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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Cait Kelly (now) and Matilda Boseley (earlier)

Scott Morrison to convene national cabinet – as it happened

What we learned today, Monday 20 December

And with that, we are going to put the blog to bed for the evening. Thank you everyone for going through the evening’s news with me – as always a total pleasure.

Let’s quickly recap the big moments from today:

  • Clean-up continued on Sydney’s northern beaches after ‘mini-cyclone’. Later, emergency services said a microburst was to blame for northern beaches wild weather.
  • Strike announced that will stop Sydney trains overnight.
  • NSW recorded 2,501 new local Covid-19 cases, Victoria 1,302, ACT 13, Queensland 59, SA 105 and Tasmania recorded three.
  • NT recorded three new Covid cases and the lockdown was extended in Tennant Creek
  • At least 10 Melbourne Covid testing sites shut after reaching capacity – wait times we’re long in Victoria, NSW and SA.
  • NSW premier Dominic Perrottet said public health is a “personal” decision and he would not mandate masks.
  • The PM announced he would discuss Omicron outbreak with premiers at snap national cabinet meeting on Friday.
  • Refugee activist Shane Bazzi lodged an appeal against Dutton defamation decision.
  • And NSW approved the construction of a gas-powered station in Hunter.

And that’s it! I will be back with you tomorrow – we can do it all again.

Updated

I reckon what your Monday night needs is this great TikTok from Matilda.

From AAP:

A monolithic steel cask designed to withstand an earthquake and a jet strike will arrive in Sydney next year, carrying two tonnes of radioactive waste.

For security reasons authorities won’t say when the hulking capsule - containing four 500kg canisters of ‘intermediate-level material’ - will arrive from the UK.

But it will hardly be an inconspicuous affair: the cask itself weighs 100 tonnes and resembles something from NASA’s space program.

Its forged steel walls are 20cm thick, it’s 6.5m long and three metres wide.

Back in 2015, when the first cask of its type arrived, it was carrying 20 tonnes of Australian nuclear waste that had been reprocessed in France.

About 600 police and security officers were involved in the mission to truck it from Port Kembla, near Wollongong, to Lucas Heights, the southern Sydney suburb that serves as the country’s nuclear technology hub.

It is safe to assume that next year’s arrival will involve an equally elaborate, high-security operation.

Mining giant Glencore has defended its plans to dig a $1.5bn coalmine in Queensland after telling the federal government more than a dozen threatened species could be on the site, Graham Readfearn writes.

Updated

An internet outage left residents of a Top End remote community unable to buy food for four days, with critics arguing the situation was worsened by forced welfare income management policies.

Maningrida, an Aboriginal community in the Northern Territory home to about 3,000 people, suffered through an outage of 3G and 4G internet services from 11am Thursday until Monday afternoon.

NSW approves construction of gas-powered station in Hunter

The NSW government has approved the construction of a $600m gas-fired power station backed by the Morrison government in the state’s Hunter region.

Snowy Hydro has received its planning approval to build the 660 megawatt power station in Kurri Kurri from Rob Stokes in one of his final decisions as the state’s planning minister and after a fast-tracked environmental assessment.

The Morrison government announced in May it would spend up to $600m on the project after warning it would step in if the private sector did not commit to building at least 1000MW to replace the Liddel coal-fired generator in 2023.

Labor had called for the government to release its business case for the taxpayer-funded project. The project’s environmental impact statement showed the Kurri Kurri plant would be rarely used.

“This project will improve energy reliability and security in the National Energy Market as it brings on renewable energy from wind and solar farms, and transitions away from coal-fired power generation over the next 10-15 years,” a spokesperson for the NSW department of planning, industry and environment said this evening.

Updated

A severe storm on Sydney’s northern beaches on Sunday that left one woman dead and three injured, tore the roof off buildings and felled trees, was a microburst event, according to New South Wales emergency services.

On Monday, NSW State Emergency Service superintendent Stuart Fisher said: “At approximately 3.45pm yesterday, a microburst appeared out of nowhere, situated over the northern beaches, resulting in over 550 requests for assistance and 150,000 phone calls.”

From AAP:

A yoga instructor heading home from a neighbourhood Christmas gathering has been identified as the woman killed in a brief but ferocious storm in Sydney.

The storm, which ripped roofs off apartment buildings and took out power for 35,000 homes, struck as 68-year-old Susan Cobham was heading home from a party near Narrabeen Surf Life Saving Club on Sunday afternoon.

“Lightning hit a massive Norfolk pine which subsequently fell, crushing her and hitting two other women,” her son Ben Porter posted to her Facebook page.

“It was an unlucky freak accident and she has left us far too early and will be sorely missed.”

Cobham, who was educated in Uruguay and previously worked as a scientist for AstraZeneca, was “a terrific person, a real bright spark and will be much missed”, friend Penny Auburn posted.

Former AstraZeneca colleague Karishma Pai said Cobham was “a great colleague and even better a friend to many of us who worked in the lab alongside her”.

Updated

Surging demand at Covid testing clinics across Australia has led to waiting times of up to five days for results, with travellers now worried they won’t get a negative result in time to cross state borders for Christmas.

Waiting times in Victoria have averaged between 40 minutes and an hour during the past week, while a busy ACT site reached capacity by 9.30am on Monday.

Updated

We’ve got a little bit of wet weather on the way for some states ...

From AAP:

Conservation groups have reached the Supreme Court to challenge key environmental approvals granted to Woodside’s Scarborough Gas project off northwest Western Australia, in order to prevent what they call “staggering amounts of pollution”.

Woodside reached a final investment decision in November for the joint $16 billion LNG development.

Part of the proposal is to pipe gas from the field, approximately 375km west of the Burrup Peninsula near Karratha, to its existing onshore Pluto LNG plant.

At the heart of the challenge are amendments to the project’s environmental approvals, which the EPA agreed to in August. The changes were then approved by WA Environment Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson.

Lawyers for the Environmental Defenders Office, acting on behalf of the Conservation Council of WA, told the court in Perth the changes would allow for “significant” extra greenhouse gas emissions, which EPA chairman Matthew Tonts had not properly assessed in deciding on the approvals.

“The inference to be drawn is that the chairman didn’t reach his own decision,” Henry Jackson SC, representing the EDO, told the court on Monday.

We mentioned earlier that the PM is holding a previously unscheduled meeting with national cabinet, here Katharine Murphy has the full run down.

Updated

Tanya Plibersek asks auditor general to audit Australian Research Council grants

The shadow education minister Tanya Plibersek has written to the auditor general about an “unacceptable delay” in the Australian Research Council announcing 2022 grant funding round outcomes. There have been significant delays to announcements of grants awarded in the ARC’s Discovery Projects, Linkage and LIEF schemes.
Plibersek wrote:

“With only seven working days left this year, researchers across the nation are yet to receive a decision about their 2022 Australian Research Grant applications.

