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• Superyachts

SAVANNAH Yacht – Extravagant $140 Million Superyacht

She can accommodate up to twelve guests and twenty-four crew members and is known for her unusual underwater lounge. SAVANNAH is available for charter for a weekly price of US $1 million per week.

SAVANNAH yacht interior

The SAVANNAH yacht is described as a masterpiece of design, and her interior has several unusual features. Twelve guests find space in her six cabins which were designed by the CG Design.

The master suite even has a private balcony, and many of the cabins were designed with unconventional rounded shapes to give the yacht a unique touch.

She has a hammam, open-concept gym, a spa and indoor glass balconies with large TV walls that can be individually programmed.

However, the most sought-after feature among charter guests is the underwater viewing lounge which can be transformed into a cinema if requested.

It was custom-designed and is unique to SAVANNAH. She also has a basketball court on board and never fails to surprise her guests with luxurious amenities.

Specifications

The SAVANNAH yacht was built by the Dutch shipyard Feadship and delivered to her owner in 2015.

She is 83.5 metres (273.11 ft) long with a 12.5-metre (41 ft) beam and a 3.95-metre (13 ft) draft. Her gross tonnage lies at 2,250 tons, and she sails under the flag of the Cayman Islands.

Her unique hybrid engines allow her to reach a range of 6,500 nautical miles. SAVANNAH’s top speeds lie at 17 knots, although she cruises most comfortably at 14 knots.

She was the first hybrid superyacht delivered by Feadship and remains one of their most elaborate projects.

The SAVANNAH yacht has a beautiful silvery-white exterior with large windows. Guests can enjoy her four decks with a large pool aft.

Her top deck features a spacious jacuzzi with fantastic views. Since SAVANNAH is available for charter, she carries a variety of toys and equipment on board.

Most notable are her three jet skis, two laser sailboats, four seabobs, three kayaks, and four standup paddleboards.

She also has four mountain bikes, inflatables, a trampoline, and towable toys available for the enjoyment of the guests.

SAVANNAH has four tenders, two of which are 9.5 meters (31 ft) long. Like her interior, the exterior of SAVANNAH was designed by the Parisian design office CG Design.

Her owner bought SAVANNAH for a total price of US $140 million in 2015. She generates additional annual running costs of US $10 to 15 million.

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6 Architects That Are Now Creating Designs for Superyachts

Owners tired of the same old yacht concepts are looking to residential and even retail architects for more inspired designs. it's working., julia zaltzman, julia zaltzman's most recent stories.

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Exciting yacht design doesn’t require reinventing the wheel. But a fresh view always helps. That’s why more yacht owners are looking for land-based architects and designers for their new build and refit interiors, preferring a cross-pollination of ideas over the tried and true.

The first owner to shy away from the traditional yacht designer set was billionaire Lukas Lundin, who tasked Italian architect Cristina Gherardi Benardeau to design the interior of the 274-foot Savannah . The Feadship, launched in 2015, is largely remembered as the first superyacht with a hybrid propulsion package. But the interior is just as radical.

Benardeau, a designer of retail space for Giorgio Armani and Christian Dior Couture, gave the 262-foot yacht the world’s first “Nemo lounge,” or a bubble in the hull where the owners and guests could see underwater.  It also featured what looked like a floating superstructure, employing long strips of tinted glass inspired by skyscrapers. (The same visual trick was employed later in Oceanco’s 361-foot Jubilee .) Savannah was the first boat to receive full metallic exterior paint job to blend in with the ocean surroundings—an idea later seen on superyacht Kensho , when it delivered in 2022.

Since then, a number of owners and boatbuilders have employed residential architects to do interior designs, as well as offer exterior flourishes (though naval architects complete the structures and running surfaces.) Rome architect Achille Salvagni has done projects for Rossinavi and Azimut, Lord Norman Foster created a series that later became the YachtPlus fleet, Lazzarini & Pickering designed the Benetti Motopanfilo 37M, and next year, Matteo Thun & Antonio Rodriguez will show their talents on Azimut’s SeaDeck Series.

Even residential stalwarts like Zaha Hadid Architects can’t help but experiment with nautical projects. Following the 2016 reveal of the firm’s Unique Circle Yachts series, the studio collaborated with Vitruvius Yachts this year on Britain’s new “royal yacht” project. And more recently, the architects unveiled concept renderings for  Oneiric , a proposed catamaran in collaboration with Italian shipyard Rossinavi.

