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Key events
COVID-19 could be key to fighting breast cancer
COVID-19 immunity and vaccines could be key to fighting breast cancer, according to a researcher who has spoken to AAP.
Clare Slaney is focused on improving CAR T-cell therapy – a type of immunotherapy whereby doctors collect a small portion of a patient’s T-cells, which are an important part of the immune system.
The cells have the ability to track down and destroy abnormal cells, including some cancer cells, and the therapy has them re-engineered in labs to carry special anti-cancer molecules called chimeric antigen receptors, or CARs, on their surface.
The cells then rapidly multiply when they are injected back into a patient. The type of immunotherapy has shown great promise for some blood cancers, but it is yet to prove effective for solid tumours like breast cancer.
Dr Slaney intends to try collecting people’s new COVID-specific “memory T cells”, rather than regular T cells, and re-engineering them to recognise specific breast cancer surface proteins.
The coronavirus cells could therefore be used to fight breast cancer, and most people have them given they’ve either had the virus or been vaccinated against it, Dr Slaney said.
The initial idea came to me as I was sitting at home frustrated in the early stages of the pandemic, unable to access my lab, watching my colleagues in infectious diseases working so hard to fight the SARS-COV2 virus.
I suddenly thought can we leverage this virus to do something useful.
When the COVID-19 vaccines emerged, I had the idea that we just might be able to use COVID-19 immunity and vaccines to fight breast cancer.
The National Breast Cancer Foundation is backing her research, announcing funding for the project on Saturday – the three-year anniversary of the pandemic declaration.
Liberal senator suggests total TikTok ban
The shadow minister for cybersecurity, James Paterson, has said he would be open to a complete ban of the TikTok app due to concerns about privacy and data retention.
A growing number of Australian government agencies have begun banning the popular ByteDance app, amid security concerns over the company’s ties to China and what data might be accessible to the Chinese government about TikTok’s users.
Paterson told Channel Nine this morning that move was overdue and he’d welcome further action:
It should absolutely be taken off all government devices as the United States, Canada, the European Union and many other countries have done. All of those countries recognised the serious national security threat it poses to government users. So that should have happened some time ago.
Look, I think we should keep all options on the table on protecting the other millions of Australians who use the app. If we can solve this problem through means less severe than banning it, then I’m very open to that. But I think we have to keep that option on the table because, unfortunately, TikTok is a company that hasn’t told the truth in the past around the way it operates.
Police urge Burketown residents to leave ‘as soon as possible’
Queensland police have issued new instructions to anyone in the Burketown area, which is dealing with record flooding after heavy rain upstream.
Here’s the alert:
Police are strongly urging all remaining residents to leave the community of Burketown as soon as possible.
This is particularly relevant to the elderly and people with young children.
Sewerage to the town has been compromised and power to the town will be cut off today.
It is not safe for people to remain.
Residents who have chosen to remain should seek assistance from police.
‘A very good trip’: academic praises Albanese’s tour of India
Prof Michael Wesley, the deputy vice-chancellor international at the University of Melbourne, was travelling with the prime minister’s delegation to India this week.
He’s told ABC News it’s been a very beneficial trip that will deliver education and business outcomes for both nations.
I think it’s been a very good trip. It is buttressed with other Australian ministers that have been visiting. So I was here last week as well for education minister Jason Clare’s visit. That was a very warm meeting where a lot of collaboration was announced, including the mutual recognition of education qualifications.
I think the prime minister’s visit has very much continued in that vein. There seems to be a great deal of personal warmth between the two prime ministers. I’m told that the business delegation that the prime minister brought with him (…) had very, very useful talks as well.
Australia’s biggest EV show begins in Sydney
More than 10,000 people are expected to visit Australia’s biggest electric car show in Sydney today, where organisers will display almost every battery-powered vehicle available in the country, AAP reports.
The Fully Charged Live Show will also be the first venue in Australia to show off an unreleased MG hatchback that has been named as a contender for Australia’s cheapest electric car.
The motor show, which industry experts say is the first held in Australia in years, comes just one month after consumers set a record for electric vehicle purchases.
The Fully Charged chief executive, Dan Caesar, said the company had planned to bring an electric vehicle showcase to Australia earlier but “the pandemic slowed us in our tracks”.
