Coronavirus Australia live news: Brisbane still masked despite lockdown end; ‘Green shoots’ in NSW
The NSW Premier says Sydney could be in the home stretch of its lockdown this week, despite a still-high caseload, after Queensland exited the last of its lockdowns.
- Brisbane lockdown has ended
- First doses of vaccines pass 8m
- ‘Green shoots’: 35 NSW cases, most in isolation
- ‘Lockdowns can end in two months’
- Vaccine targets set path to freedom
- International arrivals cut hurts economy
Welcome to live updates on Australia’s battle with the Covid-19 pandemic. Here is how Saturday unfolded.
All Queenslanders were out of lockdown at 6pm after the state recorded five new cases. NSW recorded 35 new locally-transmitted cases of Covid-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm yesterday but Premier Gladys Berejiklian says the “green shoots” are there after the majority of new cases were recorded in isolation. Epidemiologists believe there will be sufficient Australians fully vaccinated within the next two months to make lockdowns unnecessary in any state. The news comes as Prime Minister Scott Morrison clinched a deal with premiers to return life to normal by tying the national reopening to new vaccination targets.
Joseph Lam11pm: NSW caseload ‘predicted’ despite days of lockdown
Australia recorded at least 48 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours as the country reached a new vaccination tally of 8.12 million doses.
NSW recorded 40 of those new cases – 35 locally-transmitted, five overseas acquired – and Queensland the remaining eight, five of which are local cases.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and chief health officer were largely positive about the new cases which were “as predicted”, saying that the “green shoots” of the lockdown were in place.
The two-week lockdown for Sydney and nearby regions is due to end at midnight on Friday, July 9.
“The green shoots of the lockdown doing what we hoped it would are certainly there. We have not seen a huge surge in cases and we certainly feel through our contact tracing that we are not at stage missing any chains of community transmission,” Ms Berejiklian said.
Despite recording eight new cases in her state, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk decided that 6pm Saturday was the right time to lift the Brisbane and the Moreton Bay local-government areas out of the lockdown that had been placed on them since 6pm Tuesday.
Some other parts of eastern Queensland also in lockdown had emerged earlier. The latest advice is here.
“We need everyone to pull together and act cooperatively and put our trust in one another, and really think about the most vulnerable people in our community,” Ms Palaszczuk said as she reminded her state it was “not yet out of the woods”.
Saturday also saw Perth emerge from a four-day lockdown, one that was welcomed by its residents but immediately by some businesses, many of which decided it was not financially viable to operate under temporary measures imposed by Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan.
“Even though we’re out of lockdown, we still need as many Western Australians as possible to get tested. The more people get tested, the more confidence we can have when taking the next steps,” Mr McGowan said.
The interim rules require masks to be worn, a one person-per-four square metre rule and no more than 20 patrons at indoors and outdoors venues.
On the political front, and despite welcoming the majority of Australia’s international arrivals since the pandemic began, Ms Berejiklian found herself in the firing line from Ms Palaszczuk and Mr McGowan for expressing disappointment over Friday’s national cabinet decision to halve the number of international arrivals into Australia.
Ms Palaszczuk told reporters she and Ms Berejiklian tend to share a different view.
“My view, which is shared by, I think, the majority of the states and territories and I think the commonwealth, is that actually, if you reduce the caps, you reduce the risk,” she said.
Meanwhile Mr McGowan said: “You cannot go into the meeting and agree to something and come out and say you do not agree with it.”
The ACT and Victoria both recorded zero new Covid-19 cases in the 24 hours to Saturday, a figure celebrated by Victoria Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton who took to Twitter to share his excitement: “Crushing it, Victoria.”
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt welcomed the nation’s new vaccine tally of 8,121,649, expressing relief that Australians continued to come forward despite the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation changing its recommendation that AstraZeneca be given to those over the age of 60.
“To see the strength of those results, both first doses and second doses, coming forward I think is very heartening for the nation,” he said.
Mr Hunt said Australia was due to receive a further 2.8m vaccine doses this month which would arrive in lots of 300,000, 500,000 and 1m.
ALSO READ: Most states ‘disagree with NSW’ on border
Nilsson Jones7pm: More sites added to Queensland’s tracing list
Queensland Health has updated Covid-19 exposure sites following a series of new cases announced over the past two days.
