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Wednesday, July 14, 2021

'Not something we see everyday': Wallaby on loose in Colorado

A wallaby on the loose was the last thing Sgt Charles Searcy with the Montrose County Sheriff's Office in Colorado expected to respond to.

Nonetheless, he and a state patrol officer, as well as a couple of good Samaritans, and the wallaby's owner, chased the hopping marsupial for about 45 minutes on the night of Thursday, July 8.

Finally it jumped safely back home to his proper enclosure.

A couple driving by happened to notice the wallaby on the side of Jay Jay Road, just north of Montrose. They called a non-emergency dispatch line for help.

READ MORE: 'Utter shock': New study shows kangaroos can communicate with humans

"Um, yeah, there's a kangaroo loose on Jay Jay Road," the passerby told dispatch. "Or, a wallaby, it's much smaller than a kangaroo, I would guess wallaby… not a prank call, I swear to god I'm looking right at it."

The dispatcher laughed a little, responding, "um, okay… that's just not something that we get every day."

Sgt Searcy tells CBS4 he didn't believe it at first.

"You know, we don't have kangaroos here, we don't have wallabies here, so (I'm thinking) are there drugs involved, somebody's seeing something, we're going to a drug call, somebody's having hallucinations," Sgt Searcy recalled.

"So, when I first got there, I was even skeptical when I got out of the truck, and the reporting party came and right away was like, 'here's a picture of it, we're not crazy,' and then I actually saw it, and I was like, 'wow, okay.'"

READ MORE: Wallaby rescued after 6km ocean swim

Sgt Searcy says the wallaby is a legal pet of a nearby resident, and he had somehow gotten out of a fenced-in yard.

The wallaby's owner eventually found the responding officers and the good Samaritans, and helped coax him back home.

"It was a fun night," Sgt Searcy said.

"We don't get a whole lot of humour, and things where we can laugh it off, and still today, I went in to work for a little bit this morning, and the jokes kept coming, so I'm sure I won't hear the end of it for a while."

Sgt Searcy says once they got the animal back safe and sound, he looked around at its enclosure and living conditions, and said there were no signs of neglect or mistreatment of the animal.

Two arrested after pipe bomb found on doorstep of Melbourne home

Two people have been arrested after a homemade pipe bomb was found on the doorstep of a home in Melbourne's north-west at the weekend.

Police raided a Pascoe Vale property on Heath Street at 5.20pm yesterday and uncovered a range of explosive materials inside.

The raids follow the discovery of a pipe bomb on the front doorstep of a nearby house on Sunday.

READ MORE: Victoria records seven further cases of COVID-19

The pipe bomb was found on the doorstep of the Derby Street house about 10am.

The Bomb Response Unit defused the device and no one was injured during the incident.

Police arrested a 45-year-old woman and 43-year-old man yesterday.

They have been charged to appear before the Melbourne Magistrates' Court today with making an explosive substance - endangering life, possessing explosive substance - endangering life, making explosive substance without excuse, possessing explosive substance without excuse and reckless conduct endangering life.

"Police are treating it as a targeted incident and are not looking for anyone else in relation to the matter," a Victoria Police statement read.

US patient misses out on kidney after it's given to wrong person

An Ohio hospital has acknowledged that a patient received a new kidney meant for someone else.

Officials at University Hospitals in Cleveland on Monday apologised for the mistake and said two employees have been placed on administrative leave.

The kidney given to the wrong patient is compatible and the person is expected to recover, officials said.

READ MORE: ATAGI changes its vaccine advice for people living in outbreak areas

Officials at University Hospitals in Cleveland on Monday apologised for the mistake and said two employees have been placed on administrative leave.

The other patient's surgery has been delayed.

Officials said the hospital is reviewing how the error occurred to prevent similar mistakes going forward.

"We have offered our sincerest apologies to these patients and their families," hospital spokesperson George Stamatis said in a statement.

READ MORE: Vaccine boost for Sydney suburbs at risk of COVID-19

"We recognise they entrusted us with their care. The situation is entirely inconsistent with our commitment to helping patients return to health and live life to the fullest."

The hospital has notified the United Network for Organ Sharing, which manages the national transplant system.

Mr Stamatis declined to comment further.

'We're all out': Family shares heartbreak as NRL forces them out of wedding accommodation

Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles has called on the NRL to do "everything they can" after a family's wedding accommodations were cancelled due to the League's move to the state.

The mother of the bride, Suzie, told 4BC's Neil Breen that more than eight rooms booked by the wedding party had been cancelled last night – just three days before the event.

Suzie said she had only found out about the cancellations because her brother, travelling from Melbourne, had received an email from Novotel Twin Waters.

