More than seven hundred Australians have been recognised in this year’s Queen’s Birthday honours. Scientists, philanthropists, entertainers, athletes and aboriginal leaders are among those to receive awards. Entrepreneur and philanthropist Dick Smith is one of the eight people to be appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia which is the highest honour. ‘I really should accept it on behalf of the people who have helped me on the way and they were my scouting leaders who taught me leadership. They were all volunteers and never got paid for anything. So… and I’ve been incredibly lucky to be born in Australia in the 1940s. I won the lottery of life.’ Dick Smith there.

 

Queensland police are investigating suspected drug overdose at a music festival on Stradbroke Island. Five people fell ill after apparently taking the drug Fantasy. The four men and a woman were rushed to hospital on the Gold Coast. They’ve now been discharged.

 

Five police officers have been injured in two crashes in Sydney and Melbourne overnight. Three officers were taken to hospital with minor injuries after their car was rammed from behind by a stolen car in Sydney’s Eastern suburbs. In Melbourne two policemen suffered minor injuries when they collided with another car.