Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Archive for September, 2019
Desperate farmers fight Qld mine for water
Drought-ravaged Queensland graziers say they won’t stop fighting to stop the New Acland coal mine, which they claim threatens their water supply. September 16, 2019 Drought-stricken Queensland farmers fighting to stop a controversial coal project they say threatens their water supply are refusing to give up despite the failure of a major legal challenge. More […]
Wind, heat set to return to charred Qld
Conditions have eased for firefighters battling Queensland’s bushfires but it’s no time to be complacent, with the fire danger set to increase in coming days. September 15, 2019 Firefighters continue to battle about 50 bushfires in tinderbox conditions across Queensland, with the fire danger set to increase in coming days. Crews from Victoria, South Australia, […]
Two men dead in Qld boat crash
Two men in a catamaran have died in a suspected high-speed crash in waters off central Queensland. September 14, 2019 Two men have been found dead in a catamaran off Queensland, with early indications they crashed after hitting an object at speed. A 39-year-old man from Emerald and a 59-year-old man from the Mackay area […]
Queenslanders urged to stay fire alert
About 50 fires continue to burn across Queensland with firefighting conditions forecast to deteriorate in coming days as hot and dry weather sets in. September 14, 2019 Conditions have eased for firefighters battling Queensland’s bushfires but it’s no time to be complacent, with the fire danger set to increase in coming days. About 50 fires […]
Extra financial help for bushfire victims
Bushfire affected communities will be eligible for additional financial help, with the federal government activating the Disaster Recovery Allowance. September 13, 2019 Bushfire-affected people in New South Wales and Queensland will be eligible for additional financial assistance to help them get back on their feet. The federal government activated the Disaster Recovery Allowance on Friday […]
Backstreet Boys heading back Down Under
The world’s biggest selling boy band, the Backstreet Boys, will bring their DNA World Tour to Australia next May. September 13, 2019 Dust off your Airwalkers and start practising your moves, the world’s biggest-selling boy band – the Backstreet Boys – are heading back Downunder. Twenty-six years after it all began, AJ McLean, Brian Littrell, Nick […]
Two foreign ships banned over wage theft
Maritime authorities have banned two foreign-flagged bulk carriers from Australian ports after their crews reported being underpaid. September 15, 2019 Authorities have banned two foreign-flagged ships from Australian ports after their crews reported being underpaid hundreds of thousands of dollars. The Chinese-owned bulk carrier MV Xing Jing Hai and the Panama-flagged MV Fortune Genius were […]
Chinese ship detained at Brisbane port
Australian authorities have detained a Chinese-owned ship at the Port of Brisbane after its crew reported $100,000 in wage theft to union officials. September 12, 2019 A Chinese-owned ship is being detained at a Queensland port after its crew reported $100,000 in unpaid wages to the transport workers’ union. The Hong Kong-flagged bulk carrier MV […]
Knife-wielding Thai tourist jailed in Qld
A Thai tourist who stabbed a man after drinking heavily at a Queensland house party has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years in jail. September 12, 2019 A knife-wielding Thai tourist who went on a rampage after a Queensland house party has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years in jail. Jinnawat Yasuk, 41, pleaded guilty on Thursday in […]
Queensland wife-killer jailed for 15 years
A Gold Coast businessman found guilty of killing his estranged wife amid a bitter divorce dispute has been jailed for 15 years. September 11, 2019 A Gold Coast millionaire who violently and silently killed his estranged wife as their two children slept after he misunderstood a divorce letter has been jailed for 15 years. John […]
Approve the mine to save jobs: Canavan
Resources Minister Matt Canavan wants the Queensland premier to approve a controversial coal mine expansion after a court decision was found to be biased. September 11, 2019 Federal Resources Minister Matt Canavan has called on the Queensland government to immediately approve a controversial coal mine expansion to save workers’ jobs. New Hope Group’s New Acland […]
Queensland wife-killer set to learn fate
