What happened today, Tuesday 13 July
And that’s where we will leave things for this evening. A lot happened today, so here are the main events:
- NSW recorded 89 new cases of Covid-19 and a second death, and 21 of the new cases had been infectious in the community throughout their infectious period and another 9 had been in the community for part of that time.
- The state introduced mandatory testing every three days for people in Fairfield who travel outside of the area for work and every seven days for workers from Greater Sydney who travel to the regions.
- The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation released new advice on the use of AstraZeneca in locations where there was an outbreak, saying adults under 60 “should reassess the benefits to them and their contacts” from being vaccinated using AstraZeneca.
- The federal and state governments announced new financial assistance for people in lockdown, including $600 a week support payments for workers who have lost more than 20 hours of work, up to $10,000 for small businesses, and a moratorium on evictions for renters who have lost 25% or more of their income.
- Two residential complexes in Sydney and Melbourne are under a hard lockdown due to concerns about the spread of the Delta variant in those apartment buildings.
We’ll see you again tomorrow. Stay safe.
Updated
Vic Govt are happy NSW is receiving federal support but are angry about the double standards of the PM after it had to fight to get any support for affected biz and residents, which it has said was not enough @abcmelbourne
— Richard Willingham (@rwillingham) July 13, 2021
Federal Labor has issued a statement from Richard Marles, Tony Burke, Jim Chalmers and Matt Keogh responding to the financial support announcements. They say it’s not enough:
“After leaving businesses and workers in limbo for the past two weeks scrambling to work out a plan, what Scott Morrison has announced today is not enough to give businesses any security and does not provide support for those who have already lost their job.
Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg have not provided support that guarantees the crucial link between employees and business which was the most important element of JobKeeper.
Labor is also concerned the 40 per cent subsidy may not be sufficient incentive for some employers to keep workers on and avoid stand-downs.
We’ve always said that any support should be responsible, temporary, tailored to the economic conditions, and targeted to those in genuine need.
Australians are once again paying the price for Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg ripping away help too quickly and rolling out vaccines too slowly.
They have not provided businesses the certainty and security they have sought.
Businesses deserve a meaningful response, not policy on the run, with no clear indication if there will be rental relief for small business.
Despite their own Budget assuming more damaging lockdowns as a direct result of their bungled vaccine roll-out, the Morrison Government has failed to plan for them.”
This is the queue just to get into the Fairfield Showground. Madness. You can see why people are upset by the new health orders for essential workers. Doing this every three days would be a nightmare. @9NewsSyd #9News pic.twitter.com/btJfBzLcJR
— James Wilson (@WesternWilson9) July 13, 2021
NSW Health has updated its list of exposure sites.
An IGA in Condell Park has been listed as a close contact venue and two bus routes in the Fairfield area on 8 July are also on the list. Most of the new casual contact venues are in the Fairfield, Penrith and Emu Plains areas.
Updated
The NSW education minister with some data on schools today.
Good to see families across Greater Sydney followed the advice today and kept their children at home if they could. Across Greater Sydney 95% of students were learning from home - and in South Western Sydney this increased to 97%. Amazing effort.
— Sarah Mitchell (@smitchellmlc) July 13, 2021
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The president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions has shared her thoughts on the financial support package announced today.
The disaster payment announced for workers in NSWs is $150 less per week than JobKeeper 12 months ago. It doesn’t guarantee that workers keep their jobs. We know what works why won’t they just do it.
— Michele O'Neil (@MicheleONeilAU) July 13, 2021
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Finally, Linda Reynolds has been asked about the Morrison government’s decision to abandon its controversial plan to introduce independent assessments to the national disability insurance scheme after it was rejected by state and territory ministers.
Independent assessments are “certainly dead”, the NDIS minister told the ABC, and won’t be resurrected.
But Reynolds said there were issues to be worked through with the states and territories to put the scheme “on a sustainable growth trajectory”.
She also stood by a government projection the scheme would cost $60b a year by the end of the decade – a claim Labor’s NDIS spokesman Bill Shorten has compared to claims about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.
“A 12.5% growth per annum on a trajectory of $60 billion by the end of the decade is not sustainable for state and territory taxpayers and federally,” she said.
“We have to make sure to make sure this scheme can keep delivering for many Australians. At the moment it is 12.5% growth per annum, it is not sustainable.”
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Still on Afternoon Briefing – host Patricia Karvelas has asked Linda Reynolds whether the government’s slow rollout of vaccines could potentially lead to more deaths with the outbreak of the Delta variant:
“I completely and utterly reject your characterisation of the situation. I’ve been involved in the Covid taskforce from the very beginning,” Reynolds says.
“If you’ll recall, we made decisions very early on that have saved at least 30,000 Australian lives.
“Don’t forget we also made a decision not to rush in to vaccines that had not yet been tested, as other nations who are having thousands of people die every day had to make.
“So we made the decision to keep as many people safe and as healthy as we can, to protect our economy.”
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The minister for government services, Linda Reynolds, is also on Afternoon Briefing.
She is asked about concerns from unions that the newly announced $600 for people who lose more than 20 hours per week is below the minimum wage.
“We think $600 in the pockets of families during this time ... will help them get through this period if they’ve had reduced hours of work,” she said.
“We are supporting small to medium businesses to keep people on their books, to keep them employed.”
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Labor’s Ed Husic has been speaking on the ABC’s Afternoon Briefing.
He said he was disillusioned to see the high police response to the outbreak in south-west Sydney.
“For south-west Sydney last week, to get a police response instead of a strong health response in New South Wales, I was very disillusioned to see that,” he said.
“I don’t think the people of south-western Sydney needed to be treated in that way.”
In response to the support package announced by the federal and state governments this afternoon, Husic said the additional financial support and additional support for mental health services would be welcomed by many.
However, he said if the lockdown is prolonged and people were unable to work from home, the Morrison government would need to be prepared to increase its support.
“I certainly think and urge that the federal government should remain flexible and if they do need to provide more assistance they should because there’s a lot of people that can’t work from home ... and they will need support if the lockdown gets more serious.”
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NSW Health says there has been low Pfizer wastage since the rollout of the vaccine began in the state.
The commonwealth government requires states to report on any wastage defined as five or more vials in a single instance.
NSW has not reported any such instance in the past fortnight and has only reported one such wastage since the commencement of the vaccine rollout in February 2021.
NSW Health administered 131,401 vaccines in the week ending Sunday 11 July, including 47,978 at the vaccination centre at Sydney Olympic Park.
The total number of vaccines administered in NSW is now 2,703,690, with 1,053,060 doses administered by NSW Health to 8pm last night and 1,650,630 administered by the GP network and other providers to 11.59pm on Saturday 10 July.
There is currently significant demand for vaccination bookings across NSW, including at NSW Health’s vaccination clinics.
Where an individual is not able to attend an appointment, NSW Health’s clinics have contingency plans in place to identify eligible persons who can be vaccinated at short notice, to ensure the vaccine supply is not wasted.
NSW Health is working in partnership with GP networks to ensure as many people as possible receive their Covid-19 vaccination as soon as possible.
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OK, now the PM and the NSW premier have stepped down, it’s time to take a deep breath, and for me to step away for the night. Thanks for your company.
The excellent Lisa Cox is going to take command of the blog from here for the rest of the evening.
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Morrison signs off abruptly, saying treasury officials had been “burning the midnight oil putting the package together”.
We have always got through Covid together, governments have got through it together. Communities have got through it together. Families have got through it together and that will continue to be the case. This is a next level of partnership that’s necessary to ensure the sacrifices that have been made across greater Sydney and across New South Wales are going to get the results that we’re looking for.
That is that we can move back into the position we were at some weeks ago. And that we can get those people back to work. Those jobs saved and ensuring we’re in a position for New South Wales’ economy to pick up where it left off which has been the powerhouse of the national economy during the course of the Covid pandemic. Thank you all very much for your attention.
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On the updated Atagi advice, which suggests younger people in an outbreak area reassess the benefit-risk of AstraZeneca, Morrison says:
It’s based on an assessment and evaluation of risk. What we’ve asked the Doherty institute to indicate to us is what that balance of risk is and how you can then adjust measures to suit that risk to ensure that we meet all the objectives we need to have as a country.
What is important is that we continue to move as quickly as we possibly can, certainly by this time next week, and indeed earlier, we will have passed the mark of over 10 million doses and the vaccination program continues to gather pace. And that is welcome.
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Some interesting peddling from NSW treasurer Dominic Perrottet, who was reported to have opposed a lockdown extension, when asked about his position now.
This is not just a health crisis. Every single business and worker out there right across our state struggling right now, we say that we have your back. And the prime minister has spoken about the challenges of different variants.
The difficult reality is that as you see around the world, as these variants change, there are always challenges as the vaccination period rolls out. And ultimately we will have to learn to live alongside the virus. We don’t want to be in a position and have always resisted going into lockdowns in this state.
There has to be a balanced and proportionate response.
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The PM, again:
What we’ve learnt during the pandemic is you do what works. When you need to do it again, you do what works. And the support that’s been provided through this cash flow boost is not only commensurate with what was provided last time, but in most cases it’s actually greater because it needs to be more concentrated. It’s kicking in in week four and it will go for as long as the lockdown requires.
