PoliticsNow: COVID-19 vaccinations for over-50s brought forward
Australians aged between 50-69 will be able to receive the AstraZeneca jab from May, while the number of flights from India will be reduced.
- Jabs brought forward for over-50s
- Australia to reduce flights from India
- China hits back over BRI
- PM’s $1bn bet on climate tech
- Two infected at Perth hotel
- Plan to relax borders ‘mad’
Welcome to The Australian’s rolling political coverage amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Australians aged between 50-69 will be able to receive the AstraZeneca jab from May, while the number of flights from India to be reduced.
The Foreign Minister earlier defended the axing of Victoria’s controversial Belt and Road agreement with China, despite threats it will “further damage” the strained relationship.
Scott Morrison will promote practical action and achievement over ambition at Joe Biden’s climate change summit.
Jacquelin Magnay11.15pm: Tehan helps secure 1m doses for PNG
British pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca can divert one million of Australia’s vaccine doses directly to Papua New Guinea without needing to apply to the EU for permission, after successful personal approaches by Trade Minister Dan Tehan.
In a feisty riposte to his British counterpart Liz Truss, who this week claimed Mr Tehan was inexperienced and would be subjected to an uncomfortable chair during Australia-UK free trade agreement talks, Mr Tehan said he had faced tougher battles playing Australian rules football for Bonnie Doon, having been knocked out when he was in his early 20s.
He also said Ms Truss had since apologised to him.
“I’ve been knocked out playing Australian rules, so the idea that I’d be intimidated by an uncomfortable chair I found rather quaint,’’ he said, before joking: “I did try to avoid getting knocked out too many times — it might have had a long-term impact that led me to go into politics.’’
Mr Tehan met with the EU trade commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis this week in Brussels, where the two agreed there was nothing preventing AstraZeneca from sending the vaccines to Papua New Guinea, and that the EU export mechanism — which has stopped vaccine supplies from reaching Australia — would not apply in this case.
Patrick Commins 10.15pm: Jobs grow despite stimulus cut
The number of Australians on JobSeeker fell by 20,500 over the two weeks to April 9 — the first concrete evidence that the end of JobKeeper has not triggered a wave of newly unemployed.
New figures from the Department of Social Services showed there were 1,275,900 JobSeeker and Youth Allowance (Other) recipients in the fortnight to early April, versus 1,296,413 in the previous period to March 26.
Speaking in Perth ahead of the public release of the DSS figures, Josh Frydenberg said the economy had shown an “enormous amount of resilience” through the pandemic.
With the labour market recovering much more quickly than anticipated, the Treasurer criticised those who had called on the Morrison government to extend the JobKeeper wage subsidy beyond the end of March.
“The early signs — and it’s still too early to reach a definitive position — are that we haven’t seen those long lines outside Centrelink, that the economy’s finding its level, that people are getting back to work,” he said.
There were more than a million workers still on JobKeeper at the start of the year, and Treasury has estimated that up to 150,000 of those could lose their jobs following the end of the program last month.
Ellie Dudley9.30pm:Women’s super is a worry if retiring
The burgeoning difference in superannuation balances between Australian men and women has been exacerbated by coronavirus, leaving women ill-prepared for retirement.
When the federal government allowed Australians to access their superannuation last year to deal with the financial burdens imposed by lockdowns, men experienced an average 18 per cent reduction on their superannuation balance, according to data from Colonial First State.
Women’s super accounts plummeted by 21 per cent. Australians withdrew more than $36bn in early super release payments in 2020.
From April to December, over $1.48bn was released to almost 200,000 Australians at Colonial First State superfund, with 63 per cent ($930m) to men, and 37 per cent ($550m) to women.
General Manager of CFS, Kelly Power, said women’s super accounts fell dramatically more than men because women had a “materially lower” account balance in the first place.
“If you‘re starting with a low account balance on average, and then you take that flat dollar amount of $10,000 or that $20,000 out, it will more meaningfully reduce the amount,” Ms Power said. “The $10,000 figure is not proportionate to the amount of money in the account, so when we know women start with lower balances it will hit them significantly harder.”
Jess Malcolm 8.50pm: India’s grim daily record
India recorded 314,835 new cases on Thursday — the highest daily case count in a single country since the pandemic began more than a year ago.
The previous daily record was set by the US, with 300,699 cases recorded in January.
India also recorded 2074 deaths, bringing the toll to almost 185,000.
The virus has spread quickly throughout its 1.4 billion population as it grapples to contain a “double mutant” strain of COVID-19.
Just two months ago, it was reporting less than 100 deaths per day from COVID-19.
Australia joined a number of countries who have put travel restrictions on India today, with Scott Morrison saying returning travellers from India made up 40 per cent of Covid cases in hotel quarantine.
The US also advises against travel to India, even for those fully vaccinated, while Britain has put India on its “red list”. Hong Kong and New Zealand have banned flights.
Matthew Denholm8.10pm: Author, AWU clash over salmon
Richard Flanagan has made salmon farming a Tasmanian election issue, saying his latest book exposes a “toxic” industry, but unions and industry have accuse him of a hatchet-job.
The Tasmanian writer has taken aim at the state’s aquaculture trade in his nonfiction Toxic: The Rotting Underbelly of the Tasmanian Salmon Industry.
“This is Australia’s largest commercial fishery and something many, many people eat and the problem is it’s just one big lie,” Flanagan said, denying the release was timed for the May 1 state election. “The book details the vast abyss between the marketing spin of a product and the reality of it, which is it’s not clean, it’s not green and it’s not healthy.”
Jess Malcolm 7.35pm:AMA chief backs cutting India flights
The Australian Medical Association president has backed the decision by national cabinet to reduce incoming flights from India, saying it is a difficult balance between allowing people to return home while keeping the virus out of the community.
Omar Khorshid told the ABC the decision was an acknowledgement by the federal and state governments that a weakness exists in the hotel quarantine system.
“You only need to look at the news in the last couple of days with the virus actually spreading within hotel quarantine, both in New South Wales and WA, to see that these systems are not perfect,” he said.
“However, they have allowed many thousands of Australians to come back in without too many disasters, and we just need to keep bolstering those systems to make sure that the workers there are all vaccinated, that they’re all wearing appropriate PPE to protect them so the workers don’t spread it in the community.”
Doctor Khorshid said he was also pleased to see governments prioritise vulnerable groups.
“The job needs to be finished as quickly as possible and rolled out to the aged care workers, disability care workers and the healthcare workforce,” he said.
“I ask the state governments to make their clinics available to all the clinical workforce we can get those most likely to be exposed to COVID-19 in the event of an outbreak fully immune before we get on to the rest of the population.”
READ MORE:BRI termination just icing on Xi’s cake
Matthew Denholm7.15pm:Labor leader refuses to spell out her future
Rebecca White has refused to commit to remaining Tasmanian Labor leader should she lose the May 1 state election.
During the second leaders’ debate of the election campaign on Thursday night, Ms White would not say whether she would stay on if the party lost.
“I’m not planning on losing,” Ms White said, refusing to match Liberal Premier Peter Gutwein, who said he would quit his party’s leadership if he lost the election.
Most polls and pundits suggest the Liberals are more likely to win the election, or at least the most seats.
However, a majority is not certain for the Liberals, even if the party wins more than 50 per cent of the statewide vote, as polls suggest.
Labor suffered a poor start to the campaign, with multiple scandals, including the resignation of party president Ben McGregor as a candidate over vulgar text messages sent to a woman.
However, Labor’s focus on the shortcomings of public health services since appears to have gained traction in recent days and Mr Gutwein conceded the Liberals were not expecting a landslide.
“This election will be closer than most people think,” Mr Gutwein told the debate, hosted by The Examiner newspaper, in Launceston.
The debate’s closing stages were disrupted by protesters holding “Green Your Vote” banners and yelling comments supporting a greater focus on environment policy.
READ MORE:MP’s ‘memory blanks’ queried
Charlie Peel6.48pm:Christensen to step down at next election
Coalition MP George Christensen will not seek re-election at the next federal election.
Mr Christensen told colleagues of his decision this week and was set to reveal the resignation to regional branch members on Thursday night before making a public announcement.
Mr Christensen was elected to represent the north Queensland seat of Dawson, based around Mackay, in 2010.
He holds the seat with a margin of 14.61 per cent, which he increased by 11.24 per cent at the 2019 election.
A colleague of Mr Christensen’s told The Australian the MP had been considering his future in politics since the coronavirus pandemic made it difficult for his wife, who is from the Philippines, to visit her family.
Another colleague declined to comment, saying it was “something for George to announce”.
Mr Christensen has not returned calls seeking comment.
