Tag Archives: oceania

Woman films encounter with Gold Coast police

Vision has emerged of a woman in a showdown with police on the Gold Coast.

The 53-year-old woman was pulled over for a random breath test in Palm Beach last month.

She allegedly refused to give police her name or her personal details.

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Vision has emerged of a woman in a showdown with police on the Gold Coast.

The woman then started filming from inside her car as police tried to arrest her.

As the officer reaches in to open the door, police said the woman wound up the window and pinned the man's arm.

"This is violence," the woman said in the video.

After a few minutes police eventually get in, undo the woman's seatbelt and pull her from the car.

She has been charged with driving unlicensed and obstructing police.

The woman is due to appear in a Coolangatta court next month.

Mother of AFL player killed in boat crash

Water police have pulled the body of a woman from Mandurah Estuary, south of Perth, taking the number killed in a horrific boating accident to two.

Rescuers had been searching for Kylie Bazzo – the mother of West Coast Eagles defender Rhett Bazzo – for more than 20 hours.

Locals helped to search on boats, canoes and on foot along the shoreline.

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Kylie Bazzo - the mother of West Coast Eagles defender Rhett Bazzo - was killed in a boating accident.

About 7pm (AWST) on Sunday, water police officers recovered the body of the 52-year-old near Creery Island.

Four people were on board the boat on Saturday night when it crashed into a red navigation marker about 10pm.  

Bazzo's friend Debbie Burdon was killed and Mrs Burdon's husband John Burdon was seriously injured. Another man was unharmed.

READ MORE: 'Fear of the unknown' led to Queensland cop slayings, daughter claims

Kylie Bazzo - the mother of West Coast Eagles defender Rhett Bazzo - was killed in a boating accident.

A witness said they yelled out to the boat, which was moving without navigation lights turned on. They watched as the boat hit a pylon at high speeds.

An investigation into the cause of the boat crash is continuing, WA Police said in a statement.

The West Coast Eagles expressed their devastation at the loss of Bazzo.

"The club's players, staff and Board extend their deepest condolences to the Bazzo family and are offering every support to Rhett, his sister Kameron and their loved ones," the club said.

"The club asks that the privacy of Rhett and his family is respected during this extremely difficult time."

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Man fined after partner's arm 'slips out of seatbelt'

A Gold Coast man has been slapped with a fine after his partner was captured by a detection camera with her arm out of her seatbelt.

Richard Arnold was issued with a $1078 fine and stripped of four demerit points after he says his passenger reached to pull down her sun visor.

"She's leaned up to adjust her sun visor and put her arm through the shoulder strap to do that," Arnold said.

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A Gold Coast man has been slapped with a fine after his partner's arm was captured out of her seatbelt by a detection camera.

"I think that's disproportionate and unfair, unjust actually."

Arnold also took umbrage with one photo that he said appeared to show his partner's underwear.

"Which I think is an invasion of privacy," he said.

"Upskirting, I believe, is illegal and certainly it's disrespectful."

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Richard Arnold was issued with a $1078 fine and stripped of four demerit points.

Almost 15,000 Gold Coast drivers were snapped and fined for their passengers not wearing seatbelts properly in the year to November.

"You must wear your seatbelt correctly at all times," Craig Hanlon from Queensland Police Service said.

"These images are not widely distributed.

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"They're distributed to the registered owner of the vehicle only and no one else sees them."

Arnold said he would dispute his fine.

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Woman denied bail over alleged string of robberies at fast food stores

A Queensland woman accused of taking part in a string of armed robberies that "terrified" fast-food staff has been denied bail.

Denika Dianne Appleton, 18, of Ellen Grove, was arrested over the alleged robbery of four outlets across Ipswich and Brisbane's south on January 15 and 16 in which staff were threatened with knives and a firearm.

Appleton along with two male co-accused allegedly demanded cash and valuables from both staff and customers before fleeing the outlets, which included at least two Hungry Jack's stores, in stolen vehicles.

