Coronavirus Australia live news: WA’s hard border wound back; Qantas, Virgin Australia livid over Queensland’s border decision
Australian residents, excluding those in NSW and Victoria, will be able to travel to WA without quarantining as Qantas, Virgin lash Qld’s continued border closure.
- WA’s hard border wound back
- Airlines slam fortress Queensland
- Qld keeps border closed to Sydney, Vics
- Victoria records four new cases
- Europe passes 10 million infections
- How Trump beat COVID-19
Welcome to our live coverage of the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. Australian residents, excluding those in NSW and Victoria, will be able to travel to WA without quarantining from November 14. Qantas and Virgin Australia have slammed the Queensland government’s continued border closure to residents of greater Sydney and Victoria. Victoria has recorded four new cases and no deaths. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has dismissed any link between his $2m spin doctor and his own key phrases during Victoria’s virus pandemic.
Tom Dusevic 9.23pm: Auditor-General a huge pain for the Morrison government
Grant Hehir is proving to be a huge pain in the arse for the Morrison government and some of its key officials as he looks deeper into Canberra’s gaping money pit.
That’s the Auditor-General for Australia’s job description: a dentist doing root canal therapy on agency accounts, a coroner examining death by policy misadventure, a habitual teller of bad news without any sugar-coating.
Amid the clamour of pandemic, elections and a federal spending footprint of $670bn, Hehir is shining a light into places usually out of view, with revelations tumbling out about poor governance, from sports grants to land deals and executive perks.
Dennis Shanahan 8.48pm: From ripple effect to shockwaves, look out
The Queensland state election result, whatever it is, will have a direct impact on five federal parliamentary leaders, moving through a scale from disastrous, through benignly neutral to positively lifesaving.
It is the leaders of the smallest parties, One Nation’s Pauline Hanson and the Greens’ Adam Bandt, who stand to gain the most and least. But how those minor parties perform will have a dramatic effect on the Nationals’ Michael McCormack and the ALP’s Anthony Albanese.
Scott Morrison, as Liberal leader and Prime Minister, has the least to lose and least to gain.
David Penberthy 8.15pm: How the west was won despite heartbreak of lockout
Australia’s de facto secessionist Mark McGowan might be hailed a hero in his home state, but the West Australian Premier was coming to be seen as a pariah by families who have been split apart by his hard border closure and are challenging him to provide health advice to back his actions.
The anger has been particularly acute in South Australia, which has recorded fewer COVID cases than Western Australia and just four deaths, but where many families working in mining, banking and public health have been barred from moving between states to see their loved ones.
Mr McGowan’s list of captors has included former fellow Labor premier Jay Weatherill, now based in Perth with his wife and two daughters heading the Andrew Forrest-backed childcare reform group, Thrive by Five, and unable to return to SA to see his aged parents. Mr Weatherill was not critical of Mr McGowan and said his detractors did not grasp the psyche of the state of Western Australia, saying the Premier was regarded as “a rock star” within WA.
“Mum and Dad are pretty elderly and I would dearly love to be able to see them,” Mr Weatherill said. “But you have got to understand the Western Australian people. A lot of them didn’t want to join Australia in the first place.”
Ewin Hannan 7.45pm: A third wave ‘is still on the cards’
Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton has declared the chances of Melbourne experiencing a third COVID-19 wave are minimal but not zero, as Daniel Andrews urged residents to be responsible ahead of a weekend of eased restrictions.
Mr Andrews said he did not expect NSW to open its border to Victoria before November 22, saying it was reasonable for Gladys Berejiklian to wait two weeks from when the “ring of steel” separating Melbourne from regional Victoria was lifted.
Professor Sutton said the pandemic would not be over until a vaccine was distributed across Australia, meaning that industry and the public needed to follow the rules and advice.
Asked how great the threat of a third wave was as the state opened up, he said: “I think it’s minimal but I don’t want to say it’s zero because it will not be zero for any of us in Australia until there is a widespread use of a vaccine that’s effective.”
Mr Andrews said Victoria would eventually match NSW in integrating a QR code check-in system with contact tracing software, implementing the program as restrictions ease.
Emily Ritchie 6.53pm: Painless coronavirus test for high-risk workers
Painless saliva swab tests for COVID-19 will soon be used at high-risk workplaces such as abattoirs and healthcare facilities to hunt down asymptomatic sufferers of the disease — but for now, most of us will have to put up with the unpleasant process of sticking things up our nose.
While the nasal swab is often uncomfortable, it is at the heart of Australia’s highly successful testing program, and scientists say it will remain the gold standard as the range of testing options gradually increases.
Deborah Williamson, a clinical microbiologist at Melbourne’s Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, said the development of different testing methods — such as testing saliva or rapid point-of-care tests — was “fundamental in preventing the spread of this disease”.
“The polymerase chain reaction test, commonly known as the nose swab, has been the workhorse of our testing strategy so far, but the ability to have an expanded portfolio of tests is a really exciting development,” Professor Williamson said.