READ MORE: MP resigns to fight cancer
Charlie Peel6.40pm:GPS tracking for repeat offenders in Queensland
The Palaszczuk government has passed laws aimed at cracking down on repeat youth offenders, including a trial of GPS tracking devices.
The legislation was announced in February after the deaths of Kate Leadbetter, 31, and her partner, Matt Field, 37, who were hit by a stolen car, and Jennifer Board, 22, who died after she was hit by a car allegedly driven by vigilantes chasing a stolen vehicle.
GPS monitoring devices will be trialled for serious offenders in Townsville, North Brisbane, Moreton, Logan and the Gold Coast.
There will also be a presumption against bail for serious repeat offenders who commit a crime while on bail and the ability for courts to seek assurances from parents or guardians before an offender is released.
The legislation included funding to expand specialist youth response police teams and supervision programs for juveniles released on bail.
The Liberal National Party unsuccessfully tried to move amendments but voted in favour of the legislation, which was opposed by the Greens.
READ MORE: GPS trackers and tougher bail for recidivist young offenders
Jacquelin Magnay6.20pm:PNG to receive 1m doses after Tehan’s successful talks
AstraZeneca can divert one million of Australia’s vaccine doses direct to Papua New Guinea, without needing to apply to the European Union for permission, after successful personal approaches by Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan.
In a fiesty riposte to the UK trade minister Liz Truss, who this week claimed Mr Tehan was inexperienced and would be subjected to an uncomfortable chair during UK-Australian free trade agreement discussions, Mr Tehan has delivered for one of Australia’s closest neighbours. He also said he had faced tougher battles playing AFL for Bonnie Doon, having been knocked out when he was in his early 20s. He said Ms Truss had apologised.
“I’ve been knocked out playing Australian rules football so the idea that I’d be intimidated by an uncomfortable chair I found rather quaint,” Mr Tehan said.
“I did try and avoid getting knocked out too many times. It might have had an impact long term that led me to go into politics.”
Mr Tehan met with the EU trade commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis this week in Brussels where the two agreed that there is nothing preventing AstraZeneca from sending the vaccines to Papua New Guinea, and that the EU export mechanism, which has stopped vaccine supplies from reaching Australia would not apply in this case. However the rest of the Australia’s AstraZeneca supply, which is around 2.1m doses, due from Europe would only be released after European contracts had been filled. That could push the timeline for Australia’s delivery beyond 12 months.
“We have very clear assurances that AstraZeneca does not have to apply through the EU export transparency regime to send those one million doses to Papua New Guinea,” Mr Tehan said on Thursday.
“So there is nothing that is preventing them from sending those one million doses, from Europe to PNG and the ball is clearly in AstraZeneca’s court.”
He said Marise Payne and Greg Hunt were currently talking with with AstraZeneca about securing the vaccines as soon as possible for Papua New Guinea.
But Mr Tehan would not be drawn on what will happen to the the balance of Australia’s contractual supply from AstraZeneca, which continues to be subject to the EU’s insistence that its citizens have priority for the vaccines.
When asked if Australia was considering donating the supply to another Covax country in the region so that it could immediately benefit from a vaccine supply, Mr Tehan said: “all of those decisions and discussions would be obviously made back in Canberra.”
Mr Tehan said he has also met with the World Trade Organisation in Geneva and discussed ways to ensure the free flow of raw materials that go into the vaccines and the ingredients that make up the vials.
He said the world risks restrictions being put in place by any one country that could flow on and stop the production of vaccines across the globe.
“It’s incredibly important that we look at approaches around voluntary licensing, ensuring that you have the free flow of the materials that go into vaccines, into manufacturing them, into storing them, and then we can allow the investment flows that are needed to really make sure we boosting and lifting production and not restricting supplies,’’ Mr Tehan said.
READ MORE:Dropped UQ jab ‘among best in world’
AFP6.10pm:India posts world record 315,000 daily cases
India posted a global record of almost 315,000 new COVID infections on Thursday as hospitals in New Delhi sent out desperate warnings that patients could die without fresh oxygen supplies.
India’s long-underfunded health system is being stretched to the limit by a devastating second wave blamed on a “double mutant” variant and “superspreader” mass gatherings.
Health Ministry data on Thursday showed 314,835 new infections in the past 24 hours, the most of any country since the pandemic began, taking total cases to 15.9 million, the world’s second highest.
There were 2074 fatalities, bringing the total death toll to almost 185,000. The number of deaths and cases in India are, however, considerably lower on a per capita basis than many other countries.
Angelica Snowden5.47pm:MCG capacity increased to 85,000 for Anzac Day
Up to 85,000 fans can now attend the Anzac Day AFL match in Melbourne at the MCG this Sunday, after the Victorian government announced the stadium’s capacity will be lifted.
Before Thursday, 75,000 people were permitted to attend the game.
A government spokesman said the decision to increase the limit - which only applied to the MCG, AAMI Park and John Cain Arena - was made following advice from the state’s chief health officer Brett Sutton.
“The decision was based on these venues meeting strict public health requirements at last weekend’s games,” the statement read.
“Crowds at Marvel Stadium, GMHBA Stadium, and Mars Stadium will remain at 75 per cent while further work is undertaken to ensure efficient and effective contract tracing of patrons.
“Any future increases in crowd sizes remains dependent on public health conditions being consistently met.”
It came amid furore over the Anzac Day veterans march being capped initially at 5500 people.
It was revised up to 8000 on Wednesday after reports veterans could “boycott” the event in protest of the need to register and the double standards for sport compared with other activities.
READ MORE:Anzac veterans baulk at signing up
Adeshola Ore4.35pm:Pfizer jab restricted to under-50s
Department of Health boss Brendan Murphy has announced the Pfizer vaccine will only be administered to Australians aged under 50.
The federal health advice now recommends that Pfizer is the preferred vaccine for Australians aged under 50 due to rare blood clotting linked to the AstraZeneca shot.
Professor Murphy said Australia needed to maximise its Pfizer supply for younger Australians.
“We need to ensure, because of this new age split, that a range of people under 50 who are eligible at the moment, such as aged care workers, disability care workers, those people with underlying chronic medical conditions, emergency service workers and broader healthcare workers from all settings can have access to Pfizer,” he said.
READ MORE:Pfizer responds to Brisbane clot case
Jess Malcolm4.32pm:Nation edges closer to 1.8m vaccinations
A total of 1,785,698 vaccines have been administered as part of the federal government vaccination rollout, with 67,591 doses given in the past 24 hours.
The commonwealth has administered 1,089,775 with 50,628 given in the past 24 hours up to Wednesday night.
The states and territories have given 695,923 with 16,963 completed in the past 24 hours.
NSW has administered the most with 185,620 followed by Victoria with 176,827, Queensland with 131,128, WA with 83,172, Tasmania with 31,396 South Australia with 50,674 ACT with 23,122 and the Northern Territory with 13,984.
A total of 900,454 have been administered in primary care clinics by the commonwealth, and 189,321 given in aged and disability facilities.
The figures are part of a commitment by the commonwealth to release daily numbers in a bid to increase transparency in its rollout.
READ MORE:Sutton says he’s feeling ‘ordinary’ after receiving AstraZeneca jab
Angelica Snowden4.32pm:Six Victorians linked to Sydney quarantine cluster
Six Victorians have been identified as close contacts of a possible COVID-19 outbreak in a Sydney hotel being used for quarantine.
Authorities in NSW are currently investigating how the virus was transmitted between returned travellers - two members of a family and another person - who stayed in adjacent rooms while in hotel quarantine at the Mercure Hotel on George St in the city.
Investigations are also continuing into how the virus was transmitted between two different groups of travellers at the Adina Apartment Hotel in Sydney’s CBD.
In a statement, the Victorian department of health reported all six people identified as close contacts have been contacted by authorities and will be tested today. They must also complete 14 days of quarantine.
Another Victorian who completed hotel quarantine in Perth has also been tested and told to quarantine for 14 days, after they stayed at a facility linked with two new cases of transmission.
READ MORE:Urgent talks over COVID hotel
Adeshola Ore4.21pm:Australia to reduce incoming flights from India
Australia will reduce the volume of incoming flights from India amid rising COVID cases in the country.
It comes after Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan said he would recommend to national cabinet a suspension or reduction in the number of people allowed to enter the country from India, saying it was “full of COVID”.
Scott Morrison announced direct flights from India and government chartered flights into the Northern Territory would both be reduced by 30 per cent.
Mr Morrison said there had been an increase in the rate of COVID cases in state and territory quarantine systems as a result from arrivals from India.
