Ted O'Connor
Verified
ABC reporter/producer
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Articles by Ted O'Connor
Program: What is Jordon Steele-John saying about allegations against him?
The Greens have been in crisis management for days over reports of allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards women by WA Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John. The Senator's denied the allegations, and has now blamed the public fallout on party "factionalism". Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John Ted O'Connor: The Greens have been in crisis management for days over reports of allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards women by WA Greens Senator Jordan Steelejohn.
Program: Is the high price of fuel here to stay?
Australians are once again getting smashed at the bowser. Petrol's bad enough at about 240 cents a litre across the country. But diesel is much worse, over 280 cents, which is a blow for the likes of farmers and people in construction who need it for their heavy vehicles. These high prices have left many asking: where to from here? Diesel prices are over 280 cents a litre across Australia Ted O'Connor: Australians are once again getting smashed at the Bowser.
Program: Why are data centre developers looking to the bush?
Data centres used to be mainly clustered around Sydney and Melbourne. But the new generation of AI factories are bigger and way more power hungry. So now developers are scouring the bush to look for the perfect spot to build one of these server farms which will handle AI queries and training for the likes of Claude and Chat GTP.
Program: What’s to gain from getting it right with data centres?
Data centres are popping up everywhere as Australia rides the AI boom. But they are causing controversy here and around the world, so experts say it is crucial Australia’s leaders negotiate hard with tech giants so Australia can benefit in the long run. The concept model of a large-scale data centre project that has been proposed for the Western Downs in Queensland They're big, they're noisy, and they can use a lot of electricity and water... data centres are popping up all over the place.
Program: Businesses on the brink as fuel fallout persists
Businesses in regional Australia have been hit hard by the war in the Middle East and want the federal government to extend fuel and freight discounts. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he will decide about the fuel excise at the end of next week.
Fuel shock expected to be felt for years as businesses urge extended relief
Regional businesses are warning the global fuel crisis could impact consumers and industry for years to come despite a ceasefire in the Middle East. Most industries in regional Australia have been affected by fuel supply problems and some businesses may even need to close up shop. A decision from the federal government is expected next week on whether to continue halving the fuel excise and some road user charges.
Program: Farmers use science-based tools for resilience
At a time when sheep farmers are being hit with high diesel prices and more extreme weather, the industry is touting the success of a national course aiming to boost productivity. 'Lifetime Ewe Management' has been running for 20 years and industry leaders say those who have done it have increased stocking and lambing rates. Farmers call it a game changer, helping them make good decisions in tough times.
Sheep farmers swear by Lifetime Ewe course to steer them through drought and diesel price spikes
Diana Tait feels a sheep's spine under its wool, to see if the muscle is dipping, flat or bulging. She knows it is about a "three" but continues to probe the short ribs with her fingertips to be more exact, to calculate a decimal point, landing on about "3.25". Diana Tait feels the sheep's back to find its condition score.
Otways residents burnt out of their 'paradise' determined to rebuild home
John Cochrane steps through the ruins of his family home, spotting familiar belongings that lie among the ash and rubble. The house is in a valley surrounded by forest and the Gellibrand River flowing nearby. His family has called this area home for about 45 years. "It’s a paradise to live in," he says. John Cochrane is planning to rebuild his Gellibrand home after it was destroyed by a bushfire.
Residents rebuild after Otways fire
Residents picking up the pieces after the devastating Otways bushfire in Victoria say they're determined to rebuild in a place they describe as their paradise. The community around the town of Gellibrand is rallying to help those most in need after 17 homes were destroyed. Featured: John Cochrane, resident Lorna Jemmett, volunteer Alessio Arena, CSIRO bushfire data scientist Aaron Ledden, Forest Fire Management Victoria The Cochrane family has called Gellibrand home for more than four decades.
Retailer fined prompting button battery safety warning - ABC listen
A child safety advocate is warning parents to be vigilant about button batteries following legal action against an Australian retailer. City Beach has been handed a $14 million fine for failing safety standards around the potentially fatal batteries. And overseas online stores have also been on notice for selling faulty products.
Unprecedented demand for food relief
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As Australians continue to struggle with cost of living pressures, the nation's largest food relief organisation is reporting unprecedented demand. Foodbank relies heavily on surplus stock donated by farmers. But as those growers become more efficient at getting their food to market, there is less for those in need.
By Samantha Donovan Verified, Ted O'Connor Verified
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Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
Verified
Bondi victims remembered amid New Year's celebrations
As Sydney residents soaked up the city's famous New Year's Eve fireworks display, this year the annual celebration took a more sombre tone. There was a large extra police presence as people remembered the victims of the Bondi terror attack.
