Coronavirus Australia live news: Chris Eccles planted private security guards seed, former top cop Graham Ashton says
Former top cop Graham Ashton says Daniel Andrews’ then-top public servant led him to believe private security would be used for hotel quarantine.
- Eccles ‘planted seed’ for hotel private security
- Andrews ‘didn’t discuss guards’ with Eccles
- AMA: WA more at risk than Victoria
- Victoria officially Covid free
- AstraZeneca vaccine needs more trials
- Swedish royals test positive
Welcome to The Australian’s rolling coverage of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
In a second affidavit released by the hotel quarantine inquiry, Victoria’s former police chief commissioner Graham Ashton makes it clear that Chris Eccles planted the seed about the use of private security guards during the conversation. Daniel Andrews says he did not decide to use private security in bungled program. Victoria is now officially Covid free, after reaching 28 days with no new known cases. AstraZeneca is to conduct further studies on its vaccine after questions emerged about the protection it offers.
Remy Varga 9.20pm: Sutton admits to ‘inconsistencies’ on hotels
Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton has accepted there is an “apparent inconsistency” between his testimony to the hotel quarantine inquiry and emails he was included in that discussed private security.
But Professor Sutton is standing by his evidence that he first learned private security was used to guard returning travellers at the disastrous scheme through media reports in May.
“I accept that there is an apparent inconsistency,” he said in an affidavit released by the hotel quarantine inquiry on Friday.
“I do, however, stand by my evidence that I was not aware of the use of private security guards until the outbreak occurred.
“Although I accept that private security was referred to in emails that I received, I did not read or register the information that private security guards were being used in hotel quarantine.”
Read the full story here.
Paul Garvey, Joe Kelly 8.30pm: West not wild about opening its border
Western Australia’s border with Victoria will remain closed for at least a few more days and the state is almost certain to be shut to South Australians this Christmas after Premier Mark McGowan turned his back on advice from his Chief Health Officer.
Victoria on Friday celebrated 28 days without any community transmission of the coronavirus, achieving elimination and reaching the threshold previously set by WA’s Chief Health Officer Andrew Robertson for the removal of quarantine requirements for arrivals from that state.
Dr Robertson last month said it would be safe to drop the need for two weeks of quarantine for arrivals from Victoria and NSW once those states achieved 28 days without the virus.
But Mr McGowan said Victorians would need to continue to wait until at least next week before they could enter WA, disappointing families who had hoped to reunite this weekend.
Instead, the Premier said he would wait until he had seen updated guidance from Dr Robertson and had consulted with WA’s police commissioner before making a final decision on the border.
He defended the delay by saying WA had been well served to date by its cautious approach.
“For the past eight months I have been pushed to do things that would have been mistakes,” he said. “We are very keen to avoid mistakes. We have a great thing going in Western Australia, and we don’t want to make a mistake and get it wrong.”
Read the full story here.
Damon Johnston 6.55pm: Eccles planted private security seed: Ashton
Victoria’s former police chief commissioner has told the hotel inquiry he believes Daniel Andrews’ ex-top public servant led him to believe during a phone call on the day the quarantine program was set-up that private security guards would be used.
In a second affidavit released by the inquiry on Friday, Graham Ashton - who retired as the state’s most senior police officer in July - makes it clear that Chris Eccles planted the seed about the use of private security guards during the conversation.
Mr Ashton received a call from Mr Eccles at 1.17pm, on March 27, according to phone records released by the inquiry, and the
two spoke for 136 seconds.
“Notwithstanding that confirmation, I have no independent recollection of that conversation,” he states in the affidavit.
“I believe that at least part of this conversation involved Mr Eccles informing me
regarding the potential use of the ADF to guard returned travellers during the
transfer from their flights and the use of private security to guard them at the
hotels.
“But my belief as to what he told me in this regard is based only on the
inference which I draw from the contents of the text message which I sent to AFP
Commr Reece Kershaw at 1322 on 27 March 2020.”
In the text, Mr Ashton states: “Mate. my advise is that ADF will do Passenger transfer and private security will be used.”
Mr Kershaw responds: “OK that’s new.”
Mr Ashton then responds: “I think that’s the deal set up by our DPC (Department of Premier and Cabinet) I understand
NSW will be a different arrangement …”
In his follow-up affidavit, Mr Ashton says he can’t independently recall the conversation with NSW top cop Mick Fuller.
“I do not have any independent recollection of my telephone conversation with
Commr Mick Fuller commencing at 1324 on 27 March 2020.
“However, I believe that at least part of this conversation related to the respective roles of Victoria
Police and NSW Police in the hotel quarantine program.
“This belief is based upon the inference that I draw from the contents of the text message which I sent to
Commr Kershaw at 1332 on 27 March 2020 and also the fact that Commr Fuller
and I regularly contacted one another in order to compare notes and to gain an
understanding as to how particular policing issues were being addressed in the
other’s State, given that these are the two biggest jurisdictions in Australia.”
“My recollection now is that it was my understanding at that early stage that the
hotel quarantine program would be administered by the Commonwealth
government and it was for that reason that I asked Commr Kershaw in my text at
1312 why guarding people at the hotels would not be an AFP responsibility.
It is apparent from my text to Commr Kershaw at 1322 that, by then, I had already
been informed that, in fact, private security and not police would be used to guard
people at the hotels.
“The decision to use private security had been made without
reference to, or consultation with, me (or Victoria Police) and I was not ever asked
to provide any advice or to express any view on the matter.”
Mr Ashton said at the time he was comfortable with the decision to use private security.
“But this was on the basis that; “The guards would be positioned at entry/exit points and elsewhere
throughout the hotel; their role would be to act only as sentries, stopping people coming
in and out of the hotel and deterring guests from breaching quarantine and absconding from the hotel; and
the private security guards would be appropriately resourced, trained and tasked for this role.”
Rachel Baxendale 6.35pm: Andrews referenced private security in conference
Following national cabinet on March 27, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews held a press conference at which he referred to the use of private security guards, ADF personnel and police in hotel quarantine.
Asked what discussions he had with Mr Andrews between the conclusion of the national cabinet meeting and the press conference, Mr Eccles said: “As far as I can recall, none.”
Although I cannot recall it, I expect I would have simply bid the Premier farewell before we went our separate ways,” Mr Eccles wrote.
“As I said in my evidence before the Board on 21 September 2020, I did not play any role in briefing or assisting the Premier with the remarks he made in his press conference.
“I have no recollection of, and have not seen any records showing, any contact between me and the Premier after the national cabinet meeting and before that press conference.”
The final section of Mr Eccles’ affidavit concerns a document prepared by Department Of Health and Human Services national cabinet director Nickole Lynch at 2:48pm on March 27 which purports to contain a summary of national cabinet outcomes including that: “Enforcement by (state and territory) governments keen for police not to babysit, but called in as needed (e.g. use private security)”.
Asked whether the document reflected the view he held about the potential use of police and private security, Mr Eccles responded: “I assume that the question is asking whether this reflected my view as at that time (i.e. 2:48pm on 27 March 2020). Upon that assumption, no. At that time, I had no view about such matters and was not aware that anyone else held that view.”
Rachel Baxendale 6.05pm: Six-minute phone call Eccles can’t recall
Mr Eccles’ phone records show that he called Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions secretary Simon Phemister at 12:20pm on March 27, while the national cabinet meeting regarding hotel quarantine was still underway.
Asked what advice or direction he had received from Mr Andrews or any member of the Premier’s private office, particularly regarding the use of private security in hotel quarantine, at the time of his call to Mr Phemister, Mr Eccles emphasised that as per his previous evidence to the inquiry, it had been his decision to phone Mr Phemister.
“It is likely that before I stepped out of the national cabinet meeting to make the call to Mr Phemister, I briefly advised the Premier of what I was doing,” Mr Eccles wrote.
“I was seated next to the Premier while the national cabinet meeting was underway, so it would have been peculiar had I not done so.”
Mr Eccles also reiterated his previous evidence that it was likely that before he stepped out of the meeting, he spoke to Mr Andrews’ chief of staff Lissie Ratcliff, “who I recall was present in the anteroom to the telepresence room where the national cabinet meeting was being relayed”.
“In that conversation, it is likely that I communicated the substance of the national cabinet decision and that I was about to speak to Mr Phemister,” he said.
Mr Eccles said he had not received and “instructions, advice or direction from the Premier or any member of his private office” on the use of private security, AFP, ADP or Victoria Police personnel.
The records show Mr Eccles’ conversation with Mr Phemister lasted six minutes and one second.
“This call appears to have lasted longer than you or Mr Phemister recalled it being,” counsel assisting the inquiry said to Mr Eccles in the Notice to Produce.
“Does this information refresh your memory regarding the nature and extent of things discussed?”
Mr Eccles said it did not.
“No. The duration of the telephone call confirms my recollection that the telephone call was short,” he wrote.
Mr Eccles’ phone records also show that he engaged in a second phone call with Mr Phemister lasting for three minutes and 35 seconds at 1.47pm.
The former top public servant said he “cannot recall” the conversation, let alone what was discussed.
Asked whether there was discussion in the latter conversation regarding enforcement options for hotel quarantine such as the use of private security or Victoria Police, Mr Eccles said: “No”.
“Although I cannot recall the conversation, at the time of my telephone discussion with Mr Phemister at 1.47pm I still had no knowledge about the potential use of Victoria Police or private security in the proposed hotel quarantine program,” he wrote.
READ MORE: Ships on the horizon
Remy Varga 5.40pm: Sutton copied in on private security emails: Helps
Jason Helps, who co-led Victoria’s response to the pandemic, said Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton “may have been aware or had the opportunity to be aware of the use of private security.”
Mr Helps said he became concerned Professor Sutton was attempting to deflect responsibility from DHHS to Emergency Management Victoria after the CHO said July he only learnt private security were being used through the media.
“These instances include circumstances where Professor Sutton was copied into emails referring to the use of private security, where deputies under his command were involved in correspondence referring to the use of private security, or where certain documents and policies which referred to the use of private security were specifically sent to Professor Sutton for approval,” he said in an affidavit released by the inquiry on Friday.
Mr Helps was appointed Deputy State Controller despite Professor Sutton wishing to take on the role.
He said his comments were his opinion and he had no direct knowledge of whether Professor Sutton actually knew of the use of private security.
Rachel Baxendale 5.40pm: ‘No knowledge’ about private security: Eccles
Former Daniel Andrews top staffer Chris Eccles maintains in his affidavit that at the time of his conversation with Mr Ashton, he had “no knowledge” of any decision about the use of Victoria Police, AFP, ADF or private security personnel in the proposed hotel quarantine program, nor, he says, was he across “the particular matters the subject of the then Chief Commissioner’s text message to me at 1.16pm concerning the use of Victoria Police to do the guarding in the proposed hotel quarantine program”.
“I did not have the expertise to make such decisions,” he wrote.
Responding in his affidavit to the inquiry’s question about whether he had been the source of Mr Ashton’s information regarding the use of the ADF and private security, Mr Eccles wrote: “No”, referring to an earlier paragraph in which he says he “would not (and could not)” have told Mr Ashton of any decision to use Victoria Police, the ADF, the AFP or private security in the proposed hotel quarantine program or expressed any opinion on operational matters concerning the use of those personnel.
Mr Eccles also responded with a “no” to the inquiry’s question: “Whether or not you recall the conversation, do you accept that the inquiry would be entitled to infer that CCP Ashton had learned of the proposed use of the ADF and private security from you?”
“I had no knowledge of these matters,” Mr Eccles wrote.
READ MORE: Failed quarantine cost $195m: Coate
Remy Varga 5.28pm: CHO’s ‘unease’ at exclusion from running program
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton spoke of his unease of being excluded from governing the hotel quarantine program despite he and his then deputy being accountable for the program.
In an April 13 email to Euan Wallace, who has since become the Department of Health Human Services secretary, Professor Sutton said it was “astounding” the program was established without consultation with him or Annaliese van Diemen.
Professor Sutton then said Ms van Diemen was “effectively the maker of the entire [hotel quarantine] scheme so was effectively the ‘maker’ of the entire scheme and has responsibility in law for it.”
Speaking of tension with Emergency Management Victoria, Professor Sutton said he felt uneasy they’d excluded the people with accountability for the program.
“There is clearly a disconnect with our EM colleagues, perhaps especially in EMV who understand their role as controller of the scheme and effectively excluded those with significant accountability,” he said.
“That is a source of unease — moral and legal.”
Professor Sutton endorsed a formal push by Deputy Public Health Commander Finn Romanes for the public health team to have greater input in the hotel quarantine program.
In an April 9 email to the State Controller overseeing the program, Dr Romanes said: “There appears to be a lack of a unified plan for this program, and there is considerable concern that the lead roles have not had an opportunity to be satisfied there is a policy and set of processes to manage the healthcare and welfare of detainees, for whom this program is accountable.”
In his second affidavit, Professor Sutton said he did not recall the emails when preparing his first statement to the inquiry but said they were consistent with his evidence.
“I think the emails broadly reflect my evidence and highlight that public health were not in day to
day decision making roles,” he said.
Professor Sutton said he could not recall emails to Mr Romanes in which allowing guests to take smoking breaks under the supervision of private security was discussed.
READ MORE: Second attempt at hotel isolation
Rachel Baxendale 5.22pm: Eccles maintains ‘no recollection’ of crucial call
Daniel Andrews’ former departmental secretary Chris Eccles has maintained he has “no recollection” of a crucial phone conversation with then police chief commissioner Graham Ashton in an affidavit released by Victoria’s hotel quarantine inquiry on Friday afternoon, despite having resigned after documents confirmed the conversation took place.
Mr Eccles stood down as secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet in October after phone records tendered to the inquiry on October 11 showed he called Mr Ashton at 1.17pm on March 27, following a national cabinet meeting at which the decision was made to force all return travellers to Australia to spend a fortnight in hotel quarantine.
Mr Ashton sent a text message to his Australian Federal Police counterpart Reece Kershaw at 1.12pm that day, asking why AFP would not have the role of guarding people at the hotels.
Four minutes later, Mr Ashton texted Mr Eccles: “The suggestion is that Victorian arrivals are conveyed to a hotel somewhere where they are guarded by police for 14 days. Are you aware of anything in this regard??”
But at 1.22pm Victoria’s then top cop texted Mr Kershaw again, saying: “Mate my advice is that ADF will do passenger transfer and private security will be used.”
The phone records showed Mr Eccles’ 1.17pm call to Mr Ashton lasted two minutes and 15 seconds, prompting the inquiry to put a series of written questions to him on October 13, including: Does this information refresh your memory regarding whether you spoke with CCP Ashton on 27 March 2020?” and “If so, what is your recollection of the conversation you had with him?”
Mr Eccles responded to the “Notice to Produce”, saying that he only “became aware” he had called Mr Ashton at 1.17pm on March 27: “Upon obtaining my complete telephone records from Telstra on 11 October”.
“I have no recollection of telephoning and speaking with the then Chief Commissioner at that time,” Mr Eccles said in his affidavit.
“I have never denied that I may have contacted the then Chief Commissioner in response to his text message to me at 1.16pm that day.”
Mr Eccles reiterated that he had previously given evidence to the inquiry that he did not recall receiving the text message and did not have a copy of it on his phone, that he did not know what, if anything, he had done in response to the text message, that his normal response to receiving a message from the Chief Commissioner had been to get back to him.
“If I had telephoned the then Chief Commissioner after receipt of his text message, I would not have (and would not have been able to) convey any decision about the use of private security, as no such decision had been made by me or anyone to whom I had spoken;” Mr Eccles maintained.
“I did not call the then Chief Commissioner, or anyone else at Victoria Police, to provide a heads-up about the national cabinet decision or about the use of police at hotels.
“I was not sure how complete my own telephone records were but to the extent I was able to interrogate them they did not reveal that I telephoned the then Chief Commissioner.”
Mr Eccles said he “strenuously” rejected the claim “reported widely in the media”, that he misled the inquiry by denying that he contacted Mr Ashton in response to his text message.
“I never denied this,” Mr Eccles wrote.
“The evidence I gave to the Board concerning my normal practice … made it likely that I did, in fact, call the then Chief Commissioner back.
“This is why I gave evidence to the Board that, if I did call him back, I would not have conveyed (and would not have been able to convey) and decision about the use of private security.”
READ MORE: Eccles latest scalp in quarantine fiasco
Ewin Hannan 5.05pm: ‘I didn’t discuss guards with Eccles’: Andrews
Daniel Andrews says he did not give instructions to his former chief bureaucrat, Chris Eccles, at the March 27 national cabinet meeting about using private security guards in the hotel quarantine program.
In a fresh affidavit responding to questions from the inquiry, Mr Andrews was asked about information suggesting he and Mr Eccles spoke at the national cabinet before Mr Eccles left the meeting to telephone Jobs Department head Simon Phemister.
While he said it would not be unusual for them to speak during national cabinet, he could not recall speaking with him during the March 27 meeting.
Asked if he gave any instructions, advice or directions about the structure, content or operation of the Hotel Quarantine Program, including whether he expressed a view about the use of private security guards, Mr Andrews said he gave no instructions about the scheme.
“I expressed no view at all about the use of private security as part of the hotel quarantine
program,” he said. “As I indicated in my earlier witness statement, decisions of that kind are of an operational nature in which I do not play a role.”
Remy Varga 4.55pm: Sutton stands by evidence, despite email trail
Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton has accepted there is an “apparent inconsistency” between his testimony to the inquiry and an email chain in which private security was discussed.
In an affidavit to the hotel quarantine inquiry, Professor Sutton maintains he first learnt private security was being used at the hotel quarantine program in May.
This is despite being CC’ed in an email chain in which using guards was discussed.
“I accept that there is an apparent inconsistency,” he said.
“I do however stand by my evidence that I was not aware of the use of private security guards until the outbreak occurred.
“Although I accept that private security was referred to in emails that I received, I did not read or register the information that private security guards were being used in hotel quarantine.”
Professor Sutton said it was not his responsibility to instruct which documents the Department of Health and Human Services handed over to the inquiry.
“I did not instruct Minter Ellison or solicitors to the Department that the emails (in exhibit 230) not be produced,” he said.
Remy Varga 4.45pm: ‘I expressed no view on private security’: Andrews
In his affidavit to the hotel quarantine inquiry, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said he did not decide to use private security, saying operational matters were below him.
“I expressed no view at all about the use of private security as part of the hotel quarantine program,” he said.
“As I indicated in my earlier witness statement, 1 decisions of that kind are of an operational nature in which I do not play a role.”
Mr Andrews said he did not brief Mr Eccles on using private security at a national cabinet meeting ahead of hotel quarantine being announced on March 27, although said he may have spoken to him.
I”t would not be unusual for me to speak to Mr Eccles from time to time during a National Cabinet meeting,” he said.
“However, I do not now recall speaking with him during the meeting on 27 March 2020.”
Remy Varga 4.35pm: Texts between Vic Premier and chief of staff released
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews texted his chief-of-staff on the evening hotel quarantine was established, asking questions about the program.
A text exchange between Lissie Ratcliff and Mr Andrews was released by the hotel quarantine inquiry on Friday.
Mr Andrews asked at 8.26pm on March 27: “How are we going on hotels and midnight tomorrow? Do we have many flights tomorrow. Call if you need to.”
Ms Ratcliff replied: “I’ll have updates tonight on number of rooms, transportation, guidelines for leaving rooms, protection for workers, number of expected arrivals [and flights] for Sunday.
“It’ll only apply to flights landing after midnight so anyone coming in during the day won’t be caught up.
“Will get you an update as soon as it comes through.”
Rachel Baxendales 3.40pm: Victoria virus threat eases, now fire bans beckon
Total fire bans have been issued for Victoria’s north and west for the first time this fire season, with temperatures in Mildura and Ouyen in the far northwest of the state tipped to reach 43C on Saturday.
The Country Fire Authority has fire bans for the Mallee, Wimmera and Northern Country fire districts on Saturday, where the fire danger rating is expected to be extreme, very high and severe respectively.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s wider weather forecast for Victoria on Saturday is for a partly cloudy day with isolated showers developing across the south and east, becoming more widespread over the southwest at night, with isolated thunderstorms in the east in the afternoon and evening.
In addition to the heatwave, Victoria’s northwest is expected to experience an area of raised dust, with moderate to fresh north to north-westerly winds, strengthening further east about the alpine peaks.
A milder south to south-westerly change is expected to extend north-eastwards across the state during the afternoon and evening.
Melbourne is forecast to reach a top temperature of 34C, Bendigo 37C, Ballarat 31C, Shepparton 39C, Albury-Wodonga 37C, Warrnambool 29C and Bairnsdale 28C.
READ MORE: Worst places to be this weekend
Staff writers 3.20pm: One new case in ACT in traveller on diplomatic passport
A new case of COVID-19 has been detected in the ACT. The case is not related to the government-facilitated flight that arrived yesterday, but is in a returned traveller.
The new case is a woman in her 50s, who is travelling on a diplomatic passport. She returned from overseas on 23 November, flying into Sydney International Airport and travelled to Canberra by private vehicle.
The ACT government says she has followed all the correct processes and has been quarantining since her return to the ACT and is being supported by ACT Health.
ACT Health has followed up with two close contacts of this individual and is managing them in accordance with National Guidelines: “While we believe the risk to these contacts is low, ACT Health continues to take a cautious approach”.
READ MORE: SA restrictions to ease
Patrick Commins 2.05pm: Big banks tip booming September quarter growth
Three of the four big banks have rushed out powerfully bullish forecasts for next Wednesday’s national accounts numbers, led by NAB’s prediction for 4.1 per cent jump in real GDP in the September quarter.
That will be followed by another quarter of booming 2 per cent growth over the December quarter, before growth “moderates from there,” NAB chief economist Alan Oster said.
Meanwhile, ANZ is pencilling in a 3.2 per cent lift in real GDP in the most recent quarter.
ANZ economist Felicity Emmett said “the key message is that the Australian economy is weathering the COVID-19 storm better than anticipated, helped by a strong health response and massive fiscal and monetary stimulus”.
Over at Westpac they now see the economy growing by 3 per cent in Q3. The arithmetic of their forecast is a 3.4 percentage point contribution from domestic demand (led by a 6 per cent increase in consumption for the quarter), while inventories will add 1.4ppts and net exports -1.7ppts.
Of course, rebounding sharply after such a severe economic contraction (-7 per cent in the June quarter) is no great feat: simply allowing businesses to open back up and letting households get back out and about again will guarantee some pretty head spinning growth figures for a quarter or two.
NAB expects the economy will only achieve its pre-COVID size by the end of 2021, and unemployment will still be at 5.7 per cent by the end of 2023.
READ MORE: Online health scheme here to stay
Rachel Baxendale 1.40pm: Andrews refuses to comment on texts with COS
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has refused to comment on the contents of affidavits which include details of text messages between him and his chief of staff, hours before they are due to be made public by the hotel quarantine inquiry.
Mr Andrews is today appearing before Victorian Parliament’s Parliamentary Accounts and Estimates Committee’s coronavirus inquiry.
His PAEC appearance coincides with the hotel quarantine inquiry today releasing details of documents it will make public this afternoon.
Ahead of their release, Nationals MP and PAEC member Danny O’Brien asked Mr Andrews about the documents.
“Premier, we’ve just heard from the hotel quarantine inquiry that a number of new documents have been tabled, including an affidavit, I believe, from yourself, but it won’t be available online to the public until after this hearing concludes. Are you able to tell us what that affidavit includes?” Mr O’Brien asked.
“No, I’m not,” Mr Andrews replied. “That’s a matter for the Board of Inquiry to make available documents.”
Mr O’Brien said he was not asking for the document, but merely for details of what it entailed.
“I think I’ve been asked this question a few times, and I have answered it, I think consistent with the facts at all times,” Mr Andrews said.
“It was for the sake of completeness, a number of questions were put to me. I answered them accurately, in detail, and it’ll be for the board to determine what they make public.
“There’s nothing more or less to this. New issues were not canvassed, or threshold new issues.
“It wasn’t like there was some, some really significant development that they needed to come to me on, but as I’ve always said if there was any way in which I could assist them in their inquiries, I would.
“Questions were put to me. I have responded in affidavit form, so on oath. That’s the way everyone who’s asked for answers should actually respond. I have and it’ll be for the board to provide that in whatever form they believe appropriate.”
READ MORE: Gladys ‘directed slush fund cash’
Angelica Snowden 1.25pm: Albanese canes Morrison over stranded Aussies
Anthony Albanese says the government needs to “assume more responsibility” for bringing more Australians home from overseas, after a flight in San Francisco did not depart yesterday due to a mechanical issue.
The opposition leader said he spoke with an Australian on board the United Airlines flight who said the plane waited on the tarmac for hours.
“These are real issues affecting real Australians right now, and we have a government that maintains complacency,” Mr Albanese said.
“We have a prime minister who does not accept responsibility for the things that he is in control of, which according to our constitution include … our national borders, but also includes control of quarantine,” he said.
Mr Albanese welcomed news the Northern Territory would double quarantine capacity at the Howard Springs facility to 1000.
There were at least 30 Australians waiting to come home on the United Airlines flight.
It is expected they will be allowed return on another flight today after initially being told they might have to wait until January.
READ MORE: PM orders public servants back to work
Remy Varga 12.45pm: Andrews texts with COS set to be released
Text messages between Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and his chief-of-staff are set to be released within hours along with additional evidence provided by senior government ministers and bureaucrats.
The hotel quarantine inquiry is set to release the phone records of Mr Andrews, Lizzie Ratcliffe and Director of Policy and Strategic Relations Cameron Harrison, as well as another member of Mr Andrew’s office referred to only as a senior adviser.
As Victoria recorded 28-consecutive days of zero new cases and deaths, the hotel quarantine inquiry into the state’s disastrous program that unleashed the second wave held its final hearing.
Counsel assisting Tony Neal QC on Friday outlined the additional evidence received by the inquiry after public hearings finished, which are due to be released at 3pm.
As well as Mr Andrews and his office, Mr Neal said additional information from Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton, former Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton, Police Minister Lisa Neville.
The telephone records of former Department of Premier and Cabinet secretary Chris Eccles, which prompted his resignation, are also set to be released.
Ms Coate indicated the final report would be handed down on December 21.
Angelica Snowden 11.50am: SA restrictions eased with zero new cases
South Australia’s Premier Steven Marshall has rolled back a host of COVID-19 restrictions after no new infections were reported in the state overnight.
Mr Marshall announced the state’s border with Victoria will open from midnight next Tuesday.
“From 1 December we will completely normalise our border arrangements with Victoria and this will be a huge relief for many people who have been adversely affected by these border restrictions,” Mr Marshall said.
He also announced over the next two weeks hospitality venues will be able to increase the number of patrons outdoors, with one person per two square metres allowed outside.
Funerals and private functions can also host up to 150 people. Community sport will also resume with some modifications to reduce contact.
Home gatherings will remain at 10 people.
Mr Marshall also said he wrote to Scott Morrison to request the state does not receive international flights for another week until December 7.
READ MORE: School case linked to pizza bar
Angelica Snowden 11.30am: Zero new local cases in NSW, four in quarantine
There have been no new locally acquired COVID-19 cases in NSW overnight, with four cases reported in hotel quarantine.
It means the state has achieved 20 days in a row of no community transmission.
There were 14,758 tests reported to 8pm last night.
NSW recorded no new cases of locally acquired #COVID19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) November 27, 2020
Four cases were reported in overseas travellers in hotel quarantine, bringing the total number of cases in NSW to 4,367 since the start of the pandemic. pic.twitter.com/zKwsXksItU
Angelica Snowden 10.55am: Four-year-old among three NT quarantine cases
Three new COVID-19 cases — including a four-year-old girl — have been recorded in hotel quarantine in the Northern Territory overnight.
Two women: one aged 39, the other 59, and the young girl tested positive in the Howard Springs quarantine facility after they arrived on a repatriation flight from New Dehli.
There have now been 53 cases of coronavirus in the NT.
Angelica Snowden 10.25am: WA ‘more at risk from Covid than Victoria’
The president of the Australian Medical Association is calling for Western Australia to open its borders, saying WA is more at risk from COVID than Victoria.
“Premier McGowan has presided over a regime that has protected Western Australians,” Dr Omar Khorshid said.
“But the situation has now changed – there is no risk of contracting COVID from a Victorian if there is no community transmission in Victoria,” he said.
“I think the time is certainly coming that the West Australian border will open to other states and in particular to Victoria.”
He lauded Victoria for effectively eradicating the virus and said he looked forward to a situation where all Australian borders would be open in the near future.
“Ironically, because of the lack of social distancing in some places in Western Australia … WA is probably at more risk now of COVID than Victoria is.”
Angelica Snowden 10.00am: Telehealth to be permanent fixture: Hunt
Health minister Greg Hunt has announced telehealth will be a permanent part of the Medicare system after it was introduced as a temporary item amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“There’s not been much good that’s come from COVID,” Mr Hunt said.
“One thing that has come from COVID is the fact that we have skipped a decade and jumped from 2030 to 2020 for the delivery of telehealth for all Australians,” he said.
After news emerged the COVID-19 vaccine manufacturer AstraZeneca is to conduct further studies on the drug after questions emerged about the protection it offers, Mr Hunt said there would be “ups and downs” in the clinical process.
“All of those are progressing well, and each day there’s news and there’s progress, and there will be ups and downs in the vaccine process,” he said.
“But what we’re seeing is very clear evidence that the world will have not just one but a series of effective and safe vaccines.”
READ MORE: PM orders public servants back to work
Angelica Snowden 9.50am: More repatriation flights but delays still: PM
Scott Morrison says more repatriation flights are being organised to fly stranded Australians home from overseas, but there will be delays due to the capacity of hotel quarantine.
The Prime Minister said 400,000 Australians had returned to the country this year so far.
“We are obviously restricted by the amount of hotel quarantine we have,” Mr Morrison told 4BC radio.
“The National Cabinet – all the premiers and I – agree that we do not want to put too much pressure on the system,” he said.
Additional flights are being organised, including from India and the UK, Mr Morrison said.
“We’re meeting the amounts that we hoped to achieve by Christmas, it’s just that more people are looking to come home,” the Prime Minister said.
“Every time we get one (person) home we get another one extra that wants to come, that’s the challenge.”
Repatriation efforts are expected to be significantly boosted with the reopening of Melbourne Airport and quarantine facilities from December 7.
Mr Morrison also welcomed Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s decision to adopt a COVID hotspot definition amid fierce opposition to her state’s snap border closures.
READ MORE: Stranded Aussies nearly 37,000
Matthew Denholm 9.40am: MONA to reopen Boxing Day after nine months
Hobart’s Museum of Old and New Art will reopen on Boxing Day, after nine months of COVID-19 closure, with a revamped collection and new outdoor entertainment.
The galleries have been refreshed while closed to the public, with some never-seen-before art and some works making a return after years removed from display.
‘We are, of course, aware that we are reopening just before our tenth anniversary, so we’ve dug out some old stuff to commemorate our opening,” said owner David Walsh.
“We are also looking to the future. In this time of crisis, community is more important than ever, and so we are looking inward while we look outwards.’
The rehang would include about 350 collection highlights “and lowlights”, said Walsh, the wealthy professional gambler and art collector who has kept the much-loved gallery, restaurant and winery complex on Hobart’s River Derwent afloat financially during the shutdown.
New outdoor features include a giant sculpture by American artist Tom Otterness, which will double as a children’s playground. Titled Gals Rule, the 7m high bronze sculpture features two figures with slides for limbs.
A new venue, Dubsy’s, will serve burgers on the lawns, which will also play host to daily live music selected by music curator and Violent Femmes bassist Brian Ritchie “and his team”.
Inside the museum, Tasmanian musician Ben Salter will be in residence, writing and performing songs in a gallery “designed to feel like an art-filled lounge room”.
COVID-19 distancing and registration will apply, including a refundable $10 deposit for Tasmanians, who are otherwise not charged for entry.
READ MORE: Joyce flies in to see what’s on offer
Angelica Snowden 9.30am: Huge delays after lightning NSW train strike
An overnight transport union strike is expected to cause massive delays for commuters well into the day after suspending multiple NSW train lines this morning.
Train networks are inherently dangerous places, which is why relying on CCTV cameras puts lives at risk. The NSW Government's New Intercity Fleet has been one disaster after another #nswpol https://t.co/tgyiGHboEy
— RTBU (@RTBUnion) November 25, 2020
Services on the Blue Mountains, Central Coast & Newcastle and south coast Lines were delayed after industrial action overnight.
The services stopped running overnight and Transport NSW said limited trains would resume at 7am.
But commuters have complained about a lack of information and hour long delays.
Unbelievable @TrainsInfo no trains to Newcastle, Blue Mountains, no replacement buses. It's a long walk, @Hertz here I come. @2GB873 @BenFordhamLive pic.twitter.com/ljhTbhj9sN
— Bradley Deacon 🇦🇺 (@BradleyWDeacon) November 26, 2020
The Rail, Tram and Bus Union organised the action, sparked by safety concerns over the new intercity train fleet.
Passengers were told to allow plenty of extra travel time or consider alternative travel arrangements.
âš ï¸ Due to industrial action earlier TrainLink services have been suspended, however train preperation is now commencing to resume services across the TrainLink network. Updates to follow. Lines affected: #SouthCoastLine #HunterLine #CentralCoastNewcastleLine #BlueMountainsLine pic.twitter.com/Cy2NUxiapT
— Trains Info (@TrainsInfo) November 26, 2020
Angelica Snowden 9.00am: Michael Jordan donates $2m for pandemic jobless
Star basketball player Michael Jordan has donated $2 million to support Americans who have lost their jobs amid the global pandemic and are visiting food banks for the first time.
Huge delays in
An incredible gift to be thankful for – NBA legend Michael Jordan is donating $2 million to help our neighbors facing hunger! #TheLastDance
— Feeding America (@FeedingAmerica) November 25, 2020
Every action makes a difference. Join Michael & visit https://t.co/ExF6iX3wr7 to learn how you can donate or volunteer this holiday season. pic.twitter.com/UVUFQlbe0p
Jordan will donate the money to Feeding America out of profits from the hit documentary “series The Last Dance”.
“In these challenging times and in a year of unimaginable difficulty due to COVID-19, it’s more important than ever to pause and give thanks,” Jordan said in a statement.
“I am proud to be donating additional proceeds from ‘The Last Dance’ to Feeding America and its member food banks in the Carolinas and Chicago,” he said.
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Angelica Snowden 8.55am: Berejiklian rolled on hospitality, household restrictions
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian was pressured by colleagues to roll back COVID restrictions on hospitality venues and households further than she planned at a crisis cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
Ms Berejiklian announced on Wednesday hospitality venues up to 200 square metres would be able to apply the one person per two square metre rule and households can host up to 50 people outdoors from December 1.
But Dominic Perrottet, John Barilaro and Stuart Ayres did not think the measures went far enough and criticised the Premier’s office for briefing the media of the changes on Tuesday night before a formal announcement on Wednesday, the Daily Telegraph reported.
Mr Perrottet, Mr Barilaro and Mr Ayres successfully argued the 50 person cap on small hospitality venues should be removed and the number of people allowed in households outdoors would be 50.
On Wednesday Ms Berejiklian said she was pleased to announce COVID-19 restrictions would be relaxed even further than she expected.
READ MORE: PM doesn’t need to cultivate image
Angelica Snowden 8.25am: Latham: Border damage done, Nat Cabinet doesn’t work
One Nation’s Mark Latham says the damage caused by Australia’s border closures “is done” and economic consequences will be worse than the virus itself.
Mr Latham scolded Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk for “playing politics” with the issue.
Former Victorian Premier @Jeff_Kennett and One Nation NSW Leader @RealMarkLatham discuss the reopening of Australia's state borders and return of Victoria's hotel quarantine program. pic.twitter.com/wSDMwNvrb7
— Sunrise (@sunriseon7) November 26, 2020
“Five, 10 years from now when we look back, the data will show that the health consequences of the recession and these border closures have added to the recession,” Mr Latham told the Seven network’s Sunrise.
“That will be worse than the health consequences of the virus itself,” he said.
“The fact that Annastacia Palaszczuk played politics with this … had the dispute with Gladys Berejiklian and made a fuss of the concept of National Cabinet – it was never working as a cabinet and never truly national.”
READ MORE: Water minister tells states to ‘get on with it’
Rachel Baxendale 8.15am: Victoria officially Covid free
Victoria is now officially Covid free, after reaching 28 days with no new known cases of coronavirus, and four days with no active cases.
The milestone comes after 9828 tests were processed in the 24 hours to Friday.
Congratulations Victoria, 28 consecutive days of 0 new cases reported 💕
— VicGovDHHS (@VicGovDHHS) November 26, 2020
Yesterday there were 0 lives lost and 9,828 test results received. There are 0 active cases.
More detail: https://t.co/pcll7ySEgz #StaySafeStayOpen #COVID19VicData pic.twitter.com/bOrsxTQn3q
Angelica Snowden 7.45am: Dutton: we haven’t let down 36,000 stranded Aussies
The government has not let Australians down despite claiming they would get the majority of almost 36,000 stranded residents home by Christmas, Home Affairs minister Peter Dutton says.
“Obviously it is difficult to get a flight. Obviously it is very hard to plan in circumstances where you’ve got to go into hotel quarantine and there is a cap on places for people to get back,” Mr Dutton told Nine’s The Today Show.
“We have brought back particularly the most urgent cases where there are medical needs where people are in a desperate situation,” he said.
“We are working day and night to get as many Australians home by Christmas as possible.”
Mr Dutton said caps on hotel quarantine spaces imposed by the states and territories has caused the bottleneck.
But Labor defence spokesman Richard Marles said they could be doing more.
“There are a whole lot of assets for starters the Government can use, they have aircraft and the air force they are currently flying Mathias Cormann around in,” Mr Marles said.
“So often we are hearing the Government hide behind state caps,” he said.
“They could put the resources in to make sure there is the quarantining available to allow (more travellers to return) to occur.”
READ MORE: Stranded Aussies now nearly 37,000
Jacquelin Magnay 7.25am: Australia to show ‘significant ambition’ on climate
Scott Morrison has told European leaders that Australia will demonstrate “significant ambition’’ on both reducing emissions and pursuing a low emissions development strategy to achieve climate neutrality as soon as possible.
The climate change aspirations were contained in the official read out from a wide-ranging video call on Thursday between the prime minister who is isolating in Australia, the President of the European Council Charles Michel and the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.
It said: “The EU highlighted its commitment to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, while Australia will also demonstrate significant ambition on reducing emissions and pursuing a low emissions development strategy in order to achieve climate neutrality as soon as possible in accordance with the Paris Agreement.
It added: “The leaders agreed that resolute and co-ordinated action is key to tackling the urgent challenge of climate change and environmental degradation.
“The EU and Australia underlined their commitment to the full implementation of the Paris Agreement and to step up global action to tackle climate change in the lead up to COP26 in 2021. The leaders recalled the request by UNFCCC COP21 to communicate or update their Nationally Determined Contributions reflecting the highest possible ambition.’’
Mr Morrison also discussed with Ms Von Der Leyen and Mr Michel further co-operation between Australia and Europe on recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
“The leaders committed to recovery plans that accelerate emissions reductions, and ensure communities and institutions are more resilient and able to adapt to future impacts of climate change, as well as accelerating the digital transformation,’’ the meeting read-out said.
“They emphasised that global supply chains need to be more resilient and sustainable. They agreed to further co-operate on critical raw materials and on the promotion of diverse critical technology markets.”
Mr Morrison also agreed with the European leaders to support the multilateral rules-based trading system and ‘’to render it fit for current challenges’’.
The EU and Australia promised to work together, including in the Ottawa Group, to reform and strengthen the WTO, in particular with regard to level playing field.
As to the reform of the WTO dispute settlement system, both Australia and Europe want the WTO to find a binding, two-tier and independent dispute settlement system.
“Both the EU and Australia will engage constructively in areas of common interest on the WTO agenda, including sustainable development, e-commerce and fisheries subsidies,’’ the read out said.
Among the 18 issues, Mr Morison and the European leaders expressed ‘’serious concern about the unilateral, and destabilising actions in the South China Sea’’. They underlined that dialogue is the only way to achieve peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and urged North Korea to comply with all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
The leaders also noted ‘’good progress’’ in the free trade agreement negotiations currently underway.
They said a timely conclusion of a free-trade agreement would create growth opportunities, deepen economic integration and reinforce shared support for rules-based trading arrangements.
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Angelica Snowden 7.15am: 11 Queensland police officers in self-isolation
Nearly a dozen police officers are in self-isolation in Brisbane after they were exposed to a positive COVID-19 case in hotel quarantine.
Eleven police officers are in quarantine after they came into contact with a returned overseas traveller – a man in his 40s – who tested positive to the virus on Sunday at the Rydges hotel in South Brisbane, Sky news has reported.
It is understood the officers practised social distancing and wore personal protective equipment.
The man tested positive to COVID-19 on Sunday.
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Angelica Snowden 6.55am: Americans risk superspreader event for Thanksgiving
Millions of Americans defied public health rules on Thursday to spend a subdued Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends as coronavirus deaths surged worldwide.
More than a million people were screened at US airports on Wednesday – the fifth straight day with roughly that number of air travellers.
The exodus came despite warnings mass travel threatens to significantly worsen the pandemic in the country hardest hit, with a six-month record of more than 2,400 deaths in just the past 24 hours.
More than 236,000 new infections were recorded on Thursday (AEDT).
But President-elect Joe Biden offered a message of hope however in a Thanksgiving video address.
“I know better days are coming, I know how bright our future is. I know the 21st Century is going to be an American century,” he said.
US infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci said he expected “a surge superimposed upon a surge” caused by the big getaway.
Globally, more than 60 million infections and 1.4 million deaths have been recorded since the new coronavirus emerged in China late last year.
Despite the burst of travel in America – still far below last year’s Thanksgiving numbers – pandemic restrictions meant that there was a sombre, stoical undercurrent to this year’s festivities.
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, a cherished tradition nearly a century old featuring giant balloons and colourful floats, went ahead with no crowds and was recorded for television.
While low-income frontline workers often face the biggest risks, the virus has also run rampant through the world’s wealthiest and most powerful.
On Thursday, Sweden’s Prince Carl Philip and his wife Princess Sofia went into self-isolation after testing positive for COVID-19, the palace said.
As Britain and France consider easing their lockdown measures soon, Russia is still resisting stay-at-home orders despite registering record infections and deaths from the virus Thursday.
Across Europe more than 234,000 new COVID-19 cases were recorded, with 17,776,556 infections recorded since the start of the pandemic.
Countries that have had strong success against the virus are also cracking down on new outbreaks.
South Korea also closed bars and nightclubs this week as it braces for a third major wave, with virus cases at their highest level since March.
READ MORE: Xi Jinping congratulates Biden
Angelica Snowden 6.30am: AstraZeneca to conduct further trials after concerns raised
The COVID-19 vaccine manufacturer AstraZeneca is to conduct further studies on the drug after questions emerged about the protection it offers.
The trial is set to evaluate a lower dosage that performed better than the full dose in the company’s studies. Concerns were raised after the company admitted that the lower level was given in error.
AstraZeneca and its partner, the University of Oxford, announced on Monday it was seeking regulatory approval for the vaccine after it showed an average 70-percent effectiveness.
That rate jumped to 90 per cent when an initial half-dose then a full dose was given, similar to that in rival vaccines in development by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna.
But US scientists have said the higher rate of effectiveness involving the lower dose came during tests in people aged 55 and under, and was discovered by accident during the clinical trials.
“Now that we’ve found what looks like a better efficacy, we have to validate this, so we need to do an additional study,” AstraZeneca chief executive Pascal Soriot told Bloomberg.
He said he expected that to be another “international study but this one could be faster because we know the efficacy is high, so we need a smaller number of patients”.
The additional trial was not likely to delay regulatory approval in Britain and the European Union, Mr Soriot said.
The head of the Oxford Vaccine Group, Andrew Pollard, said further evidence would be available next month, but the result was still “highly significant”.
There are high hopes for the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine, which Mr Pollard has hailed as a “vaccine for the world” given that it could be cheaper to make, and easier to store and distribute.
It can be stored, transported and handled at normal refrigerated conditions of between two and eight degrees Celsius (36-46 Fahrenheit) for at least six months.
The Pfizer and BioNTech’s offering requires temperatures of -70C, driving up costs and potentially making it out of reach for lower and middle-income countries.
With AFP
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Agencies 6.00am: Swedish royals test positive
Sweden’s Prince Carl Philip and his wife, Princess Sofia, are self-isolating after testing positive for coronavirus, the royal palace says.
Carl Philip, 41, the son of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia, and Sofia, 35, “have light flu symptoms” and are recuperating at home in Stockholm with their two young children, the palace said in a statement on Thursday.
The king and queen, as well as Crown Princess Victoria and her husband, Prince Daniel, will all be tested as a precaution, it said.
According to the tabloid Aftonbladet, the royal family gathered for the funeral of the queen’s brother last week, but they all tested negative for the virus before attending that ceremony.
Princess Sofia made headlines early on in the pandemic when she donned scrubs and began doing shifts as a healthcare assistant at the Sophiahemmet hospital in Stockholm, which she has continued to do part-time.
Sweden is known for its softer approach to the coronavirus pandemic, never locking down to the same extent as other countries. As of Wednesday, it had recorded a total of 230,514 cases of COVID-19 and 6,555 deaths.
READ MORE: Stranded Aussies number nearly 37,000
Natasha Robinson 5.45am: Advisers ‘gaslight’ medicos on Covid
Peak medical organisations and health and safety groups are calling for an independent body to replace the federal Infection Control Advisory Group, as doctors continue to express their anger at being “victim-blamed” for the high rate of COVID-19 infections among healthcare workers.
The Australian Society of Anaesthetists said it was “fast losing confidence” in the advisory group over what it alleged were inadequate guidelines on personal protective equipment and a failure to acknowledge airborne transmission as a major source of spread of COVID-19.
ICEG chairwoman Lyn Gilbert infuriated many healthcare workers last week when she said some of the practitioners who were most critical of the committee’s guidelines were doctors who “until recently had little interest in routine infection control designed to protect patients”.
READ the full story
David Penberthy 5.30am: SA school case linked to pizza bar
The notorious pizza bar at the centre of Adelaide’s Parafield COVID-19 cluster has been embroiled in controversy again after health authorities confirmed that a female student whose entire school has been plunged into isolation had eaten a pizza there.
The Woodville Pizza Bar, which is no longer trading, is already under police investigation after it emerged that three of its employees had lied about the business’s staffing arrangements.
But SA Health are still not convinced that the restaurant was necessarily the source of her infection, and have launched an urgent investigation.
Adelaide was plunged into lockdown last week following a lie by one of the pizza bar workers, a Spanish national, who was also working as a kitchen hand at a quarantine hotel. He misled police and health authorities by claiming he merely ordered a pizza from the business, rather than admitting that he was working there along with another man who had COVID-19 and was working shifts both at the pizza bar and in hotel quarantine as a security guard.
READ the full story
Additional reporting: Angelica Snowden
‘Keep Australians safe’: Dutton’s call to PM on ‘terror’ caravan
Peter Dutton has called for an independent assessment of a communications breakdown involving the Prime Minister over an alleged Sydney terror plot.
Student Ombudsman staff trained in anti-Semitism, Islamophobia
The new conflict resolution service expects students to escalate issues about racism, discrimination and gender-based violence.