Brisbane news live: Free flu jabs under cloud as people ignore $25m campaign
'It only does any good if it's in your arm': People ignoring free flu jabs
By
The health minister has left a cloud over Queensland's free flu vaccine program, saying continued increases in flu cases and low vaccine uptake this year was 'very concerning'.
Speaking from Greenslopes yesterday, Tim Nicholls said about 90 per cent of the more than 3600 influenza hospitalisations recorded this year were for people who had not received a vaccine.
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About 6.13 million Queenslanders have been vaccinated for influenza since March, about 34,000 fewer than 2024 – and more than 400,000 fewer than three years ago – with Queensland Health reporting at the same time a 16 per cent increase in case numbers from the same time last year.
'We've made public announcements about [the free vaccine program], it runs on our public health messages, it runs on social media … it's been a very substantial news story,' Nicholls said.
'There really is no reason why someone is not aware that there is a free flu vaccine available … there is no reason not to get the free flu vaccine – it does no good in a bottle, it only does any good if it's in your arm.'
Nicholls said the state was 'always happy' to review the $25 million vaccination campaign, but said he would wait until the end of flu season.
'It's not too late to get the free flu vaccine, it is available, [and] the investment has been made in it.'
7.30am
Albanese dismisses suggestion that Xi meeting should be explained to Trump
By Paul Sakkal
Anthony Albanese has dismissed a suggestion that his ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd, should explain to the Trump administration the prime minister's intimate meeting with Xi Jinping, details of which were revealed in this masthead.
Host of the ABC's 7.30 program Sarah Ferguson spent the first portion of her interview with Albanese on Monday night asking about last week's lunch in Beijing.
This masthead reported on Monday the pair discussed their upbringing and global outlook in a humour-filled discussion the Australian prime minister said had fostered 'an element of trust'.
Asked if US officials had raised any questions about closer relations between Albanese and China's paramount leader, Albanese said 'No'.
Here's a section of the exchange:
Ferguson: 'Can I come back to that question of trust? Because I do think it's an unusual word that you've used, and I want to know what you think that that word means, apart from having a slightly advanced, developed relationship with him. Would he, for example, take a phone call from you in the event of a crisis blowing up over Taiwan to discourage him from invading or blockading Taiwan?'
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Albanese: 'Well, that's a hypothetical which I'm not going to go into. But I have said before that anything that he has said to me has been fulfilled. There hasn't been any breaches of personal commitments that he has given to me. That doesn't mean he's agreed with everything that I've put forward – far from it. But I'd rather that than someone on an international level saying, 'Yep, we can do all that', and then doing the opposite.'
Ferguson: 'So you trust him that, when he says something, he's going to keep his word?'
Albanese: 'I have no reason to point to any breach that has occurred up to this point.'
Ferguson: 'That's about the past, what about the future?'
Albanese: 'Well, all I can do is talk about the past. I can just talk about facts rather than going forward – we don't know what it will bring. We know there are significant differences. China and Australia have different political systems. We have different values. We have our alliance with the United States which is very important.'
7.21am
'It only does any good if it's in your arm': People ignoring free flu jabs
By Catherine Strohfeldt
The health minister has left a cloud over Queensland's free flu vaccine program, saying continued increases in flu cases and low vaccine uptake this year was 'very concerning'.
Speaking from Greenslopes yesterday, Tim Nicholls said about 90 per cent of the more than 3600 influenza hospitalisations recorded this year were for people who had not received a vaccine.
Loading
About 6.13 million Queenslanders have been vaccinated for influenza since March, about 34,000 fewer than 2024 – and more than 400,000 fewer than three years ago – with Queensland Health reporting at the same time a 16 per cent increase in case numbers from the same time last year.
'We've made public announcements about [the free vaccine program], it runs on our public health messages, it runs on social media … it's been a very substantial news story,' Nicholls said.
'There really is no reason why someone is not aware that there is a free flu vaccine available … there is no reason not to get the free flu vaccine – it does no good in a bottle, it only does any good if it's in your arm.'
Nicholls said the state was 'always happy' to review the $25 million vaccination campaign, but said he would wait until the end of flu season.
'It's not too late to get the free flu vaccine, it is available, [and] the investment has been made in it.'
7.16am
A hazy shade of winter
The forecast for Brisbane today spells a cool day with a chance of a shower or two.
