PoliticsNow: Argument with Anthony Albanese led to Joel Fitzgibbon‘s resignation
Anthony Albanese and Joel Fitzgibbon went toe-to-toe in a heated argument in shadow cabinet over the party’s strategy on climate change.
- Fitzgibbon quit after shouting match with Albo
- Fitzgibbon driven out by climate zealots: PM
- PM won’t intervene on Porter, Tudge
- Fitzgibbon quits shadow cabinet
- 5m Aussies to receive vaccine
Welcome to live coverage of politics from Canberra and around the nation amid the continuing recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
Anthony Albanese and Joel Fitzgibbon went toe-to-toe in a shouting match in shadow cabinet over the party’s strategy on climate change, leading to the Hunter MP’s resignation.
Scott Morrison says rogue Labor MP Joel Fitzgibbon has been driven out of Anthony Albanese’s shadow cabinet by pro-climate action “ideological zealots.”
The PM will not intervene over allegations Attorney-General Christian Porter and Cities Minister Alan Tudge had affairs with staffers.
Rosie Lewis 9pm: Labor, Greens should adopt bonk ban: PM
Scott Morrison has urged Labor and the Greens to ban senior MPs from having sex with their staff but says he won’t discipline Christian Porter and Alan Tudge for alleged conduct that occurred three years ago.
While Mr Tudge, the Acting Immigration Minister, kept a low profile on Tuesday, Mr Porter continued to defend himself against the ABC’s Four Corners program but failed to rule out having “intimate relations” with a staffer.
The Attorney-General said he had not breached the ministerial standard introduced by former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and maintained by the Prime Minister, which says ministers must not have sexual relations with their staff.
Tom Dusevic 8pm: Queue-jumpers may be able to buy vaccine privately
Australians could skip the federal government’s distribution queue to purchase a COVID-19 vaccine, such as the frontrunning Pfizer-BioNTech candidate, which will initially only cover five million people.
The Morrison government has signed four purchase agreements, worth $3.2bn, but pharmaceutical companies will be free to make approved vaccines available for private sale.
Industry sources believe frequent travellers and those likely to be classed as lower priority for immunisation, such as the young and healthy, could be a source of profit for companies that have invested heavily in research and new production scale.
Graham Richardson 7.30pm: Fitzgibbon exposes a lost Labor as Christian faces modern spotlight
The resignation of Joel Fitzgibbon from Labor’s front bench underlines the tensions that inevitably trouble a party that has been out of government too long.
As the dreary years in opposition reinforce the view that Labor is just not destined to get regular experience in the art of government, some navel gazing is probably necessary — no matter how uncomfortable it makes the party’s leaders.
Labor has been way out in front on climate change because it did not read the tea leaves very well. Australians clearly express their belief in climate change but are not too keen on paying to remedy it.
Not that Labor is alone in tasting a bitter dose of discomfort. Christian Porter’s private life was laid bare on Four Corners on Monday night and it was not a pretty sight. If he really is the man the ABC accused him of being, his career is over.
Greg Brown 6.27pm: Albanese fight led to Fitzgibbon’s resignation
Anthony Albanese and Joel Fitzgibbon went toe-to-toe in a shouting match in shadow cabinet over the party’s strategy on climate change, with the argument a catalyst for the Hunter MP to resign from his frontbench post and join the backbench.
Labor frontbenchers witnessed an “odd” one-on-one argument between the Opposition Leader and Mr Fitzgibbon on Monday night, which was broadly described by MPs as “by far” the most heated argument they had seen in shadow cabinet or even in cabinet during the Rudd/Gillard years.
The shadow cabinet argument was instigated by the Opposition Leader launching a veiled “third person” swipe at Mr Fitzgibbon for condemning Labor Left MPs who were using the US election to talk up ambitious climate change action as an electoral winner.
Mr Fitzgibbon declared “I’m right here mate” and outlined his disagreement with Mr Albanese about the lessons from the Queensland and US elections.
A heated argument ensued with most MPs sitting in stunned silence. The sole intervention came from opposition legal affairs spokesman Mark Dreyfus who labelled Mr Fitzgibbon a “disgrace”.
Mr Fitzgibbon replied to Mr Dreyfus: “shut up you idiot. You just assured me I’m on the right path” in reference to his belief Mr Dreyfus has bad judgment.
The veteran regional MP from the Hunter then motioned forcefully with his hand for Dreyfus to sit back.
“I actually thought it was going to get physical,” one Labor MP in the room said.
Mr Albanese also told Mr Dreyfus to stay out of the argument.
Deputy Labor leader Richard Marles tried to move the conversation on but Mr Fitzgibbon and Mr Albanese continued their shouting match.
“What was odd about it is that it was done with so many people just sitting there,” a Labor frontbencher said.
Another frontbencher said both Mr Albanese and Mr Fitzgibbon both acted poorly in the debate and it “wasn’t how adults should behave”.
“I don’t think anyone covered themselves in glory,” one MP said, adding the pair should have “controlled their emotions”.
Another shadow cabinet member said: “I thought there was going to be a bit of a barney but I was surprised at how robust it was”.
Will Pavia 5.41pm: Dry outlook for alcohol-free White House
Senator Ted Kennedy once described nights at the White House when it was occupied by President Carter. “The first thing you would be reminded of, in case you needed reminding, was that he and Rosalynn had removed all the liquor in the White House,” he wrote in his memoir. “He wanted no luxuries nor any sign of worldly living.”
At the time Mr Carter’s teetotal presidency was an exception in Washington; now it seems to be the rule. After four years under President Trump, a drinker of Diet Coke, America is to be led by another teetotaller.
Like Mr Trump, Mr Biden has said he was put off booze by the sight of alcoholism among his relatives. His mother’s family was a sprawling, Irish-Catholic clan in Pennsylvania. One of his favourite uncles, known as Boo-Boo because of his stutter, was a big drinker. Mr Biden suffered from a stutter too, which he says he overcame by standing before his bedroom mirror, reciting the poetry of WB Yeats and passages from Ralph Waldo Emerson. He also decided, at an early age, to avoid drinking. “There are enough alcoholics in my family,” he told reporters in 2008, as he sipped cranberry juice aboard a train from Washington to his home town of Wilmington, Delaware.
AFP 5.02pm: US justice chief authorises vote fraud probe
US Attorney-General William Barr gave federal prosecutors blanket authorisation Monday to open investigations into voting irregularities, as President Donald Trump repeated unfounded claims he lost the presidential election due to fraud.
