Tag Archives: oceania

Andrew pictured lying on laps in latest Epstein release

A photograph of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor lying on a couch has been released, along with thousands of Epstein files dripfed to the public by the US Department of Justice (DOJ).

The black-and-white heavily-redacted image shows the royal lying on the laps of unidentified women, dressed in formal wear, as convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell stands in the background.

Multiple reports allege this photo was taken in the saloon room at Sandringham, a royal estate belonging to the King and Queen located in Norfolk.

READ MORE: How Australians are marking seven days since 15 people were killed in Bondi

Prince Andrew seen in Epstein files

Sandringham was the scene of what Andrew said was a "straightforward shooting weekend" during his infamous BBC Newsnight interview in 2019.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the photograph.

Andrew has denied any wrongdoing.

He was stripped of his official titles this year due to his links to Epstein.

The latest tranche of released files includes a photograph of Andrew with Jeffrey Epstein and Maxwell shooting on the heathlands of Balmoral.

There is also an image of Maxwell standing outside 10 Downing Street in London.

Some of the most consequential records expected about Epstein are nowhere to be found in the DOJ's initial disclosures, which span tens of thousands of pages.

The records, required to be released under a recent law passed by Congress, hardly reference several powerful figures long associated with Epstein, including Andrew, renewing questions about who was scrutinised, who was not, and how much the disclosures truly advance public accountability.

READ MORE: Victorians hit with fresh round of public transport fare hikes

Britain's Prince Andrew leaves after attending the Easter Matins Service at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, Sunday April 9, 2023. (Yui Mok/Pool via AP)

READ MORE: 'Pour petrol on the fire': Frydenberg's warning to Victorian premier

Federal prosecutors in New York brought sex trafficking charges against Epstein in 2019, but he killed himself in jail after his arrest.

Maxwell is serving 20 years in prison for sex trafficking.

One of Epstein's accusers, Virginia Giuffre, accused Epstein of arranging for her to have sexual encounters with men, including the prince.

Marina Lacerda, one of the women who says she survived sexual assault by Epstein, beginning when she was 14, said she wanted to see greater transparency from the DOJ and expressed frustration over redactions and the incomplete release.

"Just put out the files," she said. "And stop redacting names that don't need to be redacted."

Multiple photographs show former President Bill Clinton

Many of the most discussed photos from the files show former Democratic president Bill Clinton.

Clinton has acknowledged that he travelled on Epstein's private jet but said through a spokesperson he had no knowledge of the late financier's crimes.

Some of the photos show Clinton on a private plane, including one with a woman seated next to him with her arm around him.

Her face is redacted from the photo.

Another photo shows him in a pool with British socialite Maxwell, who has been convicted of luring young girls to Epstein so he could molest them, and with another person whose face is redacted.

One shows Clinton with the late pop star Michael Jackson, singer Diana Ross and a woman whose face is redacted.

And another shows Clinton in a hot tub with a woman whose face is redacted.

The DOJ did not explain how those photos were related to the criminal investigation.

Ghislaine Maxwell, Mick Jagger and Bill Clinton in a photo released in the Epstein files.

READ MORE: Calls for royal commission into Bondi Beach terror attack

Nevertheless, senior White House aides quickly called attention to them on X.

Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, wrote "Oh my!" and added a shocked face emoji in response to the photo of Clinton in the hot tub.

Angel Urena, Clinton's deputy chief of staff, said in an X post that "this isn't about Bill Clinton" and accused the White House of trying to protect others.

"There are two types of people here," he wrote. "The first group knew nothing and cut Epstein off before his crimes came to light. The second group continued relationships with him after. We're in the first."

Clinton has never been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, and the mere inclusion of someone's name or images in files from the investigation does not imply otherwise.

Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).

Bondi tributes to be cleared to make way for permanent vigil

Since the horror's of last Sunday's tragedy unfolded in Bondi, the community has come together to remember the 15 lives lost.

Each day a makeshift memorial in front of Bondi Pavilion has grown with flowers, notes, soft toys and balloons added as people gather each evening in tribute.

Last night was no different – on the eve of the National Day of Reflection, hundreds gathered, turning on their phone lights to shine brightness during the dark time.

READ MORE: 'Pour petrol on the fire': Frydenberg's warning to Victorian premier

Bondi shooting terror attack memorialBondi shooting terror attack memorial

But after today's events, Waverly Council has announced it will clear the massive sea of tributes as it considers a permanent memorial.