We understand this is the longest delay in announcing these grants in thirty years.

This is causing significant uncertainty for around five thousand Australian researchers who don’t know whether they’ll have a job next year or whether their projects will have funding.

In our view, the Government’s unacceptable delay in announcing Australian Research Grants is a serious failure of public administration – a matter of national interest that bears further scrutiny.


The delays come after months of controversy for the ARC. In August, the council was widely criticised for deeming grant proposals ineligible due to a rule banning applicants from citing preprint materials. The rule was later scrapped and affected applicants had an appeal upheld.

The ARC’s chief executive Sue Thomas said this month that she would step down in January.

Updated

Epidemiologist Prof Mary-Louise McLaws has spent the past week dialling in to meetings of the World Health Organization’s [WHO] infection prevention and control group, and said: “I don’t know of any outbreak manager who would not support wearing masks at the very minimum” in cities where Covid-19 cases are rising.

“WHO keeps reminding the world that vaccines are not the only answer because this virus keeps changing,” McLaws said. “Vaccines certainly reduce the risk of death and severe infection. But you do need other measures, like physical distancing, and masks.”

The New South Wales premier, Dominic Perrottet, continued to resist additional measures to mitigate the spread of Omicron on Monday, saying, “The pandemic is not going away. We need to learn to live alongside it,” while ruling out mask mandates and further restrictions for now.

“The government can’t do everything,” he said. Like Perrottet, Scott Morrison said booster vaccines are key to living with the virus, a view echoed by Dr Nick Coatsworth, one of Australia’s deputy chief medical officers, on Twitter.

Read more:

Updated

A Labor-led committee will scrutinise the problem-plagued light rail system in Sydney’s inner west, reports AAP.

The parliamentary inquiry comes after cracks were found in all 12 vehicles used on the L1 line, forcing commuters onto replacement buses and ferries.

“With light rail services suspended from Central to Dulwich Hill for up to 18 months, thousands of individuals and businesses have been significantly impacted,” committee chair Daniel Mookhey said.

“The committee seeks to shed light on how and why this has happened, its impact on the community, and importantly, how those impacts can be mitigated until the line is reinstated.”

The inquiry will also examine services in Sydney’s southeast and Newcastle as well as the procurement, operation and maintenance of the systems. Hearings will be heard in the new year, with submissions and a questionnaire closing on 31 March.

Outgoing Transport Minister Rob Stokes announced last month that all 12 trams on the city’s inner west line would be decommissioned for up to 18 months to fix major cracks - up to 30cm long - on the rolling stock.

But last week he revealed the seven-year-old light rail cars would be back up and running in less than a year.

Former police minister David Elliot will take over the transport portfolio from Tuesday after Premier Dominic Perrottet’s first major cabinet reshuffle.

Looks like it could be a scorcher in Perth this Christmas.

From AAP:

Sydney train commuters have been warned of major disruptions to the network overnight as union members plan on further strike action.

The work stoppage will disrupt the Sydney Trains-operated network as Rail, Tram, and Bus Union members plan to strike from 8pm on Monday to 4am on Tuesday.

Transport for NSW has warned train frequency will slow from 6pm and people could be left stranded.

Buses will replace train services on all lines between 8pm and 4am, but Sydney commuters are being encouraged to avoid travelling on Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning.

Intercity and regional services will also be affected, with some of the services suspended from 3.30pm on Monday before resuming at 5.30am on Tuesday.

The union says it remains at loggerheads with Transport for NSW as they negotiate a new enterprise agreement covering more than 10,000 staff.

Federal parliamentarians from across the political spectrum have pleaded with the Western Australian government to strengthen new state laws designed to protect Aboriginal heritage, amid concerns the McGowan government has not taken into consideration lessons learned from the destruction of a sacred site at Juukan Gorge in 2020.

Members of the joint standing committee on northern Australia wrote to Stephen Dawson, WA Aboriginal affairs minister, on 10 December, to express their concern about the WA Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Bill, days before it was passed into law.

The committee previously conducted a review into Rio Tinto’s destruction of a 46,000-year-old cultural site at Juukan Gorge. The committee’s chair, federal LNP MP Warren Entsch, said the new WA bill “falls far short of the reforms advocated” advocated in his committee’s final report.

Entsch noted the committee’s recommendations called for “consistency with the principles of free, prior and informed consent by Indigenous people”, and said the WA bill “conflicts with these principles by giving the Minister the ultimate power to decide whether mining or other activities can go ahead if traditional owners do not agree”.

Entsch also criticised the consultation process behind the WA bill, saying it “was not centred on culturally based protocols, was not undertaken in language and was not linked to elements of Aboriginal culture”.

Last week, after the bill passed, Labor senator Pat Dodson, who co-wrote the letter to Dawson, blasted the Western Australian government for failing its one opportunity to protect Aboriginal heritage and stop the “tyranny of cultural genocide”.

Read more about the WA bill here, from Lorena Allam, Guardian Australia’s Indigenous affairs editor:

Updated

Specialist forensic interviewers from NSW are being briefed by Tasmanian police today before they interview young witnesses of the tragedy in Devonport.

They will start interviewing some of those students at the school within days.

Updated

There’s been a lot of heat in the debate today about if NSW is right not to mandate masks.

Some people are arguing the government needs to stay out of lives, treat people like adults – essentially how Perrottet put it this morning.

Here is what the University of Sydney’s Prof Julie Leask – who I am sure I don’t have to remind anyone is a leading infectious disease and immunisation expert – had to say.

Updated

SA has recorded triple digit Covid cases, officially recording 105 new cases.

They are 11 children, six teenagers, 39 women aged between 18 and 93 and 49 men aged between 18 and 67.

Updated

Refugee activist Shane Bazzi lodges appeal against Dutton

Refugee activist Shane Bazzi has lodged an appeal in the federal court in relation to the defamation action brought against him by Peter Dutton.

Bazzi, through his lawyers, said on Monday that Dutton “succeeded on only parts of his claim before justice Richard White”.

“Bazzi will be arguing that the judge erred in finding [his] tweet carried the meaning found by the judge, namely that Mr Dutton ‘excuses rape’,” his lawyers said in a brief statement.

The appeal should be heard in 2022.

In November, the defence minister won his defamation case, with damages of $35,000, over a tweet labelling him a “rape apologist” which the court agreed did convey the defamatory imputation he “excuses rape”.

Bazzi’s lawyers asked for the costs bill to be reduced, citing a discretion to do so if the win was worth less than $100,000 or the court decided the case could more suitably have been brought in another court or tribunal.

