The day that was, Thursday 7 October
That’s where we will leave the live blog for Thursday.
Here’s what made the news today:
- The NSW government has revised the state’s roadmap out of lockdown, with more people to be allowed to gather indoors and outdoors and the caps on weddings and funerals to double in size.
- All school students in NSW will also return to on-site learning by 25 October, a week sooner than the prior plan, a move slammed by the NSW Teachers’ Federation due to lack of consultation
- Workers in regional NSW who’ve had a single Covid-19 vaccination will be able to return to their workplaces on Monday, with the deadline to be fully jabbed extended until 1 November.
- NSW reported 587 new local cases and eight deaths on Thursday.
- The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, ruled out following NSW’s lead in fast-tracking its pathway out of lockdown, saying daily cases – 1,638 reported on Thursday – remain too high.
- Ten new vaccination pop-up hubs will be launched to target Victorians living with a disability.
- The ACT recorded 41 new cases, with a second baby infected with the virus at a Canberra hospital.
- In Tasmania the number of casual contacts linked to a coronavirus case – only the state’s second this year – has grown as authorities ramp up testing and vaccination efforts in the region.
- Queensland’s chief health officer has said she hopes to see widespread home quarantine in the state by December, with a trial starting next week.
- Prime minister Scott Morrison has urged state and territories to stick to national plans to reopen state borders, as Australia passed another vaccination milestone, with all states and territories having now fully vaccinated more than 50% of over-16s.
- The prime minister also took aim at social media, describing it as “a coward’s palace” and threatening to pass more legislation to make social media companies liable for content posted their platforms.
- Mining giant BHP will refuse to let unvaccinated staff, contractors and visitors enter its Australian work sites from early next year.
Until tomorrow, stay safe.
Updated
NSW premier Dominic Perrottet has announced Michael Coutts-Trotter will be the secretary of the NSW department of premier and cabinet.
Coutts-Trotter is currently the secretary of the Department of Communities and Justice, and has led five agencies in his time in public service.
Perrottet said:
I am very pleased Michael has agreed to head the Department of Premier and Cabinet at this critical time, and I am looking forward to working closely with him as we continue to build a better future for NSW.
Michael’s dedication to serving the people of NSW is something I have long admired, he will bring tremendous experience, humility and energy to what is a very important and challenging position.
Jim Betts, the secretary of the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, was set to take the DPC role under former premier Gladys Berejiklian, but Perrottet said there had been a “change of direction”.
Incidentally, Coutts-Trotter is the husband of federal Labor MP Tanya Plibersek.
Victorian Reason party MP Fiona Patten will take a break from social media after experiencing what she describes as appalling abuse from anonymous cowards.
AAP reports the crossbench MP on Thursday confirmed both she and her staff will take a break from social media for at least a few weeks, though the move may be permanent.
“I am calling this pause because of the appalling abuse, most of it from anonymous cowards, polluting what could and should be one of humanity’s triumphs, the ability for the majority of people to follow and participate in the most important market there is – the free market for ideas,” Patten said in a statement.
She said while social media could be a “wonderful crucible of creativity and civilisation, of genuine progress” it was also a “cesspit of bastardry, where people for some reason write things they would never say to someone’s face”.
Patten is looking to find other ways of communicating with her constituents and the wider community.
A Queensland man last week was convicted over a video in which he threatened to shave Patten’s head and drag her “up the street naked” after she voted in favour of extending the Victorian government’s state of emergency powers.
The powers provide the legal framework for public health measures during the pandemic, such as hotel quarantine, home isolation, mask-wearing and the state’s travel permit system.
Victorian Greens leader Samantha Ratnam said she had also been the target of “vile (and at times sexist, racist and violent) online abuse for months” for also supporting the extension.
“My thoughts are with Fiona today. No MP should face threats for doing their job,” she posted on Twitter.
Premier Daniel Andrews said it was a “great shame” Patten needed to take a break from social media.
“I’ve always said that we need more voices, not less, and social media plays an important part in our social discourse, but it should be done in only respectful terms,” he told reporters outside parliament.
Andrews revealed he had to go to “extraordinary” lengths to make sure his family was safe due to the nature of his job.
“I’m just not in a position to speak about that because it will be used to motivate some other really ugly stuff,” he said.
Updated
The Department of Social Services has been warned it is “not above the law” after a tribunal heard government officials threatened to ignore an order to reinstate a man’s jobseeker payments.
In a published judgment, Administrative Appeals Tribunal senior member Michelle Evans-Bonner criticised the department, which is responsible for Services Australia and Centrelink, over what she called “poor conduct”.
Read the full story here:
Updated
Looks like vaccinated people from Sydney will be able to travel into regional NSW from Monday for day trips, under the public health orders. Just not to holiday for now.
This may not be what the Government intended, but it’s what the Public Health Orders say #nswpol pic.twitter.com/4PhKuoSZJ4
— Gareth Ward (@garethjward) October 7, 2021
Further on the audit of Victorian MPs who are vaccinated before it becomes mandatory for them later this month.
30 of the 31 Victorian Oppositon MP’s have been vaccinated with at least one dose @abcmelbourne #springst
— Bridget Rollason (@bridgerollo) October 7, 2021
AAP reports the construction of a dedicated quarantine facility near Perth would give Australia the capacity to cope with “whatever emergencies are thrown at us into the future”, the federal finance minister, Simon Birmingham, says.
Marking the start of construction at the Bullsbrook site, Birmingham said such centres were about dealing with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and other issues that may arise, including humanitarian crises.
“This year we’ve been hit with the Delta variant, which nobody saw coming and which changed the dynamic in relation to Covid-19,” he told reporters on Thursday.
“There may be other challenges in the months or years to come.
“That’s why these sort of facilities can help as we reopen international borders, help us confront questions around non-Australian arrivals, questions around those who may not have homes to quarantine in and questions around those who may not be vaccinated but need entry into Australia.”
Birmingham said the centre could also play a role if Australia was faced with another situation like that involving the recent evacuations from Afghanistan.
He said planning had progressed swiftly, with the 1,000-bed facility the equivalent of building several new international hotels.
“But we’re doing this not over the space of a couple of years, we’re doing this in a much compressed timeframe,” he said.
The Perth centre is one of three being built across Australia, with others in Brisbane and Melbourne.
The first 500 beds at Bullsbrook are expected to be available in the first quarter of 2022.
Updated
Some detail on today’s cases in Victoria from the daily health department release:
One-quarter of the new cases diagnosed yesterday were people aged in their 20s.
Overall, there were 566 new cases in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, 485 new cases in the western suburbs, 351 cases in the south-eastern suburbs and 114 cases in the eastern suburbs.
Of the Covid-19 cases in hospital yesterday, 66% were not vaccinated, 27% were partially vaccinated and 7% were fully vaccinated.
There are currently more than 41,170 active primary close contacts in isolation in Victoria.
At midday today, there were more than 470 published exposure sites in Victoria.
Between 28 September and 5 October, Victoria recorded around 10,000 cases of Covid-19. Of these cases, 78% were not vaccinated, 15% were partially vaccinated and 7% were fully vaccinated, with 87% of these weekly cases eligible for vaccination.
Updated
AMA 'very concerned' about NSW roadmap changes
The president of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Omar Khorshid, has released a statement regarding the changes to the NSW roadmap announced by the premier, Dominic Perrottet, earlier today.
He says the AMA is “very concerned” at the shift, and “the potential sidelining of public health advice”.
The changes to the roadmap have occurred at the 11th hour without the presence of the chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant at the announcement. Meanwhile, the NSW government’s crisis cabinet has morphed into an economic recovery committee. This strongly suggests to the community that health advice will no longer guide the NSW government as it navigates this critical phase of the pandemic.
The AMA supports gradual opening up of the economy and the loosening of restrictions, but it is critical to observe the impact of each step on transmission and case numbers, otherwise NSW may still see hospitals become completely overwhelmed despite high vaccination rates.
The ultimate outcomes of opening too fast or too early will be avoidable deaths and the reintroduction of lockdowns and other restrictions – things no one in NSW wants to see. Economic recovery cannot occur without protecting the health of the community – this is a lesson we have already learnt during this pandemic, and it must not be forgotten in the reopening phase.
While NSW has hit an average of 70% of its population of 16 and over being fully vaccinated, this number rapidly drops below 70% for people under 40 years and to as low as 47% for those in the 16- to 19-year-old age bracket.
Doherty Institute modelling shows the potential for transmission in these younger age groups is significant and high rates of vaccination are needed to help contain the virus.
NSW must not be reckless at this critical time. That would cost more lives, cause more suffering, and put the economies of NSW and the nation at risk. Sydney must take this opportunity to show the rest of the country how to live with Covid whilst protecting health and health care.
