Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Archive for December, 2020
NT approves Woolies’ Darwin Dan Murphy’s megastore
Woolworths’ plan to open a Dan Murphy’s superstore in Darwin has been approved by the Northern Territory government despite ongoing community concerns. December 18, 2020 The Northern Territory government has approved Woolworths’ controversial plan to open a Dan Murphy’s megastore in Darwin despite community concerns. Health groups have criticised the proposed liquor store, which will […]
Traditional owners want compo over NT mine
The Gudanji, Yanyuwa and Yanyuwa-Marra peoples are taking the Northern Territory government to court over alleged damage to sacred sites at McArthur River. December 17, 2020 The traditional owners of a Northern Territory pastoral lease that’s home to a massive mine want compensation for diminishing their native title rights and alleged damage to sacred sites. The […]
Woolies to review Darwin Dan Murphy’s plan
Woolworths has ordered an independent review of its proposed Dan Murphy’s superstore in Darwin amid sustained community outcry over stakeholder consultation. December 17, 2020 Woolworths has temporarily shelved its controversial plan to open a Dan Murphy’s megastore in Darwin to review community concerns. The proposed bottle shop, the largest in the Northern Territory, has been […]
New tool in fight against online predators
The fight against online predators has been ramped up with the release of an information pack to educate parents and children about the dangers of the internet. December 17, 2020 The family of slain Queensland teenager Daniel Morcombe has ramped up the fight against online predators with new tools to help educate families about the […]
Stop Adani protest at two Queensland banks
Stop Adani activists have protested at two HSBC Australia bank branches over the Indian miner’s controversial Carmichael coal project in Queensland. December 17, 2020 Anti-Adani activists have staged sit-ins at two Queensland bank branches over the Indian miner’s controversial coal project. About 20 protestors waving placards took over the foyer of HSBC Australia on Queen […]
Qld drug syndicate with Thai links busted
Queensland police have charged 14 men allegedly involved in an international drug smuggling syndicate after seizing a plane load of cash and cannabis. December 16, 2020 An international drug smuggling syndicate has been smashed after Queensland police intercepted a plane loaded with cash and cannabis. Officers found $1 million in cash and drugs with an estimated […]
Smoke alert for big Brisbane factory fire
Firefighters are battling a large blaze at an industrial site near Brisbane’s port, with smoke from the fire visible from more than 15 kilometres away. December 16, 2020 More than a dozen firefighting crews are battling a large blaze at an industrial site near Brisbane’s port. The fire started about 2.30pm on Wednesday at a […]
First international students head to class
The first 63 international students to return to Australia since the start of COVID-19 are set to start classes in the Northern Territory after quarantining. December 15, 2020 The first international students to return to Australia since the COVID-19 pandemic hit are back on campus in the Northern Territory. About 60 students from China, Hong […]
NSW, Qld weather ‘similar to cyclone’
Northern NSW and southeast Queensland is bracing for more wild weather, with warnings it will be “similar to a category one cyclone event”. December 13, 2020 Heavy rain across southeast Queensland and northern NSW has prompted flash flooding warnings as authorities answer hundreds of calls for help and warn of more severe weather to come. […]
Rain helps contain Fraser Island bushfire
Firefighters say heavy rain has helped them gain control over a bushfire that’s burnt almost half of world heritage-listed Fraser Island. December 13, 2020 Heavy rain has helped firefighters gain the upper hand against a bushfire that’s destroyed almost half of world heritage-listed Fraser Island. Queensland Fire and Emergency Services says the blaze is now […]
More wild weather tipped for NSW, Qld
Authorities warn more wild weather is on the way for southeast Queensland and northern NSW. December 13, 2020 Heavy rain across southeast Queensland and northern NSW has prompted flash flooding warnings as authorities answer hundreds of calls for help and warn of more bad weather to come. Some areas in the Gold Coast and northern […]
Farm activists could lose tax-free status
