Internet users and locals have been left baffled after a video of a suspiciously large black "cat" running near Ballarat went viral.

Some punters speculate the animal is merely an oversized feral cat, while others claim it could be a black panther.

The video was first posted to a Facebook page called "Gold Coins & Relics Australia".

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The video shows a black feline moving through a field, in slow motion.

In the background are several large grain silos.

Some commenters speculated that the image might be the creation of AI.

Other punters referenced urban legends of having seen other big cats around Australia, including the fabled "Penrith Panther", sometimes said to have been seen around New South Wales.

More than half of Australia's most vulnerable people have been forced to skip meals, while others have turned to dumpster diving because they cannot afford to buy food, new research shows.

A Salvation Army survey of 1500 Australians, who accessed the charity's services over a 12-month period, found 63 per cent of them had skipped meals and 45 per cent had to choose between paying for housing or buying food. 

The research, released today in conjunction with the launch of the Salvation Army's annual Red Shield Appeal, also found over a quarter of respondents were forced to eat expired or spoiled food, while 1 in 20 had to eat food from rubbish bins.

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Salvation Army major Warren Elliott said the numbers were shocking.

"To hear that one in 20 of our respondents are eating food being pulled out of bins, that's quite alarming," Elliott said.

"That came as a real shock to me."

The new research comes amid a cost-of-living crisis, with grocery prices rising by 33 per cent over the past three years.

At the same time, rental prices have reached record highs. 

Domain's rental report, released earlier this month, shows the price of advertised rental units rose 12.9 per cent in Sydney, 14.6 per cent in Melbourne, 18 per cent in Brisbane and a whopping 22.2 per cent in Perth over the last year

Elliott said the charity was regularly seeing families that were having to make tough choices, with demand for the Salvation Army's services increasing by about 15 per cent in the past year.

A 33-year-old mother who took part in the survey said she often skipped meals so she could buy her kids what they needed.

"(I'm) having to constantly borrow money off friends due to not being able to buy essentials," the mum said. 

"I'm having to go days without eating so my kids can eat, cancelling specialist appointments that are a requirement for my health due to the cost of living."

Another mother said she also needed to borrow money to survive.

"Each week I am behind," the mum said.

"Some weeks I have not paid my rent so I can provide for my kids and medical scans they have needed. It causes so much stress living on the edge."

The charity has also seen a 35 per cent increase in the number of women and children seeking help after being impacted by violence, according to separate figures sent to potential donors by the Salvation Army this week.

Elliott said there was also an increase in the number of families coming seeking help.

"A lot of them are working, so it's not necessarily the people on pensions," he said.

Older women were also one of the fastest growing groups in Australia needing help, Elliott said.

"These are often single older women, who may have been through a later-in-life divorce or have lost a partner and are really struggling.

"We're seeing growing numbers of older, single women across the board."

Donations to the Salvation Army's 60th Red Shield Appeal can be made by visiting salvationarmy.org.au or calling 13 SALVOS. You can also donate at any Salvos Store.

King Charles has made his first public-facing engagement since his cancer diagnosis in February.

In a symbolic appearance on Tuesday morning (about 8.10pm AEST) His Majesty arrived at Macmillan Cancer Centre at the University College Hospital wearing a blue pinstripe suit with a blue shirt.

The 75-year-old monarch was joined by wife Queen Camilla on the outing, with the couple sporting huge smiles and waving at crowds outside the London hospital.

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Their Majesties will meet with clinicians, patients and families of patients during the visit, which is sure to be something they can relate to on many levels as their daughter-in-law Kate also undergoes treatment for an unspecified cancer.

The visit also coincides with King Charles' first day as patron of Cancer Research UK.

As the Prince of Wales, Charles became patron of Macmillan Cancer Support in 1997, a role he still holds to this day.

Similarly, Queen Camilla, as Duchess of Cornwall, took up the role as president of cancer support charity Maggie in 2008, which she remains as today.

King Charles stepped back from public appearances as he began his treatment for an unspecified cancer earlier this year, though the monarch continued with state business within the walls of Buckingham Palace.

While His Majesty's treatment remains ongoing, doctors were happy with the progress and gave the green light for Charles to return to public-facing duties last week.

Buckingham Palace warned that the upcoming summer schedule would not be a full one and each engagement – including the King's Birthday parade, known as Trooping the Colour, and events such as Royal Ascot – would be undertaken on a case-by-case basis.

There is also a state visit to the UK by the Emperor and Empress of Japan in late June, which the King is hoping to be hosting.

A witness said two men were involved in a standoff with police.

The family of a beloved Adelaide school teacher killed in an horrific crash have laid bare their ongoing grief in court.

Bernice Sternberg was killed when John Tsalapatis failed to give way and ploughed straight through a McLaren Vale intersection in March 2021.

