Mother is left devastated as her newborn becomes the FIFTH baby to die at embattled hospital in 18 months - as entire obstetrics team threatens to quit because of 'under-resourcing'

A mother has been left devastated after her unborn baby died at a Sydney hospital that has seen four other infants die in the last 18 months. The woman, who was 39-weeks pregnant, was feeling unwell when she went into labour at Blacktown Hospital in Sydney's West on Wednesday. Her unborn child's heartbeat was normal when she was admitted into the hospital but by mid-afternoon doctors couldn't find its heartbeat. It was too late to perform a caesarean and the baby in utero was pronounced dead shortly after. A doctor familiar with the case said they believe the death 'was avoidable'. 'The infant missed out on the opportunity for an emergency caesarean section,' the anonymous doctor said.

Mystery as 30 magpies are found DEAD in a residential suburb - as warning is issued to pet owners

The birds were discovered over the previous two weeks in the Sydney suburb of Ramsgate - with initial examinations by Taronga Zoo staff finding signs consistent with mass poisoning.

Fears that modern slavery is growing in South Australia as a result of pandemic

With the balance of power between employer and employee widening during the COVID-19 pandemic, experts in South Australia are worried that worker exploitation is increasing.

As reported by ABC Australia, in South Australia’s Riverland region, workers have allegedly only been earning between $8 to $10 an hour picking fruit in recent months.

In a report published in late 2019, modern slavery was already found to be prevalent in Riverland, with one in three workers not legitimately employed on some properties.

The report also details how international workers have been subject to performing sexual favors to receive more hours, having their passports confiscated and not feeling free to leave their jobs.

The author of the 2019 report, Dr Marinella Marmo, associate professor of law at Flinders University, worries that international students who have not been able to return to their home countries because of the pandemic are particularly vulnerable to exploitation.

Speaking to ABC Australia, she stated:

“They lost their job at the beginning of the year in hospitality and commercial cleaning in Adelaide and so they moved into the regional area to fill a market with no competition coming in from either overseas or interstate…The situation is the pandemic has accelerated the cycle of vulnerability and has expanded to include these people who were less vulnerable before.”

Amnesty International campaigner Joel Mckay concurred that more cases of modern slavery had been noticed and investigated in Australia in recent times, particularly in fruit picking, farming and rural based industries.

Mr. Mckay also raised concerns about the increased vulnerability of international students as a result of the pandemic:

“We’ve seen throughout COVID-19 people [affected], like international students, who haven’t been able to find work, who have had no income, and basically who are stuck in Australia and not able to go home and they’re not studying…they’ve become extremely vulnerable to being affected by work exploitation and modern slavery.”

Prior to the pandemic, South Australia’s Shadow Minister for Status of Women Katrine Hildyard presented a motion to the State’s Upper House calling for an inquiry into the issue of modern slavery and slavery-like practices in South Australia based on Dr Mamo’s research; however, the motion was shot down by the state government.

It remains to be seen whether the state will consider the issue of modern slavery more seriously given the recent allegations of the exploitation of international students included in this report.

Airport chaos as hundreds of South Australians are BANNED from flying into Perth after hotel quarantine worker infects two family members

NEW The Western Australian Government has banned South Australians from flying into Perth unless they undergo hotel quarantine. The last-minute decision comes after a quarantine hotel worker in SA infected two family members with COVID-19.  Passengers at Adelaide airport waiting to board their flight to Perth were told on Sunday they will now be required to complete 14 days in hotel quarantine.

http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/hancock-langley-frederick-lang-17492

Interesting read!

Lang Hancock, by Rennie Ellis, 1985

State Library of Victoria

Life Summary [details]

Birth

10 June 1909
Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Death

27 March 1992
Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Cause of Death

heart disease

Religious Influence

Catholic 

Education Convent of Mercy school (Toodyay, WA)

Hale School (Wembly Downs, WA)

Occupation   asbestos mine ownercopper mine owneriron ore mine ownermining industry leader/promotersilver, lead, zinc mine ownerstation managertin mine owner

Military Service World War II

Legacies  Hancock Range (Pilbara, WA)

Properties Hamersley (WA)Mulga Downs (WA)

Workplaces Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd

Wright Prospecting Pty Ltd

Australian Blue Asbestos Ltd

Hamersley Iron Pty Ltd

Interesting West Australians!

https://richlist.thewest.com.au/2019/50-41/

https://blog.id.com.au/2011/population/local-area-analysis/western-australia-is-it-all-about-mining

Coronavirus crisis: Premier Mark McGowan slams ‘appalling’ border criticsMichael RamseyAAPNovember 17, 2020 2:09PMTOPICSCoronavirus (COVID-19)WA News

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan has praised his South Australian counterpart and taken aim at “appalling” criticism from the Morrison government amid continued debate about COVID-19 state border closures.

Mr McGowan has moved swiftly to close the border to SA following an outbreak of 20 cases linked to a hotel quarantine worker in Adelaide.

