Tag Archives: oceania

Prime Minister topples child while playing soccer

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has had an unfortunate sporting mishap in Tasmania on the campaign trail.

The PM was invited to join in a kid's soccer match – still in his shirt, tie and formal shoes – at Devonport Strikers Soccer Club.

The nation's leader, keen to get in on the action, powered from the outside of the field, towards the ball, his tie flapping over his shoulder.

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison accidentally knocks over a child during a visit to the Devonport Strikers Soccer Club, which is in the electorate of Braddon in Devonport, Australia. Prime Minister Scott Morrison accidentally knocks over a child during a visit to the Devonport Strikers Soccer Club, which is in the electorate of Braddon in Devonport, Australia. Prime Minister Scott Morrison accidentally knocks over a child during a visit to the Devonport Strikers Soccer Club, which is in the electorate of Braddon in Devonport, Australia. Prime Minister Scott Morrison accidentally knocks over a child during a visit to the Devonport Strikers Soccer Club, which is in the electorate of Braddon in Devonport, Australia.

Unfortunately, with his eye fixed firmly on the ball, he barrelled into a little player.

The young player was toppled by Morrison, who landed on top of him.

Morrison pulled the ginger-haired young sportsman on top of him in an
awkward hug, before sitting up looking dazed.

Once the pair had recovered, the PM gave him a high five.

FULL COVERAGE: Federal Election 2022

Man charged after lockdown in two Brisbane suburbs

A man has been charged following a bomb scare in the Brisbane suburbs of Coorparoo and Wooloowin last night, which triggered an emergency lockdown for residents.

Police allege the 42-year-old left a plastic tub filled with remnants of an explosive device outside the front door of a Wooloowin home, triggering two Public Safety Preservation Act emergency alerts.

9News understands residents within the home phoned police, saying they do not know the man or why he allegedly left the suspicious items, which were detonated by the police bomb squad outside the home.

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Police flooded the two areas, door-knocking residents as police in helicopters used a megaphone to tell people to stay indoors.

"What didn't we see," resident Tony Coetzee said.

"Fire brigade, bomb squad, ambulance, cops in uniform, undercover, the place was overrun with them."

After a three hour pursuit, the Capalaba man was located in Coorparoo and arrested.

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He remains at Princess Alexandra Hospital under police guard and is undergoing a mental health assessment.

The 42-year-old has been hit with a string of charges including manufacturing and possessing explosives, carrying a knife in public, assuming the designation of a police officer and carrying dangerous drugs.

He appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court this afternoon.

South Australian teen charged with supplying 'fake' Xanax

An 18-year-old South Australian man has been charged over supplying illegal drugs to three teenagers who, after taking the tablets, were urgently hospitalised.

Police searched the Elizabeth Vale mans home today and found more than 1400 pills marked as Xanax but which actually contained illicit and potentially life threatening substances.

Police say some of the fake Xanax were packaged and ready for supply.

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The man was charged with supplying drugs to a child and trafficking a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug.

He was refused police bail and will appear in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court tomorrow.

SA Police are urging the public to ensure any medication taken is prescribed by a doctor.

Another inquiry announced into Kathleen Folbigg's convictions

The New South Wales attorney-general has recommended another inquiry into the convictions of Kathleen Folbigg for killing her children after new scientific evidence emerged.

Mark Speakman said he would not be recommending a pardon to the NSW Governor because "it's not appropriate against the backdrop of what has happened nor fairness and transparency".

This decision comes despite a petition lodged by her legal team and a group of scientists.

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"It would be undermining confidence in the judicial process and our justice system if I, as a politician, recommend behind closed doors to the governor that there be a pardon," Speakman said on Wednesday afternoon.

Speakman has instead recommended another inquiry into Folbigg's conviction.

"I have opted to recommend a public inquiry. This is more likely to get to the bottom of the scientific evidence rather than an adversarial process before the court of criminal appeal," he said.

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NSW Attorney General Mark Speakman announces a new inquiry into convicted serial killer Kathleen Folbigg.

"There is no other option for some kind of renewed chance for Folbigg given the way this scientific evidence has emerged and the nature of the scientific evidence."

Speakman apologised to Folbigg's ex-husband for the inquiry and the "re-traumatisation" it could cause.

One of Folbigg's solicitors, Rhanee Rego, said today's announcement proves their "profoundly serious doubts" about their clients' convictions.

"We are confident the overwhelming evidence will finally free Kathleen Folbigg and prove her innocence," she said.

One of Kathleen Folbigg's solicitors Rhanee Rego speaks on today's announcement of an inquiry.

Rego added Folbigg was "bitterly disappointed" that Speakman did not use his powers to grant a pardon.

"She feels the genetic evidence, the pathology evidence and the diary evidence is overwhelming and she hoped the attorney general would apply the law, as he can, to pardon her," she said.

"We will stand with Ms Folbigg until she is free."

Folbigg was convicted of killing her three children Patrick, Sarah and Laura as well as the manslaughter of her firstborn Caleb, between 1989 to 1999.

The babies were aged between 19 days and 19 months.

Prosecutors argued that Folbigg smothered her children during periods of frustration and asserted that some of her diary entries were admissions of guilt.

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Caleb, Patrick, Laura and Sarah Folbigg all died before their 2nd birthday.

A petition for the release of Folbigg was delivered in March last year to the NSW Governor Margaret Beazley.

The petition came about after 90 medical and scientific experts pushed for Folbigg to receive a full pardon and argued she is not responsible for the death of her four children.

Scientists found two of her daughters had a genetic mutation that could have caused their deaths.

Kathleen Folbigg leaving Maitland Court in 2004.

All other appeals against her convictions have so far been denied and an inquiry in 2019 upheld her conviction.

Folbigg has maintained she is innocent and argues her children died from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

She has been in a NSW jail since 2003.

Rego said last week she is "very confident" her client will be acquitted based on new genetic evidence.

Rego told Today a team of 27 scientists from all over the world tested a genetic mutation that is believed to have been passed on from Folbigg to her daughters.

"They concluded the genetic mutation is as lethal as other mutations known to kill children in the past," Rego told Today.

"So, they submitted their research to a prestigious Oxford University journal and concluded this was the cause of the girls' deaths. That is why we're asking the Attorney- General to pardon Kathleen Folbigg."

Scott Morrison quizzed by kids on podcast

Prime Minister Scott Morrison may have skipped the Press Club, but he did manage to find time to answer questions from Australian kids for a podcast.

The prime minister answered questions posted to him by children on Squiz Kids, which is listened to by 140,000 parents and kids.

Spared questions about the deficit and foreign affairs, Mr Morrison was instead asked if he got in trouble at school.

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison campaigning in Perth.

"I did my fair share of detention," he said.

"Many years ago, they used to give you the cane, and I got that once or twice as well."

He was also asked if everyone in his family was happy when he became prime minister.

"I think everyone was a bit surprised," he said, with a laugh.

"It happened all very suddenly."

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Scott Morrison said many people who officially died of COVID-19 probably died of something else - something doctors dispute.

Podcast host Bryce Corbett said the questions reflect the interest kids are taking in the election.

"Our politicians are getting grilled every day on the campaign trail by professional journalists – but nothing gets an honest answer out of a politician like a question asked by a kid," Corbett said.

"The Squiz Kids audience tell it like it is, they're clearly not afraid to ask the tough questions."

The election is just four days away.

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