Coronavirus Australia live news: ‘I’m angry’: Brad Hazzard lashes government vaccine figures
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has hit out at the federal government over ‘misleading’ comments on the vaccine rollout.
- Hazzard demands apology over vaccine
- ‘Signs for Easter positive’
- Qld records just 2 new cases
- AMA chief: expect more lockdowns
- New alerts for Queensland, Byron
Welcome to The Australian’s rolling coverage of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Gladys Berejiklian and Brad Hazzard have attacked the commonwealth government on the distribution of vaccines. Queensland records two new cases linked to the PA hospital nurse, including another nurse who was vaccinated. Queensland businesses are counting the cost of Brisbane’s snap lockdown, amid fears the outbreak has jumped the NSW border.
Ben Packham11:10pm:PM’s brother ‘jumps jab queue’
One of the first of 8000 COVID jabs donated by Australia to Papua New Guinea was given not to a frontline health worker but to the Prime Minister’s bodyguard brother, prompting allegations of queue jumping.
Larsen Marape, a former rugby league player who works in his brother James Marape’s close personal protection team, was among the first 50 Papua New Guineans to receive one of the shots.
The Prime Minister received the first donated jab on Tuesday in front of television cameras to help counter widespread vaccine hesitancy as his country faces a surge in COVID cases.
Health Secretary Osborne Liko, Olympic weightlifter Dika Toua, and elder statesman Dadi Toka Snr — the father of Port Moresby deputy governor Dadi Toka Jnr — also had some of the initial jabs to prove their safety.
Former prime minister Peter O’Neill told The Australian the Prime Minister’s brother was not in the high-risk category so he should not have received the jab.
“It is a concern when the health workers are yet to be vaccinated,” Mr O’Neill said.
“He has got no public role whatsoever in enforcing COVID controls in the country. He is not at risk. Just because he is the brother of the Prime Minister does not entitle him to be jumping the queue.”
The Prime Minister’s office said Mr Marape’s close protection team of about 10 officers was vaccinated from the donated jabs.
Patrick Commins10.30pm:Tradie shortage in build boom
Record house building approvals driven by the government’s HomeBuilder program have sparked shortages of key tradespeople and helped push the price of materials up by as much as 50 per cent.
As the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported the number of approvals to construct new houses jumped 20 per cent to a record 13,939 in February, the Master Builders Association said building sites faced delays of up to three weeks to get tradies.
Denita Wawn, the association’s chief executive, said there was “considerable pressure” on the supply of key trades and building products thanks to a “perfect storm” of demand.
Jess Malcolm 9.50pm: New alert for Byron Bay area
NSW Health has issued a new alert for COVID-19 exposure sites, which includes a long list of shops and restaurants across Byron Bay visited by a positive case on Saturday afternoon.
Anyone who attended the following new venues must immediately get tested and self-isolate until they receive further advice from NSW Health:
● Surfit 24/7 Epiq Gym, 5 Snapper Drive, Lennox Head, on Sunday, March 28, 6am to 11am.
● Suffolk Park, Park Hotel and Motel, 223 Broken Heads Road, on Sunday, March 28, 1pm to 2pm.
Anyone who attended at the time listed is a close contact who must immediately get tested and self-isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result.
● Pro Shop, Ballina Golf and Sports Club, Jameson Avenue, East Ballina, on Sunday, March, 28, from 2.25pm to 2.35pm.
A range of new venues have been added for people who are considered casual contacts, and must get tested immediately and self-isolate until a negative result is received.
● Henry Rous Tavern, 117 River Street, Ballina, on Sunday, March 28, 1.20pm to 2.25pm.
The following retail and takeaway shops and retail across Byron Bay on Saturday, March 27, 12pm to 4pm.
● Black Sheep, Boards in the Bay
● Byron Bay Central Pharmacy
● Ghanda Clothing
● Main Street Burger Bar
● Quicksilver, Surf, Dive & Ski
● Tiger Lily
● Kivari Boutique
● Arnhem Clothing
● Spell
● The Cellar
● Aldi.
Will Glasgow, Ben Packham 9.10pm: NZ shuts its eyes to appease China
New Zealand has refused to stand with Australia and its other Five Eyes partners to speak out against a much-criticised World Health Organisation investigation into the origins of COVID in China, as it tries to escape Beijing’s wrath.
The shortcomings of the investigation, which has been highly sensitive in China, were immediately pointed out in joint statements released by the four other Five Eyes nations — the US, Britain, Canada and Australia — as well as Japan, South Korea and eight other countries, and in a separate statement by the EU.
Even WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus himself, who has been criticised for being too conciliatory to Beijing during the pandemic, acknowledged data had been withheld from the investigation team.
“In my discussions with the team they expressed the difficulties they encountered in accessing raw data,” Mr Tedros said at a press conference, which was seemingly censored on the Chinese internet on Wednesday.
“I expect future collaborative studies to include more timely and comprehensive data sharing,” the WHO chief said.
Jess Malcolm8.30pm:Covid traces in Melbourne’s southeast
COVID-19 fragments have been detected in wastewater in Melbourne’s southeast last thursday, March 25, and in the city’s west on Monday, March 29.
The southeast the suburbs include Beaconsfield, Berwick, Clyde North, Cranbourne East, Cranbourne North, Guys Hill, Hallam, Hampton Park, Harkaway, Narre Warren, Narre Warren North and South, Officer and Upper Beaconsfield.
The western suburbs include Hoppers Crossing, Tarneit, Truganina and Werribee.
Victorian health authorities are urging anyone who lives in or has visited these areas to monitor for symptoms and get tested if they develop.
The state recorded its 33rd day free from COVID-19 on Wednesday.
Victoria was officially deemed COVID-19 free when the final active case in the state recovered on March 23.
READ MORE:Price of bricks is just mortar-fying
Coronavirus fragments have been detected in wastewater from Melbourne’s south east on 25 March and west on 29 March. Anyone who lives in or has visited these suburbs should be alert for symptoms of COVID-19 and get tested if any develop, no matter how mild.
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) March 31, 2021
#COVID19Vicpic.twitter.com/f5P24Ofvar
Tim Dodd8.05pm: Education faces tests in world of change
Education Minister Alan Tudge will launch a new strategy to rebuild Australia’s international education industry in the global environment of geopolitical uncertainty and greater willingness by students to go digital.
Mr Tudge released a consultation paper for the new strategy on Wednesday, which aims to guide the industry, worth over $40bn in export revenue in 2019, through the next decade in which there will be “unfolding geopolitical challenges, increased global competitiveness and economic unpredictability”.
In a speech at RMIT University in Melbourne, Mr Tudge said “industry would will come out of the crisis in a stronger position by investing in new models and engagement approaches that focus on meeting the challenges and opportunities of a post-pandemic world”.
Mr Tudge is urging universities, colleges, English schools and other institutions enrolling international students to think digitally, and become more competitive in the growing market for online courses. “The global online e-learning market is forecast to grow from $130bn to more than $470bn by 2026 … driven by students around the world seeking lower-cost education, as well as greater flexibility in how and where they learn,” he said.
One major change that occurred during the pandemic is that China’s cultural barrier to accepting online education at school and tertiary level has broken down. Previously, Chinese families put high value on face-to-face teaching, but the upheaval of COVID-19 has the potential to open up many new opportunities in online education in this major market.
John Ferguson 7.25pm: Kennett push divides Victorian Liberals
Jeff Kennett’s push to take over the Victorian Liberal presidency is facing some heavy internal opposition designed to spike the move.
Incumbent president Robert Clark is being encouraged to run against the former Victorian premier in what Kennett backers said would be a “nightmare” scenario for the party as it prepares to fight a federal election.
Senior party sources said that Mr Clark had not decided whether to run against Mr Kennett but that several senior members of his grouping were agitating for him to remain in the position.
Party sources said the deep split in the state opposition that caused the recent leadership challenge against Michael O’Brien had now switched to the party presidency, with claims Mr Kennett would back former state leader Matthew Guy to replace Mr O’Brien.
