Whoever placed the vacuum-packed cash in the ceiling remains a mystery.
Tag Archives: oceania
Mother of Poseidyn Reigns Hemopo-Pickering tells inquest she lied to police after baby died
Poseidyn Reigns Hemopo-Pickering, of Manurewa, died in September 2020.
Riverhead meth bust: Two arrested, semi-automatic rifle and pistol seized
Officers seized an M4-style rifle and a 3D-printed semi-automatic pistol.
Murderer’s lengthy DV history ‘should’ have raised alarm earlier, coroner says
A murderer's history of domestic violence should have raised greater alarm sooner, a coroner has found, sparking calls for police risk assessment policies to be reviewed.
Maryam Hamka, 36, was killed by her partner Toby Loughnane in April 2021 at his Brighton apartment, in Melbourne's southeast.
Weeks earlier, on March 6, police responded to reports of a separate incident in which Loughnane chased Hamka while armed with a knife to her mother's home.
LIVE UPDATES: Iran made chilling nuclear threat, US claims
Victoria Police's Family Violence Investigation Unit triaged the incident as medium risk in line with its guidelines.
In findings released today, State Coroner Liberty Sanger said Loughnane's long history of family violence should have raised greater concern and warranted specialist oversight.
"This incident should have been classified as high risk," she said.
When police arrived, Hamka had already left the scene and denied the incident took place when they contacted her.
Her sister, however, told police the incident did take place, telling officers Loughnane had also "bashed her really bad previously".
A police report noted the parties had no previous family violence reports despite Loughnane's history of family violence.
On April 11, Loughnane killed Hamka and later buried her body in a shallow grave at Cape Schanck, on the Mornington Peninsula.
A jury found him guilty of murder and, in February 2025, he was sentenced to 28 years' imprisonment with 20 years non-parole.
FINANCE: The $78,000 fee stopping baby boomers from downsizing
Judge Sanger did not suggest a different rating would have prevented Hamka's death or that it was wrong under the relevant policy, but said it may have overlooked the gravity of Loughnane's violence.
"Even if the risk assessment tool did not assess this as high risk, in my view, this does not obviate the need for members to use professional judgment," the coroner wrote.
Loughnane had been recorded by Victoria Police as a family violence perpetrator on 21 occasions.
He had been jailed for violent offending, breached court orders and been managed under high-risk police monitoring in relation to other women.
Judge Sanger recommended the state government fund an independent evaluation of Victoria Police's risk models and Family Violence Investigation Units.
She also called on the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing to provide ongoing funding for long-term perpetrator interventions.
Support is available by calling 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732, Lifeline on 13 11 14 and Men's Referral Service on 1300 766 491.
NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.
- Download the 9NEWS App here via Apple and Google Play
- Make 9News your preferred source on Google by ticking this box here
- Sign up to our breaking newsletter here
Aldi recalls popular lunchbox snack sold across Australia
A popular lunchbox snack sold in Aldi stores across Australia has been taken off the shelves due to the potential presence of black rubber pieces.
The supermarket giant is recalling Hillcrest Bubble Bars in the choc rainbow, birthday cake and choc chip flavours with the best before date 08 Sep 2026.
The products were available for sale in 132g boxes in Aldi stores in NSW, the ACT, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia.
LATEST: Kyle fill-in's message for listeners after Jackie O quits radio show
EXCLUSIVE: Peita was slapped with $6000 fine for hosting 'tiny' swap meet
"Food products containing black rubber pieces may cause illness or injury if consumed," the recall notice said.
"Consumers should not eat this product.
"Consumers should return the product(s) to the place of purchase for a full refund.
"Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice."
Shoppers can call the ALDI Stores Food Recall Hotline on 1800 709 993 for more information or visit the Aldi website.
Consumers can also visit the Food Standards Australia New Zealand website.
NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.
- Download the 9NEWS App here via Apple and Google Play
- Make 9News your preferred source on Google by ticking this box here
- Sign up to our breaking newsletter here
Unions launch bid to give Aussies an extra week of annual leave
Australians could get up to one-and-a-half months of leave per year under a new plan launched by the largest trade union in the country.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) have announced their bid to increase the annual leave given to working Aussies to five to six weeks, claiming Australians carry out over a month of unpaid work a year, citing figures from the Centre of Future Work.
They argue this leads to a higher rate of stress and burnout, which should be addressed.
