The days of being swamped with politicians talking about COVID already seem like a long time ago. But the virus continues to run rampant, making a lot of Australians sick and killing many, even if we don't seem to be talking about it publicly as much. #abc730 pic.twitter.com/f2hyVb9QXt
— abc730 (@abc730) January 23, 2023
The Poll Bludger, 22 January 2023:
Today’s Sunday Telegraph has a YouGov poll suggesting Labor is headed for a comfortable win at the New South Wales state election on March 25, leading the Coalition 56-44 on two-party preferred and 39% to 33% on the primary vote, with the Greens on 11% and others on 17%.
The poll also encompasses questions on the Dominic Perrotet Nazi costume scandal (67% say it won’t affect their vote, 20% say it will make them less likely to vote Coalition, and 8% demonstrate the problems with this sort of question by saying it makes them more likely to vote Coalition), cashless gaming cards (61% are in favour with 19% opposed), better party to deal with the cost of living (30% Labor, 25% Liberal, 26% neither) and issue salience (39% cost of living, 17% economy, 14% health, 10% each for housing affordability and environment). The poll was conducted January 14 to 17 from a sample of 1069.
Newcastle Herald, 23 January 2023, excerpt p.2:
The NSW government is on track to lose the March state election as Premier Dominic Perrottet's popularity wanes.
A YouGov poll shows the Coalition well behind in both first preference and two-party preferred standings.
Labor led the Coalition by 56 per cent to 44 per cent on a two-party preferred basis, while it was ahead by 39-33 per cent on first preferences…..
Both figures point to a parliamentary majority for Labor, which was buoyed in the poll by strong backing from young voters.
Support for Mr Perrottet also dropped, with only 44 per cent of those surveyed preferring him over Labor leader Chris Minns. But Mr Minns says he isn't paying attention to the latest poll as many voters remain undecided.
EveningReport.nz, 23 January 2023, excerpt:
On other topics, the poll found a majority of voters supported cashless gaming cards (61% in favour, 19% opposed). On the party best to deal with the cost of living, 30% selected Labor, 25% the Liberals, and 26% neither. Cost of living was rated the most important issue by 39%, far ahead of the 17% who rated the economy most important.
This YouGov poll found 46% of NSW voters supported a federal Indigenous Voice to Parliament, while 30% did not.
If these recent polls are accurate, the Coalition is likely to be defeated in March after three terms and 12 years in government. If this happens, Labor would govern federally and in all states and territories except Tasmania.
Tomorrow is Thursday, 26th January 2023. As a mark of respect for First Nations communities across Australia North Coast Voices will not be posting that day.
17 Jan 17 2023
First Nations dance theatre Marrugeku have collaborated with Noongar rapper Beni Bjah on an Australian take on Childish Gambino’s provocative 2018 hit This Is America.
This Is Australia is a blistering tirade against First Nations incarceration, deaths in custody and Australia's treatment of asylum seekers. Filmed on the lands of the Bunuba people in Fitzroy Crossing in the Kimberley, and directed by Marrugeku's artistic directors Dalisa Pigram and Rachael Swain, the video features Marrugeku performers and locals, and is packed with references to Australian history and recent events….
“The banning orders against these entities send a strong message to any provider trying to take advantage of the NDIS and Australian taxpayers.
For too long, rogue providers have been able to make use of a lack of communication and coordination between government agencies. Australians relying on the NDIS are some of our most vulnerable, and any organisation taking advantage of their safety net must be stopped.” [Minister for the NDIS and Government Services Bill Shorten, media release, 22 January 2023]
NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, NDIS Provider Register – Part 2 – Section 73zs National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013, last updated 21 January 2023, excerpt:
Banning Orders
The effect of a banning order is that the individual or organisation that is the subject of the order is prohibited from providing NDIS supports and services, or their provision of NDIS supports or services is restricted. For example, a banning order may be made against an individual on the ground that he or she is believed not to be suitable to provide supports or services to people with disability. The basis for that belief might be the fact that the individual has been charged with a criminal offence. In such a case, the NDIS Commission needs to ensure that the making of the order would not prejudice, in any way, criminal proceedings relating to the charge and that it would not be inconsistent with the presumption of the individual’s innocence. Consequently, the order would initially be for a period long enough for the proceedings to be concluded. At the conclusion of the proceedings, the length of the banning order would be revisited, having regard to the outcome of the proceedings and other relevant factors. The result could range from making the order permanent to revoking it.