READ MORE: Queensland warns of border closure 'considerations' as state records zero local cases

9News understand that the Newcastle Knights, Penrith Panthers, Sydney Roosters and Manly Sea Eagles are moving into the Novotel today.Australian Rugby League Commission Chairman Peter V'landys and National Rugby League Chief Executive Andrew Abdo

"My brother rang me about 6:50pm last night to say he got an email ... saying his accommodation had been cancelled due to it becoming a quarantine hotel," Suzie said.

"I'm out; we're all out … we had about eight to 10 rooms booked."

Fortunately, the family have since been able to find new accommodation but are scattered across the area and are now trying to organise transportation.

"Obviously my money is not good enough, so the NRL are more important than me," Suzie said.

https://omny.fm/shows/4bc-breakfast-with-neil-breen/familys-wedding-plan-in-tatters-after-being-told-t/embed

Twelve NRL clubs and their families are making the move to Queensland for at least a month following Sydney's COVID-19 outbreak.

The Newcastle Knights, Penrith Panthers, Sydney Roosters and Manly Sea Eagles are moving into the Novotel accommodation on the Sunshine Coast today.

When approached by 9News a Novotel Representative refused to comment on the situation.

When asked about the family's circumstances this morning, Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles said there "obviously" wasn't enough empty hotels for the teams to move into.

"There weren't three empty hotels or resorts that the NRL could move into," Mr Miles said.

"That has meant that some guests and reservations have been displaced."

Instead of offering government support, Mr Miles suggested that the NRL should "assist" and "compensate" the family for the trouble.

"I'd simply call on the NRL to do everything they can to accommodate this wedding to help them to find an alternative venue and to appropriately assist and compensate them.

9News has approached the NRL for comment.

New cases in locked-down Bondi Junction apartment block

The COVID-19 outbreak in a Bondi Junction apartment block has grown to 11 cases, with two new positive tests recorded to 8pm last night.

Five different households have been caught in the building outbreak, with the new cases not spreading the virus to a new location.

The building is taped off, with nobody allowed in or out.

 NSW police monitor an apartment block in Botany Street in Bondi after multiple cases.

READ MORE: Paddy's Markets among new Sydney COVID-19 exposure sites

Police officers are patrolling outside.

"Deliveries of food and other grocery items are available to residents in the Bondi Junction apartment block," a South Eastern Sydney Local Health District spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said the police, along with private security, are "ensuring the safety of the building".

Residents will be subjected to daily welfare checks during their 14-day quarantine period.

READ MORE: Sydney plunges deeper into lockdown

"Tailored support services will be provided to all isolated residents as needed," the spokesperson said.

They said the situation in the apartment block was a reminder that people needed to wear face masks in communal building areas such as foyers, stairwells, corridors and laundry facilities.

NSW recorded 97 new COVID-19 cases today, with Premier Gladys Berejiklian announcing a two-week extension to the Greater Sydney lockdown.

Tuesday, July 13, 2021

NSW lockdown costing $700 million a week, Treasurer says

The New South Wales lockdown is costing $700 million a week, according to Treasury data cited by Josh Frydenberg, who has refused to speculate on how badly it will hurt the nation's future growth.

The Treasurer revealed the figure on Tuesday night while explaining the federal government's increase to financial support for workers and businesses hit by lockdowns and pouring fuel on the fire of a spat with Victoria.

The Treasurer said the economic impact of greater Sydney's lockdown, which at least one expert expects to last another month, would be "significant".

READ MORE: COVID payments explainer: How to get what you are owed

"You get border closures. You get supply chain disruptions. You get investment decisions that are delayed and when you get a state or parts of a state that are in lockdown, you get workers who can't turn up at the office or turn up to the normal vocation," he told the ABC's 7.30.

"This will have a significant impact on the economy and Treasury expect that the New South Wales lockdown is costing about $700 million a week."

It wasn't clear whether that figure included the $500-million-a-week cost of the Commonwealth support package.

The federal budget was built on the assumption there would be localised COVID-19 outbreaks but they would be "effectively contained".

Mr Frydenberg admitted the NSW restrictions had already exceeded those predictions but said the country would have to "wait and see" what the effect would be on economic growth and the job market.

The government is providing between $1500 and $10,000 a week for sub-$50 million businesses whose turnover drops by 30 per cent or more and increasing disaster payments for workers who've lost hours.

READ MORE: Shops, eateries and pharmacies added to Sydney exposure site list

SydPath staff conduct COVID-19 tests at the Fairfield Showgrounds.

The announcement sparked a furious response from the Victorian government, angry at having been made to "beg" for assistance during its latest outbreak just a few weeks ago.

"Everyone in Australia believes that people in Sydney and NSW deserve every possible support as they battle a second wave and a long lockdown," a government spokesperson said in the statement to 9News.

"But Victorians are rightly sick and tired of having to beg for every scrap of support from the federal government.

"It shouldn't take a crisis in Sydney for the Prime Minister to take action but we are seeing the same double standard time-and-time-again. His job is not to be the Prime Minister for NSW."

