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Attempts to access Kate Middleton’s medical records are no surprise. Such breaches are all too common

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/bruce-baer-arnold-1408">Bruce Baer Arnold</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-canberra-865">University of Canberra</a> The <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-20/claim-hospital-staff-tried-to-access-kate-middleton-health-info/103608066">alleged</a> data breach involving Catherine, Princess of Wales tells us something about health privacy. If hospital staff can apparently access a future queen’s medical records without authorisation, it can happen to you. Indeed it may have already happened to you, given many breaches of health data go under the radar. Here’s why breaches of health data keep on happening. <h2>What did we learn this week?</h2> Details of the alleged data breaches, by <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/royals/breaking-kate-middleton-three-london-32401247">up to three staff</a> at The London Clinic, emerged in the UK media this week. These breaches are alleged to have occurred after the princess had abdominal surgery at the private hospital earlier this year. The UK Information Commissioner’s Office <a href="https://ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/media-centre/news-and-blogs/2024/03/ico-statement-in-response-to-reports-of-data-breach-at-the-london-clinic/">is investigating</a>. Its report should provide some clarity about what medical data was improperly accessed, in what form and by whom. But it is unlikely to identify whether this data was given to a third party, such as a media organisation. <h2>Health data isn’t always as secure as we’d hope</h2> Medical records are inherently sensitive, providing insights about individuals and often about biological relatives. In an ideal world, only the “right people” would have access to these records. These are people who “need to know” that information and are aware of the responsibility of accessing it. Best practice digital health systems typically try to restrict overall access to databases through hack-resistant firewalls. They also try to limit access to specific types of data through grades of access. This means a hospital accountant, nurse or cleaner does not get to see everything. Such systems also incorporate blocks or alarms where there is potential abuse, such as unauthorised copying. But in practice each health records ecosystem – in GP and specialist suites, pathology labs, research labs, hospitals – is less robust, often with fewer safeguards and weaker supervision. <h2>This has happened before</h2> Large health-care providers and insurers, including major hospitals or chains of hospitals, have a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/dec/22/st-vincents-health-australia-hack-cyberattack-data-stolen-hospital-aged-care-what-to-do">worrying</a> <a href="https://www.afr.com/technology/medical-information-leaked-in-nsw-health-hack-20210608-p57z7k">history</a> of <a href="https://www.innovationaus.com/oaic-takes-pathology-company-to-court-over-data-breach/">digital breaches</a>. Those breaches include hackers accessing the records of millions of people. The <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/11/medical-data-hacked-from-10m-australians-begins-to-appear-on-dark-web">Medibank</a> data breach involved more than ten million people. The <a href="https://www.hipaajournal.com/healthcare-data-breach-statistics/">Anthem</a> data breach in the United States involved more than 78 million people. Hospitals and clinics have also had breaches specific to a particular individual. Many of those breaches involved unauthorised sighting (and often copying) of hardcopy or digital files, for example by nurses, clinicians and administrative staff. For instance, this has happened to public figures such as <a href="https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-mar-15-me-britney15-story.html">singer</a> <a href="https://journals.lww.com/healthcaremanagerjournal/abstract/2009/01000/health_information_privacy__why_trust_matters.11.aspx">Britney Spears</a>, actor <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/10/nyregion/10clooney.html">George Clooney</a> and former United Kingdom prime minister <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/mar/20/when-fame-and-medical-privacy-clash-kate-and-other-crises-of-confidentiality">Gordon Brown</a>. Indeed, the Princess of Wales has had her medical privacy breached before, in 2012, while in hospital pregnant with her first child. This was no high-tech hacking of health data. Hoax callers from an Australian radio station <a href="https://theconversation.com/did-2day-fm-break-the-law-and-does-it-matter-11250">tricked</a> hospital staff into divulging details over the phone of the then Duchess of Cambridge’s health care. <h2>Tip of the iceberg</h2> Some unauthorised access to medical information goes undetected or is indeed undetectable unless there is an employment dispute or media involvement. Some is identified by colleagues. Records about your health might have been improperly sighted by someone in the health system. But you are rarely in a position to evaluate the data management of a clinic, hospital, health department or pathology lab. So we have to trust people do the right thing. <h2>How could we improve things?</h2> Health professions have long emphasised the need to protect these records. For instance, medical ethics bodies <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/350/bmj.h2255">condemn</a> medical students who <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-14/picture-sharing-app-for-doctors-raises-privacy-concerns/5389226">share</a> intimate or otherwise inappropriate images of patients. Different countries have various approaches to protecting who has access to medical records and under what circumstances. In Australia, for instance, we have a mix of complex and inconsistent laws that vary across jurisdictions, some covering privacy in general, others specific to health data. There isn’t one comprehensive law and set of standards <a href="https://theconversation.com/governments-privacy-review-has-some-strong-recommendations-now-we-really-need-action-200079">vigorously administered</a> by one well-resourced watchdog. In Australia, it’s mandatory to report <a href="https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/notifiable-data-breaches">data breaches</a>, including breaches of health data. This reporting system is currently <a href="https://theconversation.com/governments-privacy-review-has-some-strong-recommendations-now-we-really-need-action-200079">being updated</a>. But this won’t necessarily prevent data breaches. Instead, we need to incentivise Australian organisations to improve how they handle sensitive health data. The best policy <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1475-4932.12693">nudges</a> involve increasing penalties for breaches. This is so organisations act as responsible custodians rather than negligent owners of health data. We also need to step-up enforcement of data breaches and make it easier for victims to sue for breaches of privacy – princesses and tradies alike.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/226303/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/bruce-baer-arnold-1408">Bruce Baer Arnold</a>, Associate Professor, School of Law, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-canberra-865">University of Canberra</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/attempts-to-access-kate-middletons-medical-records-are-no-surprise-such-breaches-are-all-too-common-226303">original article</a>. Images: Getty

Legal

Investigation launched over "major security breach" at Princess Kate's hospital

New reports have claimed that there was an alleged security breach at the hospital where the Princess of Wales was treated, and an internal investigation is currently underway. According to the Daily Mirror's Royal Editor Russell Myers, bosses at The London Clinic have launched a probe into the claims that Kate Middleton's confidentiality was breached by staff. "The reason [for the alleged investigation] is that there is allegations that a member of staff accessed her private medical records," Myers, said on Today this morning. He also described it as "a major security breach," citing an unidentified insider who claims that Kensington Palace was contacted by the hospital bosses immediately after the alleged incident and "assured the Palace there would be a full investigation." "Kensington Palace and indeed the Princess of Wales have been extremely guarded about the nature of the surgery," he added. "Sources have told me that it's something she may wish to discuss in the future but it is a private medical matter now in the UK." Myers also claimed that he had spoken with London's Metropolitan Police, but said that they "haven't confirmed they are involved" at this stage. Just yesterday, Myers commented on the footage of Princess Kate <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/princess-kate-filmed-in-public-for-the-first-time-since-christmas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">out in public </a>for the first time since Christmas, calling it "the video that everybody had been clambering for." "The main thing is, Kate looks very happy and fully healthy," Myers said on the Today show. Kensington Palace and The London Clinic have not provided a comment on the matter at this stage. The Princess of Wales is expected to return to her royal duties after easter. Images: Getty

