AU Breaking News

Qld Man Charged Over Homemade Machine Guns

Australia, JUNE 9, 2017 10:19PM - Qld Man Charged Over Homemade Machine Guns.

A 36-year-old man has been charged after homemade machine guns and a large illegal weapons manufacturing facility were discovered on Queensland's Gold Coast.

Police from the State Crime Command's Drug and Serious Crime Group charged the Gold Coast man on Friday after a police operation uncovered the weapons facility at a business in Nerang in November last year.

Officers raided four residential properties in Oxenford, Maudsland, Broadbeach Waters and Robina and two business premises located at Nerang.

At one of the businesses officers discovered four homemade machine guns, three silencers, ammunition, magazines, a Taser, drugs, gun parts as well as drill presses, lathes and other equipment used to produce the weapons.

"The manufacture of these weapons is irresponsible and dangerous," Detective Inspector Lance Vercoe of the Drug and Serious Crime Group said.

"We believe the individual had no consideration or concern for the impact that these weapons could have on the general public."

The 36-year-old man was charged with two counts of unlawfully possessing category R weapons and two counts of manufacturing weapons whilst not licensed.

He will appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on June 27.

Five people were charged after the raids in November including two men, aged 20 and 22, both charged with producing dangerous drug and six counts of possessing dangerous drugs. Original Source : news.com.au

We Search For Sydney Taxi Attacker

Australia, JUNE 9, 2017 5:24PM - We Search for Sydney taxi attacker.

Police are concerned for the safety of Sydney taxi drivers after three drivers were attacked in one day in the city's inner suburbs.

One man is believed to be behind the attacks which followed a similar pattern on Thursday, where the male was picked up by the taxis in the Broadway area before leading them to the Glebe area.

"We are extremely worried at this stage due to his escalation in behaviour and the frequency of the offences," Detective Superintendent David Donohue told reporters on Friday.

"On each occasion, his behaviour has been erratic and on the last two occasions the drivers were injured as a result of his behaviour."

In each of the incidents, the taxi drivers were threatened with a knife by the male passenger who demanded money.

Two drivers were injured with one of them hospitalised.

In the first attack about 6.30am, a 33-year-old taxi driver gave the man money and was uninjured.

Subsequently, a taxi driver, 29, was stabbed in the lip and had his wallet stolen about 8pm, while the third driver, 40, was stabbed in the hand after he gave the man cash about 11pm.

Police are hunting for the man who they believe is also linked to a robbery in Ultimo on June 7 and is described as being between 190 and 195 centimetres tall with a slim build and brown or blonde hair.Original Source : news.com.au

Vic Boy Found After Walking from Hospital

Australia, JUNE 9, 2017 11:03AM - Vic Boy Found After Walking from Hospital.

A bruised, disoriented boy with post-traumatic amnesia who walked out of a Melbourne children's hospital and went missing has been found.

Car crash victim Luke O'Brien had been in the Royal Children's Hospital since June 2 but the 14-year-old got out of his sick bed and wandered off just after 7am on Friday.

He was found walking around in Greensborough about 15 kilometres from the Parkville hospital about 9am.

He'd been trying to get his Diamond Creek home, the woman who found him says.

His father Jerry had been sleeping in his hospital room and said Luke had often woken up disoriented.

"Imagine my fright when I woke up and he wasn't here," he told 3AW.

The Royal Children's Hospital has been contacted for comment. Original Source : news.com.au

NT Man Robs - Threatens Cabbie With Syringe

Australia, JUNE 9, 2017 10:56AM - NT Man Robs - Threatens Cabbie With Syringe.

A man will face court accused of using a syringe to rob a Darwin taxi driver.

Police say the cabbie picked up the 28-year-old who then threatened him with the empty syringe before making off with a small amount of cash.

"Police attended and the offender was arrested on Termansen Street by Strike Force Trident members with assistance from the Dog Operation Unit," Detective Senior Sergeant Karl Day said.

He was charged with aggravated robbery and will appear in Darwin Local Court on Friday. Original Source : news.com.au

SA Man Arrested Over 2015 Qld Jewel Heist

Australia, JUNE 9, 2017 10:36AM - SA Man Arrested Over 2015 Qld Jewel Heist.

