Coronavirus Australia live news: All in time for Anzac Day: PM lauds NZ bubble
A man has died in a Queensland hospital from complications related to COVID-19, officials have confirmed.
- No vaccine ‘hold-up’, supply fell 3.1m short: PM
- ‘In time for Anzac Day’: PM lauds NZ bubble
- NZ unveils Covid travel bubble with Australia
- Berejiklian responds to Turnbull decision
- Turnbull dumped from climate board
- Australia 90th in world for vax rate
- NZ travel bubble set to reopen
- Vaccine rollout delay at chemists
Welcome to our live coverage of the latest developments in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.
New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern has revealed quarantine-free trans-Tasman travel will start in a fortnight.
Gladys Berejiklian stands by Matt Kean’s ‘fraught’ decision to drop Malcolm Turnbull from the climate board. Airlines are gearing up for the reopening within weeks of Australia’s busiest international travel route, with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern expected to announce on Tuesday a two-way trans-Tasman travel bubble delivering a potential $5.3bn windfall.
Jess Malcolm11.15pm:Robodebt agency fails to halt fiasco
A Commonwealth Ombudsman’s report into Services Australia’s income compliance program found the agency continued to recollect debt inappropriately from Australians, and has more than 200,000 claims outstanding.
The federal government announced in November 2019 that Services Australia would no longer raise debts solely based on averaged income received from the tax office, following a bungle that led to hundreds of thousands of Australians being hit with debt notices falsely accusing them of being overpaid by Centrelink.
A settlement worth $1.2bn was reached, under which the commonwealth was forced to pay $112m in compensation to more than 430,000 victims. It was also forced to repay more than $720m in debts collected invalidly, and ordered that outstanding claims for about $398m in debts should be dropped.
Adam Creighton 10.30pm: IMF forecasts stronger growth
Australia’s economy will grow by 4.5 per cent this year — faster than forecasts released only three months ago — as a “vaccine-powered recovery” pushes the global outlook higher, according to the International Monetary Fund.
The Washington-based organisation, in its latest economic statement released late on Tuesday, forecast global GDP growth of 6 per cent this year and 4.4 per cent in 2022 — an increase of 0.5 per cent and 0.2 per cent respectively since its last outlook published in January.
Josh Frydenberg said the new figures — and a faster-than-expected fall in the unemployment rate from a peak of 7.5 per cent last year to 5.8 per cent in February — showed Australia was performing “remarkably well” compared to other similarly countries.
“Having outperformed all major advanced economies on the economic front in the past 12 months, there is no other country you would rather be in than Australia,” the Treasurer said.
The new forecasts came as Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe, in a monthly statement, said the recovery was “expected to continue with above-trend growth this year and next”.
“While there are still considerable uncertainties regarding the outlook, the central case has improved,” Dr Lowe said. “Nevertheless, wage and price pressures are subdued and are expected to remain so for some years … the economy is operating with considerable spare capacity and unemployment is still too high.”
Jess Malcolm9.45pm: AstraZeneca vaccine ‘is linked to blood clots’
A link does exist between the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine and blood clots, a top official in the European Medicines Agency says.
“In my opinion, we can say it now, it is clear there is a link with the vaccine,” EMA head of vaccines Marco Cavaleri told Italy’s Il Messaggero newspaper in an interview published on Tuesday..
“But we still do not know what causes this reaction.”
He said that “in the next few hours, we will say that there is a connection, but we still have to understand how this happens”.
Questions surrounding whether rare but serious blood clots among those getting the AstraZeneca jab against COVID-19 have undermined public confidence in the vaccine, especially after several countries suspended their use.
The EMA declared that the benefits outweigh the risks and should remain in use, but has also said that a causal link between clots and the vaccine is possible.
“We are trying to get a precise picture of what is happening, to define in detail this syndrome due to the vaccine,” Cavaleri said.
“Among the vaccinated, there are more cases of cerebral thrombosis... among young people than we would expect.”
The agency is expected to provide an updated assessment this week.
European Commission spokesman Stefan de Keersmaecker said the possibility of a link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and a rare blood clot affecting the brain are unlikely to derail the EU vaccine rollout, given the growing supply of other vaccines.
Mr de Keersmaecker said the EMA is studying the issue, and expects it to provide an updated assessment this week
READ MORE: Mass jab facilities ‘must be used now’
Tom Dusevic9.30pm:RBA triggers warning on home price boom
The Reserve Bank has signalled it is zeroing in on risky lending after house price inflation last month hit its hottest rate in more than three decades.
Following the central bank’s first monthly board meeting since CoreLogic’s March house price index surged by 2.8 per cent, the fastest monthly growth since 1989, governor Philip Lowe said the RBA was “carefully” monitoring borrowing risks.
On Tuesday, the RBA left monetary policy unchanged, with the cash rate and yield on the three-year Australian government bond at 0.1 per cent, and the parameters of its term funding facility and bond purchase program remaining the same.
“Housing markets have strengthened further, with prices rising in most markets,” Dr Lowe said in a statement. “Housing credit growth to owner-occupiers has picked up, with strong demand from first-home buyers. In contrast, investor credit growth remains subdued.
“Given the environment of rising housing prices and low interest rates, the bank will be monitoring trends in housing borrowing carefully and it is important that lending standards are maintained.”
Commonwealth Bank’s head of Australian economics Gareth Aird said he believed the RBA was “surprised at just how strong growth in new lending and prices has been so far”. “Using the word ‘carefully’ is likely to be a subtle acknowledgment that things have heated up a lot more than they expected, and they will keep an eye on it,” Mr Aird said.
Natasha Robinson, Richard Ferguson8.45pm: Mass jab facilities ‘must be used now’
Health experts have called for the establishment of a wide network of mass immunisation centres in Australia to provide an immediate boost to Australia’s flagging COVID-19 vaccine program.
University of NSW epidemiologist Mary-Louise McLaws, who is an adviser to the World Health Organisation, said Australia would need to perform on average 132,000 vaccinations every day if the October time frame of the bulk of the population receiving at least one shot was to be met.
“We’re not doing very well so far,” Professor McLaws said. “At the current rate they’re not going to make that deadline at all. They will need to increase the daily vaccination rate sevenfold if everyone is to receive at least one dose by October.”
The federal government says it plans to set up mass vaccination centres as the vaccine rollout continues but Professor McLaws questioned whether the plans were of the scale required.
“Their definition of mass vaccination and mine are very different,” she said. “You need a lot of them. I’m thinking of what is done during Ebola, polio, all of the vaccination programs since time immemorial.
“If people can’t get to the stadiums, then open up the parks in each suburb, open up the schoolyards on weekends.”
Australia has so far vaccinated about one million people at the rate of about 3.3 vaccinations per hundred people. In contrast, by week six of their vaccination programs, Israel had immunised 54 per 100 people and the UK 7.4 per 100 people.
Rosie Lewis7.55pm:Jobs to get priority over parental leave
The Morrison government has ruled out any changes to the paid parental leave scheme in next month’s budget, which will be used as an economic blueprint to take to the federal election, saying Labor’s more ambitious plan will “put a break on the economy”.
The attack came as Scott Morrison convened the first meeting of his cabinet taskforce on women’s safety and economic security, saying the group of female ministers would help frame the budget.
It marked the return of former defence minister Linda Reynolds, who was given the government services portfolio in last week’s reshuffle after she took extended medical leave following pressure over her handling of former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins’s rape allegation.
As the government tries to contain a backlash over rape and sexual harassment allegations and Labor seeks to make gender inequality a central theme of the election, Social Services Minister Anne Ruston confirmed that the existing 18-week, taxpayer-funded program would not be altered.
She criticised the lack of detail available on Labor’s plan, which Anthony Albanese has admitted would not be fully costed or committed to with a timeframe unless he won the election.
Opposition social services spokeswoman Linda Burney said the policy was something Labor would “work on very diligently on coming into government”.
Charlie Peel7.25pm:$4bn federal disaster fund sitting unused
More than 70 projects worth a combined $243m are vying for a slice of the federal government’s unused $4bn Emergency Response Fund, but only $50m will be paid out this year for natural disaster mitigation works.
The fund is supposed to pay out $200m a year to help local governments deal with cyclones, floods and bushfires, with $150m set aside for disaster recovery and $50m for mitigation, but no money has been spent since the fund was announced in April 2019 and legislated in December 2019.
A Senate estimates hearing last month revealed there were 74 flood prevention projects worth a combined $250m that had applied for ERF funding but were yet to be assessed.
Queensland councils in flood and cyclone-prone areas along the coast have criticised the federal government for failing to use the fund.
Federal Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud said the reason no money had been paid from the disaster recovery tranche was because the legislation prohibited the fund from being used before other disaster funds, such as the bushfire recovery fund, were exhausted.
He blamed the lack of money for mitigation projects on the time required to set up the proper processed to assess applications.
“As soon as the legislation passes, you can’t just administer the funds right away,” he said. “You have to set up the governance around it. All of the decisions are at arm’s length from me.”
He said he would announce the winning projects this month.
Jess Malcolm6.55pm:Barilaro backs ousting of Turnbull
NSW Nationals leader John Barilaro has backed the decision to remove Malcolm Turnbull as chair of the key climate body, claiming it would have been “detrimental” to the Liberal Party base.
Mr Barilaro said his office and other MPs had received a sea of emails in recent weeks criticising the decision.
“For the first time the Liberal base had spoken ... even the moderate side of the Liberal Party could not find this palatable,” Mr Barilaro told Sky News.
“This experiment has proven there is still a strong base.”
Mr Barilaro said the original appointment of the former prime minister still could prove “disastrous” for the upcoming state by-election in the Upper Hunter, following the resignation of disgraced Nationals MP Michael Johnsen.
“But to his credit, he saw today’s decision as the right decision to prevail.”
READ MORE: Dumped Turnbull ‘divisive’: Kean
AFP6.30pm:North Korea pulls out of Tokyo Olympics
North Korea has become the first country to pull out of this year’s Tokyo Olympics because of the coronavirus pandemic, Pyongyang’s sports ministry says, blowing the final whistle on Seoul’s hopes of using the Games to restart talks with its nuclear-armed neighbour.
North Korea’s Olympic Committee “decided not to participate in the 32nd Olympic Games in order to protect players from the world public health crisis caused by COVID-19”, said the Sports in the DPR Korea website, run by the sports ministry in Pyongyang.
But analysts said other factors may have been at play.
Rosie Lewis6.04pm:Payne reflects on ‘most difficult period in parliament’
Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne says the last couple of months, which has seen the government embroiled in controversy over rape and sexual harassment allegations, have been “the most difficult period” she’s experienced in her time as a federal politician.
Senator Payne, who is also Minister for Women and on Tuesday with Scott Morrison convened the first federal cabinet women’s taskforce, is the longest serving Liberal female senator.
“It’s been very, very difficult. And I don’t think any of us are in denial of that, that I’m certainly not. I have found it to be one of the more difficult periods, if not the most difficult period I’ve spent in this parliament,” she told 2GB radio.
“But what I have said and will continue to remind people of, no matter how difficult we find it as parliamentarians and as members of the government, to be working on these issues as they are coming forward. It is a thousand times more than that, more difficult, for those women particularly, who have experienced harassment or experienced violence. And for me and for our government, they are absolutely at the forefront of my approach and my thoughts in all the work that I am doing.”
Senator Payne said the taskforce comprising female ministers, the Prime Minister, Josh Frydenberg, Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack and Finance Minister Simon Birmingham would “identify gaps” in women’s safety and economic security and “make decisions on how to fill those gaps”.
Jess Malcolm 5.26pm:Man dies from COVID-19 in Queensland
A man from Papua New Guinea has died in a Queensland hospital from COVID-19.
The 77 year-old man was a dual Papua New Guinea and UK citizen, and was evacuated from Papua New Guinea to Redcliffe Hospital in Queensland on March 28.
He was being treated in intensive care.
“Queensland Health offers its sincere condolences to his family during this time,” Queensland Health said in a statement.
“Since the beginning of the pandemic, aeromedical crews have transferred a number of COVID positive, and potentially COVID positive patients to Queensland.”
The death will not be recorded in Queensland’s death toll statistics as he was originally diagnosed in Papua New Guinea.
Jess Malcolm5.22pm:Kean responds to Turnbull’s claims on dumping
NSW Energy Minister Matt Kean has rebuffed claims from former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull that his decision to remove the appointment as the new climate tsar was because of bullying by the media.
Mr Kean responded to comments from Mr Turnbull earlier today blaming the decision to dump him on the “thuggery” from the right-wing media ecosystem, saying they had no basis in reality.
“It was not at all about him being bullied,” Mr Kean said on Sky News. “It was clear there were very strong opinions about Malcolm Turnbull.”
“We need people who will bring the whole economy together ... love him or hate him, he was divisive on these kinds of issues.”
Mr Kean defended his appointment of the former prime minister, saying he was an eminent choice for the job.
He also revealed that he has not spoken to Mr Turnbull since releasing the statement on dropping his appointment earlier today, and was not pressured by Gladys Berejiklian to remove him.
“This was my decision. I don’t want to alienate parts of our base.”
Richard Ferguson5.10pm: 850,000 now vaccinated against Covid: PM
More than 850,000 people have now been vaccinated against COVID-19, Scott Morrison says.
At least 854,983 people have now had at least one jab as on this weekend, and 270,943 jabs have been administered by GPs.
112,830 Australians in disability support facilities have also been inoculated.
The Prime Minister on Tuesday said the country’s rollout - which is more 3m behind its initial 4m by April target - is doing well relative to an number of other developed nations.
“At this stage in the rollout: it’s actually better than where Germany was, it’s better than where New Zealand was, it was better than where South Korea was and Japan was,” he said in Canberra.
“It’s very important that people understand that the fill and finish process doesn’t involve
the little vial coming off the production line, and it goes straight to a Korea and goes to the GP or the or the hospital, where the states might be administered doses ... that’s not how it works.
“The capacity to distribute, the capacity to administer, the production of the vaccines are starting to increase. And as that occurs and in the weeks ahead, then we’ll see ourselves progressively working through what is a very large group of people.”
READ MORE: Trans-Tasman bubble: what we know
Richard Ferguson 4.25pm: Morrison foreshadows plan to attract global business
Scott Morrison says Australia’s corporate tax rate is internationally competitive, as he foreshadows more in the upcoming budget to attract global companies to the country.
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has called on developed nations to consider a global corporate tax minimum, as President Joe Biden proposes hiking corporate tax to 28 per cent.
The Prime Minister on Tuesday said businesses across the world wanted to come to Australia and he would announce more in coming weeks.
Mr Morrison also said the current corporate tax rate is competitive and that businesses benefit from a range of tax incentives in areas like research and development.
“Australia’s overall system is proving to be incredibly competitive and a lot more competitive than that analysis would suggest,” he said in Canberra.
“Australia does have an opportunity right now, and we are seeking right now to realise that opportunity.
“Companies from around the world, the best and brightest minds from around the world, are working out that this is where they want to be … I will have a bit more to say about that in the weeks ahead.”
Richard Ferguson 4.15pm: No vaccine ‘hold up’, supply 3.1m short: PM
Scott Morrison has denied there is any “hold-up” in distributing COVID-19 vaccines, saying the government missed its 4m jabs by April because it ultimately did not receive at least 3m vaccines.
The Prime Minister said on Tuesday that vaccines had to go through batch-testing before they were released, and vaccines currently in storage were not being held up.
Mr Morrison also said the first vaccine timetable has been delayed due to issues of supply.
“There is no hold-up. The release of vaccines has always been based on them completing those processes, so the fact that they actually have to get approved by the relevant authorities and do the batch testing, is not a hold-up,” he said in Canberra.
“It is a necessary part of the process to guarantee Australian safety, so to describe it as a hold-up would be incorrect.
“Secondly, you talked about the 4 million figure. The simple explanation of that is 3m – 3.1m vaccines – that never came to Australia. That is the reason. In early January, we anticipated we would have 3.1m vaccines.
“Those vaccines were not supplied to Australia, and that explains the difference between
the numbers you are referring to.”
Richard Ferguson 4.05pm: Feds ‘open’ to mass vaccination hubs: PM
Scott Morrison says he is open to developing mass vaccination hubs with the states, as he defends the speed and size of the current COVID-19 jab rollout.
The Prime Minister on Tuesday said the current supply of vaccine doses does not allow pharmacists to give COVID-19 jabs, and the focus on GPs benefits elderly and vulnerable Australians who are eligible for vaccinations now.
Mr Morrison also said he was open to “high volume facilities” — like the stadiums, warehouses and churches used in Britain and the US — later in the rollout.
“The way we are doing it at present provides the most care to those Australians,” he said in Canberra.
“When we move into the balance of the population, when we’re talking about people, in their 30s and their 20s and so on, then there are other options that open up.
“And that is the stage at which mid year and beyond, we were looking at things like pharmacists being involved in those distribution mechanisms. We were never looking at it at this stage of the rollout. That was never part of the plan and that was always very clear.
“Working with the states in terms of more high-volume facilities, well, we certainly haven’t ruled that out. But the nature of that will depend on whether it is the best and most effective way we can distribute those vaccines.”
Richard Ferguson 4.05pm: Bubbles for Singapore, Korea, Japan. eventually
Scott Morrison has highlighted Singapore, Japan and South Korea as possible travel bubble destinations, but warns it will still be some months before Australians can freely travel there.
Australia and New Zealand will have two-way quarantine-free travel from April 19.
The Prime Minister said on Tuesday that his government are looking at other countries for travel bubbles, but his government are not yet in a position to set up New Zealand-style arrangements.
“These things are regularly assessed by the Chief Medical Officer and we have looked at places like Singapore and Japan and South Korea, and countries like this,” he said.
“But at this stage we are not in a position to move forward on any of those at this point.”
Richard Ferguson 4.00pm: Morrison defends speed of vaccine rollout
Scott Morrison has foreshadowed a push at the national cabinet to release more information about Australia’s controversial COVID-19 vaccine rollout, as he defended the speed of inoculations.
Premiers attacked the federal government last week over the release of information showing how many jabs the states had not yet administered in their stockpiles, but not releasing the same data for the Commonwealth.
Mr Morrison on Tuesday said he wanted COVID-19 vaccine data to be released more regularly.
“It is a good idea for us to have more data transparency on these issues and that is what we will be discussing with the premiers and chief ministers on Friday. I will be taking that to them on Friday to discuss,” he said in Canberra.
“I think there is an interest and a keen appetite for more regular information. We are providing that weekly information but there is no reason why these figures can’t be done on a more regular basis, and we welcome that.”
Richard Ferguson 3.55pm: ‘In time for Anzac Day’: PM lauds New Zealand bubble
Scott Morrison says two way quarantine-free travel between Australia and New Zealand is the “first of many more steps to come” as the country begins to slowly open up to the rest of the world.
The Prime Minister opened up quarantine-free travel to New Zealanders headed to Australia six months ago, but travellers from Australia will only be free of quarantine from April 19.
Mr Morrison on Tuesday said he looked forward to the jobs the two way travel bubble would create here and in welcoming more Kiwis to Australia.
“This is the first of many more steps to come, I believe, as we get back to a normal, more normal position, not only over the course of this year but beyond,” he said in Canberra.
“I very much appreciate the arrangement the New Zealand government has come to today, we welcome them back as indeed Kiwis will be welcoming Aussies.
“And all in time for Anzac Day also which is tremendous, to see that occur in the true Anzac spirit of our two nations coming together again.
“This will mean importantly, jobs for Australia … that means more planes in the air, more jobs on the ground and in the air as well for our airlines.”
Matthew Denholm 3.53pm: Tasmanian mayor to contest state seat of Franklin
Labor’s national executive has installed Tasmanian mayor Dean Winter as a state election candidate in the southern seat of Franklin.
The intervention, foreshadowed in The Australian, followed the Australian Workers’ Union alleging “abuse of power” and “flagrant” rule breaches by the party’s state administrative committee in preselection processes that blocked Mr Winter.
Robyn Ironside 3.47pm: Airlines quick to react as travel bubble takes flight
Qantas, Jetstar and Air New Zealand have drastically increased flights across the Tasman in response to the two-way travel bubble allowing quarantine-free trips between Australia and New Zealand.
From April 19, dozens of additional services will resume from Australia’s major capitals to Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Queenstown.
The Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Adelaide and Hobart can also expect non-stop trans-Tasman services operated by at least one airline, and in many cases two.
Qantas and Jetstar will initially fly 122 services a week on 15-routes, carrying a potential 52,000 passengers.
The Qantas Group will also launch two new routes from Auckland to Cairns and the Gold Coast, in a sign of confidence in the travel bubble.
Qantas Domestic and International CEO, Andrew David, said in the past 12-months New Zealand had “never felt further away” but that was about to change.
“Restarting flights to New Zealand is about more than starting to rebuild our international network, it’s about reconnecting families and friends and getting more of our people back flying again,” Mr David said.
“Hopefully, stories of missed weddings and birthdays on either side of the ditch will now be a thing of the past.
“We know Australians are keen to head overseas again, so we expect strong demand for flights to New Zealand and there are many Kiwis who can’t wait for a winter escape to warmer weather in Australia.”
Air New Zealand chief executive Greg Foran said they were pre-loading 24,000 bottles of champagne for the first travel bubble flights, to celebrate the border reopening.
“I’ll certainly be digging out my passport for the first time since I joined the airline to head across the ditch to see my family and I’m especially looking forward to meeting some of my grandchildren for the first time,” said Mr Foran.
In a surprise move, Virgin Australia announced it would postpone plans to resume trans-Tasman flights from June 19 to October 31, with the exception of some Queenstown services in September.
A spokesman said the airline remained committed to trans-Tasman flying but was “mindful of evolving border requirements which add complexity to our business”.
With a fleet of just 56 Boeing 737s, Virgin Australia was focused on growing its core domestic operations, he said.
Passengers will not need to be vaccinated to board trans-Tasman flights, but will be required to wear a mask and to download the New Zealand COVID tracer app.
In some instances, possibly in a response to recent outbreaks, passengers may have to undergo a pre-departure test.
On arrival in New Zealand, random temperature testing will be undertaken, and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern would not rule out passengers being placed into quarantine, in the event of COVID outbreaks in Australia.
Ms Ardern said that was only likely to happen in the event of “multiple COVID cases of unknown origin” in an Australian city.
“People will need to plan for the possibility of having travel disrupted if there is an outbreak but to help people plan ahead and make decisions around their travel we want to share as much information as we can about our decision-making,” she said.
“Once we know about a case in Australia we will have three possible responses – continue, pause or suspend (flights).”
Despite the warning, the Australian Airports Association chief executive James Goodwin said their research showed people were eager to get on an aircraft and start travelling again.
“Almost 80 per cent (were) supportive of creating travel bubbles with countries where levels of COVID-19 are low,” Mr Goodwin said.
“Australia’s airports have been calling for a cautious and planned approach to broadening the scope for international travel and this is a good start.”
A one-way travel bubble was established for New Zealanders coming to Australia in October, with no COVID cases recorded as a result.
Mr Goodwin said he was hopeful more bubbles would be established as the vaccine rollout progressed.
“Australia should look to establish more bubbles with other COVID safe nations such as Singapore and consider developing pilot programs to bring in international students and agricultural workers,” he said.
“International travel is the key to COVID recovery with international visitors spending on average three times more than domestic tourists.”
Rachel Baxendale 3.35pm: ‘No room for complacency’ when Vic resumes hotel program
Victorian Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan says there will be “no room for complacency” when the state’s hotel quarantine program reopens to international arrivals on Thursday.
The resumption of the trouble-plagued program comes after infections in hotel quarantine security guards sparked Victoria’s deadly second wave of coronavirus last year, and after three transmissions of the virus in three separate quarantine hotels in the space of five days in January, with the cluster at the Holiday Inn hotel sparking a snap five day lockdown and the suspension of international arrivals.
Ms Allan said coronavirus remained deadly and highly infectious.
“We’re seeing it mutate into different strains and there is no room for complacency and that’s why we’ve worked really, really hard in terms of the work that’s been done particularly on the ventilation arrangements around the hotels that will be used from Thursday for the return of international flights,” she said.
Ms Allan said all hotel quarantine staff would have had at least one vaccination when the program resumes, with a small number who declined to be immunised, mostly for medical reasons, redeployed within the public service.
“We have got the vast majority of hotel quarantine workers vaccinated with at least the first dose, something like almost 5000 workers have been vaccinated and a further 2300 have had the second dose, and it will only be those workers who’ve had the first dose of the vaccine who’ll be working in those front line responsibilities in the hotel quarantine environment when flights resume on Thursday,” she said.
READ MORE:All hotel staff get free jabs ahead of flights
Rosie Lewis 3.05pm: Ardern shrugs off price gouging concerns
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she is not worried about price-gouging on Australia-to-New Zealand flights, as Virgin Australia says it will not fly south till September.
Virgin put out a statement on Tuesday saying it will only start flights to Queenstown from September 18, and then consider more flights across New Zealand after October 31.
“While we remain committed to trans-Tasman flying when the market fully recovers, we are mindful of evolving border requirements which add complexity to our business,” a Virgin spokesman said.
Ms Ardern said on Tuesday she believed there will be enough demand for Qantas and Air New Zealand plane seats.
“Airlines are going to make their own decision around when they choose to restart,” she said.
“Obviously we know two major airlines are very keen to start offering tickets to Australians and New Zealanders.
“And so I believe that that demand should be well met by those who will be operating.”
Rosie Lewis 3.00pm: Game-changer: tourism industry hails quarantine-free travel
The tourism industry has hailed the April 19 reopening of quarantine-free travel between Australia and New Zealand as a “game changer” that will provide a “much needed shot in the arm” for decimated businesses and travel confidence.
“The official start date of 19 April for two-way quarantine free trans-Tasman travel is a post COVID game changer and will go a long way to also help kickstart wider Australian domestic travel confidence,” Tourism and Transport Forum chief executive Margy Osmond said.
“The ‘buzz around the bubble’ and associated travel confidence will provide some relief to Australia’s long-suffering tourism, transport and aviation sectors as we welcome back Kiwis to visit friends and relatives, conduct business and go on holiday.”
Ms Osmond called on national cabinet to use the progress on the travel bubble to “put domestic politics aside” and agree on a definition of a COVID-19 hot spot and processes to deal with them.
“Additionally, ongoing federal and state politicking around federal and state vaccine roll outs negatively impacts travel confidence and detracts from the ability of our industry to survive and protect remaining jobs during this critical period,” she said.
“The message from the tourism industry is for all governments to maintain focus and work together on a unified approach to domestic borders and on vaccinating as many Australians as possible, with the view to opening additional international travel bubbles beyond New Zealand, and later wider international travel, as soon as it is safe to do so.”
READ MORE:Explainer: what we know about the bubble
Nicholas Jensen 2.50pm: Air NZ plots flights to nine Australian destinations
Air New Zealand says it’s “incredibly excited” at the announcement of a trans-Tasman bubble, which is due to begin on April 19.
Air New Zealand says it has been preparing for a trans-Tasman bubble for a few months now, bringing approximately 330 recalled crew back on-board and ensuring they are up to speed with training, along with making sure its international airports and lounges are ready for the influx of customers.
The airline will be recommencing travel to nine ports in Australia, with initial capacity at approximately 70 per cent of pre-Covid levels.
Rosie Lewis 2.45pm: Leadership forum welcomes travel bubble
The Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum, which has been working behind the scenes on a trans-Tasman travel bubble blueprint, says there will be “significant pent up demand” as relatives and friends reunite and business travel recommences between the two countries.
The forum’s co-chair Ann Sherry said the announcement the bubble would begin on April 19 was “wonderful news for the 600,000 New Zealanders living in Australia who will now be able to travel home to see families and friends and share important occasions”.
“It is also great for all the Australians who are keen to have a holiday in New Zealand, and New Zealanders wanting to holiday in Australia without going through quarantine on their return,” she said.
Her co-chair Greg Lowe said there were about 400,000 business trips a year across the Tasman before COVID-19 hit and that could now build back up.
Ms Sherry said travellers would need to make informed decisions about risks associated with trans-Tasman travel, such as the potential for short-term border closures if there are any local coronavirus outbreaks.
Nicholas Jensen 2.40pm: No new cases in SA as man remains in ICU
South Australia has recorded no new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours.
Health officials confirmed there were 1909 tests recorded to 8pm yesterday.
The state is currently monitoring eight active cases, all of which were detected in hotel quarantine.
A man in his 40s remains in a critical condition in ICU at Royal Adelaide Hospital.
Health officials administered 422 vaccinations across the state yesterday, with a total of 29,355 administered since the beginning of the rollout.
Richard Ferguson 2.35pm: RBA again leaves interest rates unchanged
The Reserve Bank has left monetary policy unchanged after its monthly board meeting.
In a statement, RBA Governor Philip Lowe said the board decided to maintain the current monetary policy settings, including targets of 10 basis points for the cash rate and the yield on the three-year Australian Government bond, as well as the parameters of the term funding facility and the government bond purchase program.
Australian economic data have mostly been stronger than expected in the past month.
Quarterly economic growth rose by 3.1 per cent, exceeding expectations of a 2.5 per cent rise, while business confidence hit a decade high in March, and consumer confidence remained upbeat.
READ the full story here.
Richard Ferguson 2.30pm: Bubble offers change of scene Australians crave: Ardern
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has told Australian tourists to “come and see us”, saying her country is safe from COVID-19 and there are many beautiful spots to travel to.
Ms Ardern said on Tuesday that her travel bubble plan would give Australian tourists the change of scene they craved.
“The first thing that I would say is that we are safe and we cannot underestimate how important that is in this COVID-19 world. We are a safe place to bring your family to come and visit,” she said.
“Secondly, we are fast approaching ski season and I know that’s something that Australians love to partake in and that’s rapidly coming upon us.
But even if you’re not a skier, I can’t begin the list, the beautiful places we have to visit. It is ultimately a change of scene that so many have been looking for.
“You may not have been in long periods of lockdown but you haven’t had the option. Now you have the option, come and see us.”
Rachel Baxendale 2.28pm: Victorian vaccinations pass 117,000
Victorian authorities immunised 1023 front line workers on Easter Monday, bringing the total number of vaccine doses administered by the Victorian Department of Health to 117,000.
As part of the federal government’s vaccine rollout, Victoria is responsible for providing vaccinations to workers in health, emergency services and other critical industries and public sector aged care residents and staff.
The majority of vaccinations are administered by the Commonwealth through GP clinics.
Richard Ferguson 2.27pm: Ardern invites Scott Morrison to take a flight to NZ
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she is hoping to see Scott Morrison face-to-face soon after announcing a travel bubble with Australia.
The New Zealand Prime Minister has spoken to Scott Morrison, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk about her travel bubble plan.
Ms Ardern said on Tuesday she looked forward to inviting Mr Morrison for leader-to-leader talks in her country “relatively soon” and dates are being discussed.
“We have, you all know, been delaying the leader level dialogue that we usually have at
the beginning of the year because we want to carry it out face-to-face,” she said in Wellington.
“I spoke to Prime Minister Scott Morrison last night to say today is the day the cabinet would be making those decisions. The first thing we talked about was when we could have those face-to-face meetings.
“Dates are being discussed. I expect it will be relatively soon. I’ll be looking to use the opportunity to take Prime Minister Morrison to an area that has previously enjoyed high levels of international visitors and that we’ll want to put back on the world stage.”
Richard Ferguson 2.23pm: Mask, temp check, app: How to navigate the NZ bubble
Australians who want to travel quarantine-free to New Zealand will be subject to some strict new protocols, including downloading Jacinda Ardern’s COVID-19 trace app and wearing masks.
Arrivals from Australia will only be on planes with others who have been in this country – including crews – for 14 days and they will be separated from other international arrivals at New Zealand airports.
Ms Ardern said Australian travellers will have to wear masks on flights and be subject to temperature checks.
“They won’t be able to travel if they have cold or flu symptoms. When they fly, they will be required to wear a mask on a flight and will also be asked to download and use the NZ COVID Tracer app for use in New Zealand.
On arrival, passengers will be taken through what we call “the green zones” at the airport – meaning there’ll be no contact with those arriving from other parts of the world and going into managed isolation or quarantine facilities.
“We will also be undertaking random temperature checks of those arriving as an extra precaution. All of that, alongside, of course, the usual welcome that we like to give those who are either our guests or are returning Aotearoa New Zealand.”
Richard Ferguson 2.15pm: Bubble plan to deal with virus outbreaks
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s travel bubble would suspend flights from individual Australian states if there are any contained COVID-19 outbreaks, rather than suspending the entire route.
Ms Ardern said she was now treating Australia as a “region of our own” but warned potential travellers they must be prepared for flights to be suspended or paused if there is an outbreak.
“In many ways we will treat Australia as a region of our own when making decisions on restrictions, albeit one with the complication of multiple internal borders,” she said in Wellington.
“To help make that work as seamlessly as possible, our officials are already working closely together.
“Once we know about a case in Australia we will have three possible responses when it comes to flights and access to our border, and we’ve captured these with a framework based on continue, pause, or suspend.”
The NZ Prime Minister said limited outbreaks in quarantine hotels would likely not see a suspension of flights.
An outbreak in an individual state may see flights from that state only suspended. But Ms Ardern said she would be prepared to suspend the entire bubble if there are dozens of mystery COVID-19 cases.
READ MORE:NZ travel bubble: What we know
Richard Ferguson 2.08pm: NZ unveils Covid travel bubble with Australia
Quarantine-free travel between Australia and New Zealand will start on April 19, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has revealed.
In two weeks time, Australians will be allowed to visit New Zealand without quarantining — as long there are not serious COVID outbreaks.
New Zealanders can currently come to Australia without quarantining here, but must do so when they return.
Ms Ardern said the new travel bubble would be a world-first.
“Cabinet was presented with advice today that conditions for opening up quarantine-free travel with Australia had been met,” she said in Wellington.
“The Director-General of Health considers the risk of transmission of COVID-19 from Australia to New Zealand to now be low, and that quarantine-free travel would be safe to commence.
“Cabinet accepts that advice and is confident not only in the state of Australia but also in our own ability to manage a travel arrangement.”
The bubble will begin at 11.59pm 18 April, 2021.
Debbie Schipp 1.55pm: NZ set to reveal start for trans-Tasman travel bubble
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will reveal a start date for a trans-Tasman travel bubble with Australia at a press conference scheduled for 2pm.
Watch the press conference live.
Richard Ferguson 12.40pm: PM chairs first meeting of women’s task force
Scott Morrison has chaired the first meeting of his new women’s cabinet task force in Canberra, as he aims to turn the page of a month of damaging revelations over sexual assault and boorish behaviour in Parliament House.
The Prime Minister was flanked at the task force meeting by Women’s Minister and Foreign Minister Marise Payne, whom he dubbed the “prime minister for women” last week.
Also present were Josh Frydenberg, Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, new Attorney-General Michaelia Cash, Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews, Social Services Minister Anne Ruston, Environment Minister Sussan Ley, Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price, Financial Services Minister Jane Hume and Assistant Minister for Women Amanda Stoker.
Recently-demoted Government Services Minister Linda Reynolds also attended. She left the Defence portfolio after taking a month off over a heart condition, in the midst of questions of her handling of an allegation former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins was raped in her office. The Australian later revealed she had called Ms Higgins a “lying cow” in front of her staffers.
Mr Morrison unveiled the task force last week to re-orient the government’s policies on women’s issues. He has added women’s safety to Senator Ruston’s portfolio, women’s economic security to Senator Hume’s areas, and added women’s issues to Senator Stoker’s current positions as assistant minister to the Attorney-General.
READ MORE:Scott Morrison's ministry of women
Nicholas Jensen12.30pm: No new local cases in WA
Western Australia has reported no local cases of COVID-19 overnight, with two new cases recorded in hotel quarantine.
The new cases are males in their 20s and 30s, both arriving from overseas.
WA Health is currently monitoring 18 active cases, with 923 people having recovered from the virus.
WA Health has administered 57,464 COVID-19 vaccinations, including 8,684 people who have received both doses.
Yesterday, 446 people were vaccinated.
Media statement: COVID-19 update 6 April 2021 https://t.co/blxEGiI225
— WA Health (@WAHealth) April 6, 2021
Matthew Denholm12.05pm:Labor considers intervention in Tas preselections
Labor’s powerful national executive will meet this afternoon to consider calls for intervention in Tasmania’s state election preselections, as leader Rebecca White backs the move.
The Australian understands the national executive will consider a call by the Australian Workers’ Union – now backed by Ms White – to add Kingborough Mayor Dean Winter to the party’s ticket in the seat of Franklin.
Mr Winter was blocked by the party’s state administrative committee, dominated by the Left faction, which strongly dislikes Mr Winter.
The internal stoush has overshadowed Ms White’s election campaign and multiple sources say she has now backed the AWU’s push to have the national executive add Mr Winter to the Franklin ticket.
READ MORE: Coalition in election peril
Nicholas Jensen11.30am:Berejiklian responds to Turnbull’s dumping
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has responded to questions this morning after her government dumped Malcolm Turnbull from its zero emission board, saying that she admires and respects Mr Turnbull but said she stood by Energy Minister Matt Kean’s decision.
Ms Berejiklian said she had nothing to add beyond Mr Kean’s statement this morning, in which he said the “focus should not be on personality”.
“I accept what Minister Kean said in his statement and it is unfortunately fraught for everyone concerned and it has proven to be a distraction,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“I can’t stress enough my admiration and respect for former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull who has made an outstanding contribution to Australia.
“We should collectively respect our former prime ministers, irrespective of how we vote.”
Asked whether the backflip was related to the by-election in the Upper Hunter, Ms Berejiklian said: “This has nothing to do with the by-election and Minister Kean’s statement stands on its own and I think the comments he made in the statement were pretty true”.
Ms Berejiklian concluded by saying: “Whether you agree with (Mr Turnbull) or not, he’s always been very courageous in his views and that’s something that should be respected”.
READ MORE: Amping up rooftop solar with batteries for ‘burbs
Nicholas Jensen11.15am: NSW records no new local cases
NSW has recorded no local cases of COVID-19, with seven cases of the virus recorded in hotel quarantine.
There were 4,819 test results received across the state in the past 24 hours, with health officials monitoring 40 active cases, none of whom are in ICU.
NSW recorded no new locally acquired cases of #COVID19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. Seven new cases were acquired overseas, bringing the total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 5,121.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) April 6, 2021
There were 4,819 tests reported to 8pm last night. pic.twitter.com/22jCjZ2wtN
Temporary restrictions for Tweed Shire Council, Ballina Shire Council, Byron Shire Council and Lismore City Council were lifted at 11.59pm last night.
However, NSW Health has warned this does not change the 14 day self-isolation instructions issued to a “large number of people who are close contacts”
NSW Health said 813 vaccinations were administered on Monday, bringing the total number to 127,339.
READ MORE:Younger people baulk at vaccine
Nicholas Jensen10.20am: Qld records no new cases in 5348 tests
Queensland has recorded no cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours.
There were 5,348 test results received across the state in the past 24 hours, with health authorities monitoring 70 active cases.
QLD Health said 1409 vaccinations were administered on Sunday, bringing the total number to 89,350.
Queensland #COVID19 update 06/04/21
— Queensland Health (@qldhealthnews) April 5, 2021
Today we have recorded 0 new cases of COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/UPvXpNfhpZ
Max Maddison 9.50am: Turnbull dumped from climate board
NSW Energy Minister Matt Kean has backflipped on his decision to appoint Malcolm Turnbull as his climate energy tsar, saying the appointment will no longer go ahead.
After fierce public and party criticism of the decision to appoint the former prime minister as chair of the Net Zero Emissions and Clean Economy Board, Mr Kean relented to the pressure, releasing a statement on Monday morning saying the “focus should not be on personality”.
“However, no person’s role on the Board should distract from achieving results for the NSW people or from the Government’s work in delivering jobs and opportunities for the people of NSW” Mr Kean said
“For this reason, I have decided not to proceed with his appointment as chair.”
READ the full story
Anthony Piovesan9.30am:Australia ranked 90th in world for vaccination rate
The speed of Australia‘s vaccination rate is ranked just 90th in the world, as experts warn the coronavirus is mutating faster than the country is administering jabs.
University of New South Wales strategic health policy consultant Adjunct Professor Bill Bowtell said Australia’s rate of cumulative doses per hundred was 2.34.
“We are somewhere about 90th in the world – sandwiched between Bolivia and Albania – now, however you want to spin it we are not doing very well,” he told 3AW on Tuesday morning.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison promised an end of March target of four million jabs administered, but fewer than a million have been given.
According to data Australia was languishing at the foot of the top 100 countries in the world for the total number of vaccinations administered for hundred people.
By mid-march the population vaccinated in Australia was just at 0.53 per cent.
“There are 97 per cent of Australians this morning who aren‘t vaccinated – this is not going well,” professor Bowtell said.
“In the world, the virus is mutating faster than we in Australia are vaccinating.
“Most of the other countries in the world … have got this through their head that they need to mobilise urgently to get ahead of the variants of the virus that are spreading in the world – It’s a very serious situation.”
READ the full story
Nicholas Jensen9.00am:Victoria records no new cases
Victoria has recorded no new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours.
There were 7,353 test results received across the state in the past 24 hours, with health authorities monitoring one active case, an international flight crew member who tested positive on March 29.
Victorian Health said 443 vaccinations were administered on Sunday, bringing the total number to 116,677.
Yesterday there were no new cases reported. 7,353 test results were received. Got symptoms? Get tested - #EveryTestHelps.
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) April 5, 2021
More later: https://t.co/lIUrl0ZEco#COVID19Vic#COVID19VicDatapic.twitter.com/RGi4rOZrvT
Richard Ferguson8.50am: Shorten: indemnify vax workers, boost GPs
Former Labor leader Bill Shorten has called on Scott Morrison to boost the penalty rates of vaccine workers and compensate GPs to hasten the slow COVID-19 rollout.
In a four point plan on Tuesday, Mr Shorten – now the opposition government services spokesman – said the government should get more GPs on board for the rollout, and secure vaccine workforce contractors against any losses.
Mr Shorten said bigger penalty rates for vaccine workers would lead to a greater number of vaccinations on weekends and public holidays, and suggested government funds could be used to help GPs set up day clinics to vaccinate more people.
“One, let’s involve the GPs of Australia and the delivery of it. Only 4600 GPs at GP businesses out of about 8600 are involved,” he told the Nine Network.
“Two, we have indemnified big pharma for the rollout, why not do that for the big workers administering.
“Three, why don’t we add money to pay penalty rates to the workforce so people are able to work weekends and after hours.
“Another good idea, if you are going to ask GPs to set up day clinics and for whatever reason they make a loss, say we will back you in for the cost of setting up day clinics.”
READ MORE:States give PM election headache
Nicholas Jensen8.40am:Canavan: Qld lockdown not critical in stopping spread
Nationals Senator Matt Canavan has criticised the Queensland government decision to enact a snap three-day lockdown last week, saying: “I don’t see the need for these types of lockdowns because they don’t seem to be critical in stopping any spread”.
“We’ve seen at least four outbreaks from hotel quarantine – just before Christmas last year – all of them have been associated with lockdowns after the event,” Mr Canavan said.
“I think sensible proportions on travel and sensible behavioural strategies are the right way to go, but lockdowns don’t seem to do much … We’ve had a three day lockdown in Brisbane while infected people have been walking around for weeks, but we haven’t had a significant spread.”
Asked to respond to problems of vaccine supply and the mounting tensions between the states and Canberra, Mr Canavan said transparent data was needed to end the blame game.
“It’s my understanding that the state governments have objected to data being released on how many vaccines there are and how many have been given to states – that was something that was really discussed at last national cabinet,” he said.
“I don’t think the Australian people want a Queensland government that has a sign on its desk saying ‘the buck never stops here’.”
Mr Canavan was also asked to respond to Queensland Deputy Premier’s Steven Miles claim that the Prime Minister was using the vaccine rollout to distract from the issue of treatment of women in Canberra.
“I was a bit surprised to hear Mr Miles say that,” he said. “And if Mr Miles thinks billions of dollars of costs on small businesses in Queensland is somehow a distraction, it shows he is completely out of touch with what is occurring on the ground”.
“People lost their jobs in the last week and people have really struggled.”
READ MORE:Premier backs Miles in vaccine row
Richard Ferguson8.35am: Kidd won’t rule out mass vaccination hubs
Acting chief medical officer Michael Kidd says he is not ruling out the use of US-style mass vaccination hubs to speed up the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
Dr Kidd on Tuesday defended the slowness of the rollout, saying it is proportional population-wise to the rollout in the United States where they are using stadiums as vaccination sites.
As Labor calls on Scott Morrison to reconsider mass vaccination hubs, Dr Kidd said the Commonwealth was in discussions with the states about the use of vaccination sites.
“We’re not ruling that out. We’re working with the states and territories on the additional sites which the states and territories will continue to be setting up,” Dr Kidd told ABC News.
“We’ve already seen the plans from NSW. Each state and territory is looking at what is the best way to meet the needs of their local population and to get the vaccine out to the people of Australia.
“If you look at the equivalent figures, we’re told about the Americans delivering a million doses a day, well, population wise we’re actually delivering the equivalent of more than that here in Australia and it is continuing to rise.”
READ MORE:Portrait of a political assassin
Nicholas Jensen8.10am:UQ reworking dumped vaccine ‘under radar’
A new study based on the University of Queensland’s aborted COVID-19 vaccine suggests it is effective in combating the virus after one inoculation, with the potential to be stored at fridge temperature.
The university’s vaccine research team is now attempting to accelerate the vaccine technology past the research stage to demonstrate it was still a powerful preventative against COVID-19.
Leader of the research team Professor Paul Young told The Courier-Mail his scientists were continuing to rework and progress the vaccine, saying “it would need significant funding if it was to be returned to human trials”.
“We are working day to day and moving the technology forward but we are trying to stay under the radar as the focus needs to be on the AstraZeneca vaccine that is being rolled out as it is our best line of offence,” Professor Young said.
The vaccine’s trial was abruptly ended last year after some patients recorded false-positive HIV results.
Professor Young said this was due to the trial’s unique “clamp technology” which combined two fragments of a protein found in HIV.
However, new data suggests the technology is effective after one jab and is stable at fridge temperature.
The University of Queensland vaccine was one of the four the federal government had committed to purchasing last year, with plans to produce more than 50 million doses.
READ MORE:Plague panic chokes liberalism
Richard Ferguson8.05am: Labor urges mass vaccination hubs, turbocharge rollout
Labor has called on Scott Morrison to reconsider mass vaccination hubs and turbocharge efforts to get pharmacists to give out COVID-19 jabs.
The mass rollout of vaccinations to Australians has been pushed back by at least a month, with pharmacists revealing they will not start administering jabs until June, as experts warn the program’s reliance on GPs could create further delays in inoculating the nation from COVID-19.
Opposition health spokesman Mark Butler said on Tuesday that he could not understand the government’s reluctance to use mass vaccination hubs – with warehouses and stadiums being used in countries like Britain – and also demanded pharmacists be utilised sooner.
“I don’t understand why the commonwealth is so resistant to an idea that’s been rolled out in pretty much every country I’ve looked at around the world,” Mr Butler told ABC radio.
“We should bring on pharmacists sooner. At the moment it doesn’t look like pharmacists will be brought into the strategy until June at the latest.
“I don’t think the numbers lie. And the numbers show how far behind we are … the strategy put together by the commonwealth is not working.”
READ MORE: Younger people baulk at vaccine
Nicholas Jensen7.45am:SA man still critical, likely on ventilator
A man in his 40s who was rushed to Royal Adelaide Hospital after contracting the South African variant of COVID-19 remains in a critical condition.
Medical officials say it is almost certain that the man has been put on a ventilator to keep him alive.
The man remains in ICU, and is one of 13 active cases in South Australia with COVID-19, all of whom acquired the virus overseas.
Yesterday Acting Chief Public Health Officer Dr Michael Cusack said the man had been suffering breathlessness and was moved from a medi-hotel to hospital.
Australian Medical Association Vice President Dr Chris Moy told the ABC that because the South African variant was so contagious “the chances of it escaping a controlled environment is much higher”.
But he added the Royal Adelaide Hospital has the right environment and equipment to keep the virus at bay.
The man is the first person to be admitted to ICU with COVID-19 in South Australia since last May.
READ MORE: Vax rollout delay hits chemists
Nicholas Jensen7.15am:US records 4 million vaccinations in one day
The US has broken new ground in its vaccination program over the weekend after inoculating more than four million people on Saturday.
More than 32 per cent of the population has already received at least one dose of one of the three COVID-19 vaccines available, while more than 61 million people have had two jabs.
Last week’s daily average topped three million vaccinations.
“It’s going to happen. It will. Every day you get four million, three million people vaccinated, you get closer and closer to control,” White House Chief Medical Officer Dr Anthony Fauci said.
“Just hang in there a bit longer and the vaccinations in this country are going to override the surge in the virus.”
Despite the accelerated rollout, concerns remain that the virus is spreading in parts of the US, which could trigger a fourth wave if the vaccination program is not able to keep up.
In the past week, an average of 64,000 new cases were reported across the country, marking an 18 per cent rise from the average a fortnight earlier.
Michigan is the state causing US health authorities the greatest concern, with the infection rate up by 118 per cent from two weeks ago.
READ MORE:US lead points to early gains for stocks
Nicholas Jensen7am:US to supply vaccine to nations in need
The US is preparing to ramp up its vaccine assistance program abroad and “will not seek favours in return”, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.
While the country’s main priority was to combat COVID-19 at home, Mr Blinken said the US remained committed to helping other countries in vaccine supply.
“We are exploring options to share more with other countries going forward. We believe that we’ll be in a position to do much more on this front,” Mr Blinken said.
“By helping bring to a close one of the deadliest pandemics in human history, we can show the world once again what American leadership and American ingenuity can do.”
Mr Blinken acknowledged growing desperation in parts of the world, saying: “I promise we’re moving as fast as possible.”
In a veiled criticism of China and Russia, Mr Blinken said the US would remain true to its “core values” on COVID-19 relief and not seek to play international politics.
“We won’t trade shots in arms for political favours.”
READ MORE:Karl Rove — ‘Biden’s election claims are plain malarkey’
Nicholas Jensen6.45am:UK may offer different vaccine to under-30s
Britain’s health regulator is considering a proposal to restrict the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in younger people following concerns it triggers very rare blood clots, especially among young women.
The news was broken by Channel 4 on Sunday, reporting: “Two senior sources have told this program that while the data is still unclear, there are growing arguments to justify offering younger people, below the age of 30 at the very least, a different vaccine.”
Previously the UK regulator had insisted the benefits of the vaccine far outweighed any possible risk of blood clots.
The regulator has not responded to the Channel 4 report.
Is the UK medicines regulator about to stop giving the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab to younger people? @cathynewman reports. https://t.co/hmdbjucVqD
— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) April 5, 2021
READ MORE:Adam Creighton — Plague panic chokes liberalism
Nicholas Jensen6.30am:UK restaurants, hairdressers, pubs set to reopen
Britain is set to relax more public health restrictions at the beginning of next week after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the country was on course to reopen its economy ahead of the summer.
After months of lockdown and an accelerated vaccination program, pubs and restaurants serving outside can reopen next week, along with non-essential shops, gyms and hairdressers.
Mr Johnson said the situation in neighbouring countries meant the UK “cannot afford to be complacent”.
While England is preparing to move to stage two of a four-step reopening plan, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland — who set their own health policies — look to be adopting a similar time frame.
We set out our roadmap and we’re sticking to it.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) April 5, 2021
It is by being cautious, by monitoring the data at every stage, and by following the rules – remembering hands, face, space and fresh air – that we hope together to make this roadmap to freedom irreversible. pic.twitter.com/EQM74Muu3p
“We can see the waves of sickness afflicting other countries,” Mr Johnson said at a press conference on Monday. “We’ve seen how this story goes.”
The easing of restrictions comes as the government also published an update on COVID-19 certificates, which could make possible the return of mass events, international travel and social distancing rules.
However, the government could not confirm if international travel would resume on May 17 “given the state of the pandemic abroad and until the picture is clearer”.
THREAD 4/4: COVID-19 press conference slides (5 April 2021)
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) April 5, 2021
Test 4: Our assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new Variants of Concern
âž¡ï¸ https://t.co/8mksGcs4zxpic.twitter.com/mxNin3YhBV
READ MORE:Jacquelin Magnay — What happened to freedom-loving Boris?
Nicholas Jensen6.15am:India introduces new restrictions to combat spike
India continues to bolster its response to the COVID-19 pandemic after recording its highest day of infections since last September.
The latest outbreak is concentrated across the western state of Maharashtra, which includes Mumbai, India’s most populous city.
Overnight (AEDT), health officials introduced a curfew and closed of restaurants and places of worship on weekends.
On Sunday, a state government order said all shops except essential services would remain shut until the end of the month.
However, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is resisting pressure to reimpose a national lockdown.
Mr Modi has called on a specialist team to investigate why the state has experienced such a sharp spike in cases.
More than 160,000 people have died of the virus in India, with a total of 12.5 million confirmed infections.
READ MORE:Editorial — IMF has the wrong COVID-19 prescription
Rosie Lewis5am:Airlines prepare for opening of NZ travel bubble
Airlines are gearing up for the reopening within weeks of Australia’s busiest international travel route, with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern expected to announce on Tuesday a two-way trans-Tasman travel bubble delivering a potential $5.3bn windfall.
Quarantine-free travel between Australia and New Zealand is expected to begin on April 12 or 19, according to federal government and industry sources.
Trade and Tourism Minister Dan Tehan said a two-way travel bubble with New Zealand would be “another major step towards further confidence returning to our tourism industry” after Australia’s major airlines recorded near-normal flight bookings over the Easter long weekend.
Before the COVID-19 crisis, 7.27 million people travelled between Australia and New Zealand on 47,555 flights each year, making the trans-Tasman route one of the world’s busiest international corridors.
Read the full story, by Rosie Lewis and Robyn Ironside, here.
Greg Brown4.45am:COVID-19 vaccine rollout delay strikes pharmacies
The mass rollout of vaccinations to Australians has been pushed back by at least a month, with pharmacists revealing they will not start administering jabs until June, as experts warn the program’s reliance on GPs could create further delays in inoculating the nation from COVID-19.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison will use Friday’s national cabinet meeting to push for daily vaccine data to be made public, amid simmering tensions between the federal government and the states over the slowness of the rollout.
With the European Union blocking more than three million jabs from entering Australia, CSL revealed it has 2.5 million doses of domestically made AstraZeneca vaccine that “have now begun to be released”, with an aim to reach an output of one million doses a week “as soon as possible”.
Read the full story, by Greg Brown and Ben Packham, here.
Ben Packham4.30am:Pandemic forces business to slow down green reforms
More than half of Australian firms plan to wind back environmental initiatives due to the financial impacts of the COVID-19 crisis despite mounting pressure from shareholders, clients and employees for businesses to become more sustainable.
However, a new international survey has found the proportion of Australian chief executives planning to cut their companies’ environmental performance is below the global average.
The tempering of corporate environmental ambitions will disappoint climate change activists, who have long targeted Australia’s biggest companies.
But the suspension of environmental initiatives could be temporary, with a third of top Australian firms saying they will accelerate green investments in the COVID-19 recovery phase.
The Deloitte survey of 750 global CEOs found 54 per cent of Australian companies were being forced to downgrade sustainability initiatives during the pandemic, compared to 65 per cent of global CEO respondents.
Read the full story here.
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