Homicide detectives take man into custody as search for Pemberton local continues - WAtoday

Homicide detectives take man into custody as search for Pemberton local continues

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Updated August 30, 2021 — 6.39pm

Homicide squad detectives have taken a 60-year-old man into custody as they investigate the disappearance of Pemberton man Tony Ditri.

Mr Ditri’s vehicle has been found but inquiries into the 40-year-old father-of-three’s whereabouts are continuing, with police treating his disappearance as suspicious.

He was last seen at a local rubbish tip about 3pm on Friday, August 27. Suspicions were raised when he didn’t appear at a family dinner in Manjimup.

Friend Ross Varnavides posted to social media about searching the bush for a sign or clue that would help find Mr Ditri.

Mr Varnavides said his friend’s truck had been found abandoned just off Pemberton-Northcliffe Road some time between 3pm and 6pm on Friday afternoon.

“Extremely unusual circumstances. Tony is one of the most genuine humans you will ever meet. Someone knows something and if you do please report it to the police. His family and friends are very concerned,” he wrote.

A truck belonging to Tony Ditri, inset, was found just off Pemberton-Northcliffe Road and police have a 60-year-old man in custody for questioning.Credit:Ross Varnivades/WA Police

Homicide squad detectives were called in on Saturday to take control of the investigation, with the 60-year-old man – who has guns stored on his property – arrested over the weekend.

Nine News Perth reported locals had told police they heard gunshots in the area where Mr Ditri was last seen.

Police and SES volunteers have been searching a national park for signs of Mr Ditri, while locals are wondering why his truck was abandoned in an area he barely visited.

No charges have yet been laid.

Mr Ditri is fair skinned, 170cm tall with a medium build and short brown hair.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Tony Ditri is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or report online at crimestopperswa.com.au.

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Homicide detectives take man into custody as search for Pemberton local continues - WAtoday
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Mary Lyons-Buckett heads People Not Parties ticket for local elections - Hawkesbury Gazette

Hawkesbury Deputy Mayor, Mary Lyons-Buckett, has announced her ticket for the upcoming, December 4, NSW Local Government elections. Joining Cr Lyons-Buckett, who heads the ticket will be David Gearin, current Councillor Emma-Jane Garrow, Peter Ryan, Stacy O'Toole, Richie Benson and Tara Vigouroux. Running as People Not Parties, they say, they presents a group of individuals, deeply committed to independent representation in Local Government with a clear vision for the Hawkesbury of the future. The ticket's key focus will be on combining advocacy, investigations and delivery around current Local Government services and obligations, saying it offers grassroots representation. Cr Lyons-Buckett has been a Councillor for the past nine years, serving as Mayor for two years and Deputy mayor for three. She believes residents and ratepayers are best served by leadership which delivers unity over divisiveness, with the skills and interests of all twelve Councillors being respected and utilised. David Gearin, a South Windsor resident, has spent years involved in the Council's Access and Inclusion Committee, serving as Deputy Chair. He has also been an avid helper at his children's schools and member of the Lowlands Soccer Club's Management Committee, with qualifications and a business background as an arborist. He believes community needs can be best met by genuine independent representation on Council and sees a need for upgrades of sporting facilities to keep pace with demand, and the requirement to retain the valuable characteristics of the Hawkesbury. Cr Emma-Jane Garrow has contributed on issues around support for local business, tourism and Council's initial Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) during her first Council term. She has chaired both the Tourism Committee and the RAP Working Group and works for the local Pink Finss charity organisation. She has worked on the beautification of Windsor, being involved in the Town Centres Revitalisation program. Peter Ryan, a former Police Officer and President of the Pitt Town Progress Association wants to see the council proactive rather than reactive on issues, and is passionate about retaining links to the area's history, natural resources, farming, tourism and river, while enabling appropriate growth to occur. Stacy O'Toole has been the Secretary of Hawkesbury District Basketball Association for the past 10 years, advocating and negotiating for improvements at the indoor stadium, and sees many opportunities for growth in sports, tourism, agritourism and increased opportunities associated with the river. Richie Benson is the youngest group member who is passionate about the environment and natural resources management, along with the river and bushland identity the Hawkesbury carries. Clarendon resident Tara Vigoroux is involved in Hawkesbury's racing industry and an avid supporter of the creative and performing arts. She's passionate about the Hawkesbury equine community and encouragement of sustainable living and development.

Hawkesbury Deputy Mayor, Mary Lyons-Buckett, has announced her ticket for the upcoming, December 4, NSW Local Government elections.

