His time with the construction firm only lasted one month.
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Police recover body from Ruatoria river after crash yesterday
Police arrived at 3pm yesterday afternoon, but didn’t recover the body until this morning
International students hit hard by move to cut working hours
Hospitality worker and international student Gautam Timalsina is about to have his working hours cut by half.
He works full-time at a hospitality venue in Melbourne's inner suburbs while studying for his degree.
Timalsina is one of thousands set to be affected by the federal government's move to bring back caps on the number of hours international students can work, starting July 1.
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The cap was temporarily removed in January last year as businesses struggled with COVID-induced labour shortages.
The Nepalese man is among 182,000 international students living in Melbourne.
"Basically it's almost going to be almost half of my pay gone," he told 9News.
"I am finally stable and when it's cut, it will be stressful. I have been paying for all my school fees myself. This will mean less savings and less money."
From Saturday, international students, with the exception of those working in aged care, will no longer be allowed to take unlimited shifts.
Instead, they will be capped at 48 hours a fortnight.
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Small Business Australia executive director Bill Lang slammed the move and said many industries were already suffering a skills shortage.
"Anything that reduces the ability of willing workers to work is a bad thing for Australia," he said.
"The first impact is more stress on the small business family who are having to work an unprecedented number of hours now.
"In some cases that's going to lead to a whole re-assessment as to whether they can stay in business."
Al Dente Enoteca restaurateur Andrea Vignali said international students were a key part of the kitchen.
"We will definitely need to hire more people and have someone who can cover the hours these people can't work anymore," he said.
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Medibank, Woolworths and others banned from selling pet insurance
Major brands have been banned from selling pet insurance products after the financial watchdog deemed they may not have properly considered the financial situation of its customers.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) said the "stop orders" have been applied to brands including Woolworths, RSPCA, Petbarn, Guide Dogs, Medibank, Bupa and HCF.
PetSure and Hollard provide insurance to the brands and the stop orders relate to 67 of its products.
READ MORE: Gladys Berejiklian defiant in face of ICAC corruption findings
ASIC is particularly concerned about pet insurance owners' ability to pay for veterinary expenses in full and upfront before receiving a partial reimbursement or claim.
"ASIC made the interim orders to protect consumers from acquiring pet insurance products that may not be consistent with their objectives, financial situation or needs," the commission said.
"ASIC was concerned that the insurers failed to appropriately define the target market for these products using objective and tangible parameters."
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The ban will be in place for 21 days "unless revoked earlier".
ASIC is considering more stop orders for other insurance products.
"ASIC will consider making a final order if the concerns are not addressed in a timely manner.
"The insurers will have an opportunity to make submissions before a decision is made about any final stop orders."
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Teen driver charged as parents mourn death of daughter in horror crash
A teenager who was allegedly driving a car that collided with a truck in Victoria's north yesterday, killing her passenger, has been charged.
The 14-year-old girl was airlifted to hospital while her 15-year-old passenger Montana Russell died at the scene near Locksley.
She has been charged with dangerous driving causing death.
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A 12-year-old boy, who was another passenger in the car, was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
The teens were travelling in an allegedly stolen grey Holden Captiva wagon on the Hume Highway when they hit a truck just after 8.30am.
The charges come as the parents of Montana told The Age they were still coming to terms with what had happened.
Melissa Russell described her daughter as having a heart of gold.
"She is leaving behind five siblings and they are all devastated. She loves her family. She would do anything for family," she said.
"She was a daddy's girl. I would call her my Tassie devil.
"Her father's from Tasmania and she can be a little devil at times.
"We are devastated, still can't believe it's happening. You never think it would happen to your family until it does."
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Superintendent Michael Layton alleged the teens were seen to be "driving erratically" before the collision.
It's also alleged the wagon was stolen from a driveway near Wangaratta on Tuesday night.
"This is a tragic scene and high-risk-taking behaviour, it's totally avoidable," Layton said.
"This is every parent's worst nightmare."
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Locksley is about 139km north of Melbourne and is near the regional hub Shepparton.
The 14-year-old girl has been bailed to face a children's court at a later date.
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'I am the boss': Private conversations exposed in ICAC report
The intimate conversations between former premier Gladys Berejiklian and her secret partner, former Wagga Wagga Liberal MP Daryl Maguire have been exposed in a scathing corruption report.
The long-awaited report detailed findings of "serious corrupt conduct" against Berejiklian and Maguire more than two years after the former premier dropped the bombshell revelation of their relationship during hearings.
"However, the evidence before the Commission is that from at least about mid-2014, Ms Berejiklian and Mr Maguire were exchanging messages which suggest that the relationship was one of considerable intensity accompanied by mutual and deep feelings of love," the report found.
READ MORE: Gladys Berejiklian defiant in face of ICAC corruption findings
The lengthy report includes the legally-obtained phone taps between Berejiklian and Maguire revealing their private conversations during their years-long relationship.
The transcripts of these phone calls offer an insight into their secret relationship and the conversations regarding multi-million-dollar projects Berejiklian is accused of awarding or promising funds to which are at the centre of the corruption scandal.