From skyscraper to sea, here are six yachts designed by mainstream architects.

Amer F100, Architect Roberto Palomba

Architect Roberto Palomba has been designing houses for decades. His Milan-based studio, Palomba Serafini Associati, includes the Italian Consulate in Detroit, home décor and even tableware, among its past projects. His first yacht is the Amer F100, which features a unique “Glass Cabin” as the main salon. It was designed in partnership with Ludovica Serafini. “My aim was to change some standard boat elements to create something completely different,” Palomba told Robb Report during the yacht’s world debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival. “Certainly, our perspective offers a fresh look, an architectural vision rooted in the world of architecture and interior design, translated into the realm of yacht design.” The Glass Cabin is an architectural glass box that encases the main salon and formal dining area with windows that are larger than other yachts with similar dimensions. The garden creates openness, light and a continuous connection with the sea. Continuing the theme, reflective surfaces are used on the walls and ceiling across all social areas to bring more light in, while stairs joining the main deck to the bridge are topped by more glass, opening the heart of the yacht to blue skies.

‘Kensho,’ Jouin Manku

Kensho ‘s owner was a first-time yacht buyer who wanted a one-of-a-kind vessel. He looked beyond the pool of yachting talent for a designer who could create a signature statement inside the 246-foot Admiral. The owner eventually decided on Paris design house Jouin Manku, an experienced architecture and industrial design studio, without a single yacht to its name. Co-founder Sanjit Manku took the design brief and ran with it, eschewing traditional yachting layouts for high-volume and big sea views. Variations on the established interiors include lofty 8.9-foot-tall ceilings, open-plan cabin layouts (where the bathrooms are on display) and locating the owner’s salon—more akin to an observation lounge—to the upper deck where the captains’ wheelhouse is traditionally located.  “We drew on our restaurant design experience to create an ambience and furniture that is practical yet opulent,” Manku told Robb Report . “The dining chairs have ski feet that make it easy for guests to slide in and out, and we incorporated flattering lighting rather than ceiling spotlights.” The end result is a stunning, personalized interior that is unique in yachting. 

‘Carinthia VII,’ Bizzozero Cassina Architects

Refits are also getting design overhauls by non-yacht designers. Lürssen’s 318-foot Carinthia VII , first delivered in 2002 and designed by Tim Heywood, was sold in 2022 to a new owner. He called on Italian studio Bizzozero Cassina Architects for what turned out to be a major refit in a nearly record 300 days. The architectural studio is experienced in real estate, including a few of the owner’s private properties. But yacht refits are a recent addition to its portfolio. “The key to any project’s success is to know the person, their lifestyle and the way they think,” architect Paolo Bizzozero said. “Only with these three ingredients can you remedy a truly bespoke environment that works for them and for their life.” Key additions include a 1,334-sq. ft. sundeck, with a large dining table and teppanyaki grill. Equally impressive was the 39-foot-long glass-paneled swimming pool on the main deck (with two large televisions to view live sports), and a 968-sq. ft. air-conditioned gym on the bridge deck that also serves as a winter garden.

Contest G7CS, Bentley Interior

Bentley fans who dream of a book-matched yacht interior might look closely at the 67-foot Contest 67CS.  Commissioned by a private client and launched in November, it is the first collaboration between Bentley and Contest Yachts. with all the design flair Bentley could bring to a yacht. Conceived to match the luxe design of a custom continental GT coupe, the sailboat features the same materials, motifs and craftsmanship on its cars and home designs, including the same hand-stitching found on the Bentley steering wheel and the yacht’s Malvern Chair. Bespoke one-offs include a bar and vanity unit, the captain’s chair and “Egg” table, and a sofa which was hand-built at Bentley’s engineering facility and finished in its signature trim. The brand’s iconic diamond-quilted hides were also included across entire yacht interior. Small details like the tissue box and drink coasters were created from scratch to match the owner’s taste.

‘Entourage,’ Diego Burdi, Burdifilek

Entourage , the second hull in Amels’ 60 Limited Editions range, is the owner’s second yacht. He had clear ideas about the functional layout of the boat, so he appointed commercial design firm Burdifilek to realize that vision. The Toronto-based co-founder, Diego Burdi, adopted a “marine design” approach. “I believe strongly that you should feel like you’re on a boat,” he told Robb Report . That is apparent in areas like the the lower-deck staterooms where the bulkheads hug the curve of the hull. Carved and layered wooden ceilings—a detail introduced from the owner’s experience in real estate—add drama and tactility. Most significantly, Burdi reversed the central stairwell and tucked it into the perimeter of the yacht to create a wider walkthrough and, in so doing, a work of art.

