That’s it for today, thanks for reading.
To recap:
- Another day with zero Covid-19 cases in Victoria. Two locally acquired in NSW. Zero in Queensland.
- But treasurer Josh Frydenberg lashed Victoria’s handling of the pandemic during question time, saying the toll on the economy and mental health had been immense.
- Prime minister Scott Morrison says people “can expect” some part of the unemployment Covid supplement to continue beyond the end of the year.
- Aged care minister Richard Colbeck told Senate estimates he doesn’t feel personally responsible for the deaths that have occurred in aged care.
- Deputy prime minister Michael McCormack confirmed payments had been made to some aviation operators as part of a Covid-19 assistance package, but did not address Labor claims that Crown Casino, Clive Palmer’s Mineralogy, and the Leppington Pastoral Company benefited to the combined value of $73,000.
Updated
We have a nice piece up by Matilda Boseley about all the things Melburnians are looking forward to doing from midnight. Including getting a new tattoo, apparently.
Updated
Another gig economy worker has been killed, this time a delivery rider for Doordash. This story just in from Naaman Zhou.
We have a bit more detail on an interesting claim put by opposition leader Anthony Albanese to deputy prime minister (and minister for infrastructure, transport and regional development) Michael McCormack earlier today during question time.
Albanese asked:
Can the deputy prime minister confirm that the government has subsidised the use of luxury private jets for Crown Casino, Clive Palmer’s Mineralogy, and the Leppington Pastoral Company to the combined value of $73,000? As Australia hurtles towards $1tn of Liberal and National party debt, why on earth is the deputy prime minister spending borrowed money on these luxury flights?
McCormack largely ducked the question (unusual for question time, I know), but just released this statement to my colleague Paul Karp which confirms there was financial assistance given, without confirming any of the recipients:
The Australian Government introduced several packages to help Australia’s aviation industry which was hit first and hit hardest in the Covid-19 pandemic.
One of these programs, the Australian Airline Financial Relief Package (AAFRP), was introduced on 18 March 2020 to assist more than 1,350 aircraft operators, which includes the waiver of air services charges.
Under this component of the program, Airservices Australia does not collect the fees normally charged for air traffic control and related services for all domestic flights.
Those recipients included aeromedical services, critical freight suppliers, and regional and rural charter operators.
A total of 106 operators benefited from a rebate from the separate fuel excise component of the AAFRP, 16 of which also received a rebate for domestic security charges.
This initiative was developed in consultation with industry to support the aviation sector quickly following the Covid-related downturn in aviation activity.
All operators were eligible for this measure under the AAFRP so that they had quick access to support to keep them flying and ensure jobs on the ground without getting tied up in bureaucracy.
The measures under the AAFRP were backdated to start on 1 February 2020 and will end on 31 December 2020.
Updated
This just in from my colleagues Josh Taylor and Christopher Knaus about a cyberattack on a company used by the Australian government.
Updated
...but not to buy anything for Halloween. The DHHS has basically cancelled it. A costume mask can’t be a face mask! This from the Victorian DHHS on Halloween:
This Halloween there are some actions you can take to keep your friends, family and community safe, while still enjoying yourself.
- If you have any symptoms of coronavirus (Covid-19) get tested and stay at home. By staying at home this Halloween, you help to keep your friends, family and community safe.
- Wear a face mask with your costume, but remember that a costume mask that is part of your Halloween costume is not a substitute for a face mask. Consider making your own mask and decorating it.
- Keep at least 1.5 metres between yourself and people you don’t live with. This means no hugging or kissing when greeting people. Don’t share food or drinks.
Trick or Treating:
- While we can’t celebrate in the normal ways we would, there are alternative options.
- Have a Halloween party outside in a public place. You can catch up with a group of up to ten people (including yourself). Babies under 12 months age aren’t included in the ten-person limit. An outdoor public place means an area accessible to everyone, including local parks and beaches.
- Do a Halloween scavenger hunt by giving children a list of Halloween-themed things to look for as they walk outdoors from house to house admiring Halloween decorations at a distance. Just like eye-spy! The limit of ten people (including yourself) applies to scavenger hunts.
- Carve or decorate pumpkins with members of your household.
- Decorate your house.
- Have a virtual costume party or party with friends and family on video chat.
- Have a Halloween movie night with your household.
- Create an around the house trick or treat or scavenger hunt for your household.
Handing out lollies or candy:
Coronavirus is still with us and celebrating at home is the safest way to mark Halloween this year. If you do trick or treat, you need to stay safe. It is safer not to hand out lollies or candy to trick-or-treaters this Halloween. This is because the virus can spread on surfaces, including food or packaging.
Under current restrictions traditional trick or treating where you knock on someone’s door is not permitted. If you can’t resist handing out lollies this year you can do so by having candy available outside of your home.
- Don’t use communal bowls for lollies or candy. Putting lollies in a shared bowl will mean everyone is touching the same food and surfaces which isn’t safe.
- Instead, put individually wrapped lollies or candy in bags for non-contact collection.
- Place bags on your fence, at your front gate or outside your home for collection.
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before preparing the bags or individually wrapped lollies or candy.
Updated
So Melbourne is roughly six hours away from not being in lockdown anymore, and apparently one of the first things people can do is rush out to Spotlight...
Love that Spotlight is among the retailers that feel they need to open at midnight
— Melissa Singer (@melly_singer) October 27, 2020
Updated
This has just lobbed from NSW Health, urging testing for those around Glenfield, in south-western Sydney:
The discovery of Covid-19 virus fragments in sewage at a treatment plant in Glenfield in south-western Sydney has prompted renewed calls for residents to get tested.
The virus fragments were detected through the state’s ongoing sewage surveillance program.
Detection of the virus in sewage samples could reflect the presence of known cases of Covid-19 diagnosed in recent weeks in the area served by this sewage treatment plant.
However, NSW Health is concerned there could be other active cases in the local community in people who have not been tested and who might incorrectly assume their symptoms are just a cold.
The area served by the treatment plant includes the suburbs of Airds, Ambarvale, Appin, Bardia, Blair Athol, Blairmount, Bow Bowing, Bradbury, Campbelltown, Casula, Claymore, Eagle Vale, Englorie Park, Eschol Park, Glen Alpine, Glenfield, Ingleburn, Kearns, Leumeah, Macquarie Fields, Macquarie Links, Menangle Park, Minto, Raby, Rosemeadow, Ruse, St Andrews, St Helens Park, Varroville and Woodbine.
People in these areas must be aware of any symptoms of illness, and immediately isolate and get tested should even the mildest of symptoms appear that might appear to be just be a cold. Symptoms such as a runny nose or scratchy throat, cough, tiredness, fever or other symptoms could be Covid-19.
After testing, you must remain in isolation until a negative result is received. The only way to find new cases and prevent further transmission is to increase testing. There are more than 300 COVID-19 testing locations across NSW. To find your nearest clinic visit:
https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/how-to-protect-yourself-and-others/clinics or contact your GP.
Some of the closest testing clinics to Glenfield include:
- Campbelltown Hospital, Therry Road, Campbelltown, 8.00am-6.30pm, seven days a week.
