Breaking news, politics, business, economy, and current events from Australia.
The barrister representing former NSW MP Daryl Maguire has told a court his client “wouldn’t have a clue” about Australia’s visa system. Mr Maguire is on trial over his alleged involvement in a fraudulent visa scheme, after pleading not guilty to a single charge of conspiracy to commit an offence. The 67-year-old is accused of…
An eviction notice given to an elderly social housing tenant who disputed the validity of a rent increase has been struck out. Judy Belfield was among a group of elderly residents facing extra out-of-pocket costs after HousingFirst took carriage of several inner-east Melbourne properties, which had previously operated under a private trust called Glenloch, in…
The CFMEU likely used organised crime-style methods to control the construction industry, renowned international criminologists have told a Queensland inquiry. Professor Federico Varese and Professor Paolo Campana — two of the world’s foremost experts on organised crime from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge — gave evidence on Thursday at the probe into alleged misconduct,…
A coronial inquest into the death of a 10-year-old girl has heard it is “extremely rare” for a person of her killer’s age to develop psychosis. The NSW State Coroner Teresa O’Sullivan is examining the circumstances leading up to the death of Bridgette “Biddy” Porter in rural NSW in July 2020. In 2021 the Supreme…
The National Trust of South Australia (NTSA) has been referred to a parliamentary inquiry following a months-long campaign by discontented volunteers. On Wednesday night, the Legislative Council voted to probe the state’s largest heritage conservation group, which has been beset by numerous internal conflicts. Shadow Environment Minister Nicola Centofanti brought the motion, which passed with…
A woman who doused her friend in petrol and set him alight during a night of drinking and drug-taking has lost her appeal to have her jail sentence reduced. Corbie Jean Walpole, 25, was jailed for seven and a half years for setting her friend Jake Loader on fire at a party at Howlong, New…
A massive ancient oak tree linked to the legend of Robin Hood may have been loved to death. The 1,200-year-old Major Oak in the UK’s Sherwood Forest is believed to have died after it did not sprout leaves this spring, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said. Visitors who viewed the tree’s gnarled…
A former employee of billionaire philanthropist Judith Neilson has been granted bail on strict conditions, after allegedly defrauding her boss of more than $1.7 million by using her credit cards for personal luxuries. Annalouise Spence is accused of using Dr Neilson’s American Express cards to steal money and fund an extravagant lifestyle, including clothes, jewellery…
After initially denying any wrongdoing, former Parramatta council CEO Gail Connolly has ended up making three key concessions to the corruption watchdog over days of questioning. Ms Connolly was questioned the longest out of all 17 witnesses summonsed by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) over a six-week period to investigate the alleged corruption at…
Family First upper house MLC Sarah Game has not ruled out introducing another bill restricting late-term abortion access, after her proposed legislation to restrict abortions after 25 weeks failed in the lower house last night. Ms Game’s bill passed the upper house yesterday afternoon 10 votes to 9 with the support of three newly-elected One…