The most likely result if Mr Kennett, 73, were to run is that he would defeat Mr Clark because of his high profile as a reformist premier who helped turn around the state’s finances.
While Mr Clark, a former Baillieu minister, is respected within the party, he does not carry anywhere near the same political weight or energy as Mr Kennett.
Mathew Denholm7pm:Labor ‘sellout’ on pokies
Tasmanian Labor has completed its capitulation on poker machine reform, signing a deal backing their presence in pubs and clubs, despite previously planning their elimination.
At the last state election in 2018, Labor proposed phasing out gaming machines from pubs and clubs, prompting a flood of gaming industry donations to the Liberals, who won a second term.
However, the policy was dropped after the election and Labor leader Rebecca White on Wednesday confirmed the party had recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Tasmanian Hospitality Association, backing the presence of pokies in pubs and clubs.
The deal also agrees that harm minimisation measures — likely to be a key issue considered by the next parliament after the May 1 election — “need to be workable for industry”.
Anti-pokies campaigners called the deal, struck in February, a “sell out” and demanded Labor detail what donations if any it had received from venues with poker machines, either directly or indirectly.
Evin Priest6.34pm:Big hint at international travel restart date
Education Minister Alan Tudge believes the COVID-19 vaccine rollout could pave the way for Australia to up its intake of international students as early as the start of next year.
In a speech delivered to the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) – the university most reliant on overseas students – Mr Tudge said Australia’s lucrative market for international students could be given a much-needed boost by February 2022.
“With the vaccine rollout under way, I am increasingly hopeful that student arrivals in larger numbers will occur by Semester 1 of next year,” Mr Tudge said.
Staff writers 5.52pm:Bluesfest campers pack up and leave Byron Bay
Campers and ticket holders are packing and leaving Byron Bay after the Bluesfest 2021 festival was cancelled at the last minute.
At 4pm AEDT on Wednesday, NSW Health released a statement advising that the health minister Brad Hazzard had signed a public health order stopping the event - due to begin tomorrow - from going ahead.
Adeshola Ore4.25pm:Grace Tame pans PM for promoting Amanda Stoker
Australian of the Year Grace Tame has lashed Scott Morrison’s promotion of Amanda Stoker to Assistant Minister for Women, accusing her of endorsing a “fake rape crisis” on university campuses.
The Queensland Liberal, who has been criticised for her anti-abortion stance and views on transgender issues, was appointed the position in the Prime Minister’s ministerial reshuffle on Monday, which increased female representation in the cabinet.
Ms Tame said Senator Stoker undermined accounts of abuse by supporting a campaign — spearheaded by controversial columnist Bettina Arndt — which targeted university disciplinary bodies for males accused of sexual assault.
“Needless to say that came at a great expense to student (abuse) survivors who are already traumatised,” she told an event at Griffith University on Tuesday night hosted by veteran journalist Kerry O’Brien.
She added in an Instagram post after the event: “In light of these facts, either the Prime Minister is ignorant of the cultural issues at hand, or he understands them completely and is making calculated moves to perpetuate them.”
READ the full story here.
Andrew McMillen4.00pm:BREAKING: Byron Bluesfest cancelled amid Covid spike
One day out from its planned start date of April 1, Bluesfest 2021 has been cancelled. It was to be the largest multi-day music festival to be held anywhere in Australia in more than a year.
Held near the NSW coastal town of Byron Bay, festival organisers had previously had a COVID-safe plan approved by NSW Health on February 17, which was to allow about 15,000 patrons – about half the usual event capacity – on site each day, to enjoy music by artists including Jimmy Barnes, Tash Sultana, Kasey Chambers and The Church in a fully seated outdoor environment.
The event was also cancelled last year — just a couple of weeks out — due to COVID-19 restrictions.
READ the full story here.
Adeshola Ore3.42pm:Hunt downplays down vaccine stoush
Health Minister Greg Hunt has played down a stoush with state governments over the national vaccine rollout, after NSW and Queensland attacked the commonwealth on supply issues.
Earlier today, Queensland’s deputy premier Steven Miles accused the federal government of hindering its rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine, by failing to provide it with certainty of supply. NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard also attacked the commonwealth government on the issue of vaccine distribution.
“I think all of them are doing their absolute best and doing an excellent job,” Mr Hunt said.
“We have confidence in all of the states and territories. They are all managing their programs as they best see fit and they are working towards making sure that all of those vaccines are used.”
The Australian Medical Association has called for the commonwealth government to provide transparent data on what vaccine doses have been administered compared to what has been supplied.
Mr Hunt said changes to data made available was a matter for the members of national cabinet.
But he said the commonwealth was “flexible” and “open” to work with state government leaders on the issue.
READ MORE:Furious states attack feds on vaccine rollout
Greg Brown3.40pm:ALP has ‘light we need’: Albanese closes conference
Anthony Albanese delivered a speech to close the ALP’s national conference, declaring “we’ve generated the light we need for the road ahead”.
The Opposition Leader said the values affirmed in the two-day event showed Labor was on the side of Australians.
“Scott Morrison has none of this. No light, no road ahead, and the only voice he truly hears is his own,” Mr Albanese said.
“When he leaves office Australians will ask: what was the point of this near decade long government?
“For Scott Morrison, the fundamental truth that a Prime Minister must govern for all Australians is just one more idea beyond his grasp.”
Mr Albanese claimed the event “generated a bit of heat”, despite it being highly sanitised and low on confrontation.
“We are not a choir looking to sing lockstep in unison. What we look for is the big, powerful harmonies,” Mr Albanese said.
“If you want an Australia where no-one is held back and no-one is left behind, Labor is on your side.
“We’re on the side of Australians. And that is who we are fighting for. It is a fight we must have – for Australia’s sake.
“So it falls to all of us.”
READ MORE: Labor delivers its pitch on coal
Adeshole Ore3.30pm:Australia’s record day of vaccinations: 72,000 jabs
Health Minister Greg Hunt says Australia has reached another record day of vaccinations, declaring the “states and territories are doing a first-class job.”
More than 670,000 Australians have now received a COVID vaccination.
“The states and territories are doing a first-class job, the general practices have stepped up, the commonwealth is contributing and all are coming together to see that figure of 72,000 vaccinations in the last 24 hours, he said.
More than 99,000 aged care residents have been vaccinated since the national rollout began.
Matthew Denholm3.07pm:Tasmanian Labor abandons anti-poker machine policy
Tasmanian Labor has completed its capitulation on poker machine policy, signing a deal backing their ongoing presence in pubs and clubs.
At the last state election in 2018, state Labor proposed phasing out gaming machines from pubs and clubs, prompting a flood of gaming industry donations to the Liberals.
However, the policy was dropped after the election and Labor leader Rebecca White on Wednesday confirmed the party had now signed a memorandum of understanding with the Tasmanian Hospitality Association backing the ongoing presence of pokies in pubs and clubs.
The deal also agrees harm minimisation measures “need to be workable for industry”.
Anti-pokies campaigners called the deal a “sellout” by Labor, but Ms White said it showed the party took consultation seriously.
Meanwhile, a Liberal candidate for the seat of Franklin, Dean Ewington, resigned after it emerged he had attacked Covid-19 restrictions and attended an anti-lockdown rally.
READ MORE: ‘Confected’ election excuse exposed
Greg Brown2.57pm:PM beholden to rich and powerful: McManus
ACTU secretary Sally McManus has lashed out at Scott Morrison at the ALP’s national conference, accusing the Prime Minister of being “beholden to narrow vested interests, the rich and powerful”.
Ahead of Labor delegates voting on amendments to the industrial relations chapter of the policy platform, Ms McManus said the Morrison government wanted “workers to feel permanently insecure and for wages to be suppressed”.
“At least the Liberals never lose sight of whose side they are on,” Ms McManus said.
“It is not working people suffering cost-of-living pressures as wages growth falls. It is not working people with insecure and casualised jobs.
“It is not working people facing discrimination due to sex, gender, disability, race or where you live. It is not working parents with no access to affordable childcare. And it is certainly not on the side of people who need bargaining power in their workplaces through their union to deliver better wages and conditions.”
