AAP Rolling News Bulletin for June 16 at 1700
Children (BRISBANE)
Australia's worst pedophile will be extradited to face further abuse allegations after his heinous crimes prompted the creation of a powerful child protection watchdog.
Queensland Attorney-General Deb Frecklington has confirmed Ashley Paul Griffith, 48, will be sent to NSW after his failed bid to reduce a life sentence for years of childcare centre assaults.
"Griffith is a vile piece of work," she told the Queensland Media Club in Brisbane.
A scathing review into his offending spanning almost 20 years has sparked an unprecedented $250 million child safety overhaul, which was unveiled by Ms Frecklington on Tuesday.
A Queensland Protection Commission will be set up as a dedicated child safeguarding body with responsibility for the reportable conduct scheme, child safe standards and working-with-children checks.
Legal: Explosives (BRISBANE)
A teenager accused of preparing a terrorist attack considered schools and then-opposition leader Peter Dutton as targets for pipe bombs filled with nails, a jury has heard.
The teenage boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, has pleaded not guilty to acts in preparation for a terrorist attack and is facing trial in Brisbane Supreme Court.
The boy was about to turn 16 when he rode his scooter around Brisbane's suburbs in July 2024 to buy nails, metal pipes and ingredients for explosives, crown prosecutor Sally Flynn told the jury on Tuesday.
"Dollar store closed so I could not get nails," the boy texted a friend.
"I went near the train tracks and tested the flammability of a (gas canister)."
Legal: Ahmad (MELBOURNE)
An accused ISIS bride is still a threat to the community because there is no compelling evidence that she renounces the terror group, a prosecutor has claimed.
Lawyers for Zeinab Ahmad, 31, on Monday told Melbourne Magistrates Court she rejected Islamic State and held deep anger towards the men who enforced its ideals upon her.
But prosecutor Andrew Sprague on Tuesday argued the only "clear and objective" evidence available to the court showed Ahmad's support for IS.
He pointed to social media posts Ahmad allegedly made in 2015 and 2016 where she called for violence against non-believers and the destruction of the US and its allies.
"(Her statements) have endorsed and supported an ideology and a terrorist organisation that is fundamentally opposed to the freedom and safety of all those who do not share its views," Mr Sprague said.
Legal: RobertsSmith (SYDNEY)
Decorated former SAS soldier Ben Roberts-Smith will apply to a court to move home and be with his children while he fights allegations of war crimes.
The 47-year-old was arrested in April and charged with murdering or ordering the murders of five unarmed detainees while deployed in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012.
He appeared before Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday, when his lawyers applied to vary his bail.
"Today is just about being able to see my children and moving back to where we actually live," he told reporters outside court.
"That's what we're focused on today."
The Victoria Cross recipient is also expected to ask the court if he can attend two formal military ceremonies and a social function afterwards.
PollVic (MELBOURNE)
Jacinta Allan will live to fight another day as Victorian premier after a leadership challenge failed to materialise despite weeks of speculation and falling support in the polls.
Victorian Labor MPs filed in on Tuesday morning for a final caucus meeting before parliament rises until late July.
It was considered the final chance for MPs to roll their leader, unless a special meeting was called over the mid-winter break.
But momentum for a spill ground to a halt after Ms Allan's main internal rival, Deputy Premier Ben Carroll, ruled out a challenge on Monday.
Ms Allan, who has been heavily criticised for rising state crime rates and allegations of corruption on government project worksites, walked into the meeting with Mr Carroll and others trailing behind her in a show of support.
Legal: Waden (BRISBANE)
A man accused of killing his American girlfriend and burying her body in a backyard trench before later disposing of it at a rubbish tip has been found guilty of murder.
Mark Sheridan Waden was charged after the disappearance of Priscilla Brooten, a 46-year-old US citizen who was living in Australia without a valid visa.
The 50-year-old was found guilty by a jury on Tuesday after weeks on trial in Brisbane Supreme Court. He faces a mandatory life sentence.
"It wasn't me," Waden said when the jury handed down its verdict on its second day of deliberation.
The prosecution alleged he killed Ms Brooten at the home they shared in Brisbane's north, making up stories about why she suddenly disappeared.
Mideast (CAIRO)
Israeli strikes and gunfire have killed at least four Palestinians in Gaza, as mediators prepare for further ceasefire talks in Cairo to safeguard a US-brokered peace plan for the tiny war-ravaged Palestinian enclave.
Medics said an Israeli airstrike on Monday killed a woman in the town of Zawayda in the central Gaza Strip, while another strike killed one person in the nearby Nuseirat refugee camp.
