Tag Archives: oceania

Dozens of charges laid over Alice Springs riot after five-year-old’s death

Thirteen people have been charged after a crowd stormed a petrol station and supermarket during a riot which broke out over the death of Kumanjayi Little Baby.

Last Thursday, the body of a child believed to be that of the five-year-old girl was found after a five-day search.

The man suspected of her murder, 47-year-old Jefferson Lewis, was found later that night, when he was arrested and taken to Alice Springs Hospital.

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CCTV vision shows people ransacking the aisles of the petrol station and taking items from the shelves.

Following his arrest, violence broke out outside the hospital late in the evening as a grieving crowd demanded the man be handed over to be dealt with by the community.

As the crowd dispersed, dozens of people poured into the Shell Express and Piggly's Supermarket at The Gap.

CCTV vision shows people ransacking the aisles of the petrol station and taking items from the shelves.

Police said about $105,000 worth of property was stolen and $80,000 of damage caused.

CCTV footage released by police shows people ransacking the aisles of the petrol station and taking items from the shelves.

Northern Territory Police Commissioner Martin Dole said the behaviour was "not people processing grief in relation to the death of Baby Kumanjayi".

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As the crowd dispersed, dozens of people poured into the Shell Express and Piggly's Supermarket at The Gap.

Police have since charged four women and three men with aggravated burglary and theft.

Two of the women, aged 26 and 24, were charged with two counts of each offence.

Another 36-year-old woman was charged with one count each of aggravated burglary, theft and breach of suspended sentence.

A 26-year-old man was charged with one count each of aggravated burglary, theft and breach of suspended sentence.

A 32-year-old man was charged with two counts each of aggravated burglary and theft and one count of breach of suspended sentence.

A 29-year-old man was charged with two counts of aggravated burglary and theft and one count each of damage of property, attempt arson and armed with an offensive weapon at night.

A 36-year-old man was charged with one count each of unlawfully cause serious harm, aggravated assault and breach of DVO.

A 49-year-old man was charged with one count of breach of bail and one count of breach of suspended sentence.

Repairman Kim Shegog told 9News the lost stock came at a cost for the business.

"We had a skip (bin), we filled the skip up with all the food," he said.

"All of the food that had use-by dates had to be disposed because it's going to be two to three weeks to get the place back up and running again."

Northern Territory Police acting superintendent Michael Ordelman denounced the alleged behaviour.

"The businesses involved have suffered extensive monetary loss," Ordelman said.

Jefferson Lewis was yesterday charged with the murder of Kumanjayi Little Baby.

He is expected to appear in court tomorrow.

For 24/7 crisis support run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, contact 13YARN (13 92 76).

Shocking issue costing Aussie workers as much as $2140 a year

Australian workers are being urged to check their superannuation payments, as a new analysis reveals one in four are being underpaid – often by thousands of dollars a year.

Between 2018 and 2023, Australian workers were underpaid superannuation by a staggering $24.4 billion collectively, the analysis by the Super Members Council (SMC) found.

New South Wales had the highest total underpayments, totalling $8.1 billion, followed by Victoria with $6.1 billion over the five-year period.

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A major superannuation shake-up is set to impact more than 14 million Australian workers but many employers are still in the dark ahead of the July 1 deadline.

However, the highest figure for underpayment per individual was in the Northern Territory with an average amount of $2140 per year, closely followed by the Australian Capital Territory at $2120 a year.

The figures were calculated by the SMC based on an analysis of the Australian Tax Office (ATO)'s 2 per cent sample file in 2018-19 and 2022-23.

According to their modelling, a worker underpaid by $1730 in super for just one year could enter retirement $30,000 worse off due to the loss of compounding investment returns.

From July 1, payday superannuation laws will come into effect, requiring employers to pay super at the same time as wages, instead of quarterly.

Experts believe this change will help reduce the amount of unpaid superannuation, which currently costs Australian workers $6 billion a year.

It's also hoped the change will increase transparency for workers, making it easier for them to spot and fix underpayments.

"Unpaid super is a silent pay cut that's cost Australian workers $24.4 billion in just the last five years alone," SMC CEO Misha Schubert said.

"This is money Australians have earned but never been paid – and it's leaving millions significantly poorer at retirement.

"Unpaid super hits hardest where it hurts most – for women, younger workers and people on low incomes."

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Australia signs new deal with ally to counteract global shocks

Australia and Japan have agreed to strengthen economic, energy and defence ties to withstand the shocks of the war in the Middle East.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Japanese counterpart Takaichi Sanae marked 50 years of "friendship" today with the signing of the new Joint Declaration on Economic Security and Cooperation.

The agreement will build "trusted" fuel, energy, critical minerals, food and technology supply chains with the major trading partner.

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"Our Joint Statement on Energy Security reaffirms our commitment to navigate the current energy crisis together and maintain open trade flows of essential energy goods, including liquid fuels and gas," Albanese said at a press conference with Sanae this afternoon.

