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May 12, 2026
Foreign affairs

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

May 12, 2026
Foreign affairs

Accused Trump assassin Cole Allen pleads not guilty to all charges

Cole Tomas Allen, 31, who is being prosecuted for allegedly attempting to assassinate US President Donald Trump at the recent White House Correspondents Dinner, has pleaded not guilty to all four federal charges pressed against him.

On Monday, Allen was arraigned in a Washington DC federal court wearing an orange prison jumpsuit and handcuffed and leg shackled.

His lawyer pled not guilty on his client’s behalf in the presence of US District Court Judge Trevor McFadden.

According to reports, Allen has been indicted on four charges, including attempted assassination of the president, assaulting a federal officer using a deadly weapon; transportation of a firearm and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence.

The charge of attempted assassination alone is punishable by life imprisonment.

When Allen was apprehended, he was found with a 12 gauge pump action shotgun, a .38 caliber gun, several rounds of unused ammo, two knives, four daggers, some holsters, pliers and wire cutters.

He had conveyed his frustration toward the Trump regime and mentioned that he intended to shoot Trump officials in the ballroom starting from the most senior ones.

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The president was quickly escorted out of the auditorium by his security personnel without any physical harm.

He was seen two hours later in the White House premises, still dressed in a tuxedo.

Defence team pushes to disqualify prosecutors

The legal team of Allen has sought a disqualification order against at least two senior officials from the Department of Justice.

According to Allen’s lawyer Eugene Ohm, the defence will file for the removal of all the members of the US Attorney’s Office of Washington, which is headed by Jeanine Pirro, because she is not only Trump’s friend but is herself a potential victim since she was at the dinner.

“It is wholly inappropriate for victims of an alleged event like this to be individually prosecuting the case,” said Eugene Ohm in court.

In addition, the defence’s submission cites the presence of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche in the incident as another ground for a conflict of interest.

However, Pirro rejected this criticism and, talking to CNN, said that her ability to prosecute the case had nothing to do with her attending the dinner party.

The prosecution’s response to this motion by the defence is expected by 22 May.

Allen was on suicide watch following his arrest, although he has now been taken off it.

The defense attorneys have raised concern over their client being unnecessarily kept in a padded cell, under constant light, and being strip searched and restrained multiple times.

According to the prosecutors, Allen stated to the FBI agents that he did not think he would survive the attack, thus explaining his classification as suicidal.

It is also the third attempt on President Trump’s life. It happened after two other cases of this kind in the year 2024. The trial date is yet to be set.

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5:08 pm
May 10, 2026

Liberal frontbencher leaves door open to One Nation pact after Farrer rout

However, a senior Liberal has denied completely ruling out the possibility of a future minority government pact with One Nation just days after the party broke a 77 year-old record held by the Coalition Party at the rural seat of New South Wales Farrer.

Speaking to ABC Insiders on Sunday, the opposition treasury spokesperson Tim Wilson, when asked whether he would consider forming a government with the representatives of the populist party, did not say that he would never entertain such a thought.

The recent electoral victory made One Nation, founded by Pauline Hanson in 1997, enter the House of Representatives for the first time.

Opposition treasury spokesman Tim Wilson told: “My objective is to ensure that the Liberal Party is in a position to govern as strongly as possible.”

Of course traditionally we form a coalition with the National Party, but it’s up to the Australian people to decide who they want to vote for.

The comments represent a notable softening by Mr Wilson, who in 2019 said One Nation and its “despicable acolytes” should be placed last on Liberal how to vote cards.

This Saturday’s ballot has shown that the combined vote of the coalition dropped to about 20% with the Liberals and Nationals receiving 12 and 10 votes respectively.

Also Read: Australia’s first children cancer centre opens its doors in Sydney

Mr. Farley won the election beating independent Michelle Milthorpe by a margin of 57.3 against 42.7 on two candidate preferred voting system.

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers commented on the loss saying that it has shown the Opposition Leader Angus Taylor’s tactic to be futile and there will be more pressure on him to step down from his leadership position.

Jim Chalmers, the treasurer of Australia, in an interview on Sky News Sunday Agenda commented saying, “The outcome shows that the Coalition can’t beat One Nation, and therefore, it will have to ally itself with One Nation.”

Angus Taylor defended the tactic of preferring One Nation, while Jane Hume blamed their loss on an “anti establishment move.”

Former leader Sussan Ley, who resigned to trigger a by election, asked her colleagues to accept the loss “with humility.”

Speaking on Sunday, Senator Hanson said that One Nation was in politics for the “long haul” and both parties had become arrogant.

