Australia to Make Vaccinations Mandatory for Aged Care Workers
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced that the vaccination of all aged care workers will be made mandatory by September.
The decision was made at a special national cabinet meeting of all Australian state and territory leaders in response to the emergence of the more transmissible Delta variant of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus.
The leaders endorsed mandatory vaccination for aged care workers in a bid to complete what was supposed to be the first phase of the rollout.
“This is not something any government should do lightly … we have been considering this matter for some time now based on the best possible medical advice,” Morrison said.
Published June 29, 2021, 11:36 AM
CANBERRA, Australia Australian doctors have called for an urgent national advertising campaign to address coronavirus vaccine misinformation.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) recently said it was critical for the government to give Australians up-to-date information about the COVID-19 vaccine program.
“There are certainly people who are having questions about their second dose, and we’ve got questions from the older cohorts, or refusals, which is a real concern,” Karen Price, the president of the RACGP, told Nine Entertainment newspapers.
“I think that we risk pandemic fatigue, and then negative speculation if we are not addressing these issues.
New Zealand maritime security strategy targets China
New Zealand’s maritime security is facing a host of “rising threats,” according to a strategy paper recently released by the Labour-Green Party government.
The 40-page document, “Maritime Security Strategy Guardianship of Aotearoa New Zealand’s Maritime Waters,” was officially launched on June 17 at a conference hosted by the Victoria University of Wellington (VUW) Centre for Strategic Studies, following its publication in December by the Ministry of Transport.
Royal New Zealand Navy (Wikimedia Commons)
The strategy requires the country’s maritime security systems to “step up” in line with the government’s major Strategic Defence Policy Statement, published in 2018. That paper lined up with US preparations for war, singling out China and Russia for the first time as the principal “threats” to the “international community.”
Four major Australian cities are tonight in lockdown. Sydney, Perth, Brisbane and Darwin are all battling to contain the spread of the highly contagious Delta strain. Credits: Image - Getty Images; Video - Newshub
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced a three-day snap lockdown for parts of the state after an outbreak grew by another two community cases on Monday.
The lockdown will commence at 6pm on Tuesday night (local time) and is scheduled to finish 72 hours later, at 6pm on Friday. Restrictions will be in place for South East Queensland, Townsville, Palm Island and Magnetic Island.
The only reasons to leave during this period will be to attend essential education or work that cannot be done at home; to obtain health care services, including vaccines; provide care or support for a vulnerable family member; do essential shopping; or exercise.