Barr, long a close defender of Trump, stressed that his letter to US attorneys around the country was not an indication that the Justice Department had evidence yet of genuine cases of fraud in the election won by Democratic challenger Joe Biden.
But he unleashed the prosecutors from former restrictions on such probes, just as Republicans levelled claims of illegal voting and vote counting in several states, claims that still await solid evidence.
Charlie Peel 4.15pm: Palaszczuk unveils new Queensland cabinet
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced the appointment of three new members to her cabinet.
Townsville MP Scott Stewart, Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon, and Nudgee MP Leanne Linard each received promotions.
The three represent each of the party’s factions — Mr Stewart is a member of the Right, Ms Scanlon is from the Left and Ms Linard from the Old Guard.
The premier stopped short of revealing their portfolios and further rearrangements to the ministry, but said that announcement would be made later in the week.
Before the announcement on Tuesday afternoon, at the first caucus meeting since Labor’s election victory in October 31, Ms Palaszczuk walked in to a standing ovation from her colleagues at Parliament House.
She warned her colleagues of a busy four years ahead as the state recovers from the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
“It’s about making sure we continue with our strong health response,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“It’s about looking after our economic recovery and it’s also about the dignity of having a job.
“We’re all back and it’s going to be tough work and it’s going to be hard work. For the next four years everyone’s got to be working as hard as they can.”
The Premier reiterated her promise that the government would release a budget and conduct estimates before Christmas.
Counting is ongoing in three tight contests and Labor is expected to win the seat of Nicklin, giving the party 51 seats in the Parliament.
Seven of those will be filled by new MPs. “To our new members, can I say ‘welcome’, it’s wonderful to see some new faces,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles has left the health portfolio he has overseen through 268 days of the coronavirus pandemic and been appointed to the role of Minister for State Development.
Yvette D’Ath will assume the health portfolio, while her replacement as Attorney-General will be announced on Wednesday.
Treasurer Cameron Dick will continue in the role but has the added responsibility of Investment Minister.
READ MORE: Scene set for Labor leadership challenge
Didi Tang 3.48pm: Xi fails to congratulate ‘old friend’ Joe
China’s President Xi Jinping failed to congratulate Joe Biden on his victory despite once calling the president-elect an “old friend”.
The Chinese foreign ministry refused to acknowledge Mr Biden’s victory, saying that it would wait until all results were confirmed.
The refusal bodes ill for Chinese-American relations, which have been in tatters since President Trump began a trade war in 2018.
In February Mr Biden called Mr Xi a thug while expressing contempt over the regime’s incarceration of Uighur Muslims in the northwestern region of Xinjiang.
READ the full story here
David Rogers 3.30pm: ‘Best shares backdrop in years’
The equity market is facing one of the best backdrops for sustained gains in years, according to JPMorgan.
“After a prolonged period of elevated risks - global trade war, COVID-19 pandemic, US election uncertainty - the outlook is significantly clearing up, especially with news of a highly effective COVID-19 vaccine,” says JPM’s chief US equity strategist, Dubravko Lakos-Bujas.
After very encouraging phase 3 trial results from Pfizer-BioN-tech, he sees a rotation out of COVID-19 beneficiaries/Momentum and into Epicenter/Value stocks including Vaccine Tactical Short and COVID Recovery baskets.
And confirmation of a Biden White House with legislative gridlock is a “goldilocks outcome for equities, a market nirvana scenario”.
“With an even balance of power in the legislature, major tax increases and regulatory changes will be difficult to pass, while at least some easing of the global trade war should be expected,’ Mr Lakos-Bujas says.
READ MORE in Trading Day
Henry Zeffman 3.18pm: Women to take top jobs in Biden’s cabinet
Joe Biden is preparing to appoint a record number of women to senior roles in his cabinet after he began the transition by unveiling a team of coronavirus advisers.
The president-elect has vowed to appoint the most diverse cabinet in American history, saying he wants it to “look like America”. Women are frontrunners for the four most senior jobs: secretary of state, Treasury secretary, Defence secretary and Attorney-General.
In keeping with Mr Biden’s focus on coronavirus, the first names he announced were members of a pandemic advisory group, with cabinet appointments not expected for at least a week.
The team of doctors and health experts has three co-chairmen: Vivek Murthy, surgeon general under Barack Obama, David Kessler, who was the Food and Drug Administration commissioner under George HW Bush, and Marcella Nunez-Smith, an academic at Yale University.
The line-up was announced as David Bossie, the adviser overseeing President Trump’s attempts to challenge the results of the election, tested positive for coronavirus. Earlier in the day Ben Carson, the housing secretary, announced he had tested positive.
READ the full story here
Rosie Lewis 3.04pm: Porter fails to rule out relations with staffer
Attorney-General Christian Porter has failed to rule out having “intimate relations” with a staffer but says he has never breached the ministerial standards, which prevents him from having a relationship with any of his staff members.
The senior West Australian Liberal MP, who was one of two cabinet ministers embroiled in Monday night’s Four Corners sex expose, insisted there was a “substantial basis” for suing the ABC but said he did not want it to become a distraction, indicating he may let legal action slide.
READ the full story here
Richard Ferguson 2.18pm: Fitzgibbon driven out by climate zealots: PM
Scott Morrison says rogue Labor MP Joel Fitzgibbon has been driven out of Anthony Albanese’s shadow cabinet by pro-climate action “ideological zealots.”
The Prime Minister used Mr Fitzgibbon’s resignation over climate targets to attack the Opposition Leader’s climate targets in question time and jokingly suggested Mr Fitzgibbon should “come on board” with the Coalition.
“The Member for Hunter has been driven out of the shadow cabinet,” Mr Morrison said.
“Driven out by an ideological group of zealots on that side of the House who have no interest in the jobs of Australians in regional areas.
“That is the view of the Member for Hunter. Come onboard.”
READ MORE: We’re not all the way with USA on climate
Richard Ferguson 2.10pm: Albanese won’t budge carbon target
Anthony Albanese has refused to budge from his 2050 net zero carbon emissions target, as he thanks rogue Labor MP Joel Fitzgibbon for his service after he resigned from shadow cabinet.
Mr Fitzgibbon left the shadow cabinet earlier today in the midst of a long-running internal battle over Labor climate policy, and said the Opposition Leader will win the next election if he listens to him and adopts a smaller-target environment policy.
Mr Albanese today said Labor would take a net zero 2050 target and would not reveal their plans on 2030 until later this parliamentary term.
“The position is clear. We have net zero emissions by 2050. And we will have a complete announcement, including how we get there, before the election,” Mr Albanese said in Canberra.
