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News live: search suspended for Australian hiker missing in Canada; ‘they came to kill us,’ Jewish woman tells Bondi royal commission | Australia news
Search for missing Australian hiker in Canadian wilderness suspended
The search for a missing Australian hiker in the Canadian wilderness has been suspended with no further search activity planned after authorities spent six days scouring the region from air and ground to no avail.
Denise Ann Williams, 62, was last heard from on 15 April, when she indicated she was travelling to Chéticamp, a town on the west coast of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. Her rental vehicle, a Nissan Sentra, was found at the Parks Canada visitor centre near the Acadian Trail head.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Inverness Country said they received a call at about 9.30am, local time, on 28 April reporting a missing person believed to be hiking in Cape Breton Highlands national park.
Search efforts began on 28 April, with RCMP and Department of Natural Resources air services, police dog services, multiple ground search and rescue teams, and many other agencies assisting.
On Monday 4 May, local time, however, authorities announced they had suspended the search, and said: “No further search activity is planned at this time.”
Williams remains missing, and anyone who may have encountered her in or around the national park is asked to contact Inverness County District RCMP.
Williams was described as “5-foot-4 with greyish blonde, shoulder length hair”. She is believed to have been wearing a dark winter jacket, a powder blue beanie (toque) with “Antarctica” written on it, an orange and blue scarf, and glasses.
Key events
McNulty confirmed that one deceased person had been recovered from the yacht that was in distress, a male in his mid-50s who has not been formally identified yet. McNulty said the man was not wearing a lifejacket at the time his body was recovered.
There were no distress calls from the yacht itself, McNutly said:
We received no distress call, no EPIRB, no flares. It was the good Samaritan on the break wall, he raised the alarm and contacted marine rescue directly.
Marine Rescue had been “working within their operational parameters to respond to a vessel in distress immediately”, McNulty said.
McNulty continues:
Six people went to save the life of another yachtsman at sea. Unfortunately, their actions punching through those bar conditions, that vessel capsized. As a result of that capsize, some of the marine rescue crew were trapped in the hull, some were ejected from the vessel, and unfortunately two lives have been lost. Both residents, both male members of the crew, a 78-year-old and a 62-year-old from Marine Rescue.
I really want to focus on the condolences and our sympathies that go towards this marine rescue crew. These crew are volunteers from New South Wales. Volunteers from the local community, and they’re out there saving the lives and responding to vessels in distress day in, day out.
While this is one incident in what they do for New South Wales Police and New South Wales community, they are trained personnel, but last night was difficult situation to manoeuvre that vessel.
It is a tragedy, it is a tragedy to lose any life in the marine environment. But I have to say, to lose marine rescue personnel, that lives, their commitment to the community, to keep people safe, to supporting New South Wales police, between Tweed Heads and Eden, the east coast of Australia, one of the best services the New South Wales community has available to them.
McNulty says an investigation will be conducted by NSW Police into the incident.
Emergency services have been giving a press conference on the yacht tragedy in Ballina last night. Superintendent Joe McNulty of the NSW Police Marine Area Command has been describing what happened:
What I can tell you now, last night 5:40pm, a good Samaritan was on the south break wall, he saw a vessel in distress and it appeared to be in distress because it was in close proximity to the break wall, and it didn’t appear to be anyone on board at the time. And it was about to go up onto the break wall….
He contacted marine rescue at Ballina and marine rescue promptly responded to the distress of a vessel at sea. We launched what we call Ballina 30, a fit for purpose marine rescue craft. That vessel had six persons on board, six male crew members that made up that marine rescue crew to respond to that incident occurring off the Ballina break wall.
That vessel left Ballina break wall into a very severe conditions, it was punching into a 2.5m swell coming from the east coast, and it heightened the wave height, creating a wave that was difficult to navigate and manoeuvre, and difficult to enter from a river system at a low tide in the ocean area. It was extremely treacherous conditions at the time those marine rescue personnel went to sea. It was a very challenging rescue.
Antisemitism royal commission told of ‘children saying heil Hitler’
Tory Shepherd
Witness Natalie Levy has told the antisemitism royal commission of her shock and horror at the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, and of events in Australia since.
Levy says her mother and father moved to Australia from England and Ukraine respectively to escape antisemitism.
They met at Bondi beach.
She says she only really became aware of antisemitism in her 20s, and particularly when she joined the community security group that works to secure Jewish events and synagogues.
Now, she says, her teenage children see it all the time; her son through the increased security at his school, and her daughter in her school surrounds. Levy says:
She sees swastikas etched all around the school, children saying heil Hitler and putting up their arm in a salute. She sees things that no 15-year-old should see.
Levy says antisemitism has now been normalised in Australia. She told the commission of appalling and offensive abuse she has suffered online.
Woman charged after police investigation into torture and neglect of child
A woman has been charged after a police investigation into allegations of torture and neglect of a child at Logan Reserve, on the outskirts of Brisbane.