2:37 pm
May 6, 2026

Australia’s first children cancer centre opens its doors in Sydney

A new age has dawned for treating children with cancers, as the Minderoo Children’s Comprehensive Cancer Centre at Randwick, east Sydney officially opened on Tuesday.

This first of its kind facility integrates clinical, laboratory and educational aspects under one roof.

Its inauguration ceremony was attended by the Federal Health Minister Mark Butler, NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Health Dr Michael Holland and mining magnate turned philanthropist Dr Andrew Forrest.

This world class facility has been developed within the scope of a $658 million redevelopment of the Sydney Children’s Hospital.

It has been created with the combined efforts of three long standing organizations, Children’s Cancer Institute, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network and UNSW Sydney.

This partnership has been ongoing for more than four decades. This centre will accommodate about 900 child cancer experts, including doctors, researchers, allied health experts and educators.

The core of the project is a model that places research laboratories next to treatment wards and day oncology spaces, so that discoveries can be transferred from the laboratory to the bedside more quickly.

Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said, “For the first time in our history, Australia has a purpose built, fully integrated cancer centre for children and young people committed to improving their healthcare outcomes.

“The opening was a landmark moment for children and young people with cancer, and for the families who support them,” NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said.

Professor Louis Chesler, co director of the centre at the Children’s Cancer Institute, referenced the success of the Zero Childhood Cancer precision medicine program, which currently serves more than 1,000 young patients in Australia.

This, he added, had already helped pave the way for the new initiative, with joint work between scientists and clinicians speeding up research and its application.

Andrew Forrest, chairman of the Minderoo Foundation, which has agreed to name the centre in exchange for substantial funding didn’t mince his words.

The centre was financed jointly by the governments of New South Wales and Australia, while additional money was contributed through philanthropy by the Children’s Cancer Institute, Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation, UNSW and the Minderoo Foundation.

In general, cancer is the main cause of death among kids in Australia.

Although the survival rate has increased sharply in the last six decades, one out of five children does not survive after being diagnosed with cancer.

Of those who manage to survive, 70% are expected to suffer some consequences from treatment.

The centre’s leadership said it planned to share its research and data with leading institutions around the world, with a view to helping children well beyond Australian borders.

8:55 pm
May 4, 2026

AFL legend Nicky Winmar faces court over alleged assault on woman

Nicky Winmar, a former player in the Australian Football League, is facing four counts of assault after a woman claimed in a Victorian court that he grabbed her hair and hit her head against a door in an ordeal that she found horrifying.

The unidentified woman testified Monday in Bendigo Magistrates Court as Winmar tried to rebut the charges against him.

The police claim that on May 14, 2025, Winmar, at age 60, assaulted the woman in Cohuna in the north of Victoria.

In her testimony, the complainant stated that she was shocked because suddenly the evening became horrific as Winmar started screaming without any provocation.

She explained, “We had not been having an argument or something like that. I could not make sense of what happened. I was absolutely shocked.”

It is stated in her testimony that Winmar grabbed her arm and twisted it harshly before grabbing her ponytail and dragging her to a different room.

She also accused him of hitting her head against a door and spitting on her face.

The court was also shown a recording of the woman’s triple zero call from that night, and body worn camera footage taken by the police officer who attended. There was a photograph in evidence showing a bruise above the woman’s right elbow.

When asked by Winmar’s barrister Dermot Dann KC, the woman agreed she had not told the full story of what allegedly happened when she first spoke to the emergency call operator or the responding officer.

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She told the court it was not a deliberate omission, saying she was emotionally shattered afterwards.

The contested hearing will resume next Tuesday.

Winmar still holds the distinction of being one of the most well known individuals in the Australian football industry.

He was the first indigenous player to play 200 AFL games, amassing a total of 230 games for St Kilda and 21 more for the Western Bulldogs.

Perhaps his most iconic moment came in 1993 at Victoria Park, where he responded to the verbal racism from spectators by pulling up his shirt and pointing to his skin color.

The allegations have not been confirmed as of yet. The case is still pending before the courts.

2:13 pm
May 1, 2026

Poliovirus found in Perth sewage for first time, but risk remains low

A strain of poliovirus has been discovered in the wastewater samples of Perth, which is the first detection of the virus in Australia via environmental monitoring techniques.

There have been no human infections associated with the findings and the officials reiterated that Australia is still a polio free nation.

The national polio surveillance system discovered that there is a vaccine derived poliovirus type 2 in the untreated wastewater from the Subiaco wastewater treatment plant during mid April.

This finding was made on 27 April, and the WHO has been informed through International Health Regulations reporting requirements.

