Warning: Graphic content. A court has heard a convicted child sex offender’s upbringing within the Exclusive Brethren Church may have pre-disposed him to offend the way he did.Anthony Daryl Hoyle appeared before Judge Bruce Northwood…
Tag Archives: oceania
Tenancy Tribunal: Rabbit ownership breeds issues for tenant and landlord alike
A tenant who failed to desex her three rabbits ended up with more than 18 bunnies in her care, leading to a stoush with the landlords after they were caught peeking through her windows to keep an eye on the pets.The tenant and the…
Data shows Aussies have right to be furious about fuel price hikes
Australians were told petrol prices would immediately jump by more than 20 cents when the federal government's excise cut ends, but data shows drivers have already been slugged with a big hike – despite falling wholesale costs.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said last week a stockpile of 700 million litres, all bought at cheaper rates while the excise was halved, would ensure some price stability once the excise returns to its full rate at midnight tonight.
"This is 700 million reasons why the price should not shoot up by the full 23 cents on the night the excise ends," he said on September 20.
READ MORE: Petrol prices are about to jump up. Here's why
However, while drivers around the country might not be hit with that full price hike tomorrow, it seems it seems retailers around the country have been getting in early with their increases.
Data in the Australian Institute of Petroleum's (AIP) weekly petrol prices report shows fuel costs have shot up by more than ten cents in the week ending Sunday, September 26, even though wholesale prices – the price retailers buy their stock at – have moved in the opposite direction.
The report states the average wholesale price for unleaded petrol in Australia was 150.2 cents per litre for the week ending September 23, down from 152.3 the previous period.
READ MORE: Aussies urged to get to the servo for final day of fuel excise cut
Retail prices, however, rose sharply.
Last week, the average price motorists paid at the bowser for unleaded fuel was 173.9 cents per litre.
The week before, it was 163.5.
The increase was even greater in metropolitan areas, where the weekly increase was 15.2 cents per litre.
In regional areas, that figure was just 0.9.
The AIP report also highlights the difference between wholesale and retail petrol prices is the highest it has been in more than two years, currently sitting at 23.7 cents per litre.
While that gap isn't necessarily solely composed of profits for retailers – the AIP notes it also covers the likes of transport costs, wages, and other administration costs – the NRMA has called on companies to immediately drop their "unacceptably high" prices.
EXPLAINED: What to do if your details have been hacked in the Optus data leak
"Australians know that the excise cut to the wholesale price will be reinstated on Thursday, however prices today are already unacceptably high and we need to see a correction immediately," the NRMA's Peter Khoury said in a statement on Wednesday.
"Australians are already facing cost of living pressures.
"There is no restraint being shown by the oil companies today, so it is critical the excise isn't passed on to customers immediately."
"Had the oil companies been consistent, prices should have fallen off the high point and that fall needs to start now.
"Let's hope more restraint is shown after the reintroduction of the excise than what we've seen this week."
The ACCC has said it is monitoring the fuel price situation for "abnormal movements".
Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said it should take around one to two weeks for the excise increase to be fully passed on to customers, and has promised the body will prosecute anti-competitive behaviour from retailers.
"If there is any indication of anti-competitive conduct, we will investigate it closely, and if there's evidence of it, we will prosecute it."
Grandfather threatened to put girls up for adoption if they told anyone he was raping them
WARNING: This story discusses sexual abuse and may be upsetting. A man who raped his granddaughters in their beds, shower, a shed and his car told them he would put them up for adoption if they told anyone.The defendant, who has…
World War II bombs found in waters around small Pacific Island country Tuvalu
An international naval team has discovered a piece of history in Tuvalu waters, uncovering a staggering 22 World War II-era bombs near the isolated Pacific nation.The Tuvalu Government asked the Australian Defence Force to search…
18-year-old arrested after shooting in Gisborne overnight
Police arrested an 18-year-old after two young people and a woman were shot in Gisborne on Tuesday night.Police received multiple calls about 9.45pm yesterday of multiple gunshots at a house on Totara Street, Tairāwhiti Area…
Fruit yoghurt recalled after 'chemical contamination'
A fruit yoghurt sold at IGA in two Australian states has been recalled due to the presence of sanitiser.
Brownes Food Operations today issued a recall of its Dairy Mango Yoghurt 120g that has an expiry date of October 14, 2022.
READ MORE: Popular craft beer sold at Dan Murphy's, BWS, Liquorland recalled for 'excess alcohol'
The recall is due to "chemical contamination" from sanitising solution.
The yoghurt has been for sale at independent food retailers including IGA stores in New South Wales and Western Australia.
