Coronavirus Australia live news: Gerry Harvey slams Victoria’s lockdown ‘overkill’
Retail mogul Gerry Harvey says he doesn’t understand the ‘logic’ behind Victoria’s continued restrictions on Melbourne businesses.
- Gerry Harvey slams Vic lockdown ‘overkill’
- Victoria had ‘no objections’ to NZ travellers
- NSW eases rules on groups
- Victoria records 4 cases, 1 death
- ‘Criticism of Victoria for good reason’
- Economy set for a ‘beautiful recovery’
Welcome to The Australian’s rolling political coverage amid the coronavirus crisis.
Retail mogul Gerry Harvey has described the state government’s continued restrictions on Melbourne businesses as “overkill”. Australian Border Force Commissioner Michael Outram says Victorian health authorities raised no objections when they were told last week New Zealanders arriving in Sydney under the travel bubble would be able to enter Victoria.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has hit back at Josh Frydenberg, over lockdown restrictions . Victoria records four new cases and one death, NSW has no new cases of community transmission and will press ahead with easing restrictions on gatherings and restaurant bookings.
AFP 8pm: Caseload hits 40 million worldwide
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide passed 40 million on Monday, according to a tally by the news service Agence France-Presse.
A total of 40,000,234 infections and 1,113,896 deaths have been recorded across the globe. More than half the global caseload has come in the three hardest-hit countries: the US, with 8,154,935 infections, India, with 7,550,273, and Brazil’s 5,235,344.
In just the past seven days more than that 2.5 million cases have been reported, the highest weekly number since COVID-19 emerged in China late last year.
The increase can only partly be explained by a sharp increase in testing and still likely does not include a large number of less severe or asymptomatic cases.
READ MORE: Tragedy of the lost children of COVID-19
David Ross 7.30pm: Health alert for southeast Sydney
A health alert for southeast Sydney has been issued, with NSW Health urging anyone with potential COVID-19 symptoms to be tested as soon as possible.
A positive case of COVID-19 was identified in the area four days ago and a source for the infection has yet to be found.
The infected person is believed to have visited the Kingsford and Ramsgate areas this month while potentially infectious, several cafes while ordering takeaway.
Anyone who has visited Kingsford and Ramsgate, especially cafés in those areas, should monitor for symptoms and immediately isolate and get tested if even the mildest symptoms appear.
NSW Health is urging people to come forward for testing as levels have been slipping in recent weeks.
“The only way to find new cases and prevent further transmission is to increase testing,” NSW Health said.
“This is particularly important in southeastern, southwestern, and western Sydney as well as in southwestern Sydney and western Sydney where there have been recent locally transmitted cases.”
READ MORE: Regions bloom as tourism numbers boom
Olivia Caisley 7pm: Drought forcing ‘smelly’ kids to avoid school
Parents have been forced to stop sending their “smelly” kids to school because they don’t have access to water to shower, Drought Agency boss Shane Stone says.
The former Northern Territory Chief Minister told a Senate Estimates hearing on Monday that some drought-stricken Australians were in a dire situation and struggling to put food on the table.
“We have properties that don’t have drinking water — the implications of that are quite profound,” he said. “I’ve had people say to me going to the toilet now is picking up a shovel and going out to the paddock because we can’t flush the toilet. We can’t shower, the kids smell, they can’t go to school.”
Mr Stone said the agency had committed additional funding to not-for-profit organisations, such as $2.5m for the Country Womens Association, upon hearing some of the harrowing stories of those affected during listening tours of regional communities.
“The government can’t do everything, the volunteer organisations are the glue that keeps this country together, whether you’re dealing with floods, bushfires, whatever it is, without the volunteers, it’s very very hard...We wouldn’t keep supporting the not-for-profits if we didn’t think we were getting the uptake.”
Mr Stone repeated the importance of redefining what constitutes a natural disaster because some Australians, who are reeling from long-term drought, are unable to access available funding under the current definition.
“If you’ve been in drought for three or four years and someone like me turns up and tells you that you’re not in a natural disaster, you haven’t had a flood and you haven’t had a fire,” he said. “That’s a very big statement to say to a very distressed person.”
Mr Stone called upon the government to listen to the National Drought and Flood Agency’s suggestions when looking to make life easier for those affected.
“I would just make the point that at the end of the day, it goes back to the government, to you,” Mr Stone said. “We can make recommendations, we can make observations but that’s the extent of it.”
READ MORE:
Greg Brown 6.30pm: Vic officials aware of private contractors: Pezzullo
Department of Home Affairs secretary Michael Pezzullo says it would “appear” Victorian health officials were aware the Andrews government would use private contractors as security for the state’s hotel quarantine program.
Mr Pezzullo confirmed the accuracy of a report in the Nine Newspapers showing an email trail between Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton, officials from the Department of Health and Human Services, and officials from the Department of Home Affairs.
The report said the emails showed DHHS officials telling Home Affairs officials on March 27 — hours after national cabinet agreed to mandatory quarantine — that Victoria would use private security at hotels.
Professor Sutton was copied in the emails, which were not tendered to the state’s hotel quarantine inquiry and contradicted his evidence.
“I can confirm that the extracts or curated highlights or derivations from an email trail that were published by The Age appear to accord with emails that are on our departmental systems,” Mr Pezzullo told Senate estimates on Monday.
“There appears to have been a response from an officer in the Victorian government, or one of the departments at least in the Victorian government, that appears to accord with that kind of response but I would need to take on notice the exact phrasing of the response as we understand it on our systems.”
Mr Pezzullo said the emails, which he had independently verified, indicated Victorian health officials knew in March that private contractors would control the state’s hotel quarantine.
“I think it is a reasonable inference to draw that officials of the Victorian government, whether it was Professor Sutton himself I just don’t have photographically in my mind, but certainly officials of the Victorian government responding to the original initiating email appeared to have that understanding on that day,” Mr Pezzullo said.
“Professor Sutton’s name does appear in that trail but whether it is reasonable to conclude that he personally was of that understanding atthat time of the evening I will have to go and refresh my memory.”
READ MORE: How a ‘narco-sub’ crossed Atlantic
Remy Varga 6pm: Frydenberg dismisses Andrews’ criticism
Josh Frydenberg has denied his criticism of Victoria’s lockdown restrictions is about him or Dan Andrews after the Premier accused him of playing politics.
Saying a litany of business groups had also criticised the continued restrictions on industry, the federal Treasurer told 2GB on Monday that the long lockdown had taken an economic and mental toll on Victorians.