Legal

"Disparaging and insulting": Kyle Sandilands found in breach of decency rules

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) found that Kyle Sandilands breached the decency rules over the <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/kyle-sandilands-under-fire-for-hurtful-monkeypox-comments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">monkeypox comments</a> he made on-air in The Kyle and Jackie O show last year. The ACMA found that he breached the Commercial Radio Code of Practice with "offensive, exclusionary comments explicitly aimed at the presumed conduct of gay men". "The ACMA found that the overall sentiment of the segment stereotyped gay men as irresponsible in regard to their sexual health," the media watchdog found. "This made them the prime carriers of a virus that presented a danger to the community and, as a result, they were not deserving of sympathy or compassion." Monkeypox was declared a global health emergency in July 2022. At the time, Sandilands called the virus "the big gay disease" and that "it’s only gays getting it." In defence of Sandilands' comments, the broadcaster told the ACMA the segment may have contained "unfavourable descriptions of those susceptible to the virus, being homosexual males". They also claimed that the segment was "well-intended" in terms of bringing awareness to the community about the public health risk around the transmission of the virus and the availability of a vaccine. They also said that there was an insufficient amount of content that demonstrated "ill-will towards (the) LGBTQIA+ community." However, ACMA Chairperson Nerida O'Loughlin called the comments "derisive and insulting". "We acknowledge that the program's audience does not expect the presentation style of either the program or the presenter to always be formal and nuanced," O'Loughlin said. "Although there was a basis at the time for a public discussion about mpox that involved reference to gay sexuality, the segment went beyond any acceptable standards by conveying that gay men were irresponsible, were a risk to the community and did not deserve any sympathy even when presenting for medical assistance." "Broadcasters have a responsibility to maintain appropriate levels of decency, and in this case the comments by Sandilands were overly disparaging and insulting." KIIS have agreed to deliver sensitivity training to the hosts, producers, censors and other staff. They must also report back to the ACMA on their progress every six months for two years. Images: KIIS FM

Legal

Why Channel 10 is suing its former star host

Channel 10 is suing its former political editor, Peter van Onselen, for an alleged breach of contract after he wrote a column tearing into his former employer’s business skills. Anonymous sources told news.com.au that Mr van Onselen signed a non-disparagement clause and received a financial settlement after leaving the network. He had announced he was returning to academia, leaving his daily political news role at Ten in March 2023 after four years. It followed reports he had become tired of the commute from Sydney to Canberra. “I’ve only been doing this for four years ... We sometimes forget the sacrifices they make!” he wrote. It’s believed that the alleged breach of contract that Ten Network has initiated action over relates to that secret clause, which required him not to badmouth the network. However, it’s now the court’s decision to decide whether his column — which only referred to publicly available information about the network — constitutes a breach, or whether he should be free to make such observations in his role as commentator. In The Australian on May 25, <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=TAWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2Fbusiness%2Fmedia%2Fparamount-woes-raise-questions-about-the-long-term-viability-of-network-10%2Fnews-story%2Fe2dbfb95698c1eca1cb78f0dfd858c22&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=dynamic-low-control-score&V21spcbehaviour=append" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mr van Onselen wrote</a> that Ten’s parent company, Paramount, was unlikely to have a promising future. “Paramount’s share price has plummeted more than 30 per cent in the past month, down more than 50 per cent in just a year,” he wrote. “You could choose to be a little more upbeat about Paramount (and Network 10’s) future if the streaming part of the business was firing, but it’s not. “So what does all of this mean for Network 10? It could be fine, limping along with little attention paid to it by its big overseas owner … Since that time the network’s ratings have slowly ebbed lower and lower, elongating the divide between it and its more successful commercial rivals in Australia.” Mr van Onselen also revealed during his tenure that NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian criticised Scott Morrison in private text messages. Image credit: Getty

Legal

Huge fallout after panicked passenger opens exit door midflight

Asiana Airlines has immediately stopped offering its emergency exit seats after a passenger opened a door during a flight over South Korea on May 26, sparking panic inside the plane. Passengers will no longer be seated in emergency exit seats on its 174-seat A321-200 aircrafts and the 195-seat A321-200s, as a safety measure. According to airline officials, the man, 33, who opened the door was seated near the emergency exit. During preliminary questioning, the 33-year-old told investigators that he felt suffocated and tried to get off the plane quickly, police reported. Twelve people suffered minor injuries as a result, with air blasting in the cabin and terrifying passengers. Some testified they suffered severe ear pain and saw others screaming and crying. A video shared on social media shows passengers’ hair being whipped by air blowing into the cabin. The emergency exit doors usually cannot be opened mid-flight due to the difference in air pressure inside and outside the plane. However, the 33-year-old managed to open the door likely because the plane was flying at a low altitude while preparing to land and there wasn’t much difference to pressure, Asiana Airlines officials report. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> (warning: distressing) A man traveling on an Asiana Airlines flight opened the plane's cabin door minutes before it came in for its planned landing. <a href="https://t.co/QUIUXuVDgD">pic.twitter.com/QUIUXuVDgD</a> — NowThis (@nowthisnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/nowthisnews/status/1662179612804149249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2023</a></blockquote> The Transport Ministry said the plane was at 213 metres when the man pulled the door open. The aircraft, which was flying to the city of Daegu from the southern island of Jeju was carrying 200 passengers and landed safely. Passengers onboard included teenage athletes on their way to a track and field competition, according to Asiana Airlines. The 33-year-old told authorities that he had wanted to get out of the plane because he felt suffocated, Yonhap news agency reported, citing police. Yonhap said the man told police he had suffered stress after losing his job recently. A district court in Daegu has since approved a warrant to formally arrest him. "I wanted to get off the plane soon," the man told reporters at the court ahead of his arrest warrant review. "I'm really sorry to kids," he said, likely referencing the teenage athletes. Daegu police said they have up to 20 days to investigate the man before determining whether to send him to prosecutors for a possible indictment. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for breaching the aviation security law that bans passengers from handling entry doors, emergency exit doors and other equipment on board, according to the Transport Ministry. Those who were taken to hospitals were primarily treated for minor issues such as breathing difficulties. Image credit: Twitter

Travel Trouble

Optus data breach: regulatory changes announced, but legislative reform still needed