A top temperature of 22 degrees is expected, with much the same for the rest of the week. But while today is about a 50-50 chance of rain, tomorrow is almost guaranteed to be wet.
Here's how the week ahead is looking:
7.14am
While you were sleeping
Here's what's making news further afield this morning:
Voters are lukewarm to any surprise reforms from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, clearly oppose change to the GST and want the Coalition to work more closely with the government to reach consensus on new policies rather than oppose them outright, a survey has revealed.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has assured her colleagues the Liberal Party can only improve on its disastrous showing at the May federal election.
The Greens co-founder booted from the party at the weekend has hit back, accusing the organisation of becoming 'too weird and unlikeable' and urging the federal leader to intervene.
Justin Flowers has $300,000 in the bank and he can't get a home loan. The 52-year-old, who runs his own graphic design business, had bought and sold a few properties, upsizing to accommodate his family of four. But he divorced, and he is now single and renting without hope he can repurchase.
As her newspaper prepared to publish details of a bawdy birthday card Donald Trump allegedly wrote to Jeffrey Epstein, Emma Tucker's phone rang. The British editor then stood her ground in face of a furious US president.
And political and international editor Peter Hartcher writes that Trump's original White House strategist Steve Bannon still insists the 'deep state' runs the world. And while Bannon has many questions, he has few answers.
7.03am
The top stories this morning
Good morning, and welcome to Brisbane Times' live news coverage for Tuesday, July 22. Today should be cloudy, with a top temperature of 22 degrees.
In this morning's local headlines:
Complications with a 'once in a generation' under-river infrastructure project are forcing officials to dump millions of litres of raw sewage and stormwater directly into the Brisbane River.
A man has been jailed after a Queensland grandmother was killed and her daughter seriously injured when the stolen car he was driving crashed into theirs car at high speed and he fled.
A banned e-scooter and e-bike company has returned to Brisbane streets – but not as you might expect, as the global micromobility hire company merges with one of its key competitors.
Queensland authorities say they will investigate multiple reported crocodile sightings on the Sunshine Coast, hundreds of kilometres south of Queensland's 'croc country'.
Fresh off his maiden starting appearance in Wallabies colours in defeat to the British and Irish Lions, Tom Lynagh will brace for a future in which he is pitted against his brother in an international club clash.
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The Advertiser
17 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Vaping attitudes changing, but addiction lingers for some
Ben, not his real name, did not think that trying a vape as a teenager would lead to years of fighting a nicotine addiction. "I wish I'd never had nicotine, it's like a door and once you open it, you can't close it. It's always in the back of your mind," Ben, now aged 20, said. The university student said he was never warned about the health impacts of e-cigarettes, which Cancer Council ACT says include delayed brain development, seizures, poisoning, insomnia and mood changes. University of Sydney research, funded by Cancer Council, said while vaping increased rapidly among young people from 2019, that trend may be slowing or even reversing. The federal government banned the import of disposable vapes in 2024. It is only legal to buy low-dose nicotine e-cigarettes from a pharmacy. Cancer Council ACT said, "data from the ACT General Health Survey tells us that around two-thirds of young people have tried vaping, but over one in three are either not taking it up, or have already quit". While vapes are still sold illegally by many Canberra shopfronts, including tobacconists, bottle shops, convenience stores, petrol stations and news agencies, their reputation among young people may be changing. "Vapes have a bad rep," Ben said. "There's a big stereotype on people who use vapes that you're weird or that you're childish." Generation Vape study lead author Associate Professor Becky Freeman said most young Australians have never used nicotine products. "We're increasingly hearing young people saying that they're embarrassed that they vape, they don't want to be vaping, and the realities of addiction are beginning to rear their heads," Dr Freeman said. Health authorities are concerned that e-cigarettes are a gateway to tobacco. Ben said people switch from vapes to cigarettes because they have to smoke them less frequently. A July 2025 Generation Vape report said fewer Australian teens, aged 14 to 17, were smoking. Only 6 per cent had tried a cigarette. Now Ben and his mates have ditched vapes in favour of nicotine pouches, also referred to as Zyns (a popular brand) or upperdeckies. They are similar to snus, but do not contain tobacco and come in flavours like cherry, mint, citrus, coffee and cola. "It was a lot better for me because there was no smoke involved, it was just nicotine," Ben said. "It's the cheaper and safest way." Cancer Council said 950 per cent more pouches were seized at the Australian border in 2023 than in the