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NT cop Zachary Rolfe referred to his job as “cowboy stuff with no rules”.
A Northern Territory policeman cleared of murdering teenager Kumanjayi Walker allegedly assaulted an Aboriginal man and used excessive force with three others.
Constable Zachary Rolfe also lied under oath, according to a judge, and sent inappropriate text messages regarding his work in Indigenous communities.
Rolfe’s texts read: “Alice Springs sucks ha ha. The good thing is it’s like the Wild West and f**k all the rules in the job really...but it is a s**t hole. We have this small team in Alice, it’s a sweet gig, just get to do cowboy stuff with no rules.”
Rolfe was acquitted this month of all charges related to the shooting and death of Walker, 19, in November 2019 during an attempted arrest in the Aboriginal community of Yuendumu, 290km northwest of Alice Springs.
The suppressed evidence - which was not presented to the trial jury - has this week been released, including information about four incidents before Walker’s death where Rolfe allegedly used excessive force. The decision also permits the media to report that Rolfe’s father, Richard Rolfe, was accused of intimidating a key prosecution witness during his son’s trial.
A Coronial inquest has now been scheduled for September 2022.
- With AAP.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky wants to meet Vladimir Putin in person.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky says it will not be possible to negotiate an end to the war in his country without Russia's leader Vladimir Putin attending talks.
Zelensky told European public television networks such a meeting could discuss the future of occupied Ukrainian territory, but more time would be required to resolve the issue.
“I believe that until such time as we have a meeting with the President of the Russian Federation ... you cannot truly understand what they are prepared to do in order to stop the war and what they are prepared to do if we are not ready for this or that compromise,” Zelensky said.
Three years after playing Ukraine's President in a political satire television series, Zelensky entered politics. Only now is he facing his biggest battle: Putin. https://t.co/FzoOb991tf
— Mamamia (@Mamamia) February 27, 2022
“I am ready at a meeting with the President of Russia to raise the issue of occupied territories, but I am certain that a solution will not come at this meeting,” Zelensky said in his interview.
“If people are trying to stop a war, there is a ceasefire and troops are withdrawn. The Presidents meet, reach an agreement on withdrawing troops and there are security guarantees of one sort or another. Compromises must be found, one way or another, of guaranteeing our security.”
- With AAP.
Controversy at NRL player Jack de Belin’s first media interview.
This post deals with the topic of alleged sexual assault and may be triggering for some readers.
Jack de Belin held his first interview in over three years with sports journalists. It came after the Director of Public Prosecutions withdrew the sexual assault charges against de Belin last year, following two District Court trials which ended in hung juries.
The interview was heavily media-managed, with de Belin only speaking with a select group of journalists at WIN Stadium in Wollongong. Four journalists were hand-picked: none of the reporters selected were women.
NRL’s head Peter V’landys has said he was not impressed with the news, speaking directly with the Dragons club over the controversy.
He said to The Sydney Morning Herald: “We want as many women in the game, and they should always feel comfortable and encouraged. I won’t go into the subject of it, but they should just have a standard policy to invite all journalists to media conferences and, in particular, they should encourage and support female journalists. Anything to the contrary would be completely stupid.
He concluded: “I hope the St George club have learnt from this.”
Jack de Belin recently gave an interview for the first time in over three years. Not a single female journalist was invited... and NRL boss Peter V'landys was not happy.
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) March 21, 2022
MORE 👉 https://t.co/qU47B3J91k pic.twitter.com/sYol0pTibg
If this post brings up any issues for you, or if you just feel like you need to speak to someone, please call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – the national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service. It doesn’t matter where you live, they will take your call and, if need be, refer you to a service closer to home.
You can also call safe steps 24/7 Family Violence Response Line on 1800 015 188 or visit www.safesteps.org.au for further information.
The Men’s Referral Service is also available on 1300 766 491 or via online chat at www.ntv.org.au.
Why an A-list actress has been shunned by the Oscars.
We’re still a week out from the Oscars yet the scandalous headlines keep on coming. The lead actress from one of the most nominated movies of the night has revealed that she was barred from receiving a ticket, and we think we know exactly what happened behind the scenes.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher for their support in the ongoing attack on Ukraine by Russia, even sharing how they have been communicating.
And Kylie Jenner has had a busy day, releasing a short YouTube documentary about her new son while also announcing that she’s changed the baby’s name. But when you look closely at the documentary, you’ll notice a few strange things about the Kardashian family.
Listen to The Spill now!
NSW MP Gareth Ward charged with historic sex abuse.
This post deals with alleged sexual abuse and might be triggering for some readers.
