And with that news, we’re now going to close our live coverage for the day.
Thanks for sticking with me. Great to have your company and we’ll be back tomorrow morning.
Updated
Perrottet and Ayres announce themselves as NSW leadership candidate duo
Just to summarise that short press conference from Dominic Perrottet and Stuart Ayres:
- Perrottet has nominated for the NSW Liberal party leadership.
- A vote will take place on Tuesday during a party room meeting.
- Perrottet has announced Stuart Ayres, a moderate, as his deputy. That is contrary to some expectation that Matt Kean, the environment minister, would be named.
- Perrottet praised outgoing premier Gladys Berejiklian, saying “NSW is stronger today because of her tireless leadership for the people of NSW”.
- Perrottet also praised Rob Stokes, who is thought to be the only challenger, saying he is “incredibly talented”. The treasurer said he welcomes competition.
Updated
Perrottet says he doesn’t want to pre-empt Tuesday’s vote by signalling whether the Covid-19 reopening plan will change.
He is asked about Rob Stokes, the planning minister, who is thought to be the main challenger.
Rob Stokes is not just a friend, he is an incredibly talented member of our team, and we promote competition.
That’s the end of questions. The pair announce they will make another statement on Tuesday.
Updated
Perrottet is asked why he isn’t running with environment minister Matt Kean, a moderate who was initially touted as his deputy.
Perrottet says Kean has given his blessing to the Perrottet-Ayres ticket.
We are very fortunate in our parliamentary party to have very, very talented people. Matt Kean is a very important part of our team and has endorsed this ticket to put our names forward for Tuesday.
Updated
NSW leadership to be decided on Tuesday
The vote will take place next Tuesday at a party room meeting. Perrottet:
I know that this is a time of challenge in our state, but I have complete hope and optimism that NSW is in a very good place.
Stuart Ayres says his leadership ticket with Perrottet is one that the entire state can get behind.
This is a leadership ticket that every person across NSW can support ... We are about representing every person in the state of NSW.
Updated
Perrottet nominates as the NSW Liberal leader with Stuart Ayres as deputy
Perrottet announces he is running as the Liberal leader with Stuart Ayres, a moderate, as his deputy.
Updated
Perrottet is speaking now. He praises the work of Gladys Berejiklian.
NSW is stronger today because of her tireless leadership for the people of NSW.
He says the last 18 months have been “incredibly tough” but says the state will come through the other side, better than ever.
Perrottet prepares to speak about NSW leadership
The NSW treasurer Dominic Perrottet is preparing to address the media in Sydney.
Updated
Both Channel Seven and Channel Nine are reporting that Dominic Perrottet is preparing to formally nominate as NSW premier. Stay tuned, we’ll bring you the latest as soon as we have it.
BREAKING Confirmed. Deal done to install Perrottet as Premier, with Ayres deputy and Kean as Treasurer. Announcement shortly. https://t.co/l5nLVsGal7
— Alex Hart (@alexhart7) October 3, 2021
Dominic Perrottet to officially nominate as leader of the NSW Liberal Party and Premier at 545pm. Rob Stokes still refusing to pull out of race. @9NewsSyd
— Chris O'Keefe (@cokeefe9) October 3, 2021
Earlier today, the NSW health minister Brad Hazzard questioned whether the Independent Commission Against Corruption should be made to hold initial hearings “behind closed doors”.
He also praised the outgoing premier Gladys Berejiklian as a leader of “high integrity”.
We’ve published a full report on his comments, which come amid some fairly predictable pushback against the Icac from its detractors.
Updated
NSW has just released its latest list of venues of concern.
⚠️PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT – NEW VENUES OF CONCERN⚠️
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) October 3, 2021
We have been notified of a number of new casual contact venues of concern associated with confirmed cases of COVID 19. pic.twitter.com/yTgIYAyL5a
Meanwhile, Victoria has announced that 71,000 Victorians were tested in the past 24 hours.
Over 70,000 Victorians came out yesterday to get a COVID-19 test.
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) October 3, 2021
It’s another record, and another amazing effort by our testing teams and the whole community
Getting tested is such an important part of the COVID-19 response. pic.twitter.com/x71hAY5x7x
Spurrier says the woman was not vaccinated.
She says the risk in Victoria is increasing and has pleaded with border communities to get vaccinated.
Spurrier is asked whether a pop-up clinic will be established on the border.
We will be definitely looking at all options because we want to make sure the vaccine is available to people.
Updated
Spurrier says the woman who tested positive is “not very well”.
The woman had respiratory problems and is being transferred to hospital in Adelaide.
Her family have returned negative results but are being brought to Adelaide while they complete their quarantine.
Spurrier:
The initial information that we’ve got is that there doesn’t look to have been any other exposures at this time in Mount Gambier. However it really is a very big wake up call for us... we are continuing to get cases here. We’ve had truck drivers, we’ve had a miner, we’ve had a returning traveller from Victoria yesterday and again today.
