Tag Archives: oceania

Rare virus detected for the second time in Australian history

Queensland Health have confirmed a strain of Mpox known as Clade 1 has been detected in the Metro South region of the state.

It's the second time ever this strain has been reported in Australia and the first case known in Queensland.

Details are limited but we do know this case was contracted by an overseas traveller, and work is underway to determine any exposure sites.

READ MORE: Teen left with debilitating condition after horror bus crash

A strain of monkey pox has been detected for the first time in Queensland and second time ever in Australia.

Mpox is a viral infection that is mainly spread through very close or intimate contact.

Infectious Diseases expert Dr Paul Griffin says this particular strain is known for its blistering.

"Clade 1 is notorious for causing a more widespread rash, so quite big blisters, or pox-like, so those big legions and with Clade 1, they typically see them all over," Dr Griffin said.

"And because it is more severe, they can have other symptoms like high fevers."

READ MORE: Cancer drug which offers rare cancer sufferers hope listed on PBS

Dr Paul Griffin

Queensland health authorities say other symptoms can include headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes or fatigue.

Those who were in close contact with this case will be notified.

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.

Jeremy Rockliff claims victory in Tasmanian election as vote count continues

Jeremy Rockliff has addressed the Liberal party faithful, all but claiming victory in Tasmania's election, as the vote count continues.

Rockliff did the same in the state election held just 16 months ago, before his tenure ended in a no-confidence vote over the new AFL stadium plans, and the snap election was called.

The Liberal party had 13 of the necessary 18 votes to form a majority government at the time Rockliff gave his speech at 9.30pm AEST.

READ MORE: Small business owners, delivery drivers claim Uber Eats is ripping them off

Jeremy Rockliff

Standing in front of his mother, wife and three daughters on stage, Rockliff said he was "very humbled by tonight's result".

"A little over six weeks ago, the Leader of the Opposition forced this unnecessary election on the Tasmanian people by moving a vote of no-confidence," he began.

"Tonight, in return, the people of Tasmania has said that they have no-confidence in the Labor Party to form government and they have voted to re- endorse our Liberal government.

"It is our team, the Liberal Party, who will achieve the most seats in this election, with a significantly increased vote, and I thank you. I want to thank all Tasmanians.

"On that basis, there is some way to go [but] at the conclusion of the counting and the return of the writs, I intend to visit the governor and ask her to recommission my government so we can get on with the job for Tasmania."

The polls have closed in Tasmania for the second election in just 15 months, as voters were forced to decide between a premier with no support behind him and an opposition hoping to offer a fresh start.

Labor leader Dean Winter addressed the ALP party faithful about 10.30pm AEST, and vowed to work together with the other parties in the best interest of Tasmanians but stopped short of conceding defeat.

"Tonight, the Tasmanian people have spoken and they have delivered another hung parliament and with it, a resounding message that they want their politicians to work together more collaboratively," Winter stated.

He added that the results echo the previous election and another snap election is "not an option" so politicians will need to "collaborate on the challenges facing our state, and there are many".

"It seems likely that the three major parties in the state will end up with more or less the same number of seats as they did in the last parliament," Winter said.

Dean Winter

"Another election is not an option, which means that we need to figure this out. This will take leadership, it will take maturity, and it will take a willingness to work and seek common ground."

He also paid tribute to his opposition, in acknowledging Rockliff's result in his own seat.

"I have fundamental and real concerns with the direction state is moving in, but I do know that Jeremy cares deeply and he has been in parliament now for longer than anyone, and his result in Braddon tonight reflects service," Winter said.

The count remains ongoing and a formal result is yet to be called, with more than 30 per cent of the vote still to be counted at 11pm.

Tomorrow marks the 23rd anniversary of Rockcliff's first election in 2002, which he said made today's election more poignant.

"I want to take this opportunity to thank the people of Tasmania for the great privilege that you have provided me in being a member of parliament, a minister in a government, and Premier of Tasmania for the last three years."

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.

Three missing children from Queensland ‘may be with woman in NSW’, police say

Police are searching for three children who have gone missing from the Gold Coast and believe they may be with a woman in northern New South Wales. 

A six-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl were last seen near Mirambeena Drive in Pimpama around 8.50am yesterday.

It is believed they are with a woman and a baby they know.

READ MORE: Armed man shot dead by police in Townsville

Police said the woman and children are travelling in a white Nissan X-Trail with Queensland registration 992XPS.

They may be in the Tenterfield area of New South Wales.

Police say family and authorities are concerned due to their age. 

The boy and girl are white, and have brown hair and brown eyes, with a photo released.

Police searching for three children missing from the Gold Coast believe they may be with a woman in northern New South Wales. 

