Heavy winds and flash flooding expected to hit far north Queensland as residents prepare for Tropical Cyclone Jasper; Australia votes in favour of a United Nations resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza; And in sport, Netball Australia's chair resigns following months of pay dispute negotiations.
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TRANSCRIPT
- Heavy winds and flash flooding expected to hit far north Queensland as residents prepare for Tropical Cyclone Jasper;
- Australia votes in favour of a United Nations resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza;
- And in sport, Netball Australia's chair resigns following months of pay dispute negotiations.
Heavy rain and flash flooding driven by Tropical Cyclone Jasper is expected to hit the far north Queensland coast over the coming hours, bringing intense winds and the potential for major damage.
The system was downgraded to a category one overnight, but is expected to hit the coast between Hope Vale and Cairns as a category two system late this afternoon and early this evening.
Many residents have spent the past few days preparing for the slow-moving system to arrive and are being asked to stay inside or move to higher ground if feeling unsafe.
Incoming Queensland Premier Steven Miles says residents in the far north are already to feel cyclonic conditions.
"This morning, winds of 82 kilometres per hour were recorded in Cairns and more than 48 kilometres in Innisfail, 56 kilometres in Lucinda. Heavy to locally intense rainfall, which may lead to dangerous and life-threatening flooding is forecast and may continue for days to come as the system moves across the cape and the rainfall makes its way through the river systems."
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Australia has joined a United Nations General Assembly vote on a non-binding resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.
It comes just hours after the Prime Minister called for a sustainable ceasefire in a joint statement with his Canadian and New Zealand counterparts.
The 193-member United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly in favour of the resolution with 153 members in favour, 10 against and 23 abstaining.
While the resolution is legally non-binding, Foreign Minister Penny Wong says they see it as the next step towards a sustainable ceasefire.
"We have consistently said, and I say so again today, a sustainable ceasefire cannot be one-sided. And it was right, that the General Assembly said again emphasised the need for all hostages to be released unconditionally. I would again reiterate the same position we've articulated before. Hamas is a terrorist organisation. Hamas is dedicated to the destruction of Israel and to harming the Jewish people. Hamas has no place in the future governance of Gaza."
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Andrea Kelly has been appointed as Australia's first Interim First Nations Aged Care Commissioner following recommendations made by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
The Royal Commission recommended a statutory First Nations Aged Care Commissioner be appointed to ensure culturally safe, tailored and flexible aged care services for First Nations people.
Ms Kelly is expected to commence the interim role in 2024, with a First Nations Aged Care Commissioner expected to be appointed in 2025.
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The Chair of Netball Australia Wendy Archer has called for the support of all fans of the sport during what she's described as a difficult period.
It comes as chief executive officer Kelly Ryan handed in her resignation, which Ms Archer says was accepted by the board of directors.
Ms Ryan's resignation comes just days after the settlement of a pay dispute with the elite players of the code, following months of negotiations.
Ms Archer says all those involved with netball have only its best interest in mind.
"We are all striving to do the best that we can for the sport. And I would ask everybody to continue to support the sport that they love and enjoy at all levels, whether it's sitting at grassroots on a Saturday morning or a twilight competition, or whether it's cheering on our Diamonds, we all need to work together to heal our sport and move forward."