Ms McManus said workers need a Labor government “that is on their side and will work for them”.
“We know that wages can only go up when working people have enough bargaining power to win pay rises, and that job insecurity does not need to be accepted as the way to grow our economy,” Ms McManus said.
“The answer lies with backing working people to rebalance the system. This policy addresses these fundamental issues, and I commend the Labor Party for their commitment to working people.”
Opposition industrial relations spokesman Tony Burke said Labor would “act on wage theft” and ensure women have access to 10 days domestic violence leave.
He also vowed a better deal for workers in the horticulture and gig sectors.
“Whether it be horticulture workers or gig workers, the government, when they are asked about people being paid less than the minimum wage, they say ‘oh it is complicated’,” Mr Burke said.
“Well it is not too complicated to have minimum standards in this country. And we will amend the Fair Work Act to make sure that those workers who currently don’t have minimum standards get them for the first time.”
READ MORE:The most dangerous people on the planet
Greg Brown2.45pm:Labor delivers its pitch on coal
Labor has formalised its support for the coal sector in the party’s policy platform, as Anthony Albanese moves to reassure blue-collar workers their jobs will be safe if he becomes prime minister.
Pro-coal amendments pushed by the Australian Workers Union and the CFMEU have sailed through the ALP’s national conference, as the party also backed taking strong action against climate change.
Opposition energy spokesman Chris Bowen, who this month visited coal mines and power stations, said the “globe’s climate emergency is Australia’s jobs opportunity”, as he reiterated Labor’s commitment to a zero-net emissions target by 2050.
In a push to portray Labor as occupying the middle-ground of the climate wars, Mr Bowen took aim at both the Coalition and the Greens, saying the Adam Bandt-led minor party “doesn’t care at all about the workers and communities whose livelihoods are at stake”.
Nicholas Jensen1.50pm:No new cases reported in South Australia
South Australia has recorded no new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours.
Health officials confirmed there were 5037 tests recorded to 8pm yesterday.
The state is currently monitoring 11 active cases, all of which were detected in hotel quarantine.
Health officials administered 1390 vaccinations across the state yesterday, with a total of 25,535 administered since the beginning of the rollout.
READ MORE:Vaccine stockpiling claim makes no sense
Adeshola Ore1.45pm:‘Ongoing blame game’ on vaccines must end: AMA
The Australian Medical Association says the “war of words” between the Queensland and commonwealth governments over COVID vaccine supplies must end, warning it diminishes public confidence in the rollout.
Earlier today, Queensland’s deputy premier Steven Miles accused the federal government of hindering its rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine, by failing to provide it with certainty of supply. NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard also attacked the commonwealth government on the issue of vaccine distribution.
In a statement, the association called for the “ongoing blame game” to end.
AMA president Dr Omar Khorshid said it was unacceptable that cases in Queensland had been linked to unvaccinated health care workers.
He said “all governments” were accountable for the “timely delivery of vaccines.”
“Vaccines only protect the community when they are in people’s arms and governments need to work together to maximise access to available vaccines. There is no excuse for them sitting in fridges and freezers,” he said in a statement.
“The Commonwealth Government needs to be transparent on the number of vaccines that have already been distributed, and what the projected quantities will be going forward.”
Scott Morrison has accused Queensland of playing “tit for tat” regarding vaccine distributions and said each state and territory was provided with a 12-week forward projection.
Dr Khorshid said the commonwealth government also needed to “detail what contingency supply is being held” so the community had confidence about supplies for their second dose.
“Data showing how many vaccines have been administered by providers compared to what has been supplied should be available to the community,” he said.
“Just a few weeks ago, some of this data was being published but it was quickly removed following criticism of delays in the rollout of vaccines. This does not help build confidence in the rollout of the vaccine at a time when we really need Australians to pick up the phone and make an appointment to protect themselves and their loved ones.”
“The Commonwealth and the States and Territories have an obligation to tell the public what role the States and Territories will have in the rollout of vaccines beyond stage 1a.
READ MORE: Furious states attack feds
Richard Ferguson 1.25pm:Labor must be ‘mainstream’ to win next election
West Australian Premier Mark McGowan has warned Labor’s special platform conference the party must be “mainstream” to win the next federal election.
Mr McGowan led WA Labor to its biggest victory - and one of the biggest victories in Australian. political history - this month, partly through a centrist platform.
The WA premier said the party must talk to small business owners, tradespeople, the outer suburbs and regions to defeat Scott Morrison.
“We must be mainstream. A party that understands the pressures that families face right across our suburbs and our regions,
“A party for workers, tradespeople, small business owners, and professionals.
For new Australians vulnerable Australians, Aboriginal Australians, socially progressive Australians ... You have to be the party for all Australians.
“There are good men and women all over this country, looking for the leadership only Labour governments can deliver there in the inner city, the outer suburbs, regional towns and remote communities.”
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she planned to campaign with Anthony Albanese to remove the Morrison government, as she attacked the Prime Minister on Wednesday over the slow vaccine rollout.
“Imagine a Federal Labor government working together with the states in the best interest of our country,” she told the ALP conference.
“ Australia needs a federal Labour government that stays with us and is focused on the issues, not picking fights.”
READ MORE: Rivals unite as issues hit conference
Richard Ferguson1.00pm:ALP energy goals ‘only met through mining’
Australian Workers Union national vice president Paul Farrow has warned Labor’s special platform conference that the ALP’s renewable energy goals can only be met through mining.
Labor’s policy platform is set to reference the party’s support of coal, under an amendment pushed by the AWU and the CFMEU.
Mr Farrow said Labor must champion mining communities and turn mineral wealth into wages, and noted many renewable technologies rely on minerals.
“There’s no renewable energy without mining. The steel in our wind turbines, the copper in electric vehicles, the rare earths in batteries, If we want to save the planet. We need mining,” he said.
“Labor must be the champion for mining communities in our regions. Mineral wealth doesn’t lie in cities .... the region’s mining jobs are the lifeblood of hundreds of regional communities.
“Labor should be the party that says unequivocally to ordinary regional Australians, we’re on your side.”
READ MORE:Powerful union cuts ties with Labor
Max Maddison12.50pm: Disgraced Nats MP Johnsen resigns
Disgraced Nationals MP Michael Johnsen has resigned from NSW parliament, triggering a four way contest for his Upper Hunter seat.
The departure comes after text messages revealed Mr Johnsen had offered the sex worker he allegedly raped $1000 to attend NSW Parliament House for sex. He also sent her videos of himself masturbating.
Mr Johnsen’s decision to quit parliament will spark a by-election in the marginal seat he has held since 2015. The Nationals, Labor, One Nation and the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party will all put up candidates.
While Mr Johnsen had mulled attempting to ride out the storm, in part due to his shaky financial position, it is understood Nationals leader John Barilaro read the riot act to him during a call last night, forcing the decision.
In a statement, Mr Barilaro said he welcomed Mr Johnsen’s resignation, and apologised to the communities of the Upper Hunter.
“My message to the people of the Upper Hunter is I will always put integrity before politics, which is why I called for Mr Johnsen’s resignation,” Mr Barilaro said on Wednesday afternoon
“I want to say to the communities of the Upper Hunter that I am sorry, but please be assured the NSW Nationals’ focus has always been, and will always be, on delivering for the Upper Hunter and keeping our communities safe and secure.”
READ the full story
Greg Brown 12.45pm:Labor policy amendment to recognise contribution of mining
Labor’s policy platform is set to reference the party’s support of coal, under an amendment pushed by the Australian Workers Union and the CFMEU.
The amendment, which is set to be backed by national conference this afternoon, will rectify the coal sector being left out of the draft platform.
“Labor recognises and values the economic and employment contribution of Australia’s mining and extractive resources industries including iron ore, coal, uranium, nickel, rare earths, gold, copper, zinc, silver, gas, bauxite and others,” the amendment says.
“Labor notes the critical importance these industries play in Australia’s economic prosperity, particularly in Australia’s terms of trade, as well in supporting regional Australian communities.
