Australia news LIVE: Private hospitals to assist public health sector as COVID-19 admissions grow; second round of 2022 Australian Open begins in Melbourne

Good evening and thank you for reading our live coverage of the day’s events. If you are just joining us now, here’s what you need to know:

• NSW, Victoria, South Australia and the ACT have accelerated the COVID-19 vaccination timetable for booster shots, and will allow adults who received a second dose of a coronavirus vaccine at least three months ago to receive their booster from this week at state and territory-run vaccination hubs. The change takes effect in Victoria, SA and the ACT immediately and will start in NSW on Friday.
• This marks a small change to the federal government’s timetable, under which the interval between second and booster doses was due to be cut from four months to three months from January 31. GPs and pharmacies have the option of accelerating their booster rollout, if they have stocks available, but may also continue to follow federal government guidelines and cut the wait time at the end of the month.

The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is available for booster shots, as well as the Pfizer jab. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

• Some immunocompromised adults have already received, or are eligible to receive, a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine as part of their primary vaccination course. They are then eligible for a fourth dose as a booster shot at the same interval after their third dose as the general population receives their booster shot.

Nationals MP George Christensen.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

• Rogue government backbencher George Christensen has resigned from a senior parliamentary role, pre-empting possible disciplinary action by the Morrison government over his call for parents to refuse to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. Earlier today, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he was weighing up whether to remove Mr Christensen from his role as chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Trade and Investment Growth, for which he was paid $23,238 on top of his $211,250 parliamentary salary. In a Facebook post this evening, Mr Christensen said he would stand down from the position upon his return to Parliament House on February 7 and it was “a decision of my own making”.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews today.Credit: Simon Schluter

• Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews indicated today that a change in national vaccination policy is imminent and that a third dose of a coronavirus vaccine may be required in the future to be considered fully vaccinated. State and territory leaders and health experts have already stressed the importance of eligible adults receiving a booster dose of a coronavirus vaccine to protect themselves against the highly transmissible Omicron strain of the virus.
• Mr Andrews said that his government had “mandated a number of people, many people across many different sectors, [receive] a first and second dose”. “I think you’ll see very soon, out of national processes, you’ll see the terminology and the recognition of the third dose be crystal clear. This is not an option, not an add-on, not a ‘good thing to have’. I think we’re close to a change in policy that will simply reflect the fact that in order to be fully protected, you need three doses, not two doses plus an optional extra.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison today.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

• The Prime Minister and Health Minister have been asked in recent days about whether Australia will cut the mandated isolation period for COVID-positive people from seven days to five days or less. Prime Minister Scott Morrison replied at today’s press conference that “all of these things are always under active consideration and that has been for some time”. But he added: “The most recent information that we have is that post-five days you still get 30 per cent [of people] that are remaining infectious, and so that is a calibrated decision you’ve got to make.” Under existing rules in NSW and Victoria, COVID-positive people can leave isolation after seven days, but only if their symptoms have cleared up.

Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

• Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said yesterday that “the more you go down that path of shorter isolation periods, the higher the risk of having transmission in the community. It is a decision of balance; a decision about workforces and a trade-off with increased transmission in the community.”
• Victoria has reported 20,769 official cases of COVID-19 and 18 deaths. Today’s numbers are up on yesterday’s total of 20,180. Of today’s cases, 10,726 were positive PCRs and 10,043 were from positive self-reported rapid antigen tests. There are 1173 people in Victorian hospitals with the virus. Of those, 125 cases are in intensive care. Today’s hospitalisations are up from yesterday’s 1152 patients (when there were 127 cases in ICU).
• NSW reported 32,297 official cases of COVID-19 and 32 deaths. More than half of today’s cases, or 19,847, are positive PCR results, while 12,450 are self-reported positive rapid antigen tests. Today’s daily case total is up from yesterday’s 29,830 cases. There are 2863 people in NSW hospitals with the virus. Of those, 217 are in intensive care. That’s up from yesterday’s 2850 hospitalisations (when there were 209 people in ICU).

NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant. Credit: Nick Moir

• NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant says the state’s daily COVID-19 case numbers will go up when schools returns, Daniella White reports. “Yes, when school goes back ... an increase in cases would be expected,” she said during this morning’s coronavirus update. “But we as a community, we can take actions to offset that. One of the keys is getting boosted.” Dr Chant said she wanted to see as many people get vaccinated in the next two weeks as possible, to minimise the risk of the return-to-school plan. NSW and Victoria are working on a plan which is set to include the regular use of rapid antigen tests.

