Katy Watson

British rapper and YouTuber Yung Filly, whose real name is Andres Felipe Valencia Barrientos, will face a retrial on three rape charges in Australia after a jury acquitted him of three rape counts, one assault charge and one strangulation charge but convicted him on two other assault counts. He denies all charges. The alleged incident followed a 2024 performance in Perth, and the complainant has agreed to give evidence again. Barrientos will return to court on 27 August for a bail-variation application; the retrial date has not yet been set, and sentencing for the assault convictions will wait until the retrial concludes.

Erin Patterson’s lawyers told Victoria’s Court of Appeal that her murder convictions were undermined because jurors stayed at the same hotel as prosecutors, a key police witness and journalists during deliberations. They argued the hotel mix-up, speculative mobile-phone evidence concerning death-cap mushrooms, allegedly irrelevant Facebook messages and prosecutorial conduct warranted quashing the convictions and ordering a retrial. Prosecutors said the hotel arrangement was accidental, there was no evidence of juror communication, and the evidence overwhelmingly supported deliberate poisoning. The Director of Public Prosecutions is also appealing Patterson’s 33-year non-parole period as inadequate. The judges are expected to reserve their decision for several weeks.

Erin Patterson's lawyers argue that her convictions for killing three relatives with death cap mushrooms and attempting to kill another should be quashed because jurors stayed at the same hotel as prosecutors, a key police witness and journalists during deliberations. Prosecutors acknowledge the hotel arrangement was accidental but say there is no evidence of juror communication or a fundamental trial irregularity. The defence also challenges speculative mobile-phone evidence, the use of iNaturalist sightings, Facebook messages and prosecutorial conduct. The prosecution maintains the guilty verdicts were overwhelming, while Victoria's Director of Public Prosecutions separately appeals Patterson's 33-year parole period as inadequate. The appeal judges are expected to reserve their decision.

Erin Patterson is appealing her convictions for murdering her in-laws, Don and Gail Patterson, and Gail’s sister, Heather Wilkinson, and attempting to murder Ian Wilkinson with death-cap mushrooms served in beef Wellington in 2023. Her lawyers argue that prejudicial evidence was wrongly admitted, helpful mushroom-foraging evidence was excluded, the prosecution’s position on motive was inconsistent, her cross-examination was oppressive, and jury independence was compromised when jurors shared a hotel with prosecution personnel, a police witness and journalists. Prosecutors are separately appealing her sentence, arguing that parole after 33 years is manifestly inadequate and seeking a longer term or life without parole. The Court of Appeal’s decision may take months; it could order a retrial, acquit Patterson, uphold the convictions or alter her sentence.

Australia's National Disability Insurance Scheme has grown from an expected annual cost of A$22bn and 475,000 participants to A$54bn supporting more than 700,000 people, prompting the federal government to propose tighter eligibility, assessments, compliance and cost controls. Advocates and experts agree that fraud and poor provider practices must be addressed, but argue they account for less than the scheme's broader cost pressures and warn that reducing social-participation funding could undermine independence for people with disabilities. Families also say the NDIS filled gaps left by schools, hospitals and state services, while its funding supports a large care workforce and enables disabled people and carers to participate in the wider economy. The amendment bill passed the House of Representatives and is expected to proceed through the Senate after an inquiry.

Australia's National Disability Insurance Scheme has grown from an estimated annual cost of A$22bn and 475,000 participants to A$54bn supporting more than 700,000 people, prompting the federal government to propose tighter eligibility, assessments, compliance and spending controls. Advocates and families support efforts to curb fraud and improve sustainability but strongly oppose cuts to social-participation funding and the proposed transfer of some children to the Thriving Kids programme. They argue that sport, education and community support are essential forms of independence training, while experts warn that withdrawing funding could undermine disabled people's future participation in employment and society. The debate also reflects the wider retreat of other disability services after the NDIS was introduced and the scheme's broader contribution to jobs and economic activity.