What happened today, Monday 14 June, 2021
We’ll leave it there for today.
Here are the main events of the day.
- Expectations are growing of an announcement about the future of the Tamil asylum seeker family detained on Christmas Island, with the acting prime minister, Michael McCormack, saying the government was considering its options.
- Victoria recorded two new cases, but no decision was made about a future easing of restrictions.
- The health minister, Greg Hunt, confirmed all aged care homes have now received a first dose vaccine visit.
- Guardian Australia revealed that a producer for Youtube comedian Friendlyjordies was charged with allegedly stalking and intimidating the New South Wales deputy premier, John Barilaro.
- In another Guardian Australia exclusive, the Australian army is investigating allegations of bullying and harassment of officer cadets at the University of Sydney regiment.
Thanks for joining us today.
Updated
Western Australia will outlaw gel blasters, going further than any other state in response to concerns about their resemblance to real firearms, reports AAP.
From July 3, the blasters - which fire small gel balls - will be classed as prohibited weapons that cannot be owned by anyone.
Anyone subsequently found in possession of a blaster will face a fine of up to $36,000 or three years’ jail.
An amnesty period will apply until July 3, allowing owners to hand the blasters into police stations without penalty.
Updated
My colleague Calla Walhquist reports:
Regional tourism operators in Victoria are anxiously waiting for confirmation that Melbourne residents will be allowed to travel this weekend, as authorities try to track down and test every occupant of a 100-unit inner-city townhouse complex after two residents tested positive.
A film based on the aftermath of the Christchurch mosques terrorist attacks continues to generate anguish in New Zealand, casting doubt on whether the movie will be made, reports AAP.
Jacinda Ardern has voiced her opposition to the project, titled They Are Us, a phrase coined by the prime minister in one of her speeches after the massacre.
Christchurch mayor Lianne Dalziel says filmmakers “won’t be welcome” in the city, the site of the 2019 attack which killed 51 people.
More than 61,000 Kiwis as of Monday afternoon have signed a petition asking FilmNation Entertainment, CAA Media Finance and the local film industry to withdraw support.
The petition, started by the National Islamic Youth Association (NIYA), asks locals to “say no” to the use of locations, hiring gear, talent or crew and interviewing or promoting They Are Us.
The film’s focus on Ardern’s response to the tragedy is at the centre of NIYA’s opposition.
“The film centres white voices and therefore will continue to white-wash the horrific violence perpetrated against Muslim communities,” the petition reads.
On that point, Ardern agrees:
“It feels so raw for all of us still but not not least, the community,” she told the AM Show.
“Yes there are stories to be told from 15 March but I don’t consider mine to be one of them.
“I think it’s for the community to determine whether or not those are stories that at some stage they want told or not ... now feels very raw for everyone.”
The growing backlash has forced one New Zealand film producer, Philippa Campbell, to pull out.
“’I’ve listened to the concerns raised over recent days and I have heard the strength of people’s views. I now agree that the events of 15 March, 2019 are too raw for film at this time and do not wish to be involved,” she said.
Updated
'Biloela family' should be resettled in Australia – Liberal MP
The Liberal MP Jason Falinski says he thinks the Tamil family detained on Christmas Island should be resettled.
He tells the ABC’s Afternoon Briefing:
Look, my personal view on that is yes, I think it would be good if they were resettled in Australia but I understand that there are processes that we need to go through, that these are difficult decisions, there are a lot of considerations that need to be part of it and this is in and of itself a very difficult case where a number of tribunals and courts have found that they don’t meet the status of refugees, but obviously since then, things have moved on. And we have a whole bunch of considerations that means that some of the decisions that are being reported this afternoon I guess come into play.
Falinski says he’s made his views known to the immigration minister, Alex Hawke.
Updated
Guardian Australia’s Sarah Martin reports that Michael McCormack misspoke when he said the family was currently being reunited. He meant a decision on that was currently being considered.
Cameron says of that uncertainty:
They [the family] did hear of it and, you know, that is why it’s a bit of a shame really that this information is blurted out at a media conference rather than going directly to the family, who are the ones involved here.
Updated
Cameron says the family is hoping for permanent resettlement.
