Today was a confronting day for policing in this country. A damning report into the Queensland police service has found a culture “where attitudes of misogyny, sexism and racism are allowed to be expressed, and at times acted upon, largely unchecked”.
Meanwhile, a New South Wales court has seen graphic footage of police shooting Stanley Russell – an Aboriginal man – at least five times in Sydney’s west in November 2021.
Russell’s parents attended the court hearing – tragically, this is their second child to die while in contact with the criminal justice system. Russell’s brother Edward took his own life while in police custody in 1999. At least 518 Indigenous Australians have died in custody since a royal commission in 1991.
Top news
Queensland police report | It’s the final report of a public inquiry looking at the force’s responses to family and domestic violence. The inquiry has surfaced horrendous stories about allegations of rape and racism within the police force. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk called the report a “wake-up call for the Queensland Police Service”, but stopped short of calling for police commissioner Katarina Carroll to step down.
Police shooting footage | Russell was shot in the “obstructed tunnel” of a narrow hallway of a house in Sydney’s west in November 2021, an inquest into his death heard. The Gomeroi man was killed in his aunt’s home after police had come to arrest him on an outstanding warrant.
Nationals candidate dead | Shaun Gilchrist, the Nationals candidate for the Victorian seat of Narracan, has died days before the election. Gilchrist, 47, was expected before court on 30 November charged with one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault. His body was discovered at Rawson, in the state’s east, on Sunday. He is survived by his partner and two children.
Manly school explosion | Eleven students and one teacher are in a stable condition after a science experiment caused a chemical explosion at Manly West public school on Sydney’s northern beaches. The children are believed to be about 10 years old.
Deniliquin evacuation | Residents in parts of the Riverina town as well as Condobolin in the NSW central west have been asked to leave their homes by Wednesday when rising floodwaters are expected to peak. Damaging westerly winds averaging 50 to 70km/h today are adding to weather woes.
US gay club attack | Two of the five people shot dead at Club Q in Colorado Springs have been identified as barmen Daniel Davis Aston and Derrick Rump. Police allege the attacker – 22-year-old Anderson Lee Aldrich – went into the club about 11.55pm Saturday and immediately began shooting with a rifle. At least two people there quickly confronted Aldrich and subdued him. Officers arrested Aldrich, who was also taken to a hospital to be treated for injuries.
New Zealand voting age | Keeping the voting age at 18 is a breach of the human rights of young people, the country’s supreme court has ruled. Campaigners have been pushing to allow young people to vote on issues that disproportionately affect them, such as the climate crisis. The ruling does not automatically guarantee the voting age will lowered – that power lies with parliament – but puts significant pressure on legislators to consider a change.
Iran crackdown | Two prominent actors, Hengameh Ghaziani and Katayoun Riahi, who expressed solidarity with ongoing protests and removed their headscarves in public, have been arrested. The arrests come as Iran intensifies its crackdown following two months of protests, which the Iran Human Rights group says has left at least 378 people dead, among them 47 children.
Full Story
The environmental cost of The Rings of Power
Is the film industry doing enough to minimise its environment impact? Workers involved in The Rings of Power and other international studio hits in New Zealand say they have serious concerns about the environmental costs of production. Listen to this 26-minute episode.
What they said …
Lauren Boebert, a Republican congresswoman from Colorado, has previously stoked anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment, including accusing the Biden administration of “grooming” children to become transgender.
In numbers
Satyajit Das, author and respected former banker, has argued in an op-ed for a super profits tax on banks, who are profiting on the back of soaring interest rates.
Before bed read
Have datings apps caused a dating crisis?
“We choose nights out with friends instead of date nights, we work too hard to make time to go out at all, we delete dating apps, redownload them and try again, then ignore the people we match with. It’s not my fault and it’s not the fault of the men I’m approaching. It’s dating as a whole. It’s in crisis.”
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• In Australia, children, young adults, parents and teachers can contact the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800; adult survivors can seek help at Blue Knot Foundation on 1300 657 380
