The footage revealed Lisa Wilson, Monika Paniczko and Anastasia Moutsos assaulting Lee-Anne, the 53-year-old woman who uses a wheelchair, is non-verbal and has osteoporosis.
In the footage captured over the last 18 months by a secret camera from Lee-Anne’s father, one of the carers was seen sticking her finger in a cylinder into Lee-Anne’s mouth and another was seen breathing and spitting into Lee-Anne’s mouth.
NDIS Minister Bill Shorten was left shocked when the footage was brought to his attention, and claimed the actions of Lee-Anne’s carers were “dehumanising” and made him “angry.”
“I thought it was just evil,” Mr Shorten said.
“I don’t want to believe that there are people who will treat other people in the manner in which I saw in that video. These people acting with such callous indifference to Lee-Anne, it’s just shocking. It’s cruel.
“It’s a betrayal of Lee-Anne and it’s actually a betrayal of the good people who work in disability. It was shocking.”
He then revealed he reached out to Lee-Anne’s parents, Robert and Lorraine on the matter.
Despite all three women pleading guilty to the assault charges in June 2022, and losing their jobs, Mr Shorten has since called for a life ban for all three women to stop them from working with vulnerable people under the NDIS scheme again.
The Canberra Liberals have welcomed Mick Calatzis, a 40-year AFP officer, as their new Kurrajong candidate following Dr. Jerry Nockles’ withdrawal for a Senate preselection race.
Mr Calatzis, who is deeply connected to Kurrajong through policing and community engagement, aims to prioritise safety and business efficiency.
The Riotact reported that Opposition Leader Elizabeth Lee praised Calatzis’s local knowledge and commitment to the community, claiming he brought plenty of experience to the role.
“He is Canberran through and through, a father, grandfather, and somebody who knows the Kurrajong electorate incredibly well and has spent his entire life serving the community,” she said.
“It’s incredibly wonderful to see so many people from all walks of life put their hand up and be part of the Canberra Liberals team. We know that Mick will work incredibly hard as part of the Kurrajong and broader Canberra Liberal team to ensure that we see a change of government in October 2024.”
Mick Caltazis and Canberra Liberals Leader Elizabeth Lee. Photo: Riotact.
Mr Calatzis said he would campaign to keep Canberrans safe, further reflecting on the struggle of quality of life in Canberra due to the cost of living crisis.
“Business is about life, businesses is about commerce, and business is about getting people jobs, and businesses about having confidence,” Mr Calantzis said.
“Canberrans are doing it tough.
“I’ve never seen so many homeless people as well. And fundamentally, everybody in Canberra has a right to shelter, has a right to live a good life and to live a safe life as well.”
Due to his experience with police, he said he could make a difference in the development of policies.
“Well, it’s pretty simple. I don’t know Canberra, nine to five. I know Canberra 24/7, 365,” he said.
Ms Lee added that Mr Calatzis’s expertise would be valuable in policy debates, “ensuring that we are representing every corner of the community in terms of what their local needs are”.
Construction has now commenced for the new and iconic Pier Pavilion at Watermans Cove in Barangaroo.
The design was chosen based on a national competition which was won by Besley and Spencer in 2020, with a design that celebrates land, sea and sky.
The Daily Telegraph revealed that the Pavillion is set to become a popular space for locals and visitors in Sydney, which will be able to cater for weddings, markets, and various other events.
The construction contract for the pavilion was granted to Stephen Edwards Constructions, an Australian-owned company, with the anticipated time for completion to be around 12 months.
Steve Kamper attended the construction site. Photo: Multicultural NSW.
The NSW Lands and Property Minister Steve Kamper said he was “excited” to see work begin on the “spectacular pavilion”.
“[It] is set to become an iconic landmark by the water for gathering, and an oasis in the heart of Barangaroo,” he said.
“The new Pier Pavilion is the latest piece in the Barangaroo precinct, and a stunning addition to the world-class architecture of Barangaroo the continuous foreshore walk from Woolloomooloo to Pyrmont.”
The Victorian Shadow Minister for Industry and Innovation, Manufacturing, Tertiary Education, Qualifications and Training, Bridget Vallence met with the president of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sofia Kounenaki Efraimoglou in Athens, Greece.
During the meeting, the two leaders discussed cooperation between Australia and Greece in energy, medical services, and innovation.
Bridget Vallence. Photo: Coalition of Conservation.
Imerisia.gr revealed that the officials also proposed plans for a 2025 business mission to Australia, aiming to bolster ties between the nations.
In their meeting, they also discussed the ongoing EU-Australia Free Trade Agreement negotiations, where both sides emphasised the potential for deeper cooperation.
