Category Archives: headline

headline

Dad and son accused of renting stolen luxury cars to crime figures

A father and son who allegedly rented out stolen luxury cars to people linked with notorious Sydney crime figures have been charged.

Simon Khalil, 53, and his 24-year-old son Brendon Khalil were among five men sprung by detectives from the NSW Criminal Groups Squad.

The duo is accused of being part of a network supplying stolen high-performance cars to underworld figures including the feuding Hamzy and Alameddine crime families.

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A father and son were among five charged today over an alleged stolen car rental service.

"They were effectively operating like a hire car company purely for profit," Detective Superintendent Grant Taylor said today.

At least nine stolen luxury cars have been seized, some modified at a Summer Hill workshop. Police allege they were used in the most violent of crimes.

"They were getting extraordinarily dark tinting on the cars and also the cloning of number plates that replicated legitimate number plates somewhere in Sydney," Mr Taylor said.

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The duo is accused of being part of a network supplying stolen high-performance cars to underworld figures.

Both father and son faced court today and were granted bail.

The defence argued both men merely helped tenants of the Summer Hill warehouse move vehicles to the location of where they were seized.

"The prosecution has to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt, let's see if they do that," defence lawyer Sophie Toomey said.

Three others were also charged, one of them allegedly in possession of a loaded pistol linked to the shooting of a Westmead home last year.

At least nine stolen luxury cars have been seized, some modified at a Summer Hill workshop.

headline

Publicans in regional Victoria say new capacity restrictions are unworkable

Publicans in regional Victoria say they are outraged at the restrictions their businesses will be subject to from midnight, with some having decided it's not worth opening their doors.

Regional Victoria, excluding Greater Shepparton, will come out of lockdown at 11.59pm today, but businesses will be forced to comply with strict capacity limits.

Food and drink venues will be allowed to open for seated service but most will only be able to service a maximum of 10 customers indoor and 20 customers outdoor.

READ MORE: The restriction changes coming to regional Victoria

Mark Marantelli, the director of Bendigo's Shamrock Hotel, will open the venue but has said the business will barely make a cent.

The pub can serve up to 600 customers at the best of times, but will be limited to just 10 inside and 20 outside.

"It certainly doesn't work economically for us," Mr Marantelli said.

"We can't possibly open for food and have three to four people in the kitchen or behind the counter and have 10 people inside.

"It's very frustrating for the staff."

Andrew Lethlean runs fours venues in Bendigo but will not be opening any soon after lockdown lifts tonight.

"I got excited early and sent a text out to my staff to let them know we're open only to tell them two minutes later we're not opening because numbers are so restrictive," he said.

In Ballarat, the Aunty Jacks Brewery Restaurant won't open either, with management saying they would have to spend too much on staff for what they could earn.

Owner Brian Taylor said the previous limit of one customer per 4sq metre, with a maximum capacity of 100 "had been the bare minimum to break even, or to have it viable to trade".

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However, Hotels Association Victoria President David Canny has said the limit will be enough for some regional venues to make a profit.

"This will suit some smaller pubs in the bush and some regional hotels that, it does allow them to open and welcome back their regulars," Mr Canny said.

Victoria Health Minister Martin Foley said the "cautious" restrictions were "hopefully a first step" to opening up further when the changes were announced.

headline

Morrison confirms he didn't want climate goals in UK trade agreement

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed the government did not want Paris climate goals referenced in the free trade agreement between Australia and the UK.

Leaked documents have revealed British ministers agreed to remove temperature goals from the free trade deal in order to get the Morrison government over the line after months of negotiations, the Sydney Morning Herald reported this morning.

"It was about trade," Mr Morrison said in response to questioning today.

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison

"It wasn't a climate agreement, it was a trade agreement.

"And I do trade agreements, and in trade agreements I deal with trade issues. In climate agreements I deal with climate issues."

He said the government remained committed to is targets under the Paris agreement and would "not only meet them, we'll beat them".

He stopped short of confirming Australia would commit to any agreement with the more ambitious goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels, as opposed to well below 2 degrees as set out in the Paris agreement.

READ MORE: Key takeaways from the UN report on the climate crisis

He said mining remained critical to Australia's future but that the industry was focused on developing new technology that would assist developing economies.

"We will keep mining the resources that we're able to sell on the world market," Mr Morrison said.

"Now, we obviously anticipate that over time world demand for these things may decline but I tell you the other thing we'll do and that is ensure we'll work particularly with developing countries to ensure that they are able to engage in a positive transition of their own energy economies. "

Australia is widely considered to be lagging behind on climate action and remains one of the world's largest carbon emitters per capita.

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NSW businesses back reopening plan

Businesses in New South Wales have welcomed the state government's roadmap out of COVID-19 lockdown, saying now is the time to learn to live with the virus.

As part of the roadmap, once NSW reaches a mark of 70 per cent fully vaccinated, residents who have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine will be able to attend gyms, go to pubs and restaurants and shop in non-critical retail stores.

Business NSW Chief Executive Daniel Hunter said business leaders have been asking for a concrete plan.

EXPLAINED: Exactly what you can and can't do in NSW once vaccinated

"This roadmap is what the business community has been crying out for and I thank the NSW Government for providing the path forward," Mr Hunter said.

"Businesses can start planning their re-opening right now, they can order stock, engage staff and re-engage with their loyal customers. It's been incredibly difficult for businesses during this Delta outbreak because the bills have kept coming in, without any revenue."

NSW is anticipated to reach a 70 per cent vaccination rate in mid-October, giving businesses approximately five weeks to ensure their employees are vaccinated and stock is ready for sale.

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John Whelan, CEO of the Australian Hotels Association in NSW, urged all potential patrons to book their vaccinations now.

"This is great news for pubs, our staff and our patrons," Mr Whelan said.

"We've all had enough of existing like this. Let's get vaccinated and get our lives back.

"We can't wait to get back to work and to open in a safe, fully vaccinated environment – and we want you to be ready to join us for a meal with family and friends or a drink with mates – all those things we have been missing."

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Despite the proposed easing of restrictions, not all business sectors are happy with the roadmap.

The Property Council of Australia welcomes the plan to return to pre-COVID life, but warns that more is needed to revitalise the CBD of Australia's biggest city.

"The setting of clearer timelines and targets for greater freedoms including when businesses will reopen is welcomed," NSW Property Council Executive Director Achterstraat said.

"However, further details will need to be determined including policy settings that prioritise economic recovery.

"We look forward to working with Government on advancing plans for the reactivation of our CBD and the re-opening of construction worksites. CBDs cannot be reactivated until workers are going back to offices to breathe life into our cities."

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Under the roadmap, employers have been asked to keep their employees working at home if possible – even after the vaccination rate hits 70 per cent.

Mr Achterstraat says more needs to be done to entice office workers back into the CBD, and a clearer path for construction sites also needs to be tabled.

"Similarly, the construction industry needs to be given a clear plan for a full reopening after the industry has blazed a trail for sector-based vaccine uptake," Mr Achterstraat said.

"With worksite capacity capped at 50 per cent the ability for NSW to create jobs and homes currently has a handbrake applied to it.

"With much of the economic recovery from last year's lockdown being underwritten by the property industry, it is critical that the industry is provided the right policy setting to underwrite the recovery as part of the roadmap announced today."