‘Symbiosis,’ Kurt Merki, Jr.

The 279-foot Symbiosis is Studio KMJ’s nature-driven introduction to the world of superyacht design. Unveiled at the Monaco Yacht Show, the 3,000 GT concept speaks to a rising trend for biophilic design with 10 nature-driven features. These include a “tree of life” planted on the main deck aft that stretches across two decks, a 1,000-sq. ft. irrigated lawn tended by a gardener and intended for both play and picnics, and a life-sized herbarium called “The Sanctum” where herbs, spices and vegetables can be cultivated. The Swiss designer Kurt Merki Jr collaborated with Axel Massmann, CEO of Yacht-Green, who acted as a strategic advisor on best practices to “green” the superyacht lifestyle. According to the designers, the natural elements are fully buildable. All it needs is an owner willing to take a leap.

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lundin yacht

The yacht's owner was Lukas Lundin. Lukas Lundin was the head of the Lundin Group of Companies, active in mining and energy. Lukas' father Adolf Lundin founded Gulfstream Resources. Which, in 1976, co-discovered the North Gas Field, offshore Qatar. This field remains today as the single largest known gas accumulation in the world.

Lukas Lundin was a prominent figure in the business world as the head of the Lundin Group of Companies, which consists of twelve publicly traded companies, including Lundin Mining Corporation, Lundin Petroleum, and Vostok Nafta. He was born on July 3, 1958, in Sweden and passed away on July 26, 2022, after battling brain cancer.

Lundin owned the $100 million superyacht Savannah, designed by De Voogt Naval Architects and CG Design, and which was built in 2015 at the Feadship yard in Aalsmeer, Netherlands. [2] [4] [5] The yacht uses a single diesel engine, which uses three generators to charge banks of lithium-ion batteries to drive electrically-powered screws, and producing a 30% fuel savings, as it allows a choice ...

Savannah is a super-yacht built in 2015 at the Dutch Feadship yard in Aalsmeer. [1] The yacht blends a single diesel engine, three gensets, batteries, propeller, and azimuting pioneering electro-mechanical propulsion platform. This combination offers fuel savings of thirty per cent. [2] [3] [4] It is equipped with a 1 MWh Battery from Corvus ...

The SAVANNAH yacht was built by the Dutch shipyard Feadship and delivered to her owner in 2015. She is 83.5 metres (273.11 ft) long with a 12.5-metre (41 ft) beam and a 3.95-metre (13 ft) draft. Her gross tonnage lies at 2,250 tons, and she sails under the flag of the Cayman Islands. Her unique hybrid engines allow her to reach a range of 6,500 ...

Its owner is Lukas Lundin, chairperson of Lundin Mining Corporation. ... A photo posted by Yacht Masters (@yacht_masters) on Feb 19, 2016 at 8:19am PST. Sin palabras.. #savannahyacht.

The multi-award winning 83.5m/273'11" motor yacht 'Savannah' by the Dutch shipyard Feadship offers flexible accommodation for up to 12 guests in 6 cabins and features interior styling by CG Design. Built in 2015, Savannah is designed for exquisite indoor/outdoor living and boasts voluminous interior and exterior spaces across several decks: ideal for bronzing, lounging or entertaining.

LEARN MORE. ByAna Paula Barreto Pereira. July 27, 2022 at 1:08 PM EDT. Save. This article is for subscribers only. Lukas Henrik Lundin, the Swedish-Canadian billionaire who founded Lundin Mining ...

VANCOUVER, BC, July 27, 2022 /CNW/ - ShaMaran Petroleum Corp. ("ShaMaran" or the "Company") (TSXV: SNM) (Nasdaq First North Growth Market ( Sweden ): SNM) regrets to announce the death of the Company's founder, Mr. Lukas H. Lundin, in Geneva, Switzerland on 26 July 2022 at the age of 64, following a two-year battle with brain cancer.