In response to Australia’s biggest ever data breach, the federal government will <a href="https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/jim-chalmers-2022/media-releases/changes-protect-consumers-following-optus-data-breach" target="_blank" rel="noopener">temporarily suspend regulations</a> that stop telcos sharing customer information with third parties. It’s a necessary step to deal with the threat of identify theft faced by 10 million current and former Optus customers. It will allow Optus to work with banks and government agencies to detect and prevent the fraudulent use of their data. But it’s still only a remedial measure, intended to be in place for 12 months. More substantive reform is needed to tighten Australia’s loose approach to data privacy and protection. <h2>Changing regulations, not legislation</h2> The changes – <a href="https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/jim-chalmers-2022/media-releases/changes-protect-consumers-following-optus-data-breach" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Federal Communications Minister Michelle Rowland – involve amending the <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2022C00329" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Telecommunications Regulation 2021</a>. This a piece of “subordinate” or “<a href="https://peo.gov.au/understand-our-parliament/your-questions-on-notice/questions/whats-the-difference-between-a-legislative-act-and-a-regulation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">delegated law</a>” to the <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C2004A05145" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Telecommunications Act 1997</a>. Amending the act itself would require a vote of parliament. Regulations can be amended at the government’s discretion. Under the Telecommunications Act it is a criminal offence for telcos to share information about “the affairs or personal particulars of another person”. The only exceptions are sharing information with the <a href="https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/media-communications-arts/phone/services-people-disability/accesshub/national-relay-service" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Relay Service</a> (which enables those with hearing or speech disabilities to communicate by phone), to “authorised research entities” such as universities, public health agencies or electoral commissions, or to police and intelligence agencies <a href="https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/about-us/our-portfolios/national-security/lawful-access-telecommunications/telecommunications-interception-and-surveillance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">with a warrant</a>. That means Optus can’t tell banks or even government agencies set up to prevent identity fraud, such as the little-known <a href="https://www.afr.com/companies/telecommunications/banks-treasury-team-up-to-protect-optus-customers-20220928-p5blm3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australian Financial Crime Exchange</a>, who the affected customers are. <h2>Important safeguards</h2> The government says the changes will only allow the sharing of “<a href="https://ministers.treasury.gov.au/ministers/jim-chalmers-2022/media-releases/changes-protect-consumers-following-optus-data-breach" target="_blank" rel="noopener">approved government identifier information</a>” – driver’s licences, Medicare and passport numbers. This information can only be shared with government agencies or financial institutions <a href="https://www.apra.gov.au/register-of-authorised-deposit-taking-institutions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">regulated by</a> the Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority. This means Optus (or any other telco) won’t be able to share information with the Australian branches of foreign banks. Financial institutions will also have to meet strict requirements about secure methods for transferring and storing personal information shared with them, and make undertakings to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (<a href="https://www.accc.gov.au/publications/section-87b-of-the-competition-consumer-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener">which can be enforced in court</a>). The information can be shared only “for the sole purposes of preventing or responding to cybersecurity incidents, fraud, scam activity or identify theft”. Any entity receiving information must destroy it after using it for this purpose. These are incredibly important safeguards given the current lack of limits on how long companies can keep identity data. <h2>What is needed now</h2> Although temporary, these changes could be a game changer. For the next 12 months, at least, Optus (and possibly other telcos) will be able to proactively share customer information with banks to prevent cybersecurity, fraud, scams and identity theft. It could potentially enable a crackdown on scams that affect both banks and telcos – such as <a href="https://www.ato.gov.au/General/Online-services/Identity-security-and-scams/Scam-alerts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fraudulent texts and phone calls</a>. But this does not nullify the need for a larger legislative reform agenda. Australia’s data privacy laws and regulations should put limits on how much data companies can collect, or for how long they can keep that information. Without limits, companies will continue to collect and store much more personal information <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-do-tiktok-bunnings-ebay-and-netflix-have-in-common-theyre-all-hyper-collectors-187274" target="_blank" rel="noopener">than they need</a>. This will require amending the federal Privacy Act – subject to a <a href="https://www.ag.gov.au/integrity/consultations/review-privacy-act-1988" target="_blank" rel="noopener">government review</a> now nearing three years in length. There should be limits on what data companies can retain, and how long, as well as bigger penalties for non-compliance. We all need to take data privacy more seriously. This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/optus-data-breach-regulatory-changes-announced-but-legislative-reform-still-needed-192009" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Image: Shutterstock

Legal

How not to tell customers their data is at risk: the perils of the Optus approach

Optus fears data on up to 9.8 million of its customers has been accessed in a <a href="https://www.optus.com.au/about/media-centre/media-releases/2022/09/optus-notifies-customers-of-cyberattack" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sophisticated cyberattack</a> – including, for some customers, passport and drivers licence details, as well as phone numbers, dates of birth and email addresses. It made the announcement through the media, in the middle of Thursday’s national day of mourning public holiday, and during the four-day long weekend in Melbourne in the lead-up to the AFL grand final. At first, it didn’t text or email its customers. Instead, it issued a <a href="https://www.optus.com.au/about/media-centre/media-releases/2022/09/optus-notifies-customers-of-cyberattack" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press release</a> in the belief this was <blockquote> the quickest and most effective way to alert as many current and former customers as possible, so they could be vigilant and monitor for any suspicious activity. </blockquote> Trust in the media is at an all-time low. Communications authority Edelman reports that globally, only <a href="https://www.edelman.com/sites/g/files/aatuss191/files/2022-01/2022%20Edelman%20Trust%20Barometer%20FINAL_Jan25.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">50%</a> of people trust the media, down from 62% a decade ago. Far more people (61%) trust businesses. <h2>Tweets rather than texts</h2> It has been <a href="https://studycorgi.com/the-role-of-integrated-marketing-communications-campaign/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">conventional wisdom</a> that brands should take an integrated approach to marketing communications. Many channels are better than one, increasingly so as audiences for traditional channels continue to fragment. An integrated marketing approach need not mean communicating through every available channel, but it should mean strategically selecting channels that are trusted and consumed by the brand’s customers. One of the best channels Optus has is its own phone network, and it is experienced in using it to contact its customers. Customers are likely to expect this where Optus has something important to say, and they are likely to trust a direct message from Optus more than one filtered through the media. They are even likely to spread it via word of mouth through friends who also use Optus, giving the company a continuing role in shaping the message. Instead, Optus backed up its press release with tweets. <blockquote> Hi Marie, we issued a press release and proactively reached out to media as this is the quickest way to inform all our existing and former customers so they can be on high alert for anything suspicious. Kartik — Optus (@Optus) <a href="https://twitter.com/Optus/status/1572949683332583428?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 22, 2022</a></blockquote> Optus has around 5.8 million active users, around 21% of the Australian population. They are a cross-section of the population, having little in common other than the fact they use Optus for communications. Some of Optus’ customers, especially those in Gen Z, might not use traditional news media. They wouldn’t have received the message through that channel. Former customers dating back to 2017 are also likely to be affected by the breach, taking the total affected to around <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/technology/sophisticated-attack-optus-hackers-used-european-addresses-could-be-state-linked-20220923-p5bkfn.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9.8 million</a>, about one third of the population. Twitter is used by about only about <a href="https://www.genroe.com/blog/social-media-statistics-australia/13492" target="_blank" rel="noopener">18%</a> of the population, and the overlap with Optus customers might not be large. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> We'll be contacting impacted customers soon with more information and details on how we'll support them. Optus will not be sending links in any emails or SMS messages. If you believe your account has been compromised, you can contact us on My Optus app (2/2) ^George — Optus (@Optus) <a href="https://twitter.com/Optus/status/1573136010904363008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 23, 2022</a></blockquote> <h2>What can brands learn from Optus?</h2> As marketing and branding experts, we’ve distilled three lessons, each well known before the data breach. <ol> <li> When you have news affecting your customers, tell them before anyone else, in a personalised, one-to-one approach. </li> <li> Use channels that are trusted and consumed by your customers. </li> <li> Encourage word of mouth through your relationships with your brand community and loyal customers. </li> </ol> This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-not-to-tell-customers-their-data-is-at-risk-the-perils-of-the-optus-approach-191258" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Image: Shutterstock

