As it happened: Victorian restrictions ease further as state records 1656 new local COVID-19 cases, ten deaths; NSW records 268 new cases, two deaths; Gladys Berejiklian fronting ICAC

That's it for this week. Thanks for reading and engaging through the comments section. Here are some of the headlines from today:

• Amid storms and wild weather, Victoria's restrictions have eased after the state hit 80 per cent of double-dose vaccinations. Travel anywhere in the state is now allowed, which will lead to some joyful regional-metro reunions after a grim few months of lockdown. Among the changes to public health orders is the provision for Victorians to ditch their masks when outside.
• Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian gave evidence today to the corruption inquiry probing whether she breached the public trust or encouraged corrupt conduct during her undisclosed relationship with former MP Daryl Maguire. As the Herald's state political editor writes, "she was defiant as ever and maintained she had not done anything untoward in keeping her relationship secret".
• One of the big issues this week has been Victoria's proposed pandemic laws which, if legislated, would give the government sweeping powers to act without parliamentary oversight. Fourteen senior lawyers have written an open letter with deep concerns about the bill, which they say effectively allows the government to "rule by decree" indefinitely. The legislation passed the lower house last night, and only needs three of 11 upper house crossbenchers' votes for it to become law. The opposition has promised to repeal the laws if they win the 2022 election.
• The Reserve Bank has abandoned a key element of its program to safeguard the economy through the coronavirus recession, opening the way to higher interest rates that could weigh on the runaway property market while delivering relief to those dependent on their savings for income.
• And despite "lots of leads", four-year-old Western Australian girl Cleo Smith is still missing. Nearly two weeks since she was last seen, police say they have no suspects despite plenty of leads to follow up, and haven't had any luck identifying a car seen near the remote campsite where she disappeared.

Have a peaceful weekend.

At least 10 COVID-19 cases have been linked to the Tea Gardens Hotel in Bondi, with visitors told to get tested and isolate.

NSW Health said the cases either attended the pub while infectious, or acquired their infections at the venue on October 23.

Tea Gardens HotelCredit: Photo: supplied

Anyone who attended the pub that night from 7.30pm until closing is considered a casual contact and must immediately get tested and isolate until a negative result is received.

“NSW Health has individually contacted people who attended the venue at the times when an infectious person was there,” the health department said in a statement.

“The hotel has been referred to the Office of Liquor and Gaming to review compliance with COVID-Safe measures.”

That's it for this week. Thanks for reading and engaging through the comments section. Here are some of the headlines from today:

• Amid storms and wild weather, Victoria's restrictions have eased after the state hit 80 per cent of double-dose vaccinations. Travel anywhere in the state is now allowed, which will lead to some joyful regional-metro reunions after a grim few months of lockdown. Among the changes to public health orders is the provision for Victorians to ditch their masks when outside.
• Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian gave evidence today to the corruption inquiry probing whether she breached the public trust or encouraged corrupt conduct during her undisclosed relationship with former MP Daryl Maguire. As the Herald's state political editor writes, "she was defiant as ever and maintained she had not done anything untoward in keeping her relationship secret".
• One of the big issues this week has been Victoria's proposed pandemic laws which, if legislated, would give the government sweeping powers to act without parliamentary oversight. Fourteen senior lawyers have written an open letter with deep concerns about the bill, which they say effectively allows the government to "rule by decree" indefinitely. The legislation passed the lower house last night, and only needs three of 11 upper house crossbenchers' votes for it to become law. The opposition has promised to repeal the laws if they win the 2022 election.
• The Reserve Bank has abandoned a key element of its program to safeguard the economy through the coronavirus recession, opening the way to higher interest rates that could weigh on the runaway property market while delivering relief to those dependent on their savings for income.
• And despite "lots of leads", four-year-old Western Australian girl Cleo Smith is still missing. Nearly two weeks since she was last seen, police say they have no suspects despite plenty of leads to follow up, and haven't had any luck identifying a car seen near the remote campsite where she disappeared.

Have a peaceful weekend.

One of the big issues this week has been Victoria's proposed pandemic laws which, if legislated, would give the government sweeping powers to act without parliamentary oversight.

Today, 14 senior lawyers have written an open letter opposing the bill.

They warn the laws run counter to basic democratic principles and give politicians “a blank cheque to rule by decree” indefinitely.

The barristers argue the legislation also prevents proper scrutiny of government decisions.

"It is one thing to allow temporary rule by decree to deal with an unforeseen and extraordinary emergency in circumstances of extreme urgency. It is something else altogether to entrench rule by decree as a long-term norm," they write.

"In our view, this is antithetical to basic democratic principles and should not be allowed to happen."

Read more here.

On Wednesday, Josh Cavallo made history when he became the only openly gay current top-tier professional footballer in the world after he came out in an emotional video and open letter on social media.

The 21-year-old Adelaide United midfielder had struggled with his sexuality for years and said being closeted had negatively impacted his mental health.

Despite his fears around what coming out would mean for his career as a professional footballer, Cavallo was overwhelmed with support from around the world, including from other professional players at some of the world’s biggest clubs.

Today on Please Explain, football reporter Dominic Bossi joins Nathanael Cooper to look at what this means in the broader context of the sporting world.

Victoria's daily COVID-19 press conferences will come to an end tomorrow, as the state closes in on its target to fully vaccinate 80 per cent of people over 16.

The state government will still front the media most days on other matters, and take questions, but health officials will not join them except for major COVID-19 news.

Bye Brett. Credit: Joe Armao

The Department of Health will continue to publish COVID-19 numbers in a morning Twitter post and Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton will send out more details to the media later in the mornings.

At today's press conference, Professor Sutton said he would miss "some" journalists.

While Victoria is mopping up from hectic storms overnight and this morning, it's a different story north of the border.

In Sydney, the temperature hit 33 degrees about 2pm with gusty westerly winds. Beachgoers at Bondi lapped up the sunshine ahead of a cooler weekend.

Day for it.Credit: Edwina Pickles

The water temperature is about 20 degrees. Brrrr.Credit: Edwina Pickles

Melburnians planning to head to the regions as restrictions ease at 6pm have been warned to check their routes for road closures after wild winds with gusts of up to 122 kilometres an hour brought down trees and powerlines, closed roads and dislodged roofs.

State Emergency Service operations boss Tim Wiebusch said the danger hadn't completely passed, with winds expected in different parts of the state until about 7pm.

A roof blown off a building in Frankston in Melbourne’s south-east.Credit: Paul Jeffers

"Those winds fortunately have now moved out of the metropolitan area and we're starting to see that front move through Gippsland now as well," Mr Wiebusch said. "We are expecting for another two hours that we could see wind gusts in the vicinity of 100 to 120 kilometres an hour through the Gippsland central districts."

Although the front is expected to have passed by the time metropolitan and regional areas are reunited at 6pm, the storm could affect holiday plans for the long weekend.

"Similarly, if you're looking forward to getting out into our parks across Victoria, make sure you take checking the Parks Victoria website as there may be some localised park and campsite closures due to the storm impacts," Mr Wiebusch said.

At Frankston, wind gusts of up to 122 kilometres an hour were recorded, while there were gusts of about 140 kilometres an hour recorded in the Grampians. There have not been any reports of injuries.

Minister for Emergency Services Jaclyn Symes said there were significant power outages across the state and about half the 3000 calls to the SES were still outstanding.

Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian is now giving evidence to a corruption inquiry. You can listen and follow live here, but in the meantime here's a summary of this morning's session.

Ms Berejiklian, in her first evidence in the witness box, told the Independent Commission Against Corruption probe she would still keep secret her five-year relationship with disgraced ex-MP Daryl Maguire if she had her time again.

Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian outside the ICAC this morning.Credit: Renee Nowytarger

“I didn’t feel it was of sufficient standard or sufficient significance in order to do that,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“The threshold for me was, did I feel there was a commitment which I would be able to share with my parents or my sisters? And I didn’t feel that there was a sufficient significance in order to do that in terms of commitment.

“I regarded him as a part of my love circle…of people that I strongly cared for.”

The inquiry is focused on two multimillion-dollar grants issued to a gun club and a music conservatorium in Mr Maguire’s electorate while the pair were in a relationship and Ms Berejiklian was treasurer and later premier.

The commission heard a series of intercepted phone call excerpts between Ms Berejiklian and Ms Maguire in which she assured him she would step in to ensure $170 million in funding for his electorate.

Mr Maguire said he had told then treasurer Dominic Perrottet he would have a “f--king riot on [his] hands” if projects like the Wagga Wagga Base Hospital and Tumut Hospital were not funded.

In another call hours later Ms Berejiklian said: “I’ve already got you the Wagga hospital. I just spoke to Dom [Perrottet]... he does what I ask him to.

“We’re giving Wagga more money than ever before,” Ms Berejiklian said. “I’ve now got you the one hundred and seventy mill in five minutes.”

Read more here.

West Australia Police Detective Superintendent Rod Wilde will speak to the media at 2pm (AEDT) in Carnarvon about the disappearance of four-year-old Cleo Smith. Watch below:

As more than 450,000 Victorian homes and businesses are left without power after wild storms lashed the state, the energy market operator has warned Victorians to consider their travel plans for the long weekend.

The Australian Energy Market Operator said “challenging weather conditions” were continuing to cause damage across Victoria’s energy network.

Storms have caused major damage in Victoria.

“Victorians travelling this weekend should consider their plans as storms and electricity outages are widespread,” the statement said.

Anyone who decides to change their plans will be disappointed as many Victorians were planning to hit the road for a holiday once regional travel restrictions are lifted at 6pm tonight.

The operator some customers may be without power into the weekend and possibly even early next week.

The storms began last night, ripping roofs off homes and causing hundreds of trees to smash over power lines and through cars.

Read more about the damage here.