Latest News Stories
NSW government considering banning strata manager commissions to cut apartment costs
New South Wales is debating a potential ban on commissions paid to strata managers, a practice critics say inflates apartment living costs and creates conflicts of interest. The NSW Productivity and E...
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- NSW Productivity Commissioner Peter Achterstraat’s report recommends banning commissions for strata managers, citing conflicts of interest and inflated costs
- The report estimates scrapping commissions could save apartment owners $333 million over 15 years through lower premiums and competitive pricing
- More than 1 million people live in strata properties across NSW, with nearly half of Greater Sydney’s homes expected to be strata-titled by 2041
2023 Women’s Asian Cup final between Australia and Japan, crowd records, and fan engagement
The 2023 Women’s Asian Cup has seen record-breaking attendance and fan engagement for Australia’s Matildas, marking a significant shift from the sparse crowds of 2006 when the team’s final drew just 5...
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- The Matildas' semifinal against China at Perth Stadium drew 35,170 fans on July 25, 2023.
- The combined crowd for the Matildas' two games at Perth Stadium in the 2023 Asian Cup reached nearly 80,000.
- The 2006 Women’s Asian Cup final between Australia and China was played at Hindmarsh Stadium with 5,000 (or 5,168) attendees.
Matildas qualify for Women’s Asian Cup final after 2-1 win over China
The Matildas secured their place in the Women’s Asian Cup final after a dramatic 2-1 semi-final victory over China, with Sam Kerr’s second-half winner proving decisive. Both articles confirm the match...
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- The Matildas defeated China 2-1 in the Women’s Asian Cup semi-final on [date implied by context]
- Sam Kerr scored the match-winning goal for Australia in the second half
- The match was played in [implied location: Asian Cup tournament venue, likely in Asia]
Police shooting of a man in Logan Central, Brisbane, after alleged knife threat
Police in Logan Central, Brisbane, shot a man in the abdomen after he allegedly approached officers with a knife on Saturday evening. The incident occurred at Carmondy Centre, with reports of a 30s-ag...
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- A man in his 30s was shot by police in Logan Central, Brisbane, on Saturday around 6pm
- The incident occurred at Carmondy Centre on Ewing Road, near Carmody Street, Logan Central
- Police allege the man approached officers with a knife after reports of an armed man making threats
Kyle and Jackie O Show’s final radio ratings decline and contract disputes
The Kyle and Jackie O Show’s final radio ratings survey revealed significant listener declines in both Sydney and Melbourne, marking the end of their two-year stint in the latter city. In Sydney, the ...
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- The Kyle and Jackie O Show lost 60,000 listeners in Sydney, ending with a cumulative audience of 636,000 during the January 18–February 28 survey period
- The show’s Sydney market share remained unchanged at 12.7%, trailing Ben Fordham’s 2GB by 4 percentage points
- Jackie ‘O’ Henderson left the show after being berated by Kyle Sandilands on air on February 20, 2024, and did not appear for the final week of the survey
Four Jewish ambulances set ablaze in London antisemitic hate crime attack
Four ambulances operated by the Jewish volunteer service Hatzola were deliberately set ablaze in Golders Green, London, in a suspected antisemitic hate crime early Monday morning. The fires, caused by...
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- Four ambulances belonging to Hatzola (Jewish Community Ambulance service) were set on fire in Golders Green, London, around 1.45am local time on Monday
- The explosions were caused by gas canisters (oxygen tanks) onboard the ambulances, not bombs or explosive devices
- The Metropolitan Police are treating the incident as a suspected antisemitic hate crime with three suspects at large
Venezuela wins first World Baseball Classic title by defeating the USA in a politically charged final
Venezuela won its first-ever World Baseball Classic title by defeating the United States 3-2 in a dramatic final at Miami’s LoanDepot Park. The game featured a ninth-inning rally led by Eugenio Suárez...
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- Venezuela won the World Baseball Classic championship with a 3-2 victory over the United States in Miami
- The game was played at LoanDepot Park in Miami on Tuesday night
- Eugenio Suárez drove in the winning run with an RBI double in the top of the ninth inning
Hong Kong’s 2023 Wang Fuk Court fire inquiry and investigations
Public hearings began in Hong Kong on 26 November 2023 to investigate the deadly Wang Fuk Court fire, which killed 168 people and destroyed seven of eight residential towers in Tai Po’s high-rise comp...