If the NSW ‘Covid and economic recovery committee’ moves to open the economy faster than is advised by health experts and the modelling, they will ultimately be held accountable for the impacts of those decisions, including potentially excess deaths, overwhelmed hospitals and the economic catastrophe that would accompany further lockdowns. The AMA is concerned that the decisions taken in NSW since the change of leadership signal a very different approach to that taken under the leadership of former premier Gladys Berejiklian.
The AMA supports opening up, but it must be done wisely and cautiously, with the ability to pause and assess the impact of lifting restrictions, before moving to the next stage. To do otherwise risks far too much.
Updated
NSW MPs call for Australia to increase Afghan refugee intake
Seventy-three New South Wales MPs, including several Liberal and National party members, have signed a letter calling on the government to bring in more refugees from Afghanistan well above the 3,000 Australia has so far committed to bringing here.
Statement by 73 NSW MPs on Afghan refugee intake - ty @TrevorKhan1 and @LyndaVoltzMP for organising pic.twitter.com/k4t6aC9eUB
— Catherine Cusack (@katieqs) October 7, 2021
Updated
Vaccinated federal MPs, senators and staff not required to quarantine before next sitting period
The ACT chief minister, Andrew Barr, has announced ahead of the October sitting and estimates period, MPs, senators and staff from Covid hotspots will not be required to isolate if they are fully vaccinated.
Those who are not will still need to isolate for 14 days.
Fully vaccinated Federal MPs, Senators and staff from COVID impacted areas will not be required to undertake a fortnight's quarantine ahead of October's sittings and estimates hearings under new @ACTHealth guidelines.
— Andrew Barr MLA (@ABarrMLA) October 7, 2021
But unvaccinated will be subject to 14 days of isolation.
Updated
The Queensland premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, has announced some new portfolios in her cabinet to prepare for the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics, including that she is the minister for the Olympics.
BREAKING: Changing roles in the Queensland Cabinet.#Brisbane2032 #qldpol pic.twitter.com/WqhhFNqF94
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) October 7, 2021
⚠️ Severe Weather Warning has been issued for the Illawarra and Sydney region for damaging winds associated with a southerly change moving up the coast this afternoon. Damaging winds already observed at Kiama and Bellambi. For more details see https://t.co/Ss766eSCrL pic.twitter.com/jdxavMCCx6
— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) October 7, 2021
In case you are wondering why the extremely rare deaths from blood clots associated with AstraZeneca are even more rare in Australia, my colleague Melissa Davey published this story about it on the weekend:
Updated
The Therapeutic Goods Administration’s latest weekly vaccine report is out, and as at 3 October 28.8m vaccine doses have been given, with 17m first doses and 11.8m second doses.
There are three more rare reports of blood clots and low blood platelets assessed as confirmed or probable thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine, taking the total number of cases to 151 out of 12m doses of the vaccine administered.
The confirmed case is an 82-year-old woman from NSW, while the two probable cases are a 41-year-old man from NSW and a 52-year-old woman from Queensland.
The TGA said the most commonly reported reactions in adolescents after vaccination with (Pfizer) Comirnaty and (Moderna) Spikevax are dizziness, headache, fainting (syncope), feeling faint (pre-syncope) and nausea:
These are expected reactions based on what was seen in the clinical trials. However, at this point they are early observations based on limited data as we continue to closely monitor safety in this age group.
There have been 167,000 Moderna vaccines administered across Australia as of 3 October.
You can read the full report here.
Updated
A photo from the former prime minister Tony Abbott’s trip to Taiwan.
Good mate @HonTonyAbbott knows I have a kangaroo in my heart. JW pic.twitter.com/9vr08SKJbL
— 外交部 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC (Taiwan) 🇹🇼 (@MOFA_Taiwan) October 7, 2021
Updated
South Australian COVID-19 update 7/10/21. For more information, go to https://t.co/mYnZsGpayo or contact the South Australia COVID-19 Information Line on 1800 253 787. pic.twitter.com/gDOzpeNSko
— SA Health (@SAHealth) October 7, 2021
The number of casual contacts linked to a coronavirus case in northern Tasmania has grown as authorities ramp up testing and vaccination efforts in the region, AAP reports.
The 15-year-old boy, the island state’s second case this year, breached home quarantine in Launceston on Saturday afternoon while infectious to go to an IGA supermarket.
Seventeen of his close contacts, who are all in quarantine, have since returned negative tests and will be tested again in coming days.
The acting premier, Jeremy Rockliff, announced on Thursday the number of casual contacts linked to the case had risen from 35 to 51.
Seven of those cases, mostly people who were at Launceston airport when the boy flew in from Victoria on Friday and those at the IGA, have also tested negative so far.
The state’s public health director, Mark Veitch, said it remained possible one of the boy’s close contacts would test positive.
“We’re at that time when we could see cases among contacts, which is why we do another round of testing of the closest contacts over coming days,” he said.
The boy, who is staying in a Hobart medi-hotel with his dad, has the more contagious Delta strain of the virus.
Mobile testing and vaccination clinics will be rolled out in Launceston’s northern suburbs in coming days.
“I’d like to encourage everyone, especially in the Launceston community, even if you have the mildest symptoms, come forward and get tested,” Rockliff said.
“Even if you are vaccinated, you need to get tested if you have symptoms.”
Rockliff said Tasmania was on track to pass the 80% first dose milestone for the 16-and-over demographic this weekend.
As of Wednesday, more than 62% of eligible Tasmanians are fully vaccinated.
A plan to bring a vaccination bus to small towns with lower jab rates will be detailed in coming days.
The state government, which is expected to reveal its reopening plan in coming weeks, has previously said it won’t ease border restrictions until all Tasmanians have had the chance to be vaccinated.
Updated
Queensland’s chief health officer hopes to see widespread home quarantine in the state by December, with a trial starting next week, AAP reports.
From Monday, 1000 people who have applied to enter Queensland from interstate hotspots have been offered the chance to go into 14 days of home, rather than hotel, quarantine.
The trial is only being offered to Queensland residents currently interstate, and will not be made available to those who opt to travel to hotspots.
Health chief Jeannette Young says if the trial is successful, widespread home quarantine could be implemented as soon as December.
“I hope to see (it), but let’s wait, let’s not jump ahead of ourselves,” she told reporters on Thursday.
“We’ve got a trial starting on Monday with 1000 returning Queenslanders and we will see how that trial goes, but I would strongly recommend that anyone who would like to be part of the process going forward - go and get vaccinated because you need to have had two doses of vaccine, plus an extra two weeks (wait time for full efficacy).
“So as we gradually do look at this if it is successful, that will be one of the criteria.”
Health minister Yvette D’Ath said trial participants must have had at least two weeks since their second vaccination, a negative test 72 hours prior to travel and must reside within two hours of Brisbane airport.
“If you can’t reside alone, then the whole household will need to quarantine. You will be bound by the testing and home quarantine checking system that we have put in place,” the health minister added.
The government is still wary about home quarantine for international arrivals, and will closely monitor a trial in South Australia.
The federal court has ordered Australian internet providers to block access to an alleged education cheating website.
As Guardian Australia first reported, the university regulator, the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) launched the first-of-its-kind legal case in July, seeking to have Assignmenthelp4you.com blocked under laws passed in 2020 targeting academic cheating websites.
In a judgment issued on Thursday, the court found the website to be engaged in facilitating academic cheating, and ordered URLs and its associated IP addresses to be blocked by Australian internet service providers within 15 business days.
Updated
Victorian premier Daniel Andrews said he had no plans to alter Victoria’s roadmap out of lockdown, despite newly installed NSW premier Dominic Perrottet’s accelerating his state’s reopening after it reached the 70% double-dose milestone on Wednesday, AAP reports.
“Other states can make their own decisions. The most important thing for us to do is to continue to see that first and second dose rate tick up,” Andrews said.
The Victorian opposition has called for a return of customer density limits at the 70% target, paving the way for Melbourne hospitality venues to open indoors.
Under the government’s roadmap, cafes, restaurants and pubs in Melbourne will only be able to open for outdoor seated service to a maximum of 50 visitors at that time.
“That doesn’t cut it,” opposition small business spokesman David Southwick said.
Victoria’s more cautious roadmap is designed to protect the health system from being overwhelmed by Covid-19 hospital admissions as the state reopens.
There are now 564 Victorians in hospital battling the virus, up 39 from Wednesday, with 115 those in intensive care and 74 on a ventilator.
Updated
On how much the cancelling of the French submarines contract will cost us, Morrison says “we will be working within the contract as it is set out”.
He says he looks forward to the next phone call or meeting with the French president Emmanuel Macron but stands by the decision.
I acknowledge it’s a difficult period, of course it is. There was no way that we could have taken this decision without it having and causing deep disappointment and hurt to France.
There’s no way we could have avoided that. But you know, that’s the thing about difficult decisions. To take difficult decisions, you need to be conscious of what the implications of those are. But understand what the greater benefit is to Australia’s national interest. That’s what I did on the subs. That’s what I’ve done on Aukus.