"The discussions around a permanent memorial will happen at a later stage," Waverly Mayor Will Nemesh said.

Signs have been posted around Bondi Pavilion to notify people that the removal process will begin from December 22.

"The Sydney Jewish Museum and the Australian Jewish Historical Society will help collect and preserve the materials," the sign read.

READ MORE: Calls for royal commission into Bondi Beach terror attack

Bondi shooting terror attack memorialBondi shooting terror attack memorial

The council will work together with the premier's department in a process similar to that which followed the Bondi Junction attacks in April last year.

It plans to "respectfully" dispose of flowers, while donating any toys.

Some cards and notes will be kept, while others will be recycled.

While the council is mulling over the idea of a permanent memorial, it is also discussing whether to remove the footbridge the shooters used to commit the terror attack.

The bridge at Bondi Beach

It's argued it could be a painful reminder for the community of the country's worst mass shooting since 1996.

But, the mayor said, nothing is confirmed.

"At this stage the bridge will remain where it is for now," Nemesh said.

If you have been impacted by the terror attack in Bondi, there is support available.

To contact Lifeline Australia, call 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14.

For people under 25 years old, you can contact Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800.

Both of these are available on a 24/7 basis.

If you wish to donate blood, you can find your nearest donor centre here.

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Pressure mounts on Victorian government to take action over anti-Zionist rally

Jewish leaders are calling on the Victorian government to prevent an anti-Zionism protest happening in Melbourne on Monday.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has warned that people who attend the rally will be "dealt with by police".

Anti-Zionism Australia originally planned to protest in the city today.

READ MORE: Powerful new gun laws touted ahead of buyback

Jactina Allan has warned there will be consequences for people who attend the rally in Melbourne's CBD.

Instead, they will protest on Monday, a day after the National Day of Reflection.

"It is unthinkable that these rallies or protests would happen, full stop," Education Minister Jason Clare said.

Victoria Police has said there will be a significant presence in the city and has said any unlawful behaviour will not be tolerated.

NSW Police have also issued warnings to those planning to attend unauthorised gatherings this weekend in Sydney.

"Fifteen people are dead. There are still people in hospital. Many more people that are injured. What we need in this country right now is love, not hate, not protest," the Education Minister said.

Clare said that he hopes the Victorian government does everything in its power to ensure that the protests do not take place.

"Any right-thinking Australian would know this is absolutely wrong and shouldn't happen in the first place," he said.

"So I'm hoping that it just doesn't happen."

Former federal treasurer and prominent Jewish Victorian Josh Frydenberg has voiced his displeasure with the rally, saying it is unthinkable that the government would not intervene.

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Clinton looms large in Epstein files, but no sign of Trump

The US Justice Department has begun releasing its files on Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender and wealthy financier known for his connections to some of the world's most influential people, including Donald Trump, who as president had tried to keep the files sealed.

The release included photographs, call logs, grand jury testimony and some documents and records that have already been in the public domain.

READ MORE: New Epstein photos 'no big deal', says Trump

Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein together.

Photos of pop icon Michael Jackson

The late "King of Pop" appears in multiple photos released by the DOJ. In one image, Jackson is standing next to a smiling Epstein. In another image he appears alongside singer Diana Ross and former President Clinton. Clinton has his hand on Jackson's shoulder in the image while the pop icon stares off camera. The photo also includes a woman whose face is redacted.

There is no other context for the photos including when and where they were taken.

Jackson's name was first connected to Epstein in documents released in January 2024; Jackson was mentioned during a deposition in the lawsuit against Maxwell, though he was not accused of any wrongdoing.

Jeffrey Epstein and Michael Jackson.Michael Jackson, Bill Clinton and Diana Ross in a photo included in the Epstein files.

DOJ posts another batch of photos

The DOJ posted another batch of Epstein-related records a few hours after an initial wave of documents were released.

The new batch contains 120 photographs from the FBI, mostly of boxes, envelopes and folders of evidence from investigations into the late sex offender and his longtime confidante Ghislaine Maxwell.

But for the most part, they didn't show the evidence itself.

Some of the photographs pertained to the investigation into Epstein's suicide at a Manhattan jail in August 2019.

