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Could a national livestock gene bank future-proof endangered farm animals?

Photo of a cow.

In 2001, foot-and-mouth disease broke out among livestock in the United Kingdom.

More than 6 million sheep and cattle were slaughtered and their carcasses incinerated on farms before the disease was brought under control.

In the wake of the crisis, estimated to have cost approximately $14 billion, the UK bolstered its national livestock gene bank to bolster rare domestic breeds, including sheep, cattle and goats.

The bank — a type of high-tech Noah’s Ark — securely stores semen and embryos cryogenically frozen as insurance against disasters such as disease, flood, fire or climate change.

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Australia

Veteran Australian political journalist David Barnett dies aged 90 | australian average

Veteran federal political journalist David Barnett, who spearheaded the first official Canberra bureau of Australian Associated Press more than 50 years ago, has died aged 90.

Barnett became the national newswire’s first bureau chief in 1971 overseeing two journalists in what is now called Old Parliament House.

He was just in time to report on one of the most seismic shifts in Australian politics – the 1972 election of Labor prime minister Gough Whitlam.

Barnett died in Canberra’s Calvary hospital on Saturday after a short admission.

His journalism career began in 1949 as a copy boy on the Sydney Sun, before spending 13 years overseas starting in London’s Fleet Street.

He worked for multiple international wire services, including Reuters, before returning to AAP, where he first worked as a sub-editor in 1966.

Barnett later served as press secretary to Malcolm Fraser for seven years from 1975, including during the political upheaval that lead to Whitlam’s dismissal and Fraser’s elevation from opposition leader to prime minister.

Former Liberal prime minister, John Howard, who was a member of the Fraser government, said Barnett, who wrote his 1997 biography, was an invaluable adviser to Fraser.

He had been a very effective press adviser in every way and his death had removed a highly significant figure from the ranks of the national media, he said.

“I counted him as a good friend.”

In a 2010 book published to mark AAP’s 75th anniversary, Barnett tells the story of being assigned in 1971 to cover the visit of an ALP mission to China, which included the then-opposition leader Whitlam, with other journalists from News Ltd and the ABC.

“We were taken to the Great Hall of the People, which had been arranged in a horseshoe,” he wrote in ‘On The Wire – The Story of Australian Associated Press’.

Whitlam and [then-Chinese premier Chou En-Lai] were to sit at the apex, with chairs reserved for the ALP members.

“I took a shorthand note of every word between the two leaders over what seemed like a couple of hours.”

After it was over, Barnett set up in the all-night telegraph office in the Peking Hotel and began writing his story on his portable typewriter.

“My colleagues went to their room. Every time the lift clanked into operation, I would type ‘mtc’ – more to come – pull the page from my tiny portable Olivetti and hand it to the operators, thus effectively jamming the lines.

“The AAP story swamped the papers and also ran on the Reuter wires.”

Soon after, Barnett was approached by a Chinese minder and got a scoop on the first exchange of recognition negotiations between China and Labor.

“If the Chinese could use me to get a message across, then I could send a message on behalf of my country,” he wrote.

Barnett is survived by his wife, Pru Goward, a former New South Wales MP for Goulburn and minister for social housing in the Berejiklian government until her retirement in 2019, two daughters – Susan and Alice – and two grandsons.

He was also stepfather by marriage to Goward’s daughters from her previous marriage – Penny Fischer and Tziporah Malkah, previously known as Kate Fischer.

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Australia

Stripper with gel blaster arrested over King Street gun scare

Stripper with gel blaster arrested over King Street gun scare

Shoppers on Perth’s King Street were left shocked and frightened after spotting a man roaming around with what appeared to be a dangerous assault rifle on Sunday afternoon.

But after police responded under emergency conditions, it appeared to be a case of mistaken identity — with it revealed the gunman was a male stripper on his way to work dressed as a sexy SWAT officer.

Police quickly confirmed the 31-year-old man was no real threat to the community and that his weapon was part of his adult entertainment work attire.

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And it turned out he was committed to giving an authentic performance, as the weapon he was carrying was believed to be a gel blaster.

Gel blaster firearms are prohibited in WA.

