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Live breaking news: Queensland Premier reveals Brisbane lockdown end, Australia's botched vaccine rollout slammed
Holiday-makers are facing delays of more than half an hour and kilometres of gridlock as residents exit Brisbane following lockdown's end.
The Morrison government has been lashed today over the nation's shockingly delayed vaccine program.
Holiday-makers are facing delays of more than half an hour and kilometres of gridlock as residents exit Brisbane following lockdown's end, just in time for Easter.
Significant delays are building from Pimpama to Coomera southbound on the Pacific Motorway (on the way to the Gold Coast), after a crash near the Coomera River bridge, leading to more than 10km of congestion, The Courier-Mail reports.
RACQ spokeswoman Lauren Ritchie told the publication that the delays would be worse than usual long weekend traffic.
"Come midday today around 2.5 million people in greater Brisbane will be released from lockdown, meaning those hitting the road will likely experience extensive delays and congestion, especially on the Pacific Motorway, Bruce Highway and Gateway Motorway," she warned.
"We say it every year, but please be patient and allow extra time, because the roads will be busier than usual."
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Updates
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Traffic chaos as lockdown ends
Holiday-makers are facing delays of more than half an hour and kilometres of gridlock as residents exit Brisbane following lockdown's end, just in time for Easter.
Significant delays are building from Pimpama to Coomera southbound on the Pacific Motorway (on the way to the Gold Coast), after a crash near the Coomera River bridge, leading to more than 10km of congestion, The Courier-Mail reports.
Traffic began building on the Queensland capital's roads within an hour of its three-day snap lockdown lifting early at midday.
Picture: Liam Kidston
Heading toward the Sunshine Coast, there's already more than 6km of congestion on the Bruce Highway after a multi-vehicle crash at Burpengary.
During the Easter period, Queensland Police Assistant Commissioner Ben Marcus urged people not to take "silly risks".
"We want to see people wearing their seatbelts, taking regular breaks and driving within their limits," he said.
There's congestion on the Pacific Motorway southbound at Reedy Creek around Exit 84 – allow extra travel time to account for delays on your journey. #qldtraffic pic.twitter.com/A3rc5C5t1I
— RACQ (@RACQOfficial) April 1, 2021
RACQ spokeswoman Lauren Ritchie told the publication that the delays would be worse than usual long weekend traffic.
"Come midday today around 2.5 million people in greater Brisbane will be released from lockdown, meaning those hitting the road will likely experience extensive delays and congestion, especially on the Pacific Motorway, Bruce Highway and Gateway Motorway," she warned.
"We say it every year, but please be patient and allow extra time, because the roads will be busier than usual."
Brisbane reclassified as 'orange zone' in Victoria
From 6pm AEDT tonight, the greater Brisbane area will be reclassified as an orange zone by the Victorian Government.
"People in Victoria who are observing red zone permit conditions and quarantining for 14 days will be designated orange zone arrivals and can end their isolation from 6pm if they have had a coronavirus test and returned a negative result since arriving in Victoria," the state's department of health wrote on Twitter.
"This EXCLUDES primary close contacts linked to exposure sites in Queensland and NSW, who must continue self-isolating for 14 days since their exposure."
Four killed in California mass shooting
Four people, including a child, have been killed in a shooting at an Orange, California office complex, and a fifth person injured, in America's third mass shooting in two weeks.
Orange Police Department spokeswoman Lieutenant Jennifer Amat told the Los Angeles Times that officers received a call about 5.30pm local time on Wednesday of shots fired, and responded to a business at 202 Lincoln Avenue in Orange.
Picture: Patrick T Fallon/AFP
Police encountered gunfire upon arrival and opened fire, striking the shooter who was taken to hospital in an unknown condition, she said.
There's no current threat to the public.
Woman's plea after car stolen during test drive
A Sydney woman forced to sell her car after losing her job due to the coronavirus pandemic has issued a plea after the vehicle was stolen during a test drive.
Rebecca Silk sought help on Facebook after her $21,000 Holden was stolen from Penrith last week, writing that she'd decided to sell the car in order to continue paying her rent.
