Latest news with #DeanLewins
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Crichton in, Maroons unchanged for Origin opener
Bulldogs skipper Stephen Crichton will start Origin I for NSW after overcoming a leg injury. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP Stephen Crichton will line up for NSW while Queensland haven't tinkered with their starting side for the State of Origin opener in Brisbane. Blues centre Crichton was in doubt after a collision at Monday's training session left him battling a cork in his upper leg. But the Canterbury captain has proved his fitness and will play on Wednesday night as NSW begin their series defence. Maroons coach Billy Slater hasn't tinkered with the line-up he named last week, Reuben Cotter listed to start in the second row in his first game since May 3 in his return from suspension. Isaah Yeo will become the 22nd Blues captain after being named while his Penrith teammate Nathan Cleary will partner Mitchell Moses in the halves for the first time.
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Aussies warned of milk shortage
Australians may soon be paying more for a litre of milk at the shops, as dairy farmers look to rebuild following the devastating floods which have swept across northern NSW. The dairy industry has warned entire herds of cattle have been lost in the floods as well as fences, machinery and other infrastructure required to keep a farm operational, which could have an impact on prices. Livestock were washed away as the Manning River rose to record levels, while farmers on the Belmore River described the conditions as diabolic. Australians may see milk shortages when they go to the local supermarket. NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia EastAusmilk chief executive Eric Danzi warned the first time many Australians see the devastation of the floods would be when they go to their local supermarket. 'There is going to be a real shortage of milk and products,' he told 2GB. 'How that plays through to consumers I don't know.' 'Between the floods now, ex- Cyclone Alfred and the drought in South Australia as well as Victoria you're going to have a massive reduction in milk production across Australia.' Mr Danzi said the widespread carnage means many farmers are coming home to empty land with their livestock swept into the ocean. 'Most farmers on the mid north coast have been absolutely devastated by floods. There's 100 odd farmers in that area and I think half of them will be struggling with losses of half a million (dollars) if not a lot more,' Mr Danzi said. The same producers impacted by the recent floods were also hit by ex-cyclone Alfred in March, which caused considerable damage to Australian farms in northern NSW. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Taree on Tuesday. Dean Lewins/POOL/NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia The PM toured decimated farms. Dean Lewins/POOL/NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia Mr Albanese (centre) is joined by Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain (left) meeting with dairy farmer Milton Johnson (right) on his property. Dean Lewins/POOL/ NewsWire Credit: News Corp Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited the mid-north coast on Tuesday, as authorities revealed the downpour had left more than 5,000 properties damaged and 794 uninhabitable. Mr Albanese said the mid-north coast floods would have a considerable effect on the dairy industry 'right throughout Australia,' in addition to the impact on homes and residents. 'It is a point that while there are people who are directly affected here, every Australian is affected as well, by the fact that we've had a loss of dairy industries that will have an impact right throughout Australia,' he said. NSW Farmers president Xavier Martin urged farmers to not 'fight floods alone' with support available to help them get back on their feet. 'We know farmers did everything they could to prepare for this disaster, but the reality is these floods have left colossal damage and devastation in their wake,' Mr Martin said. 'Dreadful connectivity has made it very difficult for many to stay in touch, but there is real help available and please don't hesitate to reach out for support when you can. Mr Martin said the NSW Agriculture and Animal Services Hotline was up and running to provide emergency assistance with livestock and animals, and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, as well as Local Land Services, are sharing what support is available via their social media channels. 'Local Evacuation Centres are also open to provide emergency accommodation, food and social support, and Recovery Centres have opened today as a one-stop shop for all flood resources and assistance in this time.' At the peak of the flood, 50,000 people were isolated from their homes. As of Tuesday more than 10,000 Australians remain cut off. A further five Australians have so far been reported to have died during the floods. The Prime Minister announced on Monday Australian Defence Force personnel had been called in to help with the clean up effort. Mr Martin said mental health services were readily available to help farmers in need. 'Lifeline is on 13 11 14 for crisis support any time, and we have a whole host of other mental health services on the NSW Farmers website that are here to help at this time,' he said. 'While many are only just beginning to assess the full extent of the damage, we know communities will need all the help we can get to recover from this – so stay safe, look out for each other, and together, we'll get through this.'
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Haas cleared, Crichton in race to prove Origin fitness
Blues centre Stephen Crichton remains in doubt for the Origin series opener in Brisbane. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP Payne Haas will play for NSW but Stephen Crichton will need to prove his fitness on the morning of the State of Origin opener. The Canterbury captain and star centre is battling a corked quadriceps, suffered in a collision during training on Monday that forced him to leave the session early. Campbell Graham is on stand-by for the Suncorp Stadium opener if Crichton isn't cleared. Coach Laurie Daley said he would give his right centre every chance, confident Test talent Graham can slot in at late notice given he had been in camp since day one. Daley, speaking before Tuesday's captain's run, did clear Brisbane prop Haas despite the Broncos weapon not yet training fully in Blues camp as he battled his own quadriceps complaint.