The new sites include service stations and coffee shops on the Sunshine Coast, repeat visits to a service station in Carina, and more from the Carindale cluster.
âš ï¸ Public Health Alert âš ï¸
— Queensland Health (@qldhealthnews) July 3, 2021
A public health alert is being issued for more contact tracing locations in Eumundi and Sunshine Beach.
Contact tracing venues and flights can be found at https://t.co/rujm8F3qL4 pic.twitter.com/jde8CtJVjb
The updated list was released about 4pm on Saturday, with dates spanning back to June 27 through to July 2, with an exposure site at Tingalpa.
A 7-Eleven at Carina had repeat visits, three days in a row from June 29 to July 1, all from 2.50am to 3.05am.
The full list includes sites at Eumundi, Sunshine Beach, Carina, Carindale, and Tingalpa.
Sunday Mail (Qld)
ALSO READ: For Queensland Health’s Saturday night tracing list, go here
Steve Zemek6pm: Several Sydney suburbs in latest venues alerts
A string of businesses in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, inner west and southern suburbs including a Woolworths have been added to increasing number of COVID-19 exposure sites.
NSW Health on Saturday evening issued a public health alert which listed a host of new venues of concern.
They included a Double Bay bakery, a Homebush West Indian restaurant, a Service NSW office at Botany, two Five Dock pharmacies and a Woolworths at Mortdale in southern Sydney.
NSW Health has been releasing new exposure sites multiple times a day since the latest outbreak.
âš ï¸PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT - ADDITIONAL VENUES OF CONCERNâš ï¸ pic.twitter.com/qhHF4Gk1HG
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) July 3, 2021
Dozens of venues across the Greater Sydney area are now included in the still growing list.
People who visited any of the following locations are considered close contacts, meaning they must immediately get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result, and call 1800 943 553.
With Matthew Murphy and Anton Nilsson
NCA NewsWire
READ MORE:Covid alert for southern Sydney
Steve Zemek5.15pm:Cafe owners defying mask rules may face closure
The owners of a southern NSW cafe accused of breaching public health orders have been threatened with being shut down.
NSW Police said on Saturday that a show cause notice had been issued for a Jindabyne cafe after the owners allegedly twice broke mask rules within 48 hours.
Police were called to the Snowy Valley Way business on Wednesday after receiving numerous Crime Stoppers reports.
They alleged that the owners – a 32-year-old woman and 33-year-old man – were not wearing masks and they were arrested and charged.
NCA NewsWire
READ MORE: NSW cafe threatened with closure
Joseph Lam3.40pm:Nation’s tally of first doses passes 8m
More than eight million Australians have now received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine after the nation administered a total of 151,496 doses on Friday.
The new tally, now at 8.12 million, representing nearly one-third of the population, was welcomed by Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt, who said the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation’s change of age recommendation for the AstraZeneca vaccine had not deterred Australians from coming forward to get vaccinated.
This daily infographic provides the total number of vaccine doses administered in Australia as of 2 July 2021. Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccine information here: https://t.co/TUKfzVuGVm#COVID19 #COVID19Vaccines pic.twitter.com/Qtw1o0VJRb
— Australian Government Department of Health (@healthgovau) July 3, 2021
“To see the strength of those results, both first doses and second doses, coming forward I think is very heartening for the nation,” he said.
Mr Hunt said Australia was due to receive a further 2.8m vaccines doses this month which would arrive in lots of 300,000, 500,000 and 1m.
ALSO READ: Lockdown phase ‘can end in two months’ with vaccinations
Hannah Moore3pm:‘We have this trapped’: no new cases in NT
The Northern Territory recorded zero new cases on Saturday.
In a Facebook post, Chief Minister Michael Gunner said it was “brilliant” to see Territorians out and about after lockdowns in the Darwin region and Alice Springs ended.
A concerning cluster related to a worker at the Tanami gold mine appeared to be “trapped”, he said.
“For the second day in a row, there have been zero new positive Covid-19 cases in the Territory, and we remain confident we have this virus trapped,” he said.
”We’ve got more than 2500 test results back in the past 24 hours and all of them were negative.”