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More from Morrison:
So it is certainly our hope and ambition that we would not see lockdowns extending like we’re seeing them here in New South Wales and other states and territories.
But, as I said, Covid-19 will set those rules. What we’re saying is when situations get like this, it is in the national interest that we ensure that a lockdown that is occurring here in New South Wales will be effective. And that Australians living here in New South Wales and across the greater Sydney area, know that the sacrifices they’re making will get the job done. And that we will support them through that. Help is here and help is on the way as well. That’s I think our key message.
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Berejiklian says the Sydney lockdown is very unlikely to end on Friday.
“The numbers speak for themselves and we’ll have more to say about that tomorrow”.
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NSW treasurer says assistance package designed to keep staff employed
Perrottet is also emphasising the assistance package was designed to encourage employers to keep workers on the books.
We want those funds out the door as quickly as possible, but importantly this provides certainty to businesses that they can keep their staff on. That’s why all our programs have ensured on application you must make sure that you do not reduce your headcount.
We are going to get through this. It’s a difficult time but we want to keep as much cashflow going into businesses during this time and we believe that the quantum of this program, this unprecedented investment, will ensure we’ll get through the other side stronger than ever.
In relation to the question on the individual payments, as the prime minister has said, once that application is made through Services Australia, it’s an ongoing payment for the length of the lockdown
Updated
Morrison is now taking questions.
Right now, particularly in New South Wales, but I’d say more broadly, it was only a month ago employers were coming to me saying we needed to get more people into the country because they needed more workers. People in New South Wales and employers in New South Wales understand that the labour market has got a lot tighter over the course of the last 12 months. A million people have come back into work since the Covid pandemic.
It’s not in any New South Wales employer’s interest to leave staff behind at the moment. They know they’ll need those staff in a few weeks’ time hopefully. It’s as soon as that. They’ll be wanting to keep them on their books. That’s why I want to stress with this payment again, you can still remain with your employer.
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Morrison says the cost of the economic assistance package will be about $500m – half a billion – each week.
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The NSW treasurer, Dominic Perrottet, points out that “businesses who access this payment will also be required not to reduce their head count”.
He says the state will also introduce a 60-day eviction moratorium and a land tax rebate for landlords who offer rent reductions.
NSW will expand and extent its small business grants program.
It will defer all payroll tax liabilities for businesses for the next two months.
For businesses with a reduction in turnover of more than 30%, the state will waive payroll tax altogether.
Microbusinesses with small turnover will receive a $1500 payment per fortnight.
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The NSW premier, Gladys Berejiklian, says she’s very pleased with the package and that the state will also be looking at further relief measures, such as payroll tax exemptions.
Whilst the prime minister has quite rightly outlined what is the national framework for these payments, the NSW government was very pleased to be able to extend with our part of the payments to all of NSW.
So that no matter where you live if you are suffering at home because of the stay at home provisions you are able to make sure that you and your loved ones don’t go through that stress no matter how long that lasts.
Can I make this point, our intention always is to have this lockdown not go longer than it needs to. But these payments will make sure that whether you are someone who runs a business or someone who is an employee, you will be able to respect the rules we put in place and also have peace of mind. It’s really having peace of mind and also the ability to follow the health advice. They are the things that will help us get through the lockdown.
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The federal government has also announced $12.5m additional support for mental health, which will be spread among mental health support organisations.
Morrison says:
The NSW outbreak has proved to be more severe, more dangerous, and it’s in the national interest that we now put in place an upgraded set of arrangements for cooperation with the states and territories ... that will first be put in place here with NSW when lockdowns enter into more protracted situations.
Throughout our response as a commonwealth government and equally at the state level we have always followed key principles for providing that support. It needs to be targeted. It needs to be timely. It needs to be proportionate, scalable, and the administration of those supports needs to be done in a way so it can get to people as simply and as quickly as is possible.
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Morrison says the government will also provide direct weekly payments to lockdown-affected small businesses to support their cashflow.
Sole traders will get $1000. Others can get $1,500 to $10,000 – calculated based on 40% of the business’s payroll amount.
Updated
Prime minister Scott Morrison announces payments for people in NSW lockdown
The prime minister, Scott Morrison, is up now.
He says the federal government will allow people who have lost more than 20 hours’ work will be able to access a payment of $352. The payments will increase to $600 in the fourth week of a lockdown. If the lockdown is ongoing, the payments will be recurring.
“You don’t have to have lost your job. It doesn’t matter who your employer is. If you have lost those hours, you can access that payment right now.”
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Atagi releases 'outbreak setting' advice regarding AstraZeneca
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (Atagi) has released new advice on “an outbreak setting” just ahead of the PM’s press conference.
In a situation where there is an outbreak and constrained supply of Pfizer, then people aged under 60 “should re-assess the benefits to them and their contacts from being vaccinated with Covid-19 vaccine AstraZeneca, versus the rare risk of a serious side effect”.
The whole thing is here
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ScoMo and Gladys will be standing up shortly to announce their assistance package. I feel like a MasterChef judge. Five minutes to go!
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It’s a little late today, but pleased to keep up Matilda Boseley’s tradition of highlighting the bizarre graphic design choices of the Queensland premier’s social media team.
Today’s special announces 100 new Tafe scholarships. Someone has spent time etching the bloke’s arm in front of the graphic, for some reason.
100 TAFE scholarships valued at up to $5,000 are up for grabs.
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) July 13, 2021
The skills TAFE offers can change lives and set people up for stable and rewarding careers. pic.twitter.com/9TOHAsIbuz
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Morrison and Berejiklian to speak on NSW support package at 3.30pm
Looks like we’re learning about that Covid relief package at 3.30pm.
Just enough time to take a breath, grab a coffee, watch a couple of episodes of The Office and settle in for the announcement.
Very glad @joshgnosis tweeted these together. pic.twitter.com/yCJ9AWus1o
— Calla Wahlquist (@callapilla) July 13, 2021
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A storm front affecting Perth and surrounding regions has passed but authorities are warning of more damaging conditions later in the week, AAP reports.
A severe weather warning has been cancelled for the Perth Metro, South West, Lower South West, Great Southern and Goldfields-Midlands regions.
The Bureau of Meteorology says a deep low pressure system is tracking south of the state into the Great Australian Bight.
“The immediate threat of severe weather has passed, but conditions across the south-west are expected to deteriorate again on Wednesday evening as another weather system approaches,” the bureau said on Tuesday.
“The situation will continue to be monitored and further warnings will be issued if necessary.”
Affected residents are encouraged to keep clear of fallen powerlines and trees and avoid flooded drains, rivers and streams.
Parts of Riverside Drive in the Perth CBD were closed on Tuesday morning due to flooding.
The storm flooded streets, damaged homes and left hundreds of people without power after making landfall early on Monday.
Wind gusts of 100km/h were recorded in Mandurah and Cape Leeuwin, while emergency services answered more than 60 calls for help.
A home in the coastal town of Eagle Bay, 256km south of Perth, had its entire roof torn off by what locals described as a “tornado”.
Cameron Alder told ABC local radio he and his two boys, aged eight and 10, had been sleeping when the “terrifying” storm ripped through the house.
The bureau confirmed destructive winds had damaged several homes in the town.
Authorities had urged people to sandbag their homes if they had experienced flooding during Friday’s shorter but more intense storm.
Perth has already recorded its wettest start to July since 1965.
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Another yarn from our pals at AAP.
Controversial this, I know. But basically the gist is that we should not pay slave wages to people who do backbreaking physical work. Hmmm.
Being paid $2 per hour for picking fruit would be illegal under a union’s proposal to guarantee new rights for horticulture workers.
The full bench of the Fair Work Commission on Tuesday began hearing from witnesses about an application to force farms to pay at least the minimum casual pay of $25.41 an hour.
Currently, workers can be remunerated based on the amount of fruit picked or vegetables harvested.
But the Australian Workers’ Union says the complexity means some farm owners can take advantage of workers and pay them a few dollars per hour.
“Piece rates (make) it easy for vulnerable workers to be cheated, ripped off, and exploited,” national secretary Daniel Walton said.
“An hourly wage floor would make it much easier for a worker - even a disadvantaged, vulnerable worker - to know if she’s being ripped off.”
The union presented the commission with 2016 research published in the Journal of Industrial Relations that suggested the average piecework picker was paid $11.69 an hour.
Piecework pickers were also more likely than colleagues on hourly rates to carry excessive loads or work in extreme heat.
Philip Gourlay, the AWU’s organiser in Mildura on the Victoria-NSW border, estimated he received 20 to 30 complaints a year about pay rates and “regularly through harvest periods”.
While he could speak to farm owners or otherwise help workers, the majority moved from area to area, he told the commission.
British citizen Sophie Blake told AAP she was paid about 15 cents per tree for pruning and cleaning up afterwards.
“It just feels a bit like slave labour because you definitely know you’re worth more than that,” she said.
The National Farmers’ Federation said piecework rates incentivised and awarded productivity.
Chief executive Tony Mahar was concerned introducing a minimum floor price would further shrink the pool of suitable workers.
The hearing runs until Friday.
Updated
While we wait for the feds, it’s worth checking out this thread from comedian Jan Fran.