previous two years. "Nicotine pouches usually contain very high levels of nicotine. Alongside damage to the mouth, they are mostly linked to the symptoms of excessive nicotine use," Cancer Council ACT said. "For young people, nicotine changes the way the brain matures, and can affect learning, memory, and attention long term, as well as making young people more susceptible to other drugs of addiction later in life." Dr Freeman claimed the pouches were another marketing ploy by Big Tobacco to addict young people. "There is no evidence that pouches are an effective way to quit smoking or vaping. We do have lots of other evidence-based ways to help people quit," she said. Ben said he has about eight 20mg pouches a day, which is eight times stronger than the strongest vape bought legally and without a prescription. Only 2 per cent of 14 to 17-year-olds surveyed for the latest Generation Vape report said they had tried a pouch. Ben, who graduated in 2023, wishes the private high school he attended in the ACT had taught him that vaping, not just smoking cigarettes, was unhealthy. "They didn't advocate against it," he said. "They just said, 'If you do it and we catch you, you're f---ed, don't do it at school'. There was no message about health." Cancer Council ACT said their research suggested smoking and vaping education was a bigger focus for Canberra schools in 2025 than in 2023. The Association of Independent Schools of the ACT said education around alcohol and other drugs is a key part of the Australian curriculum, which all schools follow. Ben, not his real name, did not think that trying a vape as a teenager would lead to years of fighting a nicotine addiction. "I wish I'd never had nicotine, it's like a door and once you open it, you can't close it. It's always in the back of your mind," Ben, now aged 20, said. The university student said he was never warned about the health impacts of e-cigarettes, which Cancer Council ACT says include delayed brain development, seizures, poisoning, insomnia and mood changes. University of Sydney research, funded by Cancer Council, said while vaping increased rapidly among young people from 2019, that trend may be slowing or even reversing. The federal government banned the import of disposable vapes in 2024. It is only legal to buy low-dose nicotine e-cigarettes from a pharmacy. Cancer Council ACT said, "data from the ACT General Health Survey tells us that around two-thirds of young people have tried vaping, but over one in three are either not taking it up, or have already quit". While vapes are still sold illegally by many Canberra shopfronts, including tobacconists, bottle shops, convenience stores, petrol stations and news agencies, their reputation among young people may be changing. "Vapes have a bad rep," Ben said. "There's a big stereotype on people who use vapes that you're weird or that you're childish." Generation Vape study lead author Associate Professor Becky Freeman said most young Australians have never used nicotine products. "We're increasingly hearing young people saying that they're embarrassed that they vape, they don't want to be vaping, and the realities of addiction are beginning to rear their heads," Dr Freeman said. Health authorities are concerned that e-cigarettes are a gateway to tobacco. Ben said people switch from vapes to cigarettes because they have to smoke them less frequently. A July 2025 Generation Vape report said fewer Australian teens, aged 14 to 17, were smoking. Only 6 per cent had tried a cigarette. Now Ben and his mates have ditched vapes in favour of nicotine pouches, also referred to as Zyns (a popular brand) or upperdeckies. They are similar to snus, but do not contain tobacco and come in flavours like cherry, mint, citrus, coffee and cola. "It was a lot better for me because there was no smoke involved, it was just nicotine," Ben said. "It's the cheaper and safest way." Cancer Council said 950 per cent more pouches were seized at the Australian border in 2023 than in the previous two years. "Nicotine pouches usually contain very high levels of nicotine. Alongside damage to the mouth, they are mostly linked to the symptoms of excessive nicotine use," Cancer Council ACT said. "For young people, nicotine changes the way the brain matures, and can affect learning, memory, and attention long term, as well as making young people more susceptible to other drugs of addiction later in life." Dr Freeman claimed the pouches were another marketing ploy by Big Tobacco to addict young people. "There is no evidence that pouches are an effective way to quit smoking or vaping. We do have lots of other evidence-based ways to help people quit," she said. Ben said he has about eight 20mg pouches a day, which is eight times stronger than the strongest vape bought legally and without a prescription. Only 2 per cent of 14 to 17-year-olds surveyed for the latest Generation Vape report said they had tried a pouch. Ben, who graduated in 2023, wishes the private high school he attended in the ACT had taught him that vaping, not just smoking cigarettes, was unhealthy. "They didn't advocate against it," he said. "They just said, 'If you do it and we catch you, you're f---ed, don't do it at school'. There was no message about health." Cancer Council ACT said their research suggested smoking and vaping education was a bigger focus for Canberra schools in 2025 than in 2023. The Association of Independent Schools of the ACT said education