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Matildas greats defend Sam Kerr

<p>Former Matildas co-captain Kate Gill and national women's team great Joey Peters have both lept to Sam Kerr's defence, amid the soccer star's <a href="https://o60.me/rtlyu9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">trial</a> for the charge of racially aggravated harassment of a police officer.</p> <p>While Kerr has admitted she felt "embarrassed" after watching footage from the incident that occured on January 30 2023, she denied that she was “drunk and kicking off” in the back of the taxi</p> <p>Football Australia will wait until the trial's complete to make a call on whether Kerr will be stripped from her role as the Matildas captain. </p> <p>However, Gill and Peters have both defended Kerr, saying that she should "definitely" retain the armband. </p> <p>"She’s the first person to acknowledge if she’s done something wrong and made a mistake," Gill said, as she hailed Kerr for being an "exceptional human being". </p> <p>Gill led the Matildas between 2013 and 2014, making 86 appearances for Australia, returning 41 international goals. </p> <p>"She’s got morals about her, so it’s hard to question her from that kind of area."</p> <p>“It’s hard for us to all sit in judgment when we don’t have access to the full facts and understand what happened and how Sam was made to feel in that moment,” she said.</p> <p>“There should be no reason why she shouldn’t captain her country.</p> <p>“She wears her heart on her sleeve, she loves playing for her country, she loves captaining her country, and she’s given her some very inspirational and fantastic sporting moments.</p> <p>“We shouldn’t forget that.”</p> <p>Former Matildas star Joey Peters, who won 110 caps for Australia between 1996 and 2009 also backed Kerr. </p> <p>"I just have full admiration for Sam Kerr and what she’s done throughout our game," she said. </p> <p>"What we’re hearing about the case, I don’t think it takes away anything from the quality person that she is." </p> <p>"She has disrupted the world of football, and we can’t expect her to be quiet and sit back and be a ‘nicey-nicey girl’ because she’s not that at all on the pitch. She’s lethal, so for her to stick up for herself off the field, for me personally, I 100 per cent back her." </p> <p>Kerr captained Australia to fourth place at the Olympic Games in 2020. She has made 128 appearances for Australia since 2009 and has returned 69 goals. </p> <p>“I can’t imagine the pressure that she’s under with her public profile. She’s in this pressure cooker and delivered so much for our game and continues to do that, and we should hold her in the highest regard whatever happens, because we all make mistakes as humans," Peters added. </p> <p>“In Sam Kerr’s case, she’s an absolute champion of our game and should be treated as that in her home country for sure.</p> <p>“It’s not that I don’t care what she’s (allegedly) done, but in this particular instance, we’ve got to protect her and cheer her on.”</p> <p><em>Image: Kim Price/CSM/ Shutterstock Editorial</em></p> <p> </p>

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Man slapped with $76,000 bill on free cruise

<p>A couple from the US have been slapped with a five-figure bill after embarking on a cruise that they won. </p> <p>Mark and Tami were onboard the Norwegian Cruise Line ship Encore, after winning their trip for free, to celebrate Tami given a clean bill of health after the successful removal of a “mass from her lungs” in October 2024 following a cancer diagnosis.</p> <p>Just four days after setting off on their five-week journey, Mark fell ill and was taken to the ship's dedicated ICU with flu symptoms and reduced oxygen levels. </p> <p>He received oxygen, a catheter, IV medications, and X-rays, and when he felt better the next morning, asked to quarantine in his cabin room for the remainder of the trip. </p> <p>However, he was not allowed to leave the medical ward, and so the costs of his stay there continued to climb.</p> <p>“Mike spent a total of four days in the medical ward and asked to be released each day,” his daughter Krystal Cameron wrote in a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/relieve-mike-and-tamis-medical-burden?attribution_id=sl:5f4f89c5-bda8-4947-8f2b-5c9203b2cf8f&amp;lang=en_US&amp;utm_campaign=man_ss_icons&amp;utm_medium=customer&amp;utm_source=copy_link" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link-type="article-inline">GoFundMe</a> to help pay the $75,800 ($47,638 USD) medical bill.</p> <p>During that time, she said staff would not remove his IV line, or the catheter which Tamra claims had been incorrectly fitted and was “leaking”.</p> <p>“Not on your life would I put my life in these people’s hands,” Tamra added in a social media post.</p> <p>“Should have demanded to get off at (the) port (on the) British Virgin Islands, where I was lied to that they had no good hospital.”</p> <p>Norwegian Cruise Line confirmed to <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/mark-won-a-free-holiday-with-norwegian-cruise-line-then-he-was-slapped-with-a-75800-bill-onboard-c-17618959" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News</a> that Mike’s medical procedures and resulting expenses have been reviewed internally by the company, writing in a statement, “Mr Cameron was admitted to the onboard medical centre and received appropriate treatment for his condition, followed by 62 hours of critical care."</p> <p>“We are committed to providing quality medical services and each of our ships is equipped with a state-of-the-art onboard medical centre, staffed with highly qualified physicians and nurses, to provide care for both guests and crew while at sea."</p> <p>The couple had purchased travel insurance and said the Norwegian Cruise Line medical secretary reassured them they were covered for $20,000 USD ($31,987 AUD) and told “not to worry” when they raised concerns.</p> <p>However, Norwegian Cruise Line maxed out both credit cards they had on file for the couple when charging them with the final bill, adding, “Medical insurance is not accepted onboard.”</p> <p>“We strongly encouraged the guest to file a claim with their health insurance provider post-cruise," Norwegian Cruise Line told <em>7News</em>. </p> <p>“As the guest did purchase travel insurance for their vacation, we have recommended they follow up on their claim with the insurance provider, after they have filed the claim with their health insurance provider.”</p> <p>But Krystal said “neither their travel insurance nor their personal health insurance will cover the medical treatments received”.</p> <p>The travel insurance company requires the couple’s health insurance company to initially pay the bill, but their health insurance company states because the incident happened abroad it is not covered by the policy, Krystal said.</p> <p>“Between Tami’s recent cancer diagnosis and surgery ... and my father’s illness ... their medical debt is quickly adding up,” Krystal said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: GoFundMe / Facebook </em></p>

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"This ruined my life": Mum still seeking justice after horror e-bike crash