- Oran Park Pop-up Clinic, Julia Reserve Community Centre, Peter Brock Drive, Oran Park, 8.00am-6.30pm, seven days a week.
- Prestons Drive-through Clinic, Ash Road, Ash Road Sporting Complex, Prestons, 8.00am-6.30pm, seven days a week.
Sewage testing for genetic material of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, started in July, adding another tool in the fight against the global pandemic.
There is no evidence Covid-19 is transmitted via wastewater systems.
Updated
There’s been about 50 people arrested at the site where a culturally significant tree was cut down last night. Will update this story soon.
Evening all, cheers Amy. Let’s bring it home.
The parliament is winding down for another day, but we will all be back tomorrow.
Nino Bucci will guide you though the evening.
Thank you again for joining me for another packed full parliament-estimates-Covid coverage day. We’ll be back for more tomorrow. I need to go restock my caffeine and sugar supplies, but I’ll be back early Wednesday morning.
Take care of you.
Updated
Jim Chalmers has responded to Guy Debelle’s comments in estimates today:
It’s a widely-shared view that it makes no sense for the government to withdraw support in the economy as unemployment continues to rise.
In the fortnight that jobkeeper was cut, jobs were lost in every state and territory.
Today’s testimony follows recent comments from the RBA governor that he wants to see “more than just ‘progress towards full employment’”.
Scott Morrison doesn’t have a goal to get closer enough to full employment, let alone a plan to realise it, with the unemployment rate not expected to return to its pre-crisis level within four years.
Decisions taken by the Liberals and Nationals mean that the Morrison recession will be deeper than necessary and the unemployment queues longer than they need to be.
Updated
Qantas is resuming Sydney to Launceston flights, following the border opening between NSW and Tassie.
From Qantas’ statement:
Beginning 4 December 2020, Qantas will operate three return services per week with its Boeing 717 aircraft, increasing to four return services from the following week onwards until 1 February.
This will give travellers almost 900 additional seats on the route each week. The airline will look to add more flights beyond eight week period if there is demand. This is the first time the flying kangaroo has flown Launceston-Sydney since 2004.
With borders opening up, Qantas will also restart flights between Hobart to Sydney, with 11 return services per week from 6 November 2020.
This announcement follows two other new routes the Qantas Group has launched to Tasmania in response to demand – Brisbane-Hobart with Qantas and Gold Coast-Hobart with Jetstar.
Updated
A bit more from Mike Bowers’s lens to your eyeballs.
Updated
Right, some clarity on the Victorian household rules here from AAP:
From Wednesday, two adults from one household will be able to visit another home accompanied by any dependents.
Households will be restricted to one social gathering a day, meaning those who receive visitors can’t go to someone else’s home that same day.
Melburnians have previously only been able to welcome partners into their homes, or friends under the ‘single bubble’ arrangement.
Under the latest arrangements, people will also have to stay within their 25km travel limit.
So it is one household visit a day. If your teenaged child visits someone, or has a visitor over, that is your visit done for the day. Both visitors have to be from the same household. You can’t meet up with two friends who live in different houses, for instance.
If you live in a share house it is still just one visit from two people (from the same household). If you don’t share friends or family, you will have to come up with some sort of roster, or rotating system.
If Paul has George and his flatmate Ringo over for a visit, then John will have to wait to see Yoko the next day.
Updated
Slip of the thumb?
DT Senator Sarah Henderson: RT Josh Frydenberg: The Victorian people have been magnificent.
— Deleted By Australian MPs (@DeletedByAusMPs) October 27, 2020
The sacrifice, dedication & hard-work of 6m+ Victorians in driving down ca… https://t.co/pxJybKvDC4
For what it is worth, AFP - the news agency - did a fact check on the number of Victorian suicides.
And our colleagues looked at this issue in August:
• Crisis support services can be reached 24 hours a day: Lifeline 13 11 14; Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467; Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800; MensLine Australia 1300 78 99 78; Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636
Josh Frydenberg has no regrets over his speech
The Victorian people have been magnificent.
— Josh Frydenberg (@JoshFrydenberg) October 27, 2020
The sacrifice, dedication & hard-work of 6m+ Victorians in driving down case numbers is their victory.
The Govt will continue to support Victorians as we get to the other side.
Watch my full speech here👉https://t.co/xtIMcYJ5ue pic.twitter.com/7G4FPxU0WR
Just on the RBA’s deputy governor’s comments there, it is possible that if Australia records a quarter of positive growth, then technically, you could say the recession is over - the technical definition of a recession being two consecutive quarters of negative growth.
But that doesn’t mean the downturn is over. There is still a very long way to go with this.
Labor has raised concern during Senate estimates hearings about more than $900,000 in consultancy contracts awarded to a former aged care executive who has previously faced bullying allegations.
Contract records indicate the health department signed two contracts with Cooperage Capital Pty Ltd this year, the first of which was for $415,800 for work on a residential aged care financial viability project between January and September. The second was for $503,800 for the period October 2020 to June 2021.
In Senate estimates, health officials confirmed Cooperage Capital was “largely” a one-man operation headed by Gary Barnier, who is simultaneously a member of the Aged Care Financing Authority (Acfa).
During the Senate estimates proceedings, Labor’s Kristina Keneally made reference to past media reports that Barnier had quit as managing director of Opal Aged Care in November 2017 after the ABC reported allegations he had bullied residents and families.
Those investigations triggered an independent review commissioned by the Opal board. Keneally contended that Barnier had quit in advance of the review being completed.
A health official said the department had examined the allegations and understood there had been no material findings against Barnier.
The aged care minister, Richard Colbeck, said Barnier had been employed for his financial expertise.
Clearly those matters were investigated through appropriate channels at the time.
I have confidence in Mr Barnier’s financial capacity which is the skill set he has been employed to provide to the department ... I’m not seeking to pass comment or otherwise on the allegations that you place against Mr Barnier.
The first contract notice says it was done by limited tender “due to an absence of competition for technical reasons”.
The second was an extension of the first.
Updated
'Best the RBA can tell' Australia recorded positive growth in September quarter
Dr Guy Debelle (deputy governor of the RBA) told Senate estimates the bank’s expectations for the economy in response to questioning from Bridget McKenzie about the impacts on the economy from the domestic border closures – particularly Victoria’s.
Speaking in “generalities”, Dr Debelle said:
We are releasing some forecasts next week. We are mindful we have a monetary decision between now and then ... but at the moment ... our best guess is it looks like the September quarter for the country probably recorded positive growth rather than negative and that the best that we can tell – and this will be confirmed when we see the national accounts .. .the strength of the growth of the rest of the country was more than the drag from Victoria and possibly the drag from Victoria was a little less than we had forecast in August.
The forecasts he is speaking about are ahead of the central bank board meeting next week.
Updated
Koalas have made a return to politics.
Minister for the Environment @sussanley has announced strict new conditions for a quarry extension at Port Stephens that will establish a 74 hectare koala habitat corridor #auspol pic.twitter.com/FZQlz70weL
— Political Alert (@political_alert) October 27, 2020
Updated
While we were focused on QT, the RBA deputy governor Guy Debelle fronted Senate estimates where he was asked about the state of the economy.
