February sucks. This local reporter keeps going viral for breaking that news - The Guardian

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February sucks. This local reporter keeps going viral for breaking that news  The Guardian
February sucks. This local reporter keeps going viral for breaking that news - The Guardian
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Queensland shows love for local manufacturing - Australian Mining

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Queensland’s resources sector has benefitted from a flurry of funding and local manufacturing developments, setting up both Rockhampton and Gladstone for the future.

In response to manufacturing’s $20 billion contribution to Queensland each year, the government has contributed more than $17 million in funding towards the sector.

The most recent additions were to the Rockhampton and Gladstone manufacturing hubs, respectively, where All industries Group (AIG) and Purcell’s Engineering received grants.

AIG is a multi-disciplined design, engineering and fabrication specialist working in open-cut, underground, construction and mobile plant services. The Rockhampton-based company received $312,415 from the State Government’s Manufacturing Hubs Grants Program.

Local MP Brittany Lauga described how AIG would put the money to good use.

“This funding will ensure Queensland manufacturers continue to receive the services offered by the hubs, remain nationally and internationally competitive, and are in a position to take advantage of growth opportunities,” Lauga said.

“This grant of more than $312,000 has helped AIG to purchase a plasma profile table which will help the business diversify the products and services it offers.

“Since the flat steel drilling and profile machine was delivered and installed, All Industries Group has been able to reduce lead times and improve outputs from its facilities in Central Queensland.”

In Gladstone, Purcell’s Engineering received about $25,000 to modernise and streamline its ERP system.

“Currently we have an old, clunky system that doesn’t allow for remote working easily and requires sometimes, double or triple entry of data,” managing director Mitchell Purcell said.

“This new software will ensure our processes and labour are far more efficient, creating better capacity and streamlining our procedures,” he said.

Elsewhere in Queensland, the State Government has partnered with Heart of Australia to roll out a locally manufactured HEART 5 vehicle for onsite mine worker check-ups.

Resources Minister Scott Stewart explained the drive behind the initiative.

“HEART 5 is a revolutionary piece of technology that will bring high quality respiratory health screenings to mine and quarry workers in regional and remote parts of the state,” Stewart said.

“This means workers won’t have to travel as far to access highly specialised services, ensuring earlier detection and intervention in cases of mine dust lung diseases like black lung and silicosis.”

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WA reports 62 new local COVID-19 cases, another daily record, despite 'low' testing numbers - ABC News

There have been 62 new locally transmitted cases of COVID-19 recorded in Western Australia, the highest daily number yet.

Key points:

• The 62 new local cases top the previous daily high of 51 from Friday
• There were just 4,351 tests at COVID clinics yesterday, WA Health says
• A third aged care centre is awaiting test results after recording cases

Another 13 cases linked to interstate travel have also been reported, bringing the total number of new infections in the state to 75.

One of the new local cases is not yet linked to any previous cases and is under investigation.

The previous high number of new local cases in a single day came last Friday, when 51 infections were reported.

The South West region has recorded one new case, a person who was infectious in the community.

LIVE UPDATES: Read our blog for the latest news on the COVID-19 pandemic

The WA Education Department confirmed there had been a case of COVID-19 at a primary school in the region.

Parents at Allanson Primary School near Collie, 200 kilometres south of Perth, were told on the weekend that there had been a case at the school.

There are now 509 active cases in WA, but none are in hospital.

WA Health said there were "low" testing figures yesterday, with just 4,351 people being swabbed with PCR tests.

Authorities are continuing to plead with people who are symptomatic to get tested.(ABC News: James Carmody)

Of the new cases recorded today, 10 were self-reported rapid antigen tests (RATs).

There are now three aged care facilities with identified cases in WA, including The Cove run by provider Brightwater in Mandurah, south of Perth.

More cases expected at aged care home

Brightwater said it was awaiting PCR test results of all residents at The Cove facility to determine if COVID-19 had spread within its site.

