Australia news live: inflation figures to give interest rates clue; verdict due in Struhs murder trial
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I'm Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it will be Caitlin Cassidy for the bulk of the day.
It's not often that the release of economic statistics can be described as highly anticipated. But it holds true for millions of Australians about today's inflation numbers and their potential impact of interest rates. And that's not to mention Anthony Albanese, who is trailing Peter Dutton in the polls and could do with a better story to tell about the economy. More coming up and the figures are out at 11.30am.
Verdicts are expected later this morning in the trial of Jason Struhs and 13 other members of the religious group he belonged to over the death of his eight-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, who suffered from diabetes.
One of the people attending the commemoration at Auschwitz was Australia's attorney general, Mark Dreyfus. Three of his grandparents died at the hands of the Nazis and today he writes a moving piece about the 'shocking rise in antisemitism in Australia' and how attempts to politicise the issue must be rejected. He simply says: 'Today I say never again.' Share
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24 minutes ago
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Woman caught shoving 400 Jellycats down her trousers fined £120
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A thief who stole nearly £1,000 worth of Jellycat toys has been fined £120. Samantha Lawrence went on a two-day spree, stealing dozens of soft toys from two businesses by shoving them down her trousers. The 38-year-old stole toys worth around £650 from St Peter's Garden Centre in Worcester on June 7, before taking almost £300 worth of the toys from The Valley shopping centre in Evesham in two separate thefts on June 8. Incredible CCTV caught Lawrence as she frantically stole the popular soft toys, shoving them into bags as well as down her trousers before running out of the shop. She even tried to force a large £75 rabbit-themed bag into her waistband. She was identified using the footage and when police arrived at her home in Norton, Evesham, officers found hundreds of stolen Jellycats. In total, Lawrence stole toys worth £948.28. Lauren Millichip, prosecuting, told Worcester magistrates court: 'Officers attended her address and found a quantity of Jellycats, some of these she said she had bought. 'She told officers she had gone into the stores with the intention of stealing the Jellycats.' Chris Aggri, defending, said the CCTV of Lawrence's theft had gone viral online and the response had caused her mental health to suffer. She is now taking medication for anxiety, the court heard. He explained: 'She has been targeted on social media and her mental health has suffered as a result. 'She has learned her lesson and is deeply remorseful.' Lawrence admitted three counts of theft and was ordered to pay compensation to the shops she stole from. She was also fined £120 and ordered to pay a £48 victim surcharge. Chair of the bench Caroline Taylor said: 'We've listened to what's been said. The matters are serious, you have deliberately targeted the stores, one on two separate occasions. 'They are not insignificant amounts of money. 'You will pay compensation of £657.79 to St Peter's and £292.49 to The Valley. 'We've taken into account your guilty plea, so a fine of £180 has been reduced to £120 due to that guilty plea. 'You will also pay a £48 victim surcharge.' Speaking to Metro at the time, a manager at St Peter's Garden Centre said they checked their CCTV after the shop alarm went off to find Lawrence had been 'scouting out' their large selection of the soft toys. Jamie Armstrong explained: 'At first we were looking back at the footage and it was one or two little Jellycats, popping them down the trousers. 'Then you get to 15 minutes in and she goes for it. She walks in as a regular woman and walks out looking eight months pregnant. 'We are a family-run garden centre so we're not as powerful at the big chains or supermarkets. More Trending 'We don't have as much budget for security, so it does feel like we get targeted.' Jellycat toys have seen an explosion in popularity in recent years, with rare and retired designs being resold for hundreds of pounds. But their high resale value has made them a target for thieves. Last December the owner of a garden centre revealed how he tracked down a shoplifter who had stolen Jellycats from his shop to sell online. Shoplifting is at record levels with 469,788 offences recorded in England and Wales in the year to June 2024, according to the Office for National Statistics. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page.