Shoppers in the CBD were scared when they saw a man walking the streets with this weapon.
Camera IconShoppers in the CBD were scared when they saw a man walking the streets with this weapon. Credit: WA Police

A person caught in possession of a gel blaster can face maximum penalties of up to three years in prison or a $36,000 fine.

WA outlawed the weapons — which shoot water-filled gel pellets at 100m/second — in July last year following a rise of criminals smuggling the replica guns into the State and converting them into real ones.

Just after 2:40pm today, Sunday 7 August 2022, police received information regarding a man on King Street, Perth dressed in 'SWAT' clothing and who was in possession of an assault rifle and ballistic vest.
Camera IconJust after 2:40pm today, Sunday 7 August 2022, police received information regarding a man on King Street, Perth dressed in ‘SWAT’ clothing and who was in possession of an assault rifle and ballistic vest. Credit: 9NEWS/supplied

At the time, Police Minister Paul Papalia said police were unable to tell the difference between gel blasters and real guns out on the street.

“It is a far too dangerous situation to tolerate any longer,” he said.

“When a police officer is responding to a call out, they will be assuming someone is in possession of a firearm.”

The surge of gel blasters became an issue for police who reported being confronted by the weapons almost 150 times in 2020.

The adult entertainer was taken into custody clad in his SWAT uniform and ballistic vest and the gel blaster was seized.

Police said the man was “assisting with the investigation” as the firearm undergoes an inspection to determine whether it is functional.

Several police units were deployed to the scene under emergency conditions and upon arrival a couple of minutes later a 31-year-old man was arrested without incident.
Camera IconSeveral police units were deployed to the scene under emergency conditions and upon arrival a couple of minutes later a 31-year-old man was arrested without incident. Credit: 9NEWS/supplied

“The investigation into the functionality of the seized firearm and the circumstances surrounding it being carried in public is ongoing,” a WA Police spokesman said.

It has since been established there was no real threat to the community and the uniform the man was wearing was part of his adult entertainment work attire.
Camera IconIt has since been established there was no real threat to the community and the uniform the man was wearing was part of his adult entertainment work attire. Credit: 9NEWS/supplied

Even though police determined there was not a legitimate threat to the community, the force’s spokesman said it was an important reminder that there are consequences for flaunting realistic weapons in public and for owning prohibited weapons.

“The members of the public who called for police assistance had genuine concerns for their safety and the safety of others,” the spokesman said.

“The firearm in question looks very real and it would be very difficult for any member of the public to be able to determine whether it was in fact real or not.”

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Australia

Sophie Scamps to demand action on junk food advertising

Sophie Scamps to demand action on junk food advertising

Restricting the promotion of unhealthy foods to children is a key measure contained in the National Obesity Strategy released in March. But the strategy has been gathering dust, with neither major party committed to reform.

Scamps said restricting advertising was the “low-hanging fruit” among the recommended policy tools for reducing obesity and compared the measure to the ban on tobacco advertising, which has helped reduce smoking rates.

The federal government has jurisdiction over advertising laws but has allowed the industry to govern itself through a self-regulatory code administered by Ad Standards, part of the Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA).

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said while children “require additional protection when it comes to advertising”, there was no plan to ditch the current self-regulatory approach.

Public health advocates say self-regulation is failing, pointing to the junk food companies’ argument that they are not advertising to children by sponsoring their sports because they only use their brand names and not pictures of their products.

The Obesity Policy Coalition has been advocating for a ban on junk food advertising to children on television including during prime time, and action to stop children from being targeted by social media.

The National Obesity Strategy said the average five-to-eight-year-old was being exposed to 827 television junk food advertisements a year and that unhealthy food and drink sponsorships were “undermining the health benefits of sport”.

The strategy set the goal of reducing the proportion of children and adults’ total energy intake from discretionary foods from more than 30 per cent to less than 20 per cent by 2030, but the proposal to restrict the marketing of junk food has not been implemented.

Scamps said the nation’s obesity problem had flown under the radar during the pandemic but that the costs to the health system were growing as more Australians developed related conditions such as type 2 diabetes and some cancers.