VANCOUVER, BC, July 27, 2022 /CNW/ - Lundin Gold Inc. (TSX: LUG) (Nasdaq Stockholm: LUG) ("Lundin Gold" or the "Company") regrets to announce that the Company's founder and former Chairman, Mr. Lukas H. Lundin, passed away in Geneva, Switzerland on July 26, 2022 at the age of 64, following a 2-year battle with brain cancer. PDF Version Over the past 40 years, Lukas has been an instrumental ...

Superyachts, Mr Lundin"s hybrid yacht Savannah and Bugatti Chiron during day and night at French Riviera [4k 60p]

Savannah commisioned by Swede Lukas Lundin by Feadship. A stunning yacht! [

Check out the spectactular 84 meter SAVANNAH yacht! | luxury yacht Video. Home. Live. Reels. Shows. Explore. More. Home. Live. Reels. Shows. Explore. SAVANNAH Yacht - Lukas Lundin's $140 Million Superyacht ... SAVANNAH Yacht - Lukas Lundin's $140 Million Superyacht. Like. Comment. Share.

The yacht Savannah is owned by Lukas Lundin. He heads the Lundin Group, active in energy and mining. Lukas' father Adolf Lundin founded Gulfstream Resources. Which, in 1976, co-discovered the North Gas Field, offshore Qatar. This field remains today as the single largest known gas accumulation in the world. The yacht Savannah was built by ...

monaco monte-carlo megayacht & superyacht luxury yacht spotting

Built by Dutch shipyard Feadship and purchased by Swedish billionaire Lukas Lundin, the 273-foot-long Savannah superyacht demands annual running costs of about $14 million, as per Yachtbible ...

Lukas Lundin was the head of the Lundin Group, active in mining and energy. He died in 2022 aged 64 after battling with cancer. His net worth was $2.5 billion. He was owner of the yacht Savannah.

M/Y Savannah är en superyacht tillverkad av Feadship i Nederländerna. Hon levererades 2015 till Lukas Lundin, en svensk affärsman [ 1]. Savannah designades av både De Voogt Naval Architects och CG Design, där även CG Design designade interiören. Superyachten är 83,5 meter lång och har en kapacitet upp till 12 passagerare fördelat på ...

Owned by billionaire businessman Lukas Lundin, Savannah is an 83.5-metre yacht built out of steel and worth around US$100 million. She may be one of the smaller crafts, but with her impressive elegance, she exudes beauty and finesse. Savannah has won six awards overall, mainly for her design and architecture by the Showboats Design Awards in 2016.

Lukas Lundin: Our Amazing Photo Gallery. Load more. SuperYachtFan. What began as a pastime for yacht spotting has evolved into a leading online destination for yachting enthusiasts, with thousands of visitors engaging with our content every day. Launched in 2009, ...

⚓🛟😱 Savannah yacht built by Feadship for Swede Lukas Lundin#savanna #savannah #yachtlife #yachting #feadship #yacht #yachtcharter #sweden #lundin #lundinoi...

The latest PT Lundin product at the market is X-38 Patrol and combat Catamaran whose design was commissioned in-part by the Swedish Search and Rescue Service. The boat reaches a speed of 40 knots or approximately 100 kilometres per hour. "At that meeting I was asked to come up with some very special. Something worthy coming after a proven ...

Die Yacht Eigentümer War Lukas Lundin.Lukas Lundin war Leiter der Lundin-Unternehmensgruppe, die in den Bereichen Bergbau und Energie tätig ist. Lukas' Vater Adolf Lundin gründete Gulfstream Resources. 1976 war er Mitentdecker des North Gas Field vor der Küste Katars. Dieses Feld ist bis heute die größte bekannte Gasansammlung der Welt.

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Benetti appoints Ultra Marine as Composite Line Agent for the Russian Market Viareggio – May 2005 - For Immediate Release. Benetti announces a new agreement signed in April 2005 with Ultra Marine for representation in the Russian Federation Market Ultra Marine, who has been the Azimut dealer in this market for several years, will also be the exclusive sales and marketing agent for Benetti Tradition line (30m/100’) and the Benetti Classic line ( 35m / 115’ and 37m / 120’). To seal this important appointment, Ultra Marine and Benetti recently exhibited at the Moscow Boat Show last April. They will also be present at the Moscow Extravaganza in October 2005. Benetti and Ultra Marine look forward to a long and close association in this important market. Contacts : For sales information, please contact: Mark Cavendish; Benetti Yachts Email: mcavendish@**************** Mr. Georgi Tchoumbouridze Ultra Marine Savvinskaya nab.3. Moscow. 119 121. Russia Tel: [7] 095 980 7700 Email: [email protected]

