Sunday to find their tent zipper was nearly completely open and her daughter was nowhere to be seen.</p> <p>She revealed Cleo had been sleeping in a separate area of the tent, with her baby sister just metres away.</p> <p>For that reason, police are now focusing their efforts on investigating the “worst-case scenario” that little Cleo was abducted from the tent while her family lay sleeping, with a complex criminal investigation underway.</p> <p>They have also admitted that she may have been taken interstate by now.</p> <p>Inspector Jon Munday said Cleo could “potentially be anywhere now” given it's been five days since she was last seen.</p> <p>“We can’t rule out the fact Cleo may be still in the area, we can’t rule out of the fact she’s left the area and if she’s left the area that is probably our worst-case scenario because that really paints a sinister picture with what’s happened,” he said.</p> <p>"It’s a race against time. We’re just trying to find some answers.”</p> <p>The entire area where Cleo vanished has been declared a potential crime scene, with the campsite closed and investigators imploring anyone who has been in the area to come forward.</p> <p>Inspector Munday said the case was a “mystery we’re trying to unravel”, as he revealed “quite a lot of people” had been staying at the Blowholes campgrounds that night.</p> <p>“We’re tracking and tracing all of those people at the moment, but there’s also nothing to indicate that there’s any cause for the wider community to be alarmed,” he said.</p> <p>On Tuesday, Cleo's distraught mother Ellie Smith and partner, Jake Gilddon, spoke publicly about her disappearance for the first time since posting about it on social media over the weekend.</p> <p>Ms Smith said Cleo would never wander off and would have asked for help to unzip her sleeping suit if she needed to use the toilet.</p> <p>“She’s lazy when it comes to walking,” Ms Smith said.</p> <p>“She would never leave that tent alone.”</p> <p>Asked if they feared someone had taken Cleo, Ms Smith said the family was still hoping to find her.</p> <p>Ms Smith said someone had to know where Cleo was.<br />“Someone has to – it’s been four days,” she said.</p> <p>“I got her some water and she went to bed,” Ms Smith said. “I checked on Isla, made sure she was OK. I got back in bed and that was it really.</p> <p>“We went back to sleep. (I later) woke up to Isla wanting a bottle. As we passed the divider, I went into the other room and the zipper was open. Cleo was gone and that was about it for Saturday morning until everything started.</p> <p>“She was gone. The tent was completely open. It was about 30cm from being open.</p> <p>“I turned to Jake and said: ‘Cleo’s gone.’</p> <p>“We went looking, checking, making sure she wasn’t around the tent. Then we got in the car and started driving around everywhere.”</p> <p>Ms Smith said she was very familiar with the area.</p> <p>“We literally grew up probably like 100m from where our tent was – that was where we stayed at the same age, so we just looked everywhere that we went as kids and we couldn’t find her,” she said.</p> <p>“Then we realised we have to call the cops because she’s not here.”</p> <p>Ms Smith described what was going through her mind at the time.</p> <p>“Where is she? She needs breakfast. What is she doing? Everything was going through my head,” she said.</p> <p>Appearing emotional during the interview, Ms Smith described her ongoing anguish.</p> <p>“We haven’t really slept. We’ve had so much family help us and support us,” she said.</p> <p>“Everyone asks us what do you need and really all we need is our little girl home.”</p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

Tributes pour in for shock death of Hey Hey It’s Saturday star

<p>Australian entertainer Desmond “Dezzy” McKenna has passed away in Thailand. </p> <p><span>The musician, better known as 'Animal' on <em>Hey Hey It's Saturday</em>, had been residing in Thailand since the mid 1990s. </span></p> <p><span>He was a regular guest on the variety show alongside Red Symons, Wilbur Wilde and Daryl McKenzie, and became a fan favourite. </span></p> <p><span>Desmond's brother Brian announced the news on social media, saying "So sad. Sorry to say that my brother Des "Animal" McKenna died last night in Thailand."</span></p> <p><span>"He was a saviour and huge inspiration to me. Remembering all the wonderful times."<br /></span></p> <p><span>Social media has been awash with tributes to the extraordinary life and career of the musician, as fellow entertainers shared their memories of Des. </span></p> <p><span>Singer Joe Camilleri also paid tribute, writing, "Des 'Animal' McKenna has gone ahead… we had fun playing music and listening to jazz… so with a heavy heart I will give Pharaoh Sanders Floating Points a spin and think of the times we shared."</span></p> <p><span>Des worked in the music industry for many decades, and played with big names in the Aussie music scene including Men At Work, Goanna, Joe Camilleri and many more. </span><span></span></p> <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVHDrbgBlMb/?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> <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;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVHDrbgBlMb/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Joe Camilleri (@jojocamilleri)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWilburWildeOfficial%2Fposts%2F1017533772123516&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="608" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Mr Desmond McKenna, an Australian musical icon and one of the best drummers on the planet, passed away on 15 October 2021. <br /><br />Many Australians will remember Des playing drums on ‘Hey Hey.’<br /><br />Vale. <a href="https://t.co/UHs0hW264g">pic.twitter.com/UHs0hW264g</a></p> — Rockin Robin Tweet Tweet (@Robin18601078) <a href="https://twitter.com/Robin18601078/status/1449714552619159556?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><em>Image credits: Channel Nine</em></p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

