Australia news live: RBA governor to face questions about rates cut; disease deaths linked to Queensland floods

An elderly person had died of melioidosis in Townsville while three new cases of dengue virus had also been discovered in the community, Queensland Health has confirmed.

Melioidosis has claimed four lives further north in Cairns, with the region recording a total number of 41 cases since 1 January. The disease is associated with the wet season and is spread through contact with contaminated water, soil and air, causing death in up to 20% of treated cases.

An investigation is also underway after three new dengue virus cases from two adjacent houses in South Townsville were discovered.

North Queensland is reeling from record rainfall that triggered flooding, claiming two lives and forcing hundreds to evacuate their homes, and more rain may be on the way with a cyclone potentially heading toward the north Queensland coast mid-next week.

Melioidosis cases in Cairns are believed to have doubled compared to 2024. The Townsville community is being reminded of the wet season’s health risks.

Townsville Public Health Unit Director Dr Steven Donohue said:

Melioidosis cases have increased throughout the wet season, in some cases leading to hospitalisations. Melioidosis is a very serious infectious disease which is caused by soil bacteria in northern Australia.

The disease can occur when cuts or wounds come in contact with contaminated mud or water and when people breath in muddy droplets. Symptoms include fever, cough and difficulty breathing, while skin infections or abscesses can be another sign.

February 2025 is officially the wettest month in history for some north Queensland towns with Paluma near Townsville recording more than two metres of rain – double what Sydney receives in a year.

To combat melioidosis infection, locals have been urged to wear gloves, shoes and protective clothing when cleaning up after the recent wet.

– AAP

The federal government is intervening to fight a push from major retailers to wind back conditions for workers.

The employment minister, Murray Watt, will file a submission to the Fair Work Commission on Friday arguing against the Australian Retailers Association’s bid to rewrite the industry award.

Among 17 proposed amendments backed by supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths, the ARA wants to allow employers to exempt senior staff from penalty rates, overtime, allowances and leave loading if they pay them more than 25% of the minimum base rate of pay.

The association has said the changes were designed to create a “more flexible, modern system” that balanced the needs of workers and bosses.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions has blasted the proposal as “corporate greed”, warning it would be used as a precedent to cut wages in other industries.

The federal government agrees, using the FWC submission to launch another attack on big business in the lead-up to the federal election.

Watt said:

If you give up your nights and weekends to keep Australia fed and clothed, you deserve your penalty rates.

We’re focused on helping Australians earn more, while the big supermarkets and retailers are trying to cut their penalty rates.

If employers want to agree with workers to trade-off award entitlements, then they can do this through enterprise bargaining, not through variations to awards.

Awards are supposed to be a safety net to protect all workers. They should not be varied to remove crucial entitlements like penalty rates for low-paid workers.