Latest news with #IanCurrie
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Business
- Perth Now
‘All a dream': Tassie man pockets $70m
A Tasmanian man has claimed the $70m Oz Lotto jackpot – the second-largest jackpot prize in the lottery's history. The winning numbers for Tuesday night's draw 1633 were 44, 34, 45, 1, 46, 25, and 21, while the supplementary numbers were 9, 14, and 16. The man purchased the sole winning ticket online, and despite claiming to have checked his Oz Lotteries account more than 15 times since 11pm on Tuesday – and going into work as normal on Wednesday – he had no idea that he had taken home the winning prize. A Tasmanian man has pocketed the mammoth $70m Oz Lotto jackpot. NewsWire/Ian Currie Credit: News Corp Australia The Tasmanian man told The Lott that he was set to retire soon and purchase a home with his partner. The The Lott team called him on Wednesday morning to confirm his massive win. 'Oh wow. I don't have to come to work anymore, it's -1C here at the moment where I am working,' he told The Lott. 'I might just go and hand my resignation in right now.' The man is taking home the second-largest prize in the lottery's history. NewsWire/Ian Currie Credit: News Corp Australia The man, the sole Division 1 winner, admitted that he couldn't quite believe the news. 'I have hardly slept all night,' he told them. 'I was wondering if I was dreaming, and I was going to wake up and someone was going to say, it was all just a dream.' The man said he was hoping to spend part of his $70m winnings on a home with his partner after experiencing a 'rough couple of years'. 'Buying a dream home with my partner and helping my family out,' he said. 'Oh, this is brilliant, absolutely brilliant … I've had a (rough) couple of years. 'I am just getting back on my feet and I still have a mortgage when everyone else (my age) is about to retire. 'I have been saying I will have to work until I am 70 but not now'The next major jackpot will take place on Thursday, with a Division 1 Powerball prize of $50m.
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Business
- Perth Now
What 1-in-5 Aussies are buying
One-in-five Australians are expected to have a ticket in Oz Lotto's mouth-watering $70m jackpot draw. It will be the second biggest lottery prize on offer in Australia this year and the fourth biggest Oz Lotto jackpot in its 31-year history. Ticket sales are expected to peak about 6.55pm on Tuesday – about 35 minutes before the draw closes – when more than 4100 tickets will be sold in a single minute, The Lott spokesman Matt Hart said there had been three Oz Lotto division one winning entries totalling $185m so far in 2025, and they were eagerly awaiting their fourth winner. Oz Lotto's $70m jackpot is the second biggest lottery prize on offer in Australia this year. NewsWire/Ian Currie Credit: News Corp Australia 'We'll be standing by ready to reach out to any registered division one winner immediately after the draw on Tuesday night, so make sure you register your ticket to The Lott Members Club for the chance to receive that winning phone call,' he said. 'If one person takes home the entire $70m prize, they'll be crowned the second-biggest Australian lottery winner so far in 2025 and Oz Lotto's second-biggest individual lottery winner ever.' Mr Hart said previous winners greeted news of their multimillion-dollar prize with stunned silence, hysterical laughter and tears of joy. 'Who knows how someone might react on Tuesday night if they win the entire $70m jackpot,' he said. 'The last time we had a $70m Oz Lotto draw was in April, and on that occasion it was won by a 15-share Queensland syndicate, each receiving more than $4.7m. 'Will history repeat itself on Tuesday night or will the Oz Lotto jackpot remain unclaimed and soar higher for next week's draw?' If one person takes home the entire $70m prize, they'll be crowned the second-biggest Australian lottery winner so far in 2025 and Oz Lotto's second-biggest individual lottery winner ever. NewsWire/Ian Currie Credit: News Corp Australia The most frequently drawn Oz Lotto winning numbers are 47, 21, 28 and 33, while the least frequently drawn include 34, 26, 45 and 43. More than three-quarters of the Oz Lotto division one winning entries in 2024 were QuickPick entries – where the lottery terminal randomly selects the numbers. Almost a third of Oz Lotto division one winning entries in 2024 were System entries – which allows you to play more numbers in a single game. Tickets in Tuesday's draw can be purchased at licensed lottery outlets, online from or via The Lott mobile app.
