scholarly journals COVID-19 Australia: Epidemiology Report 24. Fortnightly reporting period ending 30 August 2020

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
Author(s):  

Cumulatively to 30 August there have been 25,686 case notifications and 577 deaths. The number of new cases reported nationally this fortnight was 1,751, a 61% decrease from the previous fortnight (4,501). On average this represented 125 cases diagnosed each day over the reporting period, a decrease from 322 cases per day over the previous reporting period. 94% (1,640) of all cases were reported in Victoria, with a smaller number of cases reported from New South Wales (86), Queensland (19), Western Australia (5) and South Australia (1). In Victoria, the majority of cases (1,528; 93%) were locally acquired, with a further 112 (7%) under investigation at the time of analysis, but likely also to be locally acquired. Of the remaining 111 cases reported, 22 (20%) were overseas acquired; 82 (74%) were locally acquired, predominantly in NSW, and 7 (6%) were reported as under investigation. The continued decrease in new cases observed this fortnight in Victoria is likely associated with the enhanced public health measures that are currently in place in Victoria. Locally acquired cases which were predominantly associated with several interconnected clusters continued to be reported in NSW. In Qld a cluster of cases associated with a youth detention centre was identified. A total of 26 deaths were reported from cases diagnosed in this reporting period, all from Victoria and aged 75 years or older. Testing rates remain high across all jurisdictions, with an overall positivity rate for the reporting period of 0.27%. Victoria reported a positivity rate of 0.90% for this reporting period; in all other jurisdictions the positivity rate was 0.03% or lower.

Author(s):  

Cumulatively to 27 September there have been 27,095 case notifications and 835 deaths. The number of new cases reported nationally this fortnight was 278, a 67% decrease from the previous fortnight (841). On average, this represented 20 cases notified each day over the reporting period, a decrease from an average of 60 cases per day over the previous reporting period. 82% of all COVID-19 cases for the period (229/278) were reported in Victoria, with smaller numbers of cases reported from New South Wales (32), Western Australia (9), Queensland (6) and South Australia (2). In Victoria, 92% of cases (210/229) were locally acquired with known source, 7% (15/229) were locally acquired with unknown source, and 2% (4/229) were reported as under investigation. Excluding Victoria, there were 49 cases in other jurisdictions. Of these, 69% (34/49) were overseas acquired, 18% (9/49) were locally acquired, and 12% (10/49) were under investigation at this time. The continued decrease in new cases observed this fortnight in Victoria was the result of the public health interventions to minimise transmission. A total of 8 deaths were reported from cases diagnosed in this reporting period, all of whom were >75 years old, and all from Victoria. Although testing rates declined over the past month, they remain high at 10.4 tests per 1,000 population per week. There is variability in the testing rate by jurisdiction; the rate depends on the epidemic context. The overall positivity rate for the reporting period was 0.08%. Victoria reported a positivity rate of 0.18% for this reporting period, while in all other jurisdictions the positivity rate was 0.05% or lower.


2013 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 265-298
Author(s):  
Peter Congdon

Constitutional systems of Westminster heritage are increasingly moving towards fixed-term parliaments to, amongst other things, prevent the Premier or Prime Minister opportunistically calling a ‘snap election’. Amongst the Australian states, qualified fixed-term parliaments currently exist in New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria. Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia have also deliberated over whether to establish similar fixed-term parliaments. However, manner and form provisions in those states' constitutions entrench the Parliament's duration, Governor's Office and dissolution power. In Western Australia and Queensland, unlike Tasmania, such provisions are doubly entrenched. This article considers whether these entrenching provisions present legal obstacles to constitutional amendments establishing fixed-term parliaments in those two states. This involves examining whether laws fixing parliamentary terms fall within section 6 of the Australia Acts 1986 (Cth) & (UK). The article concludes by examining recent amendments to the Electoral Act 1907 (WA) designed to enable fixed election dates in Western Australia without requiring a successful referendum.


Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 610
Author(s):  
Dirk H. R. Spennemann

Given its intensity, rapid spread, geographic reach and multiple waves of infections, the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020/21 became a major global disruptor with a truly cross-sectoral impact, surpassing even the 1918/19 influenza epidemic. Public health measures designed to contain the spread of the disease saw the cessation of international travel as well as the establishment of border closures between and within countries. The social and economic impact was considerable. This paper examines the effects of the public health measures of “ring-fencing” and of prolonged closures of the state border between New South Wales and Victoria (Australia), placing the events of 2020/21 into the context of the historic and contemporary trajectories of the border between the two states. It shows that while border closures as public-health measures had occurred in the past, their social and economic impact had been comparatively negligible due to low cross-border community integration. Concerted efforts since the mid-1970s have led to effective and close integration of employment and services, with over a quarter of the resident population of the two border towns commuting daily across the state lines. As a result, border closures and state-based lockdown directives caused significant social disruption and considerable economic cost to families and the community as a whole. One of the lessons of the 2020/21 pandemic will be to either re-evaluate the wisdom of a close social and economic integration of border communities, which would be a backwards step, or to future-proof these communities by developing strategies, effectively public health management plans, to avoid a repeat when the next pandemic strikes.


