Police are calling for urgent assistance to find four children they say were taken by a man in queensland this morning.
Police said the children, aged eight, seven, four and three, were taken by Joshua Carter, 28, from a property at The Leap, north of Mackay, in Central Queensland about 11.30am.
In an amber alert issued this evening, the Queensland Police Service said the children “may be at significant risk”.
Police have provided this photo of the four children. (Queensland Police)
“All of the children are described as being Caucasian in appearance with a slim build and brown hair,” police said in a statement.
Carter was said to have taken them from a Maraju Yakapari Road address in a white 2005 Nissan Patrol four-wheel drive.
The vehicle had Queensland number plates 063BC9.
Amber alert August 11, 2022: Police claim 28-year-old Joshua Carter, of The Leap, was seen taking the children away from a Maraju Yakapari Road address in a white 2005 Nissan Patrol 4WD bearing Queensland Registration 063BC9. The vehicle was last seen heading toward the Bruce Highway, Mackay. (composite)Amber alert August 11, 2022: Police say the children taken from The Leap are aged eight, seven, four and three. (composite)
The 4WD was last seen heading towards the Bruce Highway.
Carter is described as Caucasian in appearance with a solid build and 175 centimeters tall.
He has a shaved head, a full bushy beard, and multiple face and body tattoos including Joker-themed facial tattoos.
Police have issued this image of the man they believe has taken the children. (Queensland Police)
Anyone with information has been urged to contact police at the following numbers:
Call 131 564 to provide information about this abduction.
Call 000 for life-threatening information about this abduction.
Former president Donald Trump on Wednesday declined to answer over 440 questions during a deposition with investigators working for New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office, instead choosing to invoke his fifth amendment right against self-incrimination each time.
According to multiple reports citing sources familiar with what happened during the Wednesday session, Mr Trump only answered one question — he provided his name when asked after he was sworn in as a witness.
The ex-president had announced his intention to avail himself of his fifth amendment protections earlier on Wednesday at the end of a lengthy, rambling statement filled with attacks on Ms James, who has been overseeing a long-running probe into whether Mr Trump’s eponymous real estate company violated New York tax laws.
“Under the advice of my counsel and for all of the above reasons, I declined to answer the questions under the rights and privileges afforded to every citizen under the United States Constitution,” he said.
Shortly after posting on his own social media platform about having arrived at Ms James’ “very plush, beautiful, and expensive” offices, the ex-president sent out the statement through his government-funded post-presidential office.
Under an image of the Great Seal of the United States, Mr Trump accused the Empire State’s top prosecutor of “mak[ing] a career” of “attacking” him and his business and of being “a failed politician who has intentionally colluded with others” to “carry out this phony years-long crusade that has wasted countless taxpayer dollars”.
“What Letitia James has tried to do the last three years is a disgrace to the legal system, an affect to New York State taxpayers, and a violation of the solemn rights and protections afforded by the United States Constitution,” said Mr Trump, who added that he “did nothing wrong”.
Mr Trump, who once famously suggested that invoking one’s Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination was itself evidence of criminality, said he now understands why one would “take the fifth” if innocent.
“When your family, your company, and all the people in your orbit have become the targets of an unfounded, politically motivated Witch Hunt supported by lawyers, prosecutors, and the Fake News Media, you have no choice,” he explained, adding that the FBI search of his Palm Beach, Florida residence as part of a federal investigation into whether he violated laws against theft of government documents and unlawful possession of classified information “wiped out any uncertainty” as to whether he’d refuse to answer questions on grounds that he might incriminate himself.
“I have absolutely no choice because the current Administration and many prosecutors in this Country have lost all moral and ethical bounds of decency,” he said.
Mr Trump’s refusal to answer questions could shield him from criminal liability in any cases brought as a result of Ms James’ probe (although under New York law she herself cannot bring criminal charges against him or his company).
But because the New York Attorney General’s investigation is playing out in civil court, legal experts say his decision to invoke the Fifth Amendment could be used against him if Ms James files any lawsuits against him or his company as a result of the investigation.
March 16, 2022: Vodka Cruiser gets an upgrade to double magnum size.
Well-known and loved as a standard one-person drink size, Vodka Cruisers have long been a spritzy, fruity, party drink for the warmer months.
But there’s a new-look cruiser that is raising eyebrows as the party drink goes luxe and unveils its new 3.1L bottles for select venues.
The new limited-edition Cruiser Magnums celebrate the drink’s 21st birthday as well as the reopening of dance floors across Australia.
