AAP Rolling News Bulletin for June 16 at 1730
Legal: Porter (ORANGE)
The day before a teenager killed a 10-year-old on a rural property, she suggested playing "serial killers" and chased the young girl with a knife.
Hours before the 14-year-old killed Biddy Porter on a NSW farm early on July 8, 2020, she texted a friend to say she "felt crazy" and was thinking about killing someone.
"It doesn't matter how many times I tell mum or dad I want to kill someone ... they think I'm joking," the distressed teenager said in a text to a friend late on July 7.
In the year leading up to the killing, the teenager slaughtered six chickens on the property, reported seeing the eyes of the Cheshire cat in the dark and repeatedly told relatives she "didn't feel real".
Economy (CANBERRA)
The Reserve Bank of Australia has left interest rates on hold for the first time in 2026 as the nation's economy deteriorates and questions linger over a potential peace deal in the Middle East.
Following three consecutive rate rises, the central bank's monetary policy board voted unanimously to leave the cash rate steady at 4.35 per cent on Tuesday.
The decision was anticipated by the majority of economists and financial markets.
But the question now is whether it heralds the end of the bank's hiking cycle or is merely a pause before the next move upwards.
The odds of a rate hike lengthened following softer-than-expected economic growth figures, a jump in the unemployment rate and better-than-forecast inflation figures since the previous rate meeting in May.
Officer (HOBART)
It's been 12 months since beloved police officer Keith Smith was fatally shot in the line of duty but stories about his dedication and compassion are still being told.
Family, friends, colleagues and the community gathered at Ulverstone on Tasmania's northwest coast on Tuesday to remember the constable.
The 57-year-old was serving a repossession notice at a rural property on June 16, 2025 when he was murdered by homeowner Leigh Geoffrey Sushames.
"For many of us, time has not softened that loss," Tasmania Police Commissioner Donna Adams told the service.
"Keith was not just a colleague. He was steady, kind and quietly impactful in the lives of so many.
"Over the past 12 months I have heard countless stories about Keith. He didn't just do his job, he took extra time to listen … and make people feel seen."
Legal: Polymiadis (ADELAIDE)
An elderly father may have died after he "lost his will to live", the lawyer of a diabetic daughter accused of killing her parents with insulin has told a court.
Raelene Polymiadis, 65, is on trial in the South Australian Supreme Court charged with murdering Brenda and Lynton Anderson, who were both aged 94 when they died in March 2022 and May 2023 respectively.
In her opening address on Tuesday, defence counsel Marie Shaw KC said her client had denied administering insulin to either of her parents, and two elements in the case - identity and causation - would be disputed.
Mrs Anderson died at the Flinders Medical Centre, while Mr Anderson died after he was found unconscious on his kitchen floor.
Children (BRISBANE)
Australia's worst pedophile will be extradited to face further abuse allegations after his heinous crimes prompted the creation of a powerful child protection watchdog.
Queensland Attorney-General Deb Frecklington has confirmed Ashley Paul Griffith, 48, will be sent to NSW after his failed bid to reduce a life sentence for years of childcare centre assaults.
"Griffith is a vile piece of work," she told the Queensland Media Club in Brisbane.
A scathing review into his offending spanning almost 20 years has sparked an unprecedented $250 million child safety overhaul, which was unveiled by Ms Frecklington on Tuesday.
A Queensland Protection Commission will be set up as a dedicated child safeguarding body with responsibility for the reportable conduct scheme, child safe standards and working-with-children checks.
Legal: Explosives (BRISBANE)
A teenager accused of preparing a terrorist attack considered schools and then-opposition leader Peter Dutton as targets for pipe bombs filled with nails, a jury has heard.
The teenage boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, has pleaded not guilty to acts in preparation for a terrorist attack and is facing trial in Brisbane Supreme Court.
The boy was about to turn 16 when he rode his scooter around Brisbane's suburbs in July 2024 to buy nails, metal pipes and ingredients for explosives, crown prosecutor Sally Flynn told the jury on Tuesday.
"Dollar store closed so I could not get nails," the boy texted a friend.
"I went near the train tracks and tested the flammability of a (gas canister)."
Legal: Ahmad (MELBOURNE)
An accused ISIS bride is still a threat to the community because there is no compelling evidence that she renounces the terror group, a prosecutor has claimed.
Lawyers for Zeinab Ahmad, 31, on Monday told Melbourne Magistrates Court she rejected Islamic State and held deep anger towards the men who enforced its ideals upon her.
