AAP Rolling News Bulletin for June 16 at 1800
Workplace (MELBOURNE)
Businesses are spoiling for a court battle over Australian-first work-from-home laws covering full-time, part-time and casual workers.
The Victorian Labor government introduced a bill to parliament on Tuesday, legislating the right for all public and private sector employees to work from home two days a week if they reasonably can.
The laws, which were first announced in August, will encompass regular casual and part-time workers, the government has revealed.
Entitlements will be proportionate to the number of days a week people work, Premier Jacinta Allan said.
"We'll also be working on guidance materials to support businesses, but this is all common sense," she told reporters.
Small businesses will be roped into the legislation but won't have to apply it until mid-2027 so they have more time to get their HR policies and procedures in order.
Legal: Warnecke (MELBOURNE)
A "birthkeeper" says she was not obligated to call an ambulance for a wellness influencer whose health fatally deteriorated after a free birth at home.
Doula Emily Lal was supporting Stacey Warnecke, 30, when she gave birth to her firstborn son Axel at a Melbourne home on September 29.
The new mum's health suddenly deteriorated shortly after the birth.
She was rushed to Frankston Hospital, where she suffered multiple cardiac arrests and died due to blood loss from a postpartum haemorrhage.
Ms Lal previously refused to engage with the investigation on the grounds she could incriminate herself, but gave evidence before the Victorian Coroners Court on Tuesday after being granted immunity from prosecution.
The unregistered doula was present with Ms Warnecke's husband Nathan during the birth, recounting how the beaming new mum quickly deteriorated after birth, becoming hot, pale and struggling to breathe.
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: 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.
In finance ...
Tax (CANBERRA)
Warnings that startup founders will flee Australia to avoid paying a higher capital gains tax are unfounded, a Senate inquiry has been told.
Under changes proposed by the federal government, the capital gains tax discount of 50 per cent will be replaced with an inflation-indexed model and a 30 per cent minimum rate.
That means the maximum marginal tax rate for startup founders, who often have a negligible initial capital base, will double to near 47 per cent.
Business groups and entrepreneurs have warned that would force founders overseas to countries where the capital gains tax is lower or even zero, such as New Zealand or the UAE.
But that's easier said than done, Miranda Stewart, a tax professor at the University of Melbourne, told a Senate inquiry into the changes on Tuesday.
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 ...
Diddy (LONDON)
US hip-hop mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs will be getting released from prison sooner than expected.
Combs is serving a 50-month prison sentence after being convicted on two prostitution-related charges and was initially due to walk free in mid-2028.
The disgraced star's release date has been shifted by authorities several times. It was recently stated to be June 4, 2028 before shifting to April 25, 2028 but it has changed again and Combs is due for release on February 23, 2028, according to official records from the Federal Bureau of Prisons, viewed by PEOPLE.com.
Combs, 56, has been behind bars since his arrest in September 2024 and was convicted in July 2025 on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.
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.
WC26 Tunisia (MONTERREY)
Tunisia have moved swiftly to sack coach Sabri Lamouchi following a woeful start to their World Cup campaign and have reached an agreement to replace him with fellow Frenchman Herve Renard.
The news was reported by Tunis Afrique Presse on Tuesday, after Tunisia suffered a 5-1 defeat by Sweden in their first Group F fixture in Monterrey on Sunday.
Lamouchi, the first coaching casualty of the tournament, was appointed in January on a contract until 2028 and paid the price for a dire performance.
He leaves his post with matches to come against Japan on Saturday and the Netherlands on June 25.
Renard, twice an Africa Cup of Nations winner, coached Saudi Arabia at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and led them to a famous victory over eventual winners Argentina in the group stage.
Ends Bulletin
Rolling News Desk inquiries : 02 9322 8611
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