Tag Archives: oceania

Mum to be released after two nights in prison over deaths of twin daughters

2025-03-22 FreeNews

A Western Australian mother jailed over a fatal crash that killed her twin daughters is set to be released from prison.

Rachel Van Oyen launched an appeal days after being sentenced, with her lawyers saying her punishment was "manifestly excessive".

A court heard this week that seven-year-olds Macey and Riley were wearing seatbelts but not in car seats when Van Oyen closed her eyes for a split second before crashing.

The girls were flung from the car when it slammed into a tree and flipped near Merredin, about 230 kilometres east of Perth, last February.

There had been gasps in the courtroom when Van Oyen was sentenced to serve two months in prison and six in the community over two counts of careless driving causing death.

She will be released after just two nights in prison after a judge agreed to hear the appeal.

"I am happy that she will be out with us today," stepmother Heather Van Oyen said.

"I don't think any one of us will ever know the depth of the impact that Rachel suffers every day and this lifelong sentence she has."

Despite granting Van Oyen bail, the judge told her she didn't want to provide false hope that she would not be returning to prison at a later date, saying the bail decision did not indicate what the outcome of the appeal might be.

During sentencing, the court was told Van Oyen was neither fatigued nor speeding but closed her eyes for a split second, veering left, then overcorrecting.

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Thieves target string of tobacco stores in crime spree

2025-03-19 FreeNews

Three tobacconists and one convenience store in Queensland have been targeted by a group on a crime spree.

Police are investigating if the break-ins across Brisbane and the Gold Coast are linked following the incidents, which took place just hours apart overnight in Mansfield, Redland Bay and Jacobs Well.

The first attempted break-in took place at a tobacconist on Aminya Road in Mansfield around 2.30am, however the group were unable to gain entry.

String of tobacco stores hit in Queensland

An hour later, police were called to reports of a break-in at Broadwater Terrace tobacconist at Redland Bay.

The would-be thieves triggered an alarm, which prompted them to flee the scene in a grey sedan.

Then, again at 4.20am, three people carrying machetes forced their way into a convenience store on Kumgum Street at Jacobs Well.

They fled the scene with cigarettes and cash after they were interrupted by the store manager.

Yatin Shori, store owner

Manager Yatin Shori told 9News he managed to scare the group off.

"It was just because I was bare hands. I didn't have anything and they had like crowbars and stuff," he said.

"I was a little bit scared of my life, but you know, that's what you do.

"They took a lot of cash, I think, tobacco cigarettes."

String of tobacco stores hit in Queensland

Police discovered another tobacconist across the road had been broken into while investigating this break-in.

The group remain on the run tonight and officers are asking anyone with information to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Leaky roofs and termites among expensive issues plaguing Brisbane stadiums

2025-03-19 FreeNews

The poor condition of Queensland's stadiums are under scrutiny as the state prepares to unveil its infrastructure plans for Brisbane 2032.

The venue plan for the Olympics is just days away and 9News can exclusively reveal the shocking list of defects plaguing stadiums across Brisbane.

Leaky roofs, termites and worn-out seats are just some of the issues needing to be addressed as the state formalises its Olympics plan.

QSAC (Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre)

The Boondall Entertainment Centre, one of Brisbane's oldest venues, needs a lot of work, according to footage obtained by 9News.

There have been 126 defects reported so far, including a roof which needs to be replaced and the refurbishment of 14,000 seats.

The Sleeman Complex in Chandler also has more than 220 reported defects, documents show.

The Aquatic Centre needs a new roof and 1400 seats in the Main Theatre are ageing.

Around 34,000sqm of bitumen outside the venue needs resurfacing too.

QSAC (Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre), which was flagged as the Labor government's choice to host the Brisbane 2032 athletics, has more than 300 problems, the documents show.

There are more than 9000 corroded or missing bolts and screws across the stands which need replacing and 1100 seats are weathered.

A termite infestation has also been discovered in the food outlet.

Boondall Entertainment Centre,

Suncorp Stadium, a crucial venue for the games, has 180 reported issues including 1km of rusted handrails and leaky roofs.

Meanwhile, the Gabba has 312 defects with some major components of the stadium's lifespan expiring by 2030.

These are just some of the issues piling up at Brisbane's main venues.

Tim Mander MP is the Minister for Sport and Racing and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games

"The challenge at Stadiums Queensland now is, playing catch up for the under investment that has taken place over the previous 10 years," said Queensland Minister for Olympic and Paralympic Games Tim Mander.

"In this financial year, $25 million has been spent on nearly 5000 jobs."

There is no suggestion in the reports the stuctures are unsafe.

