Latest news with #KyleandJackieOShow
Sky News AU
5 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
'Albo can go F himself': Jim Jefferies unloads on PM Anthony Albanese in on-air spray over CDPP's 'disgusting' refusal to prosecute Defence after fatal 2023 helicopter crash that killed his nephew
Australian comedian Jim Jefferies has launched a blistering attack on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP) over a decision not to pursue charges in the wake of a 2023 military helicopter crash that killed four soldiers. Appearing on KIIS FM's Kyle and Jackie O Show on Friday, the LA-based comedian expressed deep frustration with what he labelled a "disgusting" and "unjust" outcome, after learning the Defence Force would not be prosecuted over the incident that killed his 24-year-old nephew, Lieutenant Max Nugent. The crash, which occurred on July 28, 2023, near Hamilton Island during Exercise Talisman Sabre, claimed the lives of Lieutenant Nugent, Captain Danniel Lyon, Warrant Officer Class 2 Joseph 'Phillip' Laycock, and Corporal Alexander Naggs. Their MRH-90 Taipan helicopter, call sign Bushman 83, crashed into the water while flying in formation with three other helicopters in poor weather and low light. "I wish I were talking to you both under better circumstances," Jefferies said to the radio hosts, before launching into a passionate criticism of the two-year investigation process and the last-minute decision to drop the case. "My family has been going to watch the hearing for over two years. "For two years, they've been going, using up all their holiday leave and everything, having to listen to black box recordings, having to listen to different evidence from each side… And now, five days before the two-year date, they have said that there's no claim, the families are getting nothing, there is no fault." Under current legislation, families have a two-year window to file legal action, and the CDPP's decision, made just days before that deadline, effectively shuts the door. Jefferies argued the crash was preventable, pointing to evidence provided by test pilot Major Ian Wilson during the hearing, who warned that the TopOwl helmet used by the pilots posed a "substantial risk of multiple deaths" and said the system could amount to "industrial manslaughter". "Maybe you could argue maybe it wasn't the helmet, maybe it was, but the families deserve a day in court," the 48-year-old comedian said. "You can't just run out the clock." Jefferies said his family had been told they would receive justice. "Well, Albanese can go F himself because this isn't justice. This isn't even an attempt of letting us see if we could get justice," he said. "We haven't even been given a fair shake of the whole thing." The father-of-two also slammed the CDPP as "disgusting", citing fatigue concerns with the pilots and managerial failures within Defence. "The pilots they've proven had fatigue and shouldn't have been up there within the guidelines of the military… Even if it wasn't technical, there was some managerial problems there or what have you." Jefferies went on to criticise the federal government's public support of the armed forces, calling it hollow. "You can have people laying wreaths on Anzac Day and saying they shall not be forgotten, and we support the troops. But at the end of the day, you're doing nothing. That's all just lip service. That's all just symbolism." According to a 228-page report by the Defence Flight Safety Bureau, released in May, the crash was caused by "spatial disorientation", with Captain Lyon and co-pilot Lieutenant Nugent becoming disoriented for 21 seconds before slamming into the water at 259km/h. Following the crash, Comcare launched an investigation into potential breaches of workplace health and safety under the Commonwealth Work Health and Safety Act 2011. A brief of evidence was passed to the CDPP, but the watchdog has since confirmed it "did not consider there was sufficient evidence to commence a prosecution". After his radio interview, Jefferies shared a Nine News segment featuring interviews with the victims' families, including his brother Dan Nugent, father of Lieutenant Max Nugent and a senior NSW police officer. "Completely heartbreaking. I'm disgusted with the decision from the Commonwealth DDP. This is so wrong. I believe this is a complete cover up," Jefferies wrote on social media. "My nephew and the three other men deserve better. I hope my family takes the defence force to civil court now." Dan Nugent told Nine he was "dismayed" by the outcome, citing strong evidence presented during the inquiry about fatigue management failures and safety concerns around the TopOwl helmet. "They were fatigued to a level that would have affected their ability to fly that helicopter," he said. "How can we have confidence in any government entity, let alone our Defence Force… if they're not prepared… to contest that… for the public to be able to hear it in open court? It's just disgraceful." A relative of another fallen soldier told the ABC on Thursday they felt "defeated and broken" by the decision. "They deserved better." has reached out to the CDPP for comment.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
'In a pretty bad way': Matty Johns reveals worrying twist after son Cooper's crash
Matty Johns has revealed the torment son Cooper and the family are going through after the young radio star survived a horror crash in Sydney this week. Cooper Johns was driving home following his stint on the Kyle and Jackie O Show on Wednesday when a taxi clipped his Subaru, flipping the car onto its roof on a busy eastern suburbs street. The vehicle was written off but Johns miraculously escaped uninjured, posting pictures of the wreckage on social media. He was checked out by emergency service workers but didn't require a visit to hospital, instead ringing dad Matty to come and pick him up. While Cooper initially made light of the incident – jokingly telling Kyle and Jackie O his biggest concern was having an ABBA song playing loudly on his car radio – Matty has revealed a form of delayed concussion has set in. The 25-year-old was due to meet his father in Brisbane for NRL Magic Round but has now cancelled those plans. "It's been well noted he had a car accident and he's still in a pretty bad way, he's still shaken up," Matty Johns told SEN radio on Friday morning. "He was supposed to come up (to Brisbane) this morning, but he's not going to be able to make it, which is a real shame. "It certainly put the wind up the family. He's not great. When I went to pick him up he was quite chipper, he was okay, because he had adrenaline pouring through him. But later that night, he really hit the wall." Cooper said he felt like he was floating through space "like Katy Perry" as the car flew through the air and was "glad to get out of it unscathed". But he has little recollection of the entire incident. Matty Johns said: "He still can't remember really what happened. The police say they'd never seen anything like it, given Cooper's car is written off and the other car has literally got a little nick on the bumper. "What we think has happened is that the taxi has sort of come into his lane, and then he's just brushed it and with his tyre going forward and that tyre going forward, it's just flipped his car. The last thing he remembers is being airborne. It was a great concern. You can imagine what (wife) Trish was like. It was very, very, very scary." RELATED: Footage emerges after Queensland player accused of shocking act Sad truth about Andrew Johns laid bare after NRL legend's boycott Cooper had stints with the Melbourne Storm and Manly Sea Eagles in the NRL, but only managed to play 19 career games. In January last year he announced he was quitting rugby league to follow Matty into the media. The father and son duo have a widely popular podcast, and Cooper is also a regular on Kyle and Jackie O.