<p>Sarah was crossing on George Street in Sydney's CBD on February 2023 when she was brutally struck by a Lime e-bike rider. At the time of the accident, she was three months pregnant. </p> <p>Speaking to <em>Yahoo News</em>, Sarah explained she had been crossing the street when she heard someone yell "look out!" but before she could react, she was knocked down by the speeding vehicle. </p> <p>She claims that the bike user was illegally riding with a companion on the handle bars at the time, and fled the scene when she cried out "my baby!" </p> <p>Fortunately, Sarah's unborn daughter was unharmed during the incident, but she was left with lifelong injuries. </p> <p>"My foot was crushed, I had dislocations and many broken bones, and I needed 21 screws, two plates and two pins," Sarah said. </p> <p> "As a result of the injury, the skin on my foot began to die with fracture blisters, so I needed skin grafts as well.</p> <p>"I required six surgeries on my foot in total. One on my elbow, which was broken. One big plate and seven screws. Six weeks of non-weight bearing on my arm, and much longer on my foot. Around 12 weeks plus altogether."</p> <p>It took the mum six months after the accident to be able to walk again - three weeks before she gave birth. </p> <p>"The pain was unbelievable," she recalled. </p> <p>"The trauma was unbelievable. It was all just horrible, horrendous. It really was." </p> <p>Her family tried to seek compensation from Lime, but they deflected any blame saying that they would only take responsibility if the accident was caused by a faulty Lime bike, but not reckless riding. </p> <p>Since Lime e-bikes are rented by individuals, liability typically falls on the rider, not the company, they argued.</p> <p>The family's solicitor had also obtained CCTV footage of the incident, and had tried to get police to follow up but have been hit with multiple roadblocks since. </p> <p>"The police had their name, addresses, mobile and photos. [But] they only called one time, and went to the house one time. That's it. A high commissioner rang me to apologise, but then they still did nothing."</p> <p>Now, Sarah and her family are calling for the total ban of e-bikes in Australia. </p> <p>"They should be banned," Sarah said. "The government and Lime have just let loose motorised vehicles that can hurt riders and pedestrians, and have not covered anyone but themselves.</p> <p>"There is no policing how fast they are going. This ruined my body, my life and my first pregnancy. And nobody has been held accountable."</p> <p>While Sarah's baby was unharmed in the accident, nine months after her birth, the baby girl "was found to have tetralogy of Fallot" — a rare but serious heart defect that affects how blood flows through the heart.</p> <p>"She needed open heart surgery and will need it every 10 years. My injuries made everything a lot harder. But hopefully I can change things," Sarah said.</p> <p>"I'm certainly scarred for life."</p> <p><em>Image: Yahoo News</em></p>

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Sam Kerr's partner takes the stand in harassment trial

<p>Sam Kerr's fiancé has given evidence in support of her partner during a <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/sam-kerr-s-defence-in-harassment-trial-revealed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">harassment trial</a> in London, as the "deeply offensive" insult Kerr threw at a taxi driver was revealed. </p> <p>The Matildas striker has been accused of calling UK police officer Stephen Lovell “stupid and white” as he attempted to defuse a dispute over a taxi fare in southwest London on January 30th 2023.</p> <p>The all-time leading Australian international scorer has pleaded not guilty to the racially aggravated harassment of a police officer.</p> <p>It has been alleged that the incident began when Kerr and Mewis had been out drinking when they were picked up by a taxi who refused to take them home, instead driving them to Twickenham Police Station after one of them was sick. </p> <p>The taxi driver alleged that the women refused to pay a clean up cost and smashed the vehicle's rear window, as Kerr previously stated that the couple thought they were being kidnapped. </p> <p>Speaking from the witness stand on Thursday, Mewis, who is expecting a baby with Kerr, broke down in tears as she recalled, “It was like nothing I’ve experienced. I’ve never driven a car that fast before. I immediately felt fear for my life.</p> <p>“I felt out of control and like someone else had control over me and that was obviously very scary... I didn’t know if it was a kidnapping or if we were going to crash."</p> <p>“All of the horrible things you think about in your head; I didn’t know if that was going to happen.”</p> <p>During cross-examination, prosecutors asked Mewis if she knew the taxi driver had claimed he was taking the pair to Twickenham Police Station after phoning emergency services about them.</p> <p>She responded “no” and added: “I don’t know why you would drive that recklessly if you were taking us to a police station ... why was he driving crazy? I don’t understand that part.”</p> <p>During the fourth day of the trial, Kerr was asked by prosecutor William Emlyn Jones if she was “someone who uses a lot of bad language or swears a lot?”</p> <p>Kerr said “no” but was then asked if she remembered referring to the taxi driver as a “dodgy c***”.</p> <p>“That’s a deeply abusive term, isn’t it?” the prosecutor said, to which Kerr responded, “ Yes, you could say so.”</p> <p>Kerr previously said the pair were “trapped” in the back of the taxi and that they had tried to open the doors and windows multiple times but they remained locked.</p> <p>She also claimed “Everything was going through my mind about being in a car with a stranger I deemed to be dangerous. There was no reasoning with him. It was his way or nothing.”</p> <p>Kerr's defence counsel then asked Mewis about how they were treated when they arrived at the police station, as she recalled “PC Lovell was immediately dismissive. He wasn’t believing what we were saying."</p> <p>“We were saying we had been taken against our will, we couldn’t get out and (the driver) was driving like crazy ... he was dismissive in a way in which he didn’t want it to be true."</p> <div> </div> <p>“In my opinion, (the police) were trying to change the story and make it into something it wasn’t."</p> <p>“It felt a little bit like gaslighting ... the story (they) repeated back was different or they were manipulating it back onto us.”</p> <p>The West Ham midfielder also said Kerr was “speaking her truth” when she called a police officer “stupid and white”, to which she clarified, “I think that in her moment she was speaking her truth in how she was feeling. Subconsciously she felt that she was being treated differently. I’ve seen Sam be treated differently.”</p> <p>Asked if she noticed a difference between the way police treated her and Kerr, Mewis said: “Yes. PC Lovell was more snide and shorter with Sam. He didn’t believe what she was saying and (was) dismissive with her.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: SplashNews.com/ANDY RAIN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Editorial</em></p>

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Former soap star jailed for 28 years

