News live: four Australians on cruise ship amid suspected hantavirus outbreak; nation’s highest diphtheria levels in decades | Australia news
Four Australians on cruise ship with suspected hantavirus outbreak
Four Australians are stuck on a luxury cruise ship stranded off the coast of Cape Verde after a suspected outbreak of a rare respiratory virus killed three people, left three others seriously ill and forced nearly 150 people from across the world to isolate onboard.
You can read the full story here:
In a press release overnight, the cruise line Oceanwide Expeditions revealed the nationality of those affected.
The medical situation began on 11 April when a Dutch man died on board. He was disembarked on St Helena on 24 April with his wife, who also later died.
On 27 April, a British man was evacuated to Johannesburg and is critically ill in hospital with a hantavirus infection.
On 2 May, a German passenger died on board the ship.
There are also two crew members, of British and Dutch nationality, still on board with “acute respiratory symptoms”.
The ship is sitting off the coast of Cape Verde, with local authorities not yet permitting those on board to leave.
The 149 people on board are of 23 different nationalities, with passengers predominantly American, British, Spanish and Dutch, with four people from Australia. Of the crew, 38 are from the Philippines.
Here’s an explainer of what hantavirus is:
Key events
Ben Smee
Early voting for the Stafford by-election in Queensland begins today, and the Greens have caused a minor stir by issuing “how to vote” cards that do not recommend directing preferences to Labor.
The Greens’ how-to-vote recommends voters number every box, but make up their own minds about preferences.
At the 2024 election – and historically – the Greens advised voters to direct preferences to Labor. In Stafford in 2024, 80% of Greens preferences went to Labor.
While it remains unclear what impact the decision might have on the result, it has already created concern within Labor. Guardian Australia understands Labor party figures attempted to convince the Greens to change their minds last week.
Stafford is expected to be a tight contest between Labor and the LNP, and a litmus test for the Crisafulli government’s ability to break into Brisbane’s progressive inner ring of suburbs.
Stafford is a Labor heartland seat and a loss for Labor – or even a close result – would heap pressure on opposition leader Steven Miles.
It had also been a seat that Greens strategists had previously thought was winnable within a decade. At the 2022 federal election, for instance, the Greens outpolled Labor at booths within Stafford, and the electorate has a large percentage of renters, particularly at the northern end.
But the Greens’ ambitions in Queensland have taken a hit since then – failing to win most of its target seats at the 2024 election, and left with just one MP in the state parliament.
One Nation is not running in Stafford.
The Greens’ candidate, Jess Lane, said:
double quotation mark I’m asking people to vote 1 Greens and number every square, because that’s the best way to get to work replacing the political establishment and winning real change.
Ballina mayor mourns deaths of three people in yacht accident
The Ballina mayor, Sharon Cadwallader, has told media that the deaths of three people last night in a yacht accident has been “a tragedy of epic proportions for us”.
As we reported earlier, it is understood that two marine rescue volunteers were among those who died after going to the aid of a yacht at the Ballina bar in northern NSW on Monday night.
Cadwallader told ABC News that volunteers “are at the heart of our community, in everything we do”.
She continued:
double quotation mark The Ballina bar is a difficult bar at the best of times … It’s treacherous. It’s challenging. It’s unforgiving. And it’s a timely reminder of just how treacherous that bar is. And how it needs to be treated with the utmost respect.And our volunteers are putting their lives at risk, Marine Rescue volunteers are constantly out there on that bar. We just need to acknowledge that – that they do that every day of the week, out there rescuing people in our waterways.
A fundraising page had been set up in the aftermath of the deaths but Cadwallader questioned why the rescuers had to supply their own equipment:
double quotation mark I could never understand why the volunteers had to raise money for their vessel to rescue people. They’ve had morning breakfasts out at the Marine Rescue tower. They’ve written a book and proceeds from the sale have gone to provide this vessel to keep people safe.I just cannot fathom why they just didn’t get the boat given to them – why they’ve had to raise money to save lives.
So, maybe this is a quiet reminder, too, how important our volunteers are. Their courage, their bravery. They put their lives on the line all the time. They fundraise. They’re not just rescuers – they fundraise to provide services to our community. So they’re really at the heart of our community, our volunteers and keeping our community – and our visitors – safe.
Jonathan Barrett
Investment property loan growth surges at Westpac
Investors now account for almost two in five new home loans, according to Westpac’s half-year financial results released this morning, as prospective owner-occupiers struggle to get a foothold.
The data comes a week before the federal budget, when investor tax breaks are expected to be scaled back.
Westpac, which recorded a six-month net profit of $3.4bn, recorded strong growth in its mortgage portfolio over the period. It was valued at $536.2bn at the end of March, up from $510.2bn a year ago.
Investment property loans have been trending up and now account for 39% of new loans, up from 36% a year earlier.