Herald Sun
3 days ago
- Herald Sun
Box Hill, Melbourne: Person killed as fire rips through apartment building
Don't miss out on the headlines from Breaking News. Followed categories will be added to My News. A person has died after a fire ripped through an apartment building in Melbourne' eastern suburbs. Emergency services were called to an apartment block on Bishop St in Box Hill shortly before 8pm on Monday after reports of a fire. Upon arrival, ambulance, police and fire crews saw flames coming from the second level. A person has died in an apartment fire in Melbourne. Picture: NewsWire/Ian Currie 'Firefighters arrived on scene within four minutes and were able to quickly gain entry to the apartment, locating and removing a single occupant,' a Fire Rescue Victoria spokesman told NewsWire. A resident inside the building, who is yet to be formally identified, was declared dead at the scene. The fire engulfed the second floor of the building. Picture: NewsWire/Ian Currie The building was declared under control within 15 minutes, and all other residents who lived in the building were safely evacuated. A Victoria Police spokesman told NewsWire that early investigations indicated the fire was not suspicious. 'An arson chemist will attend the property,' they said. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Originally published as Person killed as fire rips through Box Hill apartment building
Perth Now
30-05-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Grim trend in Aussie housing crisis
Australia's housing crisis has taken another grim turn, with the latest data revealing a sharp drop in apartment approvals, sparking renewed warnings the country is falling well short of its ambitious new home targets. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), total dwelling approvals fell by 5.7 per cent in April to 14,633 homes. The decline was driven almost entirely by a 19 per cent plunge in apartment and other medium-to-high density dwelling approvals, continuing a steep downward trend in March. In contrast, private sector house approvals rose by 3.1 per cent, fuelled largely by increases in NSW and Queensland, but experts say this is nowhere near enough to meet Australia's long-term housing targets. The Property Council of Australia said governments needed to 'step up'. The dream of home ownership is slipping further away. NewsWire / David Swift Credit: News Corp Australia Matthew Kandelaars, the council's group executive for policy and advocacy, said 5612 apartments were approved across March and April. 'This is a far cry from the 15,029 greenlit during March and April in the apartment boom of 2016,' Mr Kandelaars said. The federal government has committed to building 1.2 million new homes by 2029, a goal that requires monthly approvals to top 20,000 dwellings, a benchmark that has now been missed again. 'Even with approval in hand, it can take years for a project to start construction, held back by a tight labour market, high construction costs and complicated planning systems,' Mr Kandelaars said. 'We will not meet our housing targets without the heavy lifting that needs to come from apartments that can deliver homes at scale close to transport, existing infrastructure and amenities.' The federal government has committed to building 1.2 million new homes by 2029. NewsWire / Ian Currie Credit: News Corp Australia In original terms, just 2539 apartments were approved in April, down from 3073 in March. Combined, this is nearly 3000 fewer units than were approved across January and February. The Property Council is now urging state and territory governments to urgently streamline planning systems and cut red tape to reverse the downward spiral. 'Despite a welcome and ambitious target and hard work through the last term of the federal parliament, for many Australians, the dream of home ownership is increasingly unaffordable or completely out of reach,' Mr Kandelaars said. 'State and territory governments need to step up. Planning is key to delivering more homes, and our approvals data shows that the current systems are not working. More must be done to cut red tape and streamline our planning systems to remove uncertainty. 'The dream of home ownership is increasingly unaffordable or completely out of reach.' The Property Council is urging state and territory governments to urgently streamline planning systems and cut red tape to reverse the downward spiral. NewsWire / Ian Currie Credit: News Corp Australia Meanwhile, the total value of residential building approvals also fell in April, down 1.3 per cent to $8.91bn, while the value of non-residential building surged to its second-highest level on record. As the gap between what's needed and what's being delivered continues to grow, housing industry leaders are sounding the alarm that without urgent reform, Australia's worsening housing affordability crisis may soon reach a tipping point.
