V1 - TELE03Z01MA Hotels to face some pub pain ANNA CALDWELL NSW pubs are on notice they will be shut down within a week if they do not take steps to secure the safety of patrons by adhering to strict COVID-19 protocols. The warning from the gov- ernment is a significant elev- ation in enforcement and comes just days after Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced strict measures to limit pub patron numbers to 300 and reduce the size of group book- ings from 20 to 10. Just half the state’s pubs have registered as being “COVID-safe’’, which includes having an antivirus safety plan for the premises, with the Government saying it is not good enough. FULL REPORT PAGE 5 EXCLUSIVE Jobless figures a big fright GERARD COCKBURN AUSTRALIA has recorded its highest unemployment rate in 22 years, raising fears that the “COVID-19 economic recession” will dampen prospects of an early recovery. Labour figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show Australia’s June unem- ployment rate rose to 7.4 per cent — a 0.3 percentage rise on the previous month. It was the highest monthly unemployment rate since November 1998 and promp- ted Prime Minister Scott Mor- rison to label the fiscal pain caused by the pandemic as Australia’s “COVID-19 econ- omic recession”. FULL REPORT PAGE 8 REVEALED $2 // FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020 CLUSIVE $2 // FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2020 Bungles hotel quarantine Allows virus to spread Refuses calls for answers Will not take any blame DAN-MADE ANNA CALDWELL HE has presided over the single biggest one-day coronavirus case figures in Australia so far and his government’s bungling of its hotel quarantine protocols has led to a second wave of COVID-19 afflicting his state and also breaching the border of NSW. But Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews yesterday continued to refuse to answer questions about — or accept any blame for — the new coronavirus surge that has led to scores of cases in Sydney and threatens to become a national disaster. Mr Andrews has declined to say when he first learned his state’s bungled hotel quarantine program had led to a renewed outbreak across Melbourne. FULL REPORT PAGES 6-7 Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews arrives at a press conference in Melbourne yesterday before again refusing to answer questions on how his state bungled its COVID-19 protocols. . The kids are ready. Are you? Good things. Great value. 623073_NSW_SA 02 FRIDAY JULY 17 2020 DAILYTELEGRAPH.COM.AU TELE04Z01MA - V1 Business Daily 70 Buy Search Sell 78 Comics 74 Crosswords 64 Editorial 68 Gone Fishing 73 History 72 Horoscopes 74 Letters 68 Motoring 76 Opinion 69 Puzzles 64 Sydney Confidential 29 Sport 96 TABform 37 Television 66 Weather 75 World 27 POWERBALL RESULTS Draw 1261 18, 34, 32, 23, 26, 14, 11 POWERBALL: 5 High-rise stab horror A woman breaks down at the scene of the stabbing in Pyrmont, where Mohammed Bashir Zaheer (inset) was killed. Picture: Jeremy Piper SALLY COATES Man arrested after fatal knifing in Pyrmont unit block A MAN, 41, has been arrested after the stabbing death of a man at an apart- ment building in inner-city Sydney. Police arrested the man just after 7pm last night on Macquarie St, Parra- matta, before taking him to Westmead Hospital under guard. It comes after police on Thursday morning found Mohammed Bashir Zaheer, 44, in the foyer of the Mirage Apartments at Pyrmont with multiple stab wounds to his torso. He died at the scene. Mr Zaheer was attacked yesterday morning during an argument with a man known to him, police said. Detectives had been search- ing for Mr Zaheer’s colleague Jawid Jawid (pictured) who they said could help with the investigation. Acting Superintendent Sean Heaney said several people witnessed the horrific incident. “They’re distraught, as you can imagine. Very, very dis- traught,” he said. “Same as the police and other emer- gency services that turned up”. Mr Zaheer’s former brother-in-law AJ, who did not wish to give his full name, said Mr Zaheer had lived and worked in the building on the corner of Bunn and Murray streets for two decades after moving from Afghanistan via India. He said Mr Zaheer was “the light of our community.” “No one can say a bad word about him,” he said. “He was perfect. Never disrespected anyone. I can’t believe that he’s gone.” Mr Zaheer’s devastated relatives gathered at the crime scene yesterday afternoon as his body was wheeled out of the apartment building. Some members of the family collapsed to the ground, shrieking and calling out his name. Residents at the apartment com- plex were unable to leave their homes yesterday as forensic police investi- gated the crime scene. “It’s scary to know what happened here but not know any details,” a resident said. “I feel sorry for who- ever saw what happened.” Telstra can’t protect against all risks. Our advice is for general guidance only. Fair use policy applies. We’ve made changes to better protect businesses online. With added layers of protection for your internet, email, laptops and other compatible network-connected devices, we’re helping your business protect against known threats like phishing emails. Get Cyber Security Services for just $80 mth-to-mth. DAILYTELEGRAPH.COM.AU FRIDAY JULY 17 2020 03 V1 - TELE01Z01MA WHEN Jenny Stammers an- swered a phone call from The Daily Telegraph she thought it would be about a newspaper subscription. The long-time Telegraph reader would never have guessed the call would make her $10,000 richer. Ms Stammers and her hus- band Paul Holmes are one of three major winners who will each be given $10,000 after en- tering the Bank Balance Boost competition. The couple is de- ciding whether they will spend the money on a trip overseas, or a new car. “I’m over the moon, I was a bit shocked when I got the phone call, it is the first com- petition we’ve ever won,” Mr Holmes said. “We had been thinking if we got any money we would put it towards a trip to the UK to see our friends in England and Scotland — but with the coro- navirus, I’m not sure that will be possible. I have got my eyes on a Volvo XC40 so it might go towards that.” The couple has been read- ing the Telegraph for 15 years and pick up the paper every morning after their walk. Ms Stammers said they would enjoy the money, whatever they choose. Loyal Tele reader’s $10K win MITCHELL VAN HOMRIGH Cargo hits the beach DEBRIS from the APL Eng- land cargo ship has again washed up on NSW beaches, two months after it lost 50 con- tainers off the coast. NSW Maritime crews are back cleaning up the mess which has included masks and plastic food containers. NSW Maritime acting executive director Alex Barrell said debris was found to the north and south of Sydney, at Cronulla, Boat Harbour, beaches in the Royal National Park and in the north at For- resters Beach, Maitland Bay on the Central Coast and as far away as Lord Howe Island. NEW SIGN WAS WRITTEN IN STARS ASTROLOGERS really should have seen this coming — space agency NASA has discovered a new star sign that has knocked the whole zodiac out of whack. The new, 13th sign is called Ophiuchus — Greek for ser- pent bearer — and falls between November 29 and December 17. The find has prompted the creation of