White in early December ruled Dutton would not receive his full legal costs from Bazzi because it would have been more appropriate to pursue the case in a lower court. Bazzi’s tweet, since deleted, said “Peter Dutton is a rape apologist”.

It included a link to a 2019 Guardian Australia article reporting comments by Dutton that some female refugees were “trying it on” by making claims they had been raped, and needed to travel to Australia from offshore detention to receive abortions.

The tweet was published on the same day Dutton had said he didn’t know the “she said he said” details of Brittany Higgins’ allegation of rape.

Updated

From AAP:

The death of two children, their father and a pilot has been described as a “terrible incident” as the plane at the centre of the joyride tragedy is recovered near Brisbane.

Investigators from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) have begun collecting evidence after the operation in “quite inaccessible” mangroves off Scarborough, following the crash on Sunday morning.

The wreckage is being taken to a secure location at the Redcliffe Aerodrome where investigators will try and recover specific components to send to Canberra for analysis. Recorded data, weather information, and pilot and maintenance records will also be examined, and ATSB investigators have begun interviewing witnesses and those involved.

The Rockwell Commander 114 single-engine light aircraft crashed into the water near the shoreline shortly after take-off, coming to rest upside down. There were no survivors.

Queensland minister Stirling Hinchliffe, whose electorate of Sandgate is near the crash site north of Brisbane, led tributes on behalf of the state government on Monday.

“Obviously all of the appropriate investigations will be undertaken … and we hope that we can get to the bottom of what might have caused this awful, terrible incident,” he said on Monday.

Updated

From AAP:

The majority of new COVID-19 infections in the ACT have been linked to outbreak hotspots including Sydney and Newcastle.

The national capital recorded 13 new infections on Monday.

The health minister, Rachel Stephen-Smith, said a large number of cases stemmed from people who tested positive after arriving in Canberra from interstate.

There have been 40 infections linked to the Omicron variant since the new strain emerged.

“The majority of our cases were interstate acquired, rather than being locally acquired, so we still weren’t seeing a high level of local community transmission,” she told ABC radio.

Vaccination bookings for children aged between five and 11 have opened ahead of the rollout starting from January 10.

An estimated 46,000 children will be eligible.

Updated

Three new Covid cases in Tasmania

The PM is now spruiking the family home guarantee, which is a government program targeting single parents. It allows them to buy a home with a 2% deposit.

This is targeted towards single parents. And it’s getting them out of public housing, getting them out of unpredictable rents, and now they are buying their first home.

Can you imagine what that means to a single parent, that they can get the kids into their own home and not be fighting in the rental market.

He says 177,000 Australians have bought their first home this year, “up from less than 100,000 just three years ago.”

I’m no economist, and I don’t want to take away how good that must feel for those parents – but I feel like it would help more people if houses were like, you know – cheaper. Too wild? IDK I’m not in politics.

Updated

And now we are on another crisis – housing affordability. The PM says the government is helping more than any other government in the history of Australia.

He’s citing the government’s First Home Loan deposit scheme and the Home Builder programs as the reasons first homebuyers have been able to get in the market.

It is really hard to buy your first time. It’s always been very hard but it’s even harder as time goes on. That’s why we introduced those programs so people would be able to buy first time with a smaller deposit.

Since we have done that 323,000 Australians have got into their first home since the last election. That’s extraordinary.

I wonder how many first homebuyers have been priced out since the last election?

Updated

The mask mandate has been a hot issue today – and the PM says the government will take advice from medical experts.

There will be circumstances where masks are commonsense and I have noticed that, especially with the increase in Omicron. There is not that requirement in NSW at the moment but anybody who has been out there recently know that people are taking responsibility for their own health.

He says he was at Carols in the Shire last night and a lot but “not all” people were wearing masks.

Updated

PM to discuss Omicron outbreak with premiers at national cabinet

The PM says he will discuss the rising number of Omicron cases and the issue of state borders with the premiers at an unscheduled meeting of national cabinet. National cabinet was not due to meet again until February.

What’s very important ... under the national plan we are now at more than 90% double dose vaccination rate.

It is important that we do what we have also sought to do and save lives and livelihoods, protect lives and livelihoods ... we want to stay safely open so the economy can continue to grow and people can get jobs.

Updated

The PM is asked if he is concerned about the effect on the airline industry – he says something vague about Australians needing to know that if they get on a plane, they can get off it at the other end.

He says they are taking Omicron seriously.

Remember, we have been doing that for coming on to two years and what has been the result of the approach we have taken? The lowest death rates in the world, the strongest economies, coming out and through the pandemic, one of the highest vaccination rates in the world.

That’s what happens when you keep your head, keep focused on the future, deal with the problems in front of you and you work together and you do so in a commonsense and calm way.

Updated

The PM is asked if Australia will return to lockdowns next year like parts of Europe are doing now:

We will make our Australian way through this, we always have, the situation in the northern hemisphere is different to Australia.

They are not standing over there in the Netherlands in 34 degrees, it’s winter and people are more indoors, we know the virus does move differently in different seasons. What’s important is people get their booster shots.

Anyone who is concerned and who is ready to have their booster shot, I would urge them to go and get it. Because that is the best defence against Omicron, especially for making sure against serious illness ...

That is the key advice we have received and if we do that, then we can keep our nerve, keep calm and carry on.

Updated

The PM says he welcomed Annastacia Palaszczuk’s announcement this morning about extra health funding.

We have to keep moving forward with this. This is why Australians rolled up their sleeve, this is why Australians have worked so hard. The cases will rise with the Omicron variant, what we will continue to work through with states and territories is making sure we manage the impact on the hospital system in the primary health network.

I welcome the decision the premier made here today; we have a 50-50 funding arrangement with all states and territories when it comes to their COVID-19 cost we put in place at the start of the pandemic, and we are doing this hand in glove.

Updated

He says there are “plenty” of boosters:

Doses sitting in the fridges, at the distribution points, 9000 around the country right now, there are 13 million doses in Australia, right now...

There was some pressure but that’s been overcome now, and people will be able to get on and do that over the course of the summer break.

Updated

The PM, Scott Morrison, is talking in Brisbane now ...

Updated

A lot of people on (and I suspect off) Twitter are asking why RAT aren’t free today.

As the political year draws to a close and an election looms, the foreign minister, Marise Payne, has been busy filling diplomatic appointments.

Australia’s foreign minister has confirmed that the former Liberal frontbencher and Senate president Scott Ryan is bound for Canada as Australia’s next high commissioner.

When Ryan departed the Senate presidency earlier this year rather than seeing out his full term, the internal speculation pointed to a looming diplomatic appointment. And so it was.

In a statement issued today, Payne notes that Ryan has served in a number of ministerial roles as well as being president of the Senate between 2017 and 2021. Payne says:

Australia and Canada have a close relationship founded on shared values and experiences. We are proud liberal democracies and federal systems.

