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Monday's news in under 5 minutes.

We’ve rounded up all the latest stories from Australia and around the world – so you don’t have to go searching.

1. Hunt for missing mother scaled back as her partner becomes person of interest.

The hunt for a missing South Australian mother of one has been scaled back as police say they are focusing their investigation on her last known movements.

20-year old Jody Meyers went missing more than two weeks ago.

Her last known contact was an alleged text message sent to her family saying she was leaving her partner, Neil Archer.

Detective Inspector Greg Hutchins said it was now believed Ms Meyers was dead and that her partner, Neil Archer, was the only person of interest.

The 29-year old father of Ms Meyer’s only child has denied any involvement in her disappearance.

Ms Meyers was last seen at a house at Burdett, near Murray Bridge, about 7.30pm on Wednesday, August 26.

Mr Archer’s mother, Margaret, told The Sunday Mail that everyone, even the couples two-year old son were praying for good news soon, adding: “Neil is doing OK. We’re just really hoping that we get some good news.”

Jody’s sisters have questioned whether the text message was from Jody saying the language she used did not sound like her.

“It’s from Jody’s phone but it doesn’t sound like Jody,” her sister Tania Parsons said.

Anyone with information about Jody Meyers’ whereabouts is urged to call police on 131 444.

2. Domestic violence reforms to help end the violence.

News Limited reports that the Government is looking at rolling out reforms to help women at risk of domestic violence.

The Minister Assisting the PM for Women, Michaelia Cash, said reforms would be announced soon.

“Measures may include: Monitoring of high risk perpetrators using GPS and the potential expansion of the Safer in the Home Program and measures to ensure the better early identification of women at risk,” she said.

The program includes safety planning and home security upgrades.

“The Government is focused on three priority areas to address domestic violence both in the short, medium and long term; an immediate safety response for women including practical measures; early support and identification; and cultural change and education.

“We know that the attitudes that allow violence against women are based on disrespect. You don’t use violence against a person you respect.”

She has also said the Education Minister Christopher Pyne is considering a program in the school curriculum to promote respectful relationships.

3. Dame Quentin Bryce to spearhead the domestic violence overhaul.

Former governor-general of Australia Dame Quentin Bryce will spearhead a domestic violence overhaul in Queensland.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has said that her government will be implementing all 140 recommendations of the Not Now, Not Ever report into family and domestic violence.

Dame Quentin has promised police supervisors will perform quality checks on all over-the-counter requests for domestic violence orders, and a roll-out of police body cameras will also be fast-tracked.

“300 body-worn cameras will go to Gold Coast police officers,” Dame Quentin said.

“The way officers deal with domestic violence victims will be overhauled.”

4. Challenge to PM before end of year “virtually inevitable.“

There is talk within the government that a challenge to the Prime Minister Tony Abbott by Malcolm Turnbull could take place this week.

The Canning by-election this weekend looks set to provide a severe anti-government swing. If Mr Turnbull doesn’t challenge the PM this week Fairfax Media reports that “a showdown before the end of the year is seen as virtually inevitable. “

A “well placed Liberal” told Fairfax Media that in South Australia and Victoria, the Prime Minister’s standing with voters is so  “toxic”, that a switch was now seen as “the low-risk option”.

“We’re at the point where doing nothing has become the high-risk option and would almost guarantee the loss of vast numbers of seats.”

The ABC reports that six ministers of the eight that they had spoken to believe Tony Abbott will be challenged “no matter what happens” at the Canning by-election in Western Australia on Saturday.

One Minister told the ABC “this time I think we will get him.”

5. Children with disabilities “tied to chairs.”

A Senate inquiry has heard that children with autism are being tied to chairs and shut in storerooms at school, as well as being locked in cages.

In one shocking allegation presented to the inquiry a Year Two girl with a disability was found “at lunchtime hanging by a rope, tied under her armpits, from the top of the slide in the playground.”

The Australian reports that a mother has alleged that a teacher at a special school threatened to cut off her son’s fingers, leaving him afraid of going to class.

Another child was tied with a rope to a chair in a daycare centre “because he wouldn’t sit and listen­ to story time’’

The inquiry chaired by Labor senator Sue Lines, has been told how some schools have segregated children in windowless storage rooms and broom closets.