a completely new calendar for the zodiac and changes the star signs of mil- lions of people. For example, some loyal old Cancerians are actually now flirty and fun Geminis. “If this had been in place when Frank Sinatra was born he would have been an Ophi- ucan rather than a Sagittar- ian,” Australian astrologer Milton Black said. Members of the new Ophi- uchus sign are supposed to be complicated, fierce, emot- ional and flamboyant. Selina Wilson said her four-year-old daughter Sum- mer ticked all of those boxes. “We would say she is a complicated little girl, but most are at that age,” Ms Wil- son said. “She is fierce and strong and gets what she wants.” Ophiuchus also knows what it’s like to be left out. It has been around since the Babylonians gazed into the night sky and noticed an apparent relationship be- tween the movement of the sun and the constellations more than 3000 years ago. The ancient race divided the heavens into 12 equal parts to form the signs of the zodiac, which suited their 12- month calendar, but chose to ignore that tricky 13th one on the edge. “Ophiuchus is on the cusp of the ecliptic,” Mr Black said. “Which means it is not part of the zodiac, more like a weed creeping into the zodiac rose garden.” NASA first raised ques- tions about the age-old zodiac in 2016 when it identified a change in the constellations. “The sky has shifted because Earth’s axis (North Pole) doesn’t point in quite the same direction,” a post from NASA said. But the possibility of a 13th sign was first flagged in 2011. “There have been major astrological conferences about this,” Mr Black said. “But it does not make any difference.” Mr Black believes talk of Ophiuchus has suddenly rumbled back into life due to the “uncertain times”. “For the first time since 1248 we have Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto in Capricorn,” he said. Back then, that resulted in mountains collapsing, royal couples drowning and Seville being under siege. Today it means we have the coronavirus but Mr Black said an eclipse on November 30 would “open the gate for us to get rid of it”. Summer Wilson-White, 4, from Hammondville, was born on December 14 and now falls under the Ophiuchus star sign. Picture: Justin Lloyd. MATTHEW BENNS & MITCHELL VAN HOMRIGH Capricorn JAN 20 TO FEB 16 Sensitive, disciplined and unforgiving Cancer JUL 21 TO AUG 10 Loyal, friend-oriented, needy Aries APR 18 TO MAY 13 Brave, passionate, assertive Libra OCT 30 TO NOV 23 Irresistible, adventurous, indecisive Pisces MAR 11 TO APR 18 Sensual, empathetic, pitiful Virgo SEP 16 TO OCT 30 Organised, likes to please, fussy Gemini JUN 21 TO JUL 20 Gentle, indecisive, mischievous Ophiuchus NOV 29 TO DEC 17 Complicated, passionate, flamboyant Sagittarius DEC 17 TO JAN 20 Optimistic, independent, restless Aquarius FEB 16 TO MARCH 11 Independent, admired, distant Leo AUG 10 TO SEP 16 Enthusiastic, popular, hot-tempered Taurus MAY 13 TO JUN 21 Sensual, down to earth, stubborn Scorpio NOV 23 TO NOV 29 Loyal, passionate, ruthless The revised zodiac Good things. Great value. Whether you’re making the school lunches... Coles Bakery High Fibre Low GI Loaf 630g-680g Selected stores only. Great Ocean Road Tasty Cheese Block 500g $14.00 per kg. Advertised prices apply at New South Wales stores and are not available at Broken Hill, ACT or Coles Express. Was prices may vary. Some products may not be available in all stores and only available while stocks last. $5 50 ea Coles Sliced Honey Ham 400g 4 Pack $13.75 per kg. From the Dairy department. WAS $9.50 JAN 2020 SAVE 70¢ DOWN DOWN WAS $7.70 JUL 2020 $7ea $3ea 623073_NSW 04 FRIDAY JULY 17 2020 DAILYTELEGRAPH.COM.AU TELE03Z01MA - V1 04 RAVING LUNATICS DEFIANT SYDNEY is experiencing a “winter of raves” not seen since the ’90s as socially- starved young people start partying illegally again, club- bing experts have warned. Police forces across the city have been struggling to keep up with a rising number of illicit parties in ware- houses, alleyways and in the bush amid a second wave of COVID-19 infections. More than 600 revellers daubed in fluorescent paint gathered in a lane way at Lillian Fowler Place in Mar- rickville to dance to hard trance until the early hours of last Friday. “It was like the good old days, like the ’90s … it was a driveway to a factory. No social distancing.” Hundreds partied at Shir- low St, Marrickville, two weeks ago before police broke up the event. On Satur- day organisers staged a secret rave in Surry Hills that sold out at $69 a ticket. Marrickville rave. No masking needs of health workers ALL frontline health workers should be given higher-grade masks to protect them against cor- onavirus now there is evidence the infection is airborne, the Austra- lian Medical Association’s (AMA) federal presidential candidate Dr Omar Khorshid said. He also expressed concern that 200 companies had government registration of their masks re- moved after the medical watchdog began checking the quality of per- sonal protective equipment. Dr Khorshid said hospitals needed to do a stocktake to ensure no dodgy masks were on their shelves. “It’s absolutely critical every hospital staff member knows the equipment is of the quality it says on the packet,” he said. More than 500 health workers have already been infected with COVID-19. The AMA is demand- ing state governments declare their support for a zero-death tar- get for healthcare workers during the pandemic. Dr Khorshid said supplying health workers with the right masks was critical because one health worker infected with COVID-19 meant all their colleagues had to go into isolation. Workers are cur- rently issued lower-grade surgical masks in lower risk settings and use higher grade N95 masks – which fil- ter out 95 per cent of very small air- borne particles – when doing high- risk procedures. SUE DUNLEVY Erin O'Rourke Erin O Rour wears the wears the antibacterial antibacterial Lorna Jane Lorna Jane activewear. activewear. Picture: Annette Picture Dew. LORNA JANE ACTIVELY CASHING IN ON CORONA WOMEN'S activewear company Lorna Jane has scrambled to remove a claim from its website that its new clothing range offers a protective shield from viruses — including COVID-19 — after health experts slammed it as false and “dangerous’’. The marketing campaign for LJ Shield gear claims the clothes have been treated with an exclusive spray technology to block out viruses and bacteria. But following an outcry from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the company removed all mention of the word “virus’’ from online. “Activewear is great for the gym but it can’t protect you against viruses or bacteria. I suspect Lorna Jane are cynically trying to exploit fears concerning the COVID-19 pandemic to sell clothes,” RACGP chief Harry Nespolon said. “If you spray their product onto any fabric and expect that it will act as a ‘shield of protection’ for you by breaking through the ‘membrane shell of any toxic diseases’’, I have some bad news for you, this will not happen. The only thing that will be ‘terminated’ by the ‘shield particles’ is the money in your bank account.” Signs spruiking the “anti- virus’’ gear (above) were still in stores late yesterday. JACKIE SINNERTON ONE coronavirus infected man with a high viral load and a crowded pub created a per- fect superspreader storm that has put NSW in danger of lockdown once again. Health Minister Brad Haz- zard said the Melbourne freight worker “had one of the highest infection levels we’ve ever seen”. “His viral load was quite capable of spreading it to anybody near him … we all need to be on high alert,” Mr Hazzard (pictured) told Ben Fordham on 2GB. ANU infectious diseases ex- pert Professor Peter Collignon said it was unclear why some people had high viral loads. It could be linked to the time of the infection or the genetics of the carrier – but it made them highly infec- tious. “A high viral load means they are carrying much more of the virus than in other people. We don’t know why, it may be genetic,” he said. Professor Collignon said ex- posure to someone with a high viral load would also speed up the appearance of the symp- toms in others. Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said this week: “The incubation period for this disease is one to 14 days. We’ve seen some acquisition which has been very short. People have developed these symp- toms more towards that one day period rather than the 14.” Research globally has shown that 20 per cent of peo- ple – superspreaders – will in- fect 80 per cent of people who go near them. Superspreading incidents include a choir practice in the US that infected 52 and a wed- ding in India that infected more than 100 people. A single person self-isolating in China after coming back from the US infected 71 people by using the lift in her building. Professor Collignon said people with high viral loads were likely to become super- spreaders when they entered “superspreader environments” such as crowded pubs like the Crossroads Hotel in Casula. A perfect viral storm for a super spreader MATTHEW BENNS Health’s fears on new ‘missing chain’ strain THREE cases of COVID-19 recorded in NSW are under investigation as health auth- orities grapple with both the possibility of having missed a chain of transmission and evi- dence of the virus becoming infectious at “unusual” speed. NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said she is con- cerned authorities could have “missed a chain” of transmis- sion if the three mystery cases are not linked to the existing Crossroads Hotel cluster, which yesterday rose to 40 people. It comes as one of the na- tion’s top doctors warned of a case of coronavirus in NSW that showed symptoms within 24 hours of being exposed. “We are concerned when we find cases that can’t be linked back because it does in- dicate that we may have missed a chain,” Dr Chant said. NSW recorded 10 new cases of coronavirus in the 24- hour period to 8pm on Wed- nesday night. Four of them were returned travellers in hotel quarantine, three were linked to the Crossroads Hotel pub outbreak and three people were still under investigation. National Deputy Chief Medical Officer Prof Michael Kidd yesterday said at least one case in NSW had become infectious within 24 hours of being infected with COVID-19 — much faster than what authorities have seen with people usually becoming in- fectious about three days after exposure. “While this is un- usual, it is not implausible,” he said. “As we see large numbers with COVID-19 infected, in Australia, we are starting to see examples of people with early infectivity.” NSW Health authorities are interviewing the state’s source- less cases and cross-referenc- ing them with the list of venues associated with the Crossroads cluster to determine if they are a part of the same outbreak which has now spread as far as North Wollongong. One of the cases under in- vestigation is a man in his 30s from the Illawarra. The three other cases re- lated to Crossroads included a man in his 20s who spent time with a known case, a man in his 30s infected at the Planet Fitness Gym in Casula and a woman in her 30s who is the spouse of a known case. After 8pm on Wednesday, a further four cases were linked to the hotel cluster in- cluding a child of a known case, a man in his 30s who is a contact of a known case, an elderly man in his 80s who at- tended the pub on July 5 and a woman in her late teens who attended the Hurricane’s Grill at Brighton Le Sands with a previously known case. It was revealed a confirmed Crossroads case attended C1 Speed Indoor Karting, Albion Park Rail and Rashays restaur- ant in North Wollongong on July 11. Another unrelated case was found in a Victorian who flew into Ballina on July 12. ANGIRA BHARADWAJ DAILYTELEGRAPH.COM.AU FRIDAY JULY 17 2020 05 V1 - TELE03Z01MA DOWN BUT NOT OUT EDITORIAL PAGE 68 ELIMINATION STRATEGY MISGUIDED GIDEON ROZNER OPINION PAGE 69 05 ONLY one parent will be allowed on the sidelines for kids’ sporting matches under strict new COVID-19 guide- lines banning aunts, uncles, and grandparents from watch- ing weekend games. The move to restrict specta- tors comes as NSW authorities seek to stop Victoria’s corona- virus outbreak spreading across our state. The measures, which will come into effect immediately, tighten existing COVID safety plans for community sport. Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant outlined the restrictions in a letter sent to organisations on Thursday afternoon. Under the restrictions, any- one who has travelled to Vic- toria in the previous 14 days will be banned from participating. Anyone who has visited an identified location of commun- ity infection in NSW within 14 days will also be banned from taking part or watching from the sidelines. For kids’ sport, spectators will be limited to a single parent or guardian only, effect- ively banning extended family including grandparents from games. However, a sole grand- parent would be able to attend as a child’s carer or guardian. The plan to “minimise com- munity sport spectators where practical” means “we’d prefer no aunties and uncles, grand- parents or siblings crowding the sidelines if they don’t need to be there,” Acting Sports Minister Geoff Lee said. The rules are in response to rising case numbers in NSW, after Victoria’s virus strain found its way across the border. In addition to the limits on spectators, sporting organis- ations have been told to delay matches if they don’t have enough players, rather than substitute in players from other teams or the community. The measures come after community sport was given the green light at the start of July. Relatives sidelined from kids’ sports JAMES O’DOHERTY ment is also considering tighter rules for high risk venues and gatherings, which could include restaurants, funerals and weddings — a move first flagged by The Daily Telegraph last week. Meanwhile, just half of the state’s pubs have registered as “COVID-safe”, which inclu- des completing an antivirus safety plan — a figure the gov- ernment considers not good enough. Customer Services Minis- ter Victor Dominello has now written to every pub in the state warning of fines and close-downs within days if they don’t act. At the same time, the Government is going to step up restaurant and cafe inspections in the southwest Sydney area for COVID-com- pliance, but these businesses are not subject to the same threats. As the letter explains pubs that are not registered as “COVID-safe” by close of business on Monday will face an on the spot fine of $5000. If they remain