<p>Former soap star Phil Hamer has been sentenced to 28 years in jail after being found guilty of raping and sexually abusing seven girls between 2010 and 2023. </p> <p>Hamer used social media to target and groom children, with one of his victims only being 11-years-old. </p> <p>He targeted his first victim, a 14-year-old girl, on Facebook in 2010. </p> <p>The 34-year-old, who appeared on UK dramas <em>Hollyoaks</em> and <em>Coronation Stree</em>t, received a 36-year sentence including an eight-year extended licence period after he was found guilty of 33 rape and assault charges.</p> <p>Hamer was convicted of a total of 41 charges, including eight counts of rape, six counts of sexual assault, six counts of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and one count of sexual activity with a child.</p> <p>“These were no relationships. You manipulated and groomed these young girls, inexperienced and impressionable as they were, in a way that was controlling and coercive,” Judge Sarah Johnston reportedly told Harmer, per the <em>BBC</em>. </p> <p>Other offences include taking indecent images of his victims, many of them teenagers at the time they were abused, according to Greater Manchester Police.</p> <p>“After one victim came forward, Hamer’s phone was seized which enabled police to trace further victims,” the police said.</p> <p>“In his police interview, Hamer showed a denial for any wrongdoing in his actions. He did not believe that he was a sexual predator and that his actions caused severe harm and distress to his victims,” Detective Constable Denise Garde said. </p> <p>“He incited his victims to send him hundreds of pictures and videos over a period of seven years. One victim was in fear that Hamer may disclose the pictures to others or come to their address.</p> <p>“After seizing his devices, we later found voyeuristic videos and pictures Hamer had taken of people in changing rooms who were not aware they were being filmed.”</p> <p>Hamer would also send unsolicited pictures to his victims and tracked their movements. </p> <p>During his trial, one of Hamer's victims read out a heartbreaking statement about the toll of the abuse in court. </p> <p>“Philip Hamer, the man who took away my innocence at such a young age,” the victim said.</p> <p>“The man who made me feel so ashamed of myself for so many years. The man that made me feel disgusted in myself. The man that made me feel so lonely as I was too afraid to open up to anyone, I couldn’t even speak to my mum, my friends, my family.</p> <p>“He made me feel fear, distress and trauma no young girl should have to go through. He took away my spark and gave me so much anxiety.</p> <p>“For years I was too ashamed to look at myself in the mirror, as all I saw was the girl that a man lusted over.</p> <p>“He will never earn my forgiveness for what he did to me. He doesn’t deserve it. But I am no longer going to let him have a hold on my life like he once did.</p> <p>“I can now continue to succeed in life, knowing I finally have the justice me and the other girls whose lives he impacted deserve.</p> <p>“This man changed the course of my life, what he did to me impacted on my schooling massively and it isolated me from my friendship group.</p> <p>“When I should have been enjoying school, growing up having new experiences with friends, I was controlled by that man, making me believe that he would disclose my worst secrets to my friends.</p> <p>“This impacted on my relationships, making me feel guilty for what he did to me.”</p> <p><em>Image: Manchester Phoenix</em></p> <p> </p>

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Aussie bloke's hilarious revenge on parking inspectors

<p>An Aussie bloke has taken a devious revenge plan to the next level as he aims to even the score between him and parking inspectors. </p> <p>Julian Morgans, who is no stranger to receiving an influx of parking fines, decided to take a unique approach to revenge, giving new meaning to the phrase "if you can't beat them, join them".</p> <p>The man decided to play the ultimate prank on the parking inspectors by applying for a job to take up the role himself, documenting his plan on Instagram. </p> <p>"So, I get parking fines all the time, and I'm sick of it, so recently I decided to get revenge," he said in a video. </p> <p>"I started by applying for a job as a parking inspector and I went for an interview."</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFBt711zWh8/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFBt711zWh8/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by @julianmorgans</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>He got a call back from the recruiter saying they were happy with what he had to offer and gave him the job, but on day one of his new role, he set his devious plan in motion. </p> <p>"So, I went in on my first day, Monday morning, 9am, and they gave us our parking inspector uniform and this, for me, was the perfect opportunity to slip away and go to the pub," he said. "So, there I was. I'm at the pub, on the clock and they're paying me."</p> <p>"I'm in my parking inspector uniform and I'm just drinking beers and I played some pool, hung around and got a little drunk and I had a great time."</p> <p>He then mentioned that, later on, he received a call from his new employer to check in on how he was coping. </p> <p>"So, my phone just rang and it's the parking inspector office and I think they're wondering where I am, and I wasted a full day of their money," he said.</p> <p>He told his boss that he was quitting after his first day, expecting the boss to be angry since he hadn’t issued any parking fines, but was met with a very different reaction.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFL6A3Lza5M/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFL6A3Lza5M/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by @julianmorgans</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"I don't want to do the job, I'm sorry," he said, while his new employer responded, "No, that's OK, that's fine, buddy, that's up to you."</p> <p>The employer continued with some words of advice, saying, "You'll be fine. Whatever you do, I'm sure you'll succeed because that's what you're meant to do. I wish you all the best, bud, and thanks for letting me know."</p> <p>Mr Morgans was shocked about how "cool" his boss was with him quitting after producing no work on day one, and in a matter of minutes changed his tune on parking inspectors. </p> <p>"I wanted him to be angry here, I wanted him to validate the whole thing. Instead, he was just kind of lovely," Mr Morgans said. </p> <p>"I think I'm surprised here because I've always thought of parking inspectors as just total animals. I was surprised to find that in an industry that I absolutely hate, some of the people are kind of lovely."</p> <p>While many flocked to the comments to share how funny they thought his day-long prank was, others were much more critical. </p> <p>"Do you give a crap about all the time of the employees of government you wasted?" one person wrote, while another added, "Here's a tip, just follow rules? There are limits on parking for a reason. Do you deserve to park somewhere all day more than anyone else?"</p> <p>Mr Morgans didn't argue back and, on reflection, acknowledged his emotions got the better of him as he planned the prank.</p> <p>"Very fair feedback. I knew it wasn't a morally perfect stunt but I got my car towed a few months ago and got mad. This was my divisive but cathartic response," he said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

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Albanese clashes with Karl Stefanovic over alleged terror plot

<p>Anthony Albanese has clashed with Karl Stefanovic over when he was briefed about an alleged anti-Semitic terror plot in Sydney. </p> <p>The Prime Minister reportedly had not been informed about the discovery of an explosive-laden caravan until just before it was made public on January 29, ten days after the initial discovery. </p> <p>In an interview with the<em> Today</em> show on Thursday morning, Stefanovic suggested that Albanese "must have been absolutely livid” that he was not notified earlier. </p> <p>The Prime Minister responded: “Now you’re making an incredible assumption there, Karl." </p> <p>“What’s important here is that we don’t play politics with national security.</p> <p>“And when it comes to a range of the issues related to the anti-Semitic attacks, what I haven’t done is go out there and reveal intelligence.”</p> <p>Stefanovic pushed on asking Albanese if he would support an  inquiry into whether there “was an embarrassing communications failure”, to which the Prime Minister shot back with: “So stop the investigations?” </p> <p>“Stop doing the work to track down the perpetrators of these crimes and engage in politics?”</p> <p>He continued: “Do you think that that is a sensible use of resources?”</p> <p>Stefanovic said it deserved "some focus", adding: “If the prime minister of this country is not told about something of this magnitude ... I’d be scratching my head going ... ‘why not?’” </p> <p>But Albanese shut him down by saying what was “important is tracking down the perpetrators of these crimes”.</p> <p>“I find it frankly absurd that people think, for example, that resources should be diverted, that the AFP (Australian Federal Police) and intelligence agencies should be engaged in a political process rather than doing their job,” he said.</p> <p>“And you know what my job is, Karl? It’s really simple. It’s to back our authorities to do their job. All right. And that’s what I do.”</p> <p>Police discovered the caravan in Dural, Sydney, with authorities saying that it was packed with mining explosives. </p> <p>They have also allegedly found a list of targets, which reportedly included the Great Synagogue in Sydney’s CBD and the Sydney Jewish Museum.</p> <p><em>Image: Nine</em></p>

