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Thousands of patients of Sydney dentist urged to get tested for bloodborne viruses

Thousands of people who visited a Sydney dentist over a 25-year period have been urged to get tested for viruses after an audit raised concerns about sterilisation and cleaning at the practice.

NSW Health confirmed authorities had investigated the practice of Dr William Tam at Suite B, 2 Albert Street, Strathfield, and uncovered concerns about infection control practices and record-keeping.

Sydney Local Health District Staff Specialist Dr Zeina Najjar said an audit occurred in April following a complaint, which found "deficiencies in the sterilisation of equipment and in cleaning practices".

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Dr Zeina Najjar.

"[The Dental Council of NSW] conducted the initial audit and flagged the issue with [the Sydney Local Health District].

"There have been no cases of bloodborne virus transmission linked to this practice, but we are still recommending testing as a precautionary measure," Najjar said.

While Tam is now retired and no longer registered as a dental practitioner, he saw thousands of patients.

Najjar said that due to "poor" and "incomplete" record-keeping, NSW Health has no way to contact all of its patients.

"As a precaution, we are asking all of Dr Tam's previous patients to seek testing for bloodborne viruses," Clinical Director, Public Health, Sydney Local Health District, Dr Leena Gupta, said.

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"The poor infection control practices at Dr Tam's practice means all former patients may be at low risk of a blood-borne virus infection, which can have serious and long-lasting health impacts.

"People with HIV, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C may not have any symptoms for decades, so it is important that people at risk of these infections are tested, so that they can access treatment as appropriate. There are effective treatments available for all three conditions."

Patients of Dr Tam have been advised to see their local GP or contact Healthdirect

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Why it could take years for first buyers to benefit from housing tax reforms

About 75,000 Australians are set to see $19,000 slashed from house prices – but not for years. 

As expected, last night's federal budget wound back the 50 per cent capital gains tax discount to its pre-1999 settings and grandfathered negative gearing.

Most of the changes will come into effect from July 2027. 

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Treasury estimates the tax reform will help 75,000 people buy their first home over 10 years and save someone buying a home at the national median average price about $19,000 over "a couple of years".

"This improvement in affordability and lower investor demand is expected to shift the ownership mix towards more owner-occupiers," the budget papers said. 

While the changes were touted as the most significant of the 21st century, it may take years for lower prices and easier access to the market to reach aspiring first-home buyers. 

Grattan Institute's economic expert Matthew Bowes said the changes will lead to three per cent higher home ownership rates over a decade as investors are disincentivised to buy a property due to less generous tax breaks and profit when they sell down the line.

"What these tax reforms do is help ensure that first home buyers aren't being outbid by investors at auctions," he said.

"Over time, they will mean somewhat fewer investors and somewhat more home owners, and help support home ownership."

Bowes said the impact of the twin tax reforms on housing affordability will be "relatively small" in the next few years.

"At least to begin with, based on previous estimates of the impact of these kinds of policies," he said.

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Treasury's numbers also suggest the changes will lead to 35,000 fewer homes built over a decade and a small impact of less than $2 a week for someone paying the median rent.

The government faced a slew of criticisms this morning for breaking an election promise to deliver the tax reforms, including some questions about whether it went far enough to support first-home buyers.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers was asked about whether the tax reforms went far enough if only 75,000 would be helped over 10 years during his post-budget speech today.

He said intergenerational inequity in the housing sector reached a level he was "not prepared to tolerate".

"It's worth it for 75,000 Australians who wouldn't otherwise get a hook in the housing market," he told journalists at the National Press Club.

"It's worth the political risk that we've taken in coming to a different view and changing our policy position in some contentious areas

"I'd rather do the right thing by those 75,000 people and explain why a change in policy was necessary and own that than to leave this problem for someone else to fix down the track and in the meantime to let this problem get worse."

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Man critically injured after plot to blow up ATM backfires

An alleged would-be thief has suffered life-changing injuries after a homemade bomb was used to blow up an ATM in Melbourne's CBD overnight.

Three people used the explosives to break open the ATM at Melbourne's Queen Victoria Market on Victoria Street around 2.45am, police allege.

"The homemade device ignited in the face of one of the men, leaving him with serious and life-changing injuries," a Victoria Police spokesperson said.

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Police allege three offenders used a homemade explosive device to blow up the ATM.

The trio fled on foot, before the injured man was found a short time later on Peel Street.

He was rushed to hospital under police guard with serious facial injuries, where he remains in a critical condition.

Arson and Explosives Squad Detective Inspector Chris Murray appealed for the other offenders to hand themselves in.

"I have said it before and I will say it again: fire and incendiary devices are volatile, unpredictable and incredibly dangerous in untrained hands," Murray said.

"Two other men present at the scene fled, leaving their associate severely injured.

Cash lay around the ATM as forensics examined the scene today.

"It is only a matter of time until you are identified and arrested – I would appeal to you to visit your nearest police station and hand yourselves in before then."

Police said the incident is not related to a spate of attacks on hospitality venues across Melbourne. 

The investigation remains ongoing.

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French hantavirus patient is critically ill and on an artificial lung

A French hantavirus patient is critically ill and is using an artificial lung to breathe, it's been revealed, as the number of people suspected to have contracted the deadly virus on board a cruise ship grows to 11.

Nine hantavirus cases have been confirmed worldwide, while there are a further two suspected, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed.

All cases were passengers on board the MV Hondius cruise ​ship.

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The ill woman is one of five French cruise ship passengers flown back from the liner and placed in isolation in Paris.

She is currently being treated in intensive care at Bichat Hospital in France battling a life-threatening case of the rare disease, Dr Xavier Lescure told local media at the French health ministry.

"The patient now has the most severe form of cardiopulmonary presentation," Lescure told the press conference.

"She is on an artificial lung and a blood bypass to allow her, we hope, to get through this stage."

The hope is that the device relieves enough pressure on the lungs and heart to give them some time to recover.

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Hondius

Lescure called it "the final stage of supportive care".

She is older than 65 and has pre-existing conditions, he said.

With the evacuation of all passengers and many crew members completed, the MV Hondius is now sailing back to the Netherlands, where it will be cleaned and disinfected.

Despite the rise in hantavirus cases, the WHO says the risk of a wider outbreak remains low.

"At the moment, there is no sign that we are seeing the start of a larger outbreak," Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

"But of course the situation could change, and given the long incubation period of the virus, it's possible we might see more cases in the coming weeks."

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The latest person confirmed to be infected is a Spanish passenger who tested positive after being evacuated from the ship, Spain's health ministry said.

The passenger was in quarantine at a military hospital in Madrid.

Six people – four Australians, one permanent resident and a New Zealander – are currently in isolation in the Netherlands, preparing to board a specially chartered flight to Perth, where they will undergo a further three-week quarantine.

No vaccine or specific treatment exists for hantavirus.

The fatality rate for the disease varies by type but can be as high as 50 per cent, although early detection and treatment improve survival rates.

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