I put Australia’s national security interests first and now I will work to ensure we deal with the other issues that flow from that. Otherwise, you know, you don’t just get anything done. That’s what I sought to do. It was the right decision for Australia.
That is the end of the press conference.
Updated
Morrison calls social media a 'coward's palace'
Morrison has also said there will be no change to the GST, despite calls from NSW.
When asked whether he would pass legislation for a national integrity commission, the religious freedom legislation and a crackdown on social media misinformation before the next election, Morrison said there had been “great progress” on the first two.
He then launched into a lengthy complaint about social media, which he called “a coward’s palace” (which is interesting because “coward’s castle” is what people call speaking in parliament under parliamentary privilege, free from defamation threats).
Cowards who go anonymously on social media and vilify people, and harass them, and bully them, and engage in defamatory statements, they need to be responsible for what they’re saying. I can’t come out here and you can’t come here and start doing things like that. We all know who each of us are, we’re responsible for the things we say and do.
Yet social media has become a coward’s palace where people can go on there, not say who they are, destroy people’s lives, and say the most foul and offensive things to people, and do so with impunity.
Now that’s not a free country where that happens. That’s not right. They should have to identify who they are, and you know, the companies, if they’re not going to say who they are, well, they’re not a platform any more, they’re a publisher. They’re a publisher. And you know what the implications of that means in terms of those issues. So, people should be responsible for what they say in a country that believes in free speech. I think that’s very important.
And I think that issue is, and the technology that engages it, and lack of accountability that sits around it, is just not on. You can expect us to be leaning further into this.
That seems to be an indication the federal government will push for defamation law reform following the Dylan Voller high court judgment finding page owners are the publishers of comments made on those pages. The proposal would be to make a platform that hosts the content, like Facebook, also liable.
Updated
Australia-France relationship is 'bigger than a contract', Morrison says
Morrison has welcomed the return of the French ambassador to Australia, and says he looks forward to taking the relationship forward.
It’s not a matter frankly of what additional things we’re putting on our cooperation. We already have cooperation. See the Australia-France relationship is bigger than a contract. And France’s presence and significance and influence in the Indo-Pacific isn’t about a contract. It’s about the fact they have an actual presence here, in the Indo-Pacific, they have a long standing commitment and work with Australia across a whole range of different issues. I mean, we have other defence contracts with France.
We have about $32 bn worth of contracts with not just French but Europe contractors. So France has a significant and longstanding role and future here, and we welcome that. So it’s a matter of basic picking up on all the things we were working on, and continuing on with them. Because they’re very significant. They’re wide-ranging. They’re very much in our interests and France’s interests and we look forward to just getting on with that job.
On former prime minister Tony Abbott’s trip to Taiwan, Morrison says he travelled as a private citizen, and Morrison did not speak to him before his trip.
Updated
On whether the states will stick to the reopening plans, Morrison says we will have to wait and see, but he believes people will want their lives back:
It’s been a long road, and a very long road. People expect when they put that effort in the government will keep that side of the deal. You need to open safely and you need to remain safely open. All states are starting from a different place. I respect that.
Western Australia in particular I say is in quite a different situation to the rest of the country, it always is, that’s the nature of its geography and economy and I understand that. But that said, in what will be probably about a month’s time, we will see people in Sydney travelling again, overseas.
We will see the amount of time I believe, you have to spend in quarantine, fall. I welcome the fact that Queensland is now moving towards home quarantine. That’s great. Things are moving fast. So I note what’s been said. But at the same time, I think Australians will want their lives back, and I think they will make that pretty clear.
Updated
On whether hospitals can cope with a surge of cases, Morrison notes NSW fared better than the modelling, and Victoria has a strong plan to deal with its own surge. He rejects suggestions from the states that it is an issue of funding:
This is about management of hospital systems. States must run their hospital systems well, they must prepare ... I want to commend the way that New South Wales and Victoria, and to be fair, the ACT, has been working through those challenges and ensuring they can prepare for what is happening.
But you’ve got to prepare for what’s coming. The pandemic has been running a long time now. But I say this – on the vaccines, that’s why it’s so important for those states who have not yet been hit by large Covid outbreaks, the higher the vaccination rates, the less of an impact on the hospital system. That’s probably the single most important thing that anyone can do in any state and territory to ensure there’s lesser impact on their hospital system from Covid, and that’s to get vaccinated.
Updated
On what financial support will be available as lockdowns end to ensure a smooth transition, Morrison says the Covid disaster payment continues, but people will need to reapply for it. Once 80% is reached, it will then fall to $450 the following week.
He says people may have to transition to jobseeker, but admits the federal contribution to jobsaver in NSW will end at 80%.
Updated
'We'll make our Australian way' on emissions targets, Morrison says
On the UK High Commissioner’s comments that she would like to see Australia set more ambitious 2030 emissions targets, Morrison says it is for Australians to set the targets here.
The targets will be set by Australians, the Australian cabinet, for Australian needs, and we’ll make our Australian way. I don’t propose to make any suggestions as to what other countries should be doing.
What I understand is this is a global challenge, and that unless we’re all working together on this, unless we’re seeing the technological change that’s needed, particularly in developing countries.
What is important, as I outlined at the Quad meeting, we achieve this new energy economy, new energy technology transformation. That’s what will change the world.
When we see in places like Australia, but also in Indonesia, in Malaysia, in Vietnam, in India, when we see the technology transformation and hydrogen has such a huge role to play in that, that’s when you’ll see the global issues of climate change addressed. We can all go to meetings. But the thing that will actually change it is the transformation delivered by new technologies. And that’s what Australia is focused on.
Updated
On whether the changes to the NSW roadmap are too much too soon, Morrison says they’re still consistent with the health advice:
They’re acting as they always have, consistent with the health advice that has been provided to them. We’re still at 70%. I think the measures that have been taken still remain cautious. You still can’t go to church and sing and all of these sorts of things.
There’s still the low to medium level public health safety social measures, I should say, that are in place. There’s test, trace, isolate and quarantine measures, they’re still in place.
And all of that combined, I think, provides the protection that the Doherty modelling says is necessary. So I think they’re moving in step with that advice and that’s clearly what they’re receiving from the chief health officer in New South Wales.
But, you know, people are right to say, look, it’s great to have these, but let’s be careful with them. Let’s not get too excited too quick. There’s still a long way to go. I have no doubt the New South Wales government will proceed safely and cautiously. But they won’t be holding back at the same time the important freedoms that I think people have worked hard to achieve.
Updated
Morrison says vaccine problems now 'fixed' and 'we're on the home stretch'
Morrison says Australia will hit 30m vaccine doses administered this week:
What that shows is the problems and challenges that we’ve had, we’ve addressed. We have fixed. And we have turn it around, and we’re on the home stretch, and we’re moving towards that line, and then we need to keep going beyond it. Because I believe Australia can achieve much higher vaccination rates than the 70 and 80% that we’ve set out in the national plan and that will only give us greater confidence and enable us to move even more quickly as we open the country up.
Updated
We are still in the long preamble. Morrison says what is different this time is NSW is opening and staying open. He says he wants NSW opening to be seen as a sign of hope for the rest of the country, particularly Victoria, which still has a couple more weeks of lockdown.
He says other states that have not endured long lockdowns should not have to if vaccination rates keep going up.
Updated
Scott Morrison press conference begins
The prime minister, Scott Morrison, starts the press conference by noting New South Wales has reached its 70% double-dose vaccine target, and says the federal government has provided $10bn in support nationally during this lockdown alone.
He says Australians are beginning to get their lives back:
The things that have been taken from them, because of this awful pandemic, the ability of Australians to come together, to spend time with one another, to do business, to be together with family, to go to weddings, to go to funerals. All of these times so precious. And these times [are] now being restored. Because of the vaccination rates hitting the levels that we’ve needed them to, as set out in the scientific work that has been done by the Doherty Institute.
Updated
The ABC’s news director Gaven Morris has resigned after six years in the top job, saying he won’t sign a new contract as he wants to seek a new challenge.
Morris, who set up the ABC News Channel in 2010, was appointed director of news in 2015 aged 43 after starting as a reporter when he was 20.
“Gaven’s contribution to the ABC has been enormous,” the ABC’s managing director David Anderson told staff.
His strategic vision and boundless drive and energy have been integral to a string of achievements, including leading the 2010 launch of the ABC News Channel; spearheading ABC News’s rise to digital excellence; creating the journalistic powerhouses of ABC Investigations and the Specialist Reporting Team; fostering News’s culture of diversity and inclusion; and driving the strategy to make News’s content and services more relevant to all Australians.
Updated
Anyone attending Western Australia’s major schoolies event will need to be vaccinated against Covid-19, the state government says.
AAP reports the event at Dunsborough scheduled for late in November is expected to attract up to 9000 people.