“You’ll have plenty of time before the election to transact exactly what it all means, to go through all of that. And, quite frankly, what you should be doing is holding this government to account.”
READ MORE: Mandate for moderation to heal divisions
Angelica Snowden 2.02pm: MPs weigh in on colleagues’ behaviour
There is no evidence of a gendered power imbalance in Parliament House, assistant minister for finance and ACT Liberal senator Zed Seselja says.
The comments came after the ABC’s Four Corners program revealed an affair between the then human services minister Alan Tudge and a member of his staff and accused attorney-general Christian Porter of acting inappropriately with his staff.
“I think obviously there will be isolated examples and they need to be dealt with and dealt with properly,” Senator Seselja told the ABC.
“I think it’s fair to say that what we saw on Four Corners last night were obviously delving into the personal failings of two of my colleagues,” he said.
“But what we also saw was...a focus on one side of politics.”
Assistant minister for communities opposition spokeswoman Jenny McAllister said she was not aware of any similar allegations made against Labor MPs.
“When I joined the Labor Party, we were just about to adopt the affirmative action rule and over the course of 20 years we’ve reached a point where we have 50 per cent of our Caucus who are women and 50 per cent of our shadow cabinet who are women,” Senator McAllister said.
“Those changes make a cultural difference,” she said.
“But of course there’s more work to be done and we are constantly looking at these questions and examining whether we have created the safest and most respectful workplace that we can possibly create.”
OLIVIA CAISLEY 1.47pm: Morrison tells Coalition to stay united
Scott Morrison has reminded his Coalition colleagues to remain “united”, declaring that discipline can be “eroded” when the government is faring well.
The Prime Minister told colleagues in the government’s party room meeting on Tuesday to keep their focus on serving the Australian public.
“At a time of doing well is sometimes when discipline can be eroded,” Mr Morrison said according to a government spokesman. “We must keep our focus on the Australian people.”
It is understood an explosive ABC Four Corners investigation about the behaviour of Attorney-General Christian Porter and Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge was not discussed at the meeting.
Mr Morrison began the meeting by reminding colleagues that the Coalition wins when they remain “united, disciplined and not distracted” and wants the focus to be on jobs, health, security and safety.
He said colleagues need to “support each other”.
READ MORE: Gottliebsen — What Wall Street is telling us
Agencies 1.38pm: Four Seasons Total Landcaping raking it in
Meanwhile in Pennsylvania, the business that hosted the world’s most famous press conference last weekend is reaping the benefits from all the publicity.
The landscaping company at the heart of a case of mixed venues has quickly moved to create merchandise commemorating the incident. Sales have been so hot, some lines have already sold out.
A major press event at Philadelphia’s Four Seasons but a briefing by Donald Trump’s lawyers was mercilessly mocked when it emerged the venue was not the plush hotel but a suburban garden center next to a sex shop.
The confusion began when Trump took to Twitter while golfing Saturday to announce an imminent “lawyers” news conference at the Four Seasons, Philadelphia.
Mr Trump quickly clarified, however, saying the “big press conference” would be at Four Seasons Total Landscaping, a family business between a crematorium and an adult book store on the outskirts of Pennsylvania’s biggest city.
The event — in which the outgoing president’s attorney Rudy Giuliani pressed Trump’s baseless claims about voter fraud in the election Tuesday — featured on “Saturday Night Live,” and wags took to social media with their own wisecracks and memes. — With AFP
READ MORE: Let’s meet next to that sex shop...
Geoff Chambers 1.17pm: Fitzgibbon’s resignation sets scene for leadership challenge
Joel Fitzgibbon’s resignation from Labor’s frontbench sets the scene for a leadership challenge before the next election.
The key messaging from Fitzgibbon on Tuesday morning was strategic and damaging for Anthony Albanese, who has failed to control his Left faction MPs on climate change and energy policy.
The Hunter MP, and national convener of the Right faction, says Labor can’t do anything on climate change unless it wins elections. And the only way to win, was to present policies that appealed to blue collar workers in Queensland and Western Australia.
READ the Geoff Chambers’ full commentary here
Richard Ferguson 12.58pm: Porter: What allegation? Who’s making it?
Attorney General Christian Porter has dismissed allegations he acted inappropriately with staff when he was Malcolm Turnbull’s social services minister and is not expecting any women to come forward with complaints.
Mr Turnbull told Four Corners on Monday that he counselled Mr Porter against inappropriate behaviour and said he could have been compromised after being seen drinking in the company of a young woman in December 2017.
Mr Porter — who is considering legal options — said on Tuesday that he did not expect anyone to make any further allegations and he did not see what exact charge was put against him in the ABC report.
“What allegation? That I had a drink in a bar with someone? And who’s making that allegation?” he told Perth’s 6PR radio.
“I haven’t conducted myself in a way that would lead people to provide that kind of complaint about me.
“I’m not worried that there are people you’ve described, because I haven’t had those kinds of interaction with people.”
READ the full story here
Angelica Snowden 12.50pm: Berejiklian ‘less optimistic’ about vaccine
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian will lead her state as though a COVID vaccine will not be available next year despite news pharmaceutical giant Pfizer reported it’s product was 90 per cent effective at preventing coronavirus transmission.
“The health advice I received is quite optimistic about a potential vaccine in the early part of next year, but it will be limited in the number of people that can receive it,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“We are drawing up a plan now in NSW to ensure that those most vulnerable and of course health workers ... have that vaccine. We also have to appreciate that similar to the flu vaccine it’s something you will have to top up at least once a year, maybe more frequently,” she said.
“I have to be less optimistic as the premier, we have to lead and govern as though we won’t have that available next year and I think people appreciate that.”
NSW will maintain a 14-day quarantine for international arrivals because many people test positive on day 10, Ms Berejiklian said.
“The health advice I’ve received, and this is where unfortunately Victoria didn’t succeed, is we detect a lot of cases on day 10,” she said.
“Victoria wasn’t testing on day 10 and that could be part of the reason why it got away from them down there.”
READ MORE: Quarantine ‘could be cut to eight days’
Angelica Snowden 12.43pm: $300m support for tutors; NSW has no new cases
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced a $300m education support package to employ thousands of tutors who will assist students struggling under the COVID-19 pandemic.
The package will be handed down as part of the state’s budget next week and will allow public and independent schools to utilise some of the 5500 casual tutors.
“Many students have faced a more disrupted learning environment this year than any other year,” Ms Berejiklian said.