But you can’t get your hands on this super-sized party starter just anywhere.
Instead, 21 Aussies along with their friends will get the chance to win one of the impressive double magnum-sized bottles from a few special venues in the different states around the country. Flavors include Wild Raspberry, Juicy Watermelon and Lush Guava.
The bottles have the same look as the classic Cruiser, but in a super-size and with a slightly fancier label. The bottles hold around 11 standard Cruiser drinks and require two people to pop and pour them. Sounds like the kind of competition we want to win.
“It’s been a tough few years for bars and clubs across the country,” says Michael O’Donoghue, Brand Manager at Vodka Cruiser. “While we weren’t able to celebrate Vodka Cruiser’s 21st birthday last year with the ups and downs of the pandemic, we are beyond excited to really get the party started in 2022 by launching the Cruiser Magnums with our partner venues.”
The ‘Magnum Cruiser experience’ will be available in Sydney at the Marlborough Hotel, in Melbourne at Billboard The Venue, in South Australia at The Highway and The Jetty Bar, and in Cairns at Gilligans.
“These limited-edition Magnums will be available to win, so we hope it brings some needed joy to kick-off this year.”
To enter, Australians (aged over 18) can enter to win on the Vodka Cruiser’s Facebook page and share their favorite flavor of Vodka Cruiser. Entries close April 7, 2022.
The prize includes a two-hour window to enjoy their Vodka Cruiser Magnums with up to four friends at the chosen venue.
Read on for more delicious drinks product launches….
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Britney Spears’ ex-husband, Kevin Federline, has leaked videos of the singer arguing with her children after she complained publicly about them allegedly disrespecting her.
Federline, 44, posted the private footage on his previously dormant Instagram page on Wednesday night, US time.
“I cannot sit back and let my sons be accused in this way after what they’ve been through,” Federline wrote, alluding to Spears’ public remark hours earlier that her teenage sons had been “hateful” while visiting her house.
“As much as it hurts us, we decided as a family to post these videos the boys took when they were 11 and 12. This isn’t even the worst of it. The lies have to stop. I hope our kids grow up to be better than this.”
The two boys, Sean Preston and Jayden James, are now 16 and 15 years old, respectively.
In the first video posted by Federline, Spears can be heard arguing with her sons in the dark.
“This is my house. If I wanna come in here and give you lotion for your face cuz it is coarse, and all you tell me is, ‘It’s fine, it’s fine,’ no it’s not fine!” she says.
“You better all start respecting me, are we clear? And when Robin calls … even Robin is a f*****g kid.”
It is unclear who exactly “Robin” is.
“You all need to start treating me like a woman with worth. I am a woman, OK? Be nice to me. Do you understand? Spears continues.
The second and third videos, filmed during a car ride, show the singer asking one of the children: “Have you lost your f***ing mind?”
“I am shocked as f*** with you, and I don’t know what to do… I don’t know what to say. But I do care, more than you know.”
As the conversation continues it becomes apparent that one of the boys is upset because his phone has been taken away, apparently as punishment for not wearing shoes outside.
“If you really cared you wouldn’t take my phone away,” he tells his mother.
Spears this week ripped Federline for revealing that she is estranged from their sons — while admitting their troubled relationship started “long before” he said.
“It saddens me to hear that my ex-husband has decided to discuss the relationship between me and my children,” Spears said in a midnight Instagram story earlier this week.
“As we all know, raising teenage boys is never easy for anyone,” the troubled pop star wrote of the boys, who did not attend her recent wedding.
Spears lashed out after her ex revealed that she had not seen their sons for months — even though they live just a three-minute drive away from the sprawling Calabasas mansion she bought with new husband Sam Asghari in June.
However, her biggest complaint was that Federline claimed the falling out was recent — and based on the boys’ anger at their mom’s racy naked social media photos.
“It concerns me the reason is based on my Instagram… It was LONG before Instagram,” she insisted.
“I gave them everything,” she insisted. “Only one word: Hurtful.”
In a follow-up post, she wrote, “Reminder that the trauma and insults that come with fame and this business not only affect me but my children as well !!! I’m only human and I’ve done my best.”
In that second post, Spears said her ex should not be speaking out because “whatever is happening outside this home has nothing to do with his home.”
On Wednesday, she wrote that “I know teenagers are hard to deal with but COME ON”.
“There’s being rude, then there’s just being HATEFUL. They would visit me, walk in the door, go straight to their room and lock the door.