A teenager was arrested on Thursday, April 11, after pushing a 68-year-old Greek woman down the steps of her local church in Queens, New York.
The 16-year-old was also charged with robbery and assault, after snatching the parishioner’s purse and stealing her cash, mobile phone, credit card and car keys.
He escaped the scene of the crime in her 2006 Nissan Altima.
Irene Tahliambouris was on her way into the church when the incident took place. Photo: NYPD.
The New York Post revealed that the woman, Irene Tahliambouris was on her way in to the Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Briarwood, Queens, where the incident took place.
Surveillance footage of the crime has also been captured. The 16-year-old, whose identity cannot be revealed as he is a minor, was additionally charged with grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property.
A relative of Ms Tahliambouris, Daniel Coffaro Hill, made a post on social media following the incident.
“This lowlife is off our streets for now, and we are hoping the system will actually do its job this time. We’re tired of seeing criminals walk free because of our soft on crime laws,” Mr Hill said.
The 16-year-old teen outside the Queens church. Photo: NYPD.
“This thug is another example of how petty criminals feel bold enough to escalate their crimes, knowing they’ll likely get off with a slap on the wrist. Despite this, there seems to be a lack of urgency from both Albany and NYC to implement the necessary legal reforms to ensure these individuals are held accountable.”
Ms Tahliambouris is currently in hospital under critical condition.
Reverent Konstantinos Kalogridis also made a comment on the incident.
“[Parishioners] were shocked because we don’t have incidents like that here in this area of the neighbourhood,” the Reverent said.
“There was fear, they were angry and sad for the woman as she went through this.”
Roussis played for South Melbourne between 1964 and 1969 after previously representing the Greek Youth squads and Panathinaikos. He was an uncompromising defender, fierce leader and a key part to club’s success through such a memorable period in its history.
He played in the club’s 1964, 1965 and 1966 championship wins.
Rousssis was not only a legend of a past player, but he was always supportive of South Melbourne’s club at Lakeside Stadium until the current day.
South Melbourne FC shared their condolences for Roussis and his family on Facebook.
“He will be deeply missed and we would like to pass on our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and the many members of the South family who will be mourning his loss,” the club wrote in the post.
The governments of Greece and Australia have condemned Iran’s attack on Israel. This weekend, Iran launched more than a hundred drones, dozens of cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles at Israel.
On Sunday, Greece’s government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis called for “restraint from all sides in order to avoid a wider regional conflict.”
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis additionally made a post on X and said he strongly condemned the attacks and added that Greece stands with Israel.
I strongly condemn the attacks launched by Iran against Israel. Αny escalation is a threat to regional stability and security. We stand with Israel and urge all sides to show restraint.
In a statement released on Sunday, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also labelled the escalation as a grave threat to the security of Israel and the entire region.
“It risks greater instability and devastation across the Middle East. Australia continues to support regional security, including that of Israel,” Mr Albanese said.
The Iranian attacks, the first direct strike on Israeli soil in a decades long shadow war between the two nations, are in retaliation to suspected Israeli strikes on Iran’s diplomatic compound in the Syrian capital Damascus, killing seven people including two senior Iranian military officials.
The Greek tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas has won the Monte Carlo Masters for the third time in four years. Tsitsipas defeated Casper Ruud 6-1 and 6-4 on Sunday, April 14.
Tsitsipas has now claimed his first trophy of 2024, and a career total of 11 titles.
The Greek came out firing in his 28th tour-level final, dictating on his forehand to break Ruud’s serve in the third game. The 25-year-old, who hit 10 winners and committed six unforced errors in the first set, regularly drew roars from the crowd with his fearless tennis catching the eye of stars such as Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc.
KING STEF IS TRIUMPHANT IN MONTE CARLO FOR THE 3RD TIME 🏆🏆🏆
Stefanos Tsitsipas caps off a brilliant week with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Ruud for his 11th career title. pic.twitter.com/rKNLan9McF
“It’s been very difficult. To be back on the podiums and winning tournaments feels amazing,” Tsitsipas said.
“I can’t thank enough my family and friends… for making this possible. The trinity is even more special than the first or second time.
“This is purely unbelievable for me. Capturing that win today was nerve-wracking. I really wanted the trinity, so I got it. I’m extremely happy today.”
Flags are flying at half-mast across Australia today in honour of the six victims killed in Saturday’s mass stabbing at Westfield Bondi Junction in Sydney’s east.
