Latest news with #VictorianGovernment
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Victoria's trash is now Commonwelth Games treasure
What Victoria trashed is now treasured as a raft of nations pitch to host the Commonwealth Games after Scotland's saviours. As Glasgow prepares to host from July 23 next year, the Games has moved from peril to prospects as seven countries bid to host, but not Australia. Two years ago, Victoria's government reneged on hosting the 2026 Games in a shock that still rankles. "Obviously, try not to look too much back into the past," Australia's team chef de mission Petria Thomas told AAP. "But that disappointment of the Victorian government cancelling the Games, it's not going to fade quickly ... particularly in the way it was done as well." Victoria gave no warning to Games officials before, in July 2023, announcing they'd scrapped hosting. For the next "tumultuous" year, as Thomas put it, the future of event first staged in 1930 was threatened before Glasgow saved the Games. "Incredibly grateful and fortunate that the Scottish have stepped up to the mark here," Thomas said. "It was obviously highly disappointing that the Victorian government pulled out and it left the Commonwealth sport movement in a very difficult position. "It's fantastic that the Games will be on in Glasgow. "Obviously a little bit of a different look to them this time with fewer sports which is a shame. "But it's the reality of the position that the Commonwealth sport movement was put in, unfortunately." Beyond Glasgow, five nations including Olympic 2036 hopeful India, Canada and Nigeria have tabled bids to host the centenary 2030 Games. New Zealand is among two bidders for the 2034 version. All will be keen observers of Glasgow's pared-down Games featuring 10 sports, nine less than in 2022 in Birmingham. Trusty sources of Australian medals such as hockey, rugby sevens and diving have been chopped. But crucially for Australia's ambitions, 82 per cent of the nation's medal events in Birmingham remain on the Glasgow program. "We don't set specific medal targets," Thomas said. "But we don't shy away from the fact that we would like to finish on top of the medal tally. "To be honest, our Australian public expect the Australian team do well. "We will be doing everything we can to help our athletes across as many sports as possible win as many medals, and preferably gold ones - that's nothing to shy away from." The Glasgow program will feature athletics, swimming, 3x3 basketball, track cycling, weightlifting, lawn bowls, artistic gymnastics, netball, boxing and judo. And Thomas expected almost all of Australia's big-name athletes to compete. Teenaged sprint sensation Gout Gout had initially been expected to prioritise the August 5-9 world junior titles in the United States, where he wants to emulate the incomparable Usain Bolt, who won the under-20 200m title back in 2002. But if the scheduling allows it, there is now every chance Gout could contest the Commonwealth 100m event in Glasgow, before jetting to the US for the 200m at the world juniors. "If you look at the past, Australians generally have wanted to compete at the Commonwealth Games because they know it's an amazing event and a special team to be a part of," Thomas said. "Of course we hope that all of our best athletes are there ... I am confident we will have our best athletes available." Four Glasgow venues will host sports and the Games won't be funded from the public purse. Victoria's government paid the Commonwealth Games Federation, since rebranded Commonwealth Sport, $380 million in compensation, with $200 million diverted to Glasgow.
Daily Telegraph
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Telegraph
Mass bird deaths outside Melbourne shopping hub
A troubling spate of bird deaths at a suburban Melbourne shopping precinct has raised alarm among business operators and prompted urgent action from property managers, as fears grow over the health, safety and reputational risks to the local retail strip. New signage was installed around the Springvale South shopping centre last week, urging the public not to feed wild birds, just days after more than 150 corellas and pigeons were found dead or dying around the precinct. The birds are believed to have been deliberately poisoned, though an official investigation by the Victorian government is still underway. Wildlife authorities have ruled out avian influenza H5N1, and toxicology testing is now being conducted on dozens of bird carcasses collected alongside open bags of bread and seed left near retail entrances and car parks. The incident has sparked concern among business owners, with some questioning whether better waste control and tenancy guidelines might have prevented the chaos. Michelle Phillips, a wildlife rescuer who led the emergency response, welcomed the signage but said more needs to be done – including multilingual warnings – in a region where more than 70 per cent of residents speak a language other than English at home. 'There's definitely no need to feed them,' the South Oakleigh Wildlife Shelter operator told Yahoo News. 'They survive quite happily on a natural diet.' While pigeons are still hanging around, locals are reporting corellas have vanished from the area. Most of the flock are now presumed dead, and Phillips describes it as 'a pretty sad situation'. 'Corellas that used to come to people's yards aren't coming anymore. The ones that survived have moved on,' she said. While well-meaning members of the public may have been leaving seed and bread to feed the birds, experts say this can encourage large congregations of wildlife, leading to droppings, noise complaints, and in worst-case scenarios – like this one – deaths from disease or poisoning. The situation has placed a spotlight on the role of shopping centre owners and commercial landlords in managing public spaces, including outdoor seating areas and shared car parks. On Thursday, more dead birds were discovered in nearby Dandenong, including several pigeons and one corella. The Conservation Regulator is continuing its investigation and is urging members of the public to come forward with any information. 'If you have any knowledge of either incident, please report it on 136 186 or call Crime Stoppers Victoria,' a Conservation Regulator spokesperson said. 'It's illegal and dangerous to poison wildlife, and we're calling on the community to come forward with any information they might have that will help us to track down whoever is responsible.'
