![\"Denise](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1777592349_127_2000.jpg\")
Denise Ann Williams, 62, from Australia, was last heard from on 15 April, when she indicated she was travelling to Ch\u00e9ticamp. Photograph: Nova Scotia Royal Canadian Mounted PoliceShare<\/a><\/p>\nUpdated at\u00a019.36 EDT<\/p>\n
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Coles flags grocery price increases as Iran fallout widens![\"Jonathan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1777592350_230_Jonathan_Barrett.png\")
Jonathan Barrett<\/p>\n
Coles has warned that grocery prices may need to increase further as the fallout from the oil crisis spreads throughout the Australian economy<\/a>.<\/p>\n Australia\u2019s second-biggest grocery chain said today:<\/p>\n double quotation markIn recent weeks, we have seen an increase in supplier cost price increase requests and higher costs within our own operations, particularly in fuel, freight and packaging. We are actively managing these and will mitigate impacts where possible, while balancing the needs of customers and suppliers.<\/p>\n Coles recorded a 3.1% rise in its quarterly revenue to $10.7bn, with robust supermarket sales offsetting a pullback in liquor purchases.<\/p>\n The supermarket said there had been \u201celevated demand\u201d for pantry staples in March in response to the geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East.<\/p>\n Food manufacturers have reported increased sales of long-life pantry staples<\/a>, including canned tomatoes, long-life milk, tinned spaghetti and rice, since the outbreak of the conflict.<\/p>\n The change in buying habits is being driven by several factors, including reigniting cost-of-living pressures, concerns over future prices and a decision by some shoppers to cut down on supermarket trips to save fuel.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.35 EDT<\/p>\n Australian hiker missing in Canadian national park<\/p>\n A search is under way for an Australian woman who went missing while hiking in Cape Breton Highlands national park, Canada.<\/p>\n Denise Ann Williams, 62, was last heard from on 15 April, when she indicated she was travelling to Ch\u00e9ticamp, a town on the west coast of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. Her rental vehicle, a Nissan Sentra, was found at the Parks Canada visitor centre near the Acadian Trail head.<\/p>\n The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Inverness Country said they received a call at about 9.30am, local time, on 28 April reporting a missing person believed to be hiking in Cape Breton Highlands national park.<\/p>\n Williams was described as \u201c5-foot-4 with greyish blonde, shoulder length hair\u201d. She is believed to have been wearing a dark winter jacket, a powder blue beanie (or toque) with \u201cAntarctica\u201d written on it, an orange and blue scarf, and glasses.<\/p>\n Search efforts began on 28 April and were continuing as of Friday 1 May, Australian time, with RCMP and Department of Natural Resources air services, police dog services, multiple ground search and rescue teams, and many other agencies assisting.<\/p>\n Denise Ann Williams, 62, from Australia, was last heard from on 15 April, when she indicated she was travelling to Ch\u00e9ticamp. Photograph: Nova Scotia Royal Canadian Mounted PoliceShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.36 EDT<\/p>\n Australia must assist US with Hormuz planning: Coalition The shadow foreign affairs minister, Ted O\u2019Brien, says the federal government should clarify any requests from the Trump administration on help reopening the strait of Hormuz, and explain Australia\u2019s capacity to help.<\/p>\n O\u2019Brien said:<\/p>\n double quotation markIt is in Australia\u2019s interest for the strait of Hormuz to be opened and to support freedom of navigation.<\/p>\n This request from the United States should be duly considered, in the context of our own national interests and capabilities.<\/p>\n Just as Australia has openly discussed a coalition led by the UK and France for joint action to reopen the strait of Hormuz, so too we should be constructive in engaging with this request from the United States.<\/p>\n The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has confirmed talks are under way with the White House.<\/p>\n O\u2019Brien says Labor should explain what\u2019s going on:<\/p>\n double quotation markWe expect the government to clarify the specific request of the US, and Australia\u2019s capacity to contribute.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.03 EDT<\/p>\n ANZ warns that Iran fallout \u2018remains ahead of us\u2019<\/p>\n ANZ has warned that the fallout of the oil crisis \u201cremains ahead of us\u201d after delivering a strong lift in its half-year cash profit to $3.78bn, backed by a highly profitable lending business.<\/p>\n The ANZ chief executive, Nuno Matos, said today that the bank had not seen any material increase in customers entering hardship or significant impact on the bank\u2019s own financial position.<\/p>\n He said:<\/p>\n double quotation markMuch of the potential impact of this crisis remains ahead of us, but the longer the flow of oil is constrained, the greater the chance the crisis shifts from being primarily an inflation challenge to much more a supply and growth challenge.