Bird flu reaches sea lion breeding islands off SA
About 1,000 crested terns have died on three remote South Australian islands, two of them at the largest Australian sea lion breeding colony.
National
538 diphtheria cases in Australia's largest outbreak
Australia has recorded 538 diphtheria cases in 2026, the most since national reporting began in 1991. About one in five people diagnosed has been hospitalised.
Addiction services funded to 2027, then a tender
Canberra put $727 million over three years into drug and alcohol treatment, then extended existing grants by a year. Providers cannot see past June 2027.
Pension up $36.80 a fortnight, JobSeeker up $16.20
Payments are indexed from 20 September. The single age pension rises $36.80 a fortnight and JobSeeker $16.20, and deeming rates go up half a point.
Pat Turner named NAIDOC Person of the Year
Ten National NAIDOC Awards were presented in Mparntwe on Saturday night. Pat Turner took the top honour five months after retiring from NACCHO.
AI scribes spread in GP rooms ahead of the rules
Reported use in general practice nearly doubled in 15 months. The health department's own briefing says the tools have little oversight.
H5 bird flu reaches Tasmania, the sixth state
A brown skua found near Rocky Cape has tested positive, leaving no Australian state without H5. The national count changed method and fell from 236 to 186.
Minimum pay for gig delivery riders starts Monday
From 17 August, food and grocery delivery workers on apps get an enforceable floor of $31.30 to $32 an hour and platform-paid accident insurance.
Five million Census forms in by Census night
The ABS counted 5,002,195 household forms by late morning on Census day. Late responses still count, and the first results do not land until June 2027.
Two subsea cables off Perth faulted within hours
Both of SUBCO's Indigo cables faulted inside the Perth protection zone within hours of each other. The AFP is assessing a report of crime.
Staff shortage delays 150 flights out of Sydney
More than 150 flights were delayed out of Sydney on Saturday after Airservices Australia spaced out departures to match the controllers it could roster.
$274m in Medicare benefits sits unclaimed
Services Australia is holding $274.5 million owed to 974,000 people because it has no bank account on file for them. The average amount is about $280.