around alcohol and other drugs is a key part of the Australian curriculum, which all schools follow. Ben, not his real name, did not think that trying a vape as a teenager would lead to years of fighting a nicotine addiction. "I wish I'd never had nicotine, it's like a door and once you open it, you can't close it. It's always in the back of your mind," Ben, now aged 20, said. The university student said he was never warned about the health impacts of e-cigarettes, which Cancer Council ACT says include delayed brain development, seizures, poisoning, insomnia and mood changes. University of Sydney research, funded by Cancer Council, said while vaping increased rapidly among young people from 2019, that trend may be slowing or even reversing. The federal government banned the import of disposable vapes in 2024. It is only legal to buy low-dose nicotine e-cigarettes from a pharmacy. Cancer Council ACT said, "data from the ACT General Health Survey tells us that around two-thirds of young people have tried vaping, but over one in three are either not taking it up, or have already quit". While vapes are still sold illegally by many Canberra shopfronts, including tobacconists, bottle shops, convenience stores, petrol stations and news agencies, their reputation among young people may be changing. "Vapes have a bad rep," Ben said. "There's a big stereotype on people who use vapes that you're weird or that you're childish." Generation Vape study lead author Associate Professor Becky Freeman said most young Australians have never used nicotine products. "We're increasingly hearing young people saying that they're embarrassed that they vape, they don't want to be vaping, and the realities of addiction are beginning to rear their heads," Dr Freeman said. Health authorities are concerned that e-cigarettes are a gateway to tobacco. Ben said people switch from vapes to cigarettes because they have to smoke them less frequently. A July 2025 Generation Vape report said fewer Australian teens, aged 14 to 17, were smoking. Only 6 per cent had tried a cigarette. Now Ben and his mates have ditched vapes in favour of nicotine pouches, also referred to as Zyns (a popular brand) or upperdeckies. They are similar to snus, but do not contain tobacco and come in flavours like cherry, mint, citrus, coffee and cola. "It was a lot better for me because there was no smoke involved, it was just nicotine," Ben said. "It's the cheaper and safest way." Cancer Council said 950 per cent more pouches were seized at the Australian border in 2023 than in the previous two years. "Nicotine pouches usually contain very high levels of nicotine. Alongside damage to the mouth, they are mostly linked to the symptoms of excessive nicotine use," Cancer Council ACT said. "For young people, nicotine changes the way the brain matures, and can affect learning, memory, and attention long term, as well as making young people more susceptible to other drugs of addiction later in life." Dr Freeman claimed the pouches were another marketing ploy by Big Tobacco to addict young people. "There is no evidence that pouches are an effective way to quit smoking or vaping. We do have lots of other evidence-based ways to help people quit," she said. Ben said he has about eight 20mg pouches a day, which is eight times stronger than the strongest vape bought legally and without a prescription. Only 2 per cent of 14 to 17-year-olds surveyed for the latest Generation Vape report said they had tried a pouch. Ben, who graduated in 2023, wishes the private high school he attended in the ACT had taught him that vaping, not just smoking cigarettes, was unhealthy. "They didn't advocate against it," he said. "They just said, 'If you do it and we catch you, you're f---ed, don't do it at school'. There was no message about health." Cancer Council ACT said their research suggested smoking and vaping education was a bigger focus for Canberra schools in 2025 than in 2023. The Association of Independent Schools of the ACT said education around alcohol and other drugs is a key part of the Australian curriculum, which all schools follow. Ben, not his real name, did not think that trying a vape as a teenager would lead to years of fighting a nicotine addiction. "I wish I'd never had nicotine, it's like a door and once you open it, you can't close it. It's always in the back of your mind," Ben, now aged 20, said. The university student said he was never warned about the health impacts of e-cigarettes, which Cancer Council ACT says include delayed brain development, seizures, poisoning, insomnia and mood changes. University of Sydney research, funded by Cancer Council, said while vaping increased rapidly among young people from 2019, that trend may be slowing or even reversing. The federal government banned the import of disposable vapes in 2024. It is only legal to buy low-dose nicotine e-cigarettes from a pharmacy. Cancer Council ACT said, "data from the ACT General Health Survey tells us that around two-thirds of young people have tried vaping, but over one in three are either not taking it up, or have already quit". While vapes are still sold illegally by many Canberra shopfronts, including tobacconists, bottle shops, convenience stores, petrol stations and news agencies, their reputation among young people may be changing. "Vapes have a bad rep," Ben said. "There's a big stereotype on people who use vapes that you're weird or that you're childish." Generation Vape study lead