Latest news with #NewsWire
Perth Now
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Reason behind accounting ‘mistakes'
Guy Sebastian's former manager 'made mistakes' in accounting towards the end of the pair's tumultuous relationship because his mother had become ill, the period marking the 'hardest time in (his) life'. Titus Emanuel Day is standing trial for allegedly embezzling $640,000 of Mr Sebastian's royalties and performance fees, including the alleged failure to remit $187,000 to Mr Sebastian for performance fees as a support act for Swift on her 2013 Red tour of Australia and other corporate gigs and performances. Mr Day has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of embezzlement as a clerk or servant and one count of attempting to dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception. He has denied doing anything fraudulent or dishonest. Mr Day took the stand to give evidence-in-chief on Friday, telling the court how issues had begun to 'creep in' to his management company, 6 Degrees, as a result of pressure sparked by his mother's declining health around 2016. SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos JUNE 4, 2025. Titus Day (C) arrives at the Downing Centre Court on Wednesday. Guy Sebastianí•s former manager Titus Day is standing trial on allegations he embezzled money from the pop star. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire - 05 JUNE 2025: Guy Sebastian leaves the Downing Centre in Sydney. Christian Gilles / NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia He told the court his mother was diagnosed with advanced Alzheimer's dementia around 2015. By the time she came to live with he and his family in 2016 she was so ill she was in a 'zombie state', prompting his wife, Courtney, to effectively step aside from her work at the company to care for his mother. The court was told his wife played a 'critical' role at 6 Degrees, with her duties ranging across creative work such as video clips, music production, songwriting production and dealing with record labels: when she left, Mr Day had to 'pick up all the slack' and delegate work to other staff. Another high level employee also had to step aside to care for Mr Day's mother at one point. 'Personally this was probably the hardest time in my life,' Mr Day told the court. He said all of his clients 'suffered' as a result, and that he'd made some accounting 'mistakes' during this period and could no longer be with clients on tours. 'Because my attention was taken away, but also spread thin, it affected all my clients - all my clients suffered,' Mr Day told the court. 'My accounting slipped, I wasn't able to send statements or invoices…I made mistakes in transactions and banking descriptions.' He spoke of one example where he accidentally paid Mr Sebastian money from another of his clients, Nigerian-Australian singer Timomatic, and then paid Timomatic money from Mr Sebastian. Titus Day told the court issues began to 'creep in' to his management company, 6 Degrees, as a result of pressure sparked by his mother's declining health. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia '(I) made a lot of mistakes on banking descriptions…a lot of issues started to creep into the company because of the pressure,' Mr Day said. Mr Day's barrister, Thomas Woods, earlier told the court that there would be 'no dispute' that on some occasions his client should have transferred money onto Mr Sebastian 'but did not'. 'For many of the charges, the real question is not going to be whether my client failed to transfer the money to Sebastian but whether his failure to do that was criminal,' Mr Woods said. The former manager's evidence-in-chief regarding the 'mistakes' mentioned on Friday is expected to continue next week. Mr Day has denied doing anything fraudulent or dishonest. In terms of business growth, Mr Day told the court 2016 was the company's busiest and most successful time, having taken on a range of clients across music, sports and media. He said it was an 'extremely busy' time and he was personally receiving more than 300 emails per day, acknowledging he had 'a lot less' time to devote to Mr Sebastian as opposed to the early years of their agreement. Guy Sebastian arrives at the Downing Centre Court. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia The 'really big shift' in the pair's relationship Mr Sebastian moved over to Mr Day's management company 6 Degrees three years after winning Australian Idol, having worked with him previously at Mr Day's former agency, 22 Management. No formal agreement was signed, but the court was told their agreement was based on Mr Sebastian's former arrangement with 22 Management. The Battle Scars singer, who was once so close with Mr Day he considered them to be a 'a family of sorts', earlier claimed he'd sent several emails to Mr Day around 2016 over concerns with their relationship, telling the court there was a 'really big shift' between them around that time. In particular Mr Sebastian claimed documents, statements and invoices 'were not being sent anymore'. 'That side of it and then some cultural issues that were happening as well and just a general shift in the service I was being provided,' Mr Sebastian previously told the court. 'I understand (6 Degrees) were getting busier as a company and that the list of clients had grown … that was starting to have some real ramifications on my business and personally as well. 'I was trying really hard to remedy these issues.' Mr Sebastian told Mr Day that he was leaving his management in 2017, the court was previously told. Mr Sebastian launched Federal Court proceedings against Mr Day the following year. He in turn filed a counterclaim.
