标签： Oceania

As 80-year-old Marcelle Mivelaz marked her birthday surrounded by loved ones at a Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne nursing home in western Switzerland, the smooth running of her celebration and daily care at the facility depended entirely on a team made up mostly of immigrant nurses and caregivers. This small, personal scene reflects a widespread reality across Switzerland’s entire healthcare system: decades of chronic domestic staffing shortages have left the sector deeply dependent on foreign workers, a dependence that has placed it at the heart of a fierce national debate ahead of the June 14 popular vote on a strict immigration cap proposal.

The initiative, dubbed “No to a Switzerland with 10 million!”, was put forward by the hard-right Swiss People’s Party (SVP). It aims to cap the Alpine nation’s total population — which currently stands at 9.1 million — below 10 million through 2050 by drastically cutting annual immigration levels. While the proposal has drawn broad opposition from the federal government, national parliament, and most major business groups, recent public opinion polls indicate the outcome of the vote remains too close to call, leaving the healthcare sector bracing for a potential devastating outcome.

For many on the ground at care facilities across the country, the risk of the cap passing is an immediate threat to patient safety. Carine Savioz, a native Swiss nurse working at the Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne nursing home, told AFP that a steep drop in new immigrant caregivers would push the entire national healthcare system toward collapse. “If there aren’t enough caregivers, our healthcare system is headed for disaster,” she said. Her warning was echoed by 81-year-old resident Marie-Therese Barraz, who added: “We must have respect for the people who care for nursing home residents.”

The scale of the sector’s reliance on foreign labor is stark. Christian Weiler, director of the Primeroche Foundation that operates the Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne facility and cares for 360 patients across multiple sites, revealed that nearly 80 percent of his 240 total employees are foreign nationals. Weiler noted that the foundation already cannot meet existing demand for care: 240 elderly people are currently on waiting lists for nursing home spots in the Lausanne region alone. If the immigration cap passes and cuts off the supply of new workers, the foundation will not be able to expand capacity to meet that need, he warned, triggering a ripple effect across the entire health system.

“If there aren’t enough places, they’ll go to the hospital,” Weiler explained. “And when hospitals are full of elderly people, they won’t be able to fulfil their role, and the system will become very problematic” as Switzerland’s population continues to age. This assessment is shared by the Swiss federal government, which has publicly warned that the proposal “threatens the proper functioning of society” by leaving hospitals and nursing homes unable to deliver the same level of care to sick and elderly patients that the public expects.

The SVP has pushed back against these warnings, arguing that the cap will not cripple healthcare. Party leaders say the initiative still allows up to 40,000 new immigrants to enter the country each year, and they are calling for expanded training programs to increase the number of native Swiss healthcare workers. SVP parliamentarian Thomas Blasi, an independent pharmacist based in Geneva, also argued that overreliance on foreign workers has actually harmed young Swiss health graduates. “Despite the urgent need for healthcare staff, our young graduates cannot find employment because we prefer to rely on foreign workers,” he claimed.

But healthcare leaders and sector representatives reject that argument, pointing to persistent data showing a chronic shortage of domestic candidates for open roles. The demanding nature of care work and relatively uncompetitive salaries have long discouraged many Swiss nationals from entering the field, they say, leaving foreign workers to fill the gap. A broad alliance of major healthcare groups — including the Swiss National Association of Hospitals and Clinics and the Swiss Nurses’ Association — has formed a dedicated committee to campaign against the proposal, which they have labeled the SVP’s “chaos initiative” that directly endangers patient lives.

The committee warns that understaffing from an immigration cap would force facilities to rely on underqualified personnel, leading to a measurable increase in mortality risk, particularly for patients in emergency care settings. Official data from the Swiss Medical Association (FMH) backs up the sector’s claims of structural dependence on foreign-trained workers: 43 percent of all practicing doctors in Switzerland are trained abroad, and that share continues to grow each year. FMH vice-president Philippe Eggimann told Swiss newspaper Le Temps that Swiss universities only graduate between 1,200 and 1,300 new medical professionals each year, while the system needs 3,500 to 4,000 new doctors annually to meet demand.

“The country remains far from being able to ensure the replenishment of its medical workforce on its own,” the FMH concluded. That gap is just as stark for nursing roles. At Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), one of the country’s largest public health systems, nursing director Sandra Merkli explained that the facility needs to hire 200 to 300 new nurses every year, but the local canton’s medical school only graduates 150 to 160 new nursing candidates annually. As of 2025, nearly half of HUG’s 13,000 total employees are foreign nationals: the share hits 60 percent for nursing staff, and 45 percent for physicians, reflecting a nationwide trend that leaves the sector scrambling ahead of the upcoming vote.

On a Sunday when the New York metropolitan area was finalizing security preparations for two of the world’s biggest upcoming sporting events, a stabbing attack at the city’s iconic Penn Station left six people injured, sending shockwaves through the region just days before thousands of visitors are set to arrive for the NBA Finals and FIFA World Cup. According to city Mayor Zohran Mamdani, initial official reports had put the number of victims at five, but updated on-site investigation confirmed six people sustained stab wounds in the attack, and the alleged perpetrator has been taken into police custody. The New York Fire Department confirmed that all victims were rushed to nearby medical facilities, with one person suffering life-threatening injuries. All casualties are expected to recover from their wounds, city officials later confirmed. While the full context and motive behind the attack remain under investigation in the immediate aftermath, New York City Comptroller Mark Levine noted on social media platform X that early accounts from law enforcement identify the suspect as a homeless individual experiencing an emotional crisis. Photographers who arrived at the scene shortly after the incident reported clear signs of the emergency: blood stains, discarded medical gauze and used gloves scattered across the platform near tracks 5 and 6, where law enforcement quickly established a cordon to preserve evidence and secure the area. New York State Governor Kathy Hochul issued a formal statement condemning the incident, calling it an “act of horrific violence.” She reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to public safety, saying “New Yorkers deserve to feel safe wherever they go, and we will never stop working to make that a reality.” The timing of the attack has drawn particular attention, as it unfolded at one of the busiest transit hubs in the United States, just days before the city hosts two high-profile global sporting events that are expected to draw hundreds of thousands of spectators from across the country and around the world. Madison Square Garden, the iconic indoor arena located directly above Penn Station in Lower Manhattan, is scheduled to host Games 3 and 4 of the NBA Finals on Monday and Wednesday, featuring the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs. Just across the Hudson River in New Jersey, MetLife Stadium will welcome its first FIFA World Cup match this coming Saturday. Notably, former President and current U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed he will attend Monday’s NBA Finals game at Madison Square Garden, after accepting an invitation from Knicks owner James Dolan. New York City officials had already implemented heightened security protocols across the city in advance of the two events, and the emergency notification system issued an advisory shortly after the stabbing urging the public to avoid the Penn Station area, warning of expected traffic delays, road closures, mass transit disruptions and a heavy emergency response presence in the neighborhood. In a separate development tied to the lead-up to the NBA Finals, city officials announced the cancellation of a planned outdoor watch party for Monday’s game outside Madison Square Garden, a decision that came before the Penn Station stabbing. The cancellation followed a chaotic watch party held on Friday for Game 2, which drew thousands of fans to the streets outside the arena. Authorities reported that the event turned rowdy, resulting in an assault on a police officer and 26 arrests of unruly attendees.

In a moving recognition of extraordinary resilience and community leadership, Mechelle Turvey — the mother of 15-year-old Cassius Turvey, a Perth schoolboy murdered in a random, unprovoked attack in 2022 — has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) as part of the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours. The honour celebrates her dedicated service to Western Australia’s Indigenous communities, where she has transformed personal grief into systemic change for victims of crime.

The tragedy that reshaped Turvey’s life unfolded on an ordinary school afternoon, when Cassius and his friends were walking through Perth’s eastern suburbs. Unconnected to any prior conflict, the group was targeted, chased down and assaulted by a gang of older men. Cassius sustained life-threatening head injuries in the attack, and succumbed to his wounds 10 days later. After a high-profile investigation and trial, two men — 25-year-old Jack Brearley and 31-year-old Brodie Palmer — were convicted of his murder, bringing a close to the legal proceedings but opening a new chapter of advocacy for Turvey.

In the immediate aftermath of Cassius’s death, as vigils drawing thousands of attendees were held across Australia to honour the teen and protest racial violence, Turvey made a deliberate public call for calm, a choice that earned widespread respect for her steady leadership amid national outrage. Just months after losing her son, she accepted an advisory role with the Western Australia Police Force, tasked with helping frontline officers better understand the unique needs of Indigenous crime victims. She has since risen to the role of Aboriginal Affairs Assistant Director within the force, and founded the innovative Take 5 program, which trains officers to prioritize intentional engagement, active listening, and empathetic support for victims and their grieving families.

In an official statement celebrating Turvey’s OAM award, a Western Australia Police spokesperson highlighted her transformative impact on policing and community relations. “Her work has supported Aboriginal families through trauma, strengthened culturally safe practice, and promoted trust through listening and respectful engagement across the community,” the spokesperson said. “Her sustained contribution to safer and more inclusive practice, and her service to the Indigenous communities of Western Australia, make her highly deserving of recognition through the Order of Australia Medal.”

This latest national honour adds to a growing list of recognitions for Turvey’s community work. In 2024, she was named Western Australian of the Year and City of Swan Citizen of the Year, and in 2023 she received the title of Midland NAIDOC’s Female Elder of the Year. As of this report, Turvey has not released a public comment on her OAM appointment.

A sweeping new compliance crackdown on unethical and unlicensed building work across South Australia has seen the state’s consumer regulator publicly name and penalize eight tradespeople and businesses, with total fines issued this year exceeding $200,000. South Australia’s Consumer and Business Services (CBS) launched a specialized, dedicated enforcement team earlier this year to target bad actors in the building industry, a sector that has long drawn complaints from homeowners over shoddy work, unfinished projects and unlicensed operation. As part of the crackdown, the regulator has published a public list of all businesses and individuals hit with enforcement penalties to warn consumers and deter future rogue practices. The highest-profile individual on the new list is 38-year-old home renovator Jase Henry, who operates under the business name SOS Home Renovations from Klemzig. Just last week, CBS issued a public warning about Henry after receiving 13 separate consumer complaints about the quality of his work. He has now been hit with $25,000 in expiation penalties for five counts of advertising and working as a licensed building contractor without holding the appropriate license. When approached by local outlet *The Advertiser*, Henry’s legal representatives declined to comment on the penalties, and CBS confirmed that investigations into additional potential violations by Henry remain ongoing. Other penalties handed down in the crackdown include a $75,000 fine against 49-year-old Khorshed Alam of Seacliff Park. Alam was penalized for three counts of operating without a license and three additional counts of completing building work without required builders indemnity insurance, after he claimed to be an owner-builder for three separate properties across Salisbury and Elizabeth East. Other small business operators received penalties ranging from $5,000 to $10,000: Anu Anand, 44 of Findon, trading as The Décor Planet SA, was fined $5,000 for unlicensed operation; Ras Pro Pty Ltd, led by director Hassan Ayoub, 25 of Hope Valley, received a $5,000 penalty for advertising building work without a license; Mohammed Konneh, 29 of Parafield Gardens who trades as MFK Roofing, was also fined $5,000 for unlicensed advertising following consumer complaints about incomplete and low-quality work; Michael Wheeler, 38 of Port Noarlunga, trading as Maintena Property Maintenance, received a $5,000 penalty for unlicensed operation; 24-year-old Brady Lachlan Moldenhauer of Gawler South was hit with $10,000 in penalties for failing to attend two mandatory consumer conciliation conferences; and Toby Brett Maple-Harradine, 31 of Aldinga Beach, received a $5,000 penalty for skipping a required conciliation conference. CBS emphasized that Moldenhauer and Maple-Harradine have not been accused of unlicensed operation. Speaking to the purpose of the public naming and crackdown, South Australia’s Consumer and Business Affairs Minister Michael Brown noted that for most local residents, a home construction or renovation project represents the largest single investment they will ever make. “Most tradies do the right thing by their customers and follow licensing rules, but we accept no excuses for unlicensed work, missing indemnity insurance or leaving homeowners stranded with half-finished projects,” Brown said. “We refuse to tolerate this behavior, and our dedicated compliance team is actively cracking down on these rogue operators.” Of the eight named individuals, only Konneh responded to requests for comment, telling *The Advertiser* he had recently relocated to South Australia from Brisbane and completed up to six jobs worth between $25,000 and $30,000 total before being asked to take down his advertising website. He added that he planned to reach out to CBS to resolve the issue. All other named parties did not respond to media inquiries.

A popular Australian coastal tourist hub in New South Wales has become the site of a violent random attack that left a young Canadian visitor fighting for recovery with life-altering injuries, prompting a public appeal for witnesses from local law enforcement.

The incident unfolded late on a Sunday evening, shortly before 11:40 p.m., in central Byron Bay, a top travel destination famed for its beaches and laid-back travel culture. After escaping the attack, the 28-year-old victim managed to make his way to Butler Street, where he flagged down a passing patrol car to report the assault. First responders immediately administered on-scene first aid before rushing the man to the local Byron Bay Hospital in what medics described as a serious but clinically stable condition.

In interviews with investigating officers, the victim shared that he had been socializing and drinking with a group of five unknown people in a public park on Jonson Street in the hours before the attack. Without warning, the group turned on him, launching a brutal group beating. The tourist managed to break free from his attackers and fled into nearby bushland to hide, eventually making his way out to the main road to get help from police.

Following initial assessment at the local hospital, the severity of his injuries required a transfer to the larger Tweed Valley Hospital for advanced care. It was there that clinicians confirmed the full extent of the harm inflicted: a fractured skull, bleeding on the brain, and additional spinal injuries. Medical teams have not released an updated prognosis as of the latest police update.

Local investigators have now launched a public appeal for any information that could help them identify and apprehend the attackers. Early investigative work has revealed that at least two of the male suspects are believed to be teenagers between 16 and 17 years old. Police are asking any residents or visitors who were in the area of the attack around the time of the incident to check their personal devices for any relevant dashcam footage or mobile phone recordings that could help the investigation. Anyone with information is urged to contact Byron Bay Police Station directly or reach out to the national Crime Stoppers hotline anonymously.

The attack has shaken the small coastal town, which relies heavily on tourism and has a reputation as a safe welcoming destination for international travelers.