The following corporations and individuals have been named in the aforementioned document between 4 January and 18 January 2023:
Rafael Ukken, Harris Park NSW – prohibited from providing disability supports and services, directly or indirectly, to NDIS-funded participants in the National Disability Insurance Scheme, for a period of two (2) years, effective from 5:00 pm on 24 January 2023.
Millennium Disability Care Pty Ltd, Williams Landing Vic – permanently prohibited from providing NDIS supports and services to people with disability, effective from 5:00 pm on 13 January 2022.
A.C.N. 615 641 079 Pty Ltd trading as Australian Home and Community Care; SIL Finder, Kurunjang Vic – permanently prohibited from providing NDIS supports and services to people with disability, effective from 5:00 pm on 19 January 2022.
Sarah Michael Leen Manyok Thiak, Kurunjang Vic – prohibited from being involved in the provision of NDIS supports and services to people with disability for a period of five (5) years, effective from 5.00 pm on 19 January 2023.
David Anyoun Manyok Thiak, Williams Landing, Vic – prohibited from being involved in the provision of NDIS supports and services to people with disability for a period of 10 years, effective from 5.00 pm on 19 January 2023.
Ambrose Mareng, Melton, Vic – prohibited from being involved in the provision of NDIS supports and services to people with disability for a period of five (5) years, effective from 5.00 pm on 19 January 2023.
Aman Manyok Thiak, Melton West, Vic – prohibited from being involved in the provision of NDIS supports and services to people with disability for a period of five (5) years, effective from 5.00 pm on 19 January 2023.
Deng Manyok Thiak, Braybrook, Vic – prohibited from being involved in the provision of NDIS supports and services to people with disability for a period of five (5) years, effective from 5.00 pm on 19 January 2023.
Ramesh Saini, North West Rocks, NSW – prohibited from being involved in the provision of supports or services to people with disability, for a period of two (2) years, effective from 5:00pm on 11 January 2023.
Further details can be found at:
This file covers the period March 2019 to January 2023 and lists NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission bans currently in force [pp. 2-32], bans no longer in force [pp. 33-36], compliance notices currently in force [pp. 37-41], notices complied with/completed [pp. 42-51], suspension of registrations no longer in force [pp. 53-61], revocations of registration of registered NDIS providers [pp. 62-70], infringement notices [pp. 71-73] and refusals to re-register previously registered NDIS providers [pp. 74-77].
In early November 2022 authorities began to warn that this summer was likely to see a rise in tick numbers due to to widespread and persistent wet weather. At the same time, veterinarians were warning that the high number of domestic animals suffering tick bites was placing a strain on tick anti-venom supplies.
Now in 2023 the Australian Dept. of Heath has observed that globally in recent decades, “ticks have been expanding their geographic ranges largely due to climate change.”
Below is what might be described as a cliffs note on common ticks which bite humans in Australia.
Australian Government Dept of Health and Aging, Guidance Note: Introduction to Ticks, Australian Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases and Illnesses, excerpt, January 2023:
Overview and summary
Ticks are parasites that feed off animal and human blood. Globally, ticks, along with mosquitoes, are recognised as the most important vectors in the transmission of bacterial and viral pathogens to humans and animals. Ticks transmit the most diverse array of infectious agents of any blood-feeding arthropod and have the potential to pose public health and biosecurity risks.
Globally, there are almost 900 species of tick, distributed into two main families: soft ticks (Argasidae) and hard ticks (Ixodidae). Of these nearly 900 tick species, only 28 species globally are recognised to transmit human pathogens, which include organisms such as bacteria, viruses and protozoa.