“Labor recognises the important role that existing and emerging resources can play in the expansion of existing industries as well as in the development of new Australian renewable energy manufacturing industries.”
READ MORE:Small target platform risks voter indifference
Natasha Robinson12.40pm:Queensland vaccine claim makes no sense
Queensland’s claim that it needs to hold back quantities of Pfizer vaccine to account for second doses makes zero sense.
Deputy premier Steven Miles launched an attack on the Federal government this morning, hitting out at the initial slow vaccine rollout and claiming Queensland hospitals had no idea how much vaccine they had on hand to administer until the morning the vaccinations were to take place.
Mr Miles said Queensland had to hold back Pfizer vaccine for second doses because they had no certainty of supply from the Commonwealth.
“We have not had certainty of supply to our hospitals through the vaccine rollout so far,” Mr Miles said. “That has required the holding back of enough doses to ensure that we can administer the second dose.”
It is difficult to understand why Queensland should need to hold back any vaccine doses at all. The Commonwealth has been clear from the start that it was holding back 50 per cent of the vaccine doses they receive from Pfizer, AstraZeneca and CSL to account for second doses. There is absolutely no need for states to stockpile.
“State and territory governments and health ministers were provided with a 12-week vaccination plan several weeks ago to support planning,” Federal health minister Greg Hunt’s office said. “Vaccines have been delivered in accordance with this plan.
READ the full story
Adeshola Ore12.30pm:PM: Labor don’t know how to spend money sensibly
Scott Morrison says he doubts Labor’s ability to implement its electric cars policy, accusing the opposition of reckless spending.
Anthony Albanese has vowed to make electric vehicles cheaper, in a policy proposal unveiled today at the national conference, that would see electric cars exempt from import and fringe-benefit taxes.
The Morrison government labelled Labor’s electric vehicle policy which it took to the 2019 election as a “war on the weekend.” The scheme proposed a national electric vehicles target of 50 per cent of new car sales by 2030.
On Wednesday, Mr Morrison refuted the suggestion that his government ridiculed Labor’s 2019 electric cars policy.
“What I called into question was the Labor Party policy and their ability to implement it and I think we’re in a similar process today,” he said.
“The Labor party is getting together and they have spent $30bn in two days. Imagine what they’d be like if they have three years. Again, we see that they don’t know how to spend money responsibly.”
READ MORE:Stranded Aussies file legal action against Canberra
Nicholas Jensen12.05pm:Hazzard demands apology over vaccine rollout
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has attacked the commonwealth government on the distribution of vaccines. “Let’s get this really clear: the NSW government was asked to roll out 300,000 vaccinations to the groups in 1A and 1B. Of that we have done 100,000,” he said. “The federal government was asked and is responsible for 5.5 million people and they have rolled out 50,000. I think the figures speak for themselves.”
He added: “Up until today, every state and territory government has maintained a collegiate approach because we want people to feel confident in a collective government decision. But, as Health Minister in NSW, I am extremely angry and I know there are other health ministers in the country who share similar views.”
Gladys Berejiklian and Mr Hazzard said it was not appropriate for the federal government to release misleading information regarding the distribution of the vaccine.
“I can assure the community that your state government here in NSW is doing everything possible to roll out the vaccines, as long as we get the plans going forward for the correct amounts of vaccine, we will roll it out as quickly as possible,” Mr Hazzard said.
Responding to questions that the NSW government hadn’t administered all the vaccines that had been delivered by the commonwealth, Mr Hazzard said the federal government should apologise to the NSW government and other governments around the country.
“One day we are the gold standard and the next day we are being told we are not,” said Mr Hazzard.
“We are still the gold standard because we have amazing front-line health staff.”
Mr Hazzard said he has contacted organisers of the Byron Bay Bluesfest, saying: “Those people who might be intending to attend and to the organisers themselves... just be alert to the messages that will come from the NSW government in the next 12-24 hours as we look at the unfolding situation on the north coast.
READ MORE:State-federal feud explodes over vaccines
Nicholas Jensen11.56am:New venue alerts as Byron hens cluster grows
NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant says the positive case linked to a Byron Bay party is a man in his 20s who attended the Byron Beach Hotel with three other of his friends, where they sat in close proximity to the positive travellers from Queensland.
NSW Health has tested three of those friends, who have now tested negative for the virus.
Dr Chant highlighted a number of locations in relation to the one COVID-19 case, including “the Henry Rous Tavern at 117 River Street in Ballina, between Sunday 28 March between 1:20pm and 2:20pm”.
“The East Ballina, at the Ballina Golf and Sports Club Pro Shop on Jamieson Avenue on Sunday, 28 March between 2:25pm and 2:35pm.”
“What we are asking people to do, if you attended those venues, please immediately self-isolate and get a test and we will be advising you after we have done that formal risk assessment.”
READ MORE: WHO ‘an accessory to Wuhan whitewash’
Adeshola Ore11.54am: Morrison responds to criticism from Grace Tame
Scott Morrison has responded to Australian of the Year Grace Tame’s criticism that his cabinet reshuffle was a “distraction” from sexual assault allegations plaguing federal parliament.
The Prime Minister announced a cabinet reshuffle on Monday which increased female representation in the cabinet.
But on Tuesday evening, Ms Tame told an event at Griffith University that while it was important to ‘remain hopeful” about change, it was vital to not be misled by “actions that are quite calculated distractions posing as solutions.”
“I wouldn’t share those views. I respect Grace and I congratulate her on her strong advocacy on those issues,” Mr Morrison said on Wednesday.
READ MORE: ‘It’s time to make noise’
Adeshola Ore11.50am:Queensland ‘playing politics’ on vaccines: PM
Scott Morrison has accused Queensland of playing politics after the state’s deputy premier lashed the Prime Minister for failing to reach its April vaccination target.
Earlier today, Queensland’s Deputy Premier Steven Miles said The Prime Minister had fallen well short of his target to vaccinate 4 million Australians by early April.
Mr Morrison said a delay in supply was due to overseas supply issues.
“That was dealt with months ago, so that being put up as some constant target is just politics,” he said.
“I’m not interested in people who want to play politics with vaccines and distributions.”
Mr Morrison said the country remained on track for every Australian to receive their COVID vaccination by October.
He also played down tensions between the state after Queensland accused the commonwealth of not promising enough supply to ensure second doses.
“They have a 12 week forward projection, but again, I have no interest in getting involved in tit for tat of vaccines,” he said.
READ MORE: ‘Give yourself an uppercut’: state-federal feud explodes
Nicholas Jensen11.40am: Restrictions for Byron, Ballina after new local case
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has said the new case of community transmission is linked to the Byron Bay super spreader event.
In light of the new case in the Byron area, Ms Berejilkin has announced new restrictions for Byron, Ballina, Tweed and Lismore shires.
“We know through this one case of community transmission that there could be others. Until the end of Easter, those four local government areas will be subject to some restrictions.”
Ms Berejiklian said “we want to limit the number of people that come to your home to 30”.
“Please make sure you have a list of everyone who attended or is attending your home.
A new #COVID19 testing clinic is now operational in Lismore and another clinic in Tweed Heads has extended it’s opening hours:
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) March 30, 2021
- Lismore QML Pathology Drive-through Clinic, 354 Keen Street, Lismore, open 8am – 7pm. pic.twitter.com/69DwCBuE7Z
All venues in the four local government areas will resort to the four square metre rule and all patrons are to stay seated.
All venues in the four local government areas will resort to the four square metre rule and all patrons are to stay seated.
Ms Berejiklian said “we’re not saying to businesses shut your doors, quite the opposite, we are saying you can keep your doors open but we want you to be extra cautious”.
NSW Health is instructing residents in the four local government areas to wear masks, as well as not to travel outside their areas, though Ms Berejiklian said this would not be enforced as a rule only a request.
READ MORE: Germany restricts AstraZeneca jab
Nicholas Jensen11.35am:NSW records one new local case
NSW has recorded one new case of community transmission since 8pm last night amid concerns of a super-spreader event in Byron Bay, which saw six guests and a tradie entertainer infected with the highly infectious UK variant.
