Tag Archives: oceania

Safety warning after 'life-threatening' opioid sold as ketamine

A dangerous "toxic" opioid has been mis-sold as ketamine in Melbourne.

The Department of Health issued the warning today, saying a "yellow powder containing the potent opioid 'protonitazene' has been mis-sold".

The department says small amounts of the opioid can be toxic.

READ MORE: Eight men charged after Melbourne mosque break-in

https://twitter.com/VicGovDH/status/1538778715513036802

"There have been serious recent hospitalisations associated with this powder," the department on its website.

"The product appears to have strong and fast-acting effects, leading to loss of consciousness and respiratory depression which may cause life-threatening hypoxia (insufficient oxygen for normal functioning)."

Signs of overdose include tiny pupils, slow breathing and unconsciousness.

First hijab-wearing woman, lone UAP member finalise Senate seats

Labor has won three Senate seats in Western Australia while the United Australia Party gained its only seat in parliament, as the upper house results from the federal election were finalised.

Real estate agent Ralph Babet became the first and only UAP candidate to gain a seat in parliament after claiming the final Victorian spot available.

Babet took the spot from Liberal candidate Greg Mirabella, who was only sworn into the Senate in February.

READ MORE: Huge omissions in Aussie COVID-19 data

Real estate agent Ralph Babet became the first and only UAP candidate to gain a seat in parliament after claiming the final Victorian seat.

UAP founder and backer Clive Palmer reportedly spent in excess of $100 million in advertising for the 2022 federal election, of which Babet was the only successful candidate.

READ MORE: Another major cost of living blow for thousands in NSW

The party said on Facebook Babet would "take the fight to the mainstream parties to deliver a better economic future for all Australian families".

Meanwhile, Labor won three of the six available seats up for grabs in Western Australia.

Fatima Payman snared the sixth and last position for the ALP, while the Liberals won two seats and the Greens one.

Fatima Payman snared the sixth and last position for the ALP, while the Liberals won two seats and the Greens one.

The former refugee is the first hijab-wearing Muslim woman elected to parliament in Australia.

READ MORE: President says 'enjoy life', blows millions on Bitcoin

She said she was "proud" to win the seat.

The results mean the Albanese government will have 26 seats in the upper house this term, compared to the Coalition's 32 and Greens' 12.

https://twitter.com/UnitedAusParty/status/1538679540821553152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

The Jacquie Lambie Network and One Nation both have two senators, while the United Australia Party has one.

Independent David Pocock is in the remaining seat.

That makeup of the senate means that if Labor gains the support of the Greens plus one other senator, it will be able to pass legislation through the upper house regardless of how the opposition and remainder of the Senate votes.

Someone is keeping a 'secret' about deadly Easter Show stabbing, police say

Someone is keeping a "secret" about the unsolved killing of a teenager at the Sydney Royal Easter Show earlier this year, police believe.

Uati "Pele" Faletolu was knifed in the chest while on a break from working on one of the rides at the event in April of this year. He was 17 and an expectant father.

Today, police released nine seconds of security footage and asked anyone who recognises the people in it to come forward.

READ MORE: Krystal was 'days away' from giving birth when she vanished

"We've decided to make a fresh appeal and release footage today in relation to people that were actually captured in an area where the stabbing did occur just shortly before the alleged brawl and the stabbing," Homicide Squad boss Danny Doherty said.

"And the people that were captured in the footage we believe would have significant information that may be able to progress this investigation."

He said some people pictured may have spoken to police already, but others have not and they want to interview them.

"We encourage them and urge them to come forward because we believe by coming forward you may be able to provide answers for the family of Uati and may be able to help police finally resolve this matter," Doherty said.

READ MORE: Swimming makes historic transgender decision

Doherty also said investigators have been met with a "wall of silence" through the investigation and have urged people to speak to detectives.

"We do know there is people out there who have information and for whatever reason have not disclosed that information to the police," he said.

"They're either protecting someone, or just want to hold that secret for whatever reason."

Uati was stabbed on April 11, 2022, when what police described as a brawl broke out at the show.

The fight happened about 8pm in a crowded part of the event but police have so far been unable to piece together who was responsible.

Investigators do not believe it was a random attack, and another teenager, aged 16, was stabbed in the leg during the fight.

