Tag Archives: oceania

Necklace worth $11k, plane seats and Ansett lifejacket up for grabs at airport auction

A designer Bulgari gold diamond necklace worth $11,000 and other pricey jewellery are up for grabs as part of an auction of lost property found at an Australian airport.

Brisbane Airport is putting the lost items – as well as airport memorabilia – up for auction for charity.

The auction features hundreds of items left behind by the 24 million passengers who travelled through the terminals in the past year.

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A designer Bulgari gold diamond necklace worth $11k as well as other pricey jewellery is up for grabs as part of an auction of lost property found at an Australia airport.

Despite efforts to reunite owners with their belongings, many items remain unclaimed, the airport said.

Other forgotten items like walking sticks, hundreds of pairs of sunglasses, dozens of phones and numerous pair of headphones are also on offer.

A hefty supply of laptops is also being sold, as well as a printer which appears to have been lost.

Walking frames and children's buggies have also ended up not being claimed.

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A designer Bulgari gold diamond necklace worth $11k as well as other pricey jewellery is up for grabs as part of an auction of lost property found at an Australia airport.A designer Bulgari gold diamond necklace worth $11k as well as other pricey jewellery is up for grabs as part of an auction of lost property found at an Australia airport.

Some forgetful fliers also managed to lose pairs of sneakers and other clothes and shoes, fishing rods and surfboards.

A handful of sewing machines have also bizarrely made it to lost property, as well as medical gear like CPAP machines.

Meanwhile, special airport memorabilia including old plane seats, an Ansett lifejacket from the defunct airline and even a black box flight recorder from a plane are also being sold to the highest bidder.

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A designer Bulgari gold diamond necklace worth $11k as well as other pricey jewellery is up for grabs as part of an auction of lost property found at an Australia airport.

"It's always surprising and even a little bizarre to see what gets left behind by the 70,000 passengers who pass through Brisbane Airport each day," Peter Doherty from the airport said.

"With Brisbane Airport turning 100 this year, we've also included some special heritage aviation items we think will attract a lot of interest.

"Where else can you pick up a row of airline seats, a black box, cockpit voice recorder or vintage life jackets with Ansett on them?"

The auction is running online via Lloyds.

‘Wall of water’ struck rural NSW town, killing two people

While panicked people stood on roof tops to escape a "wall of water" flooding a rural town, the weather bureau warned the disaster would occur many hours later, an inquest has been told.

An enormous flash flood that smashed Eugowra, in central western NSW, on the morning of November 14, 2022, killed 60-year-old Diane Smith and 85-year-old Ljubisa "Les" Vugec.

An inquest is examining the circumstances of their deaths, along with the lead-up to the disaster, the efficacy of weather warnings and the emergency response.

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Both 85-year-old Ljubisa "Les" Vugec and 60-year-old Diane Smith died in 2022 during a major NSW flood.

Local water catchments were already brimming when "constant and intense" rain fell over the region for six hours the evening before the flood, according to a 2023 NSW government report read to the inquest.

It was, at the time, the wettest November day in NSW since 1900.

Mandagery Creek, which flows through the centre of Eugowra, peaked at 11.02 metres just after 9am on November 14.

The level was more than 10 times its ordinary height and one metre higher than the previous flood record in April 1950.

The huge release and flash flood which impacted Eugowra , Cowra and Forbes in NSW,

Counsel assisting Sophie Callan SC on Monday told the inquest that water gauges upstream from Eugowra were not transmitting data in the hours leading up to the flood.

Damage to gauges and telecommunications outages resulted in data gaps of several hours, including between 7am and 10am, Callan said.

"During the peak of the flood … there were no gauges transmitting any information to enable emergency services to predict just how swiftly the water was coming into Eugowra," Ms Callan said during her opening address at Orange courthouse.

Just after 9am, "a wall of water or a wave" struck the village with enough force to knock houses off their stumps and wipe out telecommunications infrastructure, she said.

Several people climbed onto the roof of the two-storey Central Hotel to escape the torrent.

Flash flood which impacted Eugowra , Cowra and Forbes.

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Around the same time, at 9.07am, the Bureau of Meteorology issued a warning that the Mandagery Creek "may reach" 10.5 metres that afternoon.

"That was not in accordance with what was happening on the ground at the time," Ms Callan said.

The inquest was told Smith, a life-long Eugowra resident and doctor's receptionist, was seen clinging to a tree in raging waters, while Vugec was last seen in his backyard.

The disaster destroyed or damaged 80 per cent of homes and forced the evacuation of 700 Eugowra residents.

Before the inquest opening, Cabonne Shire mayor Kevin Beatty said the loss of Smith and Vugec continued to hang heavily over the small town.

"It's massive. To lose them under those circumstances is horrific," Mr Beatty told AAP.