No cases of locally acquired #COVID19 were diagnosed in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. Five cases were reported in overseas travellers in hotel quarantine, bringing the total number of cases in NSW to 4,285. pic.twitter.com/ZgRTuoiMMt
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) November 10, 2020
“They have been through a really difficult time in 2020. Especially those who may be disadvantaged or vulnerable or have learning difficulties,” she said.
Extra tutorial classes will be provided to students – especially in regional and remote areas – to help them catch up on curriculum they may have missed as a result of disruptions to face to face teaching, spurred on by the pandemic.
Ms Berejiklian also confirmed NSW reported no locally acquired COVID-19 cases with five infections recorded in hotel quarantine overnight.
“It’s good news for our community but we are urging everybody to keep those testing numbers high and to make sure in particular if you have lived in the west or south west of Sydney to make sure you come forward and get tested,” she said.
“The clock has started ticking for us in opening the Victorian border.
“We are looking forward to all Australian citizens and all New Zealand citizens will be welcome to NSW.”
READ MORE: Vitamin tablets could give you a boost — but only in your head
Richard Ferguson 12.25pm: PM: Porter, Tudge haven’t breached my code as ministers
Scott Morrison will not intervene over allegations Attorney-General Christian Porter and Cities Minister Alan Tudge had affairs with staffers, saying Malcolm Turnbull dealt with the issues.
Mr Turnbull told Four Corners that he had warned the then social services minister Mr Porter against inappropriate behaviour and said he could have been compromised after being seen drinking in the company of a young woman in December 2017.
The program also revealed an affair between the then human services minister Mr Tudge and a member of his staff.
The Prime Minister said today inappropriate relationships with ministers and staff were a very serious issue and that he was a supporter of the “bonk ban” Mr Turnbull introduced — but that the two allegations occurred before ministers were prevented from forming relationships with staff.
“As Prime Minister, they have engaged in no conduct as they have served in my
cabinet that is in breach of the code,” Mr Morrison said in Canberra.
“I think Australians understand more about human frailty than you’re giving them credit.
“In terms of the individuals subject to the report last night, those matters were addressed by my predecessor at the time, and they relate to issues that predated that ministerial standard, and as a result, he dealt with them at that time.”
READ MORE: Kenny — ABC proves it is beyond redemption
Richard Ferguson 12.04pm: Morrison confirms extended welfare supplements
Scott Morrison has confirmed JobSeeker coronavirus welfare supplements will be extended at a lower rate of $150 a fortnight, saying the lifeline cannot hold the recovery back.
The Australian revealed on Tuesday that cabinet’s expenditure review committee signed off last week on extending the coronavirus supplement payment beyond December 31, when it was due to expire.
The Prime Minister said on Tuesday that the three-month extension of the JobSeeker coronavirus till March next will cost taxpayers $3.2bn.
“We cannot allow the lifeline that has been extended to also now hold Australia back as we move into the next phases of recovery,” he said in Canberra.
“We know that employers are looking for people to come back and we need to ensure that we have the right settings in place to support that.”
Mr Morrison said he has not made a decision about a permanent rise in JobSeeker itself – $550 a fortnight – but extended eligibility rules for welfare benefits will stay in place till March.
READ MORE: Morrison offers JobSeeker lifeline
Patrick Commins 12.01pm: Confidence jumps as lockdowns end
Businesses are the most confident they have been since mid-2019 and consumer sentiment lifted to its highest level since the pandemic began, as Victorian firms and households cheered the end of Melbourne’s lockdown.
NAB’s monthly business survey showed the confidence index lifted 9 points to 5 points in October – the highest in over a year and above the zero “neutral” level, indicating more optimists than pessimists.
The business survey is the latest evidence that Australia’s post-COVID recovery has taken hold, although in an environment of incredible uncertainty as the world continues to struggle to suppress the pandemic.
Read the full story here.
Greg Brown 11.44am: Husic expected to take over Fitzgibbon’s portfolio
Labor MP Ed Husic is expected to replace Joel Fitzgibbon as Labor’s resources and agriculture spokesman.
Labor sources say the NSW Right will “almost certainly” pick Mr Husic to takeover the portfolio, at least on an interim basis.
There will not be a broader reshuffle until the Scott Morrison unveils changes to the government’s frontbench.
READ MORE: Joel Fitzgibbon quits shadow cabinet
Charlie Peel 11.38am: Quirky local becomes accidental Rockhampton mayor
Queensland’s local government association has called on the Palaszczuk government to urgently repeal legislation brought in last year after the shock resignation of Rockhampton’s mayor led to the appointment of a candidate who won only 30 per cent of the vote.
Chris “Pineapple” Hooper is poised to become the central Queensland city’s new mayor after Margaret Strelow, who won 70 per cent of the vote in March, resigned following a misconduct finding relating to a trip she took that was paid for by Adani.
In a statement, Ms Strelow said she “absolutely” refuted the finding of the Councillor Conduct Tribunal, which determined that she “engaged in misconduct” in 2017 when she received hospitality from Adani on a trade mission to India.
Angelica Snowden 11.10am: Smartphone alerts to warn commuters of full transport
Public transport commuters in Sydney can now receive smartphone alerts about capacity on their route, improving ability to travel across the network in a “COVID safe” way.
The Opal Travel app will now make it easier for commuters to practice physical distancing on Sydney Trains and Metro.
— Andrew Constance MP (@AndrewConstance) November 9, 2020
Â
The new feature is a world-leading piece of innovation that provides users with real-time alerts on how crowded their service is: https://t.co/nznxhOIh85 pic.twitter.com/ClnBsRJ0o3
NSW transport minister Andrew Constance said physical distancing and passenger occupancy notifications will be available on the Opal Travel app for trips on Sydney Trains and Metro.
“The new feature is a world leading piece of innovation that uses real-time capacity and predictive data to help customers make better choices when travelling,” Mr Constance said.
“We have already implemented the green dots across the network, and the notifications are another way we can help maintain physical distancing and keep people COVID safe.”
Transport for NSW worked with Amazon Web Services (AWS), Tigerspike, and AppJourney to deliver the app update.
AWS Director for Public Sector in Australia and New Zealand Iain Rouse said the development showed how technology can help stop the spread of COVID-19.
“We understand the pressure COVID-19 has placed on the public transport network and are confident this new feature will make commuting a more safe and comfortable experience for customers,” Mr Rouse said.
