‘He was not rational and his behaviour was highly erratic.’

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The witness said council should change the depth of the pond to make it safer.

The deadly disease that stole baby Mabel from her doting parents Carly and John Goya has reared its ugly head again in Australia.

Mabel died in March 2021 at just six months old after contracting pneumococcal meningitis, a bacterial infection which attacks the brain, lungs and heart.

Rates of the disease have reached a 20-year high and a new-generation jab could help protect vulnerable Australians – but a rollout has been delayed due to "bureaucratic red tape".

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"It very rapidly attacked her brain, by the time someone realised it was a lot more serious than gastro, it was essentially too late," mum Carly told 9News.

Carly and John now have eight-month-old triplets Edie, Owen and Augie.

The parents are often crippled by worry that the same thing could happen to them.

More than 4500 cases of invasive pneumococcal disease have been recorded across the country since the beginning of 2023, according to the Immunisation Foundation of Australia (IFA).

READ MORE: Australian mum and daughter 'poisoned' after drinking cocktails in Fiji

This is the highest rate of infection recorded in Australia since 2002.

The IFA warns next year could see a fresh spike in deadly cases if vaccinations don't keep up with the outbreak.

It is urging the federal government to prioritise a rollout of new, broader-coverage pneumococcal vaccines which are TGA-approved.

Mabel's parents say their baby girl might have lived if the new vaccine was available three years ago.

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"Invasive pneumococcal disease is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the impact of pneumococcal infections in Australia," said Paediatrician and Infectious Disease Researcher Professor Peter Richmond.

"We're seeing a drop in vaccine coverage alongside emerging strains of the bacterium, and antibiotic resistance."

IFA director and founder Catherine Hughes said the new immunisations can better protect against more strains than the current jabs.

She said the rollout is being delayed by "bureaucratic red tape". 

"We simply can't risk not having the best available pneumococcal protection," Hughes said.

"Invasive pneumococcal disease can cause permanent disability and even death. We have the tools to make a difference, and now is the time to ensure Australians at greatest risk of infection are protected."

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There are more than 100 strains of streptococcus pneumoniae and the new vaccines can protect against the most common and severe ones, the IFA said.

Vaccination rates in children fell to 92.8 per cent in 2023 and only 20 per cent of Australians aged between 71 and 19 are immunised against the disease.

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A roll call of noteworthy figures died in 2024, including O.J. Simpson, Donald Sutherland, and Iris Apfel.

Australia's youngest convicted murderer could walk free from prison within days despite breaching a court order by talking to a mother dressing her young child at a beach.

The 37-year-old man, who cannot be legally named or identified, was sentenced in August 2002 to spend 20 years behind bars for the murder of three-year-old Courtney Morley-Clarke.

He was 13 years and 10 months old at the time of the killing.

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The then-teenager abducted the toddler from her bedroom on the NSW Central Coast early one morning while her family slept, later stabbing her and leaving her body in long grass a few hundred metres from her home.

Released in September 2023 under an extended supervision order, the man was barred from associating with anyone under 18 years old in a public place.

One month later, he breached these orders by speaking with a mother dressing her young son near the community showers at Bulli Beach, near Wollongong.

He asked whether the boy was speaking yet and if he had been vaccinated against chickenpox after seeing mosquito bites on the child's body.

"Is Dad around?" he asked.

"Yeah, he is," the woman replied.

"Oh, that's good I guess," the murderer said before walking off.

The 37-year-old was arrested that day and placed behind bars again before being found guilty of breaching the order in October.

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He was acquitted of two further charges relating to alleged breaches at Bulli Beach.

The court found there was insufficient evidence to show he had approached a mother bathing with a naked toddler and that he had only spoken with a third woman because he wanted to pat her dog.

Today, he was sentenced at Wollongong District Court to a maximum prison sentence of one year and six months with a non-parole period of one year and one month for the single breach.

Judge William Fitzsimmons found jail was the only appropriate sentence given the man's prior refusal to comply with orders imposed for the community's safety.

The breach was at the low end of objective seriousness, the judge said, because the interaction was brief and the man spoke with the mother but not her child.

But Judge Fitzsimmons called into question the behaviour of the "ill-equipped" community corrections officer who allowed the offence to occur despite being required to maintain line of sight with the convicted killer at all times.

In determining the sentence, the judge took into account the man's deprived childhood, which began before he was born with his mother using heroin while pregnant.

Removed from his parents and put into state care, the convicted murderer was eventually diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder which led to increased impulsivity, difficulties with anger control and anti-social behaviour.

His sentence was backdated to his date of arrest in October 2023, meaning his non-parole period ended on November 23.

But the NSW government is attempting to secure further orders for the man's continued detention in an urgent hearing scheduled in the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

While the 37-year-old's lawyers are arguing for his release back into the community, he will remain behind bars until a decision is made in that case.

The man was acquitted earlier in December on two unrelated charges of stalking and intimidating a law enforcement officer and their partner.