NSW Police have confirmed Queenslander Joel Cauchi was the attacker, and that he had moved from Queensland to New South Wales only a month before he took a knife into the crowded Sydney mall on Saturday afternoon and killed six people in an unprovoked stabbing spree.
Cauchi was shot dead by a senior female police officer inside Westfield Bondi Junction on Saturday afternoon, after setting upon several people inside the complex with a knife and triggering an evacuation.
Police blocked a street near a crime scene at Bondi Junction in Sydney. Photo: Rick Rycroft/AP.
Five victims — four women and a man — died at the busy centre on Saturday afternoon and another woman died from her injuries in hospital.
Several of the victims have already been identified. Majority were women.
Remembering the victims:
The first victim to be publicly named was 38-year-old mother Ashlee Good, who was attacked alongside her nine-month-old baby and died later in hospital on Saturday evening. Her family says the baby is now “doing well” after undergoing hours of emergency surgery.
Dawn Singleton has also been confirmed to have died in the attack. She is the 25-year-old daughter of businessman John “Singo” Singleton.
Faraz Tahir, a 30-year-old Pakistani national who was working as a security guard, has also been identified as a victim.
One of the victims, Dawn Singleton.
Jade Young, 47, was identified as another victim by NSW Police on Sunday afternoon.
On Sunday night, NSW Police identified 55-year-old Pikri Darchia as another one of the five female victims.
Chinese national Yixuan Cheng has also been identified as the sixth fatality in the Bondi Junction stabbing attack.
Police said earlier on Sunday that it could be “some time” before all victims were publicly identified. Two of the victims have no family in Australia and authorities have been trying to contact their families.
Twelve people were also hospitalised for injuries sustained in the attack, with one subsequently discharged.
Motives of a killer:
More than 50 people have come forward to police to be interviewed about the Bondi Junction stabbing attack overnight as police continue to piece together what motivated the seemingly senseless acts of violence.
NSW Police Minister Karen Webb said police investigators had finished taking physical evidence and had handed the Westfield shopping centre back to its owners by Monday morning.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb says police would speak to killer Joel Cauchi’s family in Queensland. Photo: James Brickwood.
Ms Webb said police were trying to investigate a motive for the attack and would speak to the killer’s family in Queensland. An obvious line of inquiry for police was whether he had an issue with women.
Support for locals:
Floral tributes mounted up in Bondi yesterday and hundreds signed a condolence book as Sydneysiders paid their respects to the dead.
NSW Minister of Health Ryan Park said there would be mental health staff at Bondi over the next few days to provide support.
“People can access mental health support directly through the government,” he said on Sunday.
“We don’t want people to suffer alone. This is a very, very traumatic event and something many people have not seen or witnessed before and we understand that can have a devastating impact on people’s mental health.”
Floral tribute at Bondi Junction. Photo: NCA NewsWire / David Swift.
Messages of condolences:
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called the attack “beyond words or understanding.”
“This was a horrific act of violence, indiscriminately targeted at innocent people going about an ordinary Saturday doing their shopping,” Albanese said.
“The first thoughts of all Australians are with the victims of these terrible acts and their loved ones.
“Our nation offers our deepest condolences and sympathies to all those who are grieving for someone they have lost and we send our strength to those who have been injured.”
Political leaders, including Waverly Mayor Paula Masselos (left), Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (third from left) and NSW Premier Chris Minns (third from right) lay a floral tribute. Photo: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said the “horrifying and violent” mass stabbing in Bondi Junction on Saturday marks a “very sad day in the history of New South Wales.”
“Whether you know the individuals who have been killed or not, you are grieving today,” Minns said.
“The entire state will have to get behind those families in the days ahead, as they recover and go through the inevitable grief associated with such a horrifying, horrifying event.”
Waverley Council Mayor Paula Masselos has also reassured Bondi locals that the area is safe following the tragic mass stabbing.
“People importantly know they can come to Bondi Junction and be safe. It’s not something that is re-occurring,” Ms Masselos said.
South Melbourne FC has advanced their lead in the NPL Victoria championship by defeating Green Gully SC 3-0, securing their first-place position with 20 points.
During the ninth game of the championship, Esteban Quintas’ team had a very good presence in the game, with plenty of opportunities for goals, leading to a well-deserved victory.
South Melbourne FC’s goals led to their seventh victory in this year’s championship. Nahuel Bonada scored in the 30th minute, Andy Brennan in the 49th minute and Marc Jankovic in the 68th minute.
Finally, in the 85th minute, the goalkeeper of the Greek team, Javier Lopez, saved two penalties from Green Gully, in the first save the referee asked for a replay, but the Spaniard said “no” in the second half of the match, keeping the score 3-0.