LIVE+BLOCKED: Iran made chilling nuclear threat, US claims
Currently, many working Australians have four to five weeks of annual leave per year.
"Getting back one of these weeks is fair and reasonable. It will mean a better rested and happier workforce," ACTU Secretary Sally McManus said.
"The majority of European countries have already moved beyond four weeks," she claimed, naming several European countries like France, Germany and Austria.
READ MORE: The reality of being an Aussie stuck in Dubai during the Middle East crisis
The ACTU will table the plans to the National Employment Standards (NES) as part of a parliamentary enquiry into the NES.
They say if the changes are approved, it will be the first increase in the minimum standard of annual leave since the 1970s.
McManus claims younger workers are doing the most unpaid work, and will benefit more from the changes.
READ MORE: Eight-year-old Australian girl dies at Japan ski resort
"Younger workers – from 18 to 24 years old – most urgently need to see this burden start to lift. They are the ones doing the most unpaid work," she said.
The ACTU also claim the gap between productivity and real wages has widened, but concede increasing annual leave by a week will add an extra two per cent to employment costs.
However, they claim it would not have a negative impact on the overall economy, because workers would be more to stay in their jobs and would be more productive due to a lower rate of burnout and other fatigue factors.
BREAKING: Australia's economy growth stronger than expected, new GDP data shows
The Business Council of Australia has opposed the move, saying it wasn't appropriate for such a policy to be mandated at a broader level without consideration for specific businesses.
"With weak productivity growth, inflation rising and living standards under pressure, this proposal does nothing to address these real challenges," Business Council chief executive Bran Black claimed.
"This proposal assumes businesses can simply absorb the cost of extra leave without any improvement in productivity, effectively mandating that employers fund higher costs without addressing the underlying drivers of wage growth.
"We support flexible working arrangements and entitlements, but a one-size-fits-all government mandate is the wrong approach."
NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.
- Download the 9NEWS App here via Apple and Google Play
- Make 9News your preferred source on Google by ticking this box here
- Sign up to our breaking newsletter here
Furious Republican senator threatens to bring Trump agenda to a halt
Donald Trump's Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, has been berated during a Senate hearing by a member of her own party.
Republican Senator Thom Tillis demanded Noem's resignation over what he described as her disastrous leadership.
A visibly angry Tillis tore into Noem over American citizens being wrongfully detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
READ MORE: Key American ally moves into battle position
Citing "stonewalling" from Noem, Tillis threatened to bring much of the Senate's work to a halt.
"If I don't get an answer to these questions that you've had a month to respond to, I'll be informing leadership that I'll be putting a hold on any en banc nominations," Tillis told Noem.
"And in two weeks, if I don't get a response, I'm going to deny quorum and markup in as many committees as I can."
The senator was angry about how Noem characterised Renee Good and Alex Pretti, two protesters killed by ICE agents.
Tillis then referenced an anecdote Noem wrote about in her book, where she killed a disobedient 14-month-old dog.
"A 14-month-old dog is basically a teenager in dog years," Tillis said in a raised voice.
"You decided to kill that dog because you had not invested the appropriate time and training and then you have the audacity to go into a book and say it's a leadership lesson about tough choices."
He also criticised Noem as "incompetent" over her handling of FEMA, the US emergency response bureau.
READ MORE: Conservative commentators lash Donald Trump's decision to attack Iran
He was specifically critical of her handling of the Hurricane Helene response in his home state of North Carolina.
Tillis is retiring at the end of his term in January, and as he nears the end of his Senate career, his criticism of the Trump administration has become more strident.
He is likely to be replaced by Democrat Roy Cooper, who is well ahead in the polls.
Noem was also criticised by another Republican, Louisiana's John Kennedy, over her appearance in an ad campaign for the Department of Homeland Security.
"The president approved ahead of time you spending $220 million running TV ads across the country in which you are featured prominently?" he asked Noem.
"It's just hard for me to believe, knowing the president as I do, that you said, 'Mr President, here's some ads I've cut, and I'm going to spend $220 million running them' that he would have agreed to that."
Democratic Senator Cory Booker said 170 American citizens had been wrongly detained by ICE.
Noem has refused to resign from her role.
READ MORE: Trump's past comments on Iran come back to haunt him
NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.
- Download the 9NEWS App here via Apple and Google Play
- Make 9News your preferred source on Google by ticking this box here
- Sign up to our breaking newsletter here
All the best photos from the rare blood moon last night
Aussies who didn't witness the dramatic sights can get a peek at what they missed here.
