Coronavirus Australia: Two Victorian women die from Covid-19

A woman in her 40s and a woman in her 60s have become the first people to die with coronavirus in Victoria in 2021.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos AUGUST 31, 2021: A person looks out over a stormy Port Phillip Bay from Middle Park Beach on the last day of winter. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Welcome to live updates on Australia's battle with the Covid-19 pandemic.

A woman in her 40s and a woman in her 60s have become the first people to die with coronavirus in Victoria in 2021.

Fears NSW rallies could become superspreader events as police arrest 150, fine almost 600 as NSW residents join dozens of anti-lockdown and anti-vaccine protests.

Scott Morrison has turned down an opportunity to reaffirm his commitment to ensuring all aged care workers will receive at least one vaccination by September 17, instead saying there are “still challenges” remaining.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says the state will run down case numbers as low as possible, as he flagged announcing "thresholds" for easing restrictions on Wednesday as the state records 76 new cases.

NSW has recorded 1164 locally acquired Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, with 67 per cent of the state’s population having received their first jab. 

The ACT government has extended its lockdown until at least September 17, after recording 13 new cases of Covid-19.