Category Archives: Australia news

Albanese government seeks to cap new international student enrolments at 270,000

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Labor will also dump a controversial ministerial direction that gave priority to students applying to low-risk institutions

The Albanese government aims to cap new international student enrolments in Australia to 270,000 in 2025 and dump a controversial ministerial direction that gave priority to students applying to low-risk institutions.

In a statement released on Tuesday the education minister, Jason Clare, revealed the details of the proposed national planning level, which would pare university enrolments back to 145,000, or around their 2023 levels.

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Carlton coach Michael Voss makes citizen’s arrest after alleged thief flees Melbourne car crash

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‘It was a bit of action,’ AFL coach says after detaining 16-year-old in Hawthorn who allegedly ran from Mercedes that had flipped on to side

Carlton coach Michael Voss has made a citizen’s arrest after seeing an alleged car thief try and flee after they allegedly crashed a stolen car in the Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn.

The AFL coach was at a cafe on Tuesday morning when the Mercedes flipped on its side on a footpath after crashing.

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Jim Chalmers calls Peter Dutton ‘most divisive leader’ in modern Australian history

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Treasurer uses John Curtin Oration to accuse opposition leader of deliberately stoking culture wars and division

The treasurer has unleashed a stinging attack on the opposition leader, calling Peter Dutton “the most divisive leader of a major political party in Australia’s modern history”, as he defended the Labor government’s economic performance since coming to office.

Delivering the annual John Curtin Oration in Melbourne, which marks the anniversary of Curtin’s Labor government’s 1943 landslide election victory, Jim Chalmers accused the opposition leader of starting culture wars, dog whistling and dividing Australians “deliberately, almost pathologically”.

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Australia records hottest ever winter temperature with some areas set to be 10C above average

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‘What’s really interesting about this warm stretch of weather, is it is going to last for a long time,’ BoM says

Australia has recorded its hottest ever winter temperature, with Yampi Sound in the Kimberley region of Western Australia reaching 41.6C on Tuesday.

The record, which has been provisionally confirmed by the Bureau of Meteorology, and will be officially confirmed by the organisation on Tuesday, exceeds the old national record of 41.2C which was reached at West Roebuck on 23 August 2020.

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Zomi Frankcom’s brother calls for those responsible for her death in Israeli airstrike to be prosecuted

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Mal Frankcom says he wants people behind strike that killed seven people to be ‘tried and convicted and punished’

The brother of the Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike, has called for those responsible for his sister’s death to be prosecuted and punished.

Frankcom, a 43-year-old from Melbourne who was working in Gaza with World Central Kitchen, was one of seven people killed in April when a convoy of cars was hit by an Israeli airstrike.

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Albanese government rejects Setka’s claim Labor double-crossed him over CFMEU administration as ‘ridiculous’

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Construction Forestry Maritime Employees Union members to protest administration in capital city rallies on Tuesday

Labor has emphatically rejected claims by former construction union official John Setka that the Albanese government agreed to let him stand down in return for not putting his union into administration.

The workplace relations minister, Murray Watt, said this was a “ridiculous claim” and rejected as “absolutely fanciful” suggestions Labor had double-crossed him by proceeding to put the union into administration over accusations of criminal misconduct and bikie links against the body.

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Man charged over Sydney stabbing as premier hails bystanders who ‘were able to save someone’s life’

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Driver charged with eight offences after allegedly stabbing his partner while driving, leading to car crash in Engadine

The New South Wales premier has said he is “blown away” by bystanders who tried to help after a Sydney driver allegedly stabbed his partner leading to a car collision, saying “ordinary members of the public were able to save someone’s life”.

A 58-year-old man was Tasered and arrested after allegedly stabbing three people at the site of a car collision in Engadine, south of Sydney on Sunday morning. Police allege the man had been attacking his female partner, 48, with a box cutter while driving, leading to a collision with another car.

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UN chief to push for more climate change action at Pacific leaders’ summit

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António Guterres to attend Pacific Islands Forum (Pif) in Tonga with climate crisis and unrest in New Caledonia among issues to watch

The UN secretary general, António Guterres, will attend a Pacific leaders’ summit this week in Tonga with a focus on climate change in the region, one of the world’s most vulnerable to rising sea levels and temperature changes.

The annual meeting of leaders is the top political decision-making body of the region. The week-long summit culminates in the leaders’ retreat, where key decisions are made, which may include an endorsement of a regional policing initiative promoted by Australia. The future for New Caledonia is among other big issues to be addressed at the Pacific Islands Forum (Pif) which began in Tonga on Monday.

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Australia urged to show ‘true climate leadership’ as Pacific Islands Forum begins – as it happened

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Investigations under way after alleged theft of non-fuctional guns from museum

An investigation is under way after a museum in Lithgow, in the NSW Central Tablelands, was allegedly broken into overnight.

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Queensland police officer accused of inappropriate behaviour by female colleagues now investigated for stalking

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Female senior constable alleges male officer stalked and harassed her at remote police beat

A Queensland police officer accused of inappropriate behaviour by four female colleagues over 15 years – including one case that resulted in a $1m plus payout – is being investigated over a claim he stalked a female officer.

