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The Age
6 hours ago
- Health
- The Age
Brisbane news live: Queensland ‘needs an extra 350 mental health beds'
Latest posts Latest posts 7.13am Queensland hospital system needs an extra 350 mental health beds: psychiatrists By The imminent closure of Toowong Private Hospital will leave Queensland with a shortfall of 350 mental health beds, according to the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists. Loading Administrators called in to examine the family-owned hospital have decided to shut it down, and are now working with psychiatrists to ensure continuity of care for existing and prospective patients. Professor Brett Emmerson, chair of the college's Queensland branch, said there were not enough psychiatrists to run private hospitals, partly because the financial incentives were low and support was lacking. He said the federal government needed to increase Medicare rebates and ensure private health funds paid more, while also increasing training places for psychiatry. The state government also needed to invest in new beds, particularly when the existing beds are old and in such high demand. 'A viable private sector is essential in Queensland because we've got an already overstretched mental health system,' Emmerson said. He said the loss of 50 beds at Toowong would further reduce inpatient treatment options for private patients and increase pressure on the public system. 7.05am Cool and cloudy to close the week Another cool day is on the cards for Brisbane today, with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting a top of 23 degrees on a cloudy Thursday. And the forecast is for an even cooler Friday. Here's the seven-day outlook: 7.02am While you were sleeping Here's what's making news further afield this morning: Liberal leader Sussan Ley has broken from the Dutton era with a reshuffle that rejects Trump-like cuts, goes softer on immigration, and proactively reaches out to women in the cities. A Christian pastor who founded a drug rehab centre that once treated former game show host Andrew O'Keefe has been charged with faking reports about patients' drug use. Police dug into Erin Patterson's bank records, shopping history and phone records as part of their investigation into a lunch that killed three of her guests, a court has heard. Real estate listings companies such as the Murdoch-controlled REA Group are making off like bandits with claims that advertising rates are rising by 10 per cent or more a year. And the ACCC has started sniffing around. 6.35am The top stories this morning Good morning, and welcome to Brisbane Times' live news coverage for Thursday, May 29. Today we can expect a partly cloudy day and a top temperature of 23 degrees. In this morning's local headlines: There was an eerie sense of deja vu in the way the Maroons were blown off the park at Suncorp Stadium in the opening 40 minutes of the first State of Origin match last night, and it is a matter coach Billy Slater urgently needs to address. Here's how the players rated. The federal government is yet to recommit to its $3.44 billion contribution to Brisbane 2032 Olympic infrastructure after an inner-city arena was removed from the Games plan. And on his second visit to Brisbane, the international Paralympics chief says he has no intention of combining the Paralympics with the Olympics in 2032. More than 80 days after the Story Bridge's footpaths were closed, the saga has taken a dramatic turn, with police taking protesters to court over plans to close traffic lanes for a peak-hour march. When reporter Courtney Kruk recently found herself questioning a 4.8-star rating, she wondered whether we're all becoming too hooked on online reviews.
Sydney Morning Herald
7 hours ago
- Health
- Sydney Morning Herald
Brisbane news live: Queensland ‘needs an extra 350 mental health beds'
Latest posts Latest posts 7.13am Queensland hospital system needs an extra 350 mental health beds: psychiatrists By The imminent closure of Toowong Private Hospital will leave Queensland with a shortfall of 350 mental health beds, according to the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists. Loading Administrators called in to examine the family-owned hospital have decided to shut it down, and are now working with psychiatrists to ensure continuity of care for existing and prospective patients. Professor Brett Emmerson, chair of the college's Queensland branch, said there were not enough psychiatrists to run private hospitals, partly because the financial incentives were low and support was lacking. He said the federal government needed to increase Medicare rebates and ensure private health funds paid more, while also increasing training places for psychiatry. The state government also needed to invest in new beds, particularly when the existing beds are old and in such high demand. 'A viable private sector is essential in Queensland because we've got an already overstretched mental health system,' Emmerson said. He said the loss of 50 beds at Toowong would further reduce inpatient treatment options for private patients and increase pressure on the public system. 