But prosecutor Andrew Sprague on Tuesday argued the only "clear and objective" evidence available to the court showed Ahmad's support for IS.
He pointed to social media posts Ahmad allegedly made in 2015 and 2016 where she called for violence against non-believers and the destruction of the US and its allies.
"(Her statements) have endorsed and supported an ideology and a terrorist organisation that is fundamentally opposed to the freedom and safety of all those who do not share its views," Mr Sprague said.
Legal: RobertsSmith (SYDNEY)
Decorated former SAS soldier Ben Roberts-Smith will apply to a court to move home and be with his children while he fights allegations of war crimes.
The 47-year-old was arrested in April and charged with murdering or ordering the murders of five unarmed detainees while deployed in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012.
He appeared before Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday, when his lawyers applied to vary his bail.
"Today is just about being able to see my children and moving back to where we actually live," he told reporters outside court.
"That's what we're focused on today."
The Victoria Cross recipient is also expected to ask the court if he can attend two formal military ceremonies and a social function afterwards.
In finance ...
Tax (CANBERRA)
The federal government's planned tax changes will dump compliance costs on taxpayers and their advisers, an accounting body warns.
Under Labor's reforms, the capital gains tax discount of 50 per cent will be replaced with an inflation-indexed calculation and a 30 per cent minimum rate.
Negative gearing of investment properties will also be scaled back to only apply to new houses from July 2027.
The Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand will tell a senate inquiry on Tuesday a statutory review of the legislation should take place within 12 months due to the short consultation time and complexity of the changes.
This would act as a safeguard mechanism to ensure the legislation was operating as intended and to provide an opportunity for any "fixes" that needed to be made.
Japan Economy (TOKYO)
The Bank of Japan (BOJ) has raised its benchmark interest rate to one per cent - the highest level since 1995.
The Japanese central bank increased the rate by a quarter of a percentage point from 0.75 per cent and cited challenges stemming from a weak Japanese yen and higher energy prices.
The central bank has been trying to normalise monetary policy after decades of keeping rates near or below zero.
The BOJ adopted ultra low rates to try to encourage more borrowing and spending to counter deflation and pull Japan's economy out of the doldrums.
Inflationary pressures because of the war in Iran, which has sent oil prices soaring in recent months, have hit Japan hard since it imports almost all its oil and gas.
In entertainment ...
Tyler (LONDON)
Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler is "no longer in a coma" but remains "very unwell" in intensive care, according to a post on her official website.
She has also cancelled or postponed all her remaining shows this years.
It had been announced that the 75-year-old was taken to a hospital near to her home in Faro, Portugal for emergency intestinal surgery earlier this month.
"Bonnie's family and team would like to update everyone on how she is progressing with her recovery," the statement said.
"Bonnie is no longer in a coma but remains very unwell and in intensive care in hospital in Portugal. Although her condition is improving it is a slow process.
"Her doctors remain confident that she will make a good recovery but it is going to take time.
In sport ...
RL Origin Walsh (MELBOURNE)
Queensland's opponents know what Reece Walsh can do on a footy field, but when, where and even if he will unleash at the MCG remains a mystery.
The Brisbane talisman, known as "Reece Lightning" for his strike capabilities, is named on a six-man extended bench at No.18 for the Maroons in the second State of Origin showdown on Wednesday night.
Queensland must win to square the series and Walsh, despite not being in his best form in clubland, is an ace coach Billy Slater has up his sleeve.
It was put to Slater on match eve that there was "mystery" in the Blues camp about his plans for Walsh.
"Me included," Slater quipped.
"He is a wonderful player. No-one knows Reece better than I do.
RL Origin (MELBOURNE)
NSW coach Laurie Daley has no plans to tinker with his line-up despite compelling statistics surrounding the Blues' starts - and the impact of Cameron Murray - in recent State of Origin clashes against Queensland.
The Blues are looking to wrap up the series with victory at the MCG on Wednesday night after winning game one in Sydney.
At a joint press conference alongside the Yarra river on Tuesday, Daley was an open book around how he would use his talent, saying Ethan Strange would come off the bench to play in the back row.
In contrast, Queensland coach Billy Slater kept his strategy for super-sub Reece Walsh a secret.
NSW have been torpid in the opening half of the past three interstate battles, only scoring 12 points compared to 66 from the Maroons.
Ends Bulletin
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