WA news LIVE: Man arrested for pushing Perth flight attendant
Latest posts
9.33am
Man arrested for pushing Perth flight attendant
The 59-year-old man will front court today, accused of assaulting an airline crew member at Perth Airport two weeks ago.
The Australian Federal Police alleged the Queensland man refused a crew member's instruction to take his seat as a flight to Brisbane was preparing for departure because he wanted to use the bathroom.
The man then allegedly pushed the crew member, and the incident was reported to the flight captain, who requested the AFP attend the gate and remove the man from the plane.
AFP officers removed the man – who was allegedly uncooperative with police – from the plane and he was charged with one count of assaulting a crew member.
9.33am
Across the nation and around the world
Here's what's making news across the country and around the world:
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley is under threat from an emerging populist bloc on her party's right flank, threatening splinters on its contentious net zero emissions pledge, woke culture and immigration as MPs fear a further slump in the polls.
The incoming chief of US Navy operations has warned the US will not be able to fulfil its AUKUS obligations without doubling its submarine-building capacity, in a fresh sign of the doubts over whether the agreement can be honoured.
The US president has called on Israel to speed up the flow of food to Gaza and set a new timeframe for Russia to end the war in Ukraine, intensifying his demands on both global flashpoints.
9.33am
Today's weather
9.32am
Welcome to our live news blog
Good morning readers, and welcome to our live news blog for Tuesday, July 29.
Making headlines today, a community group lobbying for an end to plans for a $217 million racetrack and amphitheatre on the Burswood peninsula has hit back at claims the development would be a boon to the local economy, pointing to similar developments in other states they say proved the opposite.
'As the Cook government moves to invest hundreds of millions of dollars to host a V8 Supercars event in Burswood Park, we must learn from the hard lessons of other cities,' Save Burswood Park Alliance co-chair Robin Harvey said.
Meanwhile, the trial of accused fraudster Chris Marco
He is accused of creating an 'entire make-believe' suite of invite-only investment opportunities to defraud his clients of $36.5 million.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sky News AU
15 hours ago
- Sky News AU
'We never interfere': China denies allegations of foreign interference after AFP charges Chinese national in Canberra over collecting information
China has claimed it "never interferes" in other countries' internal affairs after the Australian Federal Police charged a Chinese woman over allegedly covertly collecting information about a Canberra Buddhist association on behalf of a foreign principal. While Buddhists are widely recognised in China, there is evidence of significant persecution and restrictions, particularly against Tibetan Buddhists. On Tuesday, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun vehemently denied allegations of China's foreign interference and claimed the superpower developed "relations with other countries, including Australia, on the basis of mutual respect and non-interference". "We are not familiar with the specifics," Mr Guo said after being asked about the arrest of the Chinese citizen in Australia under 'foreign interference' law. "Let me say more broadly that China develops relations with other countries, including Australia, on the basis of mutual respect and non-interference in the internal affairs of others. "We never interfere in other countries' internal affairs, and in the meanwhile, firmly oppose any disruption to the normal people-to-people interactions, exchanges and cooperation between China and relevant country under the pretext of foreign interference." Mr Guo said China would follow the case "closely" and protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese nationals. Despite the Chinese official's claims of non-interference, Beijing has long history of foreign espionage and political meddling. In 2018, it was revealed the Chinese Communist Party was attempting to influence Australian politics, business and education through its United Front Work Department. The parliament heard that Australia's university sector was the frontline for Chinese influence through students and scholars associations. The Turnbull government then passed the Espionage and Foreign Interference Bill, the same piece of legislation used to charge the Chinese woman in Canberra on the weekend. In an exclusive interview with Sky News Australia's Cheng Lei, former Chinese spy, Eric, hailed the arrest, saying it was important Australian authorities worked to counter Beijing's efforts to gather intelligence and exert influence at the community level. Asked whether the woman was acting alone or as part of a larger network of spies, Eric suggested evidence provided by the AFP pointed to the former - although he also warned Beijing had likely established a "large" presence in Australia. Commenting on the CCP's objectives more broadly, the former spy explained foreign agents had two main aims when conducting operations. "The CCP's spying in Australia takes place in two tracks. One is to quieten criticism against the Chinese government, to ensure its governance security, another is in geopolitics, that may include business, technology, military intel," he said. AFP Assistant Commissioner for Counterterrorism and Special Investigations Stephen Nutt said the woman, who was arrested on Saturday, faced a maximum of 15 years imprisonment. 'Foreign interference is a serious crime that undermines democracy and social cohesion,' Assistant Commissioner Nutt said. The AFP Assistant Commissioner said Australia was 'not immune' to espionage and did not expect this arrest to prevent further attempts to target diaspora communities living in Australia. Assistant Commissioner Nutt said the 'best defence' was an increase in community awareness and reporting of suspicious activity. He said the AFP was not dealing with the Chinese embassy as part of its investigation and flagged investigators were planning for more arrests.
Perth Now
16 hours ago
- Perth Now
AFP lays spying charges, China denies claims
China does not interfere with other countries, a state-controlled newspaper has claimed, after a woman was alleged to have been sent by Beijing to spy on a Canberra Buddhist group. The alleged agent, a permanent resident of Australia, is accused of covertly collecting information about an association banned in China, the Australian Federal Police said. The AFP alleges the woman, who is also an Australian permanent resident, was tasked by China's Public Security Bureau to covertly gather information about the Canberra branch of Guan Yin Citta, a Buddhist association. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said overnight his government was 'not familiar with the specifics' of the case. 'Let me say more that as a principle, China develops relations with other countries, including Australia, on the basis of mutual respect and non-interference in the internal affairs of others,' he said, as cited by the state-controlled Global Times. 'China never interferes in other countries' internal affairs, and, meanwhile, firmly opposes any disruption to the normal people-to-people interactions, exchanges, and co-operation between China and relevant countries under the pretext of foreign interference. 'China will follow this case closely and protect the lawful rights and interests of Chinese nationals.' The Global Times is a mouthpiece for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The CCP has a history of exerting its influence in Australia to keep the Chinese diaspora in line. Analysts have long warned of the party's efforts to undermine key industries and suppress free speech on university campuses, with Chinese students dobbing in fellow students who voice views that rub Beijing up the wrong way. The Albanese government, which has sought to gloss over touchy topics with China in the pursuit of better economic ties, has responded cautiously to news of the suspected agent in Canberra. Though, Foreign Minister Penny Wong has vowed the Albanese government 'will safeguard our democracy'. 'Our democracy is about who we are,' Senator Wong told the ABC on Tuesday. 'And that means we will stand together against any foreign interference. 'We have strong frameworks in place. 'We will not tolerate collectively, or as a government, Australians being harassed or surveilled. We will continue to safeguard the democracy.' On relations with Beijing, she said 'dialogue matters'. 'Dialogue is important. Dialogue enables us to manage difference, but it doesn't eliminate it,' Senator Wong said.
Sky News AU
18 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Opposition slams Albanese government over tax hikes, saying Labor punishes hardworking Australians
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has criticised the Albanese government over what she describes as a deliberate shift towards higher taxation, warning that small businesses are being left behind. Catch up with all of the day's breaking news and live interviews from politicians and experts with a Streaming Subscription.
