What we learned today, Saturday 15 April
We are going to close the blog for now, so here’s a recap of today’s major news.
We’ll be back if need be, otherwise, have a safe and restful afternoon.
An Australian man charged with a foreign interference offence will remain behind bars until Monday after his case was adjourned in Sydney. Alexander Csergo, a 55-year-old businessman who normally lives overseas, was arrested in Bondi on Friday for allegedly sharing information with individuals who work for a foreign intelligence service, the AFP said.
The ambulance paramedic who tragically died after he was stabbed outside a McDonald’s in south-west Sydney has been named as Steven Tougher, a 29-year-old father of one. Colleagues have paid tributes to Tougher as a “dedicated nurse” who “never stopped advocating for his colleagues and patients”.
A 21-year-old man has been charged with murder following the fatal stabbing. He has been refused bail to appear at Parramatta local court today.
And the tail end of Cyclone Ilsa is expected to bring flash flooding to Northern Territory communities after causing damage in remote inland Western Australia. The storm weakened to below tropical cyclone strength as it moved into southern parts of the Northern Territory on Saturday.
Updated
And in lighter animal-related news, ever wondered how a prize-winning guinea pig is judged?
More than 200 roosters seized after cockfight tipoff
More than 200 cockfighting roosters were removed from a property by the RSPCA following a search west of Melbourne, AAP reports.
RSPCA inspectors went to a property in the Melton area on Friday in response to an anonymous tip about an expected cockfighting event.
They found hundreds of roosters kept in unsanitary conditions without access to water.
Here’s RSPCA Victoria’s inspectorate team leader, Lisa Calleja:
The results from today represent a significant disruption to an alleged illegal animal fighting ring.
Updated
Anti-crime rally to call for Northern Territory government action
In Darwin, a second anti-crime rally is being held outside parliament house calling for greater government action to curb the Northern Territory’s crime rates.
On 25 March around 2,000 people gathered following the alleged stabbing murder of 20-year-old bottle shop worker Declan Laverty. The Facebook group behind the protest has since amassed more than 2,000 followers.
Crowds will gather at 4pm local time.
Updated
Wet night ahead for parts of Tasmania
Tasmania! The Bureau of Meteorology is warning minor flooding may develop in parts of the Mersey, Meander, North Esk and South Esk rivers with a wet Saturday night expected.
Wet night ahead for #Tasmania, particularly about N areas where falls of 20-40mm are likely (more on N facing slopes). Minor #Flooding may develop in parts of the Mersey, Meander, North Esk and South Esk rivers on Sun or Mon. Stay up to date: https://t.co/NHL3HY0zFO pic.twitter.com/EBC2ORqX68
— Bureau of Meteorology, Tasmania (@BOM_Tas) April 15, 2023
Updated
Are Gen Z over ‘being real’?
The spell of Gen Z wanting to ‘BeReal’ seems to have broken, the New York Times reports.
Downloads for the photo-sharing app, which claimed to be the antidote to over-styling on Instagram by prompting people to take photos of what they’re doing at a random time each day, has been slipping since September.
The number of people who use the app daily has dropped 61% from its peak, from about 15 million in October to less than six million in March, according to analytics firm Apptopia.
It seems some users have discovered that seeing the monotony of their own lives reflected back at them is compelling for only so long.
If you want to understand more about this once chart-topping platform and have a laugh while you’re at it, I suggest checking out this piece from last year by my colleague Michael Sun:
Updated
Sophisticated impersonation scam using new technology targets major bank
A sophisticated scam using new technology to con Australians out of millions of dollars is now targeting some ING bank customers, Seven News reports.
Technology allowing scammers to impersonate the phone numbers of financial institutions in phone calls and text messages has already hit the big four banks, prompting urgent warnings.
The consumer watchdog says scammers are tricking their victims by sending texts that appear in previous conversation threads from their genuine banks, and also making calls that appear to be from the bank’s legitimate phone numbers.
The watchdog has warned Australians to be wary of any calls and texts that have a sense of urgency, raising issues such as fraudulent activity or a frozen account.