READ MORE:Australia’s outbreak grows by 40
Joseph Lam1.45pm:National cabinet plans a ‘watershed moment’: AMA
Australia is better placed to calculate an appropriate number of vaccinations which would allow the country to make effective decisions surrounding border closures and lockdowns, says Australian Medical Association vice-president Dr Chris Moy.
“There’s been a lot of work over time to do a lot of this modelling and I think we’re in a much better position now to plug in those numbers and determine that,” he said on Sky News on Saturday.
“There will be a separate number for when we’ll be able to open up the country and for when we’ll be able to travel.”
Dr Moy also welcomed the four phase plan out of the pandemic which came out of Friday’s national cabinet, calling it a “watershed moment” for the nation.
“It wasn’t overpromising, it had a lot of caveats, but essentially what it said is that when we get to a point where we get a certain number of people vaccinated, we can stop talking about cases because cases become less relevant,” he said.
“What we have to be able to do is get enough people vaccinated so we have enough protection throughout the community.”
READ MORE:Vaccine targets to unlock path to freedom
Joseph Lam1.14pm:McGowan blasts Berejiklian on arrival caps
Mark McGowan says he was surprised to learn NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian was upset that the number of international arrivals into Australia had been halved.
Providing an update on Perth’s lockdown on Saturday, the WA Premier said leaders can’t fall back on decisions they’ve agreed to.
“Well, (Ms Berejiklian) agreed to it. If she didn’t agree to it, she could have a different approach if she wanted to, but she agreed to it,” he said.
“You cannot go into the meeting and agree to something and come out and say you do not agree with it,” Mr McGowan said. “It is not really the Australian way.”
Mr McGowan said despite the Perth lockdown being lifted on Saturday, a number of restrictions would remain in place until Tuesday morning.
“Even though we’re out of lockdown, we still need as many Western Australians as possible to get tested. The more people get tested, the more confidence we can have when taking the next steps,” he said.
WA recorded no new cases of Covid-19 on Saturday and will look to further ease restrictions early next week.
Mr McGowan called on residents to get vaccinated and to support each other.
“I urge everyone, when you are eligible, book your vaccination. Ultimately, vaccination is the only solution for getting out of the pandemic,” he said.
“It has been a difficult period for many. If you’re able to, please visit a local business and show your support.”
READ MORE:Gold standards lose lustre in light of human error
Joseph Lam12.42pm:Most states disagree with NSW on borders: Palaszczuk
Annastacia Palaszczuk says the majority of states don’t agree with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s view on international arrivals.
Responding to questions on Saturday, the Queensland Premier said halving the number of international arrivals was purely risk related.
“Yeah, we have a bit of a different opinion on that. So, my view, which is shared by, I think, the majority of the states and territories and I think the commonwealth, is that actually, if you reduce the caps, you reduce the risk,” she said.
“And that’s exactly what we’re trying to do here. Like I said, our quarantine is stretched, it’s a pressure cooker. We need to reduce some of that risk.”
Ms Palaszczuk said the federal government’s decision to continue repatriating vulnerable Australians from overseas at Howard Springs was “the perfect, logical answer”.
Queensland supported the idea of home quarantine for vaccinated returned travellers, Ms Palaszczuk said. She also believes that all Australians, either leaving or entering the nation, should be vaccinated,
“I don’t necessarily know if it’s preference, but I still maintain that we should have a situation where Australians leaving should be fully vaccinated, and people coming into Australia should be fully vaccinated,” she said.
“But that’s a federal government issue – they are responsible for the circumstances in which people leave and the circumstances in which people come.”
READ MORE:Australia needs a shot of common sense and empathy
Joseph Lam12.23pm:Three key things that will keep Queensland open
There are but just three things that Queenslanders can do to keep their state from entering another round of lockdown, says the state’s Deputy Premier Steven Miles.
“Masks, QR codes, and testing.”
Mr Miles said it was a “huge relief” to lift the lockdown Saturday evening but residents needed to remain vigilant and be aware a number of public health orders remain.
“It’s important that everyone, particularly in the south-east, goes about as though they could come in contact with the virus. And that’s why those three things are so critical,” he said.
“And if we can keep those up for 13 days, we can avoid another lockdown, hopefully this will be our last one … So wear your mask, sign in with the QR code sign-in app, and get tested if you have any symptoms or concerns at all.”