author Associate Professor Becky Freeman said most young Australians have never used nicotine products. "We're increasingly hearing young people saying that they're embarrassed that they vape, they don't want to be vaping, and the realities of addiction are beginning to rear their heads," Dr Freeman said. Health authorities are concerned that e-cigarettes are a gateway to tobacco. Ben said people switch from vapes to cigarettes because they have to smoke them less frequently. A July 2025 Generation Vape report said fewer Australian teens, aged 14 to 17, were smoking. Only 6 per cent had tried a cigarette. Now Ben and his mates have ditched vapes in favour of nicotine pouches, also referred to as Zyns (a popular brand) or upperdeckies. They are similar to snus, but do not contain tobacco and come in flavours like cherry, mint, citrus, coffee and cola. "It was a lot better for me because there was no smoke involved, it was just nicotine," Ben said. "It's the cheaper and safest way." Cancer Council said 950 per cent more pouches were seized at the Australian border in 2023 than in the previous two years. "Nicotine pouches usually contain very high levels of nicotine. Alongside damage to the mouth, they are mostly linked to the symptoms of excessive nicotine use," Cancer Council ACT said. "For young people, nicotine changes the way the brain matures, and can affect learning, memory, and attention long term, as well as making young people more susceptible to other drugs of addiction later in life." Dr Freeman claimed the pouches were another marketing ploy by Big Tobacco to addict young people. "There is no evidence that pouches are an effective way to quit smoking or vaping. We do have lots of other evidence-based ways to help people quit," she said. Ben said he has about eight 20mg pouches a day, which is eight times stronger than the strongest vape bought legally and without a prescription. Only 2 per cent of 14 to 17-year-olds surveyed for the latest Generation Vape report said they had tried a pouch. Ben, who graduated in 2023, wishes the private high school he attended in the ACT had taught him that vaping, not just smoking cigarettes, was unhealthy. "They didn't advocate against it," he said. "They just said, 'If you do it and we catch you, you're f---ed, don't do it at school'. There was no message about health." Cancer Council ACT said their research suggested smoking and vaping education was a bigger focus for Canberra schools in 2025 than in 2023. The Association of Independent Schools of the ACT said education around alcohol and other drugs is a key part of the Australian curriculum, which all schools follow.
The Advertiser
17 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Drowning rates fall but migrant risks remain high
Drowning rates have declined significantly over the past two decades though challenges persist among migrant and regional communities, a landmark study reveals. Analysis of unintentional drowning deaths between 2002 and 2022 shows a 60 per cent decrease in drowning deaths among children under the age of four, and a 24 per cent decline over the past 20 years overall. Every age group had lower deaths except between 15 and 17, according to data published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health on Tuesday. The findings reflect "great progress" in public health education and water safety, study co-author and Royal Life Saving Australia national manager of research and policy Stacey Pidgeon told AAP. But the work is far from over, she cautioned. Data from after the study's period shows a slight increase in drowning deaths over the past three years, with more people moving away from patrolled beaches to unsupervised inland locations. "We're starting to see more people get into difficulty that may not have the skills and ability to keep themselves safe," Ms Pidgeon said. Meanwhile, rivers and creeks were identified as leading locations for drowning, representing 26.3 per cent of fatal cases in the study. Concern is also growing about water safety in regional and multicultural communities, where awareness and experience around water is limited. In January 2024, Victoria witnessed its worst beach tragedy in nearly two decades when four international visitors drowned after being caught in a rip current. They were visiting Phillip Island for a family day trip and were part of a group of nine with relatives from India. "Multicultural communities are one key area of the water safety strategy. There's been a very concerted effort in terms of strategies across the country," Ms Pidgeon said. "We know that adults from some countries may have never had the opportunity to learn swimming and water safety skills." The data also highlighted that males were nearly four times as likely as females to drown, with alcohol consumption remaining a major factor, presenting in 23.9 per cent of drowning deaths. "Alcohol and swimming don't go well together in all bodies of water," Public Health Association of Australia chief executive Terry Slevin told AAP. "More effort is necessary to focus on blokes on alcohol, and those teenage high-risk groups." The study comes as researchers and advocates work to meet the Australian Water Safety Strategy goal of halving drowning deaths by 2030. Drowning rates have declined significantly over the past two decades though challenges persist among migrant and regional communities, a landmark study reveals. Analysis of unintentional drowning