All posts by FreeNews

Radio giant claims unwanted piece of Aussie history

Investors in the radio giant which aired Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson's now-defunct show have delivered an overwhelming backlash against the network's executive pay packets, as share prices plummet over the ugly legal fight between the former hosts.

More than 90 per cent of ARN shareholders voted against the company's latest executive pay report at its annual general meeting (AGM) this morning.

That makes it the largest remuneration strike in recent Australian corporate history – bigger than the 83 per cent rejection Qantas received at the nadir of the airline's popularity in 2023, and the 88 per cent for NAB in 2018, in the wake of the banking royal commission.

LIVE UPDATES: Trump signals end to war may be close

Kyle Sandilands, Jackie 'O' Henderson

READ MORE: Tabcorp under investigation after money laundering, terrorism financing concerns

ARN's remuneration report included a $1.1 million pay packet for relatively new chief executive Michael Stephenson.

The strike means it will need to deliver an amended remuneration report taking investor concerns into account.

A second strike would occur if 25 per cent or more vote against the next executive pay report, which would force a vote on whether to spill the ARN board.

During the meeting, ARN chair Hamish McLennan addressed the ongoing $170 million combined lawsuits filed by Henderson and Sandilands and assured investors that ARN is "committed to defending these claims and actively pursuing the cross-claims".

"As these matters are now before the courts, we do not intend to comment further," he said.

McLennan was re-elected as chair with an 80 per cent majority vote, despite earlier investor calls to resign over ARN's handling of the Sandilands and Henderson fallout.

He told the board he would be investing $500,000 into the company as a show of confidence.

Hamish McLennan Chairman of the Board and Non-executive Director, ARN

READ MORE: Police ready to stop 'breaches' when 'ISIS bride' arrives in Sydney

Stephenson spoke before the AGM and addressed the network's decline in revenue and noted a $26 million dip in advertising dollars last year was mostly due to client concerns over "brand safety".

He said $22 million in advertising revenue was directly related to "clients who had chosen not to advertise with ARN because of issues relating to brand safety".

"Over time, I expect that a significant percentage of the $26 million of revenue that was lost through the year because of brand safety concerns to return," Stephenson said.

Kyle Sandilands arrives at court in Sydney over his ARN lawsuit on April 24, Friday 2026.

ARN is currently locked in a combined $170 million in courtroom showdowns its two former leading stars, Sandilands and Henderson.

Both Sandilands and Henderson are suing ARN following an on-air spat that blew up their top-rated show in early March.

The pair are both seeking the full payout of the remainder of their 10-year, $100 million contracts signed at the end of 2023.

The contracts were due to expire in 2034.

NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.

Cricket superstar David Warner ‘made a mistake’ when drink driving

One of the country's greatest batsmen was both foolish and reckless when he drove after sharing a few glasses of wine with friends on Easter Sunday, his lawyer says.

David Warner returned a positive result for alcohol after he stopped short of a roadside test in Sydney's east on April 5, police said.

When he was taken to Maroubra Police Station for a secondary test, the 39-year-old allegedly blew 0.104 – more than double the legal blood alcohol limit.

LIVE UPDATES: Agree, or the bombing starts: Trump's ultimatum

David Warner of Australia.

The former Australian Test opener and current Sydney Thunder Big Bash captain was charged with mid-range drink driving.

He was not required to appear in Waverley Local Court on Thursday when his matter was first mentioned and quickly adjourned.

Warner has not yet entered a plea but his lawyer Bobby Hill foreshadowed a guilty plea at a later date when speaking outside court.

READ MORE: ISIS-linked women and their children to land in Australia today

"He knows what he did was wrong," he said.

"He accepts that was a reckless decision, a foolish decision to get in his car instead of taking an Uber."

The Fox Cricket commentator had enjoyed three glasses of wine at a friend's apartment before making that decision, Hill said.

"It's not a crime to have a glass of wine on the day of the lord's resurrection. In fact, some would consider that completely appropriate," he told reporters.

