A sixth teenager has been charged after anti-terrorism raids in south-west Sydney;
Drones will be used to fight a fire-ant infestation in Queensland that could change the Australian way of life;
The ASX 200 has closed down amid fears of another interest rate rise;
State education ministers are standing their ground for more money in a school funding stoush with the federal government;
A Sydney council has been placed under state investigation after a heated council meeting this week;
And Faraz Tahir, a refugee security guard killed in the Westfield Bondi Junction attacks, has been farewelled at a service in Sydney, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese saying “Australia was lucky to have him”.

7.17pm on Apr 26, 2024

Sixth teenager charged after anti-terrorism raids

By Catherine Naylor

A sixth teenager has been charged with terrorism-related offences after police raids prompted by the stabbing of a religious leader during a service at Christ the Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley on April 15.

More than 400 officers from the joint counter-terrorism team raided 13 locations across Sydney’s south-west on Wednesday, as well as a location in Goulburn, and arrested seven boys.

Supporters of teenagers arrested in the raids leave Parramatta Children’s Court on Thursday.Dion Georgopoulos

Police said tonight that a 15-year-old boy has now been charged with conspiring to engage in any act in preparation for, or planning, a terrorist act. He has been refused bail to appear at a children’s court on Saturday.

Three older boys – aged 16 and 17 – were charged with the same offence earlier this week after the raids and another two boys, aged 14 and 17, were charged with possessing violent extremist material.

7.04pm on Apr 26, 2024

Drones to fight fire-ant infestation that could change Australian way of life

Drones that can deliver poisonous bait over large areas have joined Australia’s high-stakes battle to eradicate fire ants, after more than 100 nests were found at an army base in south-east Queensland.

The country has much to lose if the hyper-aggressive invader becomes entrenched. Economic losses have been estimated at $2 billion a year if fire ants spread from the heart of the current infestation at Oakey, in the Murray Darling Basin.

Fire ant colonies have been found on Defence land west of Toowoomba in Queensland.National Fire Ant Eradication Program.

Australians have also been warned their way of life could change forever if swarming, stinging fire ants becoming commonplace in backyards, at sports grounds, parks and campgrounds.

State, territory and federal governments are throwing hundreds of millions of dollars at efforts to eradicate the pest. Drones are the latest weapon in the must-win war, capable of spreading small, granular bait over more than 200 hectares a day.

National Fire Ant Eradication Program executive director Ashley Bacon said the drones would also save money, reduce risks for staff and keep farmers happier.

AAP

6.15pm on Apr 26, 2024

Men suffer serious burns at copper mine

Two men have suffered serious burns at a copper mine in Queensland’s north-west.

The contract workers were dismantling scaffolding at the Mount Isa Mines copper smelter on Thursday afternoon when steam blasted from a pressure relief valve next to where they were standing.

They were rushed to hospital with significant injuries, one man in a serious condition and the other stable.

A Resources Safety and Health Queensland investigation is under way.

Mine owner Glencore said the surface operations were suspended for 24 hours from Thursday afternoon while management discussed and reflected on the incident.

The Australian Workers Union said it was concerned about how the incident had unfolded and called for a thorough investigation.

AAP

5.43pm on Apr 26, 2024

Sharemarket down amid fears of another rate rise

The Australian sharemarket has finished the week on a sour note as persistent inflation fuels fears the Reserve Bank’s next interest rate move could be up rather than down.

The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index on Thursday fell 107.1 points, or 1.39 per cent, to 7,575.9, to finish the week up 0.11 per cent. The broader All Ordinaries closed down 100.1 points, or 1.26 per cent, at 7,837.4.

The Australian sharemarket closed in the red on Friday.Louise Kennerley

Lingering inflation prompted Australian investors to ponder the possibility of the Reserve Bank raising interest rates even further, with the domestic money market now pricing in a small chance the RBA board will increase the cash rate before it cuts.

Capital Economics expects the RBA board to raise the cash rate to 4.6 per cent at its next meeting in two weeks.

“Underlying inflation is all but certain to overshoot its current forecast,” Capital Economics economist Abhijit Surya said.

