Latest news with #Australian-first


Perth Now
10 hours ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Massive update on Amazon product
Amazon has removed the sale of all machetes from its online Australian marketplace after a landmark ban in Victoria. The Victorian government announced a statewide ban on the sale of machetes following a violent brawl at a Northland shopping centre. The Australian-first ban will come into effect from September 1, and comes amid mounting calls for the Labor government to crackdown on youth crime. Despite the ban, Amazon Australia was reportedly still selling the deadly weapon earlier this month; in a statement this week, the retailer said that had come to and end. A spokesperson for the retail giant confirmed machetes were no longer for sale across all of Amazon Australia, not just in Victoria, following the state government's decision. Google searches for machetes on Amazon continued to retrieve results on Sunday, but the link took buyers to a web page stating the address was 'not functioning'. An interim total ban on the sale of machetes was introduced on May 28, with failure to comply with the ban when it comes in affect being a criminal offence. The interim order means those who may have a legitimate and legal reason to have a machete, namely farmers, will be locked out of any purchases. After September 1, retailers will be able to apply for an exemption to sell machetes for legitimate use, and will be listed on a police register. The ban comes after four people were charged over a brawl at Northland shopping centre. Credit: X A three-month amnesty will also come into affect from September 1, allowing anyone already possessing a machete to hand them in. The ban is the first of its kind in Australia, and comes after the brawl at Northland shopping centre, which sparked a lockdown. Four males have since been charged over the alleged rival gang fight. They remain before the courts.


West Australian
10 hours ago
- West Australian
Amazon Australia removes machetes after landmark Victoria ban
Amazon has removed the sale of all machetes from its online Australian marketplace after a landmark ban in Victoria. The Victorian government announced a statewide ban on the sale of machetes following a violent brawl at a Northland shopping centre. The Australian-first ban will come into effect from September 1, and comes amid mounting calls for the Labor government to crackdown on youth crime. Despite the ban, Amazon Australia was reportedly still selling the deadly weapon earlier this month; in a statement this week, the retailer said that had come to and end. A spokesperson for the retail giant confirmed machetes were no longer for sale across all of Amazon Australia, not just in Victoria, following the state government's decision. Google searches for machetes on Amazon continued to retrieve results on Sunday, but the link took buyers to a web page stating the address was 'not functioning'. An interim total ban on the sale of machetes was introduced on May 28, with failure to comply with the ban when it comes in affect being a criminal offence. The interim order means those who may have a legitimate and legal reason to have a machete, namely farmers, will be locked out of any purchases. After September 1, retailers will be able to apply for an exemption to sell machetes for legitimate use, and will be listed on a police register. A three-month amnesty will also come into affect from September 1, allowing anyone already possessing a machete to hand them in. The ban is the first of its kind in Australia, and comes after the brawl at Northland shopping centre, which sparked a lockdown. Four males have since been charged over the alleged rival gang fight. They remain before the courts.