Port Fairy residents demand answers after council abruptly closes only all-abilities pool
Moyne Shire Council has abruptly closed its Belfast Aquatics Community Pool after commissioning an inspection and report that identified the presence of mould throughout the facility and algae in some parts. Port Fairy resident Jacqui King has three children who have been swimming at the all-abilities pool since they were toddlers. Her eldest daughter has gone on to compete at Australian swim trials. "Without the pool she would have never had that opportunity," Ms King said.
Branxholme Wallacedale Saints focus on club culture to become family-friendly
On a cold winter's evening on the fringe of Branxholme's football oval, the mood is warm and lively among the crowd of rugged-up locals in the south-west Victorian community. Laughter spreads as a senior footballer arrives in a black-tie suit. "The media is in town, so I better look good in case I end up on TV," he says with a grin. This positive, relaxed and friendly vibe at Branxholme Wallacedale Football Netball Club's Thursday night training is what attracts people like Allan Lewis.
New regional gallery to cost $50m, so is funding the arts worth it?
In the south-west Victorian town of Hamilton, plans for a $50 million art gallery have become a lightning rod for contempt around class divides. As Hamilton's agricultural legacy and riches falter and its population stagnates, the local council says diversification of industry is the only way to ensure the town's future.
Drought-stricken Victorian graziers innovate to survive climate change
Loading... There was a time when the big wool producers in western Victoria lived in grand bluestone mansions on sprawling estates, some with Rolls-Royces parked in the driveway. It was as though they were spinning gold from the fleece of their flocks grazing in the lush green plains stretching from the foot of the Grampians/Gariwerd mountain range.
Former prisoner who rebuilt his life wants to improve others' chances
Peter Griffiths-Sebastian casts a line and a glance at his country in Western Australia's East Kimberley, where mud flats stretch for miles. Ten years ago, he was in a very different place: prison. He spent a year in jail after committing an aggravated armed robbery. It took Peter years to get the sound of keys rattling during the night out of his head. "Twelve months in prison snapped me out of it. I'm never going back," he said.
Farmers search for resilience tools amid drought
Productivity - perhaps the word of the month - comes in all forms, from improving commute times in cities to cutting red tape for business. Farmers also seek to get more output for their input, especially with the unpredictability of climate change. Some primary producers are leading the way, with more diverse, data driven practices.
Aged care service helping elderly farmers
The Federal Government's new home care program for elderly people was supposed to roll out this week, but it's been delayed until November. In south west Victoria one couple in their 80s loves the current service run by the local council. They say it helps them spend their final years on the family farm, watching over the next generation. Isabella Higgins: The Federal Government's new home care program for elderly people was supposed to roll out this week, but it's been delayed until November.
Farmers plant riparian landscape in bid to save Victoria's Hopkins River
From the air, it is easy to see a green strip separating a river and a dry paddock. The 50-metre-wide buffer along the bank is known as the riparian zone. This one was man-made more than 20 years ago to improve the health of the Hopkins River. The system winds almost 300 kilometres through dairy, sheep, cattle and cropping country in south-west Victoria, from near Ararat to Warrnambool.
Rising seas swamp endangered hooded plover habitat in south-west Victoria
Andrew Patterson's binoculars jolt as a fluffy grey ball on spindly long legs rushes out from behind a clump of dry seaweed. "Oh there's a chick, I can see a chick," he says. He spots one, then two, newly hatched hooded plover chicks, darting about the sand on Port Fairy's East Beach in south-west Victoria. "It's always exciting to see the new ones," he says. But what's interesting to him is where the parents have placed the nest, perched on a ledge, about a metre up the dune face.
Rising seas destroy endangered beach bird's habitat - ABC listen
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WA project exceeds Indigenous employment goals
A project to seal a 313km stretch of a remote highway in Western Australia has exceeded its Indigenous employment target of 30 per cent. The Tanami Road sealing project began two years' ago, and its more than 100-person workforce is now 50 per cent Indigenous.
'Proud of my boys': Project to seal the infamous Tanami Road exceeds Indigenous employment targets
On a construction site in Western Australia's remote far north, loader driver Kevin Long stands proud as he inspires a group of young Aboriginal jobseekers. "I wanted more in my life. So I'm chasing my dream and I'm going to keep going for it in the future," he said.
Leaders work to get jobs for remote communities
Aboriginal leaders in the isolated East Kimberley community of Balgo are desperately trying to get more people into work to prevent feuds and substance abuse. They're looking at the Federal Government's remote work program, which aims to create economic opportunities for Indigenous people in outback areas. While the social issues are overwhelming in Balgo, those who find work say the benefits can be life changing.
