Police in Western Australia arrested two men and seized £14m ($18m) of methamphetamine from a property in Ballajura. Although delivery driver Christopher Mark Mitchell was arrested along with ex-bikie Mohammed Charif Oueida, police claimed the latter was the ringleader of the suspected drug trafficking ring they were investigating. Ballajura was the first location searched. The subsequent raids also found cash and other drugs. Assistant Police Commissioner Tony Longhorn announced investigations were continuing to discover what further links may exist and who is sending drugs to the western state.
Dry My Tears is a solo cabaret act featuring Paul Capsis, playing at 45downstairs until May 28. Capsis demonstrates his immense cabaret talent, set against only a piano accompaniment by Francis Greep. Theatregoers who have previously watched Capsis will recognise the haunting theatrical quality to his performance, and will be drawn into the seemingly effortless emotional engagement and the range he exhibits. In Dry My Tears, Capsis knocks off another item from his bucket list, performing unplugged, totally alone. The opening numbers are a particular highlight, as he stuns with several different pieces across a range of artists. Capsis’ performance is a striking examination of human vulnerability.
A fundraiser for the children and families affected by last week's bus crash in Melbourne, Australia, has been held at Eynesbury Football Club. The primary school bus was carrying 45 students when it was hit by a truck, leaving eight children in hospital and two requiring amputations. The club's football director, Mark Heaney, said two members of the club's junior team had been involved in the crash but have since been discharged from hospital. He added that the community response to the tragedy had been heart-warming. The club, about 15 km south of Melton, was formed only two years ago and is based in a new building. The cause of the crash is being investigated.
Job losses are expected among the 600 employees at the Inland Rail project in Brisbane as the government reduces the workforce following a report revealing errors, delays and cost blowouts. Half of the staff account may be made redundant, according to unnamed sources, with Brisbane expected to bear the brunt of losses as an expected start to construction in Queensland may be years away. Losses may also be seen in Toowoomba, Sydney and other parts of the state. Much of the expected job losses would likely affect the low and mid-level workforce, however, executive roles may also be at risk of redundancy.
The Victoria Barracks on Petrie Terrace in Brisbane should be repurposed as an arts centre with boutique hotels and training centres, according to internal advice from the Australian Defence Department. The barracks date back to 1863, but have been of little use to the modern defence force and are reportedly falling into disrepair. The heritage-listed site is thought to present a significant redevelopment opportunity for the city. Several other sites, including the Herston Quarters redevelopment in Queensland and San Diego’s former Naval Training Centre, have been considered by defence officials when assessing options for the barracks.
A passenger travelling with Australian budget airline Jetstar was fined after trying to avoid airline excess baggage fees by wearing her luggage. Adrianna Ocampo from Melbourne tried to avoid paying a AU$62 (£33) fee by boarding a flight wearing 13lb of items, including multiple jackets and trousers, and stuffing additional items in her pockets. An image of her layered outfit has been posted online. “I looked like a bear… everyone in line was staring at us and laughing at us, it was kind of embarrassing… people were annoyed that we were holding the plane up,” said Ocampo, who revealed the fee had to be paid regardless. In a statement, Jetstar said: “Keeping track of how much baggage passengers bring onboard means everyone has room for their belongings and we’re meeting our safety requirements.”
Victoria, Australia, could terminate an agreement to supply pulpwood to the Maryvale pulp and paper mill before 2030 without incurring penalties, according to legal advice obtained by environmental groups. Victoria is contractually bound to deliver a minimum of 350,000 cubic metres of pulpwood annually, of which at least 300,000 cubic metres must be taken from the state's mountain ash and alpine ash forests. The state government is currently contractually obliged to supply pulpwood as a by-product of sawlog harvesting to Maryvale, which is owned by Opal Australian Paper, a unit of Japanese company Nippon.
