As it happened: Brisbane on Wednesday, June 25
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The Queensland man who saved 2.4 million babies
James Harrison saved up to 2.4 million babies during his life. But how?
Harrison had a precious antibody in his blood that was used to make the medication anti-D.
Anti-D is given to mothers whose Rh-negative blood type can mean their body will see their baby's Rh-positive blood as a foreign object and mount an attack that may kill their unborn child.
His blood's rare combination of Rh-negative blood and Rh-positive antibodies were a game changer, and likely a result of being a blood recipient himself, having received over a dozen units of blood as a teenager.
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For over 60 years, Harrison donated blood a remarkable 1173 times.
In May 2018, Harrison made his final donation at the age of 81. 'I hope it's a record that somebody breaks because it will mean they are dedicated to the cause,' he said.
Harrison died in February this year at the age of 88.
'It's with enormous gratitude that we acknowledge the generous life of James,' Queensland Health said in a Facebook post this week.
'We thank him for the incredible contribution he made and the millions of lives he has saved.'
2.26pm
Today's headlines
Thanks for joining us for our live coverage of today's news from Brisbane and beyond. In case you missed them, here are the day's main stories.
Brisbane drivers are being urged to quickly fill up their tank as unleaded petrol prices rise by almost 60 cents a litre at some service stations.
Brisbane has been named Queensland's top destination, attracting four in every 10 visitors to the state, and breaking international records.
The ABC has been blasted for wasting an alleged $1 million in taxpayer money fighting presenter Antoinette Lattouf's lawsuit after a court found the broadcaster unlawfully sacked her.
President Donald Trump has unleashed a tirade on Israel for violating his ceasefire, saying both it and Iran 'don't know what the f--- they're doing', in an unprecedented display of rage.
A judge has ordered that Bruce Lehrmann's bid to have his Queensland rape case thrown out be heard in court in a matter of weeks, amid claims his previous lawyer's phone calls were obtained illegally.
And in sport, Australian sprinter Gout Gout had to wait for the school holidays to make his professional racing debut in the Czech Republic, but when he did, the 17-year-old flew to a new national record.
Teachers vow only nation-leading salaries will prevent industrial action
By Felicity Caldwell
Queensland Teachers' Union president Cresta Richardson says teachers are disappointed with the Crisafulli government's 'disrespectful salary offer'.
Teachers rallied outside Queensland parliament last night after the LNP handed down its first budget, but Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek said on Wednesday he was confident he could reach a pay agreement through ongoing EBA negotiations.
Richardson said on Wednesday members were determined to fight for a deal recognising the 'serious issues and professional challenges teachers and school leaders face daily – issues the Crisafulli government has chosen to ignore'.
'Only nation-leading salaries and conditions will now prevent industrial action,' she said.
Asked by a journalist whether Queensland teachers would become the highest-paid in the country under the new pay deal, Premier David Crisafulli said they would be respected and valued.
'We want to see teachers well-paid and have good conditions, but wage negotiations are about more than just money,' he said.
1.13pm
The Queensland man who saved 2.4 million babies
James Harrison saved up to 2.4 million babies during his life. But how?
Harrison had a precious antibody in his blood that was used to make the medication anti-D.
Anti-D is given to mothers whose Rh-negative blood type can mean their body will see their baby's Rh-positive blood as a foreign object and mount an attack that may kill their unborn child.
His blood's rare combination of Rh-negative blood and Rh-positive antibodies were a game changer, and likely a result of being a blood recipient himself, having received over a dozen units of blood as a teenager.
Loading
For over 60 years, Harrison donated blood a remarkable 1173 times.
In May 2018, Harrison made his final donation at the age of 81. 'I hope it's a record that somebody breaks because it will mean they are dedicated to the cause,' he said.
Harrison died in February this year at the age of 88.
'It's with enormous gratitude that we acknowledge the generous life of James,' Queensland Health said in a Facebook post this week.
'We thank him for the incredible contribution he made and the millions of lives he has saved.'