On 9 February, a 10-year-old girl was admitted to the Queensland Children’s hospital suffering dehydration, critical malnutrition and significant untreated injuries, Queensland police said in a statement.
Police were notified and commenced an investigation, declaring a crime scene at the child’s Logan Reserve home.
A 40-year-old Logan Reserve woman has now been charged with three counts of fail to supply necessaries and one count of torture, and is scheduled to appear at the Beenleigh magistrates court today.
The child remains in intensive care in a stable condition, police said.
NSW premier pays tribute to marine rescue volunteers in Ballina tragedy
Penry Buckley
The NSW premier, Chris Minns, has paid tribute to marine rescue volunteers who responded to a stricken yacht in Ballina in northern NSW last night, including two who lost their lives.
Speaking at a press conference this morning, the premier said:
I know the Ballina community will be devastated by this news. I know the Marine Rescue fraternity who actually know each other from up and down the coast, because they’re often in contact with each other via CB radio, will be devastated by the loss of lives, and I want to pay tribute to their heroism, their sense of courage, their public mindedness and let them know that the people of NSW are in their corner today.
Search for missing Australian hiker in Canadian wilderness suspended
The search for a missing Australian hiker in the Canadian wilderness has been suspended with no further search activity planned after authorities spent six days scouring the region from air and ground to no avail.
Denise Ann Williams, 62, was last heard from on 15 April, when she indicated she was travelling to Chéticamp, a town on the west coast of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. Her rental vehicle, a Nissan Sentra, was found at the Parks Canada visitor centre near the Acadian Trail head.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Inverness Country said they received a call at about 9.30am, local time, on 28 April reporting a missing person believed to be hiking in Cape Breton Highlands national park.
Search efforts began on 28 April, with RCMP and Department of Natural Resources air services, police dog services, multiple ground search and rescue teams, and many other agencies assisting.
On Monday 4 May, local time, however, authorities announced they had suspended the search, and said: “No further search activity is planned at this time.”
Williams remains missing, and anyone who may have encountered her in or around the national park is asked to contact Inverness County District RCMP.
Williams was described as “5-foot-4 with greyish blonde, shoulder length hair”. She is believed to have been wearing a dark winter jacket, a powder blue beanie (toque) with “Antarctica” written on it, an orange and blue scarf, and glasses.
Patrick Commins
Further tax relief for workers on the cards in next week’s budget: reports
There is growing speculation next week’s federal budget will include additional tax relief for Australian workers, despite Jim Chalmers downplaying the prospect on Monday.
The Australian is reporting this morning that the government plans to give workers a tax cut of between $200 and $300 in the form of an “earned income offset”, which would apply only to tax-paying Australians earning income from Labor, rather than from capital such as shares or property.
These unconfirmed reports also come amid growing chatter that the government could introduce a minimum tax rate of 30% on discretionary trusts, a popular tax minimisation vehicle that allows income splitting among the trusts beneficiaries, including children.
Chalmers on Monday did not engage with questions about further tax relief in the budget, pointing instead to existing policies: the 1 percentage point reduction in the lowest marginal income in each of the next two financial years, and the recently announced $1,000 instant tax deduction.
Two Marine Rescue volunteers confirmed dead as Ballina search suspended
NSW police have confirmed the deaths of three people including two Marine Rescue volunteers, as the search operation after a boating incident in waters off Ballina overnight is suspended.
After emergency services responded to reports that a yacht was in difficulty off the South Ballina break wall about 6.15pm last night, the body of a man, who is yet to be formally identified but is believed to be aged in his 50s, was found on the sand nearby, police said.
A Marine Rescue NSW vessel with six crew members also responded, however their vessel capsized while crossing the Ballina bar in heavy conditions, police said.
The body of one crew member, aged 78, was recovered by the Westpac Lifesaver Helicopter while a second, aged 62, was located on the sand.
Four further crew members – aged 55, 75 and two aged 61 – made it to shore and were treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics for various injuries before being taken to hospital for further treatment.
It was unknown how many people were on the yacht at the time, which has since sunk.
Police said the search had suspended overnight due to weather conditions, however recommenced this morning but has since been suspended as police inquiries suggested there had been no other people on board the yacht at the time.
Stafford byelection early voting begins
Ben Smee
Early voting for the Stafford byelection in Queensland begins today, and the Greens have caused a minor stir by issuing “how to vote” cards that do not recommend directing preferences to Labor.
The Greens’ how-to-vote recommends voters number every box but make up their own minds about preferences.
At the 2024 election – and historically – the Greens advised voters to direct preferences to Labor. In Stafford in 2024, 80% of Greens preferences went to Labor.
While it remains unclear what impact the decision might have on the result, it has already created concern within Labor. Guardian Australia understands Labor party figures attempted to convince the Greens to change their minds last week.
Stafford is expected to be a tight contest between Labor and the LNP, and a litmus test for the Crisafulli government’s ability to break into Brisbane’s progressive inner ring of suburbs.
Stafford is a Labor heartland seat and a loss for Labor – or even a close result – would heap pressure on opposition leader Steven Miles.
