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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Donna Lu and Justine Landis-Hanley (earlier)

Victoria reaches 80% vaccination target; Bert Newton to be given state funeral; international border set to reopen – As it happened

Rainbow over Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne
A rainbow is seen over Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne during the Play On Victoria concert on Saturday. The state announced today that 80% of those aged 16 and over are fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Photograph: Graham Denholm/Getty Images

What we learned today, Sunday 31 October

We’re wrapping up live coverage for the afternoon. Here’s a summary of the day’s top news stories:

  • At the G20 in Rome, Scott Morrison had a tepid photo op with French president Emmanuel Macron, and doubled down on Australia’s decision to ditch a multi-billion dollar French submarine contract.
  • NSW recorded its lowest local Covid case numbers in three months, a day before intrastate regional travel is set to recommence, and quarantine-free international travel for returning Australians begins in NSW and Victoria.
  • Tributes flowed for entertainment icon Bert Newton, as Victorian premier Daniel Andrews confirmed a state funeral would be held for the TV personality.
  • The Victorian Liberal MP Tim Smith resigned as shadow attorney general after crashing into a car while drink driving at more than twice the legal alcohol limit.
  • The Collingwood AFL player Jordan De Goey has been charged with forcible touching and assault following an alleged incident in New York.
  • One person died and three people are in a critical condition after a fishing boat capsized off the Wollongong coast.

The Collingwood football player Jordan De Goey has been released from custody in the United States, following an alleged incident at a Halloween-themed nightclub party in New York.

AAP reports:

The 25-year-old - and friend Luke Dyson - has been charged with forcible touching and assault and was temporarily placed in a holding cell.

De Goey pleaded not guilty to the charges and is not due to face court again until 8 December, after senior Magpies players are expected back at the club for pre-season training.

Collingwood are still attempting to contact De Goey after the alleged incident at PHD Rooftop Lounge, which took place only hours after he arrived in New York from California.

De Goey and Dyson are alleged to have approached a woman on the dance floor.

The woman’s friend then confronted the pair, before Dyson allegedly struck the man in the face with a glass bottle, splitting his lip, New York police said.

Police say the woman called 911 and De Goey and Dyson were taken into custody, before they were both charged.

In August, Victoria Police had to pay legal costs to De Goey after dropping a historical indecent assault charge against him.

De Goey has played 118 games and kicked 155 goals for the Magpies after debuting in 2015.

The AFL said it is aware of the allegations made against De Goey.

“The AFL integrity department will look into the matter once more information is obtained, until then the AFL is not in a position to make comment,” a statement read.

Updated

The Coalition’s “technology not taxes” plan for net zero emissions by 2050 could cost taxpayers much more than the $20bn allocated by the Morrison government.

The emissions reduction minister, Angus Taylor, said on ABC’s Insiders today that more will need to be spent beyond 2030 to reach the target.

He confirmed the “run rate of the money we are spending over the next decade is what we would expect into the future”, as further spending on research, development and carbon credits would probably be needed.

The comments come as Scott Morrison defended Australia’s opposition to language in a draft G20 communique committing nations to “phase out and rationalise” fossil fuel subsidies by 2025 and to curb coal power.

As the G20 summit moves into its final day, some countries are seeking strong language around combating the threat of global heating in the final communique of the Rome summit as a positive harbinger for the Cop26 in Glasgow.

According to an early draft copy of the G20 communique obtained by Reuters, leaders were working towards a statement at the conclusion of the summit that will reaffirm a commitment to “phase out and rationalise” fossil fuel subsidies by 2025 and to curb coal power.

The draft communique said leaders will “do their utmost” to avoid building new unabated coal plants. But it adds the phrase “taking national circumstances into account”.

Morrison signalled on his arrival in Rome that Australia would have a significant problem with communique language hastening the demise of the coal industry. China and India are also among the countries said to be opposed.

Read the full story, by Katherine Murphy and Paul Karp, here:

Staying with Covid, here’s the latest federal vaccine data.

In the past day 142,833 doses were administered, bringing the total to 35,629,967 doses. More than 1.3m doses have been given in the last seven days alone.

Some key stats:

  • Over 88% of the population aged over 16 have had one dose nationally, while 77% have received two doses.
  • For over 50s, 95% are single jabbed and 86% are double jabbed.
  • More than 99% of those 70 and over have had their first dose. 90% are fully vaccinated.

We absolutely love to see it.

SA records no new locally acquired Covid-19 cases

It’s been a day of doughnuts for the usual states: South Australia has recorded no new local Covid cases in its last reporting period, joining Queensland and Western Australia.

