Another Queensland child has been mauled by a dog as authorities warn that attacks are on the rise.

Four-year-old Ace Elson from the Sunshine Coast had been visiting a property in Gympie with his family over the weekend when he was attacked by a dog.

The boy remains at the Queensland Children's Hospital, where he is being treated for a huge gash on his face, which has required stitches from his cheek to his ear.

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"I think he'll be out of the hospital within a week," the boy's father, Luke Elson, said.

"He's upset. He's questioning why the dog bit him.

"We're worried that he's going to be petrified of dogs."

Queensland Ambulance Service confirmed the incident was the ninth dog attack paramedics had responded to this month, urging people to take greater care around pets.

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"A lot of these injuries require significant rehabilitation in hospital and surgical intervention," Lachlan Parker from Queensland Ambulance Service said.

"Sometimes there's psychological impacts with these animal bites as well."

Dejana Durdevic, a dog behaviour trainer with the RSPCA, said prevention is key, encouraging people and particularly children to ask for permission from owners before touching their pets.

"If they stay back-leave them," she said.

"Say hi, keep walking."

She added owners can also keep an eye on their dog's behaviour to reduce the risk of attacks.

"Watch their stress levels," Ms Durdevic said.

"Watch their body language."

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Influenza cases are beginning to rise across Australia sparking calls from experts to get vaccinated before the winter surge.

For more than two years, the country's borders have been closed and lockdowns have been in place which has inhibited the spread of viruses such as the flu. 

Now, NSW Health data has revealed the rise in flu cases with more than 1,500 flu infections reported already this year.

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In the whole of 2021, only 124 cases of influenza were reported in NSW.

"Influenza is on the rise in Australia with the borders opening, with winter coming and with more crowding we expect to see a surge in April and May and we are already starting to see it," infectious diseases expert Professor Robert Booy said. 

Rise of flu and COVID-19 cases

Not only are flu cases on the rise but so are COVID-19 cases sparking calls from experts to get vaccinated against both viruses.

"That combination of COVID-19 and the flu and we really just don't know what the brings," AMA NSW President Danielle McMullen said. 

"So this year, even if you haven't done it before it's really a call out to roll up your sleeves."

People can receive the COVID-19 vaccine and flu vaccine at the same time. 

"There is no issue whatsoever in getting a COVID-19 vaccine in one arm and a flu in the other arm, that'll give you double the protection," Professor Booy said.

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Where to find the cheapest flu vaccines?

The flu vaccine is free under the National Immunisation Program for over 65s, pregnant women, children under five, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and those with certain chronic conditions. 

Those in this eligible group are able to walk into a pharmacy to get vaccinated for free.

"Most pharmacies who are vaccinating are taking walk-ins right this minute and we are expecting a big influenza season," Nick Logan, from Pharmacist Advice, said.

Children under ten can only be vaccinated at the doctor.

For those not included in the free program, prices can range from $18 to $30.

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9News understands the most affordable flu vaccine is available at Chemist Warehouse for $17.99, while at Blooms it is $19.99. 

Meanwhile Priceline and Terry White charge around $24.95.

"It's the best way to get protected against a very serious and sometimes deadly condition," Terry White Chief Pharmacist Brenton Hart said.

Aged care workers are taking their fight for better pay and conditions to the Fair Work Commission with hearings beginning in Sydney this morning.

The Health Services Union (HSU) is seeking a 25 per cent wage increase for aged care workers after the sector has faced extensive staff shortages and a rise in high care residents over the past decade.

"A 25 per cent wage increase is what aged care workers need to be able to give that dignity and respect and care to the people who put us in the position we're in today," Health Services Union President Gerard Hayes said.

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Entry-level personal care workers are now paid as little as $21.96 an hour.

Now in the Fair Work Commission case, the HSU is seeking an increase of between $5.40 and $7.20 per hour for an average wage of $29 per hour.

"You have to meet special requirements for lots of people, lots of vulnerable old people," aged care worker Mark Castieau told 9News.

"It's actually a highly skilled job, but it's paid as if it's a menial job."

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The most recent data has shown the rise in workloads aged care workers are facing.

Overall between 2009 and 2019 those needing high-level care went from just four per cent of all aged care residents to 31 per cent.

Those with complex health needs quadrupled from 13 per cent to 52 per cent of residents.

