Berejiklian vows to 'hold everyone to account'

17/6/2019

(Translation appears in Arabic section)

Sydney - M E Times Int'l: New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian has vowed to 'hold everyone to account', as hundreds of residents from Sydney's Mascot Towers remain displaced. Residents were evacuated on Friday evening after cracks were found in the beams of the ten-storey building, sparking concerns about its structural stability. Documents from a meeting of owners have revealed concerns about the structure were first raised months ago. The incident is similar to that of the 36-storey Opal Tower apartment complex in Sydney's Olympic Park which was evacuated six months ago after loud cracking noises were heard by residents, with damage later found on several floors.

What Albanese pushes for?

Darwin: Labor leader Anthony Albanese has reminded the federal government that it could take up New Zealand's offer to resettle refugees from Australia's offshore detention centres.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton confirmed that about 800 asylum seekers remain on Nauru and Manus Island.

Of the group, 300 have been knocked back by the United States under its deal with Australia to resettle up to 1250 refugees, which has otherwise nearly played out.

Another nearly 300 have been accepted by the US and are waiting to fly out.

Mr Albanese says the government needs to find a place for the hundreds of people still awaiting processing to go.

"You can't keep people in indefinite detention," he told ABC Darwin.

"We have offers there from New Zealand that are on the table and have been on the table for years."

New Zealand has offered since 2013 to settle at least 150 refugees from the offshore centres.

Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Chris O'Neill bashed

Melbourne: A top Victorian police officer has been left in hospital with serious head and rib injuries after being violently attacked at a Melbourne train station on Saturday night.

Transit and Public Safety Command Assistant Commissioner Chris O'Neill was kicked and punched in the head and chest near Heyington Railway Station in Toorak at about 5:30pm on Saturday.

The 60-year-old remained in hospital on Monday morning with serious head injuries and cracked or broken ribs.

Police said he was unable to move his upper torso and was undergoing tests on his head.

On Sunday, Inspector Stephen O'Donnell told a press conference the attack was "very unprovoked".

This morning, police said they identified two men they had been wanting to speak to, but were yet to make any arrests.

Labor won't rule out changes

Sydney: Labor has not ruled out supporting changes to Australia's contentious medivac laws if the government is able to ensure refugees still get the medical care they need. Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has revealed 'just over 30' asylum seekers from Manus Island and Nauru have been brought to Australia for treatment, despite the government stirring fears of 'hundreds' arriving. Shadow Minister for Home Affairs, Kristina Keneally, says Labor supports the medivac bill but has 'no information that would suggest changes are necessary'. 'If the government seeks to repeal medevac they need to explain to the parliament why that is necessary,' Ms Keneally says.

Elderly suffer hypothermia

Melbourne: Victorian pensioners are needing treatment for hypothermia, after suffering dangerously low body temperatures in their own homes, in a "concerning" trend.

A study of hypothermic emergency presentations between July 7, 2009 and September 1, 2016 to Alfred Health was prompted by a record-breaking cold winter in 2015.

It found older people who suffered hypothermic episodes at home were more likely to die than younger people with similar symptoms found outside.

Plan for Australians living

Sydney: Australians living with chronic pain will have access to 20 new Medicare-funded services to help manage their suffering under a new national strategy.

The plan also calls for a new pain medicine certificate that would encourage doctors to prescribe fewer drugs to deal with pain, instead ordering exercise and psychological management strategies

Doctors could get the certificate through six months of study, according to the Daily Telegraph, while a new website would be launched to educate people more broadly about managing pain without drugs.

The strategy has been developed by Pain Australia, with the federal government committing funding.

It will be presented to the states and territories for endorsement at the Council of Australian Governments' meeting in the coming weeks.