“Services inflation, which has long been a concern for the bank, is also proving to be quite persistent.

The ASX was dragged down by its largest company, BHP, which sank 4.6 per cent to $43.15 after the iron ore heavyweight confirmed it had made a $60 billion bid for British copper miner Anglo American.

The merger would have made BHP the world’s biggest producer of copper, with about 10 per cent of existing supply, however, late in trading, Anglo American said it would reject the offer.

AAP

5.28pm on Apr 26, 2024

Barrister wins defamation case over Oscar the cavoodle

By Sarah McPhee

If every dog has its day, Friday’s was Oscar the cavoodle’s. His barrister owner has been awarded $150,000 in damages after she won her defamation case against television program A Current Affair over broadcasts a judge found depicted her as a dog thief.

Gina Edwards sued the Nine Network and one its journalists in the Federal Court over stories aired in May and June 2021, and the accompanying online articles, regarding the ownership of Oscar.

Gina Edwards and Oscar the cavoodle outside court before the judgment.Janie Barrett

The dog sat outside the courtroom on Friday wearing black robes and a white jabot, later replaced with a red bandana around his neck reading “Justice”.

Edwards argued Nine defamed her by making numerous incorrect claims in the program, including that she was “a thief who stole Oscar the cavoodle”, exploited the dog for her own financial benefit, and deliberately delayed court proceedings.

In a judgment delivered this afternoon, Justice Michael Wigney ruled in Edwards’ favour and awarded $150,000 in damages including aggravated damages. He rejected Nine’s defences of truth and contextual truth.

Wigney said the broadcasts regarding the dispute over the “supposedly famous cavoodle” were “sensationalist, if not hyperbolic”, and “portrayed Ms Edwards in a most unfavourable light”.

The judge found all but one of the defamatory meanings was conveyed, including “most significantly” that the show had implied Edwards was a “thief who stole Oscar the cavoodle”.

Read more of the story here.

4.50pm on Apr 26, 2024

State ministers stand their ground in school funding stoush

By Angus Thompson

State education ministers say they are standing their ground against the federal government in their fight for a 5 per cent increase to public school funding.

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare met his state and territory counterparts in Perth today to discuss a range of reforms, including a new national funding agreement that the federal government would use to hold states to account for improvements in education.

NSW Education Minister Prue Car and federal Education Minister Jason ClareComposite

He has struck deals with Western Australia and the Northern Territory, but NSW, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia have rejected an offer to increase the funding by 2.5 per cent.

“How does the Commonwealth government really look students, teachers, parents in the eye in public schools and say that they don’t think they should be funded to 100 per cent?” NSW Education Minister Prue Car told a press conference in Perth alongside her state counterparts after the meeting.

“The time for this argument is over. We need to fully fund public schools in this country and I can definitely speak on the behalf of NSW that we will stand firm because nothing matters more to us than the education of our children.”

Victorian Education Minister Ben Carroll said states were being asked to up their outcome reporting requirements with little extra funding.

“We need a full 5 per cent extra funding and we think that is really reasonable when you consider so many other factors at play here, when you consider that two-thirds of students in our state school system are from disadvantaged backgrounds and that’s where we need to make the investment to shift the dial,” he said.

At a separate press conference with West Australian Education Minister Tony Buti, Clare said he was committed to working with states to ensure all public schools were fully funded.

On Thursday, he told this masthead he’d put billions of dollars for public schools on the table, but the states had to contribute too.

4.13pm on Apr 26, 2024

Flotilla to deliver Gaza aid with Australians on board delayed

By Lia Timson

Three Australians who were ready to risk everything to deliver humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza will need to wait a few more days, after their flotilla launch hit a snag on Friday.

Daniel Coward and Surya McEwen, both from NSW, and Helen O’Sullivan, from Queensland, have been in Istanbul, Turkey, all week preparing for the high-risk journey.

They are part of a group of about 200 activists from some 30 countries who were about to board three vessels that aim to break the naval blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip by Israel since Hamas came to power in 2007.

A ship of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition anchors at Tuzla seaport in Istanbul on Friday.AP

Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Mandla Mandela, who is an MP in South Africa, is also among the activists.

