Tag Archives: oceania

Think Australian petrol prices are bad? NZ soars past $3 a litre

Australians feeling the pain at the bowser might spare a thought for their cousins across the ditch.

In New Zealand, the price of regular unleaded petrol has surged to an average of $NZ3.32 ($2.76) a litre.

Some service stations are currently selling petrol for as high as $NZ3.49 ($2.90) a litre, with economists forecasting prices could soon hit $NZ4 a litre.

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The country is also facing major shortages of diesel, with Finance Minister Nicola Willis warning thousands of jobs are at risk if supplies dry up.

In Australia, while the price of diesel is approaching $3 a litre in some regions, the average price of unleaded is still sitting at $2.20 a litre nationally, according to the latest report from the Australian Institute of Petroleum.

Petrol prices in New Zealand are typically higher than in Australia due to higher taxes, including a higher fuel excise, as well as levies for an emissions trading scheme and 15 per cent GST.

It comes as oil prices jumped overnight after Iran threatened to shut down the Strait of Hormuz indefinitely in response to Trump's ultimatum demanding the restoration of oil traffic through the critical waterway.

LIVE UPDATES: Iran's latest threat after Trump issues ultimatum over Strait of Hormuz

Brent crude, the global benchmark, climbed 1.69 per cent to about US$114.09 ($162) a barrel while US crude rose 2 per cent to US$100.29.

If they persist, those prices will see the amount consumers pay at the bowser climb still higher, once they flow through to retail supply.

In yet more grim news, global investment bank Goldman Sachs said last week that elevated prices could persist through next year.

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Almost half of all Australians think an attack on the country is ‘probable’

Australians believe the country is at greater risk of a military attack in the next five years, with anxiety growing that Australia is not prepared for such an event, a new study has revealed.

About 68 per cent of Aussies believe the country will be involved in a military conflict in the next five years, with half believing Australia will be attacked itself, according to a study from the Australian National University.

From this, 43 per cent of Aussies believe such an attack would have a catastrophic impact on the country, but not many think the country is equipped to deal with such a serious event.

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Shoppers at Pitt Street Mall in Sydneys

"Fewer than one-in-five respondents believed the nation is 'very' or 'fully' prepared," the study said.

"On most issues surveyed, most respondents said Australia is either 'slightly' or 'moderately' prepared."

Terrorism has also become a bigger fear since the Bondi Beach shooting last year, with almost three-quarters of Australians rating it a serious issue in February, compared to just 55 per cent when asked the same question in November 2024.

"In a time when our security landscape is changing, it would be wrong to assume that Australians are complacent. Most are concerned and want to know more," said ANU Professor Rory Medcalf.

MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT: Iran hits back after Trump's chilling deadline

Petrol bowsers across NSW have begun running out of fuel.

The Australian government's terrorism threat level is currently listed as "probable", which means there is a more than 50 per cent chance of an attack in the next 12 months, or an attack being planned during this time.

Australia's national spy agency ASIO said there was a "normalisation of provocative and inflammatory behaviours", and warned the current conflict in the Middle East was resonating in Australia, and could motivate potential attacks.

They said any attack was most likely to be conducted by a lone perpetrator or a small group in a simple and low-cost manner.

"Basic weapons, such as knives, vehicles, explosives, and firearms can maximise casualties when combined with simple tactics," the agency warns.

The survey, which took in responses from 20,000 people across the country, found non-military threats were viewed as more serious, with AI-attacks, severe economic crisis, and disruption to critical supplies viewed as significant fears for Australians.

With a disrupted oil supply leading to skyrocketing fuel prices and demand for petrol across the country due to the Middle East conflict, Australians' fears may not be completely unfounded.

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Kyle kicks off legal battle against ARN days after being sacked

Kyle Sandilands has officially kicked off legal proceedings against former employer ARN Media after it ripped up his $100 million contract last week.

Court documents were served on Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), a subsidiary of ARN that holds the licence for KIIS 1065 Sydney and the contract with Sandilands, on Friday.

ARN announced the news in an ASX market update released this morning.

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Radio host Kyle Sandilands leaves  is home in, Vaucluse, 17 March 2026. Image 2

Sandilands' legal team is arguing that ARN's claim he committed "serious misconduct" during an on-air bust-up with co-host Jackie O Henderson is untrue.

They argue his termination on the grounds of serious misconduct is therefore invalid.

"They allege that there was no act of serious misconduct or breach of contract, and that the termination was unconscionable under the Australian Consumer Law," the statement from ARN reads.

"The applicants seek an order for specific performance of two contracts, payment of whatever amounts are due and payable under the contracts at the time of judgment, and damages."

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Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O Henderson

ARN disputes Sandilands' claims and said it intends to defend the proceedings.