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Three people before the courts over alleged fast food restaurant robberies across Ipswich and Brisbane's southside

Police executed simultaneous search warrants at Ellen Grove and Inala in Brisbane's outer southwest, and took Appleton and her two co-accused into custody early on Sunday morning.

Appleton faced Brisbane Arrest Court via video on Monday charged with 10 counts of armed robbery, 22 counts of deprivation of liberty, three counts of enter premises with intent and two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

The co-accused, a 29-year-old man from Mansfield and a 21-year-old Ellen Grove man, were also due to face court on Monday.

The police prosecutor objected to granting Appleton bail and said she would have to show cause for release given the severity of the allegations.

The prosecutor said Appleton had been accused of entering a Hungry Jack's outlet at Springfield in eastern Ipswich at 9.30pm on January 15 while her two co-accused had a knife and a black handgun.

"She was an active participant, she was armed with a large brown knife," the prosecutor said.

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Three people before the courts over alleged fast food restaurant robberies across Ipswich and Brisbane's southside

Officers allegedly found items identified in CCTV footage of the robberies at the address where Appleton was arrested including a Spider-Man mask, blue walkie-talkies, a gold-coloured Holden Commodore and another allegedly stolen vehicle, the prosecutor said.

"The show cause for bail has not been made. These were robberies that terrified a number of young workers," the prosecutor said.

Appleton's solicitor said her client had no criminal record as an adult or juvenile.

"She was employed but had to give that up recently due to difficulties with travel. She was going to start a government job in a call centre and was expecting a call today," the solicitor said.

"She is willing to report as regularly as required for bail."

READ MORE: 'Fear of the unknown' led to Queensland cop slayings, daughter claims

Three people before the courts over alleged fast food restaurant robberies across Ipswich and Brisbane's southside

Magistrate Julian Noud said Appleton's clean record worked heavily in her favour but she also faced a strong prosecution case for "very serious" alleged offences.

"It is alleged that (the three co-accused) forced staff members onto their knees on the floor and the male assailant with the firearm forced two customers to jump over the counter and also get on their knees," he said.

"It is alleged all victims were forced to place property items and phones onto the bench and eventually all assailants decamped the store into a stolen Ford utility.

"There is a raised risk that (Ms Appleton) will fail to appear or commit offences on bail. Bail is refused."

Appleton's case was adjourned to February 27.

How the daughter of Queensland cop killers lives with their crime

A young woman has shared what she believes brought police to a rural property in regional Queensland before her parents and uncle executed two officers and an innocent neighbour.

Madelyn Train has to live with the fact her father Nathaniel Train, mother Stacey Train and her uncle-turned-stepfather Gareth Train are cold-blooded killers.

Two young officers and an innocent neighbour were shot dead at the Wieambilla property, 300km west of Brisbane, on December 12 last year.

Madelyn Train, Queensland cop killings, Wieambilla.

Two other police officers managed to escape with their lives.

Nathaniel, Stacey and Gareth were killed in a later confrontation with police.

Nine reporter Sophie Walsh sat down to continue her exclusive one-on-one interview with Madelyn. Here is the second part of her story. You can read the first part here.

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Madelyn Train, Queensland cop killings, Wieambilla.

Officers searching for missing principal before executions

Two-and-a-half hours before Madelyn's parents and uncle opened fire on the four officers and a good samaritan, the 26-year-old received a voicemail from Walgett Police.

Officers in the New South Wales office had been investigating a missing persons report about her father, Nathaniel, filed by his second wife, Vanessa, from whom he was estranged.

Vanessa had not seen him since he left their Walgett home, in northern NSW, and abandoned his job as a school principal a year earlier.

The family tree for Nathaniel, Gareth, Stacey and Madelyn Train.

She had been in contact with him, but when that contact stopped, she contacted police with concerns for his welfare. This was two weeks before the deadly ambush.