Travel exemptions for Australians going to high-risk countries, which now just includes India, will also be implemented.
Direct flights from India, which are only landing in Sydney, will require passengers to have a Covid PCR test 72 hours prior to leaving the last port before they enter Australia.
Mr Morrison said the commonwealth would try and ensure that spaces that were freed up due to people unable to return would be taken by another Australian trying to come home.
Mr Morrison said he would not advise people currently from high-risk countries rush back to Australia and noted the government needed to work through further details of its policy that will require inbound passengers from high-risk countries to complete a COVID test before they board.
READ MORE: India posts grim daily record
Adeshola Ore4.16pm:Vaccinations for over-50s brought forward
Australians aged between 50-69 will be able to receive the AstraZeneca jab from May.
Speaking in Canberra, Scott Morrison said inoculating Australians in this age group would be brought forward in GP respiratory clinics and state and territory clinics from May 3. It will be available in broader GP clinics from May 17.
“That will give them ample time to gear up for that and give them more time for those GPs to focus on the over-70 population they’re working through,” the Prime Minister said.
Over half of the almost 1.8 million COVID vaccinations administered have now been delivered by GPs.
National cabinet also agreed to prioritise the Pfizer jab for those under 50 in phases 1a and 1b, Australians in aged-care and disability facilities, quarantine workers, and people in remote regions.
READ MORE:Shocking admission on quarantine hotel
Charlie Peel4.10pm:Queensland MP resigns to fight cancer
Palaszczuk government MP Duncan Pegg has announced he will resign from parliament to focus on his cancer battle, triggering a by-election in his suburban Brisbane seat.
The Stretton MP, who previously took time off from his political career after he was diagnosed with cancer in late 2019, said he would be resigning in the coming weeks.
“Up until this point, I have been able to effectively represent my local area while fighting against cancer,” Mr Pegg said in Parliament on Thursday.
Adeshola Ore3.59pm:Morrison to speak shortly following national cabinet
Scott Morrsion will speak shortly in Canberra after the second national cabinet meeting held this week.
The ramping up to bi-weekly meetings commenced this week to help speed up the nation’s COVID vaccination rollout.
National cabinet was today expected sign off on the expediting of vaccinations for Australians aged between 50-69.
Anthony Piovesan3.45pm:COVID warning for Qantas crew
Health authorities are working with Victorian-based aircrew over fears they “may have had contact” with an infected Auckland Airport employee.
The border worker tested positive for coronavirus on Tuesday.
The Department of Health said officials would now work with Qantas to “identify and assess” aircrew based in Victoria who could have been in contact with the infected case.
“Management of the Victorian aircrew will depend on the outcome of each crew member’s risk assessment,” the department said in a statement on Thursday.
“Some crew will be asked to test and quarantine for 14 days, others will be asked to test and isolate until they get a negative result.”
Angelica Snowden3.37pm:Virus traces detected at Victorian tourism spots
Traces of COVID-19 have been detected in two of Victoria’s popular tourism locations.
The viral fragments were detected at treatment plants at Daylesford, a popular spa destination in the state’s northwest.
Benalla was also included in the alert, a rural town located in Victoria’s northeast.
For more information on today’s #coronavirus (#COVID19) situation in Victoria, see today’s media release: https://t.co/B5ulb7g5UE
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) April 22, 2021
Health authorities said due to a “prolonged period of no community transmission”, a person or people who are not infectious are likely responsible. They are probably “shedding the virus”, the department of health said in a statement.
People who live in or have visited the Daylesford area from April 10 to 12, or the Benalla area from April 10 to 15, should be on alert for symptoms.
READ MORE:Urgent virus alert 115km from Melbourne
Gerard Cockburn3.26pm:Millennials better savers than boomers, new research finds
New research has revealed Millennials are budgeting better than baby boomers since the wave of financial uncertainty sparked by the coronavirus pandemic last year.
A report by NAB’s digital subsidiary UBank has found Australians have continued to show positive savings behaviour in light of the pandemic, with younger demographics more likely to use some form of budgeting tool compared with their older counterparts.
According to UBank, 70 per cent of millennials are likely to use a budgeting tool, while only 66 per cent of baby boomers sometimes used tactics to save money.
UBank chief executive Phillipa Watson said it was an “encouraging” sign that younger Australians were prioritising saving.
“What we’re seeing is that millennials are using budgeting tools more than any other demographic,” Ms Watson said.
“This is particularly encouraging because we know there’s a direct link between budgeting behaviours and reaching your financial goals.”
Adeshola Ore 2.38pm: Frydenberg confident in Australia-China future
Josh Frydenberg says Australia’s relationship with China will continue to be valued but stressed the tearing up of Victoria’s Belt and Road Initiative agreements with Beijing was about defending the country’s national interest.
On Wednesday the Morrison government vetoed the state’s 2018 agreement with China, saying it was inconsistent with the nation’s foreign policy. A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Australian labelled the decision “unreasonable” and “provocative” and warned it would “further damage” the strained relationship.
The Treasurer said the Morrison government would make “no excuses” for protecting the national interest.
“Our relationship with China is important,’’ he said. “They are the number one trading partner for Australia. We want that relationship to continue to be productive and it will continue to be valued.
“But at the same time, we will be clear and consistent with respect to our national interests. Whether it’s around human rights, foreign investment, or other national security-related issues.”
Mr Frydenberg said he was confident the economically mutually-beneficial trade relationship with China would continue.
READ MORE: ‘Very sly’ — Lambie unleashes on China
Adeshola Ore2.20pm:Health experts to advise on suspending flights from India
Josh Frydenberg says Australia’s expert health advice will determine whether the country suspends flights from India amid a rising number of COVID cases.
Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan said he would recommend to national cabinet a suspension or reduction in the number of people allowed to enter the country from India, saying it was “full of COVID.”
The Treasurer said Australia had always followed the medical advice when determining its border rules.
“We moved quickly. People say Australia has done well because we’re an island. Well, the UK is an island and they haven’t done as well as we have,” he said.
“Decisions about India or other countries are matters from the Chief Health Officer and ultimately for national cabinet.”
READ MORE:India Covid surge hits new record
Paige Taylor 1.59pm: Departing Indians returning infected: McGowan
West Australian premier Mark McGowan claims “we have a lot of evidence now” that Australians have been travelling to India during the pandemic and returning with coronavirus.
Mr McGowan will urge the national cabinet on Thursday to block or heavily restrict returning travellers from India, saying it is “full of covid” and the high numbers of infected returned travellers from India is putting strain on the quarantine system.
“Australians are being allowed to leave this country and go to India and then return during the covid period and I do not understand why that is happening,” Mr McGowan said.
“That is causing grief ... this is highly dangerous to the public.”
Mr McGowan said WA’s health system was under strain because of the volume of returned travellers - around 2000 across nine hotels on any given day - and the fact increasing numbers arrived infected with coronavirus. On Thursday, there were 28 people in Perth’s quarantine hotels with coronavirus.
Mr McGowan told reporters in Perth that half of all infected people in WA’s quarantine hotels had come from or through India.
“There needs to be a reduction or suspension,” Mr McGowan said.
“That is a really hard thing because they are Australians coming back with covid and putting the community at risk and the economy at risk.
“Australia has done so well ... but we are not out of the woods.”
Mr McGowan addressed the media after genomic testing confirmed that a family from the UK had contracted coronavirus inside a Perth quarantine hotel. The testing revealed they got it from a family from India quarantining in a room directly across the hall at the Mercure Hotel.
Mr McGowan told reporters that hotel’s rooms are less than ideal for quarantining because the air in the hallways comes from the air in each room. It is possible coronavirus travelled across the hall by air from one family to another, though a WA Health Department investigation will determine this.
The entire floor of the hotel where the families are continuing to quarantine has been cleared and guests who stayed there recently are being retested. Staff continue to be tested daily and so far none have been found to have coronavirus.
READ MORE: Calls to relax border entry mad, says McGowan
Geoff Chambers1.54pm: Australia’s climate strategy insufficient: US
Senior US officials have questioned Australia’s climate change strategy ahead of Joe Biden’s leaders’ summit, declaring it as “insufficient to follow the existing trajectory” towards reaching net zero emissions.
In a US Department of State briefing previewing Mr Biden’s two-day virtual summit, senior administration officials said Australia must recognise “that there’s going to have to be a shift” and flagged hope Scott Morrison would pledge to do more.
“It’s insufficient to follow the existing trajectory and hope that they will be on a course to deep decarbonisation and getting to net zero emissions by mid-century,” a senior administration official said.
“I think the differences are very largely about what the trajectory is and how do you get on it.
