Is Sussan Ley facing a glass cliff?
New Liberal leader Sussan Ley has promised to move a divided party room back to the 'sensible centre'. But with huge challenges ahead of her, some commentators are questioning whether Sussan Ley is facing the 'glass cliff'.
And while Sussan Ley has rejected the assertion, David Speers notes that "at their lowest ebb" the party has elevated its first female leader.
Patricia Karvelas and David Speers break it all down on Politics Now.
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Respect Victoria challenges men to question masculinity stereotypes in new ad campaign
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ABC News
29 minutes ago
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Here are the current rules on isolating when you're sick this flu season
I don't know about you, but the times of having to quarantine due to COVID-19 feel like a distant memory. But around this time each year, we're reminded that the virus is still active, as are many other serious respiratory illnesses during "flu season". There have been more than 65,000 cases of COVID-19 so far this year nationwide, more than 81,000 Influenza cases and 50,000 cases of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), according to the Australian Respiratory Surveillance Report. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also designated a new strain known as NB.1.8.1, which is now the dominant variant in China and Hong Kong, as a "variant under monitoring". So, what has changed when it comes to quarantine rules? And do you still have to isolate if you or a family member has a respiratory illness? Advanced epidemiologist Anne Maree Baldwin says we're in a different situation now than five years ago when COVID-19 first arrived in Australia. "We had a new virus in a population without immunity, which was expected to have devastating impacts," says the public health expert from the Sunshine Coast/Kabi Kabi lands. "But now all or almost all of the population has some immunity to COVID through vaccination and having the disease." We are no longer required by law to quarantine or isolate when we have COVID-19. But Ms Baldwin says it is recommended. "Stay home and away from others when you have symptoms, irrespective of whether it's COVID or another respiratory illness," she says. "If you must go out, we ask people to wear a mask, avoid indoor or crowded situations, and keep away from others as best you can." Dr Libby Sander is an associate professor of organisational behaviour at Bond University on the Gold Coast/Kombumerri. She says there has been a culture shift since the pandemic back to a place where some employees feel obligated to go back to work even if they're unwell. "I'm often hearing [about instances] where people are being expected to go to work when they're sick because of staff shortages or they just feel obliged to go in because of the workload. "If you are sick, you shouldn't go to work, no-one wants you to make them sick." You can be infectious with respiratory illness from up to 48 hours before your symptoms start. So, if you've had a loved one or housemate at home who's been unwell, should you go to work? Ms Baldwin says it comes down to organisational policy. "Just communicating first and foremost, so everyone's aware," she says. "In general, quarantine isn't needed if exposed to COVID, we just ask that you stay away from others if you develop symptoms." She says it's particularly important to avoid people more likely to get severely sick, including immunocompromised people, older people, infants, and pregnant women. Dr Sander says working from home arrangements can provide people with security and flexibility. "If you're not really unwell you can keep working, you're not worrying about infecting other people … so I think flexibility is really important." In general, you don't automatically need to take a rapid antigen tests (RAT) after being around someone who's been sick. But it is recommended if you start developing symptoms or are planning on visiting a high-risk setting like aged care facilities, disability care, hospitals, or other healthcare settings. Ms Baldwin says testing is important for people who are either very sick or need antiviral medicine. "We have the RAT tests and they're widely available now in supermarkets and pharmacies, often for about $10," she says. "Some can test for four viruses, Influenza strains A and B, COVID and RSV. "The RATs are helpful for a quick result, which is important when the COVID and influenza antiviral should be started in a day or two of symptom onset." A diagnosis for whooping cough requires a PCR test (polymerase chain reaction) from a GP to receive the necessary antibiotics. Chief medical officer at Healthdirect Australia, Nirvana Luckraj, says if you have tested positive for respiratory illness, "you should stay at home until all of your acute symptoms have gone". She says acute symptoms include sneezing, coughing and a sore throat. "If you still have acute symptoms like a cough after seven days, you may still be infectious. You should continue to wear a mask and physically distance whenever possible." Our experts say it's important to prepare yourself each year. "We see COVID waves and whooping cough at any time of the year and most RSV is actually at this time of year," Ms Baldwin says. "So being prepared is important and the best way to do that is vaccinate." You can get both the COVID and influenza vaccines at the same appointment — the Australian Department of Health advises that it is safe to do this and doctors and pharmacists will now allow this. This is general information only. For personal advice, you should see a qualified medical practitioner.