We think that [is] the very least this family deserves after what they have been through. But they will take any way that they can to get out of detention and to start to heal themselves and their little girls.
Updated
Simone Cameron, a family friend of the Murugappan family of Biloela, is on the ABC now.
She says the family is still waiting to hear from government officials about their situation.
That is right, still waiting. It’s, as you can imagine, just extremely difficult for Nades and Priya to keep riding the highs and lows as bits of information come out through the media. But we are just trying to keep their feet on the ground at the moment and we are going to wait for something official.
Warning from @CommissionerEMV that more rain is forecast later this week. Flood affected areas with ground already saturated could see high water levels and even some damaging winds again. Victorians being urged to be alert for warnings and updates. #springst
— Kieran Rooney (@KieranRooneyCM) June 14, 2021
This is the letter from the PM, Health Minister Greg Hunt & CMO Prof Paul Kelly to over70s encouraging them to get vaccinated - "If we have further outbreaks of the virus in Australia, it is people aged 70 & over who are most at risk of serious illness & even fatality." @9NewsAUS pic.twitter.com/PEyPUXw2Hl
— Jonathan Kearsley (@jekearsley) June 14, 2021
.@LilyDAmbrosioMP says there are signs of cracking at Yallourn Mine. Workers have been evacuated. If water does flood into mine, it is not expected this would impact neighbouring communities. #springst
— Kieran Rooney (@KieranRooneyCM) June 14, 2021
NT Police commander Craig Laidler is providing an update on the death at the Finke Desert Race.
He says the circumstances of the incident are under investigation.
He says all he can say at the moment is that “a vehicle has left the track and struck spectators”.
Our thoughts go out to all persons involved and the families and friends of those victims. We ask for any witnesses and anyone who may have any information of video footage to make contact with police on 13 14 44.
Updated
We are expecting an update on the Victorian floods situation at 3.20pm
Man dies at NT's Finke Desert Race
A spectator has died and two people have been injured at the Finke Desert Race near Alice Springs, reports AAP.
Northern Territory police confirmed the man died after being struck by a vehicle on Monday morning, 35km from the start/finish line.
The man in his 60s was a spectator at the event and died at the scene.
The area has been cordoned off and competitors have been diverted from the area, which has been declared a crime scene.
A male spectator in his 50s was also injured in the incident and he was taken to Alice Springs Hospital.
The female navigator of the vehicle, aged in her 50s, received minor injuries and was also taken to hospital.
A spokesperson for NT Health says both are in a stable condition.
Motorsport Australia confirmed on its Facebook page arrangements will be made with police for vehicles stopped on the course at various locations on the Finke Track to be recovered by crews.
They also confirmed the car section of the race has been concluded by the clerk of the course.
According to the race website, the Tatts Finke Desert Race is an off-road multi-terrain two-day race for bikes, cars, buggies and quads through desert country from Alice Springs to Aputula (Finke).
Held annually on the Queen’s Birthday long weekend in June, it’s one of the biggest annual sporting events in the Northern Territory.
The race is one of the most difficult off-road remote courses in the world.
AAP has more details on the plan for GP vaccine home visits.
GPs have been given the green light to visit people at home or in disability or aged care facilities, in a bid to fast-track the Covid-19 vaccine rollout.
So far 5.9 million vaccinations have been provided nationally, but there are still concerns many of the most vulnerable Australians have not been vaccinated.
Health Minister Greg Hunt told reporters on Monday the government had reached agreement with medical groups on a home visitation payment program with a specific Medicare item.
Doctors would be able to visit elderly, frail or immobile people in their homes or in residential facilities.
“That in-home visitation fee will exist to provide access for all of Australia’s 30,000 plus GPs to choose if they so wish to be part of the program,” Hunt said.
The minister said all aged care facilities had now received a first dose visit and 94% of facilities had received second dose visits.
Roving clinics were also being rolled out to aged care facilities to offer those who initially did not agree to jabs to receive them.
Victoria recorded two new local cases of Covid-19 on Monday, both children who are close contacts of previous cases and have not been in the community while infectious.
Meanwhile, residents of a townhouse complex in Melbourne’s CBD are being ordered to isolate for up to a fortnight after authorities established a link between two coronavirus cases who live there.