Woman arrested after five-year-old injured in Geelong hit-and-run

A 51-year-old woman has been arrested after a five-year-old boy was injured in an alleged hit-and-run on Friday in Geelong.

The boy, Angus, was crossing Munday Street with his brother at about 3.30pm when a car hit him.

The woman was arrested at her Geelong home at 12.15pm today and interviewed by investigators.

READ MORE: Man fighting for life after alleged break-in at Victorian fish and chip shop

While friends and family moved Angus off the road, the female driver was initially present at the scene.

Police and witnesses say she returned to her car moments later and drove off down Yarra Street.

Angus was taken to the Royal Children's Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The 51-year-old has been released and is expected to be charged on summons with failing to render assistance after a serious injury, failing to remain at the scene of an accident, and failing to report a collision to police.

Police have seized the woman's car, which will be forensically examined.

Krystal was 'days away' from giving birth when she vanished

Krystal Fraser was "days away" from giving birth when she vanished without a trace from country Victoria 13 years ago.

Today, on the anniversary of her disappearance, Victoria Police have issued a fresh appeal for information.

They're adamant the 23-year-old from Bendigo was murdered.

READ MORE: Hamish Blake wins Gold Logie

Krystal Fraser disappeared 13 years ago. Detectives believe the pregnant 23-year-old was murdered.

Fraser was last seen on 20 June, 2009, leaving the home of an acquaintance on Albert Street in Pyramid Hill – in north central Victoria – about 9.30pm.

That was the last anyone ever heard from the heavily pregnant woman, who was wearing an orange top, black tracksuit pants and a camouflaged-patterned baseball cap that evening.

Mystery has surrounded Fraser's disappearance for more than a decade.

READ MORE: Twenty-metre yacht engulfed by black smoke and angry flames

On the night she vanished, the then 23-year-old received a 40-second phone call to her mobile, made from a public phone booth outside the Leitchville Post Office in Findlay Avenue at 11.59pm.

Police believe they now know who made the call but are urging anyone with information or who witnessed someone at the phone box on the night to come forward.

"Police are confident we now know who made this call to Krystal," Missing Persons Squad Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Graham Hamilton said. 

"We would like that person to come forward."

Hamilton said Fraser's mobile phone had never been located.

"For the past 13 years, police have not given up finding answers as to what happened to Krystal and who is responsible," Detective Acting Inspector Tony Combridge, from the Missing Persons Squad, said.

"This remains an active and ongoing investigation and we know there are still people, particularly around Pyramid Hill, who have information that could lead to us solving this case.

Detectives have established that Krystal travelled on a V/Line train from Bendigo to Pyramid Hill on the day of her disappearance.

"It's a small community and Krystal's disappearance has had a big impact on everyone in the area, not just her family."

Detectives have long believed Fraser, who suffered from an intellectual disability, was murdered.

Her phone last showed activity on a Leitchville phone tower at 2.49am, nearly three hours after she received the call from the phone box.

READ MORE: Man charged after allegedly setting 51-year-old on fire

This indicates the phone was in the Leitchville or surrounding area.

Leitchville is 27km from Pyramid Hill and about 10 minutes from the towns of Gunbower and Cohuna.

Police say "the proximity to these towns is important".

Krystal Fraser received a 40 second phone call from a phone booth outside Leitchville Post Office on Findlay Avenue the night she vanished.

"Krystal discharged herself from hospital against medical advice on the night of her disappearance saying she was attending a 'party at Cohuna,'" a statement said.

"Investigators have made extensive inquiries in the local area that indicate that neither this or any party took place in Cohuna on that night that was attended by Krystal.

"Detectives are also aware that Krystal was associated with persons from both the Cohuna and Gunbower areas."

READ MORE: Two teens killed in WA camping horror

Police released images of clothing similar to what Krystal was wearing at the time of her disappearance.

The appeal comes three years after police upped the reward for information in Fraser's case to $1 million.

"All it takes is one call, if it's the right call, and there is a still a million dollars on offer to someone who is willing to talk," Combridge said.

"This is undoubtedly a life-changing amount of money for anyone, let alone someone in a small country town."

Anyone with information about the disappearance of Krystal Fraser is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online here.