Police release new image in search for Cleo Smith

<p><em>Image: WA Police</em></p> <p>Cleo Smith’s biological father has reportedly spent three hours talking to police after his four-year-old daughter went missing at a remote campsite.</p> <p>According to Seven News, Daniel Staines was asked to give a statement at Mandurah Station, 1000km south of where Cleo went missing.</p> <p>He reportedly did so willingly and appeared with his parents by his side. There is no suggestion he has had anything to do with his daughter’s disappearance.</p> <p>It came as police released footage of the campsite Cleo disappeared from as a desperate search for the missing four-year-old entered its fourth day.</p> <p>Cleo was last seen at about 1:30 am on Saturday at the Blowholes Campground in Macleod, 50km north of Carnarvon in Western Australia’s north.</p> <p>Her parents woke up a few hours later at 6 am and realised she was gone, and set about their search with other campers before contacting police.</p> <p>Her sleeping bag had also disappeared, and other campers in the area reportedly heard a car screeching away from the area at about 3am.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844916/new-project.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/90e7c861c4c84440b03053444bba9c78" /></p> <p>Image: WA Police</p> <p>The remote campsite, popular among Carnarvon families, is surrounded by sand dunes, shrub lands and rocky terrain, with a few surrounding beach shacks owned by locals.</p> <p>Apart from the small cluster of shacks and caravans, the area is desolate, with a pristine beach being the only thing disrupting the otherwise vacant land.</p> <p>The grounds take their name from nearby blowholes, which can be spotted about 1km north of the campsite when waves smash against the cliffs and shoot through the rock holes.</p> <p>Adjacent to the campsite is a white sandy beach and coral-filled lagoon, which is popular among families for snorkelling and picnics.</p> <p>While beautiful and picturesque, the area can also be deadly, with ‘king waves’ – powerful, unexpected waves up to 10 times bigger than the waves before them that come without warning. This is a frequent occurrence.</p> <p>The Carnarvon Shire Council closed the Blowholes observation area in July last year after a person was nearly swept into the ocean after a dangerous king wave.</p> <p>“There is a well-documented history of multiple fatalities and injuries on the Quobba coastline from king waves,” the council’s warning read.</p> <p>“King waves inundate areas of the coastline far above the normal expectations of most people. Extreme caution is advised visiting the coastline at present.”</p> <p>WA Police inspector John Munday revealed that in search for Cleo, authorities were “throwing everything we can at this search in these initial stages”.</p> <p>An Australian Maritime Safety Authority jet had been brought in, along with other patrols including drones, helicopters and SES crews.</p> <p>Police were investigating the possibility she had been abducted, revealing that her red sleeping bag was also missing from the campsite.</p> <p>“It’s a very tough environment there, we feel desperately for the family in this very unusual situation where we don’t know where Cleo is,” Inspector Munday said.</p> <p>We’ve brought in forensic examiners from our homicide and crime division as well, we’re not ruling anything in or out.”</p> <p>He said on Sunday crews were “going as hard as we can, as long as we can, to try and find Cleo.”</p> <p>Police are also investigating the possibility that she has wandered off and become lost.</p> <p>So far, three nautical miles south of the camp has been covered in the marina search, as well as one nautical mile north, and one nautical mile out to sea.</p> <p>Cleo was last seen wearing a pink/purple one piece sleepsuit with a blue and yellow pattern.</p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

"Most beautiful girl in the world" rushed to emergency

<p>Thylane Blondeau, dubbed the "most beautiful girl in the world" has taken to Instagram to share details of a medical scare. </p> <p>The 20-year-old French model shared the news with her 4.6 million Instagram followers on Monday, saying how her terrifying ordeal began over a year ago. </p> <p>Thylane explained how she had emergency surgery for an ovarian cyst that "exploded" in her stomach, and how that was just the beginning of her health issues. </p> <p>She shared photos of her wearing hospital gowns, laying in a hospital bed, at check-up appointments and her surgery scars, along with a lengthy caption describing the ordeal. </p> <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVIzqL9sMJG/?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> <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;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CVIzqL9sMJG/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Thylane 🦋 (@thylaneblondeau)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Her caption read, "<span>A year ago I had an emergency operation for an ovarian cyst that had exploded in my stomach. 3 months after, my belly started to hurt again and at the beginning everyone (and I ofc) thought it was because of the operation."</span></p> <p><span>"I've seen more than 4 radiology centres in Paris and all of them said the same thing, "don't worry U have nothing it's all in your head."</span></p> <p><span>After experiencing unbearable pain that she "couldn't handle anymore", Thylane visited the emergency room. </span></p> <p><span>She explained that after she had numerous doctors dismiss her concerns, she finally sought the help of doctor Olivier Kadoch who found a 5.6cm cyst touching her ovary. </span></p> <p><span>"He [Kadoch] sent me to do an IRM and an hour after… the doctor called me and asked me to go straight to the hospital to do an emergency operation."</span></p> <p><span>The French model professed how thankful she was for her time in hospital, writing "Today I'm finally feeling better. I'm finally feeling free, I really thought I was crazy for complaining about my stomach for so long." </span></p> <p><span>"Happy that I've never gave up."</span></p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram @thylaneblondeau</em></p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