Queensland, Tasmania and the Northern Territory have also shut their borders in a move criticised by federal Liberals.

WA’s Labor premier on Tuesday applauded SA leader Steven Marshall’s push to eliminate the virus by reimposing restrictions on gatherings and public activities, saying it would save lives and leave the country better off.

He said the criticism levelled at Daniel Andrews during Victoria’s recent lockdown had been outrageous, singling out federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg who had accused officials of “callous indifference” to job losses.

“Some of those ministers, Mr Frydenberg and some of those characters, their behaviour was appalling,” Mr McGowan said.

“Dan Andrews did what he had to do ... the fact they undermined, criticised and attacked the whole way along during a period of extreme pressure was appalling.

“Steven Marshall has done the right thing and I support him in what he’s doing. I’d urge everyone to support him in what he’s doing.”

ONE INFECTION IN SA OVERNIGHT AS NEW RESTRICTIONS COME IN TO TACKLE OUTBREAK

TEARS FALL AS SOUTH AUSTRALIAN TRAVELLERS LEARN NEW QUARANTINE RULES IN WA

WA SHUTS BORDER WITH SA AS ADELAIDE COVID-19 CLUSTER GROWS

Mr McGowan also took aim at the federal government’s “artificial” Christmas deadline for reopening all state borders, saying it didn’t make any sense.

A total of 185 passengers arrived at Perth Airport on Monday on two flights from Adelaide and were met by police upon arrival.

All have been tested for COVID-19 and are awaiting results.

“We know there is a very low risk of anyone being positive but we are being absolutely and completely cautious,” Mr McGowan said.

A further two flights are scheduled to arrive from Adelaide on Tuesday, with passengers only able to board if they can meet strict exemption criteria.

Exempt travellers include government officials, military personnel, transport, freight or logistics workers and people allowed in on compassionate grounds.

Similar rules will come into effect at the Eucla checkpoint on the SA-WA border from Wednesday evening.

SA recorded just three new cases on Tuesday, all linked to the same family cluster, but Mr McGowan has warned any continued escalation could lead to the hard border restrictions returning for all states and territories.

WA recorded no new cases overnight. The state has 12 active cases, all returned overseas travellers in hotel quarantine.

AAPNovember 17, 2020 11:44AMTOPICSHealth

The Red Cross has put out an urgent call for blood donors with stocks of Australia's two most common blood types running critically low.

Red Cross Lifeblood is appealing for 16,000 additional people to give blood or plasma during the next two weeks.

All blood and plasma types are needed, but in particular, supplies of O positive and A positive blood have now dropped to two days' supply.

Lifeblood Executive Director Cath Stone said fewer donors had been making appointments recently and around the nation, 1200 donors each day were cancelling or not turning up for their donations.

Ms Stone said 31,000 donations were needed every week across Australia.

"This recent trend of decreasing appointments and increasing cancellations is concerning."

Around 71 per cent of the Australian population has an O+ or A+ blood type.

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt on Tuesday donated blood and urged Australians to follow his lead.

"If you can give blood in the next two weeks, that would be great, particularly A positive and O positive but all types are welcome," he said.

"Turns out that mine is A positive, so it is nice to be able to contribute in some small way."

Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Primary Care Michael Kidd said a single donation could save three lives.

"Blood is used to support many people, people who are having major surgery, people who've had accidents, women who have lost blood during childbirth, people with blood diseases, people with anaemia. The list goes on and on," he said.

Stunning footage of a meteor break up over the ocean has been captured off the southern coast of Tasmania by research vessel Investigator, operated by Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO.

The vision, which was captured by the ship's livestream camera, shows the extremely bright meteor crossing the sky in front of the ship and then breaking up over the ocean.

The meteor, which was bright green, was spotted by the bridge crew and reported to the science staff on board.

They were amazed to find that the meteor had been captured perfectly by the ship's livestream camera, which beams live vision from the ship 24/7.

CSIRO Voyage Manager on board RV Investigator John Hooper said it was a stroke of luck to capture this footage.

"What we saw on reviewing the livestream footage astounded us, the size and brightness of the meteor was incredible," Mr Hooper said.

"The meteor crosses the sky directly in front of the ship and then breaks up – it was amazing to watch and we were very fortunate that we captured it all on the ship livestream."

Glen Nagle from CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science said capturing footage like this is both exciting to watch and acts as a reminder that space is far from empty.

"Over 100 tonnes of natural space debris enters Earth's atmosphere every day," Mr Nagle said.

"Most of it goes unseen as it occurs over an unpopulated area like the southern ocean.

"When a meteor enters the Earth’s atmosphere at high-speed, it is the friction of rock with the atmosphere that makes them burn, as their kinetic energy is converted to other forms like heat, light and sound.

"Many meteors were once asteroids, travelling through space on their own trajectory.

"This changes as they pass close to Earth, where they can be affected by its gravitational pull.

