Health News at Your Fingertips

The Australian Taxation Office’s website has remained down today after it went offline at the start of the weekend.

A statement from the ATO posted to its social media notified users looking to make payments before 31 May that the website was down.

Another follow-up was posted today apologising for any inconvenience and explaining that technicians were still working on the issue.

Damaging storms and high winds are forecast for parts of Western Australia’s south-east while, to the north, the Pilbara coast has been placed under flood watch, AAP reports.

A cold front moving across from South Australia is likely to deliver the wild weather this afternoon before easing into tomorrow morning, the Bureau of Meteorology says.

While the storm winds are expected to average between 50km/h and 60km/h, most concern is for stronger gusts in excess of 90km/h.

Towns in the line of fire along the state’s southern coastal strip include Balladonia, Eyre, Forrest, Israelite Bay, Rawlinna and the SA border community of Eucla.

Residents have been warned to find safe shelter away from trees, powerlines, stormwater drains and streams, and to stay inside away from windows, unplug electrical appliances and avoid using landline phones. Some roads are also likely to be closed.

Heavy rainfall is meanwhile expected in parts of the Pilbara as a cloudband and surface trough move east during the day.

The bureau says catchments are gradually becoming soaked as a result of heavy downpours in the 24 hours to 9am and more rain is likely inland and to the north during the day.

Up to 200mm is forecast over the flood watch area, while a further 100mm to 150mm is possible tomorrow and moderate-to-heavy falls will continue on Tuesday.

Flooding of low-lying areas and river level rises are expected.

Many roads and possibly primary and secondary highways are likely to be affected and some communities may become isolated.

Would-be tenants asked for police and credit checks

What is your marital status? Can you provide a police check? Do you own a lawnmower? These are some of the questions prospective tenants are being asked as they try to secure housing amid Australia’s rental crisis.

Guardian Australia has seen several examples of rental application forms requesting police and credit checks – which can require applicants to spend at least $65 – merely to be considered eligible to apply for a property.

While applicants are not required by law to divulge such information to secure a lease, agencies often state they will not accept applications without these details.

For more on how property managers are holding renters to ransom, read the full report by Guardian Australia’s inequality reporter, Stephanie Convery:

A bushmaster vehicle donated by the Australian government as part of military aid to Ukraine has reportedly been destroyed in fighting on the border between Donetsk and Luhansk.

A video appeared to show the burnt-out wreckage of the vehicle in an empty field.

The first of 20 vehicles, worth $50m, donated by the Australian government arrived in late April. They included two ambulance variants and came on top of $26.5m in military aid in the form of weapons and ammunition.

An early video posted by the Ukrainian military appeared to show them in operation soon after delivery.

Here are the latest coronavirus numbers from around Australia today, as the country records at least 30 deaths from Covid-19:

ACT

• Deaths: zero
• Cases: 583
• In hospital: 82 (with two people in ICU)

NSW

• Deaths: four
• Cases: 6,545
• In hospital: 1,146 (with four people in ICU)

Northern Territory

• Deaths: zero
• Cases: 175
• In hospital: 21 (with no people in ICU)

Queensland

• Deaths: two
• Cases: 3,047
• In hospital: 374 (with seven people in ICU)

South Australia

• Deaths: zero
• Cases: 2,312
• In hospital: 217 (with nine people in ICU)

Tasmania

• Deaths: one
• Cases: 582
• In hospital: 50 (with one person in ICU)

Victoria

• Deaths: 16
• Cases: 7,372
• In hospital: 507 (with 30 people in ICU)

Western Australia

• Deaths: seven
• Cases: 7,100
• In hospital: 315 (with eight people in ICU)

Australia’s Covid deaths on the rise, with 87 fatalities during the weekend

Covid-19 deaths are again on the rise with Australia so far recording 87 fatalities over the weekend, AAP reports.

Victoria reported more than 7,300 new virus cases and 16 deaths on Sunday, NSW more than 6,500 infections and four fatalities.

There were 3,047 cases in Queensland and two deaths, and 7,100 infections in Western Australia and seven deaths.

It follows the nation reporting 58 deaths in total yesterday, along with almost 34,000 cases.

Australia’s active virus caseload is almost 315,000, with more than 2,700 patients recovering in hospitals.

China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, is heading to Fiji before a key meeting with Pacific foreign ministers on Monday.

Yi is meeting eight Pacific nations during the trip, which is being watched closely by the Australian government.

Australia’s new foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, was in Fiji on Thursday and Friday to spell out the new government’s commitment to the region and warn of the consequences of China’s security offers:

A reminder that those seats we’re still waiting for a final result on are Macnamara and Deakin in Victoria, and Gilmore in New South Wales. We won’t get a result on those today.

Daniel Hurst

Anthony Albanese wants to ‘treat the parliament with respect’

The new prime minister has vowed to form a constructive relationship with parliament’s expanded crossbench and has warned against underestimating Peter Dutton as opposition leader.