11.58am
Today's cartoons
Here are today's cartoons from our cartoonist Matt Golding ...
11.55am
Today's Odd Spot
Here is today's Odd Spot – a tale that sounds too odd to be true, but really happened:
A man who climbed into the chimney of a Connecticut parks building while trying to rescue his dog, who somehow got trapped in the toilet when the doors automatically locked for the night had to be rescued himself after getting stuck.
Firefighters were called in by staff at Rockwell Park, who reported someone was in the chimney of the pavilion, and in freeing the man they caused up to $US10,000 ($15,400) of damage to the building, police said.
The man was arrested and charged with burglary, trespassing and criminal mischief. The dog was fine.
11.50am
Mixed reviews over 'nation-leading' home buyer scheme
By
A 'nation-leading' home ownership scheme has been defended by a state government amid concerns it will lead to more mortgage stress.
Treasurer David Janetzki highlighted the 'boost to buy' plan when he handed down the first Queensland budget under a Liberal National government since 2014.
It promises 30 per cent equity in new builds and 25 per cent in existing homes of up to $1 million for 1000 Queenslanders.
Brisbane's median house price officially surpassed the $1 million mark in January.
'We make no apologies for being so aspirational for aspirational Queenslanders,' Janetzki said.
'My view is, a thousand people, that's what we need to drive this program. I don't accept that it won't get more people into homes.'
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The Real Estate Institute of Queensland welcomed the scheme, calling it a 'smart, timely step to match market conditions'.
The Queensland Council of Social Services said measures that improved home ownership were positive but believed the scheme could be targeted better.
'What we would like to see is that it would be targeted to people who are the least likely to be able to do it without government support,' QCOSS chief executive Aimee McVeigh said.
'It could be a really significant change for those families and generate intergenerational wealth, which is really important when you think about how we lift people out of poverty or provide people with financial security into the future.'
Labor's Shannon Fentiman expressed support for the shared-equity scheme but believed it would only assist a small number of Queenslanders.
10.56am
Qatar Airways flights from Brisbane expected to resume today
By Courtney Kruk
Qatar Airways flights departing Brisbane are expected to fly as normal today, despite last-minute cancellations this week due to the conflict in the Middle East.
On Tuesday, Brisbane travellers arrived at the airport to learn their flights to European destinations, including Greece, via Doha had been cancelled.
Passengers booked on Virgin Australia's scheduled services from Brisbane to Doha were unable to travel unless their journey terminated at Doha, due to the global aviation chaos caused by the Israel and Iran conflict. This affected travellers transiting through Qatar en route to Europe.
A spokesperson for Virgin Australia said all scheduled services operated by Qatar Airways were expected to operate today.
'We encourage guests scheduled to travel on Virgin Australia services between Australia and Doha in the coming days to monitor their flight information closely,' the spokesperson said.
Virgin will be offering free cancellations, or flight changes, to travellers booked on the airline's Doha services with onward connections from now until June 30 who no longer wish to travel.
10.47am
More Bank of Queensland branches closing
By William Davis
The Bank of Queensland is reducing its branches across the state, including one in Brisbane, after numerous closures earlier this year.
Aspley, in Brisbane's north, is one of nine suburbs across the country set to lose its bricks-and-mortar bank branch.
Branches at Aitkenvale in Townsville, Edge Hill in Cairns and Surfers Paradise are also closing.
The Brisbane-headquartered bank said the move was designed to simplify operations.
'As our branch network evolves in line with our business priorities and growth corridors, we remain committed to our customers,' the bank said in a statement.
'As customer preferences continue to evolve, we remain committed to expanding our mobile lender and business banker teams – offering customers greater choice in how they bank with us.'
The bank said 'most team members' would be offered new roles.
The latest closures come after 14 branches were shut in January, including those in Logan Central, Caloundra, Carindale, Elanora, Sherwood, Springwood, and Toowong.
