That's it from us on the blog tonight. You can have a read back through all of today's updates – in the meantime, take care, and we'll be back tomorrow.
Live Breaking News: Expert hints at freedoms for fully-vaccinated Victorians
A number of small freedoms could be coming for fully-vaccinated Victorians, one of Australia's leading virus experts has revealed.
A number of small freedoms could be coming for fully-vaccinated Victorians, one of Australia's leading virus experts has revealed.
Deakin University chair of epidemiology, Catherine Bennett, has told the Herald Sun that visits to the hairdresser, having a coffee outdoors at a cafe or staying at a holiday home could be among the benefits offered in the near future.
Providing staff and customers are fully vaccinated, restaurants and cafes could also be allowed to trade for outdoor dining, and school could return for older students.
"This will be our transition out of lockdown, while maintaining control of the virus at the same time," Professor Bennett said.
"When we feel safe to do so, we will take the next step."
Curfew, exercise limits and reasons to leave the home are among the rules she said will lift next.
Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters earlier that he'll announce a series of "careful and considered" changes that will come into play if the state can't get down to zero cases, until it hits the targets of 70 and 80 per cent fully vaccinated under the national plan.
Prof Bennett said the state is likely "a little off opening retail", and that large events and mass gatherings would be the last to return.
Updates
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Victoria records two Covid deaths
Victoria has recorded two deaths from Covid-19 in the last 24 hours.
One was a female in her 40s from the Darebin LGA and the other was a female in her 60s from the Hume LGA. Both women died at home, according to Victoria's Department of Health, and are the state's first deaths from Covid-19 this year.
The state reported 76 new cases today.
Palaszczuk’s new border barrier
The Queensland government will soon force employers and those sponsoring international students to pay the hefty cost of hotel quarantine before the international arrivals enter the state.
Prepayment for the thousands of dollars to cover the mandatory health direction proposed by the Palaszczuk government will apply to businesses and sponsors paying on behalf of individuals, creating a big financial barrier for those previously reliant on having time to pay off their debt.
The change was added to a proposed extension of public health legislation to manage the pandemic response, which will go before parliament this week.
Health Minister Yvette D'Ath hasn't ruled out the demand for upfront payment being applied to all arrivals down the track, but said it was not currently being discussed.
"Any expansion would need to be prescribed in regulation and subject to the scrutiny of parliament," the Health Minister said.
Previously, arrivals were typically given about a month to pay the up to $3000 bill for hotel quarantine, which could sometimes create a messy and costly gap between payment and funds being reimbursed by employers and sponsors.
The proposed amendment comes before parliament as the Palaszczuk government faces fierce backlash over its decision to allow cricket and rugby league stars, along with family members, to enter the state despite a two-week pause on interstate arrivals requiring quarantine.
– Additional reporting NCA NewsWire
Anti-vax leader arrested for incitement
A former reality TV contestant who has emerged as Victoria's most high profile anti-lockdown campaigner has livestreamed what she claims was her own "arrest" on incitement charges.
Anti-vaxxer Monica Smit now runs the Reignite Democracy Australia (RDA) movement.
She first came to prominence last October as the main promoter of a bus that drove around Melbourne calling for Premier Daniel Andrews to be sacked.
But four years ago, she was briefly a contestant on Survivor after a career in sales.
Today, Smit posted a video of her sitting in her car after police pulled her over near the Springvale police station.
The exasperation though pic.twitter.com/2dy9ziKVqK
— cam smith (@sexenheimer) August 31, 2021
"I've just been pulled over by the cops, it's probably because I'm outside my 5km," she said.
"But we will see what happens. Just thought I would put the livestream on just in case."
An officer is then heard telling her, "We're just from the Springvale Police Station. At the moment, we need to have a chat with you about a matter of incitement. So I need to place you under arrest."
'In limbo': Fresh concerns for year 12s
The state opposition has raised fresh concerns about Victoria's push to vaccinate all VCE students before their final exams, saying it is having devastating consequences for senior students.
VCE students in the state have had a disruptive 18 months, spending time away from their teachers, school mates and valuable social and educational experiences.
And now, with only five weeks left before final exams, fresh concerns have been raised for their welfare.
"Year 12 kids who are trying to come to the end of a really tough year, a really tough two years, and yet there's no plan to get them back into the classroom," Opposition Leader Michael O'Brien said.
Opposition Leader @michaelobrienmp is standing up @VicParliament with Simon, a Year 12 student.
— Simon Love (@SimoLove) August 31, 2021
Simon says it’s “Tough to wake up each day to stare into a screen for hours and hours on end with no interaction,”
He wants clarity and a plan to get back to school. @10NewsFirstMelb pic.twitter.com/C7kcqaIk7c
"We know the damage that's being done to young people in particular by being kicked out of school. There's academic damage, but more importantly than that there's emotional damage, we know there's mental health consequences.