“It’s not about Daniel Andrews, it’s not about me,” he said.
“I’m for Victoria, I’m for Victorian jobs, I’m for Victorian small businesses.
“And what is absolutely clear from the statements yesterday from the council of small business, the Australian Hotel’s Association, the Australian Industry Group and the Business Council of Australia is that they were deeply disappointed in the announcement from the Andrews government.”
Earlier on Monday, Mr Andrews said of Mr Frydenberg: “He’s just a Liberal and all he does is play politics every day.”
READ MORE: Andrews protects ‘ring of steel’
Paul Garvey 5.30pm: McGowan pans federal ‘ambush’
Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan has accused the commonwealth of “ambushing” the states and undermining efforts to get stranded Australians back in the country through its introduction of a travel bubble with New Zealand.
Some 23 New Zealanders have already arrived in WA despite the state not being a party to the agreement, with those passengers forced into quarantine after arriving in the state from NSW.
New Zealanders are permitted to enter NSW and the Northern Territory under the federal government’s travel bubble with NZ, but an angry Mr McGowan said the measures were allowing people to “bunny hop” into states that had not agreed to the arrangement.
“All the other states around Australia have been ambushed by what the Commonwealth has done here. This is not the expectation or the understanding we had when this was put in place,” Mr McGowan said on Monday.
He said the bubble was undermining the arrangements put in place that were supposed to see WA increase its intake of Australians returning from overseas, with designated quarantine rooms now being occupied by the NZ arrivals.
“I expected that the travel bubble with NZ encompassed the borders of NSW and the NT. I didn’t understand that it meant you could fly into Sydney and then you’re free to go wherever you wish around the country,” Mr McGowan said.
“I expect every other premier, bar NSW and the NT, had exactly the same understanding.”
The comments come as WA battles a rise in the number of cases of coronavirus among crewmembers from vessels off the state’s coast.
Some 24 of the 51 crew on board the livestock carrier Al Messilah — berthed at Fremantle Port — were confirmed on Monday to have coronavirus.
The bulk carrier Key Integrity, on which a crew member tested positive last week, arrived at Fremantle Port from Geraldton on Monday morning and its crew are being tested for the virus.
Mr McGowan also called for the federal government to take more action to protect WA and Australia from the risks of coronavirus-infected vessels, describing the ships as “one of the weakest links and the biggest risk to our way of life” in WA.
READ MORE: Reopen Victoria to save small businesses: CBA boss
Remy Varga 5.10pm: Gerry Harvey slams Vic lockdown ‘overkill’
Retail mogul Gerry Harvey has described the state government’s continued restrictions on Melbourne businesses as “overkill”.
The Harvey Norman executive chairman said there was no need for retail to remain shut until November 2 when case numbers were consistently in the single digits.
“When you’re in charge of a business or a state or a country or whatever you’re in charge of, you’ve got to be responsible but you’re not allowed to do overkill, because that makes you irresponsible as well,” he said.
“So my take on it is it’s overkill.”
Mr Harvey said the retailer had managed to remain open in every state and territory without ever being linked to a coronavirus case.
“I don’t understand, the logic of that is just not there but again, that’s what they’re doing [and] they’re in charge,” he said.
“I’m not in charge, so I’ve got to do what I’m told but I’m not happy about it because we’ve been closed in Melbourne for nearly four months.”
READ MORE: WA’s new coronavirus restrictions
Olivia Caisley 3.47pm: Stoush over bushfire recovery spending
The commonwealth government has spent $716m from its $2bn bushfire recovery fund, Senate estimates has heard.
The states and territories have spent a further $471.8m, which will eventually be reimbursed by the Morrison government.
During a testy exchange in Senate estimates on Monday Labor Senator Murray Watt clashed with Assistant Minister for Finance Zed Seselja over how the government was reporting its bushfire recovery spending.
Senator Watt said it was misleading for Bushfire Recovery Agency co-ordinator Andrew Colvin to claim $1.8bn of commonwealth money had been spent when only $716m had left the government’s coffers.
But Mr Colvin said he disagreed that it was misleading, considering that the money spent by the states had already been delivered to bushfire victims and would eventually be reimbursed by the commonwealth.
READ the full story here
Richard Ferguson 3.25pm: QT wrap: ‘Albanese trying to reheat class war tactics’
Scott Morrison has accused Labor of trying to “reheat” its class war tactics from the 2019 election as Anthony Albanese’s MPs bombarded him with question time attacks on his childcare policy.
The Opposition Leader is promising a $6.2bn childcare funding package he says will save families up to $2900 a year, as Labor puts female workforce participation at the heart of its agenda.
Throughout question time, Labor MPs offered up case studies of women in their electorates who struggled to pay for childcare, and attacked the Prime Minister for not offering enough money to the sector in this month’s federal budget.
“Since the government came to power in 2013, childcare costs have increased on average by $4000 per year,” Mr Albanese said.
“For Australian families, while wages have stagnated – wages stagnating, going nowhere – childcare costs going up. Does that make families better off, or worse?”
Mr Morrison hit back in parliament and said he was spending $9bn a year on childcare and his policies were aimed at low and middle class income families.
“The reheat of the former Leader of the Opposition’s (Bill Shorten) rhetoric in this case, seeking to cause class war again is no surprise,” Mr Morrison said.
“Our government has always believed that when you are applying support across the community, that measures should be means-tested.
“The program we designed to put in place support for families across the Australian population was means-tested.
“And the other thing we do, we ensure that when we means-test these arrangements, we target those who need it most, and that is low and middle incomes.
“And that is where our childcare support, which runs to $9.2 billion per year, is designed to help those who need it most, who need it most, so we can target that support to where it is most needed. That is how you responsibly run a budget.”
READ MORE: Durie — Covid ‘can’t kill competition’
Richard Ferguson 3.14pm: Liberals may hand new Melbourne seat to Greens
Victoria’s Liberal Party is recommending the Australian Electoral Commission create a new federal electorate in inner-city Melbourne, potentially handing a second seat to the Greens.
The state is assured an extra seat at the next election due to population growth and most expect the AEC to create a new seat in the Labor heartland of Melbourne’s outer northwest suburbs, with both parties wanting the seat named after late prime minister Bob Hawke.
In its submission to the redistribution process, the Victorian Liberal Party say a new northwest seat would unsuitably combine regional and metropolitan areas, and the better course is to carve out the Green-friendly inner-city suburbs of Brunswick, Northcote, Coburg and Alphington.
