Seven teenagers arrested and questioned over stabbing deaths of Dau Akueng and Chol Achiek
Benita Kolovos
Seven youngsters have been arrested and are being questioned over the stabbing deaths of 15-year-old Dau Akueng and 12-year-old Chol Achiek earlier this month.
Police on Friday confirmed murder squad detectives raided properties in Melton South, Thornhill Park, Caroline Springs, Sunbury, Wollert, Hillside and Sydenham and arrested the seven teenagers.
They’re a 19-year-old Thornhill Park man; a 19-year-old Caroline Springs man; an 18-year-old Wollert man; three 16-year-old boys and a 15-year outdated boy, all from the north west suburbs of Melbourne.
They’re now being interviewed by police.
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Up to date at 19.06 EDT
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Penry Buckley
NSW opens fast-charging electrical bus depot in Australian first
The NSW authorities has introduced the primary conversion of a serious Sydney bus depot to electrical fast-charging expertise as a part of its efforts to impress the state’s 8,000-strong fleet.
The Brookvale bus depot within the northern seashores has been fitted out with Australia’s first gantry-mounted charging programs. A mechanical arm connects the buses to overhead energy traces by way of a “pantograph”, much like the system used to energy trains. An electrical bus recharges in 20 minutes to an hour, offering as much as 300km of journey.
Electrical buses cost by overhead pantographs on the Brookvale bus depot. {Photograph}: NSW authorities
The NSW transport minister, John Graham, says this system has begun within the northern seashores, which has confronted critical points with bus shortages:
The Northern Seashores skilled the worst of the bus driver scarcity … and in addition misplaced high-capacity flexible buses after they needed to be withdrawn from service for physique work. Bus passengers right here can stay up for a brighter, all-electric future.
As of August this yr, larger Sydney had 220 electrical buses in operation. Brookvale, the primary of Sydney’s 11 bus depots to be fitted out, has 13 electrical buses in service, though the federal government says the 13 charging stations and eight plug in-chargers will help 229.
An overhead pantograph. {Photograph}: NSW governmentShare
Up to date at 20.14 EDT
AMA Queensland opposes the capsule testing ban
The Australian Medical Affiliation of Queensland opposes the ban and warned it might put lives in danger, AAP provides. AMA Queensland President Nick Yim mentioned:
We’re upset with the federal government’s transfer to ban capsule testing. Capsule testing supplies a chance for people to have a dialog with a well being skilled about their drug use.
As docs, we’re involved we’ll see a rise in displays to our emergency departments, notably within the upcoming summer season competition season, the place we all know individuals might use medicine.
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Queensland bans capsule testing regardless of warnings crackdown places lives in danger
Queensland has grow to be the primary Australian state to ban capsule testing, with medical consultants warning the transfer might price lives, AAP studies.
The authorized crackdown follows state authorities strikes to scrap $1.5m in public funding for pill-testing providers run by CheQpoint – one in Brisbane, the opposite on the Gold Coast – forcing providers to shut in April.
The ban handed in state parliament late Thursday evening makes any pill-testing operations unlawful.
Tim Nicholls. {Photograph}: Darren England/AAP
The well being minister, Tim Nicholls, mentioned:
The Crisafulli Authorities has a zero-tolerance strategy to illicit medicine. I need to make it completely clear that there isn’t any protected option to take unlawful medicine and this authorities doesn’t help publicly or privately funded capsule testing.
Drug-checking providers ship the mistaken message to Queenslanders.
Some providers or trials stay in place within the ACT, Victoria and NSW. Queensland was the primary state to determine a set pill-testing technique by the ALP.
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Up to date at 19.54 EDT
Jordyn Beazley
Bocsar chief says small variety of expenses highlights complexity surrounding such abuse
Jackie Fitzgerald, the manager director of Bocsar mentioned:
The small variety of expenses highlights the complexity of investigating and prosecuting this type of abuse.
With a median time of 131 days from the police report back to cost, it’s clear that constructing a prosecutable case below this new laws requires time, proof, and a deep understanding of the patterns of behaviour concerned.
Fitzgerald mentioned the true check of the laws will come when a case that proceeds to trial for the primary time permits “the courts to look at the proof, interpret the regulation, and set necessary precedents for the way coercive management is prosecuted in NSW”. She added:
Within the first 12 months, solely three coercive management expenses have been finalised in courtroom.
In two circumstances, the costs have been withdrawn by prosecution. And within the third case, the defendant pleaded responsible, which means no contested expenses have but been examined by the judicial course of.
