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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Imogen Dewey and Justine Landis-Hanley and Nino Bucci (earlier)

Nationals wait to see cabinet submission before confirming net zero pledge – as it happened

We’ll leave it there for tonight – but we’ll have a full report of the National party’s announcement up on the site soon, as well as an in-depth analysis. Keep an eye out.

One more reminder that the stakes for Cop26 are high.

Patricia Espinosa, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, says things are going to get really bad if countries fail to tackle greenhouse gas emissions this time around:

“We’re really talking about preserving the stability of countries, preserving the institutions that we have built over so many years, preserving the best goals that our countries have put together. The catastrophic scenario would indicate that we would have massive flows of displaced people.”

The impact would cascade, she said, adding: “It would mean less food, so probably a crisis in food security. It would leave a lot more people vulnerable to terrible situations, terrorist groups and violent groups. It would mean a lot of sources of instability.”

Thanks for reading along, and to Justine and Nino for earlier today – see you tomorrow.

Updated

Nothing like direct, informative language.

Alok Sharma, the UK minister in charge of the Cop26 talks, has said they will “definitely be harder” than the Paris talks in 2015.

“It was brilliant what they did in Paris, it was a framework agreement, [but] a lot of the detailed rules were left for the future,” he said this weekend.

“What we have going for us is that there is an understanding that we need to deal with this [climate crisis].”

… er, oh dear.

(You can read more about Sharma and the Cop26 lead-up here:)

Updated

Stalling on emissions isn’t just a matter of political point-scoring, or another dud press conference. As climate and energy specialist Ketan Joshi points out:

“Net zero” is just dorky, clumsy shorthand for something extremely simple: ***stop making the problem worse***. Anything less than this is just “make the problem worse, but at a slower rate than before”

Former PM Kevin Rudd (who wants you to know he called it) makes a good point about the real question here: 2030, not 2050.

Nationals MP Darren Chester, on the other hand, is feeling more positive.

“Today has been a good day for the future of regional Australia,” he wrote on Facebook, calling the party’s decision “a significant development for our regions”.

“After careful deliberations, and achieving a range of support, protections and safeguards, The Nationals have made a decision which will help to unite our nation.

“This is a win for common sense and a demonstration of how the party room can work respectfully, pragmatically, and determinedly in the interests of all regional Australians.”

Chester wrote that he “personally supported” a net zero target but had wanted more information before committing to a plan.

“The task will be ongoing. There’s a lot of work to be done to protect regional families.

“Let’s not pretend the issue is resolved for all time. Our ‘technology not taxes’ approach will require ongoing investment in large-scale projects to ensure the reliable and affordable energy we need to provide for our economic and national security.”

He emphasised that Gippslanders (his own constituents) “want to do their bit”, and applauded regional Australians for “[having] always been quick to adopt proven technology and innovations which have boosted the economic prosperity of our communities in harmony with the environment”.

He also pointed out a bit of nuance, presumably to reassure those who’ve been listening to all the scare talk from his own party:

“I will continue to support local workers in industries who may be directly impacted by policy changes in coming decades but to make an obvious point, we are talking about ‘net zero’ emissions, not ending all emissions. We are talking about a 30 year timeframe.

“Agriculture has the potential to abate its emissions; new technology is reducing emissions from traditional industries already; transport is becoming cleaner; and we should be doing more to invest in better connectivity in all its forms.”

You can see his full post here.

Adam Bandt is really not into this little bit of political theatre.

Scott Morrison responds to National party decision to support a 'process' for net zero emissions by 2050

The prime minister has released a statement:

“I welcome the Nationals in-principle support for the commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050, and look forward to this matter now being finally considered and determined by Cabinet.

“We recognise this has been a challenging issue for the Nationals. I thank the DPM for his leadership and his colleagues for their considered support. I greatly respect the process they have undertaken in reaching this decision.

“Only the Coalition can be trusted to deliver a plan to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 that will protect and promote rural and regional Australia.

“Ensuring regional Australia continues to grow and prosper is a core objective of any Coalition government, and this will be central to our plan.

“Australia will continue to reduce emissions while keeping our economy growing, maintaining affordable, reliable energy and ensuring our regions remain strong.

“That’s our Australian way.”

Updated

Wondering what Australian Greens leader Adam Bandt thinks about this?

Not a lot.

This is all happening just a week out from the Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow – aka (per John Kerry) the world’s “last best chance” to do something to save the planet.

Australia has been widely seen to be dragging its feet on this one, to put it mildly.

If you want to know more, we have a new podcast series launching tomorrow, featuring the editor of Guardian Australia, Lenore Taylor, environment editor Adam Morton, environment reporter Graham Readfearn and political editor Katharine Murphy, with a cast of international experts.

The first episode focuses on how Australia managed to increase its emissions under a climate deal that was supposed to cut them.

The deputy leader, David Littleproud, spoke with more conviction about the partyroom’s decision.

“Today, our party room, respectfully got to a position of securing, but also growing regional jobs into the future, facing up to our international commitments, but making sure we have the safeguards and the protections there to ensure that all people in regional Australia can participate,” he said.

He said the technology roadmap presented by the energy minister, Angus Taylor, had given adequate “comfort” about how technology can “help grow new regional jobs.”

“This has been a very pragmatic discussion, very respectful and our party room with great maturity has got to a position that I think makes sense for regional Australia will support regional Australia, now and into the future.”