She said she expected parents would support the measure, which would help reduce children’s demands for unhealthy foods while out shopping.

“We all know how powerful that pester voice is that the children, when we’re at the checkout, and they’ve seen something on telly, and they really want it… it’s very hard to say no,” she said.

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Labor promised during the election campaign consider new restrictions on unhealthy products “on their merits”, highlighting the party’s “proven track record of acting on harmful products”, including cigarette plain packaging and alcohol taxes.

The AANA last year updated its self-regulatory code to ban images of junk food being used in sponsorship advertising targeting children, but there are no restrictions on the use of brand names or logos.

The association is reviewing its Children’s Advertising Code, which currently states that marketing food or beverages to children “must neither encourage nor promote an inactive lifestyle or unhealthy eating or drinking habits”.

Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis from Jacqueline Maley. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter here.

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Australia

NSW primary school ethics enrollments up 20 per cent on five years ago, shortage of ethics teachers

NSW primary school ethics enrollments up 20 per cent on five years ago, shortage of ethics teachers

Kevin Farmer is a veteran primary school ethics teacher who for years held weekly classes at Crown Street Public. But when the chance to run an after-school ethics club at Inner Sydney High appeared, he leapt at it.

“In high school classes the philosophical questions and conversations are much deeper, we talk about human rights, marriage equality, peer pressure and friendship,” said Farmer, who is one of about 2000 volunteer ethics teachers in NSW. “I get fewer numbers in the high school, but they are there because they want to be. They are so engaged.”

Ethics teacher Kevin Farmer runs an after-school ethics club at Inner Sydney High and teaches ethics at Crown Street Public School.

Ethics teacher Kevin Farmer runs an after-school ethics club at Inner Sydney High and teaches ethics at Crown Street Public School.Credit:Janie Barrett

Primary Ethics, the not-for-profit group that has run classes for the past decade, says almost 43,000 primary students are enrolled in ethics at 483 – or just under a quarter – of the state’s public schools.

A pilot program by the organization to extend classes to secondary schools is still in its infancy: just a handful of schools, including Inner Sydney, Fort Street High, James Ruse Agricultural High and Katoomba High have taken part in a trial run by the organisation.

Primary Ethics chief executive Evan Hannah says while primary school ethics enrollments are up 20 per cent on five years ago, the program is dealing with major hurdles recruiting volunteer teachers, particularly in rural and regional areas.

“Our biggest growth in the past few years has been at primary schools in Parramatta, Canterbury-Bankstown and Georges River, where more schools in those areas are signing up,” he said.

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“We are moving beyond the inner west and lower north shore, but there are serious challenges after COVID-19 caused so much disruption. We rely solely on volunteers, 75 per cent [of whom are] parents, and without them the schools can’t run classes.”

Data shows fewer schools have ethics classes in areas of Sydney where both parents are more likely to work, where they work further from home, and where English is more likely to be a second language, he said.

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Australia

Adult entertainer in bullet-proof vest sparks Perth street shutdown

When police in Perth received several calls about an “armed man” outside a city jewelery shop, they rushed to the scene and shut down the road.

The man was wearing a bullet-proof SWAT vest and brandishing what appeared to be an assault rifle outside Linneys Jewelery store this afternoon, they were told.

King Street in the city was quickly shut down as detectives pounced on their suspect.

When police in Perth received several calls about an 'armed man' outside a city jewelery shop, they rushed to the scene and shut down the road. The man was wearing a bullet-proof SWAT vest and brandishing what appeared to be an assault rifle outside Linneys Jewelery store, they were told.
When police in Perth received several calls about an ‘armed man’ outside a city jewelery shop, they rushed to the scene and shut down the road. The man was wearing a bullet-proof SWAT vest and brandishing what appeared to be an assault rifle outside Linneys Jewelery store, they were told. (Nine)
When police in Perth received several calls about an 'armed man' outside a city jewelery shop, they rushed to the scene and shut down the road. The man was wearing a bullet-proof SWAT vest and brandishing what appeared to be an assault rifle outside Linneys Jewelery store, they were told.
The 31-year-old adult entertainer was booked for a nearby party and in the middle of preparing his costume. (Nine)

But all wasn’t quite as it seemed.

