Tag Archives: oceania

Queensland town records wettest day in 110 years as ex-cyclone lashes state

2026-01-12 FreeNews

A Queensland town has recorded its wettest day in 110 years as ex-cyclone Koji batters parts of the state with more than 200 millimetres of rainfall and flash flooding.

The weather system downgraded to a tropical low after it made landfall between Ayr and Bowen yesterday morning and was today over the Central Highlands and Coalfield regions.

Wind speeds of 113km/h were recorded at Hamilton Island, while Mackay received about 250 millimetres of rain in less than 24 hours.

Flood levels are rising in parts of Queensland after relentless rain.

The tropical low is weakening as it slowly tracks north-west over land, but is still impacting towns in its firing line.

A severe weather warning is in place for Capricornia and parts of Central Coast and Whitsundays, Central Highlands and Coalfields and Central West Forecast Districts between Mackay and Rockhampton.

Rockhampton is being told to expect up to 130 millimetres of rain today, with Rolleston further inland potentially copping up to 200 millimetres of rain.

Authorities have this afternoon issued a flash flood emergency warning for Clermont after the town recorded more than 200 millimetres of rainfall in the 24 hours to 9am today.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, it was the town's wettest day since 1916.

Clermont residents have been told to monitor conditions and prepare to move to higher ground.

A severe weather warning is in place for the Whitsundays region.

Local teacher Molly Bradshaw had floodwater lapping at her front gate as it claimed more of the town.

Within the hour, she was forced to leave for higher ground.

"It is showing no sign of stopping at the moment," she told 9News.

Authorities have also issued an emergency warning for increased rainfall and possible flash flooding for the Rubyvale and Sapphire areas.

Premier David Crisafulli told Today he was proud of how the state had responded to the ex-cyclone, but insisted the danger was far from over.

"Our message remains that there is that risk of heavy rainfall, and that's always been what we've consistently said," he said.

"There are the real risk of having those really heavy rains, which could lead to flooding because those catchments are very full."

Ex-cyclone Koji made landfall yesterday. Parts of northern Queensland were smashed by rain and winds of over 100km/h.

There have been no fatalities from the weekend's storms, but more than 40,000 livestock and cattle are estimated to have perished due to the weather.

A large rescue took place at Greenacre, near Rockhampton, where a woman, her two children and two dogs were caught in their car.

Drinking water in some areas, including the Pioneer Valley region, has been impacted, with residents told to use their own clean containers to access clean water from temporary tankers.

More than 22,000 properties were without power last night, but Ergon has restored power to 90 per cent of those homes and businesses.

"That is now down to 2500," Crisafulli said.

Crisafulli praised the efforts of communities, councils and emergency services and the federal government for helping limit the impact of the severe weather.

"That doesn't happen by magic. That happens because people work through the night and resources are on the ground," he said.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli urged residents in impacted regions to remain vigilant as more heavy rains are expected in the next two days.

The premier urged Queenslanders to remain vigilant over the next couple of days: "Queenslanders know how to handle heavy rain, we are a very disaster-resilient state, we'll just continue to put out that messaging that there is that risk in the next 24-48 hours of some really significant rainfall in patches.

"If people do the right thing and make their preparations, we will get through this unscathed."

Crisafulli has also confirmed he will chair the state disaster meeting in Prosperine in the Whitsundays region, insisting people in the western parts of the state being smashed by the wild weather "will not be forgotten".

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‘Factories of hate’: NSW cracks down on illegal prayer halls

2026-01-12 FreeNews

NSW councils could have greater powers to shut down illegal premises and fine them up to $220,000 under the state government's proposed hate speech reforms.

Today, Premier Chris Minns has announced new measures to target people using venues as public places of worship without proper planning approval as a way to clamp down on hate preachers from running "factories of hate".

Under the draft changes, councils would be able to issue a notice to stop operations and cut off utilities to the premises and hand down harsher fines if offenders fail to comply.