The Nationals senate leader, Bridget McKenzie, said she was “proud” to be part of a political movement that doesn’t “shy away from the tough questions” and stood up for the most marginalised people in the country.

“They’ve only got one small group of people in this place to stand up for their needs and interests, which we have done in the face of an abundance of differing views.”

Meanwhile, in other news on meaningless climate commitments:

Barnaby Joyce did not reveal whether he had also supported the net zero target. (Sources have told The Guardian that he did not share the majority view of the room.)

“Out of respect for absolutely everybody in that party room, I’m going to keep any position of any person, absolutely private,” Joyce said.

“I said that this was the position, not of the leader, not of the executive, but would be a position of the party room, so we went through a process … to find the view of the party room, and the party room has made their view clear.”

Joyce said the party had many supporters who were concerned, but the Nationals had stood up as a “champion” for regional Australia.

“Standing up for them is not standing outside, standing up for them is making sure that you’re in the room where the decisions are being made,” Joyce said.

“Heroics that have no outcome, heroics that leave nothing but a rhetorical flourish, but leave the person who is hurting in the same position as what they were ... is not an outcome that the Nationals’ party room supported.”

Updated

Just to reiterate, the Nationals haven’t exactly committed to much here:

Updated

Apparently the cabinet submission on the party’s support for net zero is still “pending” and Joyce is being cagey about what’s in it:

The Nationals party room has agreed to a net zero by 2050 target conditional on a cabinet process that reflects negotiations with the junior coalition partner.

Speaking after the meeting, Joyce said the party had determined its position on the “vexed issue”, and acknowledged strong feelings on both sides of the debate.

“We are in support of a process going forward that would go towards the 2050 emissions target – obviously that’s dependent upon what we see in the cabinet submission and reflecting the conversations in the agreements between myself and the prime minister,” Joyce said.

Updated

People are feeling … underwhelmed about the Nationals’ “big move”.

Mainly because 2050 is not what most countries are thinking about:

Updated

The Nationals’ press conference has now wrapped up, after Barnaby Joyce took several questions.

Barnaby Joyce confirms Nationals have agreed to a ‘process’ for net zero by 2050

Updated

Updated

And we’re back.

The Nationals have emerged from their partyroom meeting, however it is still unclear what has been decided. Barnaby Joyce would not comment, but will address the media at 5.45pm. The deputy leader, David Littleproud said calls still need to be made. The former deputy prime minister, Michael McCormack, said he had supported a net zero by 2050 target, but would not answer when asked if this was the majority view of the partyroom.

The MP for the seat of Calare, Andrew Gee, said the meeting was “very constructive”, but would not reveal what the party had decided regarding the 2050 target. “There was a position reached, but we are just working through the details,” he said.

The live blog is currently paused. It will resume to bring news of the outcome from the Nationals meeting later this evening.

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd has responded to a comment from the NSW treasurer Matt Kean.

Kean said that the Nationals will need to decide if they want to resign and “support a Labor government” if they don’t back a federal commitment of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Anti-vaccine protestors appeared at Western Australia premier Mark McGowan’s house on Saturday night.

The AAP has the story:

Premier Mark McGowan says a security breach at his home by people wound up online by “conspiracy theorists” promoting “witch doctors’ solutions” to Covid-19 won’t stop Western Australia’s vaccine rollout.

McGowan left a wedding and rushed home on Saturday night due to the incident involving anti-vaccination protesters.

The premier had a bigger security entourage with him at a press conference on Sunday morning but says the episode hasn’t put him off the vaccine rollout.

“Personal security is something that we don’t really talk about but I just urge everyone to just be respectful, understand that the government’s doing what we have to do,” McGowan told reporters.

“We want to get people vaccinated, we want to make sure our community is safe, we want to be able to eventually reopen to the rest of the world, and to NSW and Victoria, and we want to make sure that vulnerable people are protected across the community.

“We’re not going to be deterred, we’re not going to be stopped, we’re not going to give in.

“I just urge people just to go and get vaccinated, do the right thing by themselves and their community, and their family.”

He said people involved in the security breach had obviously been victims of people pedalling misinformation online.

“It’s a sign, partly of the online world, where people get wound up by conspiracy theorists and misleading information, and people who promote basically witch doctors’ solutions to medical problems,” McGowan said.

“And people should just listen to the science and the medical professionals and the people who know what they’re talking about.

“And the people that know what they’re talking about are saying getting vaccinated will save your life.”

The latest figures show 75.7% of eligible West Australians have had one dose of a vaccine and 58.9% are fully vaccinated McGowan also said WA wasn’t considering opening up to NSW, Victoria and the ACT before Christmas, unlike Queensland and Tasmania.

Updated

Nationals MPs meet to discuss net zero by 2050 target

The Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce has given little away as he walked into a party room meeting at Parliament House this afternoon.

The party’s 21 MPs are meeting to determine their position on a net zero by 2050 target, after it sent a list of demands to the prime minister, Scott Morrison last week.

In response to a number of questions about the party’s position, Joyce said it would be “up to the room” to determine whether or not to support the target.When asked if there would be a deal struck by the end of the day, Joyce said “there will be an outcome”.

The meeting is expected to last at least a couple of hours, and there are very few people prepared to predict an outcome.Based on the public statements of MPs, there seems to be a reasonably even split between those in favour, and those opposed, with a handful of MPs still undecided.