Meanwhile, residents with cognitive and behavioural issues rose from 36 per cent to 64 per cent and those who needed support with the activities of daily living jumped from 33 per cent to 60 per cent.

"The wages of aged care workers both in residential aged care and home care haven't been looked at by the Fair Work Commission for decades, if ever," Alex Grayson from Maurice Blackburn Lawyers said.

A decision from the case is not expected until later this year.

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It comes as the aged care sector awaits more commitments by parties bidding for the top spot in the upcoming federal election.

The federal budget committed $20.1 million to aged care reform.

During the reply to the federal budget, Labor leader Anthony Albanese pledged $2.5 billion to the struggling aged care sector.

A review is underway into the impact of toll roads on the cost of living for Sydneysiders. 

The NSW government review will look at claims that the city's toll road system is costly and confusing.

It will examine pricing inconsistencies, the cost of living impacts, and fairness and equity for road users.

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"Finally, we've got a bit of paper from the NSW government acknowledging what everybody already knows: toll roads are eating Sydney," opposition leader Chris Minns said.

"A secret tax on families in Western Sydney."

"The problems are there in black and white with this terms of reference of this review with the current toll system."

The review is running alongside a parliamentary inquiry after the cost of tolls rose once again across the city on April 1.

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Minister for Transport David Elliott also acknowledged the issue posed to families facing the cost of growing tolls. 

"My electorate of Baulkham Hills is the highest tolled in the country, so yes I can see tolling is an issue," Mr Elliott said. 

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"I also acknowledge the only infrastructure that has been built has been by a Liberal Government."

It's hoped the review will lead to consistent toll pricing that addresses traffic concerns across Sydney.

In a statement, toll road provider Transurban said the value of motorways is more than just the cost of the toll, it includes improved safety, job creation and slashed travel times that boost productivity and reliability.

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Students in Sydney's west will be joined by a furry friend to help with return to school anxiety.

Yale, a guide dog Labrador, has been trained as a wellbeing dog and is the newest employee at Trinity Catholic Primary School in Kemps Creek.

The therapy dog was brought in to help ease students and teachers back into the new term.

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It's hoped Yale will help relieve any nerves after the past two years of disrupted schooling due to COVID-19.

"We decided to get a dog as part of one of the strategies in our return to school after COVID-19," Principal Cathy Hey said.

"We though it would be really good for the students wellbeing and staff wellbeing in terms of improving attendance and in terms of making people feel good about being at school."

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Yale will be used as part of a "reward system" where students will be able to opt to spend time with him if they're achieving their goals.

Students at the school are already ecstatic about the new employee.

"It's very exciting," one student told 9News.

He will live with one of the teachers but will be brought into school every day to act as a calming influence on students.

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The parents of a 14-year-old boy who fell to his death from a 131 metre drop-tower ride in central Florida's tourist district sued its owner, manufacturer and landlord on Monday, claiming they were negligent and failed to provide a safe amusement ride.

The parents of Tyre Sampson said in the lawsuit filed in state court in Orlando that the defendants failed to warn their 188 centimetre, 172 kilogram son about the risks of someone of his size going on the ride and didn't provide an appropriate restraint system on the ride.

While most free-fall rides have a shoulder harness and a seatbelt, the Orlando Free Fall ride had only an over-the-shoulder harness. Adding seatbelts to the ride's 30 seats would have cost $660, the lawsuit said.

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At the time of the accident last month, Sampson was on spring break, visiting from the St. Louis area.

"The defendants in Tyre's case showed negligence in a multitude of ways," said attorney Benjamin Crump, who is representing Sampson's family.

"From the ride and seat manufacturers and the installer to the owners and operators, the defendants had more than enough chances to enact safeguards, such as seatbelts, that could have prevented Tyre's death."

An attorney for the ride's owner, Orlando Slingshot, said the company was continuing to cooperate with state investigators into what happened.

"We reiterate that all protocols, procedures and safety measures provided by the manufacturer of the ride were followed," attorney Trevor Arnold said in an emailed statement.

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A spokesman for the landlord, ICON Park, didn't comment immediately on the lawsuit.

Last week, an initial report by outside engineers hired by the Florida Department of Agriculture said that sensors on the ride had been adjusted manually to double the size of the opening for restraints on two seats, resulting in Sampson not being properly secured before he slipped out and fell to his death.

