And we've made it to the end of another day on the live blog.
We'll be back on Friday morning (despite the public holiday in Melbourne!) as usual. Here's what you need to know in the day of news from around the country:
- Victoria
Victoria's coronavirus contact tracing system will switch to a new "whole household" approachLoadingTwo schools are closed and five suburbs in Melbourne's north – Dallas, Roxburgh Park, Broadmeadows, Preston and West Heidelberg – are on high alert with residents urged to get tested and isolate immediately if they develop mild symptoms.
Victoria recorded five new cases, all linked to the northern suburbs outbreak. The government expects there will be more linked cases in the coming days in the lead-up to announcements of more eased restrictions on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health and Human Services has referred one of its employees to police for investigation over the leaking of the state government's road map for easing COVID-19 restrictions.
- NSW
New South Wales recorded just one new local case in the latest reporting period, and six in hotel quarantine. The state has no coronavirus cases in ICU.
LoadingPremier Gladys Berejiklian threw barbs at her Queensland and West Australian counterparts over their decisions to keep hard borders up, telling them to "cough up" costs for running hotel quarantine.
Ms Berejiklian accused Queensland of shirking up to $35 million worth of hotel quarantine fees because NSW has been "doing the heavy lifting" for international arrivals.
"I want them to pay their bill, especially given they keep their border shut when they really don't need to," she said.
Queensland Premier Annnastacia Palaszczuk hit back, telling the NSW Premier to focus on her own problems (a thinly veiled reference to an unfolding ICAC investigation), while WA Premier Mark McGowan asked if he should send a bill to NSW for the Ruby Princess and “all the trauma that caused other states”.
- National
Millions of Australians on JobSeeker benefits won't know how much income support they'll receive next year until December, sparking concerns this will be too late for a Christmas spending recovery.LoadingAnd the nation's human rights chief has called on federal and state leaders to justify the emergency measures that curtail personal freedom amid a push to ease coronavirus restrictions.
Australian Human Rights Commission president Rosalind Croucher warned all governments could be at fault on basic freedoms including the right for parents and children to be reunited by entering or leaving the country.
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This Rachael Dexter signing off. Thanks for reading and getting in touch, stay safe and good night.