There were three new cases recorded in hotel quarantine overnight.
17,393 test results received across the state in the past 24 hours.
NSW recorded no new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. Although after 8pm, one person who attended a weekend hen's party in Byron Bay has been identified with the coronavirus says @GladysB. https://t.co/amCyN7ZjCt#7NEWSpic.twitter.com/UaKHjb1zIb
— 7NEWS Sydney (@7NewsSydney) March 31, 2021
Angelica Snowden11.30am:Virgin stands down ground crew
Virgin Australia ground crew have been stood down without pay for at least three weeks, after the airline said the pandemic left the industry with virtually no work.
The Transport Workers Union has filed a dispute with the Fair Work Commission over the stand down – in effect from March 29 to April 18 – and blamed the end of JobKeeper for the decision.
“The federal government’s decision to cut off JobKeeper has resulted in Virgin workers being stood down from their jobs,” TWU secretary Michael Kaine said.
“This disastrous move by Scott Morrison means domestic aviation workers have been cut adrift and Virgin workers are now worried sick about how they will pay their bills and feed their families,” he said.
The TWU said Virgin Australia had breached its enterprise bargaining agreement because it failed to consult with the union about the stand down.
It is understood the stand down will affect baggage handlers, ramp workers and other staff who work on the tarmac.
READ the full story
Greg Brown 11.10am:Bowen: Only Labor can take action on climate change
Opposition energy spokesman Chris Bowen says Labor is the only political party that can take action on climate change, as he labels the shift to a low emissions future as an “economic imperative”.
Mr Bowen opened day-two of Labor’s online national conference with a speech broadcast from Liverpool, ahead of a debate on the climate change section of the ALP policy platform.
He took aim at both the Coalition and the Greens, saying the Adam Bandt-led minor party “doesn’t care at all about the workers and communities whose livelihoods are at stake”.
Labor has been divided on climate change and energy policy since the election, with Left faction heavyweight Mark Butler being forced out of the portfolio in January after facing open criticism from outspoken Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon.
Mr Bowen said the “globe’s climate emergency is Australia’s jobs opportunity”, as he reiterated Labor’s commitment to a zero-net emissions target by 2050.
“Delegates, a commitment to net zero by 2050 is necessary – but it’s not sufficient. We cannot afford to go on as we are until 2049. And s
o this chapter outlines a strong pathway in the medium term as well,” Mr Bowen said.
“But facing up to the realities of climate change isn’t just environmental action. It’s also an economic imperative.
“We can allow workers and communities to be decimated as global markets decarbonise. That’s the Government’s plan.
“Or we can put workers and jobs at the centre of climate action.”
Mr Bowen said the economic opportunities for a low-emissions future would see jobs growth in coal-reliant regions.
“Australia produces nine of the 10 minerals needed for lithium-ion batteries. In fact, we’re the biggest producer of lithium in the world,” Mr Bowen said.
“Instead of digging those minerals up and shipping them overseas, we should be manufacturing batteries here – including for the electric cars and community storage I mentioned earlier.
“And the good news is that the same communities that have always powered Australia are first in line.
“Regions like Central Queensland, the Illawarra, the La Trobe Valley, the Hunter Valley and the Collie-Bunbury have Australia’s best access to rail, roads, ports, grids, pipelines and raw materials.
“They’ve powered Australia to 2021 – and they can lead us forward.”
Mr Bowen said Labor was the only party that could “seize the opportunities” that come with planning for a low-emissions future.
“Not the Coalition to our right, which doesn’t even accept the science of climate change,” Mr Bowen said.
“And not the Greens Party to our left, which started the climate wars when it sunk the CPRS, and doesn’t care at all about the workers and communities whose livelihoods are at stake.
“Only Labor in government will make Australia a renewable energy and manufacturing superpower – creating jobs, cutting energy prices and reducing emissions.”
READ MORE: Small target platform risks voter indifference
Nicholas Jensen 11.00am: Ghan passengers locked in cabins for 24 hours
Passengers on Australia’s iconic train the Ghan have been locked in their cabins for more than 24 hours following the announcement of Greater Brisbane’s snap lockdown.
At least 20 Queenslanders from Brisbane, Ipswich, Gladstone and Toowoomba are self-isolating on the Ghan as it makes its way from Adelaide to Darwin.
Susan Harris-Rimmer and her father Peter Harris were locked in their cabin on Tuesday, when the train stopped at Katherine.
Professor Harris-Rimmer, who works at Griffith University, told The Courier Mail: “We’re stuck in our cabins while everyone else, including Gold Coast folk, are off on tours.
“Staff are trying to find out how to get us tested in Darwin and whether hotels are happy to have us.”
She is unsure how long she and her father will have to stay in Darwin when they arrive.
Professor Harris-Rimmer has received her first COVID-19 jab and has been tested for the virus.
“Most of us had negative COVID tests in South Australia but didn’t seem to make a difference to Northern Territory Health.
Despite being locked in her cabin, Professor Harris-Rimmer said staff on the Ghan had provided the “best lockdown views ever”.
“We understand NT has a vulnerable First Nations population and we’re happy to do what it takes to keep everyone safe,” she said.
A spokeswoman for the Ghan’s holding company, Journey Beyond, said the Northern Territory government had instructed 20 passengers into isolation until they can receive a COVID-19 test in Darwin.
The 20 passengers are not considered high risk.
“Journey Beyond is working closely with authorities in response to the hard borders being imposed by various governments for guests from the greater Brisbane and Queensland areas,” the spokeswoman said.
READ MORE: ALP powerbroker to fight challenge
Adeshola Ore10.45am:Turnbull calls for Laming to move to crossbench
Former prime minister Malcom Turnbull has called for disgraced Liberal MP Andrew Laming to move to the crossbench, as Scott Morrison resists pressure to banish him.
The Queensland MP is accused of abusing female constituents online. It has also been revealed he took photos of a young Brisbane woman while she was bending over and her underwear was exposed. Crystal White, who Dr Laming photographed in 2019, has made a police complaint against him.
Mr Turnbull pointed to parallels between NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Deputy Premier John Barilaro who have called for Nationals MP Michael Johnsen to immediately resign from parliament after reports he attempted to arrange a sex worker to visit him at state parliament.
“I think it’s pretty obvious that he should be sitting on the crossbench. I mean his behaviour is so out of order,” Mr Turnbull told the ABC.
“The bottom line is he should be on the crossbench and I think New South Wales parliament has shown exactly how that should be done.”
READ MORE:Andrews promoted after making my life hell: staffer
Sarah Elks10.40am:Qld Health Minister tested for coronavirus
Queensland’s Health Minister Yvette D’Ath is being tested for coronavirus after developing a sore throat.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirmed the reason for Ms D’Ath’s absence from the daily COVID-19 briefing at Parliament House in Brisbane.
She said Ms D’Ath was doing the right thing and everyone who had any symptoms at all should be getting tested, to rule out unlinked community transmission.
Sarah Elks10.35am:Queensland lashes Morrison over vaccine rollout
Queensland has hit back at the federal government over the vaccine rollout, accusing Scott Morrison of not promising enough supply to ensure second doses.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles said Mr Morrison had fallen 2.4 million doses short of his 3 million vaccinated target at April 1.
“We have not had certainty of supply to our hospitals through the vaccine rollout so far. That has required the holding back of enough doses to ensure we could administer the second dose,” Mr Miles said.
1/3
— Steven Miles (@StevenJMiles) March 30, 2021
Federal Government Ministers have once again lined up to attack Queensland over our COVID response.
They attacked our borders and they attacked our lockdowns. Now they’re attacking our vaccine progress, something THEY’RE responsible.
#auspol#COVID19Aus#qldpol
He said the states needed certainty of supply, and the federal government needed to be more transparent.
“The states are doing what they can with what has been (supplied) to them,” he said.
Mr Miles said there has been “almost no communication” from the federal government on the vaccine rollout and certainty of supply. He said the PM had not contacted the Premier about it at all.
