Aged care home resident strapped to chair for total of 14 hours in one day

20/01/2019

(Translation appears in Arabic section)

Sydney - M E Times Int'l: Video and photos obtained by the ABC show dementia patients strapped to their chairs in a Sydney nursing home — a practice the Australian Law Reform Commission says could constitute elder abuse.

Michelle McCulla contacted the ABC's aged care investigation after her 72-year-old father Terry Reeves was regularly strapped to his chair at Garden View Nursing Home in Merrylands, in Sydney's west.

Records show on one day he spent a total of 14 hours over one day in restraints.

"They said that he had gotten aggressive with another male nurse," Ms McCulla said.

"Every single day there was a family member there and every single day he was in a restraint," Ms McCulla said.

Police release new evidence in Israeli student murder

Melbourne: A woman found dead near a shopping centre in Melbourne's north has been identified as a 21-year-old exchange student from Israel. Victoria Police has released new evidence they hope will lead to catching the killer of Aiia Maasarwe, whose body was found by a Melbourne tram stop at about 7am on Wednesday. Authorities have released CCTV footage of the victim on the night she was killed, and pictures of clothing they believe belonged to the killer. After attending a show at The Comics Lounge Comedy Club, Ms Maasarwe was dropped off at Bourke Street by friends, where she got on the 86 tram to Bundoora. It is believed she was attacked when she got off while speaking to her sister on the phone.

Neil Prakash citizenship 'non issue' for Fiji

Fiji: Fiji's Director of Immigration has told Sky News that Australia cancelling Neil Prakash is a 'non issue' for Fiji, because he is not a citizen of their country. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has visited Fiji on Thursday where he is expected to announce an expansion of the Pacific Labour Scheme, as well as a $84 million partnership to provide university education for teachers. However the Priem Minister will also face questions over Australia's attempt to strip terrorist Neil Prakash of his Australian citizenship. The Melbourne-born terrorist, who is awaiting trial in Turkey, has a Fijian father but Fiji says Prakash is not one of its citizens.

Poll reveals most Aussies want celebrations to stay on January 26

Sydney: The majority of Australians support keeping Australia Day on January 26, a new poll has revealed.

The poll, conducted by right wing think tank the Institute of Public Affairs, asked 1659 people a series of questions around the divisive public holiday.

The Advance Australia poll found 71 per cent believe the public holiday should stay where it is and 78 per cent saying they were proud to celebrate on January 26.

Interim Report on OPAL TOWER Released

Sydney: The NSW Government today released the preliminary findings of its independent investigation into Opal Tower, in an interim report prepared by Professors Mark Hoffman, John Carter and Stephen Foster.

Minister for Planning and Housing, Anthony Roberts, thanked owners and residents for their support during the government’s independent investigation.

“I can’t begin to comprehend the disruption this has caused to their lives, particularly at this time of year, and I thank them all sincerely for allowing the government’s investigation team and other teams to get on with their work”.

Statement by Professors Hoffman, Carter and Foster:

“Our interim report confirms a number of factors may have contributed to the damage, although we have ruled out extreme weather, poor quality materials and issues with the foundations.

 “We also believe more work needs to be done to check the structural design of the hob beams and associated structural members with consideration given to strengthening them wherever they are in the building.

Mr Roberts said that from the beginning, the Government’s paramount concern has been for the safety and welfare of all the residents.

A full copy of the interim report is available at:

https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/interimopalreport

Seven in 10 Aussies don’t want more migrants, ANU survey reveals

Canberra: Just three out of every 10 Aussies believe the country needs more people, a survey by the Australian National University has revealed.

As the federal government and opposition grapple with their migration policies ahead of the next election, ANU researchers have uncovered a dramatic decline in support for population growth.

With Australia’s population a little over 25 million, more than 2000 adults were asked late last year whether they thought the country needed more people.

Only 30.4 per cent of respondents believed Australia needed more people, compared to 69.6 per cent who felt the country did not.

The high cost of housing, overcrowding in major cities, bad traffic and job security issues were among the most common reasons cited for limiting Australia’s population growth.

Labor has 'mangled' Australia's border security: Dutton

Canberra: Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton says it is a ‘certainty’ that people smuggling boats will restart if Bill Shorten’s Labor Party is successful at the upcoming federal election. Mr Dutton launched an attack on Labor after it was revealed the Australian Federal Police intercepted a people-smuggling operation bound for Australia on January 4. A ground of 34 people, including 24 Sri Lankans and 10 Indians, was stopped from departing Malaysia's west coast on January 4 after being promised settlement in New Zealand and Australia. Mr Dutton says the Labor Party has 'mangled' Australia's border security and has already given people smugglers reason to believe they can restart the boats.