Latest news with #DavidGeraghty
Perth Now
13 hours ago
- Perth Now
Man stabbed in head in home invasion: cops
Two teenage boys are among the people arrested after a man was stabbed in the head and face during an alleged home invasion in Melbourne's eastern suburbs. Two young children were inside the Kew East home at the time. Police allege five unknown people smashed a large window of the house on Oxford St at about 4am on Sunday. A husband and wife inside the house were woken by the sounds of smashing glass, and soon confronted by the alleged intruders. Three people, including a teenage boy, have been arrested after an alleged violent home invasion. NewsWire / David Geraghty Credit: News Corp Australia Police allege the husband and wife were separated and put in different rooms of the house. The wife was taken to a room where two children, aged two and three, were sleeping. 'The husband was then stabbed multiple times to the head, face and arms,' a police statement read. It is further alleged one offender returned to their car, while the other four got into the occupants' BMW. 'The stolen BMW was located dumped on Christie Street in Deer Park,' police said. The man was allegedly stabbed in the head, face and arms during the alleged invasion. NewsWire / David Geraghty Credit: News Corp Australia Police arrested three people a short time later on Hamilton St in Deer Park. Two boys, aged 16 and 17, and a 24-year-old Caroline Springs man are being interviewed. Police are still searching for others allegedly involved. The 39-year-old husband was transported to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. His wife, 34, was treated for minor injuries. Two other adults who were at the home at the time, aged 69 and 70, were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The two children and another adult did not suffer physical injuries. Anyone with information, witnessed the incident or has CTV footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Perth Now
a day ago
- Health
- Perth Now
Deadly trend on the rise in major state
Victoria has been rocked by the highest number of fatal overdoses in a decade, with nearly 600 residents dying from drug overdoses last year alone. Ten years ago, illicit drugs contributed to less than half of all overdose deaths. In 2024, the Coroners Court found this figure increased to 65.6 per cent. Overdose deaths have spiked in Victoria. NewsWire / David Geraghty Credit: News Corp Australia It's a figure increasing yearly, with 584 Victorian residents dying from drug overdoses in 2024, up from 547 the year before and 552 in 2022. Heroin contributed to 248 deaths in the state, and 215 deaths were related to methamphetamine – a stat that has tripled since 2015. The majority of all overdose deaths occurred in metropolitan Melbourne, with about 75 per cent being unintentional. Monash University Associate Professor Shalini Arunogiri told NewsWire the bleak new figures were a reminder of the lack of treatment available for opioid addictions. 'Each of these 584 deaths represents a life lost unnecessarily,' she said. 'Behind every statistic is someone's loved one, a friend, a sibling, a parent.' Worryingly, the majority of the fatal overdoses were men, who made up two-thirds of total deaths over the past decade. Heroin was the leading drug found in the fatal overdoses, followed by methamphetamine. NewsWire / David Geraghty Credit: News Corp Australia Ms Arunogiri said there was a 'strong connection' between drug abuse and mental health, especially if people lacked access to mental health support and effective treatment and instead turned to substances as their 'only available relief'. 'People often turn to substances as a way of coping with untreated trauma, anxiety, depression or other psychological distress,' she said. 'This is why integrated care that treats both mental health and substance use is so important.' The increase in fatal heroin and methamphetamine overdoses was 'particularly concerning', Ms Arunogiri said, as harm reduction methods were available to prevent further deaths. 'The positive here is that solutions do exist, we just need to implement what works,' she said. 'Expanding medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction must be a priority, given heroin's role as the top contributor.' Ms Arunogiri said lifesaving medications needed to be provided at a faster rate to prevent overdoses. 'Medications like methadone and buprenorphine can reduce the risk of overdose, but people often face long waits for care,' she said. 'Effective measures like drug checking and expanding access to opioid overdose reversal medications, such as naloxone, is also critical.' There's a 'strong connection' between drug use and mental health. Credit: Supplied Penington Institute chief executive John Ryan said 'too many Australians are dying from preventable drug overdoses' and argued governments were '(refusing) to fully embrace measures to drive down this horrific toll'. 'We're still not spending enough money on proven harm reduction initiatives like drug testing, supervised injecting, community education and the wide provision of the anti-overdose drug naloxone,' he said. In May, the Victorian government introduced its take-home naloxone program, which was expanded across 50 needle and syringe program providers, including over the counter at pharmacies, at the Medically Supervised Injecting Room and via prescription to expand access to the medication. Health of the Nation: drugs and alcohol Ms Arunogiri said these were 'important steps' to preventing further harm. 'These evidence-based interventions are crucial, but we need further investment to make sure everyone can access the health care they need,' she said. 'The most devastating thing is that we know these deaths were preventable. 'We understand what works – effective medications, harm reduction services, early intervention, but we need to remove the barriers that keep people from accessing the healthcare we all deserve.'