Australian and Canadian defence personnel have served side-by-side for over 100 years. We also share a deep commitment to celebrating our indigenous heritages.

Our bilateral economic relationship is substantial. Two-way trade was worth $6.4bn in 2020, and Canada is our 11th largest source of foreign investment, with two-way investment currently standing at $159bn.

Canada is a vital partner in a range of international forums, particularly the United Nations, APEC, WTO, G20 and the OECD.

Our two countries work together closely through the Five Eyes group. We cooperate on international issues such as climate change, global peace and security, human rights, and the empowerment of women and girls.

Australia stands with Canada against the use of arbitrary detention and we welcome Canada’s growing engagement in the Indo-Pacific.

Ryan will replace the current high commissioner, Natasha Smith.

Updated

SA premier says state has 'about 100' new cases

SA premier Steven Marshall says the state has recorded “about 100” new Covid cases.

The official figure will come this afternoon, around 3.30pm ACDT so we’ll bring you more info then.

Updated

The 19-year-old pleaded guilty to charges of not using a QR code and failing to wear a mask in two settings, AAP reports.

With big business backing Labor’s climate policy and net zero gaining bipartisan support, the climate battle is transitioning into a new phase, writes Adam Morton.

For those who had Santa swimming with sharks on their 2021 bingo card

Boost for open borders!

The first death of a child with Covid-19 in New Zealand has prompted calls for Māori children to be prioritised in the next stage of the vaccine rollout, as the country grapples with racial inequalities compounded by the pandemic.

A Māori boy, under the age of 10 and who had tested positive for the virus, died last week, becoming the youngest New Zealander to die with Covid, the Ministry of Health confirmed.

Acting chief minister Nicole Manison said there were 3,207 Covid tests taken in the Northern Territory in the past 24 hours.

The mask mandate has been lifted for Katherine.

Thirteen Covid patients are in hospital in Alice Springs.

Updated

The three new cases are:

A man and a woman in their 30s from Walkabout Bore outstation. They have both spent time in Tennant Creek.

And the other is a child from Tennant Creek who was already in quarantine.

Updated

NT records three new Covid cases and lockdown extended

The Tennant Creek lockdown and mask mandate for Barkly region has been extended by 48 hours until 5pm Wednesday after the territory recorded three new cases.

Updated

More testing trouble in Melbourne ...

There are plans to open up more testing clinics in Melbourne after people report waits of more than two hours.

A reader contacted me earlier to say he had waited in line for two and a half hours in Preston this morning – and the testing site only had one nurse:

There is legit only one testing staff and hundreds of people waiting.

Another reader in Fairfield waited more than an hour – with three nurses working.

The demand is being driven by a combo of more people having to isolate and people getting tested before they travel interstate.

In response, the state government announced three new Covid testing sites have been set up today and 20 across the city will open one hour earlier.

We’ll see over the next few days if that helps make a dent ...

Traffic controllers deal with massive demand at Preston testing site
Traffic controllers deal with massive demand at Preston testing site Photograph: Reader

Updated

Queensland records 59 new Covid cases as Omicron becomes dominant strain

And that is it from Queensland.

Just to recap: There are 59 new Covid cases across the state and they’re seeing roughly a doubling of cases every 48 hours.

Omicron is quickly becoming the dominant strain and the government is recommending that people wear masks indoors.

Updated

Some patients in Queensland are being treated at home, Gerrard says:

There are 66 patients in hospital but, of those 66 patients, only one of them is there for medical reasons. There are other reasons why patients might be in hospital with Covid-19, such as isolating them from sick relatives, etc.

We are increasingly managing patients with Covid-19 in their homes. And quite a number of patients have been shifted to home care in the last few days. In fact, there are 32 cases currently being cared for in their home or in another suitable residence.

Updated

Gerrard:

In terms of the Omicron strain – Omicron is clearly becoming dominant in Queensland. We’ve had 43 confirmed Omicron cases in Queensland so far and of those tested yesterday, there were 13 Omicron cases and eight Delta cases.

Updated

John Gerrard says today’s cases bring the total number of cases in Queensland to 2,356, with 197 cases active and 33 under investigation:

In terms of the locations of cases, very similar to what we’ve seen in the past few days, including Brisbane south and north, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba region and Townsville.

Updated

Queensland’s CHO Dr John Gerrard is speaking now. He is giving a rundown of the state’s cases:

We’re seeing roughly a doubling in the number of cases every 48 hours roughly. So we do expect the cases to increase significantly and the trend has continued as we head into January.

He says the state has one patient in hospital who is recovering well at the moment, which is great news:

I was told last night and she was not vaccinated. Having said that, our cases are still ... Our case numbers are still small.

Only a couple of hundred cases over the past week. And we know that people are most likely to get seriously ill in the second week of their illness.

So it will be very instructive to learn in the next one to two weeks what pattern we see in the hospitals.

Updated

Palaszczuk:

We had extra money from stamp duty and extra money from coal royalties and I believe that this is a necessary step to make sure that health has that extra money there.

This is already on top of the $22bn in the health budget. So that’s some good news.

Updated

Palaszczuk is now talking about the government’s announcement that it will create 108 new jobs for paramedics:

Today I’m announcing an extra boost to Queensland Health and that is an additional $200m. As we enter this new phase of dealing with Covid and the pandemic, we will be dealing with more and more people in the home environment and we want to make sure that we have the best technology.

We’re giving people the best care possible because a lot of this will be managed at home rather than our hospitals unless people are seriously ill.

Updated

Palaszczuk has thanked Queenslanders for wearing masks and strongly recommends people wearing them inside:

We’re not mandating it, but I will be wearing my mask when I go in and out of cafes or restaurants and, when you’re sitting there, you can take your mask off.

This is just an added precaution until we get to that 90% fully vaccinated. But also, too, until we need Queenslanders to get their boosters. It’s really important if your boosters are due – please go and get your booster.

Updated

Annastacia Palaszczuk says cases will spike over Christmas:

I expect to see more and more cases coming up into Christmas and over new year, but we are well prepared for this. We now have had 13,395 tests in the last 24 hours – 10,520 vaccines were administered by Queensland Health and the good news is that we are now at 89.67% first dose and we are looking at 84.51% of eligible Queenslanders are fully vaccinated.

We also have had 197,546 border passes issued. So again, you can see that there’s a lot of people who are reuniting with families and friends coming into the Christmas and new year season.

Updated

In Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is speaking ...

Updated

Days after introducing controversial heritage laws widely criticised by peak Aboriginal advocates, WA Aboriginal affairs minister Stephen Dawson has been stripped of this portfolio in a cabinet reshuffle.