Speaking on A Current Affair, Mr Frydenberg said the two states' lockdowns were "chalk and cheese" and that the government had provided "extensive support" to both.

READ MORE: Outrage after hefty parking fines issued at Sydney mass vaccine hub

"Tragically more than 800 people have lost their lives in Victoria more than 90 per cent of the deaths that occurred across the country were in Victoria," he said.

"And they had a massive quarantine failure last year which led to the lengthy lockdown and then they had an inquiry to determine who was responsible and who took the decision around those failures and nobody was, and nobody did. 

"And so I was critical about that process and about those outcomes."

He told 7.30 people were sick of Daniel Andrews' "whingeing and his politicking of the crisis."

NSW health authorities identified 89 cases on Tuesday, 21 of whom had been infectious while in the community, and one COVID-19 patient died.

Essential workers from Fairfield, in Sydney's south-west, will now be tested every three days, with a weekly test for anyone moving between greater Sydney and regional NSW for work. The change comes after a painter infected with coronavirus travelled almost 200km from Sydney to a building site in Goulburn.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she hoped to announce whether the lockdown on Greater Sydney would be extended by Wednesday or Thursday "at the latest" and warned daily numbers would "keep bouncing around".

COVID payments explainer: How to get what you are owed

The Federal Government's COVID Disaster Payment has once again gone through another change - this time bumping up the weekly payment by as much as $100 if a state's lockdown goes into a fourth week.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced this afternoon that if you are unable to work due to public health orders, you can receive up to $600 in support after a month.

Under the changes, if a lockdown enters a fourth week, the payments will increase to: $375 if a person has lost between 8 and less than 20 hours of work a week, and $600 if a person has lost 20 hours or more a week.

READ MORE: Extra financial support announced for workers and businesses hit by lockdowns

The $10,000 threshold asset test will remain scrapped for the fourth week, and the payments will be capped at those upper limits for any week after.

The announcement comes just hours after NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian signalled that it was "unlikely" for Greater Sydney's lockdown to end after this Friday.

Still confused? No one can blame you - it's an extremely confusing system where the rules change by the week. Here's our simple breakdown:

READ MORE: ATAGI changes its vaccine advice for people living in outbreak areas

What is the COVID-19 Disaster Payment?

The COVID-19 Disaster Payment is a one-off cash payment for each week of lockdown.

If you've lost less than 20 hours of work, you can receive $325.

If you lost 20 hours or more of work, you can receive $500.

The payment is only accessible if you are locked down for more than seven days.

I will explain in more detail below, but the rates of $325 or $500 only apply to the first three weeks of a lockdown.

READ MORE: Tens of thousands of Aussies still stranded overseas

Okay, who can access the payment?

To access the payment you need to live or work in an area that has been declared a Commonwealth COVID-19 hotspot.

Only the Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly can do that.

Again, the payment is only accessible if you are locked down for more than seven days.

On June 26, Professor Kelly declared all of Greater Sydney plus the Blue Mountains, the Central Coast and Wollongong as Commonwealth hotspots.

That means residents and workers in these areas can already claim and be paid.

But that's not the end of it - starting from today, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced that her government would open up the payments to residents outside of Commonwealth-declared hotspots if they can prove they have lost a certain amount of work due to stay-at-home orders.

For example, this will help tourism operators who sit outside the Greater Sydney region but rely on Sydneysiders to travel to their region.

READ MORE: State-by-state guide to restrictions and border rules

Centrelink sign (AAP)

What if I'm living outside of NSW? What about Victoria, Queensland and the Northern Territory?

The COVID Disaster Payment is not state-specific. It doesn't matter what state the lockdown occurs in.

The basics of the payment still apply:

  1. You need to live or work in a Commonwealth declared hotspot (which state governments cannot control)
  2. The lockdown needs to last for more than seven days

READ MORE: Three-day lockdown announced for parts of Queensland

Queensland Lockdown announced June 29

That's pretty confusing. Are there any more terms and conditions I need to know about?

To receive the payment you must be an Australian resident, a permanent resident or be an eligible working visa holder.

For the first two weeks of a lockdown, to receive any payment you need to have liquid assets of $10,000 or less.

That means if you have more than $10k in the bank worth of savings – or trust fund money, or shares – you wouldn't be eligible.

And no, your car is not a liquid asset.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed that if a lockdown enters a third week, the liquid asset test will be scrapped.

That means for Sydneysiders, they can now apply for the payment after a third week if they have more than $10,000 in the bank.

You also won't receive the payment if you're getting income support payments, another form of pandemic leave payment or a state small business payment.

READ MORE: New Zealand to resume travel bubble with some Australian states

Okay. And what if the lockdown enters a fourth week or more?

If the lockdown enters a fourth week or more, those payments are bumped up to $375 if a person has lost between 8 and less than 20 hours of work a week, and $600 if a person has lost 20 hours or more a week.