Thanks Justine. I’ll be taking you through into the evening.

Following Tim Smith’s resignation from the Victorian shadow cabinet after a drink driving crash, current shadow cabinet secretary Matthew Bach has reportedly been appointed as shadow attorney-general. Bach currently serves as the shadow minister for early childhood; higher education, training and skills; youth affairs; and child protection.

To recap, Smith had his driver’s license suspended last night and was fined after returning a positive breath alcohol test reading of 0.131, more than twice the legal limit.

Read the full story here:

I’m finishing up for today, so I will hand over to my colleague Donna Lu.

Stay well, everyone!

Updated

As announced on via social media last night, WA will now require all travellers from low, medium, high and extreme risk parts of Australia to be fully vaccinated before entering the state.

At the moment, this applies to travellers from NSW, ACT, and Victoria.

Updated

Pfizer booster shots will be available for those fully vaccinated in Western Australia from tomorrow.

Premier Mark McGowan wrote on Facebook:

Earlier this week, ATAGI recommended booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines for Australians, to be administered six months after receiving a second dose.

Western Australians aged 18 and over who had their second dose at least six months ago will be eligible to access a booster dose at State-run vaccine clinics starting tomorrow, 1 November.

These booster doses will not be required to count as fully vaccinated under travel, workforce or other requirements. However, as the efficacy of the vaccines does gradually decline over time, they are recommended to increase protection against COVID-19.

One dead after boat capsizes off Wollongong

A person has died despite the frantic rescue and resuscitation efforts of lifesavers and bystanders after a fishing boat capsized off Wollongong with eight people aboard, AAP reports.

Police say emergency personnel were called to waters off Waniora Point at Bulli, south of Sydney, after reports of a vessel overturning, shortly before 10.30am on Sunday.

A team of critical care doctors and paramedics was also dispatched via three Ambulance Rescue helicopters.

Police officers from Wollongong, the force’s Marine Area Command and Surf Life Savers helped as eight people were retrieved and taken ashore.

Rescuers performed CPR on four patients until the arrival of paramedics.

One person could not be revived and died at the scene.

Another was airlifted to Sydney’s St George Hospital, a third to Liverpool Hospital and a fourth to Wollongong Hospital by road. All three were in a critical condition.

Two patients were also taken Wollongong Hospital in a stable condition and the final two were assessed on scene without requiring further care.

Senior paramedic Norm Rees described the job as one of the most difficult he’d attended in 34 years of service.

“Initial reports suggested there was several people clinging to the side of a boat that was quickly capsizing,” Chief Inspector Rees said.

“I want to say a huge thank you to the surf lifesavers and bystanders that risked their lives to try and save these people. They gave the them every chance of survival.

“It was a heartbreaking scene - what was meant to be a great day out on the water has turned into an absolute disaster.”

Updated

Premier Daniel Andrews has congratulated Victoria for reaching the 80% fully vaccinated target (in those 16 years and older).

The Coalition’s “technology not taxes” plan for net zero emissions by 2050 could cost taxpayers much more than the $20bn allocated by the Morrison government.

The emissions reduction minister, Angus Taylor, told ABC’s Insiders on Sunday that more will need to be spent beyond 2030 to reach the target.

Read the full story here:

Jeannette Young, in her final act as Queensland chief health officer, has urged the state to get vaccinated against Covid-19. Young will be sworn in as Queensland governor on Monday.

The government is still searching for Young’s replacement after her anointed successor, infectious diseases doctor Krispin Hajkowicz, said he would not be taking up the post after all.

AAP has the story:

On her final day in the job, Jeannette Young has issued a short, sharp video repeating the phrase she’s uttered time and time again since Queensland’s vaccination drive began in February.

“Queenslanders you’ve been fantastic, and as I sign off I’ve got one last request. Please get vaccinated,” Dr Young said in the clip published on social media.

No new cases of the virus were reported in the state on Sunday, which the premier has said is the “last day” for people to get a first shot if they want full protection before travellers inevitably import the virus.

“Queensland, today is the last day to get your first dose so you are fully protected when the borders open on December 17,” Annastacia Palaszczuk said in her social media posts on Sunday.

“If you haven’t been vaccinated, get it done today.”

It’s six weeks and five days until the borders open up fully on December 17.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey gave Sunday’s Covid-19 update, saying: “It’s isn’t just a race now, it’s a sprint.”

Queensland Health delivered 14,312 doses in the past 24 hours, taking the first dose vaccination rate among the over-16s to 77.4%, with 63.5 fully vaccinated.

Deputy Chief Health Officer, Lynne McKinlay, said people would continue to be vaccinated well beyond today, and clinics would still be open into the new year.