On 17 December premier Mark McGowan announced that Dawson will become the minister for emergency services, innovation and ICT, medical research and volunteering “after delivering important reforms in his portfolios”.

The reshuffle comes just a week after the the Aboriginal cultural heritage bill 2021 passed WA parliament.

Kado Muir, WA Ngalia cultural and community leader and chairman of National Native Title Council, said traditional owners had been left in the dark after the cabinet reshuffle:

The fleeting impermanence of ministerial appoints show the stark contrast of experiences and laws. We the Aboriginal people are left with an intergenerational burden of bad laws, while the minister representing the settler state rides off into the unknown and into obscurity.

Muir said there needed to be a new relationship between Aboriginal people and the settler society that takes into account First Nations laws are ancient and enduring:

In contrast, whitefella laws come and go but create unending uncertainty and sadness to my people.

He called for the new portfolio minister Toni Buti to build a relationship on respect, and earn the trust of Aboriginal people.

The new laws, which will replace the Aboriginal Heritage Act, were designed to allow proper consultation with traditional owners before the destruction of sacred sites – after the 46,000-year-old Juukan Gorge caves in the Pilbara were blown up last year by Rio Tinto.

But the bill has been widely criticised by advocate groups and the peak body for lawyers in the state as it removed the rights of traditional owners to appeal against any destruction to traditional sites.

Updated

Hello everyone – this is Cait. Firstly, thanks to Matilda Boseley, who as always – completely smashed it this morning.

I’m going to take you through the afternoon – so hold on to those hats!

Updated

With that, I shall hand you over to the always amazing Cait Kelly to take you through the afternoon of news.

See you tomorrow!

Updated

Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai has denied that she accused a former senior official of sexually assaulting her, in what is believed to be the first foreign press interview since her November essay caused a media storm:

I wanted to make this very clear: I have never claimed, or written about anyone having sexually assaulted me. With regards to Weibo, it’s about my personal privacy ... There’s been a lot of misunderstanding … There [should be] no distorted interpretation.

The claim apparently contradicted a 2 November social media post, in which Peng accused the former vice-premier Zhang Gaoli of having coerced her into sex. The essay was taken down less than 30 minutes after it was published, and Peng became the centre of a global media storm after disappearing from public view for more than two weeks after the essay.

You can read the full report below:

Updated

Summer in Australia is synonymous with seafood, from fish and chips at the beach to prawns on the barbie. But how do we know if the seafood is sustainable – that is, harvested from healthy stocks with minimal negative environmental impacts?

More than a third of the world’s fisheries are being harvested at unsustainable levels, according to the latest figures from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation.

Research shows public awareness of the problem is growing. But 62% of the seafood Australians eat is imported, which can make it hard to determine the food’s provenance.

While comprehensive sustainable seafood guides like the Australian Marine Conservation Society’s Good Fish are readily available, we know some people find them daunting and time-consuming to use. To make it simpler, we’ve put together five tips for better seafood-buying, focusing on holiday favourites.

You can read all the best tips on how to make your feast of summer seafood sustainable below:

We can expect to hear from the Queensland premier at about 11.30am Brisbane time, so in about an hour.

Usually, this is when we get the state’s Covid-19 numbers as well so looks as though we might have a little while to go.

Updated

ACT records 13 new Covid-19 cases

Today the NSW premier also announced that the party’s candidate for Sydney’s inner-west federal seat of Strathfield would be Bridget Sakr, whose daughter Veronique was 11 when she and her three cousins were killed by a drunk driver in Oatlands.

Dominic Perrottet:

To have someone like Bridget put her hand up and run in public life, the Liberal party is blessed – with the people of Strathfield even more.

To have someone of her value and virtues to put a hand up to public life is an incredible testament to her to have the most heartbreaking tragedy that no parent could ever imagine going through, but the way that she dealt with the and particularly her forgiveness that was so striking, and every person across our state was incredibly moved by that tragedy but I think we were moved even more by the family’s response.

Updated

Reporter:

Hospitalisations up 30% on yesterday, doesn’t that set off alarm bells because people who test positive this week potentially won’t go to hospital for two to three weeks?

Perrottet:

We monitor that. As I said, of the ICU presentations – 33 – 26 of those people are not vaccinated. Vaccination has been crucial, New South Wales is standing strong. We are going to leave the nation out of the pandemic.

There is always concern. We look at these, we look at the data every day. We consider the position every day. But if not now, when? It is time for New South Wales to go to the next level, it is up to New South Wales to continue to be strong and lead the nation out of the pandemic.

It is exactly what we’re going to do in this state. We monitor that situation every single day – yes, there will be challenges. But ultimately where we sit today with the strongest health system in the nation, we are ready. There will be, we know, there will be hospitalisations.

We have said that from the outset. When we opened up, I said numerous times, when we opened up my as mobility increases, case numbers will increase, case numbers will lead to hospitalisations and hospitalisations will lead to ICU presentations.

But we cannot live in a world where there is not Covid. We have to live in the world as it is. And as it is, the best thing we can do is have a high vaccination rate.

Updated

Dominic Perrottet says the only reason other states have closed their border is that Labor ministers have not invested enough in their health system. (Only WA now has its border closed, so not totally sure who is now “closing their borders”.)

Perrottet:

When I look around the country right now and I see borders closing, they are closing for one reason. They are closing because they have not invested in their health system like we have in New South Wales.

Liberals and Nationals are not known for health but now, if you look around the other states, it is the Labor states that are closing their borders because they have not invested in their health system.

We have the best health system in the nation, if not the country. We can open up safely.

I am completely focused with the health minister on ICU presentations, we monitor this every day.

Updated

Perrottet:

To have 95%, 95% of our population here in New South Wales having a first-dose vaccination, yet, 26 of the 33 people in ICU in New South Wales are unvaccinated. The numbers speak for themselves.

Updated

Dominic Perrottet:

Rest assured, every single day, we meet with the health minister and discuss these matters on an ongoing basis. But we need to stand strong.

The people of New South Wales are incredibly resilient. We have got through the last two years, we are going to get through this period as well. As the key to that, if you look at the evidence – and there is a great recap today, if you get the chance to see it in the Australian Financial Review – that shows over the last period of time that while case numbers have increased with Delta and previous variants, hospitalisations are not at the same levels as they were.

We continue to monitor that information, we continue to look at the evidence and we will tailor our response accordingly. But the key message from the government is look after each other, socially distance when you can, if you can’t – wear a mask. That is our message and it is pleasing to see the public are responding. The public are listening to those messages.

Updated

NSW premier on face masks: 'We are treating the people of our state like adults'

Dominic Perrottet says if the state “needs” to change its approach due to Omicron, it will. This is interesting as a number of top experts have said it should be.