A South Australian man will face court in Brisbane over the armed robbery of a Sunshine Coast jewellery store more than two years ago.

Police say the 40-year-old stole jewels from the Nambour store in March 2015 while brandishing a hammer.

He was extradited from South Australia on Thursday and is due to face Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday. Original Source : news.com.au

Thugs Remain at Large After Bondi Bashing

Australia, JUNE 9, 2017 10:40AM - Thugs Remain at Large After Bondi Bashing.

Video footage of a violent assault at Sydney's Bondi Beach this summer has been released by NSW police, along with a picture of the alleged luxury getaway vehicle, in the hope of finding the three culprits.

A 33-year-old man, named in media reports as Michael Nicholas, suffered multiple lacerations to his head and abrasions to his body when he was set upon by three men of solid build and Mediterranean or Middle Eastern appearance about 1pm on February 16, police say.

Mr Nicholas was lounging on a grassy beach reserve in Bondi's north when he was assaulted in broad daylight.

Witnesses say the trio were wielding baseball bats studded with nails and fled the scene in a white Mercedes sedan.

Police on Friday released an image of the car believed to have been involved, while video footage shows the gang running at a number of shirtless beachgoers who are surrounded by towels, with one man in a red T-shirt waving a weapon around before striking a man in shorts.

Shouts of "hey, come here" and threats of "I'm going to bash you" can be heard.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation, police say.

Detective Inspector Tim Bayly, who addressed the media after the attack, said violence that sparked fear in the community would not be tolerated and those responsible will be "put before the courts".

Anyone who can assist with identifying the men is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Original Source : news.com.au

Bank Levy is Focus For Parliament

Australia, JUNE 9, 2017 10:28AM - Bank Levy is Focus For Parliament.

The Turnbull government will focus on delivering its bank levy when parliament resumes on Tuesday for the final sitting fortnight before the winter break.

While Labor's support for the levy means it will clear the Senate, the government is facing a last-minute fight from the banks.

Representatives from Commonwealth, Westpac, ANZ, NAB and Macquarie banks - which will be hit with the 0.015 per cent per quarter levy on their liabilities - will front a one-day Senate hearing in Canberra late next week.

The Australian Bankers' Association wants a sunset clause added to the levy, arguing big lenders will face unlimited charges unless a time frame is introduced.

The levy, announced in the federal budget, is expected to raise $6.2 billion, including $1.6 billion in the first year.

Treasurer Scott Morrison says passing the levy will mean the only entities paying more tax in Australia from July 1 will be the biggest banks and multinationals.

He's also keen for the parliament to deal swiftly with a second tranche of small business tax breaks and legislation to bring in the so-called Gonski 2.0 needs-based schools funding model.

However the Senate is awaiting an inquiry report on the schools bill which is due on Wednesday.

The lower house will debate another budget measure, a 0.5 percentage point rise in the Medicare levy from 2019.

But with Labor arguing for the levy - which will partially pay for the national disability insurance scheme - not to apply to the lowest income earners, it faces a tougher time through the Senate.

Labor is expected to deliver the government a win on changes to native title on Tuesday.

The bill is aimed at resolving legal uncertainty around more than 120 indigenous land use agreements relating to major projects, including Queensland's Carmichael mine proposed by Indian resources giant Adani.

The government will hail it as a win for jobs and investment certainty, ahead of the latest unemployment figures to be released on Thursday.

Labor is expected to continue its attack on the government over cuts to penalty rates for low-paid workers which come into effect on July 1, just as high-income earners and businesses get a tax cut.

Crossbench senator Nick Xenophon will be seeking an inquiry into claims that many employees working for large companies receive lower weekend and holiday penalty rates under their enterprise agreements than those under modern awards.

Power prices, climate policy and national security will be hot topics for question time.

Senate inquiry reports are due over the sitting fortnight into meat processing, Australian veterans, aged care, the Bell Group litigation, the insurance industry, management of social welfare and seafood imports.