What about this for a story of an under 40 trying to get vaccinated in Australia. So old mate Morrison says late June 28 that under-40s can seek out the AstraZeneca jab via their GP. The following morning I call my GP.
— Jan Fran (@Jan__Fran) July 13, 2021
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We’ve hit a slow patch of the day it seems. A reminder to stick with us through the afternoon with the federal government expected to announce details of its latest Covid support package.
It seems the Seven West Media boss James Warburton has apologised for a social media post that – for a reason that is unfathomable – highlighted the race of England’s players who missed penalties in the Euro 2020 final.
BREAKING: 7 West Media CEO James Warburton issues apology on behalf of company following an "inexcusable and embarrassing" post on social media yesterday. Mr Warburton says: "What happened was a terrible mistake, unacceptable and will not be tolerated" #7NEWS #auspol
— Jennifer Bechwati (@jenbechwati) July 13, 2021
And on that same topic, how good is Bukayo Saka?
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The shadow treasurer, Jim Chalmers, is speaking in Brisbane, ahead of the federal government’s announcement of a new Covid support package.
It’s been obvious for some time that this package of support has been needed. Where has the prime minister been for all of these days? You know, every day that the prime minister has tried to dodge his responsibility has made life harder for people who are already under the pump in Sydney and the surrounding areas.
Every day that this Prime Minister has gone missing in action has made life more difficult for the people of Sydney. So we call on the Prime Minister to come forward with a genuine package of support.
Labor’s Chalmers says the government had been “too quick to cut JobKeeper and too slow to roll out the vaccines”.
Unfortunately, that’s turned out to be the truth. We have seen throughout this process the government’s been in too big a rush to cut JobKeeper and not in enough of a rush to get people vaccinated. The consequences is the government coming back with another package of support today.
We need to see a guarantee that people will keep their jobs. If this package doesn’t guarantee that people will keep their jobs, then it won’t be worth all of the spin and all of the announcement that we see later today.
What we need to see from the government is a genuine package that supports workers and small businesses. That guarantees that that link will be maintained between employer and employee. That was the most part of JobKeeper. And we don’t want to see that discarded. So let’s see what the government announces later today.
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Unsurprisingly, there is some concern in Queensland that this week’s State of Origin game on the Gold Coast (i.e. just across the New South Wales border) might trigger some Covid rule-breaking.
The Queensland police say they’ll have 70 officers at the ground, trying to detect Blues fans who have come in from hotspots.
They should be easy to find. They’ll be the ones smiling/winning.
(Yes, I’m from Queensland but was born/grew up in NSW and I hold dear the idea that it is State of Origin, not state of formal residence).
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And from our environment team’s Graham Readfearn, plans are afoot to build the world’s biggest renewable energy hub in Western Australia.
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While we’re in the brief lunchtime Covid press conference lull, might I recommend this from our science writer Donna Lu, about the rise in employer-sponsored egg freezing.
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The Housing Industry Association reports that nationally new home sales jumped 15.3 per cent in the June quarter. The buying boom continues.
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Dan Andrews, repeating himself...
I hate to sound like a broken record.
— Dan Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) July 13, 2021
But please, check the exposure site list.
Get tested.
And isolate if you need to.
Some out of the Northern Territory – they’ve cancelled the Arafura Games because of Covid-19. The games are a big local event, mainly drawing competitors to Darwin from the Indo-Pacific.
And a little bit of Territory trivia, the same competition was cancelled in 2003 due to concern about the Sars disease.
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Lifeline Australia urged those living in Greater Sydney and across the country to speak to a crisis supporter as extended Covid-19 lockdown rules and border restrictions weigh on people’s mental health.
John Brogden, the chairman of Lifeline Australia, said: “My message to all Australians, especially those living in Greater Sydney, is you are not in this alone”.
“Lifeline is here for you. Please don’t suffer in silence.”
Lifeline, Australia’s leading suicide prevention service, is continuing to receive a 25% increase in the volume of calls Australia-wide since the surge in new Covid-19 cases began this July.
Lifeline service details:
Telephone: 13 11 14 (24 hours)
Lifeline Text: 0477 13 11 14 (6pm – midnight)
Chat online: www.lifeline.org.au (7pm – midnight)
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The Chinese embassy has hit back at the Australian government’s latest comments on the South China Sea, describing a statement by Marise Payne as deplorable.
Last night the Australian foreign minister issued a statement marking the fifth anniversary of an international ruling that found China’s claim to ‘historic rights’ or ‘maritime rights and interests’ established in the ‘long course of historical practice’ in the South China Sea were inconsistent with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea
The arbitral tribunal ruled on a dispute initiated by the Philippines, one of a number of countries that claim territory in the South China Sea. Payne said the Australian government had “consistently called on the parties to the arbitration to abide by the Tribunal’s decision, which is final and binding on both China and the Philippines”.
She said: “Adherence to international law is fundamental to the continuing peace, prosperity and stability of our region. It allows all states – big and small – to resolve disputes peacefully.”
A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Canberra issued a statement a short time ago, saying: “We deplore the recent statement by the Australian side on the South China Sea issue. China’s sovereignty, rights and interests in the South China Sea have been formed in the course of a long history. They are supported by abundant historical and legal basis and upheld by the Chinese government all along.”
China refused to participate in the arbitration and has long argued the arbitration’s ruling was “null and void”.
The embassy spokesperson said China urged Australia “to view the historical merits and facts of the South China Sea issue in an objective manner and stop any political manipulation”.
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Dozens of South Australians will be forced to isolate after potentially coming into contact with coronavirus-infected removalists who visited a regional service station, AAP reports.
SA Health has identified the Shell service station in Tailem Bend, 97km south-east of Adelaide, as an exposure site.
Anyone who attended the station last Friday between 5:20pm and 7pm must isolate and get tested, along with their close contacts.
An employee who has since been deemed to be symptomatic is in isolation and will be urgently tested.
The three removalists, two of whom have tested positive, had travelled from Sydney through Victoria to McLaren Vale, where they unloaded furniture for a relocating family.
They stopped in Tailem Bend on their way back to NSW.
There were 18 QR code check-ins during that period but authorities believe it’s possible there may have been other people present.
“We will work very quickly now to put everybody that we need to into quarantine so that we can minimise the risk of this spreading in South Australia,” Premier Steven Marshall told reporters on Tuesday.
“The good news is we don’t believe there are any exposure sites whatsoever in McLaren Vale.”
Authorities are reviewing CCTV footage to determine whether the removalists made any other stops in SA on their return trip.
“We are still stepping through and mapping out a clear timeline of the driver’s movements within SA,” the deputy chief public health officer Emily Kirkpatrick said.
The family members who moved to SA have all tested negative so far and are in quarantine as close contacts of a confirmed virus case.
From Tuesday, all people entering SA from Sydney will require an exemption and face tougher checks before being granted permission.
This will include assurances of a suitable location to quarantine for two weeks.
About 950 people returned last week, but Marshall says authorities want to “seriously turn that tap off” with the system no longer a “box-ticking exercise”.
“Exemptions will be approved but on a much narrower basis. There will be a high level of scrutiny,” he said.
SA will also increase restrictions on the freight sector from Thursday, with anyone entering SA required to have a test and be subject to stricter rules around their activities.
Those include avoiding contact with other members of the public while in the state.
SA recorded no new cases on Tuesday, leaving the state with 19 active cases.
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Thanks to Elias Vistonay for his stewardship of the blog this afternoon.
OK, so first things first, I copped a bit of flack on this very blog yesterday for suggesting that it was 19C and freezing up here in Brisbane.
Today it’s 21C. It’s still cold.
It has (is it ever not?) been a breathless morning. Let’s keep pushing on.
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With that, I will pass you into the hands of Ben Smee, who will guide you through the early afternoon.
No special treatment for Rusty.
How I spent my Sunday. Lining up with 7000 good citizens to get shot 1 of vaccine.
— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) July 12, 2021
Book yours via NSW health https://t.co/WcppFuTlFO pic.twitter.com/ZyON96npWu
The removalists are not the only Covid risk in Victoria.
Three members of a family who moved from Sydney to Melbourne, in the City of Hume, have tested positive to Covid.
The family of four moved to Melbourne last week under a red zone permit. Covid testing commander Jeroen Weimar thanked them for broadly complying with the red zone permit and getting tested as soon as they had symptoms.
Two exposure sites are linked to this family — the Coles at Craigieburn Central on Saturday, 10 July, and a petrol station in Broadmeadows on Sunday 11 July. Fifty-two people who had checked into either location at the exposure time were texted by the health department last night and told to isolate for 14 days.
In total there are 300 primary close contacts in isolation in Victoria.
The red zone permit requires total isolation – so no grocery shopping. But Weimar said they would not be penalised because they have “done the core principles of what we need them to do”.
“They have got tested when they needed to get tested and they have been transparent with us,” he said. “We’re not going to pursue any further enforcement activity with them, they’ve done the right thing and we’re very grateful.”
There are currently 9,410 people in Victoria on red zone permits who are required to isolate for 14 days. Authorities checked on 269 permit holders yesterday and found two people “deliberately not isolating,” who have been referred to police.
Weimar said he knew that requiring people to isolate for 14 days was “a difficult ask”.