The Advertiser
3 days ago
- Health
- The Advertiser
Knockout blow for contentious bare-knuckle boxing event
A bare-knuckle boxing event described as a "blood sport" has been canned following backlash from political leaders and health authorities. In a decision handed down on Thursday, Western Australia's Combat Sports Commission blocked the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship's application to hold an event at Perth's RAC Arena in July. "The board was not satisfied the event met the required criteria," a spokesperson said. Tickets to the Australian-first event - including $6000 'Notorious Access' packages featuring a meet and greet with celebrity fighter Conor McGregor - had already been on sale before it was rejected by the commission's board. The event's promotion had sparked a political brawl, with medical professionals raising serious concerns about the health and safety of fighters and the message the event sent to the community. The downsides of the sport were "so obvious they barely needed repeating", Australian Medical Association WA branch president Michael Page said in a statement before the commission's decision. "We are in the grip of a domestic violence crisis and an epidemic of drug- and alcohol-fuelled street violence," Dr Page said. "Turning the act of bare-knuckle fighting into a 'sport' sets an incredibly bad example for children and adults alike. "The physical health of the fighters involved is also of concern." Dr Page described the event as "blood sport", while state opposition spokesperson Peter Rundle labelled it "state-sanctioned violence". WA Sports Minister Rita Saffioti told reporters Perth had hosted dozens of combat sports events, with fans having flocked to UFC mixed martial arts bouts. "It's very hard to differentiate this type of event, compared to mixed martial arts and UFC," she said prior to the decision. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had expressed concern about the event. "I think one of the things that might be relevant here is the concern that's there about concussion in general," he told Perth radio 6PR on Tuesday. "It's not really my responsibility as PM, but I do think that we need to be really cognisant about health advice when it comes to these issues because they are really prevalent." In 2021, fighter Justin Thornton reportedly died weeks after he suffered an injury following a knockout at a Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship event in the United States. The Perth event had been scheduled to take place at RAC Arena on July 19. A bare-knuckle boxing event described as a "blood sport" has been canned following backlash from political leaders and health authorities. In a decision handed down on Thursday, Western Australia's Combat Sports Commission blocked the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship's application to hold an event at Perth's RAC Arena in July. "The board was not satisfied the event met the required criteria," a spokesperson said. Tickets to the Australian-first event - including $6000 'Notorious Access' packages featuring a meet and greet with celebrity fighter Conor McGregor - had already been on sale before it was rejected by the commission's board. The event's promotion had sparked a political brawl, with medical professionals raising serious concerns about the health and safety of fighters and the message the event sent to the community. The downsides of the sport were "so obvious they barely needed repeating", Australian Medical Association WA branch president Michael Page said in a statement before the commission's decision. "We are in the grip of a domestic violence crisis and an epidemic of drug- and alcohol-fuelled street violence," Dr Page said. "Turning the act of bare-knuckle fighting into a 'sport' sets an incredibly bad example for children and adults alike. "The physical health of the fighters involved is also of concern." Dr Page described the event as "blood sport", while state opposition spokesperson Peter Rundle labelled it "state-sanctioned violence". WA Sports Minister Rita Saffioti told reporters Perth had hosted dozens of combat sports events, with fans having flocked to UFC mixed martial arts bouts. "It's very hard to differentiate this type of event, compared to mixed martial arts and UFC," she said prior to the decision. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had expressed concern about the event. "I think one of the things that might be relevant here is the concern that's there about concussion in general," he told Perth radio 6PR on Tuesday. "It's not really my responsibility as PM, but I do think that we need to be really cognisant about health advice when it comes to these issues because they are really prevalent." In 2021, fighter Justin Thornton reportedly died weeks after he suffered an injury following a knockout at a Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship event in the United States. The Perth event had been scheduled to take place at RAC Arena on July 19. A bare-knuckle boxing event described as a "blood sport" has been canned following backlash from political leaders and health authorities. In a decision handed down on Thursday, Western Australia's Combat Sports Commission blocked the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship's application to hold an event at Perth's RAC Arena in July. "The board was not satisfied the event met the required criteria," a spokesperson said. Tickets to the Australian-first event - including $6000 'Notorious Access' packages featuring a meet and greet with celebrity fighter Conor McGregor - had already been on sale before it was rejected by the commission's board. The event's promotion had sparked a political brawl, with medical professionals raising serious concerns about the health and safety of fighters and the message the event sent to the community. The downsides of the sport were "so obvious they barely needed repeating", Australian Medical Association WA branch president Michael Page said in a statement before the commission's decision. "We are in the grip of a domestic violence crisis and an epidemic of drug- and alcohol-fuelled street violence," Dr Page said. "Turning the act of bare-knuckle fighting into a 'sport' sets an incredibly bad example for children and adults alike. "The physical health of the fighters involved is also of concern." Dr Page described the event as "blood sport", while state opposition spokesperson Peter Rundle labelled it "state-sanctioned violence". WA Sports Minister Rita Saffioti told reporters Perth had hosted dozens of combat sports events, with fans having flocked to UFC mixed martial arts bouts. "It's very hard to differentiate this type of event, compared to mixed martial arts and UFC," she said prior to the decision. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had expressed concern about the event. "I think one of the things that might be relevant here is the concern that's there about concussion in general," he told Perth radio 6PR on Tuesday. "It's not really my responsibility as PM, but I do think that we need to be really cognisant about health advice when it comes to these issues because they are really prevalent." In 2021, fighter Justin Thornton reportedly died weeks after he suffered an injury following a knockout at a Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship event in the United States. The Perth event had been scheduled to take place at RAC Arena on July 19. A bare-knuckle boxing event described as a "blood sport" has been canned following backlash from political leaders and health authorities. In a decision handed down on Thursday, Western Australia's Combat Sports Commission blocked the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship's application to hold an event at Perth's RAC Arena in July. "The board was not satisfied the event met the required criteria," a spokesperson said. Tickets to the Australian-first event - including $6000 'Notorious Access' packages featuring a meet and greet with celebrity fighter Conor McGregor - had already been on sale before it was rejected by the commission's board. The event's promotion had sparked a political brawl, with medical professionals raising serious concerns about the health and safety of fighters and the message the event sent to the community. The downsides of the sport were "so obvious they barely needed repeating", Australian Medical Association WA branch president Michael Page said in a statement before the commission's decision. "We are in the grip of a domestic violence crisis and an epidemic of drug- and alcohol-fuelled street violence," Dr Page said. "Turning the act of bare-knuckle fighting into a 'sport' sets an incredibly bad example for children and adults alike. "The physical health of the fighters involved is also of concern." Dr Page described the event as "blood sport", while state opposition spokesperson Peter Rundle labelled it "state-sanctioned violence". WA Sports Minister Rita Saffioti told reporters Perth had hosted dozens of combat sports events, with fans having flocked to UFC mixed martial arts bouts. "It's very hard to differentiate this type of event, compared to mixed martial arts and UFC," she said prior to the decision. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had expressed concern about the event. "I think one of the things that might be relevant here is the concern that's there about concussion in general," he told Perth radio 6PR on Tuesday. "It's not really my responsibility as PM, but I do think that we need to be really cognisant about health advice when it comes to these issues because they are really prevalent." In 2021, fighter Justin Thornton reportedly died weeks after he suffered an injury following a knockout at a Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship event in the United States. The Perth event had been scheduled to take place at RAC Arena on July 19.


