Former Greens candidate Hannah Thomas pleads not guilty
Jordyn Beazley
The former Greens candidate Hannah Thomas, who was injured during an interaction with police, has pleaded not guilty to three charges. Thomas did not appear when her matter was briefly heard in Bankstown local court on Tuesday.
Thomas was arrested at a pro-Palestine protest in Sydney on 27 June that was attended by about 60 people. She was taken to hospital and last week underwent a second round of surgery amid fears she could lose sight in her right eye.
Thomas is facing two counts of refusing to comply with police and one count of resisting police. Four others who were charged at the protest also plead not guilty during a mention at the court on Tuesday.
On Monday, in a statement calling for charges against Thomas to be withdrawn, Thomasâs lawyers at OâBrien Criminal and Civil Solicitors alleged that a police officer punched her in the face during the protest, resulting in âextensive and serious injury to her eyeâ.
Her lawyers said they had taken the unusual step of commenting on the case while criminal proceedings against their client were under way after viewing the policeâs body cam footage.
They have flagged that Thomas will sue the state of New South Wales âfor the actions of the NSW police officers connected to her apprehension, injury, detention, and prosecutionâ.
Key events
Benita Kolovos
Country Fire Authority condemns offensive slogans about Victorian premier
The Country Fire Authority âstrongly condemnedâ a group of volunteer firefighters for writing offensive slogans about the Victorian premier, Jacitna Allan, including âditch the bitchâ on their truck.
Other slogans also emblazoned on the Pura Pura brigade truck at a rally in Werribee on Sunday were âTruck Jacintaâ and âRaping the regions for the ring of steelâ â a reference to the Covid-19 policy that separated Melbourne from regional Victoria.
The language has been criticised as âdisgustingâ, misogynistic and sexist by gender equity groups.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the CFA said it was unacceptable:
CFA strongly condemns the actions of a brigade over the use of inappropriate language on a vehicle during recent protests. When this matter was brought to our attention, CFA spoke with the brigade to express that this was unacceptable and to reinforce our behavioural standards. The offending slogan is being removed and we have been assured that the brigade understand the gravity of their actions. While we respect our membersâ right to engage in actions relevant to their communities, they must uphold our values and behavioural standards at all times.
More here:
Consumer optimism restrained in July by rate surprise, survey finds
A measure of Australian consumer sentiment improved marginally in July, a survey showed on Tuesday, though optimism on the economy was tempered by a central bank decision to skip a cut in interest rates.
Reuters reports a Westpac-Melbourne Institute survey showed its main index of consumer sentiment crept up 0.6% in July, after an equally restrained 0.5% increase in June. The index was 12.6% higher than a year earlier at 93.1, but being below 100 still indicated pessimists outnumbered optimists.
The Reserve Bank of Australia surprised markets last week by holding rates at 3.85%. Matthew Hassan, Westpacâs head of Australian macro-forecasting, noted those surveyed before the decision reported an index reading of 95.6, while those surveyed after produced a reading of just 92. He said:
The reaction checked what would probably have been a solid rise. It still leaves the consumer mood stuck at âcautiously pessimisticâ levels overall.
Family finances compared to a year ago did enjoy a bounce of 5.0%, while the outlook for the next 12 months picked up by 2.6%. In a disappointing note for retailers, the index of whether it was a good time to buy a major household item dropped by 2.6%.
Former Greens candidate Hannah Thomas pleads not guilty
Jordyn Beazley
The former Greens candidate Hannah Thomas, who was injured during an interaction with police, has pleaded not guilty to three charges. Thomas did not appear when her matter was briefly heard in Bankstown local court on Tuesday.
Thomas was arrested at a pro-Palestine protest in Sydney on 27 June that was attended by about 60 people. She was taken to hospital and last week underwent a second round of surgery amid fears she could lose sight in her right eye.
Thomas is facing two counts of refusing to comply with police and one count of resisting police. Four others who were charged at the protest also plead not guilty during a mention at the court on Tuesday.
On Monday, in a statement calling for charges against Thomas to be withdrawn, Thomasâs lawyers at OâBrien Criminal and Civil Solicitors alleged that a police officer punched her in the face during the protest, resulting in âextensive and serious injury to her eyeâ.
Her lawyers said they had taken the unusual step of commenting on the case while criminal proceedings against their client were under way after viewing the policeâs body cam footage.
They have flagged that Thomas will sue the state of New South Wales âfor the actions of the NSW police officers connected to her apprehension, injury, detention, and prosecutionâ.
25 more nursing home residents died of Covid in past week
Janine Israel
The latest weekly figures on Covid-19 outbreaks and deaths in Australian aged care homes are out, and in the week leading up to 10 July, 25 residents died of the infection.
In the week prior (the seven days leading up to 3 July), there were 23 resident deaths from Covid, while the week before that, 27 people died.
According to the latest data from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, 241 residential aged care homes are currently experiencing outbreaks, with a total of 1,597 active coronavirus cases. Of those cases, 1,159 are in residents and 438 in staff.