Jack the Insider 6.21pm: Are removalist vans heading to White House?
In a great swirling ocean of polling and punditry on the US presidential election, one prediction you can take to the bank is if Trump loses Florida, he will lose the election.
There is a rush of highly regarded polling out this morning from the Sunshine State.
Marist College in a poll of 1001 registered voters has Biden five points up in Florida. The poll has a margin of error 4.4 per cent.
Monmouth University polled 509 voters and came up with the same result. Although a smaller sample size, Monmouth’s published MoE is also 4.4 per cent.
Perhaps not quite as esteemed is the Quinnipiac Poll (oh boy, did they get things wrong in 2016) which has Biden leading by three points in Florida but as the margin is within its MoE, the pollster reasonably describes Florida as too close to call.
Penny Hunter 5.49pm: The art of sleeping, home or away
Find a comfy spot for a lie-down, breathe deeply and drift back to a time when sleep was a commodity in abundant supply. Whether you were at home in your own bed or in a hotel, getting a solid eight hours was a simple matter of closing your eyes.
Now, fast forward to the COVID age and we are all eyes wide open at 3am, stressed about a host of pandemic-related matters, many far more serious than our inability to visit Bali. On the travel front, I have found myself fretting about sold-out regional holiday accommodation, contemplating a caravan purchase, mentally mapping out road trips, and wondering if I’ll ever again watch from 30,000ft as the far north coast of Australia slips beneath me en route to Europe.
Insomnia has been my travel companion for decades. And like all modern children, I blame my parents. They would rouse me and my brothers at a dark, ungodly hour, force-feed us a cooked breakfast before squeezing us into the car for 12-hour driving marathons. The result of this cruel childhood trauma is that on the day of my departure to any destination I’ll be awake for hours well before dawn. At least I can skip the scrambled eggs.
Read the full story here.
Louise Goldsbury 5.11pm: What it’s like to cruise again
There are many ways to a cruiser’s heart — exclusive shore excursions, beverage packages, cabin upgrades, for instance. Up the nostrils with a sterile swab isn’t usually one of them. In the midst of a pandemic, however, passing a COVID-19 test is the only way to step aboard a ship, and literal proof of your devotion to the ocean.
Although a nasal invasion might seem an extreme start to a holiday, this pre-trip screening is bigger than the cautious return of cruising; it’s a glimpse into the future of international travel. As my nose tingles and eyes water, I daydream about the salty sea breeze that will soothe my senses on Coral Expeditions’ first voyage since March.
On October 14, the big day arrives and 46 virus-free Australians are transferred from a Cairns hotel to the wharf in our squeaky-clean bubble. Gleaming in the sunshine, Coral Discoverer awaits. It’s been so long since I laid eyes on a cruise ship it’s like spotting a spaceship from another planet.
Read the full story here.
Paul Garvey 4.26pm: WA’s hard border wound back ‘carefully’
Australia’s hardest border will fall after Western Australian premier Mark McGowan announced plans to significantly unwind the state’s stringent interstate travel restrictions.
People from all other states and territories – with the exception of NSW and Victoria – will now be allowed to enter WA from 14 November without needing to go into quarantine.
Mr McGowan on Friday afternoon said the state’s “island within an island” strategy had worked to protect the health of Western Australians but said the time was right to ease its border restrictions.
Travellers from states with no cases of community transmission in the past 28 days will be allowed to enter WA. They will be subject to a health screening and temperature test on arrival, and can be ordered to have a COVID test at the airport if deemed necessary.
He warned that he would not hesitate to reintroduce the hard border if needed, and urged the federal government to keep Australia’s international border closed.
“I understand many West Australians might feel worried about the steps that we are planning to take,” he said.
“I want to reassure those people that these steps to move to a controlled intrastate border are based on health advice, and are safe and sensible and are cautious, considered and careful steps.”
WA closed its border with the rest of the country on April 5 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Since then, around 70,000 people have obtained exemptions to enter the state and have served their required two weeks in isolation upon entry.
The change in position followed the receipt of updated advice from WA’s chief health officer, Dr Andy Robertson, who had previously flagged that there would be little risk in easing restrictions with jurisdictions where there had not been any cases of community transmission in the past 28 days.
WA has not had a case of community transmission of coronavirus for seven months, a result that Mr McGowan has attributed to the state’s hard border stance.
But there have been growing calls for a rethink of the policy on both economic and compassionate grounds.
Prominent WA businessman Richard Goyder, the chairman of Woodside Petroleum and Qantas, had previously said WA’s stance was disproportionate to the actual health risk and ignored the broader economic and social impacts of the closure.
Human Rights Watch this week released a report detailing how the border process was causing unnecessary distress for many people who had legitimate compassionate reasons to enter WA but who were being rejected from doing so.
Queensland billionaire Clive Palmer has also been fighting WA’s border restrictions in the High Court.
