Nurses campaign for more staff

April 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Nurses in Coffs Harbour on the New South Wales mid north coast have today started a campaign for more staff at the Base hospital’s Emergency Department (ED).

The Nurses Association says its members are reaching breaking point because of the heavy workloads and low staffing levels.

The union says a key concern is management’s failure to meet a mandated nurse-to-patient ratio in the ED.

One senior nurse who does not want to be named says it is hard to believe conditions in the Emergency Department

“Waiting times in the waiting room are getting longer and longer and the mental health problems that should be on the wards are actually being locked in little consult rooms with a security guard,” she said.

“That’s not appropriate safe care for anybody, it’s not safe on the staff [and] it’s not safe on the patients.”

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Aged care nurses feeling the pressure

April 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The aged care sector is grappling with a crisis and those on the front line are speaking out.

Nurses say mistakes are being made and it is only a matter of time before there is a major incident.

The Nursing Federation has highlighted the pressure on the system with a case in which a graduate was left in charge of a nursing home in her first week on the job.

There is now a vicious circle in the industry. Nursing homes are being forced to cut costs. In turn, that is forcing an exodus of staff who have reached breaking point, unable to cope with the increasing pressure.

The ANF says nursing home residents are not getting optimum care and carers are taking on roles they’re not properly trained in because there aren’t enough nurses.

Some homes have had only one registered nurse in charge of up to 120 residents on a night shift.

In others, enrolled nurses and carers on night shifts can only access a registered nurse over the telephone.

The Federation’s Tasmanian secretary Neroli Ellis says nurses are despairing.

“Nurses who are passionate about aged care are leaving because they can’t bear the stress any more,” she said.

“They worry there’ll be a major trauma because of under-resourcing.

“They don’t even see all of their residents during the shift they’re on because they’re so busy.”

Tasmania has the nation’s oldest population. A third of the state’s residents will be over 65 by the year 2046.

Ageing workforce

There is further concern as the nurses themselves get older. Their average age is 55.

Ms Ellis says once they retire, there are limited replacements in an industry not equipped to take on nursing graduates.

“It’s the worst place possible for them…aged care facilities are really down to bare bones so there isn’t the clinical support for graduates.”

“Those who do go into it rarely stay.”

Management is also feeling the strain.

About 70 per cent of nursing homes are operating at a loss, with most run by not-for-profit groups who cannot keep up with rising health care costs.

Four of the state’s aged care facilities have closed in the past three years and a proposal for a secure dementia unit in the state’s north-west was withdrawn.

Aged care provider Eliza Purton recently shed 20 jobs because of a $1.5 million loss.

Tasmanian care providers have held a crisis meeting to consider mergers, creating regional management systems and sharing staff.

Cliff Partridge runs two nursing homes at Deloraine in the state’s north.

He has had to increase bed numbers and the bonds paid by residents to curb a $700,000 loss over the past three years.

“Our costs are rising faster than inflation and standards of care are increasing all the time because of public demand and standards applied by the Federal Government,” he said.

“There’s a limited number of nurses and we struggle to have nurses on call so what happens is we tend to put a lot of pressure on the nurses working longer hours.”

“The real issue in aged care is a shortage of nurses and that’s very difficult to get around.”

Darren Matthewson from Aged and Community Services says its crunch time.

The sector can’t wait any longer for more Federal Government funding and without it more nursing homes will close.

“If it continues what it will mean is that facilities won’t be able to operate, they will close, services will be diminished,” he said.

“People certainly in outlying areas will not have access to those services where they live and they will have to move out which means that families and communities will not have their elderly close to them.”

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Increasing numbers struggle to pay bills

April 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The body representing financial counsellors says yesterday’s interest rate rise will push the finances of many West Australians to breaking point.

The Reserve Bank has raised interest rates to 4.25 per cent.

The Financial Counsellors Association represents 91 counsellors based across the state and runs a free counselling hot line for people in need of assistance.

It usually fields 30 to 40 calls for counselling assistance each day.

The Association’s Charles Brown says demand for counsellors is high and there are lengthy waiting lists for help.

“It’s becoming busier and busier, the cases coming through are also becoming more complex because of people relying on easy money and credit in the past are getting to a situation where people just can’t pay bills.”