unregistered by COB on Thursday the regulator has the power to close them for a week. Those still unregistered by July 27 face a month’s closure. “In addition, businesses that have not registered by Monday 20 July, will be the target of the first batch of inspections as part of our State-wide general com- pliance regime,” Mr Dominel- lo said in the letter. The Crossroads hotel clus- ter has created a new level of awareness regarding just how easily the virus can spread in a pub setting with alcohol known to reduce awareness and caution. “Businesses need to take this COVID pandemic seriously and if they can’t do this then they should not be in business,” the letter says. The Telegraph visited 40 pubs and clubs this week and found while some followed rules stringently, others weren’t as thorough. The Golden Sheaf in Dou- ble Bay which was fined $5500 for crowd rule breaches last week had cleaned up its act with a sign-in process and so- cial distanced tables. EVERY NSW pub across the state will be threatened with shutdowns within a week if they don’t take official steps to secure the safety of their premises against the virus. The remarkable stepping up of enforcement comes just days after Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced strict measures to limit pub patron numbers to 300 and restrict group bookings to 10 people. It comes as the Govern- EXCLUSIVE ANNA CALDWELLTAP OFF THREAT PUBS GET SHUTDOWN WARNING LETTER Police control Police control traffic as workers traffic as worke set up border set up bord barriers in barriers in barriers in Coolangatta. Coolangatta. Picture: Nigel Picture: Picture: Hallett QUEENSLAND BUILDS GREAT BORDER WALL TO NSW A BORDER wall was erected at Coolangatta on Thursday to stop frustrated drivers trying to sneak into Queensland. Police called for the 700m wall after motorists were driving around plastic barriers on a Coolangatta backstreet that leads into Tweed Heads. The water barricade was erected by Gold Coast City Council workers. It follows problems with mainly border residents, including Tweed Heads Hospital visitors, skirting the border blockade. The problem has escalated after the Sydney local government areas of Liverpool and Campbelltown were declared COVID hot spots on Tuesday, leading to delays of up to two hours at the border. Gold Coast Police Chief Superintendent Mark Wheeler said police needed a more “robust” barrier to stop border breaches. “They (motorists) were coming into Queensland technically unlawfully, so we just strengthened that up,” he said of the border wall. JESSICA MARSZALEK & GREG STOLZ Good things. Great value. ...or washing the school uniform. We’re helping you get ready. $3 50 ea Coles Ultra Oxy Action Laundry Booster & Soaker 1kg $3.50 per kg. Coles Tropical Paradise Concentrate Laundry Liquid 2 Litre $2.75 per litre. Coles Ultra Pre Wash Stain Remover 500mL $2.60 per litre. WAS $9.50 JAN 2020 SAVE 80¢ DOWN DOWN $5 50 ea WAS $6.30 JUL 2020 $1 30 ea Advertised prices apply at New South Wales stores and are not available at Broken Hill, ACT or Coles Express. Was prices may vary. Some products may not be available in all stores and only available while stocks last. 623073_NSW 06 FRIDAY JULY 17 2020 DAILYTELEGRAPH.COM.AU TELE04Z01MA - V1 Carnival defends test kit numbers A HEAVYWEIGHT executive for the operator of the Ruby Princess has defended the dismal coronavi- rus test numbers on board the no- torious cruise ship as “reasonable.” Carnival Cruise Line’s senior vice president Dr Grant Tarling was addressing what inquiry com- missioner Bret Walker SC has condemned as a “grossly deficient number of swabs” amid a pan- demic. Next month Mr Walker will hand down his final report investi- gating how 2700 people were al- lowed to disembark the vessel in Sydney on March 19 without prop- er health checks. When the Ruby Princess left Circular Quay on March 8 en route to New Zealand it had 29 viral swabs for COVID-19 testing, in addition to a supply of rapid in- fluenza test kits. With 3795 people on board, there were not enough coronavi- rus tests to manage an outbreak as explicitly required under state government policy. Dr Tarling insists the number was “reasonable” because fewer than 38 people would be expected to report a flu-like-illness during the trip, based on a 1 per cent out- break threshold definition. “I consider that the ship’s medi- cal personnel took reasonable steps to try to obtain additional swabs from ports in New Zealand,” he wrote in a statement. LUCY HUGHES JONES 06 IT’S GOD-DAN DISGRACEFUL No apologies or explanations on horror hotel COVID failures � Why didn’t your government act on the emails sent in March to the Department of Health and Human Services warning of the need for police to oversee quarantine programs? QUESTIONS FOR DAN COVID-19 is ravaging his state, where 317 new cases were revealed yesterday, but Victorian Premier Daniel An- drews refuses to answer ques- tions about his government’s bungling which has also led to an outbreak in NSW. He declined to say when he knew his hotel quarantine program, staffed by private security with as little as five minutes training, was being bungled so badly that the cor- onavirus was spreading throughout Melbourne. The premier who had the toughest lockdown in the country in March also de- clined to say why his govern- ment failed to act when senior bureaucrats begged months ago in an email for police to take over the quarantine op- eration. Mr Andrews would not say on what date he learned of se- rious allegations against hotel guards, including that they had slept with returned travel- lers. He declined to say if he was pressured to persist with the private security arrange- ment rather than call in police or the army, as other states did. When asked if contact tracing, since shown to be de- ficient, was a problem he de- clined to say. As NSW was plunged fur- ther into crisis by the corona- virus outbreak in south west Sydney stemming from Mel- bourne, Mr Andrews declined to say whether he would offer an apology to residents of his neighbouring state now fac- ing tighter restrictions. Residents of Sydney hot spots have also been banned from travelling to some states as a result of the outbreak. Mr Andrews has appoint- ed a former judge to inquire into the failings and has de- clined to answer specific questions on the basis that an inquiry is underway. The Daily Telegraph pointed out to Mr Andrews he has no legal obligation to de- cline to answer questions. His office sent a general re- sponse, saying that he would not “provide a commentary” during the inquiry. His spokeswoman added 1300 disease detectives were working “around the clock” in a bid to stem the ballooning outbreak which has stricken patients in nursing homes, health staff and school stu- dents. Deaths rose by two yes- terday. “We all know this disease is deadly — it can spread in our supermarkets, in our workplaces, or even just one single night at the pub — that’s why we have more than 1300 disease detectives work- ing around the clock to find and contain coronavirus,” Mr ANNA CALDWELL STATE POLITICAL EDITOR Andrews’ spokeswoman said. When told that The Daily Telegraph would run the questions in full and pointed out they had not been an- swered, the spokeswoman said the response “covers all of the questions asked.” Prime Minister Scott Mor- rison yesterday laid bare the difference between Victoria with its more than 2000 ac- tive cases and NSW where suppression efforts had been effective up until the latest community clusters. “The extent of the out- break in Victoria is beyond what we would have, hoped would have occurred … it is a big setback in Victoria,” the Prime Minister said. � The email was sent within a day of the first guests checking in for quarantine. Do you acknowledge that had you acted on those warnings immediately and brought in the police that the COVID outbreaks at the hotels could have been avoided? � By late June it was clear your government had bungled the hotel quarantine program. Why did you fail to act then to overhaul its administration? � You would know from public reporting that the guards have had as little as five minutes training, that rules were being flouted about infection control, including allegations guards were fraternising with guests and in some cases trading sexual favours for liberty from quarantine. On what date did you become aware of these allegations? � Do you acknowledge the tendering process for the quarantine contracts was seriously flawed? � Were you pressured by any union or its members, your ministers, other backbench MPs or private companies to steer away from police or ADF involvement in the administration of the quarantine program? If no, was it your decision alone? � You’ve appointed a retired judge to run a judicial inquiry. You cite this as a reason why you cannot answer questions about your government’s failings. Do you agree there is no legal requirement for you to refuse to answer questions? � Has contact tracing in Victoria been deficient? � Will you apologise to the people of NSW for the part you and your government played in spreading this latest outbreak to our state? Victorian Victorian Premier Dan Premier Dan Andrews at a Andrew press press conference in conference in confere Melbourne to Melbourne to reveal the latest reveal the latest record COVID- record COVI 19 figures. 19 figures. Picture: David Picture: D Picture: D Crosling NO ANSWERS STOWAWAYS SENT AWAY FOUR stowaways who sneaked into South Australia on a freight train from Victoria will be kicked out after return- ing negative coronavirus tests. SA Premier Steven Mar- shall said he was concerned they were not dealt with harshly enough, pointing out they could have faced $20,000 fines as the Government flagged a tougher approach to Victorians crossing the border. Alexander Moore, 22, Sam Gledhill, 26, Nicholas Batty, 29 and Jacob Todd, 29, some of whom were originally from the Northern Territory, avoi- ded conviction and were released on $1000 bonds. Mr Marshall said from this Saturday, anyone crossing the border from Victoria would be required to have a test within 24 hours and again on day 12. Only essential travellers are allowed to cross into SA provided they take a test and quarantine for 14 days. Grant Tarling. G Victoria’s state of secrecy slammed ALEX WHITE THE Victorian Government has shown “complete con- tempt” for its residents after al- most entirely redacting emails into the handling of the Cedar Meats COVID-19 outbreak. The state Liberal opposition lodged a freedom of infor- mation request calling on the Andrews government to re- lease the emails — but in re- turn the health minister handed over emails which were heavily redacted, according to Victorian opposition health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier. Bizarrely, among the blanked out pages was publicly available information, such as office addresses. “It just demonstrates more secrecy,” Ms Crozier said. “NSW are being open and transparent to their commun- ity but Victorians are kept in the dark.” Sky News host Chris Smith said it was evidence of the gov- ernment’s “complete contempt for the people of Victoria”. “What a farce, what slippery customers they are,” he said last night. “Well if they did act respon- sibly and to the best of their abilities, why wouldn’t they show these communications without blacking them out.” The government came under intense scrutiny in April after an outbreak at Cedar Meats resulted in 111 people being connected to that cluster. It was accused of failing to contact other agencies connec- ted to Cedar Meats, despite it being a high risk industry due to the workers’ proximity. Ms Crozier said: “Victori- ans are in lockdown not due to bad luck, but due to the An- drews government’s bad deci- sions around hotel quarantine and a failure to act quickly on clusters.” Some of the redacted emails. DAILYTELEGRAPH.COM.AU FRIDAY JULY 17 2020 07 V1 - TELE04Z01MA CHINA REBOUNDS CHINA’S economy returned to growth in the second quarter following a coronavirus contraction, with President Xi Jinping promising continued expansion ahead. The forecast-beating figures released on Thursday follow a string of data show- ing the world’s No.2 economy slowly emerging from the pandemic, and should provide hope to other governments look- ing to recover from the crisis. Gross domestic product expanded 3.2 per cent in April-June, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said, a massive improvement on the 6.8 per cent contrac- tion in the first quarter. Xi Jinping. AUSTRALIA is becoming the go to destination for vital Phase II COVID-19 vaccine trials due to the nation’s scientific expertise and low virus case numbers. Four clinical trials are already taking place here and a new consortium led by the Doherty Institute called Vax4COVID is about to test two new Australian vaccine candidates and another for a large US consortium. It comes as Oxford Univer- sity prepares to report positive results from its early vaccine trials — the second glimmer of hope the medical com- munity has delivered the world in a week. On Wednesday US bio- technology company Mod- erna revealed its early stage vaccine was safe and pro- voked an immune response in trial participants. The Oxford vaccine is the most advanced in the world and is already in trials in Brazil and South Africa to test whether it can actually prevent people catch- ing the virus The Oxford team has a deal with pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca to make 30 million doses for the UK, 300 million doses for the US and an Indian manufacturing plant will make one billion doses for countries elsewhere in the world. Sarah Gilbert, who is head- ing Oxford’s vaccine research, said there is an 80 per cent probability the vaccine will stop people being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19. She is so convinced of its success that she has injected her three adult children — triplets aged 21 — with the vaccine. Australia now a hotspot for vaccine trials SUE DUNLEVY said the expanded Location Incentive program was an “economic multiplier” and would provide certainty for businesses to invest in skills and development. “Through this additional commitment, the Government is telling the world that Austra- lia is a desirable destination for screen production — with great locations, skilled crews, world-class talent, post-pro- duction expertise and state-of- the-art facilities,” he said. The Location Incentive is designed to complement the existing Location Offset, pro- viding