Our Journalists

Tom MinearUS correspondent

Tom Minear is News Corp Australia’s US correspondent. He was previously based in Melbourne with the Herald Sun, where he started in 2011 and held positions including national political editor and state political editor. Minear has won Quill and Walkley journalism awards.

@tminear

Tom Minear

Latest

Coronavirus

UK PM gets virus, Italy deaths spike and US cases pass 100k

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19, as Italy recorded its highest daily death toll and cases in the US passed a grim milestone.

VIC News

Clusters of adults and kids gather on the pier at Half Moon Bay in Black Rock not adhering to social distancing due to the coronavirus pandemic. Picture : Ian Currie

Melbourne beaches to close after crowds defy distancing rules

St Kilda and other popular Melbourne beaches will shut after scores of people flocked to the bay despite coronavirus restrictions. It follows parts of The Alfred’s closure after two of the hospital’s cancer patients died after contracting COVID-19.

VIC News

Coronavirus fears have impacted travelers within Australia with Qantas canceling services and the domestic airport nearly empty during Tuesday afternoon. A near empty plane on a flight from Sydney to Melbourne at 3:30pm in the afternoon. This particular flight would normally be filled by passengers from international flights transferring from Sydney and people getting off cruise ships, both of which have been impacted heavily by the virus. Picture: Toby Zerna

Concern travellers returning to Vic are hiding illness

Three Victorians have died from coronavirus and several others are fighting for their lives as the country’s death toll rises to 13. It comes as experts flag concerns returned international travellers are trying to conceal the illness.

Opinion

EAST GIPPSLAND, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 04: Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning crew get into their vehicle to respond to a call on January 04, 2020 in Double Bridges, Australia. Two people are dead and 28 remain missing following bushfires across the East Gippsland area, with Victorian premier Daniel Andrews declaring a state of disaster in the region. Thousands of people remain stranded in the coastal town of Mallacoota and are being evacuated by navy ships to Melbourne. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

In this time of crisis, we must feel for fire-hit regions

Drought, fire, coronavirus — people in East Gippsland have been hit by a triple whammy and authorities — as well as fellow Australians — must not forget them, writes Tom Minear.

Illness

Medical workers wearing protective gear work by a patient (Rear R) on March 24, 2020 at the new COVID 3 level intensive care unit for coronavirus COVID-19 cases at the Casal Palocco hospital near Rome, during the country's lockdown aimed at stopping the spread of the COVID-19 (new coronavirus) pandemic. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP)

Elective surgery hold announced as Aussie cases skyrocket

Scott Morrison has announced all elective surgery will be put on hold to free up space in hospitals dealing with coronavirus as Australia’s confirmed cases surge past 2200.

VIC News

Transport costs skyrocket as work from home rises

Public transport operators are in need of assistance as they haemorrhage money to keep trains, trams and buses running despite majority of commuters working from home. It comes as the head of Victoria’s police union called for a state of disaster to be declared to give officers more powers to deal with coronavirus.

VIC News

FaceTime monitors quarantines as lockdown tightens

Victoria Police is stepping up its approach to coronavirus, with a 500-strong taskforce set to do regular checks on those in self-isolation. It comes as the Prime Minister announces new social isolation measures set to impact every Victorian.

Money

Photo of a stressed man going trough his financials problems,he is sitting in kitchen late at night checking and paying bills

Ultimate guide for Aussies needing financial relief

Cash-strapped Australians have plenty of places to turn to get help if they find themselves in a dire financial situation. Here is a list of where to start.

VIC News

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 22: China Town in Little Bourke Street is seen on March 22, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday introduced further measures to help stop the spread of COVID-19, implementing new rules limiting the number of people inside a venue to one every 4 square metres. Non-essential gatherings of 100 or more people indoors are banned, along with outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people in a bid to contain the spread of COVID-19. A travel ban on all visitors who are not Australian citizens or residents or their direct relations arriving into the country is now in place. There are now 1081 confirmed cases of COVID-19 In Australia and the death toll now stands at seven. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Courts close, venues empty under new lockdown rules

Victoria’s magistrates’ courts are the latest victim of the coronavirus crisis, undergoing a partial shutdown in a move which could cause three-year-long delays. It comes as venues across the state fall silent, with pubs, cinemas and casinos closing in preparation for life under lockdown to begin.

VIC News

People are seen waiting in line outside a Woolworths supermarket in Coburg, Melbourne, Thursday, March 19, 2020. For a second day, Woolworths has allowed the elderly access to early morning shopping ahead of the general public due to panic buying as Covid-19 fears mount. (AAP Image/James Ross) NO ARCHIVING

Victoria’s lockdown in detail: What you need to know

Victoria will shut down from Monday in an unprecedented move by the government in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus. For the latest Victorian information, visit the Herald Sun homepage.

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/journalists/tom-minear/page/187