“If people are really struggling with the isolation then please do contact us for support. Do not breach the conditions of the isolation.”
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SA identifies Covid exposure site at Tailem Bend
SA Health has identified an exposure location associated with positive cases of COVID-19.
— SA Health (@SAHealth) July 13, 2021
Tailem Bend - Shell Tailem Bend
◾️ Friday 9 July - 5.20pm to 7.00pm
Find the relevant health advice at https://t.co/4sJYadglJu pic.twitter.com/IGror6r0vs
Updated
Victorian health authorities are investigating potential breaches of work permits by a removalist crew who travelled from Sydney to Melbourne to Adelaide last week, before being called back to Sydney by a NSW health alert.
They were operating under a work permit and national freight guidelines.
“There was a permit in place and the permit has very clear obligations in it,” Victoria’s Covid response commander Jeroen Weimar said.
What we need people to do though is to comply with the obligations of those permits, which includes that you are in virtual isolation when you’re in Victoria, you need to wear a mask, you need to be socially distant, you need to stay in your cab at all times, and you’re not doing five hours of removalist work in an apartment building. So we’re concerned about that and that is part of the conversation we’re having.
The removalists arrived in Craigieburn at 9.30am on Thursday 8 July to drop off some furniture before going to the Ariele apartment complex in Maribyrnong, where they spent about half a day picking up furniture.
The delivery in Craigieburn was made to a family of five, all of whom have since tested negative and are in isolation for 14 days.
All 78 units — and an estimated 100 to 150 residents — of Ariele apartments were put into 14 days lockdown last night. The man who had direct contact with the removalists at that address has tested negative, and a dedicated testing lane has been set up at the Melbourne Showgrounds to test all other residents.
The removalists then left Melbourne, stopping at a service station on the Western Freeway at Ballan for two hours to eat dinner and shower before heading to South Australia. They returned to NSW on 9 July after one of the crew was notified by NSW Health that they were a close contact of another case. Two crew members have now tested positive and the third is showing symptoms.
Weimar said there had been multiple contact tracing interviews with all three removalists and their employer but “the sense of clarity is not emerging as quickly as I would like”.
They are not being as forthcoming or their recollection is not as accurate as I would like it to be.
I think they’re being honest. I think it’s clearly a challenging situation for them as individuals.
He also said the company was not being forthcoming, but declined to name it publicly.
We want them to be open and forthcoming with us. With all due respect to the members of the fourth estate I think having them descend on them is not going to help.
Updated
With that, I shall hand you over to the fantastic Elias Visontay to take you through the Victorian press conference.
Well, an extremely large helicopter flying overhead has brought that press conference to a close, but don’t worry, it seems we will be hearing from the NSW leaders again later in the day when they stand up with the prime minister to announce the new financial support package.
The NSW premier says the pilot program designed to allow international students to return to Australia for university may be paused if the outbreak in Sydney remains out of control.
We will look at all those issues once we exit the lockdown.
Whilst we are in lockdown, our absolute obsession is to get us out of lockdown. We all know the challenge that poses but know that by working together we will get there.
We won’t do anything as a government to compromise our ability to exit the lockdown as quickly as we can. Once we exit lockdown, we will look forward to all those opportunities that are presented.
Reporter:
It could be paused, depending on how things go?
Berejiklian:
Yes.
Updated
Reporter:
Essential workers who live outside Fairfield, but are going into Fairfield to work, are they subject to this new health order?
Berejiklian:
We wouldn’t recommend that at all.
We are asking people to stay at home unless they are absolutely have to but, clearly, if you are - if you have to do essential work into the local government area of Fairfield, you need to take those extra precautions.
We would prefer people not go there unless they absolutely have to, not undertake essential work unless they absolutely have to and they are the rules.
Updated
Berejiklian has been asked if the state will consider “short, sharp lockdowns” in regional towns where cases pop up. This is obviously referencing the news today that a worker from Sydney tested positive to Covid-19 after travelling to Goulburn.
But the premier hasn’t given a direct answer.
We always follow health advice but what has happened in Goulburn is a good example as to why restrictions exist in our regional communities.
It is so that if there is a case, the restrictions prevent what we call a super spreading event. That is the whole reason why we have asked all of regional New South Wales to make that sacrifice.
I think people in our regional communities get it. They are the first ones to defend their communities and we want to thank them for their patience and understanding. Also that any decisions now or into the future are based on health advice. That is why we have those measures in place.
Updated
NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant has been asked if the state will consider ramping up at-home testing capacity.
We have got an array of testing options. We have been working with our GPs to encourage messaging to their patient groups about ringing first before they come in, making sure that people are assessed and do video or telehealth consults and then arrange appropriate testing.
There is a range of drive through [testing] and access to testing in that Fairfield local government area is extensive. We are doing more. Every day we have opened additional sites in conjunction with the private sector to make sure that there is no barrier to testing in that area.
Reporter:
No home testing though?
Chant:
There are home testing available. But if you are wanting to look at large numbers and ease, it is about giving people a variety of testing options and we would like to keep any home testing for the most vulnerable, people that are bed-bound, people that actually can’t get out.
Those people who are happy to access driving through, that is very popular in the area. But there are a range of testing options and I would urge everyone to go to the web site and look at that. We have established some new testing options for the community.
Updated
Here are some updates from the Victorian presser which is also going on right now.
The Victorian press conference is starting now with deputy CHO, Assoc. Prof. Daniel O’Brien. I'll bring the updates to the @GuardianAus blog.
— Calla Wahlquist (@callapilla) July 13, 2021
O'Brien says health authorities checked 269 addresses where people from red zones (read: NSW) are supposed to be isolating. Two were "deliberately not isolating" and have been referred to police. @MatildaBoseley
— Calla Wahlquist (@callapilla) July 13, 2021
Jeroen Weimar says contact tracing teams in Vic have made "swift progress over the last 24 hours over these two separate potential chains of transmission in Victoria."
— Calla Wahlquist (@callapilla) July 13, 2021
There are 13 primary household contacts - all tested negative.
Over 300 other close contacts.
Updated
Again there are more questions around the somewhat nebulous definition of “essential worker” and concerns schools don’t understand.
Reporter:
South-west Sydney kids are still being sent to school because they are the children of essential workers. One principal is saying that they just need help defining essential. Schools don’t understand, teachers don’t understand, and there are still kids coming in and there is a lot of concern. What do you say to those schools?
Berejiklian:
I say to people with those types of questions, please look at what we did last time.
There are very vulnerable children, children in very special circumstances which require that attendance, and health is putting in place and has put in place provisions to make sure the virus doesn’t spread through those means.
We have to accept that some children are in very vulnerable situations and last time, as well, they were being supported through the school community and health has put in special measures for those circumstances.
Updated
Now, you may be thinking, where on earth is the announcement about extra financial support from the federal government?. So was I!
Well, it looks like Glady-B is letting the prime minister release those details later today. Wouldn’t want to take their thunder away!
The prime minister and the New South Wales treasurer and I hope to give details of that later today.
Updated
Reporter:
There is a school in Chester Hill close to Fairfield that is requiring all students tomorrow to attend to do HSC trials. Is that something that concerns you?.
Berejiklian:
We know that the education department in consultation with health are making special provisions for HSC students and I think all of us would understand and accept that. Health and education have been working closely together to make sure that year 12 students and their families are supported during this time.
I have confidence that education and health in working together will be able to provide that necessary support to reduce stress and also to ensure that there is as little distraction or as little disruption as possible for those undertaking year 12, especially those who need to do practical or oral assignments which require different aspects of face to face.
We know in some circumstances that is being allowed but it is done with the very strictest of health guidelines and with the very strictest of cooperation with those schools and NSW Health.
Updated
Berejiklian says she will confirm if the lockdown will be extended in the coming days.
I am hoping to make an announcement today* or Thursday at the latest in relation to the future of the lockdown.
I assume she means “tomorrow” here, as in Wednesday.
Updated
Berejiklian has been asked if she will commit to giving all teachers in NSW priority access to the vaccine. Currently, it is just teachers in those three LGA’s of particular concern, including Fairfield.
It looks like the answer is no.
We need to make sure that we provide the vaccines to those priority communities.
Once we get doses rolling through, then you cab provide greater coverage to greater numbers of workers and greater numbers of the community who are vulnerable.
I appreciate how young people want to get vaccinated. There is nothing stopping a young person from getting the AstraZeneca vaccine but please go through your GP at this stage to make sure that any health issues are covered off.
Once we get greater doses of the vaccine, which we’re expecting towards the middle to the end of September, that will allow us to provide greater coverage over a greater number of areas.
Updated
Reporter:
On the vaccine hub that will open in Fairfield. The mayor there says that it will be open for more than a couple of weeks and it will be expanded beyond the priority groups. Is that feasible given the supply issues of the vaccine?
Berejiklian:
A lot of people have opinions about what needs to happen with the vaccine rollout so it is important for us to listen to the experts and implement our policy as we see best under the circumstances.
Please know, as I said yesterday, we are putting up pop-up vaccination centres where they are needed. If there is a hot spot in another local government area in the future, we will have the capacity to do that.
