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Source: Government of Victoria 3

What is the issue?

Hantaviruses are a group of viruses carried by rodents that can cause severe disease in humans. Most cases of hantavirus infections are reported in Asia, Europe and the Americas. There has never been a recorded case in humans or animals in Australia.

Under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008, specified conditions and micro-organisms are required to be notified to the Department of Health. These requirements exist to protect the Victorian community by monitoring, preventing and controlling the occurrence of infectious diseases and other conditions.

As of 4 June 2026, hantavirus infection has been made an urgent notifiable condition for medical practitioners and pathology services in Victoria. This means that suspected or confirmed hantavirus infection must be notified to the Department of Health immediately (as soon as practicable and within 24 hours) by calling 1300 651 160. Pathology services must also provide written notification within 5 working days.

Who is at risk?

Hantaviruses can be transmitted to people through:

• contact with rodents or their saliva, urine or droppings.
• breathing in contaminated dust or aerosols in rodent infested areas
• contact with items or materials that have been contaminated with rodents.

Person-to-person is rare and has only been documented for the Andes virus. This is typically limited and occurs from close, prolonged contact with an infected person and is more likely to occur early in the infection.

People who travel to regions where hantavirus infections occur are at risk, particularly if they have been in contact with rodents, their urine, droppings or saliva or rodent infested environments (such as forested, agricultural and unused or unclean urban settings).

People who have had close contact with someone with hantavirus infection with Andes virus are also at risk.

Symptoms

Hantavirus infection can result in severe disease and death. Symptoms can develop from 1 to 8 weeks after exposure to hantavirus. It can present as distinct clinical syndromes.

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome is often seen in the Americas. Early clinical features may include fever or chills, headache, muscle aches and gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. It often progresses rapidly to severe respiratory disease characterised by cough, progressive dyspnoea, hypoxia and pulmonary oedema.

Haemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome is often seen in Asia and Europe. Early clinical features may include fever or chills, muscle aches, gastrointestinal symptoms, blurred vision, flushed face, inflammation or redness of the eyes and rash. It can lead to hypotension, shock, haemorrhage and acute kidney failure.

Case fatality rates range from 1 to 15 per cent in Asia and Europe and up to 50 per cent in the Americas.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of hantavirus infection can be confirmed through testing:

• nucleic acid amplification testing
• hantavirus serology (IgM and IgG).

Recommended specimens for testing include EDTA blood and serum and should ideally be collected in early illness. For serology, baseline and convalescent samples (at least 10 to 14 days later) should be collected.

Confirmatory testing is available through the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory and must be approved by the Department of Health. Medical practitioners should seek testing advice from an infectious diseases specialist and/or Local Public Health Unit.

Recommendations

For medical practitioners

• Notify suspected or confirmed hantavirus infection to the Department of Health immediately (as soon as practicable and within 24 hours) upon diagnosis by calling 1300 651 160 (24/7) and connecting to the appropriate Local Public Health Unit.
• Consider hantavirus infection in patients with compatible illness AND epidemiological risk factors such as:
  • recent travel to regions where hantavirus infections occur AND have had potential contact with rodents, their saliva, urine or droppings or rodent infested environments; OR
  • contact with a human case of hantavirus infection with Andes virus or their respiratory or bodily fluids.
• If hantavirus infection is suspected, seek urgent advice from an infectious diseases specialist and/or Local Public Health Unit.
• Testing for hantaviruses is conducted at the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory and must be approved by the Department of Health. Provide all relevant clinical details and risk factors on the request form.

For pathology services

• Notify hantavirus infection to the Department of Health immediately (as soon as practicable and within 24 hours) by calling 1300 651 160 (24/7), and connecting to the appropriate Local Public Health Unit. Pathology services must also follow up with written notifications within 5 working days.

Source: Government of Victoria 3

What is the issue?

There is an ongoing outbreak of diphtheria in northern and central Australia. Most cases have been reported in Northern Territory and Western Australia with smaller numbers in Queensland and South Australia.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been more impacted.

There have been no cases identified in Victoria to date; however, there remains a small risk of diphtheria being imported into Victoria by travellers returning from higher risk areas.

Diphtheria vaccination eligibility

Diphtheria-containing vaccine is available to many Victorians under the National Immunisation Program (NIP). To provide additional protection during this outbreak, Victoria has expanded eligibility for free diphtheria toxoid containing vaccine (Boostrix®) including for people travelling to higher-risk areas.

A Medicare card is not required to access the state-funded vaccine.