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Coroner makes bombshell ruling over Jock Zonfrillo's death

<p>A 16-month investigation into Jock Zonfrillo's death has come to an end, with the coroner making a shocking decision about the celebrity chef's cause of death. </p> <p>The coroner has decided not to publicly reveal the MasterChef judge's cause of death, which will now likely remain secret unless his family wish to disclose the information. </p> <p>Zonfrillo's body was found in a hotel room in Melbourne at about 2am on May 1st 2023 after police were called to conduct a welfare check on the 46-year-old.</p> <p>There was widespread speculation about the cause of Zonfrillo's sudden death due to his well-publicised history of drug abuse and mental health struggles.</p> <p>A spokeswoman for Victoria's Coroners Court told <em><a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14357311/jock-zonfrillo-masterchef-coronial-investigation.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mail Australia</a></em> the investigation into Zonfrillo's death was completed on August 27th last year. </p> <p>"At the close of the investigation, the coroner determined that the finding would not be published," the spokeswoman said.</p> <p>In the days following Zonfrillo's death,<em> Daily Mail Australia</em> revealed that it was Jock's wife Lauren who made the frantic phone call to police which led them to find her husband's body. </p> <p>She was travelling abroad and had reportedly became concerned about her husband's welfare when Zonfrillo failed to keep to their usual daily schedule of telephone calls.  </p> <p>At the time, a senior Victoria Police source said that officers who attended the hotel found Zonfrillo unresponsive in his bed and saw no obvious signs of anything suspicious or unusual.</p> <p>There was no drug paraphernalia located and no one else in his room, with police at the scene forming the initial view Zonfrillo had died of natural causes.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

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Sam Newman controversy explodes

<p>Sam Newman and 'neo-Nazi' Blair Cottrell have come to blows online in the wake of fierce backlash over a controversial podcast. </p> <p>Newman found himself under heavy scrutiny on Monday after sharing a photo with two men -  Thomas Sewell and Blair Cottrell - in <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/sam-newman-photo-sparks-immediate-backlash" target="_blank" rel="noopener">promotion</a> of the latest episode of his <em>You Cannot Be Serious</em> podcast. </p> <p>Part one of the episode was released on Tuesday, which saw Newman quickly turn on Cottrell online. </p> <p>Newman elaborates how he had sought out Sewell for a conversation but notes Cottrell had “accompanied him” and that he “wasn’t invited”.</p> <p>“I interviewed two people I thought were of interest because I had never heard of them until the media kept showing them coming out of court and putting them in the paper,” Newman said.</p> <p>“I reached out to one of them, I reached out to a bloke called Thomas Sewell and I said ‘would you like to come in and be interviewed?’. A man accompanied him called Blair Cottrell who wasn’t invited, he was an interloper."</p> <p>“He sat where you are Ivan and he turned out to be a turd, he turned out to be an opportunist. He posted today that maybe the Foss was one of us all along or something like that."</p> <p>“Blair is a scumbag. He is a 24-carat gold scumbag."</p> <p>“As I said he wasn’t invited and he thought he is a star f***er. He thought he would link me to his cause and he’s posted pictures of me on the Footy Show and then put Nazi photos in the background trying to link me to his cause."</p> <p>“Thomas Sewell was responsible, as in he was here because I asked him to be here."</p> <p>“Cottrell turned up and in his pissy little world that he lives in, his diminutive pissy little world where he can’t make it on his own he tries to link people with stronger juices. He’s a parasite. So that’s him."</p> <p>“I have plenty of people who are friends of mine who are Jewish and many who are Muslim, I do not have any friends who are Nazis or neo-Nazis. None.”</p> <p>The remarks from Newman didn’t sit well with Cottrell who took to social media to share his side of the story. </p> <p>He explained that he drove Sewell to the podcast studio, and after meeting Newman, he was invited to sit in on the recording and chime in to the conversation. </p> <p>“Now Sam is apparently declaring me an uninvited interloper and that I somehow took advantage of him," Cottrell wrote. </p> <p>“If Sam wants to play it safe in the future, he should stick to platforming drug dealers, prostitutors and murderers, he won’t cop any flak for that because these characters are no serious threat to the establishment. You wanted controversy Sam, and you got it.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images / X (Twitter) </em></p>

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Sam Newman photo sparks immediate backlash

<p>Sam Newman has come under fire for promoting a new episode of his podcast that features two prominent 'neo Nazis' as guests.</p> <p>The AFL legend, who hosts the <em>You Cannot Be Serious</em> podcast, made headlines after posting a photo of himself with Blair Cottrell and Thomas Sewell to promote the latest episode. </p> <p>“Today Thomas Sewell and I had a chat with footy icon Sam Newman. Keep an out for the podcast!” Cottrell captioned the photo of the trio.</p> <p>Cottrell was the first ever Australian to be charged with hate speech after he was convicted in September 2017, and Sewell was listed as one of more than a dozen alleged neo-Nazis following a protest in Adelaide on January 26th.</p> <p>Cottrell, who is the United Patriots Front leader, was convicted alongside two of his supporters for inciting hatred, contempt and ridicule of Muslims after making a video beheading a dummy in protest of a Bendigo mosque.</p> <p>Sewell is the Victorian-based leader of the National Socialist Network (NSN), who has railed against “corrupt police” and an “anti-white government” in an online fundraiser which he hopes will allow him to “transition into a full-time role”.</p> <p>While the episode of Newman's podcast doesn't air until Wednesday, the photo was enough to welcome a wave of scrutiny towards Newman. </p> <p>CODE Sports’ chief cricket writer Daniel Cherny asked on X if the promotion of two prominent neo-Nazis was “enough to be booted out of the Australian Football Hall of Fame?”</p> <p>Hundreds of fans agreed, with many taking to social media to ask how the AFL, and Newman's former club the Geelong Cats, would respond to the men being given a platform. </p> <p>One person wrote: “I’m wondering if consorting with out and proud Nazis is enough of a blot on your copybook to be removed from the AFL Hall of Fame? What do you reckon, AFL? How about you, Geelong Cats?”</p> <p>Hours after the image of the trio was posted, Newman took to X (formerly Twitter) to issue a statement claiming he had been asked to not publish the episode, which he has denied. </p> <p>“I interviewed Thomas Sewell and Blair Cottrell … neo-Nazis on <em>You Cannot Be Serious</em> podcast,” Newman said.</p> <p>“I haven’t posted it yet but I was asked by a journalist because Blair Cottrell posted a picture of him and me and Thomas Sewell on X and I’m associated now with being a neo-Nazi."</p> <p>“I replied to the journalist who said is it appropriate to put this on and chat about who they are and I said I by no means condone what they’re on but I thought they’re people of interest and I’m going to put it to air."</p> <p>“If you think I’m a Nazi, so be it. Why don’t you have a look at what they say and what I ask them and you make your mind up.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: X (Twitter)</em></p>