New South Wales homes are the most affected, with 86 nursing homes experiencing outbreaks, followed by 70 Victorian homes, 31 Queensland, 25 Western Australian and 24 South Australian.
Australian health authorities recommend those aged 75 years and over receive a Covid-19 vaccine dose every six months.
More on a manâs death in custody in inner-Sydney
NSW police have just spoken about a man who died early this morning after paramedics were called to a unit block in the inner-Sydney suburb of Waterloo.
The assistant commissioner, Peter McKenna, said four officers were called to the area at 2.14am by ambulance officers after reports the man, 45, was possibly suffering from a mental health episode.
McKenna said the man was initially compliant before he allegedly became non-compliant and aggressively resisted ambulance workers and police officers. The man was then subdued by police and ambulance workers had the intention of sedating him, McKenna said, although itâs unclear if they were able to do so.
The man went into cardiac arrest shortly after he was subdued and was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
McKenna described the incident as a death in custody. He said he was unaware of any arms being used other than handcuffs, and said the incident was captured on body-worn cameras.
A critical incident investigation is under way and all four police officers will be interviewed.
AFL stadium front and centre as Tasmanians prepare for snap election on Saturday
The Mercury in Tasmania ran a major piece on the proposed $1bn AFL stadium in the state as voters prepare to head to the polls Saturday for a snap election. The AFL is set on bringing a team to Tasmania, but one of the major conditions was a new roofed stadium. A poll last month found Tasmanians overwhelmingly want the government to rip up that deal; and Saturdayâs poll could result in a surge of anti-stadium MPs being voted into the state parliament, potentially scuppering the AFL deal.
The chair of the Tasmania Devils made his pitch on The Mercuryâs front page, saying a majority government win for either party would be a boon for the project.
Read more here:
Murder investigation after baby found dead in Perth home
A murder investigation is under way after a baby was found dead at a home in Perth.
The infant, aged under 12 months, was discovered by in Balcatta yesterday north-west of the CBD.
St John WA sent multiple ambulance crews to the address after being called at 3.14am on Monday, a spokesperson said. Crews later took a woman in her 30s to Sir Charles Gairdner hospital.
Murder squad detectives were investigating the circumstances surrounding the death, police said.
The investigation is in the preliminary stages and family members of the infant are assisting detectives with their inquiries.
Victorian officials investigating after hundreds of corellas reported dead
The Victorian conservation regulator and RSPCA Victoria are investigating reports hundreds of corellas died this weekend, after wildlife rescuers described birds that âfell from the skyâ near Melbourne. Victorian officials were notified this weekend that a large number of the birds were found dead in the Melbourne suburb of Springvale.
RSPCA Victoria said:
RSPCA Victoria is investigating a report of an alleged animal cruelty incident involving non-native animal poisoning. Reports of animal cruelty involving native wildlife, including birds, will be referred to DEECA under the shared Memorandum of Understanding.
The conservation regulator also confirmed it had opened an investigation into the cause of the birdsâ deaths.
Corellas are protected under the Wildlife Act of 1975 and there are hefty penalties for hunting, taking or destroying protected wildlife.
Hundreds of corellas have died in recent months in suspected poisonings.
Luca Ittimani
More on the Reserve Bankâs proposal to get rid of card surcharges
Not only does the RBA expect customers would save $1.2bn each year, but it also believes some businesses would be better off. Payment service providers like Square, Stripe and major banks are required to let businesses use surcharging, but the RBA wants to let them direct businesses to stop surcharging by July 2026.
Only one in 10 merchants are believed to use surcharges, with significant representation from the hospitality industry. While the elimination of surcharges would force some businesses to find more money for payment service providers, the RBA estimates inflation would pick up just 0.1% as merchants mark up the cost of goods and services to cover their payment system fees.
Payment service providers like Square, Stripe and major banks would also be forced to cut the fees they charge businesses to take card payments, with the RBA proposing to cap interchange fees at a lower level, benefiting nine in 10 businesses.
Small merchants who process less than $10m in card transactions each year would save about $185m annually. Larger businesses who currently enjoy lower fees and the payments industry would collectively be more than $1bn worse off annually.
Providers would also be required to report the fees they charge businesses to use their platforms, which the RBAâs consultation paper indicates would improve transparency and help businesses further cut card processing costs.
They are currently required to impose surcharges, but the central bank wants to let them stop charging the extra fees and publish fee data by July 2026. The bank will take public submissions on its proposal until late August and finalise reforms by the end of 2025.
NSW police declare critical incident after man dies in Sydney
NSW police declared a critical incident after a man died in the inner-Sydney suburb of Waterloo early Monday morning. Officials said emergency services were called to a unit complex just before 2am amid concerns for welfare.
Upon arrival, paramedics assisted by NSW police tried to sedate the man, 45, who then became unconscious. The officers and paramedics attempted to revive him, but he was later pronounced dead at Royal Prince Alfred hospital.
