Politics Now: Aged Care report released: 148 recommendations
Scott Morrison says it will take a ‘considerable amount of time’ to achieve the change needed to fix aged care as he welcomes ‘scathing’ report.
- ‘Generational change’ to fix aged care
- Berejiklian demands clarity on vaccine dose numbers
- ‘A Republican president will make triumphant return’
- Trump returns to political stage
- Vaccine rollout ramped up
Welcome to live coverage of politics amid the ongoing pandemic.
Scott Morrison says it will take a “considerable amount of time” to achieve the change needed to fix the aged care sector as he welcomes ‘scathing’ report. Gladys Berejiklian has urged the federal government to provide more certainty on vaccine dose numbers after the commonwealth failed to meet its vaccination target. Donald Trump suggested he will run again in 2024 in his address to CPAC.
Staff reporter 11.30pm:ABC journalists in Twitter spat
ABC journalists Paul Barry and Louise Milligan were embroiled in a Twitter spat on Monday night.
Shortly after Media Watch looked at the coverage of rape allegations in Canberra, host Barry tweeted that the show had quoted journalists Samantha Maiden and Katharine Murphy, adding Milligan had failed to reply.
Milligan fired back that she had had been busy working and appearing at literary festival, saying she had “no idea” Barry wanted a comment.
Some of the tweets in the exchange were later deleted.
Nicholas Jensen10pm:Sick ‘horrified’ by corona hotel stays
Returning travellers with serious underlying health conditions have been alarmed to find themselves housed in the same NSW quarantine hotels as people who have tested positive for COVID.
Health experts warn that NSW’s “special health accommodation” is inherently flawed, with high density and poor ventilation, and liken it to “putting the fox in the chicken coup”.
Other states such as Victoria and South Australia have establishing medi-hotels exclusively for coronavirus cases, but NSW Health argues this is unnecessary because “there are designated floors for patients who are positive, negative or pending a result”.
Adam Creighton9.20pm:Tax rate a turn-off for buy-to-rent units
Housing construction worth $6bn is at risk because of an uncompetitive tax rate on build-to-rent apartment developments, according to industry sources and the NSW government, which is urging the federal government to make foreign investment more attractive in the fledgling sector.
NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet wrote to federal Housing Minister Michael Sukkar urging the Coalition to “consider complimentary policies” to accelerate projects, a February letter obtained by The Australian shows.
“The NSW government has brought forward tax and planning reforms to support the BTR sector,” the letter said, pointing to recent 50 per cent reduction in land tax for eligible projects and exemption from foreign investor surcharges for new build-to-rent developments until 2040.
Patrick Commins8.45pm: ‘Astonishing’ borrowing binge hits $28bn
Australians are taking on new housing debt at an “astonishing” rate, committing to $28.8bn in loans in January: 11 per centmore than in December and 44 per cent more than a year before.
The borrowing binge has accompanied a surge in home prices, which jumped by 2.1 per cent in February — the sharpest monthly increase in 17 years, according to CoreLogic figures.
The cheapest loans in history and growing confidence the economy will continue its V-shaped recovery from the worst downturnin nearly 100 years has sparked Australians’ renewed appetite for debt. Nevertheless, CBA economists described the continuedsurge in new lending as “astonishing”.
Robyn Ironside8.20pm: Thousands of years’ experience flies off
More than 1100 Qantas cabin crew representing thousands of years of experience have handed in their uniforms as the airline downsizes in the lingering COVID crisis.
The huge number includes 800 long haul flight attendants, and close to 400 domestic crew members, many of whom had worked for Qantas for 25 years or more.
Although all cabin crew volunteered for redundancy, Flight Attendants Association of Australia secretary Teri O’Toole said many were devastated to be leaving a job they loved. “The nature of the job is quite unlike any other. It’s more than a career, it’s a lifestyle,” she said.
Joseph Lam7.40pm: Covid traces found in southeast Melbourne
Victorian authorities are calling on Melbourne residents who live in the city’s southeast to come forward and get tested after COVID-19 fragments were found at a waste treatment plant.
Residents of Hoppers Crossing, Tarneit and Werribee are urged to present for testing should symptoms occur after viral fragments were found on February 23.
Those who have contracted the virus may shed viral fragments for up to seven weeks after infection.
READ MORE:Miners vote to split from militant CFMEU
Do you live in, or have you recently visited, Werribee, Tarneit, or Hoppers Crossing?
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) March 1, 2021
Viral fragments of COVID-19 have been detected in local wastewater.
If you live in or have visited these areas from 23 February 2021 and have any symptoms, please get tested.
(1/3) pic.twitter.com/yDEETAB6Ph
Rebecca Urban 7.30pm: Road map plan to eliminate illiteracy
A group of education advocates has implored the Tasmanian government to commit to ambitious, measurable targets to dramatically improve literacy education across the state, amid concern that ongoing inaction is reinforcing unacceptably high illiteracy rates.
The Tasmanian #100percentliteracy Alliance, led by economist Saul Eslake, demographer Lisa Denny and previous Tasmanian of the Year recipient Rosalie Martin, has released a “Roadmap to Literacy” that aims to stamp out illiteracy by 2031.
At present, almost one in two Tasmanian adults is considered functionally illiterate, while one-quarter of Tasmanians fail to complete secondary school.
Agencies7pm: Cuomo sorry for any ‘unwanted’ flirting
New York governor Andrew Cuomo said on Monday AEDT he was “truly sorry” if his conduct had ever been “misinterpreted as an unwanted flirtation” as he faced mounting pressure over sexual harassment allegations.
Mr Cuomo has been harshly criticised, including by fellow Democrats, after former aide Charlotte Bennett told The New York Times that he sexually harassed her last year. The allegations came four days after ex-aide Lindsey Boylan described unwanted physical contact from Mr Cuomo.
He issued a statement saying that “sometimes I think I am being playful and make jokes that I think are funny... I mean no offence and only attempt to add some levity and banter to what is a very serious business”.
Agencies 6.20pm:Looting follows death of PNG ex-PM
Papua New Guinea security services have called for calm, as incidents of rioting and looting followed the death of a beloved former prime minister.
Police Minister William Onglo warned officers would “step in to fully restore order” after disturbances in Port Moresby and the second city of Lae on Monday.
Several stores were reportedly ransacked during a national day of mourning for the country’s first prime minister and “father of the nation” Sir Michael Somare, who died of pancreatic cancer on Friday.
“Rioting is never our Melanesian way to show respect,” Mr Onglo said.
Somare’s daughter Dulciana decried reports of “looting and property being destroyed”, urging compatriots to follow her father’s “composure and gentle ways”.
“My darling Dadda we are not ready for a Papua New Guinea without you in it,” she said.
Known across the country simply as “The Chief”, Somare led Papua New Guinea at independence from Australia in 1975 and was prime minister for a total of 17 years, during three separate terms.
A national holiday had been declared to commemorate his passing, forcing businesses to close.
In one instance in Lae, an Asian-owned store appeared to have been specifically targeted.
Local media showed footage of dozens of people, including children, running from the store carrying snacks and bottles of fizzy drinks.
Several Asian-owned stores were raided last year, seemingly in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Police Commissioner David Manning had warned against unrest on Friday, saying officers “throughout the country will be out in full force to ensure that opportunists do not take this sad day in our history to create fear and panic”.
READ MORE:Labor underestimates the PM: Fitzgibbon
Ewin Hannan 5.35pm:Miners vote to split from CFMEU
The CFMEU’s mining and energy division has resolved to split from the militant union, declaring it had been overtaken by “macho posturing and chest beating”, and never been less respected or more isolated within the union movement and community.
About 300 national convention delegates representing workers from mines, power stations and coal ports across Australia voted unanimously to apply to the Fair Work Commission to withdraw from the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union.
In a statement and resolution endorsed on Monday, the mining division delegates said the structure of the amalgamated union “once served us well, but that ceased to be the case some time ago”.
“The ruthless use of raw numbers against the smaller divisions; the disrespect and disregard shown to the views of mining and energy workers; and the public undermining of our former national secretary (Michael O’Connor) to settle a personal score, is simply intolerable,” the delegates said.
“It is clear that there is no longer a place of equality and dignity for the mining and energy division within the amalgamated union.”
They said the union had no time for self-indulgence or internal disputation, and “we have no interest in the petty political fights happening in distant capital cities”. “We deplore and condemn those who would use the union to settle personal vendettas,” they said.
Joseph Lam4.50pm:Treasurer missing in action, says Queensland Premier
Annastacia Palaszczuk has accused Josh Frydenberg of being missing in action as the Australian government proceeds with plans to end the JobKeeper payment.
The Queensland Premier on Monday accused the Treasurer of being out of touch with the tourism industry and not giving Queensland a “fair go”.
The Federal Treasurer’s failure to extend JobKeeper proves what most of us have known for a long time – Queensland is not getting a fair go from Canberra.
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) March 1, 2021
I have a simple message for Josh Frydenberg. It’s not too late – extend JobKeeper. pic.twitter.com/6KCEWPdLer
“The Treasurer is missing in action,” Ms Palaszczuk wrote in a post on social media.
“He continues to avoid Queensland and avoid commenting on this issue because he knows it will cost the people of this state dearly.”
Ms Palaszczuk called on Mr Frydenberg to meet with tourism operators ahead of JobKeeper cuts on March 28.
“The Federal Treasurer’s failure to extend JobKeeper proves what most of us have known for a long time – Queensland is not getting a fair go from Canberra,” she said.
“I have a simple message for Josh Frydenberg. It’s not too late – extend JobKeeper.”
Joseph Lam 4.30pm: SA records 3 new cases in medi-hotel
South Australia has recorded three new cases of COVID-19 bringing the state’s total since the beginning of the pandemic to 616. All the new cases were in a medi-hotel
South Australian COVID-19 update 1/3/21. For more information, go to https://t.co/mYnZsGpayo or contact the South Australian COVID-19 Information Line on 1800 253 787. pic.twitter.com/OCHeoSH9IZ
— SA Health (@SAHealth) March 1, 2021
The three new cases recorded were found among the 1808 tests undertaken in the past 24 hours to 8pm.
South Australia has administered a further 149 COVID-19 vaccinations which brings the state’s total vaccination count to 1630.
Joseh Lam4.25pm:ACT records no new cases
The Australian Capital Territory has recorded no new cases of COVID-19 after recording 285 tests in the past 24 hours to 8pm.
ACT COVID-19 update (1 March 2021)
— ACT Health (@ACTHealth) March 1, 2021
â–ªï¸ Cases today: 0
â–ªï¸ Active cases: 0
â–ªï¸ Total cases: 118
â–ªï¸ Recovered: 115
â–ªï¸ Lives lost: 3
â–ªï¸ Test results (past 24 hours): 286
â–ªï¸ Negative tests: 171,965
â–ªï¸ Total COVID-19 vaccinations: 980
â„¹ï¸ https://t.co/2rCcWD2tENpic.twitter.com/zRXfnJy4mF
The state has vaccinated 980 people since the rollout began on Friday.
Olivia Caisley4.20pm:HSU ‘dismayed at lack of ambition’ to fix sector
The Health Services Union says it is “dismayed” by the Morrison government’s “lack of ambition” to fix the embattled aged care sector, declaring its proposed $452m package to address the royal commission’s recommendations fail to address structural problems such as funding and lack of workers.
Health Services Union President, Gerard Hayes, on Monday said Scott Morrison’s response was “tinkering rather than transformation.”
“The Government is promising a more substantive package at the Federal Budget, but yet again the can gets kicked down the road,” he said.
“Two major reforms are needed to fix this sector. We need a substantial increase in the size of the workforce and we need to pay them more so they stay in the industry.”
“We also need a sustainable funding model. Economic research we commissioned for the Royal Commission shows we could fund a pay rise, an additional 59,000 aged care jobs and close to 90 minutes of additional resident care per day, through a 0.65 per cent increase in the Medicare levy.”
READ MORE:Fix is in for ‘broken’ sector
Stephen Lunn4.15pm: Commissioners’ split muddies hopes for reform
Hopes the aged care royal commission would offer the government a clear, unambiguous blueprint for reform of the sector to end the neglect of older Australians have been dashed by the final report.
The two commissioners, Lynelle Briggs and Tony Pagone, agree the aged care system is in dire need of reform, but have come to starkly different conclusions on how to govern, regulate and fund care, all critical elements in any future aged care system.
In doing so, they risk consigning their report to the same fate as so many other inquiries into the aged care system, documents full of good ideas that remain unfulfilled by the government of the day.
Both commissioners say they accept the need for fundamental reform of aged care, a system described by Commissioner Briggs as “broken”.
Both say improving safety and quality of care for hundreds of thousands of older Australians currently in the system and the millions of those who will need care in the future is their priority.
And indeed many of the 148 recommendations in their final report are shared, including the need for an entirely new aged care act that enshrines the right to quality and safety of care.
READ the full story
Stephen Lunn 4.00pm: Aged care system ‘besieged by neglect’
The aged care system is “besieged by neglect”, the aged care royal commission has concluded, but the two commissioners are divided on the best model to regulate and fund the sector.
The two year royal commission’s final report lists 148 recommendations for change to a sector beset with difficulties over the recent decade, outlining a five-year road map for change.
Commissioner Tony Pagone said he and co-commissioner Lynelle Briggs agree about the many flaws in the aged care system, and on many, but not all, of the solutions.
“We agree that fundamental reform to the Australian aged care system is required, but we differ sharply in our opinion on certain aspects of the arrangements necessary to give effect to our common purpose of the new aged care system,” Mr Pagone said.
Mr Pagone said he favours a new Aged Care Commission that would operate independently of the government to regulate the sector, deal with quality and safety issues, and control funding.
But Ms Briggs favours a “government leadership” model, where government agencies continue to have oversight of these matters.
READ the full story
Olivia Caisley 3.50pm:AWU: No confidence older Aussies will see reforms
The United Workers Union has said it has no confidence that older Australians and frontline aged care workers will ever see the benefits of reforms and promised funding, accusing Scott Morrison of a “shallow marketing exercise” in his response to the landmark final report.
UWU aged care director, Carolyn Smith, on Tuesday said that the Prime Minister’s reaction to the Aged Care Royal Commission had “all the hallmarks of its general failure to take responsibility for older Australians in aged care.”
“The response so far is hasty and poorly-thought-through, with the heavy lifting pushed off to the Federal Budget,” she said.
“Older Australians, their families and aged care workers deserve better than a shallow marketing exercise after the Royal Commission exposed how the aged care system left older Australians without the safety and care they deserve.”
While the union welcomed calls to spend money on reducing the numbers of those waiting for home care, the proposed investment needs to be matched by a plan that recognises the need to hire and train thousands of workers.
“In submissions to the Royal Commission, employers estimate at least 16,000 aged care workers will be needed to clear the waiting list of 100,000,” she said. “Given this government’s track record of aged care bungles, it is highly likely older Australians will continue to die waiting for places if this recommendation is accepted.”
READ MORE:Experience with my mum opened my eyes
Olivia Caisley 3.00pm: Albanese blames ‘chaotic’ system on Morrison goverment
Labor has questioned whether Scott Morrison can be trusted to fix the aged care crisis when his government was “asleep at the wheel” during last year’s coronavirus outbreak that claimed the lives of nearly 700 elderly Australians.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese and his colleague, opposition aged care services spokeswoman Clare O’Neill, seized on the final report of the aged care royal commission to call out the “chaotic, unsafe system” they say has evolved under the Prime Minister.
“Older Australians built this country. They and the families who love them deserve so much better than the chaotic, unsafe system that has evolved under Scott Morrison,” they said in a joint statement.
“Aged care workers want to provide quality care for their residents, but they are exhausted, undervalued and stretched to their limit and as we saw during the pandemic, they lack the resources they need to take care of vulnerable older Australians.”
They used the findings to make a fresh election pitch.
“If you are an older Australian who wants safe and compassionate treatment in aged care; if you want to know your parents and grandparents are safe and properly cared for in our aged care system; if you are an aged care worker wanting adequate resources to look after older Australians in your care, Labor is on your side.”
Olivia Caisley2.55pm: ACSA CEO: Complete overhaul needed
Aged Care and Community Services Australia CEO Patricia Sparrow has said it is disappointing the royal commission’s recommendations were not unanimous, but said the split was not an excuse to delay major reform of the sector.
She said that while ACSA welcomed the Morrison government’s immediate rollout of $452.2m as a “starting point for reform”, a complete overhaul was necessary.
“There is no split on the need for a total overhaul that means providers are resourced to employ more staff and deliver more care and support,” Ms Sparrow said. “This cannot be used as an excuse to not progress major reforms.”
She said “big problems” had been raised by the report and it was now time for “big solutions.”
“There is a lot of work that the industry can get on with in order to deliver better aged care to Australia, but without increased support from government and community we won’t see the kind of system older people deserve.”
Adeshola Ore2.50pm: PM: Minister 'categorically denies’ rape claim
Scott Morrison says a cabinet minister in his government facing a historic allegation of rape from 1988 “categorically denies” the allegation.
Mr Morrison said he spoke to the accused minister last week when the ABC reported that Australian Federal Police had been notified of an anonymous letter sent to Mr Morrison and other federal parliamentarians which detailed an alleged historic rape in 1988 by a man who is now a cabinet minister in the government.
“I had a discussion with the individual as I said, who absolutely rejects these allegations,” Mr Morrison said on Monday.
Cabinet ministers in the Morrison government said their colleague at the centre of the allegations is entitled to the presumption of innocence, as the Prime Minister faces increasing pressure to investigate the claim and launch an independent investigation.
Green senator Sarah Hanson-Young, who was also a recipient of the letter, urged Mr Morrison to appoint an independent reviewer to investigate the allegation. She said the accused minister should step down while the independent investigation is conducted.
READ MORE: ‘Let police deal with minister rape claim’
Olivia Caisley 2.40pm:Commissioners give conflicting recommendations
Scott Morrison says the government will exercise its “considered judgment” after two commissioners gave conflicting recommendations on how the sector should be reformed and funded.
It comes after The Australian revealed the final report contains contrasting recommendations for a new model that would mean either higher taxes or greater-user pay contributions to fix funding shortfalls, multiple sources said.
“We will work with the sector,” the Prime Minister said. “The fact the commissioners have come to different views I think highlights the complexity of this problem. This is my trust of the Australian people. Our issues that we have to deal with are very complex and difficult in government. I don’t think Australians think this is easy to fix. If it was, then someone would have done it a long time ago. I can tell you, plenty of people have tried in the past and they haven’t succeeded. And they’ve done it with the best of intentions.”
READ MORE: Aged care system ‘besieged by neglect’
Olivia Caisley2.30pm:Report ‘watershed moment’ for older people
The Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) has welcomed the Royal Commission into Aged Care’s final report, declaring it a “watershed moment” that will see older people being placed at the centre of the transformation process.
OPAN CEO, Craig Gear, on Tuesday said that the aged care system in its current iteration was not rights based and did not have the structures and resources in place to ensure the rights of older Australians were respected and protected.
“A lack of capacity and lack of intent by many aged care providers to implement the Charter of Aged Care Rights in practice is a reflection of the deficits in the current system,” he said.
“This is a watershed moment, which must result in older people being placed at the centre of the aged care transformation process. OPAN will continue to support older people and work alongside the government and the aged care sector to make this happen.
“Older people must be actively engaged in this transformation through co-design to re-shape the aged care system to place vulnerable older people and older people with diverse characteristics and life experiences at its core”.
Olivia Caisley 2.20pm:PM: System to transform so it works for individual
Scott Morrison says his government will do what none of his predecessors in the last 30 years have achieved by transforming the aged care sector from a provider-focussed system to one that “works for the individual.”
The Prime Minister said that the landmark commission’s final report is as shocking as he feared it would be, but he was committed to addressing the issues raised.
“The road map that it sets out to deal with fundamentally seeks a shift from a constrained system that focused on funding to providers to a needs-based system that puts the person at the centre,” he says. “That is the change.”
“No government has done that in the last 30 years and that is what the royal commission has found and, as a result, it requires some very significant change.”
“...I’m absolutely committing to taking this report and addressing the issues that are raised in this report and finding the best ways to achieve that. That’s what I’ve said. It won’t be easy. It will test everything in our Budget to everything else.”
Mr Morrison said that the aged care system needed to be brought into line with the nation’s health system.
“In our country we have a needs-based system of healthcare. In our country we don’t have a needs-based system of aged care. No government has done that ever and the result of that is what we read in this report today... That’s why I say that generational change is now required.”
Ellie Dudley2.15pm: More than 10,000 elderly Aussies vaccinated
Health minister Greg Hunt today announced more than 10,000 elderly Australians have now been vaccinated, as Australia records the 31st day this year of no community transmitted COVID-19.
“That’s 31 days this year and no lives lost in 2021. An almost unthinkable collective national achievement,” he said.
“In terms of the rollout, we have now passed 10,070 seniors as of last night who have been vaccinated.
“Another 20 facilities to be done at least today, which will take us to well over 150 facilities and nationally over 33,700 Australians who were vaccinated ... with the numbers to significantly step up during the course of this week.”
Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services Richard Colbeck referenced a report into the handling of COVID-19 among the aged care sector, which he said “put the Government on notice, put the aged care sector on notice and put the community on notice.”
“Minister Hunt has indicated that we’ve made a number of initial response measures today just in the same way that we’ve responded to the interim report and, particularly, the COVID report, to improve the way that the system operates, and each of those responses has had an eye toward where we might go in the design of the final system,” he said.
Olivia Caisley2.10pm:Additional 1500 audits of aged care per year
Health Minister Greg Hunt says the Morrison government will complete an additional 1500 audits of aged care facilities per year under Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner Janet Anderson.
Regulation will also be introduced to ensure that elderly Australians are further protected against chemical and physical restraint.
“We will appoint a new senior restraint leader within the commission and we will extend the pharmacy program within the commission and under the department to 2025,” he said.
Mr Hunt says that an additional 18,000 aged care workers will be trained to increase the capacity of the system and “lift numbers, lift the places we offer” in what will be a “critical step forward.”
He says the government will respond in full to the royal commission by May 31 as requested.
“We will begin a governance training and funding program for, we expect, 3,700 senior leaders across boards and senior executives,” he said. “We will put in place a new Aged Care Act and that will be a significant process but it’s based on a simple concept of respect for the individual.”
He says that these changes will transform the equation from being about providers and money to being focused on “respect for individual needs” - which will underpin the sector’s transformation.
Olivia Caisley 2.05pm:PM: Generational change needed to fix aged care
Scott Morrison flags that it could take a “considerable amount of time” to achieve the change needed to fix the aged care sector, which had previously been described as “broken” by commissioners.
He says the Aged Care Royal Commission has set out a 5-year timeframe to carry out those measures.
“Generational change is needed,” the Prime Minister said. “I thank the commissioners because they’re honest because they know there are no easy fixes. They themselves couldn’t agree on some fairly significant issues.”
“So they’ve honestly provided their different perspectives on that and I welcome that and we will consider those perspectives...This will take time. It will take quite considerable time to achieve the scale of change that we want to and need to.”
“The commissioner sets out a 5-year timeframe for the measures that are set out in their report and we must also take care in how we do this.”
Olivia Caisley2.00pm: How extra funding will be spent
Moments before the press conference Scott Morrison announced that his government would immediately roll-out $452.2m in funding to address the major concerns of the landmark royal commission into the sector.
And just minutes before the PM, Hunt and Colbeck are due to speak no less.... https://t.co/qbz6gmKtYW
— Olivia Caisley (@livcaisley) March 1, 2021
Of this, $91.8m will be spent on growing a skilled aged care workforce to provide quality home care and residential aged care services, $32m will be spent on strengthening provider quality and standards and $18.4m will be spent on home care packages.
Temporary financial support for residential care will receive an $189.9 million boost and $30.1m will go towards improving provider quality and developing a new Aged Care Act.
Olivia Caisley 1.55pm: PM welcomes ‘scathing, honest’ report
Scott Morrison has welcomed the “scathing, honest, passionate and ambitious” final report from the aged care royal commission as he calls for “generational change” and a form of care that respects the dignity of elderly Australians.
Speaking from Kirribilli House in Sydney on Monday, the Prime Minister said that “despite the best efforts of governments over many years” and increases to funding the standard of aged care had not been up to scratch.
“What they’ve said is the basic paradigm needs to change. And I agree,” Mr Morrison said.
“We need to make generational change so that the individualised needs and needs-based care is developed that respects the dignity of the individual Australian. The values, the rights, the needs. This is what must drive the system of the individual.”
He says that in calling the commission he wanted to know what the quality and standard of care was being provided to his fellow Australians.
“And so we called that royal commission and I warned the country we should brace for impact and be prepared for what would follow and it has been a harrowing process.”
Ellie Dudley 1.50pm:Aged Care report released
The final report of the Aged Care Royal Commission has been released, minutes before the Prime Minister, the Health Minister and the Aged Care Ministerstood up at a press conference.
The document contains a total of 148 recommendations for the sector, to remedy the “many flaws” in the system.
“There are, no doubt, some instances of wrongful or inappropriate behaviour, but the system as a whole is a product of different elements frequently acting as expected and intended, but not producing the best outcomes for those in need,” Gaetano Pagone, Chair of the Commission said in its opening statement.
He said that while many of the observations were made jointly by himself and Commissioner Ms Lynelle Briggs AO, in some instances they made differing recommendations.
Olivia Caisley1.45am:Extra $452m to fix ‘broken’ aged care system
The Morrison government will spend a further $452m to help fix the nation’s “broken” aged care system and address the immediate findings of the royal commission into the sector.
Health and Aged Care Minister Greg Hunt on Monday said the money would build upon the $537 million package, announced in November last year, in response to the Interim Report, that focussed on more home care packages, reducing the number of young people living in residential aged care, and improving medication management.
“As part of the Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic in aged care $1.8 billion was committed last year, including a $132 million package in November 2020,” he said.
“This funding is increasing access to mental health support and allied health services for aged care residents, and has provided significant additional financial support to improve infection prevention and control and workforce capability in aged care facilities during the pandemic.”
He said the government’s response to the landmark commission would be driven by “respect and care” and would focus on home care, residential aged care quality and safety, residential aged care services and sustainability, workforce and governance.
READ MORE:Hope for older generations
Ellie Dudley 1.35pm:Palaszczuk: Ridiculous for NSW to send us bill
Annastacia Palaszczuk has taken aim at NSW authorities for their request her state pay hotel quarantine bills for Queenslanders who quarantined in the southern state.
“I think it’s absolutely ridiculous for New South Wales to be sending us a bill,” she said. “We obviously are doing quarantine for some of their residents and not charging them. This is normal work that we’ve been doing.”
She added that the Queensland authorities are still waiting for an answer from Prime Minister Scott Morrison on whether he will allow flights into Toowoomba to make way for a regional quarantine hub.
READ MORE:‘Lift iso capacity to help migration’
Russell Gould1.30pm:Aus will play first T20 games in empty stadiums
The Australian T20 squad discussed boycotting locked-down Auckland for the fourth clash with New Zealand even before it was moved, with the remaining three games now all to be played in Wellington.
On Monday, New Zealand Cricket shifted the fifth and final match of the series, scheduled for Sunday afternoon, from Tauranga to Wellington.
And all three remaining matches will be played behind closed doors due to Auckland’s COVID-19 outbreak after packed houses for the opening two games.
They had already moved Thursday‘s game four to Wellington from Auckland, which is in a second coronavirus lockdown in a month.
All three remaining #NZvAUS T20s will be played in Wellington.https://t.co/KszLeuT3sK
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 1, 2021
Australian spinner Ashton Agar said the players were considering a boycott of the proposed Eden Park match before it was shifted and were resigned to the new reality of playing in empty stadiums.
“They‘ve made sure that they’ve looked after the players’ mental and physical wellbeing and come to the right decision,” he said.
“COVID moves so quickly and we have to move with that.”
But the new situation in New Zealand could also create more issues at the end of the series.
READ the full story
Adeshola Ore1.05pm: ‘Let police deal with minister rape claim’
Cabinet ministers in the Morrison government say their colleague accused of a historic rape in 1988 is entitled to the presumption of innocence, as the Prime Minister faces increasing pressure to investigate the claim and launch an independent investigation.
On Monday, Liberal frontbenchers called for the proper legal process to be followed, after it was revealed the Australian Federal Police had been notified of an anonymous letter sent to Mr Morrison and other federal parliamentarians which detailed an alleged historic rape in 1988 by a cabinet minister in the government.
Last week, the ABC reported the letter demanded Mr Morrison established an independent inquiry into the alleged rape which occurred before the accused man entered politics. Friends of the complaint have told The Australian the woman who was allegedly raped had requested the ABC not to broadcast the claims.
The alleged victim made a report to NSW Police early last year, but died by suicide in June. Hours before her suicide, the woman told police she no longer wanted to proceed with the investigation.
Josh Frydenberg said the matter was in the hands of federal police who were the “best people” to deal with the allegation.
“We in Australia adhere to the rule of law. The rule of law means there is a presumption of innocence,” the Treasurer said.
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Ellie Dudley12.45am: Palaszczuk: I take integrity seriously
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has snapped at reporters asking about allegations of wrongdoing, after last week revealing she discussed a job applicant’s political ideology with him before he was hired as a public servant.
“I had a private email account and the emails in question have been through the RTI (Right to Information) process and they’ve all been retained,” she said at a press conference on Monday.
She was quick to dismiss further questions from reporters, as they pushed her for further explanation of the contents of the emails.
“If you have an allegation, put it to me,” she said.
“It has been through all of the processes, so what is your allegation?”
“I take my integrity very seriously.”
Monday 1 March – coronavirus cases in Queensland:
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) February 28, 2021
• 0 new locally acquired
• 2 overseas acquired
• 11 active cases
• 1,331 total cases
• 1,957,026 tests conducted
Sadly, six Queenslanders with COVID-19 have died. 1,313 patients have recovered.#covid19pic.twitter.com/H5o4yuDfFK
It is understood the emails sent from two private accounts to Transport Minister Mark Bailey - also using a private address - were about the political leaning of former director-general of energy and water Paul Simshauser before he was appointed in 2015.
Queensland has recorded no new cases of locally transmitted COVID-19, and two in hotel quarantine.
Ms Palaszczuk said it was “great news” but urged Queenslanders to stay vigilant and come forward for testing if symptoms arise.
The vaccine roll out in the state will also continue this week, with an aim to vaccinate 3000 frontline workers by Sunday.
Ms Palaszczuk also announced three more vaccination hubs will be opened at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Sunshine Coast and Townsville.
“I know everyone’s getting excited and we’ll keep you updated every week,” she said. “Our priority at the moment is on our frontline workers.”
READ MORE:Shift to the regions ‘just a sugar hit’
Ellie Dudley12.30pm: NZ records no new local cases
New Zealand has recorded no new cases of locally transmitted COVID-19 today, after a community case was reported late last night.
Last night’s case, named Case O, has been linked to Auckland’s February cluster and was already in quarantine.
“This person is being referred to as Case O and is a household contact of Cases I, J, K and L,” the NZ health ministry said in a statement.
“Case O was transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility on February 23 as a precautionary measure.
“The person became symptomatic yesterday and returned a positive COVID-19 test this afternoon. This means that Case O has been in quarantine for their infectious period.
“As a result of the early precautionary measures carried out to contain potential COVID-19 spread from this household there are no new locations of interest and no risk to members of the public.
“Whole genome sequencing will be carried out to confirm a link between Case O and the other cases in the cluster.”
Level 3 restrictions were placed on Auckland for a full week from early yesterday, with the rest of New Zealand in Level 2 after the 21-year-old MIT student - known as Case M - visited various public locations before testing positive.
As Case O has been in isolation during their infectious period, NZ health officials have said there are no new associated locations of interest and no risk to members of the public.
Today, there was also one case recorded in managed isolation.
READ MORE:Lockdown locks out fans
Ellie Dudley11.50am:Foley: More transparency on vaccine storage error
Victorian health minister Martin Foley has called for more transparency from the federal government in regards to the incident where 25 vials of the Pfizer vaccine had to be thrown out after a possible storage error at an aged care facility in Melbourne.
“We were quite disturbed to hear that there had been cold chain breaches that saw this very precious Pfizer vaccine essentially wasted,” he said.
“We’ve today sought meetings with the Commonwealth and Aspen Medical to go through the situation with them and understand their concerns.
“We’ll be asking the Commonwealth Government to be more transparent and provide more information, so that people like Dr Mahony and his team can safely distribute all the available vaccinations into as many people as we possibly can, to get us to recovery.
“We just think there’s a bit of a need for the Commonwealth to share more information, to be a bit more transparent, and make sure that the program that they’ve asked all states, all communities, all GPs and pharmacies to be a part of, can be delivered safely.”
Mr Foley confirmed more than 4000 people have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in Victoria so far.
READ MORE:Regional aviation boom takes flight
Ellie Dudley11.17am:NSW ‘ready, willing to step up on vaccines’: Premier
Premier Gladys Berejikilian has said New South Wales has a greater capacity than expected to roll out the vaccine, and said the state is ready to assist the federal government where needed.
“We’re suggesting that if there’s any stumbling blocks to what the federal government is planning. NSW is ready and willing to step up,” she said.
Speaking from Westmead Hospital in Sydney’s west, Ms Berejiklian said the hospital could be doing “double” the number of vaccinations they’re currently administering.
At the moment, 48 people per hour are being vaccinated on the premises.
Today, NSW recorded no new cases of community transmitted COVID-19 for the 43rd day in a row.
Three new cases were acquired overseas.
WATCH: Dr Christine Selvey provides a #COVID19 update for Monday 1 March 2021. pic.twitter.com/rRCSyBGarh
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) March 1, 2021
A total of 10,652 tests were conducted over the past 24 hours to 8pm last night.
Ms Berejiklian has also called on the federal government to outline how many doses the states will be receiving, to assist them in preparing for the roll out.
“It’s important for us to be able to plan, and that’s why I’m keen to know exactly how many doses NSW will receive,” she said.
“We do have the capacity to provide more vaccinations to our citizens than what we anticipated, we just need to know how many doses we have so we can make that happen.”
READ MORE:‘Lift iso capacity to restart migration’
Adeshola Ore11.09am:Frydenberg responds cabinet minister rape allegation
Josh Frydenberg says the cabinet minister accused of a historic rape is entitled to the presumption of innocence, as the Morrison government faces pressure to investigate the claim.
On Sunday, former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull said a coronial inquiry should be established into the death of the woman who claimed she was raped in 1988 by a man who is a federal minister.
“It is with the federal police and they are the appropriate authorities,” the Treasurer said.
“We in Australia adhere to the rule of law. The rule of law means there is a presumption of innocence,” he said.
On Monday morning, Greens senator Sarah Hanson Young has called on Scott Morrison to appoint an independent reviewer to investigate the allegation of rape.
READ MORE:ABC ignored plea from family
Adeshola Ore10.50am:Berejiklian calls for clarity on vaccine dose numbers
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has urged the federal government to provide more certainty on COVID jab dose numbers, after the commonwealth failed to meet its vaccination target during the first week of the rollout.
On Sunday, the federal government confirmed 300,000 doses of the AstraZeneca jab arrived at Sydney airport. The latest vaccine data showed the government missed its goal to administer 60,000 doses by the end of February after only 30,000 Australians were innoculated last week.
“We’d like some certainly. We have been given a rough idea. Beyond week 4, we are waiting for that information,” Ms Berejiklian said on Monday.
“We need to know exactly what those doses will be so that we can invite people to come and get the vaccine because obviously at the moment the online booking system we have been running relies on us advising people that they can get the vaccine.”
Australia’s rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine will begin early next week, contingent on the shipment passing batch testing by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
READ MORE: Young Aussies doing it rough on all fronts
Ellie Dudley 10.30am: ‘A Republican president will make a triumphant return’
In the closing moments of his speech, Mr Trump vowed that the Republican party would “persist and prevail” in the coming years.
“The path ahead will not be easy, but we will win, we always win,” he said.
“We will take back the House, we will win the Senate, and then a Republican president will make a triumphant return to the White House.”
In one final hint that he might run for the presidency again, Mr Trump added: “I wonder who that will be? “Who, who, who will that be, I wonder?”
He said he was “supremely confident” for the future. “Standing before you I am supremely confident that for our movement, for our party and for our country, our brightest days are just ahead,” he said.
“Together we will make American stronger and greater than it has been before.”
Anne Barrowclough10.20am:‘We have to have victory’
We’re back to the election, with Donald Trump asking “How the hell is it possible that I lost? Republicans came out to vote for me.”
“We got more votes than any incumbent president in the history of our country – almost 75 million votes,” he said.
“And that doesn’t include the votes and ballots they threw out.”
He claimed that his campaigning led to “huge gains” in the House and kept many Republicans in the Senate.
“The Democrats failed to flip a single state legislature,” he claimed.
He also said the Republican party almost “cost ‘crazy Nancy’ her job” referring to the Democratic speaker of the house Nancy Pelosi.
He called on the crowd to support him, insisting: “We will win.”
“We have to have triumph, we have to have victory,” he said.
Ellie Dudley10.15am:Trump calls for greater regulation of big teach
Donald Trump has called for greater regulation for big tech, after he was removed from Twitter shortly after the January storming of the US Capitol.
Mr Trump, who was banned from Twitter for violating the community guidelines of the platform, said if the Federal government “refuses to act” then every Republican state “of which there are many” should “punish” big tech with “major sanctions” whenever they “silence conservative voices.”
He said Texas was already “doing this.”
Anne Barrowclough10.10am:‘I’ll work to elect tough Republican leaders’
Donald Trump has called for revenge on Republicans who voted to impeach him and said he would work to elect “strong, tough” Republican leaders. He said he was looking for “Republican leaders who are loyal to the voters” and follow the “plan” he had laid out for the US.
Now Trump reads a list of @GOP lawmakers whom he opposes, ending with @RepLizCheney, saying "hopefully they'll get rid of her with the next election. Get rid of them all."
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) February 28, 2021
Mr Trump said RINOs (Republicans in Name Only) would destroy the party unless they were stopped. “But the Republican Party is united,” he said. “The only division is between a handful of Washington political hacks and the rest of the country.”
Ellie Dudley10.05am:Trump demands election reform
Donald Trump has outlined a series of steps for election reform that “must” be instituted to ensure American elections are “fair, honest and accurate.”
Firstly, he said there should be one election day “not 45, 30.”
He said there should be a “legitimate” reason for people to vote absentee, and that the country should eliminate the “insanity” of masks and mail-in voting
Mr Trump also called for voter ID and universal signatory matching, describing voting as “our most sacred institution”
He claimed the swing state of Pennsylvania had “hundreds and thousands” more votes that they had people voting, asking the crowd “What’s that all about?”
The crowd responded by yelling “cheaters!”
Ellie Dudley10.00am: Trump repeats false election claims
Doald Trump has called for “election integrity and election reform” saying that without honest elections, Americans could not have “confidence.”
“Another one of the most urgent issues facing the Republican Party is that of securing fair, honest and secure elections,” he said, to loud cheers from the crowd. “Such a disgrace, such a disgrace, such a disgrace.”
"You won. You won. You won," chants #CPAC2021 crowd.
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) February 28, 2021
“We must pass comprehensive election reforms, and we must do it now.”
He claimed the Democrats used the “China virus” to “change all the election rules” without first seeking the approval of state regulators, making it “illegal.”
“You have to go to the regulator to make those changes,” he said.
“The numbers are staggering, we can never let this or other abuses of the 2020 election happen again.”
“This election was rigged, and the Supreme Court and other courts didn’t want to do anything about it.”
Ellie Dudley9.50am:‘We teach the truth about history’
Continuing with his theme of love, Mr Trump spoke of the “great respect” the GOP has for the “American flag.”
“We take great pride in our country, we teach the truth about history, we celebrate our rich heritage,” he said.
He said he was “incredibly proud” that the crowd would chant that they loved him, as he listed the values the Republican Party stands for.
“We strongly oppose the radical indoctrination of America’s youth.
“We reject left wing lunacy – and in particular we reject cancel culture.
“We don’t defund the police.
“We believe in shutting down China … Bringing back our supply chains … Ensuring America – not China – dominates the future of the world,” he said.
Ellie Dudley9.45am:‘Republican party becoming party of love’
Donald Trump has claimed the Republican party is becoming “a party of love,” as he once more repeated his false claim that he had won the 2020 election.
Mr Trump said the party was based on love for America as he highlighted the “task” for the “movement” to “stand up to this destructive agenda” of the Democrats.
“We won the election twice, I mean, think about it,” he said.
“Republicans believe that the deeds of every citizen must come first. In fact, Americans must come first. They (the Democrats) don’t put it first.”
Mr Trump also said he “delivered for Americans of every background more than ever before”, singling out the work of his administration to support an “incredible” economic comeback.
“Our stock market, and your 401Ks are at record levels – higher than ever before, actually,” he said.
The crowd chanted “we love you,” in response.
Ellie Dudley9.40am:‘We’ll head to energy disaster’
Mr Trump has criticised the Biden administration’s decision to re-enter the Paris climate accord “without negotiating a better deal.”
“If the Democrats have their way we will head from energy dominance to energy disaster,” he said, linking, wrongly, the Texas power outage on windmills.
“What good does it do when we’re clean, but China’s not and Russia’s not and India’s not?” he asked.
He also bragged about numerous calls he received when president to rejoin the global climate agreement.
Ellie Dudley9.30am: Trump slams Biden over Iran sanctions
Donald Trump has slammed Joe Biden for lifting sanctions on Iran, and failing to negotiate a better deal.
The new administration “withdrew our crippling sanctions on Iran … for nothing,” he said.
“I will tell you something, and I said it, had we had a fair election, the results would have been much different, and we would have had a deal with Iran within the first week,” he said.
Mr Trump also claimed his administration had “virtually ended the endless wars” of the Middle East.
“Not one American soldier has been killed in Afghanistan in over a year, not one,” he said.
Anne Barrowclough9.25am:Trump takes credit for vaccine plan
Donald Trump has taken credit for the vaccination of Americans, saying Mr Biden “is only implementing the plan we put in place.”
He said the ”warp speed” vaccine program was a “modern day miracle” but said it was because of his administration’s efficiency and the way he pushed the FDA.
“I pushed the FDA like they have never been pushed before,” he said. “I didn’t like them at all, but once we got it done I said ‘I now love you very much.’”
He added: “The Trump administration has saved large portions of the world, not only our country.”
He said of the Democrats: “Never let them take the credit. Never let them forget this was us,
and the distribution is moving along according to our plan.”
The US has delivered 20 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, and has approved three different suppliers, most recently the single-dose Johnson & Johnson jab.
Ellie Dudley9.20am: ‘Get the schools open now’
Mr Trump has condemned Mr Biden’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, specifically the decision to keep American children home from school.
"Joe Biden sold out America's children to the teachers' unions," according to @POTUS45. "His position is morally inexcusable" by cruelly keeping "children locked in their homes." pic.twitter.com/qjDqcrm3qA
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) February 28, 2021
Describing Mr Biden’s “callous indifference to working families” he said it was most clear “when it comes to the issue of getting America’s children back to school.
“They must get back, and get back right now,” he said.
“They’re going to grow up and they’re going to have a scar.”
“Get the schools open, and get them open now.”
Anne Barrowclough9.15am:‘I might decide to beat them a third time’
Donald Trump has suggested he might run for president again, repeating his false claim that the Democrats ‘stole’ the 2020 election.
He said he hadn’t decided if he would put his hand up for the 2024 presidential race but said the Democrats had “lost the White House.”
“Who knows, I might even decide to beat them for the third time,” he said to cheers from the crowd.
Ellie Dudley9.10am: Biden has ‘cancelled borders’
Mr Trump said Mr Biden’s decision to “cancel the borders” has pushed vulnerable Americans into the hands of “vile coyotes.”
“Under my administration we stopped the child smugglers, we stopped the criminal cartels,” he said.
“The wall helped us a lot. we protected vulnerable people from the ravages of dangerous predators.”
Mr Trump also criticised the White House’s handling of “the China virus”, calling out Dr Anthony Fauci for giving conflicting advice.
“There’s no masks, there’s no double masks,” he said, addressing a room of unmasked Trump supporters.
“First Fauci said you don’t need masks, now all of a sudden he wants double masks.”
Ellie Dudley 9.05am:‘Most disastrous first month of any president’
Donald Trump slammed the leadership of President Joe Biden, saying he has had “the most disastrous first month of any president in modern history.”
“The Biden Administration have proven they’re anti-jobs, anti-family, anti-energy, anti-borders, anti-women and anti-science,” he said.
“In the last four months we’ve gone from America first to America last.”
He said the “radicalism” of the Biden administration will lead to “communism.”
“Actually you know, they just lost the White House,” continues Trump. “Who knows, I might decide to beat them for a third time.”
"Little sections in little areas, they don't want to complete it," says @POTUS45 of #borderwall. pic.twitter.com/PpdFXcOSCW
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) February 28, 2021
He accused Mr Biden of allowing migrants back into the country. “Joe Biden has triggered a massive wave of illegal immigration into our country, the likes of which have never been seen before,” he said. He described Mr Biden’s immigratio policies as a “betrayal of our country’s core values.”
Anne Barrowclough9.00am:‘There won’t be a new party”
Donald Trump has confirmed he has no intention of starting a new party “I’m not starting a new party,” he told the crowds at CPAC. “That’s fake news. “
He mocked the idea of a new party: “Let’s divide our vote so we can never win,” he said.
Instead, he said, the Republicans must fight “the onslaught of socialism” together.
"There's never been a journey so successful. We began it together four years ago, and it is far from over"
— Sky News (@SkyNews) February 28, 2021
Donald Trump begins his first public address since leaving the White House, saying "Hello CPAC, do you miss me yet?"
Read the latest here: https://t.co/CAUDBEAqQzpic.twitter.com/fkjTZUsyfX
For the next four years, the brave republicans in this room, will be at the heart to oppose the radical democrats, the fake news media and cancel culture,” he said.
“I will continue to fight right by your side, we will do what we’ve done right from the beginning which is to win.”
Trump declares he won't start a new party at CPAC, says speculation otherwise was 'fake news' https://t.co/mG7FrE6hoY
— Fox News (@FoxNews) February 28, 2021
Anne Barrowclough8.55am:‘Our journey is far from over’
Donald Trump has lauded the journey he has ben on with the Republican party. “There’s never been a journey so successful,” he said. “But it’s far from over. We’re just getting started and in the end we will win.”
Mr Trump said the country was in a “historic struggle.”
“Our prosperity … our very identity is at stake.”
Ellie Dudley8.45am:Trump arrives on stage to call for Republican unity
Donald Trump has arrived on stage. In his address at CPAC this morning, he is expected to deliver a message of unity amongst the Republican Party
Despite friction in the GOP following the electoral vote objections and the riot at the US Capitol in early January, Trump will be looking to help soothe tensions among the party, according to an excerpt of the speech obtained by Fox News.
“We are not starting new parties, and we will not be dividing our power and our strength. Instead, we will be united and strong like never before,” Mr Trump is expected to say.
He will also announce whether or not he plans to run for President again in 2024.
Ellie Dudley8.25am:Donald Trump still not on stage at CPAC
Former US President Donald Trump is running late for his address at CPAC this morning which was expected to be delivered at 7.40am.
He is scheduled as the headline speaker on the last day of the annual political conference attended for conservative activists.
Fox News reported that Mr Trump left Palm Beach to head to Orlando for the conference much later than expected, and so will start his speech about one hour after the proposed start time.
He is expected to speak for close to two hours.
READ MORE:Donald Trump Jr can win crowds … but can he win votes?
Ellie Dudley7.50am:CPAC backs Trump for another White House tilt
Former President Donald Trump has won the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) straw poll for the 2024 Republican candidate.
When asked if the conservative group wanted to see Mr Trump run again, 68 per cent of the crowd answered “Yes.”
When stacked up against a list of 17 other names in the survey, Mr Trump was the pick of 55 per cent, distantly followed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Watch @JMcLaughlinSTK announce the results of the #CPAC2021 Straw Poll. #AmericaUnCanceledpic.twitter.com/8TuN2bjXjm
— CPAC 2021 (@CPAC) February 28, 2021
“He’s literally the most popular figure we have ever had in the conservative movement,” said Jim McLaughlin, the political strategist who conducted the poll.
A total of 62 per cent of the crowd also identified “election integrity” as one of the most important issues facing America today, followed by “constitutional rights” and “immigration/border control”.
Mr Trump is set to speak at the conference this morning, his first address since losing the presidency to Joe Biden last year.
READ MORE:Will Trump really run for President in 2024?
Agencies7.30am:Trump returns to political stage at CPAC
At about 7.40am AEDT, Donald Trump will return to the political stage, determined to reassert his dominance over a Republican Party that is out of power and pondering whether the former president can win again in 2024.
The 74-year-old addresses the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando in a highly-anticipated keynote speech during which he is expected to tease attendees about his political future — including the possibility of another presidential run.
Banned from Twitter and other social media, Trump has maintained a low profile at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida since he left the White House on January 20.
He is expected to be greeted with reverence by a loyalist crowd as he calls for Republican unity — and perhaps rips some of his critics within the party — on the final day of the nation’s largest conservative gathering.
“We are not starting new parties, and we will not be dividing our power and our strength,” Trump will say, according to Fox News.
“Instead, we will be united and strong like never before.”
READ MORE:Stephen Loosley — Republicans must stand up to Trump
Ellie Dudley7.25am:Tasmanians growing ‘complacent’ over virus: Lambie
Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie has said her home state has become “complacent” as they await the roll out of the vaccine.
While she said she expects the vaccine to “gain momentum” quickly, Ms Lambie said the southern state is experiencing life as usual.
“No-one in Tasmania is sort of talking about it,” she told Today. “I think we’ve become a bit complacent down here to be honest with you.
“As it starts to roll out, more people there will talk about it.”
Ms Lambie said she expects many people “will line up to have that vaccine without asking any questions” but due to the “free ideas” in Australia, the country will struggle to make the vaccine mandatory.
READ MORE:Shift from major cities ‘just a sugar hit’
Ellie Dudley6.40am:US ramps up plans to start vaccinating children
The United States could start vaccinating older children against COVID-19 as early as September, pandemic advisor Anthony Fauci said, and younger children by the end of the year.
The mass vaccination of school-age children will allow millions of children to return to face-to-face learning sooner and assist in easing the burden of millions of parents who have their children at home.
School reopenings have varied in the US, with some private schools opening before public schools, and teachers across the country protesting the early return of students.
.@GStephanopoulos: "Bottom line, if you're offered a vaccine, whichever one you're offered you should take it?"
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) February 28, 2021
White House Chief Medical Adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci: "Absolutely, George." https://t.co/29drPlv5NNpic.twitter.com/COeNUjNLTC
The decision made by the US Food and Drug Administration to grant emergency use authorisation for a new single-dose vaccine from Johnson & Johnson has boosted the prospects for earlier reopenings.
“We now have three really efficacious vaccines,” Dr Fauci said on American ABC’s This Week.
Children in high school — roughly ages 14-18 in the United States — should be able to get the vaccine “sometime this fall,” Dr Fauci said.
“I’m not sure it’ll exactly be on the first day that school opens, but pretty close to that,” he added.
Dr. Fauci says it's "premature" to pull back on restrictions, as many states are doing. #MTP
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) February 28, 2021
"Our baseline of daily infections [70,000] ... is too high. ... Particularly in light of the fact we have some worrisome variants in places like California and New York." pic.twitter.com/VKUMNL7sE9
Data is still being collected on the safety and efficacy of the vaccines for children aged between five and 13 years old so “realistically” they may not be able to receive the vaccine until late 2021 or early 2022, Dr Fauci said.
READ MORE:Variant spreads through New York
Ellie Dudley6.30am:More than 20 million now vaccinated in UK
More than 20 million people in the UK have now received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while the rest of Europe lags behind.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the landmark “a huge national achievement” and praised National Health Service staff and others for their “tireless work”.
The whole adult population of London is expected to receive their first jab by the end of July.
Meanwhile the rest of Europe trails well behind the UK in the vaccine roll out, due to early production and distribution problems.
20 million people across the UK have now got the jab – a huge national achievement and a testament to the tireless work of NHS staff, volunteers, the Armed Forces & many more.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) February 28, 2021
I urge everyone to get the jab when called. Every jab makes a difference in our battle against COVID. pic.twitter.com/kdkB2EkGlS
Around 5 per cent of the EU’s nearly 450 million people have received at least one dose of a vaccine, compared to almost 14 per cent in the US and 27 per cent in Britain according to Our World in Data database and governments.
European countries have now started to seek vaccination supplies from Russia and China, to assist the ailing bloc.
The Czech Republic has since turned to Russia’s Sputnik V jab, with President Milos Zeman saying he expects vaccinations to arrive “in the next few days.”
Mr Zeman said he would also welcome China’s Sinopharm vaccine for the Czech Republic who have recorded over 1.2 million coronavirus cases and more than 20,000 deaths.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Sunday he received the Sinopharm jab days after Hungary became the first EU member to use the vaccine, which has not been approved by EU regulators.
READ MORE:US authorises one-dose COVID-19 vaccine
Stephen Lunn5.15am:Shift from the cities is ‘just a sugar hit’
Don’t believe the hype around the big COVID-19-led shift to the regions, urban planner Shane Geha says, because Australians will overwhelmingly stick to where the jobs are.
Big cities simply have too much going for them to stop being the go-to place to live, and if high property prices were that much of a deterrent, the regional shift would have been greater already, Dr Geha said.
The most recent Australian Bureau of Statistics figures published in February reveal a net loss of 11,200 people from capital cities in the September 2020 quarter to internal migration, the largest quarterly net loss on record.
Most of this net decrease came from people opting not to move into the cities from the regions rather than people leaving cities for the regions, the report notes.
An adjunct professor at UNSW, Dr Geha said while a tree-change might work longer term for those about to retire, many people who were moving because they thought remote working was the new normal might find themselves returning to the cities.
Only when regional cities like Ballarat in Victoria or Wollongong south of Sydney reach a critical population mass of about one million people will they be able to generate their own employment ecosystems and sustainably draw people from the capitals, he said.
“And if you are a young person, where would you rather be living — Cowra or Bondi?”
Read the full story here.
Adeshola Ore5am:Vaccine rollout ramped up after target missed
Australia’s rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine will begin early next week after the Morrison government failed to meet COVID jab targets for February.
The federal government confirmed 300,000 doses of the AstraZeneca jab arrived at Sydney airport on Sunday, a step Scott Morrison said was a significant milestone for the country’s fight against the virus.
Sunday’s latest vaccine data showed the government missed its goal to administer 60,000 doses by the end of February after only 30,000 Australians were inoculated last week.
The Prime Minister said the arrival of the AstraZeneca/University of Oxford vaccine shipment meant Australia could ramp up its rollout to priority groups in the first phase, with frontline healthcare and border workers first in line to receive the jab.
Read the full story here.
Geoff Chambers4.45am:‘Lift isolation capacity to restart migration’, PM urged
Scott Morrison is being urged to rapidly expand quarantine capacity so as to restart net overseas migration, as new data reveals Chinese investment in Australia fell by more than 61 per cent last year.
Property Council of Australia chief executive Ken Morrison said the industry was concerned Treasury forecasts outlining the resumption of overseas migration could fall short and trigger a long-running impact on the sector’s prospects.
Mr Morrison said the council wanted the federal government to address the long-term economic threat and take action now to ensure migration levels resumed as early as possible ahead of pandemic supports, including HomeBuilder, JobKeeper and JobSeeker, winding back next month.
The property sector warning comes as the Australian National University released data revealing the continued slide in Chinese investment in Australia.
Read the full story here.
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