“I’m like, why come visit me if they don’t even visit me!
“I don’t know what’s going on in their heads. I always TRIED and TRIED, and maybe that’s why they stopped coming here. I wanted them to love me so much that I might have overdone it.”
All Blacks’ first five-eighths Beauden Barrett was relieved to be able to move his fingers and toes while lying on the ground at Mbombela Stadium after a fearful mid-air collision in Saturday’s first Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship Test.
Springbok wing Kurt-Lee Arendse upended Barrett in an illegal charge that resulted in a four-week ban in the 10-26 loss for the All Blacks.
Barrett told All Blacks TV he immediately feared the worst in the collision.
After landing on the ground, All Blacks support staff were quick to his side.
“I can’t remember who told me to stay still.
“It wasn’t until Doc came on and asked me, ‘could I move my fingers and toes?’
“I was relieved I passed all those tests and eventually sat up and was able to walk off.
“There was a fearful period there for a minute or so when you think of the worst.
“It’s quite scary when you go over backwards and find yourself come down on your head and shoulders.
“It’s part of the game and, every time we go up for the high ball we’ve got to be courageous,” he said.
Chasers of the ball sometimes made errors in judgments.
“They have intentions to get up but find themselves running into the person, which happened at the weekend.
“As escorts, the players in front of me are doing their best to protect me, but it’s not always the case.”
Barrett said the high-ball collisions and contests were not unexpected when playing South Africa. In those 50-50 situations, South African players would look to make a contest, and it was up to the All Blacks to continue to compete.
“Our escorts have to do a job to legally stop that chaser from running a good line and allowing that mid-air collision.”
Barrett had previously suffered in such a collision against France in 2018 at Wellington. On that occasion, he landed on his shoulder and escaped serious injury.
“It’s high-speed, split-second stuff which can be quite dangerous.
“I was lucky on that occasion and was lucky at the weekend.”
He hoped his luck could hold in the future because it was a tactic South Africa would continue to employ.
“It’s a strength of South Africa’s because they cause carnage up in the air and they like to play off the spills,” he said.
The 105-Test veteran has been able to train with the side and is expected to be available for the second Test at Johannesburg on Saturday.
Barrett said there was no lack of motivation among the All Blacks.
“We believe in what we’re doing and where we’re heading. Winning is a habit, but losing can be too.
“We’ve just got to remember how well we can do the simple things, why we play the game, and what got us here in the first place,” he said.
It was about not over-complicating things, shutting out external noise and playing rugby.
“Parliamentary workplaces are losing smart, talented and passionate individuals due to these behaviours.”
Almost 500 people – 27.7 per cent of the parliamentary workforce – participated in the online review. More than 100 gave confidential one-on-one interviews and seven confidential group sessions were conducted. It also received 58 confidential written submissions.
Many participants described the effect of the bullying and sexual harassment on their mental health and their careers as “devastating”.
The briefings to MPs have indicated recommendations could include measures to reduce working hours and conditions that exacerbate risk.
Such measures could include reviewing offices with few employees and late-night sittings, updating alcohol policies to address accessibility and consumption, and making workplace safety training mandatory.
The report is expected to recommend NSW Police provide training to security staff and special constables, targeting early intervention and crisis management.
It could also suggest a review of rules under which an MP can be investigated for breaching the code of conduct.
Premier Dominic Perrottet referenced the Broderick report earlier this month after sacking Eleni Petinos from cabinet amid serious bullying accusations against her. She denies the accusations.
The premier said the Broderick review highlighted the need to act swiftly on complaints of misconduct to ensure people feel safe at work.
It follows an earlier review of NSW ministerial offices by former sex discrimination commissioner and former minister Pru Goward, commissioned by former premier Gladys Berejiklian.
All MPs and staff employed at parliament within the past five years were invited to participate voluntarily in the Broderick investigation.
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Further recommendations are expected to include creating an independent body to investigate reports of workplace misconduct, with measures to protect survivors from retribution.
The briefings suggested 20 per cent of respondents had experienced sexual harassment in the past five years, with the majority of incidents perpetrated by men or someone more senior.
Both women and men reported experiences of actual or attempted sexual assault to the review. However, it was highest among people who identified as having a diverse sexuality. Two per cent of workers indicated they had experienced actual or attempted sexual assault.
The Goward review last year found protections and processes available to ministerial staff were “unclear, ineffective and inadequate”.