Tourists caught out as temperatures skyrocket 'out of control' across the Kimberley
Tourists who normally flock to northern WA for winter sunshine at this time of year are instead sweltering through record-breaking heat, as tour operators seek workarounds to keep them cool and safe. Temperatures across Western Australia's north peaked at more than 41 degrees Celsius on Monday, with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting more hot weather to come. August maximum temperatures in the region usually fluctuate in the low 30s.
East Kimberley youth diversion trek tackles region's high rates of youth crime, changes one boy's life
Teenager Camble Sullivan dreams of catching and relocating crocodiles in his hometown of Kununurra, in remote northern Western Australia. It is a stark change in outlook for the 15-year-old Miriwoong boy, who was caught up in a cycle of crime and dysfunction. "I used to walk around, prowl the streets with all the boys, steal cars, and do bad stuff," Camble said. "But now I'm going to change my life and I'm going to keep going to school every day and become a ranger.
Elders getting dialysis hundreds of kilometres from country unable to share culture with young
A dialysis unit planned for one of Western Australia's most isolated communities has suffered additional delays with its opening now pushed back until the end of next year. In 2022, Aboriginal community controlled organisation Purple House received $13 million in federal funding to build and operate dialysis units in six remote communities, including Balgo.
Indigenous leaders hope music festival events will prevent family, domestic violence in Kununurra
A local rock band belts out originals and covers as an elder busts out dance moves in front of her grinning friends. Children laugh and play as their parents relax in camping chairs and put on a picnic spread. The one-day music festival might seem like a fun, carefree community event but for Indigenous groups and traditional owners in Kununurra, 3,000 kilometres north of Perth by road, it has a serious purpose.
Police fly into remote town to quell 'totally unacceptable' brawl as offenders brandish knives and metal bars
In short: Police have charged nine people over a large brawl that prompted extra officers to be flown into the town. Authorities say some involved were armed with weapons including knives and metal bars. What's next: One community advocate says leaders need to work together to reduce the prevalence of violence. Police have flown into a northern West Australian town to help quell a large brawl that involved people armed with knives and metal bars, as arrests continue to be made today.
Boy's crime spree raises concerns about home life, lack of school attendance in Kununurra
In short: A trial over an 11 year-old's crime spree has revealed troubling aspects of his home life and lack of school attendance. The case examined his mental capacity to know right from wrong when he was involved in the theft of multiple vehicles in April and May. What's next? The boy has been referred back to the Juvenile Justice Team in the hope he'll start attending school again.
Saltwater crocodile catches have Kimberley residents thinking twice about beloved swimming spot
In short: There is increasing concern about saltwater crocodiles in Lake Kununurra. The lake is popular for swimming and waterskiing. What's next? Residents want authorities to ensure it remains an appealing place to swim. The upper Ord River typifies what Dylan Hearty loves about living in Kununurra, an outback town known for its striking landscapes and vast wilderness areas.
Yura Yungi Medical Service takes over Halls Creek aged care home after non-compliance, staffing issues
In short: Yura Yungi Medical Service is taking over Halls Creek's aged care home to improve the service for local Indigenous people. A community church struggled to run the service in recent years and compliance inspections found multiple breaches. What's next? There are now plans to improve the facility and employ more Indigenous staff in senior positions.
Ord Valley Muster in doubt as organisers warn Kimberley festival could be scrapped without more support
In short: Ticket sales plunged at this year's Ord Valley Muster amid a tough year for festivals across Australia. The event is much loved by tourists and residents who say it makes the outback more liveable. What's next? Organisers are lobbying the state government for more funding to ensure the festival remains viable. The future of one of northern Western Australia's biggest cultural events is in doubt as organisers lobby the state government for a funding lifeline.
After lies and missed opportunities, will a fresh search find the truth in the case of Jeremiah Rivers?
The question of what happened to Jeremiah Rivers has been bouncing around outback communities in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia for two-and-a-half years. These conversations canvass plenty of theories, but the sort of hard evidence that can produce reliable conclusions is conspicuously missing.
This small town's domestic violence rate dwarfs those of big WA cities. Leaders say change must start with children
In short: Halls Creek's domestic violence rates are well above many other regional towns and cities in WA. Indigenous advocates and frontline workers say a significant, culturally appropriate education campaign is needed to change young people's attitudes around violence. What's next? The federal government says the Kimberley will be among 14 trial sites for a nation-wide early intervention program targeting young men.
Tackling DV in remote Australia
In recent months we've heard politicians and advocates call domestic violence a 'crisis' and 'national emergency' across mainstream Australia. So then how would they describe the situation in Halls Creek? The small town in northern Western Australia has recorded almost 700 family assaults across the past two years.
Indigenous leaders in Mardiwah Loop look to rebuild trust with residents to address housing crisis
Ethel Woodhouse is getting on, undergoing cancer treatment and has spent the past six months in a house with unreliable electricity. In her 70s, the Jaru woman lives in Mardiwah Loop, an Indigenous community on the edge of Halls Creek in Western Australia's far north Kimberley region.