The Guardian
16-07-2025
- The Guardian
Accused Melbourne childcare paedophile highlights need for national register of workers, education minister says
The federal education minister, Jason Clare, is calling for a national database of childcare workers and their employment histories - accessible at the press of a button- after revelations that alleged paedophile Joshua Dale Brown worked at more centres than initially thought. Detectives from the Victorian sexual crimes squad on Tuesday confirmed that four more childcare centres had been added to Brown's work history, along with additional employment dates at 10 other centres. This takes the current total of Brown's known childcare workplaces to 22, in addition to work at a children's occupational therapy service. As a result, health authorities have recommended about 800 additional children get tested for sexually transmitted infections. Speaking on Sunrise on Wednesday morning, Clare described the situation as a 'nightmare' for families. 'More parents are being put through the wringer – all the fear and anxiety that their kids might be sick – and all the trauma that kids have to go through,' he said. 'The Victorian government and authorities are doing everything they can to track the details of where he worked. 'But this highlights an example of why you need a database or a register, so you know where all childcare workers are and where they're moving from centre to centre. That's just one of the things that we need to do.' Clare said authorities 'should be able to press a button' and know Brown's work history. 'This is a live investigation, so let's park this individual case. We should have a system that tells us where all workers are, which centres they're working at, whether they're crossing individual borders,' he said. The Victorian government earlier this month announced it would develop its own childcare worker registration system as it waited for a national scheme to be established. It would also require all childcare centres to adopt the federal ban on personal devices by 26 September or face fines up to $50,000. At the time the reforms were announced, the state's minister for children, Lizzie Blandthorn, said national reforms were moving at a 'frustratingly slow' pace. Victoria police revealed at the start of July that Brown had been charged in May with more than 70 offences relating to eight alleged victims in his care, aged between five months and two years old. Along with the health department, they worked to contact about 2,600 families with children who attended the centres were contacted, with 1,200 children likely to have direct contact with Brown advised to undergo screening for STIs. After Tuesday's update, this has now risen to almost 3,500 families contacted and 2,000 children recommended for testing. Police said establishing Brown's complete work history had been 'extremely complex' as childcare providers do not have centralised records. It meant detectives had to 'execute search warrants to obtain handwritten records, shift rosters and other critical information.' Victoria has also announced a review into childcare safety in the state, which is being led by former South Australian premier, Jay Weatherill and senior bureaucrat Pamela White. It is considering whether CCTV should be mandated across centres. Childcare providers G8 and Affinity, which employed Brown, have said they would either implement or speed up the rollout of CCTV to all of their centres regardless of the inquiry's findings. Clare, who will introduce legislation to parliament when it next sits to cut funding to childcare centres that fail to meet safety standards, backed more CCTV. He said it would 'deter bad people from acting badly in our centres, but also help police with their investigations when the worst happens'. But Clare dismissed calls to bar men from working in the childcare industry altogether. 'Targeting blokes is not the solution. If we go back and have a look at examples of abuse and neglect in our centres, it's not just men, it's women as well,' he said.
7NEWS
15-07-2025
- Health
- 7NEWS
More children urged to test for STIs amid growing list of childcare centres that employed accused paedophile Joshua Brown
Police have confirmed four more childcare centres in Melbourne where accused paedophile Joshua Brown worked, with more children now recommended to be tested for sexually transmitted infections. Horrific allegations against Brown, 26, were made public earlier this month when police revealed he had been charged with more than 70 sex offences involving eight children at a centre in Point Cook. At the time, police said Brown had worked at 20 childcare centres between January 2017 and May 2025. As part of an ongoing investigation, on Tuesday police confirmed Brown had worked at four additional childcare centres during this time period: Kids Academy Waratah Estate in Mickleham Milestones Early Learning in Tarneit Milestones Early Learning in Braybrook Milestones Early Learning in Greensborough Police had initially said Brown worked at Papilio Early Learning in Hoppers Crossing between August 22, 2024 and March 12, 2025, however this information has been revealed as incorrect. Brown was never employed there. Employment dates for 10 childcare centres where Brown had worked have also been updated, with the new information published on the Victorian Government's website. 'Agencies are in the process of contacting the families who had children placed at the four new impacted centres during the time of Brown's employment,' Victoria Police said. 'Where additional dates have been identified, impacted families will be contacted by the Department of Health from 15 July 2025.' Due to the update, the state's health department says it will now be contacting 830 families and recommending 800 children be tested for STIs. 'This is obviously a highly distressing situation, and I want to reassure all families being contacted that the potential exposure risk to an infectious disease for their child remains low,' Victorian Chief Health Officer Dr Christian McGrath said. 'Our recommendation for testing is a precaution and the test results we've received to date as part of this investigation reaffirms that the risk is low. 'There remains no wider public health risk, and importantly the infectious diseases being tested for can be treated with antibiotics.' Police said trying to establish where Brown worked has been 'extremely complex' due to childcare providers not having centralised records. Investigators have so far responded to more than 270 Crimestoppers reports regarding Brown's offending.