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PM wraps up Pacific Islands Forum talks – as it happened

This blog is now closed

• ‘Not too much to ask for people to be counted’: Josh Burns breaks ranks on gender and sexuality census questions
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• 2h ago What we learned; Thursday 29 August
• 3h ago Orcas sighted off Sydney coast for first time since 2018
• 4h ago Albanese wraps up Pacific Islands Forum talks
• 4h ago Josh Burns becomes first Labor MP to call for LGBTQ+ questions on census
• 6h ago Courtney Act says Labor's decision on census questions is 'offensive' to LGBTQ+ community
• 7h ago Correction on Blue Mountains dam reporting
• 8h ago End of state-level push for Lambie after party sackings
• 8h ago 13 women have made claims of misconduct against Ovadia since he was sacked, court hears
• 9h ago Sex Discrimination Commissioner calls on government to reverse census backflip
• 9h ago Two bodies found in Queensland home
• 9h ago ‘Extreme shocks’ felt over cost-of-living, CBA boss tells inquiry
• 9h ago Equality Australia says government repeating mistakes of Morrison government on census
• 10h ago Dams shut off after high-level 'forever chemical' finds
• 10h ago Two treated for burns after lithium-ion battery fire in Sydney
• 11h ago Radio New Zealand defends journalist over Albanese video
• 11h ago Man shot in Queensland home overnight
• 11h ago Qantas books $2.1bn profit as fares moderate
• 12h ago Plibersek defends decision to protect Aboriginal heritage from proposed waste dam
• 12h ago Chalmers says government attempting to avoid 'nastiness' by excluding census question
• 12h ago Severe weather warnings in place across southern parts of the country
• 13h ago National plan for renters hasn't delivered, report claims
• 13h ago Good morning
• 13h ago Small earthquake rocks Victoria’s west
• 13h ago Albanese has hot-mic moment while joking with US official about Pacific policing plan
• 13h ago Albanese speaks to media in Tonga
• 13h ago Welcome

What we learned; Thursday 29 August

And with that, we are going to put the blog to bed. Before we go, let’s recap the headlines:

Albanese has hot-mic moment while joking with US official about Pacific policing plan

Qantas books $2.1bn profit as fares moderate

Man shot in Queensland home overnight

Blue Mountains dam closed after PFAS detection

‘Extreme shocks’ felt over cost-of-living, CBA boss tells inquiry

Two bodies found in Queensland home

Sex Discrimination Commissioner calls on government to reverse census backflip

Thirteen women have complained about former Seven reporter Robert Ovadia’s conduct , court hears

End of state-level push for Lambie after party sackings

Courtney Act says Labor’s decision on census questions is ‘offensive’ to LGBTQ+ community

Josh Burns becomes first Labor MP to call for LGBTQ+ questions on census

Orcas sighted off sydney coast for first time since 2018.

Thank you so much for spending part of your day with us. We will be back tomorrow – until then, stay safe.

NSW birth trauma inquiry recommendations to be implemented

An overhaul of how health staff deal with mothers’ consent and better access to continuous care teams throughout pregnancy have been promised after a landmark inquiry into birth trauma.

The NSW health minister on Thursday apologised to any woman who had not received the required high standard of care as the state government accepted all recommendations from a report handed down in May.

Advocates welcomed the move but demanded the government conduct genuine consultation when rolling out five high-priority initiatives to address the often-confronting failings highlighted during the parliamentary inquiry.

They include increasing access to maternity continuity-of-care models, supporting women who have pregnancy complications and improving consent processes in birth care within the next year.

The inquiry received submissions from 4,000 people including patients, doctors, midwives and experts, with witnesses revealing life-threatening experiences and birth injuries along with non-consensual and insensitive treatment from staff.

Hide your yachts! A group of Orcas have been spotted off the coast in Sydney – the first time since 2018.

On social media, Whale Watching Sydney shared some pictures of the pod, and posted:

There was a frenzy of activity and the Orcas buzzed past the boat in formation while chasing the humpbacks. The humpbacks were closing in together and we assume they may have been protecting a calf but it’s hard to tell with such a flurry of excitement! Orcas this far north [are] incredibly rare and while there was a sighting off … Newcastle in May, we haven’t had a sighting in Sydney waters since 2018 at Botany Bay. We feel so lucky to have had such an amazing experience today!

