Tag Archives: oceania

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Man charged over Old Parliament House fire

A man has been charged after allegedly deliberately lighting a fire during violent protests at Old Parliament House in Canberra last week.

Police allege that the Victorian man – aged 30 – is partly responsible for lighting the fire last Thursday, December 30, that saw the entrance to the historic building go up in flames.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) launched a joint taskforce with ACT Policing to investigate the fire, which they allege was instigated by protesters.

READ MORE: Victorian COVID-19 case numbers jump by almost 1500

Firefighters sweeping after extinguishing the blaze at Old Parliament House in Canberra.

Significant damage was caused to the front of the building, with nearby protesters heard shouting "let it burn".

The 30-year-old has been charged with arson and damaging Commonwealth property.

He is expected to face the ACT Magistrates Court tomorrow.

READ MORE: Large swells, dangerous winds for two states as ex-tropical cyclone bears down

Today's arrest comes after three others were also arrested over the weekend, who faced court yesterday.

One was charged with three counts of assaulting a frontline service provider, another was charged with one count of assaulting a frontline service provider and a third was charged with hindering a Territory official.

READ MORE Hospitalisations jump as 20,794 new COVID-19 cases recorded in NSW

The protests were initially peaceful but soon escalated, with police having to use pepper spray on the crowds who became violent.

"It then got a little bit out of hand and then when ACT Police went to respond it was greatly exacerbated," Commander Linda Champion from ACT Police said.

READ MORE: 'Done for': Melbourne GP warns COVID-19 testing shift left too late

Old Parliament House on fire in Canberra.

It is believed the protesters were part of an anti-vaccination group, however Commander Champion did not provide any details about them, pointing to the ongoing investigation.

READ MORE: Man drowns trying to rescue child who fell into waterfall

Firefighters responding at the fire-damaged front entrance of Old Parliament House following a protest.

Anyone with information relating to the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Tributes flow for 'beautiful' teen who drowned after falling off houseboat

Amy Staunton has been remembered as a "beautiful" and "caring" soul days after the 17-year-old drowned after falling off a houseboat in South Australia.

A desperate search was sparked for Ms Staunton after she fell overboard into the Murray River and failed to resurface on New Year's Eve.

Police recovered her body south of Swan Reach, near to where she fell in the following afternoon.

READ MORE: Hospitalisations jump as 20,794 new COVID-19 cases recorded in NSW

Amy Staunton drowned a few hours before midnight on New Year's Eve.

Ms Staunton's sister Emily posted a tribute to the talented horse rider.

"My beautiful little sister left this world and became an angel," she wrote.

"Our world has been turned upside down and I refuse to believe this is real.

"We will never stop loving you Amy. ️Forever young baby girl."

Ms Staunton's mentor and work manager Heather Currie, owner of Danson Dressage based in Birdwood, said she was caring teen who loved looking after horses.

READ MORE: Large swells, winds for two states as ex-tropical cyclone bears down

Amy Staunton loved horses and worked at Danson Dressage.

"Amy's daily smiling face, her energy and enthusiasm her potential her love and care for the horses will be deeply missed by everyone here at Danson Dressage," she wrote on Facebook.

"We lost an angel".

Ms Staunton's death is just one in a spate of drownings over the holiday period.

At least eight people have died in Australia in the first couple of days in 2022.

A father died in Queensland yesterday after jumping into a waterfall to save his son who fell into the torrent.

A man also died after a rock fishing accident near Wollongong, south of Sydney yesterday.

The body of a 15-year-old boy was also been recovered in the Shoalhaven River west of Nowra, New South Wales, after he went missing on New Year's Eve.

A seven-year-old boy and a 35-year-old man have died in two separate suspected drowning incidents across Victoria.

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'The days of lockdown are gone'

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said the days of lockdown are gone, even as daily COVID-19 case numbers continue to escalate across the country.

Mr Morrison told day that with the arrival of Omicron, and Australia's high vaccination numbers, the government's approach had "shifted gears".

"We've really got to change the way we think about it and that's why talking about case numbers now is really not the point," he said.

READ MORE: Hospitalisations jump as 20,794 new COVID-19 cases recorded in NSW

"The issue is how we're managing the impacts on the health system and that's why ensuring we have sensible rules that allow people to go back to work – and that's exactly what we're doing – to ensure we can get on with it."

Mr Morrison said around the country, there were 148 people in intensive care with COVID-19, and 51 on ventilators. Since Mr Morrison's statement, that number has grown.

"There are people being counted as being in hospital for COVID, they didn't go there for COVID, they went there for some other reason and that's why they were admitted," he said.

READ MORE: Victorian COVID-19 case numbers jump by almost 1500

"And they've been tested when there and been found to have COVID. We need to get a standard definition on that because these are the key things we have to track now."

Mr Morrison defended Australia's COVID-19 testing program, saying free rapid antigen tests were available at testing hubs, even as they continue to fly off the shelves.

There have been significant delays for people trying to get into testing clinics faced across the country

And he said the public hospitals, despite the surge in case numbers, were prepared.

The government last week changed the definition of a close contact, allowing numerous healthcare workers back on the job.

"We're looking to make further changes on that this week to get more staff back into our hospitals and deal with the need," Mr Morrison said.

"Over summer, the health professionals have been working hard, they're taking a break, that's understandable.

"That's why we've got the arrangements with private hospitals and others to try and bridge that gap in the meantime."