The woman is also white with similar colourings.

Police are urgently appealing to anyone who has seen them or the car to get in touch.

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.

Dog killed after airborne car crashes into Sydney backyard

A pet dog has been killed after a car crashed and flew into a backyard in Sydney's inner city.

A Hyundai i-30 hatchback was airborne when it came smashing down in the yard on St Johns Road in Glebe, just shy of the home's kitchen.

Daniel Brenan had just returned from the shops and was inside when he heard a bang.

READ MORE: Man caught allegedly drink driving after police spot beer bottle on top of car

A pet dog has been killed after a car crashed and flew into a backyard in Sydney's inner city.

"I just got home halfway up the stairs, and I heard crash bang, and saw smoke billowing from the back of the house," he said.

"That's quite a feat to get up over that brick wall."

Outside and nearby, Tyrekii was playing with his brother.

"They hit the gutter, then hit the bricks and went straight for the house," he said.

The driver was taken to hospital in shock.

"He was very dazed and confused by what happened, he was saying that his clutch got stuck," Brenan said.

There were no human fatalities in this crash, but a beloved pet who was in the backyard has been killed.

"There is two dogs, one's upstairs, he's a little house dog called Batman, the one out the back is a guard dog," Brenan said.

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.

Cancer drug which offers rare cancer sufferers hope listed on PBS

It's a deadly cancer with a complicated name and for too long there've been limited treatment options for sufferers, until now.

An expensive new drug – the first of its kind for the disease – is now on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Cheryl and Wayne Troy are united in fighting a cancer that rocked the New South Wales farmer and his extended family.

READ MORE: Armed man shot dead by police in Townsville

Cheryl and Wayne Troy are united in fighting a cancer that rocked the New South Wales farmer and his extended family.

The 58 year-old grandfather's diagnosis came out of the blue.

"Wayne had pains in his kidney area and decided to go straight to the doctor," Cheryl said.

"His kidneys were fine but they found something they weren't sure what it was in his liver."

It was cholangiocarcinoma, a cancer that starts in the bile ducts, part of the body's digestive system.

Steve Holmes from the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation said it is a devastating cancer.

"It ruins families," he said.

READ MORE: Tasmanian opposition leader makes bid to residents as they head to polls

It's a deadly cancer with a complicated name and for too long there've been limited treatment options for sufferers, until now.

A total of 1300 Australians are affected each year. It's silent and very difficult to treat, making it deadly.

"One of the things about this cancer is it does spread quickly and widely," Associate Professor Hao Wen Sim from St Vincent's Hospital said.

"So the majority of patients will present with advanced, and incurable disease."

For the past two years Wayne has been on a trial of an oral drug called Tibsovo.

Its been his saviour after enduring surgery, chemotherapy and trial immunotherapy.

The drug targets a mutated enzyme, a key driver, that affects one-in-five patients.

The tablets enable Wayne to continue to work without any side-effects.

"The last scan that was done everything was stable," he said.

Sim said there is "about a 50 per cent reduction in the rate of death events, so quite a striking signal for this type of medication".

The treatment costs nearly $19,000 a month but now, with it's addition on the PBS list, patients only pay $31.60 a month or $7.70 on concession.

"90 patients we think every year, will get access to this new life-saving treatment which otherwise would've cost them around $125,000 for a course of treatment," Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said.

Doctors say this has long been a neglected disease, so to have a targeted therapy widely available for the first time is a big advance.

"They've got a chance to survive, a chance to build hope and build a future again," Holmes said.

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.

Man caught allegedly drink driving after police spot beer bottle on top of car

A man has been caught allegedly driving under the influence after police noticed a beer bottle sitting on the roof of his car. 

Police noticed the car on Stirling Terrace in Albany, in Western Australia, just before 5pm on June 9. 

"Have you consumed any alcohol today?" a police officer could be heard saying on bodycam vision.

READ MORE: Tasmanian opposition leader makes bid to residents as they head to polls

A man has been caught allegedly driving under the influence after police noticed a beer bottle sitting on the roof of his car. 

"No," the man, who was identified in the footage as Reece, replied.

"You've left your beer on the roof of your car," the police officer said.

"Oh," Reece said while laughing.

READ MORE: Armed man shot dead by police in Townsville

A man has been caught allegedly driving under the influence after police noticed a beer bottle sitting on the roof of his car. 

Reece was seen breathalysed and allegedly returned a positive reading of 0.367 – almost eight times the legal limit.

"Reece, you're off the chart," the officer said as the reading came through.

He was arrested and charged with driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Reece faced the Perth Magistrates Court on July 6.

He was given a $4000 fine and had his licence disqualified for three years. 

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.