Latest news with #CharlizeZmuda
ABC News
25-05-2025
- ABC News
More shark nets, drumlines, drones outlined in $88m government investment but legality of move questioned
A multi-million-dollar boost to Queensland's shark control — the biggest investment in the program's history — looks to protect beachgoers with "innovative technologies". But some are questioning if the move is even legal. Over the next four years, the Queensland government will pour an additional $88.228 million into the Shark Control Management Plan 2025-2029. It said the new plan "combines proven safety measures like shark nets and drumlines" with new tech including "drone surveillance and whale-deterrent measures", rolling out from July this year and to receive regular maintenance. "The program includes increased servicing of shark control equipment to 365 days a year, weather permitting," Minister for Primary Industries Tony Perrett said on Sunday. The minister said the investment was backed by science, however not-for-profit Sea Shepherd Australia described the move as "a dangerous escalation" of the program. "Today's announcement is big and bold, it puts swimmer safety first," Mr Perrett said. "I have said time and time again, the best science must inform our actions when it comes to [the Department of Agriculture and] Fisheries." The investment follows two recent shark-related fatalities in Queensland, after school chaplain Luke Walford was killed while spearfishing at Humpy Island and 17-year-old surf life-saver Charlize Zmuda was injured while swimming at Bribie Island. Mr Perrett said "striking the right balance between ensuring swimmer safety and maintaining a healthy marine environment" was vital to uphold the reputation of Queensland's $33 billion tourism industry "as a safe place to enjoy some of the best beaches in the world". The new plan accepted recommendations made by an evaluation of the shark control program, which the government said had consulted marine experts. "The report found it's likely shark control equipment, such as drumlines and nets, contributed to substantially lower shark attacks where it is operational," the minister's statement said. More research will be undertaken as part of the plan, including how the control measures impact specific shark species. However Sea Shepard Australia's Jonathan Clark said the new shark nets and drumlines would present dangers for "countless marine animals" and could also "increase risks to swimmers". Mr Clark said the minister "is pushing a stone-age 'kill them all' approach that will devastate marine life". The conservationist was alarmed by the new program, which he said "may breach federal law". "Under Section 43B(3) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, any enlargement or intensification of the Queensland Shark Control Program could be deemed illegal," Mr Clark said. When asked if Sea Shepherd Australia would be taking action legal against the Queensland government, he said "it's early days for us yet, but I certainly hope so". He said two fatalities had occurred near drumlines in Queensland waters over the past five years, describing the equipment as attracting large sharks to shore and therefore increasing risk. "These lethal methods don't protect people … Minister Perrett is ignoring the science, legal risks, and public safety, while intensifying a program that should have been phased out years ago," Mr Clark said. "We can absolutely stand by our belief that those devices make beaches less safe — this view has been around for a long time and is supported by data and science. "We need to have the shark nets removed, the drumlines ultimately have to go, and we have to get into the modern ideas of using that technology such as drones, shark barriers, and really good public education." Mr Clark said drones and other new technology could be used to phase out older methods. "We applaud the use of drones and any expansion in the use of drones because they do make beaches safer," he said. The information provided by drones could help make informed decisions when it comes to entering the water, according to Mr Clark. "But in effect, it means nothing while the government continues with shark nets and drumlines, and the whole point of developing the non-lethal technologies is to get rid of these antiquated shark culling devices," he said. Potential locations for the expanded program have been identified based on the presence of Surf Life Saving Queensland, and data indicating a growth in beach use. The Queensland government has identified seven possible beaches for traditional shark control measures, including: For the expanded drone program over 2025-2026, six potential locations have been earmarked: The beaches will now undergo further detailed assessment from "stakeholders and expert scientists", as well as community consultation.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Yahoo
