Coronavirus Australia live news: Daniel Andrews says he will own hotel quarantine errors
Victoria’s Premier refuses to clarify when he became aware of second wave outbreaks, and says he doesn’t have answers to the debacle.
- Andrews ‘will own quarantine errors’
- NSW records 12 new cases
- Victoria records 471 new cases
- Supermarket warns of food shortages
- Victoria spike matches African nations
Welcome to live coverage of the continuing coronavirus crisis. Daniel Andrews says he will own errors made in hotel quarantine. Victoria’s Premier faced a barrage of questions over his government’s handling of the fiasco as Victoria records 471 new cases. Melbourne’s six-week stage four lockdown will cost the nation up to $12bn and unemployment is now due to peak at 13 per cent, Scott Morrison says. One of the nation’s biggest supermarket operators has told Scott Morrison that Victoria’s lockdown will lead to national shortages and fresh panic buying.
Olivia Caisley 11.10pm: Politicians face quarantine to avoid risk
Victorian politicians will need to quarantine for two weeks if they want to travel to Canberra to attend the upcoming parliamentary sitting.
Ewin Hannan 10.40pm: Building industry shutdown averted
Threats by builders to shut down most of the Victorian construction industry in days have been averted after the Andrews government made 11th-hour concessions allowing specialist trades and equipment to move between sites up to three times a week.
Greg Brown 10.10pm: Labor postpones national conference
Labor will delay its national conference — the forum where its policy platform is created by party members and unions — until at least next year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Greg Brown 9.45pm: Funds boost for mental health
Scott Morrison has put suicide prevention as ‘one of my government’s highest priorities’ during the COVID-19 pandemic.
AFP 9.20pm: Domingo insists ‘I have never abused anyone’
Spanish opera singer Placido Domingo, accused by multiple women of sexual misconduct, denied the allegations on Thursday in an interview in which he talked about getting over coronavirus.
“I’ve changed. I am no longer afraid. When I found out I had COVID, I promised myself that if I made it out alive I would fight to clear my name,” he said in an interview with the Italian newspaper Repubblica.
“I never abused anyone, I’ll repeat that as long as I live.”
Domingo, 79, had said in March he had in hospital for coronavirus in Acapulco, Mexico.
“It was a miracle to find my voice again... Two or three months ago I wasn’t sure I would be able to sing again,” he said.
He said the time at home with his family had been “an extraordinary moment, useful for reflecting on our lives, our choices” but it was time to “get back to normal”.
“Our lives have changed. And as you know, it’s even more difficult for me because of the accusations that have been made against me,” he said.
The Spanish icon, who won worldwide acclaim in the 1990s as one of the Three Tenors alongside Jose Carreras and Luciano Pavarotti, has been engulfed in a sexual harassment and assault scandal since August last year when allegations against him first surfaced.
He is accused of forcibly kissing, grabbing and fondling women over a period of more than 30 years.
In February Domingo apologised for “the hurt” caused to his accusers, saying he accepted “full responsibility” for his actions.
But just two days later he issued another statement saying that apology had given a “false impression” and he had “never behaved aggressively with anyone” or done anything to obstruct their careers.
The allegations “have hurt me more than the virus,” he told the Repubblica. “All that remains for me to do is to take note of the fact that for the moment I will not be able to sing in certain parts of the world, such as the United States and Spain, my country.”
But that will not be because the public is against him, for people “are constantly sending me messages of solidarity”, he said.
READ MORE: Funds boost for mental health
Matthew Westwood 8.50pm: Bands brassed off by oompah ‘veto’
Brass bands banned
Community bands have been thrown into panic by ‘conflicting’ advice from NSW Health.
Stephen Lunn 8.20pm: Melbourne just isn’t Melbourne right now …
Melbourne’s freeways are all but free of traffic, its famous boulevards empty.
The stream of cars usually passing under the Tulla’s “cheese stick” on the way to or from the airport had already been reduced to a trickle after the interstate ban on Victorian travellers.
Now it’s barely a drip.
Trams shuttle up and down Collins and Bourke streets, stopping more for the lights than for passengers.
Shops are closed, up to 400,000 more Melburnians can’t work, all the schoolkids are back home and everyone has a five-kilometre legal ring fence around their home, enforced with a $1650 fine.
“Permitted workers” must carry around a written document. If they need to put their child in care, they need another.
Those who dare venture out for one of the few “permitted activities” studiously stay out of each other‘s way. Interactions at the supermarket, chemist or post office are perfunctory, words muffled through mandatory face masks. Eyebrows have become the go-to form of communication.
Welcome to day one of stage-four lockdown, Melbourne-style. No one is smiling, not that you can tell. The nation’s most cosmopolitan city has lost its swagger. Instead it is cowering under the sheets as it stays home and looks to ride out a COVID second wave infecting hundreds of people each day.
Stephen Lunn 7.55pm: School stress impacts working parents more
Working from home and home schooling likely to be causing parents of primary school children to report higher levels of mental distress
AFP 7.25pm: UK urged to be ‘realistic’ in Brexit talks
Britain needs to be more “realistic and pragmatic” in Brexit negotiations with the European Union, Germany’s European Affairs Minister says.
Expressing deep disappointment over deadlocked negotiations on Britain’s future relationship with the bloc, Michael Roth also voiced astonishment that London also “does not appear to have any increased interest in discussing foreign and security issues” with the EU.
Mr Roth said he was “disappointed that London is shifting further and further away from the political declaration agreed between us as a reliable basis for negotiations.
“I would like those responsible in London to be more realistic and pragmatic,” he said, adding “the Brits” are especially known for their pragmatism.
Britain followed through on the results of a deeply divisive 2016 referendum and left the EU after almost half a century of integration on January 31.
It remains bound by the bloc’s rules until December 31 pending the outcome of negotiations about its future relationship with its largest trading partner.
But with the coronavirus pandemic wreaking havoc on the timetable, fears are growing that time is running out fast to secure an agreement that could prevent a messy exit.
London has ruled out extending the transition beyond December 31 even though chief negotiators have warned that an agreement lies out of reach because of a fundamental gap in major areas such as fishing rights and fair competition rules.
READ MORE: Fear over India’s huge hidden infection rate
Angelica Snowden 7pm: Bubble to allow NZ shearers in
Australia’s peak wool industry body is in talks with the South Australian and federal government to support shearers from NZ travelling to Australia.
AFP 6.30pm: Outbreak shutters huge PNG mine
A coronavirus outbreak has forced the closure of a major Papua New Guinea mine, its operator said on Thursday, as COVID-19 spreads to a remote corner of one of the Pacific’s poorest nations.
Ok Tedi Mining said it had decided “to immediately suspend operations for at least 14 days” after seven cases were detected at the facility near the Indonesian border.
The copper and gold mine sits in the remote Papua New Guinea highlands, employs thousands of people and accounts for around 7 per cent of the country’s GDP, according to company figures.
It is believed the virus was brought to the area by a mine worker arriving from the now locked-down capital Port Moresby more than 800km away, where authorities are struggling to contain several rapidly growing clusters.
READ MORE: Nation in turmoil over one failed policy
Jack Paynter 5.55pm: Police condemn planned Melbourne protest
Victoria Police have vowed to crack down on a protest planned for Melbourne’s CBD this weekend despite the city entering stage 4 lockdown.
In a statement, police said they were aware that “some people” may be planning to attend the CBD on Sunday to participate in a protest.
“This is a completely blatant breach of the Chief Health Officer’s directions and puts Victorian lives at risk,” the statement said. “This selfish behaviour will absolutely not be tolerated. Be assured Victoria Police will be responding and will take appropriate action.
“There will be a highly visible presence in and around the city to ensure the community is complying with Stage Four restrictions.
“We will have no hesitation in issuing $1,652 fines or making arrests on the day, if necessary.
“Police are also making inquiries into the organisers of this event and we will be holding them to account.”
READ MORE: Fears over India’s hidden cases
Eli Greenblat 5.35pm: Myer renegotiates debt deal as Covid hits
Store closures, the fall in consumer confidence and less traffic in its stores have taken a toll. Read more here
Rachel Baxendale 5.10pm: A breakdown of Victoria’s virus cases
The state’s health authorities have revealed details of the coronavirus situation:
• 2388 cases may indicate community transmission
• 7449 cases are currently active in Victoria
• 575 cases of coronavirus are in hospital, including 42 in intensive care
• 5628 people have recovered from the virus
More than 1,746,900 tests have been processed – an increase of approximately 25,000 since yesterday
Of the total cases:
• 12,353 cases are from metropolitan Melbourne, while 804 are from regional Victoria
• Total cases include 6534 men and 6816 women
• Total number of healthcare workers: 1388, active cases: 810
• There are 1435 active cases relating to aged care facilities
Rebecca Le May 4.50pm: Businesses push for easing of lockdown
The Victorian government has added metal fabrication to its complicated list of businesses that can operate under stage four COVID-19 restrictions and is now being called on to allow around-the-clock work permits for certain jobs.
The head of employer association Ai Group in Victoria, Tim Piper, said the Andrews Government made the change after heeding concerns raised this week.
“If something goes down, and inevitably it will, you often have to customise the metal fabrication very, very quickly to get it moving again,” Mr Piper told NCA NewsWire.
“You don’t want to have to go to another state to have it done. That has particular relevance to hospitals, supermarkets, cold storage places, heating that you might have to do in different complexes.”
Many of the new restrictions, which came into effect at midnight, make clear sense, such as excluding supermarkets, convenience stores, petrol stations, pharmacies and post offices from the wider retail sector shutdown while keeping roadhouses open to allow the freight industry to keep on trucking.
But other exclusions are surprising, including permitting thoroughbred, harness and greyhound racing involving only “necessary participants” and closed-set feature films already in physical production.
The building and construction industry is concerned by the new rules, which limit staffing at developments higher than three storeys to a maximum 25 per cent of normal capacity.
A Master Builders Association of Victoria spokesman said the State Government would hopefully provide more clarity at a briefing on Thursday afternoon.
The Victorian Farmers Federation has also sought more information on “an hourly, daily basis”, president David Jochinke said.
READ MORE: State lockdown ‘carries national price’
John Ferguson 4.25pm: Nation in turmoil over policy failure
Four months after the failed hotel quarantine regimen was introduced in Victoria we still don’t know the definitive who, what, where, when and how of it all. But don’t worry, neither does the Victorian Premier. Read more here
Anthony Piovesan 4pm: Andrews: I will own hotel quarantine errors
Premier Daniel Andrews has copped a barrage of hard-hitting questions about the government’s botched hotel quarantine scheme at Thursday’s COVID-19 press conference, admitting he would “own errors”.
But Mr Andrews refused to clarify when he first became aware of growing outbreaks in hotels across Melbourne.
“Mistakes have been made and I will own those errors, “ he said “In terms of who made decisions, how decisions were made, how they worked, whether enough safeguards were put in place is for Judge Coate to examine.”
When questioned about when Mr Andrews was first aware of outbreaks in hotel quarantine, he said: “When the chief health officer stood here, as did I, and reported that genomic sequencing data had clearly shown that at least a significant proportion of cases could be traced back to hotel quarantine.”
And after more grilling about whether Mr Andrews was advised earlier if police, the Corrections Department or the ADF should be involved in overseeing hotel quarantine, he said he did not have the answers.
“There‘s a decision to establish it, it then gets established, it’s then run by multiple agencies. And beyond that, we can‘t be certain, we can’t be sure, we can’t answer many of the very important questions,” he said.
“And that is exactly why we have asked Judge [Jennifer] Coate and counsel assisting and all the others who will support her to give us those answers. We‘re all fundamentally entitled to those answers.
“I will be accountable for those answers and any mistakes that were made. I‘m not for a moment suggesting otherwise.”
It comes after an emergency briefing on Wednesday, when Judge Jennifer Coate made it very clear public commentary about hotel quarantine was allowed.
“Under law, unlike a court, there is no general restriction or prohibition which would prevent a person from commenting publicly or answering questions to which they know the answers on matters which are the 10 subjects of examination by this board of inquiry,” she said.
Premier Daniel Andrews and Health Minister Jenny Mikakos have been able to dodge questions by calling for the official inquiry after it was revealed protocol breaches by security guards overseeing hotel quarantine had led to outbreaks in Victoria.
At the first hearing on July 20, the inquiry was told there was evidence that “many if not all” of the state’s cases could be linked to the bungled hotel scheme.
But Mr Andrews and Ms Mikakos previously refused to answer questions from journalists and the Opposition.
The Premier had countlessly baulked, saying the facts of the matters around hotel quarantine and the adequacy of its arrangements were “not a matter for me to determine or settle”.
Ms Mikakos, who did not appear at today’s media conference, refused to answer questions from her own government colleagues at parliament on Tuesday.
“I will take the member’s question on notice. I will provide her with a written answer in accordance with the standing orders,” she said multiple times to various MPs.
The highly anticipated inquiry was postponed until August 17 due to Melbourne’s stage-four lockdown
Three key medical and scientific witnesses were set to give evidence at 10am on Thursday, but Judge Coate announced proceedings would be delayed over the health risks of COVID-19.
“My first consideration is the safety of all those working with us and supporting us,” she said.
“I am acutely aware of the community’s need to have a thorough understanding of what has happened with hotel quarantine and the ramifications it has had on all of us.”
The inquiry’s findings will be handed down six weeks after Mr Andrews agreed to the judge’s proposed extension.
Ms Coate said more than 106,000 documents from government departments and private entities had been gathered as evidence so far.
“I am determined in this inquiry to conduct it with the forensic rigour and completeness that is expected of me, and that is the only outcome that you should expect,” Judge Coate said.
“It is anticipated that witnesses from private entities through to the most senior levels of government will be examined publicly in this inquiry.”
The State government has faced repeated criticism over its move to hire private security guards instead of ADF personnel to oversee hotel quarantine.
There have been shocking claims of security guards sleeping with people in quarantine, guards hired over WhatsApp and without adequate PPE or training.
Victoria suffered its worst day since the pandemic began on Wednesday, recording 725 infections. Fifteen people died, including the state’s youngest victim, a 33-year-old man.
READ MORE: Alliance beats air travel downturn
Courtney Walsh 3.25pm: AFL fans soured by Covid cavaliers
The AFL’s 2020 season has drawn record television viewership but there are concerns fans will be turned off should COVID-19 breaches continue. Read more here
Agencies 3pm: Cruise ship industry in rocky waters
They’d hoped to be sailing again by now. But cruise ships remain stuck in port, finetuning their new rules for coronavirus. Read more here
Imogen Reid 2.06pm: Anxiety over restrictions ‘normal’: Hunt
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has asked Victorians to support one another during the lockdown, giving assurance that it is normal to feel a level of anxiety caused by the tough restrictions.
“Many will be feeling anxious, some will be feeling depressed, many will have mental health challenges that are being exacerbated,” Mr Hunt said.
“Can I start by saying: that’s normal, that’s OK. These times are unprecedented.
“What we are seeing is magnificent support for each other, whether it’s on the telephone, whether it’s assisting those who have care needs, but these times are extraordinary.”
Mr Hunt provided additional information on the mental health support on offer during the lockdown, stressing the importance of recognising the mental health challenges people are facing.
“As the Prime Minister has said, and he and the Treasurer, along with myself, are very focused upon delivering an extra $12 million for outreach services as the Prime Minister has announced in addition to $2.6 million for psychological support for primary health networks - all up, a package of $14.6 million,” Mr Hunt said.
READ MORE: How to lose the Covid kilos
Amos Aikman 1.55pm: Uluru National Park reopens to visitors
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park has reopened to visitors following an agreement between local Aboriginal groups, park managers and tourism operators to suspend all flights from declared coronavirus hotspot locations.
A special Jetstar flight will arrive at Yulara airport on Thursday to collect about 40 guests who came from Brisbane on Monday, sparking the dispute that led to the park’s closure.
Representatives of the local Mutitjulu Community Aboriginal Corporation had expected no flights would arrive from hotspot locations (of which Brisbane is one) and were horrified to see passengers allowed to disembark without going into quarantine.
Locals blockaded the park entry gate in response, forcing it to close.
A statement released by Voyages Indigenous Tourism, the company operating Ayers Rock Resort, said all flights between Yulara and Brisbane and Yulara and Sydney had been cancelled until the end of the month, and all Melbourne flights cancelled indefinitely.
“Discussions will continue between both parties and in conjunction with the NT government and Parks Australia around the detail of future protocols which will hopefully provide the necessary assurances for the Muṯitjulu Community and allow for the reopening of Ayers Rock Airport,” the statement said.
Parks Australia confirmed the reopening, adding that it “continues to have measures in place at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park to protect staff, visitors and the Mutitjulu community.”
The long-term implications for Voyages remain unclear. Chief executive Grant Hunt said in an interview earlier this week that without regular flights, his firm did not have “a business”.
READ MORE: Traditional owners blockade Uluru
Dennis Shanahan 1.48pm: Victorian modelling predicts earlier peak in cases
Daniel Andrews has declared Victorian government health modelling on coronavirus infections suggests COVID-19 cases will begin to peak towards the end of next week and will begin to decline the week after.
The Victorian Premier also undertook to release official Victorian Health Department modelling forecasts after a few more days of “real data” on new daily cases after he announced the case-rate for Wednesday was 471, dramatically down on Tuesday’s record 725 infections and 15 deaths.
Mr Andrews said the health department modelling also suggested there would be continued outbreaks and new cases although it was hoped there would be a decline within two weeks.
He undertook to release some of the health modelling after more data and hoped it would indicate a fall.
Mr Andrews said he had not seen modelling revealed in The Australian on Thursday and nor had the Victorian Chief Medical Officer.
The modelling of the impact of the draconian Stage 4 restrictions suggested the average of new cases would not peak until the end of the third week of August at 1100 new cases and not decline until the end of August.
Victorian government sources said on Thursday that there was a great deal of modelling being done on the coronavirus case rate including by government partners assisting in the pandemic.
READ MORE: Peak weeks away: secret modelling
Brent Read 1.40pm: Covid breach sidelines Dragons player
St George Illawarra forward Paul Vaughan is expected to be ruled out of tonight’s game against the Sydney Roosters after admitting to breaking biosecurity protocols.
Only hours after it emerged South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett had potentially breached guidelines by visiting a restaurant on Wednesday, it emerged Vaughan had gone out for breakfast on Thursday morning.
“St George Illawarra have confirmed Dragons front-rower Paul Vaughan broke the NRL’s Covid-19 biosecurity measures on Thursday morning,” the club said in a statement.
“The Dragons are disappointed with Vaughan’s conduct and are working with the NRL and Project Apollo to determine his availability for the Dragons’ Round 13 clash against the Sydney Roosters.”
Vaughan attended a cafe for breakfast on Thursday morning but contrary to reports suggesting he used a false name, the Dragons said he was not required to sign in.
Regardless, he has seemingly breached biosecurity rules and now looks unlikely to take his place in the Dragons side on Thursday night.
READ the full story here
OLIVIA CAISLEY 1.33pm: Victorian MPs ‘need to quarantine before parliament’
Acting Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly has written to Scott Morrison advising him that Victorian MPs will need to quarantine for 14 days before parliament sits at the end of August.
In a letter written to the Prime Minister Dr Kelly said that Victorian Senators and MPs represent “a significant risk” to ACT residents considering the coronavirus crisis in the state.
“It also presents a significant risk for Members and Senators and their staff from other jurisdictions, with the possibility of seeding into other jurisdictions,” the letter reads.
“It also presents a risk to those who are themselves vulnerable, those at increased risk if infected with COVID-19.”
#BREAKING - Acting Chief Medical Officer advising that Victorian MPs need to quarantine in Canberra for 14 days before parliament sits - flags MPs could potentially do that at home but that's not the preference pic.twitter.com/vGD4dppOeA
— Trudy McIntosh (@TrudyMcIntosh) August 6, 2020
His advice is that Victorian politicians hoping to attend the sitting week in person should quarantine for two weeks.
It says that members and Senators should undertake a test on day 12 of quarantine and await clearance before leaving.
A separate statement from Speaker Tony Smith and Senate President Scott Ryan says that all Senators and members have been notified of the health advice.
READ MORE: Cruise ship drill ‘a crystal ball’
Staff writers 1.17pm: Andrews faces grilling over hotel quarantine inquiry
Daniel Andrews has faced a barrage of questions over his government’s handling of the hotel quarantine fiasco.
A day after Justice Jennifer Coate, who is leading the inquiry into the quarantine program, said the Premier and his ministers were not gagged by the judicial probe Mr Andrews stated that he does not have all the answers.
“The answers as to the operations of this scheme on the ground, any variation between one provider and another – all of those issues – we have not as a government gone and conducted a detailed inquiry,” Mr Andrews told reporters in Melbourne.
“We have instead asked a judge, at arm’s length from us, to do that work. Now, I could understand that there would be some urgency to us trying to find those answers, if we were still receiving thousands and thousands of people from overseas. We are not doing that.
“And I took the decision, a difficult decision, but it was the right one, I think, to suspend that program.’’
Asked if the national cabinet recommended that ADF or police be given oversight of hotel quarantine Mr Andrews said:
“I’m not acknowledging what I think might not necessarily be an accurate statement. ADF provided transport support in some states.
“I think the suggestion that the ADF were running hotel quarantine anywhere, I don’t think that is accurate.
“But, again, that’s not for me to judge. That is something that Judge Coate will look at and provide us with as much clarity as she can. Again, as I’ve said to you a number of times, the inquiry is not established to avoid scrutiny. It is so we can get the answers we need — all of them — and the answers that we are fundamentally entitled to.’’
READ MORE: PM reveals $12bn ‘heavy, heavy blow’
Rachel Baxendale 12.23pm: Victoria records eight more deaths
There have now been 150 coronavirus deaths in Victoria since July 5, after eight more people succumbed to the virus in the 24 hours to Thursday.
The state’s coronavirus death toll since the pandemic began is now 170.
The eight recent deaths include those of two men in their 60s, three men and two women in their 80s, and one woman in her 90s.
Four of the eight were linked to aged care.
There have been 471 new cases of coronavirus in Victoria in the 24 hours to Thursday, bringing the number of cases since the pandemic began to 13,469.
Premier Daniel Andrews said approximately 25,000 tests had been processed during this time, working out to a positive test rate of 1.88 per cent, down from 3.02 per cent from a record 725 positive cases and approximately 24,000 tests on Wednesday.
There are now 7449 active cases of coronavirus cases in Victoria - a net increase of 222 since Wednesday.
There have now been 2388 cases of coronavirus in Victoria where contact traces have been unable to identify a source - an increase of 107 in the 24 hours to Thursday.
This does not include 3969 cases which remained under investigation on Wednesday, as well as the majority of the 471 new cases on Thursday.
The number of active cases linked to aged care has risen by 98 in the 24 hours to Thursday, to 1533.
READ MORE: Coroner to probe aged care deaths
Richard Ferguson 12.19pm: PM extends offer to WA over Palmer border bid
Scott Morrison will offer his “assistance” to WA Premier Mark McGowan’s bid for a new trial over mining magnate Clive Palmer’s attempt to tear down the West’s anti-COVID hard border.
The Prime Minister withdrew the Commonwealth last week in an attempt to defuse tensions with Mr McGowan - who says the hard border has protected WA from coronavirus - but federal officials have already given evidence to the Federal Court and will influence the final decision.
Mr McGowan wants a new trial to reflect the fact the Commonwealth have now withdrawn from the case, and Mr Morrison said he would help in that regard.
“I received a letter from him. I will be writing back to him in a way that I believe will assist the WA government in what they’re seeking to achieve,” Mr Morrison said in Canberra.
“The WA government asked us to withdraw from the case with no other requests. We did that on Monday, we did that forcibly and comprehensively.
“But I am writing back to him today and I believe our response will assist what they’re seeking to do.
“The WA Premier, you know, he has a quarrel not with me on this at all. His quarrel is elsewhere.”
Imogen Reid 12.10pm: Alert on new venues as NSW records 12 cases
Twelve new cases of coronavirus have been recorded in New South Wales in the last 24 hours, bringing the state’s total number of cases to 3643.
Of the new cases, two are still under investigation while the rest were locally acquired and linked to known cases. Of those ten, one attended the Apollo Restaurant in Potts Point, one attended the Mounties club in Mount Pritchard, and eight are household contacts of known cases.
The two cases under investigation include the teenager from Newcastle and a man in his 20s from Sydney Local Health District.
NSW Health has issued a warning to anyone who attended the Jambo Jambo African restaurant in Glebe on 31 July from 7pm to 8.30pm to immediately self isolate for 14 days and get tested even if they have no symptoms, after the man dined at the venue.
The state health authority said anyone who attended at this time is a close contact and should get re-tested if symptoms recur.
“The man also visited a number of inner-city venues, patrons of which are being classes as casual contacts,” NSW Health said.
The venues include:
The Eveleigh Hotel in Redfern on 31 July from 8.30pm to 10pm;
Warren View Hotel in Enmore on 1 August from 4pm to 4.20pm
Mary’s in Macquarie Place, Sydney on 1 August from 6.45pm to 7.15pm
Cubby’s Kitchen in Sydney on 1 August from 7.35pm to 9.30pm
Burrow Bar in Sydney on 1 August from 9.35pm to 11.15pm
Woolworths Marrickville Metro on 2 August from 7pm to 7.20pm.
READ MORE: Huawei takes aim over TikTok
Richard Ferguson 11.52am: Victoria’s six-week lockdown to cost $12bn
Melbourne’s six-week stage four lockdown will cost the nation up to $12bn and unemployment is now due to peak at 13 per cent, Scott Morrison says.
The Prime Minister said in Canberra that new Treasury estimates show the lockdowns will cost the real economy between $7 and $9bn in the September quarter.
Combined with the damage of the stage three lockdown, it will cost the nation $10 to $12bn overall.
“This is a heavy blow, a heavy blow: 80 per cent of this economic cost is expected to be in the affected areas of Victoria, of around $6 billion to $7 billion in that state,” Mr Morrison said on Wednesday.
“The remainder represents a preliminary estimate, and I underline that, of the broader impact of confidence in other states and supply chain impacts from the shutdown of certain industries in Victoria.”
Melbourne’s lockdowns are expected to take 2.35 per cent off of really GDP in the September quarter.
Mr Morrison said the effective rate of employment - which has come down to 11 per cent in recent months - will head back to the peak of the “high 13s”.
The official unemployment rate will now peak at 10 per cent in December, rather than the original estimate of 9.25 per cent.
READ MORE: Victoria crisis ‘carries national price’
Sarah Elks 11.31am: Qld cops weigh court action over planned protest
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says the police are considering court action to stop a planned mass refugee action protest on Saturday.
Visiting the Gold Coast border on Thursday, Ms Palaszczuk urged organisers to cancel the action.
“Now is not the time to have mass protests...we’re in a world pandemic. Queenslanders are doing a lot to keep each other safe, and this would have the potential to take us backwards,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“Please, (I’m) asking people not to go ahead with this protest, there are other ways. I understand these are issues with the federal government, they should be raising these issues with their federal (MPs).”
She said police were looking at “all options possible to ensure this mass gathering doesn’t happen,” when asked whether court action would be considered.
Ms Palaszczuk has announced the state’s border will be closed to NSW and ACT from Saturday morning, it is already closed to Victoria.
She said she made “no apologies” for the “really strong” border measures, which she said was informed by health advice, not politics.
Ms Palaszczuk rebuffed Opposition criticism that the border needed to be closed because of her mismanagement, after Opposition leader Deb Frecklington previously called for it to be reopened repeatedly.
“They asked for the borders to be opened 64 times, they were relentless, relentless,” she said.
“I”m not listening to anything the Opposition has to say, I’ll be focused on the health advice...(it’s) about keeping Queenslanders safe.”
Queensland has recorded zero new cases of coronavirus overnight, from more than 14,000 tests conducted.
Ms Palaszczuk said tests were continuing to be conducted on a 68-year-old woman from Ipswich, who tested positive for coronavirus but subsequently has tested negative.
A further update will be given by Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young on Thursday afternoon, she said.
READ MORE: Supermarkets mull food buying limits
Remy Varga 11.09am: Woman charged over Geelong police assault
A woman, 25, has been charged over allegedly assaulting two police officers in Geelong after she refused to wear a mask and provide details of her identity.
It comes as Victoria Police issued 51 fines for failing to wear a face covering in the last 24-hours as well as 55 penalties for curfew breaches.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said officers approached the woman walking without a mask on Yarra Street in Geelong at about 3.30pm on Monday.
“The officers made multiple attempts to confirm her identity and the woman allegedly refused to provide her details,” she said.
“When the officers then attempted to arrest her, it’s alleged she became aggressive and assaulted them.”
The officers, a First Constable and a Sergeant, received minor injuries to their arms and hands.
The woman has been charged with assault police, resist police, fail to provide address as well as slapped with a $200 for failing to wear a face covering.
She was bailed to appear before Geelong Magistrates’ Court on 10 August.
Victoria Police have issued a total of 176 fines for health breaches in the last-24 hours.
Among the latest trance of penalties is a man buying snacks at a convenience store at 2.30am, a man not wearing a mask walking in Bayswater North more than 5km from his home and three men and one woman eating McDonald’s together on a footpath after curfew.
READ MORE: Jack the Insider — Covidiots aren’t new
Imogen Reid 11.04am: Newcastle on alert with second case
A second case of COVID-19 has been reported in Newcastle and is a close contact of the teenager that was diagnosed on Wednesday.
The new case is a male in his 20s.
Hunter New England Local Health District said they are continuing to investigate the source of the case’s infection.
“Since our alert last night (5 August, 8.15pm), a second case of COVID-19 has been confirmed in Newcastle; a close contact of the teenager announced yesterday,” the District said.
The District is urging anyone who attended the following venues to immediately self-isolate and seek testing.
– Bennett Hotel, Hamilton – Friday 31 July, from 5.30pm to 10.00pm
– Greenroof Bar and Restaurant, Hamilton – Friday 31 July, from 10.00pm to 12 midnight
– The Hopsmith Sports Bar, Wests New Lambton – Sunday 2 August, from 5.00pm to 7.30pm.
– Queens Wharf Hotel – Saturday 1 August from 9.30pm to 11.00pm
– Sydney Junction Hotel, Hamilton – Saturday 1 August, from 12 midnight to 1.30am Sunday 2 August
– McDonald Jones Stadium – Sunday 2 August, 7:30pm to end of game, Newcastle Jets match.
Meanwhile, a restaurant in Sydney’s south west has closed after a patron tested positive to coronavirus.
BBQ City Buffet Bankstown said it was contacted by Liverpool Public Health at 9.00pm last night and was advised a diner with COVID-19 had dined at the restaurant on Saturday 1 August between 7.30pm and 10.00pm.
“If you were at our venue during that time please immediately isolate and get tested,” the restaurant said in a Facebook post.
“We take COVID-19 seriously so BBQ City Buffet will be closed until further notice. All our staff will be undergoing COVID1-9 test and venue will be deep cleaned.”
READ MORE: Van Onselen — No excuse for cancelling parliament
Remy Varga 10.59am: Coroner to investigate St Basil’s aged-care deaths
Victoria’s state coroner is investigating deaths linked to one of the worst aged-care outbreaks in the state.
Judge John Cain will seek to determine the cause of deaths of residents of St Basil’s Home for the Aged in Fawkner as well as the circumstances in which they died.
A spokeswoman said Judge Cain had directed Victoria Police to begin compiling an investigation into the deaths of five residents of the aged-care facility run by the Greek Archdiocese of Australia.
“Under the Coroners Act 2008, his Honour must find, if possible, the causes of the deaths and the circumstances in which they occurred,” she said.
“His Honour is also empowered under the Act to make recommendations to prevent similar deaths in the future.”
There are 159 coronavirus cases that have been linked to St Basil’s as of Wednesday.
READ MORE: Andrews ‘free to answer Covid questions’
Dennis Shanahan 10.51am: Secret modelling at odds with Andrews’ optimism
Victorian coronavirus cases for Wednesday will show a big fall from the Tuesday record of 725.
The Wednesday total is more than 200 cases down on Tuesday, just over 470.
Modelling revealed in The Australian on Thursday suggests the daily total will shift but average cases will rise to a peak of 1100 in the last week of August.
The coronavirus infection modelling Daniel Andrews used to introduce Victoria’s Stage 4 restrictions on business, social life, shopping and industry is more optimistic about the impact on COVID-19 spread than the scenario revealed in The Australian.
The Victorian Premier relied on modelling which shows a sharper, earlier decline from the late August peak of 1,100 average cases a day.
But Mr Andrews has not released the modelling forecasting the coronavirus infections trajectory.
READ the full story here
Rachel Baxendale 10.40am: Victoria records 471 new virus cases
Victoria has recorded 471 new cases of coronavirus in the 24 hours to Thursday — down from Wednesday’s record of 725.
The number brings the state’s seven day average to 537 — the second-highest ever seven-day average after Wednesday’s 573.
No time has yet been set for Premier Daniel Andrews’ daily press briefing.
READ MORE: Andrews’ leadership superficial and a failure
Sarah Elks 10.16am: ‘Expect arrests’: Cops warn Brisbane protesters
Queensland Police have warned activists to expect arrests and “a very strong police presence” to prevent a planned protest in Brisbane on Saturday.
A refugee action group is planning a mass protest on the Story Bridge in Brisbane, with police on Thursday morning warning the action had public health implications, and safety implications.
“Now is not the time, and this is not the way,” Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said.
He said the organisers had not engaged with police, in contrast with the Black Lives Matter protest some weeks ago, in which organisers were happy to communicate with police.
“Our intelligence (is) they’re deliberately going to shut down the Story Bridge, that’s not acceptable,” he said.
Mr Gollschewski said the police were looking at every “lawful action” to try to prevent the protest.
“Once they enter the road, they’re committing an offence...that’s an unlawful act, we’ll take action,” he said.
READ MORE: Keating ‘elitist’ over early super
Brent Read 9.55am: NRL coach Wayne Bennett investigated over breach
The NRL is investigating claims that South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett breached biosecurity protocols by eating at an Italian restaurant in Sydney’s inner west.
Bennett, who is a member of the Project Apollo team, could be forced to miss his side’s game against Brisbane on Friday night if the claims stack up.
He could be placed on a Covid hold and be forced to undergo testing. A patron at the restaurant contacted The Daily Telegraph to inform the newspaper that Bennett was there.
If true, it means he could be forced to miss Friday night’s game grudge match at ANZ Stadium. Under biosecurity protocols, players and officials inside their respective bubbles are prevented from attending restaurants and cafes.
Bennett is due to face the media on Thursday morning as part of his weekly briefing.
READ MORE: Western forced to stay in their hub
Imogen Reid 9.47am: ‘Most difficult period in history’: Hunt
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt says Australians are going through the “most difficult period in our history” as Victorians endure some of the toughest COVID-19 restrictions in the world.
“These restrictions are unprecedented,” Minister Hunt said.
“People being locked in their house by day other than for an hour for shopping or work, people being locked completely in their houses overnight. It is like nothing we’ve ever experienced and we say it’s difficult but this is something that will help us save lives but we’ll have to get that tracing done so it’s every case, every day, every contact.”
Addressing the dinner that was held by South Australian Liberals which had over 700 guests in the same week the state government introduced limits on funerals, weddings and the amount of visitors to a private home, Mr Hunt refrained from commenting, saying he did not have enough details.
“As you say, that must have just come out,” he said.
“I’ll leave that to the South Australian Government to outline their circumstances and to make sure that everything is compliant and within the rules.”
READ MORE: Vaccine tipped for early next year
Sarah Elks 9.25am: Queensland records no new cases
Queensland has recorded zero new cases of coronavirus overnight, with 12 active cases in the state.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the state’s total was 1088 confirmed cases and 620,412 tests conducted.
Thursday, 6 August – coronavirus cases in Queensland:
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) August 5, 2020
• 0 new confirmed cases
• 12 active cases
• 1,088 total confirmed cases
• 620,412 tests conducted
Sadly, six Queenslanders with COVID-19 have died. 1,069 patients have recovered.#covid19au pic.twitter.com/Yq8zc6hKzt
Health authorities are continuing to investigate a 68-year-old Ipswich woman who tested positive this week, but subsequent tests have come back negative.
READ MORE: 100-plus nursing homes ‘non-compliant’
Imogen Reid 8.38am: ‘Stay away’: NSW Health Minister warns Victorians
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has reiterated his message to Victorians, urging them to stay away from their northern neighbour.
“What we’re saying to Victorians is – outside the border zone, don’t come to New South Wales,” Mr Hazzard said on ABC News Breakfast this morning.
He said the state government’s decision to put all people returning from Victoria into mandatory hotel quarantine was driven by the number of daily increases Victoria has been recording.
“That made the New South Wales government have to reflect on that... our health people and our health advice was that we really need to take that extra step, make it a harder lockdown on borders,” Mr Hazzard said.
Mr Hazzard said getting tested is “empowering” contact tracers to track down chains of transmissions.
“It’s terrible,’’ he said. “I think New South Wales at the moment is doing very well, our residents right across the state are making sure they get tested if they have any symptoms of a flu-like illness.”
Mr Hazzard expressed his sadness over the developing situation in Victoria.
“Our Victorian friends, sadly, are having a much harder time and I do on behalf of our communities want to express to everybody in Victoria our sadness at what’s happening there and our hope that soon you’ll get through it,” Mr Hazzard said.
Addressing Queensland’s move to bar people from NSW and the ACT from entering the state, Mr Hazzard said: “Whether or not we like the decision that Queensland has made is a matter for the Queensland government.”
“I have to say – one of the amazing things that’s come out of this is that we have all of these state and territory health ministers meeting regularly,” Mr Hazzard said.
“There’s no politics in it, we all work together and we all respect each other’s decisions and we listen to what’s happening in each state and territory and make sure it works for them and us.”
READ MORE: Smaller Virgin still full service
Jared Lynch 8.25am: National food shortage looms, supermarket warns
One of the nation’s biggest supermarket operators has issued a warning to Prime Minister Scott Morrison that the tougher COVID-19 lockdown across Victoria will lead to national shortages, fresh panic buying and could force more frequent visits to the shops as consumers struggle to fill their baskets.
The appeal was made through the Canberra-backed Supermarkets Taskforce, a grouping of major supermarkets convened to co-ordinate supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The supermarket, which declined to be named but was confirmed by The Australian, made the approach to the Neville Power-chaired National COVID-19 Commission advisory board, urging that committee to take concerns over continuity of grocery supply directly to Mr Morrison.
The Supermarket Taskforce has also raised with the Department of Home Affairs concerns over stage 4 business restrictions that come into place on Friday that will slash the capacity of abattoirs as well as severely constrict the operation and productivity of distribution centres and supply chains.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the national food supply is certainly a concern as the Victorian workplace restrictions come into force.
“I think a lot of our food supplies do emanate from Victoria, but, again, there’s a degree of each government having to be fleet-of-foot, if you like, and trying to respond to whatever problems come up,” he said on ABC News Breakfast this morning.
“So in regard to our food supply, we’re now being tested on that, but we’ll find ways around it. The governments around the country will find ways around it. We’ll work together to make sure food supplies still get through.”
Read the full story, by Jared Lynch and Eli Greenblat, here.
Rachel Baxendale 8.10am: Andrews permitted workers list released at 11th hour
Industry groups say they did not receive the Andrews government’s final list of permitted workers until about 11pm on Wednesday night — an hour before the restrictions came into effect.
Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos tweeted a link to the final list at 12:44am, 45 minutes after the restrictions began.
From 11.59pm, 5 August 2020 only these Permitted Work Premises may operate with on-site operations during Stage 4 restrictions in Melbourne, and only to the extent permitted https://t.co/nUoNWBq9xx #springst
— Jenny Mikakos MP #StayHomeSaveLives (@JennyMikakos) August 5, 2020
Consequently there will be Melburnians who only received confirmation that they could not go to work or send their children to childcare today after waking up intending to do so.
READ MORE: Miners stranded by border closures
Sarah Elks 7.48am: Permit-seekers for Queensland border face delay
People who live on the Queensland-NSW border will not be able to apply for exemptions to enter Queensland until Friday, hours before the border will shut.
Deputy Premier and Health Minister Steven Miles said police were still working out which locations in NSW’s Tweed Coast would be allowed into Queensland after the border slams shut on Saturday at 1am.
An online application form would unlikely be available until tomorrow, Friday.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Wednesday announced Queensland would shut its borders to NSW and ACT, the latter has no active cases of coronavirus.
Mr Miles said ACT needed to be shut out because there was evidence people from Sydney were using Canberra as a “backdoor entry gate” into Queensland.
He said it was “one of the tougher decisions” to close off the ACT.
Mr Miles said there was still mystery around Wednesday’s single new case — a 68-year-old woman from Ipswich — who originally tested positive for coronavirus. Subsequent tests have come back negative.
There will be another test today, he said.
Three women from Logan, near Brisbane, sneaked back into Queensland a week ago after allegedly lying about being in Melbourne. Two have tested positive for coronavirus.
Mr Miles said while there was still five or six days of waiting to find out if there were more cases connected to the Logan women, he was starting to breathe “a bit easier”.
It is understood there have only been two further people infected with coronavirus as a result of contact with the women.
Queensland’s latest numbers will be announced at a press conference later on Thursday.
READ MORE: Older Aussies ‘should shoulder Covid burden’
Imogen Reid 7.43am: Melbourne businesses wake up to reality of Stage 4
Melbourne’s stage four business shut down has taken full effect this morning, with non-essential retail shops forced to close and workers now required to apply for a permit in order to travel to work.
Businesses owners were directed to close up shop from 11.59pm last night.
Workers issued with a Permitted Workers Scheme permit will need to carry it as they travel to and from work or could face penalties if found commuting without it.
The lockdown also requires parents who need to take their children to childcare to have a different form – the Permitted Worker Permit (including childcare).
It comes after the Victorian Department of Justice’s website crashed several times on Wednesday morning as employers and employees rushed to apply for the permit.
READ MORE: Brakes on builders ‘risks total shutdown’
Imogen Reid 7.08am: 100,000 Victorians seek permits to enter NSW
More than 100,000 permits to enter New South Wales from Victoria have been issued to non-border town residents since July 22, The Daily Telegraph reports.
It comes after Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Wednesday announced the state government would be charging travellers from Victoria to stay in a hotel for 14 days.
Sydney airport will be the only entry point to NSW from 12.01 on Friday, except for residents of border communities.
READ MORE: Liars forced my hand on border, says Palaszczuk
Imogen Reid 6.55am: Newcastle school shut after student tests positive
Another school in New South Wales has had to shut down classes for the rest of the week after a student tested positive for coronavirus.
St Pius X High School in the suburb of Adamstown in Newcastle has closed for cleaning after it was advised by NSW Health on Wednesday afternoon that male student had returned a positive result.
A letter the school issued to parents said they were working with the state health authority to identify any close cases.
“We are now in the process of locking down the school. The school will be closed on Thursday 6 August and Friday 7 August 2020,” the letter said.
“NSW Health will be directly in contact to provide advice to any students or staff identified as a close contact.
“All students and staff are required by NSW Health to self-isolate until you are notified you are not a close contact.”
The student caught the Number 26 school bus from Hamilton to Adamstown on Monday August 3, at 8.20am.
Everyone who was on the same bus has been advised to self-isolate for 14 days and to get tested.
The teenager is also a member of the Newcastle Jets under 15s representative team and played a game against the Stanmore Hawks at Arlington Oval in Dulwich Hill on 1 August.
His teammates and the members of the opposing team have also been told to isolate for the 14 day period.
READ MORE: Supermarket warns on food supplies
Imogen Reid 6.40am: World roundup: Four die drinking sanitiser ‘faux cure’
Fifteen people have suffered from methanol poisoning in Arizona and New Mexico in May and June after swallowing alcohol-based hand sanitisers, leading to four deaths.
It comes after President Donald Trump suggested it could treat COVID-19 in April, causing the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue urgent warnings against the faux cure.
A study conducted by the CDC said severe methanol poisoning can result in blindness or death, and asked people to check whether their hand sanitisers contained methanol.
Three of the 15 poisoning cases were discharged with visual impairment. According to the CDC, all of the patients had a history of swallowing alcohol-based hand sanitiser products.
Meanwhile, the US government will pay Johnson & Johnson (J & J) over $1 billion for 100 million doses of its potential coronavirus vaccine.
Under the contract, each vaccine costs around $10. J & J said on Wednesday it would send the vaccine to the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority to be used after approval or emergency use.
In Spain, 1772 new coronavirus infections were reported on Wednesday, the highest daily increase since the national lockdown was lifted in June.
France’s number of daily COVID-19 cases reported was the highest in over two months, with 1695 new cases.
Authorities in Paris are expected to announce that people will have to wear face masks along the banks of the Seine and around Canal Saint-Martin, as well as tourist destinations. Since the start of the pandemic, 30,305 people have died from the virus in France – the seventh-highest toll in the world.
Colombia’s former president Alvaro Uribe has tested positive for coronavirus. It comes just one day after the 68-year-old was placed under house arrest as part of a witness tampering probe.
Globally, there have been more than 18.6 million people infected with the virus, while the total number of COVID-19 deaths is 702,479. – with Agencies
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David Tanner 5.15am: Victorian virus spike on par with African nations
They say you are judged by the company you keep — and for Victoria it would be an eclectic group indeed.
If Australia’s coronavirus-stricken state was a country, it would rank 13th in the world for the greatest increase in COVID-19 cases, in percentage terms, since June 26, according to analysis of data from Johns Hopkins University.
African countries dominate the top 20 countries, taking up 11 places including the top three: Lesotho, Namibia and Gambia.
Papua New Guinea, which had just 10 recorded cases on June 26 and is now up to 114, comes in fourth. The rest are a mixture of mostly developing nations from South and Central America, Asia, the Middle East and eastern Europe.
After Wednesday’s record total of 725 new cases, Victoria has seen its COVID-19 caseload increase by about 570 per cent since June 26, or almost seven-fold, to 13,060.
Read the full story here.
Dennis Shanahan 5am: State’s infection peak is still weeks away
Victorians face weeks of higher coronavirus infections, with average daily cases to peak at 1100 by the end of next week and staying above 1000 for eight days.
The Victorian government’s own estimates, obtained by The Australian, show the average number of new cases is not expected to decline until the last week of August.
It will remain above 300 a day even as the restrictive stage-four lockdown is scheduled to end in mid-September
Victoria recorded its highest number of COVID-19 cases and fatalities on Wednesday — 725 new infections and 15 deaths, including a man in his 30s who became the youngest person in Australia to succumb to the coronavirus. There are now 7227 active COVID-19 cases in the state, with 2280 having no known source and thousands more remaining under investigation by the Health Department.
Public health officials hope the tough new six-week lockdown, including an 8pm curfew and limiting people to 5km around their home, will mean case numbers “decline quite rapidly”.
Read the full story here.
‘Holy grail’ fish discovery comes with one big catch
The discovery of a rare, untapped, abundant and delicious food source off Australia’s southern coast is quickly shaping as an unsavoury battle.
Marles pays US an AUKUS advance
Australia has made its first AUKUS down payment to the US as the Albanese government looks to lock-in Trump administration support for the submarine program.