Mr Miles said both of Queensland’s current clusters had started in hotel quarantine. He said the federal government should have committed to Queensland’s plan to build a regional quarantine facility in Toowoomba.
READ MORE: Doom, gloom as Easter looms
Sarah Elks10.25am: ‘Signs for Easter positive’: Palaszczuk
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has given the strongest indication yet she will lift the greater Brisbane lockdown.
Ms Palaszczuk said there would be an update at 9am tomorrow. If there were high testing rates, and no unlinked local transmission: “fingers crossed, all will be looking good for Easter”.
“I know this is an inconvenience for people, but these are the right steps, and the right measures, to keep our state safe,” she said. “Signs for Easter are looking positive.”
READ MORE:So slow on jab we need war effort
Sarah Elks 10.20am: Queensland lockdown decision not until Thursday
Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young says the state will not know until tomorrow morning whether Brisbane’s lockdown will be lifted or extended over the Easter weekend.
The three-day lockdown is due to end on Thursday at 5pm.
“(It’s) encouraging, but we have to wait…we need to get more results from today,” Dr Young said.
She said tomorrow morning, the state’s health authorities would be able to make a decision.
She also said today’s case of another PA nurse who had contracted COVID-19 – after she had received a first dose of the vaccine – had not had a chance to have full immunity.
“She’d only had the first dose…it usually takes a week (to get) significant immunity,” she said.
“She hadn’t had a chance yet to have full immunity.”
Sarah Elks 10.10am:Nurse positive after being vaccinated
A Princess Alexandra Hospital nurse – who has treated COVID-19 patients – contracted the virus after being vaccinated. Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said the nurse had received only the first dose of the vaccination.
Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said the Queensland’s second active cluster – linked to a PA Hospital nurse and her sister who went to a hen’s party at Byron Bay – had 11 cases.
She said there were not any other cases in the community that were unlinked to the two known clusters.
Dr Young said there would be an investigation into how the latest PA hospital nurse had contracted the highly contagious UK strain of the virus.
Sarah Elks10.05am:‘Encouraging’ news as Qld records 2 new cases
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says there are only two new locally acquired cases of COVID-19, in “encouraging” news for Queensland.
Ms Palaszczuk said the two new cases were linked to the PA hospital nurse, including another nurse who was vaccinated.
“The fact we do not have any unlinked community transmission in the southeast or our state is very very encouraging news,” she said.
One other case was detected in hotel quarantine.
She said there was a person with COVID-19 in the Bundaberg hospital and another in the Toowoomba hospital, but they had not been out and about in the community.
“If you are sick, have any symptoms, go and get a test, absolutely critical that we rule out any unlinked community transmission in our community, but the signs are very very encouraging,” she said.
“Our contact tracers are first class.”
There are now 71 active cases in the state, and over the past 24 hours, more than 34,000 tests have been conducted.
READ MORE: Jab go-slow leaves state vulnerable
Matthew Denholm 9.50am:Rescue bid for Tasmania’s Incat
Taxpayers will underwrite construction of a $100m fast-speed passenger catamaran to save up to 500 jobs at Hobart shipbuilder Incat, under an election pledge by the Tasmanian Liberals.
Tasmanian Liberal Premier Peter Gutwein announced the rescue bid for Incat on Wednesday, helping to secure more than 500 jobs potentially at risk from a global downturn in ship sales.
“Incat has been hit by global border closures over the past year, with demand reducing in the international ferry market,” Mr Gutwein said. “Retaining Incat’s highly-skilled workforce through a steady pipeline of work is critical.”
A re-elected Liberal government would provide $100 million to finance, on an interest-free basis for three years, the construction of a 120-metre high-speed vessel, securing 500 jobs and creating 120-150 new positions.
“If the vessel is not sold or chartered after three years, the loan will revert to commercial interest rates payable by Incat,” Mr Gutwein said. “However, the shipbuilder is confident that demand for its world class product will return swiftly once border restrictions ease globally.”
READ MORE:Age editor defends revealing whistleblower identity
Nicholas Jensen9.30am:Zero locally acquired cases for Victoria
Victoria has recorded zero locally acquired cases and no new hotel quarantine cases.
There were 22,069 test results received across the state in the past 24 hours, as health authorities monitor one active case.
Victorian health authorities are urging residents to cancel any Easter travel plans to the Greater Brisbane region, as well as the Gladstone region in Queensland and Byron Shire in NSW, which are now both orange zones under Victoria’s travel permit system.
Yesterday there were no new cases reported. 22,069 test results were received. Thanks for getting tested - #EveryTestHelps. More later: https://t.co/lIUrl0ZEco#COVID19Vic#COVID19VicDatapic.twitter.com/NSOwiixDFs
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) March 30, 2021
Adeshola Ore 9.15am:Nine cyber attack sophisticated, complex
Australian Cyber Security Centre head Abigail Bradshaw says the cyber attack that hit Nine Entertainment over the weekend was a sophisticated and complex breach.
It comes as the banking regulator warned that it is “only a matter of time” before a major bank, insurer or super fund in Australia suffered a major cyber breach.
“Our first priority is to try and work out how an actor got in, to close that door and to ensure the actor is out,” she told the ABC.
Ms Bradshaw said the centre was still in the early day of completing “forensic analysis” about the attack.
She said the centre had still not determined the origin of the actor.
READ MORE:Delivery drivers’ poor conditions
Nicholas Jensen 9.00am:More than 1000 apply for NSW permit from Brisbane
More than 1000 people have applied for a permit under the state traffic light system to return to NSW from the Greater Brisbane “red zone”.
At the moment, 16 travellers from the “red zone” are occupying the Holiday Inn Airport Hotel, with approximately 30 people who have arrived from Brisbane in the Park Royal Hotel in Sydney.
However, these travellers have decided to return to Brisbane to avoid the 14 days of hotel quarantine.
It is still unclear how many travellers will undertake hotel quarantine, if they cannot safely quarantine at home.
READ MORE: Jabs go slow leaves state vulnerable
Nicholas Jensen8.40am: Qld healthcare workers vaccinated by April 4
Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young says Queensland is on track to vaccinate all 125,000 of its frontline healthcare workers by April 4, approximately six weeks after the Pfizer vaccine was delivered to the state by the federal government.
Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said the number of frontline workers in the first group needing to be vaccinated had also increased in the last month, as hospitals treat more COVID-positive patients.
“We said we were looking at vaccinating healthcare workers in six weeks,” Ms D’Ath said.
“That’s what we’ve done, and we’ve done that despite increasing that by another 4,500 people to get vaccinated.”
However, it still remains unclear how an unvaccinated health worker came into contact with COVID-positive patients.
READ MORE: Zero confidence in hapless health authority
Adeshola Ore8.25am: Tehan warns against stockpiling second doses
Trade Minister Dan Tehan has urged states and territories against stockpiling second doses of the COVID vaccines, as Queensland authorities scramble to contain a community outbreak.
Thousands of frontline healthcare workers remained unvaccinated in the state despite the state having a significant stockpile of vaccines when a doctor and a nurse were exposed to COVID-19, triggering an outbreak in the community. The state has been hoarding second doses of the vaccines, citing issues with the commonwealth’s supply.
Mr Tehan said states and territories must administer all the vaccines they have and said the commonwealth would “continue to make sure we’re supplying them.”
“It’s no good if we have half the stockpile sitting in warehouses. We need to make sure it’s been administered, especially to those frontline health workers,” he told Channel 9.
“One of the things we want to reassure states and territories about is that the second dose is there. So make sure you’re administering all those first doses.”
“We’re happy to work cooperatively with them to make sure that all those stockpiles are being rolled out.”
READ MORE: Why hen’s entertainer has coast worried
Adeshola Ore8.15am:Albanese: no target for electric cars
Anthony Albanese says Labor will not set a target for how many electric cars it wants to see on Australian roads under its policy to exempt them from import and fringe-benefit taxes.
On the final day of Labor’s national conference, the opposition will unveil a plan to increase the uptake of electric vehicles and support low-carbon industries.