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Up to date at 20.04 EDT
Jordyn Beazley
Solely 9 individuals charged throughout first yr of NSW’s landmark coercive management legal guidelines
Solely 9 individuals have been charged in New South Wales below the state’s landmark coercive management legal guidelines, regardless of there being almost 300 recorded incidents.
The info, launched in the present day by the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Analysis (Bocsar), tracked the influence of the laws – which criminalises coercive management in intimate companion relationships – within the yr because it was launched final July.
The laws marked a major shift in the best way home violence was recognised within the state amid a nation-wide reckoning over what number of girls proceed to be murdered by their intimate companions.
Bocsar discovered there have been 5 distinct controlling behaviours on common within the 297 recorded incidents. The commonest have been harassment and monitoring or monitoring. In the meantime threats or intimidation, monetary abuse (48%) and shaming or humiliation have been recorded in round half of the incidents.
The charges have been larger within the areas, with the Far West and Orana and Central West recording the very best within the state. Practically half of people who alleged a coercive management incident had a recorded historical past with police of being victim-survivors of home violence.
ShareBenita Kolovos
Victoria police have been endeavor ‘important investigation’ after deaths
Police say for the reason that deaths of Akueng and Achiek, in two separate incidents on the evening of 6 September, a “important investigation” by the murder squad has been below option to “determine these accountable and gather all obtainable proof”.
They are saying native police additionally elevated patrols within the Cobblebank space as a part of their group reassurance efforts, and met with native faculties, council and group leaders.
The investigation into the deaths stays ongoing and urged anybody with info to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a web-based confidential report.
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Seven teenagers arrested and questioned over stabbing deaths of Dau Akueng and Chol Achiek
Benita Kolovos
Seven youngsters have been arrested and are being questioned over the stabbing deaths of 15-year-old Dau Akueng and 12-year-old Chol Achiek earlier this month.
Police on Friday confirmed murder squad detectives raided properties in Melton South, Thornhill Park, Caroline Springs, Sunbury, Wollert, Hillside and Sydenham and arrested the seven teenagers.
They’re a 19-year-old Thornhill Park man; a 19-year-old Caroline Springs man; an 18-year-old Wollert man; three 16-year-old boys and a 15-year outdated boy, all from the north west suburbs of Melbourne.
They’re now being interviewed by police.
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Up to date at 19.06 EDT
Jack Snape
Gout Gout misses out on 200m last however says higher performances are ‘coming’
The promising debut of Gout Gout on the worldwide stage has come to an finish after he was eradicated on the world championships in a aggressive semi-final in Tokyo.
The 17-year-old completed fourth final evening in his race behind winner Bryan Levell, and missed out on the 2 extra time-based qualification locations on provide after working at 20.36sec.
Gout Gout competes within the Males’s 200m semi last on the World Athletics Championships 2025 in Tokyo, Japan. {Photograph}: Mast Irham/EPA
Though Torrie Lewis couldn’t progress within the girls’s 200m both, Australia’s center distance runners and excessive jumpers discovered success within the Nationwide Stadium on Thursday.
Within the males’s 200m, Gout’s time was marginally slower than the 20.23sec he ran in his warmth, and was effectively off the 20.02sec he produced to decrease his personal nationwide report in a meet in Czechia in June.
However he was constructive afterwards, and mentioned he would construct on this expertise. “Semi-finalist, and to go on the market and compete in opposition to the massive guys, I couldn’t be prouder of myself for certain,” {the teenager} mentioned.
Learn extra right here:
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Up to date at 19.04 EDT
Patrick Commins
Practically one in three single-parent households in Australia reside in poverty, Hilda report exhibits
A serious nationwide survey has revealed a “silent disaster” amongst Australian households, with almost one-in-three single-parent households dwelling in poverty.
The newly launched statistical report on the long-running Family, Revenue and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey discovered that, after adjusting for housing prices, 31.3% of single-parent households have been dwelling beneath the poverty line in 2023.
{Photograph}: Kaan Sezer/Getty Photographs/iStockphoto
This group is sort of thrice extra more likely to be in poverty than two-parent households, the survey confirmed.
The newest reported determine was down from a report excessive reported in 2022, however was nonetheless effectively above the 25% share of single-parent households in poverty a decade earlier and better than the 28.3% in poverty in 2003.
Hilda’s co-director, Roger Wilkins, mentioned the historical past of the survey revealed a worsening development over the previous 10 to fifteen years as modifications below the Howard and Gillard governments compelled single mother and father – predominately moms – off parenting funds and on to much less beneficiant unemployment advantages.