READ MORE: State saved nation from further debt: WA Treasurer
Darren Cartwright 4.09pm: How new Qld border rules affects passes
Queenslanders will still require a border pass to re-enter the state despite travel to NSW, except for Greater Sydney, permitted from Tuesday under the latest easing of coronavirus restrictions.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Friday announced the state’s borders remained closed to all of Victoria and 32 Local Government Areas in Sydney which are home to some 4.8 million residents.
Deputy Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski warned of lengthy delays at border road crossings when the restrictions ease at 1am on November 3.
He also warned Queenslanders of changes to border declaration passes that are still required when residents re-enter the state.
“In the lead up to November 3, everyone that has currently got a border declaration pass, should check what they should have,” he said.
“It’s likely that will change and they’re going to need to have the correct pass … we’re going to do some system changes to do that.”
Read the full story here.
Ishan Dan 3.32pm: Tech floats shine as pandemic accelerates change
While markets largely shrugged off the COVID effect in recent months, it’s been a difficult year for initial public offerings. According to EY’s Global IPO Trends report, Australia and New Zealand IPO activity fell 41 per cent by volume and 82 per cent by value compared with year-to-date 2019.
However, supported by a stunning recovery rally in the Aussie market and a booming tech and healthcare sector, the COVID-inspired lull in the IPO market vanished.
In its place came a flurry of high-growth small cap tech companies looking to list and capitalise on the country’s move to digital. Tech is the fastest-growing sector on the ASX.
Read the full story here.
Ewin Hannan 2.47pm: After 120 days, Dan gets a day off
After 120 press conferences in a row, Daniel Andrews will not front the media on Saturday, handing over the briefing to Health Minister, Martin Foley.
The Premier’s daily updates have been a fixture of the government’s pandemic response.
Mr Andrews and the state’s chief health officer Brett Sutton on Friday urged Victorians to act responsibly this weekend and follow rules as the public move to enjoy more freedoms due to the easing of restrictions.
Read the full story here.
Robyn Ironside 2.20pm: ‘Frankly ridiculous’: airlines slam fortress Queensland
Qantas and Virgin Australia have both lashed out at the Queensland Government over its continued border closure to residents of greater Sydney and Victoria.
On the eve of the state election, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Queensland would reopen to regional New South Wales from 1am on November 3, but not greater Sydney.
“Frankly this is ridiculous,” said a statement from Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce.
“Sydney is the biggest city in Australia and it probably has one of the best track records globally of managing a virus that is clearly going to be with us for a long time,” he said.
“Keeping the doors bolted to places that you can’t reasonably call hot spots makes no sense from a health perspective and it’s doing a lot of social and economic damage as well.
“Compare this to the far more rational approach of Tasmania, the Northern Territory and South Australia.”
Mr Joyce added that by the time Queensland opened up to Sydney people “may have made other plans”.
Qantas had been ready to schedule more than 1000 extra flights in November to meet demand for travel between Sydney and Queensland, had the borders reopened.
Virgin Australia also expressed its disappointment in the Queensland government’s decision, just weeks after accepting a $200m investment to ensure the airline retained its Brisbane headquarters.
“Today’s announcement by the Queensland government is disappointing for many of our customers and team members who we know want to return to work, do business and reconnect with family and friends,” said an airline spokesman.
Read the full story here.
Patrick Commins 1.25pm: Home borrowing jumps most in two years
Home lending in September grew at its fastest monthly pace in over two years, as falling rates and a resilient housing market helped keep credit flowing despite the COVID-19 recession’s heavy toll on jobs and livelihoods.
The total stock of housing loans lifted by 0.4 per cent last month, from 0.3 per cent in August, bringing the annual pace to 3.3 per cent from 3.2 per cent, new figures from the Reserve Bank of Australia showed.
While Australians are happy to snap up the cheapest loans in history to buy a home in which to live, businesses remain far less confident as the economy charts an uncertain path out of the deepest downturn since the 1930s.
Read the full story here.
Imogen Reid 1.17pm: Fresh virus alerts for two Sydney venues
NSW Health has issued a fresh alert to residents in south and southwestern Sydney after positive cases of coronavirus visited two venues while potentially infectious.
Anyone who attended Jasmins Lebanese Restaurant in Liverpool on Sunday 25 October between 2pm and 3.30pm has been advised by health officials they are considered a close contact of a positive case and must get tested immediately.
“While contact tracing is well underway, NSW Health continues to work with this venue to identify those in attendance,” NSW Health said in a statement.
Health authorities have also upgraded public health advice for anyone who attended Flip Out Prestons Indoor Trampoline Park from 11am to 2pm on Sunday 25 October, directing patrons to get tested immediately.
“This increases the exposure time of previous advice which focused on those who were at the venue for an hour between 12pm and 1.50pm,” NSW Health said.
“Additionally, NSW Health can now advise anyone who attended Flip Out Prestons Indoor Trampoline Park on Sunday 25 October after 2pm is now considered a casual contact and must monitor for symptoms and get tested immediately if they develop. After testing, they must remain in isolation until a negative test result is received.”