Meanwhile, owner-occupiers are taking out just over 60% of new loans, down from almost 64% a year ago.
The bank data complements Reserve Bank figures which show that owner-occupier loan growth has slowed under the weight of growing mortgage costs while investor lending continues its record surge.
Westpac figures do show some growth in first home buyer lending, which have been supported by government initiatives including its low deposit scheme.
Worst diphtheria outbreak in Australia for more than 35 years, chief medical officer says
Australia is in the midst of its worst diphtheria outbreak in more than 35 years, Australia’s chief medical officer has said, with 164 reported cases of the respiratory illness this year.
Diphtheria is an infectious disease that affects the respiratory tract. It’s caused by a bacteria that releases a toxin into the body. The toxin affects airways and can cause a membrane to grow across the windpipe, which makes breathing difficult and can lead to suffocation and death. It’s spread mainly through coughing and sneezing.
Prof Michael Kidd told ABC RN this morning that while occasional cases are not unusual (diphtheria is rare in Australia but can be contracted overseas and brought back) case numbers like this haven’t been seen in Australia since the data surveillance started 35 years ago, and possibly earlier.
The cases include 103 across the Northern Territory, 55 in Western Australia, particularly in the Kimberley, four cases in the far north of South Australia and, earlier in the year, a couple of cases in Queensland, Kidd said. The cases were mainly occurring in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
He continued:
double quotation mark Importantly, 46 of those cases so far have been respiratory diphtheria, which is very concerning. So we’re still seeking to fully understand what’s been driving this current outbreak … The strain that is circulating appears to have recently emerged and so we’re looking really closely at what’s happening there.We do know that most cases are mild and this is due to most infected people having had immunisation to protect them from diphtheria. Vaccination offers very strong protection against the severe effects of the toxin but it doesn’t always prevent people being able to be infected and transmit to other people. So the people who we’re most worried about are people who are unvaccinated or people who haven’t had a booster in the last 10 years or so.
Kidd said health authorities in the NT and WA had been working with the leaders of those affected communities, community-controlled Aboriginal medical services and other health services:
double quotation mark [The] community themselves are very active in educating their members, in detecting cases, assisting people to get treated if they are infected, and also supporting getting wide-scale immunisation happening for those who haven’t been vaccinated or for those who haven’t had a booster in recent years.
Two marine rescue volunteers who went to help others are among those who have died in a tragic yacht accident on Monday night.
As we reported below, three people died as volunteers went to the aid of a yacht at the Ballina bar in northern New South Wales.
Emergency services were contacted about 6.15pm when a yacht was reported to be in trouble off the South Ballina breakwall.
“A crew from Marine Rescue NSW responded, however their vessel rolled while crossing the Ballina bar in heavy conditions,” police said.
Read more here:
Benita Kolovos
Victorian government commits to rewriting Sentencing Act
Victoria’s sentencing laws will be rewritten to be more in line with community expectations and to protect good Samaritans, the state government has announced.
Before the state budget, which will be handed down on Tuesday afternoon, the attorney general, Sonya Kilkenny, has announced $3m in funding will go to the Sentencing Advisory Council to conduct an independent review into the Sentencing Act.
The council will be asked to consider current sentencing issues affecting Victorians, including outcomes for offences against people who are trying to intervene to stop violence – known as “good Samaritan” laws.
Experts and the public will be able to provide feedback throughout the review. Based on its recommendations, the government commits to rewriting the act, which it said hasn’t had a comprehensive review since 1991.
Kilkenny said:
double quotation mark Sentencing absolutely needs to reflect community expectations – but the act hasn’t been reviewed with that aim in mind since 1991. It’s no wonder many Victorians think sentencing doesn’t reflect our modern challenges. We’ll rewrite the act following the advice from experts, police and the public because, under Labor, community safety comes first.
This work is in addition to the government announcement last week of a Victorian Law Reform Commission review into the state’s emergency worker harm laws after an attack on a paramedic in uniform.
Homelessness Australia says death of newborn baby in Wagga a ‘devastating tragedy’
Homelessness Australia, an advocacy body for people experiencing homelessness, has called for change after a newborn baby was found dead in a tent in a homeless encampment in Wagga yesterday.
You can read more on the background to this story here:
Homelessness Australia’s chief executive, Kate Colvin, said the organisation “expressed deep sorrow” after the death and extended its condolences to the child’s mother and family.
Colvin said:
double quotation mark This is a devastating tragedy and our thoughts are with the mother of this baby and everyone affected.The uncomfortable truth is that tragedies like this don’t come out of nowhere. They are the result of a housing system that has broken to the point that there is no safe housing or adequate support available, even for a mother with a newborn baby.
It is completely unacceptable a family that has welcomed a new baby cannot immediately access a home, but rentals are unaffordable and social housing is unavailable. Even where families are in touch with homelessness services, people in desperate need miss out every day because there is not enough social housing or homelessness support.