NSW MP and former Liberal minister Gareth Ward has been charged over the alleged historic sexual abuse of a teenage boy and a man.
A strike force was established in May last year to investigate allegations of sexual violence committed by the Kiama MP, which included NSW detectives from the State Crime Command's Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad.
Ward stepped aside as families, communities and disability services minister after identifying himself as the politician under investigation for "sexual violence-related offences" dating back eight years. Ward said in a statement in May that he would also recuse himself from the Liberal Party room and move to the crossbench.
"I deny any wrongdoing," he said at the time.
The 40-year-old has today been charged with three counts of assault with an act of indecency, and one count each of sexual intercourse without consent and common assault at Oak Flats Police Station about midday today.
NSW Police will allege in court that he indecently assaulted a 17-year-old boy at Meroo Meadow in February 2013, and sexually abused a 27-year-old man in Sydney in September 2015.
Ward was granted conditional bail and will appear at Port Kembla Local Court on Wednesday May 18.
- With AAP.
If this post brings up any issues for you, or if you just feel like you need to speak to someone, please call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – the national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service. It doesn’t matter where you live, they will take your call and, if need be, refer you to a service closer to home.
You can also call safe steps 24/7 Family Violence Response Line on 1800 015 188 or visit www.safesteps.org.au for further information.
The Men’s Referral Service is also available on 1300 766 491 or via online chat at www.ntv.org.au.
NRL player George Burgess charged, and all the news you need to know this morning.
Morning, are you a giver, a taker or a matcher?
It turns out the answer could determine your success.
Organisational psychologist Adam Grant spoke to No Filter podcast host Mia Freedman about what each of style of social interaction means and who is the most successful in the workplace (and it's not who you think).
My colleague Adrienne Tam summed up the chat for you right here.
But first, let's get you across the five biggest news stories women are talking about this morning, Tuesday March 22.
1. NRL player George Burgess charged with sexually touching a person without consent.
NRL star George Burgess has been charged with "sexually touching another person without consent" over an alleged incident in Sydney earlier this month.
NSW Police interviewed Burgess yesterday as part of an investigation into an incident on March 8 - two days before the start of the NRL season.
The 29-year-old St George Illawarra forward was arrested and charged and he is due to face Downing Centre Local Court on April 13.
"Earlier this month, officers from South Sydney Police Area Command commenced an investigation following reports a woman had been sexually touched by a man known to her," police said in a statement.
"Following inquiries, a 29-year-old man was arrested at Mascot Police Station ... and charged with sexually touch another person without consent."
NRL star George Burgess has been charged by police after a woman claimed she was touched inappropriately by him. pic.twitter.com/mm4JN3hxoj
— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) March 21, 2022
Meanwhile, former AFL player Brennan Stack has appeared in court after he and another man allegedly assaulted two women in a carpark in Perth on Sunday morning, which reportedly left them fearing for their lives.
According to 9News, the prosecutor described the attack as "one of the most vicious and ferocious the attending officer has seen in 21 years of service".
The 33-year-old former Western Bulldogs player will remain behind bars after his bail application was adjourned until the end of the month.
If this post brings up any issues for you, or if you just feel like you need to speak to someone, please call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – the national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service. It doesn’t matter where you live, they will take your call and, if need be, refer you to a service closer to home.
2. No sign of survivors in China plane crash.
A China Eastern Airlines Boeing 737-800 with 132 people on board has crashed in mountains in southern China on a domestic flight after a sudden descent from cruising altitude.
Media reports say there were no signs of survivors.
The airline said it deeply mourned the passengers and crew, without specifying how many people had been killed.
The plane was en route from the southwestern city of Kunming, capital of Yunnan province, to Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong, bordering Hong Kong, when it crashed.
A Chinese airliner with 132 people on board has crashed in the southern province of Guangxi, officials say.
— 9News Australia (@9NewsAUS) March 21, 2022
Satellite data from NASA showed a massive fire just in the area of where the plane went down at the time of the crash. #9News
READ MORE: https://t.co/BBT1l3ogQ8 pic.twitter.com/nc6f8P4Dsm
China Eastern said the cause of the crash, in which the plane descended at 31,000 feet a minute according to flight tracking website FlightRadar24, was under investigation.
Media cited a rescue official as saying the plane had disintegrated and caused a fire destroying bamboo trees.
There were no foreigners on the flight, Chinese state television reported, citing China Eastern.
3. Inquest into the murder of Hannah Clarke and her children hears of 'hysterical scream' before fire.
This post deals with the topic of domestic violence and might be triggering to some readers.