Hunt for $3.3 million lotto winner, Woolworths teams up with iconic US brand, crash shuts down major Aussie road
Yahoo's live news blog for Monday, February 24 has now concluded. The hunt is on for a lotto player who officials believe has no clue they've landed $3.3 million. There was major traffic chaos in Sydney this morning after a crash shut off CBD-bound traffic on one of the city's busiest roads. Southbound traffic was halted after a car was crushed when colliding with a truck during peak hour traffic, forcing commuters to abandon buses and walk along the road back where they came from. Woolworths is set to release its highly-anticipated collab with Cinnabon, bringing limited-edition hot cross buns to shoppers in the lead up to Easter. See all of the day's updates below. A shark expert says a popular strip of the Queensland coastline is in the midst of a "cluster of bites" following a spate of recent shark attacks. The latest attack in the Moreton Bay area involved a 29-year-old man who was bitten on his abdomen and legs while snorkelling at the Tangalooma Wrecks site. It comes weeks after teen Charlize Zmuda died in an attack off Bribie Island. Bond University biologist and shark attack expert Dr Daryl McPhee told the Courier Mail he believes the attacks are part of a phenomenon called "cluster of bites". 'It is a global phenomenon… where you get a series of bites in a short period of time and, unfortunately, that's what we seem to be seeing in Moreton Bay at the moment," he said. 'Bad luck does play a part, but you can have circumstances where sharks go where there's abundant prey, and this is a time of the year where you can have abundant prey in Moreton Bay,' he said. 'There's also the dolphin feeding, and the presence of dolphins can also be a food source for and of interest to large sharks.' NSW Police have shared new details on their investigation into two nurses following the publication of a video chat they took part in while at work where they made shocking anti-Semitic comments. The pair were filmed wearing their NSW Health uniforms as they threatened Israeli patients who may come to the hospital during a video call with Israeli influencer Max Veifer, which was later uploaded to Tik Tok, sparking global outrage. Ahmad 'Rashad' Nadir and Sarah Abu Lebdeh have both been stood down by NSW Health following the incident, and NSW Police are investigating whether charges will be laid, with Commissioner Karen Webb revealing a brief was being prepared for the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Commissioner Webb told reporters on Monday the investigation had been delayed by the fact the central witness was based overseas, which had created jurisdictional and language barriers. 'This is a complex matter, given the geography of the nurses being here in New South Wales and the key witness is in Israel,' she said. 'It is a complex matter where we're talking about an international jurisdiction. We don't have jurisdiction.' Commissioner Webb said officers had worked with counterparts overseas to obtain a statement. That statement then had to be translated from Hebrew to English to make it admissible as evidence in NSW courts. 'That has just taken time and people just need to be patient. But we've made progress. We've made very, very solid progress,' she said. Read more from NCA Newswire here. A tradie who was bit by a highly venomous snake for the second time has described himself as "a fool". Braydon Brighton, from Gin Gin, inland from Queensland's Bundaberg, says he regrets not being more careful after his first bite – a mistake that led to him being airlifted to hospital. He was cutting timber in knee-high grass when he felt the bite from a brown snake last month, and quickly began to go light-headed. 'I just wasn't thinking. If I am to be honest about it, I felt like a deadset d****head," he told the Courier Mail."I was a fool for not carrying [a snake bandage].' He quickly called his mother who called Triple-0, with emergency crews able to reach him quickly before he was flown to Bundaberg Hospital. He believes if that option was not available, he could have been in serious trouble. The 27-year-old was first bitten by a brown snake in 2021, and the second bite has now finally seen him buy himself a $50 snake bandage. The rising cost of living has seen a number of Aussies stay in the workforce longer as they see a comfortable retirement as unachievable. Finder found 1 in 6 Aussies aged over 43 had either delayed their retirement or returned to the workforce in the past two years. Of this, half those surveyed said the rising cost of living was the main reason. Finder superannuation expert Pascale Helyar-Moray said retirement is a luxury many Australians simply can no longer afford. 'There's a growing retirement savings crisis in Australia,' she said. 