Australia news live: call for witnesses of police shooting in Nowra; rent rises stabilise

Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Live feed From 13m ago 17.02 EST Shooting witnesses urged to come forward Sticking with the shooting in Nowra, police are hoping any witnesses will come forward to help them with their investigation. In their statement, they say they believe a “number of people” were in the vicinity, around or near a medical clinic on Junction Street about 2.40pm yesterday, and are asking them to contact Crime Stoppers: A critical incident team from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad will investigate all circumstances surrounding the incident.

Police believe there were a number of people in the vicinity who may have witnessed the incident; they are appealing for those people to contact Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000. Just before 1pm yesterday, police were called to the clinic after reports a patient produced a firearm. And just after 2.40pm, the patient came out of the premises, armed with the firearm, and confronted officers.

He was shot and immediately treated by officers and paramedics but died at the scene. Updated at 17.12 EST Key events 45m ago Good morning 29m ago 16.46 EST Rents stabilise As mentioned, AAP is reporting that the average asking price for rentals has steadied across the combined Australian capitals, ending a record stretch of 10 consecutive quarterly increases.

The cost of renting a house or unit in Melbourne, or a unit in Sydney, has also stabilised after significant periods of growth. December quarter data released on Thursday by property website Domain showed Sydney remained the most expensive place to rent a house, with an average weekly asking price of $730.

But the Sydney recorded no quarterly increase in the average weekly unit rent of $680 for the first time in two and a half years. Melbourne experienced no growth at all in house and unit rental asking prices, remaining steady at $550 and $520 a week respectively. Not all capital cities experienced a slowdown, as Brisbane house rents rose to another record high of $600 a week.

Domain’s chief of research and economics Dr Nicola Powell said while tenants remain under pressure, there is a glimmer of hope that conditions are easing. Overall what we’re seeing is a slowdown in rental growth across Australia. Some cities are still rising in rents, but largely speaking we’re seeing a slowdown in the pace of gains.

We’re starting to see a shift in rental dynamics and I think that is going to continue into 2024. Rental prices remain at a record high average of $600 for a house or unit across capital cities. Updated at 16.51 EST 45m ago 16.30 EST Good morning Good morning, Mostafa Rachwani with you to take you through the day’s news.

We start in Nowra, where police are appealing for witnesses to yesterday’s shooting to come forward. NSW police have issued a statement saying a critical incident investigation is under way after officers shot a man holding a medical clinic hostage. Police say they believe there were multiple people in the vicinity who witnessed the episode and are urging them to come forward.

Elsewhere, AAP is reporting that average rent has steadied across capital cities, ending a record stretch of 10 consecutive quarterly increases. December quarter data released on Thursday by the property website Domain showed only Brisbane recorded an increase in rents, with prices remaining steady in Sydney and Melbourne.

We will bring you more as it comes. Explore more on these topics Australia news Australian politics Renting Housing Australian police and policing New South Wales Reuse this content.