Tag Archives: oceania

‘Fantastic on every level’: Inside $30 million Sydney penthouse for sale

A $30 million Sydney penthouse that offers breathtaking views of Sydney Harbour from every room has hit the market.

The 'King Residence' in the Greenland Centre on Bathurst Street boasts 700 square metres of indoor and outdoor space, five bedrooms, five bathrooms and six car spaces.

Real Estate Agent Gavin Rubenstien from the Rubenstein group told 9News that the home was at "the top of the list" for Penthouses in Sydney.

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"It is fantastic on every level," Rubenstein told 9News.

"(it's) 245 metres high…the sheer size, expanse, the aspect, perspective."

The kitchen features backlit onyx stone and high-end appliances, including a hidden dishwasher.

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There's also a temperature-controlled wine cellar, reflection pool and outdoor terrace area, complete with a BBQ.

"I think Greenland did a phenomenal job with the finish, they've really put in an effort to make sure that it feels like a home as well," Rubenstein said.

"There is nothing these guys haven't thought of in regards to the design."

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The potential buyers range from international residents to cashed-up locals, as well as property investors, Rubenstein said.

The penthouse is expected to fetch over $30 million through private sale.

Australian father arrested in Bali after meth found in toothpaste

A South Australian father-of-two has been jailed in Bali after he was allegedly caught with methamphetamine.

Troy Smith from Port Lincoln was holidaying with his wife, Tracey, in the tourist hotspot last week when police raided his room at a resort in Legian near Kuta.

He and his wife were both arrested after officers allegedly uncovered 3.19 grams of crystal meth in an envelope mailed from Cairns. 

READ MORE: Australian flights cancelled as Air Vanuatu on verge of administration

Troy and Tracey Smith were both arrested in Bali after meth was found in their resort room. Tracey was later released.

The envelope was allegedly addressed to Troy, with the sender writing that private paperwork, photos and lubricant were also included. 

A bong was also allegedly found in the villa.

His lawyer told 9News Troy confessed to possessing the meth, which was stashed inside a toothpaste tube.

"He's admit, as well, that his friend was sending that one because he's a user," his lawyer said. 

Troy is behind bars in Denpasar charged with drug possession – an offence that carries a maximum 12-year sentence.

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Police raised Troy and Tracey Smith's room at a resort in Legian, Bali.

Tracey was released without charge.

His lawyer said he would argue Troy had been using drugs for four years and should face rehabilitation rather than jail.

"We'll do everything we can do as a lawyer … use our knowledge and everything to prove he's actually a user," his lawyer said.

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed it was providing consular assistance to the father.

Indonesia is known for its strict laws against drugs with trafficking an offence punishable by death.

Killer drove at girlfriend two months before Victorian woman’s murder

A killer drove at his girlfriend and a group of people who came to her aid two months before he stabbed her to death in her own apartment.

The new details of family violence were heard as Ricardo Barbaro faced the Victorian Supreme Court for a pre-sentence hearing on Thursday.

The 37-year-old was last year found guilty of murdering his partner Ellie Price at her South Melbourne home in the early hours of April 29, 2020.

READ MORE: Jury chosen in trial of man accused of killing Victorian campers

Police found her body five days later with stab wounds and a cut to her neck.

Prosecutor Damien Hannan said two months earlier, in February 2020, Barbaro and Price had an altercation in a car at North Melbourne after spending the day drinking.

She "escaped" from the vehicle and Barbaro drove at her and group of other people who came to her aid, Hannan said.

Barbaro pleaded guilty over the incident and was jailed for one month, the prosecutor told the court.

But Barbaro's barrister Rishi Nathwani said his client had pleaded guilty to the charge on the basis he did not assault Price.

The barrister conceded there was an incident in November 2019 in which Barbaro damaged a car while Price was inside because he was angry about not having contact with his children.

Nathwani accepted that was a form of family violence, even if Price was not directly hit.

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The defence have also conceded family violence was an aggravating feature of the murder, as was the use of a knife and the stabbing happening in Price's own home where she was entitled to feel safe.

He also noted Barbaro's conduct after the killing, where he left the scene in Price's Mercedes Benz before dumping the vehicle at a Diggers Rest property, northwest of Melbourne.

Barbaro fled to NSW in a van after media reported that Price's body had been found.

Justice Stephen Kaye said it was clear Barbaro's behaviour after the murder showed a "patent lack of remorse".

"It doesn't go to his credit at all," the justice said.

The pre-sentence hearing was adjourned for an assessment report from a neuropsychologist.

Barbaro was remanded in custody to his next court date in September.

Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).

Fifteenth man charged over Wakeley church riot, eight more wanted

A fifteenth man has been charged over a riot that broke out after a teenage boy's alleged terror stabbing at a Wakeley church.