NSW Premier Chris Minns announces new powers for councils across the state.

The fines have been raised from $11,000 for individuals and $110,000 for corporations to $22,000 for individuals and $220,000 for corporations.

Councils will also be required to consult with the police before approving new places of public worship.

Minns said he was "struck" when the Canterbury-Bankstown Council closed down the Al Madina Dawah Centre, which was linked to a controversial preacher, in December and could only hand down a nominal fine.

The premier said it was hard to say exactly how prevalent illegal prayer halls were, but he was "sick of" being unable to close one down and having hate preachers simply move venues.

"These are done behind closed doors, they're not easy to identify, they're very difficult to close down," he said.

"But increasingly, as a result of the broadcast or dissemination of individual sermons or lectures or hate spewed that we can identify, I don't think the rules or laws have been fit for purpose to confront them in our communities."

The premier added that allowing illegal prayer halls to operate would be unfair to the mosques, churches and synagogues that go through the proper channels.

Minns insisted the rules did not target a single religion and would apply equally to everyone.

"It applies to everyone. That goes for all of our legislation, that goes for all of our hate speech laws, and I think the best way of demonstrating the government's commitment to have this apply across the board is people will be arrested and charged for hate speech regardless of who it applies to," he said.

"That applies equally for a young woman who might be wearing a scarf in a suburban street in Sydney as it applies to an orthodox Jewish man in Bondi."

The Canterbury-Bankstown Council issued a cease-use directive to the Al Madina Dawah Centre after finding the site was never approved to operate as a prayer hall.

Wissam Haddad, a controversial preacher who has been reportedly linked to the alleged Bondi terrorist Naveed Akram and found in court to have breached the Racial Discrimination Act for antisemitic lectures in July, was a guest speaker at the centre.

Haddad has denied any prior knowledge of the Bondi attack.

At the time, Minns signalled that the Al Madina Dawah Centre closure was not the end of the matter, and that there would be more in the weeks to come.

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Hero police officer who stopped Bondi Junction stabbing diagnosed with cancer

2026-01-12 FreeNews

The hero police officer who stopped the Bondi Junction stabbing in 2024 has been diagnosed with a "rare and aggressive" form of breast cancer.

Inspector Amy Scott risked her life to save others and stop Joel Cauchi's stabbing rampage that killed six people, and has been praised for her kind and caring character after her diagnosis was made public.

"Amy is widely known as selfless, compassionate, and one of the kindest people you could ever meet," NSW Police Legacy said in a statement.

Inspector Amy Scott receives the Commissioners Valour Award during a ceremony at the NSW Police Academy in Goulburn

"She is every bit the remarkable human you would think.

"She is fiercely independent and the first to champion others."

Scott responded to Cauchi's knife rampage at Bondi Junction Westfield on April 13, 2024.

She found Cauchi running through the shopping centre and shot him dead with two gunshots when he charged at her.

Scott also tried to offer him first aid in the immediate aftermath.

NSW Police Legacy said Scott's dedication to the community is matched by the support she offers her family.

Amy Scott has also been described as a loving wife and mother, and a great pillar of support to her family.

"Amy is a devoted wife, a loving mother of two young boys, and has a family who depend on her and walk this journey beside her every day," they said.

NSW Premier Chris Minns paid tribute to Scott as a "bona fide Australian hero" and expressed his sadness at the news.

"I'm devastated to hear this news," Minns said at a press conference today.

"We owe a huge debt of gratitude to [her], not just because of her heroic actions in Bondi Junction a couple of years ago, but she has been an inspiration to the exact same office that attended the terrorism event on 14 December."

NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon confirmed Scott had been fighting her cancer battle for "a number of months".

He said all of NSW Police was supporting Scott and her family.

"Despite everything Amy is facing, she continues to show the remarkable person that she is by going out of her way to support her workmates, regularly coming into the station to offer comfort and assistance to those impacted by the recent Bondi terror attack," Lanyon said.

