Good Morning Border!
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A cooler day in store following that cold front before it warms up for the weekend. Partly cloudly in Albury Wodonga with a top of 20. Max temps: Corowa 28, Culcairn 29, Wangaratta 25, Corryong 21, Bright 22, Falls Creek 7.
Catch up on news here:
Assaulting police officers, not on
Superintendent Evan Quarmby says police had been assaulted on 26 occasions since the start of the year. More here
Strong OECD rankings ahead of VCE results on Monday
Victorian students are above the OECD average for academic rankings. Principal Vern Hilditch says Victoria’s solid performance is down to the state government’s commitment to remaining “the education state”. More here
Violent Femmes and Hoodoo Gurus to headline A Day on the Green
“The power of the Gurus, absurdity of the Femmes, pathos of The Whitlams, horniness of Tim Rogers and mystery of Models combine to remind us of everything that is good about humanity in this otherwise bleak time.” More here
Keiran Knight to umpire Border Bash clash
Jindera's Keiran Knight will officiate the Border Bash clash between Sydney Thunder and Melbourne Stars next week. More here
State of the nation
Need a national news snapshot first thing? Well, we have you covered.
Before the regional news …
​►HOBART: The state government will not back any attempt to revive a carbon emissions trading scheme, considering a second Bass Strait interconnector the best way to boost renewable energy investment in the state.
South Australian Premier Weatherill is expected at a COAG meeting on Friday to demand state and territory leaders establish an emissions trading scheme without federal government involvement.
â–şBENDIGO: The Victorian premier will campaign for Bendigo to become home to a new government agency at tomorrow’s Council of Australian Governments national summit.Â
Premier Daniel Andrews said he wanted to strike a “city deal” with the prime minister for the proposed Regional Investment Corporation to be based in the central Victorian city.
â–şNEWCASTLE: Immunologist and accused serial sex offender Dr Jeremy Coleman has now been charged with 130 indecent and sexual assault charges against more than 80 alleged victims, Newcastle District Court has heard.
Dr Coleman had previously been charged with 37 offences, the majority of which relate to patients at his Watt Street practice.
►WAGGA: The Wagga Catholic diocese has been linked with a pregnancy centre accused of surreptitiously doling out anti-abortion advice.
The Women’s Life Centre in Albury aims help “any woman facing an unplanned pregnancy or worried that they may be pregnant”.
While the service claims to be founded on “the core belief of the dignity, beauty and the unique gift of women and the precious individuality of each person”, it’s paraphernalia and marketing fails to mention its unashamedly anti-abortion stance.
â–şWODONGA: A drug-dealing Howlong prostitute is now being hunted by police after failing to appear for sentencing.
Carli Kreyts was supposed to have fronted Albury Local Court this week on eight largely drug-related charges.
â–şPORT MACQUARIE: Rick Anderson says he isn’t scared of sharks and he is appealing to others to learn to love them. Â
“I try and convince people that once you see a shark eye to eye it’s totally different to sitting on a surfboard, body board or even a boat looking at every shadow that goes underneath thinking it’s a shark coming to get you,” he said.
►FREMANTLE: Fremantle Docker Hayden Ballantyne and his fiance Alyssa Hennessy were married at a private ceremony in North Dandalup.
â–şMELBOURNE:Â Julie Morgan is exactly the sort of person likely to qualify should Victoria's proposed assisted dying laws pass next year. And she doesn't want them.
When her time comes, Ms Morgan does not want to feel as though she is being rushed out the door. Nor does she want other vulnerable Australians, particularly older women, to feel any pressure or obligation to "step out of the way".
►CANBERRA: The Labor Party has given Australia's authors and publishers an early Christmas present, revealing it will oppose any attempt by the government to relax parallel import restrictions on books, leaving the changes unlikely to pass the Parliament.
The law currently prevents the importation of cheaper foreign books but the Coalition last year backed the view of the Harper competition policy review, which proposed that restrictions be removed.
National weather radar
Check out what’s expected near you today.
International news
►INDONESIA: Toys poke through the debris clenched in the giant jaws of five excavators. They are clearing a marketplace in Meureudu which was flattened by the earthquake that struck Aceh on Wednesday morning.
Villager Taufik Hidayat, who has been volunteering at the site since just after the quake struck at 5.03am, has seen far worse.
â–şLONDON: Online propaganda, hacking and cyber-attacks from states with 'hostile intent' pose a "fundamental threat" to the sovereignty of democratic countries including Britain, the head of MI6 says.
In a wide-ranging and rare speech at MI6's new headquarters in central London, Mr Younger, or "C" as he is referred to, said the internet had opened up a new frontier he called "the increasingly dangerous phenomenon of hybrid warfare."
On this day
1983: Pacino stars in Scarface
1972: “I Am Woman” by Helen Reddy tops the US pop charts
1854: “The Charge of the Light Brigade” by Alfred Lord Tennyson is published
The faces of Australia: Zoe Lippis
Carols on Christmas Eve, presents in the morning followed by a delicious Christmas dinner.
Maybe some games afterwards, a few phone calls to relatives, and a quick check on the state of the back-yard cricket pitch before Boxing Day.
How many of these will you tick off on December 25?