Tag Archives: oceania

headline

Climate change protester suspends from crane at Port Botany

A police operation is underway after a protester suspended himself from a crane at Port Botany as students marched for climate action across Sydney today.

NSW police were called to the unauthorised protest to try to get the man down from the crane as climate change demonstrations continue for a fourth day.

Road and rail operations have not been impacted, police added.

READ MORE: Fourth COVID-19 jab set for rollout as cases surge around country

Protester suspends themselves from crane at Port Botany.Protester suspends themselves from crane at Port Botany.

Students strike for climate action

Earlier today, young people gathered in front of the Prime Minister's Sydney home to strike for climate action.

A large number of school students have gathered outside Kirribilli House for the planned climate change protest today.

For 13-year-old Ella, the climate disaster personally impacted her when the recent floods destroyed her home in Lismore.

School students gather outside Kirribilli house calling for climate action.

"It means like I've lost my home, and can't go to school can't see my friends and I've had to flee and stay at the Gold Coast for a bit with family," she told 9News.

"I'm hoping to achieve that Scott Morrison listens to us and stops funding fossil fuels."

Event organiser, Natasha, has made an impassioned call on the Morrison government to stop funding the fossil fuel industry.

Large group of students gather outside Kirribilli house for the climate protest.

"Young people are angry we're seeing climate disaster after climate disaster," she said.

"We know fossil fuels are causing this and the Morrison government continues to subside and support the fossil fuel industry such as the Kurri Kurri gas plant.

"They tell young people they have a climate solution and climate plans, yet these are all empty words.

 "It's absolutely despicable for them to be saying that as they continue to support the fossil fuel industry."

Students march through Sydney calling for climate action.Students march through Sydney calling for climate action.

Hundreds of thousands of school students are set to protest across the country today.

"Students are striking because they are terrified of the future they are inheriting and horrified by the unequal implications for others," Dr Blanche Verlie, a climate justice expert in the Sydney Environment Institute at the University of Sydney, said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison left his Kirribilli house early this morning before the planned protest outside his front gate at midday.

READ MORE: Biden declares NATO will act if Russia uses chemical weapons

https://twitter.com/WesternWilson9/status/1507140435709673474

Protesters disrupt Sydney freight trains

Meanwhile, another climate change protester disrupted freight trains in Sydney this morning.

Police attended the scene at Tempe where the demonstrator suspended herself from a pole over the rail bridge at a canal near Qantas Drive.

Officers managed to get the protester down from the rail bridge where she was then arrested and taken to Mascot Police Station.

READ MORE: Leaked document reveals Chinese military plans with Aussie neighbour

A climate change protester has suspended himself from a rail bridge in Sydney.

Another woman she climbed onto a freight train at Marrickville about 10.45am as part of Blockade Australia's ongoing climate protests.

She too was arrested and taken to Mascot Police Station.

Police said "charges are anticipated" for both women.

It comes as the NSW Government vowed to crackdown on unauthorised protesters who disrupt traffic.

Police attended to get the protester suspended above a rail bridge in Tempe down.

The Roads Amendment Regulation 2022 will be made to make it an offence to disrupt any bridge or tunnel across Greater Sydney.

The regulation is made under section 144G of the Roads Act 1993, but currently only applies to disruption on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Section 144G carries a maximum penalty of 200 penalty units ($22,000) or imprisonment for two years, or both.

headline

Flash flooding hits Sydney after severe thunderstorm brings deluge

Parts of Sydney have experienced flash flooding this afternoon after a severe thunderstorm brought heavy rainfall.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Greater Sydney and Wollongong at midday which has since moved and the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury area are now in the firing line.

"Heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding is likely," the bureau said.

READ MORE: Fourth COVID-19 jab set for rollout as cases surge around country

Flash flooding in Sutherland Shire.Flash flooding in Sutherland Shire.

Some parts of Sydney saw sudden flooding, with water reaching up to the tops of car tyres.

Traffic along Taren Point Road is currently heavy after the street was inundated by floodwaters.

Sydney Trains also issued an alert for delays on the South Coast line after flooding was recorded at Coalcliff, near Wollongong.

READ MORE: Leaked document reveals Chinese military plans with Aussie neighbour

https://twitter.com/BOM_NSW/status/1507181296639959049

A severe thunderstorm warning is also in place for the Northern Rivers, Metropolitan, North West Slopes and Plains, Central West Slopes and Plains, Upper Western and Northern Tablelands Forecast Districts.

Locations that may be the hardest hit include flood-ravaged areas such as Lismore, Tenterfield, Walgett, Byron Bay, Casino and Kyogle.

"Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce heavy rainfall that may lead to flash flooding over the next several hours in parts of the Metropolitan district," the BoM said.

The BoM has also issued flood warnings for the Northern Rivers area.

"Minor to Major Flood Warning issued for the Narran, Birrie, Bokhara, and Culgoa Rivers at Brenda, Goodooga, and Angeldool," the BoM said.

Current flood warnings can be found here.

Queensland

A severe thunderstorm warning is also in place for the Gold Coast area as the storm moves north from NSW.

READ MORE: Biden declares NATO will act if Russia uses chemical weapons

https://twitter.com/BOM_Qld/status/1507205990604845066

The BoM has warned of damaging winds, heavy rainfall and flash flooding.

NSW and Queensland residents are both warned not to drive through floodwaters.

headline

Pre-flight COVID-19 tests to be scrapped, Greg Hunt announces

Travellers coming into Australia from overseas will no longer need to pass a COVID test before boarding their flight.

Health Minister Greg Hunt announced the change following conversations he had with the CEOs of Qantas and Virgin as well as the Chief Health Officer.

"At the moment, for somebody to enter into Australia, they need to have a pre-flight test," he said.

READ MORE: 'Super cold' cases on the rise with symptoms similar to COVID-19

Covid-19 rapid antigen test kits.

"Given that the vaccination requirements remain and the masking requirements, the strong medical advice is that that would no longer be required, particularly as there are some challenges in some jurisdictions in having access to those tests or improving those tests."

Masks will still be required to be worn aboard international flights.

The change will come into effect on April 17.

The same day, price gouging rules on rapid antigen tests (RATs) will also lapse.

More than 509 million rapid antigen tests have arrived in Australia, Mr Hunt announced.

The ACCC will closely monitor the supply of RATs.

Under current rules, Australian citizens and permanent residents are allowed to come into the country even if they are not vaccinated.

READ MORE: Hospitalisations increase in NSW and Victoria with 16 deaths recorded

But other visa holders must be vaccinated to enter, unless they are granted an exemption.

COVID-19 cases are declining along the east coast, with Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland all reporting drops overnight.