Based on advice from the state’s chief health officers, anyone attending or working at the event will need to have had at least one vaccine dose by 22 November.
The government said if there was a coronavirus case detected at the gathering, it would risk a serious community outbreak because of the lack of physical distancing, the mixing of non-family groups and the potential for poor contact tracing data.
“This is another sensible step to protect our young people at a big event but also the volunteers, workers and local community as well,” Health minister Roger Cook said.
“There is plenty of time for everyone wishing to attend the event to get vaccinated. Don’t wait before it’s too late.”
The Dunsborough event is due to run from 22 to 26 November.
Updated
Victoria’s parliament is preparing to impose a vaccination mandate on all staff, including MPs, AAP reports.
Last Friday, the Victorian government announced all authorised workers, including MPs and their staff, must have received at least one dose of vaccine by October 15 and a second by November 26 to continue working on site.
Labor’s leader in the Legislative Assembly, Jacinta Allan, said the parliament was still working through a process in which MPs would have to declare their vaccination status.
“I’ve been having discussions with MPs in the assembly, the opposition and crossbenchers and I will say we are working through these issues, constructively,” she told reporters outside parliament on Thursday.
“But I also think it’s a good leadership position for MPs to be upfront about the decision on the vaccination status, given we’re out there every single day pleading with Victorians, asking Victorians to get vaccinated to keep everyone safe.”
Allan said she was fully vaccinated, as did her colleagues – treasurer Tim Pallas and ministers Lily D’Ambrosio, Danny Pearson and Richard Wynne – who arrived at parliament early on Thursday.
A government spokesman confirmed all Labor MPs have had their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, with the “handful” who are not yet fully vaccinated booked in to receive their second dose in the coming weeks.
Asked if all coalition MPs were vaccinated, opposition leader Matthew Guy said all his shadow cabinet had received at least their first dose.
“It’s all - if it’s not, it’s only one or two that haven’t had their first, but I expect everyone to be done by the time that’s been set,” he told reporters.
Updated
Attorney general 'carefully considering' Collaery ruling
We reported yesterday that Bernard Collaery, the barrister facing trial for his alleged role in exposing the Timor-Leste bugging scandal, won a significant battle to overturn secrecy orders that would have hidden evidence and crucial parts of his case from the public.
In overturning the secrecy orders, the ACT court of appeal noted that open justice was crucial in deterring “political prosecutions”, among other things. The initial secrecy orders were made following an intervention in the criminal case by the former attorney-general Christian Porter, using powers contained in the National Security Information Act.
The commonwealth now has the option of appealing the ACT court of appeal’s ruling in the high court. I asked the office of attorney general Michaelia Cash what its plans were.
Her office said the government was “carefully considering the judgement”:
The government notes the Court’s decision on Mr Collaery’s appeal against the ACT Supreme Court’s decision to make orders under the National Security Information (Criminal and Civil Proceedings) Act 2004 (NSI Act). This appeal relates specifically to the orders made under the NSI Act and that the substantive prosecution is still before the Court. The Commonwealth is carefully considering the judgment. As these proceedings still remain before the Court, it would not be appropriate to comment further.
I also asked the commonwealth director of public prosecutions whether it would still proceed with the prosecution of Collaery. The CDPP declined to comment.
Collaery is facing trial for allegedly communicating protected intelligence information to ABC journalists and conspiring with his former client Witness K, a retired intelligence officer, to communicate material to the government of Timor-Leste.
Updated
Transport workers at StarTrack, FedEx, Toll, Linfox and BevChain could strike nationally in the near future unless their employer moves in the next week to provide secure work arrangements.
Transport Workers’ Union members have endorsed participating in the strike after five months of enterprise agreement negotiations, and want to protect jobs by limiting the use of outside hire and removing financial incentives to contract out work.
Meetings with bosses will be held in the coming days.
TWU national secretary Michael Kaine said:
In the absence of regulation, an industry-wide crisis requires an industry-wide response. It is crunch time. Several thousand workers have vowed to unite and take national action if that is what it takes to bring this attack on their jobs to an end as quickly as possible.
Christmas is fast approaching, and this has gone on long enough. Workers have acted responsibly throughout negotiations, it’s time for transport operators to bring a reasonable solution to the table and provide the guarantees workers need so that national strikes will not be necessary.
In transport, job security is literally a matter of life or death. When work is pushed out to lower paid workers with fewer rights, safety standards plummet.
Scott Morrison has the blueprint to end this chaos. Two months ago, a Senate report pushed for the establishment of an independent body to set minimum binding standards in trucking. This would topple the Amazon Effect which is smashing supply chains and undermining minimum standards. What is Morrison waiting for?
Updated
The prime minister, Scott Morrison, will hold a press conference at the Lodge at 2pm.
Updated
NSW Labor’s shadow minister for customer service and digital, Yasmin Catley, has questioned why it will still be up to two weeks until the vaccination status update to the Service NSW app is ready, despite NSW opening up from next week:
The delay of this app is causing significant anxiety amongst businesses who face fines of $5,000.
We know the reason this app was delayed is because the government was late to move on it. They wasted crucial time and now business is paying the costs.
This app should have been ready to rollout out from Monday, instead businesses will be waiting weeks with what minister [Stuart] Ayres calls a transition period, which provides absolutely no certainty for businesses across this state.
Updated
The NSW Teachers Federation president Angelo Gavrielatos has slammed the changes to the reopening of schools announced by the NSW government on Thursday.
He told the ABC there was no consultation with the sector about the earlier return to school:
Yesterday afternoon, the secretary of the New South Wales Department of Education had a meeting with all staff from across New South Wales. And during that meeting, not a single word, not a peep, about this revised roadmap.
This is the second revision within a week, and it’s the third revision over the course of the last number of weeks. We were told that we need certainty, but the only thing we’re getting is uncertainty and bucket loads of disrespect.
No prior consultation whatsoever – none – with the teaching profession with respect to the original roadmap, let alone this revision upon revision. And the challenges that are associated with it, the risks that are associated with it, have clearly not been calculated.
He questions whether there will be enough staff to work given the vaccination rate among teachers is the same as the general population, as they were not prioritised in the rollout.
He also said work auditing ventilation in classrooms has “hardly been completed” and remedies had not been put in place.
We will now have a situation that all students, including HSC students, will be back two weeks earlier, exposing schools at large, HSC students as well.
Because as regrettable as it is, it’s inevitable there will be cases. And when there is a case, that impacts hundreds of students and teachers on each occasion who are deemed as close contacts. Were any of these things considered?
Updated
With that, I will leave you in the more-than-capable hands of Josh Taylor for the rest of the afternoon.
Mining and energy union criticises BHP's vaccine mandate
The Queensland mining and energy union has released a statement condemning BHP’s announcement that Covid-19 vaccinations will be mandatory for its employees.
The CFMEU’s Mining and Energy Queensland president Stephen Smyth:
We have strongly advocated to government and industry that Covid-19 vaccinations should be voluntary for mineworkers, with the high rates we need to protect safety better achieved through education, access and incentives.
BHP must engage in genuine consultation with the workforce. Some of our immediate concerns include fair treatment of casuals and contractors on BHP sites – keeping in mind that a minority of workers on BHP’s Queensland mine sites are direct employees; support for workers with a genuine medical exemption and paid time for workers to get vaccinated or in case of experiencing vaccine-related side-effects.
Our priority is protecting our members’ jobs, rights and working conditions as we work through the workforce and legal implications of BHP’s announcement.
Updated
The foreign minister Marise Payne has released a statement in response to the announcement the French ambassador will return to Canberra.
Statement from Foreign Minister Marise Payne after France’s Foreign Minister announced the French Ambassador would return to Canberra @9NewsAUS pic.twitter.com/4DhGei3HOp
— Jonathan Kearsley (@jekearsley) October 7, 2021
Updated
New Zealand reports 29 new Covid cases
New Zealand has reported 29 new cases of Covid-19 in the community on Thursday, bringing the total in the latest Delta outbreak to 1,448. Five of Thursday’s cases are in Waikato, the region immediately south of Auckland’s border, and the rest are in Auckland.
One of the cases visited Auckland City Mission – a central city service that supports the homeless community and those struggling to access food.
All of Waikato’s cases are linked to household contacts, while seven of Auckland’s cases are yet to be epidemiologically linked to current cases.
The Covid-19 response minister Chris Hipkins announced the border around Waikato will be extended further, as will the level three lockdown settings, until Monday next week out of “an abundance of caution”.
Hipkins again encouraged people to get vaccinated, and asked that those in rural areas don’t become complacent.
The virus is clearly finding the people who are not vaccinated. Only 3% of the cases in our current outbreak have had a vaccine. So my message is, please do not wait. I can assure you that the vaccine is safe and effective.
There are 23 people in hospital, and four of those are in intensive care.
Just over 77% of New Zealanders over the age of 12 have had their first dose of the vaccine, and 49% are fully vaccinated.
