Tag Archives: oceania

Driver allegedly blows seven times over limit after crashing into parked car

A drink driver in Adelaide allegedly blew a blood alcohol reading almost seven times over the legal limit after wreaking havoc at a local business while trying to park his car.

Officers were called to North East Road at Gilles Plains about 5.55pm yesterday following reports of a heavily intoxicated driver. 

CCTV shows a silver Mazda hatchback strike a bush before it is reversed into a concrete bollard. 

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The driver then hits another vehicle as he edges the car into the bay, then stumbles out of his car.

Members of the public who witnessed the incident, took the man's car keys and waited with him until police arrived.

The 38-year-old driver submitted to a breath test where he allegedly returned a positive blood alcohol reading of 0.336 – almost seven times over the legal BAC limit of 0.05.

READ MORE: Police car damaged, five teenagers arrested during vehicle pursuit

Witness Adam Jackson told 9News the owners of the business were "pretty shaken up" because they weren't sure what was happening.

Police thanked those who assisted in preventing the man from driving following the crash.

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SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens

"Seven times is thankfully not something we see everyday," Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said.

"Obviously he is dangerous to himself and other road users, and he'll suffer the consequences of his foolish behaviour."

The man was reported for driving under the influence of alcohol and aggravated driving without due care.

He will be summonsed to appear in court at a later date.

His licence has also been disqualified for 12 months and his vehicle impounded for 28 days.

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Two-thirds of retirees less financially secure amid cost-of-living crisis, study says

While most Australians are content in retirement, two-thirds say they are worried about financial security amid the cost-of-living crisis, a study has found.

The YouGov study, commissioned by investment firm Challenger, surveyed 1000 Australians over 60.

It indicated that while retirees sit at 70 out of 100 on the Retirement Happiness Index, two-thirds say the rising cost of living has impacted their sense of financial security.

READ MORE: Fresh evidence reveals drug and prostitute claims in Lehrmann case

Another 38 per cent said they were worried they would run out of money during retirement. 

"(The cost-of-living crisis) creates uncertainty today for people who are trying to live on a budget," author and retirement expert Bec Wilson told 9News.

"Financial and retirement literacy is actually really fundamental.

"If you don't understand the systems, you will have a natural fear of even looking at your super statement."

Retired couple Terry and Kerry Cavendish say they have found the saving "sweet spot" by consulting with experts to set up an annuity for regular income.

"Every month, you know you're guaranteed to get that money and it just gives you peace of mind, it's just a no-brainer, like set and forget," Kerry said.

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The couple have spent their retirement travelling overseas, spending time with their grandchildren and taking up an interest in vintage cars.

"Everybody would have their views on what their dream is, this is our dream," Terry said.

Participating in various activities brought the most joy to retirees, the survey found, followed by mental wellbeing and a sense of purpose and social connection.

Money, mental health and physical health were the three biggest concerns survey participants were worried about. 

"It's a really positive picture, we just need to ensure that financial security comes to more Australians," Challenger CEO Nick Hamilton said.

"Underspending is the same as under-retiring, not knowing how much you can safely consume."

Retirees can speak to their super fund about money concerns or use the Money Smart retirement income calculator to determine how much they need in super.

Man allegedly stabbed, chased, mowed down by car in Adelaide’s north

A man has been allegedly stabbed, chased and mowed down by a car in Adelaide's north in what is believed to be a targeted attack.

Concerned members of the public flagged down police near Port Wakefield Highway about 5am today after witnessing an alleged violent altercation.

Officers stopped to find a 38-year-old man with a stab wound to his leg, allegedly caused by a machete-style weapon.

READ MORE: Seven denies paying for prostitutes, drugs for Lehrmann

Police said the man was allegedly stabbed at a home on Kapinka Drive in Munno Para West before he was chased out of his home by an offender, who was in a car.

The victim was then allegedly mowed down near the highway.