Aussie pubs, jobs safe for now as UK company lays off hundreds of staff
Several Australian BrewDog pubs are unlikely to be impacted after dozens of bars were closed and hundreds of staff made redundant in the UK chain of the same name.
The company has four breweries and about 100 pubs around the globe, including five here in Australia.
They're located at Murarrie and Fortitude Valley in Brisbane, Pentridge in Melbourne, South Eveleigh in Sydney, and West Perth in Perth and employ dozens of staff.
LIVE UPDATES: Trump says the 'big wave' is yet to come in war with Iran
Nearly 40 of BrewDog's UK bars have been shuttered and 484 jobs have been slashed after the company was bought by Tilray, a US beverage and medical cannabis company.
The $62 million rescue deal came after years of BrewDog failing to turn a profit.
But it did not save 38 of the brand's UK locations, nor hundreds of its workers.
Staff were reportedly told they had been made redundant on a conference call with only 25 minutes notice, according to a BBC report.
Unite, a UK trade union representing hospitality workers, called it a "disgrace".
READ MORE: War widens as Israeli and US planes pound Iran and Tehran and its proxies hit back
The BBC reported Tilray and BrewDog are now negotiating for a deal on the firm's assets in Australia, as well as in the US.
The BrewDog bars in Sydney, Perth and Melbourne, which are independently operated by Australian Venue Co, should not be impacted.
A spokesperson for Australian Venue Co told nine.com.au the closures and redundancies in the UK will not affect its BrewDog venues.
READ MORE: Three US fighter jets accidentally shot down by Kuwaiti air defences, military says
“BrewDog South Eveleigh in Sydney, BrewDog Perth and BrewDog Pentridge in Melbourne will continue to operate as normal and team members will remain in their current roles,” they said.
How the UK closures will affect the other two Australian locations remains unclear.
Nine.com.au has reached out to BrewDog's Head of Australian Operations and the two Brisbane locations for comment.
NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.
- Download the 9NEWS App here via Apple and Google Play
- Make 9News your preferred source on Google by ticking this box here
- Sign up to our breaking newsletter here
The reality of being an Aussie stuck in Dubai during the Middle East crisis
A stopover in the United Arab Emirates is often an essential circuit breaker for anyone doing the long-haul trip from Australia to Europe, almost a jet lag cheat code, so we thought little of it when we committed to a two-night stay.
As it stands, many days later, we are stuck in Dubai. No return date, just the hope of a ceasefire and an update on when the airspace will reopen.
"Stay in shelter, stay in place" orders are keeping everyone safe inside the hotel and we've engaged all resources available, including the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and Smartraveller, to us as Aussies abroad.
TRAVEL CHAOS: Hundreds of thousands stranded as planes grounded, airports shut
The surreal events on Saturday have made me grateful to be in Dubai and not any closer to the strikes.
As frightening as it is here, I'm imagining it's absolutely terrifying for the intended targets and I hate the thought of it.
Living in Australia, we are blessed to be far removed from the physical horrors of war and in a way I feel guilty that I've managed to live a mostly peaceful life free from this worry.
The first 48 hours since the initial strikes have felt like a nightmare. We've heard (and felt) thunderous explosions in the near distance, and witnessed debris hurtling from the sunny skies from intercepted drones.
Or maybe they were missiles – you don't get the specifics when you're running for cover.
We've been startled awake in the middle of the night by phone alerts urging us to "seek immediate shelter" as booming blasts sound.
Overall, there's an unsettling panic that something bigger might happen and there's nothing we can really do to escape.
The stressful reality is there's nothing we can do, we have to stay put and follow the advice from authorities.
FRIENDLY FIRE: Three US fighter jets accidentally shot down
As each day drags on, we're in a constant loop of refreshing our flight's status, searching for news, check-ins with worried family back home and taking walks through the lobby to try and think about anything else.
Then the nerves set in as the sun goes down – it all feels more chilling in the dark.
READ MORE: The 39km-wide stretch of water threatening to throw the global economy into turmoil
The goal each day is to avoid spiralling at the thought of how long this could go on for, as world leaders boast about how this war could go "far longer".
Life is currently on hold, but we know it could always be worse. We have a place to shelter, we have access to the essentials and we are safe.
NEVER MISS A STORY: Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.
- Download the 9NEWS App here via Apple and Google Play
- Make 9News your preferred source on Google by ticking this box here
- Sign up to our breaking newsletter here