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Research finds stroke ‘miracle remedy’ no more practical than a placebo
A so-called miracle remedy for stroke is not any more practical than a placebo, a research has discovered.
AAP studies the therapy, often known as perispinal etanercept, includes injecting an arthritis treatment into the again of a affected person’s neck and tilting them downwards so it travels in direction of their mind.
Unavailable in Australia, stroke survivors have flown to the US to obtain the therapy, typically at nice expense.
However a trial performed by scientists from The Florey analysis centre has proven it gives sufferers no advantages above a dummy therapy.
Some 126 sufferers from Australia and New Zealand took half within the randomised trial, revealed within the peer-reviewed journal Neurology, with half receiving the therapy and half the placebo.
Neither group nor docs knew which one they’d till afterwards. In complete, 52% of those that acquired the therapy reported feeling higher 28 days later, in comparison with 57% of those that acquired the placebo.
The distinction within the outcomes is taken into account statistically insignificant.
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Up to date at 18.43 EDT
Gradual electrical automobiles uptake a ‘problem’, says Bowen
Luca Ittimani
Bowen was requested on 7.30 final evening about electrical car uptake in Australia and he admitted that lowering emissions from transport is a “problem” that can “take fairly some time” because of Australians’ gradual uptake of electrical automobiles.
The local weather change minister admitted EV adoption had been gradual and was but to considerably influence Australia’s emissions after saying the federal government’s 2035 emissions discount goal of 62% to 70%.
He mentioned:
It’s been a problem, as a result of … you purchase a automotive in the present day and it’s working for 15 or extra years, so it takes time to show that round.
Stories launched alongside the brand new goal mentioned electrical automobiles must account for half of recent automobiles offered between now and 2035, alongside dramatic transformation of the nation’s power grid, to even attain the decrease finish of the goal.
Bowen acknowledged transport emissions have been but to stoop regardless of tax breaks for EVs, new car emissions requirements and an growing vary of automobiles:
I’m not right here to faux to you that that has rapidly impacted on emissions but. It’s going to take fairly some time to have the complete influence on our emissions.
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Littleproud says Nationals don’t reject local weather change
David Littleproud, the Nationals chief, rejected Bowen’s assertion in an interview with RN Breakfast, saying:
I consider in local weather change. I consider that man has made an influence on local weather change. Simply because I don’t consider in Chris Bowen’s plan doesn’t imply I’m a local weather denier. …
We consider there’s methods to do it, however not essentially Labor’s means.
David Littleproud. {Photograph}: Lukas Coch/AAP
Littleproud mentioned he remained involved about the associated fee behind the plan to decrease emissions, including the Nationals have been engaged on their very own effort to make sure “we’ve tailored to local weather change and guarded our financial system”.
What I intend to do is lead a celebration that can maturely work by this, look by all elements of this, and say to the Australian individuals: we consider in local weather change, however there’s methods to attain this, and it’s not only one option to obtain it.
Open your minds, have the dialog.
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Up to date at 18.01 EDT
Bowen says the Coalition ‘doesn’t consider in local weather motion’
Bowen was requested in regards to the Coalition’s fierce criticism of the goal. The opposition chief, Sussan Ley, yesterday mentioned the targets failed on each counts of price and credibility. Bowen mentioned of these criticisms:
The Coalition doesn’t consider in local weather motion. There’s no shock there, nor do they settle for local weather science. [These] guys are simply on the mistaken aspect of modernity and they’re going to all the time play that low-cost politics. …
I feel Australians know higher than that and see by that local weather denial form of rhetoric.
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Up to date at 17.53 EDT
Bowen says emissions discount targets ‘no small factor’
Chris Bowen, the local weather change minister, maintained the federal government’s emissions discount goal was “no small factor”, saying he believes the plan is achievable “however formidable”.
Bowen spoke to RN Breakfast this morning, addressing criticism from many within the environmental group that the goal of a discount between 62% and 70% by 2035 over 2005 ranges was too low to rein within the worst results of local weather change. Bowen mentioned:
That is no small factor … And it definitely compares effectively internationally. Over the past 24 hours, Europe’s been contemplating a 63% to 70% reduce, which exhibits on the identical accounting foundation as ours. So, that exhibits that we’re proper up there with essentially the most formidable nations on the earth, as we must be, as we have to be. But additionally … it needs to be achievable. …
With all due respect to these commentators who say we must be doing extra, they don’t must ship – authorities does and the federal government has set out yesterday not solely a goal however a complete plan to assist us get there.