He said he was “excited” to be “breaking the siege” to help Palestinians in need.

Organisers of the Freedom Flotilla say they had all their paperwork done, had passed all inspection and were ready to sail tomorrow, but have been delayed by an Israeli request to Guinea-Bissau to withdraw its flag from their lead ship.

In a statement on Telegram, the organisers said, “this is another example of Israel obstructing the delivery of life-saving aid to the people in Gaza who face a deliberately created famine.”

“How many more children will die of malnutrition and dehydration because of this delay and an ongoing siege, which must be broken?”

They added they had overcome “these kinds of tactics” in the past and would persevere.

“We expect his to be no more than a few days’ delay.”

Last weekend, a DFAT spokesperson urged those wishing to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza to do so through established channels.

“Previous attempts to break the naval blockade along the coast of Gaza have resulted in injury, death, arrest and the deportation of foreigners, We urge Australians not to try to break the naval blockade,” the spokesperson said.

with Kate Geraghty, Megan Gorrey, Mary Ward

3.40pm on Apr 26, 2024

Sydney council placed under state investigation

By Michael Koziol

NSW Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig has ordered the Office of Local Government to investigate the Liberal-led Liverpool City Council in Sydney’s south-west, after councillors suspended the chief executive and police were called to a chaotic meeting earlier this week.

Former Liberal MP John Ajaka was stood down with pay from his $500,000-a-year job as chief executive of the council on Wednesday evening, following a vote led by Liberal mayor Ned Mannoun.

Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun, left, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese earlier this month.Dion Georgopoulos

Mannoun claimed Ajaka told people to “shut the f--- up” during a heated discussion about council staffing last week.

Amid rumours the council was planning to sack up to 150 staff, members of the United Services Union attended the Wednesday meeting and allegedly refused to leave when a closed session was called to discuss Ajaka’s future.

Council staff called the police, and the group then followed instructions and dispersed.

Hoenig said he had been concerned about Liverpool City Council “for some time” and it was clear the relationship between councillors and staff was “fractured”.

“A robust investigation undertaken by the Office of Local Government will shore up public confidence and ensure [the] council is focused on delivering for its community.”

Mannoun said the investigation should also look at the actions of the union members who attended Wednesday’s meeting, and their “false claim” of 150 job losses.

He said 95 per cent of Wednesday’s resolutions passed unanimously, “demonstrating all councillors are working together”.

3.13pm on Apr 26, 2024

Future Fund grows in value by 8.3 per cent

By Millie Muroi

Australia’s sovereign wealth fund has reported an investment return of 8.3 per cent over the year, bringing the value of the fund to a record $223.4 billion.

Future Fund’s return in the year to March 2024 exceeded its target of 6.8 per cent a year and added $17.2 billion to its portfolio.

Future Fund chief executive Raphael Arndt said $11.5 billion of that was gained in the March quarter.

“The global economy is in good shape, better than expected this time last year, thanks to the strength of the US economy,” Arndt said. “Both consumers and business have adjusted to higher inflation and interest rates.”

However, Arndt said inflation remained sticky and that there remained a risk that rates would be held higher for longer.

“While markets have begun to price in this risk since the end of the quarter, investors have not yet fully adjusted to this view,” he said. “In addition, geopolitical risk is elevated by conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine and is expected to remain so for some time. Any increase in conflicts risks adding further to inflationary pressures.”

Future Fund, which was created in 2006 and endowed with $60.5 billion, has returned 7.8 per cent a year since inception.

As it happened: Australians flattened by biggest tax increase in world; States demand extra $12b for schools

Key Posts

Tonight’s headlines at a glance

Sixth teenager charged after anti-terrorism raids

Drones to fight fire-ant infestation that could change Australian way of life

Men suffer serious burns at copper mine

Sharemarket down amid fears of another rate rise

Barrister wins defamation case over Oscar the cavoodle

State ministers stand their ground in school funding stoush

Flotilla to deliver Gaza aid with Australians on board delayed

Sydney council placed under state investigation

Future Fund grows in value by 8.3 per cent

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