READ MORE: Going covert in Covid
Richard Ferguson 11.02am: Fitzgibbon regrets not running for ALP leadership
Rogue Labor MP Joel Fitzgibbon says he will only challenge for the Labor leadership if he is drafted and says he regrets not running for the top job after the 2019 election loss.
Mr Fitzgibbon says a substantial number of Labor MPs share his concerns on the Opposition’s approach to climate change, but he does not expect to be drafted and Anthony Albanese will lead the party to the next election.
But the former opposition resources spokesman did say he regretted not running after Bill Shorten resigned last year.
“I don’t believe I would have won that contest, but I think a contest would have been good for the rank-and-file and the industrial wing of the party,” Mr Fitzgibbon said in Canberra.
“And it would have been an opportunity for me to develop a mandate for my determination to take the Labor Party back to its traditional roots.
“I have no intention of running for the leadership. I would have to be drafted. And in the current climate, I’m not so sure I could be confident of that occurring.”
READ MORE: We’re not all the way with USA on climate
Richard Ferguson 10.52am: Voters ‘have rejected Labor’s climate policies’
Rogue Labor MP Joel Fitzgibbon says he is moving to the backbench to help improve the party’s electability, pointing out the opposition was spending too much time talking about climate change.
Mr Fitzgibbon quit his post as opposition resources spokesman on Tuesday after months of agitation over Labor’s climate policies, but said he still had confidence in Anthony Albanese’s leadership.
After resigning, Mr Fitzgibbon said Labor’s climate policies had been rejected at several elections and the party had done nothing to reduce carbon emissions.
“I think the Labor Party has spent too much time talking about things like climate change — which is an important issue — and not enough on issues important to our traditional base,” he said in Canberra.
“The Labor Party, since the 2013 election, has had, I suppose, at least two energy policies and two climate change policies. And I note that both of them had been rejected by the Australian people.
“The conclusion you can draw from that is that, after 14 years of trying, the Labor Party has made not one contribution to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in this country.
Angelica Snowden 10.26am: Vaccine expert’s Pfizer warning: We need more data
A leading vaccine developer says news of a COVID-19 breakthrough — which is 90 per cent effective — is positive but has warned more information is still needed.
Vaccine researcher Stanley Plotkin is cautious about news about Pfizer's vaccine: "We don't know a lot of important information it... While 90% efficacy sounds great, we don't know how long the efficacy will last. It's hard to say at this stage if it's as promising as it sounds."
— RN Breakfast (@RNBreakfast) November 9, 2020
Stanley Plotkin — who developed the rubella vaccine — said he hoped Pfizer’s product was the “breakthrough” the world is waiting for but he needed to see “more data” first.
“I would have to say that we don’t know a lot of important information,” Dr Plotkin told the ABC this morning.
“That there is an early efficacy of 90 per cent is great but, for example, we don’t know whether the vaccine protects against infection so that individuals who are vaccinated won’t be able to excrete the virus and infect other people,” he said.
“We don’t know how long the efficacy will last … we don’t know whether it protects the elderly as well as the young so there are a lot of things the announcement — even though it is very positive — does not tell us.”
Dr Plotkin said in order to ascertain whether or not the vaccine could mean a return to normal life by spring, it was critical to find out if the Pfizer vaccine — and others under development — can prevent the virus from multiplying in the nose.
“If they do, then yes I would be very optimistic the pandemic can be stopped,” he said.
“If they don’t then there would still be circulation of the virus and unvaccinated people would still be at risk.
Dr Plotkin said the Pfizer development was the first result out of at least 10 other vaccines.
“It may be that this is a disease for which we use multiple vaccines because after all is said and done we need to vaccinate eight billion people and that has never been done before.”
READ MORE: Biden plans aggressive virus response
David Rogers 10.17am: ASX surges after vaccine breakthrough
Australia’s share market has surged as expected after the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine breakthrough boosted global markets.
The S&P/ASX 200 rose 2.2pc to an 8-month high of 6538.2 in early trading with the Energy, Industrials, Real Estate and Financials sectors outperforming as COVID-sensitive stocks surged.
Among standouts, Scentre and Unibail-Rodamco both rose 19pc, Oil Search jumped 17pc, Sydney Airport rose 14pc, Beach Petroleum rose 14pc, Qantas gained 12pc, Vicinity Centers gained 12pc and NAB rose 6.5pc.
FOLLOW live ASX updates at Trading Day
Greg Brown 10.09am: Labor’s Joel Fitzgibbon moves to backbench
Joel Fitzgibbon has quit shadow cabinet and will join the backbench, after months of public freelancing on climate policy.
The Hunter MP told caucus on Tuesday morning he would stand down from his shadow ministerial duties, after Labor Left MPs used a faction meeting last night to criticise him for freelancing on policy.
Remy Varga 10.06am: Covid-normal Christmas ‘a certainty’
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says the state’s lengthy lockdown has delivered the certainty of a COVID-normal Christmas, which was proven by Tuesday being the 11th straight day of zero cases.
“Listening to the doctors, being driven by the science and not being distracted by the loudest voices and the politics of this... has delivered not just the prospect but the certainty that we are going to have a COVID normal Christmas and a COVID-safe 2021,” he said.
“That’s what we were always working towards.”
Mr Andrews said he understood the need for healing after severe restrictions cause pain and hurt, flagging further recovery measures would be unveiling in the coming budget.
“This is a one in one-hundred year event and Victorians have done extremely well,” he said.
Angelica Snowden 9.58am: Australia ‘shouldn’t rely on Biden to manage China trade’
Business Council of Australia CEO Jennifer Westacott says Australia must manage a trade relationship with China “on our own terms” rather than relying on president-elect Joe Biden to repair tensions between the superpowers.
“I think anything that establishes some semblance of world trade order …is a good thing,” Ms Westacott told the ABC this morning.
“But we have to manage this relationship on our own terms. We have to make sure that we don’t let it deteriorate any further, that we restore it,” she said.
After China threatened to ban on imports of Australian wine, lobster, copper, sugar, timber and coal, Ms Westacott said comments from senior Morrison government officials who advised China-exposed businesses to “find other markets” was unhelpful.
“Comments about diversification I don’t think are particularly helpful because you know it’s not realistic in many cases,” she said.
“Diversifying away from China is just an opportunity that will go somewhere else and that’s jobs and prosperity that will go to other countries.”
Ms Wetacott also called for a permanent increase to the JobSeeker allowance after The Australian revealed it would be extended to March, possibly at a reduced rate of $150.
“You know we need an allowance that gives people a dignified life and does not see them fall into incredible poverty where they will not be able to get back into the labor market,” she said.