Joining Cr Lyons-Buckett, who heads the ticket will be David Gearin, current Councillor Emma-Jane Garrow, Peter Ryan, Stacy O'Toole, Richie Benson and Tara Vigouroux.

Hawkesbury Councillors and People Not Parties candidates Mary Lyons-Buckett and Emma-Jane Garrow.

Running as People Not Parties, they say, they presents a group of individuals, deeply committed to independent representation in Local Government with a clear vision for the Hawkesbury of the future.

The ticket's key focus will be on combining advocacy, investigations and delivery around current Local Government services and obligations, saying it offers grassroots representation.

Cr Lyons-Buckett has been a Councillor for the past nine years, serving as Mayor for two years and Deputy mayor for three.

She believes residents and ratepayers are best served by leadership which delivers unity over divisiveness, with the skills and interests of all twelve Councillors being respected and utilised.

David Gearin, a South Windsor resident, has spent years involved in the Council's Access and Inclusion Committee, serving as Deputy Chair.

He has also been an avid helper at his children's schools and member of the Lowlands Soccer Club's Management Committee, with qualifications and a business background as an arborist.

He believes community needs can be best met by genuine independent representation on Council and sees a need for upgrades of sporting facilities to keep pace with demand, and the requirement to retain the valuable characteristics of the Hawkesbury.

Cr Emma-Jane Garrow has contributed on issues around support for local business, tourism and Council's initial Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) during her first Council term.

She has chaired both the Tourism Committee and the RAP Working Group and works for the local Pink Finss charity organisation.

She has worked on the beautification of Windsor, being involved in the Town Centres Revitalisation program.

Peter Ryan, a former Police Officer and President of the Pitt Town Progress Association wants to see the council proactive rather than reactive on issues, and is passionate about retaining links to the area's history, natural resources, farming, tourism and river, while enabling appropriate growth to occur.

Stacy O'Toole has been the Secretary of Hawkesbury District Basketball Association for the past 10 years, advocating and negotiating for improvements at the indoor stadium, and sees many opportunities for growth in sports, tourism, agritourism and increased opportunities associated with the river.

Richie Benson is the youngest group member who is passionate about the environment and natural resources management, along with the river and bushland identity the Hawkesbury carries.

Clarendon resident Tara Vigoroux is involved in Hawkesbury's racing industry and an avid supporter of the creative and performing arts. She's passionate about the Hawkesbury equine community and encouragement of sustainable living and development.

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Local exporters watching as Brazil sends bulls to Vietnam in historic live export trade - ABC News

Australia's live export industry is closely watching an historic first shipment of cattle from Brazil to Vietnam. 

Key points:

• Australian exporters are keeping an eye on the first shipment of cattle from Brazil to Vietnam
• The shipment of 14,000 bulls is expected to arrive in late September 
• The Vietnamese military is believed to be involved as it tries to shore up food security in the COVID-ravaged  nation

One of the world's biggest live export vessels, the MV Nada, has departed the Brazilian port of Vila do Conde and is en route to Vietnam with about 14,000 bulls onboard.

The ship is expected to arrive in southern Vietnam around September 23.

Michael Patching, an agricultural consultant based in Singapore, said the Vietnamese military was understood to be "heavily involved" in the import, in an attempt to shore up food security.

"Ho Chi Minh City has been heavily impacted recently with a severe outbreak of COVID-19 and the city is in severe lockdown," he said.

"The army has been called in to lead the control of [lockdown] and the disease response.

"So there could be a relationship to that and the food security of the army."

Vietnam is Australia's second biggest customer for live cattle, with close to 300,000 head exported to the country in 2020.

A live export trade between Brazil and South-East Asia has long been discussed, especially as Australian cattle prices continued their rapid rise over the past few years.

The MV Nada left the northern Brazilian port of Vila do Conde with about 14,000 bulls on board.(

ABC News: Belinda Varischetti

)

Dr Patching said the economics of shipping cattle from Brazil to Vietnam would be "marginally profitable" at best, and could depend on how the cattle fared after such a long time on the water.

"In terms of performance, we'll have to see how they perform when they land and then whether they can be sold in the market," he said.

"If they are going through the army-channels, then the price side probably doesn't matter, as they are already being subsidised.

"But if [future shipments] had to go through traditional supply chains, then they would be competitive at best."

Dr Patching said the shipment was a test to see if a Brazil-Vietnam live cattle trade was feasible.

He said Indonesia and Thailand would also be closely observing the venture.