7.05am Cool and cloudy to close the week Another cool day is on the cards for Brisbane today, with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting a top of 23 degrees on a cloudy Thursday. And the forecast is for an even cooler Friday. Here's the seven-day outlook: 7.02am While you were sleeping Here's what's making news further afield this morning: Liberal leader Sussan Ley has broken from the Dutton era with a reshuffle that rejects Trump-like cuts, goes softer on immigration, and proactively reaches out to women in the cities. A Christian pastor who founded a drug rehab centre that once treated former game show host Andrew O'Keefe has been charged with faking reports about patients' drug use. Police dug into Erin Patterson's bank records, shopping history and phone records as part of their investigation into a lunch that killed three of her guests, a court has heard. Real estate listings companies such as the Murdoch-controlled REA Group are making off like bandits with claims that advertising rates are rising by 10 per cent or more a year. And the ACCC has started sniffing around. 6.35am The top stories this morning Good morning, and welcome to Brisbane Times' live news coverage for Thursday, May 29. Today we can expect a partly cloudy day and a top temperature of 23 degrees. In this morning's local headlines: There was an eerie sense of deja vu in the way the Maroons were blown off the park at Suncorp Stadium in the opening 40 minutes of the first State of Origin match last night, and it is a matter coach Billy Slater urgently needs to address. Here's how the players rated. The federal government is yet to recommit to its $3.44 billion contribution to Brisbane 2032 Olympic infrastructure after an inner-city arena was removed from the Games plan. And on his second visit to Brisbane, the international Paralympics chief says he has no intention of combining the Paralympics with the Olympics in 2032. More than 80 days after the Story Bridge's footpaths were closed, the saga has taken a dramatic turn, with police taking protesters to court over plans to close traffic lanes for a peak-hour march. When reporter Courtney Kruk recently found herself questioning a 4.8-star rating, she wondered whether we're all becoming too hooked on online reviews.
West Australian
20 hours ago
- Climate
- West Australian
Wheatbelt farmers had their hopes dashed at the weekend when rainfall failed to hit double digits
Wheatbelt farmers had their hopes dashed at the weekend when rainfall failed to hit double digits, while parts of the South West and south coast have had their prayers answered. Denmark recorded 43.6mm between May 23 and May 25, while Manjimup received 39.6mm. The cloud band travelled south-east at the weekend, with Perth metropolitan receiving the bulk of the downpour with 48.6mm, flowing through to Esperance who received 18.4mm. The Wheatbelt missed out on the wet weather, with a maximum of 8mm falling in Corrigin. Williams sheep and grain farmer Andrew Rintoul said while he did receive a couple of millimetres more than anticipated at the weekend, it was not enough. Despite this, he said he remains optimistic. 'We got a total of 5.5mm at the weekend . . . hopefully the rainfall will be better this weekend,' he said. 'If you're not optimistic it makes the game hard. 'The sheep are in good condition, lambs are dropping, things are happening, so we're feeling positive but we are going to need rain to get things going, fill dams.' Manjimup-based Mark Muir, of Mordallup Angus stud, received 15mm in the rain gauge from the recent three-day system. 'We had 34mm in March and 76mm in April, so were sitting pretty good, but paddock grass to feed our 1000 head Angus herd is still a bit short,' he said. 'Not complaining though as other parts of the State's agricultural regions are in desperate need of a good general rain drenching, I guess our area has been on the right side of the rain cloud.' Mr Muir said another weather system was approaching Manjimup for the weekend. 'If we could get 30mm, we could loosen out dependence on extra feed-out hay costs.' Looking forward, the Bureau of Meteorology's rainfall outlook is forecasting rainfall in the month of June to be below average for parts of the South West, with warmer than average days and nights expected. The central Wheatbelt is expecting a high chance of showers over the weekend and double digits on Monday June 2. Other areas of the State expect a dose of rainfall come early June also, with the South West set to receive another heavy dose, and Great Southern and Mid West expected to see double digits this weekend. Manjimup is forecasted to receive more than 20mm, Esperance is expected to again hit double digits and Binnu is looking to finally receive its share with more than 15mm by June 2. MID WEST Binnu — 1.6mm Canna East — 0.6mm Eradu — 3.8mm Mingenew — 5.8mm Morawa — 0.4mm Yuna — 2.4mm WHEATBELT Corrigin — 8mm Hyden — 7mm Meckering — 0.6mm New Norcia — 4.2mm Pingelly — 2.2mm Quairading — 4.6mm Wongan Hills — 2.6mm GREAT SOUTHERN Denmark — 43.6mm Marradong — 8.8mm Lake King — 4.8mm Newdegate — 3.8mm Nyabing — 1.4mm Pingrup — 2.6mm Williams — 4.2mm SOUTH WEST Cordering — 6.2mm Dardanup — 4mm Harvey — 15.6mm Manjimup — 39.6mm Margaret River — 24.4mm Vasse — 7.8mm Yanmah — 27.8mm ESPERANCE Esperance — 18.4mm Mt Howick — 16.6mm Munglinup — 24.2mm Salmon Gums — 0.6mm
Perth Now
20 hours ago
- General
- Perth Now