READ the full story here
Melissa Iaria 3.08pm: Hairdressers put smiles back on Melbourne’s ‘gorillas’
After a three-month ban, Melbourne hair salons are dealing with a rush of customers and “homemade” haircuts.
Salons were run off their feet after the stage four COVID-19 restriction on hairdressers was finally lifted on Monday.
Hairdresser Joey Scandizzo opened his South Yarra salon as the clock ticked to midnight and reported his phone was going “off the hook”.
“We had a few VIP clients that couldn’t wait any longer so we opened the doors up at midnight and we got them in and they were happier than ever,” he told 3AW.
He said his mates had been hassling him for a fresh cut for three months.
“As soon as we got the green light they were straight on the phone saying, ‘I’m coming in at midnight’. I thought I’d better open the doors up and get them in and make them happy, make them look and feel beautiful again.”
At BarberJan in Brunswick, things hadn’t stopped since 9am.
“They’re coming with their long hair, their beards. They’re coming with a big mess,” director Jan Yamacli said.
“Everyone’s looking like a gorilla walking in but they walk out, super happy. Everybody’s put the smiles back on again.” — NCA Newswire
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Joyce Moullakis 2.52pm: CBA boss urges Victoria to reopen
Commonwealth Bank chief Matt Comyn has joined a chorus of business leaders urging Victoria to accelerate the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, warning of a “huge impact” to small businesses some of which were questioning their viability.
Speaking at a Trans Tasman online event on Monday, Mr Comyn said the costs of the strict lockdown measures in Melbourne were significant and some of the bank’s business customers would not restart operations.
“There is obviously a lot of fear and concern about their prospects and viability going forward,” he added.
“People would certainly find the relaxing of restrictions and the impact on small business disappointing, it’s been a huge impact to businesses.”
READ the full story here
Matthew Denholm 2.20pm: Tassie set to open to NSW travellers from Nov 2
Tasmania expects to open to quarantine-free travel from New South Welshmen from November 2, contingent on ongoing low cases of coronavirus.
Premier Peter Gutwein on Monday said his state would open its borders for quarantine-free travel from SA, WA, the NT and Queensland as planned from next Monday, October 26.
While still monitoring the situation in NSW, it was anticipated Tasmania would be open to travellers from that state from November 2. “But if the situation changes … we won’t hesitate to keep our border restricted,” he said.
The border with Victoria would remain effectively closed for now.
So far, six New Zealanders had arrived in the state as a result of NZ’s travel bubble with other states and all had gone into 14 days quarantine at government-run hotel accommodation.
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Emily Cosenza 2.10pm: Five New Zealanders slip into Adelaide
Five passengers from New Zealand have arrived in Adelaide, despite the state not being a part of the Australia-NZ travel bubble.
Three people flew in over the weekend and an additional two arrived on Monday via other Australian cities and have been taken to quarantine in medi-hotels for two weeks, according to SA Premier Steven Marshall.
He said when the passengers arrived, all of the state’s protocols were fulfilled.
“Our systems here in SA works extraordinarily well,” Mr Marshall said.
“The way the arrangements work at Adelaide Airport is that when passengers arrive they are asked if they have been in an area which is not authorised over the last 14 days.
“These passengers identified themselves so obviously the protocol of putting them in hotel quarantine was followed.”
Mr Marshall said the state was looking very closely at its border arrangements with New Zealand.
“Professor Nicola Spurrier is looking at those numbers and we’re hoping we can lift our borders with NZ when it’s safe to do so.”
There are currently about 1200 people in hotel quarantine in SA.
Under the trans-Tasman bubble arrangement, travellers from New Zealand could travel freely into NSW and the Northern Territory. — NCA Newswire
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Rosie Lewis 2.00pm: Bureaucrats ‘may have covered up Sydney land deal’
A senior public servant has acknowledged bureaucrats may have attempted to cover up a controversial acquisition of land for the Western Sydney Airport that was worth a tenth of the $30m forked out by taxpayers.
The admission came as the Department of Infrastructure confirmed two of its employees were being investigated for potential breaches of the public service’s code of conduct in the wake of the Auditor-General’s scathing review of the Leppington Triangle purchase, which identified possible conflicts of interest issues and said the deal “fell short of ethical standards”.
One of the department’s officers has been stood down and another has been moved out of the Western Sydney Unit, pending the investigations.
Former inspector-general of intelligence and security Vivienne Thom, who was appointed by chief justice Susan Kiefel to investigate sexual harassment allegations regarding Dyson Heydon, will investigate unethical conduct related to the Leppington Triangle acquisition.
Department of Infrastructure secretary Simon Atkinson said a departmental accountant had raised concerns about the 12.26ha of land’s price tag but was told nothing was wrong.
Asked by Labor’s Senate leader Penny Wong at an estimates hearing if employees in his department tried to cover up actions that led to the purchase when the Australian National Audit Office did its investigation, Mr Atkinson responded: “Senator, I agree with you.”
Senator Wong: “Do you think people tried to cover it up, Mr Atkinson?”
“Senator, I want to get to the bottom of what happened … I’m trying to clean it up.”
The Leppington Triangle was owned by billionaire businessmen and Liberal Party donors Tony and Ron Perich through their Leppington Pastoral Company and bought by the Department of Infrastructure in July 2018 for $29.8m.
Secured for the use of a possible second runway at the Western Sydney Airport, the land was valued at just $3.1m 11 months later.
Mr Atkinson, who has been secretary of the department since February, said he had commissioned an independent audit of the conduct of the Leppington Triangle transaction separate to the AFP investigation and probe into staff conduct. He has also established an assurance taskforce to ensure the appropriate response to investigations and the ANAO report were taken.
“As the new accountable authority, I intend to get to the bottom of this and wherever necessary hold people to account through proper, fair and thorough processes and make sure we have the right culture, capabilities, processes and systems going forward,” Mr Atkinson said.
READ MORE: AFP investigates $30m Western Sydney airport land deal
Will Glasgow 1.26pm: China posts bumper 4.9pc economic growth
Australia’s biggest trading partner China has almost reached its pre-COVID level of economic activity after it grew by 4.9 per cent in the third quarter.
Packed cinemas screening patriotic blockbuster films, a dramatic recovery in domestic travel and steel mills that never stopped during the coronavirus outbreak have all contributed to China’s economic recovery.
“China has become the first major economy to return to its pre-virus growth path, thanks to its rapid containment of COVID-19 and effective stimulus response,” said analysts from Capital Economics.
READ the full story here
Greg Brown 12.57pm: Victoria ‘offered no objections to Kiwi travellers’
Australian Border Force Commissioner Michael Outram says Victorian health authorities raised no objections when they were told last week New Zealanders arriving in Sydney under the travel bubble would be able to enter Victoria.