“Please help me find her!” Mum’s plea as search for Cleo enters third day

<p><em>Image: 9 News</em></p> <p>The search for a missing four-year-old girl in Western Australia has resumed at first light today, with police not willing to rule out the possibility she was abducted.</p> <p>Officers are urgently searching for Cleo Smith, last seen at 1:30 am on Saturday at the Blowholes campsite in Macleod, north of Carnarvon.</p> <p>“We are gravely concerned for the safety of Cleo, we’re not leaving anything to chance,” WA Police Inspector Jon Munday said.</p> <p>Cleo was last seen wearing a pink/purple one-piece sleepsuit with a blue and yellow pattern.</p> <p>Her mum, Ellie, said the little girl was in their shared tent at 1:30 on Saturday morning.</p> <p>When the family woke up at 6:30 am she was gone, with reports her sleeping bag was also nowhere to be found.</p> <p>Cleo’s mum posted an update on Facebook at 1:45 am Monday morning, pleading for help finding her daughter.</p> <p>“It’s been over 24 hours since I last seen the sparkle in my little girl’s eyes! Please help me find her! If you hear or anything at all please call the police!” she posted.</p> <p>Police remain tight-lipped about parts of the investigation.</p> <p>“It’s been reported a sleeping bag is missing. Other than that I really am not at liberty to divulge what else we believe may be missed,” Inspector Munday said.</p> <p>He shared that nothing is being ruled out, including the possibility Cleo was abducted.</p> <p>“Everything is on the table, we are looking at everything,” he said.</p> <p>“We’re just trying to paint a picture of who was around here during the window of opportunity.”</p> <p>Carnarvon Shire president Eddie Smith said on Sunday that it was a “terrible feeling” but he implored “everyone to remain positive”.</p> <p>“WA police are involved, the SES is involved, a large number of the community are involved,” he said. According the The West Australian, police on Sunday were searching cars and caravans inside the campsite where little Cleo went missing.</p> <p>The family, who are from Carnarvon, are familiar with the area and often camp there.</p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

Hold your horses! Scott Morrison reins in Perrottet

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Prime Minister Scott Morrison has dampened plans to open New South Wales “to the world”, after NSW Premier Dominic Perrotet made a surprising announcement on Friday morning.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Perrotet shared that fully-vaccinated tourists and Australians looking to enter the state would no longer need to complete hotel quarantine from November 1.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But, arrivals must have had jabs of an approved vaccine and received negative COVID test results on departure and arrival.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“This decision is a big one, but it is the right one,” Perrotet said during Friday’s press conference.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We need to rejoin the world. We can’t live here in a hermit kingdom. We want people back.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, his plans to reopen the state were squashed by the Prime Minister later that afternoon.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Morrison confirmed that only Australian citizens, residents, and their immediate families would be allowed to skip hotel quarantine initially.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I want to stress that, for the other states and territories and I have advised the premiers and chief ministers to this end, it is about Australian residents and citizens first,” </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/health-wellbeing/prime-minister-blocks-nsw-plan-to-welcome-back-tourists-to-sydney-but-quarantine-will-lifted-for-australian-citizens--c-4244707" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">he said</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The Commonwealth Government has made no decision to allow other visa holders … to come to Australia under these arrangements.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“They are decisions for the Commonwealth Government and when we are in a position to make that decision down the track, obviously in New South Wales, they will be able to do so if they are vaccinated without having to quarantine.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Following Mr Perrotet’s announcements, sources from the Federal Government told </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">news.com.au</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> they were “surprised” and insisted that the decision was up to the Commonwealth.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“NSW don’t choose how we open up the borders and to whom,” </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10094509/NSWs-international-border-announcement-sparks-confusion-no-word-Scott-Morrison.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">one source said</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The airline industry was also taken aback by the announcement, with airlines proceeding to try and fill 6,000 seats on weekly flights to Sydney.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">An industry source told </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Guardian Australia</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">: “We’ve been caught by surprise on this, we’ve had zero consultation it was happening today.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Perrotet also encouraged returning Australians to stop by Sydney, saying he could not control the quarantine requirements of other states and territories.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“If you’re a returning Australian and you want to come here, stay in New South Wales and stay in Sydney,” he said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Have a great time and spend up big.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Australia is expected to reopen once 80 percent of over-16s have been fully vaccinated, according to the national reopening plan that all states and territories agreed to in August.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This would trigger a “gradual opening of inward and outward travel with safe countries”, rather than an immediate reopening to vaccinated people from any country.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Images: Getty Images</span></em></p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

"Lost a jewel": Olympic runner found stabbed in her home

<p dir="ltr">Kenyan long-distance runner Agnes Tirop was found dead in her home at the age of 25, according to a statement released by Athletics Kenya on Wednesday.</p> <p dir="ltr">She was found with stab wounds in her abdomen, and her husband was missing. Athletics Kenya said it was still working to unearth more details surrounding her death.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/ncmzF6bu6Q">pic.twitter.com/ncmzF6bu6Q</a></p> — Athletics Kenya (@athletics_kenya) <a href="https://twitter.com/athletics_kenya/status/1448245193493385217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2021</a></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The athlete won bronze in the 10,000m at the 2017 and 2019 World Championships, and finished 4th in the 5000m at the Tokyo Olympic Games earlier this year.</p> <p dir="ltr">Tirop made history last month by shaving 28 seconds off the long-standing, women-only world record for 10,000m at the Adizero Road to Records event in Germany. She finished in 30:01, breaking the previous record of 30:29 which had been set by Moroccan Asmae Leghzaoui in 2002.</p> <p dir="ltr">Following the win, Agnes told reporters, “I’m so happy to have broken the world record. I felt the pace was good. The course was very good, too.”</p> <p dir="ltr">At the 2015 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, she became the second-youngest ever gold medallist in the women’s race, after South African athlete Zola Budd.</p> <p dir="ltr">Athletics Kenya said the country had “lost a jewel who was one of the fastest-rising athletics giants on the international stage, thanks to her eye-catching performances.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta also paid tribute, saying, “It is unsettling, utterly unfortunate and very sad that we’ve lost a young and promising athlete who, at a young age of 25 years, she had brought our country so much glory through her exploits on the global athletics stage including in this year’s 2020 Tokyo Olympics where she was part of the Kenyan team in Japan.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Mustafa Abumunes/AFP via Getty Images</em></p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