“You haven’t missed your opportunity. We want people to come forward even if it’s after today,” she told reporters on Sunday.

Queensland is once more searching for a replacement for Dr Young after her anointed successor, infectious diseases doctor Krispin Hajkowicz, said he would not be taking up the chief health officer’s job after all.

Updated

WA reports no new local Covid-19 cases

Only 160 people were tested as state-run testing sites yesterday.

Updated

Qld records no new locally-acquired Covid-19 cases

Updated

The federal government is listing a pill to treat men with prostate cancer to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme from Monday.

Our friends at AAP have the story:

A pill to treat men with prostate cancer that’s no longer stopped by low testosterone levels will be made available at an affordable price, the federal government says.

The drug Nubeqa, or darolutamide, will be listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme from Monday.

The pill can be used by men who’ve got prostate cancer that hasn’t spread but is castration-resistant - that is, symptoms continue to worsen, the cancer continues to grow or the antigen level increases, despite lowered testosterone levels from hormone therapy.

It normally costs more than $40,000 per year. With the subsidy, patients will pay up to $41.30 a script.

The medication works to starve cancer cells of the hormones they need to grow and divide, says manufacturer Bayer Australia.

“This medicine offers an earlier line of treatment, allowing doctors to treat prostate cancer that no longer responds to traditional testosterone-lowering treatment is likely to spread,” said Associate Professor David Pook, an oncologist at Melbourne’s Cabrini hospital.

“We no longer need to wait until we can see cancer spots on CT scans and bone scans before we initiate treatment.

“We now have the option to act earlier with the goal of delaying the spread of prostate cancer.”

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in Australian men and the third most common cause of cancer death.

It’s more common in older men.

Early detection and treatment can significantly improve prostate cancer survival, Health Minister Greg Hunt said.

He encouraged men over 50 to learn the symptoms and talk to a GP if they have concerns.

Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia CEO, Professor Jeff Dunn, said listing Nobeqa would give more men with the deadliest forms of prostate cancer a greater chance of survival.

“This is an important moment for Australian men and families facing prostate cancer and the first time in seven years we’ve seen a new medicine listed on the PBS for the treatment of prostate cancer,” he said.

The pill could help delay the spread of the disease for close to three and a half years - more than twice as long as hormone therapy on its own.

Data from clinical trials showed it lowered the risk of death by 31% compared to hormone therapy alone, Prof Dunne said.

Updated

Justine is back and ready to bring you more live news. Over to her!

As COP26 begins later today in Glasgow, New Zealand has announced it will set a more ambitious climate target, aiming to reduce its net greenhouse emissions by 50% by 2030.

While the country is a “small contributor to global emissions”, prime minister Jacinda Ardern said it was critical New Zealand pulls its weight, according to AAP.

Arden said in a statement on Sunday:

“New Zealand’s enhanced contribution to the global effort to fight climate change now represents our fair share, and is in line with what’s needed if we are to avoid the worst impacts of global warming on New Zealand.

“Climate change is a priority for the government because it’s a threat to our economy, our environment and our everyday lives.”

Under the Paris Agreement adopted in 2015, each country determines what targets they will aim for, known as nationally determined contributions.

New Zealand’s nationally determined contribution will be a target to reduce net emissions by 50% below gross 2005 levels by 2030.

From AAP:

This equates to a 41% reduction on 2005 levels using what is known as an ‘emissions budget’ approach.

The announcement comes as the prime minister of Australia arrives in Glasgow pledging a net zero carbon emissions target by 2050, but refusing to lift its existing aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by just 26 to 28% below 2005 levels by 2030.

Scott Morrison’s plan has been labelled as light on detail, with opposition leader Anthony Albanese criticising its reliance on future technology and calling for the net zero target to be legislated.

The international community has about eight years to almost halve global greenhouse gas emissions to “stand a chance” of limiting global warming to 1.5C, New Zealand’s minister of climate change James Shaw said.

Updated

Thanks Justine. Let’s get to it. In Victorian political news, shadow attorney-general Tim Smith has resigned from shadow cabinet after being fined for drink driving.

In a statement, he said:

Last night I made a serious error of judgement. After dinner with friends I believed I was under the legal limit to drive home.

This was not the case. I was breath-tested and returned a positive reading. I have been fined under the Road Safety Act and my licence has been suspended for 12 months.

I apologise to my constituents, my colleagues, my family and the people of Victoria who expect their elected representatives to uphold the highest standards of behaviour.

Today I tendered my resignation from the Shadow Cabinet to the Leader of the Opposition, which he has accepted.