“One view of the world says, ‘Don’t worry, technology will solve the problem.’ The other view of the world says, ‘At the end of the day, technology will contribute but is insufficient on its own to solve the problem, and you have to have a set of policies, you have to have national intent, you have to follow up with actions and commitments.’”
READ the full story here
ROSIE LEWIS 1.46pm:We shouldn’t have set jab targets, Birmingham admits
The Morrison government has conceded it should not have set a target for all Australians to receive their first COVID-19 vaccine dose by October and raise expectations that could not be met.
In a major admission the government has bungled messaging about the vaccine rollout, Finance Minister Simon Birmingham said the Coalition would not be setting targets again.
The government had also promised four million Australians would be immunised by March but the number of doses administered has just surpassed 1.7 million.
“On the vaccine front … if we could go back in time, would we have set out the timeline that we did based on the contracts we’d signed and the expectations of when vaccines would roll out? Well, clearly, you wouldn’t do that again,” Senator Birmingham told ABC radio.
“Obviously those vaccines didn’t turn up when expected. We didn’t foresee the type of disruptions that would occur. And so to Australians, we created a sense of expectation around the delivery, which has proved to be even harder to meet than we anticipated.”
Asked if the government had “got cocky” about its rollout earlier this year, Senator Birmingham said: “We were simply trying to outline to Australians in the face of questions that we get all the time as to when we expected things to happen, turned out that those things which were beyond our control couldn’t be delivered.
“We were trying to be transparent at the time.”
Labor’s Senate leader Penny Wong declared the vaccine rollout was “a shambles”, with far fewer Australians vaccinated than intended. She said that was having an impact on people’s health and the economy.
“What’s worse is it’s a shambles that the Prime Minister hasn’t fronted up to it, keeps turning up and telling everybody it’s okay ‘till it became obvious it wasn’t. I mean, he told Australians in November last year, we were at the front of the queue. Unfortunately, that ain’t the case,” she said.
“We’re behind schedule on vaccinating the aged care workforce and only one in 15 people with disability in facilities have been vaccinated when they are (a) priority. And the government keeps telling us this is on track. The reality is that it isn’t. And there are consequences for our economy as well as for Australia’s health.”
READ MORE: Business gets ready for new China backlash
Adeshola Ore 1.33pm: Further foreign deals face axe: Payne
Foreign Minister Marise Payne says she expects more deals to be scrapped following the tearing up of Victoria’s Belt and Road agreement with China.
Speaking in Wellington alongside her New Zealand counterpart Nanaia Mahuta, Senator Payne said she anticipated there would be “further decisions” made on agreements between Australian institutions and foreign powers.
“They will be informed by my department on the consistency of all of those arrangements with the relevant legal test as it’s set out in the legislation,” she said.
She said there was a “fundamental difference” between the governance of New Zealand and Australia.
“We are, of course, a federation so states and territories that enter into those agreements are now required to consult and to advise the commonwealth as they do that. The process that I’m going through now is addressing those that have been made in the past.”
Senator Payne spoke of her decision to tear up four agreements entered into by the Victorian government concerning Syria, Iran, and China. “The determination that we have formed is that they are not consistent with Australia’s approach to foreign policy and under the legislation will be terminated,” she said. “I do expect there will be further decisions to be made in due course.”
Adeshola Ore1.20pm: ‘Enduring’ respect for all Five Eyes members: Payne
Foreign Minister Marise Payne says Australia has “enduring” respect for all members of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance after her New Zealand raised concerns about expanding the remit of the group.
New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta this week pushed back on efforts to pressure China through the Five Eyes intelligence sharing group, adding further tension to the trans-Tasman relationship.
Speaking alongside Ms Mahuta in Wellington, Senator Payne said Australia valued the contributions of all the Five Eyes members.
“My view is countries will choose to address issues of concern in whichever forum they determine appropriate and consistent with their respective national interest,” she said.
Three weeks ago, New Zealand was the only Five Eyes member country not to join a statement of 14 countries, including Japan and South Korea, that criticised the World Health Organisation investigation into the origins of COVID in China.
Asked if New Zealand should take a stronger chance of China, Senator Payne said she would not give advice to other countries.
READ MORE: Editorial — Alliance must not become 41/2 eyes
Ewin Hannan12.58pm: CFMEU, officials hit with $1m in penalties
The CFMEU has been hit with more than $1 million in penalties, and the union’s senior NSW officials ordered to personally pay up to $65,000 each as the Federal Court slammed the union’s unlawful conduct against a prominent Sydney crane company.
In a scathing judgment, Justice Steven Rares said the union was not prepared to abide by the law and it would only be deterred from repeating serious contraventions by a “severe, if not drastic penalty”.
Imposing $850,000 in penalties on the union, Justice Rares also imposed a $100,000 penalty on the union’s assistant state secretary, Michael Greenfield. He said $65,000 must be personally paid by Mr Greenfield.
He ordered state president Rita Mallia personally pay $35,000 and state assistant secretary Rob Kera personally pay $47,500.
The union was ordered to pay $30,000 compensation to Botany Cranes while the court will determine whether part of the penalties imposed on the union will be paid to NSW Police which had to assist staff leave and enter the company’s premises during a picket in January, 2019.
Justice Rares also ordered the union pay $133,000 in legal costs incurred by the Australian Building and Construction Commission during the proceedings.
Paul Garvey 12.51pm:Holgate has a lot to offer companies: Frydenberg
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says he believes former Australia Post chief Christine Holgate would be an asset to any private company.
Asked at a business breakfast in Perth this morning if he would be willing to hire Ms Holgate if he was running a large corporation, Mr Frydenberg said “the answer to that is yes”.
“I think Christine Holgate has a lot to offer and I think she would have a lot to offer in various capacities based on her business experience,” Mr Frydenberg said.
The Treasurer’s comments came as it emerged Ms Holgate had engaged leading reputation all risk lawyer Rebekah Giles and former president of the Law Council of Australia, Arthur Moses SC, over legal issues relating to her time as Australia Post CEO.
Ms Holgate resigned last year after heavy criticism from Prime Minister Scott Morrison over her decision to award luxury Cartier watches to some senior executives.
The watches were reward for their work on a project to offer banking services within Australia Post branches, a deal that Mr Frydenberg cited when describing her business acumen.
“I’ve worked closely with Christine Holgate. I respect her, she is a very decent person and a good person,” he said.
“I worked with her because she wanted to partner with the banks to provide services through their licenced post offices. I was able to speak to the bank CEOs, work as an intermediary, and get people to the tables. That’s been a successful story.”
READ MORE: Australia Post board set for grilling
Angelica Snowden12.23pm: Ask federal government about BRI: Victorian minister
Victoria’s innovation minister Jaala Pulford refused to be drawn on the federal government’s decision to rip up the state’s controversial Belt and Road deal, saying it was a matter for the commonwealth.
“I think it best if you go to the federal government for comments on the decisions that they’ve taken,” she said.
“I’m sure they are very conscious and cognisant of any impact.”
She declined to indicate if the government was frustrated or concerned about the decision and insisted it would not run off track existing infrastructure projects.
“We have a very large number of projects that are underway, greater than at any other point before in Victoria’s history, and a strong pipeline of things that will continue to help people move around the city and state,” she said.
“Our determination to deliver on our major projects agenda is un-impacted.”
READ MORE: Niki Savva — In nation’s cafes, jab rollout pushes coal off the menu
Nicholas Jensen12.20pm: 70-80pc drop in vaccination appointments
NSW Health has recorded a 70 to 80 per cent rise in cancelled vaccination appointments among healthcare workers following concerns about the safety of the AstraZeneca vaccine for certain age groups.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the increase was likely related to the Prime Minister’s announcement the AstraZeneca vaccine is no longer preferred for those under 50 due to concerns about extremely rare blood clotting.
“The announcement by the PM and by Minister Hunt two weeks ago, off the back of that expert federal committee, has definitely caused a level of concern in the community, that’s just the plain facts,” he said at a press conference in Homebush.
“Whether it will continue, we don’t know the answer to that yet… But what I would say is, at some point, we’re all going to have to learn to live with this virus”.
READ MORE: Virus threatens Brazil copper cut
Nicholas Jensen 12.07pm: Search on for travellers in infected hotel
NSW Health are continuing to track down at least four overseas travellers who stayed in a hotel quarantine facility where there was transmission between rooms.
NSW Health say the individuals may have been exposed to COVID-19 at the same location where three travellers contracted the South African variant of the virus.
Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said more than 40 returned travellers and a number of hotel staff may have been exposed to the virus.
“We have managed to contact 36 of those individuals,” Dr Chant said. “But we are urgently escalating contact with the remaining four.”