Updated
Aged care provider set to close Sydney facilities will be required to relocate residents
Wesley Mission is required to ensure the smooth transfer of all its aged care residents to alternative accommodation that suits their needs, says the industry’s quality and safety commissioner.
Janet Anderson, the aged care quality and safety commissioner, made the comments on Channel Seven’s Sunrise today following Wesley Mission’s announcement it would close its Sydney aged care homes due to challenges meeting the federal government’s new staffing requirements.
The provider will close its aged care homes in Narrabeen, Carlingford and Sylvania, which will impact 200 residents.
The federal government now requires aged care homes have a registered nurse present 24/7 from 1 July.
Here’s Anderson:
The provider has very specific obligations to ensure that the quality and safety of care that those residents receive will be up to standard right until the point of the closure of that facility.
Updated
Severe weather warning for damaging winds in parts of Victoria
This SEVERE WEATHER WARNING for DAMAGING WINDS is for people in parts of Central, North Central, North East, West and South Gippsland and East Gippsland Forecast Districts.
— VicEmergency (@vicemergency) April 15, 2023
Stay informed: https://t.co/T05ONtwAm3 pic.twitter.com/Hcmny3hGzQ
‘Booker’s remorse’: fine dining cancellations up 88% as punters turn to pubs
Australian diners are trading souffle for schnitzel as the cost-of-living crisis bites. Fine-dining restaurants across Australia have experienced a 28% decline in bookings, while bookings at mid-priced pubs and cafes are rising.
In an analysis of more than 3.79m bookings and 14.8m “covers” (hospitality jargon for customers served) during 2022, reservation platform ResDiary found diners are forgoing premium-end meals where the average spend per head is $81 or more.
Rebecca Zeitunian of ResDiary said their data showed fine dining’s decline was “very much correlated” with rising interest rates.
From May 2022 – when the RBA raised the cash rate for the first time in 12 years – to October 2022, there was an 88% increase in cancellations at fine-dining restaurants.
Read the full story from my colleague Yvonne C Lam here:
Updated
Electric car changes needed to stop ‘going in reverse’
Six months after submissions to the country’s National Electric Vehicle Strategy closed, the federal government has yet to respond or introduce new electric car policies, AAP reports.
Experts say the delay could mean the country not only trailed the rest of the world in zero-emission transport but could see it “going in reverse”. They say new international policies in the US and Europe should put further pressure on Australian policymakers to act.
America’s newest proposal revealed this week from its Environmental Protection Agency is designed to cut pollution from light, medium and heavy vehicles by more than 50% between 2027 and 2032.
If passed, the EPA forecasts electric vehicles to make up 67% of new car sales and 46% of medium-duty vehicle sales by 2032.
Behyad Jafari, the chief executive of Australia’s Electric Vehicle Council, says America’s bold approach should encourage Australia to follow.
Just like every other market, they too have shown that 60 to 70% of their vehicles will be electric by 2032, and more than half will be electric by 2030.
Adopting what the US has done is really the least we could do in Australia.
Updated
‘Really disturbing footage’: David Pocock responds to gas seep video
Senator David Pocock has called the video showing large methane gas bubbles active on the surface of Queensland’s Condamine River “really disturbing footage”.
The video, which was released on Saturday by environmental group Lock the Gate, shows the river “bubbling like a boiling broth”.
It has raised alarm that methane seeps into the waterway are more widespread than previously revealed, amid the continued ramp-up of coal seam gas drilling in the Darling Downs.
Really disturbing footage near coal seam gas projects in QLD. Both state & federal Labor govt’s continue to approve & promote coal seam gas projects on some of our best agricultural land & our biggest dry forest in the country, the Pilliga 🫣 🤯 🤦🏼♂️ 😔https://t.co/5awnJXNL2H
— David Pocock (@DavidPocock) April 15, 2023
Read more from my colleague Ben Smee:
Updated
Man charged with foreign interference to remain behind bars until Monday
An Australian man charged with a foreign interference offence will remain behind bars until Monday after his case was adjourned in Sydney.