Mr Outram said there were no objections offered at a meeting last Friday from Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton.
“There was a meeting last Friday at Melbourne airport at 2pm, convened by (Department of Health and Human Services),” Mr Outram told Senate Estimates hearings on Monday morning.
“This movement of passengers from NSW to Victoria was discussed. So clearly at an operational level the Victorian services recognised what was happening. And no objections were raised.”
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has criticised the federal government after 17 New Zealanders used the travel bubble to fly to Sydney, where they proceeded to travel to Melbourne.
There are no hard border closures on entering Victoria.
Department of Home Affairs secretary Mike Pezzullo said federal authorities only had jurisdiction over international arrivals.
“If state border controls are a factor, on travel, then potentially there is an issue on how domestic travel is undertaken. But that strictly is not a matter for the Australian Border Force,” Mr Pezzullo said.
Meanwhile, Victoria’s Department of Health and Human Services website states “If you are travelling from New Zealand and have passed all relevant immigration and biosecurity requirements as established by the Federal Government, New South Wales Government and Northern Territory Government, then you are able to travel to Victoria.’’
READ MORE: Andrews caught out in row over Kiwis
Imogen Reid 12.46pm: Confusion over Andrews’ trans-Tasman bubble stance
New South Wales Health Minister Brad Hazzard has said he was “confused” by the Victorian Premier’s stance on the trans-Tasman travel bubble.
“The advice I had was that Victoria had actually accepted that arrangement,” Mr Hazzard said on Monday.
“And indeed, as little as 10 minutes ago, I checked on the Victorian Health and Human Services website and it refers to the fact that people coming in from New Zealand can enter Victoria after going to Sydney, so it is a little confusing.
“Hopefully Victoria can sort it out — clearly there is confusion, not just among New Zealanders and a lot of miscommunication there, but also at the highest levels of government.”
Premier Daniel Andrews said the advice in Victoria was revised at 8.30pm on Sunday night after it became clear arrivals had travelled to the state.
READ MORE: Danger across ditch as Ardern returns
Rebecca Urban 12.41pm: 25km restriction to ease along with stay home rules
A restriction on Melburnians travelling more than 25 kilometre from home would likely be lifted at the same time that broader stay at home restrictions.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed that the limit, which has been extended from 5km from Monday, would “almost certainly” come off when the restrictions on leaving home for just four essential reasons were dropped.
Mr Andrews defended retaining travel restrictions, which has been condemned by health experts for serving little health purpose, claiming it was about limiting movement, particularly to popular areas, such as the Mornington Peninsula and Dandenong Ranges.
He said he was unable to confirm when Melbourne’s “ring of steel”, which prevents Melbourne residents travelling into regional Victoria, would be removed.
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Rebecca Urban 12.34pm: Health chief underscores AFL grand final warning
Victoria’s top health official has urged AFL fans to continue to adhere to social gathering restrictions for this weekend’s grand final.
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said people choosing to gather inside homes with friends or family would pose a risk for further spread of the coronavirus.
“We’re not at a point where we can have indoor gatherings,” Professor Sutton said.
“It’s a bit unfortunate that this is the timing of the grand final.”
Professor Sutton said football fans should enjoy the game at home with their immediate family and “maybe they can link up by Zoom and share their enthusiasm or heartbreak” with other friends.
READ MORE: Exploring Victoria — without leaving home
Sarah Elks 12.23pm: Palaszczuk will vote to legalise euthanasia
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has confirmed she would vote to legalise voluntary assisted dying if her Labor government wins a third term at the October 31 election.
Campaigning at Nerang, on the Gold Coast in the marginal Labor seat of Gaven, Ms Palaszczuk said she had brought the contentious issue into the campaign because it was “important” to many Queenslanders.
Ms Palaszczuk made the surprise announcement at her campaign launch on Sunday, revealing Labor would introduce legislation to legalise euthanasia in February, forcing the Queensland Law Reform Commission to rush its review of the issue due back by March.
“Our investment in $170m in palliative care is so important … so families and people who are impacted have a very clear choice about how they end their life. I think it’s very important that people have dignity in death,” Ms Palaszcuk said on the Gold Coast on Monday morning.
READ the full story here
Rebecca Urban 12.05pm: Andrews refuses to releases health advice for road map
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has declined to release the most recent health advice that informed his latest road map for easing restrictions but said he would consider it.
It is understood that the Burnet Institute has been undertaking further modelling work to help the government with its response to COVID-19 however the latest results have not been made public.
“I’m more than happy to take that on notice and come back with whatever information we think is appropriate,” Mr Andrews said.
“All decisions are made on public health advice; they’re not easy decisions; they’re decisions that need to be carefully weighed up and that’s exactly what we’ve done.
“What I think is most important is we’ve got to just 4 cases today, we’re on track. At worst we’d be opening the place up on the first of November. That’s positive; that’s good news.”
READ MORE: Curbs stay despite more cases in NSW
YONI BASHAN 12.00pm: Berejiklian: ‘Maguire and I led separate lives’
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has deflected further questions asking whether she was obligated to report her relationship with Daryl Maguire to colleagues and authorities, saying that while they were close they led “completely separate lives”.
Ms Berejiklian has maintained that her relationship with Mr Maguire was not of “sufficient status” to disclose since appearing at an Independent Commission Against Corruption hearing in Sydney last week.
The premier told the hearing that the relationship was “close” and “personal” but not an “intimate relationship”, as defined in the NSW Ministerial Code of Conduct.
“Irrespective of how I felt, we led completely separate lives,” Ms Berejiklian told reporters.
Ms Berejiklian has also given a number of interviews since the ICAC hearing stating that she loved Mr Maguire and considered marriage with him.
Asked why she was summoned to appear at the inquiry if she had no case to answer, Ms Berejiklian said the corruption body was conducting due diligence.
“If someone is having a close relationship and there are conversations held, I was asked to appear as a witness and it’s prudent for them to do their due diligence.”
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Richard Ferguson 11.39am: Andrews digs in, launches attack on Treasurer
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has launched an extraordinary attack on Josh Frydenberg, accusing the Treasurer of being a “just a Liberal.”
Mr Frydenberg — the most senior Victorian in the federal government — has repeatedly called on Mr Andrews to ease restrictions and revive businesses now Melbourne is seeing its lowest number of cases in months.
On Monday, Mr Andrews blew up at Mr Frydenberg and accused him of not being a leader.