Polio has never been acquired in Australia since 1972, and it has been declared a polio free region by the World Health Organization since 2000.

The discovery highlights that the polio virus is still present in the community, although no person has contracted the infection.

According to Dr Clare Huppatz, Chief Health Officer in Western Australia, the discovery poses minimum risks to the public.

She mentioned that 92% of children in Western Australia have received a poliovirus vaccination.

Approximately 93% of five year olds in the country have received all recommended vaccinations against polio, falling short of the global target of 95%.

Also Read: Two killed as training plane crashes into Parafield Airport hangar

State and federal health officials believe that the most plausible explanation is that the virus was contracted while in Perth by an international traveler.

A rare strain of poliovirus known as “vaccine derived poliovirus” can appear in nations that continue to use oral polio vaccines, which contain a weakened live virus.

Since Australia switched to an injectable, inactivated vaccine years ago, this kind of strain cannot be produced by the country’s immunization program.

Professor Zoe Wainer, the Director General of the Australian Centre for Disease Control, noted in a statement that “This is an environmental detection, not a clinical case.”

Families were advised to verify the status of their vaccinations and contact a doctor in case there were any doubts regarding booster shots.

This came after an incident that took place in Melbourne in 2024, where a vaccine derived polio virus type 2 was detected through wastewater sampling.

After the discovery of this case in Perth, the WA Department of Health has decided to increase the frequency of testing of wastewater samples and collaborate with clinicians from hospitals.

The disease itself, poliomyelitis, can cause paralysis and, in rare cases, death, especially in children.

Wild virus types 2 and 3 have been eradicated globally but vaccine derived outbreaks persist in some areas of Africa and the Asia Pacific region.

Free polio vaccination is available to children at scheduled ages through the National Immunisation Program, and to eligible people under 20 years of age who require catch up dose and refugees and humanitarian entrants of any age.

Parents can check immunisation records on MyGov or with their local provider.

2:56 pm
April 30, 2026

Two killed as training plane crashes into Parafield Airport hangar

Both the pilot and the student pilot in the aircraft perished Wednesday afternoon after their training aircraft collided with a hangar at Parafield Airport in Adelaide’s north, causing a devastating fire that severely burned ten people on the ground.

According to reports, the twin engine plane had been in the air for just a short while when it collided with Hangar 54, where planes were kept for storage, maintenance and flight training programs.

This happened just after 2pm, and as soon as the aircraft touched the building, it caught fire.

Chief Inspector of South Australia Police Andrew McCracken stated that the two people in the aircraft, a pilot and a student pilot, were dead as a result of the accident.

The two individuals names have not yet been made public.

Out of the ten injured people on the ground, one was in critical condition, two were still battling for their lives at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, and a fourth one at the same hospital was suffering from minor injuries.

Six other people were transported to Lyell McEwin and Modbury hospitals with smoke inhalation injuries.

Also Read: Anti gas protesters rush stage at Perth breakfast ahead of Albanese speech

The fire was difficult to bring under control. Metropolitan Fire Service Chief Officer Jeff Swann said the internal sprinkler system in the hangar had been destroyed and the supply to the fire hydrants had been damaged by the impact.

The fire was fed by a large amount of aviation fuel stored in the building and several other aircraft.

Firefighters, with the help of nearly 60 MFS firefighters, were able to get the blaze under control in about 20 minutes, but the hangar and the planes inside sustained extensive damage.

Smoke warnings have been issued for the nearby suburbs of Parafield and Mawson Lakes, about 18 kilometres north of Adelaide’s CBD.

The director of the ATSB, Angus Mitchell, said that experts from Canberra and Brisbane flew out to the site early on Thursday to analyze debris and gather aircraft parts for technical evaluation.

Mitchell told that the trainer aircraft had been completing a circuit prior to its crash and that it was still unknown if the flight was part of organized training.

Premier of South Australia Peter Malinauskas extended his sympathies and said he had received information from the Police Commissioner.

He expressed appreciation for the efforts of first responders, which he described as swift and heroic in trying conditions.

The crash forced Parafield Airport, one of the busiest general aviation airports in Adelaide, to close to all traffic.

It is the second aviation incident at the airport this year after a learner pilot crashed on take off in January creating a fire with no fatalities.

The police cordon is likely to stay in place for at least 24 hours while the investigation continues.

2:17 pm
April 29, 2026

Anti gas protesters rush stage at Perth breakfast ahead of Albanese speech

Three activists against gas stormed the stage during a breakfast for the resources industry sector in Perth yesterday, leading to chaos moments before the commencement of a speech by the prime minister, Anthony Albanese.