READ MORE:Queensland records 5 new local cases
Joseph Lam12.14pm:Queensland lockdown to end amid five new cases
Queenslanders in Brisbane and Moreton Bay will emerge from lockdown at 6pm on Saturday after the state recording five new locally-transmitted cases of Covid-19.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said it was good news for those emerging from lockdown but the state was not yet out of the woods.
BREAKING: Lockdown will lift in the local government areas of Brisbane and Moreton Bay from 6pm today. Additional measures will remain in place until 6pm on Friday 16 July. #covid19pic.twitter.com/3nIBjVcUiX
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) July 3, 2021
“We need everyone to pull together and act cooperatively and put our trust in one another, and really think about the most vulnerable people in our community,” she said.
“It is just really important over these next days to really think about, if you’re in the vulnerable category, do you need to go out and about in your community?”
Ms Palaszczuk called for store owners to make sure every customer was checking in before visiting their venues.
READ MORE:When Aussies could be fully vaccinated
Joseph Lam11.45am:Berejiklian hints at lockdown date decision
As NSW residents hold out for the lockdown ending as planned next week, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has given a hint as to when the decision will be made.
Answering questions from a reporter, Ms Berejiklian said authorities were on high alert as the virus spread away from central Sydney to the city’s southeast and west.
“Look, obviously the health experts are giving myself and my colleagues advice on a daily basis and we obviously look for those opportunities to assess the situation. I anticipate that obviously some time next week we’ll be in a position to tell the community where things are at … it’s a bit too soon at the moment,” she said.
“We have seen the tide turn, we have seen those green shoots, but I also want to stress in particular on top of what Dr Chant has expressed, we’re seeing the virus, the central focus of the cases now, shift from south-east Sydney to parts of Auburn, south-west and Western Sydney.”
Despite NSW recording its highest number of new Covid-19 cases in a single day during this outbreak, Ms Berejiklian said it wasn’t unexpected.
“The next few days will be telling, but so far I’m relieved that there hasn’t been a huge surge in numbers,” she said.
“I’m also received the tide seems to be shifting in relation to the number of people who have been in isolation that are getting the virus, as opposed to those who have been exposed in the community, and that’s positive news.”
READ MORE:Held hostage by fear and lies
Joseph Lam11.37am:Lockdown rule breakers receive 78 infringements
Three Sydneysiders who drove more than 200km to the Jenolan Caves because “they were feeling bored” have been fined $1000 each.
The group fined were among 78 NSW residents who received personal infringement notices for refusing to comply with public health orders, said NSW Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys.
“People need to be aware that it’s not just a choice about being bored, it’s not just a choice where you may travel that particular day, be aware of the LGA you live in, where you intend to go, and what the public health orders say,” he said.
“It is quite clear now that people will report this sort of behaviour to police and we’ll take action.”
Mr Worboys also addressed a cafe in Jindabyne which had defied previous police advice.
“More recently one of the owners of the cafe was arrested and placed on bail conditions for working that cafe outside of the public health orders,” he said.
“That was reported to public health who have issued a show cause notice to the cafe owners as to why they should not be shut down.”
The numbers of people calling police to report potential lockdown breaches had increased, Mr Worboys said.
“In the last 24 hours, nearly 350 reports to Crimestoppers, people that are witnessing behaviour that contravenes the public health orders and reporting that to police. We have always said we will take action on that where we can.”
Joseph Lam11.26am:‘You don’t win a war with whacko views’
Brad Hazzard has a strong message for NSW residents who refuse to wear a mask despite public health orders.
“We are deep in a war with this virus. And we can’t win this war unless the community are all with us,” the NSW Health Minister said.
“When you’re in a war, you don’t win it with whacko views.”
Mr Hazzard said it was “unfortunate” that some residents failed to understand the importance of wearing a face mask.
“Unfortunately, we’re seeing some people who think it’s OK not to wear masks. My strong message to the community is, we will only win this war against the virus if people wear masks and follow all the other instructions that we understand will keep us safe,” he said.
READ MORE:Politics is infecting the road to normal
Joseph Lam11.03am:‘Green shoots’: NSW records 35 cases, most in isolation
NSW recorded 35 new locally transmitted cases of Covid-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm yesterday but Premier Gladys Berejiklian says the “green shoots” are there after the majority of new cases were recorded in isolation.
