Listen to Australian and world news, and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts.
TRANSCRIPT
Welcome to SBS News in Easy English. I'm Biwa Kwan.
A New South Wales coroner has handed down findings after an inquest into the fatal stabbing of six people at Bondi Westfield shopping centre.
The incident happened in April 2024.
Among the coroner's findings was that one of the security officers was not prepared to oversee the centre's CCTV alone - and to respond an incident of this kind.
The coroner also found there was a delay by Westfield Bondi Junction in activating alerts and alarms when the armed man was seen in the centre.
Paramedics and attending police officers were commended for their reponse, which was said to be rapid and extensive.
The coroner found that although officers went above and beyond in their duties, New South Wales police temporarily withheld crucial information from the ambulance service.
---
Draft laws have been introduced in federal parliament to ensure the permanent and independent status of the national commissioner for First Nations children.
The move formalises the appointment last year of Sue-Anne Hunter as the first full-time National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Young People.
First Nations children are 27 times more likely to be in youth detention than their non-Indigenous peers; and 10 times more likely to be in out-of-home care.
Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek presented the bill to parliament and referred to findings from 70 advocacy groups in 2019.
"They described the levels of discrimination and disadvantage being faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children at the time as widespread, systemic and intergenerational. Sadly, these sobering assessments have continued, but so too has the tireless advocacy to change them."
The government is due to release its latest Closing the Gap report next week.
---
The Trump administration has called on nations, including Australia, to join a new trade alliance on critical minerals to break China's dominance of the sector.
Australian Resources Minister Madeleine King is among those attending a ministerial meeting in Washington, with attendees also from the European Union and 53 other nations.
US Vice-President JD Vance has appealed to countries to sign up to the trade bloc.
"The Trump administration is proposing a concrete mechanism to return the global critical minerals market to a healthier more competitive state. A preferential trade zone for critical minerals, protected from external disruptions through enforceable price floors."
---
The Australian drama miniseries 'The Narrow Road to the Deep North' won seven prizes at the AACTA Industry Awards, including Best Direction in Drama or Comedy and Best Cinematography in Television.
Last night, some 30 prizes were awarded on the first night of the event, which recognises the best of Australian films and television over the last year.
SBS documentary 'The People vs Robodebt' also picked up two awards.
NITV spoke with Gardening Australia host Costa Giorgiadis [[Geor-jah-dess]], says the awards ceremony is important to the people behind the scenes of storytelling.
"You know, behind the camera and behind the microphones, because without them and all the editors and all the people back of house. They make sort of rough clay like this look palatable!"
---
To sport,
Jakara Anthony and Matt Graham will lead the Australian team as the flag bearers at the Winter Olympics opening ceremony this week.
The event will take place at Milan's San Siro Olympic Stadium.
Jakara Anthony says she is excited to take part in the ceremony.
"As an Olympic athlete in Australia it is one biggest honours you can have bestowed open you. Even just making the team is an honour and to be leading the team out in the opening ceremony with my teammate Matt Graham. Yeah, I couldn't have asked for anything more."
And that's SBS News in Easy English. I'm Biwa Kwan.