It could be a costly legal battle, given that there was believed to be more than $80 million still on Sandilands' 10-year contract.

"Given the early stage of the matter, ARN is unable to reliably estimate the outcome or any potential financial impact," the statement said.

Sandilands announced his contract with ARN had been terminated last Wednesday.

He said in a statement at the time that he planned to take legal action and alleged that the network wanted a way out of the $100 million deal with him.

"They thought they saw a chance to get out of the contract they signed with me a year ago, and they ran with it," Sandilands claimed.

Henderson is also reportedly considering legal action after she was taken off air in February.

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Discovery of Roman villa in Wales ‘changes the narrative’

A visit to Margam Country Park, about 40 kilometres west of Cardiff, is like stepping back to another era.

The lower grounds of the estate are scattered within the ruins of an 879-year-old abbey, once ravaged by the bubonic plague, while the more recently built 19th century Margam Castle sits at a higher vantage point, with views out across Port Talbot.

But a chance discovery in an adjacent field has uncovered a significant monument dating back to the Roman empire.

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Dr Alexander Langlands, Associate Professor at Swansea University

"We are looking, I think without a shadow of a doubt, at a major Roman villa structure, potentially the largest in Wales and something that really is unknown in this part of the world," Swansea University Associate Professor Alexander Langlands.

It was discovered by chance, when a team of geophysical surveyors, commissioned by Langlands, proceeded to scan an unassuming area of the park after concluding their work on the abbey grounds.

"They said, 'I think you might want to come over, we've found something'," he said.

"As soon as I saw it, I thought 'Wow, that's impressive'."

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The exact location of the site within the park's grounds is being kept confidential to protect it from treasure hunters.

It is sitting about half to 1.8 metres below the surface, spanning out across an area of about 500 square metres.

Scans have detected portions of walls and the foundations of several structures including the villa and a basilica-like structure, believed to be more than 1600 years old.

Langlands said the discovery suggested the Romano-British people were living more peacefully and prosperously in this area than previously thought.

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Discovery of Roman villa in Wales "changes the narrative" for western Britain

"This find changes the narrative I think for south Wales and for western Britain more generally," he said.

"Often we talk about Wales as being a sort of 'edge of empire', a 'frontier zone' prone to instability and raiding from the west.

"But actually, to have something this fancy – something that would not be out of place in somewhere like Somerset or Gloucestershire – suggests that you've really got a civilised and peaceful way of life all the way here in West Glamorgan.

"To find one this size is really exceptional."

READ MORE: Ice cream shop 'firebombed' again, residents evacuated

The 'Pompeii of Port Talbot'

Researchers are hoping there may be other artefacts waiting to be discovered at the site like coins, pottery or even mosaics that would explain more about the former inhabitants of what was once known as Britannia.

They are hoping to be granted national funding to begin meticulous excavation works.

Councillor Cen Phillips from Neath Port Talbot Council said the site would likely draw international tourists and had already been given the nickname "Pompeii of Port Talbot".

"We already have so much heritage just in the park, from the Bronze Age right through to the 19th Century industrialists and their tremendous mansion," he said.

"To be able to add this missing link to the story is going to be huge for our communities."

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‘Clear message’: One Nation surge confirmed with historic win

One Nation is set to join South Australia's lower house after converting surging support in the polls into a historic foothold in the state election.

As Labor romped to a record victory, Pauline Hanson's party capitalised on anger against the establishment, achieving its best result anywhere in Australia for decades and decimating the Liberal party.

"It's the start of a new beginning for the people of South Australia and the people of Australia," the One Nation leader said.

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Pauline Hanson

"This will send a clear message. I'm not going to stop at South Australia, I'm going to go to after the seat of Farrer [in an upcoming NSW byelection], and then Victoria."

In South Australia's lower house, the Labor Party will increase its majority to at least 32 and could gain as many as 35 seats.

The Liberals have only four with slim hope that they could hold another three.

One Nation's David Payton, the Adelaide Plains Council deputy mayor, won the seat of Ngadjuri, the party's first lower house seat won at an election outside of Queensland.

The party is on track for at least two seats in the lower house and at least another in the upper house, where SA One Nation leader Cory Bernardi is its lead candidate.

The votes are still being counted and the results won't be known for days in some elections.

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Labor's Peter Malinauskas landed the largest election victory in the state's history.

"We can and should wave our flag with pride knowing that Aussie patriotism sometimes means sitting with a stranger and sharing a cuppa or a frothy," he said.

While most of the state went to the polls supporting Labor, more than one in five South Australians backed One Nation, which overtook the Liberals as the second most popular in the state.