Tributes flow for Norm Provan

<p>The NRL community is in mourning after sporting legend Norm Provan died on Wednesday evening.</p> <p>The 88-year-old St George Dragons giant represented the club in 256 games between 1951 and 1965, and is widely regarded as one of the best football players of the 20th century.</p> <p>The second-rower featured in St George’s unprecedented 11-year reign as NSWRL premiers between 1956 and 1966.</p> <p>Norm set an Australian rugby league record by appearing in ten grand finals of the game.</p> <p>In 2015, Norm was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, and was named a Rugby League Immortal three years later.</p> <p>He is also famous for being immortalised on the Provan-Summons Trophy, which is awarded to the NRL premiers of each season.</p> <p>The iconic photograph of Provan alongside Arthur Summons was captured in the SCG mud after the 1963 grand final between the Dragons and the Magpies.</p> <p>Norm represented NSW in 19 games, as well as competing in 14 Tests for Australia.</p> <p>Social media is awash with a flood of tributes for the sporting legend from sports commentators, journalists and fellow rugby players.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">The warrior. The immortal. The legend. <br />Vale Norm Provan, I met Norm in 2003 on the Sunshine Coast &amp; you wouldn’t meet a truer gentleman. <br />I’ll never forget shaking your hand &amp; to this day, it’s the biggest hand I’ve ever shaken!! Will be missed <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RIPNormProvan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RIPNormProvan</a> 🐉 <a href="https://t.co/nZMo0tbKus">pic.twitter.com/nZMo0tbKus</a></p> — Ashton Sims (@ashtonsims26) <a href="https://twitter.com/ashtonsims26/status/1448425147119984642?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2021</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Heartbreaking day for rugby league. A gentle giant. Vale Norm “Sticks” Provan.</p> — David Riccio (@DaveRic1) <a href="https://twitter.com/DaveRic1/status/1448416458933825540?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2021</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Never before, never again. Remembering the great man Norm Provan <a href="https://twitter.com/NRL_Dragons?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NRL_Dragons</a> <a href="https://t.co/gzrm5MHwzt">pic.twitter.com/gzrm5MHwzt</a></p> — Yvonne O’Keefe (@VonOKeefe) <a href="https://twitter.com/VonOKeefe/status/1448418718438936576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

Former Home and Away child star charged after hammer attack

<p dir="ltr">Former child star Felix Dean, who starred on<span> </span><em>Home and Away<span> </span></em>from 2007 to 2014, has been charged following a violent hammer attack on a store employee in Sydney’s Surry Hills.</p> <p dir="ltr">Police will allege that Dean, who played VJ Patterson, son of Ada Nicodemou’s character Lea, entered a tobacco shop on Elizabeth St in Surry Hills just after 11 pm on Monday armed with a hammer, and then proceeded to attack a male employee.</p> <p dir="ltr">The employee sustained minor injuries and was treated at the scene, while Dean was arrested nearby and taken to Surry Hills police station. He was charged with affray, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, two counts of common assault, shoplifting, armed with intent to commit indictable offence and breach of bail. He was refused bail and was to appear at Central Local Court on Tuesday.</p> <p dir="ltr">Dean had been granted bail three weeks ago following an alleged altercation with another man at a home in Paddington. His bail conditions included a 6 pm curfew and random drug and alcohol testing.</p> <p dir="ltr">It is alleged that Dean became violent when an officer tried to arrest him last month, with Dean lashing out and kicking a senior constable in the leg. He was charged with assaulting an officer in the execution of duty, breaching his bail conditions and failing to comply with Covid directives.</p> <p dir="ltr">He is also facing assault charges after allegedly attempting to assault and rob a ride share driver in Newtown on January 6.</p> <p dir="ltr">Dean, 24, started playing VJ Patterson at the age of 10, and was nominated for Best Young Actor at the 2009 Inside Soap Awards for his work. After leaving the show in 2014, he was replaced in the role by Matt Little.</p> <p dir="ltr">In a social media post made last month, Dean referred to himself as a "work in progress" and the "OG VJ".</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Channel 7</em></p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

Gabby Petito's cause of death finally announced

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Almost one month after Gabby Petito’s body was discovered, a coroner in the US state of Wyoming has revealed her cause of death.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tenon County Coroner Dr Brett Blue released a memo on Tuesday, listing Gabby’s cause of death as homicide and the cause as, "Death by manual strangulation/throttling."</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"Our initial determination is the body was in the wilderness for three to four weeks" before she was found, Blue told reporters, which would place her time of death in mid to late August.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The coroner believes that Gabby’s manner of death is consistent with a tragic end to a domestic violence relationship. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“This is only one of many deaths around the country of people who are involved in domestic violence and it’s unfortunate that these other deaths do not get as much coverage as this one," Blue said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Gabby’s story has gripped the world, after her and her </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">fiancée</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Brian were travelling around the United States on their ‘van life’ road trip, and </span><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/police-reports-social-media-provide-timeline-gabby-petito-s-disappearance-n1279390"><span style="font-weight: 400;">chronicling their adventures on social media. </span></a></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A few weeks into their trip, </span><a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/tragedy-unfolding-body-confirmed-as-missing-woman-gabby-petito"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Gabby’s body was found</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in the Grand Teton National Park on September 19th.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Brian returned to his parent’s home in North Port, Florida on September 1st without Gabby, and Gabby was officially reported missing 10 days later. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Brian is still at large, as the ruling of Gabby’s autopsy motivates police further to find her fiancée. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">North Port Police Department have made a major breakthrough in the search for Brian, as they have located a small campsite close to his family’s home. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Brian is now the</span> <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/new-witnesses-in-gabby-petito-homicide-as-fbi-issue-warrant"><span style="font-weight: 400;">subject of a federal warrant</span></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">as a key person of interest in Gabby's case, as well as for unauthorised use of another person’s debit card.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">You can watch the Teton County Coroner’s full statement on Gabby’s autopsy here:</span></p> <p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hk_OCL4kTXQ" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram @gabspetito</em></p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