Legal

James Bond star found dead in hotel

Kenneth Tsang, a veteran Hong Kong actor who starred in ground-breaking martial arts movies, has died at age 87. Tsang, who was also known as Tsang Kong, was staying in a Hong Kong hotel when he was found dead in his hotel room. The hotel was being used as a venue for passenger quarantine after overseas travel according to Covid-19 restrictions, but no immediate cause of death has been given by Hong Kong authorities. Tsang had travelled home on Monday after a visit to Singapore, when his rapid Covid-19 test had tested negative for the disease. Tsang has over 220 film credits after a career spanning more than 65 years, playing mostly bad guys in movies, as well as a handful of TV shows. In the 1980s and 1990s, he appeared in several influential titles by John Woo including A Better Tomorrow and A Better Tomorrow 2 followed by The Killer and Once a Thief. His first Hollywood movie was the Antoine Fuqua-directed The Replacement Killers, alongside Hong Kong superstar Chow Yun-fat. Tsang notably appeared opposite Pierce Brosnan's James Bond in Die Another Day in 2002. The actor was born in Shanghai in 1934, before he moved to the United States for his education. Tsang continued working as an actor until last year. Image credits: Getty Images

Caring

UN committee rules anti-lesbian sex laws breach human rights in landmark decision

On Wednesday, a United Nations committee became the first international law body to recognise that criminalising female same-sex sexual activity is a fundamental breach of human rights. The <a href="https://www.humandignitytrust.org/wp-content/uploads/resources/CEDAW-C-81-D-134-2018-English-clean-copy.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">landmark decision</a> means all countries that criminalise women having sex with other women should immediately repeal these laws. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> UN Body Condemns Sri Lanka’s Criminalization of Same-Sex Acts <a href="https://t.co/UW0Opoqfwc">https://t.co/UW0Opoqfwc</a> — Human Rights Watch (@hrw) <a href="https://twitter.com/hrw/status/1506776054706458627?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2022</a></blockquote> Which countries criminalise homosexuality? <a href="https://antigaylaws.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Seventy-one countries</a> still criminalise homosexual conduct. Many of these are our neighbours – <a href="https://antigaylaws.org/regional/asia-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ten in Asia</a> and <a href="https://antigaylaws.org/regional/pacificoceania/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">seven in the Pacific</a>. Many people assume these laws only apply to men having sex with men, but that’s not the case. Sexual conduct between women is prohibited in the criminal codes of 34 of these 71 countries. Countries with sharia law such as Afghanistan, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia also essentially criminalise lesbian sex. So there are <a href="https://www.humandignitytrust.org/lgbt-the-law/map-of-criminalisation/?type_filter=crim_sex_women" target="_blank" rel="noopener">43 countries</a> where it’s a crime for women to engage in same-sex sexual activity – almost a quarter of all countries in the world. The majority of the countries that criminalise same-sex sexual activity are members of the <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1037969X1403900203" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Commonwealth</a>, whose anti-homosexuality laws were introduced by the British Empire. However, Britain only ever criminalised male homosexual activity, and the expansion of these laws to explicitly include female sexual activity is a relatively recent phenomenon. Countries that have done so include: Trinidad and Tobago (1986), Solomon Islands (1990), Sri Lanka (1995), Malaysia (1998) and Nigeria (2014). In the past 35 years, <a href="https://www.humandignitytrust.org/wp-content/uploads/resources/Breaking-the-Silence-Criminalisation-of-LB-Women-and-its-Impacts-FINAL.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ten jurisdictions</a> that previously only criminalised same-sex male sexual intimacy changed their laws to include, for the first time, new criminal sanctions of lesbians and bisexual women. The laws criminalising same-sex activity between women aren’t just arcane laws that are never enforced. In Malaysia just over three years ago, two women were <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/sep/03/women-caned-in-malaysia-for-attempting-to-have-lesbian-sex" target="_blank" rel="noopener">caned six times</a> for attempting to have sex. And late last year, a <a href="https://www.advocate.com/world/2021/12/14/lesbian-detained-iran-fears-life-sareh" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lesbian activist in Iran</a> was arrested while trying to flee to Turkey to seek asylum. Before this, she was detained for 21 days by the Iraqi Kurdistan police following an interview she did with BBC Persian about the situation of the LGBTQ+ community in Iraqi Kurdistan. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Atrocious punishment of lesbians in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Malaysia?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Malaysia</a> <a href="https://t.co/pknBrYnlO4">https://t.co/pknBrYnlO4</a> — Amnesty UK Rainbow Network (@AmnestyUK_LGBTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmnestyUK_LGBTI/status/1037277740951584773?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 5, 2018</a></blockquote> The case The case of Flamer-Caldera v Sri Lanka was brought by a lesbian activist to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). She argued that Sri Lanka’s criminal laws violated her right to live her life free from discrimination based on her sexual orientation. The CEDAW committee agreed. It found the effect of Sri Lanka’s criminal code was that lesbian and bisexual women lived with the constant risk of arrest and detention. And the laws facilitate a culture where discrimination, harassment and violence against lesbians and bisexual women can flourish. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> The verdict is clear: compulsory heterosexuality, enforced through legislation and policing as well as unchecked social stigma, violates women’s rights under international law. My piece for <a href="https://twitter.com/OutRightIntl?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OutRightIntl</a> on the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SriLanka?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SriLanka</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CEDAW?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CEDAW</a> ruling: <a href="https://t.co/cahtHV2k2d">https://t.co/cahtHV2k2d</a> — Neela Ghoshal (@NeelaGhoshal) <a href="https://twitter.com/NeelaGhoshal/status/1507106976370769923?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2022</a></blockquote> Law is a tool that governments use to communicate to society what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour. When the Sri Lankan government declared any sexual intimacy between consenting women is a crime, it signalled to Sri Lankans that vilification, targeting and harassment of lesbians and bisexual women is acceptable, because they are criminals. The laws not only criminalise same-sex sexual conduct. They also perpetuate homophobia, stigmatise the LGBTQ+ community and sanction gender-based violence against lesbians and bisexual women. This decision sends a clear message to all governments who think it’s OK to persecute, harass and discriminate against lesbians and bisexual women – you are wrong. What now? Sri Lanka now has six months to provide a written response to the CEDAW Committee setting out the action it has taken, or will take, to give effect to the committee’s decision. Repealing the specific provision in the criminal law will not be enough. A much more holistic and nuanced response is required. In particular, the government will need to: <ul> <li> develop campaigns to counter prejudice and stereotypes directed at the LGBTQ+ community </li> <li> enact anti-discrimination laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status </li> <li> embed human rights education in schools, promoting equality and respect for all regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity </li> <li> provide training for police, judges and other law enforcement officials to increase their understanding of, and respect for, the human rights of LGBTQ+ people. This will also enable women to report homophobic crimes to the police without fear of retribution and with the knowledge the perpetrators will be prosecuted </li> <li> ensure there are adequate civil and criminal remedies for members of the LGBTQ+ community who are subjected to discrimination and gender-based violence. </li> </ul> The decision in Flamer-Caldera v Sri Lanka represents a watershed moment in international human rights law and will reverberate around the world. It’s now beyond dispute that criminalising consensual adult same-sex sexual conduct violates a woman’s right to privacy, dignity and non-discrimination. All governments have a duty to protect all women, including lesbians and bisexual women, from discrimination, gender-based violence and other harm. Any country that criminalises the sexual conduct of lesbians and bisexual women, regardless of whether they enforce the laws, is guilty of violating international law.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/179936/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/paula-gerber-4812" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paula Gerber</a>, Professor of Human Rights Law, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Monash University</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/un-committee-rules-anti-lesbian-sex-laws-breach-human-rights-in-landmark-decision-179936" target="_blank" rel="noopener">original article</a>. Image: Getty Images