Mr Brown says in the last year the organisation has gone from having one staff member to ten, because of a huge spike in demand from middle income earners needing help managing their finances.

He expects inquiries for income management assistance to continue to climb.

“We’re already finding that most financial counsellors have a waiting list of two to three weeks.

“That’s as a result of increases in utility charges and any interest rate rises just exacerbate that situation.”

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Thai PM rebuffs demands for dissolving parliament

March 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Monday rebuffed a demand by “red shirt” leaders to dissolve parliament in 15 days, dashing hopes of an end to an intensifying political crisis and two weeks of protests.

Abhisit, who enjoys backing of the military and Thailand’s establishment elite, said immediate dissolution of parliament was “impossible” but that he was willing to discuss holding elections before his term expires at the end of next year.

“This is the best approach for the country right now and we can talk more about it, but if you insist it has to be 15 days, then I don’t think we’re on the same page,” Abhisit said.

Tens of thousands of protesters were still out on the street on Monday when the stock market ended down almost 1 percent, losing about 2.6 percent since reaching a 21-month high on Wednesday.

The protesters massed on Sunday outside an army base where Abhisit has stayed, a day after declaring they were “at breaking point”, surrounding his Government House office and forcing thousands of troops to pack up and leave to avert clashes.

“The unsettling political situation will limit fund inflows to the Thai stock market,” said Chakkrit Charoenmetachai, an analyst with Globlex Securities. “Foreign investors have made huge buys … so they could hold back somewhat now.”

The Finance Ministry said in revised economic forecasts that the economy could grow 4.5 percent this year, up from 3.5 percent seen in December, but officials said political tension could throw that out of gear.

On Sunday, Abhisit agreed to talks to try to defuse tensions but appeared evasive, insisting he would act in the best interests of the country.

The talks resumed on Monday, but no date was set for a further round.

Analysts say allies of ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, the assumed leader and financier of the “red shirts”, were likely to win whenever an election takes place, raising the possibility of another judicial or military intervention.

One of the protest leaders, Weng Tojirakarn, said a new election was the only way to end the deadlock. “There’s no point buying time,” he told Abhisit.

After two weeks of peaceful rallies, the “red shirts” have intensified their campaign to topple the government, triggering fears of clashes between security forces and protesters and a flurry of negotiations to defuse tensions.

It appeared they were responding to calls late last week by the exiled Thaksin for a campaign of “civil disobedience”.

The threat of a flare-up by the protesters and a slew of mysterious but non-fatal grenade attacks and small bombings on government buildings, banks, and three state-controlled television stations have rattled the city of 15 million.

The protests and symbolic attacks continue to draw attention to the deep divisiveness in Southeast Asia’s second-biggest economy which has clouded the long-term outlook, with foreign investment pledges down 15 percent this year.

(Additional reporting by Pracha Hariraksapitak; Writing and additional reporting by Martin Petty; Editing by Nick Macfie)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Thai PM prepares for more talks with “red shirts”

March 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva was set to resume talks with “red shirt” opposition protesters on Monday to find a way out of a political crisis that has intensified in recent days and could rattle investors.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators demanding fresh elections turned up the heat over the weekend but investors have largely shrugged off the protests, buying a net 47 billion baht ($1.45 billion) of shares since Feb. 22.

However, the stock market ended down almost 1 percent on Monday and has lost about 2.6 percent since reaching a 21-month high on Wednesday. Analysts said investors could be concerned about the tense protests, or had simply overbought.

Protesters massed on Sunday outside an army base where Abhisit has stayed, a day after declaring they were “at breaking point”, surrounding his Government House office and forcing thousands of troops to pack up and leave to avert clashes.

“The unsettling political situation will limit fund inflows to the Thai stock market,” said Chakkrit Charoenmetachai, an analyst with Globlex Securities. “Foreign investors have made huge buys … so they could hold back somewhat now.”

The Finance Ministry said in revised economic forecasts published on Monday that the economy could grow 4.5 percent this year, up from 3.5 percent seen in December, but ministry officials said political tension could throw that out of gear.