As officers spoke to the man, it became clear they weren’t dealing with an armed robber but rather an adult entertainer.

The 31-year-old was booked for a nearby party and in the middle of preparing his costume.

When police in Perth received several calls about an 'armed man' outside a city jewelery shop, they rushed to the scene and shut down the road. The man was wearing a bullet-proof SWAT vest and brandishing what appeared to be an assault rifle outside Linneys Jewelery store, they were told.
As officers spoke to the man, it became clear they weren’t dealing with an armed robber… but rather an adult entertainer. (Nine)

It included a SWAT vest, and while the gun wasn’t a rifle, officers believe it is a gel blaster, which are illegal in WA.

The man was arrested while police inspected the weapon and worked to determine whether he would face charges.

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Australia

Police search for handbag thieves after three women targeted at East Victoria Park shopping center

Police search for handbag thieves after three women targeted at East Victoria Park shopping center

Police are trying to track down some brazen thieves following a string of handbag burglaries at an East Victoria Park shopping center on Saturday.

Three women were targeted by the thieves throughout the afternoon, who snatched their handbags and purses while their backs were turned.

A woman in her 80s had her handbag stolen while she was unloading her shopping at about 2.00pm.

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She was parked in a disability bay at the northern end of the shopping center on Albany Highway and placed her bag in the boot.

Two women approached the vehicle and stole the handbag.

Almost three hours later, a woman in her 30s realized her purse was missing after putting her shopping in the car at the same center. She initially went home, but returned to check whether it had been left in a trolley.

The purse was taken and the woman’s debit card had been used twice at a nearby bottle shop.

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Australia

Pedestrians saying with death by crossing in front of speeding trains

Pedestrians are saying with death, running across the tracks right in the path of fast-moving trains.

Exclusive footage showing the impatient South Australians putting their lives at risk has sparked an urgent warning from authorities for commuters to play it safe.

Some people come within just inches of their lives when crossing Adelaide train tracks, the heart-stopping videos show.

The close calls sparked serious concerns from the transport department, which says the dangerous behavior is on the rise.

Pedestrians are saying with death, running across the tracks right in the path of fast-moving trains. Exclusive footage showing the impatient South Australians putting their lives at risk has sparked an urgent warning from authorities for commuters to play it safe.
Pedestrians are saying with death, running across the tracks right in the path of fast-moving trains. Exclusive footage showing the impatient South Australians putting their lives at risk has sparked an urgent warning from authorities for commuters to play it safe. (Nine)

In one video as a train barrels down the tracks, a man opens the closed barrier gate.

After a brief moment of indecision, he makes a dangerous dash right in front of the 140-tonne train.

Scott White, executive director SA Public Transport Authority called the footage “very disturbing”.

“In some of those videos, people come within inches of losing their lives, and that’s a very traumatic experience for everyone involved,” he said.

In Christie Downs in Adelaide’s south, there was another frightening near miss when a runner made a last-minute sprint moments before a train speeds through.

Pedestrians are saying with death, running across the tracks right in the path of fast-moving trains. Exclusive footage showing the impatient South Australians putting their lives at risk has sparked an urgent warning from authorities for commuters to play it safe.
Some people come within just inches of their lives when crossing Adelaide train tracks, the heart-stopping videos show. (Nine)

“Recently what we’re seeing is a 40 per cent increase across the whole of our network,” White said.

Each year, South Australia records six collisions and 110 near misses between trains and pedestrians, as well as vehicles.

The fresh warning comes less than a week after a 64-year-old cyclist tragically lost his life after being hit by a train at the North Adelaide railway station.

White said for staff, being called out when somebody had been hit by a train was, “something that’s going to stick with you forever.”

Tomorrow marks the beginning of rail safety week, with authorities pleading with people to take care along the tracks and warning inattention can prove fatal.

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Australia

SES orders Wagga Wagga residents in low-lying areas to evacuate amid flood fears

A sign saying Wagga Beach is closed near a large body of water

Residents in parts of Wagga Wagga in the New South Wales Riverina have been ordered to evacuate as floodwaters rise.