Updated

And with that, I’m handing the blog over to my amazing colleague, Donna Lu.

NSW premier Dominic Perrottet was asked this morning about the state government’s previous decision to give Wagga Wagga base hospital a $170m funding boost. On Friday, Icac heard phone taps of conversations between Gladys Berejiklian and former Wagga Wagga MP, Daryl Maguire about the funding.

Our friends at AAP have the full story:

NSW premier Dominic Perrottet says a $170m funding boost for a regional hospital was already in the budget by the time Gladys Berejiklian told her secret lover she’d got him the funding.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption on Friday heard phone taps of conversations between Berejiklian, then premier, and former MP Daryl Maguire about the Wagga Wagga base hospital.

Berejiklian was heard telling Maguire she got him “$170m in five minutes” for the hospital in his electorate.

“I just spoke to Dom and ... he goes, ‘No worries’. He just does what I ask him to,” Ms Berejiklian said of then-treasurer Perrottet.

Berejiklian was in a secret relationship with Maguire at the time.

On Sunday, Perrottet shot back, saying the expense was already in the 2017-18 budget.

“When the Health Minister (Brad Hazzard) came to see me in that first budget, 2017-18, we went through capital expenditure and decided to expand it,” Perrottet said.

“We have always provided significant funding in every budget for health support. That is the case for Wagga Wagga hospital (and) hospitals right across the state.”

Hazzard told reporters that the hospital had been identified as a major hospital that needed upgrading.

“It was already in the budget,” he said.

He said it was normal for local MPs to lobby ministers for their electorates.

Perrottet told a conference on Friday that twelve months before his conversation with Berejiklian the $170m had already been allocated in the budget, off the back of a government promise.

“As a government we came and delivered it,” he said.

“I don’t think you’ll find anybody in Wagga Wagga who believes that we shouldn’t have invested in that hospital.”

Counsel assisting the Icac inquiry into Berejiklian said on Friday there was no suggestion of any wrongdoing on the part of Perrottet or Hazzard.

The premier said on Sunday that he “completely disagree(d)“ with pork barrelling.

“My belief is that whatever community you are in, you should have the access to the best healthcare, education, and transport to get to your family faster,” he said.

The Icac probe is exploring whether the former premier breached public trust by failing to declare her clandestine relationship with Maguire while she was making decisions about projects he lobbied for.

She denies any wrongdoing.

Perrottet and Hazzard were speaking at the construction site of a new ambulance superstation to be built at Glebe in Sydney’s inner city.

It’s the 11th and final superstation to be built across the state in a $184m program.

From 2023, the station will be home to around 65 paramedics and 30 ambulance bays.

Updated

Scott Morrison has doubled down on Australia’s decision to ditch a multi-billion dollar French submarine contract, contradicting Joe Biden’s claims about whether Emmanuel Macron was informed about the move.

Speaking to reporters at the G20 summit in Rome on Saturday, the prime minister insisted Australia had made “the right decision” by ditching the French submarine contract, even though his management of the fracas has infuriated the French president and prompted an implicit public rebuke from Joe Biden.

Read the full story by the Guardian Australia’s political editor, Katharine Murphy, here:

A photo supplied by the prime minister’s office captures the moment Scott Morrison met French president Emmanuel Macron at the G20 meeting in Rome.

For context: it’s the first time the two have met since Australia announced the Aukus partnership, effectively ending the country’s submarine contract with France.

Morrison recalled that the initial exchanged went well.

But others have taken to Twitter to point out that the picture may tell a different story.

Updated

ACT records seven new local Covid-19 cases

Health authorities also reported that 92.3% of those aged 12 and over in the ACT are fully vaccinated.

If you are wondering why I haven’t been live-blogging Victoria’s daily Covid-19 briefing it’s because they have ended.

On Friday, authorities announced that Victoria will no longer hold daily Covid-19 briefings from Saturday onwards. The state will still release daily case numbers and appear before the media when necessary.

From tomorrow, fully vaccinated New Zealanders will be able to travel to Australia without quarantining.

Our friends at AAP have the story:

Quarantine-free travel from New Zealand to Australia will resume from Monday, which Tourism Minister Dan Tehan says is another important marker on the road to recovery.

He said it will be a major boost for tourism and confidence.

“Tourism Australia will look to scale up its marketing activities in New Zealand, with an immediate focus on building confidence and broadening knowledge of the depth of Australia’s tourism offering,” Mr Tehan said in a statement on Sunday.

“It will encourage more Australians to dust off their passport and plan their next holiday.”