• Queensland has reported 11 new deaths and 19,932 additional COVID-19 infections, Matt Dennien reports. The update comes as Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced an easing of restrictions for international arrivals from 1am Saturday, after the state reached a 90 per cent vaccination rate among its 16-plus population. “You will not have to do quarantine,” Ms Palaszczuk said. Arrivals will only have to complete a rapid test within 24-hours, consistent with measures in other states. Hospitalisations have risen to 835, with 52 in intensive care and 18 of those people on ventilators. Today’s COVID numbers come from a total of 5940 self-reported rapid antigen test results and 41,293 PCR swabs.

Clive Palmer is once again running for federal politics. Credit: Rob Homer

• Clive Palmer will personally lead the Queensland Senate ticket of his United Australia Party at the upcoming federal election, Sean Parnell reports. The Queensland businessman was a one-term MP for his former Palmer United Party, but recently installed former Liberal Craig Kelly as leader of the UAP.

This is Michaela Whitbourn signing off on the blog for this evening. My colleague Broede Carmody will be back with you tomorrow morning.

NSW Police have arrested three men as inquiries continue into the alleged theft of 42,000 rapid antigen tests in Sydney.

Police said in a statement this evening that “officers from South Sydney Police Area Command initiated an investigation after 42,000 tests were taken from a freight depot at Mascot about 3.20pm yesterday”.

Police are investigating the alleged theft of more than 40,000 RATs in Sydney.Credit: Flavio Brancaleone

“Following inquiries, detectives arrested three men at a storage facility at Rosebery shortly before 4pm today.

“Detectives have since executed search warrants on two storage units, with searches now under way.

“The men have been taken to Mascot Police Station, where they are assisting with inquiries.”

Charges have not yet been laid and investigations into the alleged theft are ongoing.

Victorian Employment Minister Jaala Pulford has tested positive for COVID-19.

The Labor MP – who also holds the portfolios of small business, resources, and innovation, medical research, and the digital economy – announced her diagnosis on social media on Thursday.

“It’s iso for me for the next seven days,” Ms Pulford said on Twitter.

“Feeling a bit ordinary but otherwise ok.“Relieved and grateful that I’ve had 3 doses of vax. Thank you science.”

Rogue government backbencher George Christensen has resigned from a senior parliamentary role, pre-empting possible disciplinary action by the Morrison government over his call for parents to refuse to vaccinate their children against COVID-19.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he was weighing up whether to remove Mr Christensen from his role as chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Trade and Investment Growth, for which he was paid $23,238 on top of his $211,250 parliamentary salary.

Nationals MP George Christensen.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

In a Facebook post this evening, Mr Christensen said he would advise the Speaker that he would stand down from the position upon his return to Parliament House on February 7.

“[This is] a decision of my own making and not a demand or request from any third party,” he said.

“Until then, I will continue in the role, prosecuting the need for the recommendations of the committee’s report on the Prudential Regulation of Investment in Australia’s Export Industries to be adopted by the Australian government, especially the recommendation that the government recognise that finance, banking and insurance services are essential services for businesses.”

Mr Christensen, the retiring LNP member for Dawson who sits in the Nationals party room as part of the federal Coalition, has called for parents not to vaccinate their children against COVID-19, sparking widespread condemnation and increasing pressure on both Coalition leaders to stop him undermining crucial government health messaging.

Mr Morrison said in a statement yesterday that Mr Christensen’s comments were “dangerous” and should be ignored by parents.

“I strongly disagree with the message sent out by Mr Christensen regarding children’s vaccinations,” Morrison said.

“It is contrary to the official professional medical advice provided to the government and I urge parents to disregard his dangerous messages in relation to vaccines.”

with Dana Daniel

While NSW, Victoria, South Australia and the ACT have moved ahead of the federal government’s timetable to cut the interval between second COVID-19 vaccines and booster doses from four months to three months, authorities say GPs and pharmacies don’t have to follow suit.

From today, the required interval for adults between second doses and booster doses has been cut to three months in Victoria, South Australia and the ACT. NSW also announced the change today, and it will take effect on Friday.

The change applies to state and territory-run vaccination hubs. GPs and pharmacies can follow the federal government’s existing timetable, under which the interval was scheduled to be cut from four months to three months on January 31.

Speaking on ABC Melbourne radio on Wednesday, Department of Health COVID-19 deputy secretary Naomi Bromley said whether doctors and pharmacists took on the new interval depended on their supply and capacity.

“They will at the end of this month, they’ll make that transition [in line with the national vaccine program], and some GPs and pharmacies might start to move to three months if they have supply, if they have capacity,” she said.

“But to be really certain if you are in that three-month category, the best thing to do in the short term is probably come through the state system until that change essentially washes through into primary care.“

Ms Bromley said authorities were waiting on advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation as to whether people would require three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine to be considered “fully vaccinated”.

As we reported earlier, Premier Daniel Andrews flagged that change could be imminent.