<\/p>\n ANZ\u2019s cash profit increased by 5.9% over the past six-month period. It declared an interim dividend of 83c a share, in line with expectations.<\/p>\n It warned that the Middle East conflict was creating greater economic uncertainty, with \u201cexpectations of lower growth, higher inflation and interest rates likely to challenge some customers\u201d.<\/p>\n Consumer prices are now growing at their fastest pace in two and a half years<\/a>, and financial markets are betting the Reserve Bank will hike interest rates for a third straight meeting next week.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.47 EDT<\/p>\n Australia engaged on strait of Hormuz planning: Wong The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, is continuing Australia\u2019s regional fuel diplomacy in South Korea. She has confirmed overnight that Australia is actively involved in diplomatic discussions about US president Donald Trump\u2019s latest proposal to reopen the strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n Amid the war in Iran, the strategic waterway has been closed, forming a massive chokepoint on as much as 20% of global fuel shipments. The White House has called on countries to form an international coalition for after the conflict is over.<\/p>\n Dubbed the Maritime Freedom Construct, the group of countries could be similar to the 40 nations involved in talks led by France and the UK in recent weeks. Information sharing, sanctions enforcement and monitoring is all planned.<\/p>\n While in Seoul, Wong said Australia was speaking to the US about the plan:<\/p>\n double quotation markWe are working with all of our partners, the United Kingdom, France and the United States.<\/p>\n We are engaging on options, noting that we have already provided defensive and diplomatic support to the region.<\/p>\n Penny Wong in Seoul, South Korea. Photograph: Lee Jin-man\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.48 EDT<\/p>\n NT Police Association president expresses condolences for Kumanjayi Little Baby\u2019s family<\/p>\n Nathan Finn, president of the Northern Territory Police Association, was also on ABC RN earlier discussing the scenes of unrest overnight in Alice Springs after Jefferson Lewis was arrested<\/a> in connection with the death of five-year-old Kumanjayi Little Baby. <\/p>\n He said two police vehicles had been set on fire, and that officers had sustained injuries, and urged the community to let \u201cfatigued\u201d police do their job.<\/p>\n Finn expressed condolences for Kumanjayi Little Baby\u2019s family.<\/p>\n double quotation markIt\u2019s been a very, very tumultuous week. But the actions we saw come out of Alice Springs last night were nothing short of disgraceful.<\/p>\n I encourage all our members to use whatever force they need to do to protect themselves and protect the community as well. And they\u2019ll have our support in doing their police job that they need to do.<\/p>\n Speaking later on ABC TV, the NT police commissioner, Martin Dole, said violence had been quelled and there was \u201ca sense of calm at the moment across Alice Springs\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.35 EDT<\/p>\n Martin Dole says Jefferson Lewis not yet charged<\/p>\n Dole has been jumping around the airwaves today but he\u2019s also confirmed on multiple channels that Jefferson Lewis has not yet been charged, though that is expected to occur later today or tomorrow.<\/p>\n He confirmed the extent of injuries and damage to emergency services personnel and equipment, telling RN:<\/p>\n double quotation markWe had a police vehicle burnt to the ground. Four of the five St John\u2019s ambulances in Alice Springs were taken out of action by being damaged, rendering no ambulance availability in Alice Springs. We had police officers injured, we had a fire officer injured, we had two ambulance officers injured, and it\u2019s just unacceptable that those frontline emergency services personnel who are trying to serve the community were targeted in this way.<\/p>\n There were about 400 people involved in the disturbance. Police were forced to use teargas and non-lethal munitions such as beanbag rounds.<\/p>\n Dore continued:<\/p>\n double quotation markThe calm was restored last night through the police response. There is no further disturbances currently in Alice Springs but this is going to require strong community leadership. And what\u2019s even more disappointing is that that\u2019s what we\u2019ve seen in the last five days. We\u2019ve seen support for the police. We\u2019ve seen extraordinary community strength, compassion, and cooperation. And for it to devolve into that last night is extremely disappointing.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.34 EDT<\/p>\n NT police commissioner says Alice Springs violence \u2018unacceptable\u2019<\/p>\n Dole says the violent incidents last night were not a representation of the true character of the Alice Springs community:<\/p>\n double quotation markThis does not reflect the Alice Springs community or what we\u2019ve seen over the last four days, where we\u2019ve seen extraordinary strength, compassion and cooperation, and that just is marred by these actions last night that are completely unacceptable.