A Gold Coast businessman found guilty of killing his estranged wife amid a bitter divorce dispute is expected to be sentenced. September 11, 2019 A Gold Coast millionaire who killed his estranged wife amid a bitter row over the custody of their two children is set to learn his fate on Wednesday. John William Chardon, 72, […]
Man faces Qld court over $90m drug bust
A man has appeared in court to face a drug trafficking charge after Queensland police seized a record 776kg of MDMA powder. September 10, 2019 Queensland police have nabbed another man over a record seizure of MDMA powder worth $90 million. Benjamin David Englefield, 42, was arrested on Tuesday morning following an appeal to the […]
Queensland ‘zombie’ drug importer jailed
A Brisbane man who was busted for importing a million dollars worth of “zombie” drugs has been sentenced to more than nine years in prison. September 10, 2019 A million-dollar “zombie” drug haul has resulted in more than nine years jail for a Brisbane man after police intercepted the shipment from China. Sammuel Bartrim, 26, […]
Qld wife-killer avoids murder conviction
A Queensland man who was accused of murdering his estranged wife amid a bitter divorce dispute has been found guilty of manslaughter. September 9, 2019 A Gold Coast millionaire killed his estranged wife, a jury has found after weeks of salacious allegations of appalling behaviour, affairs and an attempt to hire a hitman. But the […]
Jury at Qld murder trial set to resume
The jury at a trial for a Gold Coast man accused of murdering his wife is expected to resume their deliberations after taking a break over the weekend. September 9, 2019 A Gold Coast businessman accused of murdering his wife amid their divorce is expected to learn his fate, with the undecided jury at his […]
Nervous wait for Qlders in bushfire zones
A Gold Coast hinterland resident evacuated due to a bushfire threat says she has her most precious possession with her. September 7, 2019 Binna Burra resident Sophie Bryden doesn’t know if her home is still standing. And she may not find out for days due to the ongoing bushfire threat near her property. “You don’t know what […]
Qld mayor praises firefighters and residents
A Queensland mayor has paid an emotional tribute to firefighters after a bushfire destroyed at least 10 homes in the area. September 7, 2019 A Queensland mayor has told residents it is too risky to return to their homes while paying an emotional tribute to the firefighters who battled a ferocious blaze that destroyed at […]
Two homes lost in Qld bushfires
Two homes have been destroyed by fires, an emergency has been declared and a town told to seek shelter from bushfires raging in Queensland. September 6, 2019 Two homes have been destroyed and a town is without power as bushfires raging across Queensland threaten lives and property. The border town of Stanthorpe was without power on […]
Sky gold as fire bears down on Qld town
The Queensland border town of Stanthorpe has lost power and residents have been told stay put because as a potentially deadly fire approaches the town. September 6, 2019 The sky above the Queensland border town of Stanthorpe is gold and not in a good way as a potentially deadly bushfire bears down on homes. Residents […]
Accused Qld murderer waits for verdict
A Gold Coast businessman on trial for murdering his estranged wife will have to wait for the verdict after an undecided jury was released for the weekend. September 6, 2019 A Gold Coast businessman accused of murdering his estranged wife amid their bitter divorce will have to wait to learn his fate after his undecided […]
Ex-Qld developer jailed for $4.8m scam
A former Gold Coast property developer who duped pensioners out of almost $5 million has been sentenced to eight years in prison. September 6, 2019 A former Gold Coast property developer will spend at least two-and-a-half years behind bars following the collapse of his $4.78 million investment scheme targeting pensioners. Bradley Keith Silver, 30, was […]
Jury retires in accused Qld killer’s trial
The jury in the trial of a Gold Coast businessman accused of murdering his estranged wife has retired to consider its verdict. September 6, 2019 A jury has retired to consider the case against a Gold Coast businessman accused of murdering his estranged wife amid a bitter divorce dispute. John William Chardon, 72, denies murdering […]
Accused Qld wife killer’s trial nears end
The jury at a trial for a Gold Coast businessman accused of murdering his wife amid a bitter divorce row is expected to begin deliberating. September 6, 2019 A Gold Coast businessman accused of murdering his wife amid a bitter divorce row may learn his fate, with the jury at his trial expected to begin […]