Tag Archives: oceania

Court says Hugh Grant's lawsuit against British tabloid can go to trial

A London court on Friday rejected an attempt by the publisher of The Sun tabloid to throw out a lawsuit by actor Hugh Grant alleging that journalists and investigators it hired illegally snooped on him.

Justice Timothy Fancourt said a trial in January will have to determine whether The Sun had carried out unlawful information gathering that included tapping his landline and bugging his car and breaking into his home.

News Group Newspapers (NGN), which owns The Sun, had argued that Grant didn't bring his claims within a six-year time limit.

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Hugh Grant arrives at the Rolls Buildings in central London for the conclusion of News Group Newspapers (NGN) phone hacking hearing Thursday April 27, 2023.

The judge dismissed Grant's phone hacking claims on time limitation grounds, but said the case could proceed on the other allegations.

"It was only on seeing invoices disclosed … in 2021 that Mr. Grant believed that private investigators (PIs) had been instructed by The Sun to target him in various ways, particularly in 2011," Fancourt wrote.

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The case was argued during a hearing last month that also included phone hacking allegations by Prince Harry against News Group, Rupert Murdoch's British newspapers.

Fancourt's ruling didn't address the Duke of Sussex's case because he wants to hear more about Harry's allegations that he was prevented from bringing his claims much sooner because of a "secret agreement" between Buckingham Palace and Murdoch's papers.

Hugh Grant arrives at the Rolls Buildings in central London for the conclusion of News Group Newspapers (NGN) phone hacking hearing Thursday April 27, 2023.

Harry alleged that the royal family had agreed to settle their cases with NGN, publisher of the defunct News of the World, out of court after related litigation died down. He said the deal called for an apology from the newspapers.

In court papers, Harry said that he only brought his lawsuit when efforts to expedite that settlement failed. He said his brother, Prince William, heir to the throne, subsequently received a "huge" settlement over phone hacking allegations against News Group.

NGN has denied there was a "secret agreement." The palace hasn't responded to messages seeking comment on that or William's alleged settlement.

Prince Harry arrives at the Royal Courts Of Justice in London, Thursday, March 30, 2023.

A spokesperson for News Group issued a statement on Friday saying that it was pleased that the court threw out Grant's phone hacking allegations.

"NGN strongly denies the various historical allegations of unlawful information-gathering contained in what remains of Mr. Grant's claim," the statement said.

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Multi-award winning musician Joy McKean OAM dies aged 93

Multi-award winning Australian songwriter and musician Joy McKean OAM has died at the age of 93.

McLean "passed away peacefully last night with family by her side after a long battle with cancer", EMI Recorded Music has announced in a statement.

"She will be remembered as a pioneer in Australian music," the statement reads.

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McKean wrote many of her husband Slim Dusty's most famous songs and won the first Golden Guitar award at the Tamworth Country Music Festival for the song 'Lights on the Hill'.

Her musical partnership with Slim, in which she was his manager, produced over 100 albums, sold over eight million albums and earned 45 Golden Guitars.

She has previously been described by Paul Kelly as "one of our greatest songwriters", while Troy Cassar-Daley called her "a national treasure".

McKean is survived by her children Anne Kirkpatrick and David Kirkpatrick, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

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Dan Andrews addresses allegations of rorting on Victoria's biggest transport projects

Bombshell allegations of rorting on some of Victoria's biggest transport projects have emerged, with claims subcontractors have been over-billing for work.

Reports by the Herald Sun have claimed insiders have blown the whistle on "ghost shifts", where where subcontractors invoice multiple times for shifts done at the same time by one person.

While speaking at Ballarat this morning, Premier Daniel Andrews said he only became aware of the allegations this morning.

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Daniel Andrews addresses allegations of rorting on Victoria's biggest transport projects

"This is, I think, an isolated incident," he said.

"There will be a proper account for what's gone on there."