Alexander Csergo, a 55-year-old business man who normally lives overseas, was arrested in Bondi on Saturday for allegedly sharing information with individuals who work for a foreign intelligence service, the AFP said.
The AFP allege that he was contacted over social media by an individual who claimed to be from a thinktank.
The man allegedly met with two individuals, known to him as “Ken” and “Evelyn”, who offered the man money to gather information about Australian defence, economic and national security arrangements, plus matters relating to other countries.
The AFP alleges the man put together a number of reports for them and was paid for his reports.
The police allege “Ken” and “Evelyn” work for a foreign intelligence service and are undertaking intelligence collection activities.
Police allege over a period of two years between Shanghai, NSW and elsewhere Csergo intentionally engaged in with “reckless” conduct by two people acting on behalf of a foreign principal.
His LinkedIn page suggests Csergo worked in China for a period of two decades across communications, business strategy and marketing.
Csergo appeared at Parramatta local court on Saturday morning via video link on one count of reckless foreign interference, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years behind bars. He will appear on Monday where he will apply for bail.
Updated
Cardiovascular disease hope in blood cell finding
A breakthrough blood cell discovery by Australian researchers could lead to treatments to reduce chronic inflammation in cardiovascular and other diseases, AAP reports.
The finding by Centenary Institute researchers in Sydney relates to how white blood cells called neutrophils detach from blood vessel walls to rush to sites of injury to initiate inflammation and healing.
Dr Joyce Chiu, lead author of the study published in the journal Circulation Research, said her team had uncovered the method neutrophils used to unstick from blood vessels as they moved towards injury sites.
This mechanism could be potentially harnessed to reduce chronic inflammation by preventing the movement of neutrophils to certain areas of the body, she said.
Nurses union mourns loss of ambulance paramedic after fatal stabbing
The ambulance paramedic who tragically died after he was stabbed outside a McDonald’s in south west Sydney has been named as Steven Tougher, a 29-year-old father of one.
Emma Gedge, a NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association councillor and midwife, expressed condolences on behalf of the Illawarra nurses and midwives who worked alongside Tougher.
Steven was our friend and colleague. A dedicated nurse and staunch union activist, Steven never hesitated to help people, no matter the circumstances. As a NSWNMA Branch Official, Steven never stopped advocating for his colleagues and patients. We will never forget his big smiles, cheeky giggles and charismatic personality.
NSWNMA general secretary, Shaye Candish, said it was shattering that Tougher’s life was taken in the line of duty.
Our hearts go out to Steven’s family, friends and colleagues who face this awful tragedy.
Our thoughts are also with the nurses and healthcare workers at Liverpool hospital who did all they could to save Steven’s life, and his current and past colleagues who will be impacted by his death.
Updated
Newspoll analysis shows falling support for Coalition
Australia’s mortgage-belt heartland has shifted its political allegiances from the Liberals to Labor and the Coalition has lost support among younger voters, a Newspoll analysis shows.
The analysis, conducted for The Weekend Australian, shows the Coalition support base narrowing, with over 65-year-olds, retirees, higher-income households and Christian voters the only groups where it holds a lead over Labor.
Younger voters have turned away from the Coalition, with 18 to 34-year-olds for the first time backing the Greens ahead of the Liberal-Nationals.
Among those voters with a mortgage, 41% say they would vote Labor, ahead of 33% supporting the Coalition.
Updated
Man in Sydney court charged with murder of paramedic
A 21-year-old man has been charged with murder following the fatal stabbing of a young ambulance paramedic in Sydney’s south-west.
The 29-year-old father of one was stabbed outside Campbelltown McDonald’s while he and a workmate took a break towards the end of their night shift about 5.30am on Friday.
The colleague activated a duress alarm, sparking a police response in which a younger man was tasered and arrested.
Homicide detectives later charged the 21-year-old man with murder. He has been refused bail to appear at Parramatta local court today.