"They went missing for a while in the floodwaters – that's indescribable."

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese And NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet tour Eugowra after flooding.

Beatty said the inquest was likely to re-open painful emotional wounds, but hoped it would provide answers for those seeking them.

"They're going OK, but it's been slow," he said.

"I don't want to use the word resilient. They're tough."

The inquest is set down for five days before Deputy State Coroner David O'Neil.

Slain Sydney woman’s last call about ex ‘trying to kill me’

In a triple-zero call shortly before her death, a fearful woman said her violent, former partner was at her home trying to kill her and steal her money.

Tatiana Dokhotaru was killed in her 22nd-floor apartment in southwest Sydney late at night on May 26, 2023.

Her ex-partner Danny Zayat, 30, has pleaded not guilty to her murder and faced the first day of a NSW Supreme Court jury trial on Monday.

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Jurors heard of the 89-second call that Ms Dokhotaru made to triple zero shortly before she was allegedly murdered.

"Yes, hi. My ex-boyfriend's here and he's trying to kill me," she told the operator.

On a recording of the call, the pair could be heard arguing about money, crown prosecutor Alex Morris said.

Tatiana Dokhotaru

Dokhotaru told the operator she was being bashed and that Zayat was stealing her money, he said.

She provided the address of her apartment in the Sydney suburb of Liverpool before the call ended, the jury heard.

The Crown alleges Zayat took the phone, ended the call and then threw the device off the unit's high-rise balcony.

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It was never recovered, the court was told.

Zayat is accused of murdering Dokhotaru sometime in the next hour.

He allegedly did so through one or more blows to the head, or by hitting her on the head and pushing her over, causing a head injury.

The intention was either to kill or inflict really serious bodily harm to his ex-partner, Mr Morris said.

Prosecutors have brought an alternative charge of manslaughter against Zayat if the charge of murder cannot be proven beyond reasonable doubt.

The trial continues.

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

Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800.

Melbourne homeowner chases down, restrains alleged home invader in underwear

A Melbourne man dressed in just his underwear has described how he chased down and restrained a teenager who tried to break into his house this morning.

Grant Brown, the 40-year-old owner of the house, told police he heard a noise inside his house in Hawthorn just before 3.30am.

As he made his way through the house, he came across two teenagers allegedly searching the ground floor of his home.

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Grant Brown Hawthorn Melbourne Victoria Australia

He then confronted the pair, who are accused of running from the scene.

Brown spoke to Today this morning, and revealed what happened when he initially saw the boys in his home.

"[I wanted to] give them a fright, started yelling and chased them out," he said.

"One of them was trying to jump over a neighbour's fence and went down a laneway, and he was in a dead end, and I pulled him back when he was halfway up the fence."

Brown chased them and caught up to one of the boys, a 15-year-old.

Because Brown did not have his phone on him, he made the alleged intruder call the police himself.

"I pulled up his top to see if he had a weapon, and then this guy is like, 'don't hurt me, you can call the cops'", Brown said.

"I'm like, 'alright, you call the cops', and I just pulled out his phone and made him [dial].

"I just held onto him until the cops arrived."

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Hawthorn Melbourne Australia robbery attempt Grant Brown

All of this was caught on dramatic CCTV footage from a neighbouring house, with neighbours now dubbing Brown "Captain Underpants" after the character from the popular children's book and movie franchise of the same name.

Brown said the boys told him they were in the area for a jog, but he claims they were trying to steal his car.

Responding police also tracked down the other teenager, a 14-year-old boy, and he was taken into custody.

The pair were interviewed by police and charged for two aggravated burglaries, along with an earlier incident occurring in the nearby Elphin Grove.

In that case, a resident was woken by the bark of his dog at around 2.30am, where he found one of the boys trying to enter through an unlocked doggy door.

The owner of the house pushed the boy through the door, and the teenagers fled.

They have now been charged with two counts of aggravated burglary with people present.

Police are currently making an application to have the teenagers remanded.

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Treasurer Jim Chalmers announces major changes in super backdown

The federal government has announced major changes to its superannuation tax policy, including scrapping a proposed tax on unrealised gains and indexing a $3 million threshold that would have likely captured thousands more of Aussie workers.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the government would also increase the low-income superannuation tax offset (LISTO) by $310 to $810 from July 1, 2027, and raise the eligibility threshold from $37,000 to $47,000.

Chalmers said the change was a part of a plan to "help low-income workers earn more, keep more of what they earn and retire with more too".

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Treasurer Dr Jim Chalmers at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra on Monday 13 October 2025. fedpol Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

"This will help deliver a more secure retirement for 1.3 million Australians, of which around 60 per cent are women, with the total number of Australians eligible for LISTO increasing to 3.1 million," he said.