He said in 2019, NZ was the second largest source of visitors to Australia at 1.4 million visitors, spending $1.6 billion.

All travellers are subject to the following pre-departure measures:

* Proof of a negative pre-departure COVID-19 test within 3 days of the departure flight to Australia, and a completed declaration to this effect

* Evidence of full vaccination against COVID-19 with an approved or recognised vaccine.

Updated

Rapid antigen Covid-19 tests will be available from tomorrow at retail stores including supermarkets and pharmacies, and also online.

Read this explainer by Mellissa Davey, the Guardian’s medical editor:

Over 80% of Victorians aged 16+ are fully vaccinated!

Politicians and comedians pay tribute to Bert Newtown

Many Australian politicians have paid tribute to Gold Logie-winning entertainer and television star Bert Newton, who has died.

Federal communications minister Paul Fletcher wrote that Newton was “a true icon of Aussie television”.

Shadow minister for education and women, Tanya Plibersek, said Newton “lit up our screens for decades and made such an impact on our entertainment industry”.

Comedians, writers and media personalities have also taken to social media to celebrate Newton’s life.

Australian comedian Adam Hills said: “Take a bow, Bert. You deserve the applause”.

Writer Benjamin Law said last night celebrity chef Elizabeth Chong AM acknowledged how Newton had championed her Chinese cooking segments on the show he hosted, Good Morning Australia.

Updated

Victoria announces state funeral for Bert Newton

Victorian premier Daniel Andrews has announced that a state funeral will be held for entertainment icon Bert Newton, who passed away yesterday. Details of the funeral will be shared in the coming days.

Updated

Brad Hazzard was also asked about whether he is concerned about Halloween parties happening this weekend. He said that he believed young families were taking precautions, and encouraged them to maintain social distancing and only give our wrapped candies.

The journalist clarified she was asking about parties with adults, not children – a phenomenon Hazzard didn’t know existed.

Halloween adult parties? I didn’t know that is a thing. I haven’t been invited to one, I don’t want to be invited to one. Look, again, families, there was a party quite near to mine last night. Sounded like they were having great fun. I have to tell you, I hope they were socially distancing but it was great to hear laughter after two years of misery. Please just be safe.

Updated

Vaccination rate in Indigenous communities a concern, Hazzard says

A reporter asked NSW health minister Brad Hazzard whether he is satisfied with the rate of vaccination among disadvantaged and disabled communities.

There were great challenges initially in both of those communities and in the CALD (culturally and linguistically diverse) community. We struggled with that for quite a while because obviously, to reach out to those communities required a different way of doing business.

What we found as we progressed was ... that mass vaccination hubs were not as good for those groups. So for example, up in the Duda and Walgett in areas like that, Wilcannia and so on, we had to actually get our health workers, our Aboriginal health workers in that case, to actually go and knock on doors. And what they were telling me was that in some cases, it was multiple visits back to the house. It was about building confidence. It was an area that we did both in regard to the Aboriginal community and also people with disabilities, both of those areas were of course theoretically going to be done by the federal government, but was their target, that was what they said they would do.

As matters progressed, New SouthWales made the decision that we would actually do what we needed to do, [for] our citizens, and not just sit back and wait for the federal government to do it. I think it remains a real issue of Aboriginal communities broadly across Australia, because talking to other health ministers around the country, they are still really concerned.

Can I say, you have talked about the Aboriginal community, Aboriginal communities are also like every other community. They differ. So it depends what part of the state you are in, it depends what the community leaders are saying, but unfortunately, the one common theme that I can say exists right across Australia’s social media. The absolutely appalling messages that are going through social media, and trying to convince those who are more vulnerable not to have vaccinations.

Updated

Perrottet spoke about the government’s decision to block travel from regional NSW to greater Sydney for two weeks. Travel will resume tomorrow.

The vaccination rate has substantially increased in many LGAs across regional New SouthWales, in that two-week period. In fact, if far exceeded where we believed we would be when we extended it out of the 1 November. So if you want those figures, we can provide them to you. But there has been a substantial increase, not just across the board but if you look at the LGAs that have now had an 80% double dose, that is an important point to make. The reason we made that decision was not because the vaccination rates in the bush were slow.

It was just that they had well exceeded expectations in Sydney, so that the gap between where we expected to be across the board was much higher in Sydney, but a little lower in regional New SouthWales. So we have given that breathing space to provide and in still confidence in the bush.

... What was very clear in regional New South Wales two weeks ago was that there were still concerns in relation to their vaccination rate [but] confidence [is] back up and we are ready to go. It is an exciting day to many people, not just people in Sydney visiting relatives in regional New South Wales but also for many families in the bush being able to come to Sydney.

