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Live breaking news: Famous filmmaker's 'vile' massacre tweet

Filmmaker Michael Moore has been criticised for a tasteless tweet about the Colorado mass shooting that left 10 people dead.

Ally Foster and staff writers
less than 2 min read
March 24, 2021 - 1:51PM
Body recovered from car in Sydney floodwaters

Filmmaker Michael Moore has been criticised for a tasteless tweet about the Colorado mass shooting that left 10 people dead.

Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, a 21-year-old Syrian migrant, has been charged with 10 counts of first degree murder after going on a shooting spree inside a King Soopers store in Boulder on Monday afternoon.

"The life of Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa shows that people can come from all over the world and truly assimilate into our beloved American culture," Moore tweeted, with a picture of the Statue of Liberty. Podcast host Dave Rubin replied, "What a vile creature you have become."

Meanwhile at home, the devastating floods have today claimed their first lives – a 25-year-old in Sydney's northwest and a 38-year-old in the Gold Coast hinterland, both of whom died after becoming trapped in their cars in floodwaters.

This live blog has now finished. Read on for earlier breaking news updates or head to the news.com.au homepage for the latest.

Updates

Filmmaker's sick massacre tweet

Filmmaker Michael Moore has been criticised for a tasteless tweet about the Colorado mass shooting that left 10 people dead.

Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, a 21-year-old Syrian migrant, has been charged with 10 counts of first degree murder after going on a shooting spree inside a King Soopers store in Boulder on Monday afternoon.

"The life of Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa shows that people can come from all over the world and truly assimilate into our beloved American culture," Moore tweeted, with a picture of the Statue of Liberty.

Moore, who directed the award-winning 2002 documentary Bowling for Columbine – which explored the causes of the 1999 Columbine High School massacre – was roundly criticised for the post.

"You're a cowardly sloth Michael Moore," wrote director and Congressional candidate Robby Starbuck. "Please move to Cuba or Venezuela. Maybe then you'll appreciate this country."

"What a vile creature you have become," wrote podcast host Dave Rubin.

Merkel backflips on lockdown

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has reversed a decision to impose tougher coronavirus restrictions over Easter.

The backflip comes after "widespread criticism", according to a report from German news agency DPA, citing participants in a meeting of federal and state leaders.

Germany and other European countries have seen growing anti-lockdown protests in recent days, some of them turning violent.

'Gay orgies' at Parliament House

Samantha Maiden

Sky News host Peta Credlin has accused Liberal staffers of holding gay “orgies” at Parliament House claiming she was dubbed “a bitch” for trying to sack staff involved in the behaviour.

The former chief of staff to former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has also warned she knows the culprits exposed in sick videos of men masturbating on desks in Parliament House.

Peta Credlin and Tony Abbott in 2015. Picture: Lukas Coch/AAP

And she also said — for the first time — that she had sacked one of the men involved in the videos nearly a decade ago and had vowed he would never set foot in the building again.

Ms Credlin claimed that in one historical instance — that did not involve any of the men in the video — that evidence was found of a Liberal staffer involved in “orgies”.

After one man was sacked for what she described as “disloyalty” she revealed that evidence was found of “orgies” when MPs left the office for Question Time.

Read more here

Senator retracts Dutton tweet

Greens Senator Larissa Waters has retracted and apologised for a "defamatory" tweet labelling Peter Dutton a "rape apologist".

The Courier-Mail reported over the weekend that the Home Affairs Minister had sent a legal letter to the Queensland Senator demanding an apology and removal of online posts containing the insult.

Ms Waters made the comment in February on Twitter and in a press release containing similar language, after Mr Dutton told reporters that he had not told Prime Minister Scott Morrison about Brittany Higgins' rape allegation because he wasn't provided with "the 'she said, he said' details".

Picture: Sam Mooy/Getty Images

The Senator has tonight apologised in a statement posted on Twitter and her website.

"On February 25 2021, I published a media release on my website, posted on my Twitter account, and made in the course of a press conference false and defamatory statements that Peter Dutton is a rape apologist, that he has sought to conceal and dismisss reports of rape, and that he has no sympathy for victims of rape," she said.

"I accept that there was no basis for those allegations and that they were false. I unreservedly apologise to Minister Dutton for the hurt, distress and damage to his reputation I have caused him."

