Hi there. It's Tuesday, February 15 and you're reading The Loop, a quick look at today's news headlines to get you up to speed.
Let's start here
Thousands of nurses and midwives have today marched to protest against staffing levels and pay in NSW, despite an Industrial Relations Commission ruling that industrial action be called off.
It comes after months of the NSW government saying the state's health system is well staffed and under control. Those working on the front line say that's just not true.
Health workers are calling for legislated staff-to-patient ratios in NSW hospitals, something already in place in some other states, pay increases after two years of working through the pandemic, and to simply be listened to and taken seriously when concerns are raised.
""I am appalled by the patronising attitude of our government towards nurses, telling us that everything is OK. It is not OK, I have never seen it worse."
- Midwife Sarah Anderson
"We need more staff on the wards. Our patients aren't safe. Most of the time the staff are overworked and stressed and it's just not fair."
- Nurse Kathy Triggol
"As nurses and midwives, we don't walk away from our patients lightly and this really rips our heart out to have to do this."
- Midwife Emma Gedge
Skeleton staff remained on deck in hospitals during the strike to treat critically unwell patients.
NSW Health said in a statement the "flexible staff to patient ratio system" currently in place ensured "the right number of nurses in the right place at the right time".
Late news
Novak Djokovic has told the BBC in an exclusive interview that he's still not vaccinated against COVID-19, and that he's fine with missing major tournaments, including Wimbledon and the French Open, because of it.
However, he says he's never identified as being an anti-vaxxer and isn't comfortable being used as a symbol in the anti-vaccination movement (which is part of the reason his visa was cancelled ahead of the Australian Open).
"I agree that there shouldn't be any special rules. I never used my privileged status to get into Australia by force or do anything in this entire process. I was treated as anybody else," he told the BBC.
What else is going on
- Prime Minister Scott Morrison has accused Shadow Home Affairs Minister Kristina Keneally of wanting to "protect people who have committed acts of domestic violence" as the federal government re-prosecutes a bill that will make it easier to deport criminals from Australia. Senator Keneally told the ABC Mr Morrison's comments showed he either did not understand the current law or was "lying"
- WA Premier Mark McGowan has confirmed that an announcement on the state's border reopening will be made sometime this month. WA's hard border had been due to fall on February 5, but the Premier announced on January 20 the state would remain closed because not enough people had been triple vaccinated
News alerts you might have missed
- A reserve juror has been called in to the murder trial of NT police officer Zachary Rolfe due to one of the original jurors being discharged
- Senate Estimates has heard Australia Post spent more than $500,000 to retain one staffer. Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the move showed Australia Post was "out of touch"
Not signed up for ABC News alerts and want updates like these in real-time? Head to the ABC News app homepage ➡️ Settings ➡️ Notifications and tailor your alerts to what you want to know.
What Australia has been searching for online
- Bonza. The start-up airline has revealed plans to service some new routes around the country, with the first flights expected mid-year (subject to approvals). The airline's chief commercial officer says the "ultra-low-cost airline" will probably only offer a small number of flights from each of its locations
- Chau Chak Wing. Federal senator Kimberley Kitching used parliamentary privilege overnight to suggest the prominent Chinese-Australian political donor is the mysterious "puppeteer" behind a thwarted foreign interference plot to back political candidates in the next election
One more thing
Look, I like to think I'm vaguely in the loop (… see what I did there) with what the kids are up to these days. But the concept of calling Vladimir Putin "Vladdy daddy" has broken me and I guess I should just retire now.
Young people in Eastern Europe are creating and engaging with social media content about the rising tensions between Ukraine and Russia, with some appealing to the leader they call "Vladdy Daddy" to refrain from starting a war.
Social media users have left thousands of comments on Instagram posts from unofficial accounts for Mr Putin in recent weeks (I'll leave it to the youth to show you what that looks like).
Researchers are also using social media content (particularly TikTok, which has about 40 million Russian users) to track Russia's build-up of military assets.
TikTok hasn't responded to a request for comment on whether there is any evidence of coordinated behaviour to mislead people.
You're up to date
Thanks for reading.
ABC/wires