He had some good(ish) news, that it looked like, from “our best guess” that the September quarter “recorded positive growth rather than slightly negative”.
That doesn’t mean the recession is over – but that there are signs of a recovery.
Updated
Right before Josh Frydenberg’s explosion of anger, Mike Bowers caught this moment at the beginning of Labor’s suspension of standing orders to move a motion to thank Victoria.
Then Anthony Albanese spoke:
Followed by Scott Morrison:
Followed by deputy Labor leader Richard Marles (with some side conversations):
And then Josh Frydenberg had his moment:
So there was a bit on there.
Updated
Right. Now that is over, here is some of how Mike Bowers saw QT:
Updated
Question time ends
Karen Andrews gets very “Karen” at the end of her dixer about manufacturing.
Scott Morrison calls time on question time. Two more to go.
Paul Fletcher gets up – after he was asked about the Gold Coast Australia Post office displaying a LNP corflute in its window yesterday (contrary to rules) he says he has been advised it has since been removed.
Everyone is reminded of the rules.
Updated
Chris Bowen to Greg Hunt:
The health minister has announced that the budget includes a landmark warranty of the funding of new medicine cap yesterday and at estimates his officials admitted that the funding is not in the budget. Why did the minister announce funding but instead deliver cuts?
Hunt:
Thank you Mr Speaker. I could not be more pleased than to have a question on the PBS from this side of the chamber. Let me be clear about what is in this budget ... is $41bn for the listing of new medicines.
Of new medicine such as those announced on budget night for ovarian cancer: 300 women to benefit from a medicine which would otherwise cost $140,000.
The listing of drugs to deal with liver cancer, medicine that would otherwise cost $170,000 a year, and the reason you make an agreement which will produce an expected $2.8bn of investment directly into new medicine and the difference is – and this is what is very important – those medicines will no longer be offset from the portfolio.
Why is that important? Because we saw a moment in history where that requirement led to a previous government stopping the listing of new medicines.
That is the very thing that Medicines Australia sought and welcomed on budget night. And speaking with the CEO of Medicines Australia today she reaffirmed her delight ... This is what they had sought for over a decade because in 2011 that government stopped listing new medicines and why did they stop listing new medicines? Due to fiscal circumstances.
The listing will be deferred until fiscal circumstances are out and these medicines included medicines for schizophrenia, for skin conditions, and for IVF and other things so they stopped listing new medicine for schizophrenia, IVF, in one of the moments of great health shame in this country, and this parliament.
And not only have we fixed it in this budget we fixed it forever. That led to new medicines we announced on the weekend for MS, multiple sclerosis, secondary, progressive multiple sclerosis to provide those outcomes.
Updated
Josh Frydenberg just acknowledged and congratulated Bert van Manen for “taking on former Queensland premier Peter Beattie and winning” – something which happened in 2013.
Labor’s candidate for the Forde electorate in the past two elections has been Des Hardman.
Updated
Anthony Albanese to Michael McCormack:
Can the deputy prime minister confirm that the government has subsidised the use of luxury private jets for Crown Casino, Clive Palmer’s Mineralogy, and the Leppington Pastoral Company to the combined value of $73,000? As Australia hurtles towards $1t of Liberal and National party debt, why on earth is the deputy prime minister spending borrowed money on these luxury flights?
McCormack:
I thank the opposition leader for his question. We have committed $2.7bn of assistance for the aviation sector and we have done it on a sector-wide basis.
We have made sure that to maintain minimum I would say essential airs ervices across Australia, including more than 400 return flights per week to more than 120 locations of which 110 are regional and remote, 70 operators have been given assistance, have access rebates under the sector-wide aviation assistance including aeromedical and charter flights for fly in, fly out.
This has kept those regional communities, the people in them, with the ability to fly around the nation. This is important and I am proud of the assistance we have provided.
Albanese goes to ask a point of order on relevance, but McCormack has concluded his answer.
Updated
Scott Morrison says people "can expect" some part of the unemployment Covid supplement to continue beyond the end of the year
Andrew Wilkie has the crossbench question and asks a very important question:
“On December 31 the unemployment benefit is scheduled to return to $40 a day. For many people this will be a devastating start to the new year, impacting their ability to pay for rent food and clothing. No wonder they are sick with worry. That $40 a day is unacceptable is not in dispute. The BCA, the RBA governor and even former prime minister John Howard have all argued against the old Newstart rate. So will you today commit to the principle of unemployment benefits being above the poverty line or, at the very least, no less than the current Jobseeker rate.
Scott Morrison:
I think the member for his question. As I stated on numerous occasions now and – as I am sure the members are aware the treasurer has done likewise as has the minister for families and social services – we have indicated that a further decision for ongoing arrangements for the Covid supplement beyond December will be considered before the end of this year, and there is a media statement due in December and, obviously, this parliament will be rising in that first week or thereabouts in December which will require any such change to the supplement to be legislated by that time.
So we will be considering those issues about the going forward arrangements for the Covid supplement and its level prior to parliament rising and enabling us to bring that change into the parliament so it can be done before we rise at the end of this year and that will deal with the Covid supplement and ongoing arrangements.
I have been clear that people can expect the supplement going forward beyond the end of this year and the precise level and arrangements around that are matters that the government is considering now and will be doing so over the next few weeks.
This is a position which I note is supported by the opposition.
The shadow treasurer stated this in July when he was asked about what the number he would put on the level of Jobseeker payments and the Covid supplement and he said that they were not prepared to put a number on it.
“We want the government to update the budget because the government needs to take into account all sorts of considerations about the state of the budget and the state of the economy and we expect the new Jobseeker rate will be lower than what it is right now, he said, Mr Speaker. It should be higher than the old Newstart rate.”
Morrison says that decision will be made before parliament rises. The last day is 17 December.
Updated
Ed Husic seems to be attempting to bother Michael McCormack. He yelled out something like “Those Cartiers aren’t going to move themselves, are they Mick?” as McCormack tries to answer a question.
Updated
We are once again thanking backbenchers who ask dixers for work they did in the May 2019 election.
The member for Boothy was just congratulated by Josh Frydenberg for defeating GetUp.
Updated
Clare O’Neil attempts to ask a question remotely, but the technology fails, so we move to Catherine King who asks Michael McCormack:
Can the deputy prime minister confirm that $715m that was to help the domestic airline industry during the Covid-19 crisis was extended to owners of luxury private jets?
McCormack once again attempts to prove he can think on his feet (a challenge that never ends well):
What we have done with our sector-wide aviation assistance is to keep planes in the air because what we know is that planes in the air means jobs on the ground and we have provided it on a sector-wide basis.
What we have done is make sure that whether it is commercial, whether it is charter, we have ensured that planes were able to go to some ports which would otherwise, but for our sector wide assistance, not have received aviation services at all.
And for those 35 centres in regional Australia it has meant the world of difference because it has meant that personal protection equipment, vital respiratory devices, face masks and perhaps most importantly, frontline medical personnel could get to those places and to make sure that they did the vital job that they have done and we thank them. We thank them and we thank the airlines and they have thanked us. They have been very appreciative.