The government also announced it would roll out a much wider and more rigorous testing regime, on advice from the University of Otago’s Prof David Murdoch, who leads the government’s testing advisory group. This regime will keep PCR tests as the primary mode of testing, but will add saliva testing and rapid antigen testing to its “toolkit”.
Murdoch:
We need to be faster and more agile in assessing and implementing new tests and testing approaches. As a country we were too slow to adopt saliva testing, and too slow to prepare for rapid testing, so we do need to up our game.
Updated
A Covid-19 summary for Thursday
The press conferences have finished for the morning, so, to refresh:
- Victoria recorded 1,638 new locally acquired cases and two deaths, and $5m will be injected into the vaccination rollout in a push to vaccinate NDIS participants ahead of the state’s reopening.
- NSW recorded 587 new cases and eight deaths, including two people who died at home and tested positive to Covid-19 after their deaths.
- The ACT has recorded 41 new cases, with concerns over a growing cluster linked to a maternity ward.
- There have been no new cases in Queensland or Tasmania. Some 51 casual contacts have been linked to a positive teenager in Launceston. All close contacts have so far tested negative.
Updated
No new Covid cases in Tasmania
Some 17 close contacts identified linked to a positive case in Launceston have so far tested negative.
There are now 51 casual contacts of the COVID-positive teenager from Launceston. 7 have so far had negative test results. All close contacts negative so far #covid19tas
— Monte Bovill (@MonteBovill) October 7, 2021
Updated
The ACT records 41 new Covid cases
It brings active cases in the territory to 407.
ACT COVID-19 update (7 October 2021):
— ACT Health (@ACTHealth) October 7, 2021
◾ New cases today: 41
◾ Active cases: 407
◾ Total recovered cases: 694
◾ Total cases: 1,107
◾ Negative test results (past 24 hours): 3,019
◾ In hospital: 15
◾ Lives lost: 6 pic.twitter.com/WXVQ42CHmi
Dep CHO Johnston
— Anna Vidot (@AnnaVidot) October 7, 2021
41 new
1107 total
694 recovered (63% of all cases)
407 active
Of 41
14 linked (11 household)
24 investigation
7 in quarantine
5 at least, at least partly infectious in cmnty
15 in hospital
4 NSW residents
11 unvaxxed
4 one dose
7 in ICU (20s-60s)
6 ventilated
Updated
BREAKING: ACT #Covid19 update: A second baby at the Special Care Nursery at Canberra Hospital. Also a team member from the Special Care Nursery.
— Karen Barlow (@KJBar) October 7, 2021
2 carers have also tested positive.
So five #covid18 cases in total.
Health Minister stresses it is Special Care not NICU.#Covid19ACT
Ben Cowie is asked whether Victoria’s Latrobe Valley, which only recently emerged from lockdown, may need to return in light of today’s case numbers.
He says health authorities will have a “more nuanced” approach than they may have had previously to locking down regional areas, and this is linked to vaccination rates:
We are all moving down that roadmap, which is defined by our underlying vaccination status in the community. So the way that we can make lockdowns less and less likely – and ultimately unnecessary – is by continuing that journey Victorians are doing so amazingly and getting vaccinated.
If there’s concerns about the nature of the cases, if the health services are particularly impacted, certainly if significant school exposures occur, that all goes into the decision making around whether a local government area meets the criteria for going into lockdown. But I do think – and this is part of us opening up and getting back some of those activities that we’ve all missed so much – that will come with increased cases. There is no way around that. We will see increased cases.
Updated
Luke Donnellan is asked why $5m needs to be injected into Victoria’s disability sector, when the vaccination rollout was the federal government’s responsibility:
Look, it is a commonwealth responsibility in terms of NDIS participants and in terms of the residential – those residents and those working in residential services. This is very much about us stepping in. We’re not happy with the vaccine rates at the moment ... We’e opening up, we need to deal with this now. And that’s why we’ve stepped in.
Updated
115 new Covid cases in regional Victoria
Victoria’s acting chief health officer Ben Cowie is providing a breakdown of today’s Covid-19 cases.
In the northern suburbs, there have been 566 new cases. The northern suburbs are carrying just over 43% of the state’s active cases. In the west, there have been 484 new cases. There have been 351 new cases in the south-east, and 114 in the east.
There have been 115 new cases in regional Victoria, bringing active cases to 707. The majority are linked. There were 11 new cases in Shepparton, 8 new cases in Ballarat, 16 in Geelong, 17 in the Mitchell Shire, 11 in Baw Baw, 15 in La Trobe and 11 in Mount Alexander Shire. There were four new cases reported in Mildura, all within the same household.
Updated
A former travel writer named Martin is up in Victoria. He says it is everybody’s “social and moral obligation” to get vaccinated:
Vaccination works. And vaccination has allowed us to eradicate some really horrible diseases in the world. The thing is that, as a person with disability, I’m much more likely to be mixing with other people with disability who are also in a high-risk group.
I was left a quadriplegic 10 years ago, 11 years ago, when I had an accident. So I was already in a high-risk group. And I was already getting a free flu shot because I’m in a high-risk group. So, as soon as 1b opened, I was done at my GP, I was lucky to get it at my GP. It’s very easy. I’ve been double-vaccinated for quite some time now. As I say, I think it’s even more important for people with disability to get vaccinated, because we’re much more likely to be in contact with other people with disabilities.
Updated
Disability and multicultural community advocate Margherita has just spoken. She says when Covid hit, it was her “worst nightmare”:
Living alone in affordable housing, worrying about being 61-plus, fear of my loved ones and my friends finding me dying to Covid. And what that did was it raised my anxiety around not having a will, so I actually committed to doing a will for the first time in my life. It scared the daylights out of me and was very daunting.
When the minister announced ... the blitz for disability workers, I saw that as an opportunity to make a mark.
I took off on my motorised scooter. From the moment I arrived, the people knew that my anxiety was really high and what they did was took me through quickly and then actually made sure that I had two nurses with me and were with me through the whole experience.
Once I’d done one, the next one was easy. After doing it, I was so relieved that I was now in a better position to live a longer life and not worrying about being found dead in my apartment. And being safe, being safe where I could visit my loved ones and my friends.
Updated
Almost a quarter of Victoria’s Covid cases today were people aged in their 20s, Luke Donnellan says.
There are now 15,074 active cases across the state, including 564 people in hospital – 115 in ICU and 74 requiring ventilation.
Of today’s two deaths, one was a woman in her 60s from Wyndham, and one was a woman in her 70s from Hume.
Of the people in hospital yesterday, 66% were unvaccinated, 27% were partially vaccinated and 7% were fully vaccinated.
Some 84.4% of people over 16 have now received their first dose in Victoria, and 55% have received their second dose.
Updated
Victoria to inject $5m to lift vaccine rates among NDIS participants
The Victorian minister for disability, ageing and carers Luke Donnellan is up, announcing a $5m funding package to boost vaccination rates among people living with a disability.
Ten dedicated disability pop-up vaccine clinics will be established in areas of concern, and Victoria’s disability liaison service will gain 16 extra officers:
As of September 30, more than 71% of Victorian NDIS participants aged 16 and over had received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine compared to 67% of the national average. So we’re doing slightly better, but it’s simply not good enough. Of the NDIS participants in Victoria living in disability residential accommodation, more than 80% have received a first dose at least.
But vaccination for Victorians living with a disability are still lower than the general population, as I indicated a minute ago, at 84.4%. We’ve got to keep pushing through. That’s why from October 8, all of Victoria’s state-run vaccination centres will support people with disabilities to get vaccinated any time without a booking.
Updated
The NSW Labor leader Chris Minns has responded to premier Dominic Perrottet’s altered roadmap out of lockdown.
He says one of the things Labor is concerned about is “consistent and clear rules” in relation to business:
What they will say to unvaccinated people who come into their place of business; what the procedure will be for their staff, for their customers; what procedures will be in place to make sure that ... procedures are effective on Monday?
This is a very serious concern for the tens of thousands of businesses that want to open. We are also worried that the vaccine passport app that was meant to be rolled out weeks ago should have been in place on the first day of opening on 11 October will not be ready [for] tens of thousands of businesses that need to and want to open at the first available opportunity on Monday.
Updated
The Tasmanian acting premier will hold a Covid-19 update at 12pm.
Tasmania’s Acting Premier Jeremy Rockliff will provide a coronavirus update at midday #covid19tas
— Monte Bovill (@MonteBovill) October 7, 2021
Restrictions in NSW's Oberon, Snowy Mountains and Central Darling Shire extended
Stay-at-home orders have been extended for the Oberon LGA, Snowy Monaro Regional LGA, and for Menindee and Sunset Strip in the central Darling Shire until 11 October due to recent transmission of Covid-19.
Fragments of the virus have also been detected in wastewater in Lightning Ridge in western NSW, Ballina and Uralla in northern NSW and Bodalla, Bega and Merimbula in southern NSW.