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'Probably double the cost'

Tom Kennedy, Elders live export manager for Queensland, said the cost of exporting cattle from Brazil to Vietnam would be approximately double the cost of a shipment from Townsville.

"The biggest worry to Australian exporters is that Brazil does not have to comply with the standards we have to, as far as animal welfare and traceability," he said.

"Australian exporters are covering the costs of ESCAS [the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System], about $1 million a year, no matter if they're loading 30,000 or 130,000 head a year.

"Australia has been used to this competition of prices being cheaper from other countries … but we also deliver a pretty good product, which I think we should be focusing on."

Experts believe Australian beef cattle will be preferred by Vietnamese importers in the long term.  (

ABC Rural: James Liveris

)

While Brazilian cattle may be cheaper than Australian cattle right now, Dr Patching said that in the long term, Australia would likely remain the preferred option for Vietnamese importers.

"As Australian cattle become more competitive, then essentially we'll take over that market again," Dr Patching said.

"It's a shorter journey and less risk, so I think there's no threat for that side of the trade.

"In the short term, there's probably going to be some impact that [Brazilian cattle] are going to fill up a certain percentage of the supply chain that the northern cattle may have fed into."

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Queensland records zero local COVID-19 cases amid 'positive' NSW border talks, truck drivers criticised for M1 protest - ABC News

Officials on either side of the Queensland-New South Wales border will continue to meet over the next 48 hours to see if they can thrash out an agreement about changes to restrictions on border communities.

It comes as Queensland recorded zero new locally acquired COVID-19 cases on Monday, a day after NSW announced 1,218 infections — the highest daily state total since the pandemic began.

Two cases were detected in Queensland's hotel quarantine system. 

The Queensland government has flagged the hard border with New South Wales may be in place until at least October, a blow to the communities of the southern Gold Coast and the Tweed.

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

On the NSW side, residents are under lockdown restrictions, while Queensland will not let anyone but essential workers cross the border.

Queensland COVID-19 snapshot:

• Confirmed cases so far: 1,979
• Deaths: 7
• Tests conducted: 3,991,452
• Active cases: 27

Latest information from Queensland Health.

It has hit businesses in the area hard.

Queensland's State Disaster Coordinator Steve Gollschewski met with NSW Cross-Border Commissioner James McTavish on Sunday, along with health authorities from both states.

While the meetings were described as "positive", no significant changes have yet been agreed upon.

NSW officials on Sunday said they had put forward several proposals for consideration and were continuing to work on the details.

A 'very dynamic situation'

They said their principal goal was to improve access for border communities in a COVID-safe manner.

"There's a stack of work that's happening," Mr McTavish told ABC Radio Brisbane on Sunday.

"Some progress that may be delayed because of changes in circumstance, because it is a very dynamic situation.

"I think people recognise that public servants having a conversation is not delivering the outcomes.

"We're focussed on delivering something which is beneficial to people in those border communities and doing that as quickly as we can."

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There was traffic disruption on the Pacific Motorway this morning as disgruntled truck drivers blocked the M1 over a requirement to have had at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose to cross the border into Queensland for essential work.

Federal Employment Minister Stuart Robert, whose electorate takes in part of the Gold Coast, criticised drivers for their action at Reedy Creek.

"I get the issue where public good meets personal liberty," he said.

"If you want to make a point, great, make that point. But don't inconvenience thousands and thousands of people."

There have been calls for the border checkpoint to be moved south to the Tweed River, but NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro effectively ruled that out late last week.

He said the NSW government "vehemently opposed" the idea for a range of reasons, and said it would shift the problem rather than solve it.

It is understood that position on the border checkpoint has not changed.

Mr Gollschewski said meetings would continue into Tuesday.

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NSW reports record 1,290 new local coronavirus cases and four more deaths - SBS News

NSW recorded 1,290 new local COVID-19 cases, more than 80 per cent of which were in Sydney’s west and southwest, and four new deaths in the 24 hours until 8pm on Sunday. 

It is another record daily increase in cases and the third consecutive day above 1,000.

The deaths include a man in his 50s from Dubbo with underlying health conditions, a woman in her 60s from Sydney's west, and two men in their 70s from Sydney's west and inner-west.

The new deaths bring Australia s COVID-19 toll past 1,000.

The death in Dubbo is also the first regional fatality since the start of the current NSW outbreak. Multiple media outlets reported the man was Indigenous, which would make him the first First Nations life lost to COVID-19.