These rates - of $375 and $600 per week - are the ceiling and will stay that way for however long a lockdown will last.

The $10,000 asset test also does not apply from the third week going forward.

I'm totally lost. Can you give me an example?

Put it this way: Let's pretend that you are a hairdresser with more than $10,000 in the bank (perhaps you are saving for a house deposit).

You have lost pretty much all of your work because of stay-at-home orders.

You can receive the COVID Disaster Payment for the third and fourth weeks of a lockdown, and then for however long it lasts after that.

You can't receive the first two weeks because your liquid assets exceed $10,000.

READ MORE: 'Australia now stands as a warning': UK paper slams vaccine rollout

Right ... I think I'm still eligible. How do I apply for the payment?

To apply for the payment, you need to have an online myGov account to which you can link a Centrelink online account (if you haven't already).

Once online, Centrelink will ask the user a series of questions to determine if they are eligible to claim the payment.

If you are, a claim will be submitted and the user will be sent a text message confirming the claim has been submitted successfully.

Services Australia has said on its website that it can all be done online without giving them a call.

But Prime Minister Scott Morrison keeps repeating in press conferences that Australians should ring 180 22 66 to find out if they are eligible.

READ MORE: Not a race? The graphs that rank Australia dead last

The information provided on this website is general in nature only and does not constitute personal financial advice. The information has been prepared without taking into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any information on this website you should consider the appropriateness of the information having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs.

Australian internet prices soar as speeds remain slow

The wrong home internet plan can mean more than $650 a year in wasted cash for Australian households.

Prices are rising despite slow speeds, and there are now calls to treat the internet more like an essential service rather than a luxury.

Despite appearances, it's by no means an internet free-for-all at the Reynolds' house in Melbourne, but with three kids - the modem does get a workout.

READ MORE: Extra financial support announced for workers and businesses hit by COVID-19 lockdowns

Australian internet prices soar as speeds remain some of the slowest in the world

"When we do allow screentime, the gates tend to open somewhat and our internet really gets thrashed," Dad Tom Reynolds said.

It costs $100 a month, but that's usually just the start.

"It's the little things on top of that ... the $5 here, the $10 there for the other internet services - that can really add up," Mr Reynolds said.

To keep costs down the family recently moved providers, something experts say everyone should do annually.

Tara Donelly editor of Canstar Blue Telco who compares deals, said people often stayed with the same company for years.

"Most of us have been with our current provider for around five years, so it seems like we are quite loyal when it comes to broadband," Ms Donelly said.

The gap between cheap and expensive plans is widening.

READ MORE: Outrage after hefty parking fines issued at Sydney mass vaccine hub

For unlimited NBN, prices range from $50 to $120 per month.

Details vary, but being on the wrong plan could cost more than $650 a year.

Customers should also beware of any activation or set-up fees, additional costs for a modem, or lock-in terms.

"Probably every 12 months or so is a good time to have a look at what's out there," Ms Donelly said.

Consumer groups say the industry needs to do better.

Acting Deputy CEO Andrew Williams from the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network said internet was a vital part of life today.

"Telecommunications and broadband in particular is an essential service - it's as important as electricity and water," Mr Williams said.

READ MORE: Infected Victorian family who returned from Sydney broke home quarantine rules

Internet speeds across the country are also disappointing.

In fact, Australia is now ranked 56th in the world, below countries like Trinidad, Tobago, Estonia and Bulgaria - all the more reason to make consumers are not overpaying.

Both Optus and Telstra have lifted prices since May.

The telco giants blame higher NBN costs.

Jackass stunt ends in real shark attack

A man has been seriously bitten by a shark while filming a stunt for the infamous TV show Jackass.

Sean "Poopies" McInerney was filming a stunt for a Jackass Shark Week special which involved him jumping over a pack of sharks on a wakeboard.

Before attempting the jump, chum (or burley as it's known in Australia) was used to lure sharks into the area below the ramp and a bucket of chum was also tipped over "Poopies".

READ MORE: Spearfishers attacked in shark feeding frenzy

On the first take "Poopies" fell into the water where a shark bit his wrist and hand, seriously injuring it in the process.

"Poopies got bit. They're putting a tourniquet on him right now," says one of the show's hosts Chris Pontius.

"Was it only one bite, in one spot?" asks the other show host, Steve-O.

"He's not missing anything?"

READ MORE: Sharks circle surfers as they feed on fish in bait ball off Bondi

The shark severed several of Mr McInerey's tendons, and opened two arteries leading to massive blood loss in the water.

He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors were able to save his hand.

Two of his fingers are now unable to be bent.

The special Jackass episode will be shown during Shark Week in the US, including footage of the attack.

Outrage after hefty parking fines issued at Sydney mass vaccine hub

Residents in NSW heeding advice to get vaccinated as quickly as possible have been left stunned after returning to their cars to find hefty parking fines at the state's mass vaccine hub in Sydney.