Guardian Australia understands last month the male officer was issued with a notice barring him from attending a remote police “beat” after a female senior constable made allegations of stalking and harassment.

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Report warns 1.6m Australian households struggling to insure their homes

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Actuaries Institute report says rising insurance premiums will increase further because of natural disasters associated with climate crisis

Fast-rising home insurance premiums have plunged 1.6m households into affordability stress, an Actuaries Institute report has warned, with those in cyclone and flood-prone areas facing significant spikes in cost.

The figure is a 30% increase over the past year, and the institute has forecast it will only worsen as the frequency and intensity of natural disasters grows.

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‘We don’t stop for red lights’: drone deliveries taking off as Australian regulators prepare for air traffic boom

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With everything from coffee to mining equipment now being delivered by drone, operators are exploring technology to stop connection black spots sending drones dropping from the sky

Jani Talikka was a commercial pilot flying Boeing 717s, but after ordering a drone delivery as a customer, he decided to shift gears.

“I didn’t leave fixed-wing aviation because I disliked it – but drones are cutting edge,” he told Guardian Australia. “It’s rare you get to be a part of something like this at the start.”

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New Australian aviation ombudsman could force airlines to pay cash compensation for delayed flights

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Carriers and airports will have to adhere to customer rights charter setting out ‘reasonable and fair’ conduct – or be penalised

An ombudsman will police how airlines treat customers and enforce a passenger rights charter to ensure timely refunds and possibly cash compensation for delayed and cancelled flights under landmark Australian aviation reforms.

The Albanese government will release its much-anticipated aviation white paper on Monday which will also boost protections for passengers with disabilities who have historically been mistreated by airlines. Carriers will have to adhere to new standards and accommodate a broader range of wheelchairs.

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Warnings issued as wild thunderstorms expected to sweep over South Australia, Victoria and NSW

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Meteorologists say major population centres including Melbourne, Adelaide and Canberra should expect power outages and dangerous driving conditions

Millions of Australians are bracing for power outages and dangerous driving conditions as wild thunderstorms sweep across three states.

Thunderstorms were developing over Adelaide and south-east South Australia on Sunday and were expected to track across large swathes of New South Wales and Victoria during the afternoon and evening.

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Triple zero callers now able to livestream emergencies directly to NSW police

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BluLink gives emergency responders access to scene before they have even arrived

Livestreaming unfolding emergencies directly to police is now possible in New South Wales using an innovative technology system.

The statewide rollout of BluLink allows triple zero callers to provide police with GPS coordinates, live video streaming, digital media uploads and text messages via a link sent to them from emergency dispatchers.

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Bill Shorten accuses Greens of NDIS misinformation as he tries to reassure participants over new laws

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NDIS minister says participants will still be able to request funding for support that is not on approved list if it is genuinely needed

The national disability insurance scheme minister, Bill Shorten, has assured participants that under Labor’s changes, support not on a list of approved items could still be accessed if it is genuinely needed.

The comments come as the Greens and disability advocacy groups warn a draft list outlining which supports and services can be funded, and which ones cannot, will leave some participants worse off.

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Four people including police officer injured after car crash and alleged stabbings in Sydney’s south

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NSW police allege 58-year-old driver stabbed his partner with box cutter before Engadine collision and then attacked witnesses who came to help

Four people including a police officer have been injured after a driver involved in a Sydney car crash allegedly stabbed his passenger before lashing out at witnesses who tried to help.

Two vehicles collided at the intersection of the Princes Highway and Old Bush Road in Engadine before 9am on Sunday, New South Wales police said.

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How do you best choose an Australian aged care facility and what do the star ratings mean?

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Experts have questioned why so few homes are rated substandard, given the commission found one in three residents experience neglect, abuse or poor care

The star rating system of aged care homes was introduced in December 2022 to help older people and their families compare the quality and safety of services and providers.

Developed as a recommendation of the royal commission, the system has repeatedly come under scrutiny. Experts and unions have questioned why so few homes are rated substandard, given the commission found one in three residents experience neglect, abuse or poor care; and how homes on the non-compliance register manage ratings of three stars and above.

If you are having issues or concerns with your aged care, call OPAN on 1800 700 600. The National Dementia Helpline is also available on 1800 100 500.

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Mardi Gras board decision to consult queer community on police joining parade hailed as ‘massive win’

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Results of consultation will form independent report and motion will be voted on at annual general meeting later this year

The Sydney Mardi Gras board will vote on whether NSW police force members will march in its annual parade later this year.

In an email sent to members on Friday evening, the board announced three community consultation sessions – two online and one in person – would be held in September to gather feedback.

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Man found dead in Melbourne park last seen by sister seven hours before

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The 28-year-old was last seen by his sister in the Derrimut area of the city’s west with four other men about 9pm on Friday

Police are trying to piece together what happened during the seven hours leading up to the death of a man found in a Melbourne park with apparent stab wounds.

The 28-year-old was last seen by his sister in the Derrimut area of the city’s west with four other men about 9pm on Friday.

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