READ MORE: Tech titans gain as Covid shifts demand
Imogen Reid 12.53pm: NSW police officer forced into self-isolation
A police constable is self-isolating after entering a hotel room in Sydney where a returned traveller was quarantining.
In a statement issued by NSW Police, the officer entered the room of a man undergoing mandatory quarantine who had recently arrived on an international flight.
“After leaving the man’s room, the constable then remained at the hotel for a short time before returning to a police station to complete his shift,” the statement said.
The constable and one close contact have since been directed to self-isolate at home and will undergo COVID-19 tests.
“The male traveller had undergone testing prior to arriving in Australia and received a negative result. He will remain in mandatory and undergo a further COVID-19 test,” the statement said.
NSW Police are working with NSW Health to ensure all potential contacts are identified and receive coronavirus tests.
READ MORE: Has Dan got this?
Ewin Hannan 12.41pm: NSW’s Victoria border stance ‘reasonable’: Andrews
Daniel Andrews says he does not expect New South Wales to open its border to Victoria before November 22, saying it was reasonable for Gladys Berejiklian to wait as his state progressively eased pandemic restrictions.
The 25 kilometre travel restriction on Melburnians and the “ring of steel” separating metropolitan Melbourne from regional Victoria are due to be lifted on November 8.
Mr Andrews said he had exchanged a series of text messages with the NSW Premier on Friday morning and he backed her approach.
“They’re very keen to wait a couple of weeks and they want to see how things unfold once Victoria is whole again. So it’s not unreasonable for them to wait and see,” he said.
He said no Premier took any joy from closing borders but each leader had a responsibility to do whatever they could to keep their community safe.
“I have got no criticism of those who have made those choices and I’m confident there will be a logical, sequential, evidence-based and data driven, epidemiologically driven approach to opening up those borders.”
READ MORE: Getting a job in the post-COVID world
Imogen Reid 12.05pm: NSW has just one case outside quarantine
Six new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in NSW overnight, all of which were detected in travellers in hotel quarantine.
NSW has reported no new cases of locally transmitted #COVID19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) October 30, 2020
Six cases were reported in overseas travellers in hotel quarantine, bringing the total number of cases in NSW to 4,228. pic.twitter.com/R1TTSrLrRW
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said another case had also been detected in Sydney’s southwest after a person attended Flip Out Prestons Indoor Trampoline Park while infectious on Sunday.
The positive result was recorded after Thursday’s 8pm cut off and will be included in Saturday’s tally.
READ MORE: Tech titans gain as Covid shifts demand
Olivia Caisley 12pm: Risk reduction ‘key’ to battling bushfires
Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud says the real theme about the Royal Commission into Natural Disaster Arrangement’s final report is risk reduction.
Speaking in Canberra following the public release of the final report into the Black Summer disaster, Mr Littleproud said a key finding that calls for the Commonwealth to be given broader powers to declare a state of emergency would ensure “greater co-ordination and co-operation between the state and federal government.”
Sarah Elks 11.50am: Palaszczuk: ‘I’m honest to the people of Queensland’
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says she has accepted the health advice from Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young on the border call.
“I kept my commitment, I’m honest to the people of Queensland … I’ve accepted her recommendations to me, lock, stock and barrel,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“We have always said as a National Cabinet that families can be reunited around Christmas time, but once again, anything can happen.”
“I am the Premier of Queensland, and I will look after the people of Queensland … if I am re-elected that’s exactly what I’ll do.”
Asked whether the Chief Health Officer had provided any other options, Ms Palaszczuk said it was the only option given.
“And I accepted it, lock, stock and barrel,” she said.
Ms Palaszczuk said she understood the situation was tough for business and especially for tourism, and said the government had given industry a lot of financial assistance.
READ MORE: Enough is enough in Queensland
Olivia Caisley 11.45am: Bushfires inquiry makes 80 recommendations
Australia should develop its aerial firefighting capability and expedite the development of a consistent disaster warning system. Read more here
Sarah Elks 11.35am: ‘Suppression, not elimination’ being pursued
Dr Young said Queensland was pursuing a suppression strategy, rather than an elimination strategy.
“Our borders do get crossed from international places, and now the world is over 43 million cases … so we know we’ll see more cases in hotel quarantine, that’s a risk,” she said.
But she said there had not been a breach in hotel quarantine in Queensland because of the good work of the state’s police, unlike what had happened in NSW, VIC and Auckland.
Dr Young said if there was one unlinked case in regional NSW, it could possibly trigger closing off that local government area.
“There’s nothing hard and fast about this pandemic, unfortunately,” she said.
Sarah Elks 11.30am: Queenslanders told to avoid ‘hot spot’ Sydney
Dr Young said Queenslanders could travel to any of the reopened areas in NSW, for any reason, and could fly into the Sydney airport but travel directly through the 32 “hot spot” local government areas in greater Sydney and not stop.
“One unlinked case (in NSW) means there is a problem,” she said.
