Yoorrook Justice Commission's historic walk for truth
A momentous day in Victoria as Indigenous Australians hope that they are a step closer to achieving the nation's first long awaited treaty.
It comes after a four-year commission looked into the impact of colonisation. Tahnee Jash reports.
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ABC News
2 hours ago
- ABC News
Mum says she feels let down by SA government's autism strategy
Paige Carter and her son Oaklan were front and centre when the Premier unveiled the state's first Minister for Autism almost three years ago. Ms Carter welcomed the "world leading" appointment of Emily Bourke and the state government promised to deliver nation-leading autism reforms. But the mother-of-two said she now felt "let down" and as though her family and the autism community were "used" by the government. "... He [the Premier] can announce skyscrapers and LIV Golf and all these really cool exciting things for the state and yes they're amazing, but what about our little kids who can't even access an education?" The government has pushed back against these claims, pointing to the rollout of 400 autism inclusion teachers in state schools and saying they have delivered far beyond what was promised in the lead up to the 2022 election. Ms Carter said six-year-old Oaklan had struggled to adjust to school life. He has autism, ADHD and epilepsy and had initially coped well when he started school last year with a smaller class and extra support from his teacher and other staff. She said her son fell into a grey area, not qualifying for special education but not fitting into mainstream schools. "The environment just isn't right for him, and he's not supported the way he needs to be supported," Ms Carter said. Ms Carter said Oaklan was now only attending school three times a week for 90-minute periods. "He says things such as 'I hate my brain', 'my brain is stupid', 'me don't want to be me', things like that and it's really awful and it's all at the hands of him not having a schooling option that's right for him," Ms Carter said. "He doesn't qualify for Special Ed, but he doesn't fit in mainstream but there's nothing for our kids in-between. "It's a grey area, he's now at the point where he's experienced a major burnt out, autistic burnout, and major regression." A Department for Education spokesperson said Ms Carter was "offered an option of a special class for her son" with a school offering her a tour, but she turned down the placement. "The department will continue to work [with] her and the family and have invited Ms Carter to be part of an existing parent forum/reference group," the spokesperson said. SA Autism Minister Emily Bourke defended the state government's autism strategy; she said tens of millions of dollars had been spent on autism specific initiatives that were already having an impact, with more than 400 autism inclusion teachers now working in state primary schools. "That change isn't going to happen overnight. It is going to take time because we are undoing learnings that have been in place for decades," she said. In response to questions about Oaklan's school experience, Ms Bourke said the government was trying to work with families to find the right support. "That's never easy to hear, and I guess as a government we're trying to work with families," Ms Bourke said. "There are many families in our school system and we try and work with them when we're aware of what is needed. However, Ms Bourke denied Paige Carter's criticism that the autism community had been let down. She said Labor Government had delivered far beyond what is promised in the lead-up to the state election in 2022. The SA Premier was also contacted for comment. The state's peak autism body, Autism SA, said despite the government's investments and the creation of the state's autism strategy, many people in the autistic community felt the government had not delivered any real change to their lives. "[Paige] represents perhaps a good portion of the autistic and autism community, particularly the parents of autistic students who feel change hasn't happened quick enough," CEO Helen Graham said. "So I can see certainly why she feels let down. Ms Carter has also questioned the effectiveness of autism inclusion teachers. She said a specific classroom for autistic students with specialist teachers and support staff in schools would be a better option. "Our autistic kids are amazing and they have such incredible qualities, but we need people to nurture them the way that we as their parents do, for their life to be successful," Ms Carter said. Autism Minister Emily Bourke and the Education Department said that approach had "failed" in the past. "Some of those experiments where we've put autistic kids together in the past, we did it in South Australia years and years ago and they've failed and they've not really worked very well for students," Education Department chief executive, Martin Westwell said. Mr Westwell said that South Australia's autism reforms were world leading and praised the creation of autism inclusion teachers. "That's something that has been incredibly successful," Mr Westwell said. "I think we can build on that success and we're thinking about expanding from primary schools and where that might be successful in secondary schools." But Autism SA CEO Helen Graham said having more supports were needed beyond adding extra responsibilities for teachers through the autism inclusion teacher program. "This idea that we ask a teacher to be everything all the time is unfair … there are so many organisations out there that autism is everything they know and do," Ms Graham said. "They're a good start, but are they are they actually achieving the outcomes that the individuals need? I'm not sure, time will tell. "I think what we're hearing is the community saying we've waited two years, autism inclusion teachers came in in 2023 … and we're not getting those results, but I think what they can be reassured of is that the minister does listen." Ms Carter is now vowing to keep pressure on the state government to do more to help her son and thousands of children across the state facing the same challenges. "Our children should not be left behind just because it's going to cost more money. "Our kids deserve an education just like any other child."
