Tag Archives: oceania

Police slam ‘reckless and dangerous’ roadside act

Police have described offenders who cut down a fire danger warning sign in northern Victoria amid the bushfire emergency as "reckless and dangerous".

Unknown thieves in the town of Koonoomoo cut down the automated sign on the corner of Goulburn Valley Highway and Greens Lane between 8am and 1pm yesterday.

They stole the solar battery from the installation before leaving the damage behind.

LIVE UPDATES: Extreme weather grips Australia

Unknown thieves in the town of Koonoomoo cut down the automated sign yesterday.

The sign has an estimated value of $60,000, but more importantly, alerts the community to the fire safety danger ratings in the area.

Yesterday's fire safety rating was set to high in Koonoomoo and surrounding areas, with total fire bans in other areas of the state.

Multiple bushfires are burning out of control in Victoria today.

READ MORE: Thousand-kilometre stretch of Queensland on alert as tropical low lingers at sea

Police said the thieves stole the solar battery from the installation.

Detective Acting Sergeant Leah Booth said the thieves' actions had placed the whole community in potential danger.

"To damage a sign that alerts the community to the fire danger rating is completely reckless and dangerous," she said.

"These signs are in place to make sure people who are in the area are aware of the fire danger safety rating to abide by the restrictions and act if needed.

"You are not only cutting down and damaging a sign, but you are also potentially putting the wider community at risk."

Any witnesses, anyone with vision or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential online report.

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‘Ripped of my identity’: Bondi terror victim says name was changed in hospital

A Bondi terror attack victim has revealed the hospital she was being treated at changed her name during her stay to protect her from media intrusion. 

Rosalia was struck in the head by shrapnel during the Bondi terror attack and was taken to Liverpool Hospital for surgery.

She later noticed she was admitted under the pseudonym Karen Jones.

READ MORE: Police slam 'reckless' thieves for cutting down fire danger warning sign

Rosalia was admitted to hospital under the pseudonym "Karen Jones".

She said the hospital claimed it was for her own safety and to prevent media attention.

"The people (came) and they said that they have to change my name," Rosalia told Today.

"They cut my band, and they put me as just Karen Jones without any religion

"I (felt) terrible. It's like I've been ripped of my identity.

"We lived in Australia for 48 years. We came from (a) communist country to have a better life for ourselves and for our daughter.

"We fell in love with Australia."

READ MORE: 'Leave immediately': Fires threatening lives in Victoria

Rosalia was admitted to hospital under the pseudonym "Karen Jones".

Rosalia said that she has not felt safe in the country for the past two years.

"Our government never, ever listened to us," she said. 

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Rosalia and her husband Gregory told Today that the hospital she was being treated at changed her name during her stay to protect her from media intrusion. 

She said she is on medication and is getting help from her community as she continues to grieve for the innocent lives lost in the terror attack.

South Western Sydney Local Health District said it sometimes used aliases to protect patient privacy.

"South Western Sydney Local Health District is committed to ensuring patient privacy is protected at all times and takes all necessary steps to ensure it is maintained," a spokesperson said.

"All staff in public hospitals are bound by privacy legislation to safeguard patient confidentiality.

"This may include the use of aliases or disguised identity."

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Massive 4.9-metre crocodile found near popular swimming spot in the NT

A 4.9-metre saltwater crocodile has been spotted near a popular swimming spot in the Northern Territory at the height of the wet season.

Rangers were doing routine inspections of crocodile traps downstream of Wangi Falls in the Litchfield National Park, about 150km south of Darwin, when they found the massive crocodile inside. 

In comparison, the largest saltwater in captivity in the world was Cassius in Far North Queensland at 5.5 metres. 

READ MORE: Warning for dog owners after baiting incident in popular park

A massive 4.9-metre saltwater crocodile has been spotted at a popular swimming spot in the Northern Territory at the height of the wet season.

Wildlife rangers safely removed the crocodile and relocated it to a crocodile farm.

NT Parks and Wildlife said it was a timely reminder to only swim in designated waters.

Wangi Falls is typically closed for the wet season.

"Where the risk is too high, we close, because public safety is paramount," Parks and Wildlife senior executive director Neva McCartney said.

Rangers have captured seven crocodiles in the Northern Territory so far this year as part of routine wet season risk management, which is an average figure around this time.

Last year, 241 saltwater crocodiles were captured across the territory.

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A massive 4.9-metre saltwater crocodile has been spotted at a popular swimming spot in the Northern Territory at the height of the wet season.

Parks and Wildlife Minister Marie-Clare Boothby said exceptional wet season rainfall has driven increased crocodile movement, with waterways expanding and connecting earlier than usual.

"Our crocodile management teams and park rangers are on the ground every day responding to reports, installing and checking traps, and conducting day and night surveys to keep Territorians and visitors safe," she said.

"Our government has strengthened crocodile management capacity through additional staff, new traps and upgraded infrastructure, allowing faster responses to sightings and earlier reopening of popular parks and swimming spots when it is safe to do so."

Residents or visitors in the Northern Territory are advised to be Crocwise and report a sighting to Parks and Wildlife.

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‘I killed old mate’: Prisoner admits killing sex offender in jail

One of two men accused of murdering a fellow prisoner has told a magistrate he killed the victim because he was a child sex offender.

Shannon Daniel Norgate, 28, was found unresponsive with significant injuries from an assault at Maryborough Correctional Centre, north of Queensland's Sunshine Coast, on November 26.

He died in hospital on December 1.

READ MORE: Tributes for 'beautiful' 16-year-old killed in quad bike crash

Norgate had been jailed in 2020 for sexually abusing young boys in a shopping centre toilet block.

Fellow prisoners Bodhi James Barry Johnson, 29 and Isaac James Martin, 31, were both charged with murder yesterday.

In a brief Brisbane Magistrates Court appearance today, Martin said he killed Norgate after being told he faced a mandatory life sentence if found guilty of murder.

"That's right, Your Honour. I killed old mate because he was a child molester. I'm not denying anything. I killed him," he said.

Martin appeared via videolink wearing a white prison-issue smock and sporting a beard.

READ MORE: Two charged, two more wanted after 'bonnet up' scam targeting elderly women

Magistrate Aaron Simpson told Martin he should seek legal representation.

"Killing a person does not necessarily mean it's murder. There are different levels of killing a person. A lawyer might be able to help you get the best result if that's the case," Simpson said.

Martin had earlier said he had not applied for legal representation because he had not bothered to do it.

"I'm representing myself, mate," Martin said.

"It's a murder charge," Simpson said.

"All good," Martin said.

Martin was remanded in custody for his case to return to court on March 9.

READ MORE: Police slam 'reckless' thieves for cutting down fire danger warning sign

He was previously sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment in 2023 for unlawfully striking and causing the death of fellow inmate Zlatko Sikorsky, who was awaiting trial for the murder of 16-year-old Larissa Beilby.

Johnson also appeared briefly via videolink wearing a prison-issue green t-shirt.

He was applying for legal representation and was now in custody at Woodford Correctional Centre, north of Brisbane, Simpson heard.

Johnson was remanded in custody for his case to return to court on March 9.

He had been eligible to apply for parole next month while serving a sentence for car theft and arson.

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