Australia live news update: fifth child airlifted to hospital with irukandji jellyfish sting; Albanese and Dutton trade insults over Indigenous voice

From 4h ago Fifth child stung by irukandji on K’gari in a fortnight A primary school-age girl has become the fifth child airlifted to hospital from K’gari with suspected irukandji jellyfish stings in the past fortnight, AAP reports. The girl was swimming in the ocean near a popular creek at K’gari – also known as Fraser Island – when she was stung on her lower back and leg. Her parents used vinegar and water on the stings before the RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter landed on a beach on the western…

Australia news live: Penny Wong arrives in China for talks; vandalism of ancient Nullarbor Plain cave art ‘shocking’

From 36m ago SA minister condemns ‘shocking’ vandalism of ancient Indigenous cave art Kyam Maher, South Australia’s minister for Aboriginal affairs and attorney general, has condemned the vandals who have destroyed sacred Aboriginal cave art. Adelaide Now reported this week that vandals have destroyed 30,000-to-40,000-year-old Nullarbor Plain cave art that is sacred to the Mirning people of the Great Australian Bight: Traditional owners have been left “devastated” by the destruction of “fluting” designs carved into chalk limestone walls in Koonalda Cave, which is protected by locked steel gates. Maher has…

Australia news live: Penny Wong heads to China; South Australia braces for largest flood in 50 years

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Billboards celebrating Hong Kong’s ‘new era’ to stay up in Australia despite complaints

Billboards with a message from the man who led Beijing’s security crackdown in Hong Kong will remain on Australian streets despite complaints. The advertisements in Sydney and Melbourne celebrate “a new era” in Hong Kong, where the Chinese Communist party has imposed new security laws and quashed dissent. They feature a website with a message from Hong Kong chief executive John Lee, who oversaw that security blitz. <gu-island name="TweetBlockComponent" deferuntil="visible" props="{"element":{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TweetBlockElement","html":" Prime Minister @AlboMP, this billboard glorifying China’s “New Era” of repression in Hong Kong is in your electorate. Can…

Australia news live updates: at least 77 Covid deaths; Albanese pays tribute to Abe; NSW counts cost of floods

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Australia news live: NSW flood warnings; Sydney train strike delays; at least 27 Covid deaths recorded

From 5h ago NSW rail union pushes ahead with industrial action Sydney commuters are in for a “very messy day” as the NSW rail union pushes ahead with industrial action that will take out 70% of the train fleet, AAP reports. The Rail, Tram and Bus Union has been locked in long-running stoush with the Perrottet government over a new Korean-made Intercity fleet, which it says is unsafe. While the government has signalled it could be prepared to spend $264m to modify the fleet, the union says it has refused…