A 41-year-old man turned himself in at Narellan Police Station on Tuesday, hours after police released images of nine people wanted in relation to last month's riot.

He was issued a court attendance notice for more than three people use violence cause fear and join or continue in unlawful assembly.

READ MORE: School locked down, staff member injured after student allegedly found with knife

A heavy police presence at the scene of a stabbing at a church in Wakeley

He will face court in late June. 

Fourteen other men have already been charged over their alleged involvement in the riot, which left emergency service workers injured and police cars smashed.

Eight people remain wanted; seven men and one woman.

Their images were released in the public appeal to find them as police urged them to hand themselves in.

READ MORE: Boy, 10, charged over alleged sexual assault of Italian tourist in Cairns

Eight people wanted over a riot outside a Wakeley church.

The riot was sparked after livestream footage of a sermon at Christ The Good Shepherd Church showed Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel allegedly stabbed by a 16-year-old.

Hundreds of angry worshipers gathered outside the church. Police car windows were kicked in and projectiles were thrown at authorities.

Police and paramedics suffered injuries in the mayhem.

Investigations into the riot remain ongoing. 

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

‘Pretty wild’: Massive 165kg tuna caught off Victorian coast

A trio of fishermen from Geelong are celebrating after they reeled in a southern bluefin tuna weighing in at 165 kilograms on Tuesday evening.

Steve Nelson, Bobby Griffiths, and Reece Holwell, known to friends as "Chum Norris", caught the monster tuna after nearly two hours of fighting off the coast of Portland.

"It was actually Steve's first time fighting a tuna," Griffiths told 9news.com.au.

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Giant Tuna

"He's managed to find that one for his first-ever tuna, which is pretty wild.

"He's saying he's not going tuna fishing anymore".

Griffiths claimed it was likely among the 10 biggest southern bluefin caught in Australia.

"Some people chase those for 10 years and don't get one, so he's come with us on the right day," he said.

The trio left Geelong around 2.30am to drive down the coast to Portland.

After not getting a bite all day, Griffiths said they hooked the monster tuna around 3.30pm.

Following an "emotional rollercoaster", Griffiths said they finally brought the fish up after 1 hour and 45 minutes of fighting.

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Giant Tuna

They called local fishing shop Compleat Angler Portland to come and weigh the tuna once they had brought it back to shore.

The tuna clocked in at 165kg, with Griffiths estimating the fish's length at 210cm.

After taking the fish home, Griffiths carved up the fish and distributed the prime tuna to his friends and workmates.

Griffiths claimed he and his mates spotted a "shooting star" while setting off in the early hours of the morning – a good omen for the day ahead.

Have you recently caught a fish of note around Australia? Send a picture of your catch and a few words describing its capture to sm****@******om.au.

School locked down, staff member injured after student allegedly found with knife

A school in Sydney's west entered lockdown this afternoon after a student was allegedly found with a knife.

NSW Police and NSW Ambulances attended Chifley College at St Mary's at 1.20pm today following reports that a student had brought a knife to the school.

Police confirmed a staff member suffered a small laceration while trying to disarm the student.

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The student has been taken to hospital for assessment.

No students were injured.

It's understood the lockdown has since been lifted. 

Investigations into the incident continue. 

New podcast to follow case in real time

In March 2020, Australians had no idea that they were about to face years of the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the same time, two campers headed into the Victorian High Country.

Russell Hill, 74, and Carol Clay, 73, disappeared on that camping trip in the Wonnangatta Valley.

Russell Hill and Carol Clay were reported missing after going camping at a remote site in the Wonnangatta Valley area of the Victorian Alps in March 2020.

They would never return home to their families.

That was nearly four years ago.

Two people reported missing.

It sparked one of the most perplexing missing persons cases in the country's history.

The police investigation ran for more than 18 months.

It wasn't until November 2021 that police made an arrest.

Former Jetstar pilot, Gregory Lynn, was charged with two counts of murder.

He's always denied the charges against him.

Lynn, from Caroline Springs in Melbourne's north-west, has been behind bars on remand since his arrest, waiting to contest the charges.

After being committed to stand trial in January 2023 he indicated he would plead not guilty.

Now he's about to stand trial in Victoria's Supreme Court.

A new podcast from 9News, The Age and 9Podcasts will follow the court case as it unfolds.

The Missing Campers Trial is the first podcast to follow a jury trial in real time in Victoria.

It's written, researched and presented by me – Penelope Liersch, a reporter with 9News – and Erin Pearson, crime and justice reporter with The Age.

Erin has followed this case from the beginning and will be in court each day, bringing listeners along with her.

In weekly episodes we'll report on the testimony and arguments from both the prosecution and the defence as they're presented to the jury – the only people who can deliver a final verdict. 