One showed a hard drive with a label stating that it contained security camera footage from the special housing unit and attorney visiting areas at the now-shuttered Metropolitan Correctional Centre, where Epstein died.

Jeffrey Epstein died at the Manhattan Correctional Centre, a jail in downtown New York.

Other photos showed boxes of records from the Palm Beach, Florida, police department's investigation into Epstein in the 2000s, including a folder labeled "Probable Cause Affidavit" and photos of envelopes which appeared to contain records of interviews in 2007 and telephone surveillance conducted in 2009.

There were also photos of computer hardware seized from his home on Little St. James in the US Virgin Islands, as well as CDs and other items.

Photos of Bill Clinton

Several photos of former President Bill Clinton are in the documents released by the Justice Department

Some show Clinton on a private plane, including one with a woman whose face was redacted from the photo sitting on his lap. Another photo shows him in a pool with Maxwell and a person whose face also was redacted.

Another photo shows Clinton in a hot tub with a woman whose face was redacted.

The files do not say when the photos were taken.

Clinton has never been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, and the mere inclusion of someone's name or images in files from the investigation does not imply otherwise.

Clinton minimised his relationship with Epstein, acknowledging that he traveled on Epstein's private jet but saying through a spokesperson that he had no knowledge of the late financier's crimes.

Several White House officials, including press secretary Karoline Leavitt and top aide Steven Cheung, made social media posts on Friday highlighting the photos.

Bill Clinton in a hot tub in a photo from the Epstein files.

In a statement, Clinton spokesman Angel Ureña said the Epstein investigation "isn't about Bill Clinton".

"There are two types of people here," he said. "The first group knew nothing and cut Epstein off before his crimes came to light. The second group continued relationships after that. We're in the first. No amount of stalling by people in the second group will change that."

Clinton has never been accused of misconduct by Epstein's known victims.

The released files include a small number of photos of Trump which appear to have been in the public domain for decades, including two in which the president and Epstein are posing with now-first lady Melania Trump.

The photo was taken in February 2000 at an event at Trump's Palm Beach club, Mar-a-Lago, before the pair's friendship ruptured.

Epstein accuser calls for files to be fully released

Marina Lacerda, one of the women who says she survived sexual assault by Epstein, beginning when she was 14 years old, said she wanted to see greater transparency from the Justice Department and expressed frustration that all the files aren't out yet.

"Just put out the files," she said. "And stop redacting names that don't need to be redacted." She said she was skeptical of the administration saying it's aiming to be transparent.

"In the beginning, they were calling us a hoax, right?" she said. "Now they're like, 'We believe you, we're gonna release the files,' but yet you still haven't released the files and it's not even fully transparent."

Ghislaine Maxwell, Mick Jagger and Bill Clinton in a photo released in the Epstein files.

More than 1200 people identified as Epstein victims or their relatives

The Justice Department says more than 1200 people were eventually identified as victims of Epstein or their family members.

That disclosure came in a letter that DOJ sent to Congress discussing how they reviewed the Epstein files and prepared them for public release.

During the review process, DOJ asked lawyers representing Epstein's victims to provide those peoples' names, whether they were previously identified or not.

That process led to more than 1200 people being identified.

DOJ 'must set out timeline for full release': Democrats

Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California said the release so far has been "disappointing".

Khanna, who worked in Congress with Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky on legislation to force the release the files, said they will explore "all options" to ensure compliance with the law.

If Justice Department officials need more time to review, he said, they need to publicly explain their timeline for release.

Meanwhile Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer decried how much of the files had been completely blacked out.

"The law Congress passed calls for the complete release of the Epstein files so that there can be full transparency," Schumer said in a statement.

"Simply releasing a mountain of blacked out pages violates the spirit of transparency and the letter of the law. For example, all 119 pages of one document were completely blacked out. We need answers as to why."

Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

What Democrats could do to force complete release

Democrats in Congress say they are reviewing all their legal options as they assess the Department of Justice's release of the Epstein files, which they say is not a full release of documents.

Lawmakers could go to court to force the Justice Department to comply with the law passed earlier this year forcing the release, but that would almost certainly be a lengthy process that plays out while the Justice Department releases more files.

Separately, the House Oversight Committee has issued a subpoena for the Epstein files. That could give Congress another avenue to force the release of more information to the committee, but it would require Democrats to convince Republicans to join them in contempt of Congress proceedings. It would be highly unusual for GOP politicians to take such a move against a Republican administration.

