A federal police investigation into a controversial government land deal is focusing on a potential fraud after the auditor-general’s unprecedented referral. The infrastructure department in 2018 paid $30 million for land worth $3 million near the Western Sydney Airport. Auditor-General Grant Hehir referred the deal to federal police earlier this year, more than two months...
Category: Politics
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Australian casino operator faces laundering probe
Australian casino operator Crown Resorts has revealed it is being investigated for possible breaches of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws. The company told the Australian Stock Exchange it had been contacted by the country’s financial crime regulator. Crown has casinos in Melbourne and Perth, and is building one in Sydney. If breaches are proven,...
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Coronavirus in Australia: Victoria to ease lockdown as cases fall
Officials are easing tight coronavirus restrictions in the state of Victoria after more than 100 days of lockdown. From Monday, people will be able to travel further and meet up with more friends without a time limit on how long they spend outside the home. But strict measures remain in place for restaurants and retailers,...
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Bill Shorten defends Berejiklian following Daryl Maguire bombshell
Federal MP Bill Shorten has defended political opponent Gladys Berejiklian, saying she was “punching below her weight” after details of the premier’s relationship with former MP Daryl Maguire were revealed yesterday. The NSW Premier was forced to lay bare her personal life after her five year secret relationship with Mr Maguire during an ICAC hearing...
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NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian faces calls to resign as she faces day two of ICAC fallout
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian insists she has “stuffed up” personally but not professionally in having a relationship with a disgraced ex-MP, as she fights to keep her job. Berejiklian on Monday revealed her relationship with former Wagga Wagga member Daryl Maguire, spanning several years, at a corruption probe into his business dealings. The Independent Commission...
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Red-light fines on hold as police retest Adelaide cameras
More than 100 intersections across Adelaide will be closed to allow testing of red-light cameras after a Supreme Court decision called into question the validity of the traffic control devices. All unpaid fines issued before the judgement last week, and any offences detected since, have also been put on hold as police seek legal advice....
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Singapore Prime Minister files defamation suit against blogger
Singapore’s prime minister arrived at court on Tuesday for a case in which he is suing a blogger for sharing an online article linking him to Malaysia’s 1MBD state fund money-laundering scandal. As the world’s best-paid political leader and the head of a government that has pledged zero tolerance on corruption, Lee Hsien Loong, 68,...
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Premier announces electricity bill bonus for every WA household
Premier Mark McGowan has announced more than a million WA households will receive a $600 credit on their electricity account before their next bill. The $650 million measure will form part of Thursday’s pre-election state budget, which has been delayed since May because of the pandemic and will help deflect criticism by the opposition that...
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Treasurer Frydenberg Urged Not to Overlook Pensioners
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is being urged not to forget pensioners as he puts the final touches on next week’s budget. Peak lobby group National Seniors Australia wants a lift in the pension, changes to how self-funded retirees are assessed, and lower interest rates for people using their home as an asset to draw money against....
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Queensland Senator weighs up move to lower house
Queensland Senator Matt Canavan is pursuing options for a move to the Lower House, which if successful, would put him in place for a tilt at the National Party leadership before the next federal election. The former resources minister is considering running in the upcoming Groom by-election, made vacant by LNP member John McVeigh, who...