This took place at the Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA meeting when the protesters stormed the stage, raising voices to those attending the function.

Video footage showed the security personnel seizing one of the protesters by the jacket, then pushing him out of the stage area.

While some of those at the event watched the unfolding scene, others continued with their business.

Prominent personalities at the function include Premier Roger Cook of Western Australia and Woodside chief executive Liz Westcott.

This follows last week when climate change activists interrupted Woodside’s annual general meeting in Perth, where one protester stormed the stage when Liz Westcott, newly appointed CEO of Woodside, was addressing the event.

The Prime Minister used the occasion to announce $1.1 billion for road infrastructure associated with the new container port at Kwinana, Westport.

The investment will fund upgrades to Anketell Road including widening to four lanes in some sections and a new flyover at Rockingham Road to take heavy trucks off residential streets.

Additionally, there will be a contribution of $45 million to expedite the environmental approval processes for housing and energy projects.

As per the plan, state and territorial governments, which enter into new assessment agreements with the Commonwealth government, would have the authority to assess and approve any proposals on behalf of the federal government.

The Prime Minister highlighted that the time it takes the federal government to approve proposals under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act rose from 48 weeks twenty years ago to 118 weeks currently.

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Protesters participation in the breakfast event was an indication of an underlying issue regarding how the federal government deals with the fossil fuel industry.

According to statement released that morning, it urged Albanese not to yield to pressures from industry leaders to withdraw a proposed gas export tax.

In particular, Greenpeace referred to an anticipated dramatic reduction of WA gas royalties in the coming years; a reduction of 88% is projected to take place by 2029, from $1.37 billion to $167 million.

The disruption on Wednesday is unlikely to deter the government from courting the resources sector ahead of the May 12 federal budget.

It underscored the growing frustration among climate campaigners who see the Prime Minister’s appearances alongside fossil fuel executives as incompatible with Australia’s commitments to reduce emissions.

1:51 am
April 22, 2026

SA electoral commission under mounting pressure as more uncounted votes surface

The electoral commission of South Australia has come under intense pressure, following the discovery of ballot papers that have been left uncounted in another two seats.

This comes a week after it was revealed that the electoral commission had made another mistake by failing to count some ballot papers in the previous election held in March this year.

According to a report, ballot papers from the elections in the state’s lower house seats of Enfield and Newland were found uncounted, after polling was conducted in March this year. The two seats are considered safe Labor seats.

Leah McLay, the acting Electoral Commissioner, offered an apology admitting that their performance was far below the standard that can be expected of the electoral commission.

This is the latest development after the last week, which saw the emergence of much more significant issues when 81 uncaptured ballots surfaced in the closely fought seat of Narungga.

One Nation’s candidate Chantelle Thomas defeated the candidate of the Liberal Party, Tania Stock in the seat of Narungga region by winning the seat with a lead of only 58 votes.

During the same process, it came to light that about 642 votes of the other constituency Stuart also remained uncaptured but without changing anything in its result.

These instances have led to criticism from both sides of the political divide.

For the party that lost this seat by one vote but later regained it due to the uncaptured ballots (One Nation), an independent parliamentary inquiry regarding the election conduct needs to be done.

According to Thomas, surrounded by other elected One Nation South Australians when this situation first came up, the whole experience had been disappointing for her community and put a question on the credibility of South Australia’s electoral system.

An investigation into the issue had already been conducted internally, and she promised a more extensive investigation into all the aspects of the incident.

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There will also be an external and independent review of the 2026 elections which, according to McLay, will look at some other problems such as technological failure, long waiting times at polling centers and payments of election day workers among other things.

March saw Labor win by a huge margin, with Premier Peter Malinauskas being returned to power for his second term.

The party won 34 out of 47 lower house seats, leaving the Liberals with five seats only.

One Nation secured four seats, which was a milestone for the party in South Australia. However, this vote recount matter has put a cloud over the election result since it was an overwhelming victory for one of the parties.

4:49 pm
April 16, 2026

NSW nurses and midwives land landmark pay rise after ‘undervalued’ ruling

Almost 70,000 nurses, midwives, and nursing assistants will receive significant wage increases within a period of three years after New South Wales Industrial Relations Commission ruled that their work had not been adequately compensated over many decades.

According to the commission’s ruling released on Thursday, registered nurses and midwives will receive a salary uplift of 16% for the duration of the agreement, while enrolled nurses will get 18% and nursing assistants 28%.

Most of the pay raise will take place immediately, and it will be backdated from July 2025, with additional increases of 3% guaranteed for the subsequent two years.