Here are some of the conversations during Maguire and Berejiklian's relationship.
The 'profound' importance of the relationship
The ICAC report called Maguire and Berejiklian's relationship of "profound" importance to the pair, with the couple discussing making their relationship public, possibly getting married and going on holidays together.
In April 2018, before Maguire was forced to resign, the pair had the following phone call.
BEREJIKLIAN: Because you know what I tell you why because normally you're the boss and it's hard when we have to switch it around that's the truth.
MAGUIRE: Yeah but I am the boss, even when you're the Premier.
BEREJIKLIAN: I know. So therefore it's hard when I had to switch it around.
MAGUIRE: Glad, even when you are the Premier I am the boss alright.
BEREJIKLIAN: Yes I know.
Another conversation in 2017 detailed Maguire's plans to "pull off deals" but also provided an insight into the couple's relationship.
MAGUIRE: I'm not going to have those problems so much when I retire which is good.
BEREJIKLIAN: Thank goodness for that thank god that means we can actually go places together is that what it means?
MAGUIRE: I won't have any money but we will be more flexible.
MAGUIRE: I won't have any money unless I can pull these deals off which I am working on.
BEREJIKLIAN: But hokis, the thing is all you need to do is we don't need money I can support myself always have always will and you just need to do whatever you need you know for yourself and your kids
The term "hokis" is an Armenian term of endearment and was also the pair's secret nickname.
Wagga Wagga Hospital
In one of the phone calls, Berejiklian told Maguire she had got him the money for Wagga Wagga Base Hospital.
Prior to this, Maguire had complained about the lack of funding for the facility.
BEREJIKLIAN: I've already got you the Wagga Hospital.
MAGUIRE: But they…
BEREJIKLIAN: I just spoke to Dom (former treasurer Dominic Perrottet) and I said put the 140 in the budget. He goes no worries. He just does what I ask … I ask him to.
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Tumut Hospital
Another conversation about a regional hospital saw Maguire asking Berejiklian for more money to fund Tumut Hospital in the Wagga Wagga region.
MAGUIRE: Anyway, you need to find at least $500,000 or $1 million to keep Tumut planning going.
BEREJIKLIAN: Can you text Brad (former health minister Brad Hazzard) – can you stress and text Brad 'cause I've got you now the $170 million in five minutes. You can at least get a few hundred thousand from Brad just keep texting him. If you keep bothering him he'll fix it okay.
BEREJIKLIAN: You can't have me fixing all the problems all the time.
MAGUIRE: I tell you what if you went to the budget without Wagga on it you…
BEREJIKLIAN: Yeah I just fixed it okay.
The Riverina Conservatorium of Music
In 2017, a telephone tap revealed Berejiklian agreeing to "throw money" at Wagga Wagga and one of the multi-million-dollar projects at the centre of the ICAC investigation – the Riverina Conservatorium of Music.
BEREJIKLIAN: You don't see it you don't see it I don't want to argue with you, I just need to go and chill because you have stressed me out.
MAGUIRE: Alright I'll go and chill you just throw money at Wagga.…
BEREJIKLIAN: Alright and I'll throw money at Wagga you just have to do what's right from your end otherwise you'll kill me.
MAGUIRE: I'm batting for you. You just need to know what the right things are to throw money at Wagga and you need…
BEREJIKLIAN: I already know you've already told me the three top things I already know.
MAGUIRE: And you need and go and give them a stadium…
BEREJIKLIAN: I'll do that too.
A year later, the pair had a conversation where Maguire continued to ask for more funds.
BEREJIKLIAN: We ticked off your conservatorium the other day so that's a done deal now.
MAGUIRE: Yeah, but that's only…
MAGUIRE: That's the building and $10 million, not the rest of it. Not the next stage…
BEREJIKLIAN: Oh my God. Heaven help us seriously.
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When Maguire was summonsed to ICAC in 2018
Maguire was summonsed to go before an ICAC hearing in 2018 regarding Operation Dasha.
During this investigation, it was alleged Maguire used his parliamentary position to secure property deals with developers.
One of these deals was with Chinese company Country Garden.
This transcript reveals the phone call Maguire made to Berejiklian when he was called before ICAC.
MAGUIRE: I've been subpoenaed to go to ICAC, summonsed to ICAC, so that's exciting.
BEREJIKLIAN: What for?
MAGUIRE: Because I introduced that idiot (Canterbury councillor Michael) Hawatt to um, Country Garden.
BEREJIKLIAN: Is there anything to worry about?
MAGUIRE: No … you know I've never, I've never accepted a dollar.
BEREJIKLIAN: So why, so why are you being subpoenaed?
MAGUIRE: I think Hawatt was to benefit from the skulduggery he was getting up to … with that Council.
BEREJIKLIAN: Don't, don't talk, I don't … I don't want to know any of that stuff.
A week later, Maguire was forced to resign from the Liberal Party.
After he resigned, he told Berejiklian the following: "Hokis, get stuck into me. Kick the s— out of me. Good for party morale."
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Operation Silk: Judge steps in to settle dispute over drugs dealt by key BoP Mongol
The judge stepped in to settle the dispute.
