OPINION: The imminent resignation of National Party president Peter Goodfellow marks a significant shift in the party leadership, after years of triumph and of great turmoil.As National’s longest-serving president, it is well…
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Queensland scraps last of all COVID-19 restrictions
The Queensland government has announced the last of the state's remaining COVID-19 restrictions will be scrapped following advice from the state's chief health officer.
From 1am on June 30, visitors to residential aged care centres, disability accommodation and corrective facilities will no longer need to be vaccinated.
The COVID-19 vaccine mandate will also be revoked for staff working in schools, early childcare, outside school care, kindergartens and day care.
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The controversial mandate has also been revoked for those working in police watch houses, youth detention centres and airports, previously deemed high risk.
"Decisions about mandatory vaccinations will now be made by employers," premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.
"Restrictions that have protected us have eased in sensible stages and today I announce with the advice of the chief health officer, we are removing some of the last restrictions."
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The premier said vaccination was still mandatory for health workers including staff in hospitals, aged care and disability care.
Those travelling from other countries will no longer need to be tested for COVID-19 on arrival in Queensland.
The premier urged Queenslanders who have not yet had a COVID-19 booster shot to come forward and to take advantage of the government's free flu shot initiative, available until June 30.
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The 3 year battle: Lawyers fight for extra 15 per cent after fees were mistyped
A woman who “promptly” paid all of her legal fees after a settlement with her ex is now being pursued for an extra $7800 by lawyers after a mistake was made when they billed her.The woman was sent a bill for $52,000 but an error…
Man seriously injured after climbing up building in Adelaide CBD
Police say a 22-year-old man is lucky to be alive after he fell more than two stories from a building in Adelaide CBD while performing a stunt on a night out.
The man attempted to climb a drain pipe on the side of a city building on Clarence Place near Rundle Mall about 2am.
He got 12 metres up before the pipe snapped, sending him plummeting more than two storeys below onto the footpath.
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Paramedics, police and firefighters rushed to the scene while his friends watched in shock.
The young man from Adelaide's inner suburbs remains in Royal Adelaide Hospital with serious injuries.
Sydney man arrested for allegedly aiming laser beam at police aircraft
A Sydney man has been arrested after allegedly aiming a laser pointer at a police plane last night.
The 39-year-old is accused of shining a green laser pointer at the PolAir 7 fixed wing aircraft as it flew over the suburb of Shalvey in the city's west.
Police said the laser beam interfered with the crew, especially the police, jeopardising their safety.
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After 8pm officers from the Public Order and Riot Squad spotted the man in his driveway and seized the laser pointer from him.
He was taken to Mount Druitt Police Station and charged with act to threaten safety of aircraft/persons on board and possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit.
The man was granted conditional bail and will appear at Mount Druitt Local Court on July 6.
Laser pointers with a power level greater than one milliwatt are classified as a prohibited weapon and require a permit through the Firearms Registry, if needed for work or astronomy.
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NSW Police warned of the danger of laser pointers last year.
"Remember, we have a birds-eye-view from the air and can easily identify where a laser beam is coming from," Aviation Commander Detective Superintendent Brad Monk said.
"At no distance and in no circumstance is it safe to point a laser at aircraft.
"Laser beams can impair the eyesight of those on board and endanger the lives of the crew and the public."
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Te Puna: Seven injured in four-vehicle crash on State Highway 2
Seven people have been injured in a four-vehicle crash on State Highway 2 at Te Puna, north of Tauranga.A police spokeswoman said the crash at the intersection of Te Puna Quarry Rd and the highway was reported at 2.55pm.The road…
Herald afternoon quiz: June 24
Test your brains with the Herald’s afternoon quiz. Be sure to check back on nzherald.co.nz for the morning quiz tomorrow. To challenge yourself with more quizzes, CLICK HERE.
Jukebox imported from Greece found to be hiding $20 million worth of cocaine
Three men have been arrested in Melbourne after about 45kg of cocaine – worth an estimated $20 million – was found hidden inside a jukebox imported from Greece.
The huge shipment of cocaine was discovered by Australian Border Force officers in Melbourne, before it was collected and taken to a home in Sunshine North, where police pounced on the men.
A 39-year-old Spotswood man, 26-year-old Reservoir man and a 66-year-old Greek foreign national were arrested during the raid on Tuesday.