The president of the commission, Justice Ingmar Taylor, said that the staff members were crucial to the operations of Australia’s biggest public health system, whose wage structure did not adequately represent the intricacies of their work.

Also Read: Third count ordered in SA seat of Narungga after 81 ballots found uncounted

Justice Ingmar Taylor, head of the NSW Industrial Relations Commission, said in his decision, “Nurses and midwives are the DNA of the NSW health system.”

The ruling also said that gender was probably a factor in the long running wage gap.

Around 90% of nurses and midwives in NSW are women. This is about half of all the people who work for the state’s health service.

Justice Taylor said that many of the skills needed for the job had not been recognized in the past, which could mean that pay levels were lower because of the gender makeup of the work.

The result comes after two years of mediation and is the culmination of a protracted battle waged by the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association, who sought an average of 35% wage increase over three years.

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The agreement did not please everyone. Christie, a Sydney based midwife, informed the media that bringing up a family in the city still imposes a huge financial burden and that workers would go on demanding more.

NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey applauded the ruling as a fair one, saying at a press briefing that “everyone got what they wanted,” while also adding that the state budget to be announced soon will have to factor in the multi billion dollar price tag.

Mookhey credited the success to the Labor government’s recent policy of reinstituting the industrial arbiter following its removal under the previous government.

4:42 pm
April 16, 2026

Third count ordered in SA seat of Narungga after 81 ballots found uncounted

The razor thin One Nation win in South Australia’s rural seat of Narungga faces yet another round of questioning following the disclosure made by the state electoral commission that some ballot papers were not counted and will lead to a third count of the ballots on Friday.

According to the Electoral Commission of South Australia, 77 ballot papers of ordinary votes and four ballot papers for declarations for the seat of Narungga had been discovered that were not opened because they had been posted back from the electorate of Stuart.

The 81 votes are far more than the winning margin of 58 votes by which Chantelle Thomas of One Nation won the election ahead of Liberal candidate Tania Stock.

In a statement, acting commissioner Leah McLay stated: “Upon discovering that votes have not been counted, I have secured these votes and ordered that a further count be held for the electorate of Narungga.”

McLay said that the count would take place on Friday, April 17 and that nominated scrutineers would be welcome to come.

She said that about 642 votes in South Australian seats were not counted and were found in the district of Stuart.

Most of these votes were in electorates with much larger margins, so they were unlikely to change the results. There is also an independent external review being set up.

One Nation candidate Thomas, who secured 37.6% of the primary vote in the 21 March election, knocked off incumbent Independent Fraser Ellis to clinch One Nation’s fourth lower house seat.

She reportedly called it another challenge but asserted her confidence. One Nation colleague Carlos Quaremba indicated there would be a One Nation request for an inquiry in parliament.

Liberal Party leader Ashton Hurn observed that the revelation was a cause for alarm, although she believed that the outcome would not be reversed.

“It’s a very fine line at the moment, although it is hard to imagine how this will affect the result when there are only such few votes left to be counted,” she stated, noting that they would consider contesting the result in the Court of Disputed Returns.

The acting premier and Attorney General Kyam Maher revealed that the government was working on terms of reference for the review of the electoral process.

McLay confirmed that if the Friday count altered the winner, the matter would be referred to the Court of Disputed Returns.

4:35 pm
April 16, 2026

Geelong refinery fire contained after overnight blaze, equipment failure blamed

A large scale fire, which broke out at the oil refinery of Viva Energy near Geelong, was finally extinguished after burning through the night and it is likely that the reason behind the fire was mechanical equipment failure.

The Fire Rescue Victoria team received the alarm just before 11 pm on Wednesday after several reports about explosions and flames.

The fire was put out in the middle of Thursday afternoon with the help of 50 firefighters, ten trucks and a boat sent there.

There were no casualties amongst about fifty employees who worked in the area during the fire.

FRV deputy commissioner Michelle Cowling in her interview mentioned that the fire had started due to the leakage of some kind of gas because of the breakdown of a valve of mechanical equipment.

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Then the gas caught fire due to several ignition points present in the refinery.

Fuel supply concerns

The fire hit the refinery’s motor gasoline unit, which is called the mogas plant on site. This unit is responsible for making high octane fuels like gasoline.

The Corio facility is one of only two refineries still in operation in Australia. It provides about half of Victoria’s fuel and about 10% of the country’s total fuel supply.

“Before the fire, we were operating at 100% capacity, but now we have gone back to our minimum rates,” said Scott Wyatt, the CEO of Viva Energy.

“It is going to impact our gasoline output, and even our aviation gasoline might be affected, while we have already reduced our diesel and jet fuel output,” he added.