10.16am
Public sector negotiations are about 'more than pay': Premier
By Felicity Caldwell
Premier David Crisafulli says EBA negotiations, which are ongoing with Queensland's teachers, police officers and nurses, are about more than money.
'If you speak to a police officer, wages are really important to him or her,' he said
'So too is being able to make sure that when you pull a Taser, that it might work and that it can keep you safe.
'Wages are one component of it, an important part, so are conditions, so are resources.'
10.03am
Minister confident he can do a deal with teachers
By Felicity Caldwell
Teachers descended on Queensland Parliament yesterday demanding a better pay deal after the state government handed down its budget
But Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek says he's confident he can reach an agreement with them.
'This is part of the negotiations that go on through an enterprise bargain process,' he said, speaking at Mitchelton Special School on Wednesday morning.
'Last time, EB7 was one that I did back in 2012 (under the former Newman government), we did it without any real dramas.
'I'm confident that while they've rejected our first offer, that we've had 14 rounds of negotiations, there's more to come, and we'll make sure that we do a deal with the teachers.'
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The Advertiser
14 hours ago
- The Advertiser
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People can gamble, but there's grooming of kids," Rev Costello told AAP. "We now have, with the two-year implementation (delay), a whole generation of kids who only think of NRL and AFL in terms of odds." Gambling harms lead to suicides, one-in-four 18-to-24-year-old young men are addicted, 600,000 underage Australians gambled last year, and domestic violence spikes threefold if there is gambling in a family, Rev Costello said. "This industry has been treated as having a normal social license when it's actually pushing very addictive products," he said. "We have literally given our kids over to sports betting companies as fodder for their profits." Vested interests, including the AFL and NRL, sports betting companies, and the commercial broadcasting networks, had stalled reforms, Rev Costello said. The nation's peak body for doctors, the Australian Medical Association, is demanding the government immediately action all 31 recommendations, accusing it of exposing millions of Australians to predatory betting companies. "Every day of delay means more Australians fall victim to an industry that profits from harm and despair," AMA President Danielle McMullen said. Wesley Mission chief executive Stu Cameron expressed deep disappointment in the government's failure to act on a bipartisan road map to tackle gambling harm."Two years on, the silence from Canberra is deafening," Rev Cameron said. "While the government hesitates, lives are being torn apart." The three say the government must use their parliamentary mandate to make systematic reforms, including banning gambling ads, implementing a national regulator and treating gambling as a health issue. A spokesman for Communications Minister Anika Wells said she has had several meetings with harm reduction advocates, broadcasters and sporting codes. He said the government had delivered "some of the most significant gambling harm reduction measures in Australian history", pointing to mandatory ID verification and banning credit cards for online gambling and launching BetStop, the National Self-Exclusion Register. Australians top the list for the world's highest gambling losses, placing $244.3 billion in bets every year. National Gambling Helpline 1800 858 858 Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491 Australia risks losing a whole generation of kids to gambling, as criticisms are levelled at the government for failing to implement reforms from a landmark report two years on. The "You win some, you lose more" parliamentary inquiry into online gambling and its impacts, chaired by fierce gambling reform advocate the late Peta Murphy MP, delivered 31 recommendations in 2023. The unanimously supported proposals focused on reducing harm, protecting children and applying a long-overdue public health approach to gambling in this country. But two years to the day, gambling reform advocates, health bodies and church groups say the federal government have been silent. More than 80 per cent of Australians want a gambling advertisement ban, and parents are sick of turning on the TV only to find their 10-year-olds discussing the game in terms of odds, Alliance for Gambling Reform chief advocate Tim Costello said. "Smoking is legal, but kids shouldn't be seeing it. Same with gambling. People can gamble, but there's grooming of kids," Rev Costello told AAP. "We now have, with the two-year implementation (delay), a whole generation of kids who only think of NRL and AFL in terms of odds." Gambling harms lead to suicides, one-in-four 18-to-24-year-old young men are addicted, 600,000 underage Australians gambled last year, and domestic violence spikes threefold if there is