TRANSCRIPT
In this bulletin;
- Police declare church stabbing a terrorist act;
- Prime Minister praises French citizen who used a bollard to protect people from Bondi Junction attacker;
- And in AFL, Collingwood defender Nathan Murphy retires after repeated head knocks.
A joint counter terror taskforce has been established in response to the knife attack at a Western Sydney church.
A 16-year-old boy is in custody after the attack overnight at Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, where Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was stabbed during a live-streamed sermon.
New South Wales Police, the Australian Federal Police and ASIO make up Strike Force Patrina which are investigating the incident.
ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess says the investigation will seek to ensure there is not further threat to the community.
"It does appear to be religiously motivated but we continue our lines of investigation. At the same time, our job is to look at individuals connected with the attacker to assure ourselves there's no one else in the community with similar intent. At this stage, we have no indications of that. But it's prudent that we do this to determine there's no threats or immediate threats to security. At this time we're not seeing that."
The terrorism threat level in Australia will remain at possible, with Mr Burgess saying a single incident will not change the threat level but it will remain under review.
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has praised a French citizen who used a bollard to try to try to protect people from Bondi Junction attacker Joel Cauchi.
Frenchman Damien Gauerot was captured in video confronting Cauchi on an escalator with a bollard.
Mr Albanese says Mr Gauerot is someone Australia would welcome as an Australian citizen.
"I say this to Damien Gauerot, who is dealing with his visa applications, that you are welcome here, you are welcome to stay for as long as you like. This is someone who we would welcome becoming an Australian citizen although that would, of course, be a loss for France. We thank him for his extraordinary bravery."
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The Chief Executive of Woolworths has repeatedly refused to confirm whether Woolworths recorded a 26 per cent return on equity last financial year when it recorded a profit of $1.7 billion.
Under repeated questioning from Greens Senator Nick McKim, Brad Banducci kept insisting that that is not the corporate finance measure Woolworths uses.
"Senator, with respect, we look at return on funds employed."
Nick McKim: "I don't care what you look at Mr Banducci. You're not answering the question. Please address yourself to the question. Would you dispute that your return on equity in the last financial year,when you made $1.7 billion dollars in profit was about 26 per cent? Would you dispute that?"
Brad Banducci: "Senator, with respect, we look at return on funds employed which is the key measure."
Nick McKim warned Mr Banducci a failure to answer the question directly may lead him to being held in contempt by the Senate.
Such a charge comes with a fine of up to $5000 and a possible prison sentence of six months.
The failure to disclose the answer led to the inquiry being forced to suspend its hearings.
Mr Banducci did confirm his salary package at Woolworths was $8.4 million dollars.
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Bruce Lehrmann faces a hefty legal debts after losing his defamation case against Network Ten and journalist Lisa Wilkinson.
Lawyers have been instructed to apply for legal costs by Monday and Network Ten will attempt to recoup some of its legal fees.
In delivering his judgment, Justice Michael Lee found it probable Bruce Lehrmann raped Brittany Higgins In Parliament House in 2019.
If you or someone you know wants to talk about sexual assault or harassment, family or domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
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The youth curfew in Alice Springs has ended.
The all-night curfew was imposed at the end of March when the Northern Territory government declared an emergency following escalating violence.
Up to an additional 35 police officers will remain in the town, including 10 from South Australia, and government social workers will continue to support families.
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In AFL,
Collingwood defender Nathan Murphy has retired on the advice of doctors because of concussion concerns.
The 24-year-old had suffered at least 10 head knocks during his careers and has been unable to play this season.
