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Police provide update on Blue Mountains landslide
NSW Police will provide an update on a landslide that left two people dead and two others critically injured on a popular walking track in Sydney’s Blue Mountains this afternoon.
Watch the update here:
‘I have nothing left in the tank’: COVID pandemic spurred Tasmanian premier’s departure from politics
By Marta Pascual Juanola
Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein says the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state earlier this year left him “completely drained” and played a role in his departure from politics.
Mr Gutwein told reporters he had “nothing left in the tank” and was looking forward to reading, gardening and spending time with family in his home in Launceston.
Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein has announced he is resigning from politics.Credit:Sarah Rhodes
“I cannot wait to get back and spend some time in Launceston to be frank, the longest I’ve spent in my house here in Launceston, in the last couple of years, was the seven days I had in isolation,” he said.
Mr Gutwein said his wife had set aside career ambitions to raise their children largely in his absence and it was now his turn to give some time back.
“I’ve got a cabinet that I’ve had a really strong relationship with, they’re good friends and colleagues and I’ve worked with many of them for a long period of time,” he said.
“And so it’s obviously with some sadness that I leave but I know that the foundations have been laid, the path that has been laid out is one that a new leader will be able to make their own.”
Mr Gutwein took the opportunity to thank Tasmanians.
“To Tasmanians, thank you for your support. Together we took the small state through a pandemic, we created one of the safest places on the planet to live and, importantly, one of the best economies and strongest job markets in the country,” he said.
“Thank you for working with me.”
Mr Gutwein, who has been a member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly since 2002, said he did not have a job lined up after politics.
The state’s Liberal party will begin the process to choose a replacement for Mr Gutwein as Liberal leader and premier this week.
During a press conference last month, Mr Gutwein revealed he was a victim of childhood sexual assault at the hands of a school teacher when he was 16.
Police Commissioner Chris Dawson appointed new governor of WA
WA’s Premier Mark McGowan has announced that Chris Dawson will take over from Kim Beazley as the state’s new governor, when Mr Beazley’s four-year term ends in May.
WA’s Police Commissioner Chris Dawson will become the state’s 34th governor.Credit:WAtoday.
Mr Beazley, who served as deputy prime minister between 1995 and 1996, opposition leader between 1996 and 2001 and again between 2005 and 2006, and Australia’s ambassador to the US between 2010 and 2016, was appointed governor of WA in 2018.
Mr Dawson has been WA’s Commissioner of Police since 2017.
He will become the state’s 34th governor.
Watch the announcement here:
NSW announces grants for flood-affected residents, calls for more federal support
The NSW government has announced that people returning to homes in parts of NSW that have been impacted by flooding in recent weeks will have access to cash grants of up to $20,000.
The grants will be available to people with homes that have been declared damaged or destroyed, who are unable to access insurance or natural disaster relief.
Premier Dominic Perrottet is visiting Lismore.Credit:Natalie Grono
It will be available to people in Hawkesbury, Ballina, Byron, Clarence Valley, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Tweed local government areas.
Speaking in Lismore, which has been hit by flooding twice since February, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said: “Our overriding priority is to get people into safe housing, and we are looking at every possible avenue to do that.”
Mr Perrottet said the government is also working to “get funds out the door as quickly as possible”, including for businesses affected by flooding.
“There are many businesses that don’t have power but we are moving in the right direction,” he said.
“It’s not good enough ... we know we’ve just got to provide the financial support to get businesses back on their feet as quickly as possible. We will be working on that, that’s come through loud and clear.”
The state member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said she has “asked for $50,000” for grants for people returning to damaged homes.
“That would require the federal government to be involved as well ... I want the federal government to step up some more,” Ms Saffin said.
Mr Perrottet also called for more support from the federal government.
“There is no doubt, when you look at the last few years it has been incredibly tough. With the bushfires and drought, floods, floods again, a pandemic,” Mr Perrottet said.
“As much support as we can get from the federal government would be great. Ultimately, we’re not going to wait.”
NSW Premier provides update from Lismore after latest flooding
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet provided an update from Lismore, in northern NSW, which has been flooded twice since late February.
Watch it here:
This afternoon’s major headlines
Good afternoon and thanks for joining us today. If you missed them, here are today’s major headlines so far:
- Ukraine has accused Russian forces of torturing and killing hundreds of civilians in the town of Bucha, near the country’s capital Kyiv, where 410 bodies have been found as part of an investigation into possible war crimes by Russia.
- Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce said allegations of racism regarding Prime Minister Scott Morrison are designed to “politically hurt” Mr Morrison ahead of the federal election, which is expected to be called in coming days. Mr Morrison said he is willing to sign a statutory declaration denying the allegations.
PM Scott Morrison is happy to sign a statutory declaration.Credit:Eddie Jim
- Flood-affected parts of NSW, including along the north coast and the Hawkesbury-Nepean region are expected to be hit with more rain this week, with a total of more than 100 millimetres forecast for parts of the state. It comes as the clean-up begins at Sydney beaches, where Saturday’s storms led to significant coastal erosion.
Erosion and damage to the shoreline at Queenscliff, Manly Beach following massive ocean swells and the storm weather events.Credit:James Alcock
- In Victoria, minister for medical research Jaala Pulford has pushed back against calls for changes to COVID-19 close contact isolation rules, which currently mandate a seven-day quarantine for anyone who has spent more than four hours with someone who has the virus. Ms Pulford said changing the rules “prematurely” could overwhelm the health system, with the current COVID-19 wave yet to peak.
We’ll keep bringing you the latest updates throughout the rest of the afternoon and evening.
Surgeons question Victorian government’s elective surgery ramp-up
By Nell Geraets
The Victorian government’s promise to ramp up elective surgery to 125 per cent of pre-pandemic levels is being questioned by surgeons and other health professionals.
Despite ongoing staff shortages and reports of “burnout” by nurses and doctors alike, Victorian Deputy Premier James Merlino has announced that surgical activity will be increased by record levels. It’s all part of a $1.5 billion package to help hospitals catch up with a massive backlog accumulated during the pandemic.
Dr Sally Langley, president of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, spoke to ABC Radio Melbourne earlier today to express her concern about the expectations the plan places on healthcare workers.
She said nursing staff and technicians were in “short supply”, and noted it takes one or two years to adequately train hospital staff.
“We’re very concerned about the wellbeing of the staff involved,” Dr Langley said. “Some have already been stressed and experienced burnout, and some have left the sector.”
But Victoria’s minister for medical research, Jaala Pulford, says staff availability is being considered.
“There’s provision for extended hours, longer days, over time, and of course making sure that the workforce is there,” Ms Pulford said.
Watch: Ukrainian President addresses the Grammys
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has addressed the 64th annual Grammy Awards via video link.
Watch his speech below. And you can follow all the latest Grammys news via our dedicated live blog.
Flood-hit NSW residents warned to brace for more rain
By Laura Chung
Those in flood-affected parts of Australia have been warned to expect more rain this week.
Another deluge looks set to hit NSW, bringing rainfall totals exceeding 100 millimetres.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Helen Reid said models show areas between Newcastle and the South Coast are likely to see the worst of the rain.
In Sydney, the most likely place to see heavy rainfall and possible flooding is the Hawkesbury-Nepean region.
Ms Reid said a high-pressure system over southern Tasmania would bring moisture over the east coast and a deepening trough over inland NSW. If the two weather systems collide, areas of the state will likely see rainfall totals between 100-150mm.
“There will be a return to rainfall on Wednesday, but Thursday is the key day for the region,” she said.
However, Ms Reid said as there were several days before the wet conditions could hit again weather models could change.
Victorian minister rejects calls to scrap isolation rules
By Nell Geraets
To Victoria now, and football coaches to politicians have called on the state government to make changes to close-contact isolation requirements.
But the state’s minister for medical research, Jaala Pulford, says that changing these rules “prematurely” could put the health system at risk.
Senior Victorian minister Jaala Pulford. Credit:Justin McManus
Under the current rules, someone in Victoria who has spent more than four hours with someone who has COVID-19 inside a house, accommodation or care facility must quarantine for seven days.
Speaking at a press conference this morning, Ms Pulford said that Victoria should continue to heed the advice from chief health officers to protect the state’s healthcare system from becoming overwhelmed.
“While the numbers are still going up around Australia with this current wave, and because we have not yet peaked, it would be a risk that [the chief officers are] not prepared to recommend the government makes.”
Meanwhile, Ms Pulford also announced the opening of a new “biobank” at Monash University. The facility is the first of its kind to receive “a very special and significant level of accreditation” in Australia and is one of only about five in the world.
“We’ll be able to store blood samples, breast milk tissue samples, and the like,” Ms Pulford said.
“It becomes an extraordinary resource for our scientific community to draw on to apply to clinical trials ... [the biobank] will make life-changing and life-saving discoveries.”
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2022-04-04 07:31:45Z
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