A number of the travellers are believed to have departed NSW to other states.
NSW Health is instructing anyone who stayed on the 10th floor of the Mercure between April 7-12 to get tested and self-isolate until 14 days after they left quarantine.
The three infected returned travellers arrived on the same flight on April 3.
But Dr Chant said transmission at the airport or plane was “extremely unlikely, as all parties tested negative on day two of hotel quarantine”.
Health authorities are continuing to investigate how the breach occurred.
READ MORE: Australia to help Indonesia find lost submarine
Nicholas Jensen 11.52am:NSW records zero local cases amid hotel investigation
NSW Health has recorded no new local cases of COVID-19, with seven cases detected in hotel quarantine. The state received 10,264 tests as of 8pm last night.
In a statement, NSW Health confirmed they were continuing to investigate cases of transmission between travellers at the Mercure Hotel and Adina Apartment Hotel.
Investigations are continuing into how COVID-19 transmission occurred between returned travellers who entered Australia on 3 April on the same flight and “subsequently stayed in adjacent rooms while in hotel quarantine at the Mercure Hotel on George Street in Sydney’s CBD”.
The investigation has not identified any further cases of transmission to date.
The three returned travellers, two of whom are family members, share the same viral sequence first identified in South Africa.
“Returned travellers who had been staying on the 10th floor of the Mercure during what is believed to be the infectious period, April 7-12, are being directed to get tested and self-isolate until 14 days from the day they left quarantine at the Mercure Hotel,” NSW Health said.
NSW recorded no new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) April 22, 2021
Seven new cases were acquired overseas to 8pm last night, bringing the total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 5,211. pic.twitter.com/tVkoxfrAGy
Hotel staff who worked on the 10th floor are being tested and continue to self-isolate.
Investigations also continue into how transmission of COVID-19 occurred between two groups of returned travellers in hotel quarantine at Adina Apartment Hotel at Town Hall in the CBD.
All contacts tested have returned negative results to date.
NSW Health is currently treating 80 COVID-19 cases, one of whom is in ICU.
More than 92 per cent of these cases are being treated in non-acute, out-of-hospital care, including returned travellers in the Special Health Accommodation.
NSW Health administered 4185 COVID-19 vaccines in the 24 hours, bringing the total number of vaccines administered to 185,620.
READ MORE: Fresh hotel transmission case suspected
Adeshola Ore11.44am:We won’t be bullied by China, Dutton says
Defence Minister Peter Dutton has insisted Australia will not be bullied by Beijing after it fired back at the federal government’s tearing up of Victoria’s Belt and Road agreement with China.
On Wednesday the Morrison government tore up the state’s 2018 agreement with China, saying it was inconsistent with the nation’s foreign policy. A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Australian labelled the decision “unreasonable” and “provocative” and warned it would “further damage” the strained relationship.
Mr Dutton told 2GB radio he would be disappointed to see Beijing retaliate in response to the decision.
“We aren’t going to be bullied by anyone, we are going to stand up for what we believe in,” he said.
“We, like China, exert our sovereign rights and as a proud country, we’re not going to allow our policy, our principles, our values to be undermined.”
Max Maddison 11.30am:Fresh corruption inquiry to probe kickbacks
The NSW corruption watchdog will use public hearings to explore allegations two former Roads and Maritime Services employees dishonestly exercised their roles by awarding $41m in RMS contracts to companies they were receiving kickbacks from.
The six-week public hearing at the Independent Commission Against Corruption will investigate accusations uncovered in the Operation Paragon probe, looking at whether former RMS employees Alexandre Dubois and Craig Steyn used their public positions for their financial gain.
“It is alleged that, between 2009 and June 2019, Mr Dubois and Mr Steyn partially and/or dishonestly exercised their official functions by awarding in excess of $41 million in RMS contracts, to companies with which they were associated, in exchange for receiving benefits,” a statement by ICAC said on Thursday morning
The hearing will begin on Monday, May 10, shortly after the public hearings into former Berejiklian government minister John Sidoti conclude.
ICAC chief commissioner the Hon Peter Hall QC will preside at the public inquiry. Jason Downing SC and Caroline Spruce will be counsel assisting the commissioner.
READ MORE: I did not pressure council, says MP
Peter van Onselen11.25am: Holgate engages Porter’s lawyer
Christine Holgate has engaged leading reputational risk lawyer Rebekah Giles and former president of the Law Council of Australia, Arthur Moses SC, in relation to the legal issues arising from her employment as the CEO of Australia Post.
The Australian understands that through her lawyers Ms Holgate has invited Communications Minister Paul Fletcher and Senate leader Simon Birmingham, as well as the board of Australia Post, to participate in a mediation session before a retired judge.
The Australian also understands that Ms Holgate believes that the public litigation may involve evidence needing to be given by members of parliament, including Prime Minister Scott Morrison, would not be in the interests of the parties involved, hence the mediation offer to settle the dispute.
READ the full story here
Adeshola Ore11.20am: Labor ‘pleased’ Victoria accepts BRI decision
Labor frontbencher Tony Burke says the Morrison government must ensure Australia has diversified trading partners after it vetoed Victoria’s Belt and Road agreement with China.
On Wednesday the Morrison government tore up the state’s 2018 agreement with China, saying it was inconsistent with the nation’s foreign policy. Beijing fired back at the decision, with a spokesperson for its Australian embassy labelling the decision “unreasonable” and “provocative.”
Last December, Labor voted to support the Coalition’s foreign relations legislation. The bill gave the federal government power to ban a raft of deals made by state, territory, local governments and universities with foreign governments found to be against the national interest.
Mr Burke told Sky News Labor supported the federal government having the power to make foreign affairs decisions for Australia.
“We’re pleased that the Victorian government has accepted the decision,” he said.
“Not only is it the case that the federal government gets the power to cancel agreements. It also puts the obligation on the federal government, clearly, to be delivering trade outcomes.”
“We have the problem at the moment that Australia is more reliant on trade with China than we ever have been.”
“There is a real obligation, as part of announcements like today, for the government to be making sure we are spreading our risk as a nation so we don’t find the economy is overly dependent on a single market.”
READ MORE:Xi moves to reshape US relationship
Angelica Snowden11.06am:Long-term Covid side effects under microscope
Reasons why COVID-19 can leave its victims with long-term side effects including fatigue, cognitive difficulties and ongoing breathing problems will be investigated by a group of Victorian researchers.
Additional funding of $2m supplied by the Andrews government will also allow scientists to understand how COVID effects the placenta and potential transfer of coronavirus from mother to child while pregnant.
The Murdoch Children’s Research Institute will continue to use lab grown human cell samples to carry out the work, after it established studies into so called “long COVID” issues last year in August.
Innovation Minister Jaala Pulford said the research would help international scientists to better understand the “wildly infectious” virus.
Researchers will also investigate the effects of more infectious COVID strains, including those from the UK, India and Brazil.
READ MORE: UK’s bizarre attack on Tehan ahead of trade talks
Damon Johnston 11.00am:Inside Dan Andrews’ secret China deal
In the midst of the first coronavirus lockdown, one of Daniel Andrews’ senior lieutenants walked into a room where public servants managing the government’s relations with China were sitting, and declared: “We need to get some positive stories up about the BRI! Find some!”
If the bureaucrats found some gold, Victorians were never told, because the “positive stories” were never sold to the public. Given the imprecise nature of the Belt and Road Initiative, it is possible the Andrews government didn’t promote them because they didn’t exist.
Last May, concern was taking hold within the Victorian government as the Premier’s BRI agreements were catching a dose of coronavirus, the pandemic which started in China.
In 2019, Andrews believed breaking ranks with the federal government and signing up to the BRI was a global economic coup for a state. Billions would flow into Victoria, and jobs would boom, he predicted.
But by 2020, with COVID-19 sweeping the world, and growing fears of China’s expansionism, Andrews found himself out beyond the wire. Concerns about the real agenda of the communist regime’s global investment initiative were now front and centre.
As diplomatic tensions exploded between the Morrison government and China, Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas made an astounding intervention to take the side of the communist dictatorship.
Adding to the intrigue of the Premier’s dealings with China was the emergence of a young Chinese-born self-proclaimed global influencer by the name of Jean Dong.
Nicholas Jensen10.54am: Victoria records zero local virus cases
Victoria has recorded no local cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, with two new cases detected in hotel quarantine.
Victorian health officials received 13,951 test results yesterday and are currently monitoring 19 active cases.
Yesterday there were no new local cases and 2 new cases acquired overseas (currently in hotel quarantine).
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) April 21, 2021
- 4,519 vaccine doses were administered
- 13,951 test results were received
Got symptoms? Get tested.