Who is eligible for free vaccination in Victoria

In Victoria, diphtheria toxoid containing vaccine is available free-of-charge for the following groups:

For the latest outbreak information and list of higher risk areas please visit Diphtheria | Australian Centre for Disease Control.

Please note, while the vaccine is free-of-charge, some providers may charge an administration or consultation fee.

Recommendations

For health professionals

• Check the diphtheria vaccination status of patients, especially for those travelling to higher-risk areas. Offer people travelling to higher-risk areas a diphtheria-containing vaccination if they have not had a diphtheria vaccine in the past 5 years.
• Offer free diphtheria toxoid containing vaccine to anyone who is eligible under either the National Immunisation Program or the expanded state-funded campaign (Boostrix®).
• Refer to the Australian Immunisation Handbook for vaccination information, including recommended booster dose intervals available at Diphtheria | The Australian Immunisation Handbook.

For the general public

• Check your Diphtheria vaccination status. For more information on how to do this, visit: How to find your immunisation records | Better Health Channel.
• People travelling to higher-risk areas should check their diphtheria vaccination status and consider getting vaccinated if they have not had a diphtheria vaccine in the past 5 years.
• Speak to your doctor ( GP or Aboriginal Health Services) or local immunisation provider to check if you are eligible for a free vaccine.

Diphtheria Booster Vaccination Campaign – Information for Aboriginal Health Services and General Practices

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Updated 4 June 2026

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Diphtheria Booster Vaccination Campaign – Information for the public

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Updated 4 June 2026

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Source: Victoria Country Fire Authority

CFA is urging Victorians to reduce household clutter following a recent fire that destroyed a unit and damaged another in Ararat.

• Keep exits and hallways clear. 
• Widen internal pathways throughout the home.
• Ensure gas, electricity and other utilities are safely connected. 
• Keep cooking areas free from clutter. 
• Remove combustible materials from around heaters and electrical equipment. 
• Avoid the use of open flames where possible. 
• Install and regularly test smoke alarms. 

Submitted by	CFA Media

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested a 15-year-old male in relation to an aggravated robbery that occurred in Alice Springs on Friday evening.

Around 8:15pm on Friday 29 May, the Joint Emergency Services Communication Centre received a report that an off-duty police officer had been robbed by a male youth armed with an edged weapon in the Gap.

It is alleged the offender threatened the victim with the edged weapon, before stealing their wallet and fleeing the scene.

Following investigations, members from Strike Force Viper located and arrested the 15-year-old male without incident at a residence on Banksia Street on Wednesday afternoon.

He has since been charged and will appear in court at a later date.

Source: Tasmania Police

Police investigating serious two vehicle crash, Taranna

Thursday, 4 June 2026 – 7:34 pm.

Police are investigating a two-vehicle crash at Taranna today where three people sustained serious injuries.
About 11.25am, emergency services responded to reports of a crash involving a red Nissan X-Trail and a white Toyota Corolla on the Arthur Highway, near the devil park.
Two women who were rear seat passengers in the X-Trail were transported to the Royal Hobart Hospital with serious injuries.
A woman who was driving the Corolla was transported to the Royal Hobart Hospital with serious injuries.
The road was blocked for several hours while the scene was investigated and cleared.
Police would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the crash, or either vehicle being driven beforehand.
Information can be provided to police on 131 444 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers Tasmania at crimestopperstas.com.au or on 1800 333 000 – quote TCR 26003845.

Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

Northern Territory Police are investigating two separate fatal crashes that occurred yesterday in the Top End.

A woman was declared deceased after the vehicle she was travelling in collided with a bull just after 8pm, approximately 30 kilometres east of Daly River.

The driver, who suffered non-life-threatening injuries and returned a negative breath test, and the female passenger were transported to the Daly River Clinic by family members.

Police from Daly River and Adelaide River attended the scene and established a crime scene. Detectives from the Major Crash Investigation Unit are investigating.

Earlier in the day, just after 1pm, police responded to a single-vehicle rollover on the Carpentaria Highway, approximately 30 kilometres from Borroloola.

A Toyota LandCruiser carrying five occupants is believed to have rolled, resulting in the death of a 55-year-old woman at the scene.

The remaining occupants suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to Borroloola for initial treatment before being transported to Royal Darwin Hospital. 

A crime scene was held overnight, and motorists can expect traffic diversions to remain in place.

Major Crash Investigation Unit Detective Senior Sergeant Mick Schumacher urged motorists to take extra care on Territory roads, particularly over the long weekend, with increased traffic expected.