Perth Now
6 hours ago
- Perth Now
Teen stabbed outside busy train station
A teenager has been stabbed in the abdomen at a bus stop in Sydney's bustling centre business district. At around 5am on Friday morning, a 19-year-old man was stabbed outside the busy Wynyard Railway Station. NSW Police said officers responded about 5.30am after 'a man was found suffering a stab wound to his abdomen' at the corner of George and Angel streets. Police a searching for a man seen near where a 19-year-old was stabbed early on Friday morning. NewsWire / Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia 'Police rendered first aid until NSW Ambulance paramedics arrived and the man was taken to St Vincents Hospital for further treatment,' a spokesman said. 'A crime scene was established and police immediately commenced an investigation into the incident. 'Following inquiries, police believe the stabbing happened at a bus stop outside Wynyard Railway Station on Carrington Street.' Police want to speak with a man who was seen in the area at the time of the incident. He is described as being of Mediterranean/Middle Eastern appearance, with facial hair and was wearing a beige coloured hooded jumper and light coloured pants. Investigators are still appealing for information from the public.
Perth Now
7 hours ago
- Perth Now
Tributes flow for cop killed on duty
A Tasmania Police officer who was killed in the line of duty on Monday will be honoured with a police funeral for his service to both the force and the community. Constable Keith Smith has been remembered as a dedicated officer who loved his job and cherished the community he was privileged to serve. Tasmania Police Commissioner Donna Adams has announced a police funeral would be held next Friday, June 27. Tasmania Police have confirmed the identity of the police officer killed during a shooting in Tasmania's north. Credit: Supplied Premier Jeremy Rockliff paying respect to Tasmania Police Constable Keith Smith in Ulverstone today. Jeremy Rockliff Facebook Credit: News Corp Australia 'This week has been an incredibly difficult time for our Tasmania Police family,' she said on Friday. 'For many Tasmania Police officers, Keith was more than a colleague – he was a friend, a mentor and a true embodiment of what it means to serve.' A memorial website created by Tasmania Police has received dozens of messages of support from emergency service officials, politicians, community figures, colleagues, locals, and even members of the international policing community. Police on the scene near a property in Tasmania's north west where a police officer was shot dead. NewsWire / Simon Sturzaker Credit: News Corp Australia Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff posted on X that 'the love of an entire state' was with Constable Smith's loved ones. 'You will have every possible support made available as we come to grips with this heartbreaking tragedy,' he said. South Australia Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said the death was a reminder that 'policing is an inherently dangerous profession'. 'Our officers accept the risks of performing their duty to protect the community. Despite this understanding, the impact is always significant and wide reaching when a police officer is tragically killed,' the Commissioner said. 'Please know that our thoughts are with all members of the Tasmania Police, and of course, in particular, Constable Smith's family.' The scene of the shooting was an isolated rural property. NewsWire / Simon Sturzaker Credit: News Corp Australia Tongan Police Commissioner Geoff Turner expressed his sympathies to Constable Smith's family, saying he hoped they would 'draw comfort' from the knowledge that the international police community was standing by them. 'Support for Keith's family extends beyond the borders of Australia to the wider blue Pacific policing family. Faka'apa'apa atu'. Jyron Flannery, a 19-year old aspiring chef who was raised in the area, said that words could not express 'the deep sorrow felt by all of us who knew Keith'. 'He wasn't just a police officer, he was a guardian, a mentor and a true friend to many in the community,' Mr Flannery said. 'Whenever I'd come across him around town, especially when I was younger and in trouble … he had a way of calming me down and looking out for me … making sure I stayed on the right path.' A police SUV sits idle near the crime scene. NewsWire / Simon Sturzaker Credit: News Corp Australia Tasmania Police said the funeral would only be open to family, friends, invited guests and police. Constable Smith was killed earlier this week while serving a repossession warrant to a home on a rural property near North Motton in Queensland's northwest. Tasmania Police allege Constable Smith and a colleague were approaching the property when he was 'shot and killed' by 'a member of the public'. A man has been charged with murder and a slew of other charges related to the incident, and is due to appear in Launceston Magistrates court in early July.