We are preparing for that by making sure those categories are priority workers or categories of aged or vulnerable people [who] have access to the vaccine. Obviously, if we had unlimited doses of the vaccine, we would be able to do more but, at this stage, we are making sure we provide the vaccine to those who most need it, in those areas that are most needed, and I am pleased to say the New South Wales health system itself will have a capacity in due course of up to 200,000 jabs a week and the GP network is also increasing their doses.
Updated
That number of 21 cases today who were infectious while in the community is likely to grow, Chant says.
I have told you today that over 21 infectious cases in the community, that is probably going to be much higher when we look at the 14 – the number under investigation [regarding] their isolation status.
It is incredibly critical that those individuals could be anywhere across Sydney and Greater Sydney and the regions.
Please act in accordance with what we’re asking you to do ... Please stay at home and do not visit family members.
Updated
Chant was asked for a bit more information about that Goulburn case, and if this raises concerns for the regional areas of NSW in general.
From the beginning, we were concerned about the risk of seeding from this outbreak in Sydney and we have put in protective measures in the regions.
That is why the mask-wearing requirements in the regions, the reduced density and the restrictions are in the regions. It is actually to ensure that if we get a seeding event, the risk have it being established in the regions it reduced. It does highlight why people cannot be complacent about the risk anywhere.
I would like to say that if anyone is going to the regions for essential work, I remind them that they also need to stay at home so people are permitted to go to the regions, where it is essential for essential work but if you are doing that, all you can do is do that essential work and go home. You can’t go to pubs, clubs, hospitality, anything else.
You can only go there and do your essential work and obviously get your essential food and groceries. The restrictions that apply to you is if you are living in Sydney, they apply to you when you are in the regions.
Updated
By the way, those workers who need to get regular tests do not need to isolate until they get their results unless they are displaying any symptoms.
(This is creating a bit of a stir at the press conference, but this is pretty standard for workforces that require regular, non-symptomatic testing.)
Updated
But, despite the new rules, the NSW leaders say that they won’t be putting more specifications on who exactly counts as an “essential worker”.
Hazzard:
You have asked that question in regard to what is an essential job or work a number of times ... To try and define that is challenging.
I think, in terms of essential work, the employer and the employee would know whether that particular worker was essential to the particular circumstances.
So it will be left to the worker and to the employer but my message also to the employers particularly is if you don’t need to have someone come from an area that ... has major Covid concerns presently, then perhaps it might be an idea to make arrangements for a worker from another area.
You can spend your lives looking for loopholes in these things and looking for reasons to duck and weave but the answer is use common sense, work with the public health officials to try and achieve what we need to achieve.
Updated
The NSW health minister Brad Hazzard says the new Covid-19 testing mandate for essential workers from Fairfield and those travelling to the regions will start from midnight tonight.
The requirements of the new public health orders are aimed at making sure that there is testing of people who are moving into areas outside Greater Sydney, particularly from Fairfield but everywhere in Greater Sydney.
The testing requirement is once every seven days. People will need to have evidence ... to show that if they are stopped by police or other appropriate authorities ... that they have actually had the test in the last seven days.
It’s a protective measure, aimed at making sure our regions are safe.
In regards to people who are currently residing in the local government area of Fairfield, the first message is: please don’t go outside the Fairfield local government area. Even if you consider your work is essential, rethink that, but if it really is essential, then you must – if you’re leaving, you must have a test every three days to be able to again present that evidence.
I signed that order this morning. It starts at 12.01am, obviously the police will exercise the same respectful approach in the next few days to making sure that we don’t cause people unnecessary problems in needing to get that test immediately but certainly we would like it to be done immediately.
The police will exercise judgement in determining what action they might take if you haven’t actually managed to get it in the next 24/36 hours.
Updated
OK, let’s get a bit of an update on that locked down apartment block in Bondi Junction.
Chant:
The eastern suburbs apartment block, there was one further case recorded to 8pm last night.
There is 9 cases identified in recent days across the five different households.
I think the key message to us is when you’re in apartment buildings, we’re not wanting you to congregate in any shared spaces with instituted mask-wearing requirements for those premises. We understand and respect that they are private premises but we are really requiring under a public health order that you wear masks when you’re transiting through common areas.
We are asking people to be attentive about hand hygiene, mask wearing and obviously to not go out or be cautious ... [and] get tested immediately if they have got any symptoms.
Updated
Chant can’t yet say if that man in his 70s who passed away from Covid-19 was vaccinated, as NSW Health is still just clearing everything with the man’s family.
We will report on the cases in due course.
Obviously at this time our condolences go to the family. Before releasing any information about the case, I would prefer to get clearance from the family. It is a difficult time and that is the respectful thing to do.
Updated
Worboys does NOT want you to be skirting the lockdown rules when it comes to take away coffees. (A very Melbourne statement for a Sydney presser.)
The other part I would like to highlight is the fact that police are now seeing people congregate in areas where take away coffee, take away food exists.
We had an example recently which highlights this where people gathered their take away goods, moved a short distance away and then proceeded to hook up a movie on a device and sit and watch that movie. It has to be understood that take away is exactly what it means.
That is, you can go to a place, you can buy a take away coffee, a drink, a food item and then you need to leave that location. Police do not want to see people congregating around take away food venues. Thank you.
Updated
Wow, did you know that the QR in QR code stand for “quick response”! I thought the police representative was just making stuff up, but no, I looked it up and that’s actually what it means!
NSW deputy police commissioner Gary Worboys:
Good morning. 121 infringement notices issued in the last 24 hours. 34 were in south-west Sydney.
This 34 represents, in my view, a considerably good effort by the people of south-west Sydney in identifying the fact that they are serious about the disease.
They are serious about complying and I must say that New South Wales police force wants to extend a big thank you to the people of south-west Sydney in the way that they have got into the spirit of the order.
I want to highlight the fact that the QR code, or quick response codes are now, or should be in operation in every single business and place where people gather and go.
We really want people to understand that police will be checking on businesses and places where people are allowed to go, remember that you can only leave your home for a very good reason.
Updated
Here is chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant with details of those 89 local Covid-19 cases.
New South Wales recorded 89 locally acquired cases in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. The majority are close contacts and household contacts but there are some unlinked cases.
49,055 tests were reported to 8pm last night.
Sadly, a man in his 70s from Sydney’s eastern suburbs died yesterday, and he was a confirmed case of Covid-19, and I extend my sympathies to that gentleman’s family.
Of today’s 89 cases, as the premier has indicated, we had 55 in isolation throughout the infectious period, six cases were in isolation for part of their infectious period and 21 cases were infectious in the community and we were confirming the isolation status for another 14.
This is still too many people in the community that are infectious. It is essential that we stay at home and only leave home for the most essential of reasons.
Updated
Regular Covid tests required for workers from Fairfield LGA and those travelling to regions
The NSW premier says new rules will come into place requiring people who live in the Fairfield LGA to have regular Covid-19 tests if they are required to leave the area for essential work. This also applies to people living in the lockdown region who are travelling to the regions.
If you live in the Fairfield Local Government area, you to have regular Covid tests to demonstrate that you are [virus] free, even if you don’t have symptoms, because unfortunately, we see what we call asymptomatic people who don’t have symptoms, leaving the house, going out of the local area to work and unfortunately sending the virus to other parts of Greater Sydney or elsewhere and that’s what we have to stop.
[The health] minister did sign a new health order which [says] that everybody who leaves the local government area for work is tested every three days to demonstrate they are negative.
If you happen to have people on your worksite or overseeing work or any time of activity in your private residence or commercial premises, please ask where they live and if they live or come from that area, a hotspot area, please ask when the last time was that they got tested.
That also will apply to people working in the regions. We are asking people who are working or moving between greater metropolitan Sydney and into the regions to get a weekly Covid test, even if they don’t have symptoms, just to make sure that we reduce the incidence of essential workers passing on the virus.
Updated
NSW records a second Covid-19 related death
Sadly, NSW Health today reports the death of a man in his 70s, who was a confirmed COVID-19 case. He was a resident of the eastern suburbs. NSW Health extends its sincere sympathies to his family.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) July 13, 2021
21 NSW cases infectious while in the community
Here is the NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian:
To 8pm yesterday, there were 89 cases of transmission in New South Wales. Twenty-one of those were infectious in the community and that’s the number that we need to see close to zero.
Updated
NSW records 89 local Covid-19 cases
NSW records 89 local Covid-19 cases today.
NSW recorded 89 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. pic.twitter.com/GMaUFsS56b
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) July 13, 2021
In non-Covid news, China’s foreign ministry has called on Australia to “do some soul-searching” on human rights.
China – which has faced criticism over a range of human rights issues including the crackdown on dissent in Hong Kong and its treatment of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang – points to alleged war crimes allegations in Afghanistan, the offshore detention centres for asylum seekers and the stolen generations.
The comments by a foreign ministry spokesperson in Beijing overnight – forwarded to media by the Chinese embassy in Canberra this morning - are really just a continuation of comments Chinese officials have made in several UN forums this year.
Updated
We are just standing by now for the NSW Covid-19 updates, where will get the state’s daily Covid-19 numbers and might get confirmation of that reported case in the regional NSW town of Goulburn.
Blah, OK. Unfortunately, it’s time for some Matt Canavan news.
