By Lydia Lewis of RNZ There are now 65 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Tonga as the kingdom rebuilds after the January 15 volcanic eruption and tsunami.Christchurch Tongan Community secretary Sami Paeahelotu said youth groups,…

Redback spiders have been found in bags of grapes being sold at two different Coles supermarkets on either side of the Queensland–New 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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"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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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.

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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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.

READ MORE: Call for PM to explain role in $660m commuter car park program

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.

READ MORE: Prime Minister's office misses car parks FOI deadline

"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.

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.

READ MORE: Foreign government 'puppeteer' tried to interfere in Australian election

"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.

A man who turned up at a person’s house and demanded that the previous resident’s debt be paid has been jailed for 10 months.Philip Stevens appeared at the Levin District Court today for sentencing after having previously pleaded…

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.

Australia has secured a new ally in its push to resist Chinese coercion, as Lithuania grapples with trade sanctions over its support for Taiwan. 

Speaking from the National Press Club today, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said "there will be a steep price to pay" for those who try to evade global order. 

"Our imperative in this juncture is to safeguard the world that is ruled by the agreed rules and strengthen it to the best of our ability," Mr Landsbergis said. 

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"I'm sure that this is a sentiment that is shared by Lithuanians and Australians alike." 

The struggles between the small European country and Beijing began last year when the Lithuanian Government allowed Taiwan to establish a trade office in its capital. 

It's a move that infuriated Beijing, as it pushes for reunification with Taiwan, which sees itself as an independent country. 

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The European Union announced in January it would take China to the World Trade Organisation, after Beijing started blocking imports from Lithuania as a result of the nation's ties with Taiwan. 

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said yesterday: "There is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China."  

"The one-China principle is a widely recognised norm in government international relations and the common consensus of the international community," he said. 

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