Only a gang of four – Joyce, Bridget McKenzie, David Littleproud and Kevin Hogan – have seen the list of demands, meaning today will be the first time that MPs see what is in the final offer from the prime minister.

Updated

Since June, the government’s Covid-19 disaster payments – paid at either $750 or $450 a week, or $200 a week for existing welfare recipients – have been available to people who lost work due to stay-at-home restrictions.

But with restrictions easing in NSW, ACT and Victoria, the payments will soon disappear.

What this means, experts say, is that while some workers will have no need for the disaster payments because their jobs were waiting for them once restrictions eased, others may find their hours are insufficient, or non-existent, because their employer is not operating at full capacity.

Luke Henriques-Gomes has the full story:

There has been a bit of talk today about Victorian premier Daniel Andrews’s announcement that the state’s “vaccinated economy” will stay in place into 2022.

That means that people who refuse to get a Covid-19 vaccine (not including those with genuine medical exemptions) wont’ be allowed to go to into non-essential retail stores, certain venues or events, because of the risk they pose to other people and the medical system if they catch the virus.

This is different to NSW’s plan. In NSW, restrictions are set to ease for unvaccinated residents come December.

Updated

The Victorian government announced a lot of changes to restrictions today ahead of the state hitting the 80% fully vaccinated target for those aged 16 and older.

Here is a little recap of what was said.

From 6pm Friday:

  • Victorians will be able to travel throughout the state. People in metro Melbourne can go to regional Victoria and vice versa.
  • You won’t need to wear masks outdoors.
  • Indoor entertainment venues, gyms and retail can reopen for fully vaccinated patrons.
  • Capacity limit will increase for hospitality venues like restaurants, cafes and pubs.

From 1 November, all students will also be allowed to return to the classroom.

Premier Dan Andrews also talked about how restrictions will ease once 90% of people aged 12 and older are fully vaccinated. This should happen around 24 November. At that point:

  • All venue caps and density limits will be lifted.
  • You will only need to wear a mask in high-risk indoor locations like on public transport, in prisons, hospitals and aged care facilities.
  • The will be no limit on how many people you can have over to your home, or how many you can meet up with outside.

Updated

“Australia’s newest senator, Noongar Bibbulmun Yamajti woman Dorinda Cox, strode into federal parliament last week to say she comes from a long line of powerful matriarchs and high on her agenda is an inquiry into missing and murdered First Nations Australian women.”

Read the full profile by the Lorena Allam here:

Today is World Polio Day and a wonderful reminder of the power of vaccines and modern medicine.

The NSW government is taking the opportunity to remind residents that everyone 12 and over is eligible for a Covid-19 vaccine.

Read about Australia’s polio survivors here.

Updated

The NSW government is launching a new tourism campaign to get more domestic and international tourists to visit the state.

Our friends at the AAP have the story:

The NSW government has unveiled a new tourism campaign to sell the state to domestic and international visitors as it reopens.

Premier Dominic Perrottet and tourism minister Stuart Ayres on Sunday launched the advertising campaign, titled “Feel New”.

The campaign cost “a couple of million dollars” to produce and about $10m has been allocated so far to promote it in TV, print and social media.

Patrons dine at a bar by Sydney harbour.
Patrons dine at a bar by Sydney harbour. Photograph: Jaimi Joy/Reuters

A TV spot features some of NSW’s most treasured locations as well as a cover of Nina Simone’s 1965 classic Feeling Good by northern beaches artist Azure Ryder and Sydney-based producer duo Breathe.

“Too often we’ve relied on on the buildings, the [Sydney Harbour] Bridge, the heart of the Opera House and the harbour,” Ayres told reporters.

“They are exceptionally beautiful. There’s no doubt about that. But this campaign is about moving a bit beyond them to be able to say they’re always going to be there.”

Ayres said the campaign was already in the works before the pandemic hit, but it would help the industry get back on its feet as domestic and international borders reopen.

Updated

Our friends at the AAP have more detail on the ACT’s Covid-19 update today:

The ACT has reported nine new Covid-19 cases on Sunday, but testing remains relatively low since the territory started easing restrictions.

Still, the ACT has the highest vaccination rate in the country with 87.3% of Canberrans aged 12 over fully vaccinated with two doses.

The territory now has 390 active cases out of the 1,586 infections reported for this current outbreak.

There were 20 people in hospital, including 11 in intensive care and four requiring ventilation.

There were 982 negative test results received in the 24 hours to 9am on Sunday.

Two weeks ago, more than 3,500 tests were being conducted on a Saturday.

ACT Health will provide a full epidemiological update on the Covid-19 situation on Tuesday.

Updated

ACT records nine new local Covid-19 cases

The ACT has reported nine new locally acquired Covid-19 cases today, bringing the total to 390 active cases.

Updated

Oh look, Justine Landis-Hanley has arrived to take the reins for the afternoon. Catch you all later.

The former deputy chief health officer, Prof Nick Coatsworth, says it’s time to ditch lockdowns. This report from AAP:

With parts of Australia now exceeding 90% in single dose vaccinations, a former deputy chief medical officer believes Covid lockdowns should now be a thing of the past.

Nick Coatsworth says the high rate of vaccination provides important relief for Australia’s healthcare workers.

“If we see hospitalisation rates continue to decrease, despite NSW opening up, then it would be very difficult, in fact I don’t think anyone would suggest you would need more lockdowns in that sort of situation,” Coatsworth told Sky News’ Sunday Agenda program.

“If hospitalisation rates increase you might see more targeted restrictions coming back.”