“The most wonderful thing”: Sam Armytage's surprise career move

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Samantha Armytage is making a surprising return to television, after Channel Seven revealed she would be a special guest on the 2022 season of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Farmer Wants a Wife</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After leaving </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sunrise</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> earlier this year and settling down in the NSW Southern Highlands, Armytage will be appearing on the reality dating show in her own segment titled ‘Sam’s choice’, where she will introduce the farmers to a new lady based on her expertise.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“She’s perfectly suited to offer a bit of romantic advice between farmers and contestants … It seemed like a smart match to us,” Angus Ross, Seven’s director of network programming, told </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/sam-armytage-joins-farmer-wants-a-wife-all-the-news-from-the-seven-upfronts/news-story/4cd426f2f0c5a4838a8ed762f5b4b1f6" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">news.com.au</span></a></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a statement released by Seven, Armytage said, “I’ve always been a huge fan of the show and of country people, and I know first-hand that falling in love with a farmer is just about the most wonderful thing you can do.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Seven also announced the return of </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">My Kitchen Rules</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">, which stopped airing this year following several seasons of dropping ratings.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Alongside the return of fan favourites </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Voice</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Australia’s Got Talent</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Australian Idol</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, the network will be debuting </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Generations</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, a spin-off of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Voice</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: @sam_armytage / Instagram</span></em></p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

Perrottet declares lockdowns "a thing of the past"

<p dir="ltr">New NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has declared lockdowns a thing of the past, as residents take full advantage of stay-at-home orders being lifted on ‘Freedom Day’, after 106 days in lockdown, almost 63,000 COVID-19 cases and 431 deaths.</p> <p dir="ltr">This means that cafes, restaurants, gyms, pools, non-essential retail, hairdressers and beauticians are now open to those who are fully vaccinated, and people will be allowed to travel outside their 5km radius or LGA.</p> <p dir="ltr">About the lifting of lockdown restrictions, Perrottet told Sunrise on Monday, “It is a major step and there’s going to be challenges as we go through this period. I think we are the first state in the country that’s got this system in place as we open up, so I just ask everybody to be patient, treat everyone with kindness and respect, you will have a lot of young people pulling beers, serving tables.</p> <p dir="ltr">“There will be challenges here as we work through it, but I think everybody across the state is pretty excited for what’s been a long 100 days.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Perrottet said the ending of lockdown was the result of the “efforts of everyone across NSW”, with the state hitting 70% double-dose vaccinated last week, and 90% single-dose over the weekend.</p> <p>“We set out from the start with vaccination being key to us opening up, and to be on track with everybody making those efforts to get the second dose for the 90 per cent of people who’ve already gone down that path, then I don’t believe we need to go backwards,” Perrottet said.</p> <p>“We followed the federal government’s national plan and that means at times there may be the need for targeted restrictions on certain places, there may be cases with a school or certain local areas that we might need to target some restrictions if case numbers increase at certain times, but in terms of statewide lockdowns I think they will be a thing of the past.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Many are anxious about restrictions easing, including hospitality workers who will be required to check people’s vaccination statuses until December 1st when the same rules will apply regardless of whether someone has been vaccinated or not.</p> <p dir="ltr">Lucy, a 34-year-old bartender,<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/health-wellbeing/nsw-leads-country-out-of-pandemic-as-lockdown-ends-for-vaccinated-residents-c-4200596" target="_blank">told AAP</a>, “a lot of people are angry about having to get vaccinated and I worry they will try to make a point at the door.” Her workplace is not hiring a security guard to conduct vaccination status checks in order to cut costs after months without trading.</p> <p dir="ltr">Others with concerns include frontline healthcare workers like<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/health-wellbeing/nsw-paramedic-reacts-to-freedom-day-she-says-scariest-part-of-covid-pandemic-still-to-come-c-4200578" target="_blank">Alex</a>, who started working as a paramedic last month. She told AAP, “This is the scariest part of the pandemic so far. Everyone’s so f***ing terrified, all of us in the southwest.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Look at London - hundreds of people are dying a week and they’re just going about it like there’s no problem. I don’t think Australia is ready for that.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Around<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-11/freedom-day-nsw-economy-life-post-covid-lockdown/100523102" target="_blank">90% of the UK population</a><span> </span>over the age of 16 has received one dose of the vaccine, and about 80% have received both – NSW is expected to reach similar numbers within the next two weeks. Despite this, cases in the UK are currently at over 40,000 per day, largely driven by a spread amongst unvaccinated children. The relatively low rates of hospitalisation and deaths, however, suggest that the vaccine is doing its job.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images</em></p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

