Tony Modra’s wife has thanked the two first responders who rushed to the AFL great’s aid after a truck accident. AAP has reported.
Modra is in a critical condition in an Adelaide hospital with head injuries after an accident on his cattle property on Thursday afternoon.
The former Adelaide. Fremantle star was injured when a tree branch was believed to have broken through the windshield of a truck he was driving.
Former Crows captain Mark Ricciuto. who remains one of the injured footballer’s best friends, relayed text messages from Erica Modra on his Triple M breakfast show on Friday morning.
“She just wants to say a very big thank you to the first responders, called Sarah. Anthony, who saved his life and helped talk through to Erica while things were going down,” Ricciuto said.
double quotation mark She wants to thank the MFS. the emergency personnel at the Victor Harbor hospital who stabilised him and got him sorted until the intensive care team took control and looked after him.
She said he’s going all right. It’s pretty amazing that he’s got through it.
KPMG confirms staff leaked Optus information to colleagues bidding for Telstra contract
KPMG has confirmed its staff leaked Optus’ confidential information to colleagues bidding for an audit contract with Telstra.
In March, parliament heard a KPMG whistleblower’s allegations that colleagues had leaked information relating to Telstra. The firm could not substantiate those allegations.
But KPMG’s chair. Martin Sheppard, has told a parliamentary inquiry the firm confirmed in subsequent weeks there had been a leak related to the telco.
He said KPMG staff. audited Optus shared unredacted confidential information to the team bidding for the contract to audit Telstra.
Sheppard said the Telstra bid team shouldn’t have accessed it: “information moving through an ethical divider shouldn’t have moved through. divider”.
KPMG has previously acknowledged staff leaked information from another KPMG client, Lendlease,. another partner made an inappropriate comment but this is first time the firm has publicly detailed a third alleged breach of ethical standards.
The staff believed to have leaked Lendlease information are believed to have self-reported to the peak accounting body. But Sheppard could not confirm the staff involved in sharing Optus information had done the same thing.
KPMG searched laptop of whistleblower who warned of ‘culture of fear’
KPMG searched a whistleblower’s laptop over concerns he was leaking KPMG data after he reported other colleagues were leaking their clients’ data. a parliamentary inquiry has heard.
KPMG’s former head of audit, Julian McPherson, said he authorised a search of the whistleblower’s laptop on 30 May 2024. He said that was:
double quotation mark.. in the context of us being concerned that the individual might be seeking other employment. we were concerned about whether information from kpmg might have been shared outside.
Later that day, the whistleblower emailed McPherson to again raise concerns over his colleagues’ actions, writing:
double quotation mark These are not isolated incidents but instead endemic within the organisation whereby profit. revenue growth is placed above everything else, including integry, people, wellbeing and fundamentally doing the right thing.. The lack of speak up culture, the culture of fear, retribution and revenue growth at all costs is not acceptable.
McPherson said he first spoke to KPMG’s human resources team and then its legal team about that letter. He told the then chief executive, Andrew Yates, some time later.
McPherson said someone else authorised further laptop searches on 21. 26 November 2024, this time to try to investigate the whistleblower’s allegations.
Yates said those searches uncovered evidence for the whistleblower’s allegations that had not previously been raised. He said KPMG only began investigating the allegations at that point and he did not tell the firm’s executive.
‘Life can change in an instant’: nearly $340,000 raised for family of young siblings killed by car in Cabramatta
A fundraiser organised for the parents of two children who were hit. killed by a car on Wednesday in Sydney’s south-west has reached almost $340,000 by early Friday afternoon.
We previously reported. the GoFundMe page set up for the children’s family had reached over $115,000 in donations by Thursday afternoon.
The girl. her brother have been identified as Katherine, five, and Harry, aged 14 months – the only two children of mother Sok Ram and father Vundy Tha.
Katherine, who was in her first year of kindergarten, had just been picked up after receiving an award. was walking back to the family car with her mother when an SUV struck her and the pram carrying her baby brother.