Former deputy chief medical officer Nick Coatsworth.
Former deputy chief medical officer Nick Coatsworth. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

NSW, Victoria and the ACT have all emerged from lengthy lockdowns in the past couple of weeks.

He said children need to be back at school whether they are vaccinated or not, noting the deep state of anxiety among parents during lockdowns.

“It is overwhelmingly a mild disease in children, there are far more serious infectious diseases in children than COVID-19,” Prof Coatsworth said.

“Ultimately, the biggest damage that we are doing at the moment is having kids not at school”

He struggled to see the justification of schools opening, then quickly closing again when there is an infection.

Education minister Alan Tudge agreed schools need to stay open whenever possible.

“Yes, there are going to be infections in schools, but let’s not close the entire school down because of one infection, let’s rapidly test the close contacts of that individual child,” Tudge said.

Meanwhile, NSW reported 296 new coronavirus cases and four deaths on Sunday.

Victoria reported 1935 new infections and 11 deaths.

Updated

Dominic Perrottet says he’s confident the return of students and teachers to schools throughout NSW will go well despite the potential for Covid outbreaks.

“We brought forward the date for most schooling to return tomorrow. That’s exciting for the kids and for the parents and also for the teachers,” the premier told reporters in Sydney on Sunday.

“We’ve also said there will be challenges along the way. We know that, we’ve had a number of schools close but the alternative is to keep all schools closed.

“We’re not doing that.”

A teacher welcomes students outside a primary school in Sydney.
A teacher welcomes students outside a primary school in Sydney. Photograph: Xinhua/REX/Shutterstock

Asked about reports up to 160 schools throughout NSW had staffing issues as students returned, Perrottet said he was aware there would be some shortages.

However 95% of the state’s teachers had been vaccinated.

“I want to thank them for doing that because vaccination of our teachers has allowed us to open our schools as quickly as possible,” he said.

“We need our kids back learning again, we need our kids socialising and getting back to the school environment.

“I’m very confident that it will go well.”

The premier’s comments came as the state added 296 locally acquired infections to its Covid-19 caseload along with four deaths: two men in their 60s, one in his 70s and one in his 80s.

Three were unvaccinated and one fully vaccinated.

There have been 498 Covid-related deaths in NSW since 16 June and 554 in total since the start of the pandemic.

Some 480 people with the virus remain in NSW hospitals, 119 of them in intensive care and 67 of those in need of ventilation.

Health officials say almost 67,000 Covid-19 tests were conducted in the 24 hours to 8pm on Saturday.

Patrons dine in at a cafe next to Bronte Beach in Sydney.
Patrons dine in at a cafe next to Bronte Beach in Sydney. Photograph: Jaimi Joy/Reuters

More than 93% of NSW residents aged 16 or over have now received at least one vaccine dose, while 84.4% have had both jabs.

Among 12 to 15-year-olds, 77.6% have had their first dose and 48.8 % are fully vaccinated.

Pressed on the issue of teaching shortages, Perrottet said education officials were working through a range of scenarios.

“There will always be teachers and people across our state who just decide not to get vaccinated,” he said.

“That’s their choice. We believe it’s a bad choice but ultimately, that success rate of 95% has helped us get our kids back in the classroom.”

Meanwhile, Halloween enthusiasts are being warned to keep trick-or-treating Covid-safe next weekend.

“If you and your family are planning to celebrate Halloween this year ... aim to keep the celebrations outside, provide closed packaging for treats and instead of communal lolly bowls consider other ways to distribute your treats,” NSW Health’s Jeremy McAnulty advised on Saturday.

Updated

One final point I missed earlier from the Victorian press conference, which has just finished.

The premier, Daniel Andrews, said that of the 146 people with Covid-19 who were in intensive care, 93% were not fully vaccinated.

Andrews is finished, with one final tidbit: he says that there will be an announcement made with his NSW counterpart, Dominic Perrottet, about reopening the border between the states soon.

Andrews is unapologetic about hardening the restrictions on those who are unvaccinated, making clear it is these people who are having the greatest impact on the health system. He says:

If you’ve made the choice, I’ll respectfully say the wrong choice...their job gets harder because you refuse to do yours.

Protect yourself, protect the people you love, participate in the economy.

The Victorian health minister, Martin Foley, says the state’s public health team is “quite concerned” about the safety of the Park hotel, where a number of refugees and asylum seekers have contracted Covid-19.

He says there’s a lack of clarity about the appropriateness of the setting, which is managed by the federal government, and Foley expected to write to them today outlining the concerns of the state’s public health team.

There had already been a meeting between Victorian and federal authorities and the operator of the hotel, he said.

Guardian Australia reported on Friday that 15 of 46 men held at the facility had tested positive, and at least one refugee had been taken to hospital by ambulance.

Updated

Already some pushback to the changes announced in Victoria’s roadmap today. Andrews has made clear that those who are unvaccinated will have far more restrictions on them than previously outlined, and said these restrictions will exist through 2022. Hasn’t gone down well with some opposition MPs:

Andrews hopes to set record for the largest crowd since the pandemic

The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, says that while there will be no limits on many settings from 24 November (the forecast date for reaching 90% vaccination), he says there needs to be individual requirements for specific venues, such as the MCG.

He said it could be that 80% capacity for major venues is the limit that is set, considering requirements for shared facilities and to protect children who may not have been vaccinated.

But he says that if there was a crowd of 80,000 for the Boxing Day test that would be the biggest crowd in Australia since the start of the pandemic.

The MCG in Melbourne.
The MCG in Melbourne. Photograph: James Ross/AAP

Updated

Andrews is asked about boosters. He says there is still a lack of clarity about when they will be available, and who will be eligible to receive them, but internationally it seems clear that about six months after a second dose a third may be required. He says:

It’s my understanding the federal government will make some announcements about this quite soon.

It will be about the maintenance of your vaccination status.

Andrews isn’t really going into anything new here; he has reiterated that today’s announcement is about honouring the deal he made with Victorians that things would get back to normal if they got vaccinated. He also brings out a greatest hit:

We only had lockdowns, and these rules, because we didn’t have a vaccine.

Updated

Andrews is making clear that from 6pm on Friday those attending non-essential businesses must be vaccinated.

We’ve made the vaccinated economy...broader.

Updated

After Friday, all students will be back in the classroom. But it’s likely there will have to be masks in primary schools, because they will be treated as unvaccinated settings, given there’s no vaccine for children, Andrews says.

Once we hit 80% on Friday, the following school week, we will have all of our kids back, all of our kids back into the classroom learning face to face. It is a great opportunity to thank parents, think teachers and staff, and healthcare units for the amazing job that they have done. That is what 80% makes possible and in some settings masks will be appropriate, but I think the best way to look at primary schools is in effect because we don’t have a child vaccine, a children’s product, then that is an unvaccinated place, and therefore they will need to continue to be a range of measures that are not necessary in other settings.

Victorian premier Daniel Andrews speaks during a media conference on 24 October 2021 in Melbourne.
Victorian premier Daniel Andrews speaks during a media conference on 24 October 2021 in Melbourne. Photograph: Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images

Updated

Andrews makes clear that Christmas (if you’re vaccinated) will basically be normal:

There will be no caps. Once we reach it, those caps and limits that we had because we didn’t have a vaccine, we don’t need them anymore, because by that stage nine out of 10 people would be fully protected by a Covid-19 vaccine. [We will] be one of the most vaccinated parts of the world. And we’ve got to normalise this. People need to get to normal and that is what people are yearning for, and that is what we aim to deliver.

Updated

Foley is running through some fairly granular stuff about vaccination and testing sites and so forth, saying there will be a focus on the councils of Casey, Melton, Wyndham, Greater Dandenong, Whittlesea and Hume.

Updated

Foley says the kids are alright:

Just to reflect, something like almost 80% of our 12 to 15-year-olds have now received at least one dose of a Covid vaccine. These kids only became available for the vaccine 42 days ago. They are on the road to essentially meet the same as the over-18s goals that we have seen.

Updated

Here’s the statement on what Andrews and Foley are now discussing:

The Victorian health minister, Martin Foley, is speaking now about the changes to come in from Friday, when the state will reach an 80% fully vaccinated rate for those aged 16 and over. Foley says:

As a result of that, from 6pm, the public health orders will be changed as per the Victorian roadmap that we have distributed over a month ago, and with some further easing is. So as a result of that, just to refresh everyone’s memory, most indoor settings, that is restaurants, pubs, gyms, hairdressers, or will open with subject to a one person per four square metre limit. If all staff and patrons are fully vaccinated. So you will get access to these settings if you are fully vaccinated, as both a patron, a customer and as an employee.

Updated

Victoria to have freedom of movement across state from Friday

Andrews says Victoria will also move to the 80% fully vaccinated settings from 6pm on Friday.

We will flick the switch and we will move to 80%, whether we have ticked over the 80% settings, we will definitely do that over the course of the weekend, whether it is Friday, Saturday or Sunday, it depends which data expert you talk to, but from 6pm on Friday, the 80% settings, so, one set of rules that covers the entire state.

Freedom of movement across the entire state and many other things that Martin [Foley, the health minister] will go to. But that means it is a proper Melbourne Cup long weekend, informally, for people to travel, to book holidays and do all sorts of things. Hopefully that is positive news for everybody.

Updated

Andrews says of his announcement on the wide freedoms Victorians will have once they reach a 90% vaccination rate on 24 November:

So that is a very big change, moving to very few rules, very few rules. And I would summarise them as such. Some masks in some settings, principally indoors, where there is a greater risk, and the economy being open to you only if you have had two shots, only if you are fully vaccinated. They are two rules that be enduring. They are the two rules that will be with us right throughout 2022.

Updated

I want to see 80,000+ people at the Boxing Day test on day one, Andrews says.

Andrews says that from 24 November there will be no caps or density limits anywhere. Masks will only be required in high risk settings. The “vaccinated economy” is here to stay though, he says.

Andrews estimates that on 24 November the state will reach 90% fully vaccinated for those 12 and over.

Andrews, in flagging the announcements he is about to make, says:

There is a deal here. There is a fundamental agreement that we have reached with the Victorian community. We asked you to get vaccinated. You have done that in record time and record numbers. And that means we have to open the place up and we have to have a series of rules, we have to have settings, that are the lightest touch possible, the simplest, the most easily understood, that are as close to normal life as possible. That is what we committed to and that is what we are going to deliver.

Updated

Victorian premier Daniel Andrews speaks in Melbourne

He is running through what will happen in the state when it reaches 80% fully vaccinated from this weekend, and when it reaches 90%.

Updated

Australia may be left with almost a $1tn health bill by 2050 if it doesn’t boost the take-up of electric vehicles, according to a new report released on Sunday.