gambling in a family, Rev Costello said. "This industry has been treated as having a normal social license when it's actually pushing very addictive products," he said. "We have literally given our kids over to sports betting companies as fodder for their profits." Vested interests, including the AFL and NRL, sports betting companies, and the commercial broadcasting networks, had stalled reforms, Rev Costello said. The nation's peak body for doctors, the Australian Medical Association, is demanding the government immediately action all 31 recommendations, accusing it of exposing millions of Australians to predatory betting companies. "Every day of delay means more Australians fall victim to an industry that profits from harm and despair," AMA President Danielle McMullen said. Wesley Mission chief executive Stu Cameron expressed deep disappointment in the government's failure to act on a bipartisan road map to tackle gambling harm."Two years on, the silence from Canberra is deafening," Rev Cameron said. "While the government hesitates, lives are being torn apart." The three say the government must use their parliamentary mandate to make systematic reforms, including banning gambling ads, implementing a national regulator and treating gambling as a health issue. A spokesman for Communications Minister Anika Wells said she has had several meetings with harm reduction advocates, broadcasters and sporting codes. He said the government had delivered "some of the most significant gambling harm reduction measures in Australian history", pointing to mandatory ID verification and banning credit cards for online gambling and launching BetStop, the National Self-Exclusion Register. Australians top the list for the world's highest gambling losses, placing $244.3 billion in bets every year. National Gambling Helpline 1800 858 858 Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491 Australia risks losing a whole generation of kids to gambling, as criticisms are levelled at the government for failing to implement reforms from a landmark report two years on. The "You win some, you lose more" parliamentary inquiry into online gambling and its impacts, chaired by fierce gambling reform advocate the late Peta Murphy MP, delivered 31 recommendations in 2023. The unanimously supported proposals focused on reducing harm, protecting children and applying a long-overdue public health approach to gambling in this country. But two years to the day, gambling reform advocates, health bodies and church groups say the federal government have been silent. More than 80 per cent of Australians want a gambling advertisement ban, and parents are sick of turning on the TV only to find their 10-year-olds discussing the game in terms of odds, Alliance for Gambling Reform chief advocate Tim Costello said. "Smoking is legal, but kids shouldn't be seeing it. Same with gambling. People can gamble, but there's grooming of kids," Rev Costello told AAP. "We now have, with the two-year implementation (delay), a whole generation of kids who only think of NRL and AFL in terms of odds." Gambling harms lead to suicides, one-in-four 18-to-24-year-old young men are addicted, 600,000 underage Australians gambled last year, and domestic violence spikes threefold if there is gambling in a family, Rev Costello said. "This industry has been treated as having a normal social license when it's actually pushing very addictive products," he said. "We have literally given our kids over to sports betting companies as fodder for their profits." Vested interests, including the AFL and NRL, sports betting companies, and the commercial broadcasting networks, had stalled reforms, Rev Costello said. The nation's peak body for doctors, the Australian Medical Association, is demanding the government immediately action all 31 recommendations, accusing it of exposing millions of Australians to predatory betting companies. "Every day of delay means more Australians fall victim to an industry that profits from harm and despair," AMA President Danielle McMullen said. Wesley Mission chief executive Stu Cameron expressed deep disappointment in the government's failure to act on a bipartisan road map to tackle gambling harm."Two years on, the silence from Canberra is deafening," Rev Cameron said. "While the government hesitates, lives are being torn apart." The three say the government must use their parliamentary mandate to make systematic reforms, including banning gambling ads, implementing a national regulator and treating gambling as a health issue. A spokesman for Communications Minister Anika Wells said she has had several meetings with harm reduction advocates, broadcasters and sporting codes. He said the government had delivered "some of the most significant gambling harm reduction measures in Australian history", pointing to mandatory ID verification and banning credit cards for online gambling and launching BetStop, the National Self-Exclusion Register. Australians top the list for the world's highest gambling losses, placing $244.3 billion in bets every year. National Gambling Helpline 1800 858 858 Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491 Australia risks losing a whole generation of kids to gambling, as criticisms are levelled at the government for failing to implement reforms from a landmark report two years on. The "You win some, you lose more" parliamentary inquiry into online gambling and its impacts, chaired by fierce gambling reform advocate the late Peta Murphy MP, delivered 31 recommendations in 2023. The unanimously supported proposals focused on reducing harm, protecting children and applying a long-overdue public health approach to gambling in this country. But two years to the day, gambling reform advocates, health bodies and church groups say the federal government have been silent. More than 80 per cent of Australians want a gambling advertisement ban, and parents are sick of turning on the TV only to find their 10-year-olds discussing the game in terms of odds, Alliance for Gambling Reform chief advocate Tim Costello said. "Smoking is legal, but kids shouldn't be seeing it. Same with gambling. People can gamble, but there's grooming of kids," Rev Costello told AAP. "We now have, with the two-year implementation (delay), a whole generation of kids who only think of NRL and AFL in terms of odds." Gambling harms lead to suicides, one-in-four 18-to-24-year-old young men are addicted, 600,000 underage Australians gambled last year, and domestic violence spikes threefold if there is gambling in a family, Rev Costello said. "This industry has been treated as having a normal social license when it's actually pushing very addictive products," he said. "We have literally given our kids over to sports betting companies as fodder for their profits." Vested interests, including the AFL and NRL, sports betting companies, and the commercial broadcasting networks, had stalled reforms, Rev Costello said. The nation's peak body for doctors, the Australian Medical Association, is demanding the government immediately action all 31 recommendations, accusing it of exposing millions of Australians to predatory betting companies. "Every day of delay means more Australians fall victim to an industry that profits from harm and despair," AMA President Danielle McMullen said. Wesley Mission chief executive Stu Cameron expressed deep disappointment in the government's failure to act on a bipartisan road map to tackle gambling harm."Two years on, the silence from Canberra is deafening," Rev Cameron said. "While the government hesitates, lives are being torn apart." The three say the government must use their parliamentary mandate to make systematic reforms, including banning gambling ads, implementing a national regulator and treating gambling as a health issue. A spokesman for Communications Minister Anika Wells said she has had several meetings with harm reduction advocates, broadcasters and sporting codes. He said the government had delivered "some of the most significant gambling harm reduction measures in Australian history", pointing to mandatory ID verification and banning credit cards for online gambling and launching BetStop, the National Self-Exclusion Register. Australians top the list for the world's highest gambling losses, placing $244.3 billion in bets every year. National Gambling Helpline 1800 858 858 Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491
Perth Now
14 hours ago
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What's gambling cost? Advocates slam political inaction
Australia risks losing a whole generation of kids to gambling, as criticisms are levelled at the government for failing to implement reforms from a landmark report two years on. The "You win some, you lose more" parliamentary inquiry into online gambling and its impacts, chaired by fierce gambling reform advocate the late Peta Murphy MP, delivered 31 recommendations in 2023. The unanimously supported proposals focused on reducing harm, protecting children and applying a long-overdue public health approach to gambling in this country. But two years to the day, gambling reform advocates, health bodies and church groups say the federal government have been silent. More than 80 per cent of Australians want a gambling advertisement ban, and parents are sick of turning on the TV only to find their 10-year-olds discussing the game in terms of odds, Alliance for Gambling Reform chief advocate Tim Costello said. "Smoking is legal, but kids shouldn't be seeing it. Same with gambling. People can gamble, but there's grooming of kids," Rev Costello told AAP. "We now have, with the two-year implementation (delay), a whole generation of kids who only think of NRL and AFL in terms of odds." Gambling harms lead to suicides, one-in-four 18-to-24-year-old young men are addicted, 600,000 underage Australians gambled last year, and domestic violence spikes threefold if there is gambling in a family, Rev Costello said. "This industry has been treated as having a normal social license when it's actually pushing very addictive products," he said. "We have literally given our kids over to sports betting companies as fodder for their profits." Vested interests, including the AFL and