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Key posts
- Analysis: Freed-up Sutton embraces new pandemic role
- But wait, there’s more: Aussie curlers get late reprieve after Beijing reversal
- Homes destroyed in SW infernos as minister warns situation remains ‘dire’
- Some tourists will be turned away when border rules ease: Home Affairs Minister
- Neighbours loses UK channel but Network 10 wants it to continue
- Not ‘appropriate’ for George Christensen to attend anti-vax rally, Home Affairs Minister says
- PM says he ‘couldn’t care less’ about what people say about him in text messages
- Queensland records 5746 new cases of COVID-19, nine deaths
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That’s all for today
That’s all we have for you today everyone. Thanks so much for following along.
Before I go, here is a look at some major news stories:
Angry Nationals party room will warn Joyce to lift his game
Health experts call for plan to combat new COVID-19 variants as Victoria records 7169 new cases, six deaths
Booster mandate a possibility for NSW healthcare workers
‘More to be done’: Victoria announces $6.5 million plan for LGBTQ community
Everybody needs good Neighbours, says Network 10 after UK blow to show
‘Queen Camilla’ gets royal approval from Queen Elizabeth
But wait, there’s more: Aussie curlers get late reprieve after Beijing reversal
Thanks again for joining us and for all your comments and interactions. Our national news live blog will be back from early tomorrow morning so please join us then.
Bye for now.
Analysis: Freed-up Sutton embraces new pandemic role
When Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton last week urged residential aged care providers not to lock down their centres despite rising COVID-19 deaths in the sector, Victorians accustomed to his precautionary approach could be forgiven for doing a double take.
Professor Sutton’s view, which is consistent with his published advice to the Andrews government, represents a departure from the hardline decisions he took during Victoria’s lockdowns when, under his public health orders, visits to nursing homes were prohibited for extended periods.
Health Minister Martin Foley, Premier Daniel Andrews and Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton have significantly changed responsibilities under the new pandemic laws.Credit:Darrian Traynor
He also backed some of the state’s most contentious restrictions, such as the curfew and five-kilometre travel limit.
Click here to read the story.
But wait, there’s more: Aussie curlers get late reprieve after Beijing reversal
Australian curling duo Tahli Gill and Dean Hewitt will play on in the Winter Olympics after an eleventh-hour reversal from Chinese authorities over a series of positive COVID-19 test results.
In a stunning turn of events, Gill and Hewitt will compete in their eighth match on Sunday afternoon despite an earlier decision that Gill’s positive test results this week should end their campaign.
Australia’s Tahli Gill and her team mate Dean Hewitt, are out of the Beijing winter Olympics after Gill kept testing positive for Covid-19.Credit:AP
The pair will play Switzerland on Sunday afternoon as scheduled after Australian officials continued to press their case that Gill should be allowed to continue competing under the “close contact” protocols she had observed all week.
Click here to read the story.
Homes destroyed in SW infernos as minister warns situation remains ‘dire’
A Bridgetown local is in a serious condition in hospital and properties and businesses have been destroyed in the ‘hellish’ blazes raging near Bridgetown and Denmark as Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson warned the situation remained dire.
The man suffered burns while trying to the fire on his property.
Click here to read the story.
WA records 46 new cases
Western Australia has reported 46 new COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to 8pm local time last night with 31 local cases and 15 travel-related cases.
WA Health reported the numbers on Sunday and added that 25 of the new cases linked to close contacts and all new cases are in quarantine.
WA Health has also said some local cases were infectious in the community so contact tracers are working to find which places could be public exposure sites.
The state has 249 active COVID-19 cases with 12 in hotel quarantine and 237 in self-quarantine.
Some tourists will be turned away when border rules ease: Home Affairs Minister
Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews has flagged some unvaccinated travellers will be turned away from Australia once travel rules ease even further to allow for international tourists.
During this morning’s Insiders interview, Ms Andrews said the Morrison government was “going through the process” of preparing to open borders to international tourists.
Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
The Home Affairs Minister was asked how the government would ensure the right checks and balances are put in place (given the recent situation with tennis star Novak Djokovic’s visa).
Here is what Ms Andrews had to say:
It is possible that some will be turned away when they attempt to enter Australia.
When people come to Australia, they have to have a valid visa. But they also need to meet the entry requirements to come into the country.
Now, at this point in time, to be able to enter Australia – if you are a non-Australian – you need to have a valid visa and you need to be able to demonstrate that you are fully vaccinated, or you have acceptable medical evidence to say that you cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons.
We will be doing everything to keep [the border] open [once tourists are allowed in].
[But] I’m not going to sit here and absolutely guarantee, because we don’t know what might be coming our way. No government does. No country does.
Neighbours loses UK channel but Network 10 wants it to continue
Network 10 wants to try and keep long-running soap Neighbours alive despite its major backer deciding it won’t renew its deal with the show.
Channel 5 has released a statement to media in the UK announcing it will turn its support towards more “original UK drama” instead of the Melbourne made soap, which started in 1985 and drew millions of viewers in the United Kingdom and Australia for many years before losing steam in recent years.
Neighbours cast picture from 1989.
Network 10 has told cast and crew it wants to keep the show alive and hopes new backers can be found.
Click here to read the story.
Not ‘appropriate’ for George Christensen to attend anti-vax rally, Home Affairs Minister says
As you might be aware, Queensland MP George Christensen attended yesterday’s anti-vaccine mandate rally in Canberra where he livestreamed the event.
Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews criticised the behaviour on Sunday.
Queensland MP George Christensen at yesterday’s protest in Canberra. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
“I don’t agree with many of the views that George has been espousing of late,” Ms Andrews told ABC TV.
“I don’t think it’s appropriate for him to be attending those sorts of rallies. But, he is a member of Parliament. He can make his own decisions in relation to that.
“I’m talking about [$60 million in extra funding to counter] quite a different cohort, if you want to call it that, and that is violent extremists. I don’t think anyone would put George Christensen into that category.”
ACT police say one woman was arrested at yesterday’s rally in Canberra. Two men were also charged after allegedly interfering with her arrest.
Meanwhile, two people were treated for minor injuries.
Good afternoon
G’day everyone. It’s Roy Ward here and I’ll jumping onto the blog to close out the day.
Thanks to Broede Carmody for all his great work today and let’s keep the news coming as we close out this weekend.
As always, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment on the blog. Enjoy the news to come.
NSW government to launch booster shot ad blitz
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has questioned how his state could achieve some of the highest two-dose vaccination levels in the world but now be lagging in booster uptake.
Only about 47 per cent of the eligible population over 16 have received a booster shot, prompting the state government to launch a new advertising campaign urging people to receive a third jab.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard and Premier Dominic Perrottet during today’s coronavirus update. Credit:Edwina Pickles
“If we have almost 95 per cent of people double-dosed … what’s happened to the other 50 per cent?” Mr Hazzard asked on Sunday at Sydney’s mass vaccination hub.
“We have a lot of people working on that at the moment to trying to establish why people haven’t actually had it.”
Mr Hazzard said he believed people were “tired and exhausted” of the pandemic, but needed to be boosted.
“One of the biggest factors is simply that people are not actually aware that they can have one, people are still locked in the old messages that occurred many months ago that is you’ve got to wait six months,” he said.
People are eligible to receive a COVID booster three months after receiving their second dose.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet implored those who are eligible but yet to receive a COVID-19 booster to visit the state’s mass vaccination hubs, and said there were almost no lines to get in.
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