Brightwater CEO Jennifer Lawrence said there were other residents with symptoms.

Two cases of COVID19 have been detected at The Cove aged care facility in Mandurah.(Supplied: Brightwater Group)

"I'm expecting additional cases. I'm hoping not, but I'm expecting additional cases. This is a very contagious virus," she told ABC Radio Perth.

She said the site was locked down and all staff were undergoing RATs before they came to work.

"We've had no positive staff to date. We've been preparing for this for a long while and we've learnt a lot from what's happened on the east coast, so we are as prepared as we'll ever be for an outbreak," she said.

Ms Lawrence said they still did not know how coronavirus got into the facility, and both infected residents are recovering.

"One is not very sick at all, one has a cough and a slight temperature," she said.

"Both are fully vaccinated, including a booster. At the Cove there's 131 residents, all of them are vaccinated bar 11, and those 11 are just waiting for their booster because they're not due yet." she said.

She said residents would be kept in their rooms as a precaution until test results came back today.

The Cove outbreak comes after the Juniper Residential Aged Care facility in Bentley detected cases in a resident and a staff member on Wednesday.

Yesterday a case was also confirmed at a third aged care centre, Coolibah Care,  which is also in Mandurah.

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Data shows many older Australians haven't had their booster

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WA reports 62 new local COVID-19 cases, another daily record, despite 'low' testing numbers - ABC News
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Local and statewide COVID-19 update – The Echo - Echonetdaily

The trend of falling COVID-19 numbers continued over the weekend with 348 new cases reported for Friday, 298 new cases for Saturday and 246 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Northern NSW Local Health District in the 24 hour period to 4pm yesterday, Sunday February 13.

Northern NSW Local Health District reported the death of one person aged in their 70s from COVID-19 from the Tweed area on Friday and one person aged in their 80s also from the Tweed area on Saturday.

Yesterday’s cases included people from Ballina 37, Byron 28, Clarence Valley 53, Kyogle 4, Lismore 27, Richmond Valley 22 and Tweed 75.

There are currently 43 COVID-19 positive patients in hospitals in Northern NSW, with three of these in ICU.

Dr Kerry Chant’s weekly update

Owing to the broadcast of the memorial service for Andrew Peacock and the attendance of many Liberal party folk at that event, the stats for Friday came out very late.

When Dr Kerry Chant eventually spoke to the media, she said that there were at the time 1,716 people in NSW hospitals, including 180 in ICU, and 48 of those were on ventilation.

For the week to Thursday, February 11, NSW Health recorded 141 deaths, 52 women and 89 men. ‘Five were in the age group 40 to 49, three were in the age group 50 to 59, 16 were in the age group 60 to 69, 34 were in the age group 70 to 79, 47 were in the age group 82 to 89, 35 were in the age group 90 to 99, and there was one person over 100 years of age,’ she said.

Dr Chant said that of the 141 deaths 32 were not vaccinated, two had one dose, 75 had two doses, and 32 had three doses.

‘Fifty-three of the deaths occurred in residents of aged care facilities – 11 were not vaccinated, one had received one dose, 23 had received two doses and 18 had received three doses. There were 10 deaths in those under 65 years of age, five in their 40s, three in their 50s and two in their early 60s.

‘We’ve been classifying and categorising information for medical records to better inform the public in the community about the risk factors associated with those deaths.

Dr Chant said she wanted to clarify that people might have multiple of these comorbidities – underlying health conditions.

‘Two of the people had diabetes, one had cardiac disease, four had chronic pulmonary disease, chronic lung disease (non-asthma), three had asthma, two had significant immunocompromised, two had significant renal disease, two had cancers, two had obstructive sleep apnea, and one had a chronic neurological condition.

‘Four were unvaccinated, our had two doses of vaccine and two had three doses of vaccine and two with the three doses had significant pre-existing comorbidities.’

