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Average truck speed cameras to be rolled out in new Sydney locations

New speed cameras for trucks are being rolled out on every major motorway and tunnel across Sydney.

Average speed cameras, known as point-to-point cameras, are being installed across Sydney and the state's regional areas.

The cameras are designed to detect speeding trucks by averaging their pace over an extended period.

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New speed cameras are being rolled out on every major motorway and tunnel across Sydney.

9News can reveal preparatory works have begun on the M2, Lane Cove Tunnel between Artarmon and Baulkham Hills, and on the M7 between Baulkham Hills and Prestons to install the new speed cameras.

The installation is expected to be completed within months.

In the past 18 months, average speed cameras have been installed in the Westconnex M8 between St Peters and Kingsgrove, the M5 East tunnel between Arncliffe and Kingsgrove, Westconnex M4 between Ashfield and Lidcombe and Northconnex between West Pennant Hills and Wahroonga.

Another seven sets of cameras will be installed by July next year, including the M2 and M7.

Other locations include the Cross City Tunnel Between Sydney and Darlinghurst, Eastern Distributor Between Zetland and Sydney, M5 Motorway Between Kingsgrove and Casula, Sydney Harbour Tunnel Between Sydney and North Sydney, and the WestConnex M4 – M5 Link Between Ashfield and St Peters.

New average speed cameras to be installed across Sydney

Minister for Metropolitan Roads Natalie Ward said "the statistics speak for themselves".

A Transport for NSW speed camera review found there had been a 51 per cent fall in fatalities involving heavy vehicles in locations where average speed cameras were in place.

There was also a 29 per cent reduction in casualty crashes involving a heavy vehicle and an 18 per cent reduction in serious injuries from crashes involving heavy vehicles.

Once the cameras are installed, there will be a two-month grace period during which drivers will receive a warning.

After that, they'll be fined.

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New average speed cameras to be installed across Sydney

Transport for NSW said the cameras would have signage attached.

"On metropolitan motorways, signage stating 'Average Speed Safety Camera' along with an image of a camera will be used along the motorway, to indicate the presence of average speed camera enforcement," the spokesperson said.

"For tunnels, the current speed camera signage will not change due to limited space for signage in these locations.

"There is already advanced warning that speed cameras are used in tunnels."

Safety experts are now calling for average speed cameras to be expanded to target all cars.

"Every other state and territory in Australia has turned on point-to-point cameras for all vehicles, why is NSW waiting to flick a switch," Harold Scruby, from the Pedestrian Council of Australia, said.

Ms Ward has denied that average speed cameras will be rolled out more widely.

"At this stage, we're not proposing to roll that our more widely," she said.

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New average speed cameras to be installed across Sydney

Data from Revenue NSW also showed the revenue from average speed cameras isn't huge.

The data revealed in the six months from July 2021 to December 2021, 1630 truck drivers were fined by average speed cameras to the value of $1,158,722.

In 2020 to 21, 2930 truck drivers were caught and collectively fined $1,514,692.

Redbacks found in grapes bought at two different Coles stores

Redback spiders have been found in bags of grapes being sold at two different Coles supermarkets on either side of the QueenslandNew South Wales border.

In purchases made yesterday, one of the spiders was found in a bag bought at Runaway Bay on the Gold Coast and the other in a bag from Tweed City, just south of the border.

Retired policeman Andrew Bell told nine.com.au his daughter was eating grapes when she came across the "very much alive" spider.

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The redback was 'very much alive' when Andrew Bell's daughter was eating the grapes.

"She was just munching away at them, and she just saw this redback," he said.

"The last thing you're expecting is a goddamn redback in the grapes."

Mr Bell was concerned about what would happen if a child came across a venomous spider like a redback while they were eating.

"If I got bitten, I'm probably going to survive it, but a young child sitting in a high chair that's been given some grapes to munch on, they're going to be sick," he said.

