Tag Archives: oceania

Toxic algae spreads close to dolphin sanctuary

The algal bloom devastating South Australian marine life has now been found in the Port River.

Testing revealed the presence of the harmful algae species karenia mikimotoi in the river, with high concentrations found around Garden Island and Outer Harbor, not far from the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary.

"That is the new place. But as I say, it's not unexpected because it's essentially part of the coastline. It is completely open to the sea, you would expect it to end up there," Acting Premier Susan Close said. 

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Authorities say the spread shouldn't impact the nearby dolphin sanctuary, as the state government announces fee relief for affected fishers.

Authorities have advised that while dolphins are not expected to experience toxic effects from the algae because they're mammals, they may experience allergic reactions. 

"The advice to me at this stage is that because dolphins are mammals they will not experience any toxic effects but they may experience the kind of allergic reaction that we experience," Close said.

Meanwhile, the state government has announced fee relief of up to $500,000 for commercial fishers impacted by the bloom. 

However, some in the industry believe the relief isn't enough.

READ MORE: Footage shows mushroom killer buy snacks at petrol station after poisonings

Testing revealed the presence of the harmful algae species karenia mikimotoi in the river.

"It has come too late," oyster farmer Steve Bowley said. 

"It's never going to be enough… the lease fees is a great start, thank you government we will take that and we are grateful, but that's just the beginning of the story, not the end."

The opposition has called for increased and sustained financial assistance to the industry.

"Really disappointing on hearing from a fisher that they've worked out it's only about $500 per fisherman that they're actually going to be supporting them," opposition spokesman David Basham said.

It's unclear exactly how long the bloom will last, but many believe South Australia could see the effects for up to five years.

This article was produced with the assistance of 9ExPress.

Young woman in intensive care after nasty e-bike crash

A 28-year-old woman is in intensive care with critical injuries following an e-bike crash in Adelaide last night. 

The incident occurred on Bains Road in Morphett Vale when the rider, Skye Barker, seemingly lost control of her e-bike and collided with a car while she was on her way home after visiting friends. 

"She was on the grass and more or less, did a big loop around while her feet were dragging behind her out of control," one witness said.

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A security camera captured the e-bike veering into the path of an oncoming vehicle. 

"It's just one of those things, the bikes get out of control real quick and she lost control of it," the witness added.

"It just catapulted her."

Friends and neighbours rushed to the scene to provide assistance before paramedics arrived and rushed the victim to hospital with critical injuries. 

READ MORE: Footage shows mushroom killer buy snacks at petrol station after poisonings

Her family has told 9News she is currently in intensive care and her condition is improving. 

They believe her helmet may have saved her life.

The driver of the car, an 18-year-old woman from Christies Beach, wasn't hurt.

Major crash investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the crash.

This article was produced with the assistance of 9ExPress.

‘6-3’: The RBA just did something it’s never done before

This afternoon, the Reserve Bank did something it had never done before.

And no, it wasn't disappointing millions of borrowers by keeping interest rates on hold at 3.85 per cent in a call that shocked financial markets.

For the first time, it revealed how many board members voted in favour of the decision, and how many voted against – a far cry from Governor Michele Bullock routinely being asked after each meeting whether a call was unanimous or not.

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Reserve Bank of Australia governor Michele Bullock during a press conference

In today's case, it was six in favour and three dissenting voices – something Bullock said "demonstrates, I hope, that there was really good active debate in the boardroom about the pros and cons of holding and easing".

Treasurer Jim Chalmers welcomed the change, saying the added transparency around the 6-3 majority decision was a positive development.

"Obviously, it will be a source of some interest that the Reserve Bank board was not unanimous on this occasion, that there were different views expressed around the boardroom table," he told reporters.

READ MORE: Footage shows mushroom killer buy snacks at petrol station after poisonings

"We know that because of the publication of these unattributed votes.

"I think that transparency is a welcome change, and I'm grateful to the Reserve Bank and particularly to [Bullock] for the role that she has played in making sure that those decisions are more transparent."

In her press conference following her board's decision, Bullock said she wouldn't reveal which way she – or anyone else – voted.

"They're unattributed votes … they are unattributed for a reason," she says.

"And so the answer to that is no, I won't tell you how I voted."

She said publishing the votes would "stifle free and frank debate", and Chalmers agreed the new policy struck the right balance.

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Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers during an address at the National Press Club in Canberra.

"This is an appropriate level of transparency," he said.

"It's certainly much more transparency than we've seen … and so I think a very big step in the right direction.

"We want to make sure that people can participate in these Reserve Bank meetings openly, and that the public knows whether the decision was taken unanimously or otherwise."