an effective increase in the tax offset rate from 16.5 per cent to 30 per cent for eligible large budget international pro- ductions that film in Australia. In total the Government has backed 10 productions to the tune of $123 million, gener- ating an estimated $1 billion in international spending and supporting more than 8500 jobs. Films supported include Godzilla vs. Kong made on the Gold Coast, and Shantaram and The Alchemyst produced in Melbourne. The movie Reef Break, which was filmed on the Gold Coast and in Byron Bay employed more than 1000 cast and crew alone and used the services of more than 2000 local businesses during production. BLOCKBUSTER movies and TV shows featuring Holly- wood’s biggest stars will be brought to NSW though a $400 million cash boost to get studios to set up here following the coronavirus crisis. The federal Government is seeking to capitalise on Aus- tralia’s relative success in suppressing the COVID-19 pandemic by tipping the extra funds into its Location Incen- tive scheme and extending its availability from three to seven years, to attract more longer term screen projects to the country. The expanded program will support more than 8000 jobs a year, working on a range of projects from superhero action flicks, children’s shows and critically acclaimed television dramas. NSW has already benefited from the initial shorter-term scheme, with projects including Marvel Studios’ Thor: Love and Thunder, starring Chris Hem- sworth, and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings featur- ing Simu Li being handed $24.1 million each to film at Fox Studios Australia in Sydney. Prime Minister Scott Morri- son will announce the $400 million investment today, which is expected to attract more than $3 billion in foreign spending. By extending the incentive over seven years it is hoped movie studios will be able to commit to multiple produc- tions back-to-back, creating job security for local actors, crew, set designers and special effects experts. “This is backing thousands of Australians who make their living working in front of the camera and behind the scenes in the creative economy,” Mr Morrison said. Arts Minister Paul Fletcher Show and sell in big Oz movie scheme CLARE ARMSTRONG Chris Hemsworth as Thor. A RACE AGAINST TIME ANNA CALDWELL PAGE 13 07 DAN CAN’T TAKE THE HEAT EDITORIAL PAGE 68 March 27 – Within 24 hours of the National Cabinet recommending hotel quarantine, the Andrews government awarded the contract to three private security firms without the proper tender process. May 27 – The first private security contractor to test positive is linked to the Rydges on Swanston quarantine hotel, sparking the hotel outbreak. June 17 – A security contractor tests positive at the Stamford Plaza quarantine hotel, bringing the second wave to a second hotel. June 24 – A leaked email reveals that Victoria pleaded for ADF assistance to assist with hotel quarantine, despite Daniel Andrews denying such a request was made. June 30 – A judicial inquiry into the hotel quarantine is announced, with Dan Andrews using the probe as a way to dodge questions about his government’s failures. June 30 – A Melbourne freight worker enters NSW just before the border closure and goes on to infect six people at the Crossroads Hotel in Casula, starting a fresh outbreak in Sydney. July 2 – Explosive details of the hotel quarantine failure is revealed, including guards allegedly sleeping with guests, guests allowed out of quarantine to go shopping, and a general lack of social distancing. July 2 – Victoria’s hotel quarantine bungle hits NSW as a man allowed to leave quarantine tests positive in Balmain. July 4 – Nine public housing towers in Melbourne are put into lockdown with little notice. The Andrews government comes under fire for treating the residents like prisoners. July 8 – Melbourne and the Mitchell shire are put into lockdown in a last-ditch attempt to control the outbreak. July 13 – Victoria’s Deputy Chief Health Officer said it is “conceivable” that all current cases can be linked to the hotel quarantine bungle. July 16 – Victoria records the largest increase in cases since the pandemic began with 317 new cases and two deaths. March 27SICK FAILURES By contrast, Mr Morrison said the way NSW had re- sponded to the Crossroads Hotel outbreak at Casula which has sickened 40 and was sparked by a Melbourne freight worker, showed how “effectively the states can re- spond” to the pandemic. “You can continue to move forward in the way that NSW is demonstrating by building that capability for tracing, for testing and that’s been quite effective in this case, and hopefully we will see that situ- ation continue to improve,” the PM said. Ten new cases were diag- nosed in NSW yesterday, in- cluding another linked to Victoria — a returned travel- ler who flew from Victoria into Ballina on July 12. NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant declared our state was at a “critical point”. Residents have been urged to avoid parties and mass gatherings as health officials wait to see if more cases linked to Victorian travellers emerge. While NSW Health Minis- ter Brad Hazzard and Dr Chant have been at pains not to lay blame at Victoria or criticise the state’s health sys- tem, genomic testing has linked the outbreaks. Further to that, Victoria’s own chief medical officer said on Monday it was “conceivable absolutely” that every case in the state could be linked to the hotel quarantine bungle. The death toll in Victoria reached 29 yesterday after two men in their 80s became the latest victims to succumb to the virus, while the source of 289 of the 317 new cases were under investigation. There were last night 160 outbreaks being monitored in the state, including 28 aged care homes, which have clus- ters as large as 31 cases. Data on the state’s active cases show how quickly the second wave swelled with just 40 active infections on June 14 and 2128 yesterday. The situation is now so se- rious it has forced some elec- tive surgeries to be put on hold, while others will be halved in preparation of a in influx of COVID-19 patients in hospital. Hundreds of health workers who have been exposed to the virus, or who are sick, are in isolation. Al- most 400 health staff have come down with COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic with cases accelerating in re- cent weeks in key hospitals. About 140 police and 30 Protective Services Officers were yesterday self-isolating following concerns they had contact with people with COVID-19, including two of- ficers at Frankston. Despite the rising infec- tions, Mr Andrews said there were no plans to move to stage four restrictions. 