Madelyn returned the Walgett Police officer's call when she finished work.

But by that time, her heavily armed and delusional parents had already started the bloodshed.

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Madelyn Train and Gareth Train. Wieambilla shooting.

"I think they were contacting us to see if Nathaniel was missing and get contextual information but they never should have sent anyone there until they got all the contextual information," she said.

Madelyn has claimed Vanessa warned police about the trio's mistrust before officers were sent on a welfare check mission.

"She told police officers there was a mistrust of police, that Gary had a mistrust of police," she said.

"Then the NSW police force apparently did not disclose that to the Queensland police force."

Neither Queensland or NSW Police would comment on the allegations, stating the matter remains the subject of a coronial inquiry.

Queensland Police instead directed 9News to these comments by Deputy Commissioner Tracy Linford in December 2022: "We knew very little about the Trains and there was nothing that could have caused a particular flag for our member who attended on that day that would have raised any particular concerns on that day."

'Tragic time capsule'

Madelyn has returned to the Wieambilla property twice with images showing a chilling sense of normality mixed with the remnants of chaos from that night.

Not only was there the chaos from the night of the siege, but evidence of the Train's conspiracy theories and violent scrawlings are scattered within the four walls.

READ MORE: 'Fear of the unknown' led to Queensland cop slayings, daughter claims

Inside the Wieambilla property of Stacey and Gareth Train.

Madelyn took sentimental items from the property.

"Mum always wore a specific perfume on Christmas and she had one for work so I got that," she said.

"I got the wedding dress she wore when she married Garry and our family photos they had in a box."

But what happens to the house now?

The Queensland Police Union proposed buying the property to make a memorial site at the house and a training or well-being facility on the land.

Inside the Wieambilla property of Stacey and Gareth Train.

But Madelyn doesn't agree. She said it should be left as the dark mixture of a once normal family home, turned violent crime scene and insisted "no money should be made" from it.

"I think the property should remain as it is," she said.

"I don't think anyone should buy it, I think it should stay as it is, a time capsule of multiple lives that ended very tragically."

Inside the Wieambilla property of Stacey and Gareth Train.

What now?

Madelyn is now grappling with how to live with the knowledge of the crime those she loved committed.

As a result of the attack that sent shockwaves around the country, she has lost friends and found herself out of work.

Madelyn Train. Wieambilla shooting.

"No one crosses the street because I don't look scary, but I look exactly like my mum so I ended up cutting all my hair off," she said.

"Honestly my life has been destroyed and that's fine but it's a lot to manage while you're trying to grieve lots of people."

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Stacey Train. Wieambilla siege.

The 26-year-old hopes the ripple effect from her family's horrific crime prompts improvements in the mental health sector, so people can get help before tragedy strikes.

"Everyone is traumatised by this," she said.

Madelyn had one message for the families of the officers who were killed in the siege and the innocent neighbour.

Constables Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow

"Thank you for your service, not just to the police but to the neighbour," she said.

"I wish there were more good samaritans that stopped.

"People like him should exist everywhere."

Medicare facing biggest overhaul in 40 years amid rising fees

Medicare is facing its biggest overhaul in 40 years, which could see funding opened to nurses and paramedics.

An upcoming report from the government's Strengthening Medicare Taskforce recommends changing the current funding model, moving from subsidising GP consultations alone to wrapping in care provided by nurses and paramedics.

Health minister Mark Butler said the current system is no longer fit for purpose and flagged changes in the May budget.

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Health minister Mark Butler said the current system is no longer fit for purpose and flagged changes in the May budget.

"Strengthening Medicare means modernising Medicare," Butler said.

"Patients are facing difficulty finding bulk billing doctors and out of pocket fees are on the rise.

"Doing more of the same isn't going to deliver the quality of healthcare that Australians deserve. We do need to look at reform," Butler said.

READ MORE: 'Fear of the unknown' led to Queensland cop slayings, daughter claims

Health Services Union secretary Gerard Hayes said the skills and experience of paramedics and nurses "are grossly under-utilised".

