Australia news live: bird flu detected on Murray-Darling basin ‘should be ringing alarm bells’, expert says

Bird flu detected in inland NSW, on the Murray Darling Basin

Petra Stock

New South Wales recorded its first cases of H5 bird flu in two local birds on Saturday, including one found near Wentworth on the Murray-Darling Basin.

Jack Gough, chief executive of the Invasive Species Council, said:

That should be ringing alarm bells for governments because it suggests it could soon be spreading among inland bird colonies ahead of spring breeding season.

Birds in the Murray-Darling basin are already in decline due to feral animals, insufficient water to critical wetlands and the loss of habitat - now they have a deadly disease to contend with.

Samples from two deceased greater crested terns in NSW – the other found near Narooma on the south coast – tested positive at CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness.

On Saturday, a further 28 positive cases were confirmed in South Australia, bringing the state’s total to 147. An additional 13 suspected cases were also detected, including an ibis in Adelaide and a cormorant in Carpenter Rocks on the Limestone Coast.

Victoria confirmed 10 positive cases on Saturday, all from greater crested terns in south-west Victoria and Clyde in south-east Melbourne.

As of 3pm yesterday, Australia had a total of 215 H5 bird flu cases nationally.

Greens call on Albanese to put ‘cards on the table’ as gambling negotiations continue

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young, has called for the Albanese government to put its “cards on the table” as part of a potential strengthening of its gambling reform.

Speaking to the ABC’s Insiders, Hanson-Young said:

If the government’s now willing to move on some things … good. But the devil’s going to be in the detail. And what I say to the prime minister and to the government is, put your cards on the table.

SA premier meets Apple chief following social media ban

The premier of South Australia, Peter Malinauskas has visited Apple’s headquarters and met with outgoing chief executive Tim Cook in the United States.

Malinauskas posted on LinkedIn that Cook was keen to discuss the under-16s social media ban, which kicked off with South Australia’s proposal last year before the federal government adopted a national approach.

Documents released under freedom of information laws this week suggest the pair discussed the possibility of Albanese visiting Apple’s California headquarters on his next trip to the United States.

The documents surrounding the call between Albanese and Cook reveal an unnamed employee at Apple following up the call in late June and enquiring about “the possibility of the PM visiting Apple Park in Cupertino (California) when he visits the US for the UN General Assembly.”

Any potential visit by Albanese to Apple may come after Cook steps down as chief executive, and is replaced by John Ternus on 1 September, as the UN general assembly’s 81st session commences on 8 September.