Future Veza says the blaze spread from the couch to the whole house in seconds.
All posts by FreeNews
Abbey Caves tragedy: Coroner told of no safety plans or Whangārei Boys’ High School leadership oversight
Only two adults took 17 Whangārei Boys’ High students into Abbey Caves.
Voyager dumped as naming sponsor of New Zealand Media Awards after repost
The News Publishers’ Association acted after a repost by the firm’s CEO Seeby Woodhouse.
Three child protection workers stood down amid Kumanjayi Little Baby investigation
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this story contains the image of a person who is deceased.
Three Northern Territory child protection staff members have been stood down as the government investigates the circumstances before Kumanjayi Little Baby's alleged murder.
The NT's child protection minister, Robyn Cahill, said she asked the department for information relating to its interactions with the girl's family.
Cahill was reportedly offered a delayed briefing on Friday, where she learned that the NT child protection department had received six reports about Kumanjayi Little Baby's welfare in the weeks before she went missing.
LIVE UPDATES: Trump's 'Project Freedom' was halted due to 'warnings from Iran'
NATIONAL: Some 'ISIS brides' will be arrested upon arrival in Australia, AFP confirms
"They've been stood down while an investigation is underway into actions taken, or not taken, in relation to this case," Cahill told Australian Associated Press.
"I am calling for an independent investigation from someone who is removed from the existing situation so we can have total accuracy and be sure that we are getting the information that we need to get to understand how this failure could happen," she earlier told Sky News.
Nine.com.au has contacted the Northern Territory's child protection department for comment.
A full investigation into how the department handled Kumanjayi Little Baby's case will take place and the NT children's commissioner has been asked to run an independent investigation.
Nine.com.au does not suggest any wrongdoing by the child protection staff members, only that they have been stood down.
Kumanjayi Little Baby – the name used in line with cultural tradition after her death – vanished from a home in a town camp in Alice Springs on April 25.
Her disappearance triggered a massive land and air search across central Australia until her body was found on April 30.
Jefferson Lewis, 47, has been accused of murdering the five‑year‑old girl near Alice Springs.
He was expected to appear in Alice Springs Local Court yesterday via video link from custody in Darwin but his appearance was excused.
MONEY: Damning sign proves thousands of Aussies face a ticking mortgage timebomb
No application for bail was made, and the case was adjourned to July 30.
The alleged murder horrified the tight‑knit community, many of whom spent anxious days scouring creek beds and scrub for the missing girl before her body was found in bushland outside the town five days after she disappeared.
Lewis was arrested at another Alice Springs town camp after being beaten unconscious by locals.
Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy told ABC's 7.30 it was important to remember Kumanjayi was very loved by her family, who were in deep mourning and did not want her death to be turned into a political fight.
For 24/7 crisis support run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, contact 13YARN (13 92 76).
Man wearing swastika shirt outside royal commission hearing moved on by police
A man wearing a swastika t-shirt outside the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion has been moved on by police.
The 68-year-old was spotted at about 11am outside the royal commission hearing location on Clarence Street in Sydney before being issued a move-on direction after he was allegedly seen wearing a t-shirt displaying the offensive symbol.
He spoke to a media scrum outside the hearing before complying with the order.
LIVE UPDATES: 'You'll find out': Trump issues fresh warning to Iran
In a statement, the commission said it was "appalled" that the shirt was worn in the vicinity of the venue.
"The Royal Commission is aware that this morning an individual wearing an antisemitic shirt was moved on by NSW Police from out the front of the Royal Commission hearing location.
"We understand the matter is being dealt with by NSW Police.
"Safety of witnesses is paramount to the Royal Commission. We want to reassure witnesses and those wishing to engage with the Royal Commission that safety protocols are in place.
"The Royal Commission is determined to investigate antisemitism in Australia without fear or intimidation," the statement said.
The incident comes as the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion reaches its third day of hearings this week.
People with a lived experience of antisemitism were invited to take part in the public hearings.