Across the road from the centre on Figtree Drive in Homebush, parked cars were each slapped with a $270 parking ticket.

Michael Shafran claims there was no signage outlining where he should park.

Long lines of people were also seen at the NSW Vaccination Centre in Homebush on July 01, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. The hub administered a whopping 7,057 doses yesterday.

"When I got here it was a bit confusing as to where to park, I saw that everyone else was all parked up along the side of the streets across from the vaccination centre," he told 9News.

Sydney Olympic Park says it has been forced to take action to ensure road safety.

Despite a city-wide lockdown, it claims businesses and residents have complained about the way cars are parked.

Hundreds line up to recieve a COVID-19 vaccination at the NSW Health Vaccinination Centre in Homebush.

The pay per hour parking stations are operating as usual despite large queues and wait times at the centre due to a surge in vaccination rates.

A small business owner with 20 staff, Shafran says his bakery has lost tens of thousands through lockdowns and, like so many, he is trying to stay afloat.

"It's like kicking a guy while he's down and it's such a large fine too just for trying to do the right thing."

Extra financial support announced for businesses hit by lockdowns

Workers and businesses impacted by the extended lockdown in NSW are set to receive extra financial support from next week, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced.

Mr Morrison has announced an increase in the COVID-19 Disaster Payment if a lockdown goes into a fourth week and a new business support package.

Currently, the disaster payment rates are $325 if you have lost less than 20 hours of work a week, and $500 if you have lost more than 20 hours a week.

READ MORE: 'Australia now stands as a warning': UK paper slams vaccine rollout

Under the changes, if a lockdown enters a fourth week, the payments will increase to $375 if a person has lost between eight and 20 hours of work a week, and $600 if a person has lost 20 hours or more a week.

The payment will also be available outside of Commonwealth-declared hotspot areas.

The NSW Government will fund any payments outside a Commonwealth-declared hotspot, with the Federal Government continuing to fund payments to recipients in a hotspot.

The PM said it's in the "national interest" to have a coordinated monetary response to COVID lockdowns.

Shoppers walk on George Street in Liverpool, Sydney.

READ MORE: Warning for Sydneysiders not to 'congregate' outside takeaway cafes

"The NSW outbreak has proved to be more severe, more dangerous, and it's in the national interest that we now put in place an upgraded set of arrangements for cooperation with the states and territories," Mr Morrison said.

"It needs to be targeted. It needs to be timely. It needs to be proportionate, scalable, and the administration of those supports need to be done in a way so it can get to people as simply and as quickly as is possible."

Mr Morrison said the support will be offered to any other state or territory that experiences an extended lockdown.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the support package has been designed to help ease stress on families who are currently under stay-at-home orders due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"No matter where you live, if you are suffering at home because of the stay-at-home provisions you are able to make sure that you and your loved ones don't go through that stress no matter how long the lockdown lasts," Ms Berejiklian said.

Although no official announcement has been made, the NSW lockdown is likely to be extended for a fourth week after the state recorded 89 cases today.

"I've already made clear the unlikelihood of the lockdown finishing on Friday and the numbers speak for themselves, and we'll have more to say about that tomorrow," Ms Berejiklian said.

"I wouldn't read too much into the length of the lockdown because none of us know that.

"What we do know is that we have the financial support there so that individuals and families and businesses don't have to stress and they know that for the duration of the lockdown, the support will be there."

Extra support for businesses

The Commonwealth will fund 50 per cent of the cost of a new small and medium business support payment to be implemented and administered by Service NSW.

Eligible entities will receive 40 per cent of their NSW payroll payments, at a minimum of $1500 and a maximum of $10,000 per week.

Entities will be eligible if their turnover is 30 per cent lower than an equivalent two-week period in 2019.

The new small to medium business support payment will be available to non-employing and employing entities in NSW, including not for profits, with an annual turnover between $75,000 and $50 million.

Crucially, to receive the payment, businesses will be required to maintain their full-time, part-time and long-term casual staffing level as of July 13.

Mr Morrison has said a program with the size and scale of JobKeeper is "not necessary" for the current lockdown occurring within NSW.

"You can keep working in that business under those arrangements and you can pick up the $600 payment from the Commonwealth," Mr Morrison said.

"That will help you to continue to go through what is a difficult time."

Help for tenants

Nobody in NSW who is a rental tenant can be evicted for the next 60 days because of the COVID-19 lockdown.

NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said all residential tenants who have had a reduction in income cannot be evicted from a rental property.

There are also land tax rebates on offer for landlords who provide rent relief to struggling tenants.

Support for mental health services announced

The Federal Government is committing $12.25 million to help boost mental health services for residents currently enduring extended lockdowns.

Mr Morrison said money will be flowing to services such as Lifeline, Kids Helpline, Head Space, Beyond Blue and the Butterfly Foundation.

