Month: August 2022

Categories
Sports

Rohan Browning flies back into form winning 100m heat

Rohan Browning flies back into form winning 100m heat

“I tried not to take it (the loss in Eugene) to heart, there is always that sort of humiliation element when you get run out in the heats, but I just tried to bounce back and not take it to heart and trust that the form is there it is just in the execution and I think I have tapped into a good bit of form for these championships.

“For sure there is more in me. I always planned on running this round hard. At this level you have to treat every round with respect but there are two rounds to come and I don’t want a repeat of Tokyo where I was out in the semis.”

The field is strong in Birmingham in the sprints with nine runners who have gone under 10 seconds before.

Doran was drawn in the same heat as the favourite, Akani Simbine of South Africa, who won gold on the Gold Coast. Doran ran well to come second behind Simbine.

Akani Simbine, of South Africa (centre).

Akani Simbine, of South Africa (centre).Credit:AP

“I had him in the heats at worlds so I knew what to expect, but it is not just Simbine there are fast guys in that heat, I had a Jamaican (Nigel Ellis) and you know how talented they are. I knew what to expect.

“I wasn’t next to Simbine this time so that gave me a bit more freedom to move and not tense up and that’s what I was able to do in that race just ease up and get over the line in a second.

“I was thinking to myself I can cut the jets here and I thought ‘actually no there is a Jamaican next to me I probably should run through the line’. I am just happy to have finished the race in one piece.

“To beat a Jamaican that is always fun and to race Simbine again he is a phenomenal athlete so I am really excited.

“I am happy with that performance I know I can go faster. So there is more to come tomorrow. Simbine is still to beat, he is 2-0 against me but there are some fast guys to come, we know Rohan can put on a show.”

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On an impressive opening day of athletics for Australia Naa Anang and Bree Masters both also went through to the semi-finals of the women’s 100m. Anang finished second in her heat at 11.37s and Master was second in 11.41s.

Critically for the games, Jamaican superstar Elaine Thompson-Herah, the five-time Olympic gold medalist, was in the field. Her presence of her provided the star quality to the games after her compatriot Shericka Jackson chose not to come. She cruised through her heat in 10.99s.

Australia’s Henry Frayne, the silver medalist from the Gold Coast games, needed just one jump to qualify for the long jump final hitting 7.85m with his first effort. It was enough to guarantee he advanced to the end. Chris Mitrevski also advanced with his best 7.76m.

Catriona Bisset who dramatically fell in her world championship final and was put through to the final, looked strong in her heat coming second in 2:00:40 and going through to the semis.

Get all the latest news from the Birmingham Commonwealth Games here. We’ll be live blogging the action from 4pm-10am daily.

Categories
Australia

Larapinta Trail flush with human waste, toilet paper as trail popularity hits new peaks

Rocks covering white toilet paper on hiking trail.

The Larapinta Trail near Alice Springs is renowned for its spectacular views and scenery, but its increasing popularity among bushwalkers this year is generating a less impressive sight — deposits of toilet paper.

According to Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife, 2022 is shaping up to be the busiest season for the 230-kilometre trail in the heart of the West MacDonnell National Park.

“In the first two weeks of July the numbers of independent walkers, not including those on commercial tours, averaged at just over 300 people per night,” NT Parks and Wildlife operations director Chris Day said.

But experienced Victorian hiker Michelle Forrer said the amount of toilet paper she saw scattered across the trail during July was disconcerting.

Australian scrub with rocks in foreground and a clump of toilet paper under a rock.
Views are being hampered on the Larapinta Trail by the amount of toilet paper visible.(Supplied: Chris Day)

“This was definitely the biggest downside to my experience on the trail and I was wondering what could be done about it,” she said.

“Some of it may have been dug up by animals but a lot of it looked discarded.”

Ms Forrer said the trail was very busy at the time with “hundreds of people along the track.”

“For many, it was their first hike,” she said.

She said education was the key to reducing human impact on the trails.

“A month before I walked the Larapinta, I had walked the Australian Alpine Walking Track,” Ms Forrer said.

“[There was] not a trace of paper to be seen out there but numbers are fewer and it’s not popular with beginner hikers.”

Leave no trace

Mr Day said evidence of human waste on the trail had been a problem for many years but it typically became more apparent as the tourism season wore on.

“One of the things that we’ve noticed is there’s probably a slightly different market on the trail this year,” he said.

“There’s probably a lot of people who are not what you call seasoned bushwalkers.”

Mr Day said these visitors might not be aware of a key bushwalking principle, which is to leave no trace.