Whether they are running businesses, they have thanked us for the support we have provided and I don’t quite know why you are saying ka-ching, ka-ching, leader of the opposition. This has meant the world of difference to those communities, the world of difference, and perhaps if the borders were reopened and reopened sooner than we could get on with interstate travel because interstate travel is going to help those travel agents, it will help those tourism industries, it will help parts of Australia which have not even had a coronavirus case and yet they have been impinged upon.
They have had restrictions placed on them, far and away by premiers and chief ministers and capital cities that have been quite unfair, quite unfair on their communities but they have persevered.
They have endured because they are in it with the rest of Australia.
I am going to take a punt and say this will depend on who owned those private planes.
Updated
Michael McCormack is once again attempting to prove he can stand, breathe and read aloud from a piece of paper.
The struggle continues.
Jim Chalmers to Josh Frydenberg:
Treasury has confirmed the government‘s for billion-dollar hiring credit program is expected to deliver 45,000 new jobs, just 10% of the 450,000 jobs the government announced would be supported by the program. How can Australians trust this government to spend taxpayer dollars in their best interest when it announcements never match its delivery?
Frydenberg:
Mr Speaker, I would point the honourable member to budget statement number one, page 23 and I will help him with it.
It is expected 450,000 positions for young Australians will be supported through the Jobmaker hiring credit at an estimated cost of $4bn from 2021 to 22-23. This will help 450,000 Australians, young people, find a job, Mr Speaker, and ... importantly, they are people who had been on income support.
... The Jobmaker hiring credit is an important initiative supporting jobs throughout our community but importantly focusing on those who are aged 16 to 35 because the numbers show young people have been impacted most by this crisis, having lost their jobs, so I never thought I would see the day when the Labor party and the member for Rankin would try to pitch younger workers against older workers. We on this side of the house are for all Australian workers and we are using the Jobmaker hiring credit to do so.
In estimates, Treasury confirmed that the program would support 450,000 jobs, but was only expected to create 45,000 NEW jobs.
Updated
In estimates, Labor asks Richard Colbeck why there are only two transcripts of press conferences on his website. There’s no particular reason, he says – his media interviews were “there for all to hear”.
Colbeck says he makes comments to the media “on a regular basis, every day almost”.
“That doesn’t mean I publish a transcript of it.”
He says he has done more than two press conferences but “there are other avenues for the recording and publication of my media interviews and they are available publicly”.
Such as?
“Things like iSentia.”
(That’s a commercial media monitoring organisation.)
“It’s an example, senator.”
He takes on notice whether he has other examples of how people can access his media comments.
Updated
Tim Wilson gets the first dixer as a “proud Victorian”.
Seems this is how the government wanted to address the Victoria issue – through dixers.
First Wilson gets a herogram from the prime minister:
There is no greater friend of self-funding retirees than the member for Goldstein. No doubt about that. A champion they have in protecting hundreds of thousands of self-funded retirees ... saving them from the retirees tax [that] remains on the books of the leader of the opposition, Mr Speaker, as a constant insult to self-funded retirees in this country.
Updated
Anthony Albanese to Scott Morrison:
This country is heading towards $1 trillion of debt. The most recent budget contained more than $5.7bn of discretionary funds. Don’t taxpayers have a right to know their money is being spent honestly and wisely and why won’t this government legislate for a national integrity commission given you had the draft since last year?
Morrison:
Mr Speaker, you just heard the passionate words of the Treasurer, a proud Victorian, Mr Speaker, like so many other proud Victorians in this chamber, not restricted to either side of this chamber, Mr Speaker, and the question has been raised by the leader of the opposition about the wisdom of the spending commitment that the government has made in the budget.
Mr Speaker, questioning the expenditure that this government is committing to ensure that this country recovers from the Covid-19 recession.
The leader of the opposition likes to say he supports the government’s plans out of one side of his mouth and out of the other side of his mouth, happy, Mr Speaker...
Albanese:
On direct evidence, it was not whether the fund should exist but whether they should be scrutinised and make sure they are not rotted just like the sport rorts.
Morrison:
Right now, $200m every single day to support Victorians through the biggest challenge they have seen in a generation.
It is there to ensure that businesses have been able to stay in business, it is there to ensure that Australians will be able to remain in their jobs. Were it not for investments we have put place throughout this crisis 700,000 additional Australians would have been out of work.
So if the opposition leader is looking, Mr Speaker, for a reason as to why the government has gone into unprecedented spending to get Australians through this crisis, he did not look forward than that 700,000 Australians he scoffs at with his question, Mr Speaker.
He scoffs at the Australians who have been supported by a government who gets it, a government who understands that, in the most unprecedented crisis in 100 years of a health pandemic, the government will stand up to support business, to support industry, to keep people in jobs with cash flow assistance. And it is not just for today, Mr Speaker, and it is not just for the recovery tomorrow that will recover what has been lost through this crisis. It is the investment we make for the future.
Morrison runs out of time. He says something about needing a time extension, but no one moves one.
Updated
Question time begins.
The mood though is now quite tense.
Adam Bandt, who is attending remotely, attempts to make a contribution, but the Speaker doesn’t seem to hear him and the motion, as put forward by Labor, is carried.
Josh Frydenberg:
So, Mr Speaker, so what is the question? An interjection from someone from another state outside Victoria. I tell you what: the small businesses of Australia, their owners, their employees they do not say ‘So what.’
They say they have paid a very, very heavy price and the leader of the opposition said in his statement that the decision that was taken not to open up on Sunday, the businesses of Australia spoke very loudly about their disappointment, Mr Speaker.
And we as a government spoke very loudly, Mr Speaker.
So, Mr Speaker, my thought today in supporting this motion is with those Victorians who were kept in their homes 23 hours a day.
My thoughts today are with those Victorians who were unable to move more than 5km from their homes, Mr Speaker.
My thought today is with those Victorians who were not allowed out at night because of a curfew that we did not see in other parts of the country, Mr Speaker.
My thoughts today with those Victorians, those Victorians who have been fined $10,000 for opening a business and trying to put food on the table, Mr Speaker, and keep their staff employed, Mr Speaker.
My thoughts today are with those families of people who have suffered with mental health concerns as a result of the lockdown.
Mr Speaker, I am so happy to join with all those in this place in celebrating the fact that the numbers have come down, but do not pretend there has not been a price. And the price has been immense. And the cost could not have been higher for more than 6m Victorians, Mr Speaker.
So today we give thanks for those numbers coming down. We give thanks to those Victorians who have paid the ultimate price, Mr Speaker. And to their families. And we say thanks to those health workers who have been working so hard, together with our defence force personnel who have been working with the Victorian government.
We on this side of the house have stood with Victorians throughout this crisis and we will stand with Victorians until the end of this process.
Updated
Josh Frydenberg:
It has been going to support them through this crisis.
So, Mr Speaker, my thanks today, my thanks today is for the people of Victoria because we know this lockdown has not come without a cost.
A 301% increase in those Medicare subsidised mental health visits in Victoria. A 77% increase on people going to make head space in Victoria compared to others . Likewise kids helpline.