Deaths of elderly couple a year apart being treated as double murder
The deaths of an elderly Adelaide couple more than a year apart are being treated as suspicious as police declare a major crime investigation.
Brenda Anderson died on March 16 last year while her husband Lynton died on May 1 this year.
Detective Inspector Mark McEachern said the similarities and abnormalities in the toxicology results of the couple, both aged 94, provided the suspicion both were murdered by the same person.
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Brenda Anderson was being treated for medical issues at Noarlunga Hospital on March 12 last year.
Police said her condition deteriorated and she was transferred to Flinders Medical Centre, where she died.
"Mrs Anderson's hospital death was identified during the coronial investigation process after toxicology results gave significant rise for concern," McEachern said.
"When an innocent explanation for toxicology abnormalities was eliminated, the possibility Mrs Anderson's death being a deliberate act by another party became the primary subject of the investigation.
"It is believed Mrs Anderson was killed by a person known to her and in close enough relationship to have been visiting her while she was in hospital.
"Police have no concerns about the level of care in either hospital, which was exemplary."
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Lynton Anderson was found unconscious at home in Hackham by a carer on April 30.
He was taken by SA Ambulance to the Flinders Medical Centre in and died the following day.
Police said suspicions about the toxicology results for Brenda also raised concerns regarding the circumstances surrounding his death.
"Police have eliminated external carers involved with Mr Anderson's care as being involved in his death," police said.
"We have identified a suspect and won't elaborate further."
Police are appealing for information from anyone who may have had contact with the couple and may have knowledge of their deaths and the circumstances that led to them.
In particular, they wish to speak to anyone who may have knowledge of prescribed or non-prescribed medications each was using or had spoken about.
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Tiny Sydney cottage sells for near-record price
A tiny, historic Sydney cottage with no internal walls has proven to be one of the most expensive and exclusive plots of real estate in the city.
The heritage one-bedroom, one-bathroom home at 227 Australia Street in Newtown, sold in June for $1,545,000, and makes remarkable use of its very compact floorplan.
At 98 square metres, the sum for the award-winning cottage is about $15,700 per square.
The median price per square metre in Sydney is $2,466 according to Domain data released in February this year.
Principal and sales agent Jonathan Viewey, who holds the listing alongside Nicholas Viewey of Viewey Real Estate, revealed the cottage sold to a single woman from the Southern Highlands of New South Wales who will move into the home with her dog.
"The cottage would only suit a single or couple as there's no privacy," Viewey tells 9news.com.au.
"It has a very open-plan layout with no internal walls, it's basically just the structural walls."
With its original sandstone walls upheld, the only new additions to the 1858-built cottage are cosmetic fixtures including pendant lights and cabinetry.
The Australia Street home is "recognised for its conservation of the cultural heritage" of the area and won the 2008 Marrickville Medal for Conservation.
It has recently been available as short-stay accommodation.
The open layout gives the illusion of space.
A living zone is adjacent to a room that could be made into a second bedroom.
The kitchen and bathroom are opposite one another, and there's a separate laundry.
Known for its eclectic bars, eateries and boutiques, Newtown is a desirable location, about 4km south-west of Sydney's CBD.
Domain's latest data reveals the median price for a home in the area is $1,647,500.
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Despite its square-metre price, the Australia Street cottage is nowhere near the dearest piece of real estate in the city.
That crown belongs to 21 Little Riley Street in Surry Hills where, despite its nanoscopic footprint of 25 square metres, it sold for the equivalent of $60,000 per square metre – an unheard of amount.
The buyer paid $1.5 million at auction in February and has since leased it out.
Marketed through BresicWhitney Inner East, the one-bedroom, one-bathroom inner-city terrace was listed for $995-per-week.
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Record number of babies born during pandemic, data confirms
A record number of babies were born in Australia during the pandemic, new data has confirmed.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data shows 315,705 babies were born while many were going in and out of lockdown in 2021, which is an increase of 20,000 babies (6.7 per cent) from 2020.
AIHW spokesperson Deanna Eldridge said the birth rate was 61 births per 1000 women of reproductive age in 2021, which was up from 56 births per 1000 women in 2020.
She said it was lower than the most recent peak in 2007, which was 66 births per 1000 women.
The average age for first time mothers also continues to rise, with one in four woman giving birth at age 35 or older.
"Average maternal age continues to increase for first-time mothers from 28.4 years in 2011 to 29.7 years in 2021," she said.
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The data shows despite higher risks of health complications associated with later-in-life pregnancies most mothers aged 35 years and above and their babies do well.
Eldridge said they were seeing a downward trend in women who smoke while pregnant.
"In 2021, 8.7 per cent of mothers reported smoking during their pregnancy – down from 13 per cent in 2011," she said.
"More than one in five mothers who smoked at the start of their pregnancy quit after the first 20 weeks."
The data found mothers younger than 20 were more likely to smoke (33 per cent).
The institute also found older mothers were more likely to attend antenatal visit in the first trimester (81 per cent) compared with those aged 20 years and under (68 per cent).
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