Shredded white toilet paper in amongst red rocks
Parks and Wildlife urge walkers to bury their waste if nature calls in between toilets.(Supplied: Annette Forde)

He said there were 16 toilets along the track and he encouraged hikers to plan ahead and use the facilities.

“But where you get caught short and there is no toilet, the recommendation is to get at least 100 meters away from the trail, the campsite, any waterhole or watercourse, and dig a shallow hole and bury [the waste and the toilet paper] properly,” he said.

Mr Day said another key principle was to be considerate of the park’s hosts, such as its traditional owners and the staff who look after the trail, as well as other visitors.

FIFO toilets

NT Parks and Wildlife is in the early design stages of installing toilets on some of the higher sections of the Larapinta trail, with location approvals by traditional owners and funding yet to be secured.

Sunrise over a small cylindrical structure in the distance. Hill to the left of image
One of the 16 toilets along the Larapinta Trail.(ABC Alice Springs)

Mr Day said a big challenge was vehicle access to higher campsites, with one solution to use a helicopter.

“It’s a problem of not only getting in and building infrastructure in those locations, but then the ongoing servicing,” he said.

Mr Day said using a helicopter to fly out waste would not be cheap, with hire costs amounting to $1,500 per hour.

“Realistically, to service Mt Sonder, it’s over an hour flight,” he said.

Sunrise with a large outcrop of rock in background
Mt Sonder one of the jewels on the Larapinta Trail.(ABC Alice Springs: Samantha Jonscher)

With the toilets likely to be several years away, Mr Day said it was vital that bushwalkers did the right thing so that nature could take its course.

He said it was fortunate that the Larapinta Trail had time to recover over the hot summer months, which gave human waste time to biodegrade naturally.

“Particularly if people are doing the right thing and digging their cat hole away from the trail, it will break down quite rapidly,” Mr Day said.

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Categories
US

Judge rejects bid to delay Oath Keepers Jan. 6 trial

“I can’t move this trial and I’m not going to move this trial,” Mehta said during a hybrid courtroom and videoconference hearing Tuesday that stretched to more than two hours. “It would quite literally wreak havoc for this court’s docket.”

Mehta said he was confident the court could find jurors untainted by publicity related to the House hearings.

“We are not going to avoid that publicity by moving this trial for a few months,” said the judge, an appointee of President Barack Obama. “I don’t know what they’re going to do and when they’re going to do it. This is a court of law. We cannot wait on the legislative process to move forward.”

Mehta did question a prosecutor about why the Justice Department agreed in June to a delay in another seditious conspiracy case against members and affiliates of the Proud Boys group, amid concerns that the House panel might soon release as many as 1,000 witness transcripts. Both sides in that case expressed concern that such a release just before, during or after the trial could cause significant problems.

However, Assistant US Attorney Kathryn Rakoczy said Tuesday that the release of those transcripts in August seemed more certain several weeks ago, and she suggested the government believed the potential timing was now too unpredictable to justify a delay in the Oath Keepers trial set to open at the end of next month.

“The government did not have perfect information at that time, but we were afraid that it would come to bear,” Rakoczy said of the potential document dump. “And that seemed much more certain at that point in time.”

Rakoczy said that at this point, the Justice Department wasn’t sure whether the panel would release any transcripts or when. POLITICO reported last week that the panel’s chair, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), said a framework for sharing the documents with prosecutors had been worked out. The panel later said through a spokesperson that 20 unspecified transcripts were likely to be shared soon, but gave no guidance about the remainder.

“We have no promises or assurances that these transcripts will be released,” she said Tuesday.

Mehta emphasized that if the witness transcripts did emerge shortly before the trial, he would consider again whether a delay is warranted.

“If there are transcripts dropped on the eve of the trial that pertain to these defendants and the allegations against them, I will revisit the issue. You have my word,” the judge said.

Nine defendants are currently expected to be part of the trial starting in September, including Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes. Three Oath Keepers members have already pleaded guilty to seditious conspiracy charges and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. A trial for other Oath Keepers members not facing that charge is set for February 2023.

Categories
Technology

Google Pixel 6a smartphone users complain and unlock device with unregistered fingerprint

Google Pixel 6a smartphone users complain and unlock device with unregistered fingerprint

strong points

Unlocking Google Pixel 6a with unregistered fingerprint.
Google Pixel 6a users have complained about it.
Previously, many experts gave information about this problem.