“We’ve called for it to get closer to the age pension and that’s where it used to be.
“We would like to see a permanent allowance at that rate but not just the allowance, you have to wrap around a decent skill system too.”
READ MORE: Blame game over Chinese import restrictions
Remy Varga 9.48am: Andrews: Applaud women who spoke on Four Corners
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says the women who spoke in the Four Corners episode about federal Liberal MPs Alan Tudge and Christian Porter should be applauded.
“To each of the women involved in that program I want to say thank you and well done,” he said.
“It is not easy to speak out and call out appalling behaviour.”
Mr Andrews said his standards were well understood by his staff.
READ MORE: Margin Call — Watchdog vows it’s still on the job
Richard Ferguson 9.41am: Porter, Tudge must ‘look within themselves’
Opposition social services spokeswoman Linda Burney says Attorney-General Christian Porter and Cities Minister Alan Tudge will have to examine whether they stay in their posts after Four Corners alleged they were both involved in affairs with staffers.
Mr Porter has denied the allegations and is considering legal action over the report and Mr Tudge has said he regretted any hurt done to his family and former staffer Rachelle Miller — who says she had an affair with Mr Tudge — over the reports.
Ms Burney told Sky News today that all politicians hold important positions in society and must examine whether they are upholding integrity.
“The important thing here is to note that Alan Tudge issued a statement of regret late last night and Christian Porter came out this morning, threatening legal action so I’m going to be very careful with what I say,” she said.
“At the end of the day, people have to look within themselves, to understand that people that are politicians, hold incredibly important positions within society. And part of that is how you represent people.
“And it is up to people to look within themselves to examine issues of integrity about their actions
READ MORE: Porter rejects ABC claims, weighs legal action
Agencies: 9.33am: Trump has right to challenge US results: McConnell
Meanwhile in Washington, the top Republican in the US Congress said Monday that President Donald Trump was fully entitled to challenge election results in multiple states, insisting that such scrutiny would not undermine democracy.
“President Trump is 100 per cent within his rights to look into allegations of irregularities and weigh his legal options,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on the first congressional day of a lame duck presidency, with Mr Trump refusing so far to concede to Democrat Joe Biden.
Mr Trump and his team have insisted the race is not over, and multiple Republican lawmakers have urged the president not to concede, even as US networks projected Saturday that Biden won the election with at least 279 electoral votes, surpassing the 270 needed for victory.
The White House has launched legal challenges in several states where the race was close, particularly in pivotal battleground Pennsylvania, where Mr Biden is ahead by more than 45,000 votes or about 0.67 per cent, according to networks.
If irregularities had occurred of a magnitude that would affect the outcome, “then every single American should want them to be brought to light.” And if Democrats were confident that the vote was fair, “they should have no reason to fear any extra scrutiny,” Senator McConnell said.
“Suffice it to say a few legal inquiries from the president do not exactly spell the end of the republic,” he added.
“We respect the rule of law, we trust our institutions.”
No credible evidence of widespread fraud or voter irregularities has emerged, according to election authorities in several states and from both political parties.
Mr Trump has nonetheless repeatedly claimed that massive fraud has occurred, proclaiming on Twitter: “I WON THIS ELECTION, BY A LOT!” The 2020 races hinged on a handful of swing states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, Nevada, Georgia and North Carolina.
READ MORE: Trump terminates defence chief Mark Esper
Remy Varga 9.25am: Andrews to fund $170m in free kinder for Victorians
Kinder will be free in Victoria next year, with state Premier Daniel Andrews unveiling nearly $170 million in funding on Tuesday.
The Victorian government will also invest $81.6 million to expand the availability of before and after school care.
Mr Andrews said women had been disproportionately impacted over the pandemic and free kinder set to save each eligible family $2000 a year.
“It’s about making sure women in the main can work the hours they want to,” he said.
READ MORE: Kids at school ‘at risk of Covid infection’
Richard Ferguson 8.58am: Porter, Tudge in ‘consensual relationships’: Joyce
Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce has backed Attorney-General Christian Porter and Cities Minister Alan Tudge after a Four Corners report alleged they both had affairs with staffers.
Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull told Four Corners that he had warned the then social services minister Mr Porter against inappropriate behaviour and said he could have been compromised after being seen drinking in the company of a young woman in December 2017.
Mr Porter has denied the allegations and is seeking legal options over the Four Corners program.
The program also revealed an affair between the then human services minister Mr Tudge and a member of his staff, and quoted Labor’s home affairs spokeswoman, Kristina Keneally, and Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young, who both raised allegations about sexually inappropriate behaviour by Coalition figures.
Mr Joyce lost the Nationals leadership in 2018 after it was revealed he was having an affair with a staffer – now his partner and mother of his two sons Vicki Campion – and said on Tuesday that Mr Porter and Mr Tudge should not lose their jobs.
“I think he is fit to be Attorney-General,” he said in Canberra.
“It’s a consensual relationship between two adults. If you’ve got a problem with that, that’s a role for the police or a priest, but not another politician to be the arbiter of how two people feel about each other.
“With Christian Porter, with Alan Tudge, with all the others on both sides of politics ... it is their private business.”
READ MORE: Q&A — Turnbull ‘too forgiving’ of Porter
Remy Varga 8.43am: Victoria records 11th straight day of zero cases
Victoria has recorded 11 consecutive days of zero new deaths and cases.
There remain only four active cases in the state.
Yesterday there were 0 new cases and 0 lives lost reported. There are 4 active cases, 1 with unknown source. Thanks to everyone who was tested – there were 12,955 results received yesterday. More info: https://t.co/pcll7ySEgz #COVID19Vic #COVID19VicData #StaySafeStayOpen pic.twitter.com/2UkxchGUZK
— VicGovDHHS (@VicGovDHHS) November 9, 2020
READ MORE: Big joy in little things no longer denied
Angelica Snowden 8.30am: Victoria ‘needs to guard against asymptomatic cases’
Former president of the Australian Medical Association Tony Bartone has welcomed a COVID testing blitz in Melbourne’s north and west in a bid to identify asymptomatic cases.
“According to the numbers yesterday by DHHS we know there are four active cases ...they are the cases that we know about,” Dr Bartone told the Nine network.
“There could be asymptomatic cases out there and that is, because of their asymptomatic nature we just don’t know,” he said.
“We have got to be very much on our guard and seek it out now … we can’t wait for cases to appear.”
The Department of Health and Human Services announced yesterday it would conduct a testing blitz on more than 500,000 residents in the Hume and Wyndham council areas.