It had also been a seat that Greens strategists had previously thought was winnable within a decade. At the 2022 federal election, for instance, the Greens outpolled Labor at booths within Stafford, and the electorate has a large percentage of renters, particularly at the northern end.
But the Greens’ ambitions in Queensland have taken a hit since then – failing to win most of its target seats at the 2024 election, and left with just one MP in the state parliament.
One Nation is not running in Stafford.
The Greens’ candidate, Jess Lane, said:
I’m asking people to vote 1 Greens and number every square, because that’s the best way to get to work replacing the political establishment and winning real change.
Ballina mayor mourns deaths of three people in yacht accident
The Ballina mayor, Sharon Cadwallader, has told media that the deaths of three people last night in a yacht accident has been “a tragedy of epic proportions for us”.
As we reported earlier, it is understood that two marine rescue volunteers were among those who died after going to the aid of a yacht at the Ballina bar in northern NSW on Monday night.
Cadwallader told ABC News that volunteers “are at the heart of our community, in everything we do”.
She continued:
The Ballina bar is a difficult bar at the best of times … It’s treacherous. It’s challenging. It’s unforgiving. And it’s a timely reminder of just how treacherous that bar is. And how it needs to be treated with the utmost respect.
And our volunteers are putting their lives at risk, Marine Rescue volunteers are constantly out there on that bar. We just need to acknowledge that – that they do that every day of the week, out there rescuing people in our waterways.
A fundraising page had been set up in the aftermath of the deaths but Cadwallader questioned why the rescuers had to supply their own equipment:
I could never understand why the volunteers had to raise money for their vessel to rescue people. They’ve had morning breakfasts out at the Marine Rescue tower. They’ve written a book and proceeds from the sale have gone to provide this vessel to keep people safe.
I just cannot fathom why they just didn’t get the boat given to them – why they’ve had to raise money to save lives.
So, maybe this is a quiet reminder, too, how important our volunteers are. Their courage, their bravery. They put their lives on the line all the time. They fundraise. They’re not just rescuers – they fundraise to provide services to our community. So they’re really at the heart of our community, our volunteers and keeping our community – and our visitors – safe.
Jonathan Barrett
Investment property loan growth surges at Westpac
Investors now account for almost two in five new home loans, according to Westpac’s half-year financial results released this morning, as prospective owner-occupiers struggle to get a foothold.
The data comes a week before the federal budget, when investor tax breaks are expected to be scaled back.
Westpac, which recorded a six-month net profit of $3.4bn, recorded strong growth in its mortgage portfolio over the period. It was valued at $536.2bn at the end of March, up from $510.2bn a year ago.
Investment property loans have been trending up and now account for 39% of new loans, up from 36% a year earlier.
Meanwhile, owner-occupiers are taking out just over 60% of new loans, down from almost 64% a year ago.
The bank data complements Reserve Bank figures which show that owner-occupier loan growth has slowed under the weight of growing mortgage costs while investor lending continues its record surge.
Westpac figures do show some growth in first home buyer lending, which have been supported by government initiatives including its low deposit scheme.
Worst diphtheria outbreak in Australia for more than 35 years, chief medical officer says
Australia is in the midst of its worst diphtheria outbreak in more than 35 years, Australia’s chief medical officer has said, with 164 reported cases of the respiratory illness this year.
Diphtheria is an infectious disease that affects the respiratory tract. It’s caused by a bacteria that releases a toxin into the body. The toxin affects airways and can cause a membrane to grow across the windpipe, which makes breathing difficult and can lead to suffocation and death. It’s spread mainly through coughing and sneezing.
Prof Michael Kidd told ABC RN this morning that while occasional cases are not unusual (diphtheria is rare in Australia but can be contracted overseas and brought back) case numbers like this haven’t been seen in Australia since the data surveillance started 35 years ago, and possibly earlier.
The cases include 103 across the Northern Territory, 55 in Western Australia, particularly in the Kimberley, four cases in the far north of South Australia and, earlier in the year, a couple of cases in Queensland, Kidd said. The cases were mainly occurring in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
He continued:
Importantly, 46 of those cases so far have been respiratory diphtheria, which is very concerning. So we’re still seeking to fully understand what’s been driving this current outbreak … The strain that is circulating appears to have recently emerged and so we’re looking really closely at what’s happening there.
We do know that most cases are mild and this is due to most infected people having had immunisation to protect them from diphtheria. Vaccination offers very strong protection against the severe effects of the toxin but it doesn’t always prevent people being able to be infected and transmit to other people. So the people who we’re most worried about are people who are unvaccinated or people who haven’t had a booster in the last 10 years or so.
Kidd said health authorities in the NT and WA had been working with the leaders of those affected communities, community-controlled Aboriginal medical services and other health services:
[The] community themselves are very active in educating their members, in detecting cases, assisting people to get treated if they are infected, and also supporting getting wide-scale immunisation happening for those who haven’t been vaccinated or for those who haven’t had a booster in recent years.