Author(s):  
D. W. Minter

Abstract A description is provided for Podospora excentrica. Some information on its associated organisms and substrata, dispersal and transmission, habitats and conservation status is given, along with details of its geographical distribution (South America (Venezuela), Atlantic Ocean (Portugal (Madeira)), Australasia (Australia (New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia)), New Zealand, Europe (Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, UK)).


2001 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 187 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Aldaoud ◽  
W. Guppy ◽  
L. Callinan ◽  
S. F. Flett ◽  
K. A. Wratten ◽  
...  

In 1995–96, a survey of soil samples from subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) paddocks was conducted across Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales and Western Australia, to determine the distribution and the prevalence of races of Phytophthora clandestina (as determined by the development of root rot on differential cultivars), and the association of its occurrence with paddock variables. In all states, there was a weak but significant association between P. clandestina detected in soil samples and subsequent root rot susceptibility of differential cultivars grown in these soil samples. Phytophthora clandestina was found in 38% of the sampled sites, with a significantly lower prevalence in South Australia (27%). There were significant positive associations between P. clandestina detection and increased soil salinity (Western Australia), early growth stages of subterranean clover (Victoria), mature subterranean clover (South Australia), recently sown subterranean clover (South Australia), paddocks with higher subterranean clover content (Victoria), where herbicides were not applied (South Australia), irrigation (New South Wales and Victoria), cattle grazing (South Australia and Victoria), early sampling dates (Victoria and New South Wales), sampling shortly after the autumn break or first irrigation (Victoria), shorter soil storage time (Victoria) and farmer’s perception of root rot being present (Victoria and New South Wales). Only 29% of P. clandestina isolates could be classified under the 5 known races. Some of the unknown races were virulent on cv. Seaton Park LF (most resistant) and others were avirulent on cv. Woogenellup (most susceptible). Race 1 was significantly less prevalent in South Australia than Victoria and race 0 was significantly less prevalent in New South Wales than in South Australia and Western Australia. This study revealed extremely wide variation in the virulence of P. clandestina. The potential importance of the results on programs to breed for resistance to root rot are discussed. in South Australia.


Zootaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4832 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-75
Author(s):  
SVATOPLUK BÍLÝ ◽  
MARK HANLON

Taxonomic revision of the genus Bubastes Laporte & Gory, 1836. Thirteen new species are described: Bubastes barkeri sp. nov. (New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria), B. deserta sp. nov. (South Australia), B. dichroa sp. nov. (Western Australia), B. flavocaerulea sp. nov. (New South Wales, Queensland), B. hasenpuschi sp. nov. (Queensland), B. iridiventris sp. nov. (Western Australia), B. iris sp. nov. (Western Australia), B. macmillani sp. nov. (Western Australia), B. magnifica sp. nov. (Queensland, New South Wales), B. michaelpowelli sp. nov. (Western Australia), B. pilbarensis sp. nov. (Western Australia), B. remota sp. nov. (Northern Territory) and B. viridiaurea sp. nov. (Western Australia). The following seventeen new synonyms are proposed: Bubastes thomsoni Obenberger, 1928, syn. nov. = B. australasiae Obenberger, 1922, B. olivina Obenberger, 1920, syn. nov. = Neraldus bostrychoides Théry 1910, B. boisduvali Obenberger, 1941, syn. nov. = B. erbeni Obenberger, 1941, B. borealis Obenberger, 1941, syn. nov. = B. globicollis Thomson, 1879, B. laticollis Blackburn, 1888, syn. nov. = B. globicollis Thomson, 1879, B. simillima Obenberger, 1922, syn. nov. = B. globicollis Thomson, 1879, B. obscura Obenberger, 1922, syn. nov. = B. inconsistans Thomson, 1879, B. septentrionalis Obenberger, 1941, syn. nov. = B. inconsistans Thomson, 1879, B. viridicupraea Obenberger, 1922, syn. nov. = B. inconsistans Thomson, 1879, B. blackburni Obenberger, 1941, syn. nov. = B. kirbyi Obenberger, 1928, B. chapmani Obenberger, 1941, syn. nov. = B. kirbyi Obenberger, 1928, B. aenea Obenberger, 1922, syn. nov. = B. niveiventris Obenberger, 1922, B. saundersi Obenberger, 1928, syn. nov. = B. odewahni Obenberger, 1928, B. occidentalis Blackburn, 1891, syn. nov. = B. sphaenoida Laporte & Gory, 1836, B. persplendens Obenberger, 1920, syn. nov. = B. sphaenoida Laporte & Gory, 1836, B. splendens Blackburn, 1891, syn. nov. = B. sphaenoida Laporte & Gory, 1836 and B. strandi Obenberger, 1920, syn. nov. = B. suturalis Carter, 1915. Neotype is designated and redescribed for Bubastes cylindrica W. J. Macleay, 1888 and lectotypes are designated for Bubastes thomsoni Obenberger, 1928 and B. leai Carter, 1924. Morphological characters of the genus are presented and all species are illustrated (incl. historical types) and a key is provided for all species of the genus. 


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document