"For Australians, it will mean we are less vulnerable to global shocks, like we are seeing right now because of conflict in the Middle East.

"It will mean more security for farmers when they are planting their crop, and more certainty for commuters when they are filling up their car."

It comes as Australia looks to shore up more fuel shipments from its allies after supply chain disruptions caused by the war in Iran. 

Australia gets the majority of its refined fuel from Asian markets, which get their oil from the Middle East.

Albanese travelled to Malaysia and Singapore last month to secure more fuel and has now turned his sights on Japan.

While Australia gets some of its fuel supply from Japan, Japan receives about 40 per cent of its liquified natural gas from Australia. 

Australia and Japan also signed agreements on critical minerals, defence and an open Indo-Pacific region.

Both countries have instructed their relevant ministers to find ways to strengthen their partnership. 

"Our friendship has never been closer, and in these uncertain times, friendships matter more than ever," Albanese said.

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Prime Minister of Japan Sanae Takaichi and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Sanae, through a translator, said the meeting with Albanese was "highly productive" and would affirm their countries' relationship for the next 50 years.

"The two countries have built a relationship as frontrunners in cooperation among like-minded countries by advancing pioneering security cooperation at a level that could be described as quasi allies," she said. 

Sanae admitted the closure of the Strait of Hormuz had created regional issues, but said the pair will work closely to strengthen their resilience.

"We affirmed that Japan and Australia will closely communicate with each other in responding with a sense of urgency," she said.

Japan is Australia's third-largest two-way trading partner and second-largest export market.

Under a $10 billion deal signed in April, Japan will deliver three upgraded Mogami-class frigates for the Royal Australian Navy in 2029.

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Popular milk company recalls baby formula as shares plummet

The A2 Milk Company has recalled three batches of baby formula imported to the US due to the presence of a highly potent toxin.

The announcement today caused the Auckland-based company's shares to plummet on the ASX by 12 per cent from $7.27 to $6.49, wiping hundreds of millions of dollars off its market capitalisation.

The company detected cereulide in the A2 Platinum Premium formula for infants 0 to 12 months old after additional testing was needed to comply with New Zealand's food regulatory authority's new guidance.

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The A2 Milk Company has recalled three batches of baby formula imported to the US due to the presence of a highly potent toxin.

Cereulide can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and vomiting within 30 minutes to six hours after ingestion.

Symptoms typically ease on their own but infants can be at greater risk of dehydration due to their developing immune systems. 

More than 16,428 units of formula were sold in the US through the A2 Milk Company's website, Amazon and Meijer stores.

The A2 Milk Company said there have been no confirmed incidents of any illness or harm.

The product was not available for sale in any other country.

A2 Milk Company chief executive David Bortolussi said the safety and quality of his products were his "highest priority".

"I want to reassure parents and caregivers that our infant milk formula products sold in Australia and New Zealand, China and other markets are not impacted by this isolated recall in the US," he told investors in a statement.

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The A2 Milk Company said there have been no confirmed incidents of any illness or harm.

The formula with the following batch numbers and use-by dates has been recalled:

  • Batch number 2210269454 and use-by date 15/07/2026
  • Batch number 2210324609 and use-by date 21/01/2027
  • Batch number 2210321712 and use-by date 15/01/2027

Affected customers are advised to stop using the product, throw it away or return it to the place of purchase for a refund. 

Any baby experiencing the related symptoms should receive medical care immediately, according to the company. 

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Alarming footage shows ‘couch riders’ driving down dark Canberra street

A Canberra driver has captured a bizarre and alarming sight: two young people appearing to "drive" a couch down a dark, wet road last night.

The video, which was uploaded to a local Canberra Facebook page, appears to show the riders steering two escooters while seated on the two-seater couch in drizzling rain.

Cars can be seen driving past in the opposite direction.

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ACT Police told nine.com.au they received a report of two youths riding scooters while sitting on a sofa on Maribyrnong Avenue in Kaleen at about 9pm last night.

The busy road has a sign-posted speed limit of 60km/h.

"Police are concerned with e-scooter riders who are putting themselves and others at risk with dangerous behaviour," an ACT Police spokesperson said.

"E-bike and e-scooter riders are vulnerable road users, they are at a higher risk of serious injury or death in the event of a collision."

The speed shown on the odometer of the car that's filming trailing behind the couch posts a speed hovering around 28km/h.

The couch riders do not appear to be wearing helmets and no reflectors or rear lights are attached to them or the couch.

The video was uploaded to a local Canberra group on Facebook last night by an anonymous poster, who said they had just seen the boys on Maribyrnong Avenue.

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While some locals who commented on the video saw the funny side of the act, others were concerned for the couch riders' safety and that of fellow road users.

Escooters are legal in Canberra for riders over the age of 12, but only on footpaths, bicycle paths and residential streets where there are no footpaths.

Safety precautions such as helmets and appropriate lights and reflectors are mandatory and passengers not are permitted.

Police have asked anyone with information about the e-scooter sofa riders to contact Crime Stoppers via the Crime Stoppers ACT website.

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