Perrottet:

We are taking a balanced and proportionate response. It is completely focused on keeping people safe while at the same time opening up our economy and ensuring that people are able to work, be in jobs and provide for their families.

There will always be new variants of this virus. The pandemic is not going away. We need to learn to live alongside it.

I appreciate as premier there is concern in the community. but now is our time to stand up, to stand tall, to look after each other, to treat people with kindness and respect and we will get through it.

As I have said, from the outset, we will always tailor our response to the circumstances that are in front of us.

When it comes to face masks, we recommend face masks in areas where you cannot socially distance. It is a time of personal responsibility for our state. We are treating the people of our state like adults. We need to tailor our responses from time to time and we will.

There are challenging times today, there will be challenging times tomorrow. We have come through what has been an incredibly difficult 12 months and we still stand strong and accept there are differing views from time to time.

Updated

Jumping back to Dominic Perrottet for a moment, here is what he has to say about the hospitalisation rates in NSW:

The first point I want to make in relation to the ICU presentations is very important. We are currently on a first-dose vaccination at close to 95%. In relation to the ICU presentations, which is the key metric for the state, we have 33 people in ICU; 26 of those 33 are unvaccinated. The evidence is clear. The numbers do not lie. Getting vaccinated protects you and your family, and that has been the key success for our state in opening up.

I just want to encourage you again today. It has been five months since your second-dose vaccination, please make an appointment because booster shots [are] keeping people safe.

He reassures people that vaccines will still be available over the Christmas break:.

I know as we head into the Christmas break, many of you will be aware that GPs go on holidays. So our vaccination centres are not going on holidays, they will be opened by people to visit and receive your booster shot.

Updated

The Northern Territory has opened its borders to travellers who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as quarantine requirements for arrivals end, reports AAP’s Aaron Bunch.

Travellers now have to return a negative PCR test taken within three days of their arrival in the territory. They also need to get re-tested within three days of arriving and again on their sixth day in the NT. Unvaccinated travellers have been barred, with only returning residents exempt.

Travellers will need to show proof they are vaccinated or evidence they are ineligible for the jab. Tests are free at NT government coronavirus testing facilities and travellers are not required to isolate while they wait for the results.

Authorities are also handing out free rapid antigen test kits at the airport for use at home if people develop symptoms. Arrivals must stay in high-vaccination areas, such as Darwin and Alice Springs. The are also required to download the G2G Now app and complete location check-ins when ordered.

Most travellers are banned from dozens of remote communities where vaccination rates remain below 80%.

Unvaccinated people who try to get into the territory will be turned away and could face a fine of more than $5,000. Those allowed in must quarantine at their own expense for 14 days.

Updated

Speaking of ...

Updated

The Victoria government says they are doing what they can to boost testing capacity as centers around the state are overwhelmed.

OK, time to hear from the NSW premier who is laying out his government’s cabinet recent reshuffle, with members expected to be sworn in to their new roles tomorrow. This includes nine members who are new to the cabinet. After this shakeup, there will then be seven women and 19 men, which, rather scarily is actually an improvement for NSW gender equality.

Dominic Perrottet:

I want to congratulate those members and I’m here today with Wendy [Tuckerman] who will be appointed tomorrow as a minister for local government, Natasha Maclaren-Jones will be appointed the minister for disability services also, another appointed for small business in fair trading and James Griffin who will be appointed as a minister for the environment and heritage ...

Big curveballs come have come our way and we wanted a team here New South Wales [who] will continue the great work that this government has laid and the infrastructure and driving a state through challenging times but ultimately, to take New South Wales the next level and I know, that every one of these new ministers who will be appointed tomorrow has the experience but importantly, the passion and energy to take New South Wales to the next level and that’s what this is all about.

Updated

Edward says there were a number of “near misses” that resulted in people receiving only minor injuries.

We had people hit by debris that had a lot of bruises and cuts that were assessed, and those people did not require transport to hospital.

Superintendent Paul Edwards has given some more detail on the incident that claimed the life of one woman during the northern beaches storm over the weekend.

It was a difficult situation, managed extremely well. We got early calls in the afternoon about the storm in this area that was quite widespread and it soon became evident that the priority was this location.

On arrival, we had a surf lifesaver who performed an amazing job, looking after the patient before our arrival. Unfortunately, one of the patients was deceased. There were two that were critical. There was one with minor injuries.

Communication was amazing. They were two rescue helicopters dispatched and we brought medical teams into the site to assist the patient. One patient was in her early 20s with head injuries and spinal injuries and the second patient with severe internal injuries.

It became evident with the amount of people looking after these people that the best option was to transport them by road to Royal North Shore hospital. One of the medical teams assisted with the paramedics. Essentially, a medical team, we have the ability of bringing in the ED department to be seen.

Updated

It seems that surf lifesavers were the first on the scene after a woman was fatally struck by a fallen tree in the northern beaches, and were later assisted by ambulance and fire teams.

Updated

Fisher says 10 families have been forced to leave their homes on the northern beaches in Sydney due to storm damage.

Only a small number have been displaced. We are looking at about 10 properties, mainly units, at this point in time. Air crews are working through those homes that have roof damage so that may increase but at the moment it is minimal.

Updated

Microburst to blame for northern beaches wild weather, emergency services say

Let’s go to Sydney now where emergency services are giving an update on the freak storm that wreaked havoc on Syndey’s northern beaches yesterday, and has so far led to the death of one person.

Superintendent Stuart Fisher:

At approximately 3:45pm yesterday, a microburst [weather event] appeared out of nowhere, situated over the northern beaches, resulting in over 550 requests for assistance and 150 000 phone calls.

According to the US government’s national weather website, a microburst is “a microburst is a localised column of sinking air (downdraft) within a thunderstorm and is usually less than or equal to 2.5 miles in diameter”. They can cause a hunger amount of damage to infrastructure and, as we have seen, can be fatal.

Currently, the SES have over 15 teams out in the field along with support from our FS, New South Wales Fire and Rescue, council and other local government authorities. We expect to have the majority of those jobs are sorted today and tomorrow, although we are working closely with Ausgrid who are working through restoring power to over 26,000 homes ...

The main damage were trees and power lines down as well as minor to moderate and major property damage workplaces lost roofs. Places ... lost their roofs and the majority were trees down and sadly one person was deceased as a result of a falling tree.

Updated

As a little break from all the doom and gloom Omicron news, please enjoy this story about an ungodly fish that’s washed ashore in California.

NSW premier Dominic Perrottet says public health is a 'personal' decision

As NSW continues to set national records for daily Covid-19 infections, the premier is resisting calls to reinstate mask mandates but says he will act if required, reports AAP.

A day after NSW recorded 2,566 new COVID-19 cases and with Christmas fast approaching, Dominic Perrottet has written an editorial in the Daily Telegraph calling for calm.