NSW Health said it administered 49,103 COVID-19 vaccines in the 24 hours to 8pm on Sunday.

"While it is important for us to reduce case numbers, we know the greatest way to do that is getting vaccinated - vaccination is the key in terms of our freedom and reducing the spread of the virus," Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters in Sydney on Monday morning.

Of the new cases, 449 were from the Western Sydney Local Health District and 434 were detected in the South Western Sydney LHD.

The Far West LHD, which includes the regional towns of Wilcannia and Broken Hill, reported nine new cases, with another 51 in the Western NSW LHD.

Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said authorities were particularly concerned about the over-representation of Aboriginal people in outbreaks in the far west and western NSW.

“We need to use everything we can [to stop the spread]," she said.

00:00 / 00:00

Dr Chant said she was also concerned about COVID-19 cases in prisons. She said prisons were one of the targets for the state's vaccination efforts.

"It is a complex operational environment," she said.

"I know that they have been testing people and isolating them when they go into prisons in order to try and prevent COVID being introduced."

There are 840 coronavirus cases in hospital in NSW, with 137 people in intensive care, 48 of whom require ventilation.

NSW Health's sewage surveillance program has also detected coronavirus fragments in wastewater at Trangie in the state's west and Byron Bay.

The government, having reached a six million jab target, last week announced a "treat" for fully vaccinated NSW residents allowing them to have small picnics outdoors.

On Sunday it also committed to restoring personal freedoms to doubled-dosed residents once the state hits 70 per cent double-dose coverage, regardless of COVID-19 case numbers. This is expected in roughly mid-October.

As of Saturday, 66 per cent of eligible NSW residents had gotten at least one vaccine dose and 35.9 per cent were fully vaccinated.

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SBS is providing live translations of daily New South Wales and Victoria COVID-19 press conferences in various languages. Click here for more information.

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Victoria reports 73 local COVID-19 cases after confirming lockdown extension - SBS News

Victoria recorded 73 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to midnight on Sunday.

Fifty-two infections were linked to previously announced cases, while the source of the 21 others remains under investigation.

Only 24 of the new cases have so far been confirmed to have been in isolation for their entire infectious period.

Premier Daniel Andrews announced an extension to Victoria's lockdown on Sunday after the state reported 92 new locally acquired cases.

He said an announcement on the length of the extension will be made in the coming days.

Of the locally-acquired cases, 52 have so far been linked to existing cases and outbreaks. Further case information will be provided this morning. [2/2]

— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) August 29, 2021

Health Minister Martin Foley said on Monday it was hoped the state's outbreak was beginning to plateau.

He also said there would not be a roadmap out of restrictions this time like during Victoria's deadly second wave last year. Instead, the plan is the one agreed by national cabinet to rely on vaccination rates.

"In regards to specific timetables and in regards to specific measures, the public health team are working on those," he told reporters in Melbourne.

"But in terms of timeframes ... the strategy is the national cabinet agreed position, that when we get to 70 per cent, when we get to 80 per cent vaccination rates, our options multiply.

"If we do that, from the lowest possible infection levels, then our options grow."

00:00 / 00:00

The new cases announced on Monday mean there are now 805 active infections of COVID-19 in Victoria.

More than 26,700 vaccine doses were administered at state-run hubs and 41,395 test results were received on Sunday.

Victoria's exposure site list now stands at more than 930.

Monday is the first day that GPs and pharmacies can administer Pfizer to people aged 16 to 39, and Mr Foley encouraged people to book through those avenues if they could not get a state clinic booking.

The virus is continuing to appear in regional areas, with one case announced on Sunday in the Gippsland town of Traralgon, in a person who had been to a funeral in Melbourne.

The outbreak in Shepparton also continues to grow, with nine cases reported on Monday linked to that cluster.

In Melbourne, the city's west and north remain areas of concern and authorities have repeatedly had to remind people to get tested as soon as they recognise symptoms, as some people wait up to two weeks to get swabbed. 

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SBS is providing live translations of daily New South Wales and Victoria COVID-19 press conferences in various languages. Click here for more information.

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‘You can’t distribute what you don’t have’: Supply blamed for not making year 12s vaccine priority - The Age

The Andrews government will aim to vaccinate every Victorian year 12 student with their first dose before exams start, blaming a lack of supply for the decision not to make the cohort a vaccine priority.

VCE exams are set to begin in October and, given the gap between Pfizer vaccine doses has been extended to six weeks, many students will not have had the opportunity to be fully vaccinated before they start.