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Police also searched two homes in Spotswood and Reservoir, and two commercial premises in Toorak and Kingsville, seizing two Mercedes-Benzes, a Harley Davidson motorbike, luxury watches, jewellery, clothing, various drugs and cash.
The 39-year-old Spotswood man and 26-year-old Reservoir man were then charged with importing a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs and attempted possession of a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs.
They were remanded into police custody when they faced Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.
The Greek national was released pending further enquiries.
Police had been investigating the men involved for four months, believe they had been involved in previous border-controlled drug importations.
AFP Detective Inspector Mark McKiernan said the men charged were believed to be "significant" drug syndicate members, with the drugs likely to have been handed onto criminals associated with serious organised crime.
"We are sending a strong and clear message today to organised crime. We will not stop. We are coming after you," he said.
Detective Inspector McKiernan said cocaine created a series of issues in the community.
"There is a perception by some in the community that cocaine is a safe drug," McKiernan said.
"Let me be clear – it is not – and just as importantly, the transnational serious organised criminals who target Australia are also undermining our national security, economy and social security system.
"We also know drug trafficking can lead to drug wars in our streets and in source countries, and often law-abiding citizens can be the collateral damage to that violence.
"Illicit drug trafficking can also bankroll other abhorrent crimes, such as human trafficking and sexual servitude."
Anyone with information about drug trafficking is urged to contact police.
'I could see bone': Shark victim's rescuer speaks after grisly attack
Part-time surf instructor Heath Braddock was training a group of youngsters in the ocean when he heard something that stopped him in his tracks.
A scream had pierced the air on an otherwise calm day – a swimmer had been attacked by a shark less than 100 metres from the Californian.
Without hesitating, the solar engineer rushed to shore to grab a spare soft board and headed back into the water to help the man.
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Braddock was one of three "good Samaritans" credited with saving Steve Bruemmer, a retired IT specialist, at Lovers Point Beach, in Monterey Bay yesterday morning.
Ocean Grove Police Department confirmed they responded to reports of a shark attack around 10.30am local time and found a male swimmer with "significant injuries".
Bruemmer was transported to Natividad Hospital by American Medical Response.
He reportedly sustained a broken leg in the attack as well as severe wounds to his stomach, shoulder and leg.
Braddock, who used to live in Australia, said the swimmer's wife sent him a text updating him on his condition.
"He is doing well as of this morning," he told 9news.com.au.
"I was told it took 13 units of blood to save him."
Braddock opened up about the rescue, saying he heard the attack before he saw it.
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"I didn't see the attack. It was one hit and only lasted 10-15 seconds," he said.
"The shark pulled him under and he came up screaming.
"He was in a big pool of blood about the size of a small car."
Two paddleboarders had come to the aide of the injured Bruemmer by the time Braddock reached him.
They were Aimee Johns and her husband, Paul Bandy, a married nurse and police officer who were on an anniversary trip from Sacramento.
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The couple helped Braddock slide Bruemmer onto the spare board.
It was then they saw the extent of his injuries.
"The bite mark went from his shoulder, I believe it was the left, all the way to the top of the opposite knee," Braddock said.
"It was a big bite… a shark expert on the shore thought it was likely from a 20-footer and probably a great white."
Bruemmer was conscious during the whole ordeal.
"The wounds were gaping, his whole quadricep had peeled off. I could see bone," Braddock said.
"(But) he stayed conscious the whole time and held on.
"We got him to the beach."
By the time the trio arrived on shore they could hear sirens, thanks to the fact Bandy had called authorities from the water.
"(We) handed him off to professional first aid givers pretty much immediately," Braddock said.
"The response was pretty fast."
The actions of the trio have been praised by local police.
"(They) took immediate action and personal risk to assist," they wrote in a statement.
The shark behind the attack has not been seen since, nor has a great white shark been confirmed responsible.
But great white shark populations are booming in the area.
This attack comes months after a bodyboarder was fatally mauled by a great white shark in Morro Bay on Christmas Eve.
Auckland stabbings: Murrays Bay stabbing victim speaks of frightening incident
A woman injured in yesterday’s mass stabbing has spoken of the terrifying moment she was confronted by a man with a knife.The woman was one of four people hurt in what police described as a “random” incident in Murrays Bay on Auckland’s…