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Woman who lost arm in lion attack identified as zoo owner’s sister-in-law

The woman who lost an arm in a lion attack at a Queensland zoo has been identified as New South Wales teacher Jo Cabann.

Darling Downs Zoo owner Steve Robinson spoke to media as the animal park welcomed visitors again today and said Cabann, his sister-in-law, had not recovered enough to be interviewed.

Robinson said his wife's sister Cabann had been visiting the zoo for more than 20 years and acted as the zoo's photographer during that time.

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The woman who lost an arm in a lion attack at a Queensland zoo has been identified as New South Wales teacher Jo Cabann.

He explained his wife Stephanie and a carnivore keeper were near the enclosure when the attack took place and helped to render first aid.

"She actually took my wife's leather belt off and applied a tourniquet," he said.

"Very quickly, the first aid kit was there, we wrapped her up in a thermal blanket and the paramedics locally were here very, very quickly indeed."

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The lioness attack itself didn't happen in the main enclosure.

Rather, Cabann had been near the lions in their holding pen while the main area had been cleaned out.

Robinson said the zoo had never had an attack before and believed the lion was just playing.

"We've raised these lions ourselves," he said.

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Zoo attack Queensland

"Their temperaments are excellent. We can still interact with them through the mesh of the cage."

Robinson said the incident was still fresh in the minds of zoo staff.

"It's very raw, we're still processing in our minds. And coming to grips with not just what happened but what happens next," he added.

"We've now got a lovely lady whose life has been altered."

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Woman bitten by animal Darling Downs Zoo

The public lion encounter wasn't available today at the zoo.

Cabann remains in a stable condition in hospital but hasn't yet been well enough to be interviewed.

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland is investigating the incident.

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

‘She’s evil’: Doctor who treated Erin Patterson after lunch reveals initial suspicions

The doctor who first treated triple-murderer Erin Patterson when she presented to hospital after poisoning her in-laws says he knew she was guilty from the start.

Doctor Chris Webster was the first medical professional to speak to Erin Patterson when she presented to Leongatha Hospital about 8am on July 31, 2023.

When she was reluctant to get treatment and self-discharged against medical advice, Webster called triple zero.

READ MORE: Bullets sprayed at Sydney home as toddler slept inside

Dr Chris Webster was the first medical professional to treat Erin Patterson days after the fatal lunch.Erin Patterson

For the first-time, the triple zero call, along with dozens of other exhibits in the case against the triple-murderer, have been released.

"This is Dr Chris Webster calling from Leongatha Hospital. I have a concern regarding a patient that presented here earlier but has left the building and is potentially exposed to a fatal toxin from mushroom poisoning," Webster told authorities in the triple zero call.

"I've tried several times to get hold of her on her mobile phone."

Patterson left just five minutes after presenting to the hospital, when the nurse was due to begin observations, Webster told the triple zero operator.

"I had a brief chat with her about where the mushrooms were obtained and after that, while I was attending to the other patients, the nurse informed me she had discharged herself against medical advice," he told the operator.

CCTV footage shows Patterson attempting to leave Leongatha Hospital shortly after arriving on the morning of July 31.

Speaking out for the first time, Webster said his "heart skipped a beat" when Patterson presented to hospital with gastro symptoms and revealed her name. 

"I bypassed all of the usual triage protocols and just brought her straight in and sat her down and just looked her straight in the eye directly and said 'the people at Dandenong suspect death cap mushroom poisoning, where did you get the mushrooms?'" Webster recalled.

"That's when she said 'Woolworths'. She was fairly impassive, wasn't loud or hysterical, wasn't crying. She just answered the question in a pretty matter-of-fact way.

"After that I was like OK, I don't want to talk to you anymore, I know what you've done."

Ian and Heather Wilkinson, were also at the hospital, desperately sick, but the doctor says something felt very sinister.

Webster (middle) was one of several prosecution witnesses.

"She wasn't shaking, Erin was sat in a chair, I don't even remember her looking at Ian and Heather," Webster said.

"She's evil. She wanted people out of her life and rather than using normal channels she snuffed out their lives and attempted to snuff out another."

Webster's triple zero call was the first domino to fall in a chain reaction that ultimately exposed a killer.

"When she didn't respond in a way that would instantly explain it was a tragic accident, from that moment in my mind she was guilty. She was evil, and she was very smart to carry it all out but she didn't cross the Ts and dot the Is," he said.

The next time Webster came face-to-face with Patterson was in the courtroom when he was called as a witness.

"When I looked at her, when I found the opportunity to sneak a peek, it was visceral, I felt the intensity, the hostility, the negativity, it was an intense gaze," he said.

"She's evil and she had a problem, she had a dilemma, and the solution that she chose is sociopathic.

"If you don't like your in-laws there are other things you can do besides snuffing out a family."