Democratic senator vows to use 'all avenues and legal tools' for full release of documents

Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon expressed frustration that the Trump administration had not taken steps to "appropriately redact the Epstein Files to prepare them for release" of their own accord over the last year.

Some files redact everything but Jeffrey Epstein's name.

"Instead of meeting the legally required deadline today to release all of the files, they have chosen to illegally disregard the law I led the fight in the Senate to pass," Merkley said. "By failing to comply, the Administration is openly denying 'equal justice under the law' to all of Jeffrey Epstein's victims."

Merkley continued: "I'll keep fighting to release all the Epstein Files and am exploring all avenues and legal tools to get justice for the victims and transparency for the American people."

Files appear online after a waiting room-like queue

High interest led the Justice Department to regulate access to its Epstein files website for a time.

The webpage went live Friday afternoon with a waiting room-type queue akin to what concertgoers sometimes see when they go online to purchase tickets.

Visitors were greeted with the message: "You are in line for Department of Justice web content. When it is your turn, you will have 10 minutes to enter the website."

The webpage then refreshed to reveal a landing page with various categories of documents, including court records and other disclosures.

Some pages of Jeffrey Epstein's flight logs are near impossible to make out.

Inside the records

The records could contain the most detailed look yet at nearly two decades worth of government investigations into Epstein's sexual abuse of young women and underage girls.

Their release has long been demanded by a public hungry to learn whether any of Epstein's rich and powerful associates knew about — or participated in — the abuse. Epstein's accusers have also long sought answers about why federal authorities shut down their initial investigation into the allegations in 2008.

Bowing to political pressure from fellow Republicans, Trump on November 19 signed a bill giving the Justice Department 30 days to release most of its files and communications related to Epstein, including information about the investigation into his death in a federal jail. The law's passage was a remarkable display of bipartisanship that overcame months of opposition from Trump and Republican leadership.

READ MORE: Trump administration moves to cut off transgender care for children

Jeffrey Epstein was a notorious child sex trafficker and friend to many powerful people.

What the law allows

That law allows for redactions about the victims or ongoing investigations but makes clear no records shall be withheld or redacted due to "embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity."

Attorney General Pam Bondi said on November 14 that she had ordered a top federal prosecutor to investigate Epstein's ties to Trump's political foes, including former President Bill Clinton. Bondi acted after Trump pressed for such an inquiry, though he did not explain what supposed crimes he wanted the Justice Department to investigate. None of the men Trump mentioned in a social media post demanding the investigation has been accused of sexual misconduct by any of Epstein's victims.

In July, Trump dismissed some of his own supporters as "weaklings" for falling for "the Jeffrey Epstein hoax." But both Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., failed to prevent the legislation from coming to a vote.

Trump did a U-turn on the files once it became clear that congressional action was inevitable. He insisted that the Epstein matter had become a distraction to the Republican agenda and that releasing the records was the best way to move on.

READ MORE: Trump hurls outrageous slur at female reporter

Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein at a Victoria's Secret Angels event in 1997.

The Epstein investigations

Police in Palm Beach, Florida, began investigating Epstein in 2005 after the family of a 14-year-old girl reported she had been molested at his mansion. The FBI joined the investigation, and authorities gathered testimony from multiple underage girls who said they had been hired to give Epstein sexual massages.

Ultimately, though, prosecutors gave Epstein a deal that allowed him to avoid federal prosecution. He pleaded guilty to state prostitution charges involving someone under age 18 and was sentenced to 18 months in jail.

Epstein's accusers then spent years in civil litigation trying to get that plea deal set aside. One of those women, Virginia Giuffre, accused Epstein of arranging for her to have sexual encounters, starting at age 17, with numerous other men, including billionaires, famous academics, US politicians and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, then known as Britain's Prince Andrew.

All of those men denied the allegations. Prosecutors never brought charges in connection with Giuffre's claims, but her account fuelled conspiracy theories about supposed government plots to protect the powerful. Giuffre died by suicide at her farm in Western Australia in April at age 41.

Federal prosecutors in New York brought new sex trafficking charges against Epstein in 2019, but he killed himself in jail a month after his arrest. Prosecutors then charged Epstein's longtime confidant, British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, with recruiting underage girls for Epstein to abuse.

