NEWS DESK
Plane crash cause investigation begins Brodie Cowburn brodie@baysidenews.com.au AN investigation has been launched into the cause of a plane crash in Heatherton last week. A Piper PA-32-300 aircraft crashed one kilometer north of Moorabbin Airport last Tuesday, 22 June, just after midday. The pilot, who was the sole occupant of the plane, was taken to hospital with serious injuries. The plane was destroyed when it hit the ground. A statement from Victoria Police read “it is believed a light plane crashed into trees shortly after takeoff from Moorabbin Airport just after midday. The plane crashed into a paddock in semi-rural area of Heatherton - close to Moorabbin Airport.” “The exact cause is yet to be determined and the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com. au.” The Australian Transport Safety Board has since launched its investigation into the plane crash. A summary on the ATSB website read “the aircraft had been conducting circuit operations at Moorabbin Airport and collided with terrain approximately one kilometer north of the airport at Heatherton. Emergency services attended the accident site shortly afterwards and rescued the pilot, the sole occupant, from the wreckage.”
“The evidence collection phase of the investigation will include examination of the accident site and wreckage by ATSB investigators, and the collection of other relevant evidence, including recorded data and communi-
cations, air traffic control surveillance data, weather information, witness reports, aircraft operator procedures and maintenance records, and interviewing the pilot,” the ATSB said. “A final report will be released at
the conclusion of the investigation. Should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant parties, so that appropriate safety action can be taken.”
CREWS inspect the damage after a plane crashed in Heatherton last week. Picture: Gary Sissons
Vaccine rollout ramps up Brodie Cowburn brodie@baysidenews.com.au COVID-19 vaccinations will now be available to people under age 40 in Australia. Before this week, Pfizer jabs were available to over 40s and AstraZeneca had been offered to those more than 60 years of age. After a national cabinet meeting on Monday night, AstraZeneca jabs will become available to people under 60. A professional indemnity scheme will be established for GPs who administer the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the measures in a press conference on Monday night. “We will be implementing a new no fault indemnity scheme for general practitioners who administer COVID-19 vaccines. So this relates to encouraging Australians to go and chat to their GP about their vaccination and to have their vaccination administered,” he said. “The [Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation] advice talks about a preference for AstraZeneca to be available and made available to those as preferred for those over 60. But the advice does not preclude persons under 60 from getting the As-
traZeneca vaccine. And so if you wish to get the AstraZeneca vaccine, then we would encourage you to go and have that discussion with your GP and we’ve already made announcements to support those additional consultations with the GPs so you can have that conversation. “We are also providing the indemnity scheme for those general practitioners so they can actively engage with you and you can make the best decision for your health.” There is very low risk of rare blood clots, thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome, occurring as a result of the AstraZeneca jab. ATAGI says that
the estimated risk of TTS from the first jab is around 3.1 in 100,000 for under 50s. The rate of death from the few that do get TTS is even smaller, three per cent. Mr Morrison also announced that COVID-19 jabs would become mandatory for residential aged care workers as a condition of working. Workers must have at least one dose of a vaccine by September this year. “The Commonwealth will work together with the states to ensure compliance with those orders because we have those direct relationships and reporting relationships with the aged
care providers,” he said. “We want to make sure that this won’t have a negative impact on available workforce and to support that, the Commonwealth has decided today and I’ve signed off on implementation of an $11 million grant program to encourage residential aged care facilities to provide staff with leave to get vaccinated.” COVID-19 outbreaks at aged care facilities had fatal consequences last year. An outbreak at Bupa Edithvale claimed 17 lives after 44 residents contracted the virus.
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30 June 2021
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