On Sunday, Abhisit was locked in televised talks for almost three hours with leaders of the movement, who broadly support twice-elected former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, but Abhisit rejected ultimatums and said any solution would take time.

He abruptly concluded the discussion when pressed about a timeframe for parliamentary dissolution. He left on Monday for a short visit to nearby Brunei, but was scheduled to return to resume the talks at 1100 GMT.

One of the movement leaders, Jatuporn Prompan, said he would pick up where he left off. “What I asked him last night, I’ll ask him again,” he told reporters.

DIVIDED COUNTRY

Abhisit must call an election by the end of next year but insists the country is too divided to face a vote, which analysts say Thaksin’s political allies are likely to win, raising the possibility of another judicial or military intervention.

The embattled Abhisit says agreements have to be reached before house dissolution to prevent violence and ensure all parties can canvass without obstruction or foul play.

Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said on Monday that leaders of coalition parties supported the idea of house dissolution by the end of this year after amendments are made to the army-drafted 2008 constitution.

“The proposal will be handed to the prime minister before he holds talks with the ‘red shirts’,” Suthep told reporters.

After two weeks of peaceful rallies, the “red shirts” have intensified their campaign to topple the government, triggering fears of clashes between security forces and protesters and a flurry of negotiations to defuse tensions.

It appeared they were responding to calls late last week by ousted former premier Thaksin, their assumed leader and financier, for a campaign of “civil disobedience”.

The threat of a flare-up by the protesters and a slew of mysterious but non-fatal grenade attacks and small bombings on government buildings, banks, and three state-controlled television stations have rattled the city of 15 million.

The protests and symbolic attacks continue to draw attention to the deep divisiveness in Southeast Asia’s second-biggest economy which has clouded the long-term outlook, with foreign investment pledges down 15 percent this year.

Analysts have said Abhisit, who enjoys staunch backing of the military and Thailand’s establishment elites, is unlikely to make any real concessions but wants to be seen to be reaching out to a movement he has long snubbed.

The “red shirts” say Abhisit is beholden to the military because it secretly orchestrated defections that helped him form a government after a ruling pro-Thaksin party was disbanded.

(Additional reporting by Pracha Hariraksapitak; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Jerry Norton)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Troops step back from Thai protests, tensions mount

March 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Thai “red shirt” protesters raised tensions on Saturday with threats to expel thousands of troops guarding Bangkok’s old city during a rally to oust Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators seeking a new election gathered at eight points in Bangkok’s historic heart and vowed to tear down barbed-wire barricades, prompting troops to pack up and leave in a bid to avoid clashes.

“We’re at the point where this is it — this is the breaking point,” a protest leader, Nattawut Saikua, shouted to the crowd at what the protesters have called a “historic rally”.

“If we lose, we will probably go to jail, if we win, then we get a democracy back,” he said.

The fiery rhetoric represents a more confrontational approach by the movement, which backs twice-elected former premier Thaksin Shinawatra and has taken aim at the military and so-called bureaucratic elites it says conspired to overthrow him in 2006.

Analysts say protest leaders are facing a dilemma: either maintain their non-violent approach and fail to rattle the government, or up the ante and risk sparking clashes that could cost them their fast-growing support and credibility.

The lack of violence combined with Abhisit’s steadfast military backing has encouraged foreign investors lured by cheap shares with high dividend yields to pour into Thailand’s stock market in recent weeks.

On Friday, foreigners bought Thai stocks for a 24th straight session, spending a net 1.01 billion baht ($31.2 million). They have purchased about 47 billion baht ($1.5 billion) since Feb. 22 as hot money continues to flow into regional bourses.

Thai Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said on Friday capital inflows into the Thai bourse should continue for the foreseeable future, although any escalation in political tension could trigger outflows.

The protests highlight a deepening divide in Southeast Asia’s second-biggest economy which has made investors think twice about longer term expansion in Thailand.

Many believe the situation will only escalate, especially if a pro-Thaksin government wins the next election as is likely. Many investors are eyeing other, more stable countries.

TROOPS U-TURN

The mostly rural protesters gathered in groups of thousands outside locations that included universities, Buddhist temples and a zoo, all of which were guarded by troops empowered by a tough internal security law to keep the “red shirts” at bay.