A friend of mine said that a friend of his had taken his own life because he lost his job in Victoria, Mr Speaker. In the same message he said others had started to self harm to these are not unique cases.
These are across the state.
This is the price that has been paid during the lockdown.
And, Mr Speaker, I have spoken out, as the treasurer of Australia and is a proud Victorian and the fact that are that Victoria makes up 26% of the national population but today, 40% of those effectively unemployed across our country.
Now, Mr Speaker, every day of the lockdown, on average, 1200 jobs are lost. In the same period every day of that lockdown across the rest of the country, 2000 jobs have been created.
Josh Frydenberg:
Victorian people have been magnificent.
Victorian people have seen their dedication and their commitment to adhering to the rules, to see the number of daily cases reduced to zero, yesterday and today and it is their victory and no one else’s victory, Mr Speaker.
The Victorian people has suffered so much.
The pain, the cost, the loss of Victorian people. It should never ever have come to this.
And with the greatest respect to those opposite, the comparison is not with the United Kingdom, the comparison is not with the United States, the comparison is with New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania and South Australia, Mr Speaker.
My children are like the children of everyone else from Victoria in this place. Six months lost from schooling, Mr Speaker.
Six months that they will never ever get back. The children of the Northern Territory lost one week in school. The children of South Australia lost just two weeks of school. The children of Victoria lost more than six months, Mr Speaker, and those in year 12 will never ever get their opportunity back, Mr Speaker.
On the more than 800 Victorians who have lost their lives, their families will never get them back, Mr Speaker.
And it all comes back to the failures in hotel quarantine which we still have no answers for and the honourable member is right, there is an inquiry and unless that inquiry asks everybody who was questioned to answer to provide evidence, we will not get the answers and the Victorian people will be left in the dark, Mr Speaker.
The fact of the matter is our state, I am from Victoria, and I am for Victoria, Mr Speaker ...
And this prime minister has stood by Victorians every step of the way. More than $200m s day going from this government to the people of Victoria.
Updated
Josh Frydenberg slams Victorian government
OK wow.
Josh Frydenberg, perhaps not reading the room, comes out absolutely swinging against the Victorian government.
He is PISSED.
For a motion which is meant to be thanking the people of Victoria, coming out with a political attack sits pretty heavily.
It gets quite personal. I’ll post it in a few parts.
But wow.
Updated
Richard Marles finishes:
In the journey from the dark days of July to where we are now, there has been a story of leadership.
There have been mistakes and the Victorian government established a judicial inquiry immediately which is working through those issues as we speak.
But the Victorian government has also been a source of crystal clear decisions at the heart of which has been the very best medical advice which has guided us from where we were back in July to where we are right now.
The rhythm of life for Victorians and for Melburnians is defined by great cultural and sporting events.
And the significance of what has occurred in the past 48 hours is that Melburnians can now look forward to the comedy festival in March, two having a beer at the SP hotel over summer, to visiting the Victoria market on a Saturday morning once again, to going to the tennis, the Australian Open at Melbourne Park, to seeing the Boxing Day Test at the MCG. With a renewed sense of confidence, of hope and optimism.
Updated
Richard Marles takes the floor:
On July 30, 12 weeks ago, Victoria recorded 723 new cases of coronavirus. On that same day in Great Britain there were 846 new cases.
Today, with zero cases in Victoria, we saw yesterday in Great Britain, 20,890 new cases of coronavirus recorded .
It speaks to how contagious the virus is and how easily it can spread if it is not checked. But it also speaks to the incredible achievement of bringing under control the outbreak of the virus which occurred in Victoria over the last few months.
Around the world, there is hardly a precedent for it and the credit for that first and foremost goes to the people of Victoria.
In regional Victoria over the last few months we have been living under stage three restrictions.
For many people in this Chamber, indeed for many people around the country, beyond Victoria, that is an experience that was lived earlier in the year.
But in Melbourne over the last few months, people have been living under State four restrictions and in speaking with colleagues, with friends, with family, I can tell you that in during the State four restrictions in Melbourne saw as big a difference between that and stage III as there is between stage III and nothing.
In my lifetime, I have never witnessed up close such an experience of stress within our society.
People making a decision every night about how they are going to spend that precious single hour outdoors every day.
People living under a curfew in Melbourne in a way that I would never imagine.
It has changed life in every way including in this place. And the members of parliament who you see on the screen behind me speak to them and I want to acknowledge everyone of the Victorians who is not here today.
Months on end, not seeing loved ones in aged care facilities. And as COVID-19 started to work its way through aged care facilities, an utter sense of terror on behalf of grandparents, on behalf of a father, on behalf of a mother.
For the families of 653 aged care residents, they have had the heartbreaking experience of saying goodbye to their loved one in a way that they would never have wished to, in a way that was characterised by loneliness.
Tasmania to reopen to NSW on 6 November
As expected, Tasmania is opening up to NSW
Tasmania will reopen to NSW from Friday, November 6.
— Finbar O'Mallon (@finbaromallon) October 27, 2020
People travelling from NSW will no longer need to quarantine after arriving in Tassie.
Tassie Premier Peter Gutwein making the announcement just now.
Updated
Aged care minister says he does not feel personally responsible for aged care deaths
The aged care minister, Richard Colbeck, has just now told estimates he doesn’t feel personally responsible for the deaths that have occurred in aged care.
Labor’s Kristina Keneally asked him whether, at any point in the aged care crisis, he had offered his resignation to the prime minister.
“No I haven’t.”
Did he feel a sense of ministerial responsibility on the aged care deaths?
“I don’t feel responsible personally for the deaths that have occurred, as tragic as they all are, which have been caused by Covid-19.”
He maintained that the approach taken by the Australian government had saved lives.
Pressed on whether there were things that could have been done differently earlier to save lives, he pointed to Victoria:
“The thing that would have saved lives is the prevention of the escape of Covid-19 in Victoria leading to the second wave. That’s the thing that could have saved lives.”
Colbeck acknowledged the situation at St Basil’s aged care facility could have been managed better.
The aged care minister, Richard Colbeck, insists he is determined to continue in the role, and his Coalition colleagues didn’t agree with censuring him.
The Senate’s community affairs legislation committee has turned its focus to aged care.
Colbeck, who is expected to face a range of questions about the government’s response to issues in aged care, was asked by the Labor senator Kristina Keneally about a censure motion that determined he was not fit to be a minister. She asked: “Why have you not resigned?”
Colbeck replied:
“Well, senator, I acknowledge the motion passed by the senate. I’ve - as I’ve said during question time many times - determined to continue the work I’ve been doing since the beginning of the Covid outbreak in the interests of senior Australians and particularly those in aged care.”
Asked what point he took from the censure motion, Colbeck said:
“It’s a view passed by the senate. It’s not the view of my Coalition colleagues. I continue to work in the portfolios I’ve been appointed.”
Keneally said at that time, there had been 481 deaths among residents in aged care, and she asked for the number as of today.
Colbeck was well briefed this time around. He said the total number of Australians who had died in all types of aged care was 691, of whom 683 were residents of residential care.