Australia's Labor government under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has celebrated its first anniversary, with the party in a stronger position than it was when it was elected. However, Albanese is playing "a long game" amid growing opposition from left and right-leaning forces, including climate activists and independent MPs. His administration has so far focused on rebuilding trust in the political process and laying the foundations for future policy changes. The government's immediate challenges include dealing with inflated living costs that are hitting Australian citizens, as well as dealing with cost issues arising from the AUKUS submarine deal. Additionally, dealing with rising inflation and the housing crisis may lead to a shift in sentiment if Labor fails to deliver results, although the party is put off by the Greens in the Senate. Albanese has also promised to work on delivering an Indigenous Voice to parliament in an effort to unite the country but experts warn that failure to achieve the goal could have disastrous consequences for First Nations people.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner, Reece Kershaw, has refused to publicly accuse China of interference during a meeting of the Five Eyes Law Enforcement Group, in spite of the robust stance towards Beijing which emerged from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, Canada’s Mounties, and the UK’s top policing agencies. While the FBI accused China of subverting democracy using corrupt, clandestine and criminal acts, Canada concurred and attacked the Chinese Communist Party for enabling organised crime to destabilise the west. However, Kershaw’s reluctance to discuss Chinese activities needs to be viewed in the context of his need to maintain a flow of intelligence from Chinese authorities about drug shipments to combat the Australian opioid crisis.
Self-storage company Howzit My China has bought a former Kodak building and Carlton & United Breweries office in Abbotsford for $19m. The company is hoping to build a new state-of-the-art self-storage facility at the site, which is surrounded by apartments, many of which are too small to fit their occupants' belongings. The distinctive Art Deco building at 2-6 Southampton Crescent, plus neighbours at 36 Bond Street and 27-29 Duke Street, were sold by the developer Hengyi, which paid $20m in 2018. Meanwhile, computer game developer Massive Monster has bought 256 Brunswick Street, a three-storey Fitzroy building that has been a meditation centre owned and occupied by the Brahma Kumaris group since the early 1980s, for $2.55m. Massive Monster intends to refurbish the building.
Australian Fashion Week recently took place, revealing what the industry believes will be popular for summer 2023-24 and designers' takes on matters of diversity and representation. The event, which is 27 years old, featured a mix of traditional fashion labels and shows celebrating diversity from emerging designers. It was described as a turning point as the industry has changed dramatically since lockdown, with key buyers placing orders via Zoom before the event, and is becoming increasingly focused on "fashion-tainment". This has resulted in organisers increasing the number of consumer shows at the event. Consumers are now also said to be creeping into the schedule in future years as the industry's changing focus takes hold. Outfits with sustainable or conservation messages were also present, with designers showing preppy confidence, harnessing optimism beyond typical industry cynicism in certain shows.
Apple Watch Series 3 became a legitimate running watch contender by incorporating enhancements to its health and fitness features, including an in-built compass, bigger watch face and performance features such as cadence and rolling kilometre pace in 2017. The upgrades have helped reduce the gap between the Apple Watch and closest running watch competitors, such as Garmin. The device has been used to track runs and sync them for Strava and to check heart rates and distance, something that has been especially important for long runs, said Phil Goldstone, a runner from Sydney. Since 2022, the Apple Workout app has been one of the most popular features of the watch since launch. The company released an update to the programme in late 2022, which includes new metrics, views and experiences focused on helping runners become more efficient in their form. Apple has a team of people dedicated to thinking about what is next for the brand in wearable technology.
The trend for converting historical or unusual buildings into hotels, which have saved many architecturally important structures from demolition, is highlighted by a piece carried by the Sydney Morning Herald. Among the 10 properties featured are the Crawford Hotel, Denver, originally the Denver Union train station, which features 600 pieces of art, many with a travel theme, curated by local art group NINE dot ARTS; the Ciragan Palace Kempinski Istanbul, Turkey, the city’s last Ottoman palace which was seriously damaged by fire in 1910 and which took six years to restore; and Mamula Island Hotel, Montenegro, the site of a former Austro-Hungarian fortress used as a concentration camp and prison under fire by both sides during WW2, and which is a new 32-room hotel backed by firm Orascom Development.