"I particularly want to send a message to the students doing their HSC which I'm sure the treasurer and premier will join me in sending, we know this is a tough time for you," Mr Morrison said.

"HSC students in 2020 were going through a very process, particularly down there in Victoria. And you will get through this."

ATAGI changes its vaccine advice for people living in outbreak areas

People living in areas where there is a coronavirus outbreak should have their second dose of AstraZeneca earlier.

This is according to advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), which was released today.

"While the recommended interval between the first and second doses of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca is between four and 12 weeks, in outbreak situations an interval of between four and eight weeks is preferred," ATAGI said in a statement.

LIVE UPDATES: Raft of new measures to support households and businesses during Sydney lockdown

National Cabinet has agreed on a new no-fault indemnity scheme for GPs to give the AstraZeneca vaccine to Australians under the age of 60.

"Therefore, people in an outbreak situation who received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine AstraZeneca more than four weeks ago should contact their vaccine provider to arrange their second dose as soon as possible."

The preferred interval between doses of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca remains at 12 weeks in non-outbreak settings.

ATAGI's recommendation for the use of the Pfizer vaccine remains unchanged in the case of coronavirus outbreaks.

READ MORE: Goulburn case raises threat of new restrictions in regional NSW

However, it said in the case of limited Pfizer supply, adults under 60 should consider their options.

"In the context of a COVID-19 outbreak where the supply of Pfizer is constrained, adults younger than 60 years old who do not have immediate access to Pfizer should re-assess the benefits to them and their contacts from being vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccine AstraZeneca, versus the rare risk of a serious side effect," the advisory group said.

The advisory group also recommended any additional unallocated supplies of both Pfizer and AstraZeneca should be prioritised to populations and areas of greatest risk of COVID-19.

This includes older people, healthcare workers, disability and aged care workers, and people living with medical co-morbidities.

Monday, July 12, 2021

Blockbuster video game highlights Cahill's legendary heading ability

The latest addition to the FIFA video game franchise has been revealed, with Aussie soccer star Tim Cahill featuring as an in-game hero.

Cahill didn't appear in the last four games, but he's back out of retirement (in a way) to feature alongside the best of the sport.

In an exclusive interview with 9News, Cahill opened up about his new role in the game and other exciting features we can expect.

READ MORE: Delayed Olympics video game releases in Australia

"Any balls swung into the box, you know, you've got a massive chance of me doing a header," he said.

"It is the next best thing to play."

Featuring in FIFA games is a prestigious plaudit, Cahill told 9news. The football star reminisced on speaking with the other legends of the game who also own the honour of featuring in the game.

"When I say I sit with these players, whether it's Roberto Carlos or 'the real Ronaldo', you talk about these sorts of things. The players love it, it means a lot to them," he said.

And while there are 19 other heroes that appear in FIFA 22, Cahill was staying tight-lipped about who they were.

READ MORE: Fears for teen star after cruel England 'gamble'

Tim Cahill competes for the ball with Eraj Rajabov of Tajikistan.

"I think when you put together a team, you want to be part of the best in the region. You want to be part of, you know, with the elite," he said.

"My whole life I've been obsessed with being the best trainer, you know, on and off the path. And when you get asked to do these sorts of things it's. It truly is a reflection of your career."

Heroes are new in-game items that represent the stories and triumphs of iconic players.

In Cahill's case, players can experience his iconic bicycle kick goal and his corner-flag-punching celebration.

Reflecting on his career, Cahill says until he retired he didn't even realise how much he had achieved.

As only he can, Cahill provided the answer in the 33rd minute.Tim Cahill celebrates his equaliser against Kuwait. (Getty)

"I think now I can really enjoy the retirement side of it, and take in all that I've done," he said.

"Twenty years of playing, mate. You don't actually realise what you've done. You're in a bubble."

FIFA 22 also features a new technical upgrade that utilises real-world football data.

The technology, named HyperMotion, captures real player movements and converts them into realistic gameplay, essentially creating new animations in real-time while you play.

"You're not just talking PlayStation and Xbox and all this, you're talking about PCs, you're talking about, the whole gaming world, eSports, how interested everyone is in it," Cahill said.

HyperMotion is only available on the newer gaming consoles and Google's streaming platform, Stadia.

FIFA 22 with HyperMotion technology is coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Stadia on October 1. The standard FIFA 22 game will also be available on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC.

Eerie images of US plane resting in pieces on ocean floor

A plane that crashed into the ocean off Hawaii has been found, with photos revealing the destruction the impact wreaked.

Both pilots escaped the Boeing 737 when it crashed last week as they were trying to return to the airport in Honolulu.

The pilots had reported losing power in one engine and being concerned about the other engine also failing.

READ MORE: Pilots rescued, one critical after plane crashes into ocean off Hawaii

After a search, the National Transportation Safety Board today released some images of the plane torn to pieces on the bottom of the ocean.