Scott Morrison finishes with:
This Christmas I want Australians to come around their tables and talk about 2021 with positivity, with hope, with aspiration, looking forward to what they are going to do, the schools the kids are going to go to, the training courses that are going to do, the jobs they will have, the health because in this country we have one if not the best record of managing the health and economic impact of this pandemic of any country in the bill.
God bless Australia.
Scott Morrison:
Mr Speaker, our government has stood by Victorians every single day of the lockdown that became necessary as a result of the outbreak that got out of control, and as we look to the future and that new three-step process agreed to by national cabinet – and I think in particular the premier of Victoria ... and as we look to the future, we cannot look to a future of lockdown as a way of managing this virus.
(The federal government also cut the Jobkeeper rate and the Jobseeker rate in Victoria, despite the lockdown.)
Updated
Peter Beattie is always so helpful.
Just lovely of him to make an intervention in the Queensland border debate just days out from not only the election but from when the decision was due to be made.
He has always been great at coming in at last minute and claiming the glory.
Updated
Scott Morrison:
In seven states and territories that progress continues but sadly in July we saw the case numbers begin to rise in Victoria and we saw the failure of the quarantine which is understood and well-known and has been documented.
We saw the issues of contact tracing and we saw Victoria descend into what was a cataclysmic second wave of this virus and it was the right decision of the Victorian premier and the Victorian government to impose the lockdown – measures which I welcomed at the time and urged all encouragement to Victorians to endure those measures because ... that lockdown had become necessary.
And closed borders between NSW and Victoria had become necessary. But I say this: borders and lockdowns are not demonstration or evidence of success. They are evidence of outbreaks that have got out of control, evidence of things that have not gone as they should.
Mr Speaker, I welcome the reopening of Victoria and the perseverance and sacrifice of Victorians and the way they were able to work through this issue, Mr Speaker. I welcome that. I think it is tremendous and I think it is great that Tasmania is opening up again, that SA has opened up again, and I am encouraged by the words of the former Queensland premier Peter Beattie who believes things should open up again, I am encouraged by that.
People in this place know I have always wanted Australians to work their way through this crisis and not get stuck in a rut, and I welcomed the fact that Victoria is opening but, as Victorians went through this crisis, I can assure you this: this government stood by them.
Updated
Labor has helpfully tweeted the motion.
(Tveeder, the transcription service, went down, just as the motion began.)
The sacrifices made by Victorians have kept every Australian safe.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) October 27, 2020
From a grateful nation, we say thank you.
Here's the motion I just moved in Federal Parliament. pic.twitter.com/sp4O2f4uWu
Updated
Scott Morrison is complaining about interjections.
He says he doesn’t know why Labor is interjecting on a “bipartisan” motion.
“They are still interjecting, but I will endure over them,” Morrison says.
Labor gets louder.
Updated
Scott Morrison says he would have been very happy to second the motion (the implication being he didn’t get the chance) and I can’t say he would be too happy that Labor has gazumped him in having the parliament congratulate and thank Victorians.
He’s responding instead of leading – and that’s never his favourite spot to be in.
Updated
Scott Morrison appears to be writing his speech as Anthony Albanese speaks.
“We hope this message will be conveyed to the Victorian premier, on behalf of the Victorian people. And we say, well done.”
Richard Marles seconds the motion – but reserves his right to speak.
Updated
I don’t think we are going to get a lot of question time today.
Anthony Albanese gets his speech – then there is a seconder, and then the government responds.
Updated
Anthony Albanese is now speaking on his motion expressing gratitude to Victorians.
“Victorians on the weekend even had to endure watching an AFL grand final at the Gabba”.
Updated
Question time begins
And Labor immediately moves to suspend standing orders to express gratitude to Victoria.
Leave is granted. Because otherwise the government will have shut down a motion thanking Victoria.
It is worth pointing out that yesterday, the statement Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg put out acknowledging Victoria and the easing of restrictions in Melbourne did not mention Daniel Andrews by name.
Updated
There is no suggestion anyone wants to put in a death tax in Queensland.
Claims from Clive Palmer that Labor is considering a 20% death tax is, literally, fake news. I hate that term but there isn’t anything else to explain it.
It is worth rereading how these fake claims affected the federal election:
With the fake death tax claims enjoying a revival in the Queensland election, here's a deep dive we did after similar misinformation was deployed federally in 2019 https://t.co/VI6LDFv8v1 #QLDvotes2020
— Katharine Murphy (@murpharoo) October 27, 2020
Updated
The Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (Vaccho) wanted to take a moment to thank their community:
Vaccho CEO Jill Gallagher AO congratulated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities for going the distance in the fight against Covid-19.
“I’m so proud of our mob,” Gallagher said.
“It’s been such a hard time, and everyone should be so proud of their sacrifice and perseverance over weeks and months.
“I want to thank everyone who did the right thing by their community and our state in getting tested.
“We reached 74 cases out of a total of about 58,000 people in our Victorian Aboriginal communities and we now have zero cases, testament to the power of community control.
“Many people did the right thing and kept their families and communities safe while keeping our culture strong.”
Updated
Official figures for Victoria
The DHHS official release is out for Victoria.
These, thankfully, are a lot shorter these days. I truly hope it stays this way:
For the second day in a row, Victoria has recorded no new cases of coronavirus.
This is the first time Victoria has recorded two consecutive days of zero cases since 5-6 March.
The total number of cases remains at 20,341.
There have been no new deaths reported since yesterday. To date 817 people have died from coronavirus in Victoria.
The total number of cases from an unknown source in the past 14 days (11 Oct-24 Oct) is six for metropolitan Melbourne and zero from regional Victoria. The 14-day period for the source of acquisition data ends 48 hours earlier than the 14-day period used to calculate the new case average due to the time required to fully investigate a case and assign its mode of acquisition.
The Department of Health and Human Services continues to work to contain an outbreak of coronavirus in Melbourne’s northern suburbs with 18,417 processed from that area since last Tuesday.
Testing sites open in northern metropolitan Melbourne today include:
· East Preston Islamic college drive-through, 55 Tyler St, Preston, 24-27 October, 9am-5pm. Open to college staff and families
· Croxton school, 159 Beaconfield Pde, Northcote, in-home testing for remaining close contacts
· Broadmeadows Central shopping centre, north carpark, Pascoe Vale Rd, Broadmeadows, 9am–5pm.
· Coolaroo Respiratory Centre, 512 Barry St, Coolaroo, 9am-5pm, people with symptoms only
· Craigieburn Health Service, 274–304 Craigieburn Road, 9am-5pm
· Melbourne airport, terminal 4 level 2 (Mercer Dve exit off Tullamarine Fwy), 9am-5pm
. Roxburgh Park station, Thomas Brunton Pde (opposite Dosa Corner), 9am-5pm
· Roxburgh Park youth and recreation centre, 75 Lakeside Drive, Roxburgh Park, 9am-12.30pm and 1pm-5pm.