"His crime is, as I said, choosing a foolish plan A instead of a plan B."

READ MORE: Heatwaves to kill 6000 Aussies every year by 2100

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 03: David Warner of the Thunder celebrates scoring a century during the BBL match between Sydney Thunder and Hobart Hurricanes at ENGIE Stadium, on January 03, 2026, in Sydney, Australia (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)

Hill said Warner's last drink had been 11 minutes before he was pulled over by police, who are accused of taking 52 minutes to administer the second breathalyser.

The cricket star is remorseful, which is why he will ask for leniency but expect to be punished as any other NSW citizen would be, Hill explained.

"This case before the court is a reminder to everyone in the public about the dangers of self-assessments," he said.

"I know David is looking forward to putting this matter behind him and focusing his efforts on recontributing to those people in the community".

The charge has cast doubt on his Thunder captaincy.

"The allegations are of course concerning and we take them very seriously", Cricket NSW chief executive Lee Germon said after his arrest.

"At Cricket NSW, we are strong advocates for safe driving, not drink-driving."

David Warner celebrates his maiden Test century in 2011.

Warner was arrested while he was on an Easter trip home from the subcontinent, where he captained the Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League.

He returned to Pakistan after being charged to resume the T20 tournament, where he averaged an impressive 51.2 with the bat.

Warner was a swashbuckling opening batsman and aggressive run-scorer for the national side until his retirement from Test cricket in 2024.

He scored 8786 runs at an average of more than 44 across his 112 Tests, with a career high score of 335 not out against Pakistan.

But Warner created headlines for the wrong reasons when he was one of three Australian players suspended after a 2018 ball-tampering scandal in South Africa that shook the cricketing world.

A Cricket Australia investigation found Warner, who was vice-captain at the time, masterminded a plan to alter the condition of the match ball with sandpaper and enlisted rookie batsman Cameron Bancroft to carry it out.

Warner was banned from international and domestic cricket for 12 months and made permanently ineligible for team leadership positions.

Warner's matter will return to court on June 24.

NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.



Sydney start-up hub collapses into administration

The organisation behind of Australia's largest and longest-standing early stage start-up communities has collapsed into voluntary administration.

KPMG Australia's Gayle Dickerson and Phil Quinlan will oversee a strategic restructing of not-for-profit Fishburners, which has fostered more than 35,000 entrepreneurs since 2011, including furniture company Koala and pet-sitting service Mad Paws.

The Sydney-based hub supports tech founders by providing co-working spaces, programs and networking opportunities to help start-ups grow from idea to revenue.

READ MORE: Gold Coast toddler's condition improves after inhaling cake decorating dust

The Sydney-based hub supports tech founders by providing co-working spaces, programs and networking opportunities.

The voluntary administrators have assumed day-to-day control of the operations of the organisation.

The company will continue to trade as usual as the administrators assess the business, in conjuction with an accelerated sale and recapitalisation process.

Dickerson said Fishburners had been a pillar of the Australian start-up ecosystem.

"We will seek expressions of interest from parties within the innovation and technology sectors and work with all stakeholders, including the board, employees and founders, to maximise the outcome," Dickerson said.

The Fishburners board said in a statement members have determined a formal restructuring would be the most effective way to achieve a sustainable future.

"The board have been actively engaging in consolidation and investment discussions, which the Administrator will now pursue," the board said.

A first creditors meeting for Fishburners will be held on May 18.

NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.

Tabcorp under investigation after money laundering, terrorism financing concerns

Australia's financial watchdog has launched a money laundering investigation against the country's biggest gambling company.

In a statement to the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), Tabcorp confirmed they were subject to a compliance assessment from AUSTRAC over several "serious concerns".

These include doubts over its ability to prevent illegal activity on the platform, including money laundering and financing of terrorism.

LIVE UPDATES: 'Caught off guard': Saudi backlash forced Trump to back down

Tabcorp said the initial investigation would focus on the company's compliance with rules and regulations, and insisted the investigation was at an early stage.