NATO boss slams 'bullying' China

NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg has delivered a boost to Australia in its stand-off with China, vowing the alliance's 30 member nations would show solidarity with Australia because "we are like-minded countries".

Australia is not a member of NATO – the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation – which is a mutual defence pact formed in the wake of World War II linking European and North American countries.

Picture: Yves Herman/AFP

"Just by strengthening the partnership, we are sending a clear message to countries like for instance China which is actually undermining these rules-based order," Mr Stoltenberg told a virtual press conference from Brussels.

"I also think it is important that we demonstrate that we are able to stand together when we see China trying to bully countries all over the world. They have behaved very badly against Australia after Australia has asked for an independent investigations to the originals of the coronavirus."

Police confirm investigation

NSW Police have confirmed an investigation is underway into "allegations of sexual violence against a woman in the Blue Mountains in September 2019".

The matter was reported to the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad in September 2020 "and has been under investigation since".

"As the inquiries are ongoing, we are not in a position to provide any further details," police said.

NSW MP accused of rape

NSW Labor MP Trish Doyle has used parliamentary privilege to accuse a government MP of raping a sex worker.

The Blue Mountains MP took to the floor of parliament to make the bombshell allegation just after 5.30pm, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Ms Doyle said she had been contacted 18 months ago by a sex worker who reported she had been raped in the Blue Mountains.

"She had been clear with her client from the outset about what she was willing to do with him, and what she was unwilling to do," she said.

Blue Mountains NSW Labor MP Trish Doyle. Picture: Tim Hunter

"She tells me that she made herself clear that she was not willing to have penetrative sex with him.

"However, towards the end, the man moved around behind her and assaulted her in a way she had not consented to.

"This fear hurt and anger is not something any woman should be made to feel, but it is all the worse that this man who raped her is a government member of this chamber.

"His power and his privileged position as a civic leader make that fear, anger and hurt all the worse."

Ms Doyle said the woman initially did not want to make a formal complaint but has since done so and "inquiries are underway".

Queensland police confirm body

Queensland Police have issued a statement about the discovery of Mr Hornman's body.

"Police have located a body inside a vehicle in Canungra Creek near Lamington National Park Road earlier today," police said.

"The body is believed to be that of a 38-year-old man who was reported missing from the Canungra area earlier this week.

"Around 11.24am, police were alerted to the vehicle by a member of the public who observed the white 2013 Isuzu D-Max upturned in the creek.

"Police will prepare a report for the coroner."

Two more evacuation orders

More evacuation orders have been issued for residents along the Clarence River in northern NSW.

Residents of low-lying areas of Ulmarra, Brushgrove and Cowper must leave their homes by 8pm.

"Once floodwater passes 5.5 metres on the Ulmarra gauge, floodwaters will flow across the Pacific Highway at Ulmurra," NSW SES says.

"Once floodwater passes 3.9 metres on the Brushgrove gauge, Brushgrove and Cowper Roads will begin to close."

Sydney flood victim was 25

The man who died after his car became submerged in floodwaters in Sydney's northwest this morning was only 25 years old.

NSW Police say the young man, a Pakistani national, was starting his first day as a contractor with a "large commercial organisation" and may not have been familiar with the area.

He managed to stay on the phone to Triple-0 for nearly 40 minutes until the connection was lost.

The Toyota Camry was found around six metres underwater, about 30 metres from the road.

"What has happened is a complete tragedy," Detective Inspector Chris Laird told reporters this afternoon.

"We are trying to find out who his relatives are. We will be making inquiries through the regular consulates. His friends in Australia are devastated and have been informed. However, we can't give any further details as to who he is at this time."

Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

Asked about the man's demeanour on the call, Mr Laird said he had only read brief transcripts.

"All I can say is – what more can I say than a man who is possibly about to pass away, he is on the phone and the water is rising. I think we will leave it at that," he said.

The recording of the call will form part of the coroner's investigation. "Part of our inquiries will look at whether brand-new cars are easier to escape from than older cars," he said.

"But we can only speculate again that given what I have seen and the damage to the vehicle that it could very well be that the electrics totally failed and he was simply unable to escape from the car which is an absolute tragedy.

"Also, the fact that he was on the phone for so long is even more tragic and is going to form part of our inquiries as to what actually went on in the car and why this tragic accident occurred."

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