Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Australian Associated Press
Youth wing in high-security prison ‘set up to fail’
The prison staffer who found an Indigenous teen with self-inflicted harm in the youth wing of an adult prison says the unit “was set up to fail”. April 5, 2024 The corrections worker who found the first juvenile to die in WA youth detention after he self-harmed says the prison unit where the incident happened “was set […]
Complaints rise over lenders and customer hardship help
The financial sector ombudsman has reported a “concerning” rise in complaints about lenders’ handling of requests for hardship assistance from borrowers. April 3, 2024 Complaints about how lenders handle requests for hardship assistance are on the rise, the financial sector ombudsman has reported. Financial difficulty complaints increased by 25 per cent in 2023 and the […]
Inquest reveals detained teen’s harm threats ignored
An Indigenous teen, who died after self-harming in an adult prison’s youth wing, made eight threats to do so in the hours before he was found in his cell. April 3, 2024 The first juvenile to die in youth detention in Western Australia threatened to self-harm eight times in the hours before he was found unresponsive in […]
Teen repeatedly threatened self-harm, inquest told
An Indigenous teen, who died after self-harming in an adult prison’s youth wing, made eight threats to do so in the hours before he was found in his cell. April 3, 2024 The first juvenile to die in youth detention in Western Australia threatened to self-harm eight times in the hours before he was found unresponsive in […]
Coroner tempers hopes for scope of teen’s inquest
The coroner hearing an inquest for an Indigenous teen who died after self-harming in an adult prison’s youth wing says it won’t be a roving royal commission. April 3, 2024 An unprecedented inquest for the first juvenile to die in youth detention in Western Australia won’t be a roving royal commission, a coroner says. Cleveland […]
Indigenous teen’s family want answers from inquest
The family of an Indigenous teen who died after self-harming in an adult prison’s youth wing hope an inquest provides more information about his death. April 3, 2024 The family of the first juvenile to die in youth detention in Western Australia hope an inquest will shed light on his death and result in an overhaul […]
Reynolds, Higgins defamation case returns to court
Lawyers for Senator Linda Reynolds, Brittany Higgins and her partner will attend court to sort out the next steps in the defamation case after mediation failed. April 3, 2024 A pair of high-profile defamation cases that pit Liberal Senator Linda Reynolds against former political staffer Brittany Higgins and her partner will to return to court […]
Indigenous teen’s family hope inquest will bring change
The mother of an Indigenous teen who died after self-harming in the youth wing of an adult prison says she is determined to get justice for her son. April 2, 2024 The heartbroken family of WA’s first juvenile to die in youth detention hope an inquest will lead to an overhaul of the justice system. Cleveland Dodd, […]
Two dead, driver on charges after three-car crash
A 51-year-old man has been refused bail after being charged over the death of two people in a three-car crash. April 1, 2024 Two people are dead and a man has been charged following a three-car crash involving a Tesla in South Australia. A man, 62, and a woman, 54, who were in a Ford […]
Alice Springs overnight youth curfew could be extended
The two-week night time youth curfew imposed on Alice Springs to act as a circuit breaker on youth crime could be extended to cover the entire school holidays. April 1, 2024 The emergency overnight youth curfew in Alice Springs imposed as the outback town grapples with youth crime could be extended. The Northern Territory government […]
Omicron linked to more long COVID-19 cases: study
Long COVID-19 cases may have increased with the Omicron variant, with a study finding almost one in five people suffering symptoms months after diagnosis. March 28, 2024 The Omicron coronavirus variant could be causing more cases of long COVID than earlier versions of the disease, scientists say. A study of more than 11,000 Western Australians […]
Jacqui Lambie Network senator quits party
Federal Senator for Tasmania Tammy Tyrrell has resigned from the Jacqui Lambie Network, saying the party had lost confidence in her abilities. March 28, 2024 Tasmanian Senator Tammy Tyrrell has resigned from the Jacqui Lambie Network, saying the party has lost confidence in her. The 53-year-old says she’ll continue to represent the Tasmanian people in […]
Easter water warning after drownings climb over summer