deaths between 2002 and 2022 shows a 60 per cent decrease in drowning deaths among children under the age of four, and a 24 per cent decline over the past 20 years overall. Every age group had lower deaths except between 15 and 17, according to data published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health on Tuesday. The findings reflect "great progress" in public health education and water safety, study co-author and Royal Life Saving Australia national manager of research and policy Stacey Pidgeon told AAP. But the work is far from over, she cautioned. Data from after the study's period shows a slight increase in drowning deaths over the past three years, with more people moving away from patrolled beaches to unsupervised inland locations. "We're starting to see more people get into difficulty that may not have the skills and ability to keep themselves safe," Ms Pidgeon said. Meanwhile, rivers and creeks were identified as leading locations for drowning, representing 26.3 per cent of fatal cases in the study. Concern is also growing about water safety in regional and multicultural communities, where awareness and experience around water is limited. In January 2024, Victoria witnessed its worst beach tragedy in nearly two decades when four international visitors drowned after being caught in a rip current. They were visiting Phillip Island for a family day trip and were part of a group of nine with relatives from India. "Multicultural communities are one key area of the water safety strategy. There's been a very concerted effort in terms of strategies across the country," Ms Pidgeon said. "We know that adults from some countries may have never had the opportunity to learn swimming and water safety skills." The data also highlighted that males were nearly four times as likely as females to drown, with alcohol consumption remaining a major factor, presenting in 23.9 per cent of drowning deaths. "Alcohol and swimming don't go well together in all bodies of water," Public Health Association of Australia chief executive Terry Slevin told AAP. "More effort is necessary to focus on blokes on alcohol, and those teenage high-risk groups." The study comes as researchers and advocates work to meet the Australian Water Safety Strategy goal of halving drowning deaths by 2030. Drowning rates have declined significantly over the past two decades though challenges persist among migrant and regional communities, a landmark study reveals. Analysis of unintentional drowning deaths between 2002 and 2022 shows a 60 per cent decrease in drowning deaths among children under the age of four, and a 24 per cent decline over the past 20 years overall. Every age group had lower deaths except between 15 and 17, according to data published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health on Tuesday. The findings reflect "great progress" in public health education and water safety, study co-author and Royal Life Saving Australia national manager of research and policy Stacey Pidgeon told AAP. But the work is far from over, she cautioned. Data from after the study's period shows a slight increase in drowning deaths over the past three years, with more people moving away from patrolled beaches to unsupervised inland locations. "We're starting to see more people get into difficulty that may not have the skills and ability to keep themselves safe," Ms Pidgeon said. Meanwhile, rivers and creeks were identified as leading locations for drowning, representing 26.3 per cent of fatal cases in the study. Concern is also growing about water safety in regional and multicultural communities, where awareness and experience around water is limited. In January 2024, Victoria witnessed its worst beach tragedy in nearly two decades when four international visitors drowned after being caught in a rip current. They were visiting Phillip Island for a family day trip and were part of a group of nine with relatives from India. "Multicultural communities are one key area of the water safety strategy. There's been a very concerted effort in terms of strategies across the country," Ms Pidgeon said. "We know that adults from some countries may have never had the opportunity to learn swimming and water safety skills." The data also highlighted that males were nearly four times as likely as females to drown, with alcohol consumption remaining a major factor, presenting in 23.9 per cent of drowning deaths. "Alcohol and swimming don't go well together in all bodies of water," Public Health Association of Australia chief executive Terry Slevin told AAP. "More effort is necessary to focus on blokes on alcohol, and those teenage high-risk groups." The study comes as researchers and advocates work to meet the Australian Water Safety Strategy goal of halving drowning deaths by 2030. Drowning rates have declined significantly over the past two decades though challenges persist among migrant and regional communities, a landmark study reveals. Analysis of unintentional drowning deaths between 2002 and 2022 shows a 60 per cent decrease in drowning deaths among children under the age of four, and a 24 per cent decline over the past 20 years overall. Every age group had lower deaths except between 15 and 17, according to data published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health on Tuesday. The findings reflect "great progress" in public health education and water safety, study co-author and Royal Life Saving Australia national