The latest national news update from the National Indigenous Radio Service.
Stranger rapes sleeping Qld woman
A woman has been repeatedly raped by a stranger who broke into her far north Queensland home.
The woman was asleep when about 5.30am on Sunday when she was attacked by a stranger in her home in the cane farming town of Mossman, north of Cairns, police said.
A 20-year-old man will appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court today on charges including six counts of rape.
Indefinite ban over AFL banana row: Port
A Port Power fan who threw a banana at Aboriginal Adelaide Crows star Eddie Betts has received an indefinite ban from membership of the club, igniting a fresh racism controversy within the AFL.
The Power completed an investigation into the incident after speaking with the club member yesterday, and concluding the attack was racially motivated.
The supporter was seen waving her middle finger at Betts before throwing the banana in his direction. Although the woman’s membership was cancelled, Port Power said it would offer her a chance to take part in the club’s Aboriginal cultural awareness programs. Port has more Aboriginal players than any other AFL team, with seven on the roster.
Perth man faces US extradition
A Perth man who allegedly encouraged his American online girlfriend to post images on the internet of her teen daughters being whipped and spanked will find out today if his fight against extradition was successful, with a decision expected to be handed down in the Federal Court.
Christopher Lobban was arrested and detained in Perth in July 2011 after Robin Pagoria, who he met through the website www.spankfinders.com, was sentenced for aggravated child abuse, and using a child in a sexual performance.
Pagoria, who had worked as a detention deputy within the prison system in Polk County, was handed 20 years behind bars after a plea bargain.
If extradited, Lobban could receive a life sentence with no possibility of parole in a Florida prison.
Thor to hammer Brisbane CBD traffic
Brisbane’s traffic is expected to grind to a halt this this week, with significant road closures as part of the CBD becomes a movie set for the superhero film Thor.
Chris Hemsworth plays the hammer-wielding Thor and is expected to arrive in Brisbane for filming today. The film also stars Cate Blanchett, Anthony Hopkins and Mark Ruffalo.
Parts of Mary Street, Albert Street and Margaret Street will be closed this week as filming temporarily relocates from the Gold Coast.
The Margaret Street off-ramp from the Pacific Motorway will also be closed today.
Four wounded in Gold Coast stabbing
Four men are in hospital with serious stab wounds after a gang burst into their Gold Coast home and attacked them.
Police are yet to find those responsible for last night’s violent home invasion and burglary in the Gold Coast suburb of Pacific Pines.
The four victims, aged in their 20s and 30s, all suffered wounds from a bladed weapon. All were taken to the Gold Coast University Hospital where their conditions are listed as serious but stable.
Police are investigating whether the attack was drug-related.
Shot fired at unit block on Gold Coast
Police are investigating reports of a shot being fired at a unit complex in the Gold Coast suburb of Broadbeach.
Police say officers responded to the reports at around 8pm on Sunday and declared a crime scene at the Albert Avenue complex, but had not located a firearm.
Census returns better than expected: ABS
More than six million of Australia’s nine million households have completed the census, despite the problems with the online national survey.
The result is well above the 4.5 million responses the Australian Bureau of Statistics had expected after the online form was taken down for 40 hours due to cyber attacks, census head Duncan Young told Fairfax Media today.
Mr Young said the ABS expected only around half the Australian population would respond before census staff needed to to start visiting households.
The census can still be completed online, and on paper, with census collectors hitting the streets until mid September.