Time of India
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Stree 2', 'Superboys of Malegaon', 'Paatal Lok 2' lead nominations at Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, check full list here
The 16th edition of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) has unveiled its power-packed nominations, which feature blockbuster and critically acclaimed films and OTT series like 'Stree 2', 'Homebound', 'Black Warrant', 'Baksho Bondi', 'L2 Empuraan', and 'Maharaj' among others. The 16th edition of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) has unveiled its power-packed nominations, which feature blockbuster and critically acclaimed films and OTT series like 'Stree 2', 'Homebound', 'Black Warrant', 'Baksho Bondi', 'L2 Empuraan', and 'Maharaj' among others. Supported by the Victorian Government, the Melbourne Film Festival will run from August 14 to 24. The highly anticipated awards night will take place on August 15. The winners will be selected by an esteemed jury comprising some of the most respected names in Australian cinema and cultural landscape, including Garth Davis, director of Dev Patel- Nicole Kidman's 'LION', Theatre Director and Film Producer, Nadia Tass. With projects considered from June 15, 2024, to June 14, 2025, and OTT nominations restricted to platforms available in Australia, this year's lineup spans mainstream superhits, indie revelations, regional gems, and binge-worthy series. Among the most-nominated films and shows are 'Superboys of Malegaon', 'Maharaj', and 'L2: Empuraan'. On the streaming front, 'Paatal Lok 2', 'CA Topper', and 'Manorathangal' dominate the series categories, as per the press note by IFFM. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Các chỉ số toàn cầu đang biến động — Đã đến lúc giao dịch! IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Let us take a look at the nominations of OTT series and films at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2025. Best Film Homebound Kalki 2898AD L2 : Empuraan Maharaj Meiyazhagan Stree 2 Superboys of Malegaon Best Indie Film Angammal Baksho bondi (Shadowbox) Boong Feminichi Fathima (Feminist Fathima) Humans in the loop Village Rockstars 2 We are Faheem and Karun Best Actor (Male) Abhishek Bachchan - I Want to Talk Adarsh Gourav - Superboys of Malegaon Gugun Kipgen - Boong Ishaan Khatter - Homebound Junaid Khan - Maharaj Manoj Bajpayee - The Fable Mohanlal - L2 : Empuraan Vishal Jethwa - Homebound Best Actor (Female) Anjali Sivaraman - Bad Girl Bhanita Das - Village Rockstars 2 Geetha Kailasam - Angammal Kareena Kapoor Khan - The Buckingham Murders Shamla Hamza - Feminichi Fathima (Feminist Fathima) Sharmila Tagore - Puratawn Shraddha Kapoor - Stree 2 Tillotama Shome - Baksho Bondi (Shadowbox) Best Director Aranya Sahay - Humans in the loop Lakshmipriya Devi - Boong Neeraj Ghaywan - Homebound Onir - We are Faheem and Karun Reema Kagti - Superboys of Malegoan Rima Das - Village Rockstars 2 Varsha Bharath - Bad Girls Vipin Radhakrishnan - Angammal Best Web Series Black Warrant Gyaarah Gyaarah Khauf Kota Factory Season 3 Manorathangal Paatal Lok Season 2 Thallivattam Palayam Tribhuvan Mishra CA Topper Best Actor (Female) - Web Series Ananya Pandey - Call Me Bae Monika Panwar - Khauf Nimisha Sajayan - Dabba Cartel Parvathy Thiruvothu - Manorathangal Rasika Dugal - Mirzapur 3 Shabana Azmi - Dabba Cartel Tillotamma Shome - Tribhuvan Mishra CA Topper Best Actor (Male) - Web Series Abhishek Kumar - Thalaivettiyaan Paalayam Ali Fazal - Mirzapur Season 3 Jaideep Ahlawat - Paatal Lok Season 2 Jitendra Kumar - Kota Factory Season 3 Mammootty : Manorathangal Manav Kaul - Tribhuvan Mishra CA Topper Zahaan Kapoor - Black Warrant Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan is also set to attend the festival as the Chief Guest. Apart from him, actor-comedian Vir Das has also been invited by the festival organisers as a chief guest.