At one school teachers referred to an outdoor area which had just a gum tree for shade as the “pig pen’’

Australian Education Union president Correna Haythorpe has called for an increase to the $3 billion spent on disabled students each year.

National Children’s Commissioner Megan Mitchell said it was cruel to segregating or restrain students with behavioural problems.

“It’s cruel in itself and also in the message it sends to the child about their value, and it will only exacerbate problem behaviours.”

 

6. Man tried to run down bride at wedding.

A 55-year-old man has been arrested after he allegedly attempted to run over the guests at a wedding on the weekend – including the bride.

Police said the man began arguing with a number of wedding party members at Camden’s Harrington Grove Country Club in Sydney’s south-west.

He then drove his Mazda 3 towards two people, narrowly missing them.

A witness then attempted to retrieve the keys from the car’s ignition when the driver allegedly reversed at high speed towards a number of people, including the bride reports Nine News.

Wedding photographer Warren Donovan said he had never seen anything like it.

“I’ve been to a few weddings but nothing like that,” Mr Donovan said.

“There was an argument and we sort of didn’t know what was going on.

“We kept shooting, we needed to get what we wanted and then the bloke came back to the car and nearly ran a few people over including us.”

The man will face Picton Local Court on September 29.

7. Germany to impose border controls.

Germany is to introduce temporary controls on its border with Austria to cope with the influx of migrants.

Thomas de Maiziere, the Interior Minister said refugees could “not choose” their host countries and called on other EU states to do more.

Germany’s vice-chancellor has said the country is “at the limit of its capabilities” as more than 13,000 migrants arrived in Munich on Saturday.

Germany is temporarily introducing border controls again along [the EU’s] internal borders. The focus will be on the border with Austria at first,” Mr de Maiziere told a news conference.

“The aim of these measures is to limit the current inflows to Germany and to return to orderly procedures when people enter the country.”

The move goes against the principle of the Schengen zone, which allows free movement between many European countries. However, the agreement does allow for temporary suspensions.

8. Plane passenger urinated on passengers in seats on front of him.

A passenger travelling on a Jet Blue flight from Anchorage to Portland, Oregon in the US has been arrested after urinating on the passengers in the seats surrounding him.

A police report says that the man,  27-year old Jeff Rubin had been sleeping for most of the flight when about 30 minutes before landing he stood up and began urinating through the crack between the seats in front of him – and onto the passengers sitting there.

A police report says he then lost his balance and fell backward, splashing urine on passengers, seats and luggage.

He was arrested by police on landing and charged with criminal mischief and offensive littering.

9. Children shouldn’t have a smartphone until they are 16.

A school behaviour expert has said that parents should not give their children smart phones until they are 16 as they are too disruptive and lead to cyber bullying.

Tom Bennett told The Independent “People ask me, ‘When should I give my child a smartphone?’ and I say, ‘Whenever you’re comfortable with them viewing pornography’, because their curiosity will take them there.

“My personal belief is that I don’t think a child should have a smartphone until they are 16, unless it is under adult supervision.”

Mr Bennett is leading a British review into the way technology affects behaviour in schools.

He has said that schools should ban smart phones in the classroom unless there is a specific reason they are needed.

Do you have a story to share with Mamamia? Email us news@mamamia.com.au
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Top Comments

guest 9 years ago

"The Minister Assisting the PM for Women" - Just give her the job!


TAB 9 years ago

No.5
So many teachers in school who have no insight or understanding with regards to how to deal with children on the spectrum. And so many teachers are unsupported by their schools. Teachers are often overwhelmed and undertrained. Teacher aides are often misused, and allied health professionals brought in to give support and training are often ignored, or seen as having too higher expectations.
Classrooms and class environments are designed for the children who can sit quietly and do their work. For so many children (ASD or not) this environment and it's requirements just do not work for them. So they fall through the cracks.
I live in a fairly large country city, and there is not one school here that can specifically and successfully support the needs of ASD kids.

Guest 9 years ago

They did what they felt like they had to do I guess. The other students need to be protected and have a right to a safe environment,