"If one of these redbacks latches on to a young child, that kid's going to be all sorts of strife because you're not looking for spider bites.

"A child under three or four is not going to know what a redback spider was."

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Tony Marshel felt the redback as he was eating grapes at lunchtime.

Terranora local Tony Marshel was eating some red grapes at lunchtime today when he came across a redback.

"It wasn't a huge one, but probably big enough to give a nip," he said.

"I was very concerned that mothers put bunches of grapes in their kids lunchboxes, that could prove pretty bad."

He said the grapes were bought yesterday, and the spider had survived a wash as well as a night in the fridge.

"This'd be more or less a hazard of the industry with fresh produce," he said.

"I think it could happen anywhere."

He said people, and especially parents of young kids, should be vigilant with grapes just in case.

A Coles spokesperson said the supermarket does a lot of work with suppliers to try and mitigate the risk.

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"Redback spiders hiding in crops is an industry-wide issue and Coles is working closely with our suppliers and industry bodies to remove any risk," the spokesperson said.

"All Coles suppliers are required to keep their fields clean and have pest control systems in place to prevent product contamination during packaging.

"Coles takes the quality of all our products seriously and all grapes are visually inspected at harvest and packing for any pest presence."

While venomous, redback spiders rarely bite humans.

An initial bite may not be particularly painful, but will develop over the next hour or two.

But the venom of a redback can kill, with young children especially at risk.

If bitten, people should immediately seek medical aid, apply ice packs and to stay calm.

Tourniquets and restrictive bandages should not be used.

Morrison's department says 'no record' staff saw car parks marginals list

The Prime Minister's department says it has "no record" any of its staff ever saw a list of "top 20 marginals" drawn up for the government's controversial commuter car parks program.

The declaration to a Senate estimates committee narrows the list of people who had possibly seen the list, according to the Opposition.

"After nearly a year of bluff and bluster, it is clear that the decisions to misallocate taxpayers' money for the benefit of the Liberal Party came from the top," Labor New South Wales Senator Tim Ayres told 9News.

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison has released the Doherty Institute's modelling for a pathway out of the pandemic through vaccination.

In response to a question on notice, the Department said it "has no record of anyone from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet seeing or receiving a 'top 20 marginals' spreadsheet".

"More people were involved in the Great Train Robbery than Scott Morrison's car park slush fund," Mr Ayres said.

The Prime Minister's Office did not respond to that claim about the car parks program

But last week a spokesperson said the office was "getting on with delivering key infrastructure projects as part of our economic plan to create jobs and prosperity".

The $660 million program was criticised by the Auditor-General, which found projects heavily favoured seats the government held or wanted to win.

In July at a Senate estimates hearing, Deputy Auditor-General Brian Boyd revealed the presence of a document he said "started initially being termed as being top marginals".

During that hearing, Mr Boyd also said "canvassing" for car park projects under the $660 million pre-election program was done by the office of then-Urban Infrastructure Minister Alan Tudge, and the office of the prime minister.

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Mr Boyd said in September-October 2018, Mr Tudge's office "had the lead" on the "canvassing", adding "there was involvement" from the Prime Minister's Office.

In relation to the top 20 marginals, Mr Tudge said in August he was "not aware of such a list".

The following day the prime minister did not answer questions on whether he or his office had seen the list.

"The ministers make the decisions as they should," Mr Morrison said on August 5.         

When asked what involvement the prime minister had in the program, Mr Morrison replied: "The ministers made the decisions on these programs."

Mr Tudge's then-department also indicated none of its staff had seen a "top 20 marginals" list either.

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"To the best of our knowledge, no one in the department at that time or now has had that document," Department Secretary Simon Atkinson said in July 2021.

Last week, the Prime Minister's Office confirmed it refused to search for documents under a 9News Freedom of Information request on the ground it "presents a significant challenge to the execution" of Mr Morrison's "duties".

