MELBOURNE, Australia — Two suspected “fleeting” transmission cases of coronavirus used to justify Melbourne’s lockdown extension have been declared false positives. Just hours before the city entered its second week of the shutdown on June 4, the south-eastern Australian state of Victoria’s Department of Health dropped a bombshell that will prompt fresh scrutiny of the seven-day extension. Health authorities initially thought a woman caught Covid-19 at a Metricon display home at Mickleham and believed a man similarly picked up the virus at Brighton Beach Hotel. That was not the case, with an expert panel review confirming neither was even infected. The Covid-19 free pair…
Author: zenger.news
MELBOURNE, Australia — A Victorian police officer plans to fight charges related to the leaking of photos of former Australian Football League coach Dani Laidley in custody. Laidley’s mug shot, and another of her in an interview room wearing a blonde wig and dress, were shared among police and on social media following her arrest for stalking in May 2020. David Hall appeared in Ringwood Magistrates Court on June 4 charged with two counts of the unauthorized disclosure of police information. The charges relate to messages Hall allegedly sent to two people, including a constable, disclosing Laidley’s arrest, charges and gender. Hall…
YUENDUMU, Australia — The Northern Territory police commissioner is accused of burying a report about a constable’s alleged fatal shooting of an Indigenous man. Zachary Rolfe, 29, is accused of murdering Kumanjayi Walker, who was shot three times in the remote community of Yuendumu in November 2019, as officers tried to arrest the 19-year-old. Defense lawyer David Edwardson QC was scathing of the Northern Territory Police Force and Commissioner Jamie Chalker over the handling of reports prepared for the coroner following Walker’s death. The Pollock reports contained information about the shooting, Rolfe’s service, and training and an opinion on two expert reports that now form part of…
YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon — Cameroonian officials could have misappropriated and mismanaged part of $382 million Covid-19 funds, according to a recent audit report commissioned by the country’s president, Paul Biya. Biya ordered the audit into the management of Covid-19 funds, a precondition to receiving more funds from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). On March 29, Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, Minister of State, Secretary-General at the Presidency of the Republic, wrote to the Supreme State Control and Audit conveying Biya’s orders into the audit. “I have the honor of passing on to you the high directives of the Head of State, instructing you to…
PERTH, Australia — The federal government is being urged to “get its hands dirty” and help establish a standalone quarantine site in Western Australia, the location of which could be identified within weeks. A state quarantine advisory panel is exploring options for a facility that can accommodate returned overseas travelers instead of hotels. Health Minister Roger Cook on June 3 identified the tourist town of Busselton, 220km southwest of Perth, as a “very attractive proposition” for such a facility. “It’s got (an airport with) a big runway that can accommodate large planes,” he told reporters. “In addition to that, there’s plenty…
MELBOURNE, Australia — Finishing the job of vaccinating aged care workers and residents for Covid-19 and slicing up the cost of support for families and businesses will be on the agenda of political leaders during their meeting. Prime Minister Scott Morrison on June 3 announced states and territories going into lockdown for more than seven days to deal with outbreaks will get access to disaster-style payments of up to AU$500 ($383) a week. Morrison and the premiers will discuss how to fund the scheme at a national cabinet meeting on June 4. The two options are a straight 50-50 split of costs, or…
AUCKLAND, New Zealand — The New Zealand government has rerouted billions of dollars worth of transport spending while committing to building a new bridge in Auckland devoted to walkers and cyclers. The $NZ685 million ($489 million) bridge, known as the Northern Pathway, will be a standalone bridge running alongside the Auckland Harbor Bridge, crossing Waitemata Harbour. New Zealand Transport Minister Michael Wood said the bridge would be “an outstanding piece of tourism infrastructure”. “Northern Pathway is the missing link in Auckland’s walking and cycling network and Aucklanders finally will be able to get across the harbor by foot or bike,” he…
SYDNEY — A leading barrister has taken aim at Queensland’s defamation law inquiry, pointing to flawed amendments and urging a national approach to reform. A week after being booted from the legal team of former federal attorney-general Christian Porter, Sue Chrysanthou SC has shared her thoughts on the sunshine state’s proposed law changes. In submissions to a state parliamentary committee, Chrysanthou argued proposed amendments are flawed and should be abandoned, citing a previous failed New South Wales government-driven review process. But the committee deemed Chrysanthou’s submissions to have arrived late and therefore be ineligible for consideration or inclusion in the report. Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman previously…
MELBOURNE, Australia — Australia’s Victorian teachers are questioning whether it’s safe for senior students to return to school, with many staff unvaccinated and fearful of “fleeting” Covid-19 transmission. Year 11 and 12 students in Melbourne will resume face-to-face learning from June 4, along with those studying The Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) and The Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) classes, under one of the few tweaks for the city’s second week of lockdown. But some educators are concerned they are being forced back to work in poorly ventilated classrooms packed with more than 20 students, as the Indian variant of…
ADELAIDE, Australia — Australia’s Adelaide-based aviation company has bought two former United States military Black Hawk helicopters to bolster Australia’s aerial firefighting resources. Aerotech says the choppers will be a “game-changer” in efforts to combat bushfires across the country in the coming summer. “Black Hawk helicopters are fast, reliable, can be deployed quickly and drop more than 4000 liters of water per load to contain fires quickly,” Managing Director Sam McCabe said. “Our helicopters will remain in Australia all year round. Black Hawk helicopters are fast, reliable, can be deployed quickly and drop more than 4000 litres of water per load to…