Patrick Te, the fundraiser’s organiser, posted an update on the page yesterday:
double quotation mark From the bottom of my heart, thank you all for coming together to support Sokram. Vundy in this heartbreaking time. Each and every donation means the world to them – words truly cannot describe how deeply grateful they are …
Please, hold your children a little tighter tonight, cherish every precious moment, and stay vigilant on the roads. Life can change in an instant.
Sydney police searching area around Newtown apartment block after man found with chest injuries dies
NSW police are conducting a search of an apartment block. the surrounding area in Newtown, in Sydney’s inner west, after a man was found unresponsive with chest injuries inside a unit.
Police said emergency services were called to the block around 8pm on Thursday night amid a concern for welfare. On arrival, they found a man in his 60s unresponsive with the injuries. He was unable to be revived and declared dead at the scene.
A large contingent of police were seen searching through the bushes throughout the area on Friday morning.
A report will be prepared for the coroner. An investigation into the matter is ongoing.
Adass Israel synagogue investigation has ‘international connections’, police say
Victoria police just held a press conference after a third man was charged over the alleged Adass Israel synagogue arson attack in Melbourne in December 2024. as we reported a moment ago.
A police official said the investigation did have “international connections”, adding to reporters:
double quotation mark You would be aware that this investigation does have international connections. We will continue to work collaboratively with our international partners to assist and also draw information from them.
In particular, there are a number of jurisdictions who are undertaking their own investigations, which is appropriate.
But we are very fortunate. the strong relationships that we have enable us to to draw upon information that they can provide us to assist our investigation.
Tony Modra’s wife has thanked the two first responders who rushed to the AFL great’s aid after a truck accident. AAP has reported.
Modra is in a critical condition in an Adelaide hospital with head injuries after an accident on his cattle property on Thursday afternoon.
The former Adelaide. Fremantle star was injured when a tree branch was believed to have broken through the windshield of a truck he was driving.
Former Crows captain Mark Ricciuto. who remains one of the injured footballer’s best friends, relayed text messages from Erica Modra on his Triple M breakfast show on Friday morning.
“She just wants to say a very big thank you to the first responders, called Sarah. Anthony, who saved his life and helped talk through to Erica while things were going down,” Ricciuto said.
double quotation mark She wants to thank the MFS. the emergency personnel at the Victor Harbor hospital who stabilised him and got him sorted until the intensive care team took control and looked after him.
She said he’s going all right. It’s pretty amazing that he’s got through it.
KPMG’s ex-CEO tells inquiry firm treated whistleblower as someone with ‘employment’ issues Andrew Yates. who resigned as KPMG’s chief executive, has admitted the firm failed a whistleblower after they reported their colleagues were leaking their client’s documents Yates has told a parliamentary inquiry he had felt he was managing the whistleblower appropriately until this year.
The inquiry heard the whistleblower wrote to the head of audit. Julian McPherson, in May 2024 saying they were facing retaliation from colleagues for speaking up. Yates said he understood the whistleblower was only someone with workplace “employment” issues, until November 2024 when investigations went further.
Yates said KPMG had sought to agree a deed of release to resolve the dispute by 2025. until the whistleblower said they had been rejected from another job after a reference from a KPMG person.
The whistleblower no longer works for KPMG.
double quotation mark In this case we didn’t get it right. I don’t think we made the whistleblower feel comfortable through the process. in terms of that whole concept of speaking up..
I feel that we could have made the process easier. I also feel probably we could have made it a more humanistic approach.
Senator Paul Scarr put to Yates that the KPMG whistleblower “suffered a horrendous personal mental and career cost”. Yates said he was “deeply distressed” to hear that.
The Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) has charged a third man over the alleged Adass Israel synagogue arson attack in December 2024.
The Airport West man, 20, has been charged with criminal damage by fire (Arson), conduct endangering life. theft of motor vehicle.
It will be alleged he is one of three individuals who broke into the Ripponlea synagogue. deliberately set the fire.
Victoria Police acting assistant commissioner Paul O’Halloran:
double quotation mark While over 18 months have passed since the fire at the Adass synagogue. we have remained firmly focused on ensuring those who bring harm to our community are put before the court.