“It’s really bad timing,” said Chris Bowen, Australia’s energy minister. “It’s not good news for Geelong,” he said on News Breakfast.

“This highlights just how precarious our fuel security has become here in Australia,” said Stretch Kontelj, mayor of Geelong. The Victoria Police will conduct an investigation into what caused the fire.

5:56 pm
April 15, 2026

Councils, RACQ push back on Queensland’s proposed e bike restrictions

Queensland’s plan to introduce some of the world’s most stringent regulations for e bike users is drawing significant pushback from local councils, the peak motoring body of the state and the food delivery industry.

They argue that the new regulations will disproportionately affect responsible riders without addressing the core issue.

On 25 March, the Queensland government presented the Transport and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026, which proposes banning all persons below 16 years from riding electric bikes and scooters on roadways and paths.

All persons above 16 years old would be required to have a minimum learner driving license to use such vehicles.

There will be a total speed limit of 10km/h on pathways and 25km/h elsewhere.

This bill came after a parliamentary inquiry where over 1,200 responses were received following the death of 14 individuals riding e mobility vehicles on the roads of Queensland in 2025.

But a wide range of people who have a stake in the issue say that the bill goes too far. Dr. Michael Kane, the RACQ’s Head of Public Policy, told the parliamentary inquiry that legal e bikes were not the problem and that the focus should stay on illegal, high powered devices.

Last year, RACQ, Bicycle Queensland, and Queensland Walks all said that instead of making it harder for compliant riders, they should enforce the laws that are already in place and crack down on stores that sell machines that don’t meet those laws.

The Bicycle Queensland has pointed out that adding signs to all shared paths to indicate new speed limit will be too expensive for local governments to accommodate with, with tens of thousands of shared paths in the state.

In addition, the organisation has highlighted that 10km/h speed limit would completely discourage recreational cyclists from using bike paths like the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail that attract tourists.

Moreover, the ebikes that comply with all the requirements have been used safely for more than 15 years and the recreational e mountain biking youth has nothing to do with urban safety.

Similarly, Uber Eats and DoorDash have also shown concern regarding licensing requirements that would rule out riders without motor vehicle licenses from getting deliveries done.

There are more than 340,000 Queenslanders over the age of 16 who do not have a driving license.

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Some critics argue that the law will deny the residents of the most needy communities access to one of the available modes of transport, namely, seniors, the disabled and people from regions with limited vehicle possession.

The government of Queensland has clarified that the citizens holding driving licenses issued in foreign countries and other states will be allowed to use ebikes.

There will be a six month transition period after the proposed bill’s introduction, which will come into force on 1 July, with a complete penalty system beginning on 1 January 2027.

There will be a public hearing session for the bill on 22 April, with the committee of parliament members reporting back by 8 May.

The final decision will determine whether Queensland will proceed with making life even harder for ebike riders or amend its regulations before the start of implementation.

1:49 pm
April 7, 2026

Ben Roberts Smith arrested at Sydney airport over alleged Afghan war crimes

Australian veteran Ben Roberts Smith, who is Australia’s most decorated living soldier and one time winner of Victoria Cross medal, has been arrested in Sydney Airport by the Australian Federal Police.

They have suspicion of committing war crimes during his time in Afghanistan with the Australian military.

The Australian Federal Police stated that a man aged 47 and a former serving member of the Australian Defence Forces was set to be charged with five war crimes related to the murder of individuals in Afghanistan during the years from 2009 to 2012.

The charges were for the intentional killing of two people, who were Afghan civilians and aiding and abetting others to commit murder on three occasions.

Roberts Smith was set to face charges in New South Wales court on the same day, and if found guilty, he could serve up to a life term in jail.

The arrest is the result of years of investigation that started with the Brereton Report, which was made public in November 2020.

That investigation found proof that members of Australia’s special forces killed 39 civilians and prisoners during the war in Afghanistan, which lasted from 2005 to 2016.

He has always maintained that he has done nothing wrong.

Nevertheless, Smith’s reputation has taken a hard hit after Federal Court Judge Anthony Besanko ruled that a case of defamation filed by him against The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Canberra Times.

Roberts Smith served in the Special Air Service Regiment and earned a Victoria Cross for his service during the Battle of Tizak in 2010.

He had been deployed to Afghanistan six times from 2006 to 2012. Roberts Smith lived in Queensland and was employed in the private sector following his exit from the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

Also Read: Triple threat: Soaring fuel, Uber and unlicensed drivers are pushing Aussie taxi operators to the brink

The arrest of Roberts Smith on Tuesday marks the second instance in Australia where a former SAS soldier has faced criminal war crimes charges.

