Hello, it's Wednesday, July 6. Here's what you need to get caught up on today's news.
One thing to know: Daniel Johns has avoided jail for a drink-driving crash
Here are the facts:
- The former Silverchair frontman was handed a 10-month intensive corrections order to be served in the community.
- He was disqualified from driving for seven months and ordered to fit an alcohol-reading interlock device to his car for 24 months.
- Johns was charged with high-range drink driving in March after he drove into an oncoming lane on the highway, crashing into a van with two people inside.
- Johns returned a blood alcohol reading three times the legal limit.
- The 43-year-old entered rehabilitation for four weeks after the crash and the court was told he had not touched alcohol since.
- In sentencing, the magistrate said Johns was best served to continue with psychiatric treatment in the community.
We heard a lot about the weather situation in NSW
First up: The bulk carrier and its 21 crew stranded off the coast of Sydney has been rescued and towed to shore after several failed rescue attempts.
The ship lost power on Monday in severe weather conditions, and attempts to fly the crew out via helicopter had to be abandoned.
Rescue crews had to wait for conditions to ease, but it wasn't until this afternoon that four tug boats were able to tow the ship to Port Botany for repairs.
Meanwhile: Residents on the Mid North Coast are being warned about the chance of dangerous flash-flooding, as heavy rain continues over much of the region.
The rain has eased in Sydney but heavy falls are predicted further north, particularly between Bellingen, Nowendoc and Foster.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said there was a "significant risk" of flash flooding at Singleton, where the Hunter River could peak at 13.8 metres.
And ICYMI: The federal government also announced a direct cash payment of up to $1,000 would be made available to flood-affected residents.
The Disaster Recovery Payment is $1,000 per adult and $400 per child and will be available to claim from 2pm tomorrow.
The news Australia is searching for
- Boris Johnson: The British Prime Minister is facing questions over his leadership after multiple resignations from ministers who say he's not fit to govern. Mr Johnson's finance and health secretaries have quit, along with several junior ministers, and a growing number of politicians in his party say it's time for him to step down.
- Elizabeth Struhs: The eight-year-old girl was found dead in her Toowoomba home in January after she was allegedly denied medical care for type 1 diabetes for about six days. Her parents, as well as a dozen other members of a religious group, have been charged with murder over her death.
News you might have missed
- The Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, NAB and Macquarie Bank have passed on the Reserve Bank's latest Big Four to pass on rate riseto customers in full.
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The Prime Minister of Solomon Islands wants China to play a permanent role training his police. Australia has always been the major provider of police training in Solomon Islands, and senior Australian officials have publicly expressed their unease about the growing cooperation.
One more thing: Banks are passing on the latest rate rise
Australia's big four banks have announced they'll pass on the latest Reserve Bank interest rate increase to borrowers in full:
- NAB, ANZ, Westpac and the Commonwealth Bank will lift home-loan variable interest rates by half a percentage point.
- NAB, ANZ and CBA will pass on the changes from July 15, and Westpac from July 20.
- Other big banks like Macquarie Bank will also pass on the full 50 basis points to home-loan customers.
That's it for now
We'll be back tomorrow with more.
ABC/wires