“You can’t distribute what you don’t have,” Health Minister Martin Foley said on Monday.

His comments come as Victoria recorded 73 new local cases of coronavirus on Monday and as authorities considered whether some restrictions can be safely eased across the state.

Fifty-two of the new cases were linked to the current outbreaks, and authorities were investigating the acquisition source for the remaining 21 cases. Monday’s cases were recorded from nearly 42,000 COVID-19 tests.

At least 24 of the new cases were in isolation throughout their entire infectious period.

Concern over mystery cases in western suburbs

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said authorities were particularly concerned about mystery cases in Melbourne’s western suburbs, identifying them as a “challenge” that could potentially block any easing of restrictions.

“Those areas that are seeing the mystery cases — in particular Hobsons Bay, Wyndham, and Hume ... they present a challenge for all of us in it terms of changing the restrictions going forward,” he said.

Senior government ministers consider easing some restrictions, including reopening playgrounds and allowing year 12 students back into the classroom.

Scenes from Melbourne lockdown: La Trobe Street last week.Credit:Paul Jeffers

State government sources, who spoke to The Age on the condition of anonymity to provide insights into high-level discussions, said ministers would consider which restrictions could be wound back as epidemiologists warned reaching zero cases in Victoria was increasingly unlikely.

Senior government officials are expected to make a final decision on Tuesday about what lockdown will look like beyond Thursday when it was scheduled to end.

More than 26,700 people received their COVID-19 vaccine doses on Sunday. There are currently no first-dose Pfizer vaccination bookings available in Victoria, but Mr Foley has urged people not to give up getting one.

“As more becomes available from the Commonwealth, we put more [bookings in the system],” he said.

Victoria records 73 new cases

• Nine are linked to Shepparton
• Five are linked to MyCentre Child Care in Broadmeadows 
• Five are linked to Al-Taqwa College
• Three are linked to Hobsons Bay
• Two are linked to Glenroy West Primary School 
• Two are linked to the Sunshine Hospital emergency department 
• Two are linked to Chemist Warehouse in Hoppers Crossing
• One is linked to the wider Royal Melbourne Hospital outbreak
• One is linked to the St Kilda east outbreak 
• One is linked to Barkly Square in Brunswick 
• One is linked to CS Square shopping centre in Caroline Springs 
• 20 are linked to existing cases, but those original cases don’t have a known source
• 21 are mystery cases 

SOURCE: Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton

Forty-nine people are in hospital in Victoria with COVID-19. Of those people, 15 are in the intensive care unit, and 11 are on a ventilator.

NSW has reported 1290 new local cases on Monday, the highest number ever recorded in a state in one day, and four deaths.

Victorian year 12s to get first vaccine jab before exams

On Monday, Mr Foley blamed a lack of supply for a slow vaccine rollout among year 12 students.

“It’s extraordinarily difficult to get to a Pfizer vaccine, which is the recommended vaccine for the age group that we’re talking about ... through our state-run systems today because they’re all booked.”

Mr Foley said first doses had always been the goal for VCE students ahead of exams. When asked during a COVID-19 press conference update on Monday whether the gap between doses could be shortened to three weeks for year 12 students to speed the process up, he replied authorities would consult the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation.

Children’s hospital ward among new exposure sites

Coronavirus exposure sites across the state have passed 900 venues, with the children’s ward at Dandenong Hospital among the new venues added on Monday morning.

The ward was declared a tier-2 exposure site across three days, from last Wednesday through to Friday, as was ward north 1 at the hospital.

Coles Melbourne Central in the CBD was also declared a tier-2 site for an hour last Wednesday, and a number of service stations, pharmacies and supermarkets were also declared casual contact sites.

On Sunday evening, Echuca Community for the Aged’s Wharparilla Lodge was listed as a tier-1 site across nearly a fortnight: from Friday, August 13 to Thursday, August 26.

Tier 1 means anyone who attended the site during the specified timeframes has to immediately get tested for COVID-19 and quarantine for 14 days, regardless of whether they receive a negative test result.

Several more tier-2 or casual contact sites were identified late on Sunday evening, including another Melbourne apartment complex, laundries in Richmond and St Kilda, and service stations.

Woolworths at Shepparton was declared a tier-2 exposure site across several hours on Monday, August 23, while Woolworths at Arden Gardens, North Melbourne was declared tier-2 between 4.30 am and 1.30pm on Sunday, August 22.

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‘You can’t distribute what you don’t have’: Supply blamed for not making year 12s vaccine priority - The Age
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