Dr Chant said she wanted to re-emphasise that COVID is a serious disease across all age groups. ‘Continue to get tested and get linked to care. Beware of the signs your condition is worsening. We’ve got some really practical information on a fact sheet called Testing Positive for COVID Fact Sheet, So please Google that if you’ve got COVID. You should be sent when you get that notification, but I would urge everyone to get tested.

‘There are treatments available and it’s really important that people are linked to care. Notwithstanding as a public health person, I also enjoy seeing the data and the age distribution – but it’s really important that people get linked to care to get access to the antivirals and other therapies, and so they know where to escalate their concerns if their condition deteriorates.’

For the most up-to-date COVID information visit nsw.gov.au.

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Recent stories, information and updates regarding COVID-19

Local and statewide COVID-19 update

The trend of falling COVID-19 numbers continued over the weekend with 348 new cases reported for Friday, 298 new cases for Saturday and 246 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Northern NSW Local Health District in the 24 hour period to 4pm yesterday, Sunday February 13.

COVID-19 update Friday February 11

The latest stats provided by Northern NSW Local Health District report that to 4pm yesterday, February 10, 391 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in the District, including 93 positive PCR tests and 298 positive rapid antigen tests.

Update on COVID and the fourth jab

It would appear that the current COVID-19 outbreak in the Northern NSW Local Health District may be waning. There are no absolutes but the figures from last Wednesday to Sunday have been on the decline.

COVID-19 update for NNSWLHD and NSW

The Northern NSW Local Health District has reported 474 new cases of COVID-19 in the District to 8pm yesterday January 30, including 152 positive PCR tests and 322 positive rapid antigen tests

School return comes with COVID-19 measures

Today is the official first day of term one in most NSW schools and as students and parents prepare to start the school year, there are new guidelines in place to manage COVID-19 infections.

COVID update for January 24

Dr Kerry Chant spoke to the media this morning with a COVID update saying that in terms of our hospitals, we've currently got 2,816 People in hospital including 196 People in ICU, of whom 69 are ventilated.

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Local and statewide COVID-19 update – The Echo - Echonetdaily
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Mother forced to give birth on roadside after local maternity ward used to treat covid - ABC News

This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced.

AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)

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Mother forced to give birth on roadside after local maternity ward used to treat covid - ABC News
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NSW Premier blames byelection loss on local issues - Sydney Morning Herald

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has pointed the finger at local issues as the cause for major swings against the government in Saturday’s byelections, insisting his handling of the pandemic is not to blame.

In the wash-up of his first electoral test as Premier, Mr Perrottet said he took responsibility for the historic loss of the Bega electorate to Labor, as well as a massive swing against the government in the safe Liberal seat of Willoughby.

“Bad day at the office:” NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said the result in Bega was disappointing.Credit:James Alcock

Regional health care, the response to the Black Summer bushfires and the controversial Northern Beaches tunnel were bigger issues for voters at the ballot box on Saturday than the state’s strategy for the Omicron outbreak, he said.

“There’s no doubt there are some disappointing results across the board, and we’ll reflect on that and learn from that,” he said.

“In terms of the pandemic, our approach is the right approach, and the feedback on the ground in each of those seats was that it was very much focused on local issues.

“But I take responsibility for the results yesterday. I’m the leader of the government. It’s on me.”

Labor’s Jason Yat sen-Li is expected to retain the seat of Strathfield for the party, despite a small swing to the government, while the Nationals have also claimed victory in retaining Monaro, where the opposition has so far recorded a swing of around 6 per cent.

The results of the so-called Super Saturday byelections will not be known for weeks, with postal votes yet to be counted. However, the ABC’s election analyst Antony Green has called a 14 per cent swing against the government in Bega, plunging it further into minority.

Labor candidate and retired obstetrician Michael Holland, who only needed a swing of 6.9 per cent to win, was a strong campaigner for better regional healthcare and a level 4 facility at the new Eurobodalla Hospital in Moruya.