Perth Now
3 days ago
- Health
- Perth Now
Knockout blow for contentious bare-knuckle boxing event
A bare-knuckle boxing event described as a "blood sport" has been canned following backlash from political leaders and health authorities. In a decision handed down on Thursday, Western Australia's Combat Sports Commission blocked the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship's application to hold an event at Perth's RAC Arena in July. "The board was not satisfied the event met the required criteria," a spokesperson said. Tickets to the Australian-first event - including $6000 'Notorious Access' packages featuring a meet and greet with celebrity fighter Conor McGregor - had already been on sale before it was rejected by the commission's board. The event's promotion had sparked a political brawl, with medical professionals raising serious concerns about the health and safety of fighters and the message the event sent to the community. The downsides of the sport were "so obvious they barely needed repeating", Australian Medical Association WA branch president Michael Page said in a statement before the commission's decision. "We are in the grip of a domestic violence crisis and an epidemic of drug- and alcohol-fuelled street violence," Dr Page said. "Turning the act of bare-knuckle fighting into a 'sport' sets an incredibly bad example for children and adults alike. "The physical health of the fighters involved is also of concern." Dr Page described the event as "blood sport", while state opposition spokesperson Peter Rundle labelled it "state-sanctioned violence". WA Sports Minister Rita Saffioti told reporters Perth had hosted dozens of combat sports events, with fans having flocked to UFC mixed martial arts bouts. "It's very hard to differentiate this type of event, compared to mixed martial arts and UFC," she said prior to the decision. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had expressed concern about the event. "I think one of the things that might be relevant here is the concern that's there about concussion in general," he told Perth radio 6PR on Tuesday. "It's not really my responsibility as PM, but I do think that we need to be really cognisant about health advice when it comes to these issues because they are really prevalent." In 2021, fighter Justin Thornton reportedly died weeks after he suffered an injury following a knockout at a Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship event in the United States. The Perth event had been scheduled to take place at RAC Arena on July 19.

9 News
4 days ago
- General
- 9 News
Airport launches Australia-first drone security trial
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Port Lincoln Airport has started an Australian-first 12-month trial of drone technology to boost security and surveillance. The remotely piloted drone, operated from Melbourne about 850 kilometres away, is equipped with thermal cameras and navigates around a pre-programmed path at up to 80 kilometres per hour. Its primary function is to scan the airport perimeter, identifying potential risks posed by people or wildlife. Port Lincoln Airport has started an Australian-first 12-month trial of drone technology to boost security and surveillance. (Nine) The drone is equipped with technology that allows for direct communication. "We have an actual speaker attached to our drone and we're able to actually blare noise, music - and if it's a person we can even talk to them," Gregory Neyland from MSS Security said. The trial, which took 18 months to launch, aims to assess the drone's effectiveness in streamlining and improving surveillance capabilities at airports and potentially other businesses. "We, as a council that owns the airport are looking for innovative ideas and solutions - ways that we can be more efficient," said Delfina Lanzill from the Lower Eyre Council. Despite the introduction of drone technology, on-the-ground security guards won't be going anywhere. "You will always need people on the ground to be able to respond to an incident. This just helps them do their job effectively," Neyland said. This article was produced with the assistance of 9ExPress . South Australia national Australia Adelaide Melbourne Technology 9ExPress CONTACT US