“What we’re doing is saying we will make electric vehicles cheaper because we know that this is the future,” the Opposition Leader told the ABC.
He said Labor’s $15bn fund to bolster manufacturing in Australia could be used to build electric cars.
“We produce everything that goes into an electric vehicle... there’s no reason why we can’t be producing at the very least components here and. potentially being open to producing electric vehicles here,” he said.
READ MORE:ALP’s tax-free ride for electric cars
Nicholas Jensen8.10am:Grace Tame slams PM for promoting Stoker
Australian of the Year Grace Tame has criticised Prime Minister Scott Morrison for promoting Senator Amanda Stoker to the role of Assistant Women’s Minister in this week’s cabinet reshuffle.
“The new Assistant Minister for Women is someone who previously endorsed a ‘fake rape crisis’ tour...It goes without saying that this came at an immeasurable cost to already traumatised student survivors,” Ms Tame said in a conversation with Kerry O’Brien at a Griffith University event on Tuesday.
Ms Tame also referred to Bettina Arndt, who previously interviewed Ms Tame’s abuser.
“The new Assistant Minister also supported last year’s Australia Day Honour of a woman who gave a platform to the convicted paedophile who abused me,” Ms Tame said.
In the post Ms Tame said Senator Stoker was entitled to her views, but added “the issue is allowing opinions to become an institution by awarding them power”.
She concluded by writing: “In light of these facts, either the Prime Minister is ignorant of the cultural issues at hand, or he understands them completely, and is making calculated moves to perpetuate them.”
READ MORE: Unis will have to wait for foreign students
Nicholas Jensen7.55am:All Qld healthcare workers vaccinated within 48 hours
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has come under scrutiny for the slow pace of the state’s vaccine roll-out following news that two unvaccinated healthcare workers are at the centre of the state’s unfolding outbreak.
Following the announcement of Queensland’s new cases yesterday, Ms Palaszczuk said the COVID-19 vaccine rollout was on schedule, with all remaining healthcare workers to receive their first dose of vaccine “over the next 48 hours”.
The commitment comes as Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young mandated that only healthcare workers who are vaccinated will be permitted to treat COVID-positive cases.
“Already 41,000 of our frontline health workers and people looking after hotel quarantine have been vaccinated, which is around 89 per cent.
“And we expect that to be completed over the next 48 hours.”
Dr Young said it was “unfortunate this outbreak occurred when it did and with health workers”.
“We did set ourselves that target for between four and six weeks to get all of 1A workers vaccinated and we believe we’ll have finished that by tomorrow,” she said.
However, Queesland opposition health spokeswoman Ros Bates criticised the government’s vaccine rollout, saying it was far too slow and inefficient, as well as suggesting more should have been done to protect frontline healthcare workers.
READ MORE:Virus hunter points finger at bats
Nicholas Jensen7.30am: AMA chief: expect more cases, lockdowns
President of the Australian Medical Association Professor Chris Perry says we can expect to see more cases and lockdowns before the vaccine rollout ramps up in four months time.
“People are mingling a bit more than they should and social distancing is not being done as much, not washing hands as much,” Professor Perry told Nine’s Today Show this morning
“I think this (Queensland outbreak) is a wake-up call.”
“It will be three, four, five months before we have good vaccine rollout in the general community, so we just have to keep going with what we’ve done over the last 12 months.”
Professor Perry urged patience in the community, saying the rollout “will be slow through the general practitioners because they are only going to get 100 doses”.
“But we just need to be careful about overwhelming your general practitioners,” he said.
READ MORE: Divided by age on national priorities
Nicholas Jensen7.15am: Spain extends AstraZeneca rollout to over-65s
Spain’s health ministry has announced that it will extend the rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine to the over 65-year-olds, amid international concerns that the jab may trigger blood clotting.
But the ministry says recent scientific research offers total reassurance about its safety.
Until now the AstraZeneca vaccine has been restricted to the 55 to 65 age group, but will now be made available to over 65s in priority groups, including health workers, police officers and teachers.
“In respect of the AstraZeneca vaccine, given the new scientific evidence ... the age limit is raised,” said a ministry statement on Tuesday.
Spain was among a number of EU countries that suspended use of the AstraZeneca vaccine earlier this month after reports of blood clots in a very small number of people.
But they resumed its use last week after both the WHO and the European Medicines Agency gave the vaccine the all clear.
However, several EU countries are taking precautions.
Germany insists it should only be in general use for the over-60s. Individuals under that age can only take it after consulting their doctor about the risks.
READ MORE:Jab go-slow leaves state vulnerable
Nicholas Jensen7.05am: Pfizer prioritises deliveries to Canada
Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has agreed to prioritise deliveries of its COVID-19 vaccine to Canada, following the restriction of AstraZeneca jabs for adults under 55.
On Monday Health Canada recommended halting the use of AstraZeneca shots for people aged under 55 amid concerns that a small but rising number of patients abroad are suffering blood clots, especially among younger women.
The recommendations were later followed by the Canadian government, which enacted a pause of the rollout for under-55-year-olds yesterday.
“Pfizer has now confirmed they will be moving up five million doses from later in the summer into June. That will bring our total from 4.6 million to 9.6 million doses for that month alone,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a news conference.
The arrival of these deliveries, as well as the Moderna and AstraZeneca shots, bringing total doses expected by June 30 to more than 40 million, will allow the country to “begin our ramp-up phase” and meet its goal of inoculating all Canadians by the end of summer, he said.
“We want to get more doses of vaccines... to as many Canadians as possible in the coming months,” he said.
With a population of 38 million, Canada has reserved more than 400 million doses of vaccine from seven pharmaceutical groups.
However, since the start of its vaccine program, the rollout has suffered several setbacks.
Four vaccine candidates have been approved for use in Canada, including AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech.
On Tuesday Canada received 1.5 million surplus AstraZeneca doses from the US, which has yet to be approved for domestic use.
READ MORE:Bolsonaro acts as death toll grows
Nicholas Jensen 7.00am: ‘I’d kill to be sexually harassed’ claim rejected
Liberal Party vice-president Teena McQueen has rejected claims she said “I would kill to be sexually harassed at the moment”, saying the comments were inaccurate and not in reference to Brittany Higgins.
However, Ms McQueen has offered an apology for making a joke at a party meeting, which “probably had made light of a serious matter”.
It comes after reports that three senior Liberal women told the Sydney Morning Herald that Ms McQueen had made the comment at a meeting on the NSW branch’s new code of conduct.
Ms McQueen insists she didn’t make those exact comments.
“What I said was, at my age — and it was a joke — every woman ages and I’m no longer sexually harassed, which is a fair comment considering I’m a grandmother,” Ms McQueen told news.com.au.
“I have apologised and I’ve said I regret the comment — clearly I will no longer make any off the cuff jokes — even though it was a comment about myself, but I will certainly not go there again.”
“At the time it was a throwaway line,” she said.
Ms McQueen also rejected reports from two attendees who heard Ms McQueens say: “Let’s talk about women not getting drunk at work”.
Ms McQueen again said the comments were not aimed at Brittany Higgins.
“I’m pretty annoyed that it’s trying to be skewed in that direction,” she said.
“It’s been weeks and weeks of dark stuff said about the sexual assault issue,” Ms McQueen told 2GB this morning, “and I suppose I just wanted to introduce a little humour”.
“What I was trying to say was that ‘young women won’t have this problem when they reach my age’.”
“It was in bad taste and I apologise,” Ms McQueen said.
READ MORE: ALP’s tax-free ride for electric cars
Nicholas Jensen 6.45am:New alerts for Queensland, Byron Bay
A surf life saving competition attended by thousands of people is among the latest COVID-19 tracing alerts issued by Queensland Health. It is estimated that more than 1500 people attended the event.
The list of Queensland exposure sites continues to grow, with new additions in the last 24 hours.
Residents and holidaymakers in Byron Bay are also on high alert, as Queensland’s eight new cases included five people who attended a party in Byron Bay at the weekend.