Later on Monday, an Israeli airstrike targeted the rooftop of a building in Gaza City, killing two people, a medic and his son, health officials said.
The Israeli military said it killed two Hamas militants in separate strikes in the Gaza Strip. It said the militants were planning to carry out attacks against Israeli troops, without providing further details.
Iran (EVIAN-LES-BAINS)
President Donald Trump says a preliminary agreement to end the war in the Gulf has been signed by the United States and Iran, though both countries say permanent truce is yet to be negotiated.
The agreement on Monday would extend a tenuous ceasefire announced in April by another 60 days and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively blocked since the US and Israel attacked Iran in February.
Negotiators would address difficult issues like the future of Iran's nuclear program during the next phase.
"The deal's all signed," Trump said after he arrived in France for a summit of the G7 group of big economies.
He said Vice President JD Vance would attend a formal signing ceremony in Geneva on Friday.
In finance ...
Tax (CANBERRA)
The federal government's planned tax changes will dump compliance costs on taxpayers and their advisers, an accounting body warns.
Under Labor's reforms, the capital gains tax discount of 50 per cent will be replaced with an inflation-indexed calculation and a 30 per cent minimum rate.
Negative gearing of investment properties will also be scaled back to only apply to new houses from July 2027.
The Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand will tell a senate inquiry on Tuesday a statutory review of the legislation should take place within 12 months due to the short consultation time and complexity of the changes.
This would act as a safeguard mechanism to ensure the legislation was operating as intended and to provide an opportunity for any "fixes" that needed to be made.
Economy (CANBERRA)
Borrowers can be reassured interest rates are likely to remain on hold for now, but with the inflation dragon still rampant, they should not expect the Reserve Bank to come to their rescue any time soon.
During economic slowdowns, the central bank has often been the "knight in shining armour" for households, cutting interest rates when times are tough to give the economy a boost, HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham said.
A sluggish GDP print for the March quarter and rising unemployment suggest Australia is already in a downswing.
But while he predicted no more hikes from the Reserve Bank this cycle, mortgage holders were unlikely to receive any rate relief until at least 2027, Mr Bloxham said.
The board should take a lesson from 2025, when it cut interest rates three times as inflation was still coming down, and not turn its back on the inflation dragon until it is sufficiently tamed, he said.
In entertainment ...
Tyler (LONDON)
Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler is "no longer in a coma" but remains "very unwell" in intensive care, according to a post on her official website.
She has also cancelled or postponed all her remaining shows this years.
It had been announced that the 75-year-old was taken to a hospital near to her home in Faro, Portugal for emergency intestinal surgery earlier this month.
"Bonnie's family and team would like to update everyone on how she is progressing with her recovery," the statement said.
"Bonnie is no longer in a coma but remains very unwell and in intensive care in hospital in Portugal. Although her condition is improving it is a slow process.
"Her doctors remain confident that she will make a good recovery but it is going to take time.
In sport ...
RL Origin (MELBOURNE)
NSW coach Laurie Daley has no plans to tinker with his line-up despite compelling statistics surrounding the Blues' starts - and the impact of Cameron Murray - in recent State of Origin clashes against Queensland.
The Blues are looking to wrap up the series with victory at the MCG on Wednesday night after winning game one in Sydney.
At a joint press conference alongside the Yarra river on Tuesday, Daley was an open book around how he would use his talent, saying Ethan Strange would come off the bench to play in the back row.
In contrast, Queensland coach Billy Slater kept his strategy for super-sub Reece Walsh a secret.
NSW have been torpid in the opening half of the past three interstate battles, only scoring 12 points compared to 66 from the Maroons.
RU Foketi (BRISBANE)
Lalakai Foketi doesn't think he's earned a phone call from Joe Schmidt, but as the lone Australian left standing in the Super Rugby Pacific season hasn't closed the door on a Wallabies return.
As the Wallabies gather in Sydney ahead of a July 4 Test against Ireland, the Chiefs centre will complete a rollercoaster 12 months when he runs out against the Hurricanes in Wellington on Saturday.
A World Cup player in 2023, Foketi was repeatedly injured - he avoided spinal damage but feared his career was over after a scary training injury in 2024 - and sapped of confidence when he eventually left the NSW Waratahs last season.
The messy exit prompted ongoing legal action, with the 31-year-old claiming he was wrongfully dismissed when his contract was terminated because he'd breached terms by travelling to Hamilton for promotional duties with his new club.
Ends Bulletin
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