Updated

Perrottet was asked whether he is considering moving back the date for easing restrictions for the unvaccinated.

Perrottet:

We’re always looking at the roadmap. We had a Covid economic recovery committee meeting last Friday, I think it was. Or Thursday. We discussed aspects of the roadmap, we will be discussing them again, and if we form the view that certain things can be changed we will make those changes.

Updated

A reporter has asked Perrottet whether he thought it was stange that the government was spending so much money on the Wagga Wagga by-election when he was state treasurer.

Perrottet:

I have made my views very clear in relation to my perspective on pork-barrelling. I won’t give a running commentary but you’re right ... during the Hunter by-election I made it clear it wasn’t appropriate that governments act in that way.

Updated

Perrottet has been asked whether he thinks the state ministerial codes of conduct need to be changed to make it clearer what relationships ministers need to disclose.

Perrottet:

We will take advice in relation to any action the government needs to take. We are currently in the middle of ... A public inquiry is under way, it will be concluded. Icac will hand down its findings. If the NSW government is to take action on, we well.

Reporter:

Do you think codes of conduct need to change to make things more clear?

Perrottet:

I have spoken to all ministers in at the government in relation to their obligation under the code of conduct. I think those obligations are abundantly clear and they can always – every single minister – seek advice from legal counsel and department of premier and cabinet in relation to every single matter that comes before the cabinet that they believe they may have a conflict of interest on.

Updated

Reporter:

Can you comment on how the Icac reflects on you?

Perrottet:

I think Mr Robert made it incredibly clear that the health minister and I – there is no indication of any wrongdoing in relation to this matter.

Reporter:

With Gladys Berejiklian, how does this reflect on her?

Perrottet:

As I said, I am not giving running commentary on the proceedings that are under way. When that is concluded, Icac will make its findings. If any decisions or actions are taken, the NSW government needs to make, we will.

Updated

Perrottet has been asked whether he believes the Wagga Wagga Hospital was the best hospital for that government investment back in the 2017/2018 state budget.

I will pass it to the health minister to talk about the importance of Wagga Wagga hospital, but that has been a substantial investment the NSW government has made, dating back to when we came to office. We made the commitment that we were going to provide the best facility.

Regional health has always been a challenge for the state, but never before have we been able to invest a significant amounts that we have as part of this government, and that is because our strong financial management has laid strong economic and fiscal foundations for us to be able to make those investments.

Obviously, there is the story when the health minister came to see me in that first budget, 2017-18. We went through capital expenditure and decided to expand it. Let’s do more. Tweed Hospital is currently under construction. They were asking at the time for simply refurbishment. The health minister and I sat down and said, we can find the funds to build a completely hospital for the people of Tweed. I remember flying up with the minister back in the budget. We had doctors in tears at the investment we were able to make. Wagga Wagga Hospital is no different.

We want every regional and remote community to have access to healthcare.

Updated

Dominic Perrottet is being asked about findings at Icac around funding that was provided to Wagga Wagga hospital while Berejiklian was premier and he was treasurer.

Perrottet says he won’t be running commentary on proceedings of the ICAC.

I have said that from the outset. There are public hearings that are occurring. They are ongoing. As Premier, I’m not going to prejudice those hearings by providing commentary. There are people giving public examination at the moment. If there is anything the NSW Government needs to do arising out of those proceedings, I will act.

... From my perspective ,what we have seen, we have always provided significant funding and every budget for health support. That is the case for Wagga Wagga Hospital, hospitals right across the state, but I won’t be giving running commentary. The proceedings are ongoing.

Updated

NSW premier and health minister give update

NSW premier Dominic Perrottet and health minister Brad Hazzard are announcing the start of construction on a new ambulance superstation for central Sydney.

Hazzard has thanked the state for continuing to get tested.

Today for the first time in months we are down to 177 local cases ... We know the virus is going to be around with us for many year to come, and that means each and every one of us needs to take it very seriously.

One of the very satisfying things today is that we had more than 75,000 tests – even as we are opening up, the community is well and truly understanding the importance of keeping the virus as bay and getting tested.

Updated

Australia reacts to death of Bert Newton

Australians are taking to social media to celebrate the life of entertainer and media personality, Bert Newton, who passed away last night aged 83.

Comedian and TV host Rove McManus wrote: “Today I lost a mentor and friend, our country lost an icon, but most importantly a family has lost their hero and soul mate”.

Dan Ilic, host of @arationalfear, shared a photo of Newton and himself and said that the icon “gave a lot of himself to everyone he met”.