Chris Bowen. {Photograph}: Dan Himbrechts/AAPShare
Up to date at 17.53 EDT
Nick Visser
Good morning, Nick Visser right here to take over for Martin Farrer. Let’s get to it, and blissful Friday!
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Up to date at 17.52 EDT
Julie Bishop denies bullying allegations in Senate inquiry
Krishani Dhanji
Julie Bishop has categorically denied allegations of bullying made in opposition to her throughout a Senate inquiry, issuing a 25 web page proper of reply, revealed on the Senate committee’s web site.
The ANU chancellor had informed the media and employees at a city corridor assembly final week that she denied the allegations and he or she had first heard the allegations after they have been aired on the inquiry.
Julie Bishop. {Photograph}: Lukas Coch/EPA
Liz Allen, an demographer on the ANU, made the allegations whereas giving proof to a committee investigating larger training governance.
Within the letter, Bishop mentioned the best way the allegations have been made raised “grave issues”.
The best way the listening to … was used to ventilate critical allegations in opposition to me and different senior ANU officers raises grave issues for a spread of causes – each individually and for the ANU.
I want to state on the report that I categorically deny the allegations levelled in opposition to me in the course of the listening to on 12 August 2025.
I can’t in good conscience publicly give testimony to the committee that will additional compromise the office grievance course of in addition to different ongoing.
Bishop mentioned her conduct has all the time been skilled and he or she rejects the allegations that “I’m ‘hostile and smug’ to employees, that I’ve ‘godlike powers, unchecked’ and the extra basic allegations that, below my chairmanship of council conferences, there’s a ‘tradition of worry and intimidation’ … that council is ‘dysfunctional and poisonous below the present regime’, [or] that elected members are ‘afraid’”.
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Aircraft crashes because it returns to Sydney
Luca Ittimani
A airplane has crashed in dense bushland on the state’s south coast whereas returning to Sydney, sparking a search final evening on foot by emergency providers for the crash web site and the lone pilot.
The pilot had taken the small leisure plane out on a solo journey earlier on Thursday, flying south from Bankstown airport in Sydney’s west, police mentioned.
The pilot was flying again to Sydney however crashed in Budawang nationwide park about 25km north of Batemans Bay, activating the airplane’s emergency location transmitter.
Emergency providers have been referred to as to the scene at 4.30pm on Thursday, with the state’s ambulance helicopter helping police, fireplace and maritime providers in finding the crash web site from the air.
First responders couldn’t attain the crash by car or air because of the dense bush and adversarial climate and have been persevering with their effort on foot, police mentioned.
Guardian Australia understands police have been contemplating utilizing drones to help the search.
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Up to date at 17.36 EDT
Bowen tells 7.30 he cannot promise decrease power costs
Luca Ittimani
The local weather change minister has declined to vow power costs will fall, whereas acknowledging retail costs would decide the political success of the Albanese authorities’s new emissions goal.
Talking on ABC’s 7.30 final evening, Chris Bowen mentioned costs have been “crucial” to public help for the 2035 emissions discount goal of 62% to 70% however mentioned the federal government had balanced local weather change and dwelling prices. He mentioned:
Australians do need to see local weather motion however in addition they care about price of dwelling as a result of it’s proper earlier than them each day … [but] the basic reality is that what’s good in your pocket is sweet for the planet and vice versa.
Bowen declined to ensure that electrical energy costs would fall because the nation adopted renewable power or to specify a timeframe for Australians to see financial savings from photo voltaic and wind uptake. He as a substitute pointed to authorities modelling exhibiting decrease costs have been probably, saying:
I can assure that renewables are the most cost effective type of power. … We’ve by no means pretended, within the face of worldwide power pressures, that every one this occurs simply or shortly however we additionally don’t stroll away from the truth that renewables are the most cost effective type of power ever recognized to humankind.
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Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our reside information weblog. I’m Martin Farrer with the very best of the breaking information after which your information information shall be Nick Visser.
Chris Bowen, the local weather change minister, informed ABC’s 7.30 final evening that he can’t promise power costs will fall. As he defended the his new emission goal, Bowen acknowledged retail costs would decide the political success of the federal government’s coverage. Extra to come back.
Julie Bishop has categorically denied allegations of bullying made in opposition to her throughout a Senate inquiry, issuing a 25 web page proper of reply which has been revealed on the Senate committee’s web site. Extra shortly.
And Rescue groups are looking dense bushland on foot close to Batemans Bay in New South Wales to attempt to discover a crashed airplane and its lone pilot. The plane went lacking yesterday on its means again to Sydney. Extra developing.
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