"AUSTRAC has also advised that all potential outcomes remain open, including the possibility that no further enforcement action will be taken," the statement said.

However, despite no assertion of guilt, the company's share price took a battering, dropping nearly 23 per cent when the markets opened at 10am.

POLITICS: Liberal Senator involved in scuffle with One Nation volunteer at poll booth

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 28: AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan speaks to the media during a press conference at Marvel Stadium on February 28, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

"Tabcorp takes its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing obligations very seriously," Chairman Brett Chenoweth said, adding the company was fully cooperating with the investigation.

Managing Director and CEO Gillon McLachlan, formerly head of the AFL, said his goal was to lead a company that falls within the law.

"I am committed to leading a compliant and safe company that understands its risk obligations," he said.

"Uplifting our risk capability has been an ongoing part of the Company's transformation and we will work constructively with AUSTRAC through this process."

NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.

Queensland impacted by global security breach

A cybersecurity breach affecting 200 million people and more than 9000 institutions worldwide has hit students and teachers across Queensland's education sector.

Queensland Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek announced the cyber breach involved Instructure, a third-party provider that has delivered the state's Department of Education's online learning platform Qlearn since 2020.

"This incident has impacted thousands of educational institutions, including state schools and universities within Queensland, across Australia and overseas, and early advice is this will impact more than 200 million people and more than 9000 institutions worldwide," he said.

READ MORE: Trump claims he's on the brink of ending Iran war

Data Breach Cyber Security Ransomware Email Phishing Encrypted Technology, Digital Information Protected Secured

Early indications suggest that students and staff working or studying at Queensland schools since 2020 have been affected by the breach.

"Advice at this stage is names, email addresses and school locations have been compromised in the international data breach," Langbroek said.

"No evidence of passwords, dates of birth or financial information being accessed in the data breach.

"School principals are in the process of contacting families and teachers to advise them of the breach."

More to come.

NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.

Liberal Senator involved in scuffle with One Nation volunteer at poll booth

Liberal Senator and Shadow Defence Minister James Paterson has been involved in a scuffle with a One Nation volunteer at a poll booth in the electorate of Farrer.

In a video captured by Paterson on his phone, as well as a separate angle caught by a bystander, the volunteer is seen grabbing Paterson's phone after the pair were involved in a verbal debate about One Nation's candidate David Farley outside a polling booth in Albury.

It came as Paterson claimed Farley, who is running for One Nation, previously attempted to stand for the Labor Party in the seat.

LIVE UPDATES: 'Epic Fury an epic fail': Trump cops humiliating broadside

James Paterson, in the navy jacket, and the One Nation volunteer, clash at the polling booth in Albury.The One Nation volunteer attempted to grab James Paterson's phone after realising their conversation was being filmed.

Paterson said voters had a right to know Farley's previous politicalhistory, which the volunteer claimed was defamatory.

"Liberal-National mob, you wouldn't spend the money if you didn't think it was going to be defamatory to change the vote," the volunteer said, calling Paterson a "lying prick."

The volunteer then realised Paterson was filming the exchange, and reacted angrily by attempting to snatch his phone.

"Don't video me without my bloody knowledge," he said, to which Paterson claimed the volunteer had just assaulted him.

"That's assault, you've just committed an assault… you just grabbed my phone off me, that's an assault."

The volunteer was eventually separated from Paterson by other people witnessing the exchange, including other One Nation volunteers.

In a statement on Facebook, which included two videos of the altercation, Farley said the incident was unacceptable.

NATIONAL: Kids deserve 'second chance' senator says as ISIS-linked cohort returns

David Farley, One Nation candidate for Farrer, condemned the incident, and said he had reached out to James Paterson.

"I condemn in the strongest terms aggression of any form on the campaign trail, and I will not hesitate to act when made aware of bad behaviour," he said.