No fatalities after light aircraft crashes in Queensland

In Queensland, the forensic crash unit is investigating following an aviation incident at Kin Kin this morning.

Emergency services were called just after 11.30am to reports a light aircraft had crashed on a private property near Coucal Lane and Moran Group Road.

Two people on board sustained non-life-threatening injuries, and are being treated at the scene.

Albanese wraps up Pacific Islands Forum talks

Here in Tonga, Anthony Albanese is wrapping up a second full day of talks with fellow Pacific leaders before he flies back to Australia tonight.

Yesterday’s talks were held in an auditorium in the Tongan capital, Nuku’alofa, but today he flew to the island group of Vava’u for a leaders’ retreat with other Pacific Islands Forum (Pif) members. The retreat is a format that allows for more intimate conversations, and concerns about the situation in New Caledonia were expected to be high on the agenda.

While Albanese was holding those talks today, his minister for the Pacific, Pat Conroy , held a few photo opportunities. Conroy announced that the Australian government would invest $9.5m in a new partnership to deliver critical, climate resilient infrastructure and activities to communities across Tonga.

He said Australia would partner with Tonga’s largest non-government organisation “to work with communities to improve water security, food production and local infrastructure”:

Together we will ensure they can plan and manage their future, especially those living in outer islands across Tonga’s island chain … The biggest security threat we face is climate change and together this initiative will support community resilience to the impacts.

Albanese and Conroy are due to fly back to Australia tonight, but Pif events continue in Tonga tomorrow with the expected release of the summit communique (a summary of all the decisions made).

Josh Burns has become the first Labor MP to break ranks and call on the government to reverse its decision to ditch gender and sexuality questions in the census.

The Macnamara MP said he had spent the days since the decision was announced making representations internally for Labor to reinstate the questions for the 2026 census, which he said was necessary to ensure “everyone was counted”.

“Macanamara is home to many LGBTIQA+ community members and I love being their MP and as part of that, I feel a responsibility to stand up for them,” he said.

“I’ve made it clear that the way we govern needs to be inclusive and the census is an important tool to gather data and feed that into government systems and services.

“For that to work the best it can, we need as few blind spots as possible, which is why I am asking the government to reconsider this decision.

“It is not too much to ask for people to be counted.

e-bike sparks fire outside Footscray apartment in Melbourne

Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) firefighters are urging Victorians to charge and store their e-bikes and e-scooters outside the house after a fire broke out in a Footscray apartment on Tuesday morning.

The occupants of the Macpherson Street property woke up at 6.48am to the sounds of explosions issuing from their e-bike before evacuating out a first-floor window.

Crews arrived at the scene within four minutes to find the apartment fully alight. The unit did not contain a working smoke alarm. Both occupants sustained injuries and were transported to hospital by Ambulance Victoria.

The deputy commissioner for community safety, Joshua Fischer , said the incident was an unfortunate reminder of the risks posed by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries:

It is crucial that you never leave your rechargeable batteries in front of exits, which would prevent your escape should a fire break out. It’s also important that you only use the battery or charger originally supplied with the device, or one sold by the manufacturer.

Flood warning issued for Meander River, Tasmania

In Tasmania, the Bureau of Meteorology has issued a minor flood warning for the Meander River.

Monitor conditions has been issued for Meander, Montana, Red Hills, Deloraine, Reedy Marsh, Exton, Westbury, Quamby Bluff, Hagley, Selbourne, Westwood Carrick and Hadspen by Tasmania’s SES.

Flooding in nearby streams and rivers is likely and some low-lying properties may become isolated by flood waters.

Many thanks for joining me on today’s blog, Cait Kelly is now here to take you through the rest of today’s news. Have a great afternoon.

Hiring more locals could improve remote health care

Employing more Indigenous health workers in remote communities could reduce the high staff turnover and improve the quality of care delivered to patients, a study has found.

As AAP reports, the Menzies School of Health Research says the average employee turnover rate in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service clinics in regional and remote Northern Territory and Western Australia is 151% a year.

Researchers found the turnover of Aboriginal staff was half that of non-Aboriginal staff, suggesting that hiring local staff could lead to greater stability.