Hard ticks have a hard, flat body and elongated mouthparts with rows of backward pointing teeth. This group includes the most important species that bite humans. Hard ticks favour habitats with areas of vegetation, such as forests and fields where females lay eggs on the ground, however, they may also be found in urban areas if there are unoccupied patches of grass.
Soft ticks have a wrinkled leathery appearance. Only a few species of this type are found in Australia, and they rarely come into contact with people. Soft ticks generally favour sheltered habitats and will hide in the nests of hosts or areas where hosts rest.
While ticks and tick-borne diseases are often limited to specific geographical regions, they may be potentially found anywhere in the world, with international travel from endemic regions to non-endemic regions by people, animals and cargo, potentially transporting ticks.
In recent decades, ticks have been expanding their geographic ranges largely due to climate change.
Australian ticks and tick-borne illnesses
In Australia, there are over 70 species of tick, 66 of which are endemic to Australia. Five species were introduced by humans with domestic animals (‘exotic’ ticks), which result in economically important diseases restricted to domestic animal hosts. None of the exotic ticks typically bite or feed on humans.
Of the tick species endemic to Australia, 17 may attach and feed on humans, but only six of these ticks are able to act as competent vectors for the transmission of pathogens to humans. Apart from the occasional local bacterial infection at the tick bite site (eschar) the only two systemic infections that are definitely known to be transmitted by tick bites in Australia are rickettsial infections from infection with Rickettsia spp.(Queensland tick typhus (QTT), Flinders Island spotted fever (FISF), and Australian spotted fever (ASF)), and Q fever (Coxiella burnetii).
Two additional species of Rickettsia (other than those that cause QTT, FISF and ASF) have been identified in Australian ticks and may be considered potential pathogens, although their presence in febrile patients has yet to be confirmed. These new species are Rickettsia gravesii and Candidatus Rickettsia tasmanensis.
The species of Australian ticks known to bite humans and transmit bacterial infection are:
• the Australian paralysis tick (Ixodes holocyclus), which is endemic on the east coast of Australia and causes QTT due to Rickettsia australis and causes Q fever due to C. burnetii
• the common marsupial tick (Ixodes tasmani), which occurs in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania and Victoria and causes QTT due to R. australis and causes ASF due to Rickettsia honei subsp. Marmionii
• the southern paralysis tick (Ixodes cornuatus), which occurs in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania and causes QTT due to R. australis
• the ornate kangaroo tick (Amblyomma trigutattum), which occurs throughout much of the central, northern and western Australia and causes Q fever due to C. burnetii
• the southern reptile tick (Bothriocroton hydrosauri), which occurs mainly in southeastern Australia and causes FISF due to R. honei
• the Haemaphysalis novaeguineae tick (no common name), which causes ASF due to R. honei subsp. Marmionii.
Three of the 66 species endemic to Australia are well-known for biting and feeding on humans - the Australian paralysis tick (I. holocyclus), the ornate kangaroo tick (A. triguttatum), and the southern reptile tick (B. hydrosauri).
In Australia, most tick bites pose no medical problems if the tick is safely removed. Tick bites can lead to a variety of illnesses in patients, with the most common being allergic reactions. The Australian paralysis tick is the most medically significant tick in Australia and is
responsible for over 95% of tick bites in humans in eastern Australia and for most tick-borne illnesses in Australia. The Australian paralysis tick can cause several illnesses, severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), mammalian meat allergy (MMA), paralysis, and death.
While tick bites in Australia can lead to a variety of illnesses in patients, as indicated above, much about Australian ticks and the [non-allergic] medical outcomes following tick bites remains unknown and requires further research…..
In Australia, no definite tick-borne viral infections of humans are known, although a new tick virus has recently been isolated (Graves, unpublished).2
2 Unpublished at the time of publication of this Guidance Note. Provided by Graves, S. R., April 2021