manager of research and policy Stacey Pidgeon told AAP. But the work is far from over, she cautioned. Data from after the study's period shows a slight increase in drowning deaths over the past three years, with more people moving away from patrolled beaches to unsupervised inland locations. "We're starting to see more people get into difficulty that may not have the skills and ability to keep themselves safe," Ms Pidgeon said. Meanwhile, rivers and creeks were identified as leading locations for drowning, representing 26.3 per cent of fatal cases in the study. Concern is also growing about water safety in regional and multicultural communities, where awareness and experience around water is limited. In January 2024, Victoria witnessed its worst beach tragedy in nearly two decades when four international visitors drowned after being caught in a rip current. They were visiting Phillip Island for a family day trip and were part of a group of nine with relatives from India. "Multicultural communities are one key area of the water safety strategy. There's been a very concerted effort in terms of strategies across the country," Ms Pidgeon said. "We know that adults from some countries may have never had the opportunity to learn swimming and water safety skills." The data also highlighted that males were nearly four times as likely as females to drown, with alcohol consumption remaining a major factor, presenting in 23.9 per cent of drowning deaths. "Alcohol and swimming don't go well together in all bodies of water," Public Health Association of Australia chief executive Terry Slevin told AAP. "More effort is necessary to focus on blokes on alcohol, and those teenage high-risk groups." The study comes as researchers and advocates work to meet the Australian Water Safety Strategy goal of halving drowning deaths by 2030.
News.com.au
18 hours ago
- News.com.au
Labor defends not calling ‘horrific' South Australia algae bloom a national disaster
The Albanese government has defended its response to the toxic algae bloom devastating South Australia's coastline, saying it does not fit the definition of a national disaster. A $14m funding request from the state government to combat the outbreak of toxic algae – which became known to authorities in March – was approved by the federal government this week. The bloom has caused significant damage to a variety of marine life, bringing industries such as tourism and fishing to a grinding halt, and leaving animal carcasses washed up on beaches within an hour of Adelaide. The Albanese government's response to the algae crisis has come under increasing scrutiny in recent weeks, with Nationals leader David Littleproud accusing Labor of being 'flat-footed'. Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young has repeatedly called for the bloom to be classified as a national disaster, claiming the response would have been much swifter had Bondi Beach been impacted and that current legislation was not 'fit for purpose'. 'This is a catastrophe, an environmental disaster and an increasingly a community disaster. I am disappointed (Environment Minister Murray Watt) stopped short of declaring a disaster,' she told the ABC on Monday. Questioned about Labor's response to the algal bloom on Tuesday, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said a 'legislated, formalised list of events' would have to occur for it to be classified as a national disaster. 'That doesn't change the fact that it's an environmental disaster. It doesn't change the fact that all eyes of the nation are on it,' he told ABC News Breakfast. 'That doesn't change the fact that for the people of South Australia, what they are seeing … carcasses washing up onto their beaches, it's absolutely horrific.' Mr Burke said what mattered was that Mr Watt was 'there on the ground' on Monday. 'The Premier of SA (Peter Malinauskas) made statements as well yesterday. We're working cooperatively,' he said. Mr Watt said on Monday the funding would be allocated towards both short- and long-term measures faced by South Australians, such as beach clean-ups, community awareness campaigns, and ongoing investment in scientific research. 'There will need to be some further discussions between ourselves and the South Australian government about exactly the details of how that funding is used,' he said. 'The reality is, we are in uncharted waters here.' Mr Malinauskas said it was important to recognise the unprecedented nature of the bloom, which had ballooned across thousands of square kilometres of ocean. 'We've never seen an algal bloom of this size and scale in the history of our country's coastline … I think it's reasonable to assume that it won't be the first incident of its type in this country,' he said. 'The type of investment that was announced yesterday will go a long way in better understanding how we can prepare and plan for these types of events into the future.' Mr Malinauskas told the ABC he wanted to be 'really clear' the bloom was a 'natural disaster'. 'There are over 400 different species of marine life that have been killed off or had deaths as a result of this algal bloom,' he said. 'It's been with us for a while (and) it's starting to affect various parts of the aquaculture industry here in South Australia. 'It's always going to be better if we have state and federal governments working collaboratively together and that's very much what Minister Watt demonstrated yesterday, which we welcome.'
