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NSW government announces support package for Bondi Westfield workers and businesses

The NSW Government announced a package supporting workers and businesses impacted by the Bondi Junction Westfield tragedy.

Shortly after shops closed following the first day of trading since last weekend's stabbing rampage, the Minister for Industrial Relations announced measures designed to help the community get back on it's feet after almost a week of closures.

Sophie Cotsis, also the Minister for Work Health and Safety, has tasked SafeWork NSW with creating a package "of psychological health and safety support for businesses with fewer than 200 employees".

READ MORE: 'I tried to help him': Bondi Junction security guard recalls moment colleague was stabbed

Members of the public return to Westfield Bondi Junction and surrounding area as many retail stores begin to re-open on April 19, 2024 in Sydney, Australia

As shoppers begin to return to the centre, they are being urged to be sensitive to retail workers.

"Please be kind, gentle and sensitive to workers and shop owners today and in the days to come," Cotsis said in a statement on Friday evening.

"Everyone reacts to these moments in different ways and some workers may find it difficult to return to work.

"Many retail workers are under the age of 25 and it's vital we listen to them and learn from them what more we can do to support them now and into the future."

Floral tributes are seen at a memorial site during the re-opening of the Westfield Bondi Junction shopping centre on April 19, 2024 in Sydney, Australia

On Monday, the minister will meet with major insurers for "a roundtable to ensure any compensation claims are dealt with promptly and empathetically".

"Businesses may be able to access business interruption insurance, while workers may be entitled to make workers compensation claims," the statement on Friday night said.

"Workers compensation insurance may cover lost income, along with medical and rehabilitation expenses, if an employee experiences a work-related injury, including psychological injuries."

Mental health counsellors also remain in-person at Bondi Junction, largely around Oxford Street Mall, and will continue as long as needed the government said.

The shopping centre had remained closed since Joel Cauchi, 40, embarked on his attack last Saturday afternoon, killing six people.

Police closed the crime scene there early this week but operators Scentre Group opted to hold off the resumption of trading.

READ MORE: Inside Westfield Bondi Junction for the first time since attack

Industrial Relations Minister Sophie Cotsis told 2GB's Ben Fordham that retail workers were serving hundreds of people so it was important to remember to be kind, gentle and compassionate.

"I don't want to hear that these workers are being asked many times to relive their trauma," Cotsis said.

"There will be workers who are on shift… and they won't be able to go back to work.

"I want to say to those workers that there is support… they will be able to access workers' compensation for the trauma that they have suffered."

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Flowers and tributes have piled up outside, including a wreath laid by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and flowers and a message from opposition leader Peter Dutton.

The centre opened yesterday for a "day of reflection", with members of the public allowed inside to pay their respects, but no shops were open and the digital advertising screens showed only black ribbons as a mark of mourning.

Today, though, as Sydney resumes its normal pace, normal trading hours will resume from 9.30am to 6pm.

READ MORE: Westfield operator to waive a week's rent for tenants after attack

Some stores may remain closed by choice.

"Since the tragedy last Saturday, our priority has been engaging with the victims' families, those directly impacted and the community on how to respond," Scentre Group CEO Elliott Rusanow said yesterday.

"We have been engaging directly with our business partners throughout this period to support them, including providing counselling and mental health support."

READ MORE: Heroic security guard killed in Bondi Junction stabbing to be farewelled next week

There will be an increased security presence on-site, including extra police, while security guards will be given stab-proof vests.

The centre will also remain quiet, with no loud music and no advertising, at least for today.

READ MORE: Visa approved for 'heroic' French national who confronted Bondi stabber with bollard

Scentre Group announced yesterday it would waive the past week's rent for all tenants of the shopping centre.

Retail workers can contact SafeWork NSW for assistance on 13 10 50 or online here.

Customers returning to Bondi Westfield who would like support can call the New South Wales Mental Health line on 1800 011 511.

Readers seeking support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

Higgins says it’s ‘time to heal’ in first statement since Lehrmann defamation ruling

Brittany Higgins has released a lengthy statement after a judge found Bruce Lehrmann raped her in Parliament House.

Federal Court Justice Michael Lee ruled against Lehrmann on Monday in his defamation suit against Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson for airing the allegations, finding on the balance of probabilities a sexual assault took place on a couch in Parliament House in 2019.