The State Emergency Service has told people in and around low-lying areas to leave before 6pm on Sunday evening, August 7.

The areas include:

• Edward Street West
• Flowerdale Road
•Roach Road
• McNickle Road
•Lower Gardener Street
•Wilks Park
• Eunony Bridge Road
•Mill Street

The SES says once flood waters reach 8.7 meters at the Wagga gauge, roads will be cut and access to water and sewerage may be lost.

SES deputy southern zone commander Barry Griffiths said the order had been issued because of concerns roads would be cut off, rather than houses being inundated.

He said about 120 residents were affected by the order.

SES officer Barry Griffiths in front of an SES van/
Barry Griffiths warns residents even shallow flood water is a hazard.(ABC Riverina: Romy Stephens)

“Essentially this one’s been done on the public safety issue,” he said.

“Properties should be OK at these levels but there are some areas of the North Wagga area, north of the Murrumbidgee River, that do experience quite rapid water moving through which is dangerous to motorists.

“Even shallow water is capable of killing.”

People who choose to stay after 6pm could be trapped without power and it may be too dangerous for the SES to rescue them.

Wherever possible, people should go and stay with family or friends but there is an evacuation center at Kyeamba Smith Hall, at the Wagga Wagga Showground.

Two people stand on the banks of a flooded river.
The Murrumbidgee River is still rising at Wagga Wagga. (ABC Riverina: Gary-Jon Lysaght)

Farmer prepares for floodwater

John Keough, who owns more than 20 hectares on the floodplain near Flowerdale Lagoon, has prepared livestock and equipment to be moved if needed.

He said he was not overly concerned about his property being impacted.

“We’re on the river so it floods, it’s as simple as that,” he said.

“It’s a beautiful spot, beautiful soil and the reason is because you get floods so you just live with that.”

Moderate flooding is also possible at Narrandera from Tuesday.

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Australia

Barilaro US job inquiry set to probe all NSW trade appointments in wake of claims against Premier

a composite image of two men one wearing glasses

All overseas senior trade roles are set to be investigated by the inquiry looking into the appointment of NSW former deputy premier John Barilaro to the US job.

Labor will seek to get the inquiry’s terms of references expanded and comes ahead of Mr Barilaro’s appearance on Monday.

And as reports emerge in Nine newspapers claiming Premier Dominic Perrottet had offered to create a new parliamentary trade role for Transport Minister David Elliott.

The report also claims the Premier spoke to Mr Elliott about the agent-general position in London as compensation following manoeuvres that could have seen him removed from cabinet. But that didn’t happen.

Leader of the Opposition in the upper house Penny Sharpe said the allegations against the Premier were very serious.

“We already know that there has been significant meddling in these positions for a long time,” she said.

“The Premier can’t hide behind an inquiry. This goes directly to his involvement and he needs to answer those questions straight away.

“I can indicate today that we will be seeking to expand the terms of reference of that inquiry to include all appointments for the senior Trade and Investment Commission role, obviously, including the UK agent-general.”

a woman wearing glasses standing outdoors speaking
Ms Sharpe says recent allegations against the Premier are very serious.(abcnews)

Mr Perrottet did not hold any press conferences today but the ABC put specific questions to his office asking if he “offered to create a parliamentary trade role” or “discussed the agent general position” with David Elliott.

A spokesperson responded in a statement: “Whoever the Premier considers appointing to his ministry is a matter for the Premier alone.”

The same questions were put to David Elliott but were not directly addressed.

“I’m committed to delivering the NSW government’s infrastructure pipeline, which is helping transform our state, and ensuring our public transport delivers first-class services for the people of NSW,” he said in a statement.

“I have no interest in working overseas again.”

The Premier has declined to appear before the inquiry, according to the opposition but they say it’s time for him “to come clean”.

“We would expect that he’d want to provide information to the public,” Ms Sharpe said.

“It flies in the face of everything the Premier has said for the last seven weeks, that these are arm’s length positions… that have absolutely nothing to do with him.

“And in fact, I think the Premier has said that it would be illegal for him to even interfere in these.”

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