And SBS News presenter Ricardo Gonçalves said that, while he never had the chance to meet Newton, the star had been generous enough to reply to a letter Gonçalves sent when he was a kid seeking advice on how to break into TV and journalism.

Updated

The Australian government is choosing to invest in lowering the cost of low-emissions technologies, rather than raising the price of high-polluting technologies.

Former Australian politician and current Secretary-General of the OECD, Mathias Cormann, appeared to tread a fine line on this issue when speaking Sky News from Rome this morning.

He admitted that some sort of pricing mechanism is more effective in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Cormann:

There is a whole range of different policy levers that you can use to reduce emissions. In theory, an explicit price on carbon will be the most effective...

Reporter:

So a carbon tax?

Cormann:

No, in theory, equally applied price on carbon applied globally could be the most efficient.

Finally, Speers turns to talking about Australia’s unchanged 2030 emissions target, which has been widely criticised as inadequate.

Speers:

Finally, the Glasgow summit that you’re heading to, it is all about the 2030 target. Most developed countries are increasing their 2030 ambition. Australia is taking the same target, the 26-28%. Why won’t you budge on this? And why won’t you even take to the next election a promise for a higher target?

Taylor:

Well, we went to the last election and we said to the Australian people we had a 26-28% target. Labor had a 45% target without a plan as to how they were going to achieve it, and the Australian people put us back into government for another term.

(there is a bit of back and forth here)

They [the Australian voters] made it very clear – well, this is our policy. We’ve got absolutely no plan to change it, none, whatsoever.

Speers:

Why not? Why won’t you go to the next election with a higher target?

Taylor:

Because the Australian people told us two and a half years ago what they thought the right answer was and we are sticking with it. The good news is we are going to meet and beat that target. We will reach up to 35% reduction in emissions. We have improved on our position versus 2030 as we did with 2020, every year, and our goal is always to meet and beat our targets, but we set a target and we will keep faith with the Australian people on that target.

Updated

Speers:

But to be clear, a cost to taxpayers – $20 billion for now and you can’t say what it will cost after 2030 to get the big emissions reduction down to 2050. You are hoping that it won’t cost a thing, but there are plenty who believe some sort of price mechanism would be the better way to go, whether it’s the Business Council, whether it is a lot of other countries, whether it is the UN, whether it’s Mathias Cormann. Are you going to catch up with him? Have you spoken to him about it?

Taylor:

Yes, I have spoken to Mathias since I’ve been in Rome, but the important point I would make to you is this, David: You can either reduce the cost of low-emissions technologies or increase the cost of traditional fuel sources. Our view from the work we’ve done is we can get the cost of low-emissions technologies to a cost where they are cost competitive in reasonable time-frames that will allow us to get to net zero by 2050.

We’ve laid out the funding for that pipeline over the next 10 years which is a much longer time period than governments would normally do and on the back of that. And the work that is going around the world, the partnerships we’re forming with Singapore, with Germany, with Japan, with the United Kingdom, and others, working with them to get those costs to a point where they will be deployed by the private sector, they will be deployed because it is good for those investors, good for those businesses and brings down emission sat the same time.

Updated

Speers keeps trying to nail down exactly how much the government’s plan is going to cost over the next two decades.

Taylor admits that the government has only planned how much it is going to spend over the next decade.

Speers:

On the cost of this plan, to be clear for viewers, $20 billion between now and 2030, you are then hoping that everything will be okay? Businesses will voluntarily take up the new technologies. We won’t have to spend any more as taxpayers to get to net zero?

Taylor:

David, we are committing between now and 2030, looking 10 years out. Governments often look only four years out. We are looking 10 years out ... What a government does in the late 2040s is a matter for them ... we are not going to bind a government as to what they should spend in the 2040s, that will be up to them.

... What we can control as a government is a pipeline of initiatives and programs that allow us it put us on track to get the cost of these crucial technologies, clean steel, clean aluminium, stored energy, clean hydrogen, soil carbon ... to the point where private sector deployment happens because it’s good for those investors, where it’s good for those businesses, where indeed it is good for those households. That’s the goal and that means you avoid having to pay the very significant cost of having a carbon tax.

At the end of the day there are two ways to bring down emissions: one is to reduce the cost over time of low-emissions technologies, the other is to raise the cost of traditional fuel sources and technologies. We are about lowering costs, very targeted investments.

Updated

Speers is trying to work out exactly how much the government’s plan to reach net zero by 2050 will cost.

Speers wants to find out how much the plan is going to cost taxpayers, which Taylor disputes; the government’s line on climate action has for a long time been “technology not taxes” (even though government spending comes from taxpayer dollars).