“It’s all about the politics with this bloke, isn’t it? That’s all he does. That all he does, he is not a leader, he is just a liberal hack,” Mr Andrews said in Melbourne.
“All he does is play politics, every day, and I just don’t think that is fair, alright/
“And I think Victorians are sick of it. Victorians want their family protected, they wanted their health issue dealt with so we can open up.
“He is not a leader, he is just a Liberal because all he does is play politics in the midst of a global pandemic.”
READ MORE: Business: Where’s the logic in this?
Imogen Reid 11.26am: NSW to press ahead with lifting restrictions
Coronavirus restrictions in New South Wales will finally be eased after they were delayed last week as case numbers grew.
From this Friday, thirty people can gather outdoors, up from 20, and group bookings at restaurants can be as large as 30 people. Outdoor gatherings will also increase from 10 to 30.
From December 1, up to 300 people will be allowed to attend weddings.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the new limits on social gatherings will “provide a big boost to hospitality venues”.
“There are a significant number of restrictions that we are now easing, so we ask everybody to please maintain your level of safety,” she said.
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Rebecca Urban 11.18am: Footy fans fined for breaching Andrews’ orders
Five football fans who defied public health orders to watch a match at a friend’s house were among those to receive 125 fines over the past 24 hours.
According to Victoria Police, a vehicle was intercepted at the Yarra Ranges, with the occupants from five different households revealing that they were more than 5 kilometres from home and had visited a private home to watch the football.
Other fines relate to another group that gathered at a house for a birthday party, people failing to wear masks or were issued at vehicle checkpoints.
The latest tranche of fines come after the Premier of Victoria warned Melburnians on Sunday against hosting backyard get-togethers to celebrate the AFL grand final this weekend.
Victoria currently has 136 active coronavirus cases, with four new cases under investigation, the Victorian Premier has revealed.
The state recorded one new death over the past 24 hours; a male in his 90s whose infection was connected to an aged care facility.
Of the four new cases reported on Monday, three were in the Hume council area and one is in Moonee Valley.
There are 12 people receiving hospital treatment, but none are in intensive care.
Daniel Andrews confirmed that there were now 65 people in the state who had travelled from New Zealand and that officials had made contact with 55 of them. A further 17 flights were due to arrive in Melbourne on Monday, with the possibility that there could be more New Zealand visitors arriving via Sydney, he said.
He reiterated his displeasure that the state had become part of a “travel bubble” in spite of its wishes.
“I’m not going to be quarantining people who come from a low-virus community, “ he said.
“We just have to make the best of this.”
READ MORE: Melburnians suffering sport empty nest syndrome
Greg Brown 11.12am: Maguire ‘lobbied federal MPs’ over visas
Department of Home Affairs secretary Michael Pezzullo says he believes disgraced former NSW MP Daryl Maguire made representations to the department and federal MPs for favourable treatment for his clients under his “cash for visas” scheme.
READ the full story here
Imogen Reid 11.04am: NSW records zero locally-transmitted cases
New South Wales has reported zero additional cases of locally transmitted COVID-19 infections in the last 24 hours.
Four positive cases have been reported in travellers in hotel quarantine, taking the state’s tally to 4153.
NSW Health has issued an appeal to the community to come forward for testing to prevent further spreading.
NSW has reported no new cases of locally transmitted #COVID19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) October 19, 2020
Four cases in overseas travellers in hotel quarantine were diagnosed, bringing the total number of cases in NSW to 4,153. pic.twitter.com/dmguEtvXAR
“This is particularly important in south western Sydney, western Sydney and south eastern Sydney where there have been recent locally transmitted cases,” NSW Health said.
“Everyone plays an important role in helping to contain the pandemic by getting tested quickly and following social distancing rules.”
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Remy Varga 10.23am: Andrews to provide virus update at 11am
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is due to provide an update on the state’s coronavirus crisis at 11am.
READ MORE: Kohler — New economics not just about the virus
JOE KELLY 10.16am: ‘Andrews treats Victorians as enemies of state’
Victorian Liberal Senator James Paterson has branded Daniel Andrews an “authoritarian leader” who had smeared his own citizens as “enemies of the state” after the Labor Premier lashed out at senior Victorians serving in the Morrison government.
Speaking on Saturday, Mr Andrews angrily rejected appeals from Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Health Minister Greg Hunt for the economy to be reopened immediately after the state experienced a drop in new COVID-19 cases.
Senator Paterson hit back at the comments, saying that a democratic leader should “never use appallingly divisive ‘you’re with us or against us’ rhetoric in response to entirely legitimate criticism of the failings of their government.”
“That’s the kind of rhetoric we would expect to hear from an authoritarian leader. Sadly it appears the power has gone to the Premier’s head and under pressure he is showing, increasingly, intolerance of reasonable examination of his many missteps,” Senator Paterson said.
“Thousands of Victorians, some more prominent than others, have been rightly critical of the shocking public policy failings of the Andrews government and the enormous cost it has inflicted on them.”
“None of these people are ‘against Victoria’. They want the best for Victoria and Victorians and they are entitled to expect better from their state government.”
“Daniel Andrews should be focused on finding safe ways to live with the virus, and open our economy and society up again as the NSW government has done, instead of smearing his own citizens as being enemies of the state.”
READ MORE: Ardern cool in a crisis, hazier on the long-term
Ben Wilmot 10.07am: Melbourne lockdown to slug property stocks
Stock market investors are yet to fully factor in the impact of Melbourne’s second wave Covid-19 lockdown, which has drawn out for more than initially expected, according to Morgan Stanley.
The broker’s analysts warned that Vicinity Centres and the GPT Group were the most impacted from a rent collection perspective and predicted that consensus earnings per share forecasts would be revised down.
They warned that after the extended closure period, some tenants may not have been able to survive such a duration without revenue, increasing vacancy risks across GPT’s and Vicinity’s malls.
“We think the Street may be too bullish on the Melbourne-exposed stocks,” analysts Simon Chan and Lauren Berry said.
They cut forecasts for Vicinity’s Funds From Operations by 21 per cent to 7.2c per share for this financial year and trimmed GPT’s FFO for 2020 calendar year by 2 per cent.
Vicinity is half owner of Melbourne’s Chadstone Shopping Centre, alongside billionaire John Gandel, and GPT and its funds own Highpoint Shopping Centre.
They also warned of more difficulties in other sectors. “We have not made any office changes in relation to Melbourne, but there is perhaps slight risk to the downside on that front from smaller tenants,” the Morgan Stanley pair said.