The 46-year-old plane was operated by Rhoades Aviation as Transair Flight 810.

It was scheduled to fly from Honolulu to Kahului, Hawaii, but went into the ocean several kilometres offshore, according to authorities.

READ MORE: 'No survivors' as wreckage of missing plane carrying 28 found in Russia

Both pilots, the only people on board, were seriously injured and were clinging to packages and the tail of the plane when they were rescued by the US Coast Guard.

The investigation is continuing, with the pilots being interviewed.

With Associated Press.

Tokyo 2020: What it's like on the ground in Japan

Touching down in Tokyo for the Olympics Games it's clear there is one thing missing: excitement.

No big mascots at the airports dancing when you step off the plane, no bands playing, no media throng descending on the athletes as they walk through the gates.

In its place there are reams of paperwork to navigate, a COVID-19 saliva test upon arrival and apps you must download on your phone so authorities can trace your every move.

Welcome to the Olympics in the pandemic era.

READ MORE: Olympic Village workers test positive for COVID-19 in Tokyo

I have been fortunate enough to cover five previous Olympic Games, and every one of those had their own challenges.

Athens almost didn't get finished on time, Beijing and London had threats of terrorism, while crime ran rampant in Rio.

Sydney had its obstacles too, but staged before the events of 9/11, it was one giant care-free street party we can only dream of today.

Tokyo though will be a Games like no other.

READ MORE: Delayed Olympics video game releases in Australia

On the day we arrive the city is plunged back into its fourth state of emergency as it battles another surge in COVID cases.

Restaurants, bars and clubs are forced to shut at 8pm and the sale of alcohol in many businesses is banned. The party is over before it even began.

After touching down in Tokyo, It takes us three hours to get through the airport and past all the strict protocols before we can finally head to the hotel.

No one is exempt from these procedures, including the athletes.

Japan is doing everything it can to keep more cases from coming into the country.

Just like the athletes we have to head straight to our accommodation.

READ MORE: Palaszczuk not travelling to Tokyo 'would be a disaster'

For the next two weeks we can only be in our hotel or at a designated Olympic site.

Lunch and dinner is from the nearby mini-mart we are allowed to frequent for 15 minutes. Covid tests are daily.

Athletes are confined to the village, and will fly out straight after their events.

But despite all the rules and regulations, they are just happy the Games are on, one year after they were postponed.

READ MORE: Professor says upcoming Olympics will be 'very different'

Australian sailor Nia Jerwood, competing in her first Olympics at 23, is on our near-empty plane into Tokyo.

"They are there to keep us safe, and I'm just here to do the best I can in the sport" she says of the protocols.

Jerwood says she is not bothered by competing in front of empty stands.

"I'm a sailor so I don't really mind … I'm just relieved to be here competing" she says.

There might be no crowds, no parties, no clubs, no fun, but for these athletes just being here in Tokyo is a victory in itself.

Spearfishers attacked in shark feeding frenzy

Two divers have recounted a terrifying encounter with a pack of hungry sharks while spearfishing off the coast of Western Australia.

Chris Hodgkinson and Nick Hoad were diving for mackerel 16km off the coast of Dirk Hartog Island, in the coincidentally named Shark Bay World Heritage Area.

In their video, shared exclusively with 9News, one of the men shoots a nice fish, attracting a shark instantly.

READ MORE: Parents of shark attack victim thank first responders

But as the shark pulls away with the fish in its mouth, the shooting line of Mr Hoad's gun becomes entangled around his neck.

As he furiously fights to release the tension on the line a second shark then comes and bites at his ankles as he kicks away.

Mr Hodgkinson was also fending off sharks, capturing on film the moment a bull shark bit into his speargun, sinking its teeth into the rubbers.

The pair managed to clamber into their boat unharmed, escaping a feeding frenzy of an estimated dozen sharks including bull sharks and tiger sharks.

READ MORE: Sharks circle surfers as they feed on fish in bait ball off Bondi

Veteran shark researcher Hugh Edwards told 9News that the two men could have been seriously injured.

"Because they bite on the leg, that's where the arteries are – and the victim can bleed to death before he or she gets out of the water," Mr Edwards said.

As for the two divers, they are reflective but unphased by the ordeal.

"Things could've gone a lot worse, but I guess things could've been a lot better as well," Mr Hoad said.

Advice could change on AstraZeneca jab amid Sydney COVID-19 outbreak

Australia's vaccine advisory body is considering changing its advice on the AstraZeneca jab, given the worsening situation in Sydney.

Mass vaccination clinics in New South Wales will start giving the AstraZeneca vaccine to people under 40.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) had previously recommended the jab be limited to people over 60, due to concerns of very rare blood clots.

READ MORE: Six-day coronavirus exposure alert for two Fairfield businesses

Australian authorities say they were left short of 3.1 million expected doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine by the EU.