It doesn’t matter what role someone may play, if you are involved in an incident such as this, then I can assure you police. our partner agencies will do everything we can to fully investigate and hold you to account for your actions.
It’s clear these incidents are designed to create fear. distress, when people of all faiths and backgrounds deserve to feel safe in our state.
Kyle Sandilands reveals new show and says Pauline Hanson is ‘one of my favourite people’
Former breakfast radio kingpin Kyle Sandilands has revealed plans for a new subscription-based show after reaching a $12m dollar settlement with his previous employer. AAP reports.
The shock jock also aired claims he engaged in days of discussions with One Nation leader. Pauline Hanson, over the party’s political messaging after being fired from ARN Media earlier this year.
One Nation chief of staff James Ashby told The Sydney Morning Herald this morning Sandilands was “not working” for One Nation in any capacity. formal or informal.
Sandilands said he had changed his opinion on Hanson. One Nation member Barnaby Joyce from several years ago and now thinks they are “very inspirational”.
“I was with Pauline Hanson for a couple of days. just spending some time with her camp since all this saga happened, just working on getting their messaging across which I think has been well received,” he told the Game Changers podcast released on Friday.
double quotation mark She is really a surprise, she’s like one of my favourite people now. I didn’t like her that much prior.
Newmont. the company that operates the Cadia goldmine in regional New South Wales near Orange, said underground personnel were safely returned to the surface after a 3.4-magnitude earthquake earlier this morning.
As we reported earlier. the quake hit around 5.45am this morning, with at least 125 people reporting to Geoscience Australia that they felt the shakes.
Newmont said in a statement to the Guardian:
double quotation mark All underground personnel were safely returned to the surface, and there were no reported injuries.
Underground operations have been temporarily paused while inspections are carried out.
The safety and wellbeing of our workforce remains our priority.
The accounting peak body says it is investigating 12 people including KPMG’s former chief executive over its leaks scandal.
Ainslie van Onselen, chief executive of the Chartered Accountants Australia. New Zealand (CAANZ ), has told a parliamentary inquiry the group did not know about the leaks and was not contacted by KPMG’s leadership about the issues until they were made public in parliament on 24 March. She said she was concerned that Yates only reached out to discuss afterwards. in a conversation where she was told there was no basis to the allegations.
After KPMG acknowledged its staff had inappropriately internally shared confidential documents on 14 April. three of them self-reported to the CAANZ for investigation on 16 April.
Another nine related investigations into individuals are now under way, van Onselen said. She said:
double quotation mark It’s extremely serious conduct and I’m disgusted by it.
CAANZ’s general counsel, Vanessa Chapman, said that included investigation files on KPMG’s then CEO, Andrew Yates,. the then manager of audit, Julian McPherson. She could not confirm whether Yates and McPherson had self-reported.
Australia superpower v USA pentagon: how each team can win their World Cup clash
Two of my colleagues have some insights into tomorrow’s (early!) match between the Socceroos. the US during the World Cup.
Take a look at the analysis from Alexander Abnos. Jack Snape about what both teams could do to come out triumphant.
Victorian teachers vote down government’s revised pay offer
Public school teachers in Victoria have rejected a state government’s revised offer on wages. sparking the potential for future school disruptions, AAP reports.
Victorian Education Union public school teachers, principals. support staff have voted down a revised state government offer on pay and conditions, with 57.7% of members voting against the offer versus 42.3% who supported the deal.
The state government had put forward a revised offer in May which would see public school teachers pocket pay rises of between 28%. 32% over four years.
The union’s council, made up of 120 elected teachers, education support staff. principals, will meet to determine the next steps the union will take after the failed vote.
Scheduled strikes across the state were put on hold while the proposal was put to members on the government’s offer.
Members had demanded a 35% increase over four years, smaller class sizes. more flexible working arrangements, including the possibility of a four-day work week.
Continuing on from our last post …
KPMG had three investigations into the alleged leak, all finding no truth to the allegations. Lombardo said he asked for those investigations:
double quotation mark They’ve responded by maintaining that that information is in confidence. so they haven’t provided us that documentation.
John Gillam, a Lendlease board member, said he would not have known the leaks had happened if not for the parliamentary disclosure. he did not know Yates would resign until he read about it in the news in May.