Kununurra's 'white' elephant' back up and running to support young Indigenous job seekers amid housing crisis
In short: The Commonwealth has handed control of a disused 42-bed hostel to local Indigenous groups who want to use it to create economic opportunities. The facility will provide secure accommodation for those who are training or working at a time when there's widespread housing overcrowding. What's next? Indigenous leaders hope to address welfare dependency, a major issue in the town, by getting more young people into long-term employment.
Footage shows cleaner narrowly avoiding injury during rock attack on outback gym
In short: Three children have been charged over an alleged rock attack that nearly injured a late-night gym cleaner. It is the latest incident in an outback town grappling with high rates of youth crime and social dysfunction. What's next? An Indigenous leader says more work is needed with troubled households where welfare dependency is a major issue.
Sacked CEO accuses Halls Creek Shire of running 'kangaroo court', amid rift with Indigenous corporation
In short: Sacked Shire of Halls Creek chief executive Phill Cassell says the council breached fair processes by telling the ABC that a claim against him has been substantiated. Details of the chief executive's alleged misconduct have not been revealed publicly and a council investigation is ongoing. The controversy is another headache for the remote shire. which is also at odds with a key Indigenous partner.
Suppression order lifted on historic sex assault proceedings against East Kimberley elder Ted Carlton
In short: Miriwoong elder Ted Carlton is alleged to have abused a 16-year-old girl in a Kimberley community in the 1970s. His lawyers asked details of proceedings be suppressed, but that order was successfully challenged by the ABC. What's next? Mr Carlton is due back in court next month. A remote court has lifted a suppression order on a case against a prominent Kimberley elder accused of historical child sex offences while he was a teenager.
Concern in Western Australia after video of children cable-tied
By Esse Deves, Gareth McKnight, and Ted O'Connor, ABC Kimberley Western Australia Premier Roger Cook has described vision showing children cable tied together in the state's north as "disturbing" and "confronting" , with the state's Commissioner for Children and Young People saying she was "appalled" after viewing it. Vision emerged on Tuesday of two young children being restrained and crying, their wrists tied, as a man appeared to be standing watch.
WA's commissioner for children 'appalled' by confronting vision of kids cable tied together in state's north
In short: Police allege a 45-year-old Broome man used unreasonable force when he cable tied children together after finding them swimming in a pool on a vacant property. WA Commissioner for Children and Young People Jacqueline McGowan-Jones said she was 'appalled' by vision of the alleged incident. What's next? The man accused of assaulting the children will appear in court at a later date.
El Questro tourism precinct flags crackdown on fee dodging as locals call for cheap passes
In short: Outback resort El Questro has flagged a crackdown on fee-avoiding visitors, citing massive upkeep costs. El Questro's boss has raised the idea of a boom gate at the entrance along the Gibb River Road. What's next? Community advocates have urged G'day Group to consider an affordable visitor pass for locals who love the well-known tourism precinct.
Businesses scramble as key supplier's closure threatens to push trade prices up across WA's East Kimberley
In short: The closure of Kununurra's Metaland has caused a big ripple through the town. The void could push up prices for consumers at a time of high freight and material costs. What's next? There is hope a local business will fill the void as others seek cheaper supply lines. The closure of a major building and mechanical supply store has forced businesses in a remote WA town to frantically source products from Perth and Darwin while warning customers to expect price rises.
Man cites spiritual journey after breaking into outback army depot and impersonating high-ranking officer
In short: Reece Joshua Sturgeon made his first appearance in Kununurra Magistrates Court on Friday where he pleaded guilty to six charges. The 42-year-old represented himself in court where he told the magistrate he was on a spiritual journey at the time of offending. What's next: Sturgeon was denied bail and will be sentenced at a higher court during July. A Perth man has admitted in court to breaking into an army depot in northern Western Australia and impersonating a high-ranking officer.
Police officers disciplined over failings the night Warrick Walkerbear killed Ms Waterloo in Kununurra
In short: Police have punished officers on duty in Kununurra the night Warrick Walkerbear killed his partner. A sentencing hearing last year heard of multiple failures in how police responded to two triple-0 calls. What's next: A domestic violence advocate says the public deserves more detail from police about what its internal investigation found.
Halls Creek Shire defends Olabud Doogethu Indigenous program amid investigation of ex-CEO Phillip Cassell
In short: Halls Creek Shire has asked for community patience regarding an investigation into the former CEO, over allegations of workplace misconduct. The controversy has sparked community backlash and calls for more transparency. What's next? The investigation is expected to be completed by April, while the issue has also placed scrutiny on the shire's efforts to fix entrenched social problems in the town.
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