Saturday, March 20
Shinobi Ramen Noodle shop, Westfield Carindale Shopping Centre, Carindale, 12pm-2.16pm
Black Hops Brewery, East Brisbane, 12pm-2pm
Green Beacon brewing Co., Teneriffe, 2pm-3.12pm
Eatons Hill Hotel, Eatons Hill, 3.44pm-5.30pm
Sunday, March 21
Mamma’s Italian Restaurant, 69 Redcliffe Parade, Redcliffe, 12.30pm-3.10pm
Monday 22 March
PCYC Pine Rivers, Bray Park, 7.16am-8.10am
Friday, March 26
FitStop Gym, 6/338 Lytton Road, Morningside, 6.50am-8am
Spinnaker Park Café, 222 Alf O’Rourke Drive, Callemondah, 10.22am-11.23am
Jamaica Blue Café New Middle Ridge, 10.30am-12pm
Auckland House, 60 Flinders Parade, Gladstone Central, 7.23pm-9.30pm
Saturday, March 27
Auckland House, 60 Flinders Parade, Gladstone Central, 7.33am-8.20am
Savour Café, Merthyr Village Shopping Centre, New Farm, 10.30am-12.10pm
Monday, March 29
Premium Pilates & Fitness, Coorparoo, 9.25am-10.30am
Residents and holidaymakers in Byron Bay are also on high alert, as Queensland’s eight new cases included five people who attended a party in Byron Bay at the weekend.
Meanwhile, NSW Health has ordered people from 13 venues in Byron Bay, Ewingsdale and Suffolk Park into isolation until it can assess the transmission risk. NSW Health has expanded its list in the last 24 hours.
Sunday, March 28
The Farm Byron Bay, 11 Ewingsdale Road, 8.45am-10.30am
Three Blue Ducks Restaurant, 11 Ewingsdale Road, 8.45am-9.30am
Suffolk Beachfront Holiday Park, 143 Alcorn St, 4pm-8.30pm
Saturday, March 27
Mokha Cafe, 2/2 Lawson St, 11am - 12pm (Patrons seated in laneway of Feros Arcade)
Mokha Cafe, 2/2 Lawson St, 11am - 12pm (Patrons seated inside or outside the venue - not in the laneway of Feros Arcade).
Betty’s Burgers & Concrete Co, 2 Lawson St, 11am - 12pm (Patrons seated in laneway of Feros Arcade)
Black Sheep, 46 Jonson St, 12.30pm-12.40pm
Ghanda Clothing, 3/8 Lawson St, 12pm-12.15pm
Quiksilver Byron Bay, 2 Jonson St, 12.40pm-12.45pm
Tiger Lily Byron Bay, 3/17-21 Jonson St, 12.25pm-12.30pm
Park Hotel Bottle Shop, 223 Broken Head Rd, 7.30pm-7.45pm
Suffolk Bakery, Shop 1/2 Clifford St, 2.45pm-3.15pm
Suffolk Beachfront Holiday Park, 143 Alcorn St, 4pm-8.30pm
Friday, March 26
Byron Beach Hotel, 1 Bay Street, 7.15pm-9pm
Suffolk Beachfront Holiday Park, 143 Alcorn St, 4pm-8.30pm.
READ MORE:Zero confidence in hapless health authority
Matthew Lesh 6.40am:We need war effort to end pandemic
Brisbane has been plunged into another snap lockdown after COVID-19 slipped into the community through an inexplicably unvaccinated doctor and nurse. Australia’s borders remain closed and tens of thousands are trapped overseas. Winter, with a higher transmission risk, is coming.
Australia is stuck in COVID purgatory: lockdowns and domestic border closures at any moment, lives and livelihoods at risk, and no end to the mayhem.
Scientists have come through with a miraculous solution to this conundrum: vaccines. Yet Australia’s vaccination program is pathetically slow, unambitious and behind schedule. At the current rate, the most vulnerable will not be vaccinated until June 2023 and the full population not until October 2024. Every previous target has been missed and every upcoming target will be missed. The first modest goal, 60,000 doses by the end of February, was only half achieved. The next target of four million by the end of March will be missed by over three-quarters. The government has admitted the program will not be completed by October as planned.
This is no longer just a matter of supply. Australia has used just half a million doses of the more than two million in the country.
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Agencies6.05am: Berlin supends AstraZeneca jabs for under-60s
The city of Berlin has suspended vaccinations with the AstraZeneca jab for under-60s, amid reports of further cases of blood clots among people who had received it.
“We are provisionally stopping vaccinations with AstraZeneca for under-60s,” the German capital’s health minister, Dilek Kalayci, said on Tuesday, adding it was a “precautionary measure” while the city awaited an official recommendation from federal health authorities.
Almost all of the cases are reported to be in younger and middle-aged women, prompting several German hospitals to suspend the use of the jab for women under 55 this week.
A clinic in North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany’s most populous state, said it was halting AstraZeneca jabs to investigate two reported cases of thrombosis, while Berlin’s Charité hospital extended its suspension to all under-60s following Mr Kalayci’s announcement.
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Tom Kington6.00am: Young people stoke Italy’s third wave
Young patients with the UK COVID-19 variant are driving Italy’s third wave, a senior doctor has claimed as intensive care wards approach record occupancy.
“They are the new element in this third wave,” said Massimo Andreoni, scientific director of the Italian society of infectious and tropical diseases.
“They may have got infected in the first and second waves but now, for some reason, they are.”
Italy has 3700 Covid sufferers in intensive care, close to the peak of 4063 reached at the height of Italy’s first wave a year ago, and enough to take up 40 per cent of beds, well above the safety limit of 30 per cent set by the government. In Rome there are more intensive care COVID-19 patients — 370 — than at any time last year.
The average age of new cases rose to the late sixties in April last year but the average age is now in the mid-forties. The average age of intensive care patients has dropped from the mid to late seventies to the late sixties.
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Charlie Peel5.45am: Fears Covid horse bolted after Byron party
A super-spreading hen’s party in the northern NSW beach town of Byron Bay has heightened fears that Brisbane’s escalating COVID-19 outbreak jumped the state border after another five partygoers tested positive.
The cluster — centred on an unvaccinated nurse from Queensland’s second-largest hospital who infected her sister, friends and a male entertainer at the celebration last weekend — has increased to eight cases.
The nurse had cared for COVID patients at Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital, where a doctor also tested positive on March 12. They separately and unwittingly seeded twin knots of community transmission of the more contagious UK strain of the virus that forced the Queensland capital into a snap 72-hour lockdown on Monday.
The 1050-bed hospital was accepting only critical cases late on Tuesday, having been taken off line over linkages between the latest outbreak and its main COVID ward as a “precautionary measure”, Queensland Health said.
All staff who had worked in Ward 5D between March 19 and last Sunday, March 28, would be tested.
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Jamie Walker5.30am:Doom and gloom as Easter looms
Queensland businesses are already counting the cost of Brisbane’s snap three-day lockdown as tourists and diners cancel holiday and restaurant bookings and business owners brace for extended restrictions.
Travellers have already scratched flights into Brisbane and accommodation bookings have also recorded cancellations but it is the unknown effect the lockdown will have on the Easter long weekend and the school holidays that has business owners most worried.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the prospect of the lockdown going beyond 5pm on Thursday would depend on “what we see over the next 24 to 48 hours” but acknowledged it was likely that more cases of community-based transmission would be detected.
“In terms of the Greater Brisbane region, we just have to take this day by day,” she said.
“The big question will be whether or not we see unlinked community transmission.”
Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young has not ruled out extending the lockdown beyond Greater Brisbane. Gladstone, the Gold Coast and Hervey Bay regions are all on high alert after it was revealed some of the people infected with the virus had been there before testing positive.
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Crisafulli government accused of inflating state debt projections
Rating agency S & P Global has accused the Queensland government of exaggerating the state’s debt position for political point scoring.
ABC executive in dark on Lattouf posts until Anderson emailed him
Christopher Oliver-Taylor, who decided to sack Antoinette Lattouf, only became aware of her anti-Israel views when alerted to her social media posts by David Anderson in the hours after her first shift.