Network Ten's lawyers called the result "vindication" for the broadcaster and its belief and support for Higgins during Lehrmann's defamation case.

READ MORE: Cause of death remains unknown in alleged mushroom-related incident in Victoria

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"I was raped. No judgment was ever going to change this truth," Higgins said in a statement posted to X, formerly Twitter.

"I lived with shame, humiliation, and fear of what telling my story would mean for my life and career, like so many other victim-survivors.

"For decades, women working in Parliament House have not been heard.

"There was no safe space for them to speak up or raise serious complaints.

"I felt compelled to tell my story.

"Thousands of staff working in Commonwealth Ministerial offices, from every side of politics, came forward and contributed to the Jenkins Review."

READ MORE: Driver allegedly 'involved in domestic incident' before crash

Brittany Higgins (right) with lawyer Theresa Ward arrives at the Perth Supreme Court

Higgins said stories like hers had shone a light on the conditions that fed such a toxic culture.

"My health, memory and relationships have been impacted by my rape."

Of the Seven Network's Spotlight interview with Lehrmann, Higgins said she "was devastated that a rapist was given a nationwide platform to maintain his lies about what had happened".

"I trust that those who contributed in any way to the program will reflect on their decision," she wrote.

"Thanks to Justice Lee for his trauma informed approach, recognising that reactions to assault can vary wildly.

"In doing so, I hope he has set a new precedent for how courts consider the testimonies of victim-survivors of sexual assault.

"While I do not agree with all of Justice Lee's findings, I do respect his observations about the many people scarred and damaged in the aftermath of my rape.

"All the various people who have been unwittingly wrapped up in years' worth of media discourse and legal battles in relation to my rape.

"I want to particularly point out to my family, who have been such an incredible support.

"They've been so strong, faced a seemingly unrelenting barrage of hate and have consistently held me together at times when I thought I would fall apart."

Higgins apologised to Senator Linda Reynolds, who as defence minister was her boss when the alleged rape happened.

"Senator Reynolds and Fiona Brown have also been hurt and for that I am also sorry," Higgins wrote.

"My perceptions and feelings about what happened in the days and weeks after my rape are different from theirs. I deeply regret that we have not yet found common ground.

"I hope we can resolve our differences with a better understanding of each other's experience."

Higgins noted the numerous court cases and inquiries into the alleged rape.

"I was 24 when I was raped in Parliament House," Higgins wrote.

"It has been five years of criminal and civil trials and government inquiries for the truth to finally be heard.

"It is now time to heal."

In his judgment, Justice Lee said it is more likely than not that Lehrmann's state of mind was such that he was so intent upon sexual gratification to be indifferent to Higgins' consent.

"And hence (he) went ahead with sexual intercourse without caring," Justice Lee said.

"Mr Lehrmann raped Ms Higgins."

Lehrmann is now facing crippling legal costs after the rape finding.

Both parties have been instructed to apply for costs by Monday.

A defamation case brought by Reynolds against Higgins and fiance David Sharaz is ongoing.

Brisbane unit fire leaves two people in induced comas with severe burns

Two people have sustained severe burns and were placed in induced comas after a unit in Brisbane caught fire.

Witnesses say they heard an "explosion"  before emergency services rushed to the scene at New Farm in Brisbane's Inner North. 

Four people were inside the unit when it was reportedly rocked by an explosion around 9am.

READ MORE: Mystery deepens in alleged mushroom-related death

Brisbane Unit Farm

Neighbours performed first aid on the injured man and woman while waiting for paramedics to arrive.

"It sounded like one of those jets coming over for Riverfire."

Using a garden hose, he tried to help put out the blaze before firefighters arrived.

Firefighters helping those trapped inside, escape the burning home.

Brisbane Unit Farm

A Queensland Police spokesperson said it was a confronting scene. 

"They couldn't get down from the balcony. Because of their injuries, they needed assistance to come down a ladder," they said.

Oxley Lane in New Farm was blocked for hours as firefighters contained the blaze to one unit.

Investigations into the cause of the blaze are ongoing.

Cause of death remains unknown in alleged mushroom-related incident

The cause of Victorian mother Rachael Dixon's death remains unknown after police said the results of an autopsy conducted this week came back inconclusive.

