Latest news with #Strathfield
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Yahoo
Aussies warned over $11,000 fines as P-plater allegedly found driving fake Chinese police car
A young Sydney driver is facing a string of charges after he was allegedly caught impersonating a foreign police officer in the city's west, and subsequently found to be in possession of multiple firearms. NSW Police Highway Patrol were conducting routine inspections on Everton Road in Strathfield on Friday, when they noticed a black sedan allegedly bearing Chinese police insignia — or at least, an attempt at it. Images show the word "POILCE" emblazoned across the bonnet, alongside a set of Chinese characters, raising eyebrows, as well as a few spelling concerns. The 20-year-old driver, who allegedly showed officers a disability pass, then also allegedly presented false documentation stating the vehicle was being used to transport consulate officials from China. While searching the sedan, police located a box containing 48 live rounds of ammunition in the boot, they allege. Officers said the man claimed he believed it was the best place to store the ammo. He was arrested and his home searched. "Officers seized the ammunition as well as other items in the vehicle believed to be utilised to impersonate police," Traffic and Highway Patrol Command said. "Officers were able to gain access to his Baulkham Hills residence where they located two gel blaster firearms, which were immediately seized. His registered firearms were also taken, now pending a review of his firearms licence." The driver was hit with a string of charges, including impersonating a public official, displaying unauthorised police insignia, not displaying P-plates, and firearms storage offences. The man was granted conditional bail and is set to appear at Burwood Local Court on Tuesday. What's the penalty for impersonating a police officer in NSW? In NSW, impersonating a police officer is a criminal offence under section 546D of the Crimes Act 1900. The maximum penalty is two years jail and/or a fine of 100 penalty units, which currently equates to up to $11,000 If the impersonation is aggravated, meaning if it also involves misuse of police powers like stopping a vehicle or making arrests, offenders can face up to seven years in prison. $349 fine for trying this stunt on NSW roads Tradie attacked after being pulled over by 'fake cop' Warning over fake police post shared on Facebook It's not the first time people in Australia have been caught impersonating police. Previously, two men pretending to be police officers forced their way inside a woman's home, and a Melbourne tradie was attacked after being pulled over by a "fake cop". Drivers were also earlier warned about a "fake" police car that pulled Melburnians over and demanded they "pay up". A driver claimed to have spotted the vehicle, which had a blue flashing light on the dashboard, similar to a police car, in Hampton Park, in the city's southeast, in 2023. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
News.com.au
21-07-2025
- News.com.au
Man arrested in Strathfield driving black ‘Chinese Police' sedan with firearms, ammunition in boot
You don't see this one every day. Police in Sydney's inner west made a peculiar arrest on Friday after stopping a 21-year-old man driving a black sedan in Strathfield. Burwood Highway Patrol officers were conducting routine patrols at around 2:50pm on 18 July when they noticed a vehicle bearing 'Chinese Police' markings. On inspection of the vehicle, they found numerous 'Chinese Police' insignia affixed to the passenger door panels and the bonnet. The driver was charged after officers allegedly found firearms and ammunition in the boot. Upon questioning, the man allegedly produced a fake document claiming the vehicle was being used to transport Chinese consulate officials. During a search of the car, officers located a box containing 48 live rounds of ammunition in the trunk. The man, who holds an active firearms licence, allegedly told police he believed it was 'the best place to store his ammunition'. Officers seized the ammunition along with other items suspected of being used to impersonate police. They later gained access to the man's Baulkham Hills residence, where they located two gel blaster firearms, which were also seized. His registered firearms were taken pending a review of his firearms licence. The man was charged with multiple offences, including use display emergency services organisation insignia, driving motor vehicle with unlawful police insignia and possession of an unauthorised prohibited firearm. He was granted conditional bail and is due to appear at Burwood Local Court on Tuesday, 22 July 2025. At a glance, the man's black sedan looked to be legitimate, if not for the misspelt 'POILCE' emblazoned on his bonnet.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Expat exposes 'expensive' trap catching those moving to Australia: 'Super surprised'
A British woman who recently moved to Sydney on a working holiday visa has revealed the common cost-of-living trap catching out expats. Thousands of British people come to Australia each year, and some have found the price of life Down Under to be a shock. Gabby Watson is currently on the third year of her working holiday visa (WHV) in Australia, having previously done her first two years a decade ago. The 35-year-old, originally from the East Midlands, told Yahoo Finance she'd found the cost of living, job market and rental market weren't nearly as bad as everyone made out to be online. Watson said a big trap she'd seen many expats fall into was renting in expensive suburbs like Bondi Beach and then complaining about not being able to afford anything. RELATED Gen Z worker reveals $4,732 DoorDash, Uber Eats cost-of-living problem facing millions Centrelink cash boost for millions of Aussies: 'More money in bank accounts' Centrelink age pension changes coming into effect for millions 'I'm staying in Strathfield, which everyone is super surprised at, since most people on a WHV tend to base themselves in Bondi or Coogee, but these areas are super expensive and really aren't 'real' Australia,' she said. Medium rents in the inner west suburb are $1,000 per week for houses and $700 per week for apartments. Comparatively, Bondi has average rents at $1,700 per week for houses and $925 per week for units. Watson said she secured a room for rent in a sharehouse within the first week of being in Australia through costs me $250 a week, [and] is on par with what I was paying back home, which is wild when you compare the most expensive city in the country to a small market town in the midlands in the UK,' she said. Watson said location was important for both accommodation and when applying for jobs. 