Health News at Your Fingertips

Let’s link in with Nino Bucci – he is covering Adem Somyurek’s questioning by the Victoria’s Independent Broad‑based Anti‑corruption agency today.

WA’s director general of health Dr David Russell-Weisz said the recommendations will strengthen the work of the hospital.

“The inquiry team identified that notwithstanding the findings and recommendations improvements, PCH is an excellent hospital whose safety and quality is comparable to pH children’s Hospital across Australia.”

The report will be released publicly in the coming hours and tabled in the state’s parliament. There will also be a coronial inquest into Aishwarya’s death.

“I want to acknowledge Aishwarya’s parents. I spoke with them this morning because I want to apologise to them again of the tragic loss of a seven-year-old daughter. Their role in this report has been crucial,” Cook said.

Cook said the inquiry makes 30 recommendations.

“All 30 will be accepted and acted upon immediately and all of them will be acted upon.”

In Perth, WA health minister Roger Cook is talking about the release of a report following an independent inquiry into the emergency department at Perth Children’s Hospital.

The inquiry’s report comes after seven-year-old Aishwarya Aswath spent two hours waiting at the hospital on 3 April after she presented with a fever. She died minutes after she was finally seen.

And in NSW – 254 people are being treated in hospital with Covid, with 42 in ICU. Almost 94% of the eligible population has received one vaccine dose, and close to 90% are fully vaccinated. An amazing number there!

Let’s bounce down to Victoria where we have a breakdown of the state’s Covid numbers. There were 1,069 new cases recorded in the latest reporting period, a slight decrease compared to the previous day. Ten more people have died from the virus.

There are 579 people in hospital. Of those patients, 90 are in intensive care. More than 92% of people aged 16 and over have received at least one vaccine dose in Victoria, and more than 84% are fully vaccinated.

Gunner says masks are still needed in Port Darwin and Katherine inside shops, bars and all public venues.

“You can exercise without a mask provided it isn’t a safe distance, but this includes the gym,” Gunner said.

Northern Territory chief minister Michael Gunner has just spoken, confirming lockout restrictions across greater Darwin will lift at midnight. It comes after the NT recorded one new Covid case.

“Some individuals have been identified as close contacts. We are doing final testing work with them now. These results will be back today and it is one reason why the lockout will lift at midnight.

“All other close contacts are in isolation and all have been tested and all are negative.”

Thank you, Matilda. Let’s get cracking on this afternoon’s news with Labor’s response to Scott Morrison’s announcement on electric vehicles.

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese says:

They’re once again not showing the leadership that’s required. Once again, Scott Morrison is following. The truth is that all of the auto manufacturers are phasing out internal combustion engines.

There is a massive shift around the world to electric vehicles. Australia’s uptake last year was under 2%. In Norway, it was 70%. In the United Kingdom, it was 15% and rising. We’re falling way behind.

You might remember electric vehicles were a big part of the 2019 federal election campaign – Labor went to the election with the policy that 50% of new car sales would be electric by the end of the decade.

The PM warned it would “end the weekend”.