Key events
The struggles of those who need Medicare most
Guardian Australia’s medical editor, Melissa Davey, and inequality reporter, Stephanie Convery, have been breaking vital stories this week about Medicare, bulk billing and the dire state of Australia’s primary healthcare system.
Today, they feature the stories of people who have been forced to limit GP visits or travel long distances for affordable care.
You can read the full story below, and more from their Mind the gap: bulk billing in crisis series here.
Third meningococcal case from Splendour
A child from the NSW north coast may be the third person linked to the recent Splendour In The Grass festival to contract meningococcal disease, AAP reports.
It follows the death on August 4 of a Sydney man in his 40s, who also developed meningococcal disease after attending the festival.
NSW Health has urged anyone who attended Splendour In The Grass – which took place from July 21-24 at the North Byron Parklands – to be alert. Anyone showing symptoms – which can include a red or purple rash, fever, headache, stiffness, light sensitivity, nausea, diarrhoea, drowsiness and confusion – is urged to contact a doctor immediately.
The disease, which is caused by Neisseria meningitidis bacteria, is uncommon but can be fatal. Authorities warn it can develop very quickly and kill within hours.
Three people have died of meningococcal disease this year: a Northern Territory man in his 30s died on Friday, while a two-year-old died in rural South Australia in July.
Health authorities in the NT said the man had undertaken no recent interstate or international travel.
Good morning
Welcome to another Saturday edition of the live news blog.
I’m coming at you from sunny (for now) Melbourne and will be taking you through most of today – please get in touch at [email protected] or on Twitter at @donnadlu with anything to know or things we’ve missed.
Here’s what making news:
The Nationals will hold their first major meeting today since the coalition’s federal election loss. The federal council meeting, in Canberra, will also be the first since David Littleproud took over party leadership.
The energy ministers of New South Wales and Victoria have criticised gas companies for exporting Australian resources overseas, claiming their pursuit of profits led to the recent energy crisis.
The monkeypox vaccine has arrived in Australia and the rollout has commenced in Victoria, with jabs being given to certain eligible groups while supplies are limited.
In New South Wales, transport officers will today refuse to issue fines, part of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union’s rolling strike action in an attempt to secure crucial safety commitments.
The Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas has dismissed the remaining members of its international advisory council, months after four independent directors walked out en masse.
Overseas, the actor Anne Heche has died, a week after she was injured in a car crash, and the author Salman Rushdie is in surgery after being stabbed onstage at an event in upstate New York.
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