Royal Life Saving Australia has issued an Easter water safety warning after an increase in drownings over the summer period. March 27, 2024 Royal Life Saving Australia has urged holidaymakers to be cautious around water over the Easter break after an increase in drownings over the summer period. There were 99 drowning deaths across the […]
Abortion decriminalised in WA amid sweeping reforms
Western Australia’s new abortion laws have come into effect, decriminalising the procedure and cementing access to improved healthcare for women. March 27, 2024 Abortion has officially been removed from Western Australia’s criminal code, as sweeping reforms improve access to healthcare for women across the state. The new laws that came into effect on Wednesday remove […]
Carbon released from soil could worsen climate change
Australian scientists predict that the nation’s soil will emit carbon as the climate warms and could account for more than 10 per cent of emissions by 2045. March 26, 2024 Australia’s soil will emit carbon as the climate warms and could account for more than 10 per cent of the nation’s emissions by 2045, scientists […]
NT corruption watchdog: ‘elite police awards racist’
A corruption watchdog has found evidence to support allegations that the Northern Territory’s elite police unit handed out racist award certificates. March 26, 2024 A corruption watchdog investigating claims of racism within the Northern Territory’s elite police unit says there is evidence to support the allegation. A series of racist award certificates allegedly handed out […]
Bushfire that razed three homes flares up
A downgraded bushfire accidentally sparked by campers trying to charge their phones has flared up, with authorities reinstating an emergency warning. March 26, 2024 A massive bushfire south of Perth that was contained after it destroyed eight properties has flared up and is again threatening lives. An emergency warning has been reissued on Tuesday for […]
Bargain, love hunters fleeced for millions of dollars
Online love hunters and people searching for high investment returns are among scam victims who lost more than $20 million in one state alone last year. March 26, 2024 Western Australian scam victims have lost more than $20 million in the past year, with people looking for love online and high investment returns losing the […]
Homes razed after campers spark bushfire near Perth
A large bushfire accidentally sparked by campers trying to charge their phones has gutted three homes and five short-stay accommodation units south of Perth. March 25, 2024 Three homes are among the buildings destroyed by a massive bushfire south of Perth that was accidentally sparked by campers trying to charge a phone with a car […]
Property destroyed as huge bushfire rages near Perth
A large bushfire burning south of Perth has destroyed two buildings, as authorities warn more losses are expected. March 25, 2024 Homes are feared to be among the buildings destroyed by a massive out-of-control bushfire south of Perth that was accidentally sparked by campers. An emergency warning remained in place on Monday for communities in […]
Record-breaking heatwave bakes Australia’s southeast
Temperatures are set to soar across southeast Australia for the next few days, with forecasters warning of a record-breaking autumn heatwave. March 11, 2024 Southeastern Australia is set to sizzle for another day as a record-breaking autumn heatwave rolls on. Melbourne is expected to bake on Monday, with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting a top […]
Southeastern Australia swelters as temp records tumble
An autumn heatwave in southeastern Australia has smashed records for March with extreme temperatures continuing this week in NSW , Tasmania, SA and Victoria. March 10, 2024 Records have been smashed as people in southeastern Australia swelter through an autumn heatwave over the long weekend. Melbourne and Hobart sizzled overnight, with the Bureau of Meteorology […]
Arrests mount amid police surge to disrupt youth crime
A Queensland Police operation targeting youths in a bid to bolster community safety has led to more than 11,000 arrests in the past 12 months. March 10, 2024 Thousands of people have been arrested as a police operation designed to target youths and bolster community safety marks its one-year milestone. More than 11,000 people have been […]
Pay row pilots extend strike at Qantas subsidiary
Regional travellers and fly-in, fly-out workers face more flight disruptions as hundreds of Network Aviation pilots vow to extend a strike over a pay dispute. March 1, 2024 Disruptions are expected to continue for regional airline passengers and fly-in, fly-out workers as pilots employed by a Qantas subsidiary announce another work stoppage. More than 200 […]