New Delhi. Google recently launched its Pixel 6a smartphone in many countries. There are a few flaws in this phone. Some users say that the phone unlocks with any fingerprint, which is concerning. Earlier also, several reports had surfaced, in which it was said that Pixel 6a units were unlocked with unregistered fingerprints.

According to 9To5Google, two reports surfaced last week about the Pixel 6a’s under-display fingerprint sensor (UDFPS) indicating that the phone unlocks with anyone’s fingerprint. Now, six other similar reports have come to light. In these, it was said that despite the fingerprint lock, other people unlocked the phone.

Pixel 6a tests didn’t work
Earlier, reviewer Geikiranjeet said in one of his tweets that Google seemed to have done a poor job of testing the Pixel 6a…just like the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro had a lot of issues. There are flaws in this phone. He said I couldn’t trust the Pixel 6a’s fingerprint scanner.

Also Read – Nothing Phone (1) Passes Scratch and Bend Tests, But Other Issues Remain

unaware of the problem
Meanwhile, YouTube channel Beebom in its video showed the unlocked Google Pixel 6a with multiple unregistered fingerprints. It should be noted that there is no information about this problem yet. At the moment it is also not clear if this problem will end with a new update or if it is a hardware problem.

Pixel 6a specs
The Pixel 6a has a 6.14-inch FullHD+ OLED display. The device is powered by Google Tensor and comes with 12-megapixel dual cameras. Its front camera has an 8-megapixel sensor. A 4410 mAh battery is available in the phone. Apart from this, an in-display fingerprint sensor is available in Pixel 6A.

phone price
Let us know that the sale of the phone in India started from July 28th. Its price is Rs 43,999. It is available in Chalk, Charcoal and Sage color options. The Pixel 6a was launched in a single variant. The phone is sold with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of RAM. Customers get an instant discount of Rs 4,000 on the purchase of the phone with the Axis Bank card. With this discount, the phone can be purchased for Rs 39,999.

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Tag: google, Smartphone

FIRST POST: August 02, 2022, 12:25 PM HST

Categories
Sports

Commonwealth Games 2022: Cody Simpson butterfly result, star sends powerful message

Commonwealth Games 2022: Cody Simpson butterfly result, star sends powerful message

Cody Simpson has gone from the music charts to off the charts in his swimming career.

The 25-year-old has ticked off everything he wanted to in his Commonwealth Games campaign and the biggest tick came on Wednesday morning in his pet event — the 100m butterfly — where he lined up alongside Aussie national champion Matt Temple.

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In a thrilling final, Temple picked up the silver medal in a swim where the top three swimmers all finished within 0.16 seconds of each other.

Temple shared the silver with England’s James Guy after they were both pipped in the reach to the wall by the strong-finishing Joshua Liendo-Edwards of Canada.

Simpson, meanwhile, was slow out the blocks and it looked like being a disaster for him when he made the turn after the first 50m before he powered home in the second 50m to finish fifth — an extraordinary result.

His time of 52.06 seconds was the second-quickest of his career, but it was still outside his personal best of 51.79 seconds.

The pop star started his swimming comeback journey just two years ago after 10 years away from the pool and he did it as something of a sideshow alley attraction. Now he’s proven he is box-office on his swimming credentials alone.

Aussie swimming legend Cate Campbell told Simpson in his post-race interview he was changing the game as a mature-age converter to the sport.

“It has been a meteoric rise, a phenomenal effort and you are really re-writing what people can do in this sport,” she said.

“We are usually seeing people coming in as teenagers and you are told, if you are entering as a teenager, you’re too late.”

Simpson responded: “I want to inspire young people to know that they can do whatever it is they want to do, even if they feel like it’s too late or they’re too old to pick something up, because it’s never too late,” I told Channel 7 after the race.

He said he is well ahead of where he thought he would be in his dream of chasing a medal at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

“I think with experience comes confidence. And I’m still gathering the experience, so still gaining confidence,” he said.

“I am happy to be here. And I think, win or lose today, I’m going to go back to the drawing board and make sure I come back stronger. I’m already way ahead where I thought I would be at this stage.”

The Queenslander’s journey from music artist to swimming star has captivated Australia this year since he qualified for the Commonwealth Games at the Australian Swimming Championships in May.

His swimming career changed forever earlier this week when he picked up a gold medal in the men’s 4x100m freestyle relay, where he swam in the heats before missing out on a spot in the final.

His dream of representing Australia had already come true this campaign when he competed in the semi-finals of the 50m butterfly.

But it has always been the 100m butterfly that he has had his eye on.