But this could be slashed in half by setting an ambitious target to convert every car in the country to electric by 2035.

Full story here:

We’re expecting the Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, will provide an update soon on easing restrictions in the state.

Not much else of note from that Hunt and Frewen press conference, but the health minister was asked about possible changes to close contact requirements for school students.

There has been some discussion about how best to deal with these cases, given it is resulting in hundreds of schools closing and potentially thousands of students having to isolate, as schools in NSW, Victoria and the ACT reopen amid Delta outbreaks. Hunt said Prof Paul Kelly, the chief medical officer, was working with the states and territories to establish new protocols. Hunt said:

We want schools to be open and we want them to stay open, so we need to encourage all the states and territories to keep those schools open, and to have protocols which reflect the fact that there will be cases, therefore it is about minimising the risk to students while keeping schools open, and that’s the critical thing.

Updated

Hunt was also asked about the government’s climate targets, following on from NSW environment minister Matt Kean’s comments earlier today. Hunt said:

We will meet and beat our 2030 target. Beating that target is achieving more than we set out to do. And we were able to meet and beat Kyoto one, we were able to meet and beat Kyoto two. And we will meet and beat Paris. But one of the things that has been the hallmark of our approaches, we didn’t do pink batts or green loans or citizens assembly or carbon taxes. We actually did things that worked and we set out our plan, we worked out that plan, we were able to turn around a 700 million time gap for 2020, and turned out from a deficit of 700 million tons to a surplus of 400 million tons.

So for 2020, we had a target and we beat it. I am very hopeful that once all the numbers have been crunched, what that will show is that we will be in a position to beat that target. All but the planets noses the actual of CO2 that is in the environment or coming down. And when people talk about letter zero, that is a combination of what goes up, but what goes down. It is atmospheric CO2 or equivalent gases, which actually contribute to climate change. So if you are able to draw down CO2, into forests, into soils, into mangroves, you are actually reducing the net to load of CO2 in the environment. So we played our part. We will continue to play our part.

Hunt is asked about any impending announcements on mRNA vaccine manufacturing in Australia, and whether Moderna is the frontrunner. As is his wont, he answers quite respectfully:

I respect the question, I will respectfully not speculate on particular companies, but I will say that we are in advanced stages of determining the shortlist. I am expecting an announcement on the shortlist this week.

Hunt is asked why the new “Spread Freedom” ads feature people in airports not wearing masks, when it is expected they will be necessary for air travel for months to come. He responds:

These ads are about aspiration. They are about Australians returning to their natural state and their natural freedoms. And aspiration is such an important part of the vaccination program. Hope and aspiration.

Frewen says another advertising campaign will be launched targeting the Indigenous population that will feature prominent Australians including the musician Baker Boy.

He says:

We are now up over 60% of our First Nations peoples with first dose, and we are closing on 50% of our Indigenous people being fully vaccinated. Still a long way to go, but for the past fortnight now, the first dose rates for Indigenous Australians have exceeded the national first dose rates, which is very encouraging.

And we are keen to continue with that, and similarly, we are also launching a new PR campaign, focused specifically on our Indigenous folks, to be called For All Of Us, which really emphasises this is for Indigenous peoples. It is about their past, about their future, and about protecting all of their communities.

Frewen then speaks about this new advertising campaign, dubbed “Spread Freedom”:

As the minister has mentioned so far, today we are launching the next phase of our communications campaign, really focused on that last 10- 15% of the nation who are yet to come forward and get vaccinated. The campaign is called Spread Freedom. It is designed to really highlight the close links between vaccination and either regaining those freedoms that we all want to enjoy, or protecting those freedoms in the states where we haven’t yet seen outbreaks. So these ads will run from tonight, I encourage everybody to see them, and of course, if you haven’t come forward to get vaccinated yet, please do.

We now have enough vaccines distributed around the country to fully vaccinate, double dose, all Australians who want to get vaccinated. I will also remind people that if you have not started your vaccination course, at best case, it is a six-week process to get the full protections of the vaccines. You have to get the first dose, get the second dose, then wait a couple of weeks, and if you want to be fully protected before Christmas, then you need to start coming forward now that first dose to get the whole process done.

Updated

Hunt says of the rollout:

We have now passed 34.2m vaccinations and critically, 86.6% of people with first doses, 73.1% of people with second doses. But in order to bring more people to step forward, we move now to the next phase of the advertising campaign.

Updated

Health minister Greg Hunt speaks in Canberra

Hunt is joined by Lt Gen John Frewen, the head of the vaccine rollout.

Updated

Following on from that wonderful piece about the 7m beach wall in Sydney, if you want to read a little more about how sand erosion is being tackled to protect private landowners, the US investigative journalism outlet Propublica have done some great work on the situation in Hawaii.

Beachfront residents back the Collaroy wall but other locals worry the beach will disappear for longer periods as climate change increasingly drives coastal erosion.

Fascinating feature by my colleague Royce Kurmelovs:

Scavengers, trophy hunters and “metal pirates” are looting the treasures under the seas – and there are fears Australia’s first submarine could be next.

Read this story here:

It’s the lifeline that’s kept nearly 2 million people in New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT on a steady weekly income during Covid lockdowns.

Since June, the government’s Covid-19 disaster payments – paid at either $750 or $450 a week, or $200 a week for existing welfare recipients – have been available to people who lost work due to stay-at-home restrictions.