Abbie Chatfield destroys Sam Frost over anti-vax rant

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As <em>Home and Away</em> star Sam Frost broke down on Instagram detailing why she is not getting vaccinated, Abbie Chatfield let loose. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On Saturday, Sam Frost took to Instagram and became emotional in her live video, saying, “There are a lot of different reasons people aren’t getting vaccinated – and it might be because of their medical history, their concerns they might have, they might have family history, it might be religious reasons, whatever.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I want to tell those people that feel like they’re getting separated from society – well, I’m not vaccinated, and there’s a reason why I’m not, I’ve spoken to my doctor and my psychologist about it, and I’m going to keep it private,” she said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sam then begged people to have “compassion, kindness and empathy” for the unvaccinated, before deleting her Instagram later that day. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Former <em>Bachelor</em> star Abbie Chatfield, who has been outspoken about the selfishness of the anti-vax community, write on her own Instagram on Sunday, “I mean, it kinda speaks for itself. So brave to ‘come out’ as putting yourself as an individual above your community because you listen to misinformation.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Another reality star bites the dust #love #light #empathy.”</span></p> <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUy_DAelh6r/?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> <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;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUy_DAelh6r/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by ABBIE CHATFIELD (@abbiechatfield)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Abbie’s “peace” only lasted so long, as she took to her Instagram stories to call out those calling her a “bully” for her comments. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Like I didn’t say anything. I said, ‘babe I chose peace today’ pretty much speaks for itself. ‘Another reality star bites the dust’ because she deleted her Instagram. “</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“How was that bullying? I … didn’t add any commentary. Like these people want to be victims so badly and saying she was bullied to the point of leaving Instagram because of Abbie Chatfield.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“These people are just dying to have a reason to hate people who just want misinformation to stop spreading,” she said. “They want to have people on the other side be bad people and bullies and not care at mental health like them.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With her “peace” longer an option, Abbie decided to be honest about her opinions of Sam’s video. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“A huge issue with her video was she said she felt segregated and like less of a human, so she’s trying to use the struggles and the oppression of people of colour in the past and currently, to use that idea of equality for her being unvaccinated.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Abbie also pointed out that Sam stated she had a medical exemption for not getting the jab, which didn’t make sense given her tirade.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The people who do have legitimate medical exemptions, are the ones who I see posting begging for everyone to get the vaccine because they’re the people who are at most risk for covid.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“They’re not doing videos crying on the floor talking about being a second-class citizen … it seems you want to victimise yourself.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another former </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bachelor</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> star Matt Agnew also shared his thoughts on Sam’s monologue, saying her post was “affecting others”.</span></p> <blockquote 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);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUzcn63hiZI/?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> <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;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUzcn63hiZI/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Matt Agnew (@drmattagnew)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the hours after Sam’s emotional rant, Channel 7 responded to the video as Sam continues to work on </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Home and Away</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Seven strongly encourages vaccination for all our people and all Seven productions strictly adhere to the public health COVID-19 safe protocols,” a spokesman told </span><a href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/seven-responds-to-sam-frost-covid19-vaccination-controversy/news-story/8a506656dc7adb80d745edbca0c72c7f"><span style="font-weight: 400;">news.com.au</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“All </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Home and Away </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">cast and crew also undertake Covid-19 testing three times a week in addition to other preventive measures. Sam Frost continues to work on </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Home And Away</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and follows the safety protocols in place.”</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image credits: Instagram @abbiechatfield @fro01</span></em></p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

Dan Andrews’ classy response to no-mask fine

<p dir="ltr">Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has been issued with two infringement notices by VIC Police for failing to wear a mask on two occasions this week. The incidents occurred outside Parliament House on Wednesday and Thursday. One of the incidents was caught on camera by Channel 7 reporter Paul Dowsley.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BREAKING</a> This is the video I shot yesterday of <a href="https://twitter.com/DanielAndrewsMP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DanielAndrewsMP</a> approaching his press conference at the back of Parliament without a mask. I posted it as an Instagram story and now police say they are investigating whether it is a breach of CHO directions. <a href="https://t.co/kZAsUirokl">pic.twitter.com/kZAsUirokl</a></p> — Paul Dowsley (@paul_dowsley) <a href="https://twitter.com/paul_dowsley/status/1446263824609284097?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 7, 2021</a></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Police said that, “Premier Andrews received two fines today for not wearing a mask, each to the value of $200”. The Premier had earlier apologised for breaching COVID-19 restrictions, and promised to pay any fine issued by police. If they opted not to fine him, he said he would donate the same amount to a charity working to support people during the pandemic.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I am aware that as I approached two press conferences at the back of parliament house this week I removed my mask after leaving the car, before I walked to the back doors,” Andrews said. “I expect Victoria Police to assess this and if they choose to issue a fine, of course I will pay it.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If they do not issue a fine I will donate the same value to a charity working to support people in this pandemic because whilst this was an oversight, oversights matter - everyone needs to follow the rules and I am sorry it occurred.”</p> <p dir="ltr">In Victoria, anyone over the age of 12 must wear a fitted face mask whenever they leave their home, indoors or outdoors, unless a lawful exception applies.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images</em></p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

Gina Rinehart tells private school students to be wary of ‘climate propaganda’