The Orlando Free Fall ride, which is taller than the Statue of Liberty, didn't experience any electrical or mechanical failures, the report said.

The report said there were many other "potential contributions" to the accident and that a full review of the ride's design and operations was needed.

Norco Co-operative has announced it will increase the farmgate price of milk by five cents to help offset "exceptionally difficult" conditions for dairy farmers.

The average price per litre paid to farmers will rise to 84 cents, adding an extra $1.6 million to Norco's 281 active members.

It's not yet clear whether the price increase will be passed onto consumers by retailers.

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The five cent increase will apply for May and June 2022, after which the co-operative is exploring additional milk price increases for the 2022/23 financial year which will be announced on or before June 1, 2022.

Norco Chief Executive Michael Hampson said farmers have been doing it tough in the face of huge natural disasters and the rapidly increasing cost of production.

"We are constantly looking at ways to increase the milk price for our members and industry at large and given the devastating impact of recent weather events on the Norco supply base, there has never been a more important time to deliver this support to farmers," he said.

"Following the floods, many of our farmer members have repair costs in the tens of millions. This follows periods of rising operating costs and decreased production due to the significant and prolonged weather conditions which has placed added cash flow pressures on our members.

"As a business, we know firsthand the challenges faced following natural disasters, so remain wholly committed to doing everything we can to support our farmers during this period and beyond."

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Mr Hampson said if dairy farmers can't make a profit on milk then it means that milk is being sold for less than it is worth.

"We need to invest in building a sustainable future for our dairy farmers and to do that, our farmers need to make a profit. If they can't, it reflects an undervaluation of their product which then points to the supply chain needing to change this value equation," he said.

"Norco certainly understands this and is working hard to deliver improved value, not only for our members but the wider industry."

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Norco is unique in that it is a co-operative owned by member suppliers who operate Australian dairy farms.

It is Australia's largest and oldest dairy co-operative, having been in business since 1895. There are currently 281 active members across 190 dairy farms in northern New South Wales and southeast Queensland, the areas hit hardest by recent floods.

The co-operative produces around 219 million litres of milk a year.

A Queensland family is preparing to say goodbye to their mother and grandmother, who was left waiting seven hours for an ambulance after a dangerous fall.

Ruth Wiggington, 73, fell out of bed at her nursing home, hitting her head and suffering a broken hip as she lay on the ground.

Her family rushed to the nursing home, where her daughter Angela Dean called multiple times for an ambulance.

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Seven hours later, paramedics arrived, transporting the already ill woman to hospital.

Ms Dean said the family read to the woman to pass the time and distract her from the pain.

"We couldn't move her back into the bed because she was in so much pain," she said.

"She couldn't move her legs at all."

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Ms Dean said her mother was discharged from hospital that night.

Her broken hip was diagnosed almost a week later.

"Mum's heart then started beating fast from the pain of the broken hip, the whole week she was declining," Ms Dean said.

Doctors told Ms Dean her mother would not survive an operation, instead transferring her to palliative care.

But Ms Wiggington's family believes had an ambulance arrived sooner, the grandmother of six would be in better health.

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"My family and I believe that if the ambulance had have arrived earlier, mum wouldn't be in palliative care," Ms Dean said.

"This has just really added to the stress and the sadness we're all feeling, it's really compounded it all a lot more."

Ramping delays have been an ongoing issue across Queensland's hospitals, with paramedics unable to transfer their patients to hospital beds and get back on the road.

New figures released today show that hospitals in the south-east regions of Logan and Ipswich face the worst ramping delays.

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Data reveals over half of all jobs require ambulances to ramp outside hospitals, adding to wait times for other patients.

A paramedic in Logan told 9News: "It's the busiest and lowest morale we've ever seen."

Another in the area's north said: "I'm so sick of hearing it was an unusually busy day, night. There are pending emergencies every single shift."

Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said every state in Australia was dealing with similar ramping issues, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"This is a national issue… every single state is facing similar problems," she said.

"Every day is different… those demands fluctuate every single day but we know that every year they are increasing."

Opposition leader David Crisafulli said Queensland's ambulance ramping is the worst in the country, with wait times only getting worse.

"At 17 hospitals, ambulance ramping has got worse, despite the government crowing record amounts of funding," he said.

"The system is broken and we have to put our medical professionals back in charge."