“If that moves to three doses, then that opens up, I guess, opportunities to think about how that interplays with things like [the] vaccinated economy,” Ms Bromley said.

Some immunocompromised adults have already received, or are eligible to receive, a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine as part of their primary vaccination course. They are then eligible for a fourth dose as a booster shot at the same interval after their third dose as the general population receives their booster shot.

Confidential text messages between West Australian Premier Mark McGowan and Attorney-General John Quigley about Clive Palmer’s border challenge will be aired publicly in the Federal Court after the state government lost its legal bid to keep the communications secret.

A defamation trial between the mining billionaire and Premier, in which they are both suing each other, is due to start in the Federal Court on January 31. Mr McGowan will attend the Sydney hearings in person, despite WA’s border closures.

Texts between Mark McGowan and the WA Attorney-General regarding Clive Palmer’s border challenge will be aired in court.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen/Trevor Collens

Mr Palmer is suing WA’s leader over public comments in 2020, including Mr McGowan’s claim that Mr Palmer is “the enemy of the state”.

Meanwhile, Mr McGowan is alleging his reputation was damaged by advertisements Mr Palmer paid for claiming he had “abused the parliamentary system” and lied to the people of WA.

Read the full story here.

As we reported earlier, another 18 people have died with COVID-19 in Victoria.

The people who died were aged in their 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s, and their deaths bring the total number in the state since the start of the pandemic to 1737.

Victoria recorded another 20,769 new COVID-19 cases and, of them, 10,043 were reported after people returned positive rapid antigen test results.

Of the people who self-reported they were positive, about 62 per cent took their rapid antigen tests on Tuesday. About 19 per cent took their tests on Monday, while the remainder took them over the previous five days.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is on the brink of facing a leadership challenge, according to reports, after an angry backlash over claims parties were held at his residence during coronavirus lockdowns.

After Johnson denied an accusation by his former adviser that he had lied to Parliament about one party, the London Telegraph and ITV News, citing sources, said the required number of letters from his own lawmakers calling for a no-confidence vote in his leadership could be reached on Wednesday (UK time).

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.Credit: Getty

As many as 20 Conservative lawmakers who won their seats at the last general election in 2019 plan to submit letters of no confidence in Johnson, the Telegraph reported.

Johnson’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

Just two years ago, Johnson was the darling of his party after he secured the biggest Conservative majority since Margaret Thatcher in 1987, allowing him to deliver on promises to finally steer Britain out of the European Union.

But the relationship is rapidly souring under the impact of a steady stream of revelations about Downing Street’s apparent flouting of strict lockdown rules.

Read the full story here.

Reuters, AP

A senior public servant working on Victoria’s COVID-19 response who was intending to run as an independent candidate for outgoing Health Minister Greg Hunt’s seat of Flinders has announced she will not contest the upcoming federal election and will instead remain in her public health role.

Claire Boardman, deputy public health commander for infection prevention and control in the Victorian Department of Health COVID-19 team, was endorsed last year as the “Voices Of Mornington Peninsula” candidate for Flinders, which will be vacated by Mr Hunt at the next election. She confirmed today that she would not run for election.

Claire Boardman, a public health sector worker, was preselected as the Voices of Mornington Peninsula candidate for the Victorian seat of Flinders.

“As Deputy Public Health Commander for COVID in the Victorian Government and in the face of the rising Victorian Omicron numbers, I believe the strongest contribution I can make to community is to continue in my current role,” Ms Boardman said in a statement today.

“My decision today comes with huge disappointment. My commitment to community hasn’t changed but the circumstances around my candidacy have. Given this, I believe I can better support the community in the Victorian Department of Health, working with all three levels of government to help Australians through these very fragile times.”

Meike Suggars, the co-chair of the Voices of Mornington Peninsula board, said:“We are disappointed that Claire has decided not to contest the seat of Flinders in the next federal election. We understand and support her decision given her important work in the current health crisis.”

The Victorian government says it is working hard to resume in-vitro fertilisation procedures in hospitals soon, after Prime Minister Scott Morrison said pausing IVF should be a “last resort”.

The Andrews government halted most IVF procedures in hospitals on January 6 in response to the rising number of COVID-19 hospitalisations, which are expected to continue increasing for weeks.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on Wednesday.Credit: Simon Schluter

People can still complete their cycles if they began treatment before January 6, and those who require urgent treatment because their eggs may be rendered unviable due to imminent health treatment can also still access IVF.

“The most time-critical procedures within an IVF journey are still happening,” Premier Daniel Andrews said on Tuesday.

“I’m sorry that these services have been impacted by the global pandemic. I’m sorry that any services across the board have been impacted.”

“I want to assure everyone who’s impacted by this that we’re working as hard as we can to get day procedures back up and running.”

Read the full story here.