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The richest woman in Australia, mining magnate Gina Rinehart, caused a stir recently when a video she had recorded for her alma mater had to be cut because of her controversial views. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the video, recorded by Rinehart for the 125th anniversary of her alma mater, St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls in Perth’s Mosman Park, Rinehart speaks for 16 minutes instead of the required 5, and only managed to stay on topic for so long. She starts out talking about her family’s connections to the school, which go back four generations. About five minutes in, however, she begins critiquing the ‘propaganda’ she believes students are being taught regarding climate change.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It’s very important in my view that today’s parents or guardians or grandparents ask their children each and every day what they are learning at school, counter any propaganda and address their concerns with teachers directly,” she says in the video.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Please be very careful about information spread on emotional basis, or tied to money, or egos, or power-seekers, and always search for the facts, even if the tide is against you, and it’s not considered popular.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Facts may not be popular, but that shouldn’t mean they should be overlooked.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img style="width: 500px; height: 265.867418899859px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7844698/screen-shot-2021-10-08-at-12822-pm.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/e1e0fe218b2c41e197cd72636942ef45" /></span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Faculty members cut the video short, but the entire video, along with a transcript, can still be viewed on Rinehart’s </span><a href="https://www.ginarinehart.com.au/speech-by-mrs-gina-rinehart-celebrating-125-years-of-st-hildas-anglican-school-for-girls/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">website</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. In the full-length speech, she mentions inviting infamous climate deniers such as Lord Monckton and Professor Ian Plimer to speak at the school in response to students being shown Al Gore’s 2006 documentary </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">An Inconvenient Truth.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When asked for his thoughts on Rinehart’s views, WA premier Mark McGowan said that it was “well accepted by scientists and governments and people all over the world that carbon emissions by us are increasing temperatures. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“That’s certainly what I believe, and the overwhelming majority of scientists believe, and I think we should work on that basis,” he said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It is widely accepted by bodies like </span><a href="https://climate.nasa.gov/effects/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">NASA</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/climate-change/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">the UN</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and the </span><a href="https://www.climatechangeinaustralia.gov.au/en/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">CSIRO</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that climate change is real, is occurring as the result of humanity’s impact on the climate, and will only get worse in the decades to come if more is not done to combat it. Meanwhile, the claims made by skeptics like </span><a href="https://skepticalscience.com/Monckton_Myths_arg.htm"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lord Monckton</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><a href="https://skepticalscience.com/skeptic_Ian_Plimer.htm"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Professor Plimer</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> denying the realities of climate change have been widely and thoroughly debunked.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Scott Barbour/Getty Images</span></em></p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

NSW Deputy Premier counters claims road map changes weren’t endorsed

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Paul Toole, New South Wales’ new Deputy Premier, has hit back at claims that chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant did not endorse changes made to the state’s road map out of lockdown.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Toole argued against claims that Dr Chant didn’t support </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/major-relief-dom-outlines-massive-changes-to-nsw-roadmap" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Premier Dominic Perrottet’s changes</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to mask rules, caps on gatherings, and a fast-tracked return to face-to-face schooling.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Appearing on </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sunrise</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> on Friday, Mr Toole </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/world/coronavirus/australia/australia-covid-news-live-restrictions-lockdown-and-cases/news-story/b4a97b9f7558c21d673e46e2673a9bae" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">told Natalie Barr</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, “no, that’s not the case”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It was endorsed by Kerry Chant and it was endorsed by NSW Health,” he continued.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We had a crisis cabinet the day before and Kerry Chant was in that meeting. We don’t make decisions without the support of NSW Health and Dr Kerry Chant.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The clarification comes as other health experts express concerns over the changes, with worries that the state could be put at risk.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dr Omar Khorshid, president of the Australian Medical Association (AMA), said he was “very concerned” about the change to NSW’s approach and the “potential sidelining of public health advice”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dr Khorshid said the absence of Dr Chant when the changes were announced and the renaming of the Crisis Cabinet as the Economic Recovery Committee suggests that health advice will “no longer guide the NSW government”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The ultimate outcomes of opening too fast or too early will be avoidable deaths and the reintroduction of lockdowns and other restrictions - things no-one NSW wants to see,” he </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/sunrise/on-the-show/nsw-deputy-premier-hits-back-at-claims-chief-health-officer-didnt-endorse-changes-c-4179043" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">said</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“If the NSW ‘Covid and Economy Recovery Committee’ moves to open the economy faster than is advised by health experts and the modelling, they will ultimately be held accountable for the impacts of those decisions, including potentially excess deaths, overwhelmed hospitals and the economic catastrophe that would accompany further lockdowns.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Toole acknowledged the concerns of health experts, arguing the decision will have to balance safety and the economy.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I think it’s important we get the balance right between keeping people safe but also opening up the economy,” he said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We have always said there is going to be an increase in cases. We’re going to have to live with the virus.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It’s going to be part of our community and part of society, but we still need to make sure we’re not complacent, we’re following the rules.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I know people are looking forward to starting to see some freedoms again on Monday October 11.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dr Khorshid said the AMA is “concerned” about the change in leadership after </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/no-option-bombshell-gladys-resignation-amid-anti-corruption-probe" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Gladys Berejiklian stepped down as premier</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> last week, saying the “decisions taken in NSW” may “signal a very different approach”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The AMA supports opening-up, but it must be done wisely and cautiously, with the ability to pause and assess the impact of lifting restrictions, before moving to the next stage,” he said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“To do otherwise risks far too much.”</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Getty Images, @paultoolemp / Instagram</span></em></p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