Metro
2 hours ago
- Metro
Quadbike rider flips over after ramming police car in Liverpool
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A police officer came within inches of injury trying to arrest a man after a quadbike rammed into a police car. Officers were on patrol in the Kensington area of Liverpool on Tuesday evening when they spotted a man pushing a quadbike with no registration plate. The man rode away, but officers in a patrol car found the quadbike again shortly after. The quadbike driver allegedly rammed the quadbike into the police car, reversed into a parked car, and then rammed the police car a second time which caused the quadbike to mount the bonnet and flip over onto its side. A police officer, who had got out of the car to try and stop the rider, only narrowly avoided being hit by the quadbike. The driver was arrested and then taken to hospital for treatment before later being discharged. A 29-year-old man from Everton was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, theft of a motor vehicle, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and without insurance and acquiring/using/possessing criminal property. He was assessed in hospital and later taken into police custody. Chief Inspector Steve Robinson of Merseyside Police said: 'Thankfully no officers were hurt during the course of this incident, but the results of the suspect's reckless actions could have been far worse. 'We will never tolerate people who put the safety of themselves and other road users at risk by driving uninsured vehicles with no licence in a dangerous manner. More Trending 'Our officers turn up to work every day knowing they could face challenging and dynamic situations. They do so willingly because they are committed to protecting the public from harm. 'But there can never be any excuse for anyone deliberately driving at officers knowing full well that their actions could cause serious injury or worse. 'Our officers were on proactive patrol to disrupt criminality and keep our communities in Liverpool safe. 'The last thing they should have to be dealing with is a suspect ramming their vehicle in this way and we are determined to ensure the person responsible is brought to justice.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Family's anger after teen who killed elderly dog walker won't face longer sentence MORE: Pregnant woman killed and partner's 'head cut off and put on spike' MORE: Woman's body dumped on side of the road after 'getting into car' in Birmingham
Metro
7 hours ago
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Prisoners 'slaughtered and ate' guinea pigs while working at animal shelter
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page Prisoners are accused of eating guinea pigs they took from an animal shelter in Australia. The abandoned pets had been living at a shelter in Perth, Western Australia, when the inmates allegedly decided to turn some of them into food. Now the Department of Corrective Services is investigating the 'disturbing' allegations, ABC News reports. The low-security prisoners had been doing supervised work in the community as part of the Wooroloo Prison Farm's Section 95 programme when the incident happened, it is thought. The furry pets were allegedly slaughtered and stored in a shed for food The investigation was launched after a prison worker found several guinea pig carcasses stored in a shed outside the facility's perimeter, Western Australia's Corrective Services Commissioner Brad Royce said. He told Nine radio: 'They didn't get them into the prison, they have an external area where we maintain tool sheds, things like that for working in the community.' The prisoners were reportedly told at the shelter that the guinea pigs are 'quite tasty,' leading them to slaughter the animals so that they coudl be cooked at the prison. Royce said: 'Eating guinea pigs is a surprise, but any of my Section 95 prisoners, we don't encourage them eating offsite or give them anything. 'In this case there was a deal done, obviously, that will come up in the investigation.' Hundreds of guinea pigs have been abandoned in the UK in recent years (Picture: Getty Images) All Section 95 programmes have been paused while officials carry out the investigation. Royce said in a statement: 'These allegations are disturbing, and I have asked for an investigation into the actions of Section 95 prisoners and their supervision.' Guinea pigs are a popular pet in the UK. The animal, which is classed as a rodent, can live up to seven years. Their diet consists of timothy, grass, carrots and spinach. Despite their cuddly look, guinea pigs are often abandoned by their owners. More than 1,600 guinea pigs were abandoned between 2021 and the end of August 2023, according to the RSPCA. One animal was found at Canning Town Underground station in London. The pet, which was nicknamed DiscoPig, was discovered sitting in a cage with a note saying 'I need a new owner.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. Arrow MORE: Elephant tramples tourist 'who took its photo with flash on' Arrow MORE: The UK's £12 train journey where you can see polar bears from your seat Arrow MORE: Pregnant woman killed and partner's 'head cut off and put on spike'