Legal

Jacinda Ardern announces plan to reopen New Zealand

After months of being closed to locals stranded overseas, New Zealand is planning to reopen its borders. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern annouced the plan for New Zealand citizens to return home in a speech on Thursday, and detailed a new scheme to reconnect the country to the rest of the world. New Zealanders who have been stranded in Australia will be able to return home form February 27th, while citizens suck in other parts of the world will have to wait until March 13th.The country still boasts strict border policies, with residents located across the world have been forced to enter a lottery system to gain a place in New Zealand's hotel quarantine system. However, Ms Ardern said the stringent policies would now change. "The tools we used yesterday to help battle this health crisis, they won't stay the same," she said. She said there was "no question" the managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) system "has been one of the hardest parts of the pandemic".From the end of the month, returning New Zealanders will be allowed to isolate at home instead of facing an overcrowded hotel quarantine system. While this new rule only applies to New Zealand citizens, it is expected Australian tourists and travellers from visa-waiver countries will be allowed in under similar conditions "no later than" July. Visa holders, including international students and migrant workers, will be allowed in and to isolate at home from mid-April. Non-visa holders can expect to enter New Zealand in October. Image credits: Getty Images

International Travel

“Absolutely double standards”: Hillsong accused of breaching Health Order

Australian artists have <a rel="noopener" href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/outrage-over-hillsong-video-showing-crowds-singing-dancing-nsw-085606215.html" target="_blank">expressed their outrage</a> after footage of people singing and dancing at a Hillsong event emerged online, despite new restrictions banning these activities from happening in NSW. Some have pointed out that Hillsong’s Wildlife Summer Camp, a three-day “summer camp” held near Newcastle, looks similar to a music festival - where singing and dancing have been prohibited. <img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846808/hillsong2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/8b1806a689dd4ef182e72a7825f6258c" /> Hillsong has been accused of breaching the Public Health Order banning singing and dancing at recreational facilities. Image: @hillsongyouth (Instagram) Images and videos from the event show teenagers dancing to religious music - with many appearing to be unmasked - sparking outrage from the entertainment industry, which has seen many scheduled events cancelled in wake of the state’s rules. Music festivals across the country have also been forced to be cancelled or postponed, prompting claims that Hillsong being allowed to hold such an event is a “double standard”. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Seeing all the artists, promoters, staff and vendors in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NSW?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NSW</a> suffer after having outdoor events cancelled and then seeing THIS happening right now in NSW for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hillsong?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hillsong</a> is disgusting, a huge gut punch to the already suffering industry. Absolute double standards. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NswPol?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NswPol</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/nswcovid?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#nswcovid</a> <a href="https://t.co/fi5pyQZnrr">pic.twitter.com/fi5pyQZnrr</a> — Leon Sjogren (@Leonsjogren) <a href="https://twitter.com/Leonsjogren/status/1481460688032010241?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2022</a></blockquote> Music producer Leon Sjogren wrote on Twitter: “Seeing all the artists, promoters, staff and vendors in NSW suffer after having outdoor events cancelled and then seeing THIS happening right now in NSW for Hillsong is disgusting, a huge gut punch to the already suffering industry. “Absolutely double standards.” NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet announced the new restrictions on singing and dancing last week, telling reporters the activities would be prohibited in indoor venues from January 8 until January 27. According to the Public Health Order, singing and dancing aren’t allowed at places such as music festivals, nightclubs, major recreation facilities, hospitality venues, and entertainment facilities. However, weddings, music classes, and churches are exempt. Although Hillsong defended the event, telling the ABC it was “not similar to a music festival in any way”, NSW Health has requested that the organisation “stop singing and dancing”. “Our camps involve primarily outdoor recreational activities including sports and games,” Hillsong said in a statement to the national broadcaster. <img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846809/hillsong1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/ddd8f167cd714df785dde4fc56b5a6e6" /> Despite footage showing unmasked teens singing and dancing, the religious organisation says it was not breaching the Public Health Order banning those activities. Image: @hillsongyouth (Instagram) The organisation added that they “follow strict Covid procedures” and “adhere to government guidelines”. But, a statement from NSW Health accused the organisation of breaching the Public Health Order, as “singing and dancing at a major recreation facility” is prohibited. Health Minister Brad Hazzard said: “While the Order does not apply to religious services, it does apply to major recreational facilities and this event is clearly in breach of both the spirit and intent of the Order, which is in place to keep the community safe.” Other Australian artists have also taken aim at the event, with rapper Illy criticising the banning of singing and dancing at festivals but not in churches. “You can postpone all our festivals and gigs, you can say no to dancing in clubs for the next 50 years, and you can make singing and shouting in public illegal except in sermons and the cricket for some reason,” he wrote on Twitter on Wednesday. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> I can handle the singing, the dancing, and the no mask wearing at this Hillsong festival last night, even though it’s illegal for the entire arts industry to do the same. But playing“turn down for what” in 2022?! Too far. <a href="https://t.co/byOWufUaWa">pic.twitter.com/byOWufUaWa</a> — Illy (@illyal) <a href="https://twitter.com/illyal/status/1481461459368701960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2022</a></blockquote> “FYI I’m for everyone’s religious beliefs. The post is a joke, aimed at the latest horse s*** double standard the music industry is ONCE AGAIN having to face. Not attacking religion at all.” Others said the rules should apply to everyone, religious or not. “The double standard applied to this Hillsong event vs other indoor or outdoor music festivals makes NO sense at all,” one critic shared on Twitter. “You risk a big increase in Covid infections & prolonging this pandemic for all of us. The same rules need to apply to everyone.” Image: Getty Images / @hillsongyouth (Instagram)