'Australians dedicate much of their lives to working hard, often dreaming of the 'golden years' of retirement, but for many, stepping back simply isn't a viable option.' Read more from NCA NewsWire here. This is a debate that we've seen come up a fair bit but this note has gained a huge response online. One renter in Queensland's Toowoomba explained on Reddit his wife received this note on her car, telling her she is "rude" for parking in the street outside someone else's house when there is space near their property. The person explained their wife parked there because of a tree that provides shade. The post sparked a wave of comments criticising the person who left the note, with some calling them "entitled". So where do you stand? Is it rude to park outside someone's house when a space outside your own is free? Have your say below. Dozens of schools are still waiting for their classrooms to be air conditioned, six years after a $500m program to install air-conditioning units in NSW began. With temperatures on the rise, Parents and Citizens president Lisa Hamilton told the ABC children at schools yet to benefit from the rollout are enduring temperatures up to 35C inside classrooms during summer. Some parents have even said they purposely keep their children at home when it gets too hot. Fifty-two schools are still waiting for air-conditioning to be fitted, 13 of which are in Greater Sydney. The winner of a multi-million dollar lottery prize may have spent all of Sunday none the wiser about their life-changing win. Lottery officials are searching for a lottery player who purchased a ticket for the weekend's Saturday Lotto draw in NSW's Lismore. 'Our elusive winner is likely oblivious to the fact they've won more than $3.3 million," The Lott spokesperson Anna Hobdell said. If you've bought a ticket in the area, we strongly advise you to go check your ticket. I'm sure viewers experiencing the Monday blues will forgive ABC's Catherine Murphy this morning for what was a relatable slip-up for some on live TV. Describing tennis star Mirra Andreeva, she called her the World Number Wine, instead of nine, prompting the sports host to quickly correct herself. "That's not what I'm thinking of after the weekend," she said laughing it off, before later adding "it's 5pm nowhere, no wine in sight.. I apologise." Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed to quit as his country's leader if Ukraine is allowed to join NATO. His remarks come amid a deterioration in relations with the US under President Donald Trump, who accused Zelensky of being a "dictator" for not holding an election since war broke out between Russia and Ukraine three years ago. "If there is peace for Ukraine, if you really need me to leave my post, I am ready," Zelensky said. 'I can also exchange it for [Ukraine's membership of] Nato, if there is such an opportunity. I'll do it immediately without a long conversation about it. 'I am focused on Ukraine's security now, not in 20 years, and I'm not going to be in post for decades, that is not my dream.' The young hiker who was lost in the Kosciuszko National Park for nearly two weeks has shared new details about his ordeal, saying a group of hikers ahead of him inadvertently saved his life. Hadi Nazari, 23, feared he was going to die when he ended up alone in dense bush in late December. He had no food and was surviving on the land's fresh water and a few berries. But after stumbling across a hiker's hut, he was handed what he believes was a life-saving boost. "I found a visitors book [in the hut], started reading through people's journals and their journeys, and got up to the last entry on the 27th of December. It said, 'We've left two muesli bars, so enjoy," he told the ABC's 7.30. "They were the most tasty muesli bars ever, they were Uncle Toby's, maybe caramel," Hadi recalled with a smile. "I want to say a big thanks to the group of hikers who left those bars, and a big, big thanks to those people who are part of the hut building association. It just saved somebody's life." After 13 days, a group of hikers found Nazari who was then airlifted to safety. There's been plenty of fanfare after the collaboration was shared weeks ago, and we're just days out from Woolworths' hot cross bun collab with US icon Cinnabon. Fans shared their delight at the news earlier in the year, with the limited-edition release coming this Friday. Bakery merchandise manager Donald Keith said while Woolies has explored many 'trending' flavours over the years, the new buns are 'pretty unique'. 'We've partnered with the Cinnabon team to use their bespoke 'Cinnabon cinnamon' flavour and combined this with an indulgent cream cheese-style filling to bring something completely new to our range,' he said. 'We've seen a lot of hype from customers about our collaboration with Cinnabon and wanted to serve up a surprise by bringing these Hot Cross Buns to shelves early. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nectorious Papi (@nectoriouspapi) There is major traffic chaos in Sydney's north this morning after a car was crushed on one of the city's busiest roads. A collision with a truck and car occurred during peak hour traffic on the Spit Bridge, closing southbound lanes towards the CBD. There is a huge build up of traffic along what is a notoriously busy route taken by Northern Beaches commuters. Images show commuters exiting buses stuck in the traffic several kilometres away, before appearing to walk back in the direction they came. Photos shared online show the car in a badly-crumpled state, however NSW Fire and Rescue have told local outlet the Manly Observer the male driver appears to only have sustained minor injuries. 🚗 MOSMAN: Heavy traffic is causing delays in both directions on Spit Rd due to a car crash on The Spit Bridge.❌ 2 of 3 southbound lanes of the road are closed.🕙 Allow plenty of extra travel time.📱 You can find out more about this incident here 👉 — Live Traffic Sydney (@LiveTrafficSyd) February 23, 2025 China has accused Australia of making 'hyped' claims and 'unreasonable accusations' over its live fire naval drills in international waters between Australia and New Zealand. Australian Defence Force officials says they are monitoring two People's Liberation Army Navy (PLA-N) frigates and a replenishment vessel in the Coral Sea. The flotilla has since navigated down the east coast, passing within 270km of Sydney, and conducted two live fire drills in the Tasman Sea on Friday and Saturday. Australia has formally protested the live fire exercises, the first of which forced at least two commercial flights to alter their courses at short notice. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said on Saturday that Chinese authorities had not given a 'satisfactory' explanation. In a statement, Chinese defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian disputed the Australian government's version of events, saying it had issued repeated safety notices. 'China's actions are in full compliance with international law and international practices and will not affect aviation flight safety,' Mr Wu said. 'Australia, knowing this well, made unreasonable accusations against China and deliberately hyped it up. We are deeply surprised and strongly dissatisfied with this.' Read more from NCA NewsWire here. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. A shark expert says a popular strip of the Queensland coastline is in the midst of a "cluster of bites" following a spate of recent shark attacks. The latest attack in the Moreton Bay area involved a 29-year-old man who was bitten on his abdomen and legs while snorkelling at the Tangalooma Wrecks site. It comes weeks after teen Charlize Zmuda died in an attack off Bribie Island. Bond University biologist and shark attack expert Dr Daryl McPhee told the Courier Mail he believes the attacks are part of a phenomenon called "cluster of bites". 'It is a global phenomenon… where you get a series of bites in a short period of time and, unfortunately, that's what we seem to be seeing in Moreton Bay at the moment," he said. 'Bad luck does play a part, but you can have circumstances where sharks go where there's abundant prey, and this is a time of the year where you can have abundant prey in Moreton Bay,' he said. 'There's also the dolphin feeding, and the presence of dolphins can also be a food source for and of interest to large sharks.' NSW Police have shared new details on their investigation into two nurses following the publication of a video chat they took part in while at work where they made shocking anti-Semitic comments. The pair were filmed wearing their NSW Health uniforms as they threatened Israeli patients who may come to the hospital during a video call with Israeli influencer Max Veifer, which was later uploaded to Tik Tok, sparking global outrage. Ahmad 'Rashad' Nadir and Sarah Abu Lebdeh have both been stood down by NSW Health following the incident, and NSW Police are investigating whether charges will be laid, with Commissioner Karen Webb revealing a brief was being prepared for the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Commissioner Webb told reporters on Monday the investigation had been delayed by the fact the central witness was based overseas, which had created jurisdictional and language barriers. 'This is a complex matter, given the geography of the nurses being here in New South Wales and the key witness is in Israel,' she said. 'It is a complex matter where we're talking about an international jurisdiction. We don't have jurisdiction.' Commissioner Webb said officers had worked with counterparts overseas to obtain a statement. That statement then had to be translated from Hebrew to English to make it admissible as evidence in NSW courts. 'That has just taken time and people just need to be patient. But we've made progress. We've made very, very solid progress,' she said. Read more from NCA Newswire here. A tradie who was bit by a highly venomous snake for the second time has described himself as "a fool". Braydon Brighton, from Gin Gin, inland from Queensland's Bundaberg, says he regrets not being more careful after his first bite – a mistake that led to him being airlifted to hospital. He was cutting timber in knee-high grass when he felt the bite from a brown snake last month, and quickly began to go light-headed. 