Latest news with #DavidCrosling
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Bombshell ‘genocide' finding in Aussie report
Crimes against humanity and a genocide were committed against Indigenous Australians in Victoria, a landmark report by Australia's first formal truth-telling commission has found. The landmark Yoorrook for Justice report into Victoria's Child Protection and Criminal Justice Systems, released on Tuesday, made 46 recommendations based on findings gathered across 67 days of public hearings, the testimony of more than 200 witnesses and the contributions of 1,500 first nations people. Officials gather at the opening ceremony of the Yoorrook Commission's hearings. NewsWire / David Crosling Credit: News Corp Australia The Yoorrook Justice Commission was established in 2021 to examine the 'extent and impact of historical and ongoing systemic injustice' against Indigenous Australians in Victoria since the start of colonisation. In their final report, the Commission found serious crimes were committed against Indigenous Australians from 1834 - including ' mass killings, disease, sexual violence, exclusion, linguicide, cultural erasure, environmental degradation, child removal, absorption and assimilation'. 'Yoorrook found that the decimation of the First Peoples population in Victoria between 1 per cent and 5 per cent of the pre-colonisation population by 1901 was the result of 'a coordinated plan of different actions aimed at the destruction of the essential foundations of the life of national groups',' the report states. 'This was genocide.' In addition, the Commission found Victoria's child protection system is not only discriminatory, but that it causes trauma, disconnects children from their culture and is in breach of 'fundamental cultural and human rights of the child'. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan gives evidence before the Yoorrook Justice Commission which will begin hearings into injustices against First Peoples near Healesville. NewsWire / David Crosling Credit: News Corp Australia Speaking to Patricia Karvelas on ABC's Afternoon Briefing, former co-chair of the First Peoples Assembly Marcus Stewart called the report 'historic'. 'We needed to look at the systemic injustices that had happened throughout Victoria to First Nations people. And we needed a mechanism in order to do that so our people could come forward, speak their truth, tell their stories,' Mr Stewart said. 'It's important to know that these mechanisms have been used worldwide,' he said. 'Canada had a Truth and Reconciliation Commission that examined residential schools. 'East Timor had a truth telling process (after) Indonesian occupation, and the most famous … was chaired by the late Desmond Tutu in South Africa.' Marcus Stewart speaks in Federation Square. NewsWire / Valeriu Campan Credit: News Corp Australia Yoorrook Commissioner Travis Lovett. Supplied Credit: Supplied Speaking on the correlations between current and historical conditions faced by Indigenous children, Mr Stewart said the document was 'heavy'. 'The act of genocide did occur on our shores and in particular, did significantly impact First Nations people here in Victoria.' 'This process isn't to lay blame, but to create opportunity.' On Tuesday night, Yoorrook Commissioner Travis Lovett took to Instagram to tell Australians to 'take the time to read the recommendations'. 'This is not light reading, but it is necessary. For the first time, we as Aboriginal People have held the pen and told our truths, in our words,' he wrote. 'This official public record has the power to change forever how people learn about the true history of this state. It must be included in the Victorian school curriculum so that future generations grow up knowing the full story.' 'It's moving, it may make you cry, but it will make you think'.