In response to threats, the army defiantly declared its troops were going nowhere.

“It’s just not possible we will withdraw our forces,” army spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd told Channel 3 television.

But minutes later, soldiers at several locations took down barricades and left.

“We have adjusted our troops to a more appropriate place. We’re doing this to avoid any confrontation and to reduce the tensions,” Sansern later told Modern Nine television.

A military crackdown on protesters in Bangkok almost a year ago led to Thailand’s worst street violence in 17 years, which prompted sovereign credit ratings downgrades and earned the “red shirts” a reputation as thugs hired by Thaksin.

The army’s latest response highlights simmering tensions in Bangkok as Abhisit continues to frustrate the “red shirts” by refusing to dissolve parliament and setting “unacceptable” pre-conditions for dialogue.

A small bomb exploded near the city’s customs department, far from the protest site, early on Saturday, the latest in a slew of mysterious blasts and grenade attacks that have caused minimal damage but kept the city on edge.

Abhisit left a meeting of his Democrat Party in the seaside town of Hua Hin by helicopter on Saturday to return to a military base in the capital, where he has spent most of the past two weeks.

(Additional reporting by Ploy Ten Kate; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Paul Tait)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Christmas Island influx putting lives at risk

March 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Doctors and nurses on Christmas Island are struggling to cope with the increasing workload in the island’s hospital, ABC News Online has learned.

A source who worked within Christmas Island health services and asked to remain anonymous says the hospital is under strain because of the growing population of asylum seekers and associated staff.

More than 25 boats have arrived in Australian waters this year and Christmas Island’s detention centre is almost at capacity.

The Federal Government is preparing to move some asylum seekers from Christmas Island to the mainland today.

But the source told ABC News Online that Christmas Island is “bursting” and all aspects of the island are under strain, particularly health services.

A 2002 government report found the hospital could handle a population of 10,000, but the source says the nine-bed hospital is understaffed and a lot of the rooms are not being used properly.

“It’s harder on Christmas Island than it used to be. Health facilities are being stretched. Whether they’re at breaking point, we won’t know until there’s a disaster,” the source said.

“The strain is caused by an increase in numbers – that’s not just asylum seekers. Remember they bring in attachments – all those people go through the community facility. The attachments to the asylum seekers put more strain on the local facilities than the asylum seekers do.”

The “attachments” are the workers that come to the island because of the detention centre: Immigration Department employees, Red Cross workers, security guards and interpreters. Family groups and children of the asylum seekers also use the hospital’s services.

There are doctors at the detention centre, but they are only set up to do general practice consultation and offer minor-level care, so asylum seekers are often treated at the hospital.

The source says as the Christmas Island population has grown, the number of doctors and nurses has not increased.

“The number of people being cared for in the hospital is increasing. The waiting times are getting longer. If you double your population, you double your waiting time,” he said.

“The busier you are, the more likely something untoward will happen.

“The isolation is a problem in itself – there’s better medical treatment available in Indonesia than there is on Christmas Island.”

The source says Christmas Island does not have the facilities to cope with complicated medical conditions, with no surgeons or anaesthetists on hand.

“People do die on Christmas Island who wouldn’t die in the city. You can’t treat everything on Christmas Island,” he said.

“If there’s more than two people injured at once in a car accident on Christmas Island, it’s a disaster and it overwhelms the medical facility because they don’t have the staff to cope.

“Calling Christmas Island Hospital a hospital is a bit of an ask. It’s not what people would imagine it to be…. It’s more like a medical centre with in-patient facilities.

“The more people on the island, then the higher the likelihood that specialist services – surgery, cardiology, CT scans, ultrasound or paediatrics – will be urgently needed. The time delay to these services can be critical in severe injury or illness.”

‘Better than mainland services’

The Minister for Home Affairs, Brendan O’Connor, refutes the allegations of under-staffing and under-resourcing at the hospital.

“Hospital staffing at Christmas Island is comparable or better than similar remote health services on the mainland,” he told the ABC.

“The hospital, which is run by the Indian Ocean Territories Health Service, is a first-class facility which is dealing adequately with the health needs of people on Christmas Island.”