A crime scene has been established and a team with the state homicide squad will investigate the circumstances surrounding his death. The investigation will also be subject to an independent review.
Card payment surcharges should be eliminated, RBA says
Luca Ittimani
Customers would no longer have to pay any extra charges for using their debit or credit cards, saving $1.2bn each year, under a Reserve Bank proposal to reform card payments.
Surcharges on EFTPOS, Mastercard and Visa card payments would be eliminated from July 2026, while fees for businesses using card payments systems could also be lowered, according to an RBA paper released on Tuesday.
The RBA governor, Michele Bullock, said the declining use of cash had made it harder for Australians to avoid surcharges. She said:
We think the time has come to address some of these high costs and inefficiencies in the system.
The reform would go further than the Albanese government proposal in late 2024 to ban surcharges on debit cards only. Payment service providers had indicated it would be faster and less expensive to remove surcharges on both card types, the paper read.
Boele will defend legal challenge over Bradfield results, asks supporters for donations to help cover costs
Tom McIlroy
The independent MP for the Sydney seat of Bradfield, Nicolette Boele, says she will defend the legal challenge to the wafer-thin result lodged by the NSW Liberal party on Monday.
Liberal Gisele Kapterian confirmed she would ask the court of disputed returns to rescrutinise a small number of ballots. She lost the seat by just 27 votes, after a month-long count from the 3 May federal election. Boele said:
For three weeks, our amazing volunteers scrutineered all 118,858 ballots cast. Other volunteers brought home-cooked meals. It was a beautiful example of community democracy in action.
We have absolute confidence in the work of the AEC and in the integrity of its processes.
Boele, who is set to take her seat in federal parliament next week, said the local community supported her win. She will seek donations from supporters to cover legal costs related to the challenge. Boele added:
The Liberal party has a legal team and enormous resources. I have community. But we canât rely on volunteers in the high court, we need good lawyers and that is expensive.
If we win and the Liberal party is ordered to cover our legal costs, Iâll offer every donor a refund.
Everything weâve worked for is on the line. The people of Bradfield have spoken. We have complete confidence in the process thatâs led to this result.
In asking the court to recount a small number of ballots, the Liberal partyâs bid is similar to the 2008 challenge in the Victorian seat of McEwen, when the former small business minister Fran Bailey defeated Laborâs Rob Mitchell by about 30 votes.
Northern Territory police investigating after fatal helicopter incident linked to bird strike
Northern Territory police are investigating a fatal helicopter incident in north-eastern Arnhem Land yesterday after an aircraft allegedly struck a bird, which then caused the animal to âfatally strikeâ a passenger.
Officials said emergency services received reports the helicopter was carrying two occupants near Gapuwiyak before it was forced to make an emergency landing after the bird strike. The pilot was able to land the aircraft safely and was uninjured, but a 54-year-old passenger was killed in the incident. NT police said:
The impact allegedly caused the bird to fatally strike a 54-year-old male passenger. The pilot was able to land the aircraft safely and was uninjured.
Police and St John Ambulance attended the scene; however, the 54-year-old male was declared deceased.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
Sydney man charged over attack on Stone of Scone in Scottish museum
A man from Sydney has appeared in a court in Scotland charged with âmalicious mischiefâ following reports a glass case containing the Stone of Scone was broken in Perth, AAP reports.
It follows an incident at Perth Museum on Saturday afternoon when visitors reported a man in a kilt attempting to smash through the case containing the ancient artefact, which has long been associated with the monarchy.
Police said they had arrested and charged someone after a âdisturbanceâ at the museum, which has the sandstone block as its centrepiece exhibition. On Monday, 35-year-old Arnaud Harixcalde Logan appeared at Perth sheriff court facing a single charge of malicious mischief.
The artefact, also known as the Stone of Destiny, was moved to Perth Museum in 2024. It has been associated with the Scottish and UK monarchies for centuries and was controversially kept in England at Westminster Abbey until 1996.
It was formally returned to Scotland in 1996 to go on display at Edinburgh Castle. Read more here:
Court will decide if government has duty to protect First Nations people from climate change
A court will decide whether the federal government has a duty of care to protect First Nations people whose homes and communities are being threatened by the impacts of climate change, AAP reports.
At risk of becoming Australiaâs first climate refugees, Uncle Paul Kabai and Uncle Pabai Pabai filed the landmark case against the government in the federal court in 2021. They claim it failed to protect their homelands among the Torres Strait Islands from climate change.
The uncles are seeking orders from the court that would require the government to take steps to prevent harm to their communities, including cutting greenhouse gas emissions in line with the best available science.
The court, which is due to hand down its decision on Tuesday, heard evidence communities on Boigu and Saibai could have less than 30 years left before their islands become uninhabitable.
The commonwealth has argued it is not legally required to consider the best available science or the impacts of climate change when setting emissions reduction targets.
Read more here:
