Live breaking news:'Too little, too late': NSW Premier slammed by lockdown mayor

As more than half a million more Sydneysiders are plunged into even a harsher lockdown, a local mayor has slammed the Premier. 

The Government of NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has been slammed as "bumbling" by a Sydney mayor whose local area has been shunted into even harsher lockdown measures as the city's covid outbreak shows no sign of stopping. 

 

 

Steve Christou, the mayor of Cumberland in Sydney's west, has written to Premier Berejiklian to slam the vaccination rollout in the state calling it "disastrous" and "too little, too late".

Cumberland, along with Blacktown, was one of a further two council areas to be included in stricter lockdown measures bringing it into line with nearby Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown and Liverpool LGAs. That was after 136 new cases were recorded in the state in the last 24 hours. 

Meanwhile, NSW has been dealt another blow on Friday after national cabinet didn't even discuss the state's pleas to get more vaccines for the outbreak epicentre. 

News.com.au understands Ms Berejiklian's Plan B, that would have seen existing vaccination appointments with GPs in Sydney cancelled and those vials diverted to people at the centre of the outbreak, was also shot down.  

Instead, more people in NSW will be able to get their first doses of Pfizer. But only by making people wait longer for dose two. 

Updates

7:18 am August 16, 2021 Highlight

Party-goers blasted by premier

An epidemiologist has said other states needed to stop sniping at NSW and start helping it overcome its outbreak.

Yet again today Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan had a dig at NSW saying it had "half-baked measures" in place. Previously he had accused Sydneysiders of being "flippant" when it comes to following the rules.

Today, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said a "ring of steel" should surround Sydney.

But no states agreed to hand any vaccines over to NSW to help it jab people in the outbreak's epicentre

On The Project tonight University of Melbourne epidemiologist Nancy Baxter was asked by guest host Rove McManus if it was "a bit rich of NSW to ask other states to give up their vaccines when it hasn't yet tried things like a 5km radius curfews or a ring of steel?"

To note, Sydney does have a 10km radius.

University of Melbourne epidemiologist Nancy Baxter

"I don't think any of those things are really going to make a huge difference within Sydney itself," said Ms Baxter.

"The LGAs that have the highest rate of cases are very locked down right now and those people are exposed to a much higher likelihood of getting covid than anyone else in Australia right now.

"Many of them are essential workers so they're having to go out to work and they're bringing covid back in the community and spreading it elsewhere," said Ms Baxter.

"I think we can treat Sydney like a bad child or we can say that Sydney's in trouble right now and if we're in trouble in two months I would hope that the rest of Australia would help us."

6:56 pm August 15, 2021

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian was snubbed by the Prime Minister, sources have said, as she attempted to get more jabs into arms into the outbreak’s epicentre.

At her daily briefing this morning, Ms Berejiklian openly pleaded to get more vaccines into Sydney to fight the outbreak.

But she didn't actually ask for any more shots during national cabinet this afternoon.

News.com.au's political editor Samantha Maiden has reported that the Premier did not formally ask for more jabs from other states because she knew she wasn't going to get them.

Earlier today, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews had said he did not support diverting some of that state’s supply north of the Murray despite rising Sydney case numbers.

NSW put no formal position to national cabinet to redirect vaccines. She put in proposal to cancel GP EXISTING appointments – in NSW – and redirect to SW & W Sydney. PM didn’t back this. https://t.co/JNN2AiDblY

— Samantha Maiden (@samanthamaiden) July 23, 2021

So, Ms Berejiklian then tried another tactic – to persuade the PM to allow NSW to divert jabs from Sydney GPs into the city’s south west. That would have meant cancelling existing GP vaccination appointments in other areas of the city.

But the PM said no to this plan too.

Instead, more first Pfizer doses will be administered by pushing out second doses from four to six weeks.

At his press conference following national cabinet Mr Morrison said NSW had got extra doses, but that were weeks ago and it wouldn't be getting any more any time soon.

"We have already given New South Wales an additional 150,000 doses. That was in immediate response to a request to Premier
made on 7 July.

"They have been provided with an additional hundred and 60,000 AstraZeneca doses. More doses will be provided New South Wales as they are available."

4:18 pm August 15, 2021

NSW may have made a call that its outbreak is a "national emergency" but the PM has said it's not "out of control" as was suggested by a reporter this afternoon.

"I have been treating Covid-19 as a national emergency for the last almost two years and that hasn't changed in that entirety of the time we have been managing this pandemic," he said after national cabinet.

The PM this afternoon. Picture: Gary Ramage.

"The data we see coming out in New South Wales is they have prevented the exponential growth we have seen in other countries, which has taken hold with Delta.

"So they have been able to suppress that exponential rate of growth, which is very important. When you have exponential growth in cases that's what you would call out of control. And that's not occurring
in New South Wales."

4:08 pm August 15, 2021

NSW will not be getting more doses, despite a plea from state premier Gladys Berejiklian.

Well it might be but not any time soon.

Rather, NSW will be able to jab more people through some shot creative accounting.

By pushing out second doses from four to six weeks more people will get dose one that will give them some protection.

PM Scott Morrison was asked directly if NSW would get more vaccines.

"The Federal Government will be working to support New South Wales and whether extra doses that can be provided to support the plan in place that that is what we will do."