‘Like a boiling broth’: concerns after video of gas seep in Queensland river emerges
New video showing Queensland’s Condamine River “bubbling like a boiling broth” has raised alarm that methane seeps into the waterway are more widespread than previously revealed, amid the continued ramp-up of coal-seam gas drilling in the Darling Downs.
The footage, released on Saturday by environmental group Lock the Gate, shows large methane gas bubbles active on the surface of the river. The group says the phenomenon was filmed at a section of river more than 1km from where similar bubbles have been observed since 2012, prompting a decade of scientific investigation.
Here’s Ben Smee’s exclusive story:
Happy Saturday, everyone! And thanks to Martin Farrer for kicking things off. I’ll be with you for the remainder of today.
Cyclone Ilsa threatens flash flooding for Northern Territory
The tail end of Cyclone Ilsa is expected to bring flash flooding to Northern Territory communities after causing damage in remote inland Western Australia, AAP reports.
After crossing the WA coast early on Friday between De Grey and Pardoo as a category five system, Ilsa was downgraded to category one by afternoon as it tracked through the eastern Pilbara with wind gusts up to 170km/h.
Inland WA is being urged to remain vigilant as Ilsa continues to deliver destructive winds and flooding but the storm is expected to weaken below tropical cyclone strength as it moves into southern parts of the Northern Territory on Saturday.
Forecasters have warned communities including Alice Springs, Yulara and Ti Tree to be on alert for flash flooding and gale-force winds.
“Those really intense rainfalls are going to fall over a space of few hours so there could be some flash flooding through the area, particularly the northern parts of the Lasseter district and into the northwest parts of the Simpson Desert,” senior meteorologist Sally Cutter said.
Meanwhile, a red alert remains for Wallal Downs on the WA coast and inland to Telfer, Punmu and Parnngurr.
“I wanted to just really emphasise for those communities, even though the system has crossed the coast, please remain vigilant,” the Bureau of Meteorology’s Todd Smith said on Friday.
Telfer gold mine operator Newcrest Mining has begun assessing the Pilbara site for hazards like fallen power lines and loose tree branches as well as any hidden structural damage.
“Pending inspections of the airstrip and village, we aim to commence bringing the majority of people back to site from tomorrow afternoon and through the remainder of the weekend,” the miner said on Friday.
Pardoo Roadhouse and Tavern, 150km north-east of Port Hedland, bore the brunt of Ilsa as it made landfall, packing record winds of 213km/h.
“We are all still a bit shaken and emotional to see the damage,” they posted on Facebook.
“She may have wiped us out but she can’t take away our spirit.”
Updated
Welcome
Morning and welcome to our rolling news coverage of this April Saturday. My colleague Jordyn Beazley will be here shortly, but before then I’m Martin Farrer and these are our top stories overnight.
A 55-year-old man is expected to appear at Parramatta magistrates court this morning charged with a foreign interference offence after allegedly sharing information with individuals who work for a foreign intelligence service. The man, who is an Australian national but normally lives overseas, was arrested at a home in Bondi on Friday, the Australian federal police said in a statement. He operates a business overseas and recently returned to the country, the AFP said. We’ll have every development as soon as it happens.
After a week of riding the storm over his decision to campaign for a no vote in the voice referendum, we are reporting that Peter Dutton is likely to promote Jacinta Price or Kerrynne Liddle to take on portfolio responsibility for Indigenous Australians. However, the post may be relegated to a shadow assistant ministerial role. The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, is considering how to replace Julian Leeser, who on Tuesday quit as shadow attorney general and shadow minister for Indigenous Australians.
Saudi Arabia is reportedly investigating the possibility of launching what is likely to be the world’s most lucrative Twenty20 tournament after the chairman of their cricket board, Prince Saud bin Mishal al-Saud, declared his intention to make the nation “a global cricketing destination”. The Age and Sydney Morning Herald said discussions have taken place between Saudi government representatives and owners of Indian Premier League teams, including about the possibility of Indian players – who have so far been banned from participating in overseas T20 competitions – being allowed to participate.
