The Queensland Government announces a new tourism package to encourage travellers back into the state, Residents of Pacific nations may soon be able to join the Australian Defence Force under new proposals to boost recruitment, Former cricket captain David Warner retrieves his baggy green after the sentimental cap went missing on his flight from Sydney to Melbourne.
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TRANSCRIPT
- The Queensland Government announces a new tourism package to encourage travellers back into the state.
- Residents of Pacific nations may soon be able to join the Australian Defence Force under new proposals to boost recruitments
- Former cricket captain David Warner retrieves his baggy green after the sentimental cap went missing on his flight from Sydney to Melbourne..
The Queensland Government is partnering up with airlines Jetstar and Qantas to offer discounted flights encouraging Australians to travel to the region.
Northern Queensland lost more than $270 million in visitor bookings after ex-tropical Cyclone Jasper and heavy flooding, placing economic strain on businesses usually thriving at this time of year.
The Queensland Government is expected to announce the tourism package details today.
Queensland Premier Steven Miles says Cairns is up and open for business.
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Residents of Pacific nations could be allowed to join the Australian Defence Force under a proposal to boost military numbers.
Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh says the government is considering ways to grow Australia's armed forces amid recruitment issues.
One option is to allow people from foreign countries to serve.
It comes as large numbers of defence personnel have signed on to receive a one-off retention bonus payment of $50,000.
About 85 per cent of eligible personnel have received the payment for the commitment to stay another three years with the defence force, following their initial period of service.
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A nursing home resident has allegedly been awoken by an intruder and sexually assaulted during a New Year's Day attack.
The 76-year-old woman was in her room in a Coffs Harbour aged-care facility when an unknown man entered and attacked her some time before 2.30am, before police say he fled the scene.
Paramedics treated the woman at the scene before she was taken to hospital for further examination and treatment for minor injuries.
Commander of the Sex Crimes Squad for New South Wales Detective Superintendent Jayne Doherty provided an update on the woman's condition and the police investigation.
"She's currently not in hospital but being cared for by family. The woman has asked for privacy at this time. Police from Coffs Clarence POlice Area Command have been assisting this aged care home and others in the area throughout the week to conduct security assessments of their homes, to ensure residents can feel as safe as possible in light of this offence."
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She added that a 29-year-old man was arrested in Coffs Harbour on Thursday afternoon.
He was charged with aggravated sexual assault, with break and enter with intent being the aggravating factor.
If convicted, he faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.
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A member of an extremist group who went on a run after he was convicted in the 2021 attack at the US Capitol has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Christopher Worrell, a member of the Proud Boys extremist group, was convicted of assaulting police with pepper spray, and was on house arrest in Florida when he disappeared in August ahead of his original sentencing date.
He was found six weeks later after he tried to "covertly return" to his home, prosecutors said.
Seemingly unconscious, he was then hospitalised for five days to treat an apparent opioid drug overdose, but prosecutors say he faked his condition to further stall his sentencing.
Worrell suffers from a rare form of lymphoma and said he was afraid the cancer treatment he would get during a long prison sentence could allow the disease to kill him.
He said he did take a number of pills just before he was recaptured and had opioids in his system.
US District Judge Royce Lamberth found Worrell's medical care for a broken hand had been delayed, and held DC jail officials in contempt of court.
Lamberth on Thursday said Worrell's complaints and his response had led to reforms in the system and he wanted to ensure that he would get adequate cancer treatment in prison, but his crimes still warranted a hefty sentence.
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More than 1200 people have been charged with federal crimes in the riot.
David Warner's baggy greens have finally been returned to him.
The former cricket captain, who is playing his final ever Test, made a public plea for its return on Tuesday after it went missing in transit between Melbourne and Sydney.
Warner took to Instagram on Friday morning to confirm he had received the missing cap.
"Hi everyone, I am pleased and relieved that I've got my baggy back in my hands. Any cricketer knows how special their cap is, and I'll cherish this for the rest of my life. Very grateful for everyone involved in locating it, the Qantas team, the freight company, the hotel and our own team management. It's a load off my shoulders going into the last couple days, I really appreciate it, so thank you all."
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Warner had played in a replacement baggy green during Australia's first innings in the third Test against Pakistan at the SCG.
He made 34 and is likely to have one more chance to bat for Australia in the second innings of his 112th and final Test.