A spokesman for Attorney-General Robert McClelland has denied the hospital would not be able to cope in the event of a disaster. He says the island’s emergency plan is integrated with those of other emergency response agencies in the Indian Ocean Territories.

“It is common practice for small hospitals in remote locations not to provide a full suite of services and to transport passengers for more complex and serious injuries to major metropolitan hospitals where specialist treatment is available,” he said.

The spokesman also denies that waiting times for most health services have blown out.

“Demand for dental services has resulted in some delay, but access remains better than in many similar communities,” he said.

“The Department of Immigration and Citizenship is increasing dental services to meet this demand.”

He also says the hospital’s budget was increased this year by $600,000 to support the growing demand.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tensions rise over Gulf housing plan

March 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

An Indigenous lobbyist says tensions are at breaking point in the Gulf of Carpentaria community of Doomadgee over 40-year leases.

The Federal Government has allocated funding for housing upgrades in remote communities but it is subject to the State Government administering the leases.

Indigenous lobbyist Murrandoo Yanner says residents have not been consulted and legal avenues are being investigated to fight the plan.

He says people will be forced to buy a home rather than live communally.

But Mount Isa MP Betty Kiernan says there have been lengthy consultations in Doomadgee over the matter.

“The truth is some community leaders and their families are working in the best interest of their community while others make threats of violence,” she said.

“Violence has no place in any society and the truth is for the first time in their lives people who wish to buy their own homes can and that can only be a good thing.”

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Adebayor lifts lid on his abusive treatment by Arsenal

September 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Sep 18 (ANI): Emmanuel Adebayor has criticized Arsenal after getting a three-match ban for his stamp on striker Robin van Persie.

“There is only so much abuse a man can take until he reaches breaking point,” Adebayor said.

Adebayor lifted the lid on his treatment by the Gunners and their fans that led to his outrageous behaviour in Saturday’s 4-2 win, and insisted: “Arsenal players refused to shake his hand before the game.”

He suffered 60 minutes of non-stop abuse from away fans before he turned the tables on them with his goal, The Sun reports.

Arsene Wenger completed his 25 million pounds summer move from Arsenal behind his back.

Adebayor, banned for Sunday’s Manchester derby, said: “I could not understand some of the Arsenal players being disrespectful towards me.”

“I was being abused by people who six months ago were singing my name. The abuse was for no reason. It wasn’t my fault I left, it was Arsene who wanted to accept the offer for me,” he added. (ANI)

Filed Under: Sports News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Lovesick Leona Lewis to ‘quit’ U.S.

May 24, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, May 24 (ANI): Leona Lewis is reportedly leaving America to return to London for her boyfriend Lou Al-Chamaa.

The 24-year-old singer, who shot to fame after winning UK TV talent contest ‘The X Factor’, has been making her second album in the States and planned to make her move there permanent.

However, the long-distance relationship is taking toll on her boyfriend, according to sources.

“Leona knows Lou was reaching breaking point. If she wanted to stay with him she was going to have to move back. He’s got a good job in music and wasn’t prepared to move to America,” News of the World quoted a source as saying.

“He was sick of all the visits over and was starting to get jealous about her friendships.

“She loves him very much and decided it was finally time to stop putting her career first.

“She’ll still make lots of trips over because she’s massively popular there.

“But she’ll stay permanently based in London,” the source added. (ANI)

Filed Under: Entertainment News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Expenses row might provoke suicide, British MP warns

May 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Embarrassing disclosures about the vast expenses claims of British members of parliament amount to a “McCarthy-style witch-hunt” that risks driving politicians to suicide, a lawmaker warned on Friday.

Nadine Dorries, a member of the opposition Conservative party, wrote on her blog that the two-week scandal, in which the Daily Telegraph newspaper has drip-fed details of how members of parliament have abused their generous expense allowances, was forcing politicians to the brink.

The scandal has triggered outrage across recession-hit Britain and opposition calls for an early general election.

European and local elections to be held on June 4 are expected to reflect the level of popular disgust, with lower voter turnout and a move towards fringe parties predicted.

“The atmosphere in Westminster is unbearable,” Dorries wrote on the blog (http://blog.dorries.org). “People are constantly checking to see if others are OK. Everyone fears a suicide. If someone isn’t seen, offices are called and checked.”