Neighbours reported hearing the cars race up and down the street as security footage captured them speeding from the home.

"It was right in front of our house. It's quite scary … there's one sports car, (it sounds) so loud," one resident told 9News.

"It might hit my house." 

READ MORE: Police arrest man after violent alleged kidnapping attempt

"It is scary. We do have concerns for (our) safety," another said.

9News understands the pair are known to each other and the incident was not random.

Officers returned to the Munno Para West home hours later and later charged a 36-year-old man from Riverlea Park with aggravated assault causing harm, acts to endanger life and breach of bail.

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

Sophie Delezio expecting first child: ‘Greatest gift of all’

Sophie Delezio has announced she is expecting her first child with fiance Joseph Salerno.

Delezio, who came to national attention after two horrific accidents as a child, shared the news in a social media post today coinciding with her 23rd birthday.

"The greatest gift of all coming in September!" she wrote.

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Accompanying the post were images of the beaming couple posing with her baby bump and an ultrasound scan.

The childhood sweethearts met as Year 9 students at Oxford Falls Grammar School.

Salerno popped the question on Valentine's Day last year.

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Sophie Delezio reveals she is expecting her first child: 'Greatest gift of all'Sophie Delezio. (AAP)

Delezio regularly posts photos of the couple on her social media, along with updates on her health journey following two near-fatal crashes.

In 2003, Delezio survived after a car ploughed through her childcare centre on the Northern Beaches.

She was trapped beneath the burning car and suffered burns to 85 per cent of her body.

She was in hospital for months and lost both feet, her hand and an ear.

When she was five, she survived a second accident when she was hit by a car near her home and thrown 18 metres from her wheelchair.

Seven denies paying for prostitutes, drugs for Lehrmann

Broadcaster Seven allegedly reimbursed Bruce Lehrmann for money spent on illicit drugs and prostitutes during its efforts to recruit him for a tell-all interview.

The claims are among many by former Seven Network producer Taylor Auerbach that have led to Lehrmann's defamation case against Network Ten being reopened days before judgment was due to be delivered.

The 28-year-old is suing Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson over a February 2021 report on The Project in which Brittany Higgins claimed he raped her in a Parliament House office in 2019.

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In three affidavits filed with the Federal Court, Auerbach claimed Lehrmann leaked private and confidential texts from Higgins, sending them to Seven ahead of an exclusive interview on the network's Spotlight program.

Yesterday, the court heard allegations that the texts were provided to Seven in breach of the so-called Harman undertaking, which sought to ensure evidence from the abandoned criminal case against him was not used for other purposes.

Lehrmann previously denied in court providing any material to Seven other than his recorded interview.

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Auerbach also said Lehrmann was heavily reimbursed by Seven during the lead-up to his explosive interview with the broadcaster, including through lavish meals, flights, a golf excursion to Tasmania and more than $10,000 spent on a Sydney Thai massage.

For the latter, texts attached to the affidavits show a Seven employee trying to reverse the credit card charges to the massage business, instead trying to pay in cash.

Lehrmann allegedly supplied the confidential texts to Seven during the Tasmanian golf trip in December 2022 and later during a "data dump" at a house the network rented for him in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

In January 2023, Seven reimbursed Lehrmann for more unconventional expenses, Auerbach added.

"I recall that monies paid by (Lehrmann) for illicit drugs and prostitutes that evening at the Meriton and the following evening at a brothel in Surry Hills were reimbursed to (Lehrmann) by Seven," he said in his affidavit.

Auerbach left Seven in August 2023 to work as an investigations producer at Sky News.

He said he was fired from Sky in March, due to media reports about an alleged $1000 payment by Seven to Lehrmann for the Thai massage.

Auerbach has threatened to sue Lehrmann for defamation over comments that he was a "disgruntled" employee.

He has also threatened defamation and contractual lawsuits against Seven over the firm's public statements that he had been disciplined for the misuse of the company credit card.