Australians are tightening their spending this festive season, with shoppers expected to spend $1.6 billion less than last year as the cost of living continues to bite, according to new data.

The latest research from Finder found the average Australian planned to spend $1357 on Christmas – equivalent to $28.4 billion nationwide.

The figures show that's an eight per cent decrease compared to $1479 in 2023 ($30 billion nationwide).

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Personal finance expert at Finder Sarah Megginson said households were cutting their Christmas budget by $122 due to concerns over money.

"The festive season can be financially stressful, particularly after a challenging couple of years marked by inflation and high interest rates," Megginson said.

Australians this year are projected to spend $359 each on gifts alone, but spending is down four per cent compared to last year's spend of $373.

In total, $7.5 billion will be splashed on gifts, with 72 per cent of respondents planning to buy presents.

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Food and dining is also a priority for Australians this festive season.

Finder found Australians planned to spend $244 on food, $173 on going out and $145 on alcohol.

Surprisingly, Australians are expected to spend 30 per cent more on dining out than they did in 2023. 

Megginson said to meet expectations this Christmas, it was important to plan ahead and set a realistic budget. 

"Instead of gifts for all the people in your life, consider adjusting traditions, like doing Secret Santa or contributing to a potluck dinner, or giving 'acts as service' as a gift – cooking a special meal, babysitting for the night, or helping in the garden," she said.

"While Christmas may look a little different for many this year, it's still possible to celebrate without accumulating debt or financial stress."

To save this Christmas, Finder recommends offsetting higher spending by finding a better deal on car insurance or refinancing to a cheaper home loan.

Agreeing on gift spending limits with friends and family or choosing DIY homemade presents can also boost savings.

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Drink-driving: ‘Do not do it…and do everything you can to stop anyone else.’

The grandfather and father of two Australian women who fell sick from suspected alcohol poisoning in Fiji has confirmed the pair are headed back home.

David Sandoe feared the worst when his daughter Tanya Sandoe-Simpson, 49, and granddaughter Georgia, 19, were hospitalised after consuming cocktails at the five-star resort.

He told ABC the mother and daughter have been medically cleared to travel home to Sydney after their tropical holiday turned into a nightmare.

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"They are very well considering what they've been through, they are currently sitting in the lounge at the airport ready to board the plane home, thank goodness," he said.

Sandoe said the two were on a "mother-daughter break" and were enjoying themselves before being struck down with a mystery illness.

Tanya and Georgia, along with several others, had enjoyed a pina colada cocktail at the Warwick Fiji Resort before falling ill, he said.

"There was a group of them in the lounge of this resort and they had similar cocktail and unfortunately, seven people came down with the symptoms that have been talked about," Sandoe said.

The two are scheduled to fly home tonight.

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The luxury hotel at the centre of the suspected alcohol poisoning incident told 9news.com.au that they are taking the matter "very seriously."

At least four Australians, including Tanya and Georgia, are believed to have been poisoned after drinking cocktails at Warwick Fiji Resort on Saturday.

Local health officials reported that seven guests were taken to Sigatoka Hospital, while two others, in critical condition, have been transferred to Lautoka Hospital, located about 89 km away.

The seven people were aged from 18 to 56 and had nausea, vomiting, and neurological symptoms after consuming a cocktail, Mai TV said.

The 56-year-old was under constant surveillance in hospital, the public broadcaster said.

A Warwick Fiji Resort spokesperson confirmed they were aware of the "recent news regarding suspected alcohol poisoning".

"Please rest assured that we are taking this matter very seriously and are currently conducting a thorough investigation," a spokesperson told 9news.com.au

"We are also awaiting the health authorities test result report to gather all necessary information.

"At this moment, we do not have conclusive details, but we are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our guests. We will keep you updated as more information becomes available."

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Travellers have taken to social media, writing they were worried about staying at the resort following the news.

"Concerned about the alcohol poisoning just mentioned on the news at your resort, given we have a holiday coming up in January," one person said.

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was "providing consular assistance to two Australian families in Fiji".

The Australian government Smart Traveller website updated its safety alert for Fiji yesterday, warning travellers to "be alert to the potential risks around drink spiking and methanol poisoning through consuming alcoholic drinks".

"We continue to advise exercise normal safety precautions," Smart Traveller says.

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https://x.com/Smartraveller/status/1868185743186972706?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1868185743186972706%7Ctwgr%5E6871888ccb80811959dde81d822d19e59cff0b7a%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.smh.com.au%2Fnational%2Faustralians-feared-to-be-among-seven-tourists-poisoned-rushed-to-hospital-in-fiji-20241215-p5kyji.html

"Get urgent medical help if you suspect drink spiking."

The incident comes after the deaths last month of Melbourne teenagers Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles and four other tourists from suspected methanol poisoning in Laos.

Smart Traveller continues to warn Australians about the risks around methanol poisoning and drink spiking in Laos.

Lao authorities issued an order prohibiting the sale and consumption of Tiger Vodka and Tiger Whisky due to concerns about the products being a health risk.

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‘It’s good old-fashioned speedway’.