Speers:

I understand that’s what you’re hoping, but just to be clear, what are taxpayers going to have to pay under your plan to get to net zero?

Taylor:

Taxpayers are not paying anything, we are not raising taxes. That’s the important point here.

Speers:

You are using taxpayers’ dollars, right, which could either be used to pay off debtor spend on hospitals or whatever. You are using taxpayers’ dollars. $20 billion you mentioned to get to 2030. To get to net zero by 2050, what’s the cost to taxpayers?

Taylor:

Well, let’s be clear about what that $20 billion is. That is money that we have invested through the CSIRO, the climate solutions fund, a range of different sources to bring down the costs of those technologies so they can raise productivity, strengthen the economy and grow the economy.

Updated

ABC Insiders is airing an interview with David Speers and energy minister Angus Taylor, who is in Rome where the G20 summit is being held ahead of the Glasgow climate conference.

Speers asks Taylor: what is the cost to taxpayers of the government’s net zero plan?

Taylor:

Well, the whole purpose of the plan is to avoid imposing costs on Australians by deploying technology which has been the great engine behind human history, and achieving, solving hard problems, avoiding imposing those costs by deploying technology and not deploying taxes.

Now, we are investing $20bn in targeted expenditure. We’ve been laying that out, prioritising clean energies like clean hydrogen, low-emissions steel and aluminium ... to carbon capture and storage, stored energy. These are the technologies we know cannot just reduce emissions for Australia, but reduce emissions around the world, David, and that’s why we are focused on those technologies. That’s how we do this.

It avoids damaging our traditional industries, agriculture, heavy manufacturing and mining and resources, but at the same time we know these technologies can bring down emissions and achieve our net zero target by 2050.

Angus Taylor says technology is the focus of the Morrison government’s net zero plan.
Angus Taylor says technology is the focus of the Morrison government’s net zero plan. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

Updated

NSW records 177 new local Covid-19 cases and one death

Victoria records 1,036 local Covid-19 cases and 12 deaths

Updated

Joe Biden has moved to repair his damaged personal and political relationship with Emmanuel Macron by acknowledging that the announcement of a security and technology pact that blindsided France was a “clumsy” episode handled with a lack of grace.

Read the full story here:

Updated

Scott Morrison insists Australia has made “the right decision” by ditching a multi-billion dollar French submarine contract even though his management of the fracas has infuriated Emmanuel Macron and prompted an implicit public rebuke from Joe Biden.

Speaking to reporters at the G20 summit in Rome on Saturday, Morrison insisted he had kept the Biden administration up to date “with the status of the conversations and discussions with the French government”.

Morrison’s account contradicts an observation from Biden during a meeting with Macron ahead of the G20 summit.

The US president told Macron, with television cameras present, that he was “under the impression that France had been informed” about Australia’s intention to ditch a $90bn contract with the French Naval Group “long before” the Aukus nuclear powered submarine pact was revealed publicly.

Speaking of Cop26, Scott Morrison has met French president Emmanuel Macron for the first time since for the first time since the Aukus pact was announced, terminating Australia’s submarine deal with France.

Morrison described the moment to the press:

I said g’day ... he was having a chat to someone. I went up and put his arm on his shoulder and said, ‘G’day, Emmanuel. I look forward to catching up over the next couple of days.’

That’s the way these events work. He was happy to exchange those greetings. We’ve known each other for a while. It is part of the process of the way back.

Updated

The minister for energy and emissions reduction Angus Taylor will be speaking on ABC Insiders this morning.

Prime minister Scott Morrison is in Glasgow today for the UN’s climate change conference, Cop26. Australia has faced international pressure to ramp up its action on climate change. As such, over the last few weeks, Morrison and Taylor raced to secure Nationals party room support for a target of net zero emissions by 2050.

In order words: expect questions about the deal struck with the National party, the lack of detail around Australia’s plan to reach net zero, and why Australia hasn’t increased its 2030 emissions reductions targets, which have been widely criticised as inadequate.

Updated

Good morning, it’s Justine Landis-Hanley here to bring you the news today, Sunday 31 October 2021.

Let’s dive straight in:

From tomorrow, vaccinated citizens will be allowed to travel overseas and return without quarantining as New South Wales and Victoria open their international borders for the first time since the pandemic began.

Prime minister Scott Morrison has headed to Glasgow for the UN’s climate change conference, COP26. There, Morrison has already come face-to-face with French president Emmanuel Macron for the first time since the Aukus pact was announced, terminating Australia’s submarine deal with France.

Australians are remembering the life of entertainer Bert Newton, who passed away yesterday, aged 83.

Updated

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