On the residential front they said the HomeBuilder stimulus had offset the impact of the lockdown, although this may simply be reflecting the closure of some negotiations that had commenced prior to strict rules coming into place.
READ MORE: Chris Mitchell — Journalists, premiers ignore science advice
Melissa Iaria 9.57am: Child in Melbourne cancer ward has COVID-19
Authorities say it’s unclear how a child in the Royal Children’s Hospital’s oncology ward got coronavirus.
Health Minister Martin Foley said today it appears the child has low levels of infection and tests are being undertaken of other contacts to establish its source.
“It doesn‘t appear to have come from the family, nor does it appear to have come from the rest of the unit,” Mr Foley told 3AW radio on Monday.
The hospital says it’s undertaking contact tracing, in conjunction with the Department of Health and Human Services.
Staff already identified as close contacts of the patient are undergoing the required testing and self-quarantine.
Asymptomatic testing of other staff who have spent time on the ward, along with inpatients and their families, is also underway.
“We continue to work closely with the Department of Health and Human Services to finalise contact tracing for this case and ensure the highest level of response,” the hospital said in a statement.
“As is our usual practice in these situations, all staff working on the ward have been notified, along with current inpatient families and any who may have been discharged since 30 September. — NCA Newswire
READ MORE: Europe battles soaring caseloads
Charlie Peel 9.25am: Gabba crowd to stay at 30,000 for AFL Grand Final
The crowd capacity at the Gabba will not be lifted above 30,000 for the AFL Grand Final on Saturday, despite Queensland authorities being unaware of any cases of coronavirus in the community.
Queensland’s chief health officer Jeannette Young said the crowd capacity, which has already been lifted to 75 per cent, was sufficient and that she did not want to risk increasing the limit due to the potential spread of COVID-19.
“I think that’s a good safe number, it just allows a bit less crowding with that 75 per cent capacity so I think it’s a sensible thing to do at this stage of the pandemic,” she told ABC Radio.
Dr Young said no new cases of the virus had been detected in the state in the past 24 hours, leaving the state’s total number of cases at four.
However, authorities are concerned that the virus is unknowingly being transmitted after repeated sewage tests showed traces of the virus in Brisbane wastewater.
Dr Young said she was not concerned by a ticketing failure at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night that resulted in thousands of people being packed together at the gates of the stadium.
Cricketers face no training during quarantine
Queensland’s chief health officer says the decision to allow Indian and overseas- based Australian cricketers into the country is a matter for the commonwealth but shed no light on whether the players would be allowed to train while quarantining in Brisbane.
The Australian revealed Cricket Australia will meet with health officials on Monday to discuss the issue.
“I have been involved in discussions, but no decision has been made because of course the decision for cricket is one for the commonwealth to make because it means people need to come in from overseas,” she said.
Senior sources in the Queensland government told The Australian players would be forced to serve a full 14-day quarantine period and would not be allowed to train during that time.
They fear the players will be underprepared for the series.
READ MORE: Queensland roadblock for India tour
Imogen Reid 9.22am: Melbourne Lord Mayor tells of ‘frustration’ over lockdown
Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp has said there is a level of “frustration” over Daniel Andrews’ revised COVID-19 road map.
Speaking on Today, Ms Capp said small business owners are desperate to reopen their stores.
“There is still a bit of frustration,” she said.
“Every single day counts for our small business owners in particular. They are desperate to get open and start serving customers as quickly as possible.”
Four new cases of coronavirus and one new death have been recorded in Victoria.
Ms Capp said Victoria will learn how to “live and work with this virus.”
“This December quarter … is one of the most important quarters for hospitality and retail,” she said.
“It is make or break, and so the sooner we can get those stores and venues open safely, the better.”
READ MORE: Doctors question travel curb benefits
Richard Ferguson 9.17am: Senate estimates to probe plight of stranded Aussies
Budget estimates are underway in Canberra with Labor senators set to interrogate Morrison government ministers and public servants on Australians stranded overseas and various deals.
The Opposition is planning to target the government on various fronts including a Western Sydney Airport land deal where the government paid ten times the value; and the aftermath of the sports grant scandal which led to the resignation of ex-Nationals minister Bridget McKenzie.
Opposition home affairs spokesman Kristina Keneally said she would lead questioning on Australians stranded overseas by the hard COVID border, before turning to other scandals.
“Their dodgy deals at Western Sydney Airport, their real estate rorts, their sports rorts, and Angus Taylor … if there’s a scandal, Angus Taylor will find his way into it.
“The police investigations now into these dodgy Western Sydney land deals. This is a Government that is always trying to find someone else to blame.
“But today, beginning today, at Senate Estimates, the Morrison Government will have nowhere to hide.
“They will be facing tough questions about what they’re doing and what they’re failing to do. About how they are leaving Australians behind. About how they’re always there for the headline, but never there for the hard work.”
READ MORE: Pressure on Labor over jobs credits
Robert Gottliebsen 9.12am: Victoria not the only subject for inquiry
Members of Scott Morrison’s federal cabinet not surprisingly look down at Victoria’s breakdown of cabinet accountability and responsibly, which led to hundreds of people dying, and say: “It could never happen to us”.
But sadly for the nation, that’s exactly what is happening in a key section of Morrison cabinet deliberations. And the consequences of that federal accountability and responsibility breakdown could be just as serious as what happened in Victoria. Indeed long term, they might be a lot worse. The break down goes to the heart of our national security.
My readers will not be surprised that this breakdown in cabinet concerns the submarine disaster.
READ Robert Gottliebsen’s full story here
Ben Wilmot 8.52am: O’Dwyer dips toes into corporate life
Former politician Kelly O’Dwyer has made her first major move in corporate Australia after leaving parliament last year, and will join the board of shopping centre owner and fund manager Home Consortium.
The high-profile former minister will face election at the company’s forthcoming annual general meeting as part of a broader shake up of the board in which executive chairman David Di Pilla will make way for an independent chairman.
He will remain on the board and as managing director with the changes coming as HomeCo, backed by some of Australia’s wealthiest families, shifts gear by spinning off a new real estate trust for which it has raised $300m.
A resolution to appoint Ms O’Dwyer to the board will be put to securityholders at the annual general meeting on November 18 and, if elected, Ms O’Dwyer will be an independent non-executive director, resulting in a majority of independent directors on the HomeCo board.
READ MORE live ASX updates at Trading Day
Remy Varga 8.40am: Victoria records four new cases, one death
Victoria has recorded four new cases and one new death.
