Army investigates bullying allegations at cadet regiment
Another exclusive, this time from Daniel Hurst.
The Australian army is investigating allegations of bullying and harassment of officer cadets at the University of Sydney regiment. Allegations include searches through women’s underwear drawers and a nearly three-month period in which cadets were forced to work seven days a week with no days off.
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6.53pm EDT18:53
Victoria records two new local Covid cases
The two new locally acquired cases of Covid-19 are primary close contacts of existing cases and had no community exposure during their infectious period, Victoria Health says.
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6.48pm EDT18:48
Friendlyjordies producer charged with stalking deputy premier
A 21-year-old producer for Youtube comedian Friendlyjordies has been charged with allegedly stalking and intimidating the New South Wales deputy premier, John Barilaro.
Acting on a complaint from Barilaro, detectives from the police fixated persons unit arrested Kristo Langker at his family home on 4 June.
Barilaro is currently suing Friendlyjordies, whose real name is Jordan Shanks, for defamation.
An exclusive from Christopher Knaus:
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Sky News has congratulated its host Peta Credlin for being appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia today.
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NSW budget to invest $92.5m in domestic violence support
The NSW government has announced more than $90m in funding for support services for domestic and sexual violence victims in the coming state budget.
The state treasurer, Dominic Perrottet, said frontline services would receive a $60m funding boost and another $32.5m would be invested in the Staying Home Leaving Violence program, AAP reports.
The chief executive of Domestic Violence NSW, Delia Donovan, said the “critical funding” was welcomed and would give the support services certainty.
Frontline services have been advocating for greater support, particularly during Covid-19, to deliver crucial services to victim-survivors in communities across NSW, so we’re really pleased to see this critical funding commitment in the budget.
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Scott Morrison eyes UK trade talks after G7 summit
Scott Morrison is heading to London today and tomorrow, where will speak to the UK prime minister, Boris Johnson, about an Australia-UK free trade agreement.
Morrison was in Cornwall in the UK in the coastal resort of Carbis Bay for the G7 leaders summit over the past three days.
The summit wrapped up on Sunday UK time, and Morrison is now heading to London to speak to Johnson directly, AAP report.
The G7 leaders’ final communique on Sunday included a vow to boost access to coronavirus vaccines across the world and an agreement to challenge China’s “non-market” economic practices and call on the country to respect human rights.
The G7 group – the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan – had invited the leaders of Australia, South Korea, South Africa and India to take part this year in a collective that Johnson termed the “democratic 11”.
Australia’s trade minister, Dan Tehan, said on Sunday that enormous progress had been made but it was unclear if a deal could be finalised while Morrison was in the UK.
“We will continue discussions over the next 24, 48 hours in the hope of reaching an agreement,” Tehan told Sky News’ Sunday Agenda program.
“But we have said all along that we want this to be an agreement of substance, we want to make sure it is in Australia’s national interest and if we need to be patient we will be patient.”
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Good morning everyone, and welcome back to our Australian news live blog. It’s Naaman Zhou here with you today, on this Queen’s Birthday holiday.
As is traditional, the list of Queens Birthday honours was released late last night. Among those to be awarded an Order of Australia are actor Chris Hemsworth, football player Robbie Slater, dozens of volunteer firefights recognised for their work battling bushfires, and Peta Credlin – Tony Abbott’s former chief of staff and current Sky News host.
And the prime minister, Scott Morrison, is in the UK and about to commence trade talks with UK prime minister Boris Johnson. Morrison travelled abroad for the G7 summit, which wrapped up yesterday UK time. He’ll now continue on to direct talks with Johnson about Australia-UK trade.
Finally, Victorians will also be waiting for the latest Covid-19 numbers out of the state. We’ll bring you those when they are announced. Stay with us.