The review, commissioned by Berejiklian, said ministerial offices are “unique workplaces”, where staff are under intense public scrutiny and “employment protections for ministers are vastly greater than those of their staff”.
NSW Sexual Violence Helpline 1800 385 578 Lifeline: 131 114
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Richmond police officer, shot during traffic stop, in critical condition, suspect identified
RICHMOND— UPDATE at 12:50 am: Richmond Police have identified the suspect involved in an officer-involved shooting Wednesday night as 47-year-old Phillip M. Lee of Richmond, according to a media release.
The release said, “While officers were speaking with Lee, he allegedly pulled out a firearm and shot several rounds towards officers. Officer Burton was struck by the gunfire. Other officers on the scene returned fire and Lee fled on foot. After a brief foot chase, Lee was apprehended. He was treated for gunshot wounds by the officers and later transported by ambulance to Reid Hospital in Richmond.”
Richmond Police say 28-year-old Seara Burton was transported by ambulance to Miami Valley Hospital and then airlifted to a hospital in Dayton where she was listed in very critical condition.
Burton has served with Richmond Police for four years.
The suspect is in custody and the Wayne County Prosecutor will determine charges upon review of the case, according to
We will update this story as we learn more.
UPDATE at 9:47 pm: Richmond Police Officer Seara Burton, a four-year veteran with the department, was seriously wounded Wednesday night when a suspect fired “multiple shots” at her during a traffic stop, Chief Michael Britt said.
“We need this community to pray for her. I ask that you pray for the officer,” he said to News Center 7′s Brandon Lewis and other media gathered near the scene of the shooting, in the area of 12 Street and C Street in Richmond.
Indiana State Police Sgt. Scott Keegan gave this account of what investigators believe happened:
Officer Burton made a traffic stop about 7 pm The suspect, whose name has not been released, drew a weapon and fired multiple shots at the officer. The suspect got out of the vehicle and ran as a second officer returned fire and other officers who were on scene gave chase. The suspect was hit by gunfire; How many times he was uncertain.
Seara Burton (Courtesy of Stinesville Police Department)
No other officers were injured.
Both Officer Burton and the suspect were taken to Miami Valley Hospital. The suspect’s condition was not known.
ISP, which has taken over the investigation, does not know what led to the traffic stop, Sgt. Keegan said.
Chief Britt said there were a lot of facts yet to be determined, but noted, “it is not a common thing” for Richmond police officers to be shot in the line of duty.
>> Off-duty Richmond police officer shot wounded in April
He called Officer Burton, a K-9 handler, “a fine officer” who is engaged and was to be married, “I believe, next weekend.”
Major Dave Snow, who also attended the media briefing, said, “This is a heavy evening in our community. [Officer Burton] you have worked hard for this community.
“This will not be tolerated,” he said of the shooting.
>> PHOTOS: Richmond police officer seriously hurt after being shot during traffic stop
FIRST REPORT:
A Richmond, Indiana, police officer and another person described as a suspect have been injured in a shooting Wednesday evening.
According to Indiana State Police via social media, an officer and suspect were injured during the shooting and taken to a hospital.
Police said the shooting occurred near 12 street and C street in Richmond.
>> Lawyer: Butler Twp. shooting suspect intends to waive extradition to Ohio
Another Indiana law enforcement agency confirmed with News Center 7 that the injured officer is a member of the Richmond Police Department.
The Pendleton Post of Indiana State Police confirmed that the officer was being taken by a medical helicopter to Miami Valley Hospital. Our crew on scene reports seeing multiple Richmond police cruisers at the hospital.
The conditions of the officer and the suspect are not known.
We will update this story as we learn more.
Officer involved shooting near 12 street and C street in Richmond, Indiana. Both Officer and suspect have been transported to hospital. There will be more information posted here as it develops. pic.twitter.com/Wrnqr7EhcT
Brazilian police are seeking the arrest of six people accused of involvement in stealing 16 artworks, together valued at more than $190 million, with some recovered.
Key points:
Police said in a statement that the group stole the works from an 82-year-old widow who had been married to an art collector
The haul included museum-quality pieces from Brazilian masters Tarsila do Amaral and Emiliano Di Cavalcanti
Police found more than 10 works underneath a bed and at the bottom of the pile was Sol Poente — a do Amaral painting of a brilliant-hued sunset
Police said in a statement that the group stole the works from an 82-year-old widow who had been married to an art collector and dealer.
The haul included museum-quality pieces from Brazilian masters Tarsila do Amaral and Emiliano Di Cavalcanti.
