murray olds

Authorities in New South Wales are warning the Australian state is seeing its highest levels of Covid in a year. 

The surge comes at the tail end of the holiday period, with about 1,400 people going to emergency departments and 400 being admitted to hospital each week. 

New South Wales Health advises people to stay home if they have symptoms. 

Australia correspondent Murray Olds told Tim Dower that the bulk of cases aren't serious, as the two dominant variants right now mostly lead to only minor symptoms. 

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A woman is facing numerous fraud charges in relation to an alleged wedding dress scam in Queensland, Australia. 

70 people have been allegedly defrauded by the woman; the situation called a 'wedding disaster' by some. 

Australia Correspondent Murray Olds told Tim Dower that she's accused of re-cutting wedding dresses and selling them as new, selling fake designer frocks and selling off dresses handed over for dry-cleaning. 

He says a lot of people are disappointed and unhappy, and the woman's due in court at the end of the month. 

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Australia's weather bureau is facing heat over a lack of warnings ahead of Queensland's once in a century floods.  

Cairns has been cut off by floodwaters, towns have been evacuated after being stranded for days, and emergency services there are becoming overwhelmed.  

Australian correspondent Murray Olds told Tim Dower that it's been like a mini-Dunkirk with locals stepping up to assist.  

He says the Government's defending forecasters and why they failed to pick up how much of an impact Cyclone Jasper was going to have. 

Murray Olds says this is cold comfort to those neck deep in water with a crocodile just over the back fence. 

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In 2020 the Labour Government won 65 seats, with National taking only 33.  

The tides well and truly changed last night at the 2023 election, and to wrap it all New Zealand Herald's Thomas Coughlan joined Tim Beverage on the Weekend Collective.  

Plus, on Saturday, a major setback to the country's efforts for reconciliation with its First Peoples. Australia rejected a proposal to recognise Indigenous people in the constitution. 

Australian correspondent Murray Olds joined to talk about the upset. 

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There’s confidence that indigenous rights aren't dead-in-the-water in Australia after the Voice referendum was defeated. 

It sought to change the constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia, by establishing a body called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. 

All states voted no, with ACT the only region to vote yes. 

Australian Correspondent Murray Olds said that despite the result, the spotlight is on the situation for indigenous people. 

He says there are gaps everywhere, including when it comes to health, education, housing, employment, justice, and safety. 

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Australia has similar nursing problems to ours.

The aged care sector across the Tasman is struggling, with a lot more people needing to go into care and not enough nursing staff available.

Australian Correspondent Murray Olds told Tim Dower that a report into the sector has found that there needs to be a registered nurse available 24 hours a day, in every facility.

But, he says the aged care providers association in Australia says there aren't enough registered nurses to meet those requirements.

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Australia Correspondent Murray Olds joined Heather du Plessis Allan Drive to discuss Senator Lydia Thorpe, Olivia Newton-John and more.

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