Commissioner Virginia Bell delivered her interim report last Thursday and made 14 recommendations – all of which were accepted by the federal government – on how to respond to anti-Jewish hate and fracturing social cohesion.
The report confirmed that the massacre could not have been prevented and that no legal or regulatory shortcoming contributed to the attack.
The final report is due on December 14 this year.
READ MORE: US Defence Secretary 'won't confirm or deny' use of 'kamikaze dolphins'
NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.
- Download the 9NEWS App here via Apple and Google Play
- Make 9News your preferred source on Google by ticking this box here
- Sign up to our breaking newsletter here
Guyana: Police order Mohameds to surrender all personal weapons and ammunition
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, May 5, CMC – Guyana police Tuesday ordered Opposition Leader, Azruddin Mohamed and his billionaire businessman father, Nazar “Shell” Mohamed to surrender all their personal firearms and ammunition, almost two months after they were sanctioned by the United States authorities for alleged tax evasion on gold exports. The Mohameds said after the US […]
Trinidad: Central Bank to intervene following commercial bank increase in fees
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, May 5, CMC – The Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago (CBTT)Tuesday said it is engaging directly, Republic Bank Limited following the public outcry that followed its decision to increase its banking fees from May1, this year. “We understand why citizens are frustrated, and we do not take this sentiment lightly. […]
Israeli forces warn residents to evacuate now
Israel has declared it is "compelled to act forcefully" but does not want to harm civilians.
Aussie author has books permanently pulled from public schools
The books of children's author Craig Silvey have been permanently pulled from WA public schools after he pleaded guilty to child exploitation offences.
Silvey, 43, pleaded guilty to possessing and distributing child exploitation material at Fremantle Magistrates Court yesterday, and the Western Australian Department of Education has moved quickly to make a temporary ban on his books in the state's public schools permanent.
"There is absolutely no place in our school system for works authored by someone who has admitted to such serious crimes," Education Minister Sabine Winton said in a statement.
BREAKING NEWS: Some members of ISIS-linked cohort returning to Australia will be arrested
"Now that he has pleaded guilty, those texts will not return to the curriculum.
"Predatory behaviour against children is abhorrent and has no place in our community, let alone in materials studied by students in our schools."
Winton added the department was working with schools to help adjust curriculums and lesson plans, as well as making sure Year 12 students who had already studied them and were working towards using them in their final exams would not be penalised.
Detectives from Western Australian Police's Child Abuse Squad raided Silvey's Fremantle home, earlier this year, allegedly catching him communicating online with child exploitation offenders and seizing his electronic devices.
The father of three was later hit with extra charges, including allegations he produced child exploitation material between February and June 2022, and possessed further material on January 12 this year.
LIVE UPDATES: 'Let him do it': Pope v Trump turns ugly
The popular author is best known for his 2009 coming‑of‑age novel Jasper Jones, which is considered a modern Australian classic and has been adapted into a feature film and several stage productions.
He has also been widely recognised for other books, including Rhubarb, Honeybee, which won the Australian Indie Book Award in 2021, and the children's novel Runt, which was also made into a film.
Publishers Allen & Unwin and Fremantle Press, which released Rhubarb, stopped promoting his books after the original charges were laid and most of his titles were removed from reading lists across the country.
Silvey's bail was continued, and he is next due to appear in the District Court on July 3 for sentencing.
Support is available from the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.
NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.
-
Download the 9NEWS App here via Apple and Google Play
-
Make 9News your preferred source on Google by ticking this box here
-
Sign up to our breaking newsletter here
Damning sign proves thousands of Aussies face a ticking mortgage timebomb
Thousands of Australian mortgage holders are worried they will be unable to make their home loan repayments following consecutive interest rate hike blows.
More than 65,000 people have contacted the National Debt Helpline (NDH) since the start of the year, with mortgage stress remaining the top reason for calling.
Just under 14,000 people called the NDH in April 2026, a 21 per cent increase on the year prior.
EXCLUSIVE: Anna had no idea her identity had been stolen. Then the letters arrived
Are you struggling to pay your mortgage? Contact reporter April Glover at our breaking newsletter here