news

Tuesday's news in under 5 minutes.

1. Multiple babies’ graves unearthed

The town of Gin Gin is in shock by Police findings

 

 

The QLD town of Gin Gin was in shock yesterday after police swarmed a rural property, preparing to unearth multiple babies’ graves.

News Limited reports that police went to the rural property following a tip that the birth of babies had been concealed in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Cold Case Homicide Unit Detective Inspector Mick Dowie said a single family was involved in the incident.

“We’re talking about children that have been born and you can draw your own conclusions from the fact that we’re doing excavations on the property.”

2. Search for missing MH370

It has been confirmed overnight that the last words spoken to air traffic control from MH370 — “all right good night” — were by the co-pilot.

Yesterday, Malaysian authorities confirmed that the words came after the plane’s communication systems were shut down.

In other developments:

  • A Malaysian newspaper reported that investigators are looking at the possibility that the plane dropped as low as 5,000 feet to evade radar in at least three countries.
  • Today Australian Defence Force aircraft will start searching the southern Indian Ocean off Western Australia.
  • Malaysia’s civil aviation chief has said that the plane may have been grounded while sending those final ‘pings’.

3. SA judge controversial ruling

Judge Rosemary Davey did not sentence the man to any jail time

A judge in SA has ruled that a 21-year-old man who pleaded guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old girl should not spend any time in jail because the media and society send mixed messages about sex.

She said the 13-year old girl “was looking for a sexual encounter”.

For more, read this post here “He was 21, she was 13. But the judge says no jail time”

4. Mick Jagger’s girlfriend dead

L’Wren Scott and Mick Jagger

Fashion designer L’Wren Scott and girlfriend of Mick Jagger has been found dead in a New York apartment.

ADVERTISEMENT

Jagger is in Australia on tour – and is said to be in shock.

L’Wren Scott was found dead in a New York apartment.

The police don’t suspect foul play.

If you or anyone you know needs help, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14

5. Asylum Seekers speak of ordeal

Asylum seekers forced back to Indonesia under the Government’s Operation Sovereign Border’s ‘Turn Back the Boats’ policy have spoken to the ABC about their ordeal.

One man says that he and his fellow passengers were treated like prisoners of war. He said that the lifeboat was “very small and very smelly”.

“The boat is like a grave.”

6. Oscar Pistorius trial

The mother of Reeva Steenkamp has returned to court for the first time since the opening day of the trial of Oscar Pistorius.

However, she left after images of Pistorius covered in her daughter’s blood were shown as evidence from a crime scene photographer.

The court heard evidence that Pistorius was in the process of purchasing six guns at the time of Reeva Steenkamp’s shooting.

7. WA sex offender released

One of WA’s worst sex offenders has been released from jail.

The offender, known as ‘TJD”, attacked 13 women, out of which seven times he used a weapon or replica weapon to threaten his victim into submission.

Commissioner Kevin Sleight said, “Great care needs to be taken to ensure that another woman is not the subject of such an attack, which is likely to have long-term and severe psychological consequences.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Mr Sleight said he was satisfied “TJD’’ could be released under a strict 10-year supervision order, which will include wearing a GPS tracking device.

He will have to abide to a night-time curfew, and is banned from unsupervised access to children.

8. Former AVN loses charity status

The group formerly known as the Australian Vaccination Network – who just last week were forced to change their name – have now lost their status as a charity.

The anti-vaccine group has raised nearly $2 million in the past seven years but had never done any ‘charity’ work.

The ABC has revealed that the NSW Office of Liquor Gaming and Racing revoked their status yesterday.

Just last week, they were forced to change their name. For more, read this post here.

9. Call to overhaul ATAR

Call to overhaul ATAR system

The review into the National Curriculum has heard a call for an overhaul of the university entrance procedure.

The Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia, which represents 421 principals, says there is a need for “an internationally recognised national credential for university entry”, potentially no longer tied to the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR).

The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Phillip Heath, principal of Barker College, saying, “The ATAR becomes a simple measure that seeks to place students on a common scale in a four-digit score, and then that seems to be the sum total of the quality of their schooling and their schooling experience,” he said.

ADVERTISEMENT

“It narrows the curriculum and places excessive pressure on students.”

10. Royal Commission into Home Insulation

The Royal Commission has been told that two public servants had two days to plan the home insulation program.

The revelations came in the first day of hearings in Brisbane at the Royal Commission. Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, former Environment Minister Peter Garrett and former Senator Mark Arbib, who was charged with coordinating government stimulus program, have been called to appear at the commission.

11. “One is Enough”

“One is Enough” said Prince William

Speculation that another Royal baby may be on the horizon has been damped by Prince William saying that right now one was enough.

Prince William said today that “one is enough at the moment” when it comes to royal babies.

The Prince made the comment as he and his wife, the Duchess of Cambridge, visited the Irish Guards barracks for St Patrick’s Day.

The Daily Mail reports that Regimental Sergeant Major Ray Collister asked the Prince if there were any more ‘baby Micks’ on the way (Micks being the nickname for the Irish Guards). Prince William replied: “Maybe one day. One’s enough at the moment.”

12. TV chef Clarissa Dickson Wright dies

Clarissa Dickson Wright – best known as one half of the Two Fat Ladies duo – died on Saturday. Media reports say that she had suffered a long-term illness.

What news are you talking about today?