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Brittany Higgins.

Saying he was "aggrieved" by these suggestions, he sent a concerns notice to Seven and Lehrmann on March 27.

Seven said in a statement it strongly denied Auerbach's "false and misleading claims".

The network said it would never reveal its sources, noting Lehrmann's prior denials that he leaked the texts.

"Furthermore, Seven did not condone or authorise the alleged payments to Lehrmann referred to in the affidavits," a Seven spokesman said.

"The person involved admitted to the misuse of a Seven corporate card and all unauthorised expenses were immediately reimbursed."

Last night, Justice Michael Lee accepted Ten's last-minute bid to admit fresh evidence, saying it could change the determination of the case.

READ MORE: Anthony Albanese confirms discussion with Israeli Prime Minister over death of Australian aid worker

The reopening of the case means the parties will return to court tomorrow to hear from Auerbach, and for his evidence to be tested.

The ex-producer's work to secure an exclusive interview with Lehrmann was revealed in court to have involved a $100,000 in-kind payment.

Lee remained hopeful of delivering his judgment in the coming week but would confirm the timing on Monday, he said.

The last-minute hearing came after Ten filed its bid to reopen the case on Easter Sunday.

Lehrmann has settled separate defamation cases with News.com.au and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation over their coverage of Higgins' allegations, receiving $445,000 in legal costs under the agreements.

The criminal case was derailed due to juror misconduct, with prosecutors dropping the charge over fears for Higgins' health.

Lehrmann has always denied any wrongdoing.

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

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service on 1800 211 028

‘Anger and concern’: PM urges Israeli leader to investigate aid workers’ deaths

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the death of seven aid workers, including an Australian, in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza.

Melbourne-born Lalzawmi "Zomi" Frankcom was among the seven World Central Kitchen workers killed in the airstrike.

As well as Frankcom, those killed include three British nationals, a Polish national, an American-Canadian dual citizen and a Palestinian.

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"I expressed Australia's anger and concern at the death of Zomi Frankcom," Albanese said this morning.

"This is someone who was volunteering overseas to provide aid through this charity. This is completely unacceptable."

He said there was a "strong need" for a transparent investigation into what led to the airstrike.

"Prime Minister Netanyahu has committed to full transparency about how this tragedy could possibly have occurred," Albanese said.

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Other world leaders, including UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and US President Joe Biden, have also expressed their horror at the airstrike.

"(Frankcom) is an Australian who we can all be proud of, someone who not only was in Gaza assisting people in need, but had in the past provided support for people in Bangladesh, in Pakistan, here in Australia after the bushfires," Albanese said.

"This was someone who was clearly committed to benefit her fellow humanity, and someone who is – whose loss is very deeply felt by her family, but I think felt by Australians as well."

READ MORE: Allegations of $10,000 in massages, $361 steaks in network's bid to woo Lehrmann

Albanese said he had also reiterated to Netanyahu Australia's support for a two-state situation in the region, for aid to reach Palestinians unimpeded, and concerns over a potential ground assault in Rafah, where many refugees have gathered.

"I reiterated Australia's condemnation unequivocally of the events of October 7 and of Hamas as a terrorist organisation," he said.

Netanyahu has publicly acknowledged that the airstrike which killed the aid workers was launched by Israeli forces.

"Unfortunately, in the last 24 hours there was a tragic case of our forces unintentionally hitting innocent people in the Gaza Strip," Netanyahu said, according to the BBC, in a message delivered in Hebrew.

"It happens in war, we check it to the end, we are in contact with the governments, and we will do everything so that this thing does not happen again."

Albanese said the incident would likely add to ongoing global concern about the civilian casualties of Israel's ongoing war with Hamas.

"I think people, when they look at what is happening in Gaza, are very clear about the extraordinary loss of life which is there, and I believe that Australians are very concerned about that," he said.

Albanese said the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was working on the retrieval of Frankcom's body.