08 FRIDAY JULY 17 2020 DAILYTELEGRAPH.COM.AU TELE02Z01MA - V1 ELIMINATE? THE NEGATIVE OPINION PAGE 69 08 The ABS noted additional jobs had been spurred by large increases in part- time employment, however full-time employment fell by 38,100 jobs in the same period. Mr Morrison said a part-time job was better than not having any job. “The majority of jobs obviously are part-time employment, not full-time employment,” he said. “That’s to be expected in the economic situation that we’ve seen emerge.” Total hours worked rose 4 per cent during the month but remained 6.8 per- centage points below pre-COVID-19 levels in March. Women increased their working hours more than men during June, however both genders remained well below March levels. The underemployment rate decreased by 1.4 percentage points to 11.7 per cent, but was still 2.9 points below the pre-pandemic levels. The figures came the same day Mr Morrison also announced a new $2 bil- lion JobTrainer program, intended to help Australians access new skills to be work-ready in job sectors where there were more employment opportunities. AUSTRALIA has recorded its highest unemployment rate for 22 years, rais- ing fears the “COVID-19 economic recession” will dampen prospects of an early recovery. Labour figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics released Thursday showed Australia’s June unemploy- ment rate rose to 7.4 per cent, a 0.3 per- centage rise on the previous month. It was the highest monthly unem- ployment rate since November 1998 and prompted Prime Minister Scott Morrison to label the fiscal pain caused by the pandemic as Australia’s “COVID-19 economic recession”. The number of jobless rose by 69,300 people to a total of 992,300. “The easing of COVID-19 restric- tions in June saw an extra 280,000 peo- ple in the labour force, with more people in employment, and more actively look- ing and available for work,” ABS head of statistics Bjorn Jarvis said. Total employment improved over the month compared to May, with 210,800 Austra- lians finding some form of employment. GERARD COCKBURN & HANNAH MOORE Job jitters worsening Unemployment rate hits 7.4pc Community-minded cafe worker Azahlia Stevenson. Picture: Dylan Robinson THE plight of the pandemic is helping produce the next generation’s community leaders in Western Sydney, where young women like 16-year-old Azahlia Stevenson are stepping up during the crisis. Cafe worker and Year 11 student Azahlia was working in partnership with the Salvation Army to bring her community together with a free barbecue when COVID-19 struck. With that ruled out, she quickly turned her efforts to the struggling hospitality industry and now Azahlia’s Hope4Cafe's initiative sends care packages to cafe owners in Penrith. “I work at a cafe so I know how much the industry has been hit,” she said. “The culture of coming together at a cafe, it’s something that’s very Australian so I really wanted to support cafe owners in this time and let them know they’re not alone.” Azahlia is a nominee in the Western Sydney Women’s awards, which wants to hear from anyone excelling in business and community work. Nominations close on July 31. JESSICA McSWEENEY DISHING KINDNESS TO CAFES For testing clinic locations and the latest information visit nsw.gov.au NSW on high COVID-19 alert. There are new cases in the NSW community. To help stop further community transmission, get tested and self-isolate immediately if you feel unwell. Self-isolation means staying at home, without visitors. If you have visited the following locations, get tested now even if you have no symptoms: > Crossroads Hotel in Casula, 3-10 July > Planet Fitness in Casula, 4-10 July > Picton Hotel in Picton, 4-5 or 9-10 July You must also self-isolate for 14 days since you visited the location, even if you get a negative test result. More locations may be added, check nsw.gov.au Dr Zarza Rashidi >>>> COVID ALERT >>>> COVID ALERT >>>> COVID ALERT >>>> COVID ALERT >>>> DAILYTELEGRAPH.COM.AU FRIDAY JULY 17 2020 09 V1 - TELE01Z01MA Accused car thug arrested in chase POLICE have arrested a man and a teenage girl after a violent clash inside a vehicle in inner Sydney at the weekend. At about 10.35pm on Sunday, a white Volkswagen Passat sedan stopped in Darlinghurst and the male driver was seen on video to leave the vehicle and throw punches at a woman in the back of the car. A second woman sitting in the front was heard yelling at the man to stop. A passer-by who tried to intervene was also allegedly as- saulted but not before the shirtless driver was tackled into a fence. He then got back into the car and drove away with the women still inside. Following inquiries and a tip- off from the public, police late on Wednesday attempted to stop a stolen Lexus on Appin Rd at Campbelltown. When the driver allegedly failed to stop, a pursuit began before the vehicle slammed on the brakes and the two occu- pants attempted to flee on foot. Officers arrested a 33-year-old man and a 14-year-old girl nearby. The man was found to be alleg- edly in possession of methylam- phetamine and steroids. The man and girl were taken to Narellan Police Station where they are assisting with inquiries. The woman travelling in the Volkswagen has been identified and spoken to. The trio are all known to each other. GEORGIA CLARK Michael Croke. EX-LAWYER BEHIND BARS A FORMER Sydney lawyer will spend nearly four years in jail for his role in a plot to retrieve more than $700,000 in drug money seized by police at the Hilton Hotel. Michael Anthony Croke tried for years to “hoodwink” NSW Police into handing over the cash belonging to American criminal Owen Hanson Jr, steering what Judge Helen Syme called a “cast of villains” worthy of a Hollywood film. Croke pleaded not guilty to six charges including perv- erting the course of justice. Normally dressed in crisp suits, the 70-year-old app- eared wearing a fleecy prison issue jumper on screen at the Downing Centre District Court on Thursday when Judge Syme handed down his sentence. His lip quivered as he was sentenced to five years and nine months jail, with a non-parole period of three years and nine months. Cops catch their Whale A FORMER driving instructor who sent sexual messages to a person he thought was a teen- age girl, but who was actually a police officer, will spend at least nine months in prison. Tony Keith Whale, 65, was sentenced to a maximum of two-and-a-half years in prison by District Court judge Ross Letherbarrow on Thursday. The messages Whale sent to the officer, who was posing as a 14-year-old named “Paige”, included that he want- ed to kiss and touch her and instructions on masturbation. “Well you’re only 14,” he wrote on one occasion, “but I absolutely love that you are.” He was arrested when he drove to meet “Paige’’. THE woman accused of insti- gating a nasty clash with Steve “Commando” Willis has been given a chance to negotiate with the TV fitness guru as he pursues a restraining order against her. Jun Yue, who goes by Mar- garet, was ordered to stay away from the former Biggest Loser star after police were called to his home early last month. V i d e o emerged in late May purport- ing to show Yue in a public spat with Mr Willis (pic- tured) and his new girlfriend, Harika Vancuylenberg, over training fees at a Kellyville Park that month. Yue was handed an interim AVO on June 9 and ordered to stay clear of the celebrity until the matter was finalised. She has not been charged with any criminal offences. Yue’s lawyer Fotini Con- stantopedos told Parramatta Local Court yesterday the mat- ter should be sent for me- diation with Mr Willis and police. It means the dispute could be resolved in private, rather than in open court. Magistrate Kevin Hockey, who described the accusations as “a bit more significant” than the average neighbourhood dispute, gave the parties until August 27 to strike a deal. Breathing