One Nation leads the Liberal Party in two-thirds of lower house seats and outside of Adelaide, they lead all parties in total vote, figures that will likely scare the major parties in other states and in Canberra.

Peter Malinauskas

"I think the lesson from that not just in South Australia but federally is that people are angry," former opposition leader David Littleproud said.

Former Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce, who joined One Nation in December after a fallout with the Coalition's junior partner, celebrated the party's first successful election test with a promise: this is only the beginning.

As the results became clear, the Liberals were baying for blood, not blaming current leader Ashton Hurn but demanding an apology from former leader David Speirs.

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One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra on Monday 19 January 2026.

He apologised during Nine's SA Election coverage for the effects his personal scandals have had on the Liberal Party.

The former state opposition leader was fined $9000 and handed 37.5 hours of community service after being convicted for supplying cocaine to two men.

Man shot by police outside Logan shopping centre

A man who was allegedly armed with a knife is fighting for life after being shot by police outside a shopping complex south of Brisbane.

Police were called to Logan Central on Ewing Road just before 6pm (7pm AEDT) yesterday following reports a knife-wielding man was making threats to members of the public.

Video footage shows the man smashing the windows of a car and jumping on its roof before pulling out a knife and allegedly threatening others.

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A man allegedly armed with a knife has been seriously injured after being shot by police in Logan.

"He's on there, jumping on it, destroying the roof, and next thing you know he pulls out a knife," one witness who did not want to be identified said.

"The guy keeps yelling, 'I'll come for you guys with the knife', so it was pretty scary," another witness said.

When officers attempted to engage with the 27-year-old man, police allege he approached them with a weapon.

Police then opened fire and shot the man.

Officers provided first aid at the scene and he was taken to the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane for treatment under police guard.

He remains in a life-threatening condition.

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A man allegedly armed with a knife has been seriously injured after being shot by police in Logan.

It is understood police will speak to the man once he recovers.

Nobody else was injured during the incident, and police say there is no ongoing threat to the public.

A crime scene has been declared and the Ethical Standards Command and Crime and Corruption Commission will investigate the shooting.

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Suspected arson attack on ice cream shop may be linked to organised crime

Police are investigating whether a suspected arson attack on an ice cream shop in Melbourne's south-west is linked to organised crime.

It is the second time since 2024 the shop has been firebombed, having only reopened after the first attack five months ago.

Firefighters were called to reports of a fire at a a popular shopping and restaurant district on Nelson Place in Williamstown about 3.45am.

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It is the second time since 2024 the shop has been firebombed, having only reopened after the first attack five months ago.Fire at Nelson Place in Williamstown

Multiple crews worked to extinguish the blaze at the ice creamery but the premises sustained "significant" damage, police said.

Residents were woken in the night to a frightening scene.

"The smoke was really unbearable, all of a sudden we could hear bangs," local resident Leo Raffoul said.

"It was really scary, we all had to be evacuated in the middle of the night, bring the children out on the street."

The shop was unoccupied at the time of the fire, as was a residence above the business.

Police have established a crime scene.

Such attacks on ice cream shops have become more common in recent times.

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Fire at Nelson Place in Williamstown

Since late 2022, there have been at least six suspicious fires at ice cream shops on the Nelson Place strip, with another in Tarneit in Melbourne's west also set on fire.

The two attacks that happened in the last two days are believed to be linked to the notorious Haddara family.

Raffoul said residents were becoming frustrated with the recent attacks.

"We approached the council that they should put surveillance camera and [we're] really angry that they haven't done anything about it," he said.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, has dashcam or CCTV footage or has information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Man charged after two-hour siege following car chase in Sydney’s west

A man has been charged after allegedly leading police on a pursuit through Sydney's west that ended in a two-hour siege at an apartment block.

The chase began just after 3am when police tried to stop a Toyota Camry on Aurora Drive in Tregear.

Police began chasing the car along Luxford Road, where it was allegedly seen on video speeding, before it turned into a block of flats on Halinda Street in Whalan.

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Police were forced to wait until 5am to arrest the alleged driver of the car.

Police allege Shaun Baxter, 38, got out of the car and went inside, leaving a passenger behind.

Police arrested the passenger but said he was quickly released after they spoke to him.

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They set up a perimeter around the apartments, waiting for the man to come out.

Police told residents to stay inside for their own safety.

"[A] swarm of cops followed after, [the] canine unit and more cops came up, got a scent of him, took off down the driveway," witness Declan Boulson said.

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The 38-year-old man will appear in court today.

When Baxter emerged at 5am, he was arrested and charged with multiple offences.

That includes not stopping leading to a police pursuit, driving recklessly, dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, and breaching a domestic violence apprehended violence order.

He appeared in court today, where he was refused bail.

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