9News understand the Rail Safety Regulator became aware of the allegations weeks ago.

READ MORE: Aussie arrested in Indonesia could be set free after $25,000 offering

It's now investigating "allegations relating to fraudulent practices by labour hire companies contracted to major projects and railway operations in Melbourne", but focusing only on "safety matters".

Bombshell allegations of rorting on some of Victoria's biggest transport projects have emerged, with claims subcontractors have been over-billing for work.

The Major Transport Infrastructure Authority has said it is taking the claims "seriously and any criminal wrongdoing will be referred to police or relevant anti-corruption agencies".

Victorian deputy opposition leader David Southwick has said his party will be requesting police investigate these allegations.

Bombshell allegations of rorting on some of Victoria's biggest transport projects have emerged, with claims subcontractors have been over-billing for work.

Police have said they have "no formal reports of criminal conduct" and "cannot launch an investigation" until they do.

Andrews told media he "would caution against calling into question the integrity of thousands and thousands of workers" because of the allegations.

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Cop's message as he wakes from coma after nearly being killed

The police officer almost killed while trying to intercept an allegedly stolen truck has woken from a coma and thanked the public as Queensland's police commissioner visited him in hospital.

Detective Senior Constable Steve Ingerson was awake and talking today, two days after slipping into a coma.

Ingerson was seriously injured when he was pinned between a stolen truck and a police car north of Toowoomba.

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"I wish to say a heartfelt thank you to the staff at Meringandan Produce and other members of the public who came to our aid at the scene on Wednesday afternoon," Ingerson said in a statement.

"And to the medical staff at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, who have been above amazing.

"I want to particularly thank my police mates for their visits and messages of support.

"I am grateful to have received so many well wishes from people across the community, it's been quite humbling."

LifeFlight airlifted Ingerson to Princess Alexandra Hospital after he was given a blood transfusion at the scene.

He fell into a coma on Wednesday and woke up on Thursday. He is expected to leave the hospital tonight.

Commissioner Katarina Carroll was one of the first to speak to Ingerson when he woke up.

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"In the beginning, we definitely thought the worst, because it was pretty dire," she said.

"People who know Ingo would agree with me, he's such a wonderful human being, he's fun, he's funny and has an amazing family."

The 45-year-old man accused of hitting Ingerson with a stolen truck has been charged with attempted murder.

Police officers told 9News that the trauma of the incident left them fearing for the worst, immediately reminding them of the fatal shooting of two police officers and a member of the public in Wieambilla last year.

"We will never recover from Wieambilla, it will be etched in our hearts and minds forever."

Aussie arrested in Indonesia could be set free after $25,000 offering

The Australian man arrested in an ultra-conservative province of Indonesia over an alleged drunken, naked rampage could be released within weeks.

9News understands Bodhi Risby-Jones has reached a peace deal with the victim of the alleged rampage, which will see the Queenslander pay up $25,000.

However, the 23-year-old Noosa man is set to still spend the next two weeks in custody before prosecutors decide whether the peace offering is enough to negate the need for a jail sentence.

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9News has been told it's "highly likely" that he will be set free in the coming weeks.

Risby-Jones was the subject of a citizen's arrest in the highly conservative Aceh province after he allegedly went on a drunken, naked rampage on April 27.

He has been in custody since, and was facing a sentence including up to five years in jail and 40 lashes, as public canings are a regular punishment in the province.

Aceh enforces Sharia law, meaning the sale and consumption of alcohol are banned.

READ MORE: Queensland man accused of rampage speaks from prison

Bodhi Mani Risby-Jones in a picture from his Facebook page.

In a video released from prison a week after the incident, Risby-Jones apologised and said he wanted to "fix the issue".

"To the victim's family and the victim, I am extremely sorry," he said before placing his hands together and bowing his head in a prayer motion.

"My actions I can't even fathom.

"I really want to make it right, and fix the issue.

"I am sorry."

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