The City of Melville council has condemned online bullying, harassment, threats and violence against council members, candidates and staff. It did so after independent federal MP Helen Haines was struck by a car in an alleged road-rage incident on October 19. However, councillors voted 6-7 against asking the WA Local Government Association to push for a coordinated response and review gaps in protections. Councillor Karen Wheatland, who proposed the motion without notice, said nobody should have to accept threats as the price of serving their community. Other councillors questioned whether the proposal was appropriate and sensitive.
Logan mayor Jon Raven has spoken after a violent incident at Fitzy's on Saturday night. He said a young woman was critically injured while preparing for her turn in the ring. A community response hub at Logan Hyperdome, outside Spotlight, is offering mental health support, open from 9am to 5pm until Wednesday, and may stay open longer. Raven urged people to check credible sources before posting online, and to contact Crime Stoppers or Policelink with information that could help investigators.
Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek has said an attack on Indi MP Helen Haines should not deter young women from pursuing careers in politics. Raising the issue during Question Time, she addressed concerns about violence directed at women and public officials. Plibersek argued that women in public life cannot step aside and leave the field to those who would intimidate them. The remarks came during a day of rolling coverage, which included a list of key events and a filterable feed of posts.
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Industry Minister Tim Ayres has said no Australian government websites have been breached after a serious security flaw was discovered in a widely used programming language. The live coverage follows the day's developments on the issue.
Independent MP Helen Haines has had a second leg amputated and is alive and stable, her husband Phil Haines says. He described her road to recovery as long and difficult, but said she is a fighter. Hospital staff say she remains in critical condition. A man has been charged over an alleged attack on her. Police say the motive is still not known. The Wangaratta mayor said the community is in collective shock and sadness.
The Rural City of Wangaratta will hold a special meeting on Wednesday 21 October at midday to formally support Federal Member for Indi Dr Helen Haines, her family and staff following an incident in Wangaratta on Monday. Council will also consider a resolution condemning violence, threats and intimidation. Mayor Irene Grant said the incident had deeply affected people across the town and wider region. The proposed resolution also recognises the courage of community members and emergency services personnel who assisted, including local resident and business owner Ricky Jefferies. The meeting will be livestreamed on YouTube.
Members of Parliament and mayors have jointly condemned a violent attack on Dr Helen Haines, the Federal Member for Indi, in Wangaratta. In a joint statement, they said personal threats, intimidation and violence have no place in democracy or in communities. They described Dr Haines as an example of public service and said they would not allow intimidation to silence public voices or discourage participation in civic life. The signatories said they stand with Dr Haines and her family, staff and all those affected.
Nearly 2,400 people were arrested in France on Sunday as cost-of-living protests erupted into some of the worst urban violence the country has seen in years. The interior ministry said almost 1,000 police and gendarmes were injured, seven seriously. President Emmanuel Macron condemned the unbridled violence, vowing that those who destroyed property would pay, though he announced no state of emergency or curfew. Protesters clashed with police in Paris, shops were looted, and a 17-year-old boy lost his right hand to a crowd-control grenade in Saint-Etienne. Opposition figures called for the interior minister to be sacked.
French President Emmanuel Macron has condemned the 'unbridled' violence during nationwide protests, which saw 2,400 arrests and widespread damage. Macron addressed the nation, distinguishing between legitimate protesters and those responsible for destruction. The riots, fuelled by cost-of-living concerns, have placed pressure on Macron ahead of upcoming elections. Over 1,000 police officers were injured, and businesses across France suffered significant losses. A historic town hall in Limoges was deliberately torched, and protests turned violent in cities including Paris, Marseille, and Lyon.
French President Emmanuel Macron has condemned the 'unbridled' violence during nationwide protests, which saw 2,400 arrests and widespread damage. Macron addressed the nation, distinguishing between legitimate protesters and those responsible for destruction. The riots, fuelled by cost-of-living concerns, have placed pressure on Macron ahead of upcoming elections. Over 1,000 police officers were injured, and businesses across France suffered significant losses. A historic town hall in Limoges was deliberately torched, and protests turned violent in cities including Paris, Marseille, and Lyon.
Masked settlers attacked a group of European diplomats visiting the occupied West Bank on Saturday, Belgium's foreign minister says. He said Palestinian civilians, French and Polish diplomats, Belgium's consul general and a French mayor were also attacked, and a Belgian vehicle was damaged. Mayor Bernard Baudoux said he was thrown to the ground while harvesting olives near Taybeh. Israeli police have opened an investigation, and no arrests have been announced.
Maribyrnong mayor Mohamed Semra has again called for a joined-up approach to crime in inner-city Footscray. Police were called to an assault at a Barkly Street business on 15 October, where a female staff member was allegedly attacked by a woman after a man verbally abused her. The victim was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and the alleged offenders are believed to be at large. A day earlier, a 37-year-old man was arrested on Byron Street after allegedly threatening passers-by with a knife.
A 34-year-old man has been jailed for at least seven years after raping a four-year-old girl in a Darwin town camp. Nathaniel Farrell lured the child away with watermelon while she played in a front yard, then assaulted her in a house. The court heard Farrell had a history of violence against women and posed a continuing danger to the community. Chief Justice Michael Grant described the attack as brazen and toward the upper end of seriousness, with the child being very young and vulnerable.
France has suspended police use of stun grenades at student-led protests amid allegations of brutality. Tens of thousands protested nationwide on Tuesday, demanding better high school conditions. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez ordered the suspension after a 15-year-old lost a hand in Lens. Police have opened 18 internal investigations into misconduct claims. Protests began in late September over dilapidated facilities and teacher shortages, with over 6,500 arrests and hundreds injured.
A man has been jailed for 24 years after strangling his uncle to death in their Maffra home. Jethro Curtis, 44, attacked Stephen Curtis, 63, on January 18, accusing him of abuse. Curtis pleaded guilty to murder in July. Justice Rita Incerti described the attack as brutal, noting the victim's frailty due to Parkinson's disease. Curtis will be eligible for parole after 17 years.
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A 28-year-old Ipswich man has been charged with murder after his three-month-old son succumbed to severe internal injuries. The infant was initially treated at Ipswich Hospital before being transferred to Brisbane, where he died on Tuesday. Police allege domestic violence was involved. The accused, Uneeb Ullah, faced Brisbane Magistrates Court via adjournment and will return later this month. Investigations are ongoing.
The Reclaim the Night March, originating in response to the Yorkshire Ripper, continues globally to challenge systemic issues like sexual assault and victim-blaming. Women demand safety not just on streets but in homes, workplaces, and digital spaces, where violence persists. With one in four women experiencing intimate partner violence and two women murdered weekly in their homes, the march highlights ongoing risks. The normalisation of violent pornography exacerbates gender-based violence, with physical aggression becoming part of real sexual repertoires. The Lismore march on 15 October aims to unite communities in addressing these critical safety concerns.
The Reclaim the Night march in Lismore will take place this Thursday, continuing a local tradition since 1988. The event, held at The Quad from 6pm to 8pm, advocates for a society free from violence and harassment against women. Keynote speaker Madeleine West will be joined by local advocates Beth Hamilton and Marnie Davis. The march aims to unite the community, honour victims, and promote respectful, safer environments. Participants of all backgrounds are encouraged to attend.