Updated
Here is a breakdown of today’s cases in NSW. There has been one case detected in correctional settings, with the majority of cases in south western Sydney.
Of the 587 locally acquired cases reported to 8pm last night, 119 are from South Western Sydney
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) October 7, 2021
Local Health District (LHD), 105 are from Western Sydney LHD, 83 are from Hunter New England
LHD, 60 are from Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD, 59 are from South Eastern Sydney LHD, -
-59 are from Sydney LHD, 22 are from Northern Sydney LHD, 21 are from Central Coast LHD, 20 are from Nepean Blue Mountains LHD, 15 are from Southern NSW LHD, seven are from Western NSW LHD, seven are from Northern NSW LHD, four are from Murrumbidgee LHD, two are from Far West LHD
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) October 7, 2021
one is in correctional settings, and three are yet to be assigned to an LHD.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) October 7, 2021
Stay-at-home orders have been extended for a number of areas in regional NSW due to the ongoing
COVID-19 public health risk.
There are currently 911 Covid-19 cases in hospital in NSW, including 181 in intensive care and 85 requiring ventilation. One of today’s deaths acquired his infection at Campbelltown Hospital. This is the fourth death linked to that outbreak.
Today’s new cases were detected from 112,186. There were 22,609 vaccine doses administered across state-run sites, pushing NSW beyond its 70% double dose targets.
NSW has reached the 70 per cent double dose vaccination milestone. We thank everyone who has
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) October 7, 2021
come forward to protect themselves, their loved ones and the wider community from COVID-19.
Updated
No new community Covid cases in Queensland
There are no new Covid cases in the community in Queensland. But six new cases have been recorded in quarantine, including five people on a ship off Cape York.
Updated
Two people in NSW died at home and tested positive to Covid after deaths
Some more detail on those deaths in NSW. Every death is a tragedy, but NSW Health is reporting two people, a man in his 20s from western Sydney and a woman in her 80s from south eastern Sydney died at home and tested positive to Covid-19 after their deaths.
One person in their 50s, two people in their 60s, two people in their 70s and a further person in their 80s also died.
Five people were not vaccinated, one person had received one dose, and two people with underlying health conditions had received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccination.
If there were a press conference today, we would ask why it was possible for two people to die at home without knowing they were carrying the virus.
Updated
NSW records eight additional Covid deaths
We have a health update from NSW.
There have been eight deaths overnight, five men and three women.
NSW recorded 587 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) October 7, 2021
No new cases were acquired overseas. The total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of
the pandemic is 66,835. pic.twitter.com/NNJ6xdGXPQ
Updated
Some 5m vaccination doses have now been delivered in Queensland, health minister Yvette D’ath said. Almost 50% of Queenslanders are now fully vaccinated.
Updated
Qld Premier @AnnastaciaMP spokesperson says she's concerned national cabinet has only received "interim analysis" of:
— @MartySilk (@MartySilkHack) October 6, 2021
- Testing, tracing, isolation, quarantine
- Home quarantine
- Local/Primary Health Networks
She's worried phases C and D will be dumped after borders reopen pic.twitter.com/KPrQKIdDs8
We will be hearing from Victorian authorities at 11.15am.
Minister Donnellan and Acting CHO Ben Cowie will provide a coronavirus update and make an announcement at 11:15am #springst #COVID19Vic
— Political Alert (@political_alert) October 6, 2021
Updated
A further two positive Covid-19 cases have been identified related to an outbreak at Canberra’s Centenary hospital, which has been linked to an infant.
Investigations continue into how the baby, who was being cared for in the hospital’s special care nursery and was diagnosed on Tuesday, acquired the virus.
Close contacts, including parents, patients and hospital staff have been identified.
ACT health minister Rachel Stephen-Smith told ABC radio it was becoming a cluster, but investigations were ongoing and support was available for all involved.
I do want to reassure anyone who is coming into the Centenary hospital that it is safe environment to come into. The best thing to protect children is that the adults around them are vaccinated. I imagine (vaccines for children) are not far away but I wouldn’t want to put a timeframe on it.
Updated
All 72 Victorian Government MPs has had their first dose of the vaccination and the vast majority have had their second dose (some still waiting for their booking) @abcmelbourne #springst
— Bridget Rollason (@bridgerollo) October 6, 2021
Strong vaccine numbers again yesterday - 336k (5th highest day)
— Kieran Gilbert (@Kieran_Gilbert) October 6, 2021
81% first dose nationwide
Almost 60% double dose nationwide (59.3)
Some more on treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s breakfast TV tour this morning from AAP.
Frydenberg is confident Australia’s economy will bounce back from crippling Covid-19 lockdowns as NSW prepares to ease restrictions. He told Seven:
If you have the jab, as so many people in NSW have had ... you will get your freedoms back. As for the economy, we are confident it will bounce back as it has done before when we have gone into lockdowns. The Delta strain has delayed but not derailed the economic recovery.
The ACT is close behind NSW on double-dose rates, with more than 68% fully vaccinated according to federal data. Victoria’s full vaccination rate is about 54%. Tasmania has double-dosed about 62% of its over-16 population, the NT 54% and SA 52%.
Frydenberg is in isolation after a staff member at his Melbourne electorate office contracted the virus.
He continued to defend tapering off federal economic support for states and territories in line with 70 and 80% vaccination milestones on Nine:
With the vaccination rates rapidly rising, the opening up of the economy is not that far away. That will create a new dynamic not only for a boost to the economy but obviously to people’s wellbeing.
Concerns remain about lagging jab rates in parts of the country that have avoided major Covid-19 outbreaks. WA and Queensland both have double-dose rates sitting just below 50%.
Updated
Reason party leader Fiona Patten is quitting social media over online abuse.
.@FionaPattenMLC quitting social media for now, citing "appalling abuse, most of it from anonymous cowards". pic.twitter.com/vSRpyxMAV9
— Luke Henriques-Gomes (@lukehgomes) October 6, 2021
The NSW press conference has wrapped up.
To summise, premier Dominic Perrottet has announced a series of changes to the state’s reopening plan, but reiterated the major dates will remain the same.
So although there have been some tweaks, NSW will still emerge from lockdown on Monday 11 October, in only four days.
But the premier has introduced changes to rules at 70% and 80% fully vaccinated to allow people “more freedoms”.
At 70% double vaccinated, home visitors will be doubled to 10 (not counting children 12 and under), caps on outdoor gatherings will be lifted to 30 (previously 20) and caps on weddings and funerals have been doubled to 100 people.
Indoor pools will be re-opened for swimming lessons, squad training, lap swimming and rehab.
At 80% double vaccinated, people will be able to have up to 20 visitors at home, and up to 50 people can gather outdoors. Nightclubs will be permitted to reopen for seated drinking only (no dancing though) and up to 3,000 people will be allowed to attend ticketed outdoor events.
Also at 80%, masks will no longer be required in offices.
The premier also announced that all school children will return to school on 25 October, abandoning the staged return his predecessor set out.
There have also been changes made to regional rules, with deputy premier Paul Toole saying workers in regional areas who have received one dose will be permitted to return to work from 11 October, and have been given a grace period to 1 November to get their second dose.
Updated
Nightclubs will be able to reopen earlier than planned under the revised roadmap.
Reporter:
It’s probably not important for the older generation (ageist), but if you’re 18, 19, it’s probably top of mind. Nightclubs, right? You’ve got a change where they can open at 80%, but seated, no dancing. Isn’t that the whole point of going to a nightclub, going out for a dance?
Perrottet:
I agree. On the current road map, (dancing is) down for 1 December ... but in my view, if they’re operating within their licence arrangements and they want to use their premises in a way that’s not technically a nightclub, but a bar, well, that just makes perfect sense.
You shouldn’t just categorise nightclubs and say they should be closed to 1 December. So, I think this change provides those businesses that opportunity to open up. Look, I acknowledge the point of the question. Young people have done it pretty tough during this period of time. This is, for many, the best years of their life, at 18, 19, and they haven’t been able to go out, go clubbing and doing that. I want to thank them. And we’ll get those clubs open as quickly as possible.
Updated
Teachers will still need to wear masks at 80% double dose targets, regardless of their vaccination status.
Sarah Mitchell:
We’ve got a range of measures in place in our schools to make sure there’s a Covid-safe return. We’ve done an audit of each and every classroom ... across the state. It’s to make sure we have got the natural ventilation we need. We are fixing windows as we go, making sure we follow health guidelines around those measures that are important for the return to school. We’ll still have mask wearing on site when students return for all of our staff, for all of our high school-aged children as well. It’s important that we have that extra measure in place. And we’ve got teacher vaccinations. So, there’s a range of measures.
Updated
Good news.
— Michael Rowland (@mjrowland68) October 6, 2021
Dominic Perrottet (who was just informed his nickname is ‘let-it-rip Dom’ among some circles) is asked what the modelling is showing for how case numbers will progress in the coming weeks, now NSW has gotten down to the 500s.