Without change, we will keep seeing tragedies like this, each one heartbreaking, avoidable and a reminder people are being failed long before crisis hits.
Stephanie Convery
Thanks so much to Martin Farrer for kicking us off this morning. I’m Stephanie Convery and I’ll be bringing you all the live news until mid-afternoon today.
Mortgage holders are set to be hundreds of dollars worse off per month than they were at the start of the year as the Reserve Bank prepares to unload a third consecutive interest rate hike on borrowers, Australian Associated Press reports.
Financial markets were pricing in the chance the Reserve Bank would lift the cash rate by 25 basis points today at more than two-thirds, after headline inflation surged to 4.6% in March.
Rising fuel prices caused by the US-Israeli war with Iran have amplified the central bank’s inflation headache.
Price growth was already well above target before the conflict broke out and sent global energy markets into chaos.
Economists at the Commonwealth Bank, NAB, ANZ, Westpac, AMP, Deutsche Bank, Challenger, JP Morgan, HSBC and Citi all predict Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock to announce a hike.
That would bring the cash rate back to the peak of 4.35% before the Reserve Bank’s short-lived cutting cycle in 2025.
For an average borrower with a $600,000 mortgage, the three consecutive hikes since February will cumulatively add more than $270 a month in interest repayments.
Read our analysis here:
Benita Kolovos
Victoria’s treasurer, Jaclyn Symes, will today hand down a state budget which will deliver an operating surplus and which will forecast another next financial year.
It will show the state recorded a $700m surplus in 2025-26, largely in line with December’s pre-budget update of $710m and an improvement on the $611m forecast last May.
Read the full story here:
Three die in northern NSW boat tragedy
Three people have died in a boating tragedy off the coast of northern NSW last night.
According to police, a yacht got into trouble off the South Ballina break wall about 6.15pm.
A crew from Marine Rescue went to their aid but their own vessel rolled while crossing the Ballina Bar in heavy conditions.
As of 10pm last night, three people were confirmed to have died and another four managed to make it to shore. It was unclear how many people were on the yacht.
The four who made it to shore were treated by paramedics and none had life-threatening injuries. The yacht has now sunk.
Water police attended the scene and Marine Area Command were coordinating a search and rescue operation.
Adeshola Ore
Malarndirri McCarthy calls for ‘peace’ after Kumanjayi Little Baby’s death
Australia’s minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy has called for “peace” after Kumanjayi Little Baby’s death, saying there will be time for “conversations later on.”
Northern Territory police over the weekend charged Jefferson Lewis with murder over the death of Kumanjayi Little Baby, 5. The Warlpiri girl went missing on Saturday 25 April from her bed in a town camp near Alice Springs,
Speaking to the ABC’s 7.30 program on Monday night, McCarthy said:
double quotation mark What we need now is to just have some peace, to be able to bury this little girl, and there’ll be times for conversations later on.
The national commissioner for Indigenous children, Sue Hunter, on Monday, wrote in The Australian newspaper that, while grieving should be respected, sorry business “does not silence the questions this loss demands we ask”.
McCarthy said Hunter’s comments were “appropriate” and stressed that the Albanese government established the commissioner’s role due to concern for the care for “our children across the country”.
Four Australians on cruise ship with suspected hantavirus outbreak
Four Australians are stuck on a luxury cruise ship stranded off the coast of Cape Verde after a suspected outbreak of a rare respiratory virus killed three people, left three others seriously ill and forced nearly 150 people from across the world to isolate onboard.
You can read the full story here:
In a press release overnight, the cruise line Oceanwide Expeditions revealed the nationality of those affected.
The medical situation began on 11 April when a Dutch man died on board. He was disembarked on St Helena on 24 April with his wife, who also later died.
On 27 April, a British man was evacuated to Johannesburg and is critically ill in hospital with a hantavirus infection.
On 2 May, a German passenger died on board the ship.
There are also two crew members, of British and Dutch nationality, still on board with “acute respiratory symptoms”.
The ship is sitting off the coast of Cape Verde, with local authorities not yet permitting those on board to leave.
The 149 people on board are of 23 different nationalities, with passengers predominantly American, British, Spanish and Dutch, with four people from Australia. Of the crew, 38 are from the Philippines.
Here’s an explainer of what hantavirus is:
Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it will be Stephanie Convery with the main action.
Mortgage holders are set to be hundreds of dollars worse off per month than they were at the start of the year as the Reserve Bank prepares to unload a third consecutive interest rate hike on borrowers. More coming up.
Victoria’s treasurer, Jaclyn Symes, will today hand down a state budget that will deliver an operating surplus and which will forecast another next financial year. We’ll follow the budget news as it lands.
And there are four Australians among the nearly 150 people stranded off the coast of Cape Verde on a luxury cruise ship where a suspected outbreak of a rare virus has killed three people. More on that, too, in a minute.