Donald Trump with billionaire sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2000, with their respective partners Melania Knauss (now Trump) and Ghislaine Maxwell at the president's Mar-a-Lago club in Florida.

Maxwell was convicted in late 2021 and is serving a 20-year prison sentence, though she was moved from a low-security federal prison in Florida to a minimum-security prison camp in Texas after she was interviewed over the summer by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. Her lawyers argued that she never should have been tried or convicted.

The Justice Department in July said it had not found any information that could support prosecuting anyone else.

Lots of Epstein records were already public

After nearly two decades of court action and prying by reporters, a voluminous number of records related to Epstein is already public, including flight logs, address books, email correspondence, police reports, grand jury records, courtroom testimony and transcripts of depositions of his accusers, his staffers and others.

Yet, the public's appetite for more records has been insatiable, particularly for anything related to Epstein's associations with famous people including Trump, Mountbatten-Windsor and Clinton.

Trump was friends with Epstein for years before the two had a falling out. Neither he nor Clinton has ever been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, and the mere inclusion of someone's name in files from the investigation does not imply otherwise.

Mountbatten-Windsor denied ever having sex with Giuffre, but King Charles III stripped him of his royal titles this year after Giuffre's memoir was published after she died.

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

‘Really rare find’: 20-million-year-old whale fossil discovered

A 20-million-year-old whale fossil has been unearthed by a family exploring at Victorian beach.

Palaeontologists will soon be able to analyse the remains of the "really rare find" by a family simply enjoying a day by the sea at Ocean Grove on the state's Bellarine Peninsula.

Unusual currents and shifting sand have exposed the ancient relic, which appears to be part of a whale's backbone.

READ MORE: Poignant moment surf lifesavers return to Bondi for weekend

Ancient whale fossil

"It's just such a beautiful part of the world, I'm not surprised another wonder has been found," one punter said of the find.

"It's incredible, I think it's a miracle," another said.

Geelong Gem and Mineral Club member Yestin Griffiths rushed to the beach on Wednesday when the find was reported.

"I was ecstatic, I couldn't get down here fast enough," Griffiths said.

"It's hard to find these fossils in the first place, and it's even harder to find them again sometimes."

READ MORE: NSW Premier announces new hate laws

Ancient whale fossil

The fossil has now been covered again by sand and water but Griffiths will return in the new year with Museums Victoria to properly excavate the 20-million-year-old find.

"Usually when you have anything that's fossilised, it'll break up and it'll disperse a little bit before it gets buried," Griffiths said.

"The good thing about this is that there's a lot there."

Scientists are eager to identify the species and analyse whether the remains can share more information about whale evolution.

A similar discovery by a school principal just 30 minutes up the road helped experts name a new type of whale in August.

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

NSW Premier announces new hate laws

The NSW government has announced that there will be new legislation surrounding hate speech and symbols rolled out across the state on Monday in the wake of the Bondi terror attack.

NSW Premier Chris Minns has announced the state government will be cracking down on what is deemed hate speech.

"There is no place in New South Wales for slogans or symbols that incite hatred, glorify violence or intimidate communities," Minns said.

READ MORE: Lifesavers stretch across the shore of Bondi in a silent vigil to honour victims of terror attack

Chris Minns announced the new legislation will be rolled out on Monday.

"These laws send a clear message that hateful conduct will not be tolerated.

"These changes, alongside tougher gun laws and temporary restrictions on public assemblies following a terrorist incident, are about protecting the community, and allowing NSW Police to focus on preventing harm."

The chant "globalise the intifada" will also be banned, with the Minns saying "it encourages violence in our community".

"Things have changed since Sunday. We don't live in that world anymore. This is the truth, everything needs to be examined."

The Premier also called for a Royal Commission, saying we don't yet have the full picture of Sunday's mass shooting.

"Right now, we've got bits and pieces of the jigsaw puzzle here, but we don't have the full picture," he said.

"Until we've got a full and accurate picture of exactly how this happened, with a plan to ensure that it doesn't happen again, then I don't have answers to the people of New South Wales about what happened on Sunday."

Attorney General Michael Daley will consult the Legislative Assembly Committee on Law and Safety to potentially include any additional statements in the state's new hate speech laws.

READ MORE: Powerful new gun laws touted ahead of buyback

Attorney General Michael Daley said there is no place for any hateful symbols ot speech in NSW.