Stadiums Queensland said it takes great pride in maintaining its venues to a high standard but admits this is dependent on resourcing and budgets.

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Former Russell McVeagh lawyer James Gardner-Hopkins seeks new practising certificate

2025-03-19 FreeNews

James Gardner-Hopkins has reapplied for a certificate from the New Zealand Law Society.

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Breakthrough research into severe condition impacting kids like Henry

2025-03-19 FreeNews

A groundbreaking Australian study into eczema has discovered the natural fats in a baby's skin can help predict if they will develop the common condition.

This breakthrough could lead to screening tests for eczema and help develop preventative treatment for a condition that impacts one in three children.

Melbourne six-year-old Henry Evans often suffers from eczema flare-ups which can be debilitating.

Breakthrough eczema research

His mother, Erin Brockman, told 9News there were times the eczema was so severe he would be bleeding.

"He just has flare-ups often for no reason, so we never know when it's coming," she said.

Henry has been taking part in the Melbourne University-led study his whole life after he began showing symptoms of eczema at just a few months old.

He has managed the condition through steroid creams and moisturiser.

Breakthrough eczema research

Henry's participation in the study has helped scientists discover how the fat stored in a baby's skin, known as lipids, is linked to the development of eczema.

"We may be able to find ways of increasing these particular skin lipids that may help future generations from developing eczema," Melbourne University Professor of Epidemiology Adrian Lowe said.

Breakthrough eczema research

Brockman said screening tests could be a "total game changer" for families.

Australia has one of the highest eczema rates in the world and Melbourne researchers behind this study believe finding a way to prevent it could be the key to better treatment for various other conditions.

"If we can do that, we may actually lower their risk of developing other forms of allergies, like food allergy, asthma and hayfever," Lowe said.

"If we can arrest this allergy march, then we've got a chance of really improving the health of our society."

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Packed public meeting amid growing dust anger in seaside suburb

2025-03-19 FreeNews

Emotions have run high at a packed public forum at Sellicks Beach where residents voiced their anger and fear over potentially toxic dust raining down on their suburb.

Locals demanded answers from authorities at the meeting.

"I think the thing that we need to know most is how bad the dust actually is," resident Matt Farrell said.

"We know that it's an aesthetic problem, we know that it's a hazard, but is it a dangerous hazard?"

The dust, which residents claim has a metallic and gritty taste, has prompted concerns about its long-term health effects.

"You wake up in the mornings and you can feel that dust in your mouth just inside your own home," said resident Paul Yeomans.

"It has to stop… something has to give."

The residents believe the dust is originating from a neighbouring quarry, which has recently expanded its operations and now operates 24/7. Testing of dust collected by residents revealed the presence of toxic silica.

"I've gotta say I think people who are affected by it deserve better… but the environmental standards that are being imposed on (quarry operator) Adbri are severe and they're being frequently monitored and that will continue to be the case," Premier Peter Malinauskas said.

Following last night's report from 9News and A Current Affair on the quarry, the issue was also raised in South Australian parliament today, with Independent MP Frank Pangallo questioning why the government was not acknowledging and acting on complaints from residents.

Despite the economic importance of the quarry, residents have stressed the wellbeing of the community should not be compromised.

"We need the minerals, we need things to move ahead as a state, I understand all that," resident Paul Yeomans said.

"But it can't be at the detriment of people's health…it just cannot be."

This article was produced with the assistance of 9ExPress.

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Ex-boyfriend tried to lure victim’s dad to school murder site

2025-03-19 FreeNews

A young sports coach had already been dead for an hour when text messages were sent to her concerned father, suggesting she was in trouble.

The badly beaten body of water polo coach Lilie James was inside a gym bathroom at St Andrew's Cathedral School in Sydney's city centre before midnight on October 25, 2023.

While she was lying dead in a pool of blood after being bludgeoned to death by her ex-boyfriend Paul Thijssen, someone messaged the 21-year-old's father, Jamie, from her phone.

Lilie James' family described her as "vibrant and outgoing".

"Don't ask why or call. Please come to the school now and pick me up," the text read.

Her father replied "are you OK?" and checked the location of her phone, which registered as the school where she worked alongside 24-year-old Thijssen.

Jamie called his daughter's phone twice but no one picked up.

Instead, he received a text saying: "All good just came trouble (sic)."

Counsel assisting the coroner Jennifer Single SC told an inquest into the pair's deaths that Thijssen was the only person who could have sent the messages to Jamie.

Doing so caused the young woman's family to suffer as they frantically tried to get in touch with her without any success, she said today.

When Jamie rushed to the school and tried to contact his daughter, his messages went unanswered and he was not able to search the site.