"I let a man on Thursday afternoon test drive my car which he has not given back. The car is priced $21,000 and I don't know what to do," she wrote.
Picture: Facebook
"I have reported it to the police but there have been no results so far. Please I need your help as I'm about to be evicted due to my financial situation."
Social media users quickly criticised Ms Silk, saying she "willingly gave him your keys and let him take the car without being it. Regardless of knowing who is now, that was stupid on your behalf".
Nepean Police Area Command officers are investigating the theft.
April Fool's prank state actually loves
West Australians proudly do things differently to the rest of the country, so when Premier Mark McGowan pulled an April Fool’s Day prank, announcing the state’s “official sandwich and coffee”, people were actually on-board.
“Often, when I’m out and about, people ask me ‘what is the official sandwich and coffee order of Western Australia?’ and they are shocked by the answer: We’ve never had one. But today, that changes,” Mr McGowan posted on Facebook.
“Two significant local culinary innovations have shown our mastery of some of the most popular types of foods and drinks around the world. Today we pay tribute to those wonderful WA products.
“I am pleased to announce that today, 1 April 2021, is a historic day – the day we declare our first official coffee order and official sandwich.”
The lengthy gag continued as the Premier even lightly poked fun at Melbourne.
“People go on about Melbourne coffee, but the fact is that here in WA we’ve perfected the art – and our most special order is proof of that fact,” he said.
“It’s an order that will only get you puzzled reactions from a barista anywhere else, but it’s a favourite over here: the long mac topped up.”
– Additional reporting NCA NewsWire
Biden's dog strikes again
Joe Biden’s younger german shepherd has struck again, this time “nipping” at a National Park Service employee.
The “nip” came after three-year-old german shepherd Major and his more sedate older brother Champ were sent back to Delaware for training following an incident where Major bit a guard and charged at other staffers in March.
.@POTUS’s dog Major enjoying the sunny day. pic.twitter.com/P4fbmH7Ahx
— Jeff Mason (@jeffmason1) March 29, 2021
The latest incident happened on the South Lawn of the White House on Monday afternoon.
The dog was also papped while being taken on a walk on a leash.
“Yes, Major nipped someone on a walk,” First Lady Jill Biden’s press secretary Michael LaRosa told CNN.
He said the dog was “still adjusting to his new surroundings” and that the person he “nipped” wasn’t injured and saw medical staff as a precaution.
Deputy Premier's savage swipe at Minister
Queensland deputy premier Steven Miles has lashed the Morrison government amid the ongoing vaccine rollout feud, accusing his federal counterparts of attempting to force a disgraced MP out of the news cycle.
Federal Coalition frontbencher David Littleproud was the latest to stoke fury from premiers and state health ministers, ordering them to “pull their finger out” over the slow distribution of the coronavirus jabs.
Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dan Peled
But Mr Miles said the comments were misinformed and undermined confidence in the vaccine, accusing the Morrison government of attempting to deflect focus from Queensland MP Andrew Laming who stood down after he was the subject of complaints from two women who accused him of harassing them online.
“We can all agree that David Littleproud is 2021’s April fool,” the deputy premier said today.
He said the Sunshine State had just a three-day supply of the Pfizer vaccine on hand, and 12 of the AstraZeneca jab.
– Additional reporting NCA NewsWire
More good news for QLD
The Northern Territory has removed Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Logan, Redlands and Toowoomba from its list of coronavirus hotspots.
The move comes as the state's three-day lockdown lifted at noon today.
It means people travelling from those regions into the NT will not have to endure quarantine on arrival, while those currently quarantining will be able to depart.
However, Byron Bay remains on the NT hotspot list for now.
Queensland's new roadmap
Confused about the new rules imposed on Queenslanders?
Premier Annastacia Palasczcuk has shared a guide to the new restrictions on Twitter.
PLEASE SHARE: Everything you need to know about Queensland’s updated roadmap for easing restrictions 👇 pic.twitter.com/GXhCqVpulp
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) March 31, 2021
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