Dr Young said there were a number of different factors she took into consideration to make her decision, including the amount of testing – which she said was very good in NSW – and results of sewage tests.
“I will always give advice to make sure Queenslanders can be kept as safe (as they can be),”
she said.
Dr Young said there was a “strong possibility we could be open” at the start of December, because NSW was doing a good job of getting on top of the situation.
Sarah Elks 11.20am: Border advice taken from health experts
Deputy Premier Steven Miles said it would take extra time for the border change to take effect, on the advice of deputy police commissioner Steve Gollschewski.
Mr Miles used the announcement to attack Opposition leader Deb Frecklington, accusing Ms Frecklington of only listening to NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, rather than health advice.
Chief Health Officer Dr Young said she had reviewed the situation in NSW, and prior to yesterday had four local government areas in Sydney that had unlinked community transmission.
On Thursday, NSW had recorded four new cases, one unlinked and the remaining three linked to that case.
“Based on that new information yesterday, and the information up to that point, I believe it’s important that Queensland remains closed to those 32 LGAs in Sydney,” she said.
She said NSW had done well, but the biggest risk was still the south-western part of Sydney.
Dr Young said Queensland’s new COVID-19 case was a gentleman in his 50s who was in hotel quarantine on the Gold Coast, after returning from Stockholm.
She said she was monitoring positive sewage test results in Wynnum and Ipswich.
“There’s a concern we might have virus circulating, the best way to deal with that is to come forward and get tested,” Dr Young said.
Sarah Elks 11.15am: Premier Palaszczuk delays full reopening of borders
Queensland will remain shut to Sydneysiders but open to the rest of NSW, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced on the eve of the state election.
The state recorded one new case of COVID-19 overnight, in hotel quarantine in south-east Queensland.
There are six active cases, and Queensland has had 1172 cases in total. More than 4000 people have been tested in the past 24 hours.
Ms Palaszczuk said she had been briefed by Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young on Friday morning, about community transmission in NSW.
“Victoria will be closed to Queensland … that is a strong border decision that we have taken every step of the way,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“The other area we’re announcing today is, in relation to NSW, NSW greater Sydney will remain closed to Queensland, that is 32 local government areas.”
The border will reopen from November 3 at 1am, to the remaining parts of NSW.
Mackenzie Scott 10.55am: Palmer says toll of border closures ‘horrific’
Billionaire Clive Palmer is expecting to win his High Court challenge against the West Australian government, to force open states’ borders when the matter is presented next week.
At a press conference in Brisbane on Friday, Mr Palmer linked Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s decision on borders today – which were outlined to reopen from tomorrow in the state’s coronavirus roadmap – on the impending court date.
“Labor knows that my High Court challenge next week will open all of Australia’s borders and that’s why Annastacia Palaszczuk will announce later today the borders will be opened,” Mr Palmer said.
Ms Palaszcuk has said she will act on the advice of Chief Health Officer, Dr Jeannette Young, on decisions to reopen, after NSW’s fortnight-long run of zero COVID-19 at the start of the month was dashed with the emergence of several clusters.
“The consequence of what Palaszczuk has done to this state will be horrific,” Mr Palmer said.
“I can imagine she will personally face court for what she has done and will be brought to account and so will the Queensland government for acting beyond their authority.
“The politicians that have closed those borders, such as (WA premier) Mark McGowan, Annastacia Palaszczuk … will reap what they’ve sown because they have disregarded the constitution, they disregard what it means to be an Australian and stand up for your mates.”
He expects the LNP to win tomorrow’s election with a majority government, with seats in the central and far north Queensland turning away from Labor due to the impact of tourism caused by border closures.
READ MORE: Andrews says Victoria will end up ahead of NSW
Sarah Elks 10.40am: Premier Palaszczuk pushes back media briefing
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will hold a press conference at 11.15am AEDT, when she is expected to announce updated border measures for her state.
Staff Reporters 10.30am: Morrison condemns France terror attack
A man wielding a knife and screaming ‘Allahu Akbar’ has killed three people, including one whose throat was slit, at a church in Nice. Read more here
Deeply shocked at the abhorrent attack in France. I’ve conveyed Australia’s deep condolences to President @EmmanuelMacron. Our hearts go out to the French people who are dealing with so much during #COVID19. We condemn all acts of terrorism & stand united against these vile acts.
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) October 29, 2020
Stephen Lunn 10.10am: Andrews to deliver update at 10.30am
Stephen Lunn 9.55am: Sutton plays down state’s new cases tally
Victoria’s four new coronavirus cases reported on Friday might be less concerning than appears, the state’s chief health officer Brett Sutton has revealed.
Of today's four cases, two are weak positives and may be deemed not to be true cases by the expert panel. One case appears to be historical/recovered. And one case under investigation.
— Chief Health ðŸ©fficer, Victoria (@VictorianCHO) October 29, 2020
In a tweet on Friday morning, Professor Sutton provided more detail of the four cases.
“Of today’s four cases, two are weak positives and may be deemed not to be true cases by the expert panel. One case appears to be historical/recovered. And one case under investigation,” Professor Sutton said.