He added Scott had requested privacy.

NSW Police Legacy has set up a fundraiser to help support Scott and her family, which has raised more than $86,000 after an initial goal of $25,000.

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Under-siege festival breaks silence after axing Palestinian author

2026-01-12 FreeNews

The executive director of Adelaide Writers' Week says the event is navigating a "complex and unprecedented moment" after three board members and the chair resigned, and more than 50 writers pulled out, following the decision to remove Australian-Palestinian author Randa Abdel-Fattah.

Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Percival Everett, Booker Prize-shortlisted British author Zadie Smith and former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis are part of the dozens of local and international writers who have pulled out from the event after Abdel-Fattah's scheduled appearance was cancelled due to cultural sensitivities following the December 14 terrorist attack at Bondi Beach.

"Whilst we do not suggest in any way that Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah's or her writings have any connection with the tragedy at Bondi, given her past statements we have formed the view that it would not be culturally sensitive to continue to program her at this unprecedented time so soon after Bondi," the board said in a statement last week.

Three members and the chair of the Adelaide Festival Board have resigned following the continued fallout from the controversial decision to dump Australian-Palestinian author Randa Abdel-Fattah from the renowned writers' week.

Abdel-Fattah has previously made comments against Zionists, saying they were "murderous" and had "no claim or right to cultural safety".

Following a crisis meeting over the weekend, Adelaide Festival chair Tracey Whiting announced her immediate resignation due to "recent decisions".

"Recent decisions were bound by certain undertakings, and my resignation enables the Adelaide Festival, as an organisation, to refresh its leadership and its approach to these circumstances," she said in a statement.

"My tenure as chair has been immensely enjoyable, as has working with the terrific AF team.

"I look forward to the future success of the Adelaide Festival."

Board members Donny Walford, Nicholas Linke, and Daniela Ritorto also resigned.

Adelaide Writers' Week and Adelaide Festival have turned off comments on social media due to the widespread outrage over the decision.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DTO-GmsEhB0/

Today, Adelaide Festival Corporation executive director Julian Hobba issued a brief statement for the first time since the announcement on January 8.

"Following the Adelaide Festival Board's decision on Thursday 8 January and the significant community response, Adelaide Writers' Week and Adelaide Festival are navigating a complex and unprecedented moment and will share further updates as soon as we are able," he said.

The Adelaide Festival Corporation did not respond to a 9news.com.au request for further comment.

Abdel-Fattah has since engaged lawyers as she seeks an explanation for the decision to cancel her scheduled event.

In a letter to the board, Marque Lawyers managing director Michael Bradley wrote that the author was not aware her participation was under question until she received notice she had been removed on January 8.

The notice said "it would not be culturally sensitive" to proceed with her appearance, but made no mention of her previous statements being an issue.

"It appears, from this statement, that the board's decision to exclude Dr Abdel-Fattah was made because of 'past statements' made by her," Bradley wrote.

"As a matter of basic procedural fairness to Dr Abdel-Fattah, please identify with specificity each of the 'past statements' made by her on which the Board relied in making its decision. She is entitled to this information."

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas has publicly supported the board's decision and said he offered his opinion to the board, but did not instruct them to remove her from the event.

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More than 350 structures including homes destroyed by Victorian fires

2026-01-12 FreeNews

More than 350 structures have been destroyed in bushfires across Victoria, as authorities warn some blazes could burn for weeks.

Twelve major bushfires are still burning across Victoria, with three emergency warnings and 19 watch and acts in place.

Those bushfires include:

Two fires in the Otways at Kennedy Creek and Carlisle River
Longwood
Walwa/Mt Lawson
Ravenswood/Harcourt
Wonnangatta
Two fires in Wyperfeld National Park
A complex of blazes, labelled the Snowy Complex fires, including fires in and around the Orbost area and towards Mallacoota

Victoria bushfires

"With those 12 fires that are still in our landscape, we still need communities to be heeding our warnings," Victorian Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch said.