Victoria’s Health Minister Martin Foley confirmed a case reported on Saturday lives in the same Southbank townhouse complex as a worker from Arcare Maidstone, who earlier contracted the virus via the aged care facility.
Authorities believe the aged care worker infected the man, aged in his 30s, in a common area of the low-rise complex, prior to testing positive.
“What we’re trying to do is to run down the particular circumstances of that and make sure that if there are any chains of transmission out there, that we identify them early and cut them off,” he said.
Nurses will go door-to-door to ensure residents of the 100 townhouses are tested.
Over 70s to receive a letter from PM urging vaccination
Asked if 61% of over 70s being vaccinated is a good result, Hunt says “it’s good but we want it to be better”.
He adds:
The Prime Minister, the Chief Medical Officer and myself are writing to everybody over 70 and that letter should be arriving over the course of the next week to 10 days.
That’s to encourage them all to continue to come forward. And some of them may have bookings for later on, some of them may have watched the program, people change their minds. And so what we are seeing is very strong numbers.
Updated
On aged care workers, Hunt says the current figures we have 86,353 have had vaccinations to date. But those figures are due to be updated at the close of business tomorrow, following the mandatory reporting of vaccine data from aged care homes.
Updated
Greg Hunt is asked if he thinks there is a case for Victoria’s restrictions to be eased before the Thursday night timeline.
He plays a very straight bat:
In terms of Victoria, our goal and hope is that restrictions can be lifted as early as possible, as soon as it’s safe. That’s been our position throughout. I know it’s been a very difficult time. I was speaking with one small business owner today and it’s been a very difficult time for them, particularly with the long weekend. But we don’t have any dispute with Victoria. We recognise that they are making decisions on medical grounds but we hope that they will be in a position on medical grounds as soon as possible to continue to lift restrictions such as the 25km zone but there is no dispute or disagreement.
Updated
Young says 8,561 people with a disability in the residential setting have received at least one dose of a vaccine.
That’s out of a total of about 22,000 people in that situation.
Updated
Young:
We have 44% of those aged 50 or over having received at least one and 61% of those aged 70 and over.
This is on the back of increasing numbers in the 40-49 cohort coming forward for vaccination.
Commodore Eric Young is also at this press conference.
There have now been 5.8m vaccine doses administered nationally. Thursday was a record day of more than 153,000 doses in 24 hours.
All aged care homes have had first dose visit; GPs to do to home visits
Hunt tells the press conference that all aged care homes have now had their first dose visit. He says 94% have also had their second dose visit.
Hunt announced that the government is also enlisting “Australia’s GPs to be able to visit people at home or in a disability or residential aged care facility”.
He says this is about “expanding the vaccination program, bringing it to people”.
Doctors will be paid $56.75 plus the vaccination fee for the first patient they visit in residential aged care facilities or in a disability home, Hunt says.
Updated
Greg Hunt press conference
The health minister, Greg Hunt, is providing a Covid-19 update.
He says more than five million Australians have now had a vaccine. “During the course of the last week, we have seen a record day and record weekday figures,” he says.
Updated
Re #hometobilo. You'll be shocked to hear that the DPM misspoke and when he said the family was being reunited "as we speak", what he actually meant was that the decision is happening "as we speak". But there is movement.
— Sarah Martin (@msmarto) June 14, 2021
Queensland church's nursing homes sale approved
A Supreme Court judge has approved receivers of the Presbyterian Church of Queensland selling three nursing homes to help keep the services going and prop up the church’s ailing finances, reports AAP.
The receivers who were appointed in May had sought directions from the court on a contract to sell three of PCQ’s five aged-care homes in Queensland to Apollo Care.
In a judgment published on Monday, Justice Susan Brown says a robust process was carried out to obtain an offer to reflect market value for the homes operated by PresCare in Rockhampton, Maryborough and Granville.
This would result “in a reputable party experienced in aged care purchasing the properties as aged care facilities which will minimise disruption to the residents”.
PCQ would continue to provide pastoral care to the residents and the sale proceeds would be used to keep PresCare’s remaining aged-care homes operating while the receivers assess options for them.
“The sale will result in PCQ having significantly reduced liabilities,” Brown said.
All five homes have been operating at a loss and were being supported by Department of Health funding, which is due to cease on June 30.