Pauline Hanson calls out new “scaremongering” rules for politicians

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One Nation senator Pauline Hanson has </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/pauline-hanson-slams-new-requirement-for-politicians/news-story/36fdff5840c9d4bfa1a7470056aa7bb3" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">called out</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> new rules at Parliament House that could see her forced to isolate when other MPs would not need to.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The new rules announced on Thursday afternoon could prevent federal politicians like Ms Hanson from travelling to Canberra without quarantining beforehand, while fully vaccinated staff would be able to skip isolation.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ms Hanson has been vocal about refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and has said she was going to seek advice on the issue and her rights as an MP.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It’s not going to change my views about getting vaccinated. I already told the government I won’t attend the October sittings anyway,” she told </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">NCA NewsWire</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It’s going to put the Coalition government into a bit of a bind with how they deal with this.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“My understanding is that they cannot stop an elected MP from attending the parliament to do their duties.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">ACT chief minister Andrew Barr announced the changes to isolation rules for federal MPs, senators, and staff from areas impacted by COVID-19 who had received both jabs ahead of October’s sittings and estimates hearings.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mr Barr took to social media to share the news, saying that unvaccinated individuals would need to complete two weeks of isolation.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">He said the new rules were made under the state’s health guidelines.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Senator Hanson said the changes were made close to the sitting week that commences on October 18, which would affect MPs who weren’t already vaccinated.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The vaccinated person can still carry Covid so what’s the point?” she said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“This is scaremongering. I’m not going to bow to his demands and I think they’re unrealistic.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It’s stupid to put a person in quarantine for two weeks who doesn’t have Covid.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The change comes as new rules for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/easing-covid-19-restrictions" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">come into effect</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in New South Wales from Monday, with restrictions to remain in place for unvaccinated people until the start of December.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Getty Images</span></em></p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

Major breakthrough in search for Brian Laundrie

<p>A major breakthrough has occurred in the case of Brian Laundrie, who disappeared from his house in Florida in early September. </p> <p>The investigation into Brian, <span>whose fiancée Gabby Petito was found dead in Wyoming last month, has uncovered new details about his earlier movements, as well as traces of human activity in a nature reserve that has been the key area of the search. </span></p> <p><span>Police found the <a rel="noopener" href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/they-were-here-dog-the-bounty-hunter-confirms-new-laundrie-lead" target="_blank">remnants of a campsite</a> that appeared to be used recently in Florida’s Carlton Reserve, a sprawling 24,565-acre wilderness near Laundrie’s family home that has been closed to visitors, a source close to the family told <a rel="noopener" href="https://edition.cnn.com/2021/10/07/us/gabby-petito-brian-laundrie-update-thursday/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a> on Wednesday.</span></p> <p><span>Chris Laundrie, Brian's father, joined law enforcement and went to the reserve to </span>help them look on Thursday morning. </p> <p><span>“Chris was asked to point out any favorite trails or spots that Brian may have used in the preserve. Although Chris and Roberta Laundrie provided this information verbally 3 weeks ago it is now thought that on-site assistance may be better,” the family's attorney Steven Bertolino said.</span></p> <p><span>The North Port Police Department also confirmed that a notice was placed on a seemingly abandoned </span>vehicle that belonged to the Laundrie family close to the reserve on September 14th.</p> <p>Brian originally told his family that he was heading to reserve the last time they saw him.</p> <p>The ongoing search for Brian comes as law enforcement try to piece together the events that led to the death of 22-year-old Gabby Petito. </p> <p>Gabby and Brian had been travelling across the United States in a 'van life' trip that they were documenting on social media. </p> <p>Gabby was officially reported missing on September 11th: 10 days after Brian returned home from Florida without her. </p> <p>In the days following, <a rel="noopener" href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/tragedy-unfolding-body-confirmed-as-missing-woman-gabby-petito" target="_blank">Gabby's body was found</a> in a national park in Wyoming, and the coroner determined she died by homicide.</p> <p>Brian originally refused to speak with police when questioned, and then went missing himself. </p> <p>Brian is now the <a rel="noopener" href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/new-witnesses-in-gabby-petito-homicide-as-fbi-issue-warrant" target="_blank">subject of a federal warrant</a> as a key person of interest in Gabby's case, as well as <span>for unauthorised use of another person’s debit card.</span></p> <p>He was last seen on September 13th by his family, and has been missing for 25 days.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook / Instagram @gabspetito</em></p>

News

Placeholder Content Image

Morrison calls social media a ‘coward’s palace’ as Joyce denies family rumours

<p dir="ltr">Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce have both taken social media companies to task today, declaring that ‘enough is enough’ and that more needs to be done about ‘completely and utterly fictitious’ rumours posted on social media.</p> <p dir="ltr">In a press conference on Thursday afternoon, Morrison called social media a ‘coward’s palace’, saying, “People can go on there, not say who they are, destroy people's lives, and say the most foul and offensive things to people, and do so with impunity.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Now that's not a free country where that happens. That's not right. They should have to identify who they are. The companies, if they're not going to say who they are, well, they're not a platform any more, they're a publisher. They're a publisher.”</p> <p dir="ltr">He went on to talk about Australia’s role as a world leader in cracking down on social media companies, telling the media, “We intend to set the pace. We value our free society. And in a free society, you can't be a coward and attack people and expect not to be held accountable for it.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce spoke to ABC Radio about<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/politics/barnaby-joyce-shuts-down-rumours-of-an-affair-between-john-barilaro-and-his-daughter-bridgette/news-story/2c39bcdae7117862748fe5f6032b4ad8" target="_blank">rumours regarding his daughter that had been spreading online</a>. The rumours focused on his 23-year-old daughter, Bridgette, who has worked in former Deputy Premier John Barilaro’s office since February. Posts that had been made on social media suggested Barilaro’s recent retirement from politics was because of an inappropriate relationship with Bridgette Joyce.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s total and utter rubbish”, Joyce said on Thursday. He said that more needed to be done to force social media companies like Facebook and Twitter to stop people spreading such lies. “From my own personal experience of recent times, you have got to get to a point where you say enough is enough.</p> <p dir="ltr">“These platforms just say, ‘Oh well it’s too hard to control’. It’s not too hard for you to collect your billions of dollars from it and apparently it’s not too hard for you set up vessels to avoid tax in Australia.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Rohan Thomson/Getty Images, Sam Mooy/Getty Images</em></p>

News

Our Partners

Over 60

© Copyright 2021 OverSixty.All Rights Reserved.