'I just wasn't thinking. If I am to be honest about it, I felt like a deadset d****head," he told the Courier Mail."I was a fool for not carrying [a snake bandage].' He quickly called his mother who called Triple-0, with emergency crews able to reach him quickly before he was flown to Bundaberg Hospital. He believes if that option was not available, he could have been in serious trouble. The 27-year-old was first bitten by a brown snake in 2021, and the second bite has now finally seen him buy himself a $50 snake bandage. The rising cost of living has seen a number of Aussies stay in the workforce longer as they see a comfortable retirement as unachievable. Finder found 1 in 6 Aussies aged over 43 had either delayed their retirement or returned to the workforce in the past two years. Of this, half those surveyed said the rising cost of living was the main reason. Finder superannuation expert Pascale Helyar-Moray said retirement is a luxury many Australians simply can no longer afford. 'There's a growing retirement savings crisis in Australia,' she said. 'Australians dedicate much of their lives to working hard, often dreaming of the 'golden years' of retirement, but for many, stepping back simply isn't a viable option.' Read more from NCA NewsWire here. This is a debate that we've seen come up a fair bit but this note has gained a huge response online. One renter in Queensland's Toowoomba explained on Reddit his wife received this note on her car, telling her she is "rude" for parking in the street outside someone else's house when there is space near their property. The person explained their wife parked there because of a tree that provides shade. The post sparked a wave of comments criticising the person who left the note, with some calling them "entitled". So where do you stand? Is it rude to park outside someone's house when a space outside your own is free? Have your say below. Dozens of schools are still waiting for their classrooms to be air conditioned, six years after a $500m program to install air-conditioning units in NSW began. With temperatures on the rise, Parents and Citizens president Lisa Hamilton told the ABC children at schools yet to benefit from the rollout are enduring temperatures up to 35C inside classrooms during summer. Some parents have even said they purposely keep their children at home when it gets too hot. Fifty-two schools are still waiting for air-conditioning to be fitted, 13 of which are in Greater Sydney. The winner of a multi-million dollar lottery prize may have spent all of Sunday none the wiser about their life-changing win. Lottery officials are searching for a lottery player who purchased a ticket for the weekend's Saturday Lotto draw in NSW's Lismore. 'Our elusive winner is likely oblivious to the fact they've won more than $3.3 million," The Lott spokesperson Anna Hobdell said. If you've bought a ticket in the area, we strongly advise you to go check your ticket. I'm sure viewers experiencing the Monday blues will forgive ABC's Catherine Murphy this morning for what was a relatable slip-up for some on live TV. Describing tennis star Mirra Andreeva, she called her the World Number Wine, instead of nine, prompting the sports host to quickly correct herself. "That's not what I'm thinking of after the weekend," she said laughing it off, before later adding "it's 5pm nowhere, no wine in sight.. I apologise." Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed to quit as his country's leader if Ukraine is allowed to join NATO. His remarks come amid a deterioration in relations with the US under President Donald Trump, who accused Zelensky of being a "dictator" for not holding an election since war broke out between Russia and Ukraine three years ago. "If there is peace for Ukraine, if you really need me to leave my post, I am ready," Zelensky said. 'I can also exchange it for [Ukraine's membership of] Nato, if there is such an opportunity. I'll do it immediately without a long conversation about it. 