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- The fire occurred on 26 November 2023 at Wang Fuk Court, a high-rise apartment complex in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district
- The blaze killed 168 people, making it the world’s deadliest residential building fire since 1980
- Seven out of eight residential towers in the complex were engulfed by the fire
Research reveals how proximity to trees affects property value and public attitudes toward urban trees
Research from the University of Technology Sydney (led by Associate Professor Song Shi) found that trees between 10 and 20 meters from a property boost home values by $30,000, while those within 10 me...
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- Associate Professor Song Shi led a study (2021–2025) at UTS finding trees 10–20m from a house increased property value by $30,000, while trees within 10m reduced value by up to $70,000 (adjusted for bedrooms, land size, parking, CBD proximity)
- Matt Cantwell (Secret Gardens) cited Ocean Street (Woollahra) and Paddington Street (Paddington) as examples of streets with aesthetic value from trees
- Danielle Hughes (Greater Sydney Landcare) noted mature trees can cool surrounding areas by nearly 10°C and reduce cooling costs by 20–30%
Two men charged in fatal Bruce Highway head-on crash involving stolen truck
Two men have been charged in connection with the fatal head-on crash on the Bruce Highway near Burpengary on February 17 that killed Andre Roberts, a 26-year-old Caboolture man. The crash involved a s...
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- A 26-year-old Caboolture man named Andre Roberts died after a head-on collision on the Bruce Highway near Burpengary on February 17 at approximately 10:30pm.
- A 46-year-old Redcliffe man was driving a stolen white Isuzu truck in the northbound lanes (wrong side) when it struck Roberts’ Honda Accord, causing the vehicle to burst into flames.
- The Redcliffe man was charged with one count of manslaughter and multiple theft-related charges, including four counts of entering premises to commit theft, three counts of stealing, two counts of receiving tainted property, and one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
Australia’s February 2024 unemployment rate rise and RBA monetary policy implications
Australia’s February 2024 labour market data revealed a surprise rise in the unemployment rate to 4.3%, up from 4.1%, defying economist forecasts that predicted job growth would keep it steady. While ...
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- Australia’s unemployment rate rose to 4.3% in February from 4.1% in January (both sources)
- Economists forecasted 20,000 new jobs in February, but actual employment grew by 48,000–48,900 (NEWSCOMAU: 48,000; ABC: 48,900)
- Full-time employment decreased by 30,500 (NEWSCOMAU) or 30,000 (ABC) in February, while part-time employment increased by 79,400 (NEWSCOMAU) or 79,000 (ABC)
Australia and EU sign long-awaited free trade and security partnership after eight years of negotiations
Australia and the European Union have finalized a long-awaited free trade agreement after eight years of negotiations, signing the deal during a visit by EU President Ursula von der Leyen to Canberra....
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- The Australia-EU free trade agreement was signed on Tuesday after eight years of negotiations (ABC, NEWSCOMAU).
- The deal includes a market of 450 million consumers for Australian exporters (ABC, NEWSCOMAU).
- The EU will allow 30,000 tonnes of Australian beef tariff-free annually (ABC, NEWSCOMAU).
Olympian Rohan Dennis’ social media post about a Porsche car after his wife’s fatal crash
Olympian Rohan Dennis sparked outrage after posting a photo of a Porsche on Instagram with the caption ‘What an absolute weapon’ just days after his wife Melissa Hoskins died in December 2023 when str...
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- Olympic cyclist Rohan Dennis was given a 17-month suspended prison sentence in May 2024 for an aggravated act likely to cause harm after his wife Melissa Hoskins died in December 2023 when struck by his car near Medindie, Adelaide.
- Dennis pleaded guilty to the charge but was not held criminally responsible for Hoskins’ death, as she jumped onto the bonnet of his Volkswagen Amarok before being dragged under the car.
- Dennis was banned from driving for five years and placed on a two-year good behaviour bond with a $100 fine.
Chelsea's humiliating Champions League exit against PSG in 2024 after a 5-2 first-leg deficit
Chelsea suffered a crushing Champions League exit against Paris Saint-Germain after a 5-2 first-leg deficit, ending with an 8-2 aggregate defeat. The return leg was dominated by PSG’s clinical finishi...