The conservative Nationals senator has told Sky News today that the NSW lockdown doesn’t “justify the cost” and we should learn to “live with” Covid-19.
Didn’t we cover all of this last week? Just a reminder that the Australian vaccination rate is still sitting around just 10%.
Canavan:
We were told last year to lock down to flatten the curve; we were then told to lock down to help vulnerable people. All good, I support that ...
What is the justification now? We can’t remove all risk from our life, and there is no choice here that does not impose massive costs and risks on people ...
People are obviously affected mentally from lockdowns. Kids are out of school.
This is a bold stance given that just two days ago Australia recorded its first locally acquired Covid-19 related death for 2021.
Updated
Hmm, looks like we are going to have a press conference double-up this morning.
We are expecting to hear from the Victorian deputy chief health officer Daniel O’Brien and Covid-19 commander* Jeroen Weimar at 11.15am today.
Of course, we are also expecting to hear from the NSW leaders at 11am.
I will try to bring you updates from both and there is a bit going on in each state (obviously more in NSW).
Stand by.
*Yes, that’s his real title. No, I don’t know what it means either.
Updated
If you need some distraction from more serious matters this morning, play is well under way in Australia’s third Twenty20 cricket international against the West Indies in St Lucia.
It’s very much a must-win match for Aaron Finch’s team, after successive batting collapses in the opening two encounters of the five-match series have put them 2-0 down. Win and they stay alive; lose again and Thursday’s fourth match becomes a dead rubber.
The incomparable Geoff Lemon is here to guide you through the rest of the game:
Updated
Ian Silk, the chief executive of Aussie Super, is to step down after a 15-year reign during which the nation’s biggest superannuation fund grew more than 10 times bigger to become a $225bn behemoth.
Silk will step down “later this year” and will be replaced by Aussie’s chief risk officer, Paul Schroder, who will lead the fund towards $500bn in retirement savings over the next five years, the fund said.
Chair Don Russell said Silk had “achieved incredible results” for Aussie’s members during his tenure, building the fund from $21bn to $225bn and doubling membership.
Silk also shepherded Aussie through the banking royal commission and has been a key voice defending the union-and-employer controlled industry funds, which are run solely to profit members, from attacks by for-profit funds and elements of the Liberal party.
Russell said:
The AustralianSuper Board wishes to express our deep appreciation for the leadership and integrity that Ian has consistently displayed throughout his tenure and in building an organisational culture that always puts the long-term financial interest of members first ...
Under Ian’s leadership the Fund has always been ambitious for members and this has played a vital role in ensuring AustralianSuper has been able to use its size and scale to be the number one performing fund across multiple time periods.
Silk said it was “an amazing privilege to work with my colleagues across the fund to deliver the best possible financial returns for the more than 2.4 million members who trust us with their retirement savings”:
I look back with huge pride on what the team at AustralianSuper has achieved.
He endorsed Schroder to take over:
He is exceptionally well placed to lead the fund in its next phase as it moves towards being a profit-for-member $500bn superannuation fund in the next five years, that uses the scale of the organisation to benefit members.
Updated
While the NSW premier has been pretty optimistic about the new federal support payments that are expected to be announced today, not everyone believes that they will be enough to actually help those doing it toughest.
The Antipoverty Centre and the Australian Unemployed Workers’ Union have been calling this morning for the prime minister to “urgently recall parliament to provide immediate financial relief for low-income workers and people relying on social security payments.”
Here is a statement from Antipoverty Centre spokesperson Kristin O’Connell, who is calling for supports to focus less on businesses and more on vulnerable individuals:
The government has forced us into this devastating situation because of its calamitous vaccine rollout. It shouldn’t punish the most vulnerable in society for its failures.
“JobKeeper-style” payments to business and increased disaster payments for the handful of people who qualify is a disaster for people living in poverty trying to survive this.
Excluding us confirms that the government believes our lives are worth less. That they’re happy to pile more financial stress on top of all the other stresses that lockdown and growing cases bring, while at the same time they assault us for not taking a vaccine that we can’t even get...
People are already suffering. It’s going to be a disaster if they leave things as they are. Businesses don’t need to eat. Businesses don’t need medication. Businesses don’t need to stay warm in winter.
Updated
New flooding relief package for NSW regions
A further $300m has been set aside to help communities clean up from record flooding that sent large tracts of NSW underwater in March, reports Tiffanie Turnbull from AAP.
Tens of thousands of people were evacuated across the state as rivers fuelled by torrential rain broke their banks, with Sydney’s Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley and the mid-north coast the hardest hit.
Of the newly announced funding, $200m will be spent on eight key flood recovery initiatives, which include industry recovery, job retention, rebuilding infrastructure and safeguarding mental health and community wellbeing.
The federal government has also announced it will top up the Infrastructure Betterment Fund, matching the NSW government’s contribution of $100m.
That money will go towards rebuilding and improving the resilience of public infrastructure damaged during the recent floods as well as the Black Summer bushfires.
The package – jointly funded by the state and federal governments and now worth $400m all up – will ensure longer-term recovery of the impacted areas, minister for emergency management Bridget McKenzie said.
Months on from the devastating storms and floods which impacted over 70 local government areas across NSW, we are continuing to stand by communities as they recover ...
We have listened to farmers and producers, too, and included more than $25m to provide grants for rural landholders who do not qualify for the existing supports, as well as funding for environmental recovery initiatives, including riverbank restoration.
NSW deputy premier John Barilaro said a big part of the long-term recovery was improving the wellbeing of communities inundated, many of which were still reeling from drought, bushfires and the pandemic.
We cannot underestimate the mental health and wellbeing of those impacted by these disasters and I’m pleased that we’ve been able to provide extensive support to assist communities hardest hit.
Updated
Maritime Safety Queensland says three vessels had illegally arrived in the state from greater Sydney in the past two weeks.
Two were single-person yachts while another was a superyacht with four crew aboard.
Six people were each slapped with a $4,100 fine and either told to return to NSW or ordered into 14-day hotel quarantine.
Maritime Safety Queensland general manager Angus Mitchell went on ABC radio this morning and warned Sydneysiders that no vessels would be able to slip into the state undetected.
We do know all the vessels that are coming in ... whether you’re in a superyacht, it’s very hard to sneak anywhere in a superyacht, but even if you’re in a small sailing vessel we will detect you.
Updated
It’s that time of the day where I share a tweet from Nine news about the NSW number but make sure that you understand that this hasn’t been independently verified by Guardian Australia, and we will find out the confirmed daily numbers anyway in about 45 minutes when Gladys Berejiklian stands up.
That being said, there are reports that the NSW case numbers will be back in the double digits today.
I’m hearing new NSW cases are well under 100 today. It’s just one day, so not a trend. Still major concerns around Fairfield, so far no other significant seeding events. @9NewsAUS #sydneylockdown
— Chris O'Keefe (@cokeefe9) July 13, 2021
Updated
OK, just to clarify, it looks as though the Queensland premier hasn’t actually got independent confirmation of the Goulburn case and was going off the same ABC reports that we are. This also goes some way to explaining why no decisions on the border have been made.
So just take that into consideration.
Updated
Hmm, that border between regional NSW and Queensland is seeming pretty darn tentative at the moment.
Palaszczuk:
We want Queenslanders to come home. [The outbreak] is unfolding each day in NSW. So we are seeing more and more cases.
We are seeing more hospitalisations and we are monitoring whether it’s spreading to other parts of NSW. So if we do see it spreading to other parts of NSW we won’t hesitate to shut the border.
Updated
Queensland chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young is providing details about these new local Covid-19 cases.
So we have those three cases, one of them in hotel quarantine tested positive on day one, had just returned from the UK via Singapore. Then the other two cases are cases in the community, both related to the Greek Orthodox community centre admin area, and both went into home quarantine when they were identified as close contacts.
And they tested negative when they went into quarantine and tested negative again and then both have tested positive on day 12.
Both are well, symptom-free, and so they have already been spoken with and they have remained in their homes and so have other people living in those households who have also been in their homes. So there is no risk, very little at all, with those two individuals.
But it does prove that it doesn’t matter how many negative tests you get, you can up to that 14 days’ incubation period still test positive.
Updated
Queensland premier confirms regional NSW case, but keeps border open for now
Palaszczuk has just confirmed that NSW has recorded a Covid-19 case in the regional town of Goulburn, but the border has not immediately slammed shut. It seems decisions on the border will be made later today.
So of course we are still monitoring the situation in NSW very closely. And of course Dr Young is giving us updates. We are monitoring closely that sewage testing.
We just heard breaking news that there is a positive case in Goulburn. So Dr Young will be talking about that at AHPPC. So we are keeping a very close eye on what’s happening in NSW. So I want to reassure Queenslanders that if it gets to the stage that we have to close we will.
But at this stage we are monitoring it every single day.
Updated
Queensland records two local Covid-19 cases overnight
Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is speaking now:
Now, so in some good news, we have three new cases but we are not worried about any of them. The first one is an overseas acquired case detected in hotel quarantine.
And the other two cases are locally acquired but detected in home quarantine and linked to known cases. So they were tested on day 12. Which is great news to show that everything is working and I know Dr Young is very pleased with this.