Her family and her tight-knit school community described the 61-year-old as a loving mother and gifted teacher.

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Her heartbroken husband Ronald confronted the driver who crashed into their car and robbed him of his wife.

Sternberg told Tsalapatis saying goodbye to his sweetheart was the hardest thing he ever had to do.

The woman's sons said she was "the glue that held everything together."

Tsalapatis, an expert engineer, was found guilty by a jury of causing death by dangerous driving but he denied his actions were criminal.

He is asking the court to avoid jail, arguing that to continue working he should be handed a suspended sentence.

He will be sentenced next month.

A Freedom of Information investigation from Council Watch has revealed Frankston City Council in Melbourne's south has charged ratepayers more than $10 million dollars in fees when it shouldn't have.

The costs are bundled into "waste charges", which are supposed to only cover private kerbside rubbish pick up, like bin collections.

Council Watch President Dean Hurlston says the municipality is "gouging" residents.

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"They're meant to be collecting fees for the services they actually provide but instead what they've decided to do is move things like street sweeping and graffiti into kerbside waste levies," Hurlston said.

According to data obtained by Council Watch, revenue from Frankston's waste levy includes close to $3 million for street cleaning, $425,000 for graffiti management and $2.1 million for rubbish pickup in public places.

"In any other industry the ACCC would absolutely fine (the council)," he said.

Frankston City Council chief executive Phil Cantillon told 9News the services are common across all councils and "charged via rates or waste-related charges".

Council Watch's FOI investigation also found Manningham and Stonnington were slugging residents with millions in fees unrelated to kerbside bin pickup, including stormwater drain maintenance and public litter removal.

More than half of Victoria's 79 councils have been engaging in this practice but the Local Government Minister Melissa Horne is cracking down.

"This is clearly outside of the guidelines and it's clearly outside of the Local Government Act," Minister Horne Said.

She's given councils a year to clean up their act.

"Our expectation is that local government operates in a transparent and accountable way."

Local Government Finance Professions (FinPro) President Bradley Thomas has welcomed the extra time to work through the new guidelines from the state government, adding they provide clarity about what is supposed to be covered in the waste charge.

"I know councils are doing lots of work to be able to inform the community so the community really understands what the general rates are going towards."

He encouraged struggling residentsto take up hardship offers and payment plans.

"When people do have real genuine difficulties in paying I really suggest people pick up the phone and talk to their local councils."

Australia's most sought-after fish has been caught after a 19-year-old Northern Territory man reeled in a barramundi worth $1 million on Sunday morning.

Katherine local Keegan Payne caught the fish, which had been tagged as part of a nine-year-long fishing competition, in the Katherine River.

When the self-professed "mad keen fisherman" found out he had won the Top End's million-dollar cash prize, he said he planned to use the prize money to help his parents with their home loans.

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"This is crazy for us, we're a big family, there's eight of us. This is more money than we could ever ask for. This is just great," Payne said.

"It means so much. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me. I'm happy, really happy.

"I can buy what I want, maybe help Dad and Mum out with the home loans," he said.

Payne was on a fishing trip with family and a friend at the Katherine River when he caught the prized barramundi.

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Payne called the hotline for the prize in the early hours of Sunday morning, with the competition's organisers inviting him and his family to collect a prize.

The organisers then confirmed his fish was worth $1 million.

The competition has been running since 2015, but until now, nobody had reeled in one of the million-dollar barramudi.

Every season, more than a hundred fish tagged with special markings are released in waterways across the Northern Territory.

Most of the fish are worth $10,000, but some are worth the major prize of $1 million.

Keegan chose charity partner Cancer Council NT to receive $10,000 from Sportsbet, a sponsor of the competition. 

NT Major Events Company chief executive Suzana Bishop said organisers were "so happy and excited for Keegan".

"We guaranteed a winner this season and we're delighted to see the prize go off," said Sportsbet chief executive Barni Evans.

A woman has been found dead and a crime scene established inside a unit in Brisbane.

Police rushed to an apartment complex on York Street in the suburb of Nundah this afternoon.

A crime scene has been declared and detectives remain on-scene. 

More to come.

A $1.28 billion scheme to tackle crime in Queensland will see hundreds of extra police officers on the ground, upgrades to policing equipment and stations and more support for the victims of crime, says Premier Steven Miles.

The mammoth cash injection comes amid growing concerns about spiraling youth crime and rates of domestic violence.

The new Community Safety Plan includes plans for an extra 900 police officers on the ground, in addition to the more than 2000 already announced.

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Cairns and the Sunshine Coast will benefit from new Polair capabilities, and police resources will be updated across the state, including upgraded police stations and the new Townsville Police Academy.

There are also plans to introduce two new pieces of legislation: one against ramming an emergency vehicle; and a second against evading the police and causing an accident resulting in injury or death.