“While as predicted the number of cases is going up, we are seeing a greater proportion of those cases in isolation, which is exactly what we want to see,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“The green shoots of the lockdown doing what we hoped it would are certainly there.”
NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant echoed Ms Berejiklian’s comments, but also called for residents to minimise their presence in indoor retail settings.
NSW recorded 35 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night, of which 29 are linked to previously confirmed cases. pic.twitter.com/RMAqx2qlmc
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) July 3, 2021
“What we are encouraging you to do is to minimise your retail and shopping, minimise as much as possible your exposure in indoor settings and stay socially distanced,” she said.
“Of the 35 new locally acquired cases, 23 were in isolation throughout their infectious period.
“A further three cases were in isolation for part of their infectious period, and nine cases were infectious in the community. Six cases remain under investigation.”
Twenty-nine of the 35 cases were linked to previous infections. There have been 261 locally acquired cases in NSW since June 16, with 207 of those directly linked to the Bondi cluster.
READ MORE:PM bets on a new blueprint to normal
Joseph Lam10.53am:Restrictions ease in WA, but not all businesses reopen
While many West Australians were relieved as Perth emerged from a four-day lockdown on Saturday, not all businesses were in high spirits, many of which will not reopen under the current measures.
Mandatory mask use, a one person per 4-square-metre social distancing rule as well as a 20-patron limit at indoor and outdoor venues was enough to deter a handful of businesses who will not be able to make profit under these rules.
In the CBD, the Gordon St Garage cafe was one business which found it financially unviable to open up over the weekend.
“Unfortunately with the capacity limits we will be closed for the weekend, but we look forward to opening our doors soon as restrictions ease,” they said.
Badlands Bar, a live music venue which opens as late as 2am shared that view.
“With the updated state health advice, unfortunately Badlands will be closed this weekend. Emails will be sent out to all ticket holders with show updates/reschedules and refund options,” they said.
“In the meantime be safe and we’ll see you in a socially distanced mosh pit soon.”
On a brighter note, the Hula Bula Bar will reopen, embracing restrictions and calling for patrons to don their usual attire.
“Get your shirt on, bring a mask and if you look like the guy in the middle bring ID.”
Adrian McMurray10.39pm:NSW Premier to speak amid lockdown extension fears
Gladys Berejiklian will provide a Covid-19 update at 11am AEST. There are fears the Sydney lockdown will be extended, as residents are told to brace for higher numbers of cases due to a ‘lag time’ in those infected people being detected. You can watch the press conference live at the top of this blog.
Joseph Lam9.38pm:‘Crushing it, Victoria’: Sutton’s message of hope
Victoria has recorded zero locally-transmitted Covid-19 cases for the third day in a row on the back of performing 24,247 tests.
The positive news sparked some excitement from the state’s chief health officer Brett Sutton who took to social media to congratulate his state.
“Crushing it, Victoria,” he said.
Crushing it, Victoria. https://t.co/1SRaYtCfeH
— Chief Health Officer, Victoria (@VictorianCHO) July 2, 2021
Overnight Victoria changed its recommendation for travellers entering the state from the Local Government Areas of Alice Springs and Greater Darwin including City of Darwin, Palmerston and Litchfield, which are now considered orange zones.
Travellers entering Victoria from designated orange zones must isolate on arrival, get tested within 72 hours and not leave isolation until a negative test is received.
READ MORE:For now, lockdowns part of the plan for business
8.24am:No new Covid-19 cases in Victoria
Victoria recorded no local or overseas cases in the 24 hours to midnight from 24,247 tests. An additional 19,623 vaccine doses were administered yesterday.
Reported yesterday: 0 new local cases and 0 new cases acquired overseas.
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) July 2, 2021
- 19,623 vaccine doses were administered
- 24,247 test results were received.
More later: https://t.co/2vKbgKHFvv#COVID19Vic#COVID19VicDatapic.twitter.com/LWERsj0cSg
Stephen Rice7am:Tracers struggle to get ahead of NSW outbreak
Health authorities fear the Greater Sydney lockdown may have to be extended as case numbers spiked on Friday, with 31 new cases recorded in NSW, amid concerns contact tracers are only now identifying hot spots that pre-date the lockdown a week ago.