Here’s what he told AAP:
We’re finally delivering show one now and then we are definitely coming back next year. Typically in year two the show doubles or triples in size.
Australia seems to be quite a vibrant place at the moment in terms of talking about solar panels or batteries or EVs. There seems to be some strong demand.
‘An absolute outrage’: Greens senator blasts judge over breastfeeding decision
There’s been a lot of controversy about a Victorian judge ejecting a breastfeeding mother and her baby from his courtroom, arguing it was a distraction to the jury.
Yesterday, the judge addressed the jury about the incident, saying his comments should be “self-explanatory”. Here’s a reminder of what he said:
What I [told the mother] was this – ‘Madam, you will not be permitted to breastfeed a baby in court. I’m sorry. I will have to ask you to leave. It will be a distraction for the jury at the very least’.
I am telling you this because it is something that has attracted some media publicity and I think you need to know exactly what it was that I said and why I said it.
The Greens senator Larissa Waters has told Channel Nine she’s furious at the judge’s decision. She became the first woman to breastfeed in federal parliament back in 2017.
Here’s part of what she told Weekend Today:
I can’t believe that we’re still having this debate in 2023 about where mums can breastfeed their babies. If I can do it in parliament, women should be able to breastfeed their hungry baby no matter where they are. That is, in fact, what the law says. I am incredulous that we are still having this debate and that this poor woman, who was just trying to feed her hungry baby, has been made to feel like she has done something wrong. It is an absolute outrage.
Labor to tackle noise and venue complaints in NSW
Labor will seek to simplify how residents complain about noise and compliance issues from pubs and music venues, and encourage a mediation process instead of fines that punish bars and clubs, if they form government in New South Wales.
The reforms proposed by Labor come amid a spate of single neighbourhood complaints threatening the way in which venues across Sydney operate.
There are currently seven agencies that can deal with complaints about venues, and Labor plans to streamline this process.
If Labor wins government, it will also pay half the cost of soundproofing upgrades to make venues compliant with noise standards.
John Graham, Labor’s night time economy and music spokesperson, said music venues “are beloved by their local communities” and that Labor wants “to balance the needs of music venues and neighbours so that we don’t lose these important cultural assets”.
He added:
More than half the music venues in NSW have closed under the last decade of Liberal government, and more of our best operators are currently at risk.
There are currently seven agencies that regulate sound in NSW. Labor will simplify the process so that residents know who to phone if they have an issue and neighbours and venues can peacefully mediate, and we’ll provide practical support to venues for soundproofing.
AFL won’t yet commit to AFLW players’ full-time dream
Under pressure to outline a “vision” for its elite women’s competition, the AFL remains non-committal on whether it sees the AFLW reaching the point of full-time professionalism, AAP reports.
The Carlton chief executive, Brian Cook, last month put heat on AFL officials to produce a long-term strategic plan for the AFLW.
It came amid ongoing pleas from many within the women’s game for a future that includes the majority of AFLW players and staff advancing beyond their current part-time status.
Players also want the home-and-away season to be expanded beyond the current 10 rounds, to incorporate all clubs playing each of their rivals at least once.
Cook queried the AFL’s desire to develop the women’s competition to that point and the league chief executive, Gillon McLachlan, would not commit to it when quizzed on the subject this week.
Here’s what McLachlan told AAP:
It’s a really interesting question. We want women to be very well paid athletes making a living out of football.
But I think we take a line of sight through the men’s competition and one of our bigger challenges is transitioning post-football.
Those who have had careers or who have got qualifications or trades in parallel with their football have transitioned in an easier way. We have those learnings and those lessons from the men’s and we’re applying them to the women’s.
The pay will grow and the minimum wage now is $40,000 for a 10-round season, but we are very keen to continue to work with our female athletes so they also have an eye to post-football and have a life that contemplates at some point that you have to transition.
More trouble for Sydney trains
Expect more delays if you’re travelling on Sydney trains this morning. Urgent repairs to overhead wiring are being conducted on the T3 Parramatta line.
Earlier this week, Sydney commuters were told to avoid train travel after the entire rail network was halted due to a communications system fault. Commuters reported long delays while returning home from work.
Pandemic marriage laws protected LGBTQI people, advocate says
Marriage laws intended to give couples more flexibility through the Covid-19 pandemic offer LGBTQI people critical protection from discrimination and persecution, an advocate says.