Music

Woman barred from visiting her dying mother

Image: Sunrise Western Australian health officials have cancelled an approved visit for a woman to say goodbye to her dying mother. Andrea McCourt had been granted an exemption to enter WA after flying in from Texas and was in hotel quarantine when the farewell was scrapped with just 34 minutes notice. Ms McCourt’s trip to visit her mother’s retirement village was cancelled at the last-minute due to COVID-19 concerns after a hotel quarantine guard tested positive for the virus. “I sincerely regret to inform you that following thoughtful consideration, the WA Health Incident Controller has this morning withdrawn support for today’s visit due to increasing concerns regarding the public health risk associated with your visitation request,” an email from health officials read “Accordingly, you will not be permitted to temporarily depart hotel quarantine today.” The emails admits officials know the decision would be “extremely disheartening” but was not made “lightly or without comprehension.” “Moreover, I apologise for the untimely notice, however due to the unpredictable and everchanging nature of COVID-19 pandemic and broader quarantine system it is not possible to foresee such events,” Andrea told 7NEWS that she feels like she has been “treated like a criminal” over the ordeal. “I haven’t even had the heart to call mum this morning and say sorry we can’t come and visit you, because we don’t want her to go downhill,” she said on Wednesday.

Travel Trouble

Requiring people to check in with a QR code does not breach Australian law

Across social media platforms, people are claiming that mandatory QR code check-ins for businesses are actually, against the law. “This requirement is illegal and puts my company in a position to be sued,” claims a typical Facebook post. Among the laws cited by social media users as evidence of the illegality of QR code check-ins are certain sections of the Commonwealth Privacy Act and the constitution. Others, meanwhile have cited the Numremberg Code, as well as the Australian Disability Discrimination Act and the Biosecurity Act, to argue that a requirement in some states to present proof-of-vaccination status in order to enter businesses likewise breaks the law. But do such laws render QR code check-ins and proof-of-vaccination requirements illegal? This is what the experts have to say on the matter. QR code check-ins Online, Section 94H(1) of the Commonwealth Privacy Act is being used as a common defence for not having to display a QR code for check-in purposes. Under the provision, which was added to the act last year, employers must not dismiss employees if they refuse to download the COVIDSafe app — the federal government's widely criticised contact tracing tool that has all but been abandoned. The section does not make it illegal to require businesses to display a QR code under public health orders, nor does it relate to check-in apps introduced by state governments (such as the Service NSW and Service Victoria apps). Another law regularly referenced by those arguing against QR check-ins is Section 51.5 of the Australian Constitution which confers on the federal government the power to make laws in regards to telecommunications. This is often incorrectly interpreted to mean that only the federal government can make laws about mobile phones, and the states cannot. However, Joellen Riley Munton, former dean of the University of Sydney Law School, told Fact Check this view reflected "a weak understanding of Australian constitutional law". "Section 51 of the constitution confers a power on the Commonwealth to make laws with respect to telecommunications, but it does not rob states of their plenary powers to make all manner of laws," Dr Riley Munton said in an email. "It is just that a state law that is inconsistent with a validly made federal law will be ineffective. "In any event, the QR code requirements can easily be characterised as laws related to public health, since it is a tool to assist with contact tracing. States certainly have powers to make public health orders." Proof of Vaccinations Arguments around the legality of proof-of-vaccination requirements have been similarly debunked. The Nuremberg Code, drafted in 1947 in response to deadly medical experiments carried out by the Nazis during World War II, is commonly referenced as grounds for sidestepping vaccination requirements. But the code applies to medical experiments, not COVID-19 vaccinations, with many fact checkers having addressed claims that it renders numerous pandemic public health orders illegal. Other social media users have listed sections 4 and 6 of the Disability Discrimination Act to argue against the requirement to disclose vaccination status, either to keep a job or enter premises. However, according to Tasmania's former anti-discrimination commissioner Robin Banks, a "very important point" about the act is that it only provides protection to people with a disability. "[It] doesn't provide protection if… you don't have a disability," Ms Banks told Fact Check. Section 4 of the act merely sets out the definitions used in the act — it provides no legal argument for why an individual should not disclose vaccination status. Section 6, meanwhile, makes it unlawful to engage in indirect disability discrimination; for example, a person with a disability being required to do something with which they cannot comply. But for discrimination to have occurred, Ms Banks explained, a person must be able to prove they are less able to comply with the requirement because of their disability, and the requirement must be "unreasonable" in the circumstances. Ms Banks said this was the point at which arguments against proof-of-vaccination requirements fell flat. "Vaccination status does not readily fall within the definition of disability, nor does being unvaccinated," she said. "There is no basis that I can see that it could be argued that being unvaccinated is a disability for the purposes of the protections under disability discrimination laws." She added that "requiring a person to disclose their vaccination status may be reasonable in many circumstances as it may be a necessary part of measures needed to reduce community transmission of a deadly and highly infectious, airborne virus". Finally, Section 95 of the Biosecurity Act, which states that "force must not be used against an individual to require the individual to comply with a biosecurity measure", also had "no role to play in relation to people who refuse to disclose their vaccination status", according to Ms Banks. "It protects against use of force in respect of such failures except in specific circumstances; for example, requiring [people] to be tested for the presence of a particular human disease, to provide particular body samples, to require them to stay in a particular place, or not visit a particular place or places. "Section 95 … does not appear to be directly relevant to the question of whether or not a person's vaccination status can be sought."