"This change will ensure low-income workers receive a fairer tax concession on their super contributions to align with the Government's third round of tax cuts taking effect in 2027.

"It will benefit all workers with incomes between $28,000 and $45,000, with an average increase in the LISTO payment of $410.

"These workers could receive a potential benefit at retirement of around $15,000 depending on an individual's income over their career."

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Chalmers has backed down on two of the policy's most controversial aspects by indexing the $3 million threshold, adding a $10 million threshold (also to be indexed) and taxing only realised gains.

The original $3 million threshold, as planned, would not have been indexed, which would have captured more people in the tax over time.

The proposal also would have targeted unrealised gains, such as the increase in value of a property, even if the asset had not been sold and therefore subject to capital gains tax.

"For earnings on super balances between $3 million and $10 million, the rate remains 30 per cent," he said.

"The rate for over $10 million becomes 40 per cent.

"This is still a concessional tax arrangement but it's better targeted."

The changes will come into effect from July 1 in 2026.

Mary Delahunty, CEO of superannuation peak body ASFA, welcomed the changes.

"It's vital that the super system is equitable and sustainable, and the changes proposed today by the treasurer are important moves to achieving those goals," Delahunty said.

"The proposed changes to tax concessions on earnings in accounts with more than $3 million and $10 million will require Australia's superannuation funds to do extra work, but we will work with treasury and the Australian Tax Office on behalf of the sector to make sure the changes are smooth and achievable for our member funds.

"We look forward to taking part in treasury's consultations on behalf of the sector, to ensure these proposals for a fairer super system are enacted."

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Aussies admit to disgusting habit after going to the bathroom

Millions of Aussies have admitted they don't always wash their hands after going to the bathroom, including 13 per cent of men and 11 per cent of women after defecating.

The concerning data also revealed 28 per cent of men surveyed and 18 per cent of women also said they did not wash their hands after urinating, the study from the Food Safety Information Council revealed.

Lydia Butchmann, CEO of the Council, said the results were worrying, highlighting the consequences such habits and actions can cause to everyone.

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The moment of washing hands: A gentle encounter between water and hands

"The survey came up with some interesting (and disturbing) results," she said.

"28 per cent of men and 18 per cent of women surveyed said they didn't always wash their hands after a pee.

"But this is essential as toilets and bathrooms are also one of the favourite locations for harmful bacteria to hang out.

"Of even more concern, 13 per cent of men and 11 per cent of women said they didn't always wash their hands after a poo."

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Butchmann said the risk of these habits was compounded given almost half of all Aussies also admitted to another startling habit that also poses a huge health risk.

"If you don't wash your hands after going to the toilet you will be spreading the risk of diseases, especially as 43 per cent of men and 49 per cent of women surveyed also admitted that they didn't always wash their hands before handling food," she said.

The Food Safety Information Council's advice is to always wash and dry your hands:

  • Before handling, preparing and eating food

  • After touching raw meat, fish, seafood, shell eggs or poultry

  • After using the toilet, attending to children's (or others') toileting, and changing nappies

  • After blowing your nose

  • After touching a pet, cleaning up animal pee, poo or vomit or cleaning cat litter trays

  • After gardening

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Warning for patients of a Sydney dentist amid ‘infection control breaches’

Patients of a dentist in Sydney's south are being urged to get tested for blood-borne viruses due to infection control breaches identified at the practice.

The Chief Health Officer has advised current and former patients of Safuan Hasic, also known as Steven Hasic, who worked from a practice at 70 Victoria Avenue, Mortdale, to get tested for blood-borne viruses due to infection control breaches identified at his practice.

Patients could have been exposed to hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV, due to poor cleaning and inadequate sterilisation of dental equipment.

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Patients of a dentist in Sydney's south are being urged to get tested for blood borne viruses due to infection control breaches identified at the practice.

However health bosses said it's "low risk".

Hasic's registration as a dental practitioner has been suspended by the Dental Council of NSW.

NSW Health has also issued a closure order for the dental surgery in Mortdale.

It said it has tracked down some patients and is contacting them.

But it has issued a plea for others to take note.

Director of South Eastern Sydney Local Health District's Public Health Unit, Dr Vicky Sheppeard, said while the potential risk of infection is low, blood-borne viruses can have serious health impacts.

"Any current or former patients of Mr Hasic should see their GP as soon as possible and ask to be tested for blood-borne viruses as a precautionary measure," Sheppeard said.

"Blood-borne viruses can be spread between clients on dental instruments where there isn't stringent infection control.

"People infected with blood-borne viruses may not show symptoms for many years, so it is important to be tested to see if there is silent infection.

"There are effective treatments for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV."

Patients who have had tests after their last visit with Hasic should check with their GP if more tests are needed, even if results were negative.

NSW Health is working with the Dental Council of NSW and Health Care Complaints Commission to investigate.

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