Israel's war with Iran: what does it want?
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The Guardian
5 hours ago
- The Guardian
Israel's war with Iran: what does it want?
You can subscribe for free to Guardian Australia's daily news podcast Full Story on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Grief-stricken family of toddler who drowned at home weeks before his fourth birthday break their silence
The family of a toddler who drowned just weeks before his fourth birthday have lifted the lid on the immense heartbreak of losing their 'most caring' boy. Three-year-old Dion Robbins drowned in the swimming pool at his Palmerston home in the Northern Territory on Saturday afternoon. The happy-go-lucky adventurous boy used a stool to reach the pool latch and let himself in to collect some toys but he tragically fell into the pool. Dion's aunty Sue Longstaff has started a GoFundMe page to support the family. 'There are no words to describe the pain of his loss, he was weeks away from celebrating fourth birthday,' she wrote on the page. 'The family is understandably devastated and would be forever grateful for any support their local community might be in a position to provide so that little Dion can be laid to rest respectfully.' One of Dion's other aunts Lizzie Robbins said the family was overcome with grief. 'Dion was the most caring and loving little boy... any room he walked into he made people smile and laugh' Ms Robbins told NT News. 'He had the most infectious laugh and loved his baby brother endlessly. 'They were the two amigos - always getting into mischief together.' The GoFundMe has raised nearly $8,500 of the $16,000 target as time of writing. Sophie Higgins made a $200 donation to the family. 'Thinking of you all through this heartbreaking time,' she said. 'Dion was such a confident and cheeky boy that we enjoyed seeing at childcare pickups and drop offs. Thanks for being Tilly's little friend, love the Higgins family.' The incident comes after the Northern Territory records Australia's highest rates of drownings of all regional areas in Australia in 2024 with 6.06 per 100,000 people, according to a Royal Life Saving Australia report. Darwin, Palmerston and Litchfield had the highest drowning rates of all metropolitan areas in Australia at 2.4 per 100,000. Floss Roberts, from Royal Life Saving NT, said the disturbing statistics were the result of a number of different factors. 'The NT has a very high number of home swimming pools and spas,' Ms Roberts said. 'Our extremes of living in a tropical climate also puts Territorians more at risk of drowning than other states.' Up to 37 per cent of drownings recorded in the NT over the last decade were in rivers or creeks. In the same period, 28 per cent of the 68 drownings occurred in pools.
The Guardian
16 hours ago
- The Guardian
Our NSW council banned street-visible solar panels. What can I do?
Our home is in a heritage conservation area. Council rules prohibit the installation of solar panels that are visible from the street. However, there are dozens of homes with recently installed panels that are very prominent. When I queried council, they explained that I could provide addresses of these 'offenders' and they may be fined and/or forced to remove panels. I want owners who are prepared to invest in solar to be rewarded, not penalised. What can I do? – Scott, New South Wales Kat George says: When the old and new collide it often takes systems and regulations time to catch up. The rules about installing climate-friendly technologies on heritage homes is a prime example of where change is slow. If you want to install solar panels on a heritage home, the general rule across most local councils is that they can't be visible from the street. This generally applies to all modifications including second storeys and extensions. Creative design can assist you in finding workarounds for other modifications to your home, but it's a bit tricker with solar panels. The aspect of your roof will dictate the best place to install solar panels for efficiency – in other words, where they're going to collect the most sun to be effective in powering your home. It's widely considered the best angle for solar panels in Australia is north-facing, so if your street-facing roof happens to be north-aligned, it starts to get tricky. For what it's worth, I live in a heritage terrace with a north-facing facade, so I understand your frustration at a personal level too. That said, it's still possible to install solar panels on a heritage home. If you're happy to install them out of sight of the street, you're free to proceed. But if they're going to be visible to the street, it might take a bit more legwork on your part. It sounds as though some of your neighbours may have taken the 'ask for forgiveness not permission' route to installing solar on their heritage homes. It also sounds like forgiveness won't necessarily be forthcoming if they're caught. As fines and the removal of solar panels are likely to be costly, I wouldn't recommend taking the same pathway. To take legitimate steps towards installing street-visible solar panels to your roof, the first step is to find out if your heritage listing falls under local council or state jurisdiction (in NSW this is the Heritage Council of NSW). You can check this via the State Heritage Register. If your home's heritage listing falls under your local council's jurisdiction, call them back and ask them how to apply for a development application or heritage exemption certificate. You'll need one of these to argue your case to council about why you should be given an exemption to install visible solar panels. It will be at their discretion to approve or deny your request. Some local councils have already taken strides to make it easier for heritage homeowners to install solar panels. The City of Sydney, for instance, has issued a guideline for exemptions to solar panel installation in heritage areas to 'encourage greater uptake of sustainable and energy efficient infrastructure and dwellings', after the local council declared climate change to be a national emergency. If, on the other hand, you have a state heritage listing, it's likely there will be a higher level of scrutiny to your application and you'll need to apply directly to the Heritage Council of NSW. As for the higher-level change you mention – of solar owners being rewarded rather than penalised – it's likely with net zero targets looming, governments and local councils will consider better ways to support heritage homeowners to invest in green technology, as the City of Sydney has. In the meantime, you can write to your local council and local state MPs to air your concerns. Better still, if you have the time and inclination, you can instigate community action. Letterbox your local neighbourhood, encourage others to write to local representatives, and start a petition that you can deliver to decision-makers to support your case for systemic change.