She urges people to get vaccinated and compares Covid-19 to a tsunami. She says if you had advance warning of a tsunami, you wouldn’t stand on the beach, you’d run for safety. The state is getting an advance warning about a Covid-19 outbreak, she said, so people need to get vaccinated.
Updated
South Australia records positive Covid case
The SA health minister Stephen Wade says the state has recorded a Covid-19 case for the fourth day in a row. The new case is in Mount Gambier, in the state’s south-east.
The positive case is a woman in her 40s. She had been in Victoria previously.
The state’s chief public health officer Prof Nicola Spurrier says it is too risky to travel to Victoria.
It is very, very risky. We are receiving quite a large number of exemptions who are South Australian and have gone to Victoria for various reasons and are seeking to come back.
In happier news, the state has passed the 70% single-dose vaccination milestone.
Updated
South Australian health authorities are about to provide an update on the Covid situation.
Updated
The Age is reporting that Victoria has removed its unpopular ban on public toilets at outdoor sporting facilities. The ban had frustrated outdoor sports businesses, including tennis courts and golf courses, who said the restrictions made no sense and disproportionately hurt women.
The Victorian health department said the ban would be overturned, but toilets would need to be cleaned twice a day and that patrons would need to check in with QR codes, according to the Age.
These changes, which come into effect at 11.59pm Monday 4 October, mean toilet facilities can open while also keeping personal contact and authorised worker presence at outdoor recreation facilities to a hard minimumThe Victorian government has overturned the ban on public toilets at outdoor sporting facilities, including golf courses and tennis courts, following widespread backlash.
Updated
The shadow NSW transport minister, Jo Haylen, has issued a statement warning against allowing her opposite number, Andrew Constance, to sit in federal parliament.
Haylen said:
Andrew Constance will leave a legacy of billions in blowouts, of botched project after botched project, and of sending hundreds of quality New South Wales manufacturing jobs offshore.
The first test for Mr Constance’s successor will be if they are up to the task of cleaning up the mess he made in the transport portfolio.
Among the list of failings, Haylen named cost blowouts on the city and south-west metro projects, the eastern suburbs light rail, and the western Sydney airport metro.
She also pointed to the purchase of river class ferries that were “unable to operate at night, came filled with asbestos and cannot travel under bridges if passengers are on the top deck” and the infamous “Ferry McFerryface” incident.
Updated
I’m finishing up my day on the blog and will hand over to my brilliant colleague, Christopher Knaus.
Stay well everyone!
Twelve workers on the Stolta Sakura – the oil and chemical tanker docked in Fremantle – have tested positive to Covid-19, according to The West Australian.
Updated
The National Breast Cancer Foundation has warned of delays in breast cancer testing and detection, due to the pandemic.
AAP have the story:
Delays in diagnosis and treatment of Australian’s most common cancer will have lasting consequences beyond the coronavirus pandemic, the National Breast Cancer Foundation warns.
The foundation has marked the start of Breast Cancer Awareness Month by forewarning an expected rise in later-stage breast cancer diagnoses in years to come, noting surgical delays of 12 weeks can result in 500 more breast cancer deaths a year.
It estimates there could be between 1,300 and 2,600 missed or undiagnosed breast cancer cases based on Cancer Australia data released this week.
The number of rescheduled appointments and the closure of BreastScreen across some states meant screening fell by roughly 98% in 2020.
Meanwhile, diagnostic and investigative surgeries dropped by up to a third in the first wave of Covid-19.
Foundation chief executive Sarah Hosking said there should be investment in researching the significant impact of Covid-19 and delays in detection.
“With the expected increase in hard-to-treat breast cancer diagnoses in years to come, the time is now to refocus on accomplishing zero breast cancer deaths and the additional funding required to reach that goal,” Prof Hosking said.
“Breast cancer will not wait for Covid-19 to end.”
Updated
There has been some talk about Covid-19 booster shots today, with questions around when the doses will be rolled out.
One reporter asked the Victorian premier Daniel Andrews what he knew about the plan during his press conference today.
Andrews said state leaders had raised rollout of Covid-19 booster shots at national cabinet, but that decisions around how the vaccination program will be rolled out are “appropriately a matter for the feds”.
It is for the federal government to make announcements in relation to boosters. I’ve asked similar questions; all of us have, I think, at national cabinet. We are assured that the appropriate stocks have been ordered. But who gets it, how, how it’s rolled out, all of those things really are matters for the federal government.
There was some discussion of this at national cabinet on Friday. But the announcements as to whether it’s population wide, who’s going to be administering them, the timeframes and all of that, that’s appropriately a matter for the feds.
Updated
Queensland police have told a group of First Nations people occupying the site of Adani’s Carmichael coalmine for the past five weeks that they have no intention of removing them from the area “at this time”.
Read the full story from Ben Smee here:
NSW announces new Covid rules for when state hits 70% double-dose target
New South Wales authorities have announced new health advice and rules for when the state hits the 70% double-dose vaccine milestone this week. Our friends at AAP have the details:
The NSW government has outlined its health advice, rules and penalties for when the state reopens at the 70% double dose vaccination target.
Across the state, 88.1% people aged 16 and over have received a first vaccine, and 66.5% were fully vaccinated by midnight on Friday.
Businesses will be responsible for taking “reasonable measures to stop unvaccinated people entering premises” such as having prominent signs, QR code requirements and only accepting valid proof of vaccination.
Hospitality, retail, gyms, hairdressers and beauty salons will be monitored by authorised officers and on-the-spot fines of $1,000 will apply to individuals who do not comply or use fraudulent vaccination records.
Businesses may be fined $5,000 for breaching the rules.
Under the advice, which may change as case numbers and evidence does, vaccinated close contacts of a positive case must get tested, isolate for seven days, get tested again on the sixth day and, if negative, can end isolation after day seven.
They must work from home for the week where possible and not attend hospitality or high-risk settings, even if it is their place of work.
Unvaccinated close contacts of a positive case must get tested and isolate for 14 days, get tested again at 12 days and if a negative result is received isolation can end after the fortnight.
Everyone, vaccinated or unvaccinated, with Covid-19 symptoms has been urged to get tested and self-isolate.
Those who test positive must still isolate for 14 days.
NSW on Sunday reported 667 new locally acquired cases and 10 deaths, the first time daily case numbers have been below 700 since August 19.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard warned people to be careful and respect restrictions while enjoying the NRL grand final to prevent super-spreader events.
“You shouldn’t be having people at home,” he told reporters.
“Your home remains one of the most dangerous places to be in terms of transmission of the virus.”
Updated
The prime minister, Scott Morrison, has released a statement in response to Andrew Constance’s announcement:
I warmly welcome Andrew Constance’s decision to seek endorsement to be part of our federal Liberal team as our Liberal candidate for Gilmore. Andrew has an outstanding local reputation and a great deal to offer at the federal level, especially given his experience in the NSW Government.
He tells it straight and would make a great member of our team.
Updated
The NSW transport minister Andrew Constance has announced he will resign from state politics this year to run for preselection for the federal seat of Gilmore at the next federal election.
Here is his statement in full.
After almost 20 years serving in the NSW Parliament, today I have made the decision to nominate for local preselection for the federal seat of Gilmore.
There has been a lot of speculation over the past few weeks, but I will be resigning as Transport and Roads Minister this week and as the Member for Bega by the end of the year.
I am very conscious of getting our community out of Covid lockdown and working alongside our small businesses to rebound as strongly as we can.
I want to thank my incredible Ministerial team, led by Stuart Wallace and Ann Lewis, and my wonderful electorate office staff, some of whom have been with me since the very beginning.
Like so many of us, I am heartbroken for my long-time friend Gladys Berejiklian. By retiring from State Cabinet and NSW Parliament, I will provide an incoming leader the opportunity to fill this position.
Gladys has been an amazing leader on both a personal and broader community level. Her care and support during Black Summer, in which we worked so closely together, is something that is very dear to my heart.
Gladys is one of the best Premiers we have ever seen. I hope she bounces back as strongly as possible, because I know we have not seen the end of her yet.
During my almost two decades in state politics, and ten and a half years as a Cabinet Minister, I have had the privilege of serving as Minister for Disability Services, the State’s Treasurer, as well as Infrastructure, Transport and Roads Minister.
I am very proud of being part of the team which launched the National Disability Insurance Scheme to provide support to some of our most vulnerable community members. I have also had the privilege of working on some of the biggest road and rail projects in the nation’s history, including the duplication of the Princes Highway and Sydney Metro.
During my time as Treasurer I worked closely with Premiers Gladys Berejiklian and Mike Baird to free up billions of dollars through the leasing of poles and wires, which has turned NSW into a much better place for our community.
Whilst the party is looking to a new direction at a State level, I do not want to walk away from serving my local community. I will continue representing my community on key local issues, such as the new hospital developments, and ensuring the community is listened to on vital projects such as the Milton Ulladulla and Moruya Bypasses.
I love our region, its people and I could not be more proud to continue to serve. From Black Summer to the pandemic, we are the strongest and most resilient communities that you will ever see.
It has been the greatest honour serving you in NSW Parliament for almost twenty years and I plan to continue my work on a federal level.
Updated
As of Tuesday 5 October, Australia’s second-largest city will have been in lockdown for 246 days – overtaking Buenos Aires as the city that has spent the most cumulative days under stay-at-home orders.
Read the full story from Calla Wahlquist:
Updated
Australians could start receiving Covid-19 booster shots by December this year, the Herald Sun has reported.
The paper reported that the government is confident that we will have enough booster shots for every Australian to have at least two doses, if medically advised.
Meanwhile, in NSW, state health minister Brad Hazzard today said that four of people in the ICU are aged 19 and under.
Of those, one person is a child aged nine and under, and another three people are aged between 10 and 19.
Updated
Here is some more detail into ACT’s Covid-19 hospitalisations.
There are 14 people in hospital with Covid. Of those, five are in intensive care and three require ventilation.