Asked about her comments on BBC radio on Friday, she sought to back away from the suicide suggestion, but said the disclosures, including that politicians charged for duck ponds, horse manure, bath plugs and pornographic films, were forcing members of parliament to breaking point.

“What the Telegraph are executing is almost a McCarthy-style witch-hunt. The way they are deploying their tactics and the way they are treating MPs has reached a point now at almost two weeks where I think people are seriously beginning to crack.

“I have to say the last day in parliament this week was completely unbearable. I have never, ever been in an atmosphere or an environment like it, where everyone walks around with terror in their eyes. People are genuinely concerned.”

“UNBEARABLE DISCLOSURE”

Dorries, whose own use of expenses to buy household goods was exposed by the Telegraph, joins a number of politicians who have attacked the disclosures rather than apologising.

Conservative Party leader David Cameron, who is expected to win the next election, said she should be thinking about the electorate not other MPs.

“Of course MPs are concerned about what is happening, but frankly MPs ought to be concerned about what their constituents think, they ought to be worrying about the people who put us where we are,” he told the BBC.

The disclosures have focused on MP’s use of second-home allowances to charge a host of ordinary items to expenses and sidestep capital gains taxes. On Friday one MP who used his expenses to pay for his daughter’s home in London today faced a closer examination of his records and said he could stand down.

Several MPs have either been admonished by their parties or said they will give up their seats at the next election, which has to be held before June next year.

Politicians have been heckled and shouted at in the street for their behaviour and police are investigating whether there should be possible criminal charges.

(Additional reporting by Adrian Croft)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

SP-Congress alliance at breaking point

March 6, 2009 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Mar 6 (ANI): Samajwadi Party General Secretary Amar Singh on Friday declared that the party’s alliance with the Congress was ‘broken’ and he could not offer more than 17 seats in Uttar Pradesh to the latter.

“I do not want to use any harsh words, but the alliance is broken. The obituary of the alliance was written the day Congress had announced its list of 24 candidates in Uttar Pradesh. We cannot offer more than 17 seats to the Congress,” Amar Singh told reporters here.

The Congress announced its first list of 24 candidates from Uttar Pradesh on Wedenesday.

The Samajwadi Party appeared unhappy with that decision and claimed that the party was under pressure from its rank and file to field its own nominees.

“We are under pressure from party workers against leaving the sitting seats. A final decision is to be taken by the party chief,” said Shivpal Singh Yadav, the President of the Uttar Pradesh unit of the Samajwadi Party and brother of Party President Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Samajwadi Party, which unilaterally announced 62 nominees so far, has said it would not field candidates in Rae Bareily and Amethi from where the Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are contesting. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

IPL money putting Oz players at breaking point

February 1, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Melbourne, Feb 1 (ANI): Australian players are still putting their hands out for the millions of dollars on offer in the Indian Premier League, despite Cricket Australia facing its worst crisis in the last 25 years.

Amid growing fears the revered baggy green is being compromised by baggy greed, players are facing injuries, Australia have lost their No.1 ranking in one-day cricket and are poised to surrender top spot to South Africa this month in Test cricket.

In fact, things have become so grim that people are saying Australia will lose the Ashes in England later this year, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Fast bowler Mitchell Johnson is the only leading Australian player unavailable for this year’s Twenty20 extravaganza.

Over the next 13 months, Australia is facing a strenuous schedule of 23 Tests and a combination of over 50 one-day internationals and Twenty20 fixtures.

Even South Africa coach Mickey Arthur has pointed to Australia’s taxing schedule as a reason for their demise this summer, with the Australians losing their first Test series at home in 16 years.

Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Shane Watson, Phil Jaques and spinning hopeful Bryce McGain have all been sidelined for lengthy periods this summer with injuries, adding to the concerns of burnout.

Former fast bowler Damien Fleming cautioned administrators against over-scheduling matches to the detriment of the game.

“A year ago we were saying if there’s too much cricket, why should you go and play the IPL? But now we know it’s this big beast that’s making a lot of money it’s almost like the IPL should be taken into consideration with the workload,” Fleming said. (ANI)

Filed Under: Sports News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,