news

Monday's news in under 5 minutes.

We’ve rounded up all the latest news from Australia and around the world – so you don’t have to go searching.

1. Manhunt under way after woman bashed to death in her Sydney home.

Police are searching for the former partner of a woman whose body was found in her home in the Sydney’s south.

Tina Kontozi, 51, was found dead in her Bundeena home by police called to the property to investigate reports of screaming coming from the upstairs storey of the house, according to Seven News.

A 17-year-old boy, believed to be Ms Kontozi’s son, also suffered arm injuries and was taken to St Georges Hospital for treatment.

It’s believed the attack may have been carried out with a cricket bat, although police have yet to confirm this.

2. Tens of thousands gather for Anzac Day services across the country.

Ten of thousands of Australians and New Zealanders have gathered to pay tribute to fallen soldiers in Anzac Day ceremonies this morning.

It is the 101st anniversary of the Gallipolli landing and the centenary of Anzac Day itself.

The Prime Minister attended the dawn service in Martin Place and will fly to Canberra for the march at the Australian War Memorial this afternoon.

Photos of the first generation of Anzac soldiers were projected onto the sandstone buildings in Martin Place, while Premier Mike Baird read a poem to the crowd, estimated at just over 10,000, the ABC reports.

An estimated 55,000 braved the cold in Canberra for the dawn service, while crowds gathered in Brisbane’s Anzac Square this morning.

At least 40,000 attended Melbourne’s dawn service at the Shrine of Remembrance, while large crowds also turned out in Adelaide, Hobart and Darwin.

ADVERTISEMENT

3. Teenager charged over planned Anzac Day terrorist attack.

New South Wales police arrested a 16-year-old boy in Sydney’s west last night over an alleged terror plot linked to today’s Anzac Day commemorations.

The boy has been charged with one count of preparing for, or planning, an act of terrorism, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said it was unclear which event would have been targeted.

“Officers were forced to act yesterday afternoon. We had to do that in order to ensure the safety of the community,” Mr Scipione said.

“Clearly we’ve taken that action with community safety on the eve of the sacred day which is Anzac Day.”

NSW Premier Mike Baird addressed the media at the Martin Place dawn service this morning and said people should not be swayed by news of the possible attack.

“This is a day where we should be out, commemorating such a proud day of our history,” Mr Baird said.

“Where we come and commemorate those many lives that have been lost defending this nation, defending our freedoms, and that is exactly what we should be doing today.”

The teenager has been refused bail and will face the children’s court later today.

4. Government plan to boost female workforce participation.

The Turnbull Government has announced a new plan to boost female workforce participation and reduce childcare costs.

The changes are reportedly a part of an election strategy to encourage mother’s to return to work, according to the Courier Mail.

ADVERTISEMENT

At present, many parents are forced to pay for a full day’s child care, despite only needing three or four hours and wiping out the financial benefit of working.

The new plan will address this problem to create more flexible child care arrangements, while being a key plank in the Liberal party’s “moderate” industrial relations platform for the upcoming election.

“We want to get more women into the workforce,” Minister for Employment and Women Michaelia Cash said, announcing the possible changes yesterday.

“Are we going to swing the pendulum to the right? No, we are not. In all of my discussions with stakeholders, what they want to see is an industrial relations policy that will bring Australians with us, and an industrial relations policy that will get through the Senate.”

5.  Sydney couple to fork out $80,000 after Facebook defamation suit.

A Sydney couple are facing bankruptcy after being sued for defamation by a neighbour over comments left on a community social media page.

Matthew and Annette Palmer thought they had settled their dispute with Nader Mohareb​ by posting a public apologyfor the comments on the Scotland Island Community Facebook page, but a moderator of the page deleted the post without realising it’s significance.

The apology posted to Facebook (via the Sydney Morning Herald).

The couple had shared a poster, which they deny having created, accusing Mr Mohareb of verbally abusing another member of the community after he was told to restrain his dogs.

So far the Palmer's have spent nearly $80,000 on legal costs trying to resolve the matter.