He was able to move through to Wednesday’s final with the fifth-quickest overall time, swimming at 52.16, well outside the personal best time of 51.79 he set at the Australian National Championships in May.

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Categories
Australia

Mid-career workers retrain as teachers under para-professional program in NSW schools

Two women stand on the ground of a high school during break time

Jodie Hirst was a professional sports dietitian for 10 years before she felt drawn to the classroom.

Like many people during the COVID-19 lockdowns of 2021, Ms Hirst reassessed her career and realized that she loved helping and inspiring people to learn.

Ms Hirst, a mother of two, is currently six months into a Masters of Teaching at Macquarie University.

“The transition from going back to university has been challenging but I am really enjoying it,” she said.

“I would love to inspire people to respect science and continue to want to learn in that field. I am hoping I can bring that into schools.”

Ms Hirst is taking part in New South Wales’ first mid-career teachers program to support people from other areas of the community to transition to teaching.

Bulli High School is situated 100 meters from the beach which is featured in the background.
Bulli High School has more than 1,000 students and 70 teachers.(ABC Illawarra: Sarah Moss)

She is working as a para-professional — helping with paperwork, resource development and classroom activities — at Bulli High School, in the northern Illawarra region.

Principal Denise James said she was “a bit in awe” of mid-career teachers such as Ms Hirst.

“I think it’s phenomenal and I hope more people do it,” she said.

“It’s invigorating for students to know teachers’ stories and to know they have had this other life and are experts in other things. It brings a whole lot of possibilities.”

changing the world

Ms James hoped more people would come to look at teaching as a great career.

“I admire someone who is already performing very well in their own field who wants to become a teacher,” she said.

“We know that the better education they [students] get, the better the world is.

“Jodie [Hirst] is here as a para-professional learning from our science faculty, but Bulli High is also learning with Jodie.

A woman wearing green stands in her office
Principal Denise James says the majority of teachers at Bulli High have decades of teaching experience.(ABC Illawarra: Sarah Moss)

“That is the beauty of this program — we are learning from her how science operates outside of our school, in the real world … and we are also being able to use her skills in classrooms.”

But Ms James did warn that people’s expectations of teaching could sometimes differ from reality.

“You picture yourself in classrooms, you don’t realize that a lot of the work is happening alongside your colleagues in staff rooms in conversations and in meetings,” she said.

“So the paraprofessional role is a really great program.”

Along with 70 permanent teachers, the school relies on a pool of long-term temporary and casual teachers, who Ms James said it could not do without.

“We need the flexibility especially with a lot of illness in the world today,” she said.

Learning how to teach

Ms Hirst said she was looking forward to being able to increase the supply of science and technology teachers across the state.

“I’ll be teaching science, biology, chemistry and junior science … but I am relearning the content which is a part of the degree I am doing now, so learning the syllabus and how to teach that,” she said.

A woman stands in a science classroom at Bulli High School
Jodie Hirst is transitioning from a career as a sports dietitian to being a secondary science teacher.(ABC Illawarra: Sarah Moss)

“Yes, I have a HECS debt now but with this mid-career transition, they [the Education Department] do provide some funding for the first six months of study, and then being employed three days a week at Bulli High, that’s going to help.”

Delivering group presentations in her former role as a consultant dietician for the Illawarra Academy of Sport helped give her the confidence to be at the front of the classroom.

“People were so motivated and generally interested that it became the favorite part of my job,” Ms Hirst said.

Professionals on the move

More than 4,000 new teachers have entered the workforce this year after gaining accreditation, according to the state’s Education Department, with at least 28 of them transitioning from other careers.

A productivity commission report in NSW recently investigated how to get more people from other careers into teaching.

NSW Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell saluted the program and was “excited to welcome a further 3,000 teachers by the end of the year”.

Sue Bennett smiles in the afternoon sun
Professor Sue Bennett says there are different teaching strategies across different subject areas.(Supplied UOW: Paul Jones)

Professor Sue Bennett from the University of Wollongong said the extra teachers were much-needed.

“We’ve always had a group of people who have got significant experience in other roles… who want to make a change and they seek that pathway into the [teaching] profession,” Ms Bennett said.

“Around Australia there are universities and private providers that offer degrees in teaching with many variations available designed for people to find the right fit for them.”

The next round of applications for the mid-career program is open until September 11, with successful candidates due to commence studies in 2023.

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Categories
US

Utah man trying to kill spider with lighter started Springville wildfire, police say

Firefighters battle a wildfire from the ground as a helicopter drops water above them in Springville on Monday. The fire started when a man tried to burn a spider with a lighter, police said.

