Collins says ‘no evidence’ to suggest H5N1 has reached agriculture
Collins is now taking questions, and has said there is no evidence to suggest H5N1 has reached Australian agriculture.
“We have no evidence of H5N1 being in our poultry or agricultural systems at this stage, they are two separate things in terms of wildlife versus our agricultural system,” she told reporters in Canberra.
Collins also said the risk to human health from the virus remains low.
But experts are concerned about the effect it could have on the poultry industry. In 2024, a different strain of bird flu led to authorities killing 2 million chickens, disrupting egg supplies.
Watt says more bird flu mass mortality events to be expected
Environment Minister Murray Watt is speaking now, and has warned Australians to expect more mass mortality events in Australian wildlife caused by H5N1 bird flu.
“I want to level with people: this is the beginning of what is likely to be a long, difficult journey in terms of the impacts on wildlife. But it is one that we are well-prepared for,” he said.
“The reality is, you can’t stop native and wild birds flying around, and you can’t stop wild animals moving around, and that will mean more mass mortality events like the one we have now seen.”
Collins confirms first H5N1 mass mortality event in South Australia
Minister for Agriculture Julie Collins is addressing the media and providing an update on the H5N1 bird flu strain following a suspected mass mortality event off the coast of South Australia over the weekend.
Collins confirmed the cluster of dead birds, found at Baudin Rocks in South Australia, had tested positive for the strain.
“Whilst this is the first case, confirmed case of a mass mortality, and obviously a very concerning development, it is not unexpected,” she told reporters.
There are now 74 confirmed cases of the strain in Australia, according to the Department of Agriculture.
Watch live: Ministers provide update on bird flu
Minister for Agriculture Julie Collins and Minister for Environment Murray Watt will address the media and provide a bird flu update. Follow along with our livestream.
One Nation threatens legal action against journalists for ‘character assassination attempts’
Pauline Hanson barred The Age, the ABC, and The Guardian from her Melbourne press conference, with the new state leader Warren Pickering threatening legal action against journalists for “character assassination attempts”.
This masthead’s Victorian State Political Editor Chip Le Grand revealed in April that the Nepean by-election campaign committee collapsed under Pickering’s leadership as the state branch’s president, after he advised a candidate to use a personal bank account to accept campaign donations. If acted upon, that would put One Nation in breach of the state’s electoral laws. Pickering disputed the report confirmed by three sources.
“ABC were denied entry, enter here, and The Guardian. I’m not putting up with their rubbish. I’m not putting up with their spin, their lies whatsoever. I want truth and honesty. You get it from me. I expect it back from the media,” Hanson said.
Pickering jumped in: “To elaborate on that just a little bit, we expect and invite a healthy amount of scrutiny of our candidates and our policy positions. However, any blatant character assassination attempts based on fabrications of our candidates will be met with swift legal action.”
Hanson unveils candidates for November state election
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson is in Melbourne today to announce candidates in the upcoming November state election.
Hanson said she was proud to announce Warren Pickering, One Nation’s Victorian president, to run as the party’s leader in the Victorian upper house.
Pickering said the minor party was putting the major parties on notice, but would not detail the party’s policy platform, saying an announcement would come in the next few weeks.
“Top of the list is crime, crime and corruption,” Pickering said.
“As of today, One Nation is officially a part of the Victorian political landscape, and will remain so. We are officially putting the major parties on notice. We intend for this to be November to remember, and we are contesting to govern.”
Read more the other seven candidates announced today here.
Former 2GB broadcaster on trial in Sydney for indecent assault, sexual touching
Alan Jones, a former teacher, political candidate, speechwriter and coach of the Australian national rugby union team, dominated Sydney breakfast radio for decades before he retired from 2GB in May 2020.
More than four years later, in November 2024, he was arrested and charged over allegations he indecently assaulted, groped or inappropriately touched a number of young men.
His criminal trial starts today in the NSW Local Court in Sydney and centres on allegations by six men, who will give evidence over the coming weeks. Jones has always maintained his innocence and is defending the charges.
Follow along with our live coverage of Jones’ trial here.
Warning: This coverage may contain discussion of legal submissions and evidence that is confronting for some readers.
Harm reduction advocates address inquiry into Labor’s gambling ad package
An inquiry into Labor’s gambling advertising package is being held in parliament today. First up are harm reduction advocates, many of whom have firsthand experience of gambling addiction.
One of them, Anna Bardsley, described the Albanese government’s laws as “piss weak”. Lead advocate Tim Costello said the gambling bill fails the government’s own aims, and said it was a “lineball” call as to whether this was any better than the status quo.
They have identified three main holes in the package. One, that there is no national gambling regulator. Two, that it does not deal with betting inducements. And three, that it does not stop the saturation of ads on streaming platforms and on television.
Former rugby league player Luke Bateman, 31, explained how these betting inducements work:
Trump says US will hold off on Iran attacks in hope of quick deal
Cairo: President Donald Trump has said the US would hold off on a fresh attack on Iran as long as a deal could be reached quickly to halt Iran’s nuclear ambitions and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump said on his Truth Social platform on the weekend that Iran and other Middle Eastern countries had asked for time to complete a deal that would lead to “the Immediate, Complete and Total” reopening of the vital strait and “an end to Iran’s nuclear threat”.
He did not name the countries in the post, which followed a call with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, a US ally.
“Based on this request, I have agreed, for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran, to cancel the attack, subject to being able to rapidly make a DEAL,” Trump wrote. Israel “joins me in this commitment”, he said.
Massive Attack banned from Singapore after flag furore
British trip hop legends Massive Attack have been banned from Singapore after reportedly unfurling a Palestinian flag during a show there last week.
The band also reportedly chanted “free Palestine” with audience members joining in.
In an Instagram post overnight Sunday (AEST) the band said that following their performance on July 29, “we were surprised and disappointed that our entire band was detained by the police, isolated and separately questioned”.
Some members had their hotel rooms searched and their passports temporarily confiscated, the Massive Attack post added.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