Perth Now
20-06-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
State Aussies are leaving in droves
More people are fleeing NSW than any other state in Australia. Population data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics this week shows 28,118 people left NSW in 2024. Western Australia tipped over three million people for the first time as the resource-rich state recorded the highest nationwide growth rate. At the end of 2024, 27.4 million people called Australia home, an increase of 445,900 on the previous year and representative of a 1.7 per cent increase. Commonwealth Bank economist Lucinda Jerogin said population growth had slowed quicker than anticipated on the back of the post-pandemic peak. This sea of blue is not streaming into the State of Origin, instead they are headed for a Melbourne versus Collingwood AFL match. David Crosling / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia 'A slowdown in natural increase continues to place a drag on Australia's population growth,' she said 'Cost-of-living pressures, rising female workforce participation and broader uncertainty are likely driving this downward trend. 'Growth in deaths are outpacing births leading to the decline in natural increase.' The data shows NSW lost more than 28,000 people to net interstate migration, with 112,763 people leaving for elsewhere in the country. Queensland picked up more than 106,000 people from other states for a result of nearly 26,000 fresh faces. Nearly 40,000 Aussies moved to WA for a net increase of about 12,500 people. Australians continue to leave NSW, destined mostly for Queensland but also WA. NewsWire / Dan Peled Credit: News Corp Australia While Queensland and Victoria's total populations grew by 1.9 per cent, WA's grew 2.4 per cent. The population of every state and territory grew by at least 1.1 per cent, except Tasmania, which recorded a 0.3 per cent increase. 'Within Australia, people are continuing to leave NSW, and to a lesser extent Victoria and the smallest jurisdictions, and head into Queensland and WA,' Housing Industry Association economist Tom Devitt said. 'But even the jurisdictions losing residents interstate are absorbing enough overseas arrivals to see their populations expand.' State governments needed to do more to stimulate housing construction, he said. 'Foreign capital is highly liquid. State governments have forced institutional investors into building apartments in other countries,' Mr Devitt said. 'As a consequence, multi-unit construction volumes in Australia have halved, likely costing state governments tax revenue.'
Perth Now
18-06-2025
- Perth Now
Woman's plea after teens crash stolen car
A woman whose car was allegedly stolen by six teens who were seriously hurt in a crash in Melbourne's north has issued a devastating plea. Six teenage boys, aged between 16 and 19, allegedly stole a blue Haval from a home in Doreen on early Tuesday morning and were speeding through the vicinity of Church St in Whittlesea about 1am on Wednesday. A woman's Haval was allegedly stolen by a group of teens on Tuesday morning. NewsWire/ David Crosling Credit: News Corp Australia Officers lost sight of the vehicle, but it was spotted again about 1.20am on Plenty Rd in South Morang with the assistance of the air wing. Stop sticks were deployed to top the teens in their tracks, while the air wing continued to monitor the teens as they sped through Epping. Emergency services were called to O'Herns Rd at the entrance of the Hume Freeway after the blue car rolled into an embankment and crashed. Police said they were not pursuing the vehicle when it crashed. Ronnie Michell (right) said she felt 'numb' when she saw her car on the news. 9News Credit: Channel 9 Hours later, the owner of the allegedly stolen vehicle, Ronnie Michell, saw the remains of her mangled car appear on the news. She said the sight of her crumpled vehicle made her heart drop. 'When I got shown the photo of the car, I just felt numb and sick,' she told 9News. The six teenagers, including three 17-year-old Whittlesea boys, two 16-year-old Hume boys and a 19-year-old Seymour woman, were seriously injured in the crash. Two of the occupants were ejected from the vehicle as it rolled into the embankment. They were all transported to hospital for treatment, where they remain under police guard. 'Six kids in hospital, six families worried about their children,' Ms Michell said. The family have urged the teens to think of others before going on joy rides. NewsWire/ David Crosling Credit: News Corp Australia Her daughter Courtney Lister was also horrified by the teens' joy ride. 'I couldn't believe it, that it had gone that far, so to speak, that their so-called 'bit of fun', I assume is what it was, had to end so badly,' she said. Ms Lister issued a desperate plea to other teenagers looking for a thrill as it 'could have ended someone's life'. 'Hopefully, it is a wake-up call,' she said. 'But it's as though they don't care about any sort of consequence that could come from it.' Police are continuing to investigate the incident. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has CCTV or dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Perth Now