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.33 EDT<\/p>\n NT police commissioner \u2018doesn\u2019t accept\u2019 that police contributed to sparking Alice Springs violence<\/p>\n The Northern Territory police commissioner, Martin Dole, says he \u201cdoesn\u2019t accept\u201d allegations that the police contributed to sparking the violence in Alice Springs last night, and that such allegations are \u201ctotally unacceptable\u201d.<\/p>\n The commissioner has been speaking to ABC Alice Springs this morning. He said police had responded to calls about 9.30pm yesterday that Jefferson Lewis had presented himself to a town camp and was being violently assaulted. Police were themselves attacked when they intervened, Dole said.<\/p>\n The NT police commissioner, Martin Dole, left. Photograph: Rhett Hammerton\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.23 EDT<\/p>\n A man has allegedly stolen nearly $3,000 worth of diesel in jerry cans and drums from a South Sydney service station.<\/p>\n Police said they were told a driver of a white ute allegedly filled large drums and jerry cans with 915 litres of diesel, valued at over $2,870 (or about $3.14 a litre), without paying at about 7.15pm on 11 April.<\/p>\n Officers arrested a 22-year-old man in Goulburn on Thursday issuing him a court attendance notice for a charge of \u201cdishonestly obtain property by deception\u201d.<\/p>\n The man was granted conditional bail to appear before Downing Centre local court on 15 June.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>NSW man, 45, charged over alleged online death threats to MPs A 45-year-old man has been charged over allegedly posting death threats toward politicians online.<\/p>\n Five offensive posts were made on social media in March 2026, with one containing alleged death threats against two members of parliament, the Australian Federal Police said.<\/p>\n AFP investigators said that they linked the alleged posts to the 45-year-old man. Officers on Wednesday searched a property in Bellingen, on the New South Wales mid-north coast, and seized an electronic device.<\/p>\n The man was charged with four counts of using a carriage service to menace, harass and\/or cause offence, one count of threatening to cause harm to a Commonwealth public official and one count of using a carriage service to make a threat to kill.<\/p>\n He faces maximum penalties of five, seven, and 10 years\u2019 imprisonment for the alleged offences, respectively.<\/p>\n The man was granted bail on Thursday when he appeared before the NSW bail division court.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Coalition tells Labor to get on with gun reforms after Bondi report The Coalition will drop its opposition to Labor\u2019s post-Bondi attack gun reforms, frontbencher Jonno Duniam has said, after the laws were backed by the royal commission established after the shooting.<\/p>\n The inquiry\u2019s interim report, released on Thursday, recommended the gun buyback and law reforms be swept through after being held up by state governments<\/a>.<\/p>\n The federal opposition had voted against the measures<\/a> in January, saying the government should be focusing on antisemitism, not gun access.<\/p>\n Duniam said on Thursday the opposition\u2019s attitude has now changed. He told the ABC\u2019s 730:<\/p>\n double quotation markI\u2019d urge my counterpart, Tony Burke and the prime minister, to get on and do what they promised they would, what they\u2019ve passed laws to enable. The ball is in their court.<\/p>\n Yes, they\u2019re working with state and territory governments. I\u2019m not going to give them gratuitous advice. I will call on the [federal] government to do what they said they would, what is recommended in this interim report. We\u2019re not going to stand in the way of that.<\/p>\n Queensland has rejected key recommendations from the Bondi royal commission\u2019s interim report, insisting plans for a national gun buyback will not keep weapons \u201cout of the hands of terrorists and criminals\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n McCarthy calls for community unity after death of Kumanjayi Little Baby<\/p>\n McCarthy reiterated calls for the Alice Springs community to support each other as the investigation continues alongside sorry business.<\/p>\n McCarthy said:<\/p>\n double quotation markWhen we were searching for our beautiful little girl here, the whole of Alice Springs came together. Hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people walked the Todd River. They walked and scoured the bushland and scrub to look for this beautiful girl. And that coming together of this community is what I am going to keep calling for.<\/p>\n We need to stay together as a community, even through this and come out the other side of this. We have a mother still grieving, wanting to bury her child, and let\u2019s be there for her.<\/p>\n A woman is carried by police during clashes between community members and law enforcement outside Alice Springs hospital on Thursday night. Photograph: Rhett Hammerton\/EPAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.18 EDT<\/p>\n Malarndirri McCarthy calls for calm after Jefferson Lewis\u2019s arrest<\/p>\n Malarndirri McCarthy, the minister for Indigenous Australians, is speaking on ABC RN this morning after grief and anger ripped through Alice Springs overnight<\/a> after the arrest of a man in connection with the death of five-year-old Kumanjayi Little Baby.