More later: https://t.co/2vKbgKHFvv#COVID19Vic#COVID19VicDatapic.twitter.com/Nv2VyLDjRz
Yesterday health officials administered 4519 vaccine doses, bringing the state’s total to 176,827 inoculations.
READ MORE: Science start-ups ‘set up to fail’
Ellen Ransley 10.39am: Pfizer responds to Brisbane clot case
Pfizer has responded after a Brisbane man was hospitalised with blood clots just days after receiving the pharmaceutical giant’s COVID vaccine.
The 40-year-old, who works as a police officer in a quarantine hotel, presented at a private hospital on Wednesday suffering clots, after being jabbed on Sunday.
It was later revealed the man had also recently undergone knee surgery, which is believed to be the more likely cause of the blood clots.
In a statement, Pfizer said they had conducted a “comprehensive assessment of ongoing aggregate safety data” for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, of which 200 million doses have been administered across the globe.
“(This has) provided no evidence to conclude that arterial or venous thromboembolic events (blood clots), with or without thrombocytopenia, are a risk associated with the use of our COVID-19 vaccine,” the company said.
“This safety database analysis included a review of all adverse events received for the vaccine through to March 27,2021.
“The safety of our vaccine is paramount.”
The Therapeutic Goods Administration and Queensland Health are investigating the case.
To date, Australia has recorded three cases of blood clotting linked to the AstraZeneva vaccine, which led the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation to change its guidance for people under 50, with a preference for Pfizer. — NCA Newswire
READ MORE: New blood clot case under investigation
Ellie Dudley 10.10am: Stranded Aussies stay put despite UN ruling
The federal government will not immediately facilitate the repatriation of two stranded Aussies, despite requests from the United Nations to ensure they are returned home.
The UN Human Rights Committee earlier this month ruled the federal government must “facilitate and ensure” the “prompt return” of Jason George and Alex Marshall.
While the government has received the request, Attorney-General Michaelia Cash’s office said it would be “inappropriate to comment further at this stage.”
“The government has received an interim measures request from the UN Human Rights Committee in each of the two complaints,” a spokesman for Senator Cash said.
“This ‘request’ does not imply that the committee has reached any decision on the substance of the matter in dispute, and it has said as much.”
He added that the government is “confident its inward travel restrictions are consistent with Australia’s international legal obligations.”
Mr George, who is stranded in the US, said the government is “following the letter of the law” but not the “spirit of the law.”
“Where is Australia’s moral compass in this regard? How would you feel in this situation?” he said.
“The borders will remain heavily restricted, flight caps will stay in place, quarantine capacity will not be increased.”
READ MORE:Handling of stranded Aussies blasted
Nicholas Jensen 10.07am: Queensland records zero virus cases
Queensland has recorded no cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours.
There were 5165 test results received across the state in the past 24 hours, with health authorities monitoring 14 active cases.
Thursday 22 April – coronavirus cases in Queensland:
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) April 21, 2021
• 0 new cases
• 14 active cases
• 1,520 total cases
• 2,419,307 tests conducted
Sadly, seven people with COVID-19 have died. 1,451 patients have recovered.#covid19pic.twitter.com/YeZK1vPYgI
Queensland has recorded seven COVID-19 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.
Nicholas Jensen 10.00am:NSW mass vaccination hub ‘running by mid May’
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says the state’s main vaccination site should be up and running by the middle of May, adding that the success of the hub ultimately rests on supply from the commonwealth.
“NSW Health has already identified over a hundred sites around (the state) which people will have access to the vaccine,” Ms Berejiklian told a press conference in Homebush this morning. “Some of those sites have now been converted, or will be converted, to being able to dispense the Pfizer vaccine, given the likelihood that that vaccine will become more prominent into the future.”
Ms Berejiklian said NSW will be advised in the next few weeks on the delivery of Pfizer and AstraZeneca doses.
“NSW Health has been advised in the next few weeks of the doses that we’ll be receiving.”
“It’s important to note that this mass vaccination hub will be needed if we have to dispense with all the Pfizer vaccines that are made available to us,’’ Ms Berejiklian said.
“If the information we’ve been provided materialises (from the commonwealth), this vaccination hub will be necessary to get the Pfizer vaccine out to everybody who is in those categories of individuals who need it.”
READ MORE:Gottliebsen — Risks for employers in work from home shift
Nicholas Jensen 9.46am:Air travel won’t return to normal until 2023
The Air Transport Association says a slower than anticipated global vaccine rollout and a failure to curb the pandemic will cost global airlines $10 billion more than initially estimated.
The warning from the peak body came as Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary warned that a “seismic cut in capacity across the industry” will mean a long period of recovery.
Mr O’Leary said travel from the UK to the EU would become more expensive and cumbersome as a result of Brexit, while leisure travel across the world would not return to normal until at least 2023.
The global aviation industry is now expected to lose around $48bn during 2021, according to new forecasts, more than a quarter higher than predicted late last year.
ATA suggested that the slower vaccine rollout in countries including France and Germany, as well as a rise in new virus variants will continue to plague the ailing industry.
While North American airlines have performed better than European carriers, they are expected to lose $5 billion this year rather than the $11 billion figure estimated in December.
Aggressive cost-cutting exercises by airlines, coupled with a return to flying on some domestic routes, has helped the industry to reduce losses from the $126 billion lost in 2020. But carriers are still not predicted to break even until late 2022.
Airlines continue to increase cargo flights throughout the pandemic, a trend which is expected to continue. However ATA warned this would not remedy the collapse in passenger travel.
Despite ongoing global travel restrictions, ATA said approximately 2.4 billion people will travel by air in 2021.
“We have not written off 2021, as the vaccination forecasts suggest some advanced economy markets should be able to open and we anticipate a strong fourth quarter as a result,” the organisation said in a statement.
READ MORE: Rydges airport hotel up for sale
Nicholas Jensen9.14am:China ‘must explain how it will get to net zero’
Liberal MP Dave Sharma says China must articulate a clear plan at the climate summit which explains how they will reach their net zero target emission by 2060.
“I think China needs to come to the table at Glasgow,” Mr Sharma told Sky news, “and explain exactly how they are meant to do this and how they will get there.”
“At the moment it’s a rhetorical commitment to take by 2030 and to get to net zero by 2060. They make no interim targets about how they will get there”.
Asked if Australia was doing enough to lower its emissions, Mr Sharma said Australia was in a strong position ahead of the virtual summit, emphasising the country’s record.
“We’ve had productive conversations with John Kerry the US Special Envoy on this… Australia’s got a good track record.”
“If you’re looking across the OECD, 2005 to 2022, our emissions have actually gone down 19 per cent, United States have gone down 10 per cent, countries like Canada have gone down less than 1 per cent, New Zealand less than per cent.”
“We are proud. I think of that record of delivery,” he said.
Mr Sharma also responded to claims that Trade Minister Dan Tehan is struggling in negotiations with the UK.
“The charge (from the UK) that Dan Tehan is inexperienced is ridiculous… he is vastly experienced.”
“It’s been a long time since they’ve (the UK) have had to negotiate a Free Trade Agreement, so they’re pretty new to this.”
READ MORE: US pressure won’t move public opinion in Australia
Adeshola Ore 9.10am: Mass vaccinations will allow home quarantine: Premier
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says ensuring a vast majority of Australians are vaccinated would allow returning overseas travellers to quarantine at home without a spike in hospitalised cases.
It comes after West Australian Premier Mark McGowan slammed calls to loosen restrictions on international arrivals as “mad”, amid a rise in returned overseas travellers infected with COVID-19. Scott Morrison last week flagged the possibility of returned vaccinated travellers going into quarantine at home in the second half of the year.
“When you do have a large proportion of your population vaccinated you can then look at how you manage COVID in the years ahead,” she told ABC Radio.
“Once people are allowed to do home quarantine, once you take those steps, we are going to see an escalation in cases. But we won’t see widespread hospitalisation because the vaccine will protect against that.”
Today national cabinet is expected to sign off on the expediting of vaccinations for Australians aged between 50-69.
READ MORE:Borders, mining help WA
Perry Williams 8.53am: AGL chief Brett Redman resigns
AGL Energy chief executive Brett Redman has resigned, with chairman Graeme Hunt to step in as the power giant’s interim CEO.
The bombshell, revealed by The Australian, will see chairman Graeme Hunt take over as interim chief executive.
Former Oil Search boss Peter Botten, a director of AGL, will replace Mr Hunt as chairman.
Sources said Mr Redman during board meetings on Wednesday afternoon was unable to commit to the role given a potential demerger which is likely to split the company in two.
