The Loop: Australian Omicron wave real size, original condition (for budgets) and discovery of the biggest fish in the world

Hello, today is Tuesday, June 21. Here’s what you need to get started today.

Australia’s first COVID-19 Omicron wave was probably double what was actually recorded. Here is the truth:

• A study looked for COVID-19 antibodies in 5,185 samples taken from blood donors between the end of February and the beginning of March of this year
• They estimated that, at the end of February 2022, at least 17% of Australian adults – that’s around 3.4 million people – had been infected, and that the vast majority happened during the Omicron wave (and that’s roughly double the official statistics)
• Is it is it still happening? Maybe, but researchers expect to get a better idea of ​​that in the coming weeks when a second round blood samples arrive
• Last December, Australia went from recording less than 1,500 cases a day to more … than 100,000within a month — here’s what it looked like:

One thing you will hear about today is the original state (for budgets)

Any tackle will be purely financial because both queensland and New South Wales throw away their budgets. Here’s what we know so far:

• First of all, the series leaders – I mean queensland: This is Treasurer at Cameron Dick third budget, and we already know that there are $3.5 billion for rail projects over the next four years, and $750 million for a stand-alone cancer hospital in Brisbane
• But he remains discreet on the planned increases towards the coal royalty rate
• In December’s mid-year fiscal update, net debt was expected to reach $35 billion by 2024-25
• And the Blues (aka New South Wales) the budget would be set at return to surplus in three years – government source told ABC this is expected in fiscal year 2024-25
• Treasurer by Matt Kean first budget also makes NSW the australia’s first state to offer first-time buyers the choice pay initial stamp duty or opt for a annual property tax
• And there is $12 billion to address gender inequality (in areas such as childcare, early education, and public and workplace safety), an increase in public sector wages, and $4.5 billion extra dollars for health care.

News while you slept

Let’s get up to speed.

• Israel’s Prime Minister Naftali Bennett will dissolve his parliament – triggering the country fifth electoral cycle in less than four years. Mr. Bennett struggled to keep his unruly coalition of eight parts together since he took office a year ago

• The Australian Patients Association has warned long wait times for mental health care put lives at risk. Their investigation revealed 59 percent of people seeking mental health support have been waiting for more than three months for care. Association CEO Dr Stephen Mason says more needs to be done:

The news Australia is looking for

• Fatima Payman: She claimed Sixth seat in the WA Senate and will go down in history as the first Muslim woman wearing the hijab to sit in the Australian Parliament

• Shortest day of the year: Yeah it’s happening today — Hobart will just get nine o’clock sunshine today. Curious how people get the most out of it? We have done this for you (and yes, it includes very happy capybaras).

One more thing: a *really* big fish

This catch stunned the searchers – and probably the fisherman who brought it back.

It’s the world’s largest recorded freshwater fisha giant Ray caught in the Mekong in Cambodia.

Statistics ? This is just under 300kg and 4 meters long (the previous record was a 293 kg giant catfish).

Scientists working on a research program there got a call after midnight – and were amazed at what they saw.

Here is Zeb Hogan, leader of the Wonders of the Mekong:

“The fact that the fish can still get so big is a sign of hope for the Mekong.”

That’s all for the moment

We’ll come back later with more.

ABC/son