· Western Health – Sunbury Respiratory Clininc, 29 Timins St, Sunbury, 10am-5.30pm
· Austin hospital,145 Studley Rd, Heidelberg, 8am–8pm
· Banyule Health, 21 Alamein Rd, Heidelberg West, 10am–4pm
· Banyule Health, 14–32 Civic Drive, Greensborough, 9am–4pm
· Heidelberg West, mobile unit aligned to community engagement movements including at Malahang Reserve, 10am-5pm
· Northland shopping centre, Target carpark via Murray Rd, Preston, 9am-5pm
· CB Smith Reserve, 79 Jukes Rd, Fawkner, 9am-4pm
· Reservoir leisure centre, 2A Cuthbert Rd, Reservoir, 10am-5pm.
There have been six mystery cases recorded in the past 14 days (11 Oct-24 Oct) in the following postcodes, 3029, 3047, 3073, 3081, 3128 and 3152.
Updated
The remix is out:
If you need me, you will find me blasting this song full volume everyday until there is a vaccine @mashdnkutcher pic.twitter.com/TdDhTHq1pJ
— Matilda Boseley (@MatildaBoseley) October 27, 2020
Updated
We are about half an hour away from the third last question time of the month.
Melbourne your zoos are reopening.
To meet the expected demand, Melbourne zoo and Werribee Open Range zoo will also offer sessions from 4pm to 8pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, starting 6 November.
Tickets for these open late sessions will also have capped numbers and need to be booked through the Zoos Victoria website.
Maximum visitor numbers allowed are as follows:
• Melbourne zoo: 2,500 visitors a day + 2,500 visitors at evening sessions
• Healesville sanctuary: 1,500 visitors a day
• Werribee Open Range zoo: 1,500 visitors a day + 1,500 visitors at evening sessions.
A reminder that the indoor sections of all three zoos will remain closed.
Updated
Annastacia Palaszczuk says she will also listen to health advice in making border decisions.
What we found is those economies that actually had their borders closed were coming back quicker and faster.
I will concede that I will listen to the health advice to keep Queenslanders safe. Every single day, that is my job. You only have to look at the fact that our economy is open; within Queensland you have Queenslanders out there supporting one another, and what gives me a lot of relief as well is to see seniors and elderly members of our community out and about enjoying things.
In Victoria they are just coming out of lockdown. They are just coming out now, so the economy is not open like Queensland. Queensland and Western Australia have strong economies because of the strong health response.
That is a little more purple than usual, because the election will be held on Saturday.
Updated
The economic pain is going to start biting pretty hard very soon.
The Tax Office has told #estimates about $200 million in COVID assistance payments, such as JobKeeper, have been permanently stopped. About $100m is being reviewed and a further $350m in future payments blocked. About $120m in payments have been clawed back so far #auspol
— Tom McIlroy (@TomMcIlroy) October 27, 2020
Updated
Gladys Berejiklian – of OPEN THE BORDERS NOW! fame – has said she will take a “cautious approach” to reopening the NSW-Victoria border.
That’s the right approach, of course. It is just also amusing as someone who has watched the OPEN THE BORDERS! debate rage on and off for months now.
We want to open that border as soon as we can but what is really important to us is to see what happens once the government eases restrictions.
That is the real test.
I know the real test for New South Wales was not lockdown because it is easy not to spread the virus when you are confined, but once you ease restrictions and people start moving around, that is the real test. And the residents of NSW would expect me and my government to be responsible in how we deal with that so we will take the border down as soon as we can but we do need to wait to see what impact easing of restrictions in Melbourne and Victoria has before we decide exactly when that will be.
Updated
The Coalition party room was also short and sharp – reopening the Australian economy and sending off Mathias Cormann were the main items.
Scott Morrison said Cormann was “one of the biggest figures” the Coalition had sent to the Senate and he is “up there in the pantheon” of Coalition senators.
There was praise for the fact Victoria is reopening – but no special mention of Daniel Andrews – and some pleasure that polling in the West Australian suggests there is support for a soft border reopening.
Morrison encouraged MPs to “press hard and lean in” in terms of preparations to reopen. He praised New South Wales’ response to testing and tracing, and ability to stay open while it combats outbreaks.
The deputy prime minister, Michael McCormack, urged colleagues not to be distracted by Labor’s “shenanigans” – which presumably include highlighting that his department paid $30m for a parcel of land worth $3m. Nobody mentioned the national integrity commission. Yes, seriously.
Josh Frydenberg said consumer confidence had been rising for eight consecutive weeks, and hoped that Victoria could join that story.
There were a few grumbles: on self-funded retirees doing it tough; the need to restart work for the dole; continued shortages in labour in regional areas despite progress on the Pacific workers scheme; pressuring for support for travel agents.
Morrison responded that the government was doing some work on alleviating the “unique pressures” travel agents had faced processing refunds for holidays not taken.
Updated
And in Queensland, people are still crossing the border.
Via AAP:
Supercars legend Jamie Whincup claims he has done nothing wrong after being evicted from Queensland for crossing the border without quarantining.
The seven-time Supercars champion and several Triple Eight crew members were booted out of their home state after returning from the Bathurst 1000 last week.
Whincup drove a Red Bull Holden trailer back into Queensland and says he was initially given the all-clear.
“Three hours later, [they said] ‘Oh no, guys, that’s not how we meant it’ [and] basically get out of Queensland,” he told the Courier Mail.
“I didn’t have any contact [with police] at all. I just got sent an email saying, ‘Hey, you have got to go to NSW and quarantine.’
“It was a bit of ... the election is coming up, we don’t need any drama, so get out of Queensland.”
Police are investigating.
“Taskforce Sierra Linnet detectives are currently investigating the alleged return of a number of Queensland residents that had attended the Bathurst 1000,” Queensland police said.
“These matters are subject to ongoing investigation and no further comment can be made until the completion of these investigations.”
Updated
The last 15 minutes of the Cormann estimates era wasn’t that rugged. Katy Gallagher ran down the clock and Mathias Cormann bid his colleagues farewell.
Cormann says participating in estimates has been a real privilege.
He says he’s fronted 17 sessions in opposition and 21 in government. Cormann gives a shout out to Australia’s “outstanding world-class public servants”.
He says “we really are very fortunate in Australia”.
And with that, it’s over and out.
Updated
Mathias Cormann exits the room
And he is done – 38 estimates hearings and out.
Updated
(I missed this last post from Murph in my emails – but worth noting.)
Coming to the end of the morning session in Treasury estimates, the Labor senator Katy Gallagher notes that finance minister Mathias Cormann’s smile is getting wider and wider.
Amy has mentioned that it is Cormann’s final session in estimates before departing politics to campaign to be the next secretary general of the OECD.
Gallagher says Cormann has enjoyed an easy run in this farewell appearance. She promises to rev up over the final 15 minutes.
Updated
It is an all female leadership team for the ACT Liberals:
Full statement from the Canberra Libs after Elizabeth Lee and Giulia Jones were elected as new leader and deputy leader pic.twitter.com/qq7CI98yMW
— Andrew Brown (@AndrewBrownAU) October 27, 2020
Updated
In north Queensland, very Bob Katter-like events are occurring.
For example, holding a press conference with a man who has been dead since 1943.