SBS Australia
3 hours ago
- SBS Australia
Morning News Bulletin 29 June 2025
Listen to Australian and world news, and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts . TRANSCRIPT Israeli Prime Minister rejects report his soldiers are being ordered to shoot aid-seeking Palestinians Greens say they will back their candidate who suffered serious injuries during a police arrest Matildas to take on Slovenia for a second game in Perth — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected a report that claims Israeli soldiers are being ordered to shoot at Palestinians approaching aid sites inside Gaza. Israeli newspaper Haaretz reports Israeli soldiers have deliberately shot at unarmed Palestinians seeking aid in Gaza after being ordered to do so by their commanders. Israel's Prime Minister has rejected the Haaretz findings in a statement, calling them "malicious falsehoods designed to defame" the military. Gazan health officials say more than 500 Palestinians have been killed and hundreds more wounded while seeking food aid over the past month since an Israel and US-backed organisation began distributing aid in the territory. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres says this new aid mechanism is killing innocents and Israel must allow the UN to distribute aid independently. "People are being killed simply trying to feed themselves and their families. Any operation that channels desperate civilians into militarised zones is inherently unsafe. It's killing people. There is no need to reinvent the wheel with dangerous schemes. We have the supplies. We have the experience. We have the solution." Health officials in Gaza say at least 62 people have been killed by Israeli attacks in Gaza in the past 24 hours, as the humanitarian situation worsens in the strip. Mohammed Haboub survived an Israeli airstrike that killed his family in the Tuffah neighbourhood near Jaffa school where hundreds of displaced Gazans take shelter. He says the violence is senseless. "Suddenly they attacked us with missiles, and then we found out that my nephews, my father, the children of the neighbours were killed. We didn't do anything to them , why do they harm us? They are all innocent, we have nothing to do with. We are innocent, we want a solution. We don't want war. Why they are killing our children, our elders?" Meanwhile, Qatar's Foreign Ministry spokesman says mediators are engaging with Israel and Hamas to build on momentum from this week's ceasefire with Iran and work towards a truce in Gaza. The Greens have come out in support of Hannah Thomas, former candidate for the seat of Grayndler, saying she is a victim of what they've called "gross misuse of police power", after an arrest at a pro-Palestinian protest. The 35-year-old lawyer and activist has undergone surgery after suffering serious facial injuries when police detained her while picketing a business reportedly supplying parts for jets used by the Israeli military. Police say four others were arrested at the protest, including a 24-year-old man who they claim temporarily stole a police body worn camera. Greens MP Sue Higginson and Senator David Shoebridge have issued a statement calling for Police Minister Yasmin Catley to investigate the arrest as a critical incident. Ms Higginson says the party will do what they can to help Ms Thomas. "Hannah will be taking whatever steps are available to her to try to find some justice in the face of this gross misuse of police power, this state violence, this excessive force. We will do whatever we can to assist Hannah." A raft of changes are set to take effect in the new financial year, including a minimum wage rise, an increased super guarantee, and energy bill relief. From July 1, Australian households will receive another $150 in energy bill relief, as will about one million small businesses. The national minimum wage will increase 3.5 per cent, with the lowest-paid workers taking home $24.95 per hour, or $948 per week. The rate at which superannuation is paid into workers' retirement will increase from 11.5 per cent to 12 per cent and expand to working parents who take leave to care for their babies. The NDIS will also see changes this week, with the lowering of the maximum rates providers can charge some NDIS participants, and the removal of establishment fees for participants. In football, new Matildas coach Joe Montemurro is urging his players to be braver with the ball when they attempt to make it two wins against Slovenia in Perth tonight. The Matildas beat Slovenia 3-nil on Thursday night, but it took goals in the dying minutes to Holly McNamara and Hayley Raso to secure the unconvincing win. Montemurro says the recovery of the players is good - and now it is time for them to take their performance to the next level. "It will take a while. It will take a while. Obviously, the more we do it, the more we understand the important pass or the important situation of breaking a line. I am sure they will be a little bit more proactive. It is normal. When you say you want to play possession - and it is a word that is bantered a lot - it is normal that they do the safe things to keep possession. Now we have to be smarter to say okay, we can prepare to go forward and be more proactive and break lines."
News.com.au
7 hours ago
- News.com.au
Holly Valance splits from husband after 13 years
Former Neighbours star Holly Valance and UK billionaire Nick Candy are divorcing after 13 years of marriage. Friends told The Sun that the Australian actress and singer had split from her property tycoon husband in recent weeks. Right-wing glamour couple Holly, 42, and Nick, 52, were last photographed together in March, heading out for lunch in London. A family friend said: 'This has been a very difficult period for both Nick and Holly, and they are keeping things private out of respect for their family. 'The joint parenting of their two amazing daughters remains their top priority. They've had to juggle a demanding lifestyle. Between family, public life, and Nick's intense work commitments, it's been a tough balance. 'This is a family matter and they're doing their best to handle things thoughtfully. Privacy is obviously very important to them both, so they can focus on what's best for the family.' Nick, who is the treasurer of Nigel Farage's Reform, met Holly in 2009 and proposed two years later. They married in 2012 in a £3million California ceremony in front of 300 guests, including Simon Cowell. Holly found fame on Neighbours as Felicity 'Flick' Scully before launching a career as a pop star. Her 2002 debut album Footprints spawned three hits, including Kiss Kiss, which went to No 1. Nick started his property business with brother Christian in the early 1990s while working in advertising. The pair now have a vast portfolio, including One Hyde Park — made up of 86 luxury apartments in central London — worth just over £1billion. Last year, Nick announced he had shunned his Conservative Party membership in favour of Reform. He was appointed as the party's treasurer in December and pledged to raise tens of millions for Mr Farage, including giving a seven-figure sum himself. Holly has become a high-profile figure in right-wing politics. She visited US President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago home in 2022 with her husband and Mr Farage. She also attended former Tory PM Boris Johnson's wedding in 2021. And she is credited with encouraging Mr Farage to run for Parliament. On her political views, she said last year: 'Everyone starts off as a leftie and then wakes up at some point after making money, working, trying to run a business, trying to buy a home, then realises what crap ideas they all are.' A spokesman for the couple said: 'This is a private matter and we will not be making any further comment.'