Legal

How to quarantine in A-list style

Since the introduction of hotel quarantine in March 2020, people have encountered all kinds of trials and tribulations that come with being stuck in a hotel for 14 days. However, if you’re a celebrity arriving in Australia for quarantine, things have been the height of luxury. Luxury home hotel service <a href="https://luxico.com.au/">Luxico</a> has been accommodating A-listers in private quarantine throughout the coronavirus pandemic, as well as offering exclusive services like a 24/7 concierge to carry out your every request. As some Australian states are discussing the complete removal of hotel quarantine for fully vaccinated travellers after a series of trials, Luxico is expanding their clientele. After perfecting its service for VIPs, the company is now opening their luxury homes and concierge service to the masses. Starting at $400 a night, the service can include everything from a full grocery order that is unpacked and ready for your arrival, intensive Covid cleaning measures, and a concierge to run errands. Not only is the concierge there to greet you in person when you arrive, they also offer to share all their knowledge about the local area. Many celebrities who have been wanting to remain under the radar have been embracing the service for months. It was revealed in March that Julia Roberts and Ed Sheeran teamed up to quarantine together in the luxurious <a href="https://luxico.com.au/rentals/allrentals/sweven-estate">Sweven Estate</a> with their families for two weeks at $4,700 per night. The property is available for bookings until the end of the year, for those willing to hand over $33,000 for the week-long quarantine. The property is not even the most expensive property offered by Luxico, as a <a href="https://luxico.com.au/rentals/allrentals/wisteria-place">four bedroom mansion in South Yarra</a>, Victoria, is going for an extraordinary $5,700 per night. In Byron, property <a href="https://luxico.com.au/rentals/allrentals/twenty-six">Twenty Six</a> features an infinity pool and ocean views, and can be booked for $6,500 per night. Luxico also offered “ultravillas”, that come with a personal butler, daily maid service, fully-stocked kitchen on arrival and a Sommelier’s Honesty Bar with some of the world’s best alcohol. Image credit: Luxico

Travel Tips

"That's disgusting": Karl slams Queensland quarantine rules

Karl Stefanovic has slammed the Queensland government's Covid-19 quarantine rules after a six-year-old with cerebral palsy is stuck in Sydney. Lenny Silveira and his father Fabio are staying in a Sydney hotel after not being able to return to their home on the Sunshine Coast. The father and son travelled to the US for life-saving brain surgery for Lenny that is not currently available in Australia. After flying the US back to Sydney, the six-year-old was denied an exemption by Queensland Health to be reunited with his mum and three siblings by quarantining at home, which goes against doctor's orders for Lenny's recovery. Lenny and Fabio were denied the exemption because their flight landed in Sydney, as there are currently no direct flights from the US to Brisbane. After Fabio shared his son's story on Today, Karl expressed his fury at the situation, describing the Queensland governments response to the sick child as "awful". <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> "I understand the seriousness of this situation but we are talking about a six-year-old boy." Queensland Health has denied a Sunshine Coast boy with cerebral palsy an exemption to quarantine at home after undergoing major brain surgery in the U.S. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/9Today?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#9Today</a> <a href="https://t.co/zQ7zHLR7EK">pic.twitter.com/zQ7zHLR7EK</a> — The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheTodayShow/status/1448025093360193540?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2021</a></blockquote> "Just have a look at that child there with cerebral palsy, in a hotel quarantine," Stefanovic fumed. "That is disgusting. I mean, if we can't make allowances for that kind of thing in this country, I don't know what has happened to this country." "The Queensland Government needs to look at that and fix it straightaway," he said. Lenny's father Fabio, who left his wife and other children in the Sunshine Coast to travel with Lenny, said their journey has been very difficult. "Our tickets were cancelled. So for three weeks we stay in a drama, not knowing if we will be able to make it back home for Christmas as thousands of Australians are stranded overseas." He said, "We made it back last Friday, but then we hit a wall with Queensland Health exemption denying us entry in Queensland because we arrived in Sydney." "So we got caught in the middle of the NSW-Queensland Health departments that have extremely difficult to talk to each other, leaving Lenny caught in the middle." Image credits: Today - Channel Nine

Caring

Ballet-dancing Olympic boxer cops fine just hours after leaving quarantine

Australian Olympic medallist Harry Garside has been fined more than $5000 for flouting Victoria's COVID-19 restrictions. The 24-year-old boxer attended a party in Melbourne on Saturday night, only hours after leaving hotel quarantine. Harry completed his hotel quarantine period in Brisbane following his return from the Tokyo Olympics, and flew to Melbourne to attend the party only hours later. The boxer is among five people who have been slapped with fines after pictures of the illegal gathering in Mooroolbark were posted on social media. The images show Harry drinking with friends, as they posed with Garside's bronze medal. “All attendees will be interviewed and issued with a $5454 infringement notice for breaching Chief Health Officer directions,” a Victoria Police spokesperson said. Harry Garside, who is a plumber by trade, became the first Aussie to win a medal for boxing in 33 years at the Tokyo Olympic Games last month. He won fans over across the country after revealing that he had taken up ballet dancing in the lead-up to the Olympics to help with his footwork. Victoria remains in a strict lockdown with no end in sight, as COVID-19 cases continue to rise due to the deadly Delta variant. The state recorded 92 new locally acquired cases on Sunday, including more than 30 not yet linked to existing outbreaks. Image credit: Getty Images

Legal

“G’day from Sydney!”: Kyle MacLachlan shows off his Aussie slang

US actor Kyle MacLachlan has been keeping fans updated about his time in hotel quarantine, with his latest clip containing a funny message for Aussie fans. MacLachlan, well-known for his roles in Twin Peaks and Sex and the City, has showed off the Australian slang he has been learning while quarantining in Sydney in a quirky video shared on social media. “G’day from Sydney! It’s Kyle MacLachlan,” the actor began, while holding a coffee in hand and with Sydney’s Centrepoint Tower in the background. “I’m here in quarantine for the next few weeks, and I’m doing OK despite being isolated in my room. “Crikey, my day is choc-a-block,” he said, chuckling. “Once I put on my dacks, from brekky to arvo and even to din din I’m flat out. There’s heaps to do, and even though it’s not hard yakka, I’m no bludger. I reckon it’ll pay off. “When I finish quarantine the first thing I’ll do is get into my budgie smugglers, slip on my thongs, grab my Esky and head to the beach for a sunbake. “Then after a couple of snags on the barbie with my cobbers, we’ll soak a slab or even a goon bag from the bottle-o, oh it’ll be a right good piss up. No wuckas.” <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CS7oSDCH4Pf/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CS7oSDCH4Pf/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Kyle MacLachlan (@kyle_maclachlan)</a> </div> </blockquote> With the background showing Sydney’s rainy weather, he ended the video saying: “Well, it defo looks like we’ll need a brolly today, hmm?” Though the star has not revealed what has brought him to Australia, Twitter user Andrew Mc suspected it was likely to do with a new comedy series based on Joe Exotic, the big-cat breeder previously depicted in Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness. The new series, written by Kate McKinnon, is expected to film in Queensland, with MacLachlan starring as Howard Baskin - the husband of Carole Baskin, Exotic’s nemesis. MacLachlan’s Aussie slang comes as the second of his video updates from hotel quarantine, with the first seeing him share wildlife facts. Starting the clip with the same greeting from Sydney, Australia, MacLachlan goes on to say: “I’m here starting my 14 day quarantine for work, so I thought I’d take this opportunity to share with you a little Australian trivia. “Did you know that the Sydney funnel web spider is one of the most dangerous spiders in the world? “It can kill a human being in 15 minutes, and it’s fangs are so sharp, they can bite through a glove or even a fingernail… ugh!” he shuddered. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CS5Dq5JHVHD/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CS5Dq5JHVHD/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Kyle MacLachlan (@kyle_maclachlan)</a> </div> </blockquote> Suddenly looking surprised and worried, MacLachlan gets up from his seat in fear that he’s spotted a spider. “Jesus! God almighty, that’s a spider!” he says as he walks out of view, with the camera soon falling over. At the end of the clip, MacLachlan can be heard hitting his coffee cup against a surface, before saying: “That was close”. Image: Kyle MacLachlan / Instagram

