Nicholas Hynes
Nicholas Hynes is a reporter in the Melbourne newsroom. He joined the ABC as a 2020 cadet in the Northern Territory. You can reach him at hynes.nicholas@abc.net.au.
Latest by Nicholas Hynes
In the bush and online, Ballarat is rallying to find missing mother Samantha Murphy
Nicholas Hynes, Tim Callanan and staff
The family and friends of Ballarat woman Samantha Murphy say they've been touched by the way the community has united to search for the 51-year-old, who disappeared during a Sunday morning jog.
Jail for doomsday prepper and amateur actor with 'unusual and unhealthy interest in a survivalist lifestyle'
A Victorian man with a "strange" doomsday mindset is sentenced to more than two years in prison after police found weapons, ammunition, explosives and body armour hidden in his property on the outskirts of Melbourne.
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Farm workers believed to be victims of fiery Victorian crash
By Melissa Brown and Nicholas Hynes
Police say alcohol may have been a factor in multiple-fatality crash in Victoria's north-east that's believed to have killed four vegetable farm workers from the Pacific.
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In prison for stealing a soft drink, advocates demand urgent reform of Victoria's bail laws
By Kate Ashton and Nicholas Hynes
Victorians are being refused bail for offences so minor they might never have warranted a sentence of imprisonment, with a disproportionate number of Indigenous offenders ending up on remand, a truth-telling inquiry has heard.
Former Labor staffer sentenced to five years jail for sexual assaults against family member
The NT's Supreme Court Chief Justice says former senior staffer Kent Rowe should be ashamed of his lack of remorse for repeated offences against a family member.
It's a key support for veterans in crisis, but Open Arms is using out-of-date guidelines
The government-run Open Arms counselling service helps more than 40,000 people, but the royal commission into defence suicide has heard many of its key governance policies are not up to date.
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Facing racism from day one and having mental health concerns dismissed, Paul's time in the army 'ruined' his life
A "confident young fella" had his life torn apart when he joined the army in 1996. More than two decades on, the Indigenous veteran says he's still picking up the pieces.
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Instead of getting counselling, Tom was 'disciplined' by the army when he was struggling to get up in the morning
Private Tom Halloran was bullied because "that's what happens" in the army. He hid his injury because of a "punitive culture". Six months after his suicide, his parents want to see change.
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Indigenous veteran calls for more work to address mental health stigma at royal commission, says system has 'failed'
An Indigenous Navy veteran says a sense of "weakness" remains a barrier stopping veterans from seeking mental health support.
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'AFL players are treated better': Injured veteran criticises medical support for defence members
An army veteran says he had to battle with medical staff to get proper treatment when he injured his back.
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Mother of navy officer who took his own life calls for more 'transparency' in defence royal commission
After petty officer David Finney took his own life in 2019, his mother campaigned for a royal commission. One year in, she wants the commission to have more powers if it's going to bring about change.
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Australian billionaire employs former NT chief minister Michael Gunner in new 'climate emergency' job
Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest's decision to employ Michael Gunner in a key new role within his renewable energy company has been welcomed by environmentalists, who say Mr Gunner has "seen the light on climate" after previously lifting a moratorium on fracking.
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Court finds Commonwealth 'immune' from prosecution over damage to sacred site in Kakadu
By Alicia Perera and Nicholas Hynes
In a long-running and emotional case, the Northern Territory's highest court has found Parks Australia cannot be prosecuted for damage to a sacred men's site in Kakadu National Park, because of the wording of NT legislation.
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Victims of trackside motorsport fireball receive $3.2 million federal court payout
Twelve people who suffered injuries in a trackside explosion of flames at a motorsport festival in Alice Springs have settled federal court action, with the judge saying the amount was "fair and reasonable".
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Darwin mass shooter loses lawyer in 'hot water prison assault'
Mass shooter Benjamin Hoffmann may be unrepresented in an upcoming court case over an alleged prison assault, after his lawyer withdrew due to ongoing funding issues.
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'If I could take it all back I would': Darwin shooter takes to the stand, as sentencing approaches
Three years after killing four people in a shooting rampage in Darwin, Benjamin Hoffman is edging closer to being sentenced.
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Gas giant Inpex commits to a net zero emissions future in the Northern Territory. Will it get there?
By Nicholas Hynes and Alicia Perera
An energy expert says it's "ambitious" to think a net zero agreement between gas giant Inpex and the Northern Territory government will be enough to offset carbon emissions from the company's expanding projects.
Dozens arrested in a single day after months of unrest in remote Wadeye
Hundreds of residents remain displaced from the remote community after months of unrest, with 25 people arrested by police in a single day.
ICAC failed to offer procedural fairness in major Northern Territory investigation, court finds
An Independent Commission Against Corruption investigation into a controversial multi-million dollar grant ended up in the Supreme Court. The court has found one man wasn't offered fairness.
Fracking fight over gas exploration reaches the Supreme Court
Northern Territory laws allow gas companies to enter cattle stations to explore, even if the leaseholders oppose it. One cattle station is fighting that in the Supreme Court.
How the Northern Territory has avoided the power crisis unfolding in the eastern states — for now
By Jacqueline Breen and Nicholas Hynes
As the eastern states grapple with the perfect storm behind a rapidly worsening energy crisis, the skies over the Northern Territory's power system are pretty clear. Here's what makes the NT's situation different — for now.
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The string of failures from police and corrections that left a woman dead
Roberta tried to escape her abusive ex-partner. She called triple-zero but police said "stop calling us". Five days later, she was dead.
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Mother and son charged over alleged hit-and-run after leg discovered on highway
By Nicholas Hynes and Alicia Perera
A mother and son who allegedly attempted to hide the body of a woman killed in a suspected hit-and-run will likely plead guilty to multiple charges, the Darwin Local Court has heard.
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Roberta was killed by her ex-partner. Days before, police told her to 'stop calling us'
A coronial inquest into the death of Roberta at the hands of her partner has heard two officers were disciplined, after telling her to "stop calling us".
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Roberta called police days before she was killed. The coroner is now examining what happened
An inquest has begun in Darwin examining the death of a woman who was killed by her ex-partner, while he was out on a suspended sentence for a separate violent assault.
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