A take shelter warning for Berringama, Bullioh, Koetong, Lucyvale, Shelley, Tallangatta Valley, and surrounds, and a leave immediately warning for Bungil, Burrowye, Granya, and surrounds, both relate to the blaze at Walwa in the state's north-east.

And overnight, another take shelter warning was issued for Irrewillipe for an out-of-control fire burning at Carlisle River, south-west of Melbourne.

Bushfires at Streatham, Mount Mercer and Natimuk have been contained, thanks to the work of thousands of Victorian emergency services and 380 interstate personnel.

Wiebusch confirmed more than 1000 agricultural properties across the state have "potentially seen an impact".

That includes more than 150 structures decimated by the Longwood fire, 47 buildings burned in the Ravenswood blaze, 59 structures destroyed by the Streatham fire and at least 30 structures confirmed flattened in and around Natimuk.

The number of homes lost among those structures is still being determined.

Wibesuch said a "tremendous number" of homes were saved thanks to firefighters and local volunteers.

Victoria bushfires

But there are fears a second heatwave forecast for the end of the month could pose further danger to communities.

Almost 400,000 hectares of land has burned across Victoria as a result of the fires.

Agriculture Victoria is working to assess other properties for damage across Victoria.

"We are continuing as soon as we possibly can to firm up those impact assessments across the state," Wiebusch said.

Residents concerned about the welfare of their livestock can contact Agriculture Victoria on 1800 226 226 to register their concerns.

"We are early in the high-risk weather season," CFA chief officer Jason Heffernan said.

"Whilst we join with community in the rebuilding and the relief and recovery, we need to turn our minds to the fires that could be, as the season continues."

Victoria bushfires

Heffernan said the extent of a likely heatwave was "yet to be determined".

"Much work will be done between now and then to contain these fires," Heffernan said.

"There is time for Victorians to get ready for the rest of the season, to make preparations."

'Incredibly devastating': Longwood fire turns fatal

Premier Jacinta Allan says the discovery of a body in the wake of a bushfire on the weekend is "incredibly devastating", as firefighters continue to battle blazes through the state.

As emergency services were able to access the site of the Longwood fire, which has been downgraded to a watch-and-act level, they discovered an unidentified person's body, about 100 metres from a vehicle on Yarck Road, Gobur.

"It is incredibly devastating lose a loss of life in such difficult and tragic circumstances," Allan said this morning.

She said it was a "really tragic reminder" of how dangerous bushfire conditions were, and urged people to stay up to date with warnings and alerts.

Allan also announced further financial and mental health support for fire-affected communities across the state, off the back of a $19.5 million funding announcement yesterday.

Victoria bushfires

But some of the blazes are expected to burn for weeks, as authorities warn people only to return to their communities when given an explicit all-clear.

Even then, rapidly changing conditions could see new dangers present themselves.

Police are also on guard against potential looters and tourists who are travelling to fire-ravaged districts just to have a look.

The statewide total fire ban has been rescinded for today, but total fire bans remain in place for the North East and North Central districts.

Fire danger ratings remain high across most of the state, with the exception of the West and South Gippsland, Central, and East Gippsland districts, which have a moderate danger rating.

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Three-year-old dead, man injured after house fire in Melbourne’s north

2026-01-12 FreeNews

A three-year-old has died and a man has been injured after a house fire in Melbourne's north.

Firefighters responded to multiple triple zero calls for a housefire on Dorothy Street, Fawkner, about 10 kilometres north of the CBD, just after 2pm.

They arrived in six minutes to find a single-storey brick house fully alight and rescued a person from inside.

CPR was performed on a three-year-old child but they died at the scene.

A man was taken by ambulance to The Northern Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined at this stage.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, has dashcam or CCTV footage or anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit an online confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

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