Case numbers are bound to rise, just as the modelling predicted, and we are all likely to have a close encounter with Covid ...

This is not to be taken lightly.

The safety of the community is and always will be our top priority, and if the trajectory of an outbreak appears likely to put our health system under excessive pressure, we will change our approach, tailoring it to the circumstances and the evidence ...

For now, that is not the case.

NSW is urging people to keep wearing masks indoors while other health experts are calling for mask mandates to return in those settings.

However, Perrottet said it is a personal decision.

It is time to shift the balance back to personal responsibility, because a strong, healthy society is built not on the dictates of government, but on the common pursuit of the common good.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet (middle) says ‘a strong, healthy society’ is built on every person deciding for themselves whether they want to protect others or not.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet (middle) says ‘a strong, healthy society’ is built on every person deciding for themselves whether they want to wear a mask to protect others or not. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP

Updated

At least 10 Melbourne Covid testing sites shut after reaching capacity

Overwhelming testing demand has created long queues and forced several sites to shut, as Victoria reported 1,302 new Covid-19 infections and no deaths, reports AAP’s Callum Godde.

It is the first day the state has not reported a Covid-related death since 16 September, and there are 13,175 active cases in the community.

A total of 406 patients are in hospital, 81 of whom are actively infected with the virus in intensive care and 43 on ventilators.

The seven-day hospitalisation average has risen by seven to 387.

About 4,800 people were vaccinated in state-run hubs on Sunday, while 71,491 tests were processed.

Strong testing demand in the lead-up to Christmas is putting the state’s testing system under pressure, with long lines forming on Monday morning.

At least 10 testing sites across Melbourne were temporarily shut at 9am after reaching capacity.

They include Alfred Health’s walk-through clinic in the CBD and Aughtie Walk in Albert Park, Montague Street in South Melbourne, St Vincent’s hospital walk-through site in Fitzroy, La Trobe University’s Bundoora campus and Monash University at Clayton.

A long queue was also seen outside the Bourke Street walk-in site, with people facing a wait of several hours to tested.

Acting premier James Merlino said on Sunday that opening times at centres had been extended considering the number of people wanting to be tested as they prepared for leave or holiday travel during Christmas week.

I know that there are particular sites where the wait is long but the average is 45 minutes to an hour or so ...

I ask people to be patient. We’re expanding and extending it as much as we can.

The state government has increased capacity by about 55% since October, with about 260 sites now in operation across Victoria.

Updated

This means that NSW’s numbers are nearly double that of Victoria, a reversal of a weeks-long trend of more infections below the border.

No Covid-19 deaths in Victoria, 1,302 new cases

NSW records 2,501 new local Covid-19 cases

Strike to stop Sydney trains overnight

Sydney train commuters are facing major disruptions with another strike due to hit the network, reports AAP.

The action will disrupt the Sydney Trains-operated network as Rail, Tram, and Bus Union members take action from 8pm Monday to 4am on Tuesday.

Transport for NSW has warned train frequency will slow from 6pm and people could be left stranded.

Buses will replace train services on all lines between 8pm and 4am but Sydney commuters are being encouraged to avoid travelling on Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning.

Intercity and regional services will also be affected, with some of the services suspended from 3.30pm on Monday before resuming at 5.30am on Tuesday.

Transport for NSW says there will be flow-on effects throughout the week, as many services are nearly fully booked as people travel home for Christmas.

NSW TrainLink chief executive Dale Merrick said in a statement:

This is significant disruption that means many regional and rural customers will not be able to travel, have a dislocated journey on road coaches or will need to make other plan.

The strike comes after industrial action last Tuesday when RTBU members refused to drive foreign-built trains used on about 75% of services.

The union and Transport for NSW are at loggerheads as they negotiate a new enterprise agreement covering more than 10,000 staff.

RTBU NSW secretary Alex Claassens has said the government is refusing to deliver on “basic hygiene, safety and privatisation commitments”.

Transport for NSW said workers had been offered new enterprise agreements, including a 2.5% pay rise in the first year.

The union wants a 3.5% wage rise.

Buses will replace train services on all lines between 8pm and 4am but Sydney commuters are being encouraged to avoid travelling on Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning.
Buses will replace train services on all train lines in Sydney between 8pm Monday and 4am on Tuesday. Photograph: Richard Milnes/Rex/Shutterstock

Updated

The Morrison government has been warned a coordinated interference campaign unleashed by foreign states or malicious actors through social media platforms is a serious risk to manage in the looming federal election campaign.

With the federal contest now imminent, a Senate select committee established in late 2019 to investigate the risks posed to Australia’s democracy by foreign interference through social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter and WeChat has used its first report to urge the Coalition to adopt better protocols before the poll.

The new report concludes Australia currently lacks some of the institutional architecture needed to respond effectively and proactively to the threat of foreign interference.

You can read the full report below:

Clean-up continues on Sydney's northern beaches after 'mini-cyclone'

A freak weekend storm on Sydney’s northern beaches that killed a woman, ripped roofs off buildings and uprooted trees has left thousands of households without power, reports AAP.

Described as a “mini-cyclone”, the storm tore across suburbs from Mona Vale to Forestville, causing a trail of destruction.

A massive Norfolk pine tree hit powerlines, which fell on three women who were trying to take shelter at a car park at Ocean Street Narrabeen.

A 68-year-old woman died at the scene, while two other women – aged 19 and 71 – were critically injured, police said.

The two injured women were taken to Royal North Shore hospital, where they both remain in a serious but stable condition.

The State Emergency Service responded to nearly 600 calls for help and volunteers are still on the ground with police and NSW Fire & Rescue crews who are helping people clear debris and secure homes that have lost roofs.

Adam Jones from the SES told ABC most calls were for leaking roofs and fallen trees that were blocking roads as well as downed powerlines and people who were stuck in lifts.

We can’t promise that we’ll have everyone ready for Christmas but that is the goal of every member out there today ...

Powerlines are incredibly dangerous. If they are down, stay away from them.

Do not assume that they’re turned off because they’re on the ground. Try to stay 16-20 metres away from them.

More than 35,000 homes lost power, with areas including North Turramurra, Frenchs Forest, Forestville and St Ives still affected.

Ausgrid says employees were working around the clock to restore services.

Community members clear debris of a fallen tree at a property near Robertson Street in Narrabeen on Sunday.
Community members clear debris of a fallen tree at a property near Robertson Street in Narrabeen on Sunday. Photograph: Matt Dunbar/AAP

Updated

A freak storm has lashed Syndey’s Norther Beaches over the weekend, with many still without power and hundreds of hours of clean up work to go.

I’ll bring you more updates on the situation there over the morning.