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Catriona Rowntree unleashes over controversial new plan

<p>Catriona Rowntree has slammed the Victorian Labor government's plans to cover land at Mount Rothwell under solar panels </p> <p>The Getaway star shared her call to action in an <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFlVylRTfYG/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram video</a> shared on Monday. </p> <p>“Welcome to beautiful Mount Rothwell in Little River,” Rowntree began in her video.</p> <p>"This is actually the number one film location in Victoria. This has been the scene of so many incredible movies and productions, bringing in a fortune for the local government.</p> <p>"This incredible area Vic Labor is now considering covering this whole area with a solar farm in its rush for renewables.</p> <p>"They are considering all these completely wrong locations."</p> <p>She previously opposed the state government's plans to build a huge lithium battery farm next to her family property near Little River, and mentioned it again in her most recent video.</p> <p>Rowntree branded the planned lithium battery farm as a fire hazard, saying: “So how can you help? Some of you may know that we have been battling as well, they want to put a lithium facility in a firezone in Little River.</p> <p>“What did Little River ever do to the Labor government? I don’t know why you keep picking on us," she continued.</p> <p>"No one will talk to us, it’s been nearly seven months, we’ve heard nothing.”</p> <p>In her caption for the video, Rowntree said she had no choice but to "get political" and vote for Liberal candidate Steve Murphy in the upcoming Werribee state by-election, saying: "He actually took the time to visit us and see how wrong this area is for their renewables”.</p> <p>"Has it come to this?" she wrote.</p> <p>"Do I have to get political to get someone to notice the region that VIC Labor wants to destroy?"</p> <p>She also issued a direct plea to the premier, tagging Jacinta Allen and asking: “Where are you? Why do you want to ruin what is the Number 1 film location in Victoria? Why won’t anyone from Victorian Labor stop this?”</p> <p>"You should be ashamed,” she told the state government. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

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Sam Kerr's defence in harassment trial revealed

<p>Sam Kerr has appeared in a London court for the first day of her racial harassment trial. </p> <p>The Matildas striker has been accused of calling a police officer “stupid and white” as he attempted to defuse a dispute over a taxi fare in southwest London on January 30th 2023.</p> <p>The all-time leading Australian international scorer has pleaded not guilty to the racially aggravated harassment of a police officer.</p> <p>In court on Monday it was claimed that Kerr and her partner, fellow footballer Kristie Mewis, believed they were being kidnapped when the taxi they were travelling in diverted off route during a dispute over the fare.</p> <p>Prosecutor Bill Emlyn Jones told jurors that the women had been on a night out and were travelling home in the taxi when Kerr was allegedly sick. </p> <p>The pair and the taxi driver then engaged in an argument over a cleaning fee of the vehicle, which caused the driver to divert the trip to Twickenham Police Station. </p> <p>When the pair realised they were no longer heading to Kerr's house, Mewis kicked out the rear window fearing she was being kidnapped.</p> <p>“The cabbie ended up phoning the police to complain about their behaviour, reporting that they were trying to smash a window,” Emlyn Jones said.</p> <p>In footage from a police body-worn camera, the pair were visibly shaken on arrival at the station and Kerr said they were “both very afraid” and they “were begging to get out of there.”</p> <p>Prosecutors said Kerr then allegedly became verbally abusive towards police officer Stephen Lovell, and insulted him “by reference to his ethnicity” when he recalled the driver’s version of events.</p> <p>“You guys are stupid and white. You guys are f****** stupid and white,” Kerr said. “I’m looking you in the eyes, you guys are f****** stupid. I’m f****** over this shit.”</p> <p>Emlyn Jones said there was no dispute over what was said, instead, jurors must decide what she meant and how it made Lovell feel.</p> <p>Kerr’s lawyer Grace Forbes said, “When you look past the headline, and you look at the evidence, Samantha Kerr did not feel hostile towards the officer because he is white”.</p> <p>“The words were a comment – however poorly expressed – about positions of power, about privilege and about how those things might colour perception.”</p> <p>The officer told the court he felt Kerr’s behaviour was “quite abusive”.</p> <p><em>Image credits: ANDY RAIN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Editorial </em></p>

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"People need answers": Police issue statement on anniversary of Samantha Murphy's disappearance

<p>Friends and family of Samantha Murphy have gathered to mark the one year anniversary of her disappearance. </p> <p>The 51-year old mother from Ballarat was last seen on February 4th 2024 when she left her home at 7am to go for a run. </p> <p>When she failed to return home for an event, an investigation into her disappearance was launched.</p> <p>One month after her disappearance, a now 23-year-old man was arrested and charged with one count of murder.</p> <p>Ballarat man Patrick Orren Stephenson has pleaded not guilty to murder over the disappearance of Murphy, electing to fast-track his trial.</p> <p>"I think people need answers," Councillor Samantha McIntosh told <em>9News</em>. "The family need answers. Sam's friends need answers."</p> <p>On Monday, detectives reaffirmed their vow to find Murphy's body following a year of exhaustive searches.</p> <p>Police said the investigation into the location of Murphy's body is still ongoing, with Detective Inspector Dave Dunstan saying the search this year will now widen to the Ballarat area, including new areas tipped off from sources.</p> <p>"Since Samantha's disappearance, police have worked tirelessly to locate her. While nothing can erase their grief and loss, being able to return Samantha to her family has always been incredibly important to us," Detective Dunstan said.</p> <p>"We also know that Samantha's death has had an enormous impact on the Ballarat community, as well as the wider Victorian community."</p> <p>"I want to reaffirm to the community that the Missing Persons Squad remains committed to doing everything we can to locate Samantha – while a year has passed, we still believe we can locate her."</p> <p>"We also ask people who may be using these areas, particularly in the Enfield State Forest, to be aware of their surroundings and if they believe they may have come across Samantha's remains to contact police immediately," he added.</p> <p>"There is nothing we want more than to return Samantha to her family and we remain committed to doing this."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Nine</em></p>