Police are continuing to investigate after Dixon allegedly consumed a drink police believe may have contained magic mushrooms on April 14.

"An autopsy has since been conducted, and at this stage, the cause of death remains unknown", Victorian police said in a statement.

READ MORE: 'Heart of gold': Mum who died at health retreat remembered

"Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances following the death of a woman in Clunes on Sunday, April 14," they said.

Soul Barn, the Clunes health retreat that Rachael Dixon attended before losing her life remains closed while police investigate and prepare a report for the coroner.

The owners of Soul Barn had previously said the venue had been rented out for a private event at the time of the tragedy, and none of their staff had been present during the incident.

It is understood Dixon went into cardiac arrest and an ambulance was called but she passed away at the scene.

Two other people were taken to Grampians Health Ballarat Base Hospital for observation.

It is understood they were treated for shock, and have since been discharged.

The question of whether toxic mushroom ingestion was linked to Dixon's death remains unanswered.

READ MORE: One-punch killer walks free from prison

St Vincent's Hospital Director of Emergency Medicine Dr Jonathan Karro said toxicity cases are not common, despite hitting the headlines of late.

"Mushroom poisoning in Victoria is very rare," he said. 

"The most common thing we would see is people ingesting psychedelic mushrooms, and even that is relatively rare".

Dr Karro said the wider community should also be wary of "alternative" elixirs or concoctions that have not been safety tested.

Dixon's family said she was "fit and healthy", while her personal training client Robyn Gutterson said the woman "had a heart of gold".

"She was wonderful," she told 9News.

Copenhagen landmark collapses while Danish PM promises rebuild

Firefighters stabilising the burned-out husk of Copenhagen's historic Old Stock Exchange tried to use giant shears on a crane Friday to cut away dangling scaffolding but suffered a setback when the implement fell into the debris.

A large blaze broke out Tuesday at the 400-year-old landmark in Copenhagen, toppling its roof and iconic dragon-tail spire.

On Thursday, a large section of the outer wall of the building collapsed inwards. The most valuable paintings and items inside had been saved from the flames, and no one was injured.

READ MORE: Driver allegedly 'involved in domestic incident' before crash

The Old Stock Exchange building is pictured before Tuesday's devastating fire.Copenhagen

"A further building collapse is absolutely a possibility," said Tim Ole Simonsen, a spokesman for the Greater Copenhagen Fire Department, adding that structural engineers were assessing how best to remove precarious remnants of scaffolding.

"It is very difficult work."

He later said the work was paused and "our efforts have taken a new turn," after the powerful shears mounted on the end of a crane had fallen into the ruins of the building.

There also were still small pockets of fire to extinguish and "tons" of debris to remove, he said.

Brian Mikkelsen, who heads the Danish Chamber of Commerce that owns the 1615 building and was headquartered there, said 45 per cent of the structure had been saved, and he underlined pledges made earlier in the week to completely rebuild the structure.

"It will be rebuilt as it was," Mikkelsen said as Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen unexpectedly visited the site Friday afternoon to thank the firefighters, saying their quick response on Tuesday was "impressive" and to give "huge, huge respect."

READ MORE: One-punch killer walks free from prison

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Frederiksen also supported the idea of rebuilding the Old Stock Exchange but said it was too early to say whether the government would take part in any financing.

"We need to get a better overview, like for instance the insurance money," Frederiksen said.

Tuesday's blaze was believed to have started on the roof of the building, which had been wrapped up in scaffolding while the building was being renovated.

The cause remained unclear, and police had yet to enter the burned part of the building to investigate.

Copenhagen

The plans to remove the scaffolding was an attempt to salvage the unharmed part of the Copenhagen landmark.

Firefighters said they could not say how long that would take and adjacent streets were still closed for traffic.

No decision has yet been made about who will finance a reconstruction, a project that would cost millions, if not billions of kroner (dollars) and take years.

The exchange, known for its green copper roof and distinctive in the shape of four intertwined dragon tails, sits on the waterfront next to the Danish parliament.

It is considered a leading example of the Dutch Renaissance architectural style in Denmark.

The Chamber of Commerce moved into the building after Copenhagen's stock exchange left in 1974.