John Bradfield looking great for someone who died 77 years ago. pic.twitter.com/YTXaIf6AcD
— Madura McCormack (@MaduraMcCormack) October 27, 2020
This is happening as you read this:
Journalists are being denied entry to #DjabWurrung embassy to report on police removal of protesters and unfolding story after Directions Tress removed. https://t.co/nJZg058Tfq
— Eliza Berlage (@verbaliza) October 27, 2020
Updated
Also yes, Mathias Cormann finishes up in the Senate at midday.
You have seen your last Wong v Cormann match-up.
As he will no doubt joke – he will not be back.
Updated
OK. That’s where I’ll leave the Daniel Andrews press conference.
I am now going to chase down those house visit rules for you.
Q: This is a very sacred site ...
Daniel Andrews:
Yes, it is. And that’s why we’ve engaged deeply with traditional owners. And that’s why we’ve come to an agreement that I know not everybody will be supportive of.
They weren’t supportive of it, they haven’t been for some time, but at some point you’ve gotta try and come to an agreement and then be faithful to the terms of that.
If we waited around to get 100% buy-in on this, if we waited around for an absolute consensus, then that deadly stretch of road would go unimproved, and we would see more people dying on that road.
And I’m just not prepared to settle for that.
Q: There were potentially other routes to take, you know ...
Andrews:
Well, hang on. We already have made significant changes to the design.
We’ve made significant changes to what the road – the upgrade would have looked like.
I know people have strong feelings about these matters. But we have had court processes, we’ve had agreements, we’ve had settlements, we have fundamentally done as we said we would do.
And we have directly consulted and continue to consult with the 12 families that are the traditional owners of this particular part of our state.
They speak for that country. I’m not casting aspersions on others who may have views still. But ultimately we’ve gotta get on and get this done.
We’ve done it in as respectful a way as we can. But it is a deadly stretch of road and it needs to be upgraded.
I don’t have to hand – I can’t quite recall the total number of people who have died, but it is a substantial number in recent years, and there’s been many other crashes that whilst have not been fatal, they could easily have been.
Updated
'I'm determined to get this road upgraded'
Daniel Andrews is asked about the loss of the Djab Wurrung directions tree.
Police are forcibly removing protesters who remain on the site attempting to protect the remaining sacred trees.
Andrews is not moving from building the road:
As I understand it, there’s been legal action. There had been agreements and settlements reached. There has been direct consultation with the 12 families who essentially comprised that traditional owner group. And we have done as we said we would do. This is a dangerous road. It needs to be built.
We promised we would. We have been respectful. We’ve engaged.
And we’ve been true to the spirit of the agreements that had been entered into. But this is a very dangerous road.
There are many people who have lost their lives on this road. And I’m determined to get this road upgraded.
Updated
Looks like Tasmania is about to announce its border opening to NSW.
Tasmanian announcement about NSW border
— Joe O'Brien (@JoeABCNews) October 27, 2020
Media conf 2pm AEDT
Updated
Victoria’s chief health officer, Prof Brett Sutton, has been asked what it felt like to see yesterday’s (and today’s) zeroes:
Very great relief! You know, I think the whole state sighed with relief. There was some tension in the 24 hours beforehand. So it was a real, you know – it was a genuine rollercoaster.
So, to have so much testing be done, especially in an area that we had specific concerns about, and for not just yesterday to be a doughnut day, but for today as well, a double doughnut day is terrific.
But as I say, it’s a milestone. It’s not the end. We’ve got hundreds of people who are still in quarantine, as primary and secondary close contacts. So you know there’s another 10 or more days to play out for all of them. And there could well be some positive tests for those people who are in quarantine.
But again the thing about quarantine is that those individuals will be entirely contained. They won’t put others at risk. And that’s the principle. And we won’t be concerned to see one or two cases if those individuals are doing the right thing.
Updated
In the ACT Liberals, a decision has been made:
#Breaking: Elizabeth Lee is the new Canberra Liberals leader @canberratimes
— Dan Jervis-Bardy (@D_JervisBardy) October 27, 2020
Updated
It seems the Labor caucus meeting was short and sharp in part because there were only three government bills to deal with.
We’ll bring you details on those when we find out what amendments Labor plans to make to social services legislation.
Anthony Albanese said the government had a “problematic October”, citing collapsing claims about the number of jobs the budget would create and the claim it is “mired in scandal” over issues including using $1.1m of taxpayer funds for market research that went to the prime minister’s office.
It seems he hit all his main themes that there is a gap between the government’s announcements and delivery, and that the Coalition treats taxpayers’ money as its own.
Labor will write four letters to congratulate Andrew Barr and Jacinda Ardern on reelection; wish Annastacia Palaszczuk good luck for the Queensland election; and a letter congratulating Dan Andrews and the people of Victoria on their handling of the coronavirus.
That letter will express admiration for the sacrifices made to combat the second wave, acknowledging that lockdown has been “very difficult” for the people of Victoria but ultimately successful.
Deputy leader Richard Marles noted that at one stage Victoria and the UK had the same number of new cases ar day, but Victoria is down to zero while the UK has 20,000 new cases.
In questions, somebody noted Eric Abetz’s demands that witnesses to a Senate inquiry of Chinese background declare loyalty.
Andrew Giles said that not only Chinese Australians were offended by this, and while Scott Morrison took only an hour to condemn Cartier watches at Australia Post he has refused to condemn Abetz.
Updated
It’s astonishing that anyone, let alone a Vic MP, could think that a tweet that represents Victorians who died of covid-19 in doughnuts is in any way appropriate.
— Tim Watts MP (@TimWattsMP) October 27, 2020
These are real people with real families grieving for them. Crass and insensitive doesn’t begin to describe it.
There is a serious point here – and not one I think should be made with doughnuts.
800. That’s the number Daniel Andrews should be reflecting on.
— Tim Smith MP (@TimSmithMP) October 26, 2020
Rather than gloating, he should take responsibility for 800 Victorians who died in the second wave caused by his hotel quarantine fiasco.
The last four months has been a tragedy for so many families. pic.twitter.com/Q815N6hBR2
(Aged care is a federal responsibility)
Updated
Over in the US, the supreme court has changed ...
The US Senate has confirmed Amy Coney Barrett as Supreme Court justice. The vote was 52-48
— David Lipson (@davidlipson) October 27, 2020
Updated
NSW records two locally acquired cases
NSW has recorded two locally acquired cases of Covid – both were in isolation as close contacts of known cases.
There were another 10 people diagnosed in hotel quarantine.
From NSW Health:
NSW Health continues to appeal to the community to be tested right away if anyone has even the mildest of symptoms like a runny nose or scratchy throat, cough, fever or other symptoms that could signal Covid-19. This is vital to ensuring NSW continues to detect cases as soon as possible and prevent onward transmission.
Of the 12 new cases to 8pm yesterday:
- Ten were acquired overseas and are now in hotel quarantine
- Two were locally acquired and linked to known cases.
Updated
No Covid cases in Queensland
Queensland has had no Covid diagnoses in the past 24 hours.
Updated
Here is an example of what I mean, when I say complicated:
Q: A parent, you have a three-year-old, you have a four-year-old, and you want to accept a three-year-old from another house and then a five-year-old from another house. You can’t do that?
Daniel Andrews:
If it’s outside, you could