Dr Prabhakar Veginadu , a population health expert, says turnover is very high in regional centres and “extraordinarily” high in remote Aboriginal health services:

Increased employment of local Aboriginal people could help improve the stability of the remote health workforce whilst simultaneously improving cultural safety for patients. Aboriginal people bring a strong understanding of local culture and context.

Dr Veginadu said boosting the Aboriginal healthcare workforce would require more support, expanded on-country training opportunities and improved career pathways.

Deputy Greens leader reacts to UN vehicle hit by gunfire in Gaza

The UN’s food agency has said it is pausing movement of its staff in Gaza “until further notice” after one of its vehicles was struck by gunfire at an Israeli military checkpoint.

The deputy Greens leader, Mehreen Faruqi , has responded to this news and said:

Israel will keep targeting aid workers because governments like ours give them absolute impunity and a blank cheque for more savagery.

The Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom was working in Gaza with World Central Kitchen and was one of seven people killed in April when a convoy of cars were hit by an Israeli airstrike.

Israel’s defence force conducted an investigation into the incident, which resulted in two officers being dismissed and three others being reprimanded, but Frankcom’s brother told the ABC he did not feel this was an adequate response.

The Australian government commissioned the former defence force chief Mark Binskin to provide it with advice on the adequacy of Israel’s investigations and actions after the incident. A spokesperson for the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong , said the government would “continue to press for full accountability, including any appropriate criminal charges”.

Courtney Act says Labor's decision on census questions is 'offensive' to LGBTQ+ community

Earlier today, Equality Australia CEO Anna Brown and patron Shane Jenek – better known as the drag queen Courtney Act – spoke to the media about the government’s decision to exclude questions on gender identity and sexuality from the census.

Asked about the decision, Jenek said:

The fact that deputy [prime minister] Richard Marles said that he didn’t want to create divisive debate in the community feels very insulting. And to Mr Marles, I guess I say, ‘girl, you just did create divisive debate in the community by back flipping on this decision’. The queer community are really used to fighting for our rights, from the first Mardi Gras back in 1978 through to the marriage equality plebiscite and now, apparently, the 2026 census. The census is that place where we get a broad snapshot of Australia and we’re able to allocate resources … LGBTQ+ Australians suffer poor mental health outcomes at twice the rate of heterosexual Australians, in large part because of stigma and discrimination that the Australian Labor party is displaying here. So it’s really disappointing. It’s about visibility, it’s about being counted and being seen, and to think that in 2024 that our government doesn’t think that we’re worthy of being counted or visible is offensive really. And I think it’s kind of offensive to all Australians that we’re not counting this data.

Coalition pledges to bring Australia’s ambassador back to Ukraine

Australia’s estranged ambassador to Ukraine would be returned to the capital Kyiv under a Coalition government, AAP reports.

Australia’s embassy was moved to Poland when Russia invaded Ukraine, due to safety fears. The opposition foreign affairs spokesperson Simon Birmingham said some 70 countries had reopened embassies in Ukraine showing it could be done safely.

Australia was missing out on access to officials and intelligence briefings that were often conducted with little notice and couldn’t be accessed remotely, he said today, visiting Kyiv.

Early warning and air defence systems had rendered Russian assaults “largely ineffective for large parts of the country, including the capital”, Birmingham said.

Of course, people are on alert for their safety … [but] on the whole, they are getting on with business, getting on with ensuring that this country is as strong as possible to repel the Russian invasion.

The foreign affairs department secretary Jan Adams has repeatedly defended the decision to keep the embassy closed as the war dragged into its third year, saying she continued to assess security.

CBA boss slams ‘fact-free rhetoric’ over bank’s profits

The head of the Commonwealth Bank has rejected claims its billions-of-dollars worth of profits have been made at the detriment of its customers.

As AAP reports, the bank’s chief executive, Matt Comyn, appeared before a parliamentary committee inquiring into the big four banks today. He said claims the bank’s $9.8 billion profit came from overcharging customers with fees was “fact-free rhetoric”:

Business in Australia are being represented in this false dichotomy that for a company to earn any sort of income or profits, it is therefore inferred often, or directly related ... as some how being unjustly extracted from consumers. It is really eroding trust in our institutions, in all of our institutions. I think it’s a real cause for concern.