Firefighters battle a wildfire from the ground as a helicopter drops water above them in Springville on Monday. The fire started when a man tried to burn a spider with a lighter, police said. (Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)

Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes

SPRINGVILLE — A wildfire near Springville, which police say was started by a man who claimed he was trying to kill a spider Monday afternoon, is now 90% contained, according to firefighters.

Cory Allan Martin, 26, of Draper, was arrested Monday evening for investigation of reckless burning, as well as possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, according to Utah County Jail records.

Reports of a fire “north of town on the mountainside” came in just before 5 pm, Springville fire officials said. Utah County sheriff’s deputies also responded to a report of the fire, which was located by the Bonneville Shoreline Trail near 1400 N. Main in Springville.

When deputies arrived, firefighters at the scene said they had come across a man who said that he started the fire. The crews escorted him down the mountain to speak with authorities. The man identified himself as Martin and explained that he saw a spider on the mountain and tried to burn it with a lighter, according to a police booking affidavit.

“When he attempted to burn the spider, the surrounding brush ignited and the fire began spreading very rapidly,” the affidavit states.

Martin was arrested at the scene and placed in a squad car. Deputies later found a jar of marijuana and drug paraphernalia while searching his belongings, the arrest report adds.

The fire quickly grew to 40 fires in size Monday evening; it had burned about 60 acres of US Forest Service land within the Pleasant Grove Ranger District as of Tuesday morning, according to Utah Fire Info, an information center for state and federal firefighters.

Two crews, one squad and one engine, were assigned to the fire Tuesday. Firefighters said they expected “containment to drastically increase” by the end of Tuesday’s shift, and it improved from 10% to 90%.

Officials asked residents to avoid the area to “help open the roads for emergency vehicles.”

The Bonneville Shoreline Trail is also temporarily closed between the Buckley Draw and Little Rock Creek as crews continue to fight the fire.

Photos

Most recent Utah wildfires stories

Arianne Brown is a breaking news reporter for KSL.com. She also enjoys finding and sharing stories of everyday Utahns, a talent she developed over several years of freelance writing for various Utah news outlets.

Carter Williams is an award-winning reporter who covers general news, outdoors, history and sports for KSL.com. He previously worked for the Deseret News. He is a Utah transplant by the way of Rochester, New York.

More stories you may be interested in

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Categories
Technology

Discord won’t treat its Android app like an afterthought anymore

Discord_IAP_KeyVisuals_Header_02-resized

React Native developers are winning, though

Discord might be best known as an advanced IRC for gamers and the Perpetually Online, but it’s got a mass appeal with over 100 million Android downloads. While the app has an excellent rating on the Play Store, one common concern is the late arrival of new features when compared to the iOS or desktop clients. However, that’s set to change soon, as the Discord Android app is getting an under-the-hood overhaul.

ANDROID POLICE VIDEO OF THE DAY

Discord has announced on its official blog that the Android app is being rewritten in React Native. The iOS version of Discord has been on React Native since 2015, while the desktop version uses React and Electron in its framework. This means that new features and updates will roll out nearly simultaneously across all three platforms and Android users won’t be waiting around for new features iPhone owners get to have. Additionally, the design and UI elements are expected to be more aligned across the three versions. New Android users will notice a larger font size when they install the app for the first time, whereas existing users will be able to toggle the font size in their app’s settings. The payoffs are about as obvious as what’s leading to them: a reduced codebase means developers are able to push out updates faster.


However, some users are highly concerned about the changes. Those who had enrolled in beta testing for the revamped app have mentioned that it is slow to run. Additionally, a few developers who have worked with React Native claim that it tends to be littered with bugs. That said, numerous popular apps including Facebook, Instagram, Microsoft Office, and the Xbox Game Pass use the language (so says React Native) and if those companies can make okay-functioning Android apps with it, then why not Discord?

The updated Android app for Discord has already started rolling out and will arrive globally within a few weeks.

Categories
Sports

Alpine driver Oscar Piastri says he won’t be replacing Fernando Alonso

Alpine driver Oscar Piastri says he won't be replacing Fernando Alonso

“We do have a legal contract with him (Piastri) into the future for ’23. And if an option is taken up, for ’24,” he said.

“I don’t know what he’s done with McLaren … I’m not privy to that.”

Oscar Piastri looms as Australia's next big thing in F1 - but it won't be with his current French team.

