TRANSCRIPT
- Psychiatry patients moved to private hospitals, as the public system buckles under pressure
- Dozens of bodies recovered after a helicopter and plane collision in the US
- In cricket, Australia in a dominant position after day one of the women's Ashes Test
Patients at New South Wales public hospitals have started to be moved into private facilities following the mass resignation of public psychiatrists.
The move is due to at least three public hospitals closing parts of their mental health wards to address the workforce shortage as a result of the mass exodus.
Around 200 specialist psychiatrists working in the state health system are walking off from their jobs in the next few days, after the state government refused their requested pay rises.
St Vincents Emergency psychiatry staff specialist Dr Jacqueline Huber says the government still has time to listen.
"This is a crisis that is going to continue to worsen, and we really need the government steps up, and to do something, to meet us, to be able to resolve it, before it continues to escalate."
---
The Australian Electoral Commission is set to revamp efforts to engage remote constituents ahead of the next federal election this year.
Authorities say voter turnout in the remote regions of the Northern Territory remains a key concern ahead of the ballot, which has to be held by May.
It follows the failed voice to parliament referendum and a Territory election that saw less than half of bush voters turn up.
Deputy Electoral Commissioner Kath Gleeson has told NITV News that they're keen to improve those numbers.
"We review turnout after each electoral event. That's part of our very important lessons learned process... We're alert that (Referendum result) could have an impact on turnout but it wont change our efforts to push for high turnout regardless of the electoral event that is happening."
---
At least 28 bodies have now been recovered from the wreckage of a collision between a US army helicopter and a passenger jet in the US state of Washington.
But the official death toll is expected to climb even higher as police continue to pull multiple bodies from the nearby Potomac River.
The American Airlines jet was carrying 60 passengers and four crew when it collided with the helicopter while landing.
Three soldiers were onboard the helicopter, which was on a training flight.
Skating Club of Boston CEO, Doug Zeghibe says it is heartbreaking news for the club, with 14 of their figure skaters among the dead.
"Skating is a very close and tight-knit community. These kids and their parents, they’re here at our facility in Norwood, six, sometimes seven days a week. It’s a close, tight bond. I think for all of us, we have lost family."
---
A third round of exchanges of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners under the Gaza ceasefire deal has taken place.
It has involved three Israeli hostages held in Gaza released in exchange for 110 Palestinian prisoners, 30 of whom are teenagers.
Five Thai workers held captive in the enclave were also freed in a separate deal with Thailand.
Israeli authorities had initially halted the process in anger over swarming crowds at one of the hostage handover points.
A medical official of Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Gil Fire, says Gadi Moses, the oldest of the returned hostages so far at the age of 80, is in a good and stable condition.
"After initial evaluation, I'm happy to say that his condition is quite good and stable. It allows him to spend the first hours here with his family in a private environment. They can talk, they can be together, they can rest a little from this very exciting and not easy day."
The next transfer is expected to take place on Saturday, local time.
---
The federal government is negotiating with Russia to organise an in-person check on Oscar Jenkins, the Australian fighter for Ukraine now in Russia's captivity.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has already called on Russia to provide proof.
Associate Professor Matthew Sussex from the Australian National University has speculated that the country might retain Mr Jenkins for a future high-value prisoner swap.
But the government has ruled out that possibility, saying there's no Russian held in Australian prisons.
---
In cricket, Australia is in a dominant position after the first day of the women’s Ashes Test against England at the M-C-G.
After bowling England out for 170, Australia now is just 114 runs behind England, with 9 wickets remaining.
Victorian-born leg-spinner Alana King helped to achieve that result - putting on a masterclass as she took a career-best 4-45.
She says she is delighted with her four-wicket haul.
"Pretty cool. I love playing at the MCG and played a few games here. It's home for me. I love playing Test cricket and to bowl a whole session was pretty cool. Can't get much better than that."
And that's the latest from SBS newsroom.