The extensive injuries to Lilie's body and amount of blood in her hair meant she was unrecognisable when she was discovered by police in the gym bathroom before midnight.

Police were only able to identify the 21-year-old after looking at CCTV footage from the school, which was earlier shown at the inquest.

The footage showed an unsuspecting Lilie smiling and chatting casually with Thijssen before walking to the bathroom with her swimsuit in hand.

The pair had previously been involved in a casual, two-month relationship, but Lilie ended it five days before she was killed.

She looked at a sign blocking off one of the bathrooms – which Thijssen had placed there earlier in the evening – before entering the disabled bathroom.

Thijssen followed her and stood outside the bathroom with a hammer in his right hand.

He appeared to look directly at the CCTV camera before lunging into the bathroom two minutes later.

Thijssen bludgeoned her to death with the hammer inside the bathroom in a premeditated attack before he was found dead at the base of a cliff in Sydney's eastern suburbs hours later.

One of the issues for the inquest to consider is whether his death was self-inflicted.

Single noted Lilie was happily interacting with Thijssen before her death and appeared to have no indication of what he would do.

"No matter how many times you see that footage, it is not easy to watch," she said as her voice broke.

Security footage from earlier in the evening showed Thijssen alternating which hand held the hammer while practising the murder outside the bathroom.

He was also seen disabling the automatic sliding doors, in a move Single said was designed to prevent the school cleaners from disturbing his attack on Lilie.

As well as assessing the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Lilie and Thijssen, the inquest will examine coercive control and unacceptable behaviour in relationships, in an attempt to prevent similar deaths.

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

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The $8 billion plan to make your energy bill cheaper

2025-03-19 FreeNews

Ahead of the upcoming federal election, the Greens have pledged $8 billion to help homes and businesses get home battery storage systems for solar energy and switch to electric-only appliances.

The plan would make grants of up to $5000 and low-interest loans of $10,000 available for homes to install battery storage, while small businesses would be able to $10,000 in grants or $50,000 in low-interest loans.

Households would also get access to $10,000 grants and $20,000 in low-interest loans to "install eligible technologies such as induction cooktops and heat pumps" and move away from gas appliance, with the figures for small businesses rising to $25,000 and $100,000.

"Supporting people to electrify their homes is one of the cheapest ways to reduce emissions and would bring the greatest benefits to households," the Greens said in a statement.

All told, the party says the policy would cost $8.1 billion.

The trade-off in the long run, the Greens argue, would be cheaper power bills going forward.

"It's going to not only deliver real cuts to pollution, but real cuts to people's power bills as well that will be lasting year upon year upon year," Greens leader Adam Bandt said.

"I hope this starts a race to the top. I hope people try to outbid this policy," Bandt said.

"This is one of the most practical things we can do to deliver cost of living relief."

Australia is the world leader in rooftop solar – an estimated 3.8 million homes have panels without storage.

Sydney resident and Climate Action Burwood President Ken Enderby now has electric appliances and a car, all supported by his solar and battery.

"There's power being produced but it's not being sent to where it's really needed, and where it's really needed is the early evening and the only way you can do that is with a battery," he said.

Some independent MPs have announced support for home batteries.

With power prices set to rise again, the major parties are preparing rooftop solar policies to be announced during the election campaign.

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‘Welcome home’: Stranded astronauts taste first fresh air in nine months

2025-03-19 FreeNews

Two NASA astronauts stranded in orbit for nine months have tasted fresh air again after they left their shuttle back to Earth this morning.

A live-stream from NASA showed the SpaceX shuttle splashing down off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, US, just before 9pm.

The SpaceX crew monitoring the splashdown erupted in cheers as the shuttle landed.

Stranded astronauts shuttle.

"On behalf of SpaceX, welcome home," the ground crew told the four astronauts aboard.

Shuttle captain Nick Hague said there were "four big smiles" on the faces of the crew.

That crew included Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who found themselves stranded on the International Space Station after Boeing rocket faults stretched their week-long space voyage into nine months.

The journey home from space took about 17 hours, with the astronauts now waiting about 30 minutes for recovery ships to reach them.

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1902117509798465910?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

The shuttle was pristine white when it departed the ISS, but landed in the ocean discoloured and scorched after re-entry.

Recovery boats tested the shuttle for hypergolic fumes – a combination of a fuel and an oxidizer that ignites immediately upon contact – and began the process of preparing the vessel for removal from the oval.

The parachutes were also recovered.

The astronauts remained inside the shuttle while awaiting recovery, but were kept cool by an on-board air conditioner and remained in contact with the outside world through their communications system.