Oscar Piastri looms as Australia’s next big thing in F1 – but it won’t be with his current French team.Credit:Getty Images

Piastri had previously been linked to Williams, but that was as a loan deal on the understanding that he would return to Alpine when Alonso left.

There was no comment from McLaren, who are battling Alpine for fourth place in the constructors’ championship, and Piastri’s management could not be contacted immediately.

McLaren have Daniel Ricciardo and Britain’s Lando Norris but the experienced Australian has been performing below expectations and his place called into question.

Ricciardo, who joined McLaren from the Renault team that is now Alpine, has insisted he is staying and has an option on his side.

Oscar Piastri and fellow Australian Daniel Ricciardo at a Renault event in 2020.

Oscar Piastri and fellow Australian Daniel Ricciardo at a Renault event in 2020.

Formula 1 has a contracts recognition board to settle disputes between teams over drivers and the matter could end up there.

Alpine, as part of a major manufacturer, are unlikely to have taken the step of announcing a driver without feeling confident, however.

“We believe we are legally correct in our statement,” the team said, without further comment.

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There was an air of uncertainty and mis-communication, however, with Szafnauer saying he found out about Alonso’s move only when he read Aston Martin’s press release.

Asked whether he had spoken to Alonso, Szafnauer replied: “I haven’t talked to him, since he’s on a boat, I think, in the Greek Isles somewhere.”

Alonso then posted on Instagram a video of himself walking in his home town of Oviedo in northern Spain. He also tweeted a picture of a go-kart at his museum track with the caption “favorite activity on holidays”.

The dispute echoes another ongoing contract clash between McLaren and Chip Ganassi Racing in IndyCar over reigning champion Alex Palou.

Spaniard Palou announced last month that he will be joining McLaren’s roster of drivers for 2023, hours after Ganassi said he was staying with them.

Reuters

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Categories
Australia

Private emergency rooms are on the rise in WA. What does that mean for public health care?

Architectural drawing of the new St John of God hospital in Subiaco, comprising two rectangular towers.

Health industry experts say WA’s rising number of private emergency departments is unlikely to erode investment in public hospitals, but patients should understand the limitations and costs of private EDs.

By the end of 2025, the number of private emergency departments — which charge up to $295 to see a doctor — is expected to have tripled in WA.

“It is a little bit curious because emergency departments are not profitable things for private hospitals,” St John of God Health Care Group chief executive Shane Kelly said.

“They’re generally run at a loss.”

For almost 20 years, the only private emergency department in WA was the St John of God facility in Murdoch.

In November, Hollywood Hospital opened a $67 million emergency department.

In May, the hospital said it had seen 5,000 patients in its first six months. It charges a $200 consultation fee.

St John of God Health Care Group has also announced plans to build the state’s third private emergency department at its Subiaco hospital by the end of 2025.

Rise reflects demand, chief says

Dr Kelly said the rising investment in private emergency departments in WA reflected high demand for emergency care overall.

“Obviously, our public emergency departments are pretty busy — very busy, in fact — and, I think, they’re looking for another option,” he said.

Portrait of Shane Kelly smiling and wearing suit in front of white background.
Dr Kelly says he does not expect the rising number of private emergency departments in WA to affect public health services.(Supplied)

The motivation for private hospitals, Dr Kelly said, was to fill empty beds by bringing more patients to the hospital door.

St John of God hospitals waives the emergency consultation fee of $295 if patients are admitted into the hospital, he said.

Since it opened in 1994, St John of God’s Murdoch-based emergency department has seen about 20,000 patients annually.

Fees raised to ‘moderate’ demand

But last year, as the community spread of COVID-19 ballooned, the facility found itself under pressure as patient numbers reached a record high of 25,000.

Pandemic-related staff shortages were also affecting the private ED’s capacity, Dr Kelly said.

Demand for the facility grew so high that the facility raised its fees by $100 to $295.

“We were trying to moderate the demand a little bit,” Dr Kelly said.

He said patient numbers had dropped back to normal in 2022, which he said was likely linked to the fee hike and the launch of the Hollywood facility in November.

Dr Kelly said he did not believe the growing number of private hospitals would reduce investment in public emergency departments, already under enormous stress, because he said the number of private patients was “modest” overall.

“For example, we see about 80,000 a year in our St John of God public emergency department at Midland,” Dr Kelly said.

But, he said, they only saw up to 25,000 patients at the emergency hospital.

“So that puts it in perspective,” Dr Kelly said.

More choice for consumers

WA Health Consumers’ Council deputy director Clare Mullen said providing more choices would be positive for health care overall.

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