Yesterday there were 4 new cases & sadly the loss of 1 life reported. Condolences to all those affected. Cases with unknown source & average in Regional are stable, Metro average decreased slightly. More info available later today. https://t.co/eTputEZdhs #COVID19VicData pic.twitter.com/hJpnTBpQ76
— VicGovDHHS (@VicGovDHHS) October 18, 2020
Imogen Reid 8.01am: Criticism of Victoria for good reason: Frydenberg
Josh Frydenberg has responded to Daniel Andrews who took a swipe at some federal politicians the Victorian Premier said were playing politics when it comes to the state’s strict lockdown.
At the weekend, Mr Andrews told the media: “Some [politicians] are from Victoria, but not for Victoria.”
Speaking on Sky News, the Treasurer said Mr Andrew’s “doesn’t get to decide who is for Victoria.”
“That sounds like a desperate distraction from a Premier under real pressure,” Mr Frydenberg said.
“The reality is there has been a lot of legitimate criticism made of Victoria’s handling of this crisis. For example, the Victorian President of the AMA [Omar Khorshid] has said the handling of the crisis has been like watching a slow motion crisis. Is he not for Victoria?
“When you have the Former Chief Commissioner of Police in Victoria [Graham Ashton] talk about the unwarranted grab for power. Is he not for Victoria?
“When you hear one of Australia’s successful business leaders and the chairman of CSL [Brian McNamee], a medical doctor himself, talk about Daniel Andrews’ road map being a road map to misery, is he not for Victoria?
“There has been consistent sustained criticism and for good reason.”
Mr Frydenberg said Mr Andrews should have allowed small businesses to reopen in a COVID-safe way from today.
“It’s very clear that the small business groups representing millions of Victorians are very sympathetic to our calls [federal government] for them to be allowed to get back to work,” the Treasurer told Sky News.
“Quite clearly, it’s having a huge cost on the Victorian, and indeed, the national economy.”
Mr Frydenberg said the expectation is around 60 per cent of Australians on JobKeeper will be from Victoria.
“That’s billions and billions of dollars going from the federal coffers into Victoria to support as we should, and we will, Victorians through this crisis which started through those failures in hotel quarantine for which no one has taken personal responsibility in Victoria.”
READ MORE: Andrews’ ‘ring of steel’ costs more jobs each day
Imogen Reid 7.30am: ‘I couldn’t not continue to be Maguire’s friend’
New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian has insisted that after “thousands” of conversations, she had no inkling of her former partner’s alleged breaches in conduct.
Speaking this morning to 2GB’s Ben Fordham, Ms Berejiklian said she trusted Daryl Maguire and did not think it right to stop being his friend.
“From a compassionate human perspective, I thought I’ve known this guy for 15 years, he’s telling me he’s lost all of his friends and whatever else and that he was in a dark place, and from a compassionate perspective I didn’t think I could just not continue to be his friend,” Ms Berejiklian said.
Asked whether Mr Maguire thought he and Ms Berejiklian were still together up until a few months ago, she said: “Yeah, he would have been under the impression that something would have happened.”
Mr Fordham then pressed the Premier on why she did not approach ICAC in 2018 when Mr Maguire was first stood down over corruption claims.
While some of her colleagues are supportive, each day the discussions are perceptibly shifting toward the logistics of a leadership handover, and what it will take to elevate these murmurings from a stage whisper to a practical and seamless transition. https://t.co/wOAme7c4Z3
— Yoni Bashan (@yoni_bashan) October 14, 2020
“Well it’s fair to say that I always made sure that I would assist them in any way possible, but I didn’t know anything to be able to tell,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“I also had confidence in the process. They would have known all of that and they would have come to me if they needed anything, in which they did at an appropriate time.
“When you personally know someone and you’re personally close to them it doesn’t necessarily mean you know anything. From what I knew, that was a different investigation … so I didn’t even think it was relevant for me at all. It wasn’t about him, it was about something else.”
The visa scam lining Daryl Maguire’s pockets had a real impact on the country in which the rest of us live. It’s why your kids can’t afford Âto buy a house, writes Caroline Overington.https://t.co/wioDGHcIDs
— The Australian (@australian) October 16, 2020
READ MORE: Ministers fear ICAC turmoil will hurt Berejiklian’s poll hopes
Agencies 7.10am: English Premier League star infected with virus
English Premier League forward Jordan Ayew says he is “feeling fine” after missing Crystal Palace’s 1-1 draw against Brighton following a positive coronavirus test.
Ghana’s Ayew was absent from the Premier League clash at Selhurst Park and Palace boss Roy Hodgson later revealed a positive virus test was the reason.
Ayew has gone into self-isolation but insisted he was not showing any symptoms, tweeting: “Sadly I have tested positive for Covid-19 and have begun quarantine in line with the health guidance.
“Thankfully, I am feeling fine and do not have any symptoms. I will be cheering on the boys from home and look forward to being back on the pitch soon. Stay safe.” — AFP
👑 Get well soon, Jordan.#CPFC | https://t.co/utMcYSDkhb https://t.co/8ymALzi7z8
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) October 18, 2020
READ MORE: COVID-19 sparks new east-west divide
Imogen Reid 6.50am: Victoria finally begins winding back restrictions
After more than 100 days of strict lockdown, Victorians will wake up to more freedoms today as the state’s COVID-19 restrictions are relaxed.
The 5km travel bubble has been extended to 25km, while the number of people allowed to gather outdoors has been increased to 10 from two households.
The two-hour time frame for people to gather and exercise outside has also been removed, but mask-wearing and social distancing rules must be strictly adhered to.
Premier Daniel Andrews announced the revised plan for winding back coronavirus restrictions on Sunday, but claimed it was still too early to reopen the state completely.
“These changes can’t be absolutely everything everyone wants,” he said. “But they are the steps we can safely take that will make life a little bit easier.”
The new guide for easing restrictions also includes changes to sports and recreation pursuits, cultural institutions and industries, and workplaces.
Statement on further easing of restrictions in Melbourne and regional Victoria: pic.twitter.com/aGrrU3AFWO
— Dan Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) October 18, 2020
READ MORE: Lockdown city — no freedom as business waits
Imogen Reid 6.40am: Europe’s coronavirus death toll passes 250,000
More than 250,000 people have now died from COVID-19 in Europe as the number of new cases recorded in the continent overtakes India, Brazil and the US combined.
A total of 250,030 deaths have been recorded out of 7,366,028 cases, with one-third of all new infections worldwide being registered in western European countries.
In France, 29,837 new infections were recorded on Sunday after a record high of 32,427 on Saturday, pushing the total number of cases to 897,034.