Crime Stoppers, Neighborhood Watch, the Queensland Homicide Victims' Support Group and the Stop Coward Punch Campaign will also receive a boost, with $3.2 million in additional funds between them over four years.

"Crime and its causes are complex – often stemming from experiences of domestic violence, homelessness, disengagement from education, poor mental health and lack of family support," Miles said.

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"My government's Community Safety Plan for Queensland is about delivering the evidence-based prevention and intervention services to prevent crime from occurring, while giving police the tools and laws they need to track and detain offenders."

The premier has credited the initiatives already rolled out at the start of the year for a 10.7 per cent overall reduction in youth crime compared to the same time last year.

The new funds come on the back of yesterday's announcement of a $36 million boost for Queensland's domestic violence services, after thousands marched in rallies against gender-based violence across the nation over the weekend

Premier Steven Miles joined one of the marches through Brisbane's city centre, along with Senator Murray Watt.

At least 27 women have been killed, allegedly at the hands of men, in Australia this year, according to data compiled by anti-violence advocates.

Bonza will ground its entire fleet until later this week pending discussions on whether the budget airline will be able to operate during its voluntary administration period.

ASIC documents show the low-cost carrier, which was founded in late 2021 and only began flying last year, is now in external administration.

Administrators Hall Chadwick said the entire fleet would be grounded up to and including Thursday this week, as key parties consider whether the company can continue operating during administration.

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Workers' futures at the company are also under consideration as Customers with bookings up to and including Thursday are advised not to travel to the airport.

"The discussions regarding ongoing trading are occurring over the forthcoming days and the administrators will be in a position to update all stakeholders as the matter progresses," Hall Chadwick said in a statement.

Customers can call Hall Chadwick's hotline on 03 8678 1600 for more information. The transport minister has also set up a hotline for passengers. It can be contacted at 1800 069 244 and is available only until 10pm today.

Bonza chief executive Tim Jordan this morning confirmed the airline had temporarily suspended services today amid discussions regarding the ongoing viability of the business.

"We apologise to our customers who are impacted by this and we're working as quickly as possible to determine a way forward that ensures there is ongoing competition in the Australian domestic aviation market," he said after flights were cancelled across the country.

The federal government called on both Virgin Australia and Qantas to help out stranded Bonza passengers after the budget airline confirmed it "temporarily suspended" services.

"I am aware of reports this morning of Bonza flights being cancelled," Transport Minister Catherine King said.

"I have spoken to Qantas and Virgin CEOs this morning and both airlines stand ready to assist stranded passengers needing to get home."

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King said she expected Bonza to keep passengers informed of their options and their consumer rights.

Virgin had already reached out to passengers stranded "mid-journey", while Qantas offered to help travellers affected by Bonza's cancellations.

The two major airlines, as well as Qantas-owned Jetstar, are offering complimentary seats to those passengers.

Bonza's website appears to not be accepting bookings, with reports users are unable to select departure or arrival dates through the online booking tool.

Flights cancelled around the country

All flights departing from the Sunshine Coast scheduled to land in Gladstone and Rockhampton this morning were cancelled, along with some leaving from Melbourne Airport.

It comes just days after the airline announced it would scale back flights nationally.

One customer, Tracy Hilbert, was left stranded at Tullamarine Airport in Melbourne after she was told her flight was cancelled as she waited at the gate.

"I've heard that all the planes today have been cancelled," she said.

Hilbert, who booked her flight to see her family after her father died, said she hadn't been given any warning.

"It's just really hard today because I should have been up there now and with my mum, my brother, and my other family," she told Today.

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Debate over future of Aussie travel

Vision from Tullamarine Airport this morning shows a Bonza aircraft that was scheduled to fly to Gladstone in Queensland being towed after it was cancelled.

The Australian Financial Review reported aircraft Bonza operates on a long-term lease had been seized.

Quentin Long from Australian Traveller told Today Bonza had been a fantastic idea that brought flight service to under-served regions.

"The business model is really innovative, which was, 'We're going to connect regional centres to regional centres'," he said.

"And the problem with that is you needed mass take-up, and there were not that many people in those areas to be able to take it up.

"So it was a really interesting, innovative but challenged business model from the start."

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Flight Centre CEO Graham Turner earlier said his organisation hadn't been able to contact Bonza for any confirmation about what was happening.

"With all these cancellations, and not just this morning, but, they have been happening for the last few weeks, the news doesn't look that good," he told Today.

"But we haven't heard anything official yet.

"It is one of the problems with the domestic aviation industry in Australia, where generally it's been thought two main domestic carriers is all that the market can stand.

"But hopefully that's not true."

9News understands that Shadow Minister for Transport Bridget McKenzie has called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to save the budget airline.

Bonza pitched itself as a "low-cost, ultra-Aussie airline" when it launched into the Australian market on January 31, 2023.