"Sadly, I don't think the prime minister will ever be straight with the Australian people about the government's rorting of the Commuter Car Park Fund, because, quite frankly, he is never straight with the Australian people," Mr Ayres said.

The government has confirmed six of the 48 projects have been completed, almost three years after they were announced.

Last week, the Prime Minister's Office defended progress on the car parks program.

A spokesperson said: "It is normal for infrastructure projects to have long lead times", claiming a reason for that was the Federal Government having to work with state governments and local councils.

Brutal truth as spies warn of dating app swindlers

Australians looking for love online have been warned to be wary of "too good to be true" matches as concerns grow about how foreign spies are using the internet to get information.

Liberal Senator James Paterson expressed concerns today after it was revealed foreign intelligence agencies were using dating apps to access sensitive information.

"We need to remember that if it seems too good to be true then it probably is," the Victorian Senator told ABC News, echoing a warning from Australia's top spy agency.

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Dating app

"If you're a six and they're a 10, it might not be your looks that they've been charmed by, it might be your access to classified information," Mr Paterson said.

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) boss Mike Burgess revealed in his annual threat assessment speech spies were using the internet to target information, with COVID-19 sending online radicalisation into overdrive.

"Isolated individuals spent more time online, exposed to extremist messaging, misinformation and conspiracy theories," Mr Burgess said.

"It's like being in an echo chamber where the echo gets louder and louder, generating cycles of exposure and reinforcement.

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"ASIO is also tracking suspicious approaches on dating platforms such as Tinder, Bumble and Hinge.

"My message for any potential victims on these sites is a familiar one — if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

"While espionage is one of the most insidious security threats we are dealing with online, it is not the most concerning trend."

Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews also spoke on the Director-General's annual update during Question Time on Thursday, saying the pandemic has created "a number of security challenges".

"There is credible intelligence that there are people out there who have the intent and the capability to do us harm," she said.

Aged care resident falls from two-story balcony amid COVID-19 outbreak

A private aged care home at the centre of a COVID-19 outbreak in Brisbane has come under fire after a resident in their care fell from a second-floor balcony last week.

The management team of the Jeta Gardens Aged Care home has apologised to families in a community meeting, citing dire staffing issues and increased pressures during the latest Omicron outbreak.

Of the 155 residents currently in the aged care home, 33 of the residents have COVID-19.

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At the time of the accident, private health consultants were advising staff on how to handle the deadly outbreak, which has claimed the lives of 15 residents since December.

The woman is currently recovering at Princess Alexandra hospital after spending days in intensive care.

"She has multiple injuries that they are managing, however, I can't disclose much more than that," external consultant Dr Drew Dwyer said.

"The family are well aware, well informed, and are in a good relationship with us all considering the severe outcome."

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The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission declared all residents in the home as "at risk", mandating the necessity of external consultants.

The management team today took questions over Zoom, from the families of residents within the home.

CEO Wesley Carter apologised for the incident.

"We're really mindful and understand how difficult it has been for everyone with someone in residential care through the lockdown," Mr Carter said.

Compliance manager Cindy Ward added residents were already struggling with the emotional weight of the current outbreak.

"With the current situation it is quite upsetting and emotional and I wanted to personally is to say sorry to any families with what they've been going through," Ms Ward said.

Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath today addressed the incident.

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"The regulator body deemed this a high-risk site, the day we notified the Commonwealth at a senior level. They should have absolutely known about this," she said.

"A private provider was already assisting, there's lots happening on the ground."

Other concerns include the impact of isolation on residents, who due to unreliable internet within the building are unable to FaceTime loved ones.

"It is even a complaint from the internal staff, it's always been an issue or barrier for effective communications," Dr Dwyer said.

The aged care home only began offering booster shots to residents last week.

Management said an external company delivering the boosters was unable to deliver them last month when first expected.

Another 150 booster shots will arrive tomorrow.

The home will be monitored by multiple external consultants for the next few months, with several families calling for the dismissal of existing management staff.