Health Services Union secretary Gerard Hayes said the skills and experience of paramedics and nurses "are grossly under-utilised".

"We have highly qualified practitioners who are in the community, who can support people within the community," Hayes said.

"If we do not take this opportunity to expand engagement, we will start to see universal healthcare disappear."

Shadow health minister Anne Rushton said she is "very supportive of actions that enable Australians to get easier access to primary care".

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Shadow health minister Anne Rushton said she is "very supportive of actions that enable Australians to get easier access to primary care".

Some general practitioners are willing to support the solution provided it comes with greater investment.

"The Medicare rebate has not kept up with the cost of delivering care," Royal Australian College of General Practitioners president Dr Nicole Higgins said.

"We just need Medicare to be funded better. It's that simple," regional GP Dr Sarah McLay said.

The final report on Medicare's future will be handed to government within weeks.

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Secret campsite recordings before accused double-murderer's arrest

Police listened to more than 5000 covert recordings of Greg Lynn in his home, car and campsites to build the case against the former airline pilot accused of killing campers Russell Hill and Carol Clay.

It's alleged the 56-year-old made comments about the deaths of the campers, which were picked up on the secret listening devices and led to his arrest in November 2021.

Hill and Clay vanished while camping in the Wonnangatta area of Victoria's alpine region in March 2020.

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Greg Lynn.

Lynn, 56, is charged with murdering the couple at their Bucks Camp campsite, sometime after 6pm on March 20, 2020. He denies the charges.

Police allege that after killing the pair he set fire to their campsite to destroy any potential evidence and dumped their bodies in remote bushland near Dargo.

They also claim Lynn returned in May and/or November that year to tamper with their remains by "burning, dispersing and partially interring them".

Detective Leading Senior Constable Daniel Passingham told Melbourne Magistrates Court that there were 5287 covert recordings obtained from listening devices in Lynn's Caroline Springs home, his car and a phone tap.

They range between one and 30 minutes in length, he said.

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According to police, Lynn had conversations with himself at various locations including at home and while camping, including referring to the deaths of Hill and Clay.

Police swooped on Lynn to arrest him after hearing on the car listening device that he was headed back to the high country. He was arrested at an Arbuckle Junction campsite on November 22, 2021.

Hill and Clay's remains were discovered a week later, four days after detectives ended a marathon interview with Lynn ending in him being charged.

Detective Sergeant Brett Florence and Det Passingham were grilled by Lynn's defence team on Monday about the contents of the interview, conducted over four days between November 22 and November 25.

But Magistrate Brett Sonnet, who is set to decide if there's sufficient evidence for Lynn to stand trial, granted a suppression order preventing the publication of information coming from or relating to the police interview.

The suppression over significant parts of the prosecution case also includes a statement Lynn made to police in July 2020 and a covert recording taken by officers the same day.

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Russell Hill and Carol Clay were reported missing after going camping at a remote site in the Wonnangatta Valley area of the Victorian Alps in March 2020.

Those pieces of evidence pose a real and substantial risk of prejudice to the administration of justice, barrister Dermot Dann KC had argued on Friday.

"The contents of these items of evidence are explosive, or may be seen as explosive in the eyes of readers or viewers," Dann said, referring to the potential for sensational reporting.

Prosecutors or police are yet to reveal how it's alleged Lynn killed the couple or what motivated the murders.

Florence said on Monday that blood and biological material confirmed through DNA as being from Clay was found on Hill's vehicle.

An autopsy on their remains was carried out but the cause of death was unable to be determined because the only bones recovered were fragmented, he said.

Dann highlighted concerns over the length of the interview, the approach to Lynn's right to silence and the approach to his legal advice.

He has previously described some aspects of the evidence as "highly inadmissible", flagging a future challenge to have details cut from the prosecution case altogether.

The hearing is set to continue on Wednesday.