#AUSTRALIA: Pranksters Signing Into Restaurants As "Donald Duck" Thwarting Contact Tracing

[world politics news] 

At a news conference, New South Wales Minister for Health Brad Hazzard slammed individuals who pull ‘pranks’ when signing into venues, putting their names down as cartoon characters. This has made contact tracing incredibly difficult to do.

Hazzard stressed the importance of signing a real name into venues and using QR codes to help make contact tracing easier. Apparently, there have been quite a few Donald Ducks roaming around Sydney.

“That must stop. This is a worldwide COVID pandemic. And thinking it’s smart to call yourself Donald Duck or Mickey Mouse is about as stupid as it gets," he said.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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#AUSTRALIA: New Law Imposes Fines For Public #Vaping In New South Wales

[world politics news]

Users of electronic cigarettes in public places can be fined up to $550 if they vape in public, according to a law that came into effect July 1 in New South Wales, Australia. The ban passed through the state's parliament earlier this year, and means anywhere that smoking is banned, vaping is too, including shopping centers, libraries, cinemas, bus stops, train stations, buses and trains, sports grounds, near children’s play equipment and outdoor dining areas. Vapers say they are upset they're being placed in the same category as cigarette smokers.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#AUSTRALIA: Bill To Decriminalize Abortions In New South Wales Fails

[world politics news]

A bill to decriminalize abortion has been voted down in New South Wales Parliament in a 25 to 14 vote. Greens MP Mehreen Faruqi's bill sought to have offences relating to abortion removed from the Crimes Act and common law. It also required doctors who objected to abortion to refer patients on to a doctor who would help them and to install 150-meter safe access zones around abortion clinics to prevent the harassment of staff and patients.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#AUSTRALIA: New South Wales Premier Resigns Unexpectedly; Cites "High Cost," Ill Family Members

[world politics news]

Mike Baird, the Premier of NSW, has announced he is retiring from politics. At a press conference in Sydney on Thursday Baird said he was stepping down from the job after three years as Premier and 10 years in parliament to allow a "refresh" of his government, which faces an election in 2019. An emotional Baird revealed that a disastrous 2016 for his government that saw his popularity plummet had been coupled with "much tougher" personal challenges of significant health issues faced by his father, mother and sister.

[FULL STORY HERE]