Police found more than 10 works underneath a bed and at the bottom of the pile was Sol Poente — a do Amaral painting of a brilliant-hued sunset.
“Wow! Look who’s here!” one officer said in a video recording as she removed bubble wrap from the work.
“Oh, little beauty. Glory!”
The theft was orchestrated by the widow’s daughter, according to the statement, which didn’t provide either of their names.
The daughter was among those arrested Wednesday, according to local media, which also showed images of a woman attempting to escape through a window as police arrived.
It’s alleged the paintings weren’t stolen in a heist, but rather through a bizarre con.
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Brazil police recover stolen art masterpieces valued at $139 million
In January 2020, a self-proclaimed soothsayer approached the widow in the Copacabana neighborhood and informed her that her daughter was sick and soon to die, according to the police statement.
The widow, who holds mystical beliefs, was compelled to make bank transfers totaling 5 million reais ($1.38 million) over the course of two weeks for supposed spiritual treatment.
Her daughter, who allegedly encouraged the payments, proceeded to fire domestic employees so her accomplices could enter the residence unimpeded and remove the artworks.
It’s alleged that upon receiving threats from her daughter and the accomplices, the widow made additional bank transfers.
Three of the artworks, collectively worth more than 300 million reais ($82.9 million), were recovered in an art gallery in São Paulo.
The gallery’s owner told police he had purchased them directly from the widow’s daughter, and sold two others to the Museum of Latin American Art in Buenos Aires, according to the statement.
A press officer for the world-renowned museum said that its founder, Eduardo Costantini, purchased the works for his personal collection, and possible display at the museum in the future.
The museum identified the widow as Genevieve Boghici and said Costantini has maintained direct contact with her throughout the acquisition of the paintings and since
Forward Will Snelling has been ruled out of Essendon’s clash with Port Adelaide after suffering a low-end hamstring strain.
Snelling presented with ‘awareness’ in his hamstring post round 21, with scans revealing the 25-year-old had suffered a strain.
Head of high performance Sean Murphy said there’s still a possibility for Snelling to return to the Dons lineup for round 23.
“Snelling’s unfortunately got a low-grade hamstring strain,” Murphy told Essendon FC’s Liberty Financial Performance Update.
“He got through the game no issues and then presented the day after with a bit of awareness, and unfortunately on scanning (the hamstring) it showed the low-grade strain.
“He’ll miss this week and we’ll test it the following week.”
midfielder Jye Caldwell may make a return after missing round 21 with a calf strain.
Murphy said the 21-year-old is making positive strides, but an assessment will come later in the week in terms of his availability.
“’Calders’ is going well,” he said.
“He’s still got a bit to get through this week, but things are looking pretty positive for Jye and the plan will be to train across this week and we’ll assess his availability after the main session this week.”
Dylan Shiel is a strong chance to return to Essendon’s side after completing a thorough weekend session.
Dylan Shiel contests a ball with Zach Merrett on Wednesday. (Photos: AFL Photos)
Murphy said Shiel will have to get through Friday’s main session unabated to then be available for selection.
“Shiel’s probably a step ahead of Jye,” Murphy said.
“He completed a really solid session over the weekend, ticked off a lot of things we wanted to see and he’s going to train fully across the week, get through main training and he’ll be up for availability (for selection).”
The 74-year-old — who is recovering from lung cancer — was scrupulous in trying to avoid it, wearing masks and social distancing.
Then, while she was still in the middle of immunotherapy treatment, it happened.
“I got the positive result, did the online questionnaire [and] then my [healthcare provider] rang me,” she said.
“They sent me an oximeter, which was delivered to my doorstep.”
But it was the next element that, according to Ms Browning, made an “enormous difference”.
Jan Browning says COVID-19 antiviral medication helped with her recovery, allowing her to play sport again. (ABC News: Patrick Stone)
Later on the same day, she said, a COVID-19 doctor from her local health service called her and suggested she be put on antiviral treatment because of her past medical history.
The medication was delivered to her door step that night. After a day of treatment, Ms Browning said, she was “already starting to feel better.”
“It was such a smooth process and, I think, for me, I would have been in strife without them,” she said.
“It kept me out of the hospital. I’m playing sports again now and I feel great.”
For Canberra mother Liz Pickworth, the process was the polar opposite.
Liz Pickworth says she felt abandoned when sick with COVID-19.(ABC News: Ian Cutmore)
The 35-year-old has advanced cancer of the thymus gland, a rare cancer affecting fewer than one in 1.5 million people.