Perrottet:
We looked at that yesterday. And obviously as we open up and mobility increases, case numbers will increase as well. The health team is providing advice in relation to that. But we’re incredibly confident. We have to learn to live alongside this virus. And the key to learning to live alongside the virus is a high vaccination rate.
We can get ... close to 100%. We’re gonna get above 90%. We have one of the highest vaccination rates not just in the country but globally, and that means we can open up safely and never go back. And that’s what we’re on the cusp of. And so once again, I keep saying it, but, please, if you’ve made a booking for a second vaccination, please keep the booking, please keep making that sacrifice, because that means we can continue to open up safely.
Updated
What is your message to businesses that are going to be facing these real challenging times?
Dominic Perrottet:
Yes, it’s going to be difficult. What is most important is we’re on up – the alternative is remaining closed. And that is not an alternative in my view.
We need to open up. We need to open up safely and that’s why we have made the decisions we have so only those who are double vaccinated are able to attend those venues where the restrictions we are lifting.
It’s not going to be a perfect science. I accept that. I accept that. But nothing is always perfect but we want to get it right. We have listened to the feedback and I can say over the 24, 48 hours we will provide further guidance in relation to it.
Updated
The deputy prime minister, Barnaby Joyce, has weighed in on a demand from resources minister Keith Pitt and Nationals senator Matt Canavan for a $250bn publicly-funded lending facility of last resort for mining companies.
Earlier, Joyce told Radio National he has “sympathy for what they say” and the pair had made a “very fair comment” – although he noted this is “not the position of the Nationals party room, it’s the position of members within the Nationals party room”.
Joyce gave an update about how the Nationals will proceed after negotiations with Scott Morrison on emissions reduction. Joyce explained he had met the Nationals leadership group of Bridget McKenzie and deputy leader David Littleproud this morning and they agreed to have a Nationals party room meeting “not to discuss our position but to discuss the process going forward”.
Joyce said:
I know the prime minister will no doubt be bringing forward what he sees as the process, we will then bring that back to the Nationals to allow them to have their deliberations.
I’ve seen a report from comments by Keith Pitt and Matt Canavan – it’s a very fair comment, that we can’t have the sovereignty of our nation determined by other people, by a board deciding what they invest in or not.
My view as the deputy prime minister and the leader of the Nationals is to ensure we go through a process, which is consideration of anything put before us.
Again asked about the substance of the call for a lender of last resort, Joyce said he had “sympathy for what they say” because he doesn’t like decisions affecting Australia’s economic sovereignty to be made in boardrooms by people paid to administer others’ money rather than its actual owners.
But should the taxpayer step in? Joyce would only say they “shouldn’t have to if banks did what they are supposed to do”.
Updated
Our Guardian interactive map is in, and the NSW curve is continuing to trend downward.
Then why isn’t Kerry Chant in attendance at Dominic Perrottet’s first major press conference?
Dr Chant is one of my favourite constituents in Epping. We always had a great relationship. But as I made the announcement yesterday, we are moving away from 11am press conferences ... it’s also an economic crisis as well.
As the new premier, we’re the elected officials, Chris. That is – and style might be different and changes get made, but in my view we had a very constructive discussion last night and as the health minister has said, these changes are supported by the health team.
Updated
Dominic Perrottet is asked if chief health officer Kerry Chant endorses the changes to the roadmap announced today:
We had a very productive and constructive crisis cabinet meeting last evening. That’s the last crisis cabinet meeting we’ll have as we transition to a new subcommittee, a Covid economic recovery and subcommittee of cabinet.
These changes today are measured, sensible, and ensured we open up in a very safe way. I met yesterday for some time with Dr Chant and with minister Hazzard. We ran through a whole range of issues. We then took some suggested changes to the roadmap to the cabinet meeting last evening. It was a long meeting, but one in which I think was constructive.
Updated
NSW reports 587 new Covid cases
NSW health minister Brad Hazzard has jumped up to the podium and announced the numbers early this morning. There have been 587 new locally acquired cases in NSW overnight from a total of 112,186 tests.
Updated
NSW education minister Sarah Mitchell says 45,000 teachers are fully vaccinated in the lead-up to all students returning by 25 October:
Vaccination for our teachers is mandatory, as you all know – we’ve got Covid-safe measures in place. We have audits for our natural ventilation to ensure our classrooms are safe. I’m pleased with our teacher vaccinations. We have been capturing that data as of 10pm last night I can tell you that 45,000 teachers have told us that they are fully vaccinated and ready to return to work. Those numbers will grow in the coming days as that data is collated. So we are ready, we are excited, we can’t wait to have our kids back and I’m just delighted that will now be from 25 October.
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NSW deputy premier Paul Toole is up, announcing some changes for the regions. Regional workers will be able to return to work if they’ve had one dose of a vaccination. They must be fully dosed by 1 November:
This has been done because in some areas it was difficult to be able to get vaccines into those areas and what we are doing is giving a grace period to allow those businesses to be able to open their doors from Monday. This will include regional areas outside of Blue Mountains area, Central Coast, Shellharbour and Wollongong. This is important because what we are focused on is keeping our communities safe, but also opening up New South Wales.
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Some significant further changes will be made at the 80% double dose mark, including the removal of mask wearing and increased caps for gatherings.
Dominic Perrottet:
On the 80% mark, we will be removing the requirement to wear masks in the office. In addition to that ... we have a cap of major outdoor events of 5,000. That will remain in place but we want to make the point that exemptions for venues will be granted. With Covid-safe plans, venues can apply through NSW Health, the health minister will look through those issues and exemptions will always be made in that space.
We’ll also increase at the 80% mark outdoor gatherings, home visitations and the like ... we’re also increasing outdoor, controlled events. That’s ticketed events to 3,000. So today is a great day ... this is not over, but to get to 70% is incredibly successful for everybody right across NSW. We’re going to get to 80% very, very shortly as well.
If we continue to work together, if we continue to make the effort and make the sacrifices that we have all been making, NSW will be open again and that ensures we get back to work and get businesses open and get the economy and society back to where it was before this pandemic began.
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Here is the full statement from NSW.
10 visitors will be allowed in the home from Monday, and gatherings outdoors will increase to 30. Funerals and weddings will increase to 100.
#BREAKING Big changes to the NSW roadmap...10 visitors at home, not 5. And 30 outside not 20. Funerals and weddings to 100. Indoor pools to open. #Covid_19 pic.twitter.com/scL9qlp3Ti
— Chris Reason (@ChrisReason7) October 6, 2021
All NSW children to return to school by 25 October
Dominic Perrottet is also amending the roadmap to returning to school.:
We are bringing forward all schools to return by the 25th of October. So stage one will be the 18th of October and we’ll be moving the period from November into the 25th of October. So all school children will return to school by 25 October. That’s great for kids. It’s a major relief for parents and their sanity and I think this is an important decision today and I want to thank all the teachers who are are there getting vaccinated to ensure that we can open our schools as safely as possible.
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Indoor pools open, caps on gatherings to increase in NSW from Monday
Dominic Perrottet is announcing changes to come into effect from Monday.
- Indoor swimming pools will be open for children’s swimming lessons, lap swimming and rehabilitation.
- Home visits will be doubled, and outdoor gatherings will be increased.
- Caps on weddings and funerals will be increased to 100.
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NSW premier Dominic Perrottet is up now, speaking from the Homebush vaccination centre. He says yesterday marked a “great milestone” as the state reached 70% double dose vaccinations for over-16s:
We have always said that vaccination is the key to our freedom and the sacrifices and the effort of people right across NSW have ensured that we can open up as quickly and safely as possible. We know that this is not just a health crisis, it’s an economic crisis, too, and NSW has been incredibly successful.
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Our interactive graph is in and Victoria’s seven-day average isn’t looking incredible but, equally, we’re not seeing a dramatic jump in cases.
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NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet is set to announce some changes to the state’s reopening plan, including easing mask mandates and reopening indoor pools for lessons.
The premier told the Today show that he has always indicated that “Monday would be the day”:
We said from the outset that Monday would be the day, the Monday after [the] 70 per cent [vaccination target].
Our discussions with industry and businesses are in terms of getting ready for that day, that we should keep the stability there.
But later today we’ll also be making an announcement for a number of changes to the roadmap which will bring certain things forward and lift some caps on a range of things.
Separately, but quite relevantly, NSW deputy Liberal leader, Stuart Ayres, was on Sunrise, and said he wanted to get kids back to school “as quickly as possible.”
So, you can expect changes to mask mandates in offices, pool reopening dates, and perhaps some other shifts in the staged plan. The presser is due at 9am.
French ambassador to return to Australia
France has announced its ambassador will return to Australia, ending a diplomatic protest over Canberra’s decision to scrap a contract to buy French submarines, AAP reports.