First announced by the commonwealth somewhat reluctantly after Melbourne went into lockdown in June, the payments were bolstered to their current rates when the Delta variant began to tear through NSW and Victoria.

But now, with NSW and the also recently locked-down ACT hitting the 80% vaccination target and Victoria on the verge of doing the same, the payments are set to disappear.

Read the full story here:

A little more on Kean and coal, to wrap up his appearance on Insiders this morning. He was asked about how to support those working in the coal industry as the economy transitions towards lower carbon emissions.

Eighty workers from the state’s Mount Arthur BHP mine were reportedly told to transfer interstate or resign last month.

Kean said:

Denying the reality of what’s happening internationally is not an answer to this problem. This is about making sure we are honest with the Australian public, explaining exactly the risks that are happening because of the global mega trends and preparing ourselves for what the future looks like.

We understand that those coal jobs, those coal communities are going to be impacted by decisions of foreign governments and foreign companies, so we need to prepare for that future. That is a future which has the major coal export markets that we send our product to moving to a low-carbon future, so we need to start thinking about how we diversify those economies, how we safeguard those jobs into the future and how we set the regions up for a more prosperous scuffle future.

Kean went on to give the example of Japan and South Korea, two key coal export markets for the state, which have said hydrogen is going to be the fuel that will power their economies in the future. Kean said the “coal-exposed” communities of the Hunter and Illawarra should look to transition towards hydrogen to meet this need.

Updated

Kean was asked what prime minister, Scott Morrison, should do if he can’t get the Nationals to agree to a strong carbon emissions reductions target. He said:

The prime minister should continue to act in the nation’s interest and if the Nats won’t get on board, they have a very clear choice. They can resign from the ministry and support a Liberal government, they can resign from the ministry and support a Labor government. Now, I know what the best path forward for our country is and that’s a strong National-Liberal Coalition government putting the interests of our nation first. That’s what we’ve done in New South Wales and I know that that is what will happen in Canberra.

Earlier, Kean – who is also the state’s treasurer – said he had spoken to Morrison about his views, and described himself as a “Coalitionist” who was committed to working with the Nationals. But he said it was clear the country had to act now or risk missing out, and that meant transitioning away from the coal industry. He said:

We know that 70% of Australia’s two-way trade is with countries who have committed to hit net zero emissions by 2050. That means the markets that have underwritten our prosperity for generations are starting to change the goods, resources and energy supplies that they are going to request from Australia.

The thing is that in a low carbon global economy there is nowhere better placed to take advantage of these opportunities than Australia. We have some of the best renewable resources anywhere on the planet. Those are renewable energy resources can be used to create heavy industry, used to support things like green aluminium and green steel and provide the world’s energy needs in the future, like producing hydrogen which we are really well placed to do.

Updated

NSW energy minister says pursuing nuclear to reduce emissions like 'chasing a unicorn'

Kean was particularly strong on the “fantasy” that nuclear energy had a role to play in reducing Australia’s carbon emissions. He said:

Pursuing nuclear is like pursuing a fantasy. The reality is that it doesn’t stack up at the moment on practical grounds or on ... economical grounds. Nuclear energy is two to three times more expensive than coal. The chief scientist of New South Wales ran the UK ministry of defence’s nuclear program in the United Kingdom and he says it will take at least 15 years just to upskill the workforce ready to be able to run a nuclear program. In that time, we’ve lost four of our five coal-fired power stations here in New South Wales.

So people talking about nuclear to solve our current needs are chasing a unicorn. It may have a role to play in the future as technology evolving, so I won’t rule it out, but right now I’m focusing on things that will work, that will drive down bills, grow jobs and ... create jobs and grow the economy.

Updated

The NSW environment minister, Matt Kean, has been on the ABC’s Insiders this morning.

Unsurprisingly, he’s been asked about what the federal government should commit to in relation to net zero emissions. Kean recently negotiated with the Nationals in NSW to commit to halving emissions by 2030.

At a federal level, the Nationals have already signalled a reticence to make a similar commitment as part of their negotiations with the Morrison government ahead of Cop26 in Glasgow.

Kean said this morning:

I want to see the prime minister lead the world when it comes to taking action on climate change because it is in our economic interests to do so. We know that there is an economic arms race underway for the next generation of jobs, investments, export opportunities and economic prosperity, and I want to see Australia at the head of the pack to grab those opportunities and set us up for a more prosperous future.

What I would like to see him take to Glasgow is obviously a net zero commitment by 2050, but also an ambitious interim commitment by 2030 ... at the very least the prime minister should take the average targets of all the states and territories here in Australia which would be around 35% target [cut by 2030].

Updated

The full rundown on Covid in NSW today, brought to you by AAP:

NSW has added a further 296 locally acquired infections to its Covid caseload along with four more deaths.

Some 480 people with the virus remain in hospitals across the state, 119 of them in intensive care.

Health officials say almost 67,000 Covid tests were conducted in the 24 hours to 8pm on Saturday.

More than 93% of NSW residents aged 16 or over have now received at least one vaccine dose, while 84.4% have had both jabs.

Spectators at a football match between Australia and Brazil at CommBank stadium in Sydney on 23 October 2021.
Spectators at a football match between Australia and Brazil at CommBank stadium in Sydney on 23 October 2021. Photograph: Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images

Meanwhile, Halloween enthusiasts are being warned to keep trick-or-treating Covid-safe.

