Courtney Peters

2 months ago | abc.net.au | Sarah Gerathy |Courtney Peters

NSW's counter terrorism chief has told an inquiry he expressed his suspicions that an explosives laden caravan was not a legitimate terrorism plot against a Sydney synagogue from the very beginning. NSW Deputy Police Commissioner David Hudson saidthe source behind the terrorism plot theory was not discredited until Febraury 21, the day after the NSW government had passed controversial hate speech and religious worship laws through parliament.

2 months ago | abc.net.au | Courtney Peters |Lia Harris |Amy Greenbank |Paul Farrell

It's been a revelatory week in the intense, months-long investigation into those behind a string of high-profile antisemitic attacks that have had Australia's Jewish community living on edge. Police sources believe a businessman who fled overseas is a high-level suspect in a spate of antisemitic attacks across Sydney, but sources say the hunt for those pulling the strings continues. Sayet Erhan Akca was on bail while facing serious drug charges from 2022, when it's believed he left Australia.

Jan 29, 2025 | abc.net.au | Courtney Peters |Elizabeth Byrne

A woman raped by a former friend has told the ACT Supreme Court she was completely traumatised by the assault, saying she felt used "like an inanimate object". The case is the first to proceed to court after a major review prompted by findings ACT Police had the lowest rate for charging in alleged sexual assault cases in Australia. Angus McKay pleaded guilty to committing four acts of indecency and a single count of sexual intercourse without consent after raping his former friend in 2018.

Dec 14, 2024 | abc.net.au | Charlotte Gore |Courtney Peters

Earlier this year more than 40 traditional costumes "rich in cultural heritage" were stolen from the Slovenian Australian Association. Now the community is banding together and holding sewing bees to recreate the historically significant costumes. Canberra president of the Slovenian Australian Association, Natasha Kapusin, told ABC Radio Canberra the stolen costumes included dancing outfits and a wedding dress.

Dec 11, 2024 | abc.net.au | Courtney Peters

Residents of the Yass Valley have won their decades-long fight for reliably clean drinking water, awarded the balance of funding needed to replace their aging water treatment plant. The federal and New South Wales governments have committed to investing a combined $36.2 million towards the refurbishment of the plant and new treatment assets, after the Yass Valley Council was successful in receiving a National Water Grid Funding grant.