Dr Bartone warned against complacency in Victoria.
“This is almost as dangerous a period as we have come out of where we can potentially become complacent and that is when unfortunately we can go back quite quickly into that situation we were just coming out of,” he said.
Masks have been an “important tool” and key measure which helped get Melburnians out of the lockdown but said in some situations they could be phased out, Dr Bartone said.
“Masks have been one of the simple measures that we have been able to utilise in helping us to get out of this lockdown phase,” he said.
“And I indeed expect that in certain situations into the future where we are in crowded locations where we can’t be certain, and indeed we know the virus will still be present in the community for many months to come until we have that widespread vaccine use in the population, we are going to have to wear and be smart about using masks.
“Clearly not the open in outdoor areas as the numbers of cases recuse we can start to look forward to being able to dispense with masks.”
Dr Bartone welcomed news of Pfizer’s 90 per cent effective vaccine.
“Of course we will wait to see the safety data and the approval process before we can get really excited about it, but yes it is good news,” he said.
“It is another sign that as we come out of this lockdown phase here in Melbourne it gives us even more hope that the future can be something more brighter than it was many months ago.”
READ MORE: Labor spin doctor given contracts without tender
Angelica Snowden 8.05am: ‘We shouldn’t take out two good ministers’: Joyce
Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce said the “bonk ban” — introduced by then Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in 2018 amid revelations of an affair between Mr Joyce and his press secretary Vikki Campion — was not just about his actions but those of other senior politicians.
“My actions two years ago were not admirable, nor unique ... it was not a bonking ban it was a Barnaby ban because people knew of others including Mr Turnbull,” Mr Joyce told the Seven network.
“At the time I knew really what they were after was my scalp and that’s fair enough,” he said.
“But I don’t think we should be taking out Christian Porter, who was a good minister, Alan Tudge, he has answered for himself today and no doubt if people wanted to you could go to both sides of politics.”
He also confirmed he told Mr Turnbull there were “others” who engaged in questionable behaviour.
“I was basically saying ‘Malcolm, this is not just about me and of course there are others’,” he said.
“You know too … everybody knows. You are in this as well. People know the story.
“But I just said you are basically singling me out. That’s fair but don’t call it a bonking ban call it a Barnaby ban.”
Mr Joyce described the culture at parliament house as “high tension” and said he did not think it was as “flippant as people expect”.
“Three years ago I lost my job but that is three years ago and two children ago,” he said.
“If it is a consensual relationship, how are you going to ban them?”
READ MORE: Row over ABC’s sex expose on ministers
PETER LOFTUS 7.50am: Vaccine explainer: everything you need to know
Pfizer Inc and BioNTech have released promising, but preliminary, results for the effectiveness of their COVID-19 vaccine. Here’s is an explainer about what we know, and what we don’t know, and what this means for people getting the shots.
Read the full story here.
Angelica Snowden 7.30am: Fitzsimmons has been named NSW Australian of the Year
Former NSW Fire Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons has been named NSW Australian of the Year after leading the state’s response against a devastating bushfire season last summer.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said Mr Fitzsimmons and two other award recipients had “gone above and beyond to make a difference to their community”.
“The past 12 months have been the most challenging in living memory and we should all be proud of the recipients and grateful for their passion, resilience and leadership,” Ms Berejiklian said. “Working alongside Shane during last season’s bushfires was an unforgettable experience,” she said.
Congratulations to former NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner @ShaneFitzAU AFSM who has just been announced as the NSW Australian of the Year. All of NSW will forever be deeply grateful for your leadership during such a difficult time for NSW. #AusoftheYear pic.twitter.com/KBonHtgvYl
— Gladys Berejiklian (@GladysB) November 9, 2020
“In times of devastation and great heartache, he remained authentic and excelled in his role both operationally and emotionally.
“The people of NSW trust and respect Shane and he is worthy of being our Australian of the Year.”
Mr Fitzsimmons — now the Commissioner for Resilience NSW —earlier this year said the 2019-20 bushfire season “exceeded the worst-case scenario” predicted by experts and hi-tech modelling.
Proud to be joining 15 other wonderful finalists in this year's NSW Australian of The Year Awards.
— Shane Fitzsimmons (@ShaneFitzAU) November 9, 2020
Don't forget to join the live stream tonight at 6.00pm (AEDT) #weareallpartofthestory #AusoftheYear #reflectrespectcelebrate https://t.co/cOCgkTnWIC
Mr Fitzsimmons is now in the running to be named Australian of the Year, to be announced in January in Canberra. Aunty Isabel Reid is the NSW Senior Australian of the Year.
Born in 1932, she is the oldest survivor of the Stolen Generation and has worked tirelessly to raise awareness and advocate for reparations. NSW Young Australian of the Year is pilot and Invictus Games gold medallist, Nathan Parker.
READ MORE: Big joy in little things no longer denied
Angelica Snowden 7am: Vaccine news welcomed by Europe
News of Pfizer’s effective COVID-19 vaccine will be a welcome relief to people in Europe as they continue to battle daily surges in coronavirus cases and endure widespread restrictions.
Overnight, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky became the latest leader to test positive for the virus. His office said he felt well and would self-isolate and continue to work.
Italy was edging closer to a full lockdown, with experts warning of a drastic situation in hospitals.
“There is no doubt that the situation is largely out of control,” the head of the infectious diseases department at Milan’s Sacco hospital, Massimo Galli, said.
There were 32,614 cases of coronavirus recorded on Monday, down from 39,809 cases on Sunday according to the WHO’s tally.
Russia also surpassed its record for daily infections again on Monday, with 21,798 cases confirmed.
Hungary is now one of the hardest-hit countries in terms of deaths proportionate to its population, and the government announced new national restrictions to come into force Wednesday.
Portugal meanwhile entered a state of emergency that will see curfews imposed on most of the population.
And Montenegro’s capital Podgorica was set for a curfew as officials tried to stem an outbreak a week after huge crowds attended the funeral of a top bishop.
In France, which has imposed nationwide stay-at-home orders and is clocking more than 40,000 cases a day, the central bank revised its expectations of the damage wrought by the curbs.
“Before the second wave, we thought the recession would be a little less than nine per cent, we think today that for 2020 as a whole it will be between nine and 10 per cent,” Banque de France chief Francois Villeroy de Galhau said.
More than 50,010,400 cases have been registered across the globe.
