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We have more information on the Blue Mountains landslide from NSW ambulance, who were called to the scene just before 1.30pm.
Seven paramedic road crews including special operations paramedics and two rescue helicopters were dispatched to the scene, with a critical care doctor on board.
On arrival, paramedics located the five people, including two had sadly died.
NSW ambulance acting chief superintendent Stewart Clarke:
This is absolutely heartbreaking for all involved and a truly tragic ending to what I’m sure was meant to be a pleasant day out.
It is terribly sad to have lost two lives here today and my heart goes out to the families and the survivors of this horrific ordeal who have witnessed what is certainly a traumatic event.
This was a really complex and delicate rescue operation for our crews, who were working to access patients in rugged bushland and were navigating unstable ground.
The injured boy and woman have been treated by paramedics at the scene. They will be taken to hospital.
One person in the group will be able to walk out.
Obviously, there’s been a major weather event. I can’t comment on the condition of the walking track.
So today’s operations really focused on getting us in there, getting the rescue of the critically injured, and the recovery of those that have unfortunately passed away in … very tragic circumstances.
NSW police say two people – another boy and a woman – are being rescued in the Blue Mountains.
They are in critical conditions and both have significant head and abdominal injuries, meaning they will need to be sedated and intubated before they are extracted.
NSW police said a member of the group called 000 and gave the location.
Man and boy dead after Blue Mountains landslide, police say
NSW police are holding a press conference about the rescue taking place in the Blue Mountains.
A boy and a man are dead, police say.
Four of the Australian defence force’s Bushmaster vehicles have been repainted and modified and will be be flown to Ukraine within the week, the ABC is reporting.
During last week’s address to parliament, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy nominated the armoured vehicles as the type of practical help his country needed right now.
The request took the ADF by surprise and they have been hurriedly trying to get the Bushmasters ready to go. They were repainted over the weekend in Brisbane before being delivered to RAAF Base Amberley, near Brisbane.
In the next few days they will be loaded onto a C-17 Globemaster aircraft and flown to Europe.
Paul Karp
Former New South Wales minister Pru Goward and a former chief of staff to Scott Morrison are among six people with Liberal links appointed to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal among 19 appointments.
On Monday the attorney general, Michaelia Cash, announced that Goward and Ann Duffield had been appointed senior members, jobs that receive pay of at least $330,000 a year, if employed on a full time basis, for up to seven years.
Two hikers dead and three trapped after Blue Mountains landslide
Two bushwalkers have been killed and three others are trapped after a landslide near Wentworth Falls in the NSW Blue Mountains, AAP reports.
An urgent rescue effort is underway at Wentworth Pass after the landslip early on Monday afternoon.
Three walkers are in the care of paramedics at the scene, as efforts to extract them from the area continue.
Two police helicopters are on the scene assisting in the rescue effort, as well as specialist police and NSW ambulance crews, including a critical care doctor and a critical care paramedic.
NSW police expect to provide a further update along with NSW ambulance on Monday afternoon.
West Australian police chief Chris Dawson will replace Kim Beazley as the state’s next governor, having played a lead role in the state’s Covid-19 response.
AAP reports Dawson, 63, will take office in July, premier Mark McGowan announced on Monday.
He will become the state’s 34th governor, relinquishing his roles as police commissioner and state emergency coordinator.
A former head of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, Dawson took over as police commissioner in 2017. He has overseen the enforcement of border restrictions, vaccine mandates and public health rules during the pandemic.
The premier described Dawson as an exemplary West Australian who had devoted his life to public service.
“It’s no secret that the government has relied very heavily upon his work and his officers’ work over the course of the last two years during Covid,” McGowan told reporters.
McGowan thanked Beazley for his service, saying he had conducted himself with dignity and grace.
The former federal Labor leader, with whom McGowan has a longstanding connection, had reportedly been eager to serve another two years.
“He’s done a great job … he’s revitalised the role and made it very much about advocating for Western Australia,” McGowan said.
“But eventually your role as governor comes to an end.”
Flood warnings remain in place in parts of eastern Victoria after heavy rain and strong winds lashed Gippsland overnight.
Moderate flood warnings have been issued for the Mitchell and Snowy Rivers, with minor warnings issued for the Avon, Cann, Genoa, Tambo and Nicholson Rivers. There is also a flood watch warning for East Gippsland and the eastern parts of West and South Gippsland.
Two people dead after Blue Mountains landslide – report
The ABC is reporting that two people have died and two others are in a critical condition after a landslide in the Blue Mountains. Emergency crews are on the scene, with a rescue operation underway.
We will bring you more on this as it comes.
In finishing, Gutwein thanks Tasmanians again:
We took the smallest state through a pandemic. We created one of the safest places on the planet to live in [and] importantly one of the best economies and strongest job markets in the country.
Thank you for your support.
Gutwein is speaking about his Christmas and New Year’s Eve, which prompted him to think about resigning.
This is the first time a state leader has opened up so much on the personal impacts of leading through a pandemic:
On Boxing Day I came back … to Hobart as a result of the border opening and the need to provide leadership. I left Hobart on New Year’s Eve and drove to Bridport. I spent four hours in Bridport, which was meant to be four days. That night we had an increasing case count.
I was walking on the beach with my wife and I said, look, I’ve got to get back in the car and I’ve got to get back to Hobart. And I’ve spent most of January in Hobart managing the pandemic.
He says the longest period he has spent in his own house in Launceston is seven days.
I think that says it all.
Gutwein says he has ‘nothing left in the tank to give’
Gutwein is asked if it was a hard decision to resign.
I’m somebody that gets up and gives 110% every day and what I found, after the last two years especially, is I’ve got nothing left in the tank to give.
I have worked as hard as I possibly can every single day that I’ve been premier. And as I’ve said I’ve got nothing left in a tank and unless you can give 110% to the role of premier you shouldn’t be doing this job and I can no longer give … 110%.
Gutwein says he will now “do as little as possible” and spend time with his family.
I’ve got a daughter who will turn 18 tomorrow I have a son who’s 15, and I will spend time with them. And I want to support my wife.
Gutwein says he will remain as premier until the party elects a new leader later this week. He will also resign as the member for Bass.
Goodbye and thank you to all of Tasmania.
Gutwein:
We were the first state that took a step to ban cruise ships … We were the first state to close our borders, which was quickly followed by other states, and we quickly turned what had been a 200-year disadvantage of being a small island at the bottom of the Australian landmass into a major positive for the state.
It’s one that came with a cost, that impacted on people. But at the end of the day, it was the right thing to do. And Tasmania has been able to emerge from a worldwide pandemic, as I’ve said, with a nation-leading economy. Jobs are at a record high and the unemployment rate is at a record low. However, without doubt, the greatest highlight for me as premier has been the courage and compassion of Tasmanians.
There is nowhere like this place in the world and the examples of common humanity and kindness that I have witnessed over the last two years will remain with me, stay with me for the rest of my life.
I want to thank Tasmanian sincerely for their efforts. They have been fantastic.
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