While the Greens have called for a 40% tax on companies making large profits , Comyn said the move was “insidious populism”. He faced questioning on why customers had to often pay surcharges on purchases made by card, but said it was not a direct comparison with cash:

The cost of acceptance of electronic payments has fallen by more than 30%. We are one of the lowest, if not the lowest, cost-of-acceptance markets in the world.

Damaging winds set to redevelop about the south-east

The Bureau of Meteorology has published a severe weather update, with damaging winds set to develop across south-eastern parts of the country:

Severe Weather Update: Damaging winds set to redevelop across south-eastern Australia. Video current: 12:30pm AEST 29 August 2024. Latest forecasts and warnings: https://t.co/4W35o8i7wJ or the BOM Weather app. pic.twitter.com/ne7LaaT0Iz — Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) August 29, 2024

‘Fanciful’ to tie power bill cap to coal plant deal

Attempting to tie an electricity price-cap guarantee to a deal extending the life of the nation’s largest coal-fired power station was “fanciful”, a senior NSW minister has said.

As AAP reports, wholesale power spot prices in NSW rocketed above $5,000 per megawatt hour 19 times in May and June amid unscheduled disruptions, feeding into fears of increased unreliability in future years.

It comes after the state government penned a deal with energy giant Origin to keep the ageing Eraring coal-fired power station open until 2027, costing the state up to $450m.

At a budget estimates hearing today the deputy NSW Liberal leader, Natalie Ward, questioned why a guarantee was not sought from Origin to keep power prices low. The energy minister, Penny Sharpe, replied:

That’s not the way that works. This idea that we could limit how much they [charge] without there being compensation, is fanciful. I would remind you that the previous minister (Liberal Matt Kean ) suggested that any deal with Eraring could cost between $1.6bn and $3bn.

Sharpe said writing a price ceiling into the deal was not possible due to how the national market operated. But the Eraring extension covered a reliability gap that would stop blackouts and longer-term price spikes for households and small businesses, she argued.

Recent price spikes, above the average of $300 per megawatt hour, were in part due to coal stations breaking down and exiting the market unexpectedly. The disastrous explosion in Queensland coal station Callide had also played a role, Sharpe said.

Statements read on behalf of family of Nathaniel Train and of victim Alan Dare

At the final day of the inquest into the Wieambilla massacre , the court also heard a statement read on behalf of perpetrator Nathaniel Train .

The inquest has previously heard Train was a high-ranking school principal before a heart attack. He became subject to a shared psychiatric illness – shared delusional disorder – based on the beliefs of his brother, Gareth .

Nathaniel’s actions in breaking a border closure during Covid, and dumping a car and guns was “uncharacteristic,” the court heard.

What occurred will forever remain unfathomable. Nate was an educator and an educational leader throughout his adult life. Was loyal to his work, his staff, his students and their parents. He was known for his dedication, integrity and honesty.

Corey Richards read a statement on behalf of slain civilian Alan Dare .

He told the court room “there has to be change” and finished his testimony by addressing state coroner Terry Ryan .

Good luck, it’s all on you now.

Man accused of stealing caravan with family inside

A teenager has been accused of stealing a caravan with a family of five inside , AAP reports, forcing them to escape.

The 18-year-old man was charged more than a week after the alleged incident in north-west Queensland .

The family were staying at a Hughenden caravan park when they heard their car start after 9pm on 19 August, police said. The parents and three children – aged six to 12 – were inside the caravan when they felt it move.

Queensland police said at the time that the family “were able to exit the caravan as it was driven off”. The family was taken to hospital as a precaution.

The car and caravan were later recovered as police looked for the alleged thief. The car keys had reportedly been stolen from the caravan earlier that day, police said.

The 18-year-old was arrested at a Hughenden residence yesterday and taken into custody. He has been charged with offences including five counts of deprivation of liberty and two counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

He has been denied bail and is set to appear in Townsville magistrates court today.

Correction on Blue Mountains dam reporting

Earlier we put a post on the blog from the AAP , reporting the detection of synthetic “forever chemicals” has disrupted drinking water supplies in the NSW Blue Mountains with two dams isolated in the area.

That was incorrect – Greaves Dam is not closed. It is Medlow Dam only.

There were also incorrect PFAS levels at Medlow Dam reported. The correct levels at Medlow Dam were 0.0944 micrograms per litre.

Shout out to our environment reporter, Lisa Cox , who is following this and sent over this link so anyone interested can see the data.

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