Updated
In today’s Victoria health update, authorities invited two frontline healthcare workers to speak about their experience treating Covid-19 cases in hospital.
One woman who spoke was Michelle Spence, an ICU nurse from the Royal Melbourne hospital.
A sad thing I’ve seen over the last few weeks is people wanting the vaccination just before we put them on a life support machine. That’s the truth. I’ve seen it. They are looking for the vaccination. They are very young and want to get it but it’s too late. They can have the vaccine down the track but at that point in their healthcare journey it’s too late and their families are remorseful...
This could be you. If you’re waiting now to get the vaccination, if you’re waiting, it’s your window not to be this person. It’s your window to absolutely not be another unnecessary statistic. Over the last 18 months, we’ve had people die in the ICU by themselves. It’s making me emotional. We held their hands, while their families have to be at home. That’s absolutely not what this should be about. Loved ones deserve to have their families with them when they die. Not only are we busy with Covid but stroke, cardiac, cancer services and we need these beds available for everyone...
We stand shoulder to shoulder ... but we can’t do this alone. We are absolutely begging you to go out and do the one thing you can do for yourself, the one you can do for your family and your loved ones and the one thing you can do for your healthcare system is to get vaccinated ... I know you are scared, I know you are over it, we are all over it. But it’s time. It’s time to make a difference.
Updated
New Zealand records 33 new Covid-19 cases
Some parts of New Zealand will be placed under stricter Covid-19 restrictions overnight, after three cases were discovered outside of the Auckland area.
The country reported 33 cases on Sunday, 32 of which are in Auckland while one is in the Waikato region.
Three cases had been detected outside of Auckland over the weekend, including two in the nearby Waikato region, prime minister Jacinda Ardern said.
Areas within that region will move to stricter restrictions for at least five days.
Ardern urged New Zealanders to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
“Vaccination makes a difference. It keeps people safe. It also gives us choices,” she said, adding it would be “highly unlikely” that restrictions would have been announced if the country’s vaccination rate was higher.
“Instead, we would be able to rely on other tools, like contact tracing, and much lower level public health measures. But while we are still vaccinating, we have fewer choices in how we react.”
About 78% of NZ’s eligible population has received their first vaccine dose, with 46% fully vaccinated.
Earlier on Sunday, the government announced that all non-New Zealand citizens arriving into the country from 1 November must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
“Getting vaccinated is the most effective measure against the transmission of Covid-19, and the risk of serious illness or death,” Covid-19 response minister Chris Hipkins said.
“To further reduce the possibility of the virus getting through our border, we are introducing the requirement for air travellers aged 17 and over, who are not New Zealand citizens, to be fully vaccinated to enter New Zealand.
“This is an important step in our Reconnecting New Zealand strategy.”
Travellers will be required to declare their vaccination status, as well as presenting proof of vaccination or a relevant exemption to their airline and to customs officers once they land, and will still be required to complete 14 days in managed isolation and quarantine.
Travellers except those from exempt locations will still need to have evidence of a negative test result within 72 hours of their first scheduled international flight.
The requirement will not apply to New Zealand citizens, children under 17, and those who are unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons.
Updated
The Victorian premier, Dan Andrews, has commented on reports Novak Djokovic could be required to be vaccinated to come defend his Australian Open title.
Andrews said that Djokovic’s Australian Open title “won’t protect [him] either”.
The only title that will is a first dose and a second dose [of a Covid-19 vaccine].
He said:
The federal government controls the borders ... But logic tells me – if you’re an Australian citizen you’ll be allowed home if you haven’t had a jab. But if you’re coming on a tourist or a business visa, the notion of you getting in here without being vaccinated is very, very low. I think it would be unlikely.
Andrews noted that professional sportspeople such as AFL footballers are required to be vaccinated by 15 October if they want to come back to work as “authorised workers”, but he said this requirement is unlikely to be in place come Australian Open time (late January).
Updated
In good news for the ACT: a whopping 92.6% of the eligible population has received at one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, while 63.9% are fully vaccinated.
Updated
Health minister Brad Hazzard is asked about his view on Icac, and whether it should be reformed. He responds that NSW needs an Icac, without a doubt.
But he questions the current model, saying the state should perhaps look to Hong Kong’s anti-corruption body for guidance.
He suggests hearings should be held behind closed doors to establish wrongdoing first, before making matters public.
Hazzard says changes to Icac are not the government’s current focus.
Updated
ACT records 38 new Covid-19 cases
The ACT health minister, Rachel Stephens-Smith, is giving the Covid-19 update:
- The ACT has recorded 38 new cases, after two consecutive days of 52 cases.
- Of those 38, 24 cases are linked and 14 cases are under investigation.
- 14 people were in quarantine while infectious and at least 16 people were in the community while infectious.
- 14 people are in hospital, with 5 people in ICU.
Updated
Tasmania records one new Covid-19 case
A 15-year-old Tasmanian resident has tested positive for Covid-19.
The teenager had returned from Melbourne to Tasmania under quarantine provisions.