In a wide-ranging interview on Sky News, Anthony Albanese reflected on the “great responsibility” of serving as prime minister but said he would try to “keep it real”.

As the Labor government prepares to finalise its frontbench in coming days, the finance minister, Katy Gallagher, has flagged tough decisions in the October budget, saying there were “huge” fiscal pressures in health, aged care, the NDIS and defence.

Labor has won at least 75 seats in the lower house and is on the cusp of reaching the 76 necessary for a majority, with all eyes on the Victorian seat of Macnamara.

Albanese said he wanted to win as many seats as possible but added that he had “always been respectful of people in the parliament”:

I’m very clear as well that I want to treat the parliament with respect … I think we’ll have a good relationship with people across the crossbench.

Read the full report here:

GWS Giants forward Bobby Hill to undergo surgery for testicular cancer

GWS Giants forward Bobby Hill will undergo surgery on Tuesday after being diagnosed with testicular cancer, AAP reports.

The 22-year-old kicked one goal in his team’s loss to Brisbane yesterday and has featured in every game for the Giants so far this AFL season.

But he is now set for an indefinite period out of action. Medical assessment following his recovery will determine if any further treatment is required.

GWS football manager Jason McCartney said:

“Bobby and his family have our full support, as always, as they go through this period. His health and wellbeing is our absolute priority and he’ll have the best medical care as he undergoes surgery on Tuesday and beyond.

There’ll be a period of time for him to recover before further medical assessment to understand if any additional steps are required.

Bobby is in good spirits and knows he has the support and love of the entire Giants family.

Seven people with Covid-19 have died in Western Australia, with the state recording 7,100 new cases. There are 315 people in hospital, of whom eight are in ICU.

These deaths include others that occurred over the past week but were only reported to WA Health yesterday.

Sydney Harbour’s Me-mel island returning to Aboriginal hands

A Sydney Harbour island is returning to Aboriginal hands with the NSW government committing $43m to its clean-up and repair, AAP reports.

The transfer of Me-mel, or Goat Island, to its traditional owners is a “personal priority”, premier Dominic Perrottet said today:

A big part of my commitment is ensuring the island is remediated before it’s transferred to the Aboriginal community.

The funding will help repair seawalls and buildings, improve wharf access, upgrade services and remove contaminants including asbestos over the next four years.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service is calling for expressions of interest to join a committee making recommendations about the transfer of Me-mel to Aboriginal ownership.

Aboriginal affairs minister Ben Franklin said the Me-mel transfer committee includes Aboriginal people and representatives of NSW government agencies:

Me-mel holds great significance to Aboriginal people, including in the creation story Boora Birra, where the great eel spirit created the water courses known today as Sydney Harbour.

Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council deputy chair Yvonne Weldon said the island was a place for people to be within their culture, pass stories to the next generation and share with others:

Me-mel is an opportunity for truth telling, and it’s about recognising the past and unlocking the future.

The island is listed on the NSW state heritage register and has a range of important Aboriginal, historical and natural values including more than 30 buildings and other structures from the 1830s to 1960s.

The NPWS will continue to manage Me-mel until the transfer is finalised and maintain public access to the island.

Australia’s Covid tracking site CovidBaseAU turns one

Today is the first birthday of one of the country’s leading Covid-19 data tracking websites, CovidBaseAU.

It has been tracking Covid-19 statistics since April 2021, breaking down Australian and global data on infections, hospitalisations, deaths and vaccinations.

Its detailed analysis quickly meant the account became cited by media as a source.

The website was revealed to be run by three teenage boys, Wesley, Jack and Darcy, when they tweeted a photograph of themselves. Wesley and Jack were 14 at the time, and Darcy was 15.

Reflecting on the success of their project, the group vowed to continue their work despite attention on the issue falling away.

For more see Guardian Australia’s write up about how the trio behind Australia’s leading Covid tracking website.

All residents in Western Australia and South Australia can receive a free flu jab in June. AAP reports:

WA residents of all ages will be able to receive their free influenza jab from Wednesday at state-run clinics or participating pharmacies and GPs.

People aged over five in South Australia can go to their local GP or pharmacy to get their free vaccine.

SA premier Peter Malinauskas said his state’s program was expected to cost $4.9m:

The dual challenge of broad community spread of Covid-19 and influenza at the same time during winter threatens to put further pressure on a hospital system already facing significant demand.

We must do everything we can to ensure as many South Australians as possible are immunised against both Covid and influenza to ease pressure on our hospitals.

There have been 1,195 confirmed cases of influenza in SA this year, compared with 12 cases for the same period last year.

WA has had 194 flu cases in 2022, with only about 20% of West Australians receiving their flu jab so far this year. Premier Mark McGowan said:

After two years of very low flu cases, I would urge all Western Australians to roll up to protect themselves now before the worst of winter.

Queensland has made influenza vaccines free to all people aged six months and over. NSW and Victoria are considering similar arrangements.