In a statement to 9News, the Department of Health said ATAGI had met today to discuss the vaccine.

"(ATAGI) continues to review its advice around AstraZeneca, along with updating materials and advice for health practitioners," the statement read.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg also met with Federal Cabinet ministers on Monday night to talk about providing more financial and mental health support for Australians subject to lockdowns which last more than two weeks.

The New South Wales treasury is designing an "easy to access" business cash flow boost which the Commonwealth will jointly fund.

READ MORE: Two COVID-positive people entered Victoria from NSW

"We're expecting some final proposals to come up later this evening, and then of course the Premier and I and Treasurers will meet again, I think we're getting pretty close," Mr Morrison said.

"We're moving swiftly but you've got to make sure you get that design right so that it's simple, very simple for businesses, and it's rapid."

An emergency health support package was announced by the Federal Government today.

READ MORE: Rudd says letter to Pfizer not part of 'botched' vaccine program

It will deliver one million surgical masks, 250,000 gloves and 250,000 gowns to seven primary health networks across Sydney, the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, the Hunter Valley and New England.

"The stresses that families, workers, businesses are facing are really significant," Health Minister Greg Hunt said.

"These are supports to assist people through the difficult, challenging lockdown period.

"We've done this before, we've done this nationally, we've done this in other states and territories."

Minister Hunt said 6.8 million people have had a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, translating to 33 per cent of the nation.

Deadly gas mix-up at major Sydney hospital took a week to detect

An inquest into the death of a newborn baby at Bankstown Lidcombe Hospital has heard it took a week to discover the gas lines had been mixed up at installation.

Baby John Ghanem lived for just one hour after birth, given nitrous oxide instead of oxygen during resuscitation in 2016.

Amelia Khan was left with severe brain injuries in similar circumstances a month earlier.

READ MORE: Hospital subcontractor fined $100k over gas mix up that killed Sydney newborn

Today Lidcombe Coroner's Court was told the "shocking chain of events" made "no sense" to staff to begin with.

"It should be noted that his death also affected the doctors and nurses at Bankstown Lidcombe Hospital who had fought so hard to keep John alive."

One nurse had heard of a strikingly similar event in India and lodged a request that the gas lines be tested.

Baby John's family in a 2017 interview with 9News.

READ MORE: Charges over deadly gas mix-up at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital dropped

But the court heard they were not checked by BOC until a week later, exposing the tragic error.

Installer Christopher Turner was fined $100,000 for failing to test the lines in accordance with the Australian standard when he signed off on the work. 

Counsel Assisting said the inquest would try to build on what has already been done.

"What would any of us expect to see happen … to try to minimise the chance that a similar thing could ever happen again."

It will examine what changes have been made and if more has to be done.

Superyacht crew caused Queensland COVID scare after coming from Sydney

Four people have been fined more than $4000 each after travelling from Sydney to Queensland and providing false information when entering the state.

Maritime Safety Queensland has told 9News they investigated the "serious breach" on the Gold Coast last week, which involved the superyacht 'Dreamtime'.

The vessel and its four crew members had previously been in Sydney's COVID-19 hotspot-declared Northern Beaches before travelling to Southport last Wednesday, initially claiming it was just a stopover.

READ MORE: Queensland to ease restrictions after zero new local COVID-19 cases

Four people have been fined over $4000 each after travelling from Sydney to Queensland and providing false information when entering the state.

The crew also attended the Australia vs France rugby test match at Suncorp Stadium on the day of their arrival.

Queensland authorities became suspicious of the crew and obtained CCTV footage from their origin point in Sydney - revealing the crew getting on and off the docked boat for two weeks.

9News understands the vessel is used as a charter boat for yacht brokering company Ocean Alliance at the cost of $70,000 a week.

"The four people on board the vessel gave false and misleading information before and after entering Queensland from a New South Wales COVID-19 hotspot," Maritime Safety Queensland General Manager Angus Mitchell said.

Maritime Safety Queensland General Manager Angus Mitchell told 9News that the people are now in hotel quarantine.The vessel and its four crew members had previously been in Sydney's COVID-19 hotspot-declared Northern Beaches before travelling to Southport last Wednesday.

The four people included the 44-year-old superyacht owner, his 59-year-old personal assistant, the superyacht's 54-year-old captain and a 55-year-old engineer.

"The crew underwent urgent COVID-19 testing and thankfully returned negative results, particularly given their significant interactions within the Queensland community on arrival," Mr Mitchell said.

All four crew members have since been ordered into hotel quarantine on the Gold Coast and have issued Penalty Infringement Notices for $4135 by Maritime Safety Queensland for failing to comply with a public health direction giving information that is not true and correct.

Authorities have also told 9News this isn't an isolated incident, with two other boats travelling from Sydney being caught in the state illegally within the past two weeks.