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Kyle and Jackie O's $200 million contract death clause revealed

<p>Kyle Sandilands and Jackie ‘O’ Henderson have revealed the grim death clause in their individual contracts.</p> <p>In November 2023, the longtime KIISFM hosts signed a monster $200 million deal with Australian Radio Network (ARN)  that will see them remain on airwaves until 2034, each pocketing a minimum of $10 million per year.</p> <p>However, added to the whopping sum come a series of unique clauses.</p> <p>Speaking candidly on Thursday morning's show, Kyle and Jackie O opened up about what would happen to the show if one of them were to die, and they each had different stipulations.</p> <p>“They [lawyers] did ring me when they were doing this new deal and said ‘Jackie wants this [death] clause’,” Sandilands said. “I said, ‘I’ve had this for years.’”</p> <p>As part of Henderson’s contract, the host specified she’d want the option to leave the show if Sandilands passed away.</p> <p>“I don’t know if I would want to do it with someone else,” Henderson told her co-host.</p> <p>“Aw, bless you,” Sandilands said, before savagely responding, "We drop your name. I get your income.”</p> <p>“I’d just soldier on without you. I wouldn’t like it, [but] I wouldn’t want to let that great bit of content die on the vine. I’d rather be on-air crying.”</p> <p>Elsewhere, Sandilands said it was stated in his contract he would only fly via private jet or first class if he was required to work overseas, while admitting that many of their contract clauses are "beyond belief”.</p> <p><em>Image credits: KIISFM</em></p>

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Calls for life ban on Tony Jones over Djokovic coverage

<p>The Serbian Davis Cup captain has called for the Tony Jones to be banned for life from tennis commentary over his “disrespectful and disappointing” comments about Djokovic during the Australian Open. </p> <p>Viktor Troicki slammed the veteran Channel Nine reporter after Djokovic was forced to withdraw from Serbia’s tie against Denmark due to the injury he suffered in Melbourne, ending his campaign for an 11th title in the semi-final.</p> <p>Troicki ranted that Australia has been treating Djokovic “worse and worse” after he was deported before the 2022 Open when his visa was cancelled on “health and safety” grounds. </p> <p>“There was the situation around Channel 9, which I noticed as well. If I had hired that journalist (Tony Jones), I would have fired him straight away. He would never work in sports again,” Troicki said ahead of the tie.</p> <p>“I think they are treating Novak worse and worse. It is surprising and disappointing to see the greatest player of all time experiencing so many bad things happening in Australia again. After Covid and what they did to him a few years ago, it has never been the same."</p> <p>“To mock an athlete during the tournament is unacceptable. I don’t think an apology is enough. I think he should be banned for life from covering tennis.”</p> <p>Following Djokovic's semi-final clash with Alexander Zverev, the Serbian tennis champ was booed by the audience, which Troicki believes is a sign of his deteriorating relationship will Aussie tennis fans.</p> <p>“They were booing him after the injury, which I don’t think happens in any sport. Not even in football, where the crowd is normally more wild. When someone gets injured in football, even an opponent, they will applaud you and wish you to get better,” he said. </p> <p>“That’s why it was surprising to see, especially in a place where he has played his best tennis and has won 10 titles, that he got booed after the injury. It was really disrespectful and disappointing.”</p> <p>“They are booing him in the crowd, which was not happening before in Australia. I think they were admiring his results more and greeting the champion with more respect in the past.”</p> <p>Serbia’s ambassador to Australia, Rade Stefanovic, also expressed his “profound concern” to Nine, writing in a statement, “The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia considers that Mr Jones’ comments are totally inappropriate and disrespectful”.</p> <p>He went on to say: “There has never been in the history [sic] the case that [an] Australian athlete has been insulted and disrespected in such a way by the media or any public official in Serbia.”</p> <p>The Serbian Council of Australia has also lodged an official complaint with the Human Rights Commission, demanding for Jones be stood down from all sports broadcasting duties at Channel Nine.</p> <div> </div> <p><em>Image credits: Nine / Instagram  </em></p>

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Aussie drivers warned over little-known "speed fine trap"

<p>Road authorities are warning drivers of a "speed fine trap" in the lead-up to school's return. </p> <p>In NSW, four back-to-back pupil free days will take place from February 1 until February 5, as teachers and staff prep for the new school year, with students set to return on the 6th. </p> <p>While there will be no kids on campus, school zones will be in operation on those days, with speed limits being enforced. </p> <p>"Pupil-free days continue to be a major speed trap for motorists," NRMA spokesperson Peter Khoury said. </p> <p>Last year, 2,184 fines for speeding were issued to drivers in just two days prior to term one. </p> <p>An average of 1,092 fines were issued between January 30 and 31 in 2024, which was almost double the daily average for February (598). </p> <p>Khoury added that motorists are at risk of being fined at almost twice the rate during pupil-free days, as most drivers are "oblivious" to the rule. </p> <p>"It is extremely frustrating when drivers who normally abide by the 40 km/h speed limit in school zones are fined on pupil-free days because they were oblivious to the fact that the speed limits applied despite their children not being at school," he said. </p> <p>"The overwhelming majority of drivers go to great lengths to do the right thing around school zones and school zone speed limits have overwhelming public support — we just don’t want people inadvertently breaking the law and getting fined."</p> <p>He added: "Please be extra alert tomorrow as you drive through school zones as speed limits will apply." </p> <p>The number of pupil free days will increase from six days in 2024 to eight days in 2025. This includes the four pupil-free days on January 31 and February 3, 4 and 5.</p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

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"Spineless and cowardly": Grace Tame hits back at Albo