The state’s 14-day case average increased from 2.4 on Thursday to 2.6 on Friday.
Premier Daniel Andrews is due to give a media conference later this morning.
READ MORE: Inquiry deadline extended
Tessa Akerman 9.50am: Victoria budget locked in for late November
The Victorian budget will be handed down on November 24, the Andrews’ government has announced with a focus on jobs and infrastructure.
The budget is expected to include unprecedented spending on infrastructure and services as the state seeks to recover from the devastating economic effects of COVID-19.
Treasurer Tim Pallas said the budget would continue the government’s unrivalled support for Victorian families and businesses.
“[It will] kickstart our economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic,“ he said,
“Our success in suppressing this virus mean[s] we are ready to re-open and rebuild – and we will invest like never before in the infrastructure and services our state needs for the future.“
In a statement announcing the budget, Mr Pallas said the government’s “success in aggressively suppressing the virus means Victoria is in a position to reopen, rebuild and grow”.
He said the budget would build on the billions of dollars in support and stimulus the government has already announced.
He said the government had already provided more than $13 billion towards measures to fight coronavirus, including more than $6.5 billion in direct economic support for Victorian businesses and workers.
Spending already underway also includes $2.25 billion in Business Support Fund grants for 127,000 small and medium businesses.
READ MORE: Has Dan got this?
Richard Ferguson 9.30am: Birmingham steps into Cormann’s roles
South Australian senator Simon Birmingham will be sworn in as Finance Minister and the government’s senate leader on Friday, replacing retiring Liberal stalwart Mathias Cormann.
Senator Birmingham will keep his current portfolios of trade and tourism until Scott Morrison conducts a limited cabinet reshuffle, which is expected before Christmas.
“In his new role, Senator Birmingham will assist the Treasurer the Hon Josh Frydenberg MP, in leading Australia’s economy through the Covid recovery,” the Prime Minister said in a statement.
Employment Minister Michaelia Cash will be elevated to deputy senate leader.
The Prime Minister also announced on Friday that Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton and Education Minister Dan Tehan will join cabinet’s expenditure review committee.
Senator Cormann’s outgoing chief of staff Chris Browne has also been confirmed as Mr Morrison’s new cabinet secretary.
READ MORE: Derby Day grounded
Stephen Lunn 9.10am: Victoria records four new cases
Four new COVID-19 cases have been recorded in Victoria in the last 24 hours.
The new cases bring the state’s rolling 14-day average to 2.6.
No additional deaths have been reported.
The number of mystery cases now sits at 2, down from 4 on Thursday.
In the past 24 hours, there have been 4 new cases and no lives lost. The 14 day average is 2.6, and there are 2 cases with unknown source. More info https://t.co/pcll7ySEgz #COVID19VicData pic.twitter.com/J2gSay2GC8
— VicGovDHHS (@VicGovDHHS) October 29, 2020
Imogen Reid 8.45am: Morrison defends treatment of AusPost boss
Scott Morrison has said the treatment of besieged Australia Post boss Chirstine Holgate, who has been temporarily stood down from Australia Post, is what “Australians expect” after the government company bought its staff luxury watches.
“The key thing here is this is a government business enterprise, it’s owned by the taxpayers of Australia. So every dollar that goes through Australia Post is managed on behalf of Australian taxpayers and it should be done in a way that respects taxpayers,” the Prime Minister told 2GB.
“What has happened is she has been asked to stand aside … while an investigation takes place, and that is what is occurring in a number of other parts of the government. That’s what happens when there are issues like this that need to be considered and dealt with and that is what has occurred. I think that’s what Australians expect, for there to be a proper investigation.
“I’ll let the investigation do its job, I’m not going to prejudge it.”
READ MORE: ‘Humiliated’ AusPost CEO fires back at PM
Imogen Reid 8.00am: PM praises NRL national anthem move
Scott Morrison has praised the NRL on its handling of the move to scrap the national anthem ahead of the State of Origin, saying he appreciates being able to have an “adult conversation” before it was overturned.
“I contacted Peter (V’landys), it was all very open and friendly and I really appreciate, you know, him hearing he out and he feels very strongly about the fans and what the fans would want to occur and I appreciate him reconsidering that decision and talking to his commissioners and coming to a different view very, very quickly,” the Prime Minister told 2GB.
“I appreciate the way they handled that. I like the fact you can pick up the phone and have an adult conversation about this.
“You said there’s never been a more important time to celebrate by singing the national anthem.”
READ MORE: PM call prompts NRL backflip
Imogen Reid 7.35am: Will Palaszczuk stick to Nov 1 border opening?
A decision on whether Queensland’s border will reopen on Sunday is expected to be made at 11am (AEDT) today, less than 24 hours before voters go to polls.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk previously pledged to reopen the state to New South Wales on Sunday November 1, provided there were no mystery cases. However, speculation is growing that only residents of additional regional areas of NSW — not Sydneysiders — will be allowed into Queensland.