Perth Now
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Suaalii knocked out in Waratahs' Super derby with Reds
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has been stretchered off in the Waratahs' clash with the Queensland Reds. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP Code-hopping superstar Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has been escorted from the field on a medicab after being knocked out in the first half of the NSW Waratahs' Super Rugby Pacific derby with the Queensland Reds in Sydney. Suaalii was wiped out after copping an accidental knee to the jaw from teammate Andrew Kellaway as the pair collided in a tackle. Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt was watching on at Allianz Stadium as the fullback was treated for several minutes before being taken from the field. Rubbing insult to injury, the friendly fire mishap happened with Queensland on a penalty advantage. The Reds scored 30 seconds later through hooker Richie Asiata to level the match up at 14-14 moments before the halftime break.
The Guardian
16-03-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
New drugs added to PBS; alleged e-scooter bandit arrested
Show key events only 5.30am CET 05:30 What we learned, 16 March 2025 Updated at 5.38am CET 5.19am CET 05:19 Updated at 5.27am CET 5.08am CET 05:08 Jobs market appears to hold strong in face of tariff threat Australia's unemployment rate is expected to stay remarkably low when jobs data is released on Thursday, as the Reserve Bank considers more rate cuts. As US tariffs on steel and aluminium threaten to put thousands of Australians out of work, they can at least be encouraged that jobs remain plentiful in a historically strong labour market. The unemployment rate is expected to remain at 4.1%, well below pre-pandemic levels, when the Australian Bureau of Statistics releases labour force statistics on Thursday. Market consensus is for 30,000 new jobs to have been added to the economy in February, after an unexpectedly strong 44,000 gain in employment the month before. The labour market's persistent strength, which has obliterated all expectations of the Reserve Bank, has been underpinned by growth in the non-market sector. Health care, education and public administration dominated gains in employment in 2024, the ABS's labour account figures released earlier in March revealed, although the market sector did show some improvement, including a 3.9 per cent growth in mining jobs over the year. Anthony Albanese has ruled out imposing reciprocal tariffs on the US, which will limit the immediate price impact on imported goods, while any boost to inflation from a weaker Australian dollar will be offset by weaker economic growth, analysts said. Tariff announcements last week sparked a global stock market sell-off as traders contemplated the risk of a US recession. – AAP Updated at 5.13am CET 4.49am CET 04:49 Updated at 4.56am CET 4.37am CET 04:37 Sydney close to record-breaking March weather Just a note on the hot weather in Sydney to say that if the Sydney Observatory Hill mercury gets above 37.9C, it will be the hottest March day in five years, and if it gets above 38C, it will be Sydney's hottest March day ever. This is looking unlikely at this stage, with the temperature only just tipping over 36C – and 2pm is usually the hottest part of the day. Meanwhile, it is now 14.6C in Melbourne after a balmy maximum of 21.4C at 10am. Human-caused climate breakdown will continue to drag up temperatures and break records into the future, unless a meaningful effort is made to address the issue. Locals find reprieve from heatwave in Wollongong. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAP Updated at 5.21am CET 4.26am CET 04:26 Updated at 4.32am CET 4.08am CET 04:08 At least one home lost in bushfire at Melbourne's outer east At least one home has been lost and another partially damaged after a bushfire on the outskirts of Melbourne. The blaze swept through Montrose on Saturday night, sparking an emergency warning to scores of residents in its path after igniting about 9pm. Police confirmed the loss of one home on Sunday morning. Another suffered 'partial loss,' the state control centre told AAP. The emergency warning was downgraded to watch and act alert about 3.30am as more than 100 firefighters, four helicopters and two bulldozers battled the blaze. The fire, which started in a reserve about a kilometre west of the Mount Dandenong observatory, had burned through 33 hectares by sunrise. Nearby residents were being warned on Sunday morning that firefighters had been able to slow the spread of fire 'but the situation can change at any time.' A relief centre has been opened at Kilsyth sports centre. Montrose is one of several suburbs in the foothills of the Dandenong Rangess, Melbourne's highest point. – AAP Updated at 4.20am CET 3.53am CET 03:53 Police arrest Hobart's alleged e-scooter bandit A 31-year-old Tasmanian man who allegedly targeted e-scooters, e-bikes and bicycles across Hobart has been charged with 19 counts of theft. The man was arrested by Taskforce Saturate, initially launched in 2018 as a temporary initiative to tackle rising crime rates, after a three-month investigation. He was also charged with multiple breaches of bail and failing to appear in court. Police said the total value of the property stolen was just under $60,000. A search carried out as part of the investigation turned