"Public health enemy No.1" continues to evade police

A man who tested positive for COVID has continued to elude police days after a warrant was issued for his arrest. NSW Health told Anthony Karam, 27, he had coronavirus on August 18 and must undergo isolation. However, Mr Karam reportedly defied orders and continued to carry out a non-isolated lifestyle in the community. On Friday night, police called on the public for more information. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7843339/new-project.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/4b8bc147de1146ab99d7e45478c6498e" /> “Anthony has failed to isolate as directed by the Public Health Order and despite numerous attempts by police to find him; he has not been located,” a spokesperson said. Police attempted to contact Karam through a third party to no avail. He was last seen on CCTV footage inside an apartment complex’s elevator before vanishing. Police say Karam sneezed multiple times during the footage obtained. An order signed by Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant says Karam is a “risk to the health or safety of the public”. “The community is warned to avoid contact with Mr Karam and not approach him”.

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“Appalling” act sees British commentator booted from Australia

Far-right British commentator Katie Hopkins will be deported from Australia, following thousands of people signing a petition calling for her departure. After it was revealed Hopkins was flown to Australia last week to take part in Celebrity Big Brother Australia, a wave of online hatred and calls to remove her from the programme have been aimed at Channel 7. However, a video she uploaded to her social media profile over the weekend has intensified the calls and prompted an investigation into whether her visa was still valid. In the now-deleted video, Hopkins admitted to deliberately undermining hotel quarantine rules. “The police officer who checked me in told me when they knock on my door I have to wait 30 seconds ‘til I can open the door [to receive food],” she said in the Instagram Live video. “Then I can open the door but only if I wear a face mask. “[To] frighten the s**t out of them and do it naked with no face mask. What I want is the sergeant in the foyer to come up and tell me off so that I can stand there naked while he tells me off.” In another video, Hopkins calls the lockdowns the “greatest hoax in human history”. The clip attracted widespread criticism from government and opposition politicians, as well as Aussies still suck overseas who questioned how she was able to score a spot in hotel quarantine in Sydney. The controversy also resulted in Channel 7 dropping her from the show, which they confirmed in a statement. “Seven Network and Endemol Shine Australia confirm that Katie Hopkins is not part of Big Brother VIP. Seven and Endemol Shine strongly condemn her irresponsible and reckless comments in hotel quarantine,” the network said. A <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.change.org/p/sendhopkinshome-don-t-let-katie-hopkins-stay-in-australia" target="_blank">Change.org petition</a> calling for her departure from the country has also been started, and has received more than 31,000 signatures. Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews ordered an urgent review of Hopkin’s visa to determine whether her stunt breached visa conditions. Ms Andrews has since revealed Hopkins’ visa had been cancelled. “We will be getting her out of the country as soon as we can arrange that,” she told ABC News Breakfast. Despite being granted a visa based on potential benefit to the economy, Ms Andrews described Hopkins’ act as “despicable”. “I’m with you, it’s appalling this individual behaved the way she did,” she said. “All visa holders must abide by the health directions issued by our health officials - we won’t tolerate those who don’t.” Hopkins hasn’t been the only source of controversy for the Channel 7 show, after the news broke that Caityln Jenner was also flying into the country to partake in the show. Image: Katie Hopkins / Instagram

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Phuket reopens to international visitors, with a catch

For the first time since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, Phuket, Thailand’s popular resort island, is allowing international travellers to enter without quarantining, as long as they’re vaccinated. On July 1, the first of four flights arriving that day touched down at Phuket International Airport with 25 passengers from Abu Dhabi. In total, about 400 vaccinated tourists arrived from Doha, Tel Aviv, Singapore, and Abu Dhabi as part of Thailand’s new “Phuket Sandbox” program. In an interview with CNN the day before, Thailand’s Minister of Tourism Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said the program was needed to restart the country’s economy, which has been severely impacted by the pandemic. “In 2019, we had revenue from both domestic and international tourism at 3 trillion baht ($1.2 billion) but in 2020 it shrank to 800 billion baht,” he said. Phuket generated more than 470 billion of that revenue, thanks to the arrival of 10 million tourists. The opening on July 1 has been viewed as mostly symbolic as a windfall of tourism numbers isn’t expected to follow. Instead, Phiphat estimates that about 100,000 international tourists will arrive on the island in the first three months following the reopening, which is expected to generate about 9 billion baht in revenue. Beyond the island, Thailand has been battling its third wave of COVID-19, with the country reporting 57 deaths and 5,533 cases on the same day as the reopening, mostly in Bangkok. But, Phiphat has said “Phuket is currently perfectly fit for travel” despite the current number of cases in Thailand. “If you look at the nationwide infection number, we would say we are not ready. If you focus only on Phuket, where we have laid our groundwork for more than three months, I would say Phuket is 100 percent ready,” he said. The decision to reopen Phuket was reliant on the vaccination of 70 percent of the island’s residents. According to Phuket’s public relations office, more than 80 percent of the population have received at least one dose, and about 65 percent have been fully vaccinated as of June 30. Phiphat said if the program is successful, officials will use Phuket as a blueprint to open nine other popular tourist destinations from October 1: Bangkok, Chonburi, Chiang Mai, Petchaburi, Prachuap Kiri Khan, Phang Nga, Krabi, Surat Thai, and Buriram. For those who do wish to visit Phuket, they must meet a list of conditions. Travellers can only come from pre-approved countries or territories, must stay in an accredited hotel for 14 days before travelling anywhere else in the country, and must apply for a Certificate of Entry. Additionally, visitors need to have proof of an insurance policy covering treatment of COVID-19 up to the cost of $100,000, as well as a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure and a certificate of vaccination against coronavirus with an approved vaccine administered at least two weeks before their travel date.

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