NASA public relations officer Jaden Jennings, who is on board the main recovery vessel, said the splashdown was "nothing short of spectacular".

"I think I speak for all of us on the ship when I say a new core memory was made for us today," she said.

A pod of dolphins surfaced around the shuttle amid the early recovery.

After recovery by the vessel Megan, named for astronaut K Megan McCarthy, the side portal was depressurised and opened, and one by one the astronauts were helped out and onto stretchers.

It is standard procedure for all returning astronauts to undergo medical checks.

They'll be flown by helicopter from the ship to an airport, where they'll embark on a plane to the NASA space centre in Houston, Texas, for a post-launch assessment.

Nine months in space

Williams and Wilmore expected to be gone just a week or so after launching on Boeing's new Starliner crew capsule on June 5.

So many problems cropped up on the way to the space station that NASA eventually sent Starliner back empty and transferred the test pilots to SpaceX, pushing their homecoming into February.

Then SpaceX capsule issues added another month's delay.

Sunday's arrival of their relief crew meant Wilmore and Williams could finally leave.

They checked out with NASA's Nick Hague and Russia's Alexander Gorbunov, who arrived in their own SpaceX capsule last fall with two empty seats reserved for the Starliner duo.

"We'll miss you, but have a great journey home," NASA's Anne McClain called out from the space station as the capsule pulled away 418km above the Pacific.

Jennings said the two astronauts had undergone extensive training for returning on a SpaceX capsule.

Stranded in space

While other astronauts had logged longer spaceflights over the decades, none had to deal with so much uncertainty or see the length of their mission expand by so much.

Wilmore and Williams quickly transitioned from guests to full-fledged station crew members, conducting experiments, fixing equipment and even spacewalking together.

With 62 hours over nine spacewalks, Williams set a new record: the most time spent spacewalking over a career among female astronauts.

Both had lived on the orbiting lab before and knew the ropes, and brushed up on their station training before rocketing away.

Williams became the station's commander three months into their stay and held the post until earlier this month.

Both retired Navy captains, Wilmore and Williams stressed they didn't mind spending more time in space — a prolonged deployment reminiscent of their military days.

But they acknowledged it was tough on their families.

Wilmore, 62, missed most of his younger daughter's senior year of high school; his older daughter is in college.

Williams, 59, had to settle for internet calls from space to her mother.

They'll have to wait until they're off the SpaceX recovery ship and flown to Houston before the long-awaited reunion with their loved ones.

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Teen charged after allegedly grabbing crocodile at tourist park

2025-03-19 FreeNews

After a week on the run, a man who allegedly targeted and broke into a beloved Darwin tourist attraction last week has been charged with multiple offences.

Northern Territory Police Strike Force Trident and Dog Operations Unit members tracked down 19-year-old Jeremy Peckham at a residence in Malak yesterday around 2:15pm and apprehended him without incident.

Crocodylus Park told 9News last week that the man's crime spree around midnight on Thursday caused around $15,000 in damage after he unlawfully entered the premises, interfered with a croc, stole a Holden Rodeo ute and used it to ram through multiple gates.

A beloved Darwin tourist attraction and reptile education centre was targeted by a brazen thief, who unlawfully entered the premises, stole a Holden Rodeo utility and used it to ram through multiple gates.

The ute was found at Casuarina Beach burnt out, but it wasn't the only car allegedly destroyed by the offender, who is accused of damaging two vehicles and attempting to steal two others.

"We are privately run, and tourism is a tough business as hard as it is," park manager Emily Moyes said.

"This is a huge setback for us."

The whole incident was captured on the Park's extensive CCTV, which also appeared to show the offender picking up a 65-centimetre crocodile and taking selfies with it before placing it on the ground.

The crocodile managed to escape his grasp and went missing in the park.

"(We're) very lucky and fortunate that this particular individual hasn't decided to take the crocodile with him," she said.

CCTV also appeared to show the alleged thief running over a family of ducks before escaping in the stolen ute.

The thief also ran over a family of ducks before making his escape in the stolen car.

"In the footage, you can clearly see him running over the family. It's not very nice at all," Moyes said.

"We have seen them again, but we do have a few missing."

Peckham has been charged with burglary, four counts of damage to property and two counts of trespass – entering without authority.

He was also charged with theft and charged with one count of taking/interfering with protected wildlife.

He was also hit with multiple driving charges, including driving, using/riding a motor vehicle without consent, being a learner driver with no person in the front seat, and driving without L plates when required.

The 19-year-old appeared in Darwin Local Court today and was remanded in custody. He is due to appear in court again on Friday.

Nine months in space﻿

Stranded in space

Nine months in space