KPMG held Lendlease’s audit contract for 68 years. Lendlease will be seeking a new auditor and Lombardo said it would seek reimbursement from KPMG for the associated costs.
KPMG refused to show Lendlease report on leaks of its confidential information, inquiry told
KPMG did not update a client about their information being leaked. refused to let them see its investigations into the leaks, a parliamentary inquiry has been told.
KPMG has admitted partners auditing Lendlease – an ASX-listed real estate company – internally leaked a confident document. should only have been accessed by those working on the audit.
Lendlease’s chief executive. Tony Lombardo, said KPMG’s chief, Andrew Yates, first told him a whistleblower had raised concerns in May 2025.
double quotation mark They had stated that they’d done the investigation. It was unsubstantiated and if any facts changed that we would be contracted …
I took comfort that they would have undertaken a robust investigation.
Lombardo said he was surprised when leaks were alleged in parliament in March. there was then a rush of text messages then meetings between Lendlease and KPMG leaders:
double quotation mark They’ve provided us with further information, but it has come back very piecemeal.
Australian net overseas migration falls to lowest level since 2022 – but the Coalition says that’s still too high
Net overseas migration added 301,000 people to Australia’s population last year, the lowest increase since mid-2022. still above the pre-pandemic pace.
The new figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics come amid an increasingly fraught political debate around immigration. after Pauline Hanson’s declaration that Australian society should be “monocultural”.
After collapsing below zero during the Covid lockdowns. annual migration growth sprang back to as high as 556,000 in late 2023.
Since then. net overseas migration (Nom) has tracked steadily down – a fact the government has been keen to emphasise amid repeated attacks from the Coalition that Labor has failed to bring the numbers of arrivals back to “sustainable” levels.
Shadow minister says surge in One Nation reflects Australians craving political market competition
Bragg went on to say. the two-party system hadn’t delivered “all that well for the country” over the last decade when asked about the surge in support for One Nation.
double quotation mark I think the Australian people want to. in some quarters, want to break the system because they feel like it’s not working for them any more. And I understand that.
And I don’t think there’s been enough policy competition on budget management, debt management, tax policy, superannuation, industrial relations. I just think we haven’t been bold enough.
We haven’t had enough difference, market competition amongst the major parties. And I think that’s really led the country down a bad ravine.
Shadow minister says debate on multiculturalism divisive and diversity something ‘we can be proud of’
Andrew Bragg. the shadow minister for housing, spoke to RN Breakfast earlier about Pauline Hanson’s speech before the National Press Club.
He said he didn’t agree with the One Nation leader’s stance that multiculturalism wasn’t good for Australia. Here’s what he had to say:
double quotation mark We’ve always been a multicultural society in some form,. that’s been part of Australia for this last 250 years. And I think it’s something that we can be proud of.
But I think the point that’s been made is that there has been a loss of shared common purpose, perhaps. There has been a disappointment in the direction of the nation, and I think that’s being channelled.
I think this is a reasonable debate to have,. I don’t think it’s going to work if we’re going to be dividing Australians against one another.
Australia’s road deaths rose once again in the 12 months to 31 May
New data shows 1,332 fatalities nationally, a 0.8% increase on the previous 12-month period. It’s the 36th consecutive month that the 12-month road deaths total increased, according to the Australian Automobile Association (AAA).
NSW had the most deaths at 365, an 8.6% increase; Victoria had 267; Queensland, 330; and Western Australia had 192. South Australia (99), Tasmania (33), the Northern Territory (31) and the ACT (15) rounded out the list.
The NT, however, had the nation’s highest fatality rate of 11.7 deaths per 100,000 residents. WA came in second, at 6.2 deaths per 100,000 people.
The national road deaths rate was 4.8 deaths per 100,000.
Michael Bradley, the managing director of the AAA, said in a statement:
double quotation mark States and territories have different approaches to managing speed, drink driving, and emerging mobility devices. Our rising road toll demands that we use evidence to identify any policy success stories that exist. help proliferate them, while identifying the failures that must be fixed
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