The receivers at PwC Australia said in May they intend to continue all PCQ’s operations while reviewing the church’s activities and financial position.
As well its the PresCare homes, PCQ’s operations also include the Queensland Theological College in Brisbane and Fairholme College, a day and boarding school for girls in Toowoomba.
Updated
Hello everyone, and thanks, Naaman. It’s Luke Henriques-Gomes here. I’ll be with you into the evening. I hope you’re having an enjoyable day.
If you want to get in touch, I’m on Twitter @lukehgomes.
Onwards.
With that, I’ll be handing the blog over to my colleague Luke Henriques-Gomes, who will take you through to the evening. Thanks for reading.
NSW state MP Helen Dalton calls the FriendlyJordies arrest "extremely disturbing" and wants for the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission to investigate
— Josh Butler (@JoshButler) June 14, 2021
"A special unit established to tackle extremists should not be arresting a YouTube comedian" #auspol pic.twitter.com/qnQIg2yJpr
Swim ethics committee meets amid furore
Swimming Australia’s ethics committee is meeting to discuss “concerning” fresh details of fat-shaming and an abusive culture in the sport, AAP reports.
The committee is meeting today as fallout continues from swimmer Maddie Groves’ accusations of misogyny at elite levels.
Groves withdrew from Australia’s Olympic trials in Adelaide and, in a series of social media posts, claimed there were “misogynistic perverts in the sport”.
SA is creating an independent all-female panel to examine Groves’ claims and reports of wider degrading coaching practices.
Ahead of the panel being formed, SA’s ethics and integrity committee will meet to hold its own investigation into the furore.
“Any allegations of misconduct are taken seriously by Swimming Australia,” the governing body said in a statement on Monday.
The statement followed a News Corp report detailing incidents including swimmers being “oinked at” and fat-shamed.
The reports centred on research by former Commonwealth Games swimming gold medallist Jenny McMahon. McMahon detailed incidents including coaches making pig noises at swimmers if they were perceived to be overweight.
Other incidents, according to McMahon, included a coach ordering an 11-year-old girl swimmer on a 10km run as punishment for eating an ice-cream.
Updated
Foley is asked whether there will be an announcement on Wednesday or Thursday about lifting restrictions.
He says: “How long is a piece of string?”
We want to provide certainty to people, to communities, to businesses – particularly with school holidays coming up. As soon as we can. How long is a piece of string? is the argument.
We want to make sure is that we give certainty as quickly and as comprehensively as we can, based on the most up-to-date public health advice, and as we’ve indicated over the past few days, as soon as we’re in a position to do that, we certainly will.
Updated
Victorian health minister Martin Foley says the state’s Pfizer vaccine supply is “under the constraints of what we are being provided, and that is an issue for the commonwealth government”.
However, he says Victorians have demonstrated “such an appetite for the vaccines” that the federal government has allocated the state “some extra”.
We will continue to get those out of the door as quickly and safely as we possibly can.
Updated
Yesterday, Victoria’s state-run sites delivered 13,764 vaccines, Foley says.
People who work at or visit an industrial precinct in Thomastown have been warned to be aware of symptoms, even though it is not an exposure site.
Foley says:
Our contact tracers are looking at a number of cases that have been in or around the Thomastown industrial precinct just south of the Metropolitan Ring Road.
There are as many as 10 public and private exposure sites within this particular pocket of Thomastown, with some board overlap between a number of the positive cases.
Updated
Two new Vic cases are children who were in isolation
Health minister Martin Foley is stepping up now.
— Calla Wahlquist (@callapilla) June 14, 2021
As previously reported, there are two new locally-acquired cases who have been in quarantine throughout their infectious period.
Both are children. One is a contact of the Reservoir case, one of City of Melbourne case.
Updated
The Victorian health minister, Martin Foley, is speaking now.
He says today’s lower numbers are proof that restrictions “are working” and that current measures are “appropriate”.
There are still more than 2,000 close contacts linked to outbreaks. But “overall, the net direction is in a downward trajectory for those primary close contacts”, Foley says.
Updated
The acting PM just said it was his understanding that the family "are being reunited in Perth as we speak" and "there was work being done towards" that.