US fuel tanks in Top End not built for severe cyclones
Giant fuel tanks being built at a cost of $270 million for the US military in the Top End are not designed to withstand a category three cyclone, have sprung leaks and lack a building permit. But the Northern Territory government is working with the contractors, US company Crowley, to complete Project Caymus in Darwin Harbour to Australia's required safety, construction and environmental standards. The 11 tanks are designed to hold 300 million litres of fuel to support Darwin-based US military operations in the Indo-Pacific. They are built on NT government land and were due to be operational in September 2023 but have yet to hold fuel due to leaks and water intrusion around their bases. An engineering report obtained by the ABC said the tanks should be classed at "importance level four", the highest classification for structures containing materials capable of causing hazardous conditions that extend beyond property boundaries. Instead the tanks were initially designed at importance level two, the classification for a car garage, shed or suburban backyard workshop. The report, completed in December 2023, said Crowley had specified the tanks be designed at a wind speed of 249.5km/h but they were designed for 193.5km/h. Severe Tropical Cyclone Tracy decimated Darwin in 1974, with gusts of up to 217km/h before wind recording instruments failed. Gusts during a category three cyclone can reach up to 224km/h, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. "Failure of the tanks in a cyclonic wind event could result in over 200 million litres of flammable and/or combustible liquid becoming uncontained," said the report cited by the ABC. Such a failure would cause hazardous conditions beyond the property boundaries and to significant population areas and strategic facilities with "catastrophic consequences on people, property and the environment", the report said. Crowley said all required approvals would be obtained from the NT government and other relevant authorities to comply with safety, construction and environmental standards. The NT Department of Lands, Planning and the Environment confirmed to AAP the tanks lacked a building permit but it was decided not to pursue legal or punitive action. The department said it was working with Crowley for it to provide independent verification of the "required safety, construction, and environmental standards and considerations". "This independent evidence is necessary to determine that the tanks meet Australian standards that will ensure the project can be completed and operated," it said.
West Australian
20 hours ago
- General
- West Australian
US fuel tanks in Top End not built for severe cyclones
Giant fuel tanks being built at a cost of $270 million for the US military in the Top End are not designed to withstand a category three cyclone, have sprung leaks and lack a building permit. But the Northern Territory government is working with the contractors, US company Crowley, to complete Project Caymus in Darwin Harbour to Australia's required safety, construction and environmental standards. The 11 tanks are designed to hold 300 million litres of fuel to support Darwin-based US military operations in the Indo-Pacific. They are built on NT government land and were due to be operational in September 2023 but have yet to hold fuel due to leaks and water intrusion around their bases. An engineering report obtained by the ABC said the tanks should be classed at "importance level four", the highest classification for structures containing materials capable of causing hazardous conditions that extend beyond property boundaries. Instead the tanks were initially designed at importance level two, the classification for a car garage, shed or suburban backyard workshop. The report, completed in December 2023, said Crowley had specified the tanks be designed at a wind speed of 249.5km/h but they were designed for 193.5km/h. Severe Tropical Cyclone Tracy decimated Darwin in 1974, with gusts of up to 217km/h before wind recording instruments failed. Gusts during a category three cyclone can reach up to 224km/h, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. "Failure of the tanks in a cyclonic wind event could result in over 200 million litres of flammable and/or combustible liquid becoming uncontained," said the report cited by the ABC. Such a failure would cause hazardous conditions beyond the property boundaries and to significant population areas and strategic facilities with "catastrophic consequences on people, property and the environment", the report said. Crowley said all required approvals would be obtained from the NT government and other relevant authorities to comply with safety, construction and environmental standards. The NT Department of Lands, Planning and the Environment confirmed to AAP the tanks lacked a building permit but it was decided not to pursue legal or punitive action. The department said it was working with Crowley for it to provide independent verification of the "required safety, construction, and environmental standards and considerations". "This independent evidence is necessary to determine that the tanks meet Australian standards that will ensure the project can be completed and operated," it said.
