Old couple murdered over cat dispute
A 42 year old woman has appeared in court charged with the murder of an elderly couple on the New South Wales far south coast.
Tracey Lee Pratt faced Batemans Bay Local Court today charged with murdering Ken Keyte, 86, and his wife Margaret Keyte, 71.
The couple’s bodies were found by police at their home on Beach Road, Batehaven, about 9.30pm (AEST) on August 10.
Both had severe head injuries which police believe were caused by a blunt instrument. (news)
New parents to receive 2 years of parental leave
New mums and dads will soon be able to get up to two years of shared parental leave and still get their old jobs back.
Under new employment standards, both parents will now get the right to 12 months’ unpaid parental leave, as long as they don’t take it at the same time.
From January 2010, employers will have to hold their jobs open and will not be able to refuse requests.
The Rudd Government’s new National Employment Standards, released yesterday, guarantee 10 basic rights to all workers.
“These new national employment standards are a real safety net for working Australians which cannot be stripped away – fairer for workers, simpler for employers,” Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said.
Unions applauded the changes, but employers said they would be hit with extra costs if workers rushed to take up the new benefits. (news)
Intimate piercings outlawed for minors
Australia’s most populous state will ban young teenagers from having intimate body piercings, with authorities saying on Thursday that the health risks from the fashion trend were too great.
New South Wales Community Services Minister Kevin Greene said nipple and genital piercings for under 16s would be outlawed and children would need parental permission for other types of piercing, such as ear, nose and navel.
“Personally, I can’t see why any child under the age of 16 would want to expose their genitalia to a stranger just to fulfil the needs of a fashion or a trend,” he said. (news)
Darling water being diverted
The South Australian Opposition claims water is being illegally diverted from the Darling River in New South Wales.
Water spokesman Mitch Williams has told Parliament that illegal diversions from the Darling are common and are affecting water levels in the River Murray.
Mr Williams says the South Australian Government should be raising the issue with New South Wales.
But Water Minister Karlene Maywald says constitutional rights govern water supplies from the Darling. (news)
Ashley Alexandra Dupre “Gone Wild”
The founder of “Girls Gone Wild” released a video that he said proved the call girl involved in a scandal that brought down New York’s former governor agreed to be filmed in 2003.
The video’s release came one day after series founder Joe Francis and his companies were sued for $10 million in Miami federal court by Ashley Alexandra Dupre, who claims she was only 17 at the time and too young to sign a binding contract. Dupre, now 22, also accused Francis of exploiting her image and name on various Internet sites.
In the new release, Dupre appears covered by a terrycloth towel and gives her name as Amber Arpaio. An unseen questioner asks if she is 18. (news)