The Missing Campers Trial will also give listeners a greater insight into the criminal justice system.

In the words of prominent Melbourne media lawyer Justin Quill, a criminal trial is often one of the final steps in a long court process.

"It's the finale. It's the grand final if you like, the Super Bowl of the judicial process."

Quilly has worked in the legal system for more than 25 years.

In today's episode, he shares his experience, taking listeners inside the system.

You can listen to that episode by pressing play below. 

https://omny.fm/shows/the-missing-campers-trial/inside-the-court/embed?style=cover

The Missing Campers Trial launches today.

Search for The Missing Campers Trial in your podcast app and press the follow button to get every new episode for free or tap here

Jury chosen in trial of man accused of killing Victorian campers

A trial is due to begin for a former Jetstar pilot accused of murdering Russell Hill and Carol Clay while they were camping in Victoria's alpine region.

Fourteen jurors – six women and eight men – were empanelled at the Supreme Court in Melbourne on Thursday for the trial of Greg Lynn, who is charged with two counts of murder.

The 57-year-old former airline pilot formally pleaded not guilty to each of the murders from the back of the court room.

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Both sides will open their cases on Friday morning.

Lynn is represented by top defence barrister Dermot Dann KC and the Crown's prosecutor is Daniel Porceddu.

Justice Michael Croucher told jurors that prosecutors would allege Lynn killed Clay, 73, and Hill, 74, while they were camping at Bucks Camp in the Wonnangatta Valley.

"It will be alleged that Mr Lynn shot Ms Clay in the head, as a result killing her, and that Mr Lynn killed Mr Hill," he told the jury.

"These events are alleged to have occurred on 20 March, 2020."

The trial is expected to go for between four and six weeks.

READ MORE: CCTV shows moment two offenders attempt to light Melbourne shop on fire

Russell Hill and Carol Clay were reported missing after going camping at a remote site in the Wonnangatta Valley area of the Victorian Alps in March 2020.

Dozens of witnesses will be called to give evidence, including friends and family of the two victims, campers, forensic pathologists and police.

Justice Croucher will give jurors their directions on Thursday afternoon, before trial openings begin at 10.30am on Friday.

Aussie beach town offering a $450k job with free rent and new 4WD

A regional healthcare provider is getting creative – and generous – when it comes to luring doctors out of cities.

A job advertisement currently up on Seek is pitching the perks to GPs for a position up for grabs in Bremer Bay, south-east of Perth in Western Australia.

As well as a salary of up to $450,000 a year, the successful applicant will be granted a rent-free five-bedroom house and a four-wheel drive.

READ MORE: The $1150 weekly cost this Aussie couple can't avoid

"Live rent-free in a scenic location, experiencing the true essence of rural Australia," the advertisement reads.

"We offer a competitive 70 per cent of Billings or a generous Salary, based on your preference. In addition, you'll enjoy the convenience of a beautiful new 5-bedroom home and 4X4."

Applicants must be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and be willing to train as a rural generalist.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, people living in rural and remote areas have higher rates of hospitalisations, deaths and injury compared to city-dwellers.

They also have poorer access to primary health care services.

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Raiding super for house deposits could create $1 trillion ‘budget blackhole’

A proposal to let first home buyers access their superannuation for a house deposit could cost Australian taxpayers $1 trillion, according to Deloitte modelling.

The modelling for the Super Members Council, shows such a push could create a "budget blackhole" as more home buyers would rely on the taxpayer-funded age pension after retirement.

Even a policy encouraging super withdrawals capped at $50,000 could still cost the budget $300 billion by the end of the century, Deloitte found.

READ MORE: The $1150 weekly cost this Aussie couple can't avoid

The RBA this week kept the cash rate at 1.5 per cent hold for a 28th straight month.

Super Members Council chief executive Misha Schubert said the policies were likely to make housing affordability worse while also eroding retirement savings at the cost of the taxpayer.

"It's economically reckless," Schubert said.

"It sets a policy trap for young Australians because it hikes house prices and blows a budget blackhole in the decades ahead mostly by pushing up age pension costs – which every taxpayer would pay.

Deloitte found a couple, both aged 30, who accessed $35,000 each from their super would retire with about $195,000 less in today's dollars.

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The current capped proposal could also lead to a massive hike in Australia's median house price, pushing it up by 9 per cent or $75,000 in major capital cities.

An uncapped scheme would unleash an even bigger property price jump and leave future taxpayers to foot billions in higher pension costs.

"We all desperately want more Australians to own their own home, but this idea won't achieve that," Schubert said.

"It's unfair to lump the next generations of Australians with a policy that would only make the housing affordability crisis worse by driving up house prices."

"We urge a sensible rethink on any policy ideas that undermine the strength and success of super to continue to deliver for all Australians in retirement."

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