<\/p>\n McCarthy says there will be meetings with community elders and with Northern Territory this morning, and confirmed that the arrested man, Jefferson Lewis, had been transported to Darwin overnight.<\/p>\n McCarthy said:<\/p>\n double quotation markThere needs to be calm and there needs to be a proper process now in terms of this criminal investigation. And it must not be jeopardised by foolishness in terms of the work that has to be done for police and by police to get this investigation done appropriately.<\/p>\n The police have done a tremendous job here with the Alice Springs community and families, and I totally understand the deep grief that people are experiencing. But, you know, we do now have Mr Lewis in custody and he has been taken to Darwin.<\/p>\n Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy. Photograph: Lukas Coch\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.08 EDT<\/p>\n Thanks so much Martin for kicking us off this morning. I\u2019m Stephanie Convery and I\u2019ll be bringing you live news until mid-afternoon today.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Australia and South Korea issue joint energy statement<\/p>\n Australia has agreed to work together with South Korea to strengthen energy supply chain resilience and to maintain stable, safe and reliable supply of energy resources, including diesel and LNG, the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has confirmed after talks in Seoul, Reuters reports.<\/p>\n The two nations announced a joint statement on energy resource security last night that lays out their commitment to \u201cpreemptively\u201d cooperate to ensure energy security resilience.<\/p>\n Wong, who also travelled to Japan and China on her current trip, said the Asian region has \u201cdisproportionately\u201d felt the impact of the crisis in the Middle East and the closure of the strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n South Korea is a key energy partner of Australia as the largest supplier of diesel and third-largest source of jet fuel, Wong said. Australia is South Korea\u2019s largest source of liquefied natural gas (LNG).<\/p>\n \u201cWe depend on you, and you depend on us,\u201d Wong said, describing the need for close coordination and Australia\u2019s commitment as a reliable supplier of food, energy and other commodities to South Korea.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.43 EDT<\/p>\n Rent hikes speed up, adding to RBA inflation worries House prices may be slowing but rents are rising at their fastest rate since October 2024, adding to inflation pressure before the Reserve Bank\u2019s next interest rate decision on Tuesday.<\/p>\n Advertised prices for new rental listings are rising at their fastest pace since October 2024, with Cotality data showing they picked up 5.7% over the year, including a rise of 0.6% (or about $38) in April alone.<\/p>\n The pace of rent increases for houses had been picking up in every major city except Adelaide until recently. Now even Adelaide is rising, with advertised house rents up 4.2% in the year to April. Perth and Hobart are up 7% and Darwin house rents have risen 8.8%<\/p>\n The tight rental market did not help, with vacancy rates below 1.8% in every capital city, well below the 2010s average of 3.3% of rental stock left vacant.<\/p>\n Rents were one of the biggest non-fuel contributors to inflation hitting 4.6%<\/a> in the year to March, after rising 3.7% across existing and new tenancies. The Reserve Bank will be weighing up whether inflation is too fast as it considers another interest rate hike next week.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a017.32 EDT<\/p>\n House price growth slows as buyers stick to cheaper homes Australia\u2019s housing market is growing at its slowest rate for almost 18 months as buyers stick to cheaper properties and abandon interest in the top end of the market.<\/p>\n Figures today from the data firm Cotality show Melbourne and Sydney house prices fell 0.6% in April. Melbourne\u2019s home values have now fallen 1.9% since November, with Sydney\u2019s down 1%.<\/p>\n Prices are still rising at the cheaper end of the market but at a slower pace in both cities. The lower quarter of the market is up 0.1% but outweighed by the top-priced quarter falling 1.2% in April.<\/p>\n Canberra prices stayed flat over the month and Hobart\u2019s rose just 0.2%, with the top quarters of both seeing prices fall.<\/p>\n Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide and Darwin are still steadily rising but the two-speed market is clear: every capital city is seeing prices rise faster in the bottom quarter of homes than the top quarter.<\/p>\n![\"Tom](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1777592350_748_Tom_McIlroy.png\")
Tom McIlroy<\/p>\nJonathan Barrett<\/p>\nTom McIlroy<\/p>\n![\"Luca](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1777592351_805_Luca_Ittimani.png\")
Luca Ittimani<\/p>\nLuca Ittimani<\/p>\nLuca Ittimani<\/p>\n![\"Stephanie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1777592351_946_Steph_Convery.png\")
Stephanie Convery<\/p>\nLuca Ittimani<\/p>\nLuca Ittimani<\/p>\n