From prisoners to the homeless and people living with disabilities – these are some of the at-risk communities hidden from public view during the pandemic. Now the health workers working with them share their stories.

Covid was a little bit outside our realm because we were in a relatively protected environment. That whole barrier of being isolated was somewhat beneficial as long as the virus stayed out of there. There was always going to be an outbreak [though]; you can only build a net, it’s never a wall, and eventually something will get through there. Now they were in a closed community where people live together, many who aren’t vaccinated, so it didn’t take long for the virus to spread.

Prison’s a little bit like a game of Jenga – not every bit of wood can go next to every bit of wood – so to move guys around takes a lot of logistics. It was really interesting trying to deliver care through a metal door which was locked. A flap would open up, a finger would come out and you’d do a set of observations, you’d do a temperature [check] and make sure they were OK at least once or two times a day.

You can read the full report below:

A man who was confined to his room at his Melbourne sharehouse and forced to go to the toilet in a bucket after being diagnosed with Covid has prompted calls for better awareness of support available for people isolating during the pandemic.

Melbourne man Qas Ansari, 37, said he was worried he would pass Covid onto his three housemates, so they sealed off his room using plastic sheeting, building an airlock over his door, and for two days he used a bucket for a toilet and did not shower.

“I understood why it needed to be done, the hardest bit was using a bucket, but if I kept using the bathroom and kitchen I would create more opportunities to get ill,” Ansari said.

You can read the full report below:

Kaldor says the national reopening plan needs to be able to react and adapt to the landscape of Covid-19 across the world as it changes:

Every plan needs to be responsive to changes in circumstances, and what we’ve seen with Covid is that there are twists and turns that are unexpected.

And when Omicron emerged, the first thing to figure out – as with any new variant – is first of all, how infectious and secondly, how much disease is caused and particularly how well are the vaccines working?

And we’ve got the answer to the first one of those three, but we haven’t got the answer to the second and the third is yet.

Updated

Kaldor has warned that Australia shouldn’t base too many of their decision on the extremely early studies that suggest Omicrom may cause a less severe form of the disease.

So there have been reports from South Africa that strongly suggest it’s less severe than Delta. But we need to take that information cautiously in our contexts, for a couple of reasons.

First, the information for it is largely from younger people who have traditionally had lower severe outcomes.

But also it’s a population in South Africa that’s had a lot of exposure to circulating virus and maybe a lot of people whose immune systems are more primed than ours would be here.

Updated

Experts urge caution over reopening

In a report by the Sydney Morning Herald, the director of the Doherty Institute, Prof Sharon Lewin, who advised on Morrison’s national plan to ease Australia into living with Covid-19, says we should pump the reopening brakes as concerns grow about the Omicron variant.

She called for the return of mask-wearing indoors and stopping large gatherings at pubs and nightclubs.

And she isn’t the only one. Prof John Kaldor, an epidemiologist at the Kirby Institute tells ABC radio that we just don’t know enough about Omicron just yet.

This is a big unknown because we have very good information about how much protection we get from the vaccines against the previous variants, but we have very little information about how much protection we get against Omicron.

There is evidence from overseas and from studies in the laboratory that there will be reduced efficacy, so particularly in the absence of a booster it may actually be a much more severe outcome in terms of its severity.

Updated

Butler has been asked if Labor would be calling for booster shots to be moved forward to four or even three months, as a number of other countries have done, but he says they will be sticking with Atagi’s official advice.

The opposition [will follow] the public health advice. Atagi has decided not to shorten it from five to four or even three months.

Right now the government’s rollout isn’t even meeting the demand of a five-month eligibility ... let alone being able to meet the extra demand for a four-month or three months eligibility would provide.

Updated

Now it’s time to talk about the booster shot program, and this morning Labor is coming out and attacking the government hard over this.

The shadow health minister, Mark Butler, tells ABC radio that Australia is once again falling behind the rest of the developed world.

The first six weeks so far we’ve done a little more than 1 million boosters. By the end of next week, we’d have to have delivered 4 million.

4 million people are supposed to receive their booster shots this month. There’s no way we’re going to achieve that under Scott Morrison’s program.

Mark Butler.
Mark Butler. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

Updated

Liberals to select Porter's replacement

Liberal party members will select a new candidate to run in former attorney general Christian Porter’s seat after he announced he wouldn’t contest the next election, reports AAP.

The Perth-based seat of Pearce was held by Porter on a 7.5% margin at the last federal election in 2019 but is now considered a much tighter contest after a boundary redistribution.

Labor has preselected City of Wanneroo mayor Tracey Roberts.

Roberts’ council colleague Linda Aitken is touted as a potential Liberal candidate, as is former navy officer Miquela Riley.

The election is due to be held by May.

Porter has held the seat since 2013 and the seat has remained in Liberal hands since its inception in 1990.

The former minister said he wouldn’t recontest the seat after being dumped from federal cabinet following him accepting legal fees from a blind trust.

In a lengthy Facebook post, he said he wouldn’t be able to give the next three years his all after “experiencing the harshness of modern politics more than most”.

Porter sued the ABC after it published a story about allegations an unnamed cabinet minister had raped a now-deceased woman in 1988.

He strenuously denied the allegations after outing himself as the accused minister and has since settled a defamation case against the national broadcaster.

But it was then revealed in September anonymous donors had paid for part of Porter’s legal fees.

Porter denied any conflict of interest and said no banned donors contributed money to the fund, but nonetheless tendered his resignation from cabinet rather than publicly reveal the donors.

The party members will make their selection on Monday.

Christian Porter.
Christian Porter. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian

Updated

Good morning

Good morning everyone, it’s a lovely Monday morning (as much as any Monday can be) and there is plenty of news to get through.

It’s Matilda Bosley here and why don’t we jump into the day.

Today after months of strict border restrictions the Northern Territory is opening up to the rest of the country – well, the rest of the vaccinated country at least.

Travellers from all around Australia will now be able to travel anywhere in the territory as long as they avoid remote communities where less than 80% of the eligible population is vaccinated.

Arrivals must also record three negative PCR tests, one before crossing the border and two in the days afterwards.

In other news, the federal government has committed to spending another $78m to help Australia’s aviation sector recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The deputy prime minister, Barnaby Joyce, has announced a “aviation recovery framework” which he says is aimed at rebuilding the workforce and upgrading regional infrastructure.

This will involve a “strategic aviation advisory forum”, whose job it will be to brief the federal government and provide annual “health checks” about the state of the sector.

The funding includes $4m to increase the number of women in the sector and $15m to upgrade remote aerodromes.

Another $29m will be made available through the third round of a regional aviation infrastructure program.

A $30m rebate program will help aviation operators upgrade aircraft safety.

OK! With that out of the way, why don’t we jump right into the day!

Updated

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