'I am focused on Ukraine's security now, not in 20 years, and I'm not going to be in post for decades, that is not my dream.' The young hiker who was lost in the Kosciuszko National Park for nearly two weeks has shared new details about his ordeal, saying a group of hikers ahead of him inadvertently saved his life. Hadi Nazari, 23, feared he was going to die when he ended up alone in dense bush in late December. He had no food and was surviving on the land's fresh water and a few berries. But after stumbling across a hiker's hut, he was handed what he believes was a life-saving boost. "I found a visitors book [in the hut], started reading through people's journals and their journeys, and got up to the last entry on the 27th of December. It said, 'We've left two muesli bars, so enjoy," he told the ABC's 7.30. "They were the most tasty muesli bars ever, they were Uncle Toby's, maybe caramel," Hadi recalled with a smile. "I want to say a big thanks to the group of hikers who left those bars, and a big, big thanks to those people who are part of the hut building association. It just saved somebody's life." After 13 days, a group of hikers found Nazari who was then airlifted to safety. There's been plenty of fanfare after the collaboration was shared weeks ago, and we're just days out from Woolworths' hot cross bun collab with US icon Cinnabon. Fans shared their delight at the news earlier in the year, with the limited-edition release coming this Friday. Bakery merchandise manager Donald Keith said while Woolies has explored many 'trending' flavours over the years, the new buns are 'pretty unique'. 'We've partnered with the Cinnabon team to use their bespoke 'Cinnabon cinnamon' flavour and combined this with an indulgent cream cheese-style filling to bring something completely new to our range,' he said. 'We've seen a lot of hype from customers about our collaboration with Cinnabon and wanted to serve up a surprise by bringing these Hot Cross Buns to shelves early. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nectorious Papi (@nectoriouspapi) There is major traffic chaos in Sydney's north this morning after a car was crushed on one of the city's busiest roads. A collision with a truck and car occurred during peak hour traffic on the Spit Bridge, closing southbound lanes towards the CBD. There is a huge build up of traffic along what is a notoriously busy route taken by Northern Beaches commuters. Images show commuters exiting buses stuck in the traffic several kilometres away, before appearing to walk back in the direction they came. Photos shared online show the car in a badly-crumpled state, however NSW Fire and Rescue have told local outlet the Manly Observer the male driver appears to only have sustained minor injuries. 🚗 MOSMAN: Heavy traffic is causing delays in both directions on Spit Rd due to a car crash on The Spit Bridge.❌ 2 of 3 southbound lanes of the road are closed.🕙 Allow plenty of extra travel time.📱 You can find out more about this incident here 👉 — Live Traffic Sydney (@LiveTrafficSyd) February 23, 2025 China has accused Australia of making 'hyped' claims and 'unreasonable accusations' over its live fire naval drills in international waters between Australia and New Zealand. Australian Defence Force officials says they are monitoring two People's Liberation Army Navy (PLA-N) frigates and a replenishment vessel in the Coral Sea. The flotilla has since navigated down the east coast, passing within 270km of Sydney, and conducted two live fire drills in the Tasman Sea on Friday and Saturday. Australia has formally protested the live fire exercises, the first of which forced at least two commercial flights to alter their courses at short notice. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said on Saturday that Chinese authorities had not given a 'satisfactory' explanation. In a statement, Chinese defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian disputed the Australian government's version of events, saying it had issued repeated safety notices. 'China's actions are in full compliance with international law and international practices and will not affect aviation flight safety,' Mr Wu said. 'Australia, knowing this well, made unreasonable accusations against China and deliberately hyped it up. We are deeply surprised and strongly dissatisfied with this.' Read more from NCA NewsWire here.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Yahoo
Shark attacks 2 American tourists in Bahamas
Feb. 10 (UPI) -- Two American women visiting the Bahamas over the weekend were attacked by a shark, local authorities said, with at least one of the victims sustaining serious injuries. The shark attack happened around 6:30 p.m. local time Friday as the two women were swimming in Bimini Bay, located about 50 nautical miles from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The Royal Bahamas Police Force said in a statement that the women received treatment at a local clinic before being airlifted to New Providence for further medical attention. The incident is under investigation. Earlier this month, a teenage girl was killed in a shark attack in Australia's Queensland. Charlize Zmuda, 17, suffered a "serious shark bite," on Feb. 3 and was pronounced dead at the scene about 15 minutes later. Though shark attacks loom large among the public's imagination, they are extremely rare. According to research by the Florida Museum of Natural History's International Shark Attack File, there were 69 unprovoked shark bites in 2023. Of those bites, 36 occurred in the United States, resulting in two deaths, and 15 occurred in Australia, resulting in four deaths.