"All these young people need, all they want, all they're entitled to, is a plan to get schools reopened."
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews last week said the government would prioritise senior students having at least one Covid vaccine dose before the exams, hinting today that a plan for senior students could be part of an announcement tomorrow.
– Additional reporting NCA NewsWire
Injuries, arrests after 69 lockdown protests
More than 130 people have been arrested and hundreds more fined at dozens of anti-lockdown "pro-choice" rallies across NSW today.
Thousands of Australians around the country turned out to organised protests, including at 69 events in NSW mostly attended by a handful of people.
Protesters gathered at council chambers across regional NSW, with smaller groups at Parliament House and Government House in Sydney, to call for an end to Covid-19 stay-at-home orders and mandatory vaccinations.
NSW Deputy Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said 135 people were arrested and at least 403 issued fines.
He said police officers sustained minor injuries in altercations with protesters in NSW.
"Today's actions only further serve to jeopardise the freedoms of those people who are doing the right thing," he said.
– Additional reporting NCA NewsWire
Freedoms coming for fully-vaxxed Victorians
Deakin University chair of epidemiology, Catherine Bennett, has told the Herald Sun that visits to the hairdresser, having a coffee outdoors at a cafe or staying at a holiday home could be among the smaller freedoms granted to fully-vaccinated Victorians in the near future.
Providing staff and customers are fully vaccinated, restaurants and cafes could also be allowed to trade for outdoor dining, and school could return for older students.
"This will be our transition out of lockdown, while maintaining control of the virus at the same time," Professor Bennett said.
"When we feel safe to do so, we will take the next step."
Curfew, exercise limits and reasons to leave the home are among the rules she said will lift next.
Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters earlier that he'll announce a series of "careful and considered thresholds" in Victoria that will come into play if the state can't get down to zero cases, while it continues to vaccinate people.
Prof Bennett said the state is likely "a little off opening retail", and that large events and mass gatherings would be the last to return.
Crowe's movie set shut down over Covid case
Production of Russell Crowe's latest film, Poker Face, has been shut down in NSW, after a crew member tested positive to Covid-19.
"Unfortunately 6 days from the end of our shoot on PokerFace we have had a confirmed positive COVID case amongst our crew and a second possible positive under further investigation by our PokerFace Covid team and NSWHealth,” the Academy Award-winner, who is directing and starring in the film, wrote on Twitter.
Unfortunately 6 days from the end of our shoot on PokerFace we have had a confirmed positive COVID case amongst our crew and a second possible positive under further investigation by our PokerFace Covid team and NSWHealth.
— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) August 31, 2021
“For the safety of cast and crew and the wider community, the production has been immediately paused and everyone instructed to isolate whilst the situation is looked into.
"We have followed strict protocols with cast and crew being tested 3 times a week for the past 11+ weeks. The crew have been masked on set the whole time except for 3 individuals with medical exemptions.
"We feel for the crew members involved, like all the people on this show they are both very committed team players and diligent in their approach to their work responsibilities. We also feel for the wider community going through these difficult times.
"We hope this situation will be confined and we can be back up and running very soon.”
AFL Grand Final to be held in Perth
Gil McLachlan has announced this year's AFL Grand Final will be held in Perth, after Victoria's current Covid-19 situation meant the MCG was, once again, not a viable option.
Mr McLachlan told reporters this afternoon that while the AFL "looked at all the possibilities" for having the game return to Melbourne, "it has become clear as we continue to navigate through these challenges that it wouldn't be in the best interests of the community to host a Grand Final at the MCG this year in front of a crowd".
"It has now meant that for season 2021, the Toyota AFL Grand Final will be played in Perth at Optus Stadium. The match will be held on Saturday, September 25, at a time to be advised," he said.
"To all Victorians, we will be back at the MCG bigger and better in 2022. You have stuck by our game all year, and I know how hard it has been, especially how challenging it has been for the community of football."
Covid-positive pregnant woman 'fighting for life'
A woman who is 24 weeks pregnant is "fighting for life" in the intensive care unit of Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital after catching Covid-19.
The ABC reports that the expectant mother had tried to get a Pfizer vaccine – the recommended jab for pregnant women by both ATAGI and RANZCOG – but was unable to find a provider that could book her in.
Co-director of the Hunter Medical Research Institute's pregnancy and research program and laureate professor, Roger Smith, told the ABC that he was "enormously frustrated" by the news.
"The Royal Australian New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) makes it very clear that pregnant women are at an increased risk and should be a priority group for Pfizer vaccination," he said.
"If they get symptomatic they're more likely to wind up in intensive care and that places their baby at risk as well."
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