Mr Perrottet said the loss of the South Coast electorate, formerly held by popular long-term MP Andrew Constance, was the most disappointing result for the government at the weekend.

“It’s still a community that is in pain, that is still recovering from one of the most difficult bushfire summers we’ve ever had. I saw that firsthand,” he said. “We could have done better as a government here in our state, I think that we will certainly reflect on that.”

In the short campaign ahead of the byelections, the opposition sought to characterise the poll as a referendum on Mr Perrottet’s handling of the Omicron wave.

The government suffered swings against it in all seats but Strathfield, where it gained a swing of 0.6 per cent, despite the area having been a hotspot suburb with harsh lockdown conditions during last year’s Delta outbreak.

One senior Liberal said the result in Strathfield discredited Opposition claims of an “anti-Dom” sentiment to the state’s reopening strategy.

“That was the seat where that would have shown up and yet, we got a positive swing,” they said.

State Labor leader Chris Minns, right, and Bega byelection winner Michael Holland.Credit:James Brickwood

NSW Labor leader Chris Minns said the byelection results should send a message to the Premier.

“To do better at his job, to understand what experts are saying and not just back his own ideology or hunches, but instead listen to experts in senior levels of the NSW government,” he said.

The Premier on Sunday denied the state had reopened too quickly over Christmas, insisting the plan was on the “right track” and that it was instead the government’s communication that needed work.

“I think it’s certainly true that we’ve got to get our message out more clearly.”

He later added: “You have bad days at the office, and you have good days at the office.”

In Gladys Berejiklian’s former seat of Willoughby, where Tim James has retained the seat for the Liberals, a strong swing to Independent candidate Larissa Penn highlighted community concerns about the impact of the proposed multibillion-dollar Northern Beaches tunnel.

Mr Perrottet said it was a “loud and clear” signal that better consultation was needed with locals who will be most impacted by the project, while not gaining a tangible benefit.

He said lessons could be learnt from the construction of WestConnex, which could have been “done a lot better.”

Asked if the departure of Ms Berejiklian – hugely popular among women aged 30-50 – would make it harder for the Coalition to attract female voters in next year’s state election, Mr Perrottet said the government would need to do better.

“I think that was reflected in the result [in Willoughby] yesterday,” he said.

In Batemans Bay with Dr Holland on Sunday, Mr Minns said there would be no victory celebrations for Labor.

“There is no mandate for NSW Labor, we’ve got to earn that. We’ll do that over the next 12 months. And that process starts today,” he said.

Mr Minns said Labor would continue to hold the government to its commitment on the Eurobodalla Hospital, describing it as the major issue for voters in Bega.

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Local construction timber supply not impacted by recent bushfires - Media Statements

• Recent bushfires have had minimal impact on State's pine plantations
• Local construction timber supplies to continue unaffected
• The McGowan Government's $350 million investment in new pine plantations will secure the supply of pine into the future.

Minister for Forestry Dave Kelly today reassured the local construction and building industry, that recent bushfires in the State's south have had little impact on the State's pine plantations, and that construction timber supplies would continue unaffected.  

 
While recent bushfires have caused some damage to a number of blue gum plantations, this product is either wood-chipped or exported, and not used in general building construction, meaning there will be no impact upon local construction timber supply.

The McGowan Government's recent announcement of a record $350 million investment in expanding Western Australia's softwood plantations will provide at least an additional 33,000 hectares of softwood timber plantation and help meet future supply in the decades to come.

In November 2021, the McGowan Government, through the Forest Products Commission, also arranged for the supply of an additional 12,000 tonnes of WA grown softwood logs to be brought forward from future supply commitments to help meet the current increase in demand for timber in local construction.

Comments attributed to Forestry Minister Dave Kelly:

"The recent bushfires have been devastating for communities and our thoughts are with those that lost homes and other property. 

"As bad as they were, the bushfires have not had a significant effect on structural timber supplies. State government pine plantations have not been impacted."

Minister's Office - 6552 6100

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