When will they be available, asked a reporter.

"When they are available to be provided."

Of course, loads of AstraZeneca is sloshing around Australia.

2:30 pm August 15, 2021

Sydney radio host Kyle Sandilands influence on the highest echelons of government continues.

It was only a week or so ago Prime Minister Scott Morrison appeared on the show, now he's mentioning the Kiis FM's host new ditty released today encouraging vaccinations.

"Whether it is AstraZeneca or whether it is the Pfizer vaccine, both of those are important. And as Kyle Sandilands said, get vaccinated, baby."

EXCLUSIVE MUSIC VIDEO premiere of Kyle's Vaccine Anthem "Get Vaxxed Baby" 💉🎵 #KJshow #covid19 Brad Hazzard pic.twitter.com/FZMmsvIEb9

— Kyle and Jackie O (@kyleandjackieo) July 22, 2021

1:53 pm August 15, 2021

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said NSW will be able to give more first doses of Pfizer.

He was talking after national cabinet concluded this afternoon.

The increased rate of first doses will be done by pushing second doses out from four weeks to six weeks which he said was still well within the health advice.

However there are no extra doses for NSW at the moment.

The PM also said AstraZeneca's continued take up was critical.

"There was also widespread agreement, there was agreement amongst the National Cabinet that we need to continue to lean into AstraZeneca".

1:43 pm August 15, 2021 Highlight

Rogue premier's wild Covid plan

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is due to talk very soon following the national cabinet.

You can follow the press conference through the video at the top of this page.

12:50 pm August 15, 2021 Highlight

Grim signs for Victoria

The mayor of Cumberland, in Sydney's west, has written to Premier Gladys Berejiklian to slam the vaccination rollout in the state calling it "disastrous" and "too little, too late".

Although vaccine procurement is the responsibility of Canberra, states distribute the shots.

Cumberland, along with Blacktown, was one of a further two council areas to be included in stricter lockdown measures bringing it into line with nearby Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown and Liverpool LGAs.

Cumberland is just south of Parramatta and includes the major suburbs of Merrylands and Auburn.

"Our vulnerable residents have been let down by this bumbling and incompetent State Government," Mayor Steve Christou said.

"I write to convey my disappointment at the slow and disastrous roll out of the vaccination program."

He said he was "outraged" that Bunnings and Officeworks were being considered to be retro fitted for vaccination hubs when Cumberland had buildings ready to go.

"We offered our venues and facilities for vaccination hubs several weeks ago, yet these hubs were only confirmed this morning. Too little, too late"

Today Cumberland City Council was placed into full lockdown. Our vulnerable residents have been let down by this bumbling and incompetent State Government. My letter to the NSW Premier calling for our Residents to be given the appropriate resources and support they deserve. pic.twitter.com/bYuHFKQDHJ

— Mayor Steve Christou (@ChristouSteve) July 23, 2021

He said that many Cumberland residents were born overseas and were the "backbone" of the NSW economy including swathes of essential workers.

"This is a critical group that should be protested with vaccines to ensure the wheels of our economy continue to turn".

Mr Christou said he was prepared to offer council's "full support" to roll out mass vaccinations.

11:41 am August 15, 2021 Highlight

'Far too many cases': Fears grow over unliked infections

Athleisure brand Lorna Jane has copped a $5m fine for falsely claiming a product could protect its wearers from Covid-19.

This is not a wind up, this actually happened.

The brand has been slammed for its “exploitative, predatory and potentially dangerous” behaviour, during a ruling at the Federal Court in Brisbane reported the Courier Mail.

The case was bought by the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) but was settled when Lorna Jane admitted liability, just days before a hearing was due to begin next week.

Last year, the retailer marketed "Lorna Jane Shield" a “a water-based, non toxic mist” that could be sprayed on clothing and was said to eradicate viruses.

The firm directly cited Covid-19 in its marketing material including the slogan "cure for the spread of Covid-19? Lorna Jane thinks so".

The LJ Shield marketing material referenced Covid-19

Federal Court Justice Darryl Rangiah was scathing of Lorna Jane.

“Lorna Jane sought to exploit that fear and concern of the public through the use of misleading and deceptive and untrue representations about the properties of Lorna Jane Shield activewear,” he said.

“Lorna Jane sought to profit from the fear and concerns of the public in a way that involved unlawful conduct and contraventions of relevant provisions of the consumer law.

“Exploitative conduct of this kind will not pay," he added.

Lorna Jane founder Lorna Jane Clarkson remains heavily involved with the company that bears her name.

Lorna Jane has admitted it broke consumer law when it made false claims. It also said he had no test results that could back up the claims.

“The whole marketing campaign was based upon customers’ desire for greater protection against the global pandemic,” ACCC chair Rod Sims said.

“This was dreadful conduct as it involved making serious claims regarding public health when there was no basis for them.

The company was fined $5m which equals two weeks of gross profit.

11:22 am August 15, 2021 Highlight

ACT records two cases

A person with Covid-19 visited Dreamworld, the Gold Coast's iconic theme park.

They visited the park on Friday, July 16 between 10.30am and 2pm, according to Queensland Health.

Anyone who visited the park at those times is being asked to monitor for symptoms.

Staff members who came into contact with the person are being tested.

Covid went for a holiday to Dreamworld. Picture Glenn Hampson