NRL, sports betting companies, and the commercial broadcasting networks, had stalled reforms, Rev Costello said. The nation's peak body for doctors, the Australian Medical Association, is demanding the government immediately action all 31 recommendations, accusing it of exposing millions of Australians to predatory betting companies. "Every day of delay means more Australians fall victim to an industry that profits from harm and despair," AMA President Danielle McMullen said. Wesley Mission chief executive Stu Cameron expressed deep disappointment in the government's failure to act on a bipartisan road map to tackle gambling harm."Two years on, the silence from Canberra is deafening," Rev Cameron said. "While the government hesitates, lives are being torn apart." The three say the government must use their parliamentary mandate to make systematic reforms, including banning gambling ads, implementing a national regulator and treating gambling as a health issue. A spokesman for Communications Minister Anika Wells said she has had several meetings with harm reduction advocates, broadcasters and sporting codes. He said the government had delivered "some of the most significant gambling harm reduction measures in Australian history", pointing to mandatory ID verification and banning credit cards for online gambling and launching BetStop, the National Self-Exclusion Register. Australians top the list for the world's highest gambling losses, placing $244.3 billion in bets every year. National Gambling Helpline 1800 858 858 Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491
News.com.au
16 hours ago
- News.com.au
Aussie girl Marleigh, 10, talks to A Current Affair about new blood donation rules
A 10-year old Australian girl who relies on blood donations to stay alive says she has a better chance at life from new rules that allow gay and bisexual men and transgender women to donate plasma. Mum Kate told A Current Affair her daughter Marleigh relies on blood donations because of an incurable condition that is potentially fatal and has no cure. Kate fought for years to have the rules changed in Australia that would allow more people to donate lifesaving plasma. Kate said Marleigh suffered seizures that lasted up to almost 40 hours and their gay male friends were heartbroken they could not donate blood when the young girl was at her sickest. 'Her immune system is wrongly identifying her healthy brain cells as foreign and attacking her brain,' she said. 'We have so many friends, particularly our gay male friends, who would love to donate for Marleigh. 'All they wanted to do was go and jump in a seat at Lifeblood and donate the blood.' According to Lifeblood, earlier rules prevented gay and bisexual men and transgender women from donating blood or plasma if they had sex with men in the past three months. Lifeblood will remove most sexual activity wait times for plasma donations from July 14, which means most people, and anyone who takes pre-exposure prophylaxis that meets other eligibility criteria, will be able to donate plasma. The lifesaving organisation expects an extra 24,000 Australians will be able to give about 95,000 donations of plasma each year. Lifeblood chief medical officer Jo Pink said with plasma now the donation type most needed by Australian patients, the change came at an important time. 'We're excited to be able to welcome more people from across the community into our donor centres from next month,' she said. Dr Pink said the Therapeutic Goods Administration was also in the process of approving their submission to remove gender-based sexual activity rules, which means all donors will be asked the same rules about their sexual activity. She said their submission to change rules for blood donation included data that showed a six month wait was the safest option for Australian patients. 'But we are committed to reviewing this as more evidence becomes available,' she said. 'There are many steps that Lifeblood needs to take before we can implement the new gender-neutral assessments, including working with state and territory governments to change the donor questionnaire. 'We hope to be able to implement this part of the changes next year. 'Blood safety is and always will be our top priority but we know the current donation rules have been very difficult for many people in the LGBTQIA+ community. 'While they were put in place to ensure a safe blood supply in the past, we know that they've contributed to the stigma faced by the community.' Health Equity Matters chief executive officer Dash Heath-Paynter said he welcomed this change that could unlock thousands of donations of lifesaving plasma. 'While there is still more work, the Therapeutic Goods Administration's approval for gender neutral assessments for blood donation is welcomed,' he said. 'In terms of plasma donations, these changes mean Australia's regulations are world-leading.' Kirby Institute head of global health program John Kaldor said Lifeblood had developed pragmatic and innovative new procedures for blood donations with scientific evidence that shifted societal expectations.