<p>Grace Tame has penned a blistering attack on Anthony Albanese and his Labor government after the PM called out her "disrespectful" outfit choice. </p> <p>T<span style="caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji'; font-size: 16px;">he former Australian of the Year winner was greeted by Albanese and his fiancee, Jodie Haydon, at The Lodge in Canberra on Saturday to honour the 2025 Australian of the Year finalists, as she donned a t-shirt that said "F*** Murdoch". </span></p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">Speaking with <em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><a style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #258440; text-decoration: none; transition: all 0.2s ease-in-out 0s;" href="https://www.abc.net.au/listen/live/perth" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link-type="article-inline">ABC Radio Perth</a></em> on Monday, Albanese was asked about his meeting with Tame and his views on her T-shirt, as he said her stunt was <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/disrespectful-pm-hits-out-at-grace-tame-s-australia-day-stunt" target="_blank" rel="noopener">disrespectful</a> towards the award finalists.</p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; caret-color: #212529; color: #212529; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol', 'Noto Color Emoji';">“I held a function. It is something that, in my view, took away from the people who were there, and my focus was simply on that,” he said.</p> <p>But now, Tame has hit back at the Prime Minister, accusing Mr Albanese of presiding over a "spineless" and "cowardly" government, revealing the real response to her t-shirt inside The Lodge.</p> <p>In a damning 1,500-word essay published by news website <em><a href="https://www.crikey.com.au/2025/01/29/grace-tame-t-shirt-rupert-murdoch-anthony-albanese/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Crikey</a></em>, Tame took issue with Mr Albanese's suggestion that her outfit took attention away from other award nominees.</p> <p>"Surely these were not the same people who asked to take selfies with me wearing the t-shirt in the courtyard, who commended me for taking a stand and staying true to myself?", she wrote. </p> <p>"These people — including medical doctors, academics, scientists, musicians, writers, entrepreneurs, athletes, advocates and even a former soldier who proudly showed me their own anti-Murdoch merchandise?" </p> <p>"As I was leaving The Lodge, one of the prime minister’s staff remarked, 'There are many of us here who wish we could wear that shirt.' Afterwards, journalists wanted to pose beside me."</p> <p>Tame also called out the Prime Minster and his government for having "weak knees" over its stance on Israel during the country's devastating occupation of Gaza. </p> <p>"We’ve all watched in disgust over the past 16 months as the once-impassioned politician, who used to make speeches in Parliament supporting Palestinian liberation, has overseen the contortion of his government’s PR apparatus in defence of Israel’s genocidal operation," she wrote. </p> <p>She went on to describe Australia as a "spineless colony of the United States" and accused both Labor and the Coalition of being in hock to the Murdoch-owned Press.</p> <p>"When presented with a petition that received more than half a million signatures demanding a royal commission into the Murdoch regime, Anthony Albanese did nothing," Ms Tame wrote. </p> <p>She added, "Anthony’s predictable response to my two-word statement has reinforced just how poisonous Murdoch’s grip on the Western world still is."</p> <p>"It’s also revealed that while Australia casts itself as a laidback larrikin, game for a laugh, it is in fact a cowardly cop bought by the illusion of civility politics."</p> <p>Despite her decimation of the PM and his government, Tame conceded that Opposition Leader Peter Dutton would be a "more dangerous prime minister than Anthony Albanese".</p> <p>Tame concluded her essay by writing that "Big conversations start with simple, effective messages," and despite the PM's disapproval of her statement, she does not regret her actions. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

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Voluntary assisted dying is legal in Australia – but many of us don’t know