Previously, former SAS soldier Oliver Schulz pleaded not guilty to the charge of committing murder.

Veterans groups, human rights groups and the families of Afghan victims who have been calling for justice for years will be watching this case very closely.

It is a turning point for Australia’s military justice system.

3:52 pm
April 5, 2026

Triple threat: Soaring fuel, Uber and unlicensed drivers are pushing Aussie taxi operators to the brink

The Australian taxis have always claimed that they are under pressure from all angles because of the rising cost of fuel, stiff competition from the rideshare companies and rogue cowboy unlicensed drivers.

Over the last few weeks, petrol and diesel prices hit all time high levels as prices for unleaded gasoline went past $2.25 a litre while diesel increased to over $2.65.

This rise in petrol and diesel price has been caused primarily by the Middle Eastern oil crisis where the oil supply through the Strait of Hormuz was disrupted causing crude oil prices to rise above $120 a barrel.

The impact of this rise in fuel prices has been catastrophic for the already struggling taxi drivers since unlike the rideshare companies that utilize algorithms to make pricing adjustments.

Uber has raised its prices in Australia, which has led to an average 6% increase in driver pay.

DiDi has added a temporary five cent per kilometer fee to help pay for its drivers gas.

But traditional cab companies don’t have that kind of freedom. Industry experts say that this system was never meant to handle a shock of this speed and size.

Also Read: Trucking industry tears into Albanese’s fuel crisis plan as operators go to the wall

Moreover, the issue has been further exacerbated due to a phenomenon referred to as a flood of unlicensed drivers by some seasoned operators.

These rogue cowboys make use of informal networks and social media forums to provide private transport services without insurance, accreditation, or even a vehicle check.

They pick routes that offer high returns and operate during times when there is high demand, which gives them an edge over legitimate operators who have the responsibility of paying for all the costs associated with licenses, cameras, wheelchairs, etc.

Recently, the Victorian Government has initiated a range of reforms to curb non compliance among these drivers, such as imposing heavy fines on misbehavior and mandatory QR codes that link complaints against drivers.

However, it has been observed that enforcement continues to be inconsistent at best.

Industry groups have been saying for a long time that Uber’s controversial entry into Australia in 2014 made the playing field between taxis and rideshare uneven.

According to industry statistics, there has been a reduction in the number of taxis and limousines operating in Australia, with an average annual decrease of 1.8% over the past five years leading to 2024.

For the drivers who continue to come to work daily, the calculations become increasingly difficult.

Every time fuel is filled, it reduces the income earned even before the trip begins, every ride offered by Uber takes another client away from the queue and each private vehicle without a license reduces the relevance of the industry.

7:31 pm
April 2, 2026

Hotter, drier months ahead as El Nino signals strengthen across the Pacific

Australia might be in for a warmer and drier second half of the year, with climate models increasingly indicating the development of an El Niño event in the near future.

The Bureau of Meteorology announced on 31 March that the 2025 La Niña event has officially ended, concluding an event in which there has been extensive above average rainfall and flooding across various states.

Climate indicators have shown ENSO neutral conditions, but all climate models show the warming of the tropical Pacific will persist with some even indicating the development of an El Niño event as early as May.

The likelihood of an El Niño event developing in the second half of 2026 has been estimated at above 90% by the Bureau’s model, while international forecasters have estimated it at 50% to 60%.

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Some have even gone as high as 80%, with Washington Post meteorologist Ben Noll estimating there is an 80% chance of a strong event developing by August, according to the European Centre model.

Experts have emphasized, however, that forecasts at this time of the year have additional uncertainty.

This is because of the so called ‘autumn predictability barrier,’ which affects the accuracy of ENSO forecasts at this time of the year. Accuracy is expected to improve as winter approaches.

This phenomenon is expected to bring below average rainfall, above average temperatures, increased bushfire risks and increased instances of frost.

Some models have also forecasted the possibility of a positive Indian Ocean Dipole event occurring at the same time as El Niño, which has previously led to severe dry spells, especially in the east.

The timing of this event is of great concern. In southern Australia, there is already a drought in full swing since 2023.

Melbourne’s water storage is at 70%, and it has the potential to fall even further.

To add to this, the early 2026 bushfire season has already been one of the most dangerous since Black Summer, with more than 400,000 hectares of land burned in Victoria.

An event like El Niño would add to the problems faced in the country.

Linden Ashcroft has said that at the moment, the event is being forecast based on ocean conditions, and it has not yet coupled with atmospheric conditions.

He pointed out that while the occurrence of El Niño increases the likelihood of a hot and dry spring and summer in eastern Australia, the intensity of the event itself does not necessarily portend a severe event.