13-06-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
$100m Powerball mystery leads to Bondi
One of Australia's biggest ever lottery prizes is still unclaimed, but new details have emerged to help track down the winner. Powerball operators The Lott have revealed that the sole winner of a $100m grand prize bought their ticket at an outlet in Bondi. The winning entry was purchased at Bondi Junction Newsagency and Internet Cafe, inside the local Westfield shopping centre. It has been more than 34 hours since one mystery Australian became the lucky winner, but the ticket has still not been claimed. The winner's ticket for the megadraw was unregistered, which means that lottery officials have no way of contacting them. Instead, ticket holders who tried their luck in Bondi are being encouraged to check their results and make contact with officials. Only six other Australians know what it feels like to win a $100m prize. NewsWire/ David Crosling Credit: News Corp Australia The Lott spokesperson Eliza Wregg said that one New South Wales punter was 'walking around completely oblivious' to their life-changing news. 'There are 100 million reasons why Sydney's eastern suburbs players should check their tickets today,' Ms Wregg said. 'Imagine discovering you're suddenly a multi-millionaire! You could immediately retire, take the trip of your dreams, or spoil those nearest and dearest to you.' The owner of the Bondi Junction Newsagency & Internet Cafe, Manish, said it was 'legendary' to hear that his team had sold the winning ticket. 'This is by far the biggest winning entry we've ever sold. The team are thrilled to hear the winning news. I'll be rewarding the particular staff member who sold the winning ticket too,' he said. 'The staff here are always excited, but they'll be extra excited to hear we've sold the big winning ticket. 'I'm hoping it's one of our regular customers, but you never know it could be a tourist too. We're located right next to closest station to Bondi Beach, so you never know!' The winning entry was bought at Bondi Junction Newsagency & Internet Cafe. NewsWire/ David Crosling Credit: News Corp Australia Powerball draw 1517 was conducted on Thursday and the winning numbers were 28, 10, 3, 16, 31, 14 and 21. The Powerball number was 6. When claimed, the winner of the $100m pot will join an exclusive club of mega lottery winners. Only six Australians have ever claimed a Powerball prize of $100m or more. It is estimated that half of all adults in the country bought tickets to Thursday night's draw. The odds of winning the grand prize are slim, at a margin of one in 134 million.
Perth Now
07-06-2025
- Perth Now
Shopping centre rocked by machete scare
A group of boys allegedly armed with machetes were spotted arguing at a shopping centre in Melbourne's northwest nearly a week after the state government fast-tracked a ban on the weapons following an incident in Preston. The group of about 5-6 boys were allegedly seen arguing with each other inside the Caroline Springs Shopping Centre about 6.40pm on Friday night. A Victoria Police spokesperson said it was understood the group were armed with machetes. The group had left the area by the time police arrived, and there are no reports of injuries. Police have urged anyone with information or footage to come forward. The alleged incident comes after an interim statewide ban on the sale of machetes was rushed through last week after a violent brawl plunged Northland Shopping Centre in Melbourne's northeast into lockdown. A group of boys allegedly armed with machetes were spotted arguing at Caroline Springs Shopping Centre. NewsWire / David Crosling Credit: News Corp Australia The Preston shopping centre was sent into lockdown on May 25 after reports of up to 10 people fighting, some armed with knives and machetes. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan announced she'd fastback a ban on machetes — initially slated to come into effect from September — in the days following the Northland incident. 'We're doing this today as quickly as possible, because we must never let the places where we gather, the places where families come together to shop, to enjoy the peace of their weekend, become places we fear,' Ms Allan said earlier. A group of about 5-6 boys were allegedly seen arguing in CS Square, with a police spokesperson saying it was understood some were armed with machetes. NewsWire / David Crosling Credit: News Corp Australia The ban covers machetes with a blade longer than 20cm, and does not include kitchen knives. It will be in place until September 1, at which point it will be replaced by a permanent ban. Victoria Police on Friday announced they had seized 6,876 edged weapons so far this year. Forest Hill Superintendent Matt Baynes said 44 knives had been taken off the streets per day this year. 'While recent changes to machete laws will help choke the supply and double the penalties for possessing these weapons, the community should be assured police continue to relentlessly remove knives from the hands of criminals,' Superintendent Baynes said. 'In recent weeks, we have seen a number of public attacks involving edged weapons, with police quickly identifying and arresting those involved.'
