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Australia news live update: NT on edge over growing Covid cases; debate about Victoria’s pandemic laws rages Australia news live update: Daniel Andrews ‘won’t be deterred’ by Victoria protests; NT on edge over Covid cases; flood warnings for NSW
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The New South Wales government’s proposed affirmative sexual consent laws contain a loophole that could allow alleged offenders to use mental ill health to escape conviction, according to a leading rape and domestic violence support service.
In a letter sent on Tuesday morning to the NSW attorney general, Mark Speakman, and other MPs, Rape and Domestic Violence Services Australia urged amendments to the laws, which are to be debated in parliament this week.
The service, which runs the NSW Rape Crisis Centre, says it consulted with other providers within the sector, as well as academics and psychologists, before preparing the letter.
The letter says the reforms are “warmly welcomed” and congratulates Speakman for his decisiveness in bringing them before parliament. The reforms were considered the best consent laws in the country by some experts when they were unveiled in May.
You can read the full report below:
A minor flood warning has been issued for communities around the Namoi River in NSW. This includes Bugilbone on Thursday and Goangra on Monday.
New South Wales police have seized a car as they continue to comb a mid-north coast property and surrounding bushland for the remains of missing three-year-old William Tyrrell.New South Wales police have seized a car as they continue to comb a mid-north coast property and surrounding bushland for the remains of missing three-year-old William Tyrrell.
The renewed search for vital clues in the baffling seven-year mystery is now in its third day as detectives returned to the property where he disappeared. The renewed search for vital clues in the seven-year mystery is now in its third day as detectives returned to the property where he disappeared.
William went missing wearing his Spider-Man suit while playing at his foster grandmother’s home in 2014, in a case that has attracted national attention.William went missing wearing his Spider-Man suit while playing at his foster grandmother’s home in 2014, in a case that has attracted national attention.
Police on Tuesday dug up the garden at the Kendall home, with a mechanical sift brought on to the property, and sprayed luminol, a chemical that detects traces of blood, during the night.Police on Tuesday dug up the garden at the Kendall home, with a mechanical sift brought on to the property, and sprayed luminol, a chemical that detects traces of blood, during the night.
In nearby bushland, volunteers cut down trees to help in the search.In nearby bushland, volunteers cut down trees to help in the search.
Police seized a Mazda car from a home in Gymea in Sydney’s south on 9 November.Police seized a Mazda car from a home in Gymea in Sydney’s south on 9 November.
You can read the full report below:You can read the full report below:
Fixing overcrowded housing in Indigenous communities is key to protecting vulnerable people from Covid-19 amid a Northern Territory outbreak fuelling a Labor senator’s “worst fears”, reports AAP’s Georgie Moore.Fixing overcrowded housing in Indigenous communities is key to protecting vulnerable people from Covid-19 amid a Northern Territory outbreak fuelling a Labor senator’s “worst fears”, reports AAP’s Georgie Moore.
Jab rates for Indigenous people continue to lag across every state and territory. Just under 58% of Australia’s over-16 Indigenous population is double-dosed.Jab rates for Indigenous people continue to lag across every state and territory. Just under 58% of Australia’s over-16 Indigenous population is double-dosed.
Labor senator Malarndirri McCarthy’s family members are at the centre of a Northern Territory outbreak infecting 11 Indigenous people across Katherine and the remote community of Robinson River.Labor senator Malarndirri McCarthy’s family members are at the centre of a Northern Territory outbreak infecting 11 Indigenous people across Katherine and the remote community of Robinson River.
About 52% of Indigenous people are fully vaccinated in the territory, while 72% have received one dose.About 52% of Indigenous people are fully vaccinated in the territory, while 72% have received one dose.
McCarthy told ABC TV on Wednesday:McCarthy told ABC TV on Wednesday:
Her sister carried the virus into Robinson River and nine of the politician’s family members tested positive on Tuesday.Her sister carried the virus into Robinson River and nine of the politician’s family members tested positive on Tuesday.
She called for immediate support to fix overcrowding in remote community houses.She called for immediate support to fix overcrowding in remote community houses.
She also said misinformation was being targeted at Indigenous communities.She also said misinformation was being targeted at Indigenous communities.
People are being stopped from entering or leaving Robinson River or surrounding homelands under federal biosecurity rules.People are being stopped from entering or leaving Robinson River or surrounding homelands under federal biosecurity rules.
Masks are mandatory across the territory and a lockdown of Katherine will run until at least Monday.Masks are mandatory across the territory and a lockdown of Katherine will run until at least Monday.
Double-dose vaccination rates among Indigenous Australians are as low as 34%. The ACT has the highest Indigenous full vaccination rate of 84%.Double-dose vaccination rates among Indigenous Australians are as low as 34%. The ACT has the highest Indigenous full vaccination rate of 84%.
Australia’s overall double-dose rate has surpassed 83% for people aged 16 and older.Australia’s overall double-dose rate has surpassed 83% for people aged 16 and older.
Centrelink’s decision to cancel the age pension of an 80-year-old man who lives in a nursing home with advanced dementia was “absurd and wrong”, a tribunal has found.Centrelink’s decision to cancel the age pension of an 80-year-old man who lives in a nursing home with advanced dementia was “absurd and wrong”, a tribunal has found.
In a judgment published this week, the administrative appeals tribunal criticised Centrelink for cancelling the man’s age pension when he did not “personally have the capacity to comprehend … a decision to suspend his pension”.In a judgment published this week, the administrative appeals tribunal criticised Centrelink for cancelling the man’s age pension when he did not “personally have the capacity to comprehend … a decision to suspend his pension”.
The tribunal heard David Fry was living in an aged care home and his son, John, was appointed his legal guardian, after David was discovered driving on the wrong side of the road and judged to be “mentally incapacitated”.The tribunal heard David Fry was living in an aged care home and his son, John, was appointed his legal guardian, after David was discovered driving on the wrong side of the road and judged to be “mentally incapacitated”.
John Fry became responsible for managing his father’s dealings with Centrelink, which had been paying David the age pension since 2006.John Fry became responsible for managing his father’s dealings with Centrelink, which had been paying David the age pension since 2006.
You can read the full report below:You can read the full report below:
Speaking of the threats made again the Victorian premier and his family, here is what Daniel Andrews wive, Catherine Andrews, had to say about it last night:Speaking of the threats made again the Victorian premier and his family, here is what Daniel Andrews wive, Catherine Andrews, had to say about it last night: