Coronavirus Australia live news: Western NSW regions plunged into snap lockdown
NSW Health placed several LGAs near Walgett into a seven-day lockdown from 7pm after a man tested positive for Covid-19.
- Byron visitor to be charged
- Berejiklian weighs freedoms
- Melbourne lockdown extended
- Cairns lockdown to lift
Welcome to live updates on Australia’s continuing battle with the Covid-19 pandemic.
Gladys Berejiklian is weighing freedom incentives for vaccinated people despite concerns for emerging hotspots as NSW records 344 new cases and two deaths. Meanwhile, Dubbo will join other NSW regions by going into lockdown at 1pm today.
Daniel Andrews has extended Melbourne’s “seven day” lockdown by seven days after Victoria recorded 20 new community-acquired cases of coronavirus in the 24 hours to midnight on Tuesday.
Cairns and Yarrabah will be released from lockdown at 4pm on Wednesday, after Queensland recorded four new locally acquired cases of Covid-19 all linked to the Indooroopilly cluster in Brisbane’s inner west.
Richard Ferguson, Ewin Hannan11.30pm:PM ‘must make call on mandatory jabs’
Scott Morrison and the national cabinet face urgent demands from business and unions to take control of workplace vaccinations, with ACTU secretary Sally McManus warning the shifting of responsibility for mandatory jabs to employers is a “recipe for division, resentment and confusion”.
The Prime Minister will not endorse compulsory vaccination and has left individual employers to test in court the legality of any vaccine mandates they implement, telling parliament it was a matter for premiers to take the “necessary decisions” to thwart the Delta strain.
The push for greater guidance on vaccine mandates came as tensions flared on Wednesday at food processor SPC, the first business in Australia to make jabs compulsory, with the company accusing unions of creating “fear and confusion” among workers.
Matthew Westwood10.50pm:Season a bust for ballet company
The Australian Ballet has postponed the remainder of this year’s Melbourne season, including local premieres of Harlequinade and Anna Karenina, due to the uncertainty about Covid restrictions.
The company was to open with performances of Romeo and Juliet on August 27, which would have been its homecoming to Arts Centre Melbourne after almost 18 months of cancelled performances.
Melbourne’s extended lockdown and uncertainty about possible future restrictions have affected many arts and entertainment companies, including Melbourne Theatre Company and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
Natasha Robinson10.05pm: ‘Complacent’ Kiwis slow on uptake
New Zealand has come under heavy criticism for the slow pace of its vaccine rollout and failure to vaccinate its port workers as complacency bred by low case numbers is blamed for the government “dropping the ball”.
Almost half of New Zealand’s port workers are yet to receive a single dose of a vaccine, despite being designated a highest priority group for vaccination. The elderly in aged-care facilities are also not yet all vaccinated.
New Zealand ranks at the bottom of OECD countries in the pace of its vaccine rollout, with about 21.5 per cent of the eligible population (16-year-olds and up) fully vaccinated, behind Australia, which has 23.7 per cent fully vaccinated.
New Zealand faced similar issues to Australia in the early stages of its rollout, with supply of the Pfizer vaccine — which it is using to vaccinate its entire population — initially constrained. Like Australia, the country’s medical regulator did not approve vaccines for emergency use so the process of approval took longer than in the US and the UK.
David Murdoch, a professor at the University of Otago, said there had been a lack of urgency in New Zealand on the part of the government and the population regarding vaccines.
“I think complacency is potentially a big issue,” Professor Murdoch said. “A lot of public life looks fairly normal apart from the travel, so it can be a bit easy to revert to previous behaviours and not think getting vaccinated urgently is an issue.”
Marc Daalder 9.20pm:NZ ‘must stay the course and keep Covid out’
New Zealand should attempt to keep Covid-19 out of the country indefinitely, even after the population is largely vaccinated, the Ardern government’s expert advisory group says.
In a marked departure from the rest of the world, the panel said a combination of vaccination and low-level border measures should prevent the virus from becoming endemic in New Zealand.
The panel, which was tasked by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern with formulating a post-pandemic plan, said there should be no change from the strategy of eliminating the coronavirus.
Any reopening would be contingent on completing the vaccination rollout and it would occur in phases, the panel led by epidemiologist David Skegg said.
One of the few other concrete recommendations was to narrow New Zealand’s travel bubbles with Australia and the Cook Islands to only include vaccinated travellers once the rollouts in each country were progressed.
Ms Ardern will outline her government’s response to the recommendations on Thursday.
That response is likely to shine a spotlight on the country’s sluggish immunisation program.
Rhiannon Down8.35pm:Fears of going under while awaiting rescue
Businesses are pleading with the NSW government to get financial support flowing, with almost half of all applicants having not received anything as the Sydney lockdown enters its seventh week.
There are currently 100,722 applicants, from a total of 214,009, waiting to receive a share of $1.1bn worth of support payments, including Covid-19 business grants, micro-business grants and JobSaver payments, according to Service NSW.
Less than a third of applications for the Covid-19 business grant, which offers one-off payments of up to $15,000, have been processed, with just 36,876 approvals from 112,258 applications.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Wednesday apologised to those who had experienced delays and said Service NSW hoped to have dealt with “most of the backlog” by next Friday, despite just 12,062 applications being processed on Tuesday.
Extra Silky owner Nina Lee said she has been waiting for four weeks to hear about her applications for the Covid-19 business grant and JobSaver to keep her inner-west Petersham hair salon afloat. “It’s looking like we won’t survive at the moment,” she said.
“I am fortunate to have a loyal customer base and there will be customers on the other side, but looking at my bank account at the moment, it’s looking serious.”
Michael McKenna7.50pm: Premier sticks with secrecy on polling
A shroud of secrecy has been thrown over taxpayer-funded polling on Covid restrictions ordered by the Palaszczuk government amid allegations it was used by Labor strategists to shape its re-election campaign last year.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Wednesday refused to explain why more than $528,000 in polling won’t be released.
Contract documents for the monthly polling, which ALP insiders said was used by campaign strategists ahead of the October 31 election, show it was designed by advisers within Department of Premier and Cabinet to “help guide decision making” about state Covid restrictions.
The polling by Labor-favoured market researcher Ipsos Public Affairs also involved polling into the government’s Covid-19 strategy across a regional, Labor-held marginal seat targeted by the opposition ahead of the election. Ms Palaszczuk has repeatedly said Covid-related restrictions imposed by her government were based solely on health advice and dismissed suggestions she had ordered the polling to ensure her decisions were popular.
But Ms Palaszczuk has refused to release the polling reports, which also involve focus group analysis, saying it was only conducted to inform advertising on Covid measures.
“It was market research and sentiment testing and, no, it won’t be released,” said Ms Palaszczuk during her Wednesday morning press conference. She again refused to explain why.
Joseph Lam 7.10pm: Western NSW areas placed in lockdown
NSW Health has placed several LGAs surrounding Walgett into lockdown to protect a nearby population that could be particularly vulnerable to Covid-19.
The Western NSW LGAs of Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Coonamble, Gilgandra, Narromine and Warren joined Walgett in a snap seven-day lockdown from 7pm on Wednesday.
All residents are required to stay home until at least August 19 unless they have a reasonable excuse to leave, said NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant.
No social visitors or family friends who live outside a resident’s household are able to visit. However, carers and those fulfilling compassionate reasons are exempt from this rule as are intimate partners who do not live together.
Western NSW’s stay-at-home orders are already in place across much of the state including Greater Sydney, Dubbo, Tamworth, Northern Rivers, Armidale, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Port Stephens, Singleton, Dungog, Muswellbrook and Cessnock.
STAY-AT-HOME ORDERS
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) August 11, 2021
To protect the people of NSW from the evolving COVID-19 outbreak, new restrictions will be introduced for the local government areas of Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Coonamble, Gilgandra, Narromine, Walgett and Warren, effective from 7pm tonight pic.twitter.com/VjdBhX3y3Q
Joseph Lam 6.33pm:Walgett plunged into snap seven-day lockdown
The Walgett Shire LGA will enter a snap lockdown from 7pm on Wednesday after a local man who travelled to Dubbo tested positive for Covid-19.
The news of a positive case has sparked fears among local leaders — as almost one third of the town’s residents are indigenous and may be more at risk to the coronavirus.
A 2016 ABS census showed Walgett had 6107 people, of whom 29.4 per cent were indigenous.
Walgett’s increased restrictions will initially last seven days as contact tracers search for any further spread.
NSW Health fear the man, who was tested on August 7 and returned a positive test on Wednesday, may have been infectious since August 5.
“The person is also known to have been in Dubbo and Bathurst during their infectious period,” Western NSW Local Health District said.
Member for Barwon Roy Butler said he was concerned for his community.
“The news I have feared the most is confirmation of a Covid infection in a Barwon river town,” he said.
“These communities have many people with underlying health issues and often under resourced health services.”
Joseph Lam6.01pm:Review to stop residents travelling outside Sydney
The NSW government is reportedly reviewing public health orders and looking to potentially impose harsher restrictions to target those who have been travelling outside of Sydney.
The news arrived after cases have been reported in both Albury and Byron Bay, both of which included Sydneysiders travelling to those areas.
Authorities will target “grey” areas in public health orders which allow those with second homes to travel outside of greater Sydney, according to 10 News.
The NSW Police Minister has reportedly “flagged” calling for extra support from the ADF, which will be discussed in meetings over the next 48 hours.
Joseph Lam 5.38pm:Man charged after Sydney health worker assaulted
A 50-year-old man whose alleged abuse of a 31-year-old healthcare worker at a suburban Sydney Covid-19 testing site prompted several patients to exit their vehicles and come to her rescue has been arrested and charged.
The Telopea man allegedly used a mobile device to film himself punch the younger worker’s face, to dislodge her mask and to shout profanities about vaccines about 4pm on Monday at the Kissing Point road testing site in Dundas, some 21km northwest of the CBD.
Man charged over alleged COVID-19 testing site assault - Dundashttps://t.co/Vo51oQRJnA
— NSW Police Force (@nswpolice) August 11, 2021
After fleeing on foot as patients came to the rescue of the woman, Cumberland Police arrested the man at his Shortland Street home about 10.30am on Wednesday. He has been charged with common assault, two counts of possess prohibited drug and breach of the public health orders. He has been granted conditional bail to attend Parramatta Local Court next month.
NSW Police have also arrested a 39-year-old Wollongong man who has been charged with two counts of “throw missile” at a female police officer and her horse.
Police allege the Woonona man, who was arrested on Tuesday afternoon about 3.20pm at his Watergum Way home, travelled to Sydney to participate in an unauthorised protest on Saturday, July 24.
He has been charged with riot, assault police and not complying with a notice of direction.
Police allege he threw horse manure and a pot plant at a mounted police officer and her hose.
He has been refused bail and appeared at Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday.
166 PINs were issued across regional NSW in the past 24 hours.
— NSW Police Force (@nswpolice) August 10, 2021
Deputy Commissioner Mick Willing, Regional NSW Field Operations, gives an update on Public Health Order enforcement across the state. pic.twitter.com/TJlkK8XQHe
Anton Nilsson 5.23pm: ‘No records’ of NSW teacher vaccinations
NSW education officials have no idea how many teachers have been vaccinated even as preparations continue to bring year 12 students back to Sydney classrooms.
Authorities have also revealed they have no clue how many individuals will be out and about as a result of classrooms reopening.
The admissions came a day after the NSW chief health officer said she’d provided clear advice to the government that it would be unsafe to have students moving around the city.
The chief of the teachers’ union said the push for face-to-face lessons for year 12 students, planned to begin August 16, was “premature and ill-conceived”.
Staff Reporters4.50pm:Infected Sydney man charged over Byron trip
A Rose Bay man will face court in September after being charged with breaching public health orders by leaving Sydney and visiting Byron Bay and surrounding areas.
Zoran Radovanovic, 52, who is being treated for Covid-19 in a Lismore hospital, was issued with a Future Court Attendance Notice this afternoon on seven offences.
He was granted strict conditional bail to appear at Lismore Local Court on September 13.
His alleged presence in the community while infected forced the Byron Shire, Richmond Valley, Lismore, Ballina and the Northern Rivers to go into a snap seven day lockdown.
The man allegedly drove with his two children to Byron and was in the Northern Rivers community for four days while infectious last week, during which time he allegedly did not comply with QR code check in requirements at venues.
It is not clear if the man knew he was infectious or not.
Joseph Lam4.35pm:A breakdown of NSW Covid-19 cases
NSW has recorded 5091 Covid-19 cases over the past four weeks to 8pm Tuesday, August 10.
Of those cases, more than 40 per cent were recorded in the south west Sydney health district, over a quarter were recorded in western Sydney health district and 15 per cent were recorded in Sydney (central) health district.
The Southwest Sydney LGA of Canterbury Bankstown was home to the majority of cases, recording 23 per cent – or 1176 cases.
The second highest number of cases was recorded in Fairfield, with 800, followed by Cumberland (718 cases), Liverpool (462 cases), Blacktown (439 cases), Campbelltown (227 cases), Penrith (223 cases), Parramatta (199 cases), Georges River (131 cases), Bayside (122 cases) and the Inner West (79 cases).
While Canterbury Bankstown recorded the highest number of cases, the LGA has also performed 70,000 more tests than any other LGA, undertaking 297,457 tests over the past four weeks.
Fairfield has performed the second highest number of tests at 227,423 followed by Blacktown with 174,418, Cumberland with 154,348, Liverpool with 152,336. All other LGAs performed less than 100,000 tests over the same period.
Joseph Lam4.20pm:Covid case forces Bathurst jail into lockdown
Bathurst correctional centre has been thrusted into a precautionary lockdown after a young inmate tested positive for Covid-19.
Several staff and inmates are now in isolation after the inmate, a 27-year-old who arrived on Saturday and has been granted bail on Monday, tested positive.
“Bathurst Correctional Centre has today been placed into a precautionary lockdown after receiving a positive COVID-19 test result from a fresh custody inmate,” a Corrective Services NSW spokeswoman said.
“The CSNSW COVID command post is working with staff to identify anyone who has had contact with the inmate.”
Rachel Baxendale4.10pm:Police probe home invasion attempt
Victorian Police are investigating after a man allegedly impersonated a health department authorised officer conducting a home quarantine check in an attempted home invasion.
A woman has told Nine News she was approached at her home by a main claiming to be an authorised officer, who then asked her to perform sexual acts to get out of quarantine.
Nine News has reported that the man had information which police believe was legitimate on an iPad he was carrying.
The Australian has sought comment from police.
Victorian Covid logistics chief Jeroen Weimar said he was aware of a police investigation “into someone impersonating an authorised officer and seeking to enter into the home.”
“That must be an incredibly distressing and frightening experience for the individual concerned, and I extend my sympathies to her,” Mr Weimar said.
“Let me be very clear. Authorised officers, when they make home visits, there are three things we should all be aware of: they will always be in uniform, they will always have appropriate identification, and they will never under any circumstances seek entry into your home.
“So please, if you are being visited as part of our home visit program, by one of our authorised offers, ask for their ID, check their uniform and if they ask to get into your home, shut the door.”
Asked whether he believed the content on the alleged home invader’s iPad was legitimate health department information, Mr Weimar said the matter was the subject of a police investigation.
“We’re working very closely with the investigation team. I can’t comment on that active investigation at the moment,” he said.
Remy Varga4pm:Man assessed after heckling Dan Andrews
A man has been hospitalised after repeatedly screaming at Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews during a press conference on Wednesday.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman confirmed a 51-year-old Brunswick man had been taken to hospital for assessment after being apprehended by protective service officers at 12.40pm.
“Protective Service Officers apprehended a man behaving erratically at a press conference at Treasury Place, Melbourne about 12.40pm today. (11 August),” she said. “A 51-year-old Brunswick man was taken to hospital for an assessment.”
Lisa Allen3.30pm:Gerry Harvey’s $35m Dubbo punt
Multibillionaire retailer Gerry Harvey might be close to 82 years of age and built a retail empire worth $3.3bn worth of Harvey Norman stores, constructed houses, and developed land subdivisions, but he has never before ventured into apartment towers – particularly 400km from Sydney in the heart of the Central West. Read more here
Jack the Insider3.07pm:Bending NSW’s ring of aluminium
Welcome to Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s ring of aluminium, a lockdown that permits people to leave the greater Sydney area and wander around in other people’s homes in regional New South Wales.
By the way, the current lockdown laws in greater Sydney also permit real estate agents to conduct inspections of rental properties. If you rent, there is at least a prospect that landlords and agents will insist on conducting in person inspections on the premises. They are legally entitled to do so up to four times a year. Are these agents obliged to be vaccinated? Are there any requirements on them to enter the premises wearing a mask? Social distancing? Even splashing on a bit of hand sanitiser? Nope.
In a sense it was only a matter of time before regional New South Wales was at risk.
That’s not to cheer on the ring of steel almost fetishistically demanded by Victorian Premier Dan Andrews. The talk of heavy metal lockdowns cannot work in Sydney without causing great hardship across the country. Sydney is not Melbourne and the idea of police roadblocks and routine inspections of vehicles along major arterial roads out of Sydney would cause immense supply chain delays of basic foodstuffs across the country. Sure, Australia would be right for toilet paper, much of which is manufactured and distributed in Victoria but just about any other basic foodstuff and household item you can think of comes either from or through Sydney.
Now Covid-19 has come to Byron Bay. Take three drops of Wolf’s bane and five of essence of Monk’s hood administered under the tongue at the rise of the next new moon.
READJack the Insider’s full commentary here
Max Maddison 2.51pm:Look closer to home for crazy conspiracies, ALP told
Scott Morrison has moved again to distance his government from the “crazy rubbish conspiracies” of Nationals MP George Christensen, but Health Minister Greg Hunt says Labor should look closer to home.
After being asked by opposition whip Chris Hayes what the federal government was doing to combat the “dangerous spread” of misinformation by QAnon during the pandemic, Mr Morrison said his government would have “no association” with Mr Christensen’s comments.
“Mr Speaker, crazy rubbish conspiracies have no place when it comes to the public health of this country and this government will have no association with it as we demonstrated yesterday in this House,” Mr Morrison told question time on Wednesday afternoon.
After being handballed the question, Mr Hunt pointed to comments made by Labor’s candidate for Higgins, Michelle Ananda-Rajah, an outspoken AstraZeneca critic.
“Professor Skerritt said if AstraZeneca (hadn’t been used for vaccination) in NSW, there would have been deaths in their dozens every day, unfortunately, there are those that have spread material and information that does not accord with the high standards,” Mr Hunt said.
“Quote, the issue is the rest of the country is going to be offered a lower efficacious vaccine, the AstraZeneca. Quote, we are about to unleash 51 million doses of AstraZeneca, it is the Labour Party’s candidate for Higgins.”
READ MORE: Byron Bay’s patient zero identified
Max Maddison2.33pm: Labor ‘undermining national Covid plan’
Scott Morrison has accused Labor of “undermining” the national Covid plan, after the opposition said he had failed to keep promises he made to Australians stuck overseas.
Opposition health spokesman Mark Butler asked the Prime Minister why he had failed to deliver on his announcement that the 40,000 Australians stuck overseas “would be home by Christmas” .
Mr Morrison used the question to attack Labor, saying he had merely said he “wanted” all Australians to be around the table by Christmas.
“I don’t know why that would be a point at which the government would be attacked by the opposition. I simply don’t understand it,” Mr Morrison told questiontTime on Wednesday afternoon.
“The Delta strain has changed everything. That is the position understood and agreed by premiers, chief ministers and myself. Together we are implementing the national plan, the Labor Party is undermining the national plan.”
READ MORE: Barilaro’s wife backs effort to ban mandatory jab
Ellie Dudley 1.50pm: Full list of areas affected by Dubbo lockdown
Eight suburbs in the Dubbo LGA will exist under strict stay at home orders for at least the next seven days, after Covid-19 was detected in the community.
The outer west region of NSWwas plunged into a week-long lockdown after two cases were detected in the community.
âš ï¸ Stay-at-home order for new areas of concern âš ï¸
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) August 11, 2021
New restrictions introduced for the Dubbo Local Government Area (LGA), which includes Wellington, Wongarbon, Geurie, Brocklehurst, Stuart Town, Mumbil and Eumungerie, effective from 1pm today until the beginning of 19 August 2021. pic.twitter.com/kwcz5vC6yc
The areas of Dubbo, Wellington, Wongarbon, Geurie, Brocklehurst, Stuart Town, Mumbil and Eumungerie are those that are affected by the new public health orders.
Similar conditions apply to the regional areas of Tamworth and Armidale, in north west NSW, although no new cases were recorded in the area on Wednesday.
The Upper Hunter region will likely have their lockdown extended beyond August 12, after 14 new cases of Covid-19 were reported in the community on Wednesday.
READ MORE: Covid and culture clash head on
Rachel Baxendale1.33pm:Where Melbourne’s infections come from
Of 118 active coronavirus cases in Victoria on Wednesday, 100 have emerged since last Wednesday and have predominantly been linked to western suburbs outbreaks centred on a Hobsons Bay teacher who works at Al-Taqwa College in Truganina, and a Maribyrnong man who works in a Derrimut warehouse.
Three active cases are in overseas arrivals in hotel quarantine, while the remaining 15 are linked to the outbreaks which sparked Victoria’s fifth lockdown last month.
There is now just one person in a Victorian hospital with coronavirus, who is not in intensive care.
About 13,800 primary close contacts have been linked to the current cases, up 1700 since Tuesday and linked to almost 299 exposure sites, predominantly in Melbourne’s west but also in the bayside, outer eastern and northern suburbs.
Approximately 1000 primary close contacts linked to older sites were released from quarantine on Tuesday having submitted negative Day 13 tests.
The latest exposure sites include Tabcorp Park in Melton in Melbourne’s outer northwest, the Royal Flagstaff apartment complex in West Melbourne, the Vision apartment complex in Elizabeth Street in Melbourne’s CBD, and Brimbank shopping centre in Deer Park.
A full list is available on the health department website.
Of Victoria’s 20 new community-acquired cases on Wednesday:
- One is a student at Al-Taqwa College and a further five are household members of students at the school. All six were isolating while infectious;
- Five are household contacts from students at Mount Alexander College. All five were isolating while infectious;
- Four are linked to the Caroline Springs shopping centre, bringing the total number linked to the centre to 25. The latest four cases include two linked to the Jolly Miller cafe, one to the YPA real estate, and one to the Edwards Sourdough bakery. Of the four, two were isolating while infectious;
- Five cases are not currently linked to any known outbreaks, although Covid logistics chief Jeroen Weimar said authorities were “confident” they could establish links in coming days. Of these five, three are a family from the City of Melton in Melbourne’s outer northwest, including two parents and a child. The child was already in isolation as a contact of another primary close contact, although that contact is yet to test positive for the virus. The remaining two cases are a father and son who live in the City of Melbourne. The son is a Grade One student at St Michael’s Primary School in North Melbourne. While is not believed to have been infectious while at school prior to last week’s lockdown, his class has been deemed a Tier 1 exposure site and the school Tier 2. The father is a health care worker who last worked at the Melbourne Children’s Eye Clinic at the Royal Children’s Hospital last Monday. Patients and staff are being contacted and a small section of the wider hospital has been deemed a Tier 2 site, with attendees required to get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result.
Mr Weimar said the Caroline Springs Shopping Centre and Melton were areas of key concern for authorities.
“We now have 13 active cases in the City of Melton area, six of those are new cases today,” he said.
“We are doing a lot of work around Melton high street, a number of retail sites (with) 13 exposure sites already listed.
“I expect to see more during the course of the day. My callout to anyone who is using Melton as part of their retailing activity, please come forward and get tested.
“Five of the cases today are cases we were not aware of before they came through yesterday. We became aware because people did the right thing: They got symptoms, they got tested.”
Mr Weimar said authorities remained concerned about sustained waste water detections in Broadmeadows, Glenroy and Jacana in Melbourne’s northwest.
READ MORE: Consumer confidence fall not as bad as feared
Staff writers12.51pm:Rose Bay man, 52, to be charged over Byron Bay visit
A man will be served a Future Court Attendance Notice today for breaching public health orders after he visited the Byron Bay and surrounding areas.
Following inquiries, including appeals for public assistance, the 52-year-old man from Rose Bay will be charged after he allegedly travelled from Sydney to Byron Bay and the surrounding area, without a reasonable excuse and in contravention of the public health orders.
The Future Court Attendance Notice will be served on the man at the Lismore Base Hospital with strict bail conditions.
He will appear at Lismore Local Court on Monday 13 September 2021.
Inquiries are ongoing.
READ the full story here
Rachel Baxendale12.06pm:Andrews update interrupted by yelling interlopers
Two men have been tackled to the ground by protective services offices after disrupting the Andrews government’s Covid press conference on Wednesday.
One man yelled “Premier Daniel Andrews” repeatedly, while another made reference to Health Minister Martin Foley.
One of the men continued to yell loudly and nonsensically for minutes after being detained, with Mr Andrews, Covid logistics chief Jeroen Weimar and chief health officer Brett Sutton at times barely audible above the loud but wordless noise.
I JUST NOTICED BRETT'S FACE https://t.co/4Dqkt5Gor0
— Remy Varga (@RemyVarga) August 11, 2021
The men were on an outdoor level above the press conference, which is being held at the back of the Premier’s office at 1 Treasury Place.
At one stage Mr Andrews acknowledged one of the interlopers, saying: “No one else can hear me because of the amazing contribution you’re making up there... We’ll keep you safe too.”
Journalists at the press conference say the man had waited at Treasury Place ahead of the 11am media briefing, filming police and asking for written notes to be passed on to the Premier.
The man is now accusing police of having injured his leg in detaining him, while police have indicated they believe he is feigning the injury.
Mr Andrews said he did not know “what was going on” with the man.
“No. We do not know if it is even about Covid,” Mr Andrews told the press conference.
“It’s somebody who I think has wanted to speak to me for some time, but I don’t know who it is.
“The point I made before is that if you support me or not, I will do everything I can to protect you from this virus.
“Shouting does not work against this virus. Interrupting anyone does not work against this virus.
“Like I said the other day - if frustration and anger was effective against coronavirus, we would all be double dosed by now. It does not work. “People are entitled to their views. That is fine. But whether you support me and my team or not, we will do everything we can, every hour of the day, to keep you safe.”
READ MORE:SPC slams union “fear and confusion” over mandatory Covid jabs
Rachel Baxendale12.02pm: Andrews flags more AZ in Victoria’s clinics
Daniel Andrews has foreshadowed the expansion of AstraZeneca vaccinations at state-run clinics in Victoria.
The Premier’s comments follow news that Victorian GPs are administering fewer than half the number of AstraZeneca vaccinations as their NSW counterparts, and after the Andrews government made AstraZeneca available to under-40s at six metropolitan and three regional vaccination hubs from Monday.
On Tuesday, 23,811 people were vaccinated at Victoria’s state-run hubs.
“We’ve seen really strong uptake in those additional AstraZeneca appointments that we brought online and the eligibility expansion from 18-39,” Mr Andrews said.
“I can, not today, but quite soon speak to further expansions of the AstraZeneca program, further expansions to the hub model so we can get even more people vaccinated over the next month or so.”
Mr Andrews urged those eligible for any vaccine, including AstraZeneca to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
“As the chief health officer said yesterday, the best vaccine is the one you can access today,” he said.
“That makes a huge contribution to us getting to the other side of the lockdowns, getting to the other side with a very different set of rules.
Mr Andrews said approximately 7000 AstraZeneca and 30,000 Pfizer bookings had been made in the past 24 hours.
READ MORE:Trading Day – ASX jumps to record
Ellie Dudley11.56am:Shoebridge questions politically loaded: Hazzard
NSW health minister Brad Hazzard has defended his actions in a parliamentary inquiry into the government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, after he was criticised for cutting off chief health officer Kerry Chant in her questioning.
Mr Hazzard fired up at Greens legislative council member David Shoebridge as he questioned Dr Chant on the timing of the advice she provided to the government.
Mr Hazzard angrily interrupted Mr Shoebridge, saying: “David, David, we are in the middle of a pandemic and you’re just asking questions that are just aimed at having a go.”
Asked on Wednesday about his response to Mr Shoebridge’s questioning, Mr Hazzard said he took issue with questions that were asked “in a political way”.
“The questions were loaded politically, with not necessarily the logical outcome,” he said.
“They were drawing their own conclusions.”
“Some of the questions were very good but some were a little challenging on that front.
“I guess I would say Dr Chant works very hard, extremely hard and so does the whole public health team, and I think challenging...her integrity in terms of her decision making was not appropriate.”
READ MORE: JobSeeker, pension threat put heat on Coalition
Ellie Dudley11.54am:Cloud hangs over return to school timeline
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has been unable to outline a timeline for schools to return, saying the highly-infectious Delta strain is a major risk to students.
Year 12 students in low risk areas of Sydney will return to school on Monday, while those in southwest and western Sydney will not be permitted to go back.
For other students, the timeline of when they will return to school is unknown.
“When schools will return will depend on the next few weeks,” Ms Berejiklain said.
“How much we can control the case numbers until the end of August (will indicate) what life looks like in September and October.
“The reason why we will have some level of confidence in talking about that at the right time - it’s a bit premature now - but in a few weeks we’ll have a better idea of what September and October looks like because we will be able to see a consistent rate of vaccination.
“We’ll have a better idea of whether we’ll hit the 6 million target and the 70 per cent target after that.”
READ MORE: HSC students deserve a fair go
Ellie Dudley11.40am:Premier maintains 50pc vaccination rate target
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has rejected the suggestion she was giving “false hope” to Sydneysiders by saying restrictions could be eased at a 50 per cent vaccination rate.
NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant told an inquiry into the government’s handling of the pandemic on Tuesday that it was her preference for the state to achieve 70 per cent of vaccination coverage, per the advice of modelling provided to the national cabinet last week, before restrictions are substantially eased.
But Ms Berejiklian has repeatedly said restrictions would be eased when 50 per cent of the population had been vaccinated, and doubled down on her claims on Wednesday.
“It is important to say to people that if we have higher rates of vaccination there’s every chance you can do something more than what you can today,” she said.
“If we can incentivise people to say, if you are fully vaccinated you might be able to undertake an activity which you can’t now, well that is a positive. I think most people would appreciate that.”
READ MORE:Delta takes hold
Ellie Dudley11.30am:Hotspot fears over Sydney’s inner-west
NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant says health authorities fear Covid-19 could be spreading out of high risk areas and into the inner west.
Health authorities have refocused their efforts away from the Fairfield local government area in southwest Sydney as cases in the area begin to decline.
The drop in cases in the area, however, comes with news that the hotspot areas are shifting.
“What we are seeing is the growth of case numbers in other areas, and we need to redouble our efforts in those areas to achieve the same impact we have seen and the Fairfield area,” Dr Chant said.
“For instance, in the inner west and the areas around Cumberland are still very high. Bayside, Georges River - particularly the edges of those suburbs - that border onto the (high-risk) suburbs, and Strathfield as well.
“As the Premier has indicated, we are watching them closely. It is important that everybody knows there is an increase in cases in those areas, and for them to come out and get tested and assist us with control.”
Asked whether it would be more effective to apply the same strict restrictions that currently apply to southwest and west Sydney to all greater Sydney LGAs as the virus continues to spread, Dr Chant said residents seem to respond better when a targeted approach is taken.
“What we have seen is the community responding when we tell them specific areas,” she said.
“It is very hard for the community if we are talking about cases in an area where there hasn’t been any cases. Whereas, if we can explain that these are the areas where we are seeing cases then we get a greater response.”
READ MORE:What we know about the Moderna vaccine
Ellie Dudley11.19am: NSW on course for 80pc vaccinated by mid-November
NSW is set to have 80 per cent of residents fully vaccinated by mid-November, says Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
Up to 4.5 million doses of the vaccine have been administered to NSW residents, as the state strives for 6 million doses by the end of the month.
“With 6 million jabs by the end of August, if achieved, there will be opportunities for us in parts of the communities where cases are low and vaccination rates are high for them to do more than they do today,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“That is what we are working towards and something that our government is very keen to make possible.”
The Doherty report, which governs timelines for national cabinet, outlines that restrictions can be drastically eased when the country hits an 80 per cent vaccination rate.
Ms Berejiklian said the state will reach that by mid-November.
“According to the Doherty report, that is when life gets back to normal, that is when we have a different approach to Covid, when freedoms that we had will be in place,” she said.
Rachel Baxendale11.13am:Melbourne lockdown extended another seven days
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has extended Melbourne’s “seven day” lockdown by seven days.
Due to the current level of community transmission of coronavirus in Victoria from the recent NSW incursions, the CHO has declared that the current lockdown across Melbourne will be extended until at least 11.59pm 19 Aug, to stamp out this Delta variant and keep Victorians safe. pic.twitter.com/KWzMWWK3ZT
— Dan Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) August 11, 2021
The decision comes after just 20 of 100 coronavirus cases linked to the outbreaks which emerged a week ago were in quarantine for the duration of their infectious period, and as five “mystery” cases were discovered overnight.
READ more on Melbourne’s lockdown here
Ellie Dudley 11.07am:Dubbo to go into lockdown from 1pm today
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has confirmed the region of Dubbo in central west NSW will enter a seven day lockdown from 1pm on Wednesday.
The lockdown comes as two new cases were detected in the area overnight, and two schools were closed as a result.
“I understand community leaders have already been advised of that,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“The lockdown will occur from 1pm today.”
No new cases were detected in Armidale, Tamworth or the Northern Rivers region, but 14 new cases were detected in the Hunter New England region.
Ms Berejiklian said due to the new cases in the Hunter New England region, it “doesn’t look like it will come out of lockdown” on Thursday as previously expected.
Ellie Dudley11.01am:NSW records 344 new cases, two deaths
NSW has recorded 344 new locally-acquired cases of Covid-19 as infections across the state continue to spread.
At least 65 of the cases were active in the community for the entirety of their infectious period, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.
“I want to stress, over the last two days we have seen a surge in the number of cases and are expected to continue,” she said.
Two deaths were recorded overnight in NSW residents.
A 30-year-old man who had underlying heart conditions died in hospital after contracting the virus.
An 80-year old-man with Covid-19 has also died.
Around 119,000 tests were conducted in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
The Premier said cases in the Fairfield and Canterbury-Bankstown area are starting to come down.
READ MORE: Samsung to unveil 2021 gadgets
Rachel Baxendale10.45am: Andrews set to call 7-day lockdown extension
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is due to address the media at 11am, alongside chief health officer Brett Sutton and Covid logistics chief Jeroen Weimar.
Mr Andrews is expected to announce a seven day extension to the “seven day” lockdown imposed last Thursday.
Gladys Berejiklian will also front media at 11am in Sydney
READ MORE: Milligan tweet costs ABC $130k in Laming settlement
Ellie Dudley10.33am: Palaszczuk ‘won’t release’ polling information
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has again refused to release polling information into her government’s handling of the pandemic.
The Australian revealed on Wednesday the Palaszczuk government conducted taxpayer-funded polling into their Covid-19 strategy across a regional, Labor-held marginal seat targeted by the opposition ahead of last year’s state election.
Intensive “qualitative” interviews were commissioned with hundreds of residents in the Livingstone Shire – almost exclusively in Labor’s seat of Keppel – just days after a newspaper poll showed it was in danger of falling to the Liberal National Party.
Ms Palaszczuk said the polling was “market research and sentiment testing” and “no, it won’t be released.”
“(It won’t be released) because every state and the federal government has also done the exact same market research and sentiment testing,” she told Wednesday’s press conference.
When pressed for a reason as to why she wouldn’t release the information, Ms Palaszczuk said: “Go and ask all the other state premiers and the prime minister.”
READ MORE:Marginal seat focus of Premier’s office polling
Ellie Dudley10.11am: Cairns to be released from lockdown at 4pm
Cairns and Yarrabah will be released from lockdown at 4pm on Wednesday, after Queensland recorded four new locally acquired cases of Covid-19 all linked to the Indooroopilly cluster in Brisbane’s inner west.
The far north regions will exist under the same restrictions that currently apply to southeast Queensland until August 22.
Wednesday 11 August – coronavirus cases in Queensland:
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) August 11, 2021
4 new locally acquired cases - all linked to the Indooroopilly cluster and detected in home quarantine.
0 overseas acquired cases.#covid19pic.twitter.com/LhBTms55Jc
“Of course, the Cairns residents will also have to be wearing those masks, just as they do down here in southeast Queensland, and, of course, the high school students will need to wear masks as well,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.
All cases detected in Brisbane had been in isolation for the entirety of their infectious period which was “exactly what we want to be seeing”, she added.
A total of 23,099 tests were conducted across the state on Wednesday.
Ms Palaszczuk was speaking from a new vaccination hub at Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre which opened today and will vaccinate 1500 per day.
Queensland chief health officer Jeannette Young has urged residents in Cairns and Yarrabah to remain vigilant for Covid-19 symptoms as they emerge from lockdown today.
The regions in far north Queensland were put under strict stay at home orders for three days after a reef pilot and a taxi driver were found to have been infected with the virus.
Dr Young said the health authorities could “definitively confirm” the reef pilot, who passed the virus onto the taxi driver, had been infected on July 23 from a New Zealand ship.
A number of additional exposure sites had been released in regards to the taxi driver he then infected, causing Dr Young to issue a stern warning to those in Cairns.
“It’s really important that you still come forward and get tested, and anyone in Cairns with any symptoms at all, as you have been doing the last few days,” she said.
Dr Young said it was “still important” to have ongoing restrictions to stop further spread of the virus.
The following restrictions will apply to the area:
Mask wearing at all times (including workplaces) except when eating or drinking, or exercising with your household or one other person.
Schools will reopen, with all staff and high school students wearing masks
10 people in your home, including people who live there
20 people at a wedding ceremony or funeral service
Businesses and venues with one person per four square metres, or 50 percent capacity with seated, ticket allocations
Community sports and activities are restricted and, in some cases, not permitted.
Avoid travelling to regional Queensland
Visitors allowed to hospitals, aged care and disability accommodation
READ MORE: Qantas extends frequent flyer status to 2023
Rachel Baxendale 10.04am:Andrews deciding on lockdown extension
With 20 new coronavirus cases in Victoria on Wednesday, five of which are under investigation for a source of acquisition, Melburnians know their “seven day” lockdown will not be ending after seven days.
The issue is how long the extension is likely to be.
A meeting is under way on Wednesday morning between the Andrews government and health officials to make that decision, with a seven day extension considered most likely.
Premier Daniel Andrews will hold a press conference later on Wednesday to announce the decision.
Mr Andrews and Health Minister Martin Foley have repeatedly indicated decisions on the duration of lockdowns will primarily be determined on the basis of the number of recent cases infectious in the community.
Of 100 cases linked to the most recent outbreaks since they emerged a week ago, only 20 have been in quarantine throughout their infectious period.
READ MORE: Covid recovery is about more than money
Rachel Baxendale 9.56am: Victoria adds more than 40 new exposure sites
Victoria’s number of coronavirus exposure sites has grown by more than 40 over the past 24 hours to hit 291 on Wednesday morning.
While a shopping centre in Caroline Springs in Melbourne’s outer west remains the site of greatest concern to authorities, having been linked to at least 25 cases across numerous stores, sites have also recently been identified in Melbourne’s bayside and north.
Sites have recently been listed in Hoppers Crossing, Williams Landing, Deer Park, Hillside, Aintree, Melton, Melton West, Caroline Springs, Cairnlea, Taylors Lakes and Maribyrnong in the west, Flemington in the inner northwest and Preston in the north, as well as in bayside Brighton and nearby Elwood.
Public transport routes including trains and buses in Melbourne’s west have also been listed.
Investigations are ongoing after a doctor who works at the Royal Children’s Hospital tested positive on Tuesday.
It is understood the doctor did not work at the hospital while infectious, but may have treated patients in private rooms nearby.
The full list of exposure sites is available on the health department website.
READ MORE:Andrews not for budging on travel
Ellie Dudley 9.42am:Premiers, health authorities set to deliver Covid updates
State health authorities across Australia will front the media this morning to provide updates on their respective Covid-19 outbreaks.
Queensland’s premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will hold a press conference at 10am alongside the state’s health minister Yvette D’Ath and chief health officer Jeannette Young.
Queensland recorded three new cases of Covid-19 on Monday, all linked to the cluster in Brisbane’s inner-west.
Cairns and Yarrabah in the state’s far north are on track to be released from their three-day snap lockdown on Wednesday, after they were placed under strict stay at home orders on Sunday due to a taxi driver infected with Covid-19 was infectious in the community for up to 10 days.
No new cases have been discovered in association with the taxi driver, who has been linked to a positive case in a reef pilot detected in far north Queensland last week.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian will provide an update at 11am, after the state recorded 356 new locally acquired cases of Covid-19 on Monday and three deaths.
No additional cases were detected in the Byron Shire on Tuesday despite an infected traveler from Sydney visiting a number of locations and sending the area into a seven day lockdown.
That could change today after exposure sites in the far north coastal town were released by NSW Health on Tuesday afternoon.
No new cases were found in Tamworth or Armidale in north west regional NSW, but reports from Wednesday morning show a positive case in a Dubbo school may plunge the region in the central west into lockdown.
Victorian authorities are expected to provide their state’s update this morning, but are yet to set a time.
The southern state recorded 20 new cases of the virus on Wednesday, 15 of which have been linked to existing infections, and five are still under investigation.
While 14 were in quarantine throughout their infectious period, six were not.
Ellie Dudley9.31am: Staff crisis as people turned away from Sydney vax hub
Up to 120 people were turned away from a pop up vaccination hub in Bankstown in Sydney’s southwest, says opposition housing spokesman and federal member for Blaxland Jason Clare.
Long queues here at Bankstown Sports Club “pop up†Vax Hub.
— Jason Clare MP (@JasonClareMP) August 10, 2021
People are keen to get the vaccine - but we need more medical staff here.
The other day we had to turn 120 people away because there isn’t enough medical staff to jab everyone. pic.twitter.com/7C3onQKjhi
The Bankstown Sports Club walk-in vaccine clinic in was opened last week for southwest Sydney residents to get their jab, as the virus continues to rage through the area.
Mr Clare said lengthy queues were regular for the clinic, and more medical staff were needed to assist with the new demand.
“Long queues here at Bankstown Sports Club “pop up” Vax Hub,” Mr Clare wrote on Twitter.
“People are keen to get the vaccine – but we need more medical staff here.
“The other day we had to turn 120 people away because there isn’t enough medical staff to jab everyone.”
Southwest Sydney currently has the second lowest vaccination rate in the state, with only 17 per cent of all residents fully protected against Covid-19.
READ MORE: Fraudster concerns over fake passes
Robert Gottliebsen9.04am: Bosses dilemma: To mandate jabs or not
Employers in Australia face a terrible dilemma over whether to make Covid-19 vaccinations compulsory for all employees on a work site including offices.
On one hand, those heading in that direction, such as SPC and airlines, are being threatened with union work bans, unfair dismissal claims and a raft of other actions.
But on the other, as I will explain below, the occupational heath and safety rules in each case demand that employers create a safe workplace.
Directors, Cabinet ministers and top management of both private and government activities who do not provide a safe workplace face long jail sentences in most states and territories and in Victoria they could be given a 25-year sentence if there is a death.
There is an answer to the problem.
READ Robert Gottliebsen’s full analysis here
Rachel Baxendale8.55am: Lockdown hopes fade as Victoria records 20 cases
Victoria has recorded 20 new community-acquired cases of coronavirus in the 24 hours to midnight on Tuesday.
Of the 20, only 15 have been linked to current outbreaks, with the remaining five under investigation.
While 14 were in quarantine throughout their infectious period, six were not.
Reported yesterday: 20 new local cases and no new cases acquired overseas.
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) August 10, 2021
- 23,811 vaccine doses were administered
- 41,571 test results were received
More later: https://t.co/lIUrl1hf3W#COVID19Vic#COVID19VicData [1/2] pic.twitter.com/yKBkbFxvRB
No source of acquisition has yet been confirmed for either of the Victorian community outbreaks which emerged last week.
The first cases to appear from each outbreak last week were a teacher in her 20s from Hobsons Bay who works at Al-Taqwa College, and a Maribyrnong man who works at a warehouse in Derrimut - all in Melbourne’s west.
Authorities continue to investigate whether the warehouse worker’s cluster may have been sparked by illegal contact with a family who were in home isolation having recently returned from hotel quarantine in NSW.
Wednesday’s 20 cases follow 20 on Tuesday, 11 on each of Monday and Sunday, Sunday, an outbreak peak of 29 on Saturday, and six each on Friday and Thursday, following short-lived celebrations of zero last Wednesday.
There have now been 323 community acquired cases since two incursions from NSW sparked Victoria’s fifth lockdown last month, of which 100 cases are linked to the most recent outbreaks, which sparked a sixth lockdown on Thursday.
There are currently 118 active cases, including up to three active cases acquired overseas.
As of Tuesday, there were two people in Victorian hospitals with coronavirus, none of whom were in intensive care.
The latest cases come after 41,571 tests were processed on Tuesday, compared with 34,892 on Monday, 38,987 on Sunday, 38,179 on Saturday, 43,618 on Friday 29,631 on Thursday, 27,279 on Wednesday, and 30,117 last Tuesday.
Victoria’s testing record is 59,355 tests on July 20.
Max Maddison8.39am:PM’s claim lockdowns over by Christmas ‘heroic’
Deputy opposition leader Richard Marles has cast doubt on Scott Morrison’s assertions that the country will be over the worst of the Covid outbreak by Christmas, labelling his claims “heroic”.
With vaccination rates increasing across the country, the Prime Minister has flagged that the vaccination thresholds outlined in modelling by the Doherty Institute could be hit by the end of the year, enabling life to return to normal.
But Mr Marles questioned the likelihood of those claims, saying the Morrison government had already “failed us at every step”, and question
Every Australian right now is understanding that our vaccination rise is the worst in the developed world. That we have about 18 per cent of our country fully vaccinated. That is a function of this government’s complacency,” Mr Marles told ABC’s Radio National on Wednesday morning.
“This government got it wrong, in relation to dedicated quarantine facilities. This government got it wrong in relation to the way in which it set up its logistics for actually vaccinating people. Being far too slow to embrace mass vaccination centers.”
READ MORE: What do we know about the Moderna vaccine?
Ellie Dudley8.32am: ‘Loophole that allowed man to get to Byron must close’
NSW Police Minister David Elliott has dodged a question over tightening the health orders that currently permit residents to travel to inspect real estate, after a Sydney man allegedly scouting property in Byron Bay spread Covid-19 north.
NSW Police are investigating the incident, but Mr Elliott said he was “sick to death of people flouting the rules” directly referencing anti-lockdown protesters who stormed Sydney CBD last month.
“I am not convinced...that some of the dramas that we have with these numbers aren’t a result of that protest three weeks ago,” he told Channel 9’s Today.
“It’s too much of a coincidence that we had 3500 (people) that (said) they wanted to increase Covid cases to 1000 a day and we are still seeing the numbers (increase).”
Mr Elliott said it was a “matter for the health minister” if directives governing property inspections or movement between multiple residences should be changed.
“If that is a loophole in the public health order, the Health Minister has to take advice and make a legal decision as to whether or not that loophole is closed,” he said.
Mr Elliot said the rules were simple: Comply, or “get pinged”.
READ MORE:Climate and Covid drive new age of conflict
Max Maddison8.03am: I can’t muzzle Christensen, says Joyce
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has condemned comments made by his Nationals colleague George Christensen in parliament, but says there’s not much he can do about his controversial anti-Covid comments.
Mr Christensen drew serious criticism from across the political spectrum after he used a speech in the House of Representatives on Tuesday to espouse Covid conspiracy theories, claiming that masks and lockdowns don’t work, and labelling health workers “dictatorial medical bureaucrats.
The Nationals leader said he condemned the comments, and added he had spoken to Mr Christensen “last night”, but asserted he had little resource to stop Mr Christensen, outside of “muzzling him”.
“I’ve had conversations but that doesn’t mean he’s the slave of anybody,” Mr Joyce told ABC’s Radio National on Wednesday morning. “I’m open to ideas of how we stop him from saying things he wants to say”
“I respect his right to his opinion, it is not my opinion, and the sort of belief that you can therefore tell another person what to say from that point forward, is obviously patently absurd.”
READ MORE: Suburbs where health messages and culture clash
Ellie Dudley 7.30am:Joyce to counsel Christensen over Covid remarks
Agriculture Minister David Littleproud has condemned anti-mask comments from Nationals MP George Christensen, and has left question marks over his place in parliament as it stands.
In a speech to parliament on Tuesday, Mr Christensen controversially condemned mask wearing and lockdowns, arguing they did not work.
Mr Christensen announced in April he would not contest the next election, in a shock decision he attributed to the “broken” state of Australian politics, but Mr Littleproud said his comments left his position in parliament on shaky ground.
“It’s not right the information he’s putting across and, therefore, George needs to make a decision about the role he plays... not only in the National Party but in government” Mr Littleproud told ABC News Breakfast.
.
“It’s important that there isn’t confusion around messages. We cannot make the medical and scientific decisions as governments without the medical advice of those experts.”
Mr Christensen would be “counselled” by Nationals Leader Barnaby Joyce, Mr Littleproud said.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese moved a motion condemning Mr Christensen’s comments, arguing they were aimed at spreading misinformation and undermining Australia’s Covid-19 response.
The motion was widely supported by other Nationals MPs.
READ MORE: Bipartisan condemnation of rogue MP’s rant
Ellie Dudley7.25am:Lockdown looms for Dubbo after new case
Another NSW regional centre could be put under lockdown, after a positive Covid-19 case was detected at a school in Dubbo in the central west.
A member of the school community at Dubbo West Public School has tested positive for the virus, health and education officials told the ABC.
While it is not yet understood how the transmission occurred, nine close contacts have already been identified and are in isolation.
The school has been closed for the day and staff and students have been told to self isolate until further advice is received.
Fragments of the virus have also been detected in local sewerage samples.
The NSW government is now considering plunging the Dubbo and Wellington local government areas into a snap lockdown, according to reports from the ABC.
It comes after several regions in the state’s north, including Tamworth and Armidale, were forced into lockdown in the past week.
READ MORE: What do we know about Moderna?
Ellie Dudley 7.20am:Brisbane opens first mass vaccination hub
Brisbane’s first mass vaccination hub will open today, and will administer over 1000 doses per day.
The new centre has been established at Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre and will be open seven days a week from 8.30am to 4.30pm.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said initially, 1000-1500 doses per day would be administered on site.
By Saturday, Queensland Health predict 3000 doses per day will be administered at BCEC.
“Vaccinations are vital to ending this pandemic. I encourage all Queenslanders to register for a vaccination,” Ms Palaszczuk said earlier this week.
Queensland is responsible for delivering around 30 per cent of the state’s vaccinations and the Federal Government is responsible for delivering 70 per cent.
READ MORE: Business confidence shattered by lockdowns
Ellie Dudley 7.00am: Canavan defends Christensen over lockdown claims
Queensland Senator Matt Canavan has voiced his support for controversial MP George Christensen who claims that masks and lockdowns do not work against Covid-19.
In a brief speech to parliament just before question time on Tuesday, Mr Christensen called for an end to measures such as masks and lockdowns, arguing they were totally ineffective.
Senator Canavan said, while he did not agree with Mr Christensen’s stance on masks, he would “defend” his right to speak his mind
“I first of all want to say I defend every right of any Australian including members of Parliament to express their views, I don’t think they should be silenced on these issues,” he told Channel 9’s Today.
“Secondly I don’t agree with George on masks but I do agree with him on lockdowns.”
“It’s not that I don’t think (lockdowns) reduce the spread of the virus, but lockdowns come with a whole lot of other costs which are going uncited at the moment. Like mental health impacts, locking up kids in potentially abusive households. The lack of flexibility and compassion to people who might want to see a dying relative in their last moments.”
Senator Canavan said the strict public health measures that have been enforced have forced Australians to “lose their humanity”.
READ MORE:Covid recovery about more than money
Ellie Dudley 6.50am:Mall alert puts Vic freedom at further risk
Melbourne residents’ hopes they’ll be released from lockdown on Friday has been dealt a further blow after a busy suburban shopping mall in the city’s outer west was identified as a high-risk venue for potential exposure of Covid-19 and all staff who worked over a four day period were asked to isolate.
Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews is today expected to extend the seven day lockdown after 15 of the 20 cases recorded on Tuesday were found to be infectious in the community.
The Caroline Springs Shopping Centre had already made the list last week, after an infected case visited numerous stores, forcing many other shoppers into “casual contact” status.
Now, anyone who worked at any store in the centre between August 2 and August 5 has been asked to get tested immediately and isolate for 14 days.
A total of 48 new exposure sites were added to the health department’s list on Tuesday, as the state recorded 20 new cases of Covid-19.
Only five of the cases were isolated during their infectious period.
READ MORE:Parents want kids back in class
Ellie Dudley6.30am: Fears as positive cases visit popular Newcastle nightspots
A number of popular Newcastle social venues have appeared on NSW Health’s ever growing list of venues of potential exposure, raising concerns a superspreading event may occur.
Residents of the area are bracing themselves for a wave of new cases, after thirteen were detected in the Upper Hunter area on Tuesday and the virus continues to surge through the region.
The new venues listed by NSW Health are “the epicentre of young adult social life in Newcastle CBD”, Peter Jolly, a Triple M broadcaster in the region told news.com.au.
âš ï¸PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT – NEW VENUES OF CONCERNâš ï¸
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) August 10, 2021
NSW Health has been notified of new venues of concern in Newcastle and southern Sydney which are associated with confirmed cases of COVID‑19. pic.twitter.com/4XWn2fCy8M
Anyone who visited the following venues at the times listed has been classified as a close contact and must be tested and isolate for 14 days.
Newcastle: Queen’s Wharf Hotel, 150 Wharf Street, Sunday August 1 8.15pm to 9.20pm
Charlestown: Central Leagues Club, 8 Bula Street, Monday August 2 12pm to 5pm, Tuesday August 3 5.30pm to 9.20pm, Wednesday August 4 4.40pm to 8.45pm
Newcastle: Honeysuckle Social, 11 Honeysuckle Drive, Thursday August 5 12.10pm to 1.50pm
Another high-risk location was identified in southwest Sydney. Those who were at the venue at the time stipulated should be tested and isolate for 14 days.
Bardwell Valley: Silver Jubilee Park Children’s Playground, Alsace Avenue, Saturday August 7 3.15pm to 5pm
Up to 577 new venues have been added to the health department’s list of places of potential transmission, largely from parts of southwest and west Sydney.
READ MORE:Where Covid and culture clash
Anne Barrowclough 5.55am: Sydney traveller probed amid exemption claim doubts
The Sydney man who took the virus to Byron Bay is being investigated by police amid doubts over his claims he had an exemption to travel.
Police were originally told the 52-year-old from the city’s eastern suburbs had an exemption to look at properties in the region, the Daily Telegraph reports. However police are set to ramp up their probe of the man’s movements once NSW Health are fully appraised of them.
The man, whose movements sparked a week long lockdown for Byron Bay, Richmond Valley, Lismore and Ballina, is being treated for the virus in Lismore Base Hospital, while his two teenage children have also tested positive.
Byron Mayor Michael Lyon told the Telegraph he hoped the man would be charged over his movements.
“As I understand, this bloke may be charged,” he said. Certainly, it’s justified in this case. People are frustrated, outraged, it’s causing economic hardship, we’ve had some big impacts because of lockdown and other areas because of tourism. This is a hella blow.”
READ MORE: Delta dashing consumer, business hopes
Yoni Bashan5am:Hospitality industry pushes for mandatory vaccines
The hospitality industry is calling for mandatory Covid-19 vaccinations as a pathway out of lockdown, as cases climbed to record levels in NSW on Tuesday and as officials continued to weigh vaccination targets as a method of gradually easing restrictions.
A poll conducted by Restaurant and Catering Australia and provided to The Australian shows a majority of businesses want the ability to compel staff to be vaccinated before coming to work, with 63 per cent of restaurant, bar and hotel owners backing the move.
Some 62 per cent of these venues said the federal government should mandate Covid-19 vaccinations for the general public, when asked how to summarise their position.
The polling was released to The Australian as the state recorded 356 new cases of the virus, including three deaths, and as conservative NSW Liberal MPs debated the contentious issue of mandatory jabs in a partyroom meeting.
Tuesday’s case numbers marked a new record since the NSW outbreak began on June 16, with 97 people identified as being infectious in the community and another 157 cases still under investigation for their isolation status.
Conservative Liberals have been seeking to introduce legislation banning the NSW government and businesses from compelling people to have the vaccine, arguing that doing so would be an assault on their individual rights and liberties.
Read the full story here.
Michael McKenna4.45am:Palaszczuk targets marginal seat with Covid polling
Annastacia Palaszczuk’s office conducted taxpayer-funded polling into the government’s Covid-19 strategy across a regional, Labor-held marginal seat targeted by the opposition ahead of last year’s state election.
Intensive “qualitative” interviews were commissioned with hundreds of residents of the Livingstone Shire – almost exclusively in Labor’s seat of Keppel – just days after a newspaper poll showed it was in danger of falling to the Liberal National Party.
The shire, which also includes a small stretch of the One Nation-held seat of Mirani, was the only region set aside for special attention in a series of monthly “waves” of statewide polling ordered by Ms Palaszczuk’s department into Covid-19 restrictions and her government’s handling of the outbreak.
On Tuesday, Ms Palaszczuk again refused to release any of the ongoing research – which has so far cost taxpayers’ $528,000 – as ALP insiders said it was used to help shape the government’s re-election strategy.
Read the full story here.
Patrick Commins4.30am:Delta variant dashing consumer, business hopes
Business and consumer confidence has collapsed under the weight of Delta lockdowns, as sentiment turned negative for the first time since 2020.
NAB’s monthly business survey showed operating conditions and confidence “deteriorated sharply” in July.
The bank’s corporate sentiment index plunged by 19 points to -8 points and was “now well below average”, NAB said, where a reading below zero signals more pessimists than optimists.
Operating conditions for Australian firms deteriorated across the mainland, according to the survey, falling 14 points to 11 points – still above the historical average of six points. There was a particularly savage drop of 31 points to two points in NSW, while South Australia also experienced a large fall.
NAB chief economist Alan Oster said “the survey shows that the strength in the business sector seen in early to mid-2021 has faded on the back of fresh disruptions in the economy, but it has not yet deteriorated to the lows seen in early 2020”.
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