Young people born after the restoration of independence in Timor-Leste will be able to vote in the country's parliamentary election on 12 May for the first time. Approximately 15% of the first-time voters will reflect the median age of 21. Despite its thriving democracy, Timor-Leste remains one of Asia’s poorest countries, with many challenges including youth unemployment, rural poverty and infant mortality. By voting, the young generation will have a chance to engage in decisions about their future and the direction of the country. The older generation, who are the political elites, are still the focus of attention, yet are beginning to cast an eye to the future. Independence hero Xanana Gusmao, 76, has been accompanied on stage at campaign events by his 20-year-old son, who is being touted as a future politician. Despite a reverence for previous leaders, younger voters are believed to be very conscious of the need to build the future rather than dwell on the past, which should lead to a change in political dynamics in the country in the future.
The Melbourne police are investigating the stabbing of 16-year-old Pasawm Lyhym with knives in a western suburb by three teenage boys from another school. While two boys were brought in for questioning and subsequently released, the police continue their search for a third boy that they believe was involved. One of the boys alleged to be involved was spotted on CCTV running with a large knife through a dead-end laneway near Mann Place, the location where the incident occurred. This case follows the stabbing death of 17-year-old Solomone Taufeulungaki in June.The stabbing death in Melbourne is just one among many violent incidents that have taken place recently in the city and have led to an increased police presence. Authorities are considering implementing drastic measures to curb the rise in violence, including imposing mandatory minimum sentences for people convicted of crimes related to gun violence.
Peter Weiniger, a journalist for The Age, has died aged 79 after a prolonged battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Weiniger played a key role in establishing Melbourne’s stand-up comedy scene, after eavesdropping on shows at Fitzroy venues in the 1980s and publishing reviews of their content. Some of the comics he supported and promoted included Richard Stubbs, Rod Quantock, Jean Kitson, Glenn Robbins and Mary Keneally. Weiniger was born in Shanghai, survived the Holocaust, and spent time in Israel and Southeast Asia as an adult, before returning to Australia to work as a reporter for the AAP news agency. He began writing for The Age in 1979 and spent three decades with company, holding positions on News Diary, the Green Guide, EG and Epicure. Weiniger’s final role as a journalist was as a leader-writer on the editorial team.
Scientists are examining whether probiotics could be used to protect the Great Barrier Reef from destruction caused by global warming. One new coral-focused effort is targeting the bacterium Endozoicomonas, which assists coral tissue in trading nutrients for antioxidants. The aim is to breed specimens of Endozoicomonas that thrive at high temperatures and produce high levels of the protective compounds. The modified bacteria could then be introduced into reefs to provide coral with a boost to their immune systems, potentially giving them more resilience against bleaching. However, manipulating complex microbiomes carries risks for unintended consequences.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will hold a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during the Group of Seven summit, according to Japan's foreign ministry. Zelenskyy is expected to hold talks with other G7 leaders, including US President Joe Biden, on how to increase international support for Ukraine and to ramp up pressure on Russia to end the war. During his attendance at the Group of Seven summit, Zelenskyy is also due to join a meeting on peace and security with other countries' representatives.
Tennis legend Rafael Nadal has pulled out of the French Open with a muscle injury, marking the first time the Spaniard will miss the tournament since 2004. Nadal, who won the tournament a record 13 times, has been dogged with injuries in recent years with a fractured rib and abdominal injury in 2022 and a hip injury in 2023. The severity of this latest ailment has prevented Nadal from "competing at 100%", and he stated that time has caught up with him. Nadal has outlined that he still wants to compete professionally but will take an extended break from tennis to allow his injuries to heal. He will be absent from the French Open draw, where players such as Carlos Alcaraz and Casper Ruud are among the favourites to win.
A new statue has been unveiled in Triangle Park in Tallangatta, Victoria, to commemorate Australian horse Sandy, who was the only horse out of 130,000 to make it back to Australia after serving during the First World War. Thousands of people came to pay tribute to Sandy, while local plumber and horseman Ross Smith, who raised $160,000 for the statue, said he was “overwhelmed and excited” to see his dream come true. Sandy, a bay gelding, was donated by brothers Frank “Bonner” O’Donnell and Jack O’Donnell to the Army in 1914 to contribute to the war effort. In 1915, the horse was attached to an army veterinary unit in northern France before being shipped home, aged 18. For several years after the war, Sandy lived in an army paddock in Maribyrnong in Melbourne’s inner west, before being euthanised in 1923.