— HometoBilo (@HometoBilo) June 14, 2021
We welcome that outcome, but we have no new information. We spoke with Nades this morning and he was still on Christmas Island.
Government flags announcement on Biloela family this week
The acting prime minister, Michael McCormack, has just said that the immigration minister, Alex Hawke, will “make an announcement” on the Biloela family this week.
McCormack said:
We will base it on the health advice, the humanitarian advice. We’ve been a very humanitarian government.
We will make that determination, as a government, and the immigration minister has the remit to do that and he will make that announcement this week.
McCormack also said the family was being reunited “as we speak”.
In recent days, multiple Coalition MPs have said that Nades and Priya Murugappan and their daughters, Kopika and Tharnicaa, should be released from detention on Christmas Island and allowed back into the Biloela community in Queensland.
Tharnicaa is in hospital in Perth being treated for sepsis after she fell ill on Christmas Island. The family have been in immigration detention for more than three years.
Updated
Victoria’s health minister, Martin Foley, will speak at 12pm today.
One man show today - Health Minister Martin Foley to provide a coronavirus update at 12pm.
— Benita Kolovos 🐯 (@benitakolovos) June 14, 2021
NSW reports no new local Covid cases
New South Wales has recorded no new locally acquired cases of Covid-19.
That was out of 9,479 tests in the 24 hours to 8pm last night.
Six new overseas-acquired cases were recorded in the same period, bringing the total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 5,430.
Updated
Peta Credlin has responded to being appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia. Speaking to Sky News, she said:
These are meritorious appointments across the board but if you’re not nominated you can’t receive an Australian honour. Look at all that: 44% [women] and not a quota in sight.
It is a personal award, but I don’t take it as a personal honour today. It’s a reflection of some pretty amazing staff I worked with all the way through my time in Canberra.
Updated
Scott Morrison has signalled his government could finally back away from its hardline stance and allow the Biloela family to stay in Australia, at least on a temporary basis, AAP reports.
The prime minister said:
There are options that are being considered that are consistent with both health advice and the humanitarian need and the government’s policy.
However, Morrison said permanent resettlement was out of the question.
That wouldn’t be government policy for a pathway to permanent settlement – that is not the government’s policy.
In recent days, multiple Coalition MPs have said that Nades and Priya Murugappan and their daughters, Kopika and Tharnicaa, should be released from detention on Christmas Island and allowed back into the Biloela community in Queensland.
Tharnicaa is in hospital in Perth being treated for sepsis after she fell ill on Christmas Island. The family have been in immigration detention for more than three years.
Updated
Northern Territory police will apply to extradite biochemist Stephen Dank from Victoria after he failed to appear in a Darwin court to face charges, AAP reports.
The 56-year-old sports scientist, who was the architect of the supplements regime scandal at AFL club Essendon, was hit with 20 charges by NT police in 2019.
The charges – including fraud, uttering a forged document, recklessly endangering serious harm and causing serious harm – relate to Dank’s time working at a Darwin anti-ageing clinic in 2017.
He has failed to show in court since July 2020 and a warrant was issued four months later for his arrest.
Darwin police confirmed on Monday that they would seek Dank’s extradition from Victoria.
Updated
The Queensland government has announced $71m in funding to lure film production companies to the state.
The premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, says $53m will go towards attracting international and domestic production companies to Queensland, AAP reports.
Another $18m will be invested in local film, television and games production, a new north Queensland film fund and an incentive for post, digital and visual effects.
Updated
Scott Morrison was denied a one-on-one meeting with Joe Biden yesterday, at the PM’s first meeting with the US president, because Boris Johnson joined it.
Labor’s Penny Wong said it was disappointing that Morrison could not have a one-on-one meeting with Biden.
Morrison told reporters it was fine, saying:
[The three-person meeting] was an opportunity that presented because we’re all here and so it was mutual.
It was a great opportunity for my first meeting, of course, with the president. I mean I’ve known Boris for many years.
Updated
Army investigates bullying allegations at cadet regiment
Another exclusive, this time from Daniel Hurst.
The Australian army is investigating allegations of bullying and harassment of officer cadets at the University of Sydney regiment. Allegations include searches through women’s underwear drawers and a nearly three-month period in which cadets were forced to work seven days a week with no days off.
