Key events
Family of pastor Ian Wilkinson ‘deeply moved’ by support
More from the family of Ian Wilkinson, via AAP:
Baptist church pastor Wilkinson lost his wife, 66-year-old Heather Wilkinson after the pair ate the mushrooms at a lunch at a Leongatha home in Victoria’s south-east on 29 July.
Ms Wilkinson’s sister Gail Patterson, 70, and brother-in-law Don Patterson, 70, have also died in hospital.
In a statement released on Sunday night, the family of Ian Wilkinson said they wanted to thank the Austin hospital staff for their unwavering care and support, as well as members of the public who’ve sent cards and letters:
We are deeply moved by the outpouring of kindness, prayers, and support from friends, family, and the broader community.
Your thoughts and well-wishes have been a source of strength and comfort to us all.
As we navigate this difficult journey, we kindly request that our privacy be respected. We need space to grieve, support one another, and care for Ian without public intrusion.
Daniel Hurst
Japanese F-35 fighter jets head to Australia for first time
Japanese F-35 fighter jets will deploy to the Northern Territory for the first time later this month, with a landmark defence deal between Japan and Australia finally entering into force.
The Australian government says the visiting forces agreement, the first Japan has signed with another country since its agreement with the US more than 60 years ago, will pave the way for more regular and sophisticated training.
The agreement was signed in January 2022 under the Morrison government but finally entered into force yesterday.
The Australian government said the reciprocal access agreement (RAA) would enable more training and exercises between the two countries, including the deployment of Japanese F-35s to RAAF Base Tindal in the NT at the end of August.
It said Australian F-35s would deploy to Japan for the first time in early September for Exercise Bushido Guardian. Australia would also “participate in Exercise Yama Sakura as a full participant for the first time with more than 150 personnel travelling to Japan in December”.
The defence minister, Richard Marles, said the RAA would deepen the relationship between the two defence forces:
Both Australia and Japan recognise the increasing complexity of our security environment and the need to grow our partnership to support a stable and prosperous region.
At an event yesterday at Kirribilli marking Exercise Malabar – which brings together Australian, Indian, Japanese and US forces – Anthony Albanese said peace was “never a given” and must be “built, defended and upheld”.
Japan’s ministry of foreign affairs said the RAA’s entry into force would “enable Japan and Australia to further contribute to the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region”.
Good morning
Emily Wind
Happy Monday, and welcome back to the Australia news liveblog. My name’s Emily Wind and I’ll be rolling today’s breaking news here on the blog.
Here’s what’s making headlines to get us started today:
Japanese F-35 fighter jets will be deployed to the Northern Territory for the first time later this month, with a landmark defence deal between Japan and Australia finally coming into force. My colleague Daniel Hurst has the full story, which we’ll bring you here on the blog soon.
Mary-Louise McLaws, the epidemiologist who expertly guided Australia through the Covid-19 pandemic, has died at the age of 70 from a brain tumour. Her husband, Richard Flook, said she passed away in her sleep on Saturday night, and that family will be planning her funeral service at Emanuel Synagogue in the next few days.
And the family of Ian Wilkinson – the survivor from a group of four people hospitalised after consuming a meal of poisoned mushrooms – has thanked hospital staff and the public for their support, AAP reports.
The 70-year-old is still critical but in a stable condition at the hospital in Melbourne’s north-east. In a statement last night, his family wanted to thank the Austin hospital staff for their unwavering care and support.
Let’s get into the day.
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