Mr Redman took over the CEO role on a permanent basis in January 2019 from the combative Andy Vesey and sought to steady the company after a war of words with the federal government over the future of its Liddell coal plant in NSW.
However, he has come under increasing pressure to find new sources of income to offset lower wholesale power prices and leaves behind an unsuccessful attempt to buy telco Vocus and questions over the merits of a possible demerger that would hive off its dirty coal assets.
READ the full story here
Nicholas Jensen 8.48am:Let’s get band back together on vaccination: AMA boss
Australian Medical Association deputy president Chris Moy says we must set politics aside if we are going to successfully accelerate the country’s vaccination program.
“We need real leadership by the state and federal governments,” Dr Moy told Sky News. “We need the band to get back together again… the national cabinet must understand this is too big to politicise. Just get on with the job with speeding up the vaccination program for those aged over 50.”
Dr Moy said there “were some inadvisable targets made even before we had the vaccine approved”, but emphasised that “we need to forget” about that and move on and “get everyone to work together like they did earlier in the pandemic”.
Dr Moy also praised the efforts of GPs, saying they “are really playing a big part in helping to escalate inoculation numbers… and are working effectively in a tough situation with supply.”
Regarding the set up of mass vaccination hubs, Dr Moy said “I don’t think it’ll be a matter of replacing the GPs but building on what we’ve already done”.
READ MORE: ‘Wage freeze needed’ because of vaccine delays
Adeshola Ore 8.42am: Hydrogen hubs could be made with fossil fuels: Taylor
Energy Minister Angus Taylor says Australia’s new hydrogen hubs will be produced by “anything that allows us to reduce emissions.”
The Morrison government has pledged more than $500m to help cut emissions through energy projects, which includes $275.5 million for new hydrogen production hubs in regional Australia. Almost $264 million will also fund carbon capture storage projects to reduce emissions.
Speaking to ABC radio, Mr Taylor did not rule out that the hydrogen hubs could be made with fossil fuels.
“It’s clean hydrogen,” he said.
“Let’s not declare wars on industries... if it’s zero emissions it’s fine. That’s the point — it’s got to be clean.”
“It will be made with anything that allows us to reduce emissions.”
Scott Morrison will tonight participate in Joe Biden’s two-day climate change summit Decisions by the US and UK to push for more ambitious medium-term emissions reduction ramping up pressure on Mr Morrison to outline how Australia will exceed its target of 26-28 per cent below 2005 levels by the end of the decade.
READ MORE: Biden’s bid to enforce climate club
Jade Gailberger8.25am:Axing BRI not intended to hurt China relations: Payne
Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne has defended the axing of Victoria’s controversial Belt and Road agreement with China, despite threats it will “further damage” the strained relationship.
Senator Payne said the new powers weren’t aimed at “any one country” and that Australia would continue to emphasise its commitment to engaging with China.
“It is most certainly not intended to harm Australia’s relationships with any countries,” she told ABC AM.
“I hope that if there are any concerns they will be raised with the government.”
Senator Payne rejected the assertion that Australian producers should prepare for more retaliation from China – despite wine and barley producers being slapped with tariffs, and seafood, coal and timber facing customs issues last year.
“Australia is operating in our national interests, we are very careful and very considered in that approach,” she said.
“It’s about ensuring we have a consistent approach to foreign policy.”
More than 1000 deals have been reported to the federal government so far.
But only two of Victoria’s Belt and Road documents, as well as two education agreements between the state and Iran and Syria were cancelled.
This comes after new laws to tear up agreements between foreign powers and states, territories, universities and local governments, that don’t meet the national interest test were introduced in December 2020.
Senator Payne said she expected the overwhelming majority of deals to remain unaffected.
Former Labor leader Bill Shorten agreed the government had made the right decision.
“We wouldn’t have signed the arrangements either if we were in government,” Mr Shorten told Today.
“It’s important the Morrison government takes control of our relations with China.” — NCA Newswire
READ MORE: Korporaal — Tough times for China ties
Nicholas Jensen 7.57am: Unsanitary US vaccine plant closes
A US plant in Baltimore that produces the Johnson & Johnson vaccine has been closed after the Food and Drug Administration found unsanitary conditions meant it was unsuitable for manufacturing doses.
Emergent BioSolutions, the company who ran the plant, was accused of operating dirty facilities and allowing personnel to carry toxic waste in manufacturing areas.
The FDA report concluded that manufacturing problems were rarely properly investigated, cleanups were “superficial”, and the facility was not large enough.
The company’s negligence is said to have ruined more than 15 million J&J doses.
The inspection also said the FDA reviewed security camera footage in the Emergent plant, showing that staff were not adequately trained to avoid cross contamination of COVID-19 vaccines, including Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca, which was also produced at the site.
Both the FDA and J&J said they did not expect vaccine production to resume at the Baltimore plant owned by Emergent Biosolutions.
In response to the report, J&J has said it will engage “its oversight authority to ensure all of the FDA observations are addressed promptly and comprehensively”.
The healthcare company has drawn scrutiny for months over its halting process to scale up production of the one-shot vaccine that is easier to handle and use than other authorized vaccines.
Production has been paused since last week as health officials inspected a possible link to the vaccine and blood clotting.
Emergent has been seeking regulatory authorization to make the J&J vaccine in the United States. It stopped production at the plant recently, saying the FDA had asked it to do so after an inspection.
Only one plant is currently producing the key drug substance used in J&J’s vaccine.
READ MORE: Xi jabs Jokowi with dose of charm
Adeshola Ore7.40am:Beijing hits back over cancelled Victorian deal
Beijing has hit back after Foreign Minister Marise Payne tore up Victoria’s controversial Belt and Road agreements with China, warning the “provocative” move could throw relations between the two countries “into the abyss.”
In the first use of new powers allowing the commonwealth to unilaterally veto deals it views as contrary to the national interest, Senator Payne revealed on Wednesday night she had cancelled four agreements — all negotiated by Victorian authorities — including a 2004 deal between the state‘s Education and Training Department with Iran and a 1999 scientific co-operation agreement with Syria.
The two BRI deals include the 2018 Memorandum of Understanding between the Andrews’ government and the National Development and Reform Commission of China, and the 2019 Framework Agreement, which built on the earlier deal.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy said the move was “another unreasonable and provocative move... against China.”
He added: “It further shows that the Australian government has no sincerity in improving China-Australia relations. It is bound to bring further damage to bilateral relations, and will only end up hurting itself.’’
The spokesperson said the initiative had “tangible benefits” for both parties.
“The BRI is an initiative for economic cooperation, which follows the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, and upholds the spirit of openness, inclusiveness and transparency.”
”
READ the full story here
Nicholas Jensen 7.20am: German parliament backs Merkel’s ‘emergency brake’
A controversial lockdown law enabling German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government to enforce an “emergency brake” has been supported by the Bundestag, as riot police used pepper spray to disperse protesters outside.
Under the amended law, the government in Berlin will be able to impose an overnight curfew and shut schools “wherever infection rates are deemed too high”.
While several parties opposed the measures inside, more than eight thousand protesters converged on the German parliament.
Riot police broke up the demonstration close to the Brandenburg Gate, with officials saying many protestos refused to wear face masks and observe social distancing.
More than 150 people were arrested for breaking distancing rules and for attacking police.
Until now Germany’s 16 states could impose restrictions autonomously. But the states agreed that an “emergency brake” clause was necessary.
READ MORE: Speed up jabs or be left behind, travel industry warns
Nicholas Jensen7.00am:Argentina’s ‘worst moment’ as deaths near 60,000
Argentinian health minister Carla Vizzotti says the country is facing its “worst moment of the pandemic”, as deaths from the virus approach 60,000 amid an enormous second wave that has forced the country to revert to some lockdown measures.
Dr Vizzotti warned that the South American country’s healthcare infrastructure was at serious risk, especially in the metropolitan regions surrounding Buenos Aires, forcing the government to restrict movement and suspend indoor activities.
“We are living through the worst moment of the pandemic,” she told a press briefing, adding the country was witnessing the circulation of new variants.
“It’s growing exponentially in most of the country,” she said.
Argentina, whose inoculation program relies heavily on the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, has recorded over 2.7 million cases, setting new daily records for infections in recent weeks.
Deaths from the virus are expected to pass 60,000 before the end of the week.
Earlier this week a laboratory in Buenos Aires said it had produced a test batch of Sputnik V ahead of manufacturing it later this year
Dr Vizzotti said it was welcome news, but said it needed to be quality controlled and that the timeframe remains unclear.
Infectious disease expert, Dr Carlos Camera said there remained a strong possibility of healthcare systems being overwhelmed.