"We must tackle this scourge in all its forms, including inflammatory and divisive symbols and slogans which cause real fear to vulnerable communities," he said.

"This Government is determined to do whatever is necessary to ensure community safety and cohesion after the horrific events at Bondi."

The laws will be introduced when parliament returns in the new year.

Additionally, new legislation is set to be rolled out on Monday, making it an offence under NSW law to publicly display terrorist symbols such as ISIS or Hamas flags without a plausible reason.

Reasonable excuses include an academic purpose or another purpose within the public interest.

The maximum penalty for the offence carries a two-year prison sentence or a $22,000 fine, and up to $110,000 for organisations.

Police will also be given greater powers to remove the face coverings of people at public assemblies.

"Police need to be in a position where if they suspect a crime is being committed, they can launch effective action," Minns said.

"We've seen in the past that hateful, racist speech has been set in our community.

"It's a difficult job for the police, and we need to make sure they've got the tools to take that action."

AFP says preachers 'hired lawyers', searched more places

AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett says search warrants have been used as recently as yesterday as the investigation continues into the attack.

"The location of the search warrants will not be made public but let me reassure Australians that we are leaving no stone unturned in Australia and overseas in this investigation," Barrett said.

Barrett said this week hate preachers are being investigated, with the new laws now announced by Minns.

"It is clear some of these preachers have hired lawyers to ensure they do not reach the threshold to be charged for hate speech and other crimes.

"It is clear some of these preachers know exactly what they are doing – and are clearly trying to cause fear and division.

"The announcement this week to lower the threshold for hate speech will give the AFP greater scope to deter and charge individuals who are injecting and directing poisonous language towards the Jewish community."

Hospitals continue to care for 14 injured patients

Fourteen people who were injured in the Bondi Beach shooting remain in hospitals across Sydney NSW Health says.

  • One patient is in a critical but stable condition and one patient is in a stable condition at St George Hospital.
  • Three patients are in a critical but stable condition and one patient is stable at St Vincent's Hospital.
  • Five patients are stable at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
  • Two patients are in a stable condition at Royal North Shore Hospital.

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Lifesavers hold silent vigil at Bondi Beach to honour victims of terror attack

Hundreds of lifesavers have united on the shore of Bondi Beach for a moment of silence, honouring the victims of Sunday's terror attack.

The three-minute silence was organised by Bondi Surf Bathers' Life Saving Club and North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club.

"We stand shoulder to shoulder to show we are a united group of surf lifesavers and lifeguards across the country," Surf Life Saving Australia said in a statement.

READ MORE: Powerful new gun laws touted ahead of buyback

Surf Life savers from Bondi fill the beach after a minutes silence on Saturday, before starting patrol.The lifeguards stood shoulder-to-shoulder in a single file line.

"We encourage you to do this as a show of support for fellow lifesavers and recognition of the tragedy that has unfolded at Bondi while also reflecting on our respect and compassion for the Jewish community targeted by this attack."

"We ask that there are no speeches, just silence, as we pay respects to those who lost their lives, those who risked their lives, those who worked so hard to save lives, and all of us who will never forget."

Life savers were encouraged to wear patrol uniforms and stand shoulder-to-shoulder in a line along the shore, facing the sea.

Hundreds of Lifeguards were in attendance.

The moment of silence comes on the eve of tomorrow's National Day of Reflectio announced by the Prime Minister yesterday.

Meanwhile the federal government announced $200,000 extra money for the Bondi and North Bondi Lifesaving Clubs.

The cash will help the clubs get back to normality and replenish equipment, including first-aid supplies. 

"There were so many heroes at Bondi at the weekend during the deadly terrorist attack," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.

Governor-General Sam Mostyn also paid her respects.The moment of silence comes on the eve of tomorrow's National Day of Reflectionwas announced by the Prime Minister yesterday.

"This includes our lifesavers, who ran towards danger to look after their fellow Australians.

"We are proud to be a government that supports those in red and yellow as they prepare for the busiest time of the year.

"The Albanese Government stands alongside Surf Life Saving Australia, our lifesavers and all Australians right here at Bondi."

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Queensland community’s plea as only childcare centre to close

A regional Queensland community is calling for a lifeline with its only childcare centre set to close at the end of the year.