As AAP reports, the Equality Network founder Bronte Price is calling for the Marriage Act to be amended to allow couples to sign notices of intended marriage remotely and have them witnessed by a celebrant over video chat.
Existing Covid laws allow couples to do just that but the measure is due to be repealed on December 31.
Here’s what Price told AAP:
This move to enable a celebrant to witness remotely the signing of a notice of intended marriage needs to be made permanent.
It’s not just for the convenience of anyone. There’s still a lot of queer people in Australia who are not out.
In a letter to the federal attorney general’s department, Price – a registered marriage celebrant – pointed to one immigrant female couple who crossed the Victorian border from their country town and travelled to Melbourne to have him witness their signing.
They did so before the Covid measure kicked in, and out of fear they would be targeted with homophobic remarks if they went to a local authorised witness and “word got around”.
The Covid measure would have saved them their anguish, Price said, and the same went for overseas couples who faced much harsher consequences if they were outed.
Burketown ranger concerned about crocodiles in flood waters
This video and satellite projection give a sense of how bad the situation in Burketown is. Keep in mind, both of these posts are about 22 hours old and the situation has worsened since then.
Modi raises concerns about attacks on Hindu temples in Melbourne
The Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, has raised concerns about multiple attacks on Hindu temples in Melbourne during a discussion with Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese.
In January, the walls of the Swaminarayan temple in Melbourne’s north were painted with “Hindustan Murdabad” meaning “down with India”. Two other temples were also targeted.
The vandalism was condemned by community leaders and many politicians including acting state premier at the time, Jacinta Allan, who said was disgraceful to desecrate religious temples.
Here’s a translation of Modi’s remarks:
There are reports of attacks on temples in Australia. It’s natural that this kinds of news worries people in India, distresses our minds. I told Prime Minister Albanese about these feelings and worries, and he has assured me that the safety of the Indian community is a special priority.
Aukus the best kept secret since World War II, Morrison says
As we mentioned earlier, former prime minister Scott Morrison has spoken to the Weekend Australian ahead of next week’s Aukus announcement about nuclear powered submarines.
The long-term plan for Australian submarines would likely involve a British submarine design with heavy use of American technology.
That does not preclude a US interim solution to plug a potential capability gap caused by the retirement of Australia’s existing Collins class conventional submarines from the late 2030s.
Morrison has been reflecting on the formation of Aukus ahead of the announcement:
It was the most remarkably held project that I suspect many could ever recall.
In fact, it was the best kept secret in Australian history since the Second World War.
This secrecy was so essential because the second it moved outside those who only needed to know, it was a risk.
PM highlights education on tour of India
Anthony Albanese has been sharing updates of his trip to India on social media overnight, after wrapping up his three-day visit. He’s highlighted education among many other issues. This week, Deakin was announced as the first university with a formal deal to open an international teaching campus in India.
Albanese hopes for India trade deal by end of year
Australia could sign a “transformational” Indian trade deal by the end of the year after Anthony Albanese wrapped up his visit to the subcontinent by unveiling a string of agreements, AAP reports.
At a joint address in New Delhi with Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, the prime minister revealed the two countries had finalised deals to boost economic and cultural ties.
Significantly, Albanese said the nations agreed on an early conclusion to their Comprehensive Economic Co-operation Agreement, adding he was hopeful it would be wrapped up by the end of the year:
This transformational deal will realise the full potential of the bilateral economic relationship, creating employment opportunities and raising living standards for the people of both Australia and India.
A limited free-trade agreement between the countries came into effect in January but has already borne fruit, with more than $2.5bn worth of Australian produce hitting India.
The pair also announced an Australia-India solar task force co-chaired by Australian professor Renate Egan, one tangible outcome from discussions of the need to address climate change.
The nations are also set to work more closely on supplying critical minerals as India seeks to meet ambitious goals of 50 per cent renewable energy and 30 per cent electric vehicle usage by 2030.
I am proud of the existing co-operation between Australia and India on solar and hydrogen technologies … and the opportunities for us to work more closely to secure critical minerals supply chains.
The task force will provide our governments with advice on opportunities to accelerate solar PV deployment and enhance supply chains.