Europe, with 12.6 million cases and more than 305,700 deaths, is once again the epicentre of the pandemic. — with AFP
READ MORE: Quarantine ‘could be cut to eight days’
Dow Jones 6.30am: New York on brink of new COVID-19 lockdown
New Yorkers have “one last chance” to avoid a second wave of COVID-19 infections that would force the city to return to the widespread restrictions on business, schools and social-gatherings, Mayor Bill de Blasio says.
The dire warning came as the share of New York City residents who tested positive for COVID-19 over the past week reached 2.21%, a percentage not seen since June.
There were 779 new reported COVID-19 infections in the city, marking the highest daily total in recent months and the 10th consecutive day that the number of reported cases was above the city’s threshold of 550 new cases.
“We’re in a dangerous situation and we have to change our habits,” said Mr de Blasio.
“We cannot take the risk of going back to larger shutdowns of our city, our economy, more and more restrictions.”
Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo said he would not impose any broad-based limits on activity in response to the rise, but there would be new restrictions in the cities of Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and their suburbs. These areas become “yellow zones, ” which the state says will require increased random testing of school pupils, tighter restrictions on restaurant dining, smaller caps on the size of gatherings or attendance in houses of worship.
The test positivity rate in the focus areas under NY's Micro-Cluster strategy is 4.32%.
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) November 9, 2020
The statewide positivity rate excluding these focus areas is 2.69%.
We continue to take strong action to respond to outbreaks and to stop the spread.
Mask Up.
READ MORE: Masks are now ‘part of our armour’
Agencies 5.45am: Masks ‘not a political statement’, Biden says
US President-elect Joe Biden on Monday urged Americans to wear masks, stressing it is “not a political statement” but the most important step they can take to prevent spread of the deadly coronavirus.
“I implore you, wear a mask. A mask is not a political statement but it is a good way to start pulling the country together,” Mr Biden said in Wilmington.
Mr Biden, who himself has routinely worn face coverings while campaigning and out in public, said that even as good news of a successful coronavirus vaccine trial has emerged, “the single most effective thing we can do to stop the spread of Covid is to wear a mask.”
The President-elect also revealed the members of his COVID-19 advisory council, which will be led by three co-chairs: epidemiologist and former Federal Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner David Kessler, former surgeon general Vivek Murthy, and Yale public health professor Marcella Nunez-Smith.
In addition, the board will have 10 members, ranging from immunologists and epidemiologists to biodefense experts and leading public health officials.
President-elect Biden promised to ensure public health decisions are informed by public health experts. We are making good on that promise.
— Biden-Harris Presidential Transition (@Transition46) November 9, 2020
Today, we announced a COVID-19 advisory board to provide science-based guidance for navigating this pandemic: https://t.co/z0nuAkWPcu pic.twitter.com/524nqj4IKJ
The announcement came before US company Pfizer and Germany’s BioNTech announced that a vaccine they had jointly developed had so far proven 90 per cent effective in preventing infections in ongoing Phase 3 trials — news that cheered scientists, politicians and markets.
READ MORE: Stocks leap on news of Pfizer vaccine breakthrough
Jacquelin Magnay 5.30am: Five million Aussies to receive vaccine next year
Five million Australians will receive a coronavirus vaccine by early next year following Pfizer’s announcement that its vaccine trial had wildly exceeded expectations.
Global medical experts are this morning hailing a dramatic coronavirus breakthrough, predicting normal life may return by Easter as Pfizer announced its vaccine was more than 90 per cent effective.
UPDATE: We are proud to announce, along with @BioNTech_Group, that our mRNA-based #vaccine candidate has, at an interim analysis, demonstrated initial evidence of efficacy against #COVID19 in participants without prior evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
— Pfizer Inc. (@pfizer) November 9, 2020
The Australian government has committed to buying 10 million doses of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine, and with people requiring two jabs, Australia will be able to provide the vaccine to five million Australians from next year.
World leaders have also welcomed the news, with US President Donald Trump highlighting the positive response from Wall Street.
STOCK MARKET UP BIG, VACCINE COMING SOON. REPORT 90% EFFECTIVE. SUCH GREAT NEWS!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 9, 2020
US President-elect Joe Biden urged caution, however, saying the end of the battle against COVID-19 was still “months away”.
“America is still losing over 1,000 people a day from COVID-19, and that number is rising — and will continue to get worse unless we make progress on masking and other immediate actions,” President-elect Biden said.
“That is the reality for now and for the next few months. Today’s announcement promises the chance to change that next year, but the tasks before us remain the same.”
Statement by President-elect Biden on Pfizer's vaccine progress: pic.twitter.com/eOiLZnqO8N
— Biden-Harris Presidential Transition (@Transition46) November 9, 2020
Read the full story here.
Simon Benson 5.15am: JobSeeker continues until the end of March
Scott Morrison will extend JobSeeker coronavirus payments at a reduced rate to the end of March, delivering a pandemic lifeline for more than 1.5 million unemployed Australians.
The Australian understands cabinet’s expenditure review committee signed off last week on extending the coronavirus supplement payment beyond December 31, when it was due to expire.
The welfare payment boost is now expected to run in line with the JobKeeper wage subsidy program that ends on March 28 — but at a lower rate than the current $250 supplement and subject to final tick-off by cabinet.
It is understood that one tapered rate being considered was $150 a fortnight, with a final decision expected to be signed off on Monday night by cabinet.
Read the full story here.
Patrick Commins 5am: Pandemic strikes older workers the hardest
Older working Australians have been hardest hit by the pandemic, suffering a greater fall in working hours than any other age group, according to a new ANU research paper that also finds the average employed Australian has lost $5900 in earnings as a result of the recession.
The ANU’s Centre for Social Research and Methods tracked the impact of the recession on hours worked between early February and the end of October, finding those who entered the pandemic with a job had lost an average 167 hours of work since early February — the equivalent to a total loss of $5885 in earnings.
Including those who were unemployed when the pandemic hit, the average net loss of hours worked was 67 hours, equating to a total loss of productive earnings of $2380 per adult.
Assuming all Australian adults worked 67 fewer hours on average during the pandemic, the paper calculated there would have been a total of 1.3 billion working hours lost at a total cost to the economy of $47bn.
Read the full story here.
More Coverage
Youth mental health a worry for families
Concerned about a young loved one’s mental health? You’re not alone, and starting a conversation about it with them is challenging. Here’s some advice on what do.
High profile restaurateur charged over Nazi sign at protest
Alan Yazbek, the owner of famous hatted restaurants Nomad in Sydney and Melbourne’s Reine & La Rue, has been revealed as the protester arrested after allegedly holding up a swastika sign at a pro-Palestine rally.