“If you and your family are planning to celebrate Halloween this year ... aim to keep the celebrations outside, provide closed packaging for treats and instead of communal lolly bowls consider other ways to distribute your treats,” NSW Health’s Jeremy McAnulty advised on Saturday.

“For example, along the front fence of the house or hidden in the front yard.”

Dr McAnulty suggests families put their efforts towards decorating front yards and staying in the neighbourhood rather than travelling further afield.

Kids shouldn’t be sharing costume masks and their parents should check if they’ve got symptoms before heading out, he says.

The state reported 332 new cases on Saturday, as well as two deaths.

Cases continue to surge in the Hunter New England area, which, to Friday evening, had the highest number of new infections of any health district with 78.

The state’s hospital numbers continue to steadily fall, having dropped from 482 to 469 on Saturday.

Some 123 NSW residents were in intensive care at the beginning of the weekend, of whom the vast bulk – 96 – were unvaccinated. Eighteen people had received one shot and nine both.

As children in most year groups prepare for a return to school on Monday, vaccination rates in the 12 to 15-year age bracket are rising.

Some 77.59% have received one dose and 48.83% are fully vaccinated.

Of those aged 16 and up, 93% have received at least one jab and 84.4% both.

Dr McAnulty says since restrictions eased in recent weeks there has been likely transmission in high-risk indoor venues, such as bars and gyms.

He says it’s a reminder to keep adhering to Covid-safe practices, even for the fully vaccinated.

Updated

Here’s more on the Covid situation in Victoria, via AAP:

Victoria has reported 1,935 new Covid cases and 11 deaths ahead of an expected announcement on further restrictions easing when the state hits its 80 per cent full vaccination target.

On the first weekend since Melbourne’s 77-day lockdown ended, the state is managing almost 25,000 active cases.

There are 787 people in hospital, slightly lifting the seven-day average to 793. Of them, 146 are in intensive care and 93 of those on a ventilator.

The latest deaths take the toll from the current outbreak to 223.

There were 69,624 tests processed and 39,250 Covid vaccine doses administered at state-run hubs on Saturday.

Customers at Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne.
Customers at Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne. Photograph: Daniel Pockett/EPA

Some 73% of Victorians over 16 are now fully vaccinated.

It comes as changes to Victoria’s roadmap are set to be unveiled on Sunday, as the state nears its 80% full vaccination milestone.

Premier Daniel Andrews on Friday said the state is on track to reach 80% full vaccination of its over 16 population by next weekend, paving the way for further restrictions to ease.

He flagged he would hold a press conference “quite soon to clarify what we hope can happen at the end of next week”, and could go further than previously announced.

Under the government’s original roadmap, outdoor masks will be scrapped, statewide travel will return, indoor entertainment venues, gyms and retail can reopen, and capacity limits increase when the state reaches 80%.

Victoria was initially forecast to reach the milestone on 5 November, but analysts predict the target could be hit on 29 or 30 October.

The sped-up vaccination rate has prompted Victorian authorities to green light a 5,500-strong, fully vaccinated crowd for Derby Day before 10,000 arrive at Flemington for the Melbourne Cup three days later.

Caps on major sports events could be dumped altogether once 90% of Victorians over 12 are fully vaccinated, the Herald Sun reports, allowing up to 75,000 fans to potentially pack into the MCG for Boxing Day Test.

Updated

Interesting little tidbit on the negotiations regarding a net zero deal:

The ABC is reporting the Andrews government will announce later today that restrictions will ease in Victoria from this weekend, allowing travel outside of Melbourne for the first time in months.

The Melbourne Cup public holiday is on 2 November, so the easing of restrictions could be an absolute boon for regional Victorian travel operators as people take up the chance for an extra long weekend out of the city.

The NSW daily Covid data, which has just been released, also shows us that:

  • The rate of people aged older than 16 who have received at least one dose has reached 93% (up 0.2% from Saturday).
  • The rate of full vaccination for the same age group is 84.4% (up 0.7% from Saturday).
  • The number of people in hospital has increased from 469 on Saturday to 480, but the number in intensive care has fallen from 123 to 119.

Updated

A little more of a breakdown on the Victoria figures, which have just been released:

  • The state is now at 73% full vaccination for those aged 16 and older (this is increasing at a rate of about a percentage point per day).
  • The number of people in hospital is 787 (up from 770 on Saturday); there are 146 people in intensive care (144 yesterday) and 93 on a ventilator (90 yesterday).
  • There are now 24,993 active cases in the state.

Updated

NSW records 296 new cases and four deaths

The trend continues of daily cases around the 300 mark in NSW, despite the state having eased restrictions almost a fortnight ago.

Updated

Victoria records 1,935 new cases, 11 deaths

Another day of high cases and double-figure deaths in Victoria.

Updated

Victoria could be days away from further freedoms, with the state racing towards its 80% vaccination target. But the high daily case numbers have forced hundreds of school closures, resulting in the state government reportedly planning a trial of rapid testing.

The situation is fairly stable in NSW and the ACT: manageable case numbers, and vaccination rates right where they want them.

It is a little more complex across the rest of the country: the other jurisdictions are relatively Covid-free and living without restrictions, but the vaccination rate is lagging behind those states and territories hit with Delta outbreaks. In Western Australia, the health minster said yesterday he was concerned about vaccine hesitancy across the state.

Updated

Good morning everyone, happy Sunday. I’m sure there’s going to be plenty of news about, so let’s get into it.

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