Perth Now
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
The federal seats on a knife's edge
Several key electorates remain in play as postal votes continue to be counted, with tight margins and late swings creating uncertainty in some of the nation's most closely watched contests. In Bean, ACT Labor MP David Smith is clinging to a narrow lead of 51.38 per cent after preferences, but independent challenger Jessica Price remains within striking distance. While Smith has pulled ahead, the final outcome may still depend on outstanding postal votes. Bradfield on Sydney's north shore, one of the last blue-ribbon Liberal seats not yet claimed by a teal independent, has turned into a dead heat. Liberal candidate Gisele Kapterian sits just ahead with 50.02 per cent of the two-candidate-preferred count, narrowly leading independent Nicolette Boele on 49.98 per cent. Greens leader Adam Bandt is fighting to hold onto his seat. NewsWire/Ian Currie Credit: News Corp Australia The Queensland seat of Longman also remains on a knife's edge, with LNP incumbent Terry Young on 50.15 per cent and Labor challenger Rhiannyn Douglas close behind on 49.86 per cent. While Mr Young has edged ahead during the postal count, the result remains too close to call. In Ryan, first preference data suggests another three-cornered contest. LNP candidate Maggie Forrest leads with 35.04 per cent of the primary vote, followed by the Greens' Elizabeth Watson-Brown on 28.93 per cent and Labor's Rebecca Hack close behind on 28.19 per cent. The seat, held by the Greens, is likely to come down to preference flows. The Nationals look set to claim victory in Bendigo, a regional Victorian seat held by Labor's Lisa Chesters. With Andrew Lethlean now leading on 52.89 per cent after preferences, the seat is expected to fall to the Nationals after Chesters lost her earlier lead. In Flinders, Liberal MP Zoe McKenzie appears on track to retain the Victorian seat, leading by 18,689 votes in first preferences. While full preference counts are unavailable, her strong margin suggests she will comfortably hold off challenges from Labor and independents. Kooyong, the Melbourne seat held by teal independent Monique Ryan, remains in doubt. Ms Ryan is ahead of Liberal challenger Amelia Hamer with 50.52 per cent to 49.48 per cent, although the narrow margin and ongoing count mean the final outcome is still uncertain. Monique Ryan is just ahead of Amelia Hamer in the Melbourne seat of Kooyong, NewsWire/Ian Currie Credit: News Corp Australia Greens leader Adam Bandt is facing a serious challenge in Melbourne, where Labor's Sarah Witty leads the two-candidate-preferred vote with 54 per cent. The contest is still live, but Mr Bandt will need a significant swing in remaining votes to hold the seat. In Monash, Liberal candidate Mary Aldred leads by more than 10,000 votes on first preferences. Though preference data is not yet available, she is in a strong position to win the seat previously held by retiring independent (and former Liberal) Russell Broadbent. Over in Bullwinkel, a new seat on the fringes of Perth, Labor's Trish Cook and Liberal candidate Matt Moran are separated by just 47 votes, Ms Cook on 50.16 per cent and Mr Moran on 49.84 per cent. Thousands of FIFO worker votes are yet to be counted, making this seat one of the most unpredictable. In Fremantle, Labor MP Josh Wilson has pulled ahead of independent Kate Hulett, now leading 50.70 per cent to 49.30 per cent. The close contest may still shift depending on remaining postals, but Mr Wilson appears to have regained the advantage. Several of these battlegrounds are expected to go down to the wire, with preference flows and late postal votes likely to be decisive. Labor MP Josh Wilson (left) is in a close contest with independent Kate Hulett in Fremantle. Mark Stewart / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia Remaining seats Data supplied by the Australian Electoral Commission Accurate as of 4:18pm, May 6 Bean (ACT) • David Smith (Labor) – 50.92 per cent • Jessie Price (Independent) - 40.08 per cent Bradfield (NSW) • Gisele Kapterian (Liberal) – 50.03 per cent • Nicolette Boele (Independent) – 49.97 per cent Longman (QLD) • Terry Young (LNP) – 50.19 per cent • Rhiannyn Douglas (Labor) – 49.81 per cent Ryan (QLD) – Preference data unavailable Maggie Forrest (LNP) leads by 5,786 votes First preferences: • Maggie Forrest (LNP) – 35.17 per cent (32,005 votes) • Elizabeth Watson-Brown (Greens) – 28.81 per cent (26,219) • Rebecca Hack (Labor) – 28.15 per cent (25,613) Bendigo (VIC) • Andrew Lethlean (Nationals) – 52.85 per cent • Lisa Chesters (Labor) – 47.15 per cent Flinders (VIC) – Preference data unavailable Zoe McKenzie (Liberal) leads by 18,689 votes First preferences: • Zoe McKenzie (Liberal) – 41.16 per cent (40,832 votes) • Sarah Race (Labor) – 22.32 per cent (22,144) • Ben Smith (Independent) – 22.04 per cent (21,861) • Others, including Greens and minor parties, shared the rest. Kooyong (VIC) • Monique Ryan (Independent) – 50.52 per cent • Amelia Hamer (Liberal) – 49.48 per cent Melbourne (VIC) • Sarah Witty (Labor) – 52.54 per cent • Adam Bandt (Greens) – 47.46 per cent Monash (VIC) – Preference data unavailable Mary Aldred (Liberal) leads by 10,653 votes First preferences: • Mary Aldred (Liberal) – 32.26 per cent (28,813 votes) • Tully Fletcher (Labor) – 20.34 per cent (18,162) • Deb Leonard (Independent) – 17.41 per cent (15,547) • Russell Broadbent (Independent) – 10.19 per cent (9,102) • Others shared the remaining votes. Bullwinkel (WA) • Trish Cook (Labor) – 49.97 per cent • Matt Moran (Liberal) – 50.03 per cent Fremantle (WA) • Josh Wilson (Labor) – 50.47 per cent • Kate Hulett (Independent) – 49.53 per cent