In our election-eve edition of The #CourierMail @AnnastaciaMP keeps border slammed shut to southerners despite tourism industry pleas #COVID19 #qldpol #qldvotes pic.twitter.com/gWyjQUHQ5h
— The Courier-Mail (@couriermail) October 29, 2020
It comes as four new cases of locally transmitted coronavirus were reported in New South Wales overnight, with an urgent health alert issued for a popular gym in Sydney’s south west.
Speaking to Sydney radio 2GB this morning, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Queensland’s health system was strong and that it could cope with a full border reopening.
“We can’t stay stuck in neutral. We’ve got to gear up again,” Mr Morrison said.
“It is very hard to get a clear steer on what is behind these decisions. The comeback in Australia has started.
“Australia is opening up again. We’ve all committed to Australia being fully opened by Christmas and we need to move towards that.
“We’ve looked at the Queensland (health) systems and the Queensland systems are good so it is important to get the economy moving again.”
Ms Palaszczuk’s hard border stance has been a point of contention for months, with business and tourism operators pushing for them to reopen and allow travellers from New South Wales to cross the border and pump billions of dollars into the crumbling sectors.
Two of Queensland’s biggest businesses yesterday warned keeping the border closed would amount to 500 job losses over the busy summer period.
Wow!! @StevenJMiles just said hospitality sector is running as close to normal and doing better🤦🽠which world is this man living in. We are all bleeding away @GCS_Pottsy @keenatGCB @GCBulletin talk to operators to get a reality check!! #opentheborders #qldpoll @9NewsGoldCoast
— Bikash Randhawa (@BikashRandhawa) October 29, 2020
Village Roadshow executive officer Clark Kirby said the continued uncertainty had forced the company to pause plans to hire workers.
“Our recruitment depends on the border opening — if it does not reopen, then hundreds of summer jobs on the Gold Coast will be lost,” he told The Courier-Mail.
READ MORE: LNP reveals election promise costings
Imogen Reid 7am: Dozens ordered into isolation after F45 case
NSW Health has issued an urgent COVID-19 alert for a popular gym franchise in Sydney’s south-west after a person with coronavirus attended two weeks of classes while infectious.
Dozens of people who attended F45 in Leppington have been forced into isolation and ordered by health officials to get tested for the virus immediately.
NSW Health said anyone who attended the following classes could be casual contacts of the positive case depending on what time they arrived before the session:
■ Thursday October 15, 5.15pm – 6pm
■ Saturday October 17, 8.10am – 9.10am
■ Sunday October 18, 8.55am – 9.40am
■ Monday October 19, 5.50am – 6.35am
■ Tuesday October 20, 5.50am – 6.35am
■ Wednesday October 21, 5.15pm – 6pm
■ Thursday October 22, 6.45am – 7.30am
■ Friday October 23, 9.35am – 10.20am
■ Saturday October 24, 7.10am – 8.10am
■ Sunday October 25, 8.55am – 9.40am
■ Monday October 26, 5.50am – 6.35am
■ Tuesday October 27, 6.45am – 7.30am
■ Wednesday October 28, 5.50am – 6.35am
Anyone who attended a class that was scheduled to begin five minutes before or five minutes after one of the sessions, or a class immediately before or after the sessions, is considered a casual contact.
Health authorities are urging people to monitor for symptoms and get tested immediately if they develop.
PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT: Anyone who attended F45 Leppington at these times is considered a close contact and must get tested immediately and isolate for a full 14 days from exposure regardless of the result: https://t.co/lgqnJzvPCF pic.twitter.com/e6T57TIhKe
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) October 29, 2020
READ MORE: COVID-19 alert for fortnight of F45 classes
Imogen Reid 6.45am: ‘Long winter ahead’: Europe virus crisis deepens
The World Health Organisation’s Europe director has expressed deep concern after the continent recorded its largest weekly increase of COVID-19 cases.
Dr Hans Kluge said Europe had now recorded more than 10 million coronavirus infections, placing it at the epicentre of the pandemic.
“At the risk of sounding alarmist, I must express our very real concern,” he said.
“The winter will be … four long, difficult months. But it will end.”
Europe has exceed over 10 million #COVID19 cases so @WHO_Europe convened Ministers of Health. Key messages:
— Hans Kluge (@hans_kluge) October 29, 2020
✅Lockdowns carry collateral effects on #mentalhealth, economy & domestic violence
✅Prioritise support for our health workforce
✅Adapt health systems- dual track pic.twitter.com/wo4wILeiiM
It comes as Spain registered a new record for cases, with the tally climbing by 23,580 infections, taking the total to 1,136,503. The death toll rose by 173 to 35,639.
Italy’s cases increased by a record 26,831 on Thursday, its highest daily rise since the beginning of the pandemic.
Meanwhile, the UK reported a further 280 COVID-19 related deaths, and an additional 23,065 people tested positive for the virus.
From Monday, the whole of West Yorkshire will be put under strict restrictions to stop the rampant spread of the virus across the region.