Perth Now
31-07-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Aussie fashion retailer to fight court action
A well-known Australian fashion retailer will oppose a proposal to wind-up the business after it was hit with legal action over alleged debts, court documents reveal. General Pants Co was served with an insolvency claim on July 17 by supplier UCC Australia alleging the chain had failed to pay $69,835.92 owed for stock delivered. According to a winding up application filed in the Victorian Supreme Court, UCC Australia alleged it had unpaid invoices for the supply of cameras and film between October and December 2024. 'The goods were delivered and accepted by the debtor and the invoiced amounts remain due and payable,' the document states. The iconic youth retailer was hit by the legal action earlier this month. NewsWire / Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia The supplier sent General Pants Co a statutory demand for on June 17, requiring the alleged debt be paid within 21 days of service. According to the court documents, General Pants Co failed to comply with the demand, with UCC Australia seeking a court order for a liquidator to be appointed to the company. The matter has been listed before a Judicial Registrar on August 20. The application has been listed in Victoria's Supreme Court. NewsWire / David Geraghty Credit: News Corp Australia But in a two-page response filed with the court on July 24, lawyers acting for General Pants Co signalled their intention to appear at the hearing and oppose the application. The response claims the company opposes the application because the company is solvent and has paid UCC Australia's debt. General Pants Co has been a staple in Australian fashion for more than 50 years and has 55 stores across Australia and New Zealand. UCC is an importer, distributor and wholesaler of FMCG, supplying electricals and food to some of Australia's major retailers, including Myer, Big W, Kmart, Woolworths and Amazon.
Perth Now
17-07-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Shock jump in unemployment rate
Australia's unemployment rate has shocked expectations and jumped, with less Aussies in the workforce. Fresh figures released by the ABS shows the unemployment rate rose to 4.3 per cent last month, beating expectations of 4.1 per cent. Employment as a whole rose by 2000 people this month, following a fall of 1000 in May, and is up 2 per cent year on year. The rise in unemployment was determined as 33,600 workers became unemployed in the month of June. This was against expectations of 20,000 jobs to be added in the month and the unemployment rate to hold. The underemployment rate also increased to 6 per cent, as 40,200 part time roles were created and 38,200 full time roles were lost from the job market. Australia's unemployment rate unexpectedly rose in June. NewsWire / David Geraghty Credit: News Corp Australia The employment-to-population ratio remained at 64.2 per cent, and the participation rate, being people who are actively working, rose to 67.1 per cent. Hours worked fell 0.9 per cent in June, following a rise of 1.4 per cent in May. ABS head of labour statistics Sean Crick said: 'This month we saw a decrease in full time hours worked, down 1.3 per cent, associated with a 0.4 per cent fall in full time employees.' Prior to Thursday's official announcement, experts had tipped the unemployment rate to remain at 4.1 per cent, although they did predict a tightening of the jobs market. The Reserve Bank of Australia will be watching the jobless rate ahead of its next meeting, having the dual mandate of employment and controlling inflation. 'I think the focus for the RBA will be ensuring the labour market remains healthy going forward,' NAB's head of Australian economics Gareth Spence said. 'The timing of cuts is not super important. 'It's more about where do they end up.' In a move that shocked markets and disappointed homeowners, the RBA kept the official cash rate at 3.85 per cent during its July 8 meeting. Most economists had already pencilled in a rate cut as well as another cut in August.
Perth Now
26-06-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Job market defies economic slowdown
Australian businesses are still trying to hire more workers, a welcome sign the labour market is holding up despite economic pressures. Fresh figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows job vacancies were up 2.9 per cent in the three months until May with businesses looking to add a combined 339,4000 new workers. The data shows job vacancies year-on-year were down just 9600 positions or 2.8 per cent, which is the slowest annual decline in two years. The labour market is holding up despite quarterly economic data released at the start of June showing quarterly economic growth is slowing. For the first three months until March, Australia only added 0.2 per cent in economic growth or an anemic 1.3 per cent for the 12-months. There is a huge number of employee shortages in the construction sector: NewsWire / David Geraghty Credit: News Corp Australia Senior Economist Terry Rawnsley said Thursday's figures show a boost in job vacancies and strong growth across critical age groups, highlighting Australia's resilient labour market. 'It is encouraging to see the private sector beginning to rebound, with vacancies increasing by 3.2 per cent from February 2025 to a total of 301,900,' Mr Rawnsley said. 'Meanwhile, public sector vacancies rose by a much smaller 0.6 per cent over the same period, reaching 37,500.' Job vacancies increase in eight of the 18 industries measured by the ABS with a jump in construction and professional services leading the rises in businesses looking for staff. ABS breakdown of the 18 industries they measure. Picture Supplied. Credit: Supplied The biggest falls were in wholesale trade and electricity, gas, water and waste services. ABS head of labour statistics Sean Crick said the jump in job vacancies in May followed a fall in the three months to February 2025. 'The rise in job vacancies was driven by industries with a high proportion of skilled workers, including professional, scientific and technical services, and construction,' he said. 'Over the year, the number of unemployed people for each job vacancy grew from 1.7 to 1.8. This is well below the pre-pandemic level of 3.1 in February 2020, indicating there is still high labour demand.' Mr Rawnsely said importantly 35 to 44 year olds were driving the jobs growth. 'This group contributed over one-third of the jobs added over the past year, making it the backbone of workforce expansion,' he said. 'These workers are often balancing family and financial commitments, with rising living costs encouraging more participation, particularly among women.'