France recalled its envoy to Australia on September 17, but foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told parliament:
I have asked our ambassador to return to Canberra with two objectives: helping to define our relationship with Australia in the future... and firmly defend our interests in the implementation of Australia’s decision to terminate the submarine programme.
President Emmanuel Macron reacted furiously to Australia’s announcement on September 15 that it was scrapping its multibillion-dollar submarine contract with France in favour of a new deal negotiated in secret with the US and Britain, referred to as AUKUS.
Paris recalled its envoys to both Australia and the United States over the furore.
But Macron later ordered the French ambassador to Washington to return to his post after a call with US president Joe Biden.
Fitzroy community school principal Timothy Berryman, who repeatedly asked students to attend school during lockdown, is back on the radio after being handed an interim suspension by the Victorian Institute of Teaching, pending an investigation.
He says there are “no absolutes” about how Covid-19 impacts children.
Virginia Trioli:
They were absolutely hospitalised. On what basis should you be reinstated?
Berryman:
I’ve tried my absolute best to look after the children ... I have fully encouraged older people to be vaccinated and it was a great relief when my parents were vaccinated ... once people at risk are vaccinated, the case of having schools open becomes even stronger.
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Victoria reports 1,638 new cases
Victoria’s case numbers are in. Sadly, there have been two more deaths overnight.
Reported yesterday: 1,638 new local cases and 0 cases acquired overseas.
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) October 6, 2021
- 36,672 vaccines administered
- 77,238 test results received
- Sadly, 2 people with COVID-19 have died
More later: https://t.co/OCCFTAtS1P#COVID19Vic #COVID19VicData pic.twitter.com/DZzVEwqSE6
Keith Pitt says the federal govt should back a $250 billion loan facility to support the mining sector.
— RN Breakfast (@RNBreakfast) October 6, 2021
"I have sympathy for what they say because I don't like the idea that our sovereignty is determined by a financing arm of another country or a board member."
- @Barnaby_Joyce
Roadmap: 9am
Covid update: 11am
Today there will be two livestreams from NSW Health.
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) October 6, 2021
9am: Premier’s Press Conference
11am: NSW Health Update pic.twitter.com/u4pgoiZoUl
The federal government should become a lender of last resort for the mining sector via a $250bn loan facility if it wants support from the Nationals for a 2050 zero emissions target, resources minister Keith Pitt says.
The Financial Review is reporting that in a significant flexing of muscles, Pitt also says the agriculture and resources sector should be excluded from net zero targets. The PM has already said he will exclude “regional Australia” from making any sacrifices to achieve targets.
Liberal MP Jason Falinski told Radio National it wasn’t a good use of taxpayer funds:
The government should not agree to lend money to private companies when the private sector won’t lend them money.
Scott Morrison won’t be attending the Glasgow climate conference next month but is expected to announce the government’s emissions reduction plan – once it is agreed with the Nationals – to affected workers in Australia first.
Keith Pitt says the federal govt should back a $250 billion loan facility to support the mining sector.
— RN Breakfast (@RNBreakfast) October 6, 2021
"I have sympathy for what they say because I don't like the idea that our sovereignty is determined by a financing arm of another country or a board member."
- @Barnaby_Joyce
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There are reports Victoria will have another number above 1,000 today.
Hearing today’s Covid number is
— Raf Epstein (@Raf_Epstein) October 6, 2021
higher than 1420 but lower than the record 1763
Vic is 83% 1st dose, 54% 2nd dose
Get vaxxed!
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NSW has reached 70.3% double vaccination doses among its over-16s, to be confirmed later today.
The numbers are in and it’s official - 70.3% of NSW residents over 16 are now double-doses. Stats to be confirmed by the commonwealth later today. @dailytelegraph
— James O'Doherty (@jmodoh) October 6, 2021
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Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has been doing the rounds on breakfast TV this morning, discussing the banking regulator’s tightening of mortgage rules.
Getting creative for home isolation media this morning.
— Josh Frydenberg (@JoshFrydenberg) October 6, 2021
Ironing board✅
Junners✅
Coffee✅ pic.twitter.com/kEniwuQrJJ
We will be hearing from NSW premier Dominic Perrottet at 9am.
Premier Dominic Perrottet, Deputy Premier Paul Toole, Minister for Jobs and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres, Health Minister Brad Hazzard and Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell will make an announcement regarding vaccination rates and the Reopening Roadmap, 9AM #COVID19nsw
— Political Alert (@political_alert) October 6, 2021
Independent MP Zali Steggall has appeared on ABC Breakfast to tout her climate change bill before the global talks in Glasgow this month.
She is asked about reports Gladys Berejiklian has been tapped by senior Liberals to run in her seat of Warringah:
Look, questions of integrity are incredibly important and we know that this is a problem at federal government level. We have had scandal after scandal and rorts, car park rorts, sports rorts, Leppington land sale. We desperately need an integrity commission, so I feel strongly that as an independent, I will make sure that we push for a strong federal integrity commission in parliament to really keep check on what the Australian government is doing. And so, I just don’t think that she will prosecute that very important need.
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Just 10 birds remain today and, sadly, the powerful owl the flown the coop. Vote!
OK #BirdoftheYear is in the final race to the finish line. It. Is. On. Go #teamganggang - And then there were 10: Australian bird of the year heads into final tense day of voting https://t.co/vvA267tLdD
— Lenore Taylor (@lenoretaylor) October 6, 2021
Lisa Millar asks Dominic Perrottet if his “strong views” on social issues including abortion and same-sex marriage will impact his leadership.
Perrottet says he will “serve every single person in this state”:
I don’t think someone’s private Christian faith should be an impediment for them to serve in public life. That issue has been settled. And ultimately, as a premier of NSW, I will serve every single person. I think that my faith has served me well in doing that and I believe in the principles of freedom and tolerance and I love the diversity and the multicultural, multi-faith state that we have in NSW.
As treasurer, I’m very proud of my record when it comes to women’s issues in the state. I mean, earlier this year in the budget, we put out for the first time a package for our public servants for miscarriage leave, for premature birth leave. These were nation-leading, world-leading policies in our state. I’m passionate about every single person in New South Wales. I love our state. I love its diversity and I’m here to serve every single person right across NSW.
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Dominic Perrottet is asked whether his relationship with the federal government will be strained after reports words might have been exchanged between him and Scott Morrison:
You want, in leaders, passionate people who will have robust exchanges from time to time ... Scott and I are friends. You know, we got to know each other when he was treasurer of the country and I was treasurer of New South Wales. And we’ve had different views, which we hold passionately at different times.
I am here not being paid by the Liberal party, I am here being paid by the people of New South Wales to do a job. And I’m always gonna fight for our people. And if that means, from time to time, we’re gonna come into conflict, I think that’s OK.
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Dominic Perrottet says the NSW economic recovery plan will be announced over the next fortnight.
NSW has been in negative growth for this quarter but the new premier expects it to be a “strong summer” for the state:
Look, I think it’s gonna be difficult. We’re certainly not gonna come straight out of this. But I think we’ll bounce back stronger than ever. And the support that we provided last year, we always said we’ll put businesses, we’ll put workers and families before the budget. And that’s really helped our economic recovery and kept people in work, and we’re gonna do the same again.
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Dominic Perrottet is speaking on ABC Breakfast now. He says announcements about the state’s revised reopening plan will be made later today, with mask wearing to go earlier than expected, but no changes will be made before Monday:
We aren’t bringing forward the day ... we’ve worked very closely with industry and business, and it makes most sense to keep that date. However, last night we had a meeting well into the evening, we looked at a whole range of areas across the roadmap and have made some changes, including having indoor swimming pools and getting kids back into swimming lessons from Monday. That will be announced today, as well as a whole range of other changes to the roadmap at 80% going forward, which will bring a number of aspects forward.
And we have been able to do that because of the incredible efforts of the people of our state, getting out there and being vaccinated at 70%. We’re leading the nation. I think that’s a very positive thing for the people of our state.
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Good morning, Caitlin Cassidy here today to guide you through this morning’s news.
We begin in NSW, where we are expecting to hear from premier Dominic Perrottet imminently as to whether any lockdown restrictions will be lifted early. Yesterday Perrottet held his first crisis cabinet meetings as the state’s new leader.
NSW has now reached its 70% double dose vaccination targets, with the state to come out of lockdown on 11 October after 103 days.
In Victoria, the situation is more dire. The state recorded 1,420 cases yesterday, the seventh consecutive day numbers have been beyond 1,000, and 11 deaths. The Royal Children’s hospital has been deemed a tier one exposure site, forcing cancer patients and their carers into isolation.
Elsewhere, the ACT recorded 28 cases and one death, bringing total deaths in the state to six. And Queensland may have avoided another outbreak, with no new cases recorded yesterday. But we are no clearer on the state’s roadmap to reopening.
It should be a busy morning, so let’s dive in.
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