Young families in Quilpie are calling for an experienced operator to step in to prevent essential workers from leaving the region after the centre abruptly decided to close its doors on December 31.

The regional town, located 1000 kilometres west of Brisbane, has a population just shy of 1000 people.

READ MORE: Official Christmas Day forecast revealed

Young families in Quilpie are calling for an experienced operator to step in to prevent essential workers from leaving the region.

Mother-of-four and the local hospital's director of nursing Jenna Nunn is among those who are stranded with no daycare options.

"I've got a one-year-old, so I'm returning to work in January," Nunn said.

"It is so heartbreaking, it is just mind boggling that they've pulled out, what do we do now?"

Council and the community were caught off guard when privately-owned operator Mulga Mates only notified them this month. 

"They were just highlighting that they were having staff retention issues," Quilpie Shire Council mayor Ben Hall said.

"It isn't a council-run facility, so we are at arm's length from it, so it came as a surprise to us."

READ MORE: Lifesavers hold silent vigil at Bondi Beach to honour victims of terror attack

The regional town, located 1000 kilometres west of Brisbane, has a population just shy of 1000 people.

The announcement has sparked fears the closure could trigger an exodus of essential workers from the regional town, a situation which Nunn said would be "catastrophic".

"I was talking to one mum the other day, had to go back to work for three months and now she's had to stop working because there's no daycare options," she said.

Hall estimates that 42 per cent of the community's workforce is made up of working women.

"If we take 42 per cent of those people out of our workforce, it's going to be devastating," he said.

Mums in the community want a city lifeline if a new provider can't be sourced.

The Department of Education will explore introducing a state-delivered kindergarten program.

READ MORE: Cancer drug set to be added to Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme

Mother-of-four and the local hospital's director of nursing Jenna Nunn is among those who are stranded with no daycare options.

The process to find a new childcare provider to take over the existing licence is underway.

"There have been a few providers contacted, to date we have no takers," Hall said.

"We anticipate this may take upwards of 90 days to actually get resolved."

The small community is now sending out an urgent SOS.

"I'm begging someone to please come forward and help us out," Nunn said.

"Please reach out to the council, we will roll out the red carpet to help in any way we can," Hall said.

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

New photos reveal moments of laughter and joy before shooting

Haunting new photos have revealed moments of laughter and joy before the horror unfolded at Bondi Beach.

Amir Glazer, a photographer at Sunday's event, has shared the images with the families' permission so the victims are never forgotten.

Among Glazer's photos is an image of a happy and carefree 10-year-old Matilda playing with her little sister moments before the shooting.

READ MORE: The five questions Australia is asking after the Bondi terror attack

Glazer captured a happy and carefree 10-year-old Matilda playing with her little sister moments before the shooting.

"She's just an innocent girl that has nothing to do with all this evil in the world," Glazer said.

"All she wanted to do was have fun with her family, friends and little sister.

"She just died for no reason."

READ MORE: How everyday Aussies can help in the wake of the Bondi shooting

Photographer Amir Glazer was hired for Chanukah by the Sea celebration at Bondi Beach on the day of the shooting.

Glazer was at the event with his colleague and friend, retired police officer Peter Meagher, before he was fatally shot.

"He came every time to the events and was so happy to meet the people and capture their amazing moments and turn it into a memory they will carry forever," Glazer said.

One female officer who was falsely represented online as having surrendered during the gunfire instead ran towards it after she heard her colleague constable Scott Dyson had been shot.

Her car hit with four bullets as she narrowly escaped multiple shots with one bullet bursting her ear drum and one hitting her body armour.

READ MORE: Heartbreaking tributes to victims of Bondi attack

Glazer has released the photos to ensure the victims are never forgotten.

Fourteen people remain in hospital, including four in a critical but stable condition. 

Many of those who remain in hospital are surrounded by family, some of whom have rushed to Australia from overseas. 

Today is Shabbat, which is a day of rest in Jewish faith.

The hope is that those fighting for their life are drawing strength from their loved ones.

For those who have lost, it is a time to remember and cherish what are now lasting memories.

Matilda's cousin Russell Tevelson shared what he would never forget about the 10-year-old.

"Whenever she would hug you, she would hug the back of your neck really, really tight," Tevelson said.

"She would laugh at times you shouldn't be laughing or smile when there's nothing really worth smiling about."

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.