"I want to reaffirm my commitment to respectful behaviour and inclusive participation in our democratic process," he added, saying he had also spoken to Paterson to ensure he is okay.

In a statement to Nine.com.au, Paterson said he accepted debate in politics as healthy, but said a line had been crossed.

"Robust debate on polling booths is a healthy thing but it should never get physical," he said.

"Anyone standing for public office has to accept legitimate scrutiny about their record, including One Nation.

"Voters have a right to know David Farley was a Labor member, aspiring candidate and donor before they make their decision about who represents them in Farrer."

The by-election to replace previous Liberal leader Sussan Ley will take place on Saturday, with the Liberal Party, Nationals and One Nation all running candidates, as well as an independent campaign from Michelle Milthorpe.

NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.

New Zealand: Frigate Project Progress Key For Maritime Security

The Government is progressing work to replace the Royal New Zealand Navy’s aging frigates as part of broader efforts to strengthen New Zealand’s Defence capability, Defence Minister Chris Penk has announced. “As a remote island nation, maritime security underpins New Zealand’s economic prosperity. Our safety, international connectivity and the vast majority of our trade is dependent on the sea,” Mr […]

New Zealand: Farmers’ Nature Work Recognised And Export Claims Boosted By Silver Fern Farm’s Initiative

Associate Minister Hon Andrew Hoggard visited Silver Fern Farms in Dunedin to hear how the company is responding to growing export market demand for credible nature and biodiversity outcomes. “For many buyers, demonstrating real nature outcomes is becoming part of the licence to trade – affecting both access and price,” Mr Hoggard says. “We need […]

Jeffrey Epstein suicide note released by New York court

An apparent suicide note purportedly written by Jeffrey Epstein has been released by a New York court.

The note was found by a cellmate of Epstein and turned in to court, where it has remained secret for years.

But it was made public by a judge after the New York Times petitioned for its release.

READ MORE: Doctor who designed cognitive test addresses Trump's boasts

Jeffrey Epstein's purported suicide note.

"They investigated me for months — FOUND NOTHING!!!" the note reads.

"It is a treat to be able to choose one's time to say goodbye.

"Watcha want me to do — Bust out cryin!!

"NO FUN. NOT WORTH IT."

The note has not been authenticated as being penned by Epstein.

Fellow inmate at Metropolitan Correctional Centre Nicholas Tartaglione said he found the note within the pages of a graphic novel. 

It was penned on a piece of yellow paper ripped from a legal pad.

Tartaglione said he found the note after Epstein had been found dead in another cell

Today's court ruling states the note predates Epstein's death by "over a week".

READ MORE: US Defence Secretary 'won't confirm or deny' use of 'kamikaze dolphins'

Jeffrey Epstein is a long-time friend of President Donald Trump.

In deciding to release the note, the judge found "the privacy interests of a third party who is deceased, like Jeffrey Epstein, are vastly reduced".

Weeks before his death, Epstein had denied a previous suicide attempt and told staff at the jail that marks on his neck were from Tartaglione attacking him.

Epstein was then moved into another cell by himself, where he was found dead.

Epstein's suicide has been the subject of much conjecture and suspicion.

Tartaglione, a former police officer, is serving four life sentences after being convicted of killing four people.

He has repeatedly denied causing any harm to Epstein. 

He gave the note to his lawyer to submit to court, out of fear he would be accused of harming Epstein again.

He has been cleared of any involvement in Epstein's death.

The note was released after the judge got the blessing of Tartaglione's lawyers and the prosecutors who tried his case.

It was not included in the as-yet-released Epstein files and has not been mentioned in formal investigations of his death.

Epstein had been indicted on charges of sex trafficking minors at the time of his death.

READ MORE: Trump pushes to take $115m rape case payout to the Supreme Court

Jeffrey Epstein was a notorious child sex trafficker and friend to many powerful people.

If you or someone you know is in need of support contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue. In the event of an emergency dial Triple Zero (000).

NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.