Perth Now
9 hours ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Banks, miners drag ASX lower
Gains in the healthcare sector were offset by falls in the big four banks and major miners, with the local market falling for its fourth consecutive trading day on Friday. The ASX 200 dropped 18.20 points or 0.21 per cent to 8,505.50 on a quiet day of trading. The broader All Ordinaries slipped 17.90 points or 0.20 per cent to 8,723.50. Australia's dollar traded down against the US dollar and is now buying 64.83 US cents. Five of the 11 sectors rose but falls in banks and mining shares dragged the market lower. NewsWire / Jeremy Piper Credit: News Corp Australia On a mixed day for investors, strong gains out of the utilities and healthcare sectors were offset by falls from the big banks and miners. CSL shares jumped 0.63 per cent to $240.21, Pro Medicus gained 1 per cent to $276.81 and ResMed added 1.40 per cent to $39.16 on a strong day for the healthcare sector. Commonwealth Bank fell from a record high close on Thursday, down 0.2 per cent to $182.53. National Australia Bank slipped 0.5 per cent to $38.91, while Westpac came off 1.1 per cent to $33.21 and ANZ dropped to 2.5 per cent to $28.39. It was a mixed day for the big miners, with BHP eking out a small gain up 0.22 per cent to $36.21, while Rio Tinto fell 1.33 per cent to $102.17 and Fortescue dropped 0.54 per cent to $14.69. Overall five of the 11 sectors closed higher despite the market falling. On a reversal of trade in recent days, the price of oil and gold fell after the White House said US President Donald Trump would decide on strikes on Iran 'within the next two weeks' alleviating fears of an immediate escalation in the Middle East crisis. The price of crude oil futures fell 2.9 per cent to $US76.50 a barrel on the news, while gold futures also dropped 1.4 per cent to $US3,362 an ounce. Healthcare shares are on the rise on an overall weak day of trading: NewsWire / Christian Gilles Credit: News Corp Australia AMP head of investment strategy and chief economist Shane Oliver said stocks remained at 'high risk' of a pullback as markets grappled with multiple economic concerns. 'Global and Australian shares have seen a strong rebound from their April lows – but they remain at high risk of a sharp near term pull back as the risk of an oil supply disruption flowing from the war with Iran is high and Trump's tariff threat is far from resolved,' he said. 'On the tariff front it is notable that the 9th July tariff deadline is rapidly approaching and no deals have been struck beyond that with the UK, with indications that some countries may end up with tariffs well above 10 per cent.' In company news, Pointsbet Holdings announced a temporary pause in trading. It comes as rival sports wagering company Betr announced a renewed takeover bid in what it is calling a superior proposal for Pointsbet compared to Japanese gaming giant Mixi. Web Travel shares are in the red down 0.44 per cent to $4.50 after announcing former Virgin Australia chief executive Paul Scurrah and JB Hi Fi director Melanie Wilson would be joining the board as independent non-executive directors.
Perth Now
10 hours ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Big four bank announces fresh blow to savers
NAB has become the latest bank to move on interest rates, cutting the rate of one of its more popular savings accounts. NAB has announced its Reward Savers account has fallen by 0.05 per cent for a new maximum rate of 4.35 per cent, in the second cut in less than a month. It follows a 25 basis points rate reduction on May 23 in line with the Reserve Bank of Australia's official interest rate reductions. Canstar called it a 'small blow' for savers. NewsWire / Nicholas Eagar. Credit: NewsWire Account holders with NAB's Reward Savers will now get a 30 basis point reduction on their money held in the account. Canstar data insights director Sally Tindall described it as a small blow for savers who are already watching their returns slip away. 'It shows that banks don't need a cash rate change to move the goalposts for customers. It's a small move but a disappointing one nevertheless,' she said. According to Canstar, NAB is not the only bank moving on rates, with Australians now having just six banks offering at least one ongoing savings rate above 5 per cent including some young adult accounts and excluding those for children. 'While the average savings rate on our database is an uninspiring 3.07 per cent, there are six banks still offering an ongoing savings rate of 5 per cent or more,' Ms Tindall said. While each of the savings accounts comes with terms and conditions, including deposits and transactions, BOQ Future Super, BCU Bank Boss, P & N Bank Savvy Savers, MOVE Bank Growth Saver and ING Savings Maximiser all still offer rates above 5 per cent. Westpac Life Spend and Save also offers younger Aussies a 5 per cent savings rate, but comes with the major caveat of being for those aged 18 to 29. NAB announces a small cut to popular savings account. NewsWire / Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia Ms Tindall warned if the Reserve Bank cuts the cash rate again in July, which the bond market says has an 83 per cent chance of happening, the days of a 5 per cent savings rate could be behind us. 'If the RBA wields its knife again in July or August, savings rates starting with a 5 won't last beyond winter,' she said. 'Term deposit rates are, unsurprisingly, falling faster than at-call savings rates, as banks continue to bake in further cash rate cuts into the fixed rate term. 'If you're someone who likes the certainty and security a term deposit can bring, time is of the essence as these rates are likely to keep on falling in the weeks ahead.'