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ben-white-15387">Ben White</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/queensland-university-of-technology-847">Queensland University of Technology</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lindy-willmott-15386">Lindy Willmott</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/queensland-university-of-technology-847">Queensland University of Technology</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rachel-feeney-140352">Rachel Feeney</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/queensland-university-of-technology-847">Queensland University of Technology</a></em></p> <p>Voluntary assisted dying is lawful in <a href="https://www.unswlawjournal.unsw.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Issue-464-10-Waller-et-al.pdf">all Australian states</a>. This allows terminally ill adults who are suffering and have decision-making capacity to choose to receive help to die.</p> <p>Victoria’s law was the first, coming into effect <a href="https://theconversation.com/voluntary-assisted-dying-will-soon-be-legal-in-victoria-and-this-is-what-you-need-to-know-111836">in 2019</a>. New South Wales was the last state, with its <a href="https://theconversation.com/voluntary-assisted-dying-is-now-available-in-all-australian-states-how-do-the-nsw-laws-compare-217261">voluntary assisted dying law</a> beginning in late 2023.</p> <p>Voluntary assisted dying will be <a href="https://www.act.gov.au/health/topics/end-of-life-and-palliative-care/voluntary-assisted-dying-in-the-act">allowed in the Australian Capital Territory</a> in November, and a <a href="https://cmc.nt.gov.au/project-management-office/voluntary-assisted-dying">Northern Territory report</a> has recommended it pass a voluntary assisted dying law too.</p> <p>While the vast majority of Australians now live in jurisdictions where voluntary assisted dying is permitted, accessing voluntary assisted dying depends on knowing it’s a legal option. But our <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07481187.2025.2452490">new research</a> suggests many Australians don’t know this.</p> <h2>A study in Queensland</h2> <p>Voluntary assisted dying became legal <a href="https://www.health.qld.gov.au/clinical-practice/guidelines-procedures/voluntary-assisted-dying/explained/overview">in Queensland</a> on January 1, 2023. We conducted <a href="https://eprints.qut.edu.au/255019/">an online survey</a> of 1,000 Queensland adults in mid-2024 to find out if the community knew about this new end-of-life choice.</p> <p>We set quotas for age, gender and geographical location to ensure the people we surveyed represented the overall Queensland population.</p> <p>First, we asked whether people thought voluntary assisted dying was legal in Queensland. Only <a href="https://research.qut.edu.au/voluntary-assisted-dying-regulation/wp-content/uploads/sites/292/2025/01/Do-people-know-VAD-is-legal-Research-briefing.pdf">one-third (33%) correctly identified</a> it was. Of the 67% who didn’t, 41% thought voluntary assisted dying was illegal and 26% said they didn’t know.</p> <p>People who did know voluntary assisted dying was legal had generally found out in one of three ways:</p> <ul> <li> <p>from the media</p> </li> <li> <p>from professional experience (for example, working in health care)</p> </li> <li> <p>from personal experience (for example, knowing someone who had asked about, requested or accessed voluntary assisted dying).</p> </li> </ul> <p>We then told our survey participants voluntary assisted dying was legal in Queensland and asked if they would know how to go about accessing it if they wished to. Only one-quarter (26%) answered yes.</p> <p>The survey also asked people where they might look for information about voluntary assisted dying. Most people said they would seek this information online, but asking health practitioners, especially doctors, was also important.</p> <h2>Legal and cultural barriers</h2> <p>Perhaps it’s not surprising so few members of the surveyed public know voluntary assisted dying is a legal choice. It’s still a relatively new law. But there are <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/hex.13867">specific barriers</a> in Australia that can prevent people finding out about it.</p> <p>One major barrier is health practitioners are often <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.5694/mja2.52183">not able to freely discuss</a> voluntary assisted dying with their patients. The laws in all states control how conversations about voluntary assisted dying can occur.</p> <p>For example, in Queensland, only doctors and nurse practitioners <a href="https://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/qld/consol_act/vada2021302/s7.html">can raise voluntary assisted dying</a> and only if they also discuss available treatment and palliative care options and their likely outcomes.</p> <p>But the most problematic are <a href="https://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/consol_act/vada2017302/s8.html">Victorian</a> and <a href="https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/legis/sa/consol_act/vada2021302/s12.html">South Australian</a> laws which prohibit health practitioners from raising the topic with patients altogether. Many people rely on their doctor to tell them about treatment options, so it’s a problem if the onus is on the patient to bring it up first.</p> <p><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.5694/mja2.52183">Conscientious objection</a> is another significant barrier. Some doctors are opposed to voluntary assisted dying and even if they practise in a state where they can legally raise it, may choose not to tell their patients about it. This is another reason patients may not know voluntary assisted dying could be a choice for them.</p> <p>It’s important to note our study was only done in Queensland, so we can’t be confident the findings represent the wider Australian population. But given these barriers to knowing about voluntary assisted dying, it’s reasonable to anticipate similar trends in other states.</p> <h2>A national challenge</h2> <p>Raising community awareness of voluntary assisted dying is a challenge around the country. Voluntary assisted dying oversight boards from five states (<a href="https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/1362124/vad-annual-report-2023-24.pdf">Queensland</a>, <a href="https://www.health.tas.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-09/voluntary_assisted_dying_annual_report_2023-24.pdf">Tasmania</a>, <a href="https://www.health.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-09/voluntary-assisted-dying-review-board_annual-report-2023-24.pdf">Victoria</a>, <a href="https://www.health.wa.gov.au/%7E/media/Corp/Documents/Health-for/Voluntary-assisted-dying/VAD-Board-Annual-Report-2023-24.pdf">Western Australia</a> and <a href="https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/73a3fd16-46c4-4ad4-bd82-7a03a924c1bc/VAD+Review+Board+Annual+Report+2023-2024+-+FINAL.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&amp;CACHEID=ROOTWORKSPACE-73a3fd16-46c4-4ad4-bd82-7a03a924c1bc-pdMyZ1p">South Australia</a>) have all discussed this issue in their most recent annual reports.</p> <p>In addition, Western Australia recently reviewed its voluntary assisted dying laws, identifying lack of community knowledge as a problem. The <a href="https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/publications/tabledpapers.nsf/displaypaper/4113439a2331593cd11da0ae48258be300355868/%24file/voluntary+assisted+dying+act+2019+final+report.pdf">review called for a strategy</a> to fix this.</p> <p>We see this challenge as one of “voluntary assisted dying literacy”. Greater voluntary assisted dying literacy will enable members of the public to know the options available to them, and how to make the choices they want.</p> <h2>What can we do about this?</h2> <p>We need community awareness initiatives to increase knowledge that voluntary assisted dying is legal and ensure people know where to find information about this option. Information about voluntary assisted dying is already available from all <a href="https://www.health.qld.gov.au/clinical-practice/guidelines-procedures/voluntary-assisted-dying">state government health departments</a>, but more action is needed to ensure it reaches more people.</p> <p>Respondents in our survey suggested using social media campaigns, advertising, and sharing information through Centrelink, health clinics and other trusted community channels.</p> <p>We also propose targeted information for particular patient groups who may be eligible for voluntary assisted dying, such as people with cancer or neurodegenerative diseases. This means they will know voluntary assisted dying may be one of the treatment options available to them, and how to navigate the process should they wish to.</p> <p>These initiatives would need to be designed sensitively with a focus on providing information to avoid any perception that people could feel induced or directed to access voluntary assisted dying.</p> <p>Training for health practitioners is also important. This is particularly needed for GPs and specialists working in end-of-life care. Training will support health practitioners to facilitate informed discussions with patients and families.</p> <p>Strong community support was a <a href="https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/4af889/contentassets/1fa966ea0b6c4034a82bca04f57a19b9/lsic_58-05_text_web.pdf">key argument</a> in legalising voluntary assisted dying in Australia. The public wanted this as an end-of-life choice. But that choice is only a real one if people know it exists.</p> <p><em>Our online resource <a href="https://end-of-life.qut.edu.au/assisteddying">End of Life Law in Australia</a> has more information about voluntary assisted dying and contact points for accessing it in each state.</em><!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><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/248114/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ben-white-15387"><em>Ben White</em></a><em>, Professor of End-of-Life Law and Regulation, Australian Centre for Health Law Research, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/queensland-university-of-technology-847">Queensland University of Technology</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lindy-willmott-15386">Lindy Willmott</a>, Professor of Law, Australian Centre for Health Law Research, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/queensland-university-of-technology-847">Queensland University of Technology</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rachel-feeney-140352">Rachel Feeney</a>, Research Fellow, Australian Centre for Health Law Research, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/queensland-university-of-technology-847">Queensland University of Technology</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>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/voluntary-assisted-dying-is-legal-in-australia-but-many-of-us-dont-know-248114">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

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"Disrespectful": PM hits out at Grace Tame's Australia Day stunt

<p>Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has condemned Grace Tame for "taking focus away" from the 2025 Australian of the Year finalists with her choice of outfit. </p> <p>The former Australian of the Year winner was greeted by Albanese and his fiancee, Jodie Haydon, at The Lodge in Canberra on Saturday, as she donned a t-shirt that said "F*** Murdoch". </p> <p>Speaking with <em><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/listen/live/perth" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link-type="article-inline">ABC Radio Perth</a></em> on Monday, Albanese was asked about his meeting with Tame and his views on her T-shirt, as he said her stunt was disrespectful towards the award's finalists. </p> <p>“I held a function. It is something that, in my view, took away from the people who were there, and my focus was simply on that,” he said.</p> <p>Albanese believed Tame’s decision to wear the t-shirt had clearly been designed to get attention, as he said, “I don’t intend to add to that attention because I do think that it takes away from what the day should be about, which is the amazing people who were nominated as Australians of the Year.”</p> <p>When asked if he agreed with the message of what Tame was trying to portray, Albanese said that he “clearly disagreed” and he wants debate to be respectful, adding, “People are allowed to express themselves, but I thought it was disrespectful of the event and of the people who that event was primarily for.”</p> <p>Tame explained her decision to wear the shirt to the event to <em><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jan/25/grace-tame-wears-anti-murdoch-shirt-to-prime-minister-anthony-albanese-australian-of-the-year-morning-tea-ntwnfb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Guardian Australia</a></em>, saying, “[The T-shirt is] clearly not just about Murdoch, it’s the obscene greed, inhumanity and disconnection that he symbolises, which are destroying our planet.”</p> <p>“For far too long this world and its resources have been undemocratically controlled by a small number of morbidly wealthy oligarchs. If we want to dismantle this corrupt system, if we want legitimate climate action, equity, truth, justice, democracy, peace, land back, etc, then resisting forces like Murdoch is a good starting point.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram </em></p>

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