Animal activist groups that target Australian farmers could lose their charity status under new regulations aimed at stopping harassment and intimidation. December 13, 2020 Animal activist groups that target Australian farmers could be stripped of their charity and tax-free status, potentially hobbling their ability to fundraise. The new regulations aim to stop extremist organisations from […]
Queenslanders brace for gales, floods
Southeast Queensland is set to cop a drenching with up to 150mm of rain forecast to fall in a day. December 13, 2020 Southeast Queenslanders are being urged to prepare for a deluge, with a month’s worth of rain tipped to fall in a day. Falls of up to 150mm are forecast for Brisbane and […]
Space show to light up Australia’s skies
Australian stargazers are in for some late nights and early mornings watching planets align and shooting stars light up the night sky throughout the next week. December 13, 2020 Australian stargazers are set to be over the moon with joy as planets align and shooting stars light up the night sky through the next week. […]
First NZ flight forced into Qld quarantine
Queensland has reopened its border to New Zealand but travellers on the first flight to Brisbane have gone into quarantine amid confusion from relatives. December 12, 2020 Expectations that a plane load of passengers from New Zealand would walk out of Brisbane airport were dashed when the travellers and their waiting families were told they […]
SE Qld braces for dangerous wet weather
Southeast Queensland is set to cop a drenching with a month’s worth of rain tipped to fall on Sunday and Monday. December 12, 2020 Southeast Queenslanders have been urged to prepare homes and rethink travel with a month’s worth of rain tipped to fall in less than a day. Up to 150mm of rain is […]
Email bungle stress for Queensland Yr 12s
More than 20,000 Year 12 students in Queensland have accidentally been sent an email saying they are ineligible for an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank. December 12, 2020 An IT bungle has left thousands of Queensland Year 12 students angry and upset after they were sent a late-night email saying they wouldn’t be getting a university […]
WA’s northwest floods after huge downpour
Flood warnings have been issued for parts of inland Western Australia after a tropical low dumped heavy rain from the Pilbara to the South Australian border. December 12, 2020 Much of inland Western Australia is awash after a gusty tropical low dumped heavy rain from the Pilbara to the border with South Australia. The weather system […]
NZ flight forced into Qld quarantine
Queensland has reopened its border to New Zealand but travellers on the first flight to Brisbane have gone into quarantine. December 12, 2020 Travellers from New Zealand will have to wait another four days before walking off an aircraft and into the Queensland community without quarantining. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk reopened the state to NZ from 1am […]
Southeast Queensland braces for deluge
Southeast Queensland is set to cop a drenching with more than 200mm of rain forecast as a huge slow-moving cold air mass settles in for the weekend. December 12, 2020 Southeast Queensland is in for a wet weekend with a month’s worth of rain tipped to fall by Sunday. More than 200mm of rain is […]
Queensland opens border to New Zealand
The first flight of Kiwi travellers since Queensland reopened its border to New Zealand are set to arrive at Brisbane airport. December 12, 2020 Families, loved ones and mates are set to be reunited when the first travellers from New Zealand since the COVID-19 crisis hit touch down in Queensland without the need to quarantine. […]
Southeast Queensland to cop drenching
Southeast Queensland is set to cop a drenching with more than 200mm of rain forecast as a huge slow-moving cold air mass settles in for the weekend. December 12, 2020 Southeast Queensland is in for a wet weekend with a huge slow-moving cold air mass expected to unleash torrential rain. More than 200mm of rain […]
WA flood warnings amid torrential rain
Flood and severe weather warnings have been issued as a tropical low dumps torrential rain across Western Australia’s Pilbara region. December 11, 2020 People in Western Australia’s Pilbara have been urged to prepare for flooding as a tropical low dumps heavy rain across the region. The weather system crossed the coast on Friday with the […]
Police shoot man in Brisbane’s southwest
A man has been shot in the buttocks and seriously wounded, and a police officer injured, during an incident in Brisbane. December 11, 2020 A man has been shot in the buttocks by police during an alleged carjacking attempt in Brisbane’s southwest. A policeman also suffered non-life-threatening injuries during the incident in Durack about 12.20pm […]