More areas will move from Local COVID Alert Level Medium 🟡 to High 🟠from 00:01 on Saturday 31 October.
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) October 29, 2020
See the full list of areas in the graphic or find out more information â–¶ï¸ https://t.co/dK6PQ6UEZT pic.twitter.com/1GdfxtM099
The “very high” tier of rules means residents will not be permitted to meet socially with anyone outside of their household indoors, and pubs and bars will close unless they can serve substantial meals with alcoholic beverages included in the meal.
French authorities also will restrict outdoor movement under new lockdown rules, which will come into effect at midnight on Thursday.
Under the new restrictions, people will only be allowed to leave the house for essential purposes, including food shopping, commuting to work, medical reasons, and outdoor exercise.
READ MORE: Macron places France into second national lockdown
Rachel Baxendale 1.45am: Andrews: I’m no Manchurian candidate
Daniel Andrews has declared he’s no “Manchurian candidate” as he dismissed any link between his $2m spin doctor and his own key phrases during Victoria’s deadly coronavirus pandemic.
While describing QDOS’s work as important and revealing his reports had been classified as cabinet-in-confidence documents, and therefore would never be released publicly, the Victorian Premier said the firm played no role in developing the language he used during the coronavirus.
QDOS, run by veteran Labor pollster and strategist John Armitage, has been employed by the Premier’s Department for six years to conduct a program monitoring the views of Victorians, pocketing $2m in taxpayers funds.
As well as claiming it can help shape public opinion, change public behaviour and win elections, QDOS says it uses social research to “convert … into accessible and persuasive language”.
Mr Andrews has developed an arsenal of straight-talking phrases he’s repeatedly used during the pandemic to help his message cut through, including his now-famous appeal not to “get on the beers”.
Many of his phrases revolve around his pride in the community, a shared responsibility to get tested and a need to follow rules.
Read the full story, by Rachel Baxendale and Damon Johnston, here.
Ewin Hannan 5am: Hotel inquiry deadline extended by six weeks
Victoria’s hotel quarantine inquiry has had to extend its final reporting date by six weeks after the emergence of critical new evidence and delays in receiving Health Department documents.
Inquiry chairwoman Jennifer Coate said an interim report outlining recommendations for a proposed quarantine program would be released on November 6, which had been the due date for its entire findings into the botched scheme.
While Ms Coate said the report would be released by December 21, it is believed the inquiry is confident it can unveil its findings by early December.
She said the “unfortunate delay” was due to it receiving additional material after the conclusion of closing submissions on September 28.
Read the full story, by Ewin Hannan and Rachel Baxendale, here.
Natasha Robinson 1.15am: How President Donald Trump beat COVID-19
When US President Donald Trump contracted coronavirus, many were pessimistic about his chances of making a quick recovery.
At 74, Trump’s risk of death was elevated. He is 190cm tall and weighs 111kg, putting him in the obese range, another risk factor for severe disease.
When Trump appeared to make a speedy recovery from COVID-19 after spending only three days in hospital, he credited an experimental antibody cocktail with his return to health and proclaimed that he wanted all Americans who fell ill with coronavirus to be given the same treatment.
It’s impossible to know whether the investigational antibody cocktail that Trump was given — developed by US biotech Regeneron Pharmaceuticals — reduced the severity of the President’s illness. Trump also took the corticosteroid dexamethasone, and the antiviral drug remdesivir, as well as zinc, vitamin D, the heartburn medication famotidine, melatonin and aspirin.
“They threw the kitchen sink at the guy,” says Australian immunologist John Dwyer.
There’s good evidence that dexamethasone reduces mortality rates, and some evidence that remdesivir reduces illness duration by a modest amount. Antibody treatments have shown promising results in test tube studies, but clinical trials are yet to prove the efficacy of the cutting-edge therapy.
And despite Trump’s pronouncement that he wanted all Americans with coronavirus to have access to antibody treatments, even if clinical trials were to prove successful, it would be prohibitively expensive, and practically impossible, to roll out such treatment on a mass scale.
Read the full story here.
Rebecca Urban 12.30am: A class above despite turmoil
For most young people, graduating from secondary school is a milestone on the road to adulthood.
But for the Class of 2020 from Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Thamarrurr School in Wadeye, it’s an especially momentous achievement.
For one, never before has the Northern Territory school had seven students complete Year 12 in one year. The last time a single student graduated was 2014, and before that in 2007 — a reflection of the unique and difficult challenge that educators face engaging students in a remote Indigenous setting.
Adding to that, Wadeye, about 400km from Darwin, has been plunged into violent turmoil over recent months, as increased welfare payments to offset the impacts of COVID-19 have been spent on alcohol illicitly smuggled into town.
As The Australian reported in August, the impact on young people in the fragile community has been significant, with school attendance rates falling because children have been too scared to leave their homes. When they have come to school, many have struggled to stay awake after being kept up all night by loud parties and fighting.
Read the full story here.
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