Updated
Victoria records two new local Covid cases
The two new locally acquired cases of Covid-19 are primary close contacts of existing cases and had no community exposure during their infectious period, Victoria Health says.
Reported yesterday: 2 new local cases and 4 new cases acquired overseas (currently in HQ).
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) June 13, 2021
- 13,764 vaccine doses were administered
- 16,932 test results were received
More later: https://t.co/0xmnS54Kvl#COVID19Vic #COVID19VicData [1/2] pic.twitter.com/Eu4KXCQJqm
The two new locally-acquired cases are primary close contacts of existing cases, with no community exposure during their infectious period. [2/2]
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) June 13, 2021
Updated
Friendlyjordies producer charged with stalking deputy premier
A 21-year-old producer for Youtube comedian Friendlyjordies has been charged with allegedly stalking and intimidating the New South Wales deputy premier, John Barilaro.
Acting on a complaint from Barilaro, detectives from the police fixated persons unit arrested Kristo Langker at his family home on 4 June.
Barilaro is currently suing Friendlyjordies, whose real name is Jordan Shanks, for defamation.
An exclusive from Christopher Knaus:
Updated
Sky News has congratulated its host Peta Credlin for being appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia today.
Politicians, performers, professionals, and Sky News’ very own Peta Credlin are among 1,190 Australians recognised in The Queen's Birthday Honours list for 2021.https://t.co/wzVZLqPjYC
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) June 13, 2021
Updated
NSW budget to invest $92.5m in domestic violence support
The NSW government has announced more than $90m in funding for support services for domestic and sexual violence victims in the coming state budget.
The state treasurer, Dominic Perrottet, said frontline services would receive a $60m funding boost and another $32.5m would be invested in the Staying Home Leaving Violence program, AAP reports.
The chief executive of Domestic Violence NSW, Delia Donovan, said the “critical funding” was welcomed and would give the support services certainty.
Frontline services have been advocating for greater support, particularly during Covid-19, to deliver crucial services to victim-survivors in communities across NSW, so we’re really pleased to see this critical funding commitment in the budget.
Updated
And here is Daniel Hurst’s wrap on Morrison at the G7.
Scott Morrison eyes UK trade talks after G7 summit
Scott Morrison is heading to London today and tomorrow, where will speak to the UK prime minister, Boris Johnson, about an Australia-UK free trade agreement.
Morrison was in Cornwall at the English coastal resort of Carbis Bay for the G7 leaders’ summit over the past three days.
The summit wrapped up on Sunday, UK time, and Morrison is now heading to London to speak to Johnson directly, AAP reports.
The G7 leaders’ final communiqué on Sunday included a vow to boost access to coronavirus vaccines across the world and an agreement to challenge China’s “non-market” economic practices and call on the country to respect human rights.
The G7 group – the UK, US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan – had invited the leaders of Australia, South Korea, South Africa and India to take part this year in a collective that Johnson termed the “democratic 11”.
Australia’s trade minister, Dan Tehan, said on Sunday that enormous progress had been made but it was unclear if a deal could be finalised while Morrison was in the UK.
Tehan told Sky News’ Sunday Agenda program:
We will continue discussions over the next 24, 48 hours in the hope of reaching an agreement.
But we have said all along that we want this to be an agreement of substance, we want to make sure it is in Australia’s national interest, and if we need to be patient we will be patient.
Updated
Good morning everyone, and welcome back to our Australian news live blog. It’s Naaman Zhou here with you today, on this Queen’s Birthday holiday.
As is traditional, the list of Queens Birthday honours was released late last night. Among those to be awarded an Order of Australia are actor Chris Hemsworth, football player Robbie Slater, dozens of volunteer firefights recognised for their work battling bushfires, and Peta Credlin – Tony Abbott’s former chief of staff and current Sky News host.
And the prime minister, Scott Morrison, is in the UK and about to commence trade talks with UK prime minister Boris Johnson. Morrison travelled abroad for the G7 summit, which wrapped up yesterday UK time. He’ll now continue on to direct talks with Johnson about Australia-UK trade.
Finally, Victorians will also be waiting for the latest Covid-19 numbers out of the state. We’ll bring you those when they are announced. Stay with us.