What is agreed upon, however, is the fact that a strong event will certainly drive up the temperature globally, and the impact will be felt until 2027.

The picture will become clearer in the coming autumn as the predictability barrier is passed.

For now, the message remains clear: “Stay informed, plan ahead but don’t make big decisions based on just one forecast.”

7:05 pm
April 1, 2026

Victoria to ban phones, smartwatches and earbuds in every classroom from 2027

Mobile phones, smart watches and wireless earbuds will be banned in all Victorian schools, whether public or private under the new legislation announced by the state government on Wednesday.

The legislation will commence on 28 January 2027, and the restrictions will now be applicable to all schools, not only government schools, but also Catholic and private schools.

Victoria will be the first state in the country to introduce legislation on the restrictions on wearable technology in schools.

Under the new legislation, mobile phones have to be switched off and kept away from the first bell to the last, smart watches have to have the notification, cellular and recording functions disabled and personal audio devices, such as earbuds will not be allowed in school hours.

The legislation was announced by the state Premier Jacinta Allan, who said, “It’s very simple. We’re talking about giving Victorian students more learning time, less distraction and that’s what this policy is all about.”

The Education Minister, Ben Carroll said the Department of Education would be working closely with the schools to ensure the restrictions are practical to implement.

Students were more attentive in class, more gregarious during breaks and schools reported fewer serious phone related incidents, according to an independent assessment of that previous policy.

Students who need devices to manage medical conditions will be exempt.

Support from Catholic and independent sectors

The Catholic and independent school systems have supported the decision.

Victorian Catholic Education Authority CEO Elizabeth Labone stated, “Any initiative that increases student engagement is certainly welcome.”

At the school level, the response to the decision has been overwhelmingly positive.

King’s College Warrnambool principal Allister Rouse told The Standard that while he welcomed the decision, the smart watch part might be more difficult to police than banning phones.

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Emmanuel College Warrnambool principal Rachel McGennisken stated that the decision reinforced what they were already doing and that there needs to be a united front in the region.

She added that “no one policy will ever be the definitive answer to managing technology, because technology is constantly changing.”

With differing regulations regarding smartwatches and other personal devices, all Australian states and territories currently impose some sort of restriction on the use of phones in public schools.

According to UNESCO, about 40% of educational systems worldwide currently prohibit smartphones in classrooms.

With the intention of putting the new regulations into effect for the beginning of the 2027 academic year, the Victorian government has stated that it will present the legislation to parliament later this year.

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Canva downs tools as 5000 staff swap day jobs for AI crash course

Valued at approximately $60 billion, Sydney based giant Canva has hit the brakes on its global operations as it puts aside nearly 5000 of its workers who take off from their work and dedicate an entire week for training in artificial intelligence.

Labeled as AI Discovery Week, the internal event held from 7 July to 11 July involved employees from different countries who joined various workshops, discussions and individual practices with popular AI tools such as Claude, ChatGPT and Gemini.

The event concluded with a two day internal hackathon labeled “Supercharged by AI” in which all employees were asked to come up with their own projects using newly acquired skills.

The firm reported that this event provided over 25,000 hours of actual hands-on AI experience for the Canvanauts.

Co founder and Chief Product Officer of Canva Cameron Adams admitted that this was part of a strategy aimed at ensuring that everyone within the company becomes fluent in AI technology, both engineers and other specialists.

Separate sessions were provided to accommodate technical and non technical people, the former being lawyers, accountants, designers, HR specialists and even cooks.

Some 70% of Canva staff already use AI tools on a daily basis, but the company said confidence and experience levels varied widely.

Staff started with a 30 minute foundations course covering the basics of prompting and how the tools work in Canva, before moving into deeper sessions and live experimentation.

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The program also addressed concern among the workforce that AI would eat into career paths.

Adams confirmed the company hosted dedicated panels addressing what he described as understandable concerns, as well as sessions on AI ethics and sustainability.

In a post on LinkedIn, Cameron Adams, Co founder and Chief Product Officer of Canva, said: “We want to help our teams get better at AI capabilities.”

This strategy is in line with an emerging trend within the technology industry, as firms compete to train their employees quickly enough to adapt to the rapid release of models.

According to a Miro survey of 8000 global workers quoted in Canva, 54% said they did not have sufficient time and resources to learn AI to fulfill their job responsibilities.

Canva, established in 2013 by Melanie Perkins, Cliff Obrecht and Adams, has emerged as one of Australia’s highest valued private firms, with yearly sales exceeding US$4 billion and more than 265 million users.