up stolen property, and police were making inquiries regarding ownership of the items. The man was detained and was due to appear in the Hobart magistrates court on Sunday. Beam e-scooters. Photograph: Jono Searle/AAP Updated at 3.57am CET 3.37am CET 03:37 Updated at 3.40am CET 3.20am CET 03:20 2.58am CET 02:58 Calls to ban steel-jaw traps after man convicted of animal abuse Steel-jaw traps used to 'inflict terrible injuries and cause enormous suffering' should be consigned to the scrap heap, animal advocates say. The call comes after a man was convicted in an Adelaide court for using the trap in his back yard to catch his neighbour's four-year-old cat, Lunar. The 71-year-old admitted to police he was aware the cat was in the trap for about two hours 'but left her meowing in pain', RSPCA South Australia said in a statement on Sunday. The cat's toe was crushed by the trap and required amputation. After the injured cat was freed, an RSPCA inspector and police attended the man's property to find the steel-jaw trap had been reset. It had been set next to a hole in a fence and surrounded by brickwork to funnel cats entering through the hole directly into the trap. RSPCA SA's chief inspector, Andrew Baker, said there was no good reason to own a steel-jaw trap and encouraged anyone who owned one to turn it in for scrap metal. These are barbaric devices that inflict terrible injuries and cause enormous suffering. It's tragic to think that some animals could become trapped and never found, leaving them to die in agony. – AAP Updated at 3.46am CET 2.37am CET 02:37 Five Coalition senators billed taxpayers total of $10,000 to attend conservative conference CPAC Coalition senators who addressed last year's Australian Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) billed taxpayers thousands of dollars in flights, accommodation and car expenses on the weekend of the event. Guardian Australia can also reveal the former Labor senator Fatima Payman claimed more than $4,000 on a whirlwind Perth-to-Melbourne trip in which she appeared at a public meeting in solidarity with the embattled CFMEU construction union. Politicians are permitted to charge taxpayers for travel expenses if the dominant purpose is parliamentary business, which covers a broad range of activities including electorate, party political and official duties. Shadow ministers Bridget McKenzie and Barnaby Joyce and Coalition backbenchers Alex Antic, Matt Canavan and Keith Pitt were invited to speak at October's CPAC Australia conference, the annual showcase of rightwing political activism. Parliamentary expenses figures show the five politicians claimed almost $10,000 between them on the weekend of the event, which was headlined by the former UK prime minister Liz Truss. For more on this story, read the full report by Guardian Australia's Dan Jervis-Bardy: Updated at 2.44am CET 2.20am CET 02:20 New IVF, contraception and endometriosis drugs added to PBS A new oral contraceptive, reproductive health and treatments for endometriosis will be added to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from 1 May. Slinda is currently available privately, with 80,000 women paying $80 for three months' supply, but the drug will receive wider availability with the subsidy that is expected to lower the price to $7.70 for concession card holders and $31.60 for general payments. A new treatment option for endometriosis for patients who have experienced moderate to severe pain and cannot get adequate relief from other hormonal treatments and painkillers has also been added to the scheme. The federal health minister, Mark Butler, said the addition of the treatments to the scheme will give 'Australian women more choice, lower costs and better health options'. Women have asked government to take their health care seriously, and we have listened. These listings could save women and their families thousands of dollars across their lifetimes. The new subsidy is in addition to the federal government's $573m women's health funding announcement made in early February. Minister for women, Katy Gallagher, said women often have more expensive and more complex health issues. This announcement is all about making treatment cheaper and easier, so women can focus on getting the care they need. Updated at 3.58am CET 2.03am CET 02:03 Trade minister 'still not clear' what US wants from tariff decision Updated at 2.08am CET 1.47am CET 01:47 Buster brings cool relief from fierce autumn heatwave A change is bringing cooler conditions, with residents in three states glad to see the back of a short but sharp autumn heatwave. A cool change has delivered relief to thousands of Australians forced to hit the beach or camp under air conditioners in two states, but the summer-like heatwave rippling across the nation's south-east persists in NSW. The cool change is already on the way with showers, cold winds and thunderstorms to follow. High and possibly damaging winds are likely in alpine areas of Victoria and NSW into Monday, as is snow across Tasmania's highlands. The change will bring relief to fire crews in South Australia and Victoria. A grassfire propelled by heatwave conditions destroyed one home and damaged another at Montrose on Melbourne's outskirts on Saturday night. South Australian firefighters are also battling blazes near Katarapko Island, north-east of Adelaide, and in the state's lower south-east near Lucindale. – AAP Updated at 1.59am CET