"As they enter our atmosphere, they become meteors – and their entry can be visually spectacular."

At the time the vision was captured, RV Investigator was in the Tasman Sea about 100km south off the Tasmanian coast.

The ship is in the area to undertake seafloor mapping of a nearby marine park, conduct oceanographic studies and run sea trials for a variety of marine equipment.

The meteor was filmed by RV Investigator on Wednesday 18 November at 10:21 UTC which is 9:21 PM AEDT (local time in Hobart, Tasmania).

This morning, local Hobart media was flooded with reports of sightings but at this stage no other photos or vision are believed to have been captured.

"Cameras are everywhere, in our pockets and around our cities, but they have to be pointed in the right place at the right time – RV Investigator was in that place and time," Mr Nagle said.

The livestream camera on RV Investigator streams vision from the ship 24-hours a day and can be found on the MNF website: mnf.csiro.au

RV Investigator is part of the Marine National Facility, a dedicated marine research capability funded by the Australian Government and owned and operated by CSIRO on behalf of the nation.

Access the video 

Fears refugees will be denied justice under 'exorbitant' hike of court fees for migration casesProtesters gather to support asylum seekers detained at the Kangaroo Point Central Hotel. Source: AAP

The cost to take migration cases before the Federal Circuit Court has been increased fourfold, leaving legal and human rights groups concerned.

There are fears a more than fourfold increase in the cost of bringing a migration case before the Federal Circuit Court (FCC) will undermine refugees and asylum seekers' access to justice.

The Law Council of Australia (LCA) and the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) have condemned a decision by the federal government to hike migration case fees from $690 to $3,330.  

The FCC can review migration decisions made by the immigration minister, the Immigration Assessment Authority and the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT).

ASRC solicitor Carolyn Graydon said the FCC price increase risked denying due legal process to people seeking asylum and on those temporary visas looking to appeal decisions.

“It is a serious incursion on access to justice for vulnerable people - including people seeking asylum," she told SBS News.

“We’re talking about individuals who are fearing persecution and who are entitled - every single one of them - to a fair process and access to justice."

The federal government has defended the price change, saying it is necessary to reinvest in the justice system amid an increasing caseload of applications.

The number of migration cases filed in the FCC grew from 3,544 in 2014-15 to 6,555 in 2019-20, according to government data.

“This change will help the court with this workload, and allow migration applicants to have their matters resolved faster,” a spokesperson for Attorney-General Christian Porter said.

The new funding will allow the court to have an additional four judges, seven judicial registrars, more support for staff and increased base funding, they said.

The government says it will also enable the resolution of about 1,000 more migration cases per year and a full exemption fee will be maintained for applicants experiencing financial hardship.

“A new partial fee exemption set at half the full rate has also been introduced,” Mr Porter's spokesperson said.

However, Law Council of Australia president Pauline Wright said it was “unconscionable” for the government to be imposing such an “exorbitant" price rise.

This kind of increase is a very significant impost on people seeking visas in Australia,” she told SBS News.

She said increasing fees is not the way to deal with the backlog of cases before the court. 

"It is absolutely the wrong way to handle this situation because what it is going to mean is that people can’t afford to make applications through the court," she said.  

"If they do manage to scrape that money together it will mean that that money is no long available for them to use for legal representation."

The LCA also said it considers the $1,826 application fee charged by the AAT's migration division for a hearing to be "unjustifiably high" in comparison to other divisions of the tribunal.

Mr Porter's spokesperson said the current FCC fee for migration matters was lower than that at the AAT.

“This change will adjust the Federal Circuit Court application fee so that it is set at the midpoint between the fee set by the AAT and the higher fee set by the Federal Court,” the spokesperson said. 

Ms Graydon said allowing fair access to the FCC was crucial in upholding vulnerable people's right to appeal decisions made against them.

"The hike will further discriminate against many people seeking asylum and those on temporary visas," she said. 

Dozens of swimmers are slashed by aggressive fish at a popular lake in - as mother whose daughter was left covered in blood after being attacked fears children could drown as a result

Parents who frequent Lake Parramatta in Sydney's west are begging the local council to re-zone the swimming area so children aren't put at risk from the eel-tailed catfish.

Messina launches a LAMINGTON-inspired dessert - complete with delicious layers of coconut and chocolate gelato, sponge and oozing raspberry jam

Australian gelato giant Messina has released a limited edition lamington-flavoured icecream tubs as the final installment of their hot tubs series for 2020.

I bet this is terribly sweet, not my cup of tea!

Terrifying images show Fraser Island ravaged by an out-of-control bushfire - as residents struggle to breathe during the worst blaze in two decades

Blazes have been ripping through the Queensland World Heritage Listed bushland on Fraser Island for the past five weeks, blanketing the normally idyllic surrounds in a thick grey fog

Looks if everyone is out spending their money on Black Friday why does Australia have to copy the USA?