“What was not foreseen was the size with which this second wave has hit and above all the speed of it compared to the speed we’ve managed with vaccinations,” Dr Camera said.
READ MORE: State rolls up sleeve on homemade vaccines
Nicholas Jensen 6.45am:Indian cases land in NT’s Howard Springs
The Northern Territory’s Howard Springs quarantine facility is recording its highest number of positive COVID-19 cases since it was established for repatriation flights last year, according to NT Health.
The rise in cases has been mainly recorded among arrivals from India, as commonwealth officials prepare to hand over the international quarantine facility to NT health authorities next month.
On Wednesday the Australian Medical Association branch president of the NT, Robert Parker, said the national cabinet must consider “very seriously” pausing flights arriving into Howard Springs from India.
“I certainly think they should look at the situation and have a significant look at the risk-benefit of those flights,” Dr Parker said.
The cases come as India’s capital of New Delhi ordered a one week lockdown as daily infection rates broke new records.
Yesterday NT Health confirmed two more positive cases among returned travellers from India in the Howard Springs facility, bringing the total number of positive cases among returned travellers from India to 18 since the end of last week.
At a press conference on Wednesday morning, NT Health Minister Natasha Fyles said authorities would continue to monitor the Indian outbreak and act on expert advice.
However, Ms Fyles cautioned that the NT maintains a “humanitarian responsibility” to repatriate vulnerable Australians, saying she was confident in the measures put in place at Howard Springs to handle the increasing caseloads.
Last week India recorded more than 1.5 million cases of COVID-19.
READ MORE: ‘Wage freeze needed’ over vaccine delays
Nicholas Jensen 6.30am:Spain set to begin J&J vaccine rollout
Spain is preparing to use the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to inoculate 70-79 year olds in a bid to ramp-up its rollout and combat infection rates.
Earlier this week Spanish health officials distributed the first batch of vials to regional areas, which will be in charge of administering the doses.
“Regions will start tomorrow because they want to increase the pace of vaccination as soon as possible,” Spanish health minister Carolina Darias said.
Last week an initial shipment of 146,000 doses arrived in Spain, but were seized and put into warehouses after concerns the vaccines cause rare instances of blood clotting.
Health authorities had been waiting for updated guidance from the European Medicines Agency, which announced a possible link between the jab and blood clots, adding that the benefits far outweighed any risks.
A warning about unusual blood clots with low platelets will now be added to the vaccine’s labels.
Spain’s vaccination campaign has gathered pace in recent days, with its health ministry confirming a record 456,777 doses in the past 24 hours.
Despite setbacks in health infrastructure, Spain predicts it will have half of its 47 million population fully inoculated by the end of July. So far around 7.6 per cent of the population has “received a full course”, with nearly 21 per cent receiving at least one dose.
Recent data released showed the 14 day infection rate was stablaising at 229 cases per 100,000 people, after rising for the past three weeks.
The health ministry added 10,232 cases to its tally, bringing the country’s total to nearly 3.45 million infections, while the death toll climbed by 148 to 77,364.
READ MORE: Vaccine rollout pushes coal off menu
Nicholas Jensen6.25am: US adds 100 countries to ‘Do Not Travel’ list
The US State Department has now added more than 100 countries to its “Do Not Travel” advisory list, putting the UK, Canada, France, Mexico, Germany and others on the list.
Earlier this week the State Department confirmed it would increase the number of countries receiving “high risk status” to about 80 per cent of countries worldwide.
Previously the State Department listed 34 out of about 200 countries as “Do Not Travel.” They now classify more than 130 countries at Level Four.
The move does not imply a reassessment of current health situations in some countries, the State Department said, but “reflects an adjustment in the Travel Advisory system to rely more on the Centre for Disease Control’s existing epidemiological assessments”.
Other countries included on the list include Italy, Egypt, Turkey, Finland, Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland, andSpain.
Other countries will remain at Level 3, such as Japan and China, requesting people to “reconsider travel”.
While most Americans have already been prevented from travelling to much of Europe because of COVID-19 restrictions, Washington has now barred nearly all non-US citizens, who have recently been in much of Europe, China, Brazil, Iran and South Africa, from entering the country.
The US also extended restrictions barring non-essential travel at its Canadian and Mexican borders.
In response to the new advice, peak tourism body and carrier representative, Airlines for America, said it continues “to urge the federal government to transparently establish the criteria for reopening international markets.”
Earlier this month, CDC said fully vaccinated people could travel within the US at “low risk” but discouraged Americans from doing so because of high infection rates across the country.
READ MORE: Comfort women lose Japan case
Geoff Chambers5.45am: PM’s $1bn bet on climate tech
Scott Morrison will promote practical action and achievement over ambition at Joe Biden’s climate change summit and will announce that next month’s budget will pump more than $1bn into advancing low-emissions technologies.
The Prime Minister will commit the government to accelerating international collaboration to grow investment in low-emissions technologies across the globe, with business and investor groups urging him to increase the government’s 2030 Paris target to meet the goal of carbon neutrality by mid-century.
Decisions by the US and Britain to push for more ambitious medium-term emissions reduction targets ahead of Mr Biden’s two-day virtual conference have also increased pressure on Mr Morrison to outline how Australia will “meet and exceed” its target of 26-28 per cent below 2005 levels by the end of the decade.
The parallels between cancel culture and totalitarianism are hard to miss
Ahead of his appearance late Thursday night at the US climate summit along with 40 other world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Mr Morrison said Australia would not “look to reduce our own emissions by shutting down our existing export industries like agriculture, aluminium, coal and gas”. Under a new $566m international technology package — adding to the separate $540m boost for hydrogen and carbon capture and storage announced on Wednesday — the government will work to fasttrack the five priority technologies under its Technology Investment Roadmap.
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Jess Malcolm5.30am:Two guests infected in Perth quarantine hotel
Two people have been infected with coronavirus while quarantining in a Perth hotel. They caught COVID-19 from guests across the hall, forcing the WA Health Department to track down, test and isolate others who have recently quarantined on the same floor of the city hotel.
The department still did not know on Wednesday night how the virus spread from one room to another at the Mercure Hotel, according to a media statement emailed to newsrooms shortly before 8pm AEST. However, there were serious concerns the virus may have spread under hotel doors because that was the conclusion of a government investigation into how a hotel security guard contracted coronavirus in January at a different city hotel, the Four Points. The infection of the guard, who had been stationed on a chair in a hallway but not wearing a mask, sparked a snap, five-day lockdown in Western Australia
On Wednesday night another investigation was underway into the latest transmission of coronavirus inside a Perth quarantine hotel.
“The Department can confirm the virus was transmitted in hotel quarantine at the Mercure Hotel Perth, as two sets of guests, in rooms opposite each other, had the same sequence of virus – despite arriving from different countries at different time,” the WA Health Department wrote in a statement emailed to newsrooms.
“All other guests who previously stayed on the same (sixth) floor during this time and have been released from the hotel facility tested negative prior to release. These guests will be re-tested and directed to self-isolate until cleared by the public health team.
“Guests who were previously in the rooms immediately adjacent will be self-quarantined for 14 days since their last potential exposure and tested.
“All hotel workers currently undertake daily testing and will continue to do so. There have been no positive staff tests to date.
“The Acting Chief Health Officer has immediately commenced an investigation into how the transmission occurred.
“While similar transmission in hotels in other jurisdictions has not resulted in community transmission, the community must always remain vigilant. The threat of COVID-19 remains real.”
Paul Garvey 5.15am:Plan to relax borders ‘mad’: McGowan
West Australian Premier Mark McGowan has slammed calls to loosen restrictions on international arrivals as “mad”, amid a rise in returned overseas travellers infected with COVID-19.
With daily international infection rates continuing to climb, led by a growing surge of cases in India, Mr McGowan said apparent deficiencies in international testing of passengers ahead of their return presented a real danger to Australia.
“There is a serious risk and this is one of the riskiest periods we are facing since the height of the virus in the first half of last year, simply because of the numbers of returning Australians who are positive,” he said.
Scott Morrison last week flagged the possibility of returned vaccinated travellers going into quarantine at home as the next step in allowing more Australians into the country.
Mr McGowan said the risks were too high to consider any easing of restrictions.
“These calls from NSW to bring down the international borders are mad,” he said.
“I don’t understand why they are pursuing this. Haven’t they seen what’s happening in India?
“Haven’t they seen what’s happening in Britain?
“Haven’t they seen what’s happening in France? In Brazil?
“Bringing down international borders at this time, or having reduced measures where people just quarantine at home en masse when they return from overseas is a recipe for disaster.”
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