Most coronavirus COVID-19 deaths:
— Universal Stats (@UniversalStats) October 18, 2020
🇺🇸 USA - 224,544
🇧🇷 Brazil - 153,730
🇮🇳 India - 114,621
🇲🇽 Mexico - 86,059
🇬🇧 UK - 43,646
🇮🇹 Italy - 36,543
🇪🇸 Spain - 33,775
🇵🇪 Peru - 33,702
🇫🇷 France - 33,477
🇮🇷 Iran - 30,375#virus #coronavirus #COVID
A further 16,982 infections were confirmed in the UK yesterday, jumping up from 16,171 registered the previous day. A total of 67 deaths within 28 days of a positive test were recorded, taking the death toll to 43,646.
Italy reported a record number of new infections over the past 24 hours, with 11,705 additional positive results. The country’s health officials said there were also 96 COVID-related deaths, a rise from the 47 the day before.
Italy daily coronavirus cases hit new record high at 11,705: health ministry https://t.co/HUg3xDyzZy pic.twitter.com/j9NEbCqHDg
— Reuters (@Reuters) October 18, 2020
Globally, there have been more than 39.8 million people infected with the virus, while the total number of COVID-19 deaths is 1,111,761.
READ MORE: The long shadow of the pandemic — 2024 and beyond
Robyn Ironside 6.30am: Regional tourism rebounds but cities still in slump
Regional areas are enjoying a welcome reversal of fortune in the COVID-19 crisis, with hotel bookings leaving those in the cities for dead.
Data from tourism research firm STR showed regional hotels had an average 46 per cent occupancy on Saturday, compared with 26 per cent for city hotels.
Forward bookings suggested the trend would continue as Australians escaped the cities at weekends and in school holidays.
However, STA Asia Pacific manager Matthew Burke said poor city hotel occupancy indicated corporate travel had not recommenced, and was unlikely to improve before the end of 2020.
Read the full story here.
Ben Wilmot, Nick Evans 5am: ‘He talks to Victorians like they’re idiots’
Business chiefs including one of Australia’s most powerful chief executives, Wesfarmers boss Rob Scott, have condemned the slow pace at which Daniel Andrews will lift Melbourne’s strict lockdown rules and say it is difficult to see a rationale for the delay.
Business Council of Australia chief executive Jennifer Westacott said the “wait and see” approach was failing Victorians and the limited easing of restrictions did not make sense, including an expansion of the 5km travel zone to 25km.
“There’s no point having a 25km travel zone if nothing is open,” Ms Westacott said. “This is an inexplicable and unacceptable delay for Victorians and small businesses who are hanging on by a day, not a week.
“There is no sound reason to continue the restrictions on business, especially with case numbers clearly on a downward trajectory.
“We urge the Victorian government to end the trade-off between a health, social and economic recovery and put in place a robust strategy that delivers on all fronts to protect lives and livelihoods.”
Council of Small Business Organisations Australia chief executive Peter Strong said the Premier had “still not presented his plan for economic recovery” and attacked his performance at his daily press conferences.
“He talks to Victorians like they’re a pack of idiots, and you aren’t,” Mr Strong told the ABC. “The government doesn’t tell Victorians what they’re doing.
“I think he’s never run a business. He thinks you turn the key and the shop opens again and everything happens. It’s not like that. And the lack of respect for the business community is profound.”
Scott Morrison has warned the lockdown for retail and hospitality businesses in Victoria will inflict a heavy toll on the economy, urging the state to “move safely and quickly towards the NSW model of strong contact tracing†so more enterprises can reopen. https://t.co/A4GMtXOedJ
— The Australian (@australian) October 18, 2020
Read the full story here.
Patrick Commins 4.45am: Economy set for a ‘beautiful recovery’
Australia’s economy over coming years will bounce back hard and fast from the COVID-19 shock, provided the health crisis remains under control, but will still be left smaller because of a much lower population.
Deloitte partner Chris Richardson said despite a devastating recession, “if things go right, and virus numbers go right, you genuinely start to get a beautiful recovery”.
Mr Richardson, who began his career at Treasury in the early 1980s, said previous recessions or downturns in Australia had been followed by times of faster growth as workers and industries left idle resumed activity.
“The point that people have not understood is we will grow really fast when we come out of this,” he said. And “the bigger the downturn, the bigger the recovery”.
The latest Business Outlook from Deloitte Access Economics says the economy will grow by 3.4 per cent on average over the next five financial years.
Nothing in #COVID19 is straightforward.
— Deloitte Access Economics (@D_AccessEcon) October 18, 2020
Confidence reached its highest level since 2018 at the same time as unemployment nudged up.
Confused? You’re not the only one.
Follow our latest #BusinessOutlook by #ChrisRichardson on Monday for an explainer of where #ausecon is headed
Deloitte forecasts that after contracting by 2.5 per cent in this financial year, real GDP growth will jump by 4.4 per cent in 2021-22, and 4.1 per cent in 2022-23, before tailing off to 2.8 per cent by the middle of the decade.
Read the full story here.
Editorial 4.30am: How COVID-19 shaped New Zealand’s election result
After winning admiration for the way she has dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic, there was little doubt Jacinda Ardern was headed for a big victory in New Zealand’s election on Saturday.
Few among even her most enthusiastic supporters, however, expected her Labour Party to win 49.1 per cent of the vote and 64 seats in the 120-member parliament. It was the party’s best result since 1946.
For the first time since then, Labour will be able to govern on its own. The expectation, however, is that to shore up support on its left flank it will again govern in a so-called progressive alliance with the Green Party.
The minor party won 7.6 per cent of the vote and will have 10 seats under the country’s electoral system. At the 2017 election Labour won 36.89 per cent of the vote and the governing centre-right National Party 44.5 per cent.
The NZ election shows us people’s respect for politicians who are genuine, compassionate, empathetic, grounded and open. Not afraid to show emotion or to take people on a shared journey, good leaders have EQ as their first and foremost strength. Congrats @jacindaardern pic.twitter.com/iN42Ew3bK6
— Jihad Dib MP (@jihaddibmp) October 17, 2020
Ms Ardern had to scramble for support, eventually winning the backing of the Greens and Winston Peters’ New Zealand First party. On Saturday the once-dominant National Party under Judith Collins, its third leader in a year, was reduced to 26.5 per cent of the vote and 35 seats.
NZ First, with 2.7 per cent, fell short of the 5 per cent threshold to win seats.
Read The Australian’s full editorial here.
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