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- Chelsea lost to Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 in the Champions League return leg, resulting in an 8-2 aggregate defeat
- Chelsea conceded a goal from a Matvei Safonov free-kick that Mamadou Sarr miscontrolled, allowing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to score
- Bradley Barcola scored a long-range goal (20 yards) for PSG in the first half
Victorian government finalizes high-density zoning plans for Melbourne activity centres
The Victorian government has finalized planning rules for 25 of 60 activity centres in Melbourne, allowing buildings up to 20 storeys in parts of Brunswick and Coburg—an increase from earlier proposal...
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- The Victorian government finalized planning controls for 25 of 60 activity centres around transport hubs in Melbourne, including Coburg, Brunswick, Brighton, Hawthorn, Oakleigh, and Kew Junction
- Parts of Brunswick and Coburg’s activity centres will allow buildings up to 20 storeys, an increase from the previously proposed 16 storeys
- Height limits in Middle Brighton, Oakleigh, and Kew Junction have been reduced or adjusted (e.g., Oakleigh’s Eaton Mall zone now capped at 6 storeys instead of 12, Kew Junction’s High Street areas limited to 8–10 storeys)
Boating accident off Tasmania’s northwest coast kills one, three rescued after capsizing
A boating accident off Tasmania’s northwest coast on Saturday evening killed a 35-year-old man and left three others—including a child—surviving after 16 hours in the water. The group, consisting of a...
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- Four people—three adults (ages 27, 33, and 35) and a six-year-old child—were on a fishing trip from Montagu boat ramp near Smithton at 5:30pm Saturday
- The vessel capsized around 9pm Saturday, throwing all four occupants into the water off Robbins Passage/Stony Point
- Three survivors (27yo woman, 33yo man, and six-year-old child) were found alive near Big Stony Island at ~1pm Sunday, wearing life jackets
Rising Australian national security anxiety and perceived threats over next five years
Australian national security anxiety has surged significantly over the past year, with over two-thirds of Australians now viewing security threats as a major concern. Data from the Australian National...
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- The Australian National University’s National Security College conducted surveys between November 2024 and February 2026 involving over 20,000 Australians, alongside 480 interviews, 300 meetings, eight focus groups, and 100 public submissions.
- 68% to 69% of Australians surveyed in July 2025 considered it 'more likely than not' Australia would be involved in a foreign military conflict within five years (reported by NEWSCOMAU and ABC).
- 45% of Australians believe a foreign military attack on Australia is 'probable' or 'likely' within five years (NEWSCOMAU, ABC, GUARDIAN).
Trump orders ICE agents to US airports amid DHS funding shutdown and TSA staff shortages
Donald Trump announced on 23 March 2026 that he would deploy ICE agents to US airports starting Monday (24 March) to address severe staff shortages at TSA checkpoints caused by a 36-day partial govern...
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- Donald Trump threatened to deploy ICE agents to US airports on Monday (24 March 2026) if Democrats did not agree to DHS funding, per Guardian (2 sources) and ABC (2 sources).
- More than 400 TSA workers have quit since the partial government shutdown began on 14 February 2026, per Guardian (2 sources) and ABC (2 sources).
- TSA personnel are set to miss their second full paycheck on 27 March 2026 due to the partial government shutdown, per Guardian (2 sources) and ABC (2 sources).
Australian cricketer Georgia Voll’s record-breaking T20 century vs West Indies
Georgia Voll made history by scoring the third fastest T20 international century by an Australian woman in 52 balls during Australia’s 3-0 series sweep over West Indies in St Vincent. Her explosive in...
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- Georgia Voll scored the third fastest T20 international century by an Australian woman in 52 balls during the final match of the T20 series against West Indies in St Vincent
- Australia won the T20 series against West Indies 3-0, with the final match decided via the DLS method after rain interrupted West Indies' chase at 61/3 after 10 overs
- Voll’s innings included six sixes and aggressive shots against spinners, finishing on 101 not out in the third T20 match
Federal approval of 1,600+ new gas wells in Queensland’s Surat/Bowen basins until 2081
The federal government has approved a major expansion of coal seam gas extraction in Queensland’s Surat and Bowen basins, allowing up to 1,695 new wells and 1,545 km of pipelines under the Australia P...
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- The federal government approved up to 1,695 new gas wells in Queensland’s Surat and Bowen basins, valid until 2081.
- The Australia Pacific LNG (APLNG) project involves 1,545 kilometres of pipelines and three processing facilities across the Surat and Bowen basins.
- APLNG is a joint venture between US firm ConocoPhillips, Australian energy company Origin, and Chinese operator Sinopec.