space for AVO talks PERRY DUFFIN May the funds be with you for auction MOVIE buffs will be in with a chance to purchase Maver- ick’s fighter jet helmet, Obi- Wan Kenobi’s lightsaber, Rocky’s boxing gloves and a miniature spaceship from the film Alien when they go up for auction next month. The sale of hundreds of legendary Hollywood movie props will be live-streamed all over the world from Los Ang- eles on August 26-27, includ- ing items wielded by Indiana Jones and Clint Eastwood’s Western outlaw Josey Wales. A giant model of Nostro- mo — the interstellar tug- ship on which Ridley Scott’s classic Alien takes place — tops the pre-sale estimates at $300,000-500,000. Constructed mainly of wood and steel, it was person- ally filmed for the movie’s ex- terior shots by Scott, who had it “repainted dark gray and weathered extensively to imply decades of deep-space travel,” according to auction organisers Prop Store LA. Like many of the Enter- tainment Memorabilia Live Auction lots, the model spacecraft previously be- longed to a film crew mem- ber. It was restored for purchase after being found wrapped in plastic in a back- yard 15 years ago. “What collectors are look- ing for is things from the films they grew up with, films that they cherish,” Prop Store LA chief operating officer Bran- don Alinger said. “This is the main 11-foot (3m) model miniature that was used in the shooting of the movie,” he said. Other big-ticket sci-fi items on the block include a complete Darth Vader outfit — one of five used to promote the first Star Wars movie — and a lightsaber hilt used by Ewan McGregor in the preq- uel Attack of the Clones. A real fighter jet helmet worn by Tom Cruise’s charac- ter Maverick in Top Gun is expected to fetch up to $70,000. The helmet is customised with the character’s name as are the boxing gloves worn by Sylvester Stallone in the orig- inal Rocky. And in a rare sale, the orig- inal bronze Ra medallion used by Indiana Jones to re- veal the location of the Ark of the Covenant in Raiders of the Lost Ark will go under the hammer. The item, gifted by the movie’s construction man- ager to a family friend, is ex- pected to earn up to $150,000 when it goes to auction. ROCKY GLOVES EST. US$15,000 HARRY POTTER’S HOGWARTS LETTER ALIEN SHIP MODEL EST. US$300-$500K OBI-WAN KENOBI’S LIGHTSABER MAVERICK’S FIGHTER HELMET EST. US$70, OOO DARTH VADER OUTFIT EST. US$150-$250K 10 FRIDAY JULY 17 2020 DAILYTELEGRAPH.COM.AU TELE01Z01MA - V1 SKELETAL remains found in bushland at Byron Bay are unlikely to be those of missing Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez, police said yesterday. Speculation has been rife since police located the re- mains in bushland off Tallow Beach Rd in Arakwal National Park about 1.20pm on Wed- nesday. That area is close to the last known location of 18- year-old Mr Hayez (below right). Police had been search- ing the bushland for clues into the disappearance of missing woman Thea Liddle (below left) when a cadaver dog dis- covered bones. Ms Liddle has not been seen since October and has not touched her social media or bank accounts since that time. Tweed Byron Police Dis- trict crime manager Detective Chief Inspector Brendon Cul- len said forensic work on the crime scene was ongoing and would “more than likely” con- tinue today. He said it could take weeks for police to be able to ascertain the identity of the remains. “We believe they are human skeletal remains in situ at that crime scene,” he said. “It’s very early stages in the forensic examination of our crime scene. “We do not know at this point in time whether those remains are male or female. We have no idea of the identity of that deceased person. “We may not know the identity of that deceased per- son for a number of weeks.” As for Mr Hayez, Inspector Cullen said police were “keep- ing an open mind” but believe it is “highly unlikely” the remains belong to him. Remains unlikely those of tourist LIANA TURNER KILLER DRUG’S TRAIL OF GRIEF DAD’S PAIN FOR LOST TEEN STILL RAW AS A GRIEF-STRICKEN father has revealed his devastating struggle to face life without his bright and bubbly teenage daughter more than a year after she overdosed on a powerful drug which doctors and police are now warning is soaring in popularity. Marli Cartmer-Congiu, 18, died in 2019, after taking GBL — short for gamma-butyro- lactone, and commonly known as ‘fantasy’, ‘liquid ecstasy’ or ‘coma in a bottle’. Marli’s father Enzo Congiu, 52, said he was still struggling to deal with the pain of losing his only child who was “full of life”. “It’s hard to get up in the morning. But I do what I have to. Life’s not easy. You have to get up again,” Mr Congiu told The Daily Telegraph at his Neutral Bay barber shop. “All I have are memories now. She used to come in here and light up the room. She would help out and speak with the customers. “This business was for her when I retire — everything I did was for her.” Marli’s life was cut tragi- cally short at a gathering with friends in Zetland over Aus- tralia Day long weekend. “I will never know exactly what happened that night, but we do know she died with the drug in her system,” Mr Con- giu said. “Sadness is something like happiness, it comes and goes. My life is never going to be the same.” Marli recently finished her HSC at Brigidine College in Randwick and was looking forward to studying nursing at ACU. She spoke fluent Italian, was captain of the football team and had a large social circle. “She had time for every- body and she saw good in everybody. She wanted to do good. She wanted to help people,” Mr Congiu said. After taking the deadly drug, she suffered irreversible brain damage and her heart stopped beating on the morn- ing of January 27, 2019. “The person that really loses here is Marli. She had her whole life ahead of her. I hope I can help others to EXCLUSIVE CARLA HILDEBRANDT A lot of people know about the risk of overdose, but not many know about addiction St Vincent’s Hospital Doctor Jonathan Brett WHAT IS GBL � Gamma butyrolactone, or GBL, is a liquid drug, and generally taken orally. It is closely related to GHB, another dangerous party drug, but is often two to three times as powerful, making the risk of overdose far greater. � It is often used as a solvent in paint stripper, and nail polish remover. � Users report the drug makes them feel euphoric, with a loss of inhibitions, increased confidence, and a higher sex drive. SIDE EFFECTS � Loss of bowel control, vomiting, mental changes, sedation, agitation, combativeness, memory loss, serious breathing and heart problems, fainting, seizures, coma, and death. STREET NAMES � Drink, G, Liquid E, Liquid X, fantasy, fantasy E, Gamma. PRICE � 1ml of GBL costs $6-$8. � The fish-shaped containers (above) are 4ml in volume and the approximate street value is between $20 and $30. This is generally the consumed quantity. �Wholesale cost is around $2000 – $3000 a litre. Dr Dr Jonathan Jonatha Brett. Brett. Picture: Picture Philip Philip Hillyard GO TO TASTE.COM.AU/DINNER FOR ALL THIS AND MORE! helping you pick a with faster, easier & cheaper recipes to sign up for the and get your free e-book DINNER WINNER EVERY NIGHT REVOLUTIONISE YOUR DINNER GAME FOR GOOD DINNER OF THE DAY NEWSLETTER FREE E-BOOK FROM DINNER DESTINATION A NEW