When she was diagnosed with COVID-19 earlier thisyear— when she was still receiving cancer treatment — her specialists advised her to get antivirals as soon as possible.
However, despite numerous phone calls to her medical specialists and the local COVID-19 hotline, she wasn’t able to access the medications, which would have sped up her recovery.
“I felt like I was begging for my own welfare to survive COVID,” she told the ABC.
“I felt alone, I didn’t know where to look for help. I just felt like I was going to be sick all the time.”
Despite having stage 4 cancer, Liz Pickworth couldn’t access COVID antivirals. (ABC News: Ian Cutmore )
antiviral access
Two COVID-19 oral antiviral treatments, Lagevrio and Paxlovid, have been approved for use in Australia.
The treatments help stop a virus infecting healthy cells or multiplying in the body, with more than 182,000 prescriptions dispensed across the country, according to the Health Department.
Health specialists say they have become a critical element of the country’s COVID-19 response, reducing pressure on the nation’s hospital systems.
However, their use is restricted. Under guidelines revised last month, the only people who can access them are:
Australians over the age of 70 who test positive to COVID-19
Australians aged over 50 — and Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people aged over 30 — with two or more risk factors for severe disease
Anyone over 18 who is severely immunocompromised or has severe physical or intellectual disabilities can also be assessed for access.
Ms Pickworth was diagnosed in January when the antivirals had only just been approved for use in Australia.
According to the Australian Medical Association (AMA), the process has improved significantly over the past few months, with thousands gaining access to the drugs.
Yet, the two cancer patients’ contrasting stories highlight what some in the health sector say is a convoluted process putting some people at unnecessary risk.
Research shows antivirals are most effective when taken in the first few days after diagnosis. However, they need to be prescribed by a doctor, some Australians are struggling to access them within that short time frame.
The ABC spoke to a number of eligible Australians this week who said they had trouble accessing the drugs, either because they could not speak to a GP, lived in a regional area or simply because of basic administrative blunders.
Because of this, Pharmacy Guild president Trent Twomey believes patients who are eligible should be able to get them over the counter at pharmacies, a step that has been introduced in New Zealand and in parts of the US.
“Our patients are telling us they are frustrated that, by the time they can get an appointment with their doctor, [up to] four days have already lapsed,” Mr Twomey said.
“We would like people who are eligible to not have to go to their doctor to get an antiviral, but to present to their pharmacy and the antiviral would be provided.”
The Pharmacy Guild has put its proposal to Health Minister Mark Butler.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Health did not address the proposal specifically.
She said that, after its COVID-19 care arrangements, states and territories were responsible for distribution of supply within their jurisdictions.
‘Word getting out’ about antivirals
Despite the reports of delays, doctors’ groups say the current system is working well, ensuring patients who need antiviral treatments are getting them.
AMA national vice-president Danielle McMullen said there were some challenges in getting the drugs out in the early days.
However, she said, most of those had been addressed.
AMA vice president Dr Danielle McMullen says early challenges in delivering antivirals had largely been overcome.(ABC News: Billy Cooper)
“We’ve seen a really positive increase in the number of prescriptions being dispensed over the past couple of weeks in particular,” Dr McMullen said.
Dr McMullen said more messaging to the public was required but she believed “the word is getting out there” that these important medications were available.
As of July 10, when the federal government expanded access to treatments, about 73,000 scripts had been filled. As of Tuesday, more than 182,000 scripts had been filled.
Virologists such as The Doherty Institute’s Tony Cunningham have also suggested that antivirals should be used more widely in the population to prevent ongoing symptoms.
He told the ABC that future research into who was more at risk of contracting long COVID should be considered when deliberating future changes to antiviral eligibility.
A spokeswoman for the federal Health Department said the government relied on the advice of the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee when deciding its criteria for who was eligible.
It said it had “sufficient supplies” of both medicines in Australia.
Back in Canberra, Ms Pickworth said she was not angry at the health authorities who, she said, had been “very supportive” of her during cancer treatment.
“It was confusing,” she said. “And being so unwell, the last thing you want to have to do is [have] to advocate for your own wellbeing.”
A spokeswoman for ACT Health said at the time of Ms Pickworth’s positive case, the only antivirals available were intravenous medications.
The spokeswoman said eligibility criteria for antivirals and the mechanisms to access these treatments had “evolved significantly” throughout 2022.
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