The teenager has mild symptoms. But they have been taken to Launceston General hospital for assistance, and have been transferred with a family member to Fountainside, which was turned into a dedicated quarantine facility.
Four family members are considered close contacts of the teen.
There are four family close contacts of the positive case in Tasmania. The teen and his father will quarantine in Hobart #covid19tas
— Monte Bovill (@MonteBovill) October 2, 2021
Updated
In NSW, health minister Brad Hazzard is asked about leadership aspirants Dominic Perrottet and Rob Stokes. He praises both and says either one would make a great premier.
They are both caring and compassionate people with great skill sets. They would do a great job, either one of them would do a great job. If there’s another candidate, we’ll look at them too, but at the moment they are the two candidates.
Dr Kerry Chant is asked about the outgoing premier Gladys Berejiklian.
The premier has worked tirelessly since the pandemic commenced, through this most difficult time, and I think her clear commitment to the community is so evident and I don’t think really it is appropriate for me to go into other issues, but just to recognise how ... committed the premier has been.
Updated
NSW on track to hit 70% double-dose target this week
The state is on track to hit its 70% double-dose target this week. Restrictions are due to begin easing from 11 October for fully vaccinated people.
Health minister Brad Hazzard is asked how public health orders continuing restrictions for unvaccinated residents will be enforced.
I’d like to think this isn’t about enforcement, I’d like to think this is about all of us together doing what we’ve done so well.
Hazzard says police will play a role, but only where unvaccinated people attempt to come into a venue.
As health minister I don’t and wouldn’t expect police to be at every facility, or ever restaurant, or every retail shop.
Hazzard is then asked about the resignation of premier Gladys Berejiklian. He says it is “very sad”.
What I would say about the premier is that I think she has been an amazing premier, a person of high integrity, and someone that I would place my trust in completely and I think that’s what the community of NSW has done as well during these last 120 months. It’s just awfully sad that it’s come to this situation.
He describes Andrew Constance, the outgoing transport minister, as a “stalwart” who has sacrificed a lot for his electorate, including following the bushfires.
Updated
NSW: fully vaccinated close contacts will only need to isolate for seven days
In NSW, Dr Kerry Chant says there are some changes looming to the response required by close contacts.
From 11 October, close contacts who are fully vaccinated will only be required to be tested and isolate for seven days, down from 14 days. Positive cases will be required to self-isolate for 14 days, regardless of vaccinations.
Speaking about the low case numbers today, Dr Chant cautions of the “weekend effect” and says one day “does not make a trend”. She says health authorities will not have complete confidence in the decline until Wednesday or Thursday, and will be closely watching how case numbers are translating into hospitalisation rates in coming weeks.
I’m hopeful that if we can push our vaccination coverage as high as possible, that while we see case numbers going up, we can see hospitalisations and ICU admissions relatively flat.
Updated
And now to Victoria:
Dan Andrews revealed that in Victoria 476 people are in hospital, with 98 in intensive care and 57 on a ventilator. Of those in hospital, only 5% were fully vaccinated.
Andrews said:
In other words: if you are fully vaccinated, you are at but a fraction, a tiny percentage of the chance of being hospitalised and becoming gravely ill. Your risk is dramatically reduced. It’s the single most important thing you can do to prevent yourself or someone you love ending up in hospital.
Updated
Back to NSW:
NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant says the next week will be “critical” and urges NSW to get tested and increase the testing rate.
About 88,000 people got tested in the past 24 hours, but Chant says that rate must lift to detect any further community transmission.
She says the declining case numbers are positive, but says there is seeding across regional areas, which is of concern, including in Wollongong, Newcastle, Maitland, Wellington, Queanbeyan and Deniliquin.
She announces the deaths of 10 people, two of whom were in their 50s, four in their 60s, two people in their 70s, and two people in their 80s. Four were not vaccinated.
Chant says two elderly people have died despite being fully vaccinated. They were both residents of aged care facilities.
This highlights the fact that, despite being fully vaccinated ... the elderly will still remain vulnerable, given their age, and it is important that we take steps to protect the elderly.
Updated
Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says that tonight’s NRL game will be going ahead because “Queenslanders have done a mighty job” in stopping the virus from spreading.
But there will be some safety protocols in place.
Palaszczuk:
Can I say to people who are attending, you have to check into the stadium, you have to wear your mask in there and you can only remove your mask when you are seated if you are eating or drinking ... We have to do this to keep everyone safe so I am making it very clear that these are the conditions that have been put on by Dr Young.
Updated
This effectively summarises the numbers coming from the three pressers happening right now:
VIC: 1220 cases, 3 people died
— Prof Marc Tennant (@MarcTennant) October 3, 2021
NSW: 667 cases, 10 people died
QLD: No cases, ZERO people died
82.6% of Victorians aged 16+ have received at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose
In Victoria, premier, Dan Andrews, is giving the Covid-19 update, expressing deepest condolences to the families of three people who have passed away: a man in his 50s, woman in her 70s and man in his 80s.