Updated
Minister @MartinPakulaMP says federal assistance to help NSW lockdown and keep the nation safe is welcome, but wishes the Morrison gov had come to that conclusion with Victoria’s last lockdown. “It’s a good thing, it will help them protect the nation” @abcmelbourne
— Richard Willingham (@rwillingham) July 12, 2021
We are also just standing by to hear from the Queensland premier. If the news of this possible Goulburn case has reached the sunshine state yet, this could potentially trigger the snap closure of the southern border to all of regional NSW as the Queensland chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young said they were monitoring the regions closely.
Updated
Reports of a Covid-19 case in Goulburn, regional NSW
The ABC is reporting that a Covid-19 case has been confirmed in the regional NSW town of Goulburn.
BREAKING: A case of COVID-19 has been confirmed at Goulburn in regional New South Wales.
— Julian Abbott (@JulianBAbbott) July 12, 2021
The A-B-C has been told the person is an essential worker who travelled from southern Sydney to Goulburn, in the state's south.
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Opposition leader Anthony Albanese is speaking now from Brisbane, basically getting ahead of the game and condemning the federal support package for Sydneysiders in lockdown as too little too late, before the details have officially been released.
The government should be consulting with the NSW government that’s been crying out for support but also with small business in particular about the level of support that’s appropriate and the best mechanism to deliver it, but it needs to be a mechanism that ensures that workers stay in employment ...
Look, we think that any support should be examined carefully by the government and needs to be at the level which don’t push people into poverty, which doesn’t leave people behind.
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As expected, we will hear from the NSW leaders at 11am for the daily Covid-19 update.
The state recorded 112 local Covid-19 cases yesterday.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Health Minister Brad Hazzard, NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant and NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys will provide an update on COVID-19. 11am #nswpol
— Political Alert (@political_alert) July 12, 2021
Maritime Safety Queensland officers out patrolling the maritime border this morning.
— Reece D'Alessandro (@R_DAlessandro9) July 12, 2021
They say they’re checking every inbound vessel from Sydney.@TheTodayShow @9NewsAUS https://t.co/5lJT9TKsIs pic.twitter.com/ejFhpPZHdK
Members of the world heritage committee - that’s 21 countries including Australia - are being heavily lobbied over the Great Barrier Reef by the Morrison government, environment groups and scientists.
All the main environment groups sent a letter to the committee saying it should follow the recommendation from Unesco and put the reef on its “in danger” list at a meeting that starts on Friday. China is the current chair of the committee and is hosting the meeting.
The Greens party room is the latest to send a message to the committee, also supporting Unesco’s recommendation. In a letter sent last night, they write:
We feel this vote is one of the most important moments in history for our oceans, and the fight to save them.
While none of us want the reef to be in danger from our climate crisis, it is the reality. The worst thing we can do is deny it. If we do that, there will be no action, and it will be too late.
Environment minister Sussan Ley has flown to Europe, landing late yesterday with her first meeting scheduled in Hungary - one of the current member countries that’s also trying to fight off a danger listing for historic areas of Budapest.
The Morrison government and its Paris-based Unesco ambassador are claiming the reef should not be placed on the “in danger” list because advisors to Unesco did not carry out a site visit beforehand.
They also say Australia has followed all advice given since the last time the reef was considered by the committee in 2015.
Australia’s ambassador to Unesco, Megan Anderson, has made the bold claim that putting the reef on the danger list under those circumstances could risk the integrity of the entire world heritage system.
Here’s our story about the letter from environment groups, and some results of polling suggesting widespread support among Australians for the Unesco recommendation.
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The Queensland police service has made a “public statement of regret” to Wangan and Jagalingou man Adrian Burragubba, in relation to an incident where he was pressured by officers to leave traditional lands at the request of the coalminer Adani.
The cultural leader brought a complaint to the Queensland human rights commission after police broke up a protest camp opposing Adani’s Carmichael coalmine in August last year.
At the time Burragubba said Wangan and Jagalingou (W&J) traditional owners had sought to “re-establish tribal control” of their lands and were blocking road access to the under-construction coalmine.
You can read the full report below:
A woman who lives at the Maribyrnong apartment complex now in lockdown has told @LaTrioli she was in and out of the lift with the positive removalist’s furniture last Thurs. Letters have been stuck on resident’s doors overnight telling them to isolate @abcmelbourne #springst
— Bridget Rollason (@bridgerollo) July 12, 2021
An apartment building in Bondi is under police guard after eight people across five households in the building have tested positive to Covid-19.
There are 29 apartments in the building. The entrance has now been taped off, with no one allowed in or out and masks required in common areas.
It’s understood those who tested positive have been moved to state-controlled quarantine facilities.
NSW has only just introduced mandatory face masks for common areas of apartment buildings – including foyers, stairwells, lifts, corridors and shared laundry facilities.
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Queenslanders told not to risk being stuck in NSW
Queenslanders have been told they could end up stranded in NSW if a coronavirus outbreak spreads beyond greater Sydney, report Marty Silk and Tracey Ferrier from AAP.
At a press conference on Monday morning, premier Annastacia Palaszczuk urged residents in the southern state to come home. It was reminiscent of the Victorian government’s comments on Sunday before it shut its NSW border.
The premier followed up her morning warning with three separate tweets during the day urging Queenslanders in regional NSW to come home:
Queensland residents in NSW, please consider your situation carefully and come home if you can ...
The situation in NSW is serious and we will continue to monitor it closely.
Chief health officer Jeannette Young has said any spread of cases outside Sydney or positive sewage testing results closer to Queensland could trigger a border closure.
But some commentators have said the border is only being kept open to give NRL players and their families enough time to relocate to “bubbles” in the Sunshine State.
Some have opposed moving the NRL competition to Queensland but Liberal National party leader David Crisafulli said criticism of the move was not directed at the sport.
He told ABC radio people are turned off by the state government’s “hypocrisy” and “mixed messaging” in allowing certain people into the state from hotspots, but delaying or restricting others who wish to visit dying loved ones:
When I see the level of animosity towards it, I don’t think it’s so much about the sport, I think it’s everything to do with the hypocrisy and the mixed messaging people are seeing – loved ones, unable to go and hold the hand of someone near and dear to them in their final hours, and then they see this decision.
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It’s peak hour and one of the Southern Cross escalators is broken. Melbourne is healing. pic.twitter.com/goKY6wwsVJ
— Andrew Lund (@andrew_lund) July 12, 2021
Wozzahs! The Queensland premier has just released a detailed updated roadmap that lays out the state’s path out of heavy Covid-19 restrictions.
Yesterday Annastacia Palaszczuk announced that many restrictions would ease from Friday, with the CHO stating that she was just waiting for more close contacts to come out of quarantine before she relaxed the reins too much.
ROADMAP UPDATE: COVID-19 restrictions will ease from 6am on Friday 16 July. Here's the information you need to know 👇 pic.twitter.com/wH1C60KfT6
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) July 12, 2021
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Bondi Junction tower block under armed-guard lockdown after Covid outbreak
Speaking of hard lockdowns of whole apartment blocks, something similar is happening in Sydney as well.
An apartment complex in Bondi Junction is now under armed guard after eight residents from five units have so far tested positive to Covid-19.
NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant confirmed yesterday that authorities had identified the original case, who had since evacuated.
It’s now all hands on deck trying to make sure the virus doesn’t creep into all 29 units in the Botany Street complex and infect other healthy residents.
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Here is more information on that apartment block lockdown:
Residents of the Ariele Apartments on Thomas Holmes St, Maribyrnong, VIC, have been told they are a Tier 1 site. Details in letter dropped to residents. Stay safe everyone. #COVID19Aus pic.twitter.com/K15K3vwqaf
— Bill Shorten (@billshortenmp) July 12, 2021
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OK, and further confirming what the premier said on 3AW, that third case is a member of the same household who has also been isolating throughout their entire infectious period.
Two of the three local/interstate acquired cases were announced yesterday afternoon. The third is another member of their household who has been isolating throughout their infectious period. [2/2]
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) July 12, 2021
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As a Melburnian, can I just say that while yes, it is very scary to have Covid-19 cases again, my main emotion is disappointment.
See, today was meant to be the 13th doughnut day in a row and I had so many “baker’s dozen” jokes lined up …
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Malcolm Turnbull doubles down on support for Kevin Rudd
Former Liberal prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has doubled down on his support of former Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd over the current Liberal government.
He has tweeted this morning urging people to “return to reality” and accept that Rudd’s meeting with the Pfizer CEO helped bring Australia’s vaccine supplies forward:
Can we return to reality pls. [Kevin Rudd’s] call to the Pfizer chairman obviously helped – certainly did no harm.
As to claims the acceleration (not increase) of deliveries was entirely resolved locally without any input or influence from the head office … well pull the other leg.
Can we return to reality pls. @MrKRudd ‘s call to the Pfizer chairman obviously helped - certainly did no harm. As to claims the acceleration (not increase) of deliveries was entirely resolved locally without any input or influence from the head office…well pull the other leg.
— Malcolm Turnbull (@TurnbullMalcolm) July 12, 2021
Bit harsh from your former boss.
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Victoria records two local and one interstate Covid-19 case overnight
As expected Victoria has recorded three cases overnight. Two locally acquired and one acquired in NSW.
Reported yesterday: 2 new local cases, 1 case acquired interstate and no new cases acquired overseas.
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) July 12, 2021
- 14,384 vaccine doses were administered
- 23,470 test results were received
More later: https://t.co/lIUrl1hf3W#COVID19Vic #COVID19VicData [1/2] pic.twitter.com/iQzE0oJUc8
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Dan Andrews has urged everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated to protect those who have medical conditions that make it impossible to get the Covid-19 jab:
[The vaccine] won’t stop you from getting it and giving it ... but it won’t completely rule that out. But what it does stop in the vast, vast majority of cases is people getting really gravely ill.
That means our hospital system is not full of Covid patients. Yeah, which means that heart attacks, strokes, premature babies all the other stuff that hospitals do, they can get on with that important work.
If we have however, 25% of people who choose not to get the jab – I’m not talking about right now because a lot of those more people who want it, they can get it right, I’m talking about in three or four months – people who choose not to protect themselves, they’re not really just making a choice for themselves to make the choice for everybody else who can’t get the vaccine because they’ve got medical conditions, and all the people who will get sick and finished up in hospital will take this will take places and beds and space that the rest of us will need for the best of reasons.
So, for every good reason for you and for everybody else, people need – when they become eligible – to go and get these vaccines. They’re safe.
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Victorian premier Daniel Andrews has confirmed the entire apartment block visited by the infected removalist from NSW has been placed in lockdown:
There’ll be a whole apartment block that’ll have to be locked down as a tier one exposure site.
That’ll be really very inconvenient for the people who live there, but we can’t take any risks with this Delta variant.
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Victoria expected to record three Covid-19 cases today
The Victorian premier has confirmed one further person in Victoria is infected with Covid-19, after the news that two returned travellers from Syndey tested positive yesterday while in isolation.
Daniel Andrews is speaking on Melbourne radio station 3AW now and was asked if the official Covid-19 case number would be “two” for Victoria today:
There may be one additional case, but we’ll let the public health team notify Victorians, that there might be one more case ...
We’re very confident that we’ve got our arms around that and those people are in [isolation] and have been doing the right thing and we’ll be able to manage that.
Radio host:
So is the one related to the red zone permit [Sydney] family or the removalist?
Andrews:
I think the red zone permit family. A member of the family and they’ve been locked away and we’re working very closely with them.
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Kevin Rudd:
You have serious people from the Australian business community with their own contracts with the Pfizer network saying there’s a major problem here, we are at the back of the queue, we’re not at the front of the queue.
It is a race in terms of getting the vaccine out to Australians. And the bottom line is, these negotiations in their judgment had been botched.
I acted on that basis, and therefore did what I called in order to advocate the interests of my fellow countrymen and women and to try and get an earlier supply ...
If they’re going to be honest about it, [they] would ultimately set all these facts on the table in terms of the precise sequence of conversations when they occurred.
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Kevin Rudd calls on health minister Greg Hunt to resign
Former prime minister Kevin Rudd has call on health minister Greg Hunt to resign, slamming the vaccine rollout as “the biggest failure of public policy in this country’s recent history”.
Rudd was asked about the reaction from the federal government to his appeal to the Pfizer CEO. Hunt told 2GB radio yesterday that he “did chuckle when [he] saw the story”:
We [knew] that once the government announces it that letter from the former prime minister’s likely to be put out there. But we appreciate all of the, the help, even if it hasn’t added to the outcome.
Rudd has slammed this response:
For Mr Hunt, rather than him having a chuckle about all of this, frankly needs to get real about his job.
And frankly, if he had any sense of self-respect, he’d resigned as health minister for presiding as what Malcolm Turnbull has described as the biggest failure of public policy in this country’s recent history.
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Rudd:
The fact that you did have senior Australian corporate [figures] engaging former prime ministers and others to try and accelerate the delivery of Pfizer in this country is something which points back to the failure of public policy in the first place.
As I said, other heads of government were on the phone to the Pfizer team very early on in order to secure vaccine supply for Australia. As others have said, if Mr Morrison can find time to make 55 telephone calls to secure Mathias Cormann’s position as head of the OECD, surely he could have spared a few phone calls to the head of Pfizer to ensure that the long-suffering people of Australia had proper access to vaccine supply.
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Rudd has been asked if he is embarrassed in the wake of Pfizer’s statement that he had no part in any contractual negotiations over vaccine supply, which many viewed as a denial that his meeting with the CEO had any material effect on the Australian rollout:
Not at all. I simply did what was the right thing to do let’s retrace some of the facts here. Firstly, in my approach to the chairman, CEO of Pfizer, I made absolutely explicit I was not acting on behalf of the Australian government or negotiating capacity, and that furthermore in simply doing so was an Australian citizen concerned about his country.
Rudd has also denied leaking the letter he wrote to the prime minister detailing the Pfizer meeting to the media:
No I did not. And secondly, I was approached by the ABC and then confirmed to the ABC the content of my dealings with the prime minister on this matter, wasn’t about to misrepresent the nature of my dealings with the prime minister, when approached by the ABC about this matter, frankly.
That on Saturday or Sunday from memory, and remember the Australian government authority made great fanfare of its own announcement about its own great work on the previous Friday and a front-page splash from the Australian newspaper.
I go back to the basic point here. Both what Pfizer has said publicly, and what Mr Hunt apparently is now saying is that, quote, I had no role in the contractual negotiations with Pfizer, unquote. That is absolutely right, because that’s what I made plain to the CEO of Pfizer in my conversation with him. And that is what I actually reflected in black and white and my correspondence back with the Australian prime minister.
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Kevin Rudd has echoed rumours that Australia’s early negotiations with Pfizer had been rather unfruitful and even hostile, which the federal government has repeatedly denied.
In fact, this whole interview has been pretty scathing of the federal government. (Which I guess isn’t totally surprising from a former Labor prime minister.)
Again, this was referred to me by as Australia’s senior Australian business leaders in the United States, and they had obtained much the same report of those early contacts between the Australian government [and Pfizer] ...
They found the Australian attitude, rude, dismissive, etc.
And it stands in stark contrast, as I was advised, of the approach taken by other heads of government around the world.
Led by the prime minister of Israel, who spoke to the head of Pfizer some 17 times, I’m advised. The head of Pfizer has also been in discussions with the president of the United States, the Canadian prime minister, Ursula von der Leyen of the European Union.
As I said, it would have been far better if these things was simply handled by Mr Morrison at that senior political level. I was simply doing my small bit.
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Kevin Rudd says 'we'll probably never know' what effect his meeting with the Pfizer CEO had on the vaccine rollout
Former prime minister Kevin Rudd is speaking on ABC radio now.
You might remember the whole saga from yesterday where it was leaked that Rudd contacted Pfizer at the insistence of senior Australian business leaders based in the United States.
They were concerned Scott Morrison was not pushing hard enough and may have offended Pfizer by sending junior public servants into negotiations.
He was heralded as the reason that Australia’s Pfizer vaccine deliveries were brought forwards but Pfizer later downplayed the role Rudd played, and honestly, it’s all a little still up in the air.
Well, Rudd has just been asked if he was “the man who brought Pfizer to Australia?”
Of course not.
I’m just someone who was asked by members of the Australian business community in the United States to do what I could to try and accelerate the delivery of Pfizer to Australia ...
The bottom line is, I was just doing my bit. What material effect it had at the end of the day, I don’t know, and we’ll probably never know.
But the bottom line is some progress has been achieved and that’s what’s important for the people of Australia who are dealing with the undersupply of vaccines in this country.
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Good morning, everyone!
You would be forgiven for thinking it’s already Thursday or Friday with how much political nonsense and scary Covid-19 news happened yesterday, but alas it’s only Tuesday. Buckle in everyone, it’s going to be a long week.
It’s Matilda Boseley here and let’s start with the biggest news of the morning – the NSW and federal governments have finally hammered out the details of a relief package to help people and businesses suffering under the greater Sydney lockdown.
It’s looking likely that these new supports might be announced today, with disaster weekly payments reportedly set to rise to $600 a week, up from $500, for those who have lost 20 hours of work or more.
There has also been talk that the package will include a jobkeeper-style cashflow payment for businesses to ensure workers aren’t sacked while lockdown continues. But we will have to just wait and see for confirmation.
Further south, Victorian contact tracers are having trouble getting a full picture of the movements of a Sydney-based removalist who is believed to have been infectious with Covid-19 while working in Victoria and South Australia.
A second person from the three-person team has since tested positive.
We know that the workers made a drop-off to a family home in Craigieburn and a pick-up at the Ariele Apartments in Maribyrnong on Thursday. Both families of four are isolating and have been tested.
The crew is believed to have immediately departed Melbourne and arrived in Adelaide in the early hours of Friday morning.
Other exposure sites (for specific times on Saturday and Sunday) include the entire Craigieburn Central shopping centre, particularly the Coles, and a Broadmeadows petrol station.
The problem is, according to Victoria’s Covid-19 commander Jeroen Weimar, authorities still don’t have a complete picture of their movements within the state.
I’ll bring you updates on both of these situations throughout the morning.
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