An inquest into the deaths of Hannah Clarke and her children at the hands of her estranged husband, who poured fuel in their car before lighting it, heard from witnesses on its first day yesterday.
Clarke and her three children Aaliyah, six, Laianah, four, and Trey, three, were doused in petrol and burned alive by Rowan Baxter in Brisbane on February 19, 2020.
Witnesses told the inquest yesterday that Clarke said Baxter instructed her to drive, but she stopped outside a house where Michael Zemek was washing his car.
Zemek said he first heard an hysterical scream, before Ms Clarke yelled: "Call the police, call the police. He's trying to kill me. He's put petrol on me."
For years, Hannah Clarke didn't have bruises or broken bones. But her abuse was just as brutal. https://t.co/JxY0Z4ez38 pic.twitter.com/Q81JPOiSfr
— Mamamia (@Mamamia) February 27, 2020
Baxter was holding Clarke in a bear hug with both arms around her, as if trying to keep her in the car, Zemek said.
The car exploded in flames before he could do anything.
The inquest is set to hear from emergency services members today before family and friends of Baxter and Clarke take the stand.
If this post brings up any issues for you, or if you just feel like you need to speak to someone, please call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) – the national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service. It doesn’t matter where you live, they will take your call and, if need be, refer you to a service closer to home.
4. UN chief says Australia is a 'holdout' on climate action.
The United Nations secretary-general has called Australia a "holdout" after Scott Morrison refused to strengthen the nation's 2030 emissions reduction target.
"A growing number of G20 developed economies have announced meaningful emissions reductions by 2030 – with a handful of holdouts, such as Australia," said António Guterres.
He said the Paris climate pact's ambition of limiting global warming to 1.5C was "on life support" but there was still something that could save it.
"Keeping 1.5 alive requires a 45 per cent reduction in global emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by mid-century. That problem was not solved in Glasgow," the UN chief said.
@UN Secretary-General @antonioguterres just spoke at the Economist Sustainability Summit and Australia was mentioned by name as one of the few G20 countries that have not announced meaningful emissions reductions by 2030. pic.twitter.com/iwQI0PzYpf
— Climate Council (@climatecouncil) March 21, 2022
The prime minister went to Glasgow last year without the two big things countries were asked for: stronger 2030 targets, and a rapid phase out of coal.
Morrison instead stuck to a six-year-old promise to cut emissions by 26 to 28 per cent cut by 2030, but did say Australia would probably reach 35 per cent by then.
He also refused to commit to an accelerated phase out of coal and his plan to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 relies on a technology-led economic evolution to cut, capture or offset emissions, while allowing coal and gas exports to continue as long as there is demand.
5. Ukrainian girl who sang 'Let It Go' in shelter sings national anthem in Poland.
In lighter news, the Ukranian girl who went viral for singing 'Let it Go' from the Disney film Frozen in a bunker has performed her country's national anthem in Poland.
Seven-year-old Amelia Anisovych, who's video of her singing in a bomb shelter in Kyiv was viewed millions of times, sung the national anthem during a charity concert in front of thousands at a soccer stadium on Sunday.
The brave Ukrainian girl who went viral for singing "Let It Go" in a Kyiv bomb shelter has performed her country's national anthem in front of a packed soccer stadium in Poland. ❤️ #9Today pic.twitter.com/Ey4MwKj4Sk
— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) March 21, 2022
Earlier this month, Amelia's rendition of 'Let it Go' was shared by actress and singer Idina Menzel, who voiced Elsa, on Twitter.
"We see you. We really, really see you," Menzel wrote alongside the video.
We see you. We really, really see you. 💙💛 https://t.co/Vhln1MjXpX
— Idina Menzel (@idinamenzel) March 7, 2022
Meanwhile, Russia had called for Ukrainian troops in Mariupol to lay down arms and leave on Monday morning, setting a 5am deadline for Ukraine to respond.
Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk told Ukrayinska Pravda the response that there would be "no surrender" had been communicated to Russia.
The sides gathered for another hour and a half of talks on Monday before breaking into working groups.
And that's it, you're all up to speed. We'll be back to bring you more of the biggest news stories throughout the day.
- With AAP.
How the heck do I get rid of all this mould?
As humid and wet weather continues to impact millions of Aussies, you might find that your favourite jacket, shoes or even your walls are increasingly being covered with mould.
It's not just gross, it can also be a real risk to your health - so how can you safely remove it without further risking your wellbeing?
The Quicky speaks to one woman who is concerned for her newborn baby as their house is being taken over by mould, an expert researcher who specialises in the fungi, and a professional mould remover to find out how to rid your home of it for good.
READ:
Feature Image: Getty.