Police prepared for ‘total evacuation’ of Burketown
Superintendent Tom Armitt has told ABC News that authorities are prepared to evacuate everyone in the remote Queensland town of Burketown if necessary. As mentioned earlier, the region has recorded record rainfall and flooding.
I think we have to plan for the worst case scenario so that we don’t get caught short, so if it means the total evacuation of the town, we will do that. We are prepared for that now. Then it is a matter of being able to continuously monitor the situation and determine when it’s safe to return.
Fifty-three people evacuated from Burketown
Queensland police superintendent Tom Armitt has just provided an update to ABC News on the floods in Queensland. He says 53 people have been evacuated from Burketown. Helicopter evacuations will continue throughout the day.
Here’s part of his update:
The flood situation in Burketown at the moment is at record levels, so we’re not really in an area where we can predict exactly what we are going to get.
We know that the water is still rising and we know that there is a significant amount of water that needs to drain from those catchments, which received an extraordinary amount of rain over the last few days.
We do have a fleet of helicopters and other assets that we have used over the last few days to evacuate 53 people from the town. There is probably just over 100 remaining. Some of those people wish to stay in their homes. Others we will be moving today.
There has been an absolutely extraordinary response from local helicopter pilots and mustering helicopters to help us move a large amount of people yesterday. Some of these helicopters are only tiny and they only carry three people at a time, so there has been a lot of lifts.
Queensland towns prepare for record floods
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued flood warnings for many regional Queensland locations. We’ll keep you updated on this story today. Here’s part of the latest update, issued on Friday, which shows how heavy the rainfall has been:
Up to 293mm have been recorded across the Nicholson and Leichhardt River catchments in the 48 hours to 9am Friday. Further showers and thunderstorms are forecast for the remainder of Friday, however widespread rainfall has generally eased in the area.
Significant river level rises have been observed in the upper parts of the Nicholson and Leichhardt catchment at Riversleigh, Gregory Downs and Doomadgee township where major flooding is occurring.
At Doomadgee Township a major record river level of 8.54m was recorded on Friday morning, however river levels are now rising more slowly, and nearing a peak. Record major flooding is occurring at Burketown, with further rises and a record peak likely during Sunday.
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our rolling news coverage this Saturday morning. I’m Martin Farrer and I’ll run through a couple of the top stories making the headlines overnight before my colleague Henry Belot starts up.
Anthony Albanese is hoping that Australia will be able to sign a “transformational” trade deal with India before the end of the year as he wrapped up his visit to the subcontinent with a joint address in New Delhi with Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.
Albanese said the nations agreed on an early conclusion to their Comprehensive Economic Co-operation Agreement, adding he was hopeful it would be wrapped up by the end of the year.
A limited free-trade agreement between the countries came into effect in January but has already borne fruit, with more than $2.5bn worth of Australian produce hitting India. The pair also announced an Australia-India solar task force co-chaired by Australian professor Renate Egan.
A northwest Queensland town is waiting for its worst-ever floods to peak, with multiple communities and outlying cattle properties isolated and severe thunderstorms putting the state’s west and south at risk of flash floods.
The Albert River at Burketown has already surpassed the record 6.78m flood of 2011, and the Bureau of Meteorology says waters in the Gulf of Carpentaria community will likely reach their highest on Sunday. About 90 locals still in town were told to pack a bag on Friday night after 25 elderly and sick people, along with 18 children accompanied by one of their parents, were airlifted out.
Weeks of torrential rain have overwhelmed the region’s rivers, leaving dozens of communities such as Doomadgee, Normanton and Karumba stranded on islands amid a vast inland sea. Those towns as well as more isolated settlements and outlying cattle stations are relying on food and other supplies being sent by air and on barges.
The danger of the late-season monsoon has moved south, and a flood watch has been declared for a giant chevron stretching from Julia Creek to the NSW border and back up to Bundaberg.
Former prime minister Scott Morrison has reportedly told the Weekend Australian that senior diplomats and cabinet minsters were kept in the dark over Aukus negotiations amid concerns that plans to acquire nuclear submarines from the US and Britain would be leaked through Australian embassies in Europe.
“It was the best kept secret in Australian history since the Second World War,” Morrison is reported to have said.
The paper says the then Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade secretary, Frances Adamson, was only informed of the deal when it was brought before the national security committee of cabinet in May 2021.
Let’s get into it.
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