ABC News
44 minutes ago
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Families love the Longreach way of life, except for a lack of disability services
Adam Ballard is somewhat of a local celebrity in his small outback Queensland town. The Longreach local goes everywhere with a smile, helps the local footy and race clubs, and is a rodeo fanatic. Adam was born with Williams Syndrome, an intellectual disability that requires consistent care. His family has lived in the area for generations and, over his 34 years, Adam has enjoyed the upside of living with a disability in a rural town. "He's so safe. He's got a good life here," Ms Ballard said. But now his 67-year-old parents are planning for when they are no longer around to care for their son. "It's the same for any parent of a child with special needs, that's their greatest concern," Ms Ballard said. Reluctantly, the Ballards have decided their only option is to leave Longreach and set Adam up in Rockhampton, 700 kilometres away. "We've all been born here [in Longreach]. We've lived our lives here. But you do what you have to do," Ms Ballard said. The problem for people in the bush, like the Ballards, is that they have limited choice and control over a permanent independent living situation for their child. Rentals in Longreach are already scarce and there are few registered NDIS providers that have housing. Determined to tackle the issue, Ms Ballard formed the Outback Independent Living (OIL) group in 2019. It has become the peak body and support service for disability in Winton, Longreach, Barcaldine, Blackall, Boulia, Birdsville and smaller towns in between. The vast area spans thousands of kilometres, and of the 10,500 people who live there, 955 have a disability and 196 have an NDIS plan. OIL's vision was to build an "outback village" with disability housing and assisted living. Despite strong support initially from parents and stakeholders, the idea has not come to fruition primarily because of a "catch 22" whereby few NDIS participants have designated home and living supports on their plan, Ms Ballard said. "And then people wanting it don't bother getting it put in their [NDIS] plan because there's no accommodation here." Kathy Ellem, a disability and social work researcher at the University of Queensland, said the government needed to rethink how the NDIS operated in rural areas. "You can't just plant what works in a metropolitan area and hope that it works in a rural area too," Dr Ellem said. "Governments need to provide block funding. The Queensland government said it contributed $2.5 billion annually to the federally run NDIS and would continue to work with Canberra to design supports as recommended by NDIS reviews. Federal NDIS Minister Jenny McAllister said the government was engaging communities to trial new ways of delivering services and addressing gaps. "We want all NDIS participants to access the reasonable and necessary supports they need, no matter where they live," she said. Brisbane-based Katie Grehan, who has been lobbying for people with disabilities in the bush since joining OIL in 2022, said having the right supports in an NDIS plan was crucial. She said "purpose-built villages" were outdated. "Have them living in community, in a home that they either own themselves or they rent, so they have control of the asset and their NDIS plan funds the supports." Beyond housing, another hurdle in the remote region is a startling lack of recreational activities or group programs that support disability participation. "In Brisbane, you can go to a community centre or service providers. You might want to do dance classes, swimming lessons, a cooking class, an art class. You can attend those services on a daily basis," Ms Grehan said. That is the reality in Longreach, which is a hub for smaller towns that get by with less. Longreach resident Daisy Walton, 38, who is legally blind and has autism, is eager for more options to enrich her life. "Like having Vision Australia and Guide Dogs [Australia] if they ever decided to set up a little office here. Even Autism Queensland, as well," Ms Walton said. "It would be nice if it happened, but I don't think it will. [There's] just not enough population." Her mother, Michelle Rose, said the disparity between the bush and more populated areas was distressing. "We've had a lot of families move away, which is a real shame," she said.