'Forget Bondi or Manly or Coogee, you can visit them anytime, but they'll hold you back if you're serious about finding a decent job without the competition of other backpackers, especially in hospitality roles,' she said. 'Same goes for accommodation. These areas are super expensive, and for the price you'll be paying to share a bedroom with a stranger with zero privacy, you can have your own room with a balcony just 15 minutes from the CBD.' A total of 193,922 visa applications were granted in 2023-24 for the working holiday program, up from 178,306 the year prior. The United Kingdom was the most popular country to be granted Aussie visas, followed by France, Ireland, Japan and South Korea. Some expats have found it tough to find work when they land in Australia. Northern Irish man Jordan Morris said he was forced to leave the country after being unable to find a job or accommodation after three weeks in Sydney. Watson said she was initially a bit worried she would struggle to find work in Australia given the current economic climate, but ended up finding a job within a week of arriving. She applied for temporary debt collecting type positions, since this is where most of her experience is. But it took about 20 applications before she secured a two-month contract. Watson said finding a job on a WHV was 'not impossible' and recommended people base themselves in a large city and contact recruitment agencies. 'I tend to reach out to them by phone, speak to the person/department responsible for temp work, on a WHV you can't accept a permanent position, have a chat with them, and then send over my CV,' she said. 'Calling them first gives you a bit of an edge over other people and they can get a feel for your experience.' Superior People Recruitment director Graham Wynn told Yahoo Finance those on working holiday visas could face difficulties finding work, depending on the industry. 'If you're happy to go into retail or hospitality, it's not a problem because they do have casual staff in those industries,' he said. 'If you're looking for something where the employer is looking for long-term or career-driven people, you've got no chance on a working holiday visa.' Wynn said Watson likely found it easier to find a job because of the particular industry she was applying for. 'That kind of industry has a lot of burnout of staff, it's a tough job," he said. "So to find someone with experience, they're going to grab that person and even if they only get six months out of them because of their visa situation, they'll take it because they are struggling to find people." Wynn recommended people on WHVs looking for retail or hospitality jobs to physically hand out resumes to businesses that are hiring. He said it can be worth exploring recruiters, but to make sure you found one that specialised in temporary or labour hire, not permanent in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data
Daily Mail
11-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Why this brand new multi-million dollar home complete with a pool, spa and cinema room is set to be demolished
A multi-million dollar mansion will be demolished after a local council won a five-year court battle with the owners who built the home without seeking permission. Sydney plumber Rabi Malass and his 34-year-old wife, Sarah, bought a coveted block of land in Strathfield, in Sydney's inner west, for $2.8mllion in 2017. The home on Boden Avenue was already DA approved for a knock-down and rebuild but the couple wished to make alterations to the existing plans. They hired an architect to redesign the layout and the façade of the home who they believed had engaged with the Strathfield Council to seek approval. But as Sydney was plunged into lockdown amid the spread of Covid-19 in 2020, the couple were still yet to receive approval for the redesign. Mr Malass made an ill-fated decision to push on with construction so his workers could remain employed as council became 'uncontactable' despite multiple calls. He told the Land and Environment Court in 2023 that his architect had assured him council would not object to the minor changes, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. But, his architect had also urged Mr Malass to wait for approval as he might need a building information certificate (BIC) to protect the unauthorised works. Mr Malass told the court he was later shocked to discover his architect had never applied for approval for the modified development. In September 2020, council issued a stop-work order following a slew of complaints from frustrated neighbours. The issue escalated to the Land and Environment Court after a council inspector observed evidence building works were continuing. Fed-up neighbours claimed they saw workers in high-vis on a daily basis, heard drilling and even saw dust and smoke coming from the home. But, construction still didn't stop. Council inspected the property 10 times between June 2021 and September 2022 and observed 'significant building activity' at the home. A number of new features had been added without approval including a spa room, parking space, gym, playroom and a cool room. Meanwhile, Mrs Malass - who bought the property - has pleaded guilty to multiple contempt of court charges including continuing with unlawful construction work. Council told the court the contempt resulted in the Malass' putting the finishing touches on the new build and then unlawfully moving in. Mrs Malass was fined $20,000 for contempt in November, 2022. In 2024, Justice Nicola Pain issued an order for the family to vacate the property, demolish the unlawful work and comply with the original building plans. Despite the demolition order, the home is still standing as the Malass' make a last-ditch bid to salvage parts of the home. The family has since lodged a new development application and made a formal request for a BCI. The application would allow the family to remain in the existing home while partially demolishing the first floor and completing some construction work. Strathfield Local Planning Panel rejected the applications, which are now under appeal before the Land and Environment Court. Mr Malass told the court he has spent $700,000 in legal fees and that his plumbing business was in voluntary administration due to the ongoing legal battle. Mrs Malass was ordered to pay council's costs of more than $157,000 in addition to hundreds of thousands of dollars it is seeking in legal fees.
ABC News
20-05-2025
- General
- ABC News
Sydney train delays live updates: Passengers told to avoid travel amid chaos in aftermath of power outage
Sydney Trains are working to get six tracks operational on the network after a heavy rail collided with overhead wires near Strathfield on Tuesday afternoon. Follow live.