Elsewhere, Queensland’s lockdown was partially lifted after three local cases were detected on Friday, with hard lockdowns extended for 24 hours in Brisbane and Moreton, but lockdowns ended in Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
With at least 13 of the new cases in NSW not in isolation while infectious, Sydneysiders have been told to brace for higher case numbers in the coming days due to the “lag time” until cases are detected.
The new cases – the highest number since the lockdown began – bring the total in the state’s outbreak to 226. Premier Gladys Berejiklian expressed cautious optimism that while there was likely to be an increase over the next few days, “hopefully early next week we should see the impact of the lockdown really turning and having a positive impact”.
Read the full story here.
Daniel Sankey6.30am:Host of new venue alerts named in Sydney
Supermarkets, a medial practice and a post office are among a host of new venues named as exposure sites by NSW Health yesterday.
The latest exposure sites, which also include bus trips from Randwick to Maroubra, range from Sydney’s eastern suburbs to Strathfield in the city’s west.
READ MORE: Joe Kelly — Australia’s Covid exit plan explained
Natasha Robinson6am:Lockdowns can end in two months: experts
Epidemiologists believe there will be sufficient Australians fully vaccinated within the next two months to make lockdowns unnecessary in any state.
As the number of vaccinations hit a daily record of more than 163,000 on Friday, Deakin University’s chair in epidemiology Catherine Bennett said the proportion of people fully vaccinated to avoid the need for lockdowns would be in the order of 30 per cent – a prospect that was likely to be only a couple of months away.
“Thirty per cent is probably enough that it slows the spread of the virus and means contact tracers should be able to do their job,” she said. “It should mean that we’re less likely to need to go to these extreme measures.”
Once the vaccination rate reached between 50 and 65 per cent of a population, transmission of Covid-19 was significantly slowed, allowing the easing of restrictions and a gradual opening of international borders while keeping mitigation measures such as home quarantine in place.
More than 30 per cent of Australians now have received at least one vaccine dose, with 7,970,153 doses administered. The proportion of the population fully vaccinated is 8.37 per cent, and this will rise quickly within the coming weeks with millions of people scheduled to receive their second AstraZeneca shot.
Read the full story here.
Olivia Caisley5.30am:PM’s new vaccine targets unlock path to freedom
Scott Morrison has clinched a deal with premiers to return life to normal by tying the national reopening to new vaccination targets, under a plan that will leave potential lockdowns and a shuttered international border in place for at least another six months.
National cabinet agreed to a four-step blueprint on Friday for a phased easing of restrictions once Australians have met the new vaccine thresholds, which will be set using scientific modelling from epidemiologists at the Doherty Institute in Melbourne.
But, to secure the support of national cabinet, Mr Morrison was forced to accept demands from Labor states to slash the number of international arrivals by 50 per cent, amid concern over the more-infectious Delta strain.
The numbers of foreign arrivals will be cut to 3034 a week from July 14 with no end date in sight, dampening the repatriation hopes of 34,000 Australians stranded overseas and alarming business, which is warning of critical skills shortages driven by a “Fortress Australia” mindset.
The Prime Minister sealed the breakthrough agreement in separate late-night conversations with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and her Victorian counterpart Daniel Andrews on Thursday, following a week of political conflict between the states and commonwealth over vaccine supply.
Read the full story, by Olivia Caisley and Greg Brown, here.
Greg Brown5.15am:Slashing international arrivals ‘will hurt economy’
Business groups have criticised national cabinet’s move to temporarily halve the number of international arrivals, warning it will hamper economic growth and exacerbate skills shortages.
Business Council of Australia chief executive Jennifer Westacott said it was “disappointing that international visitor arrivals caps have been slashed”.
“We need to get Australians home and we were already spread too thin regarding skills shortages – now those problems just get worse,” Ms Westacott said.
Under pressure from state premiers over the number of people coming into Australia, Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday announced arrivals would be halved to 3000 per week “to reduce the pressure on quarantine facilities, due to the increased risks of the Delta strain of the virus”.
Mr Morrison said the caps would “possibly” be lifted at the beginning of next year, if rising vaccination rates allow for restrictions to be eased under the government’s new four-stage plan.
Read the full story here.
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