“This is not a good start to what should be a weekend spent enjoying time with family and friends.

“Two lives have been lost on Territory roads in separate incidents in a single day.

“Please take care on Territory roads.”

Source: Australia Civil Aviation Safety Authority

The Finke Desert Race is marking its 50th anniversary this year, drawing thousands of spectators and participants to the Northern Territory’s remote outback. To help ensure safety during this period of increased aerial activity, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is reminding pilots and drone operators of the rules for flying over crowds, major events, and in busy airspace.

Source: Prime Minister of Australia

rime Minister Anthony Albanese will welcome the Prime Minister of New Zealand, the Rt Hon Christopher Luxon, to Australia on Saturday 6 June 2026 for the annual Australia–New Zealand Leaders’ Meeting.

The leaders will discuss economic resilience and measures the two countries can take to boost prosperity, including in the context of the fuel crisis.

The leaders will also look for opportunities to strengthen our Single Economic Market, deepen defence and security cooperation, and enhance cooperation in the Pacific region.

The last Australia–New Zealand Leaders’ Meeting was held in Queenstown, New Zealand in August 2025. This meeting will take place in Noosa, Queensland.

This will be Prime Minister Luxon’s third official visit to Australia. Most recently, Prime Minister Luxon travelled to Canberra in August 2024 for the Australia–New Zealand Leaders’ Meeting.

Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Albanese

“Australia has no closer friend, neighbour and ally than New Zealand. Our relationship is built on a rich shared history and generations of cooperation.

“This year we are celebrating 75 years of our Alliance under the ANZUS Treaty. Our Alliance is more important than ever in the face of global uncertainty.

“As new challenges emerge, Australia and New Zealand will continue to work together to safeguard the economic prosperity and national security of both countries and the Pacific region.”

Source: Government of Western Australia

Community members of all ages are invited to get their hands dirty for a good cause at one of the City’s free winter tree-planting sessions.

Source: Airservices Australia

At its meeting today, the Payments System Board discussed a number of issues, including:

• The Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA’s) full assessment of the Reserve Bank Information and Transfer System (RITS). The Board approved the assessment of Australia’s real-time gross settlement system, RITS, against the Principles for Financial Market Infrastructures, completed by the staff of the RBA’s Payments Policy Department. The RBA will publish this assessment in the coming weeks.
• The Review of Payments System Regulation. The Board discussed a range of issues that stakeholders have raised with the RBA that may have implications for competition, efficiency and financial safety in the payments system. Members noted that the RBA is commencing a public consultation by the end of June to seek stakeholder views on issues that may warrant regulatory intervention by the RBA and how they should be prioritised.
• The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). The Board discussed the emerging risks from advances in classical and quantum computing, and the approaches to strengthening cryptographic protections in card payments. Members agreed to broaden the RBA’s focus to system-wide cryptographic issues across the Australian payments system, extending beyond card payments. They endorsed consulting on strengthening cryptographic practices as part of the Review of Payments System Regulation to further assess risks, uncertainties and regulatory options. The Board also reaffirmed its expectation that industry maintains strong momentum in its cryptographic uplift efforts, including addressing coordination challenges in meeting the target of December 2030 to mitigate risks associated with quantum computing.

• Implementation of the Review of Merchant Card Payment Costs and Surcharging. Following the publication of the Conclusions Paper on 31 March 2026, the RBA has amended RBA Standards no 1, 2 and 3 to implement the conclusions of this Review. The amended standards were registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 14 April 2026. The RBA has been engaging with the designated card networks regarding their plans to remove surcharging by introducing no-surcharge rules. Australian Payments Plus has today published an update that a zero-surcharge limit will apply to eftpos transactions from 1 October 2026.

  Prior to the Review of Payments System Regulation, the Board decided that the RBA would not prevent non-designated payment systems from introducing no-surcharge rules. This does not foreshadow or limit any decision the Board may take in the upcoming Review of Payments System Regulation on surcharging on these systems.

• Unmet payment needs and digital money. The Board discussed initial findings from a series of focus groups being held with the public on how the current payments system is meeting the needs of Australians. The Board discussed the insights gathered on current challenges in the payments system, and expectations around potential features of digital money. The Board also noted the finding that Australians were largely indifferent to the concept of a retail central bank digital currency (CBDC). The findings from the focus groups will be summarised in a report to be published by the external vendor later in the year. These findings will inform the RBA’s updated assessment of the public policy case for retail CBDC in Australia, to be published in 2026/27.