Food products with a low concentration of sanitising solution may cause illness or injury if consumed.
EXPLAINED: What to do if your details have been hacked in the Optus data leak
The NSW Food Authority has advised people with this yoghurt to return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund.
READ MORE: Drivers forced off-road as storm sweeps NSW
"Consumers should not eat this product," the recall stated.
"Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice."
Kiwi trial to investigate magic mushrooms and treatment-resistant depression
A new trial is set to look into whether a hallucinogenic drug could provide effective treatment for those with severe depression. University of Otago Christchurch professor Marie Crowe said the trial will take 10 weeks and involve…
Ex-football star breaks silence after attempted carjacking
A former Australian football player went into "fight or flight" mode when she fell victim to an attempted carjacking at knifepoint during a live radio interview.
Elissia Carnavas, an ex-Young Matilda, was being interviewed live by Simon Hill for SEN radio's The Global Game shortly around 10.30pm on Tuesday when she suddenly started screaming.
Hill had no idea Carnavas' car had been surrounded, with one person producing a knife and demanding she give up the car.
READ MORE: Two blasts detected before sinister disturbance on Baltic Sea
"I have no idea what has gone on there, I really hope Elissia is okay," Hill said.
Carnavas explained that she'd pulled over as she didn't want to wake her kids while doing the interview and that she "thought nothing of it" when the car first pulled up, thinking the occupants were lost.
"It was all very, very quick," she told SEN, explaining she was in her "own world" as she gave her football analysis.
"The most harrowing thing was (having) people right at the window, wanting to get in and take your vehicle.
"(I went into) flight or fight mode, I put the car into drive and got out of there as quickly as I could.
"My first reaction was to call my husband – he didn't answer – so then the police."
Carnavas said she is doing okay, despite the "scary experience".
"It was a bit of shock to be honest – a little bit of wrong place, wrong time," she said.
"But I'm feeling okay given the circumstances.
"When you're so close to home I guess you don't really think that someone will ambush your car."
Police said a group of "at least" five men pulled up alongside the footballer's car in a VW Passat in Coorparoo.
EXPLAINED: What to do if your details have been hacked in the Optus data leak
"The males attempted to open the door, with one of them producing a knife and yelling at the woman through the closed driver's side window," a statement said.
"They were unable to gain entry as the vehicle was locked and returned back to the VW Passat before leaving onto Bennetts Road."
An investigation into the incident has been launched.
Later that evening Hill took to Twitter to assure listeners Carnavas was okay.
"Shout out to @elissiacar who had an awful experience tonight live on @GlobalGameSEN as thieves attempted to hijack her car," he wrote.
"Thankfully, she got out of that situation and is fine.
"The most terrifying moment of my career that's for sure, and we're just relieved she's okay."
READ MORE: Drivers forced off-road as storm sweeps NSW
SEN also released a statement after the interview.
"To all who heard Elissia Carnavas on air, she is okay," a spokesman said.
"A scary situation which she has managed to get herself out of.
"We thank everyone for their concern".
Carnavas made history when she became the first African-born woman to feature for an Australian national team.
She helped drive a 2021 independent review of the team amid allegations of bullying, intimidation and inappropriate behaviour.
Killer bomber jailed over Las Vegas murder escapes from prison
A 42-year-old convicted bombmaker serving life in prison for a deadly 2007 explosion outside a Las Vegas Strip resort has escaped from a Nevada state prison.
Officials realised Porfirio Duarte-Herrera was missing during a morning head count at Southern Desert Correctional Centre near Las Vegas, and a state Department of Corrections statement said search teams were looking for him.
Duarte-Herrera, from Nicaragua, was convicted in 2010 of killing a hot dog stand vendor using a motion-activated bomb in a coffee cup atop a car parked at the Luxor hotel-casino.
READ MORE: Two blasts detected before sinister disturbance on Baltic Sea
Records show his co-defendant, Omar Rueda-Denvers, remained in custody on Tuesday.
The 47-year-old from Guatemala is serving a life sentence at a different Nevada prison for murder, attempted murder, explosives and other charges.
A Clark County District Court jury spared both men from the death penalty in the slaying of Willebaldo Dorantes Antonio, whom prosecutors identified as the boyfriend of Rueda-Denvers’ ex-girlfriend.
EXPLAINED: What to do if your details have been hacked in Optus data leak
Prosecutors said jealousy was the motive for the attack on the top deck of a two-storey parking structure.
The blast initially raised fears of a terrorist attack on the Strip.
Officials described Duarte-Herrera as 5 feet, 4 inches tall (162cm) and 135 pounds (61kg), with brown eyes and brown hair.