Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Archive for December, 2021
One more WA backpacker-linked COVID case
Western Australia has recorded one new COVID-19 case linked to an infected French backpacker from Queensland. December 31, 2021 Western Australia has detected one new local COVID-19 case linked to an infected French backpacker who travelled from Queensland. The new case is a close contact of another recent infection and is in hotel quarantine, WA Health […]
WA rolls out ban on single-use plastics
Western Australia will begin 2022 with a ban on many single-use plastics, including straws and thick plastic bags, with businesses given six months to adapt. December 31, 2021 Western Australia is set to ring in the new year with a ban on many single-use plastic items, including straws, cups and thick plastic bags. In total, nine […]
‘Stop jailing Aboriginal kids’: protesters
A small group of activists has gathered outside the Northern Territory’s Don Dale youth prison to demand an end to the continued detention of children. December 31, 2021 Protesters have gathered outside the Northern Territory’s infamous Don Dale youth prison to demand an end to the detention of indigenous children. Dozens of Aboriginal children will […]
NT mandates masks after 60 new COVID cases
The Northern Territory has announced a mask-wearing mandate, with 60 new COVID-19 cases detected as the Omicron variant starts spreading through the community. December 31, 2021 The Northern Territory’s daily COVID-19 case tally has jumped to 60 infections as the territory adopts the new national definition of a close contact. New isolation and testing rules […]
Darwin woken by Indonesian earthquake
People in Darwin have been rocked by an overnight magnitude-7.3 earthquake off the coast of Indonesia. December 30, 2021 Parts of the Northern Territory have been rocked by an overnight earthquake off the coast of Indonesia. The magnitude-7.3 quake struck at 3.55am ACST on Thursday, according to Geoscience Australia. The epicentre was about 250km northeast of […]
US marines, nurse among 37 NT COVID cases
The Northern Territory has detected 37 new COVID-19 cases after the number of people getting tested for the virus more than doubled. December 30, 2021 The Northern Territory’s daily COVID-19 case tally has almost doubled with 37 new infections detected. The spike in cases follows a significant increase in virus testing, Health Minister Natasha Fyles […]
Man charged over sex attack on Perth girl
Western Australian police have charged a man over the sexual assault of a seven-year-old Perth girl in her bedroom. December 30, 2021 A man who allegedly sexually assaulted and choked a seven-year-old Perth girl in her bed has been charged. West Australian police say the 25-year-old attacked the child in her bedroom about 12:30am on Monday […]
WA toughens border rules for Qld and SA
The Western Australia government has escalated its COVID-19 pandemic response and toughened its border rules, banning Queenslanders and South Australians. December 30, 2021 Western Australia has escalated its COVID-19 pandemic response with tougher border rules, tightening entry requirements for Queenslanders and South Australians. Queensland recorded 2222 cases on Thursday and an infected child under the […]
Perth hills bushfire warning downgraded
A bushfire near Perth Airport has been contained and controlled but residents in High Wycombe have been warned to stay alert amid changing conditions. December 29, 2021 A bushfire in the Perth hills has been controlled and an evacuation order has been downgraded to watch and act. The blaze is burning within containment lines in […]
Man abducted at knifepoint from NT servo
Two armed men who allegedly abducted a man from a Darwin service station have been charged with numerous offences, including deprivation of liberty. December 29, 2021 Two armed men accused of violently abducting a man from a service station in the Northern Territory have been charged. Police say the knife-wielding men, aged 22 and 24, […]
NT records 19 new COVID-19 infections
The Northern Territory has detected 19 new COVID-19 cases as authorities race to find the mystery source of a nine-year-old girl’s infection. December 29, 2021 The Northern Territory has detected 19 new COVID-19 infections as another mystery case is found in Darwin. Authorities have warned Territorians heath restrictions to slow the virus spreading will be […]
Two more WA backpacker-linked COVID cases
Western Australia has recorded two new COVID-19 cases linked to an infected French backpacker from Queensland. December 29, 2021 Western Australia has detected two new local COVID-19 cases linked to an infected French backpacker who travelled from Queensland. The state has ordered eight million rapid antigen tests, with Premier Mark McGowan saying he was watching NSW […]
Two WA bushfires contained, risk remains
Authorities say two bushfires in Western Australia have been contained, however, embers could flare up and the risk remains high. December 27, 2021 Two bushfires that burnt through hundreds of hectares and destroyed one home in searing temperatures in Western Australia have been contained. However, authorities warn burning embers from a fire in and around […]
WA adds one backpacker-linked COVID case
Western Australia has one new COVID-19 case linked to an infected French backpacker from Queensland as health restrictions are extended until January 4. December 27, 2021 Western Australia has detected one new local COVID-19 case linked to an infected French backpacker who travelled from Queensland. Premier Mark McGowan has extended restrictions on gatherings and a […]
Qld records 784 new COVID-19 infections
Queensland has recorded 784 new COVID-19 cases but hospitalisations remain low as Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk ponders the introduction of rapid antigen tests. December 27, 2021 Queensland has detected 784 new COVID-19 cases but the health system is coping, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says. Quarantine and testing policies are being reviewed and rapid antigen tests may be introduced […]
Mystery COVID-19 case detected in Darwin
The Northern Territory has detected 12 new COVID-19 infections as authorities investigate the source of a mystery case in Darwin. December 27, 2021 The Northern Territory has detected 12 new COVID-19 infections as health authorities investigate a mystery case in Darwin. A woman in her 60s is being interviewed in a bid to find the source […]
Qld records 714 new COVID-19 infections
Queensland has recorded 714 COVID-19 cases with Chief Health Officer John Gerrard attributing the fall from a day earlier to a Christmas Day testing lull. December 26, 2021 Queensland has detected 714 new COVID-19 cases while the Palaszczuk government calls in the debt collectors to recover unpaid hotel quarantine bills. Chief Health Officer John Gerrard says […]
NT Boxing Day cyclone warning downgraded
The tropical cyclone warning for Northern Territory’s Top End has been cancelled but a severe weather warning remains in place for communities south of Darwin. December 26, 2021 The tropical cyclone alert for the Northern Territory has been cancelled but residents have been urged to prepare for heavy rain and damaging winds. Forecasters had warned […]
NT detects 12 new COVID-19 cases
The Northern Territory has recorded 12 new COVID-19 cases as infected travellers continue to arrive in the territory. December 26, 2021 The Northern Territory has detected 12 COVID-19 infections as cases linked to travellers arriving in the territory outnumber community cases. Four of the new cases are linked to the current community outbreak, bringing the cluster […]
WA detects new case linked to backpacker
Western Australia has recorded one new COVID-19 case linked to an infected French backpacker who travelled from Queensland. December 26, 2021 Western Australia has detected one new local COVID-19 case linked to an infected French backpacker who arrived in the state from Queensland. The new case also attended an busy event at Perth Mess Hall […]
Christmas ham heist in Darwin, two charged
A truckload of Christmas Hams are missing in Darwin after a learner driver allegedly stole a refrigerated vehicle from a shopping centre car park. December 24, 2021 Thousands of dollars worth of Christmas Hams are missing after a learner driver allegedly stole a refrigerated truck in the Northern Territory. Police say about $10,000 worth of […]
Top End on Christmas cyclone watch
A monsoon trough and a tropical low are brewing north of the Tiwi Islands in the Arafura Sea, The Bureau of Meteorology says. December 24, 2021 The Top End is bracing for a wet and windy Christmas with residents warned a tropical cyclone could form near Darwin on Boxing Day. A monsoon trough and a […]
NT detects 10 new COVID-19 cases
The Northern Territory has recorded 10 new COVID-19 cases as infections linked to travellers arriving in the territory outnumber community cases. December 24, 2021 The Northern Territory has detected 10 new COVID-19 cases as infected travellers continue to arrive in the territory. One of the cases is linked to the current community outbreak, bringing the […]
Climate activists win in NT gas field case
A Northern Territory environmental group has won part of a court battle over a Morrison government attempt to develop the Beetaloo Basin onshore gas field. December 23, 2021 Environmentalists have defeated a multi-million dollar Morrison government attempt to develop an onshore gas field in the Northern Territory. The Federal Court on Thursday ruled that three […]