Victorians had a record 71,275 tests, but unfortunately the state has recorded 1,220 locally acquired cases:
Reported yesterday: 1,220 new local cases and 0 cases acquired overseas.
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) October 2, 2021
- 36,248 vaccines administered
- 71,275 test results received
- Sadly, 3 people with COVID-19 have died
More later: https://t.co/OCCFTAchah#COVID19Vic #COVID19VicData pic.twitter.com/hxU80Ei0bj
Andrews announces that vaccination rates are up to 51.9% of those aged 16 and over double dosed and 82.6% single dosed.
For the 12+ population it’s 80% single dosed, indicating how fast 12-15 year olds have been added to the program.
Andrews reminds Victorians from tomorrow the Pfizer dose interval has been cut from six to three weeks.
Updated
Back to Queensland, chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young says that she is confident that the state has prevented this latest outbreak.
Because of that enormous amount of testing, nearly 100,000 tests have been done related to this cluster, I can be confident that we don’t have community seeding.
... I think one of the reasons we have been successful in containing nearly 50 incursions of the virus in the last few months is because we are finding pretty much the first case in each outbreak. And that means that we can get on it really quickly and thank you for the help that people give our contact tracers.
Updated
In NSW, Hazzard said the good result has “taken a lot of hard work” and urges people not to “ruin it” during this afternoon’s NRL grand final.
He says ignoring the rules and guidelines would allow the virus to come back and take hold.
You shouldn’t be having people at your home. Your home remains one of those dangerous places to be in terms of transmission of the virus. We need to ensure that we enjoy the game but that we don’t have a super spreader event.
Updated
88.1% of the NSW eligible population has receive at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, while 66.5% are fully vaccinated.
NSW recorded 667 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. pic.twitter.com/JoTsDR1jq6
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) October 3, 2021
NSW records 667 new locally acquired cases
NSW health minister Brad Hazzard has just announced a “dramatic drop” in Covid cases.
NSW recorded 667 locally acquired cases.
There are 981 Covid cases in hospital and 195 in intensive care units, with 140 of those not vaccinated. Forty-one had received a first dose and 14 had two doses.
Updated
Queensland records no new Covid-19 cases
Queensland has recorded no new cases of community transmission and one new case in hotel quarantine, after more than 18,000 tests yesterday.
Updated
Nice to know that state premiers of NSW, Victoria and Queensland are aligned on nearly nothing except on making sure their COVID-19 updates are all AT THE EXACT SAME TIME.
— Gus Bruno (@gusbruno7) October 2, 2021
Cheers.
Oh. Oh no.
NSW presser: 11am AEDT
— Josh Butler (@JoshButler) October 2, 2021
VIC presser: 11am AEDT
QLD presser: 11am AEDT (10am local time)
I’ve confirmed that Andrew Constance, the NSW transport minister, will leave state politics for a tilt at the federal seat of Gilmore.
Constance will announce his departure at 1pm today. The timing of his announcement comes at a difficult time for the NSW government, just two days after the resignation of the premier, Gladys Berejiklian.
Constance’s decision rules him out of the looming leadership race in NSW. The leading moderate, who represents Bega in southern NSW, has had a life-changing two years.
He was forced to defend his home during the 2019-20 bushfire crisis and later announced he would quit politics after helping his government with the bushfire recovery effort.
That changed, and Constance instead stayed on, before announcing an attempt to run for the federal seat of Eden-Monaro during a byelection. He bowed out of that race shortly afterwards.
Updated
the only Constance is change https://t.co/98aPhjy8K7
— Rick Morton (@SquigglyRick) October 2, 2021
NRL grand final to be played at Suncorp Stadium
The NRL grand final has been given the green light to be played at Suncorp Stadium tonight, after concerns that it may have to be delayed or moved after Queensland recorded new Covid-19 cases. Our friends at AAP have the story:
The NRL grand final has been given the green light to be played at Suncorp Stadium Sunday evening with a capped crowd of 39,000 in attendance.
Fears of a postponement or relocation due to Covid-19 cases in Queensland were allayed on Sunday morning by NRL Commission chairman Peter V’landys, who confirmed to AAP that the game would go ahead in Brisbane.
It will be welcome news to both South Sydney and Penrith, after crowd numbers for the blockbuster were cut on Thursday from a capacity of 52,000 due to coronavirus concerns.
“It sounds like it’s going to be a great atmosphere and we’re looking forward to it,” Rabbitohs assistant Jason Demetriou said on Saturday.
Queensland health minister Yvette D’Ath on Saturday gave the best indication yet the game would proceed in the capital.
“A day is a long time with Covid-19 but things are looking really positive,” she said.
So far, Queensland has avoided a lockdown after cases of community transmission popped up in the state on Tuesday.
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NSW transport minister Andrew Constance to quit and run for federal politics
Samantha Maiden, political editor of news.com.au, has revealed that the New South Wales state transport minister Andrew Constance will announce today that he is quitting state politics to run for the federal seat of Gilmore.
He will address the press at 1pm.
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Speers didn’t hold back when he asked Husic what he had achieved in his portfolio as shadow minister for industry since he took on the role at the start of the year.
Speers:
Let me turn to your industry portfolio. You took this role at the start of the year. Have you produced any policies yet?
Husic framed his initial answer around the things that his party has focused on, like “sovereign capability” and “rebuilding manufacturing”.
But Speers pressed on:
Speers:
I understand that. What’s your policy?
Husic:
That’s why Labor have put forward, particularly in the industry space the notion of the National Reconstruction Fund, modelled on the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, $15bn. Importantly administered by an independent board with a clear government mandate that will focus on value adding resources, value adding agriculture. Looking at things like medical tech, looking at things like renewable low emissions technology, transport, defence capability and emerging capability. So we’ve had that.
... I might add, what we’ve put forward in the notion of encouraging a start-up year and seeing young Australians be mentored, supported through university accelerators to start 2,000 new firms a year that will replenish the stock of businesses that have been under pressure through the course of the pandemic.
And we will obviously release policies in the lead-up to the election, and be able to demonstrate what we think needs to happen in rebuilding sovereign capability, supporting manufacturing, creating jobs, secure employment, finding opportunity for our regions, and obviously rebuilding better than what we had before.
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David Speers moves on to asking Labor’s Ed Husic whether vaccinations should be made mandatory for all federal politicians.
This appears to be in response to Husic’s colleague, Bill Shorten, telling Nine newspapers this morning that he believes all federal MPs should be required to get the jab.
Husic is hesitant to support the idea outright.
Husic:
I have to say I am very careful about compulsion. I believe we need to take people with us ... I think incentives are a very good way to go. It’s why Labor put forward the notion of an incentive policy. In respect of your question directly, I think in terms of MPs, we are in communities where we are seeing a lot of people going into parliaments that bring people from across the country, and I think it is important that MPs take, as has been said, that leadership step of taking the vaccine. Obviously people are different and will have their medical advice, but it is medical advice, as always, that should guide our decisions and I hope it wouldn’t be anything else that is guiding MP decisions on why they’re not taking vaccines.
Speers:
Your colleague Bill Shorten has suggested it should be for federal MPs. Just wonder your view is?
Husic:
As I said, we haven’t had that discussion yet. Bill has put forward that idea. I think it is a very strong argument that has been put forward for the reasons I have also elaborated a few moments ago. I do think we are in a position where we visit a lot of people in our communities ... And I think it’s important to show communities that this is an important step we all do. We can’t urge people to vaccinate and not be vaccinated ourselves.
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Asked whether he agrees with the federal government’s decision to withdraw pandemic support payments once states hit 80% of their eligible population vaccines, Husic says “we do need to think very carefully about when we lift those payments and take them out”.
He also took a swipe at federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg and the government’s motivation for withdrawing the payments:
I would hate – I would absolutely hate to think that Josh Frydenberg thinks he can correct his historic $134bn budget deficit by ripping out support at a time that might hurt the economy ... They better make the decision in a way that doesn’t hurt areas like ours.
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Speers has asked Husic what he thinks of the state government’s plan to open up once 70% of adults are vaccinated?
Husic:
As someone who lives in a locked down LGA, who represents residents who have gone through some of the toughest measures across the LGAs in Western Sydney, we clearly want to get out of this.
As Labor has said, we at the national level support the national plan and believe that we do need to get out as quickly as we can, but it does require in particular a focus on the safety elements of this.
We have said, for example, that you’ve got the tracking, tracing, isolating mechanisms in place, strong, safe hospitals, no groups left behind, and teenagers getting vaccinated – some of those elements, we think, should be focused on, and if I can say, David, as someone who represents people in this part of western Sydney, I get a little bit – I have a funny reaction when I see people say in the media, particularly in terms of politicians in the media, saying we’ve got to learn to live with Covid and I look at them and think, ‘But you’ve got the resources to look after yourself’.
I represent people who in some cases are holding down two, three jobs, paying the bills, paying the rents, can’t necessarily rely on private health insurance and rely on the public health system, to say that without proper health systems in place, that they can be looked after, that is untenable and is a factor that has to be considered in any discussion about opening up.
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Speers has started by asking Husic whether the thinks it’s fair for resigning NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian to criticise the state’s Icac for the timing of its investigation into her.
Speers
Icac is actually not allowed under law to delay or defer investigations. What do you think, though, about the criticism that it has chosen a terrible time to do this?
Husic
In response to your question first off, I would say that it is a bit hard for Gladys Berejiklian to make that point when she started cancelling her own press conferences, her daily press conferences. If this was such an important time, she would be there every single day. I think that needs to be borne in mind and I would urge people to consider that, but I guess overall I would understand, the two points I would quickly make:
I understand how people are confused and disoriented about the events of Friday, seeing the premier go that quickly, but it is important to emphasise that ... this explosive event was lit in 2020 when you had a New South Wales premier appear before Icac as a person being monitored, a person of interest, and clearly there was an issue there, and the reality is Icac did not force Gladys Berejiklian to resign, she did that of her own accord, following 12 months of saying that she wouldn’t do that.
The second point I would emphasise is there has been a lot of outpouring of views on one side of the ledger talking about how unfair this is to Gladys Berejiklian, but I am not in that camp. And I think a lot of the people that I represent and care about here in Sydney see that she was a premier, particularly through this pandemic and this lockdown, for the east and the north of the city. She managed a very ideological, political lockdown that divided the city, saw things happen in the west that would not happen in the north and east, played politics with public health, and I represent nearly 7,000 largely unvaccinated residents in the suburbs of Chifley that caught Covid, and I could not look those people in the eye and say I thank Gladys Berejiklian for her service when really the phrase that should be uttered by her and the NSW Liberals is, ‘Sorry we let you down’, and then they fix it.
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David Speers is speaking with shadow minister for industry and innovation Ed Husic, on ABC Insiders.
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Air New Zealand will require international travellers to be fully vaccinated by next February.
Our friends at AAP have the story:
Air New Zealand will introduce a ‘No Jab, No Fly’ Covid-19 policy for international travellers, the company has announced, which will take effect from February.
“Mandating vaccination on our international flights will give both customers and employees the peace of mind that everyone onboard meets the same health requirements as they do,” chief executive Greg Foran said in a statement on Sunday.
Passengers who were not vaccinated would be required to show proof that vaccination was not a viable option for them for medical reasons or other grounds.
“As with anything, there will be some that disagree. However, we know this is the right thing to do to protect our people, our customers and the wider New Zealand community,” Foran said.
The country’s border has been closed to all but residents and citizens, with a few exceptions, since March last year.
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Shadow minister for the NDIS, and former Labor leader, Bill Shorten has called for vaccines to be made mandatory for all federal MPs.
Shorten told Nine newspapers that if politicians were mandating vaccines for other people working in other sectors, “I don’t see how we [MPs] can be separate”. He is the most senior MP from any major party to back mandatory vaccines for federal MPs.
On Friday, Victorian premier Daniel Andrews announced vaccines would be made mandatory for more than 1 million workers currently authorised to work outside of the home, including judges, politicians, journalists, and professional sportspeople. These workers in Victoria must get the first dose by mid-October to continue working on site.
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Just a reminder that you can send me any tweets, memes, or questions via Twitter @justinel_h.
Looks like I will have the absolute joy of being on the Guardian live blog every Sunday this month.
— Justine Landis-Hanley (@justinel_h) October 2, 2021
(that reads sarcastic, but I promise I'm being genuine)
Every Sunday includes today!
Send me your memes + questions, and come hang out: https://t.co/EOvWmFbBTg
The race is on to replace resigning NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian.
The Sydney Morning Herald has reported this morning that former prime minister John Howard has backed NSW treasurer Dominic Perrottet for the role. Many are reporting that Perrottet is the frontrunner to replace Berejiklian.
“I think Dom would be the best person. He is very bright with the right amount of experience and a commitment to economic reform,” Howard said.
The NSW planning minister, Rob Stokes, yesterday confirmed that he will be contesting the NSW Liberal leadership.
Environment minister Matt Kean is also believed to be a contender, as well as tourism minister Stuart Ayres, transport minister Andrew Constance and attorney general Mark Speakman.
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Before we continue with today’s stories, let’s recap yesterday’s biggest headlines:
- Victoria recorded its highest daily Covid cases since the pandemic began, with 1,488 new cases and two further deaths.
- A Melbourne detention centre worker tested positive for coronavirus, placing more than 200 refugees at risk.
- The Victorian treasurer, Tim Pallas, announced a $196.6m support package for the state’s construction industry.
- New South Wales reported 813 new locally acquired cases of Covid-19 and 10 deaths, bringing the death toll in the current outbreak to 362.
- Two children in Queensland tested positive for Covid while in home quarantine, bringing the state’s total number of active cases to 25.
- The ACT recorded 52 new Covid cases, equalling its daily case record since the pandemic began.
Victoria records 1,220 new local Covid-19 cases and three deaths
Reported yesterday: 1,220 new local cases and 0 cases acquired overseas.
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) October 2, 2021
- 36,248 vaccines administered
- 71,275 test results received
- Sadly, 3 people with COVID-19 have died
More later: https://t.co/OCCFTAchah#COVID19Vic #COVID19VicData pic.twitter.com/hxU80Ei0bj
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Good morning! It’s Justine Landis-Hanley here, to bring you the headlines today, Sunday 3 October.
Let’s dive straight in!
The NRL grand final between Penrith Panthers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs looks set to take place today in Brisbane. It’s the first time the game has been hosted outside of Sydney, due to the pandemic.
Greater Sydney is set to hit 100 days in lockdown, with restrictions set to ease on 11 October.
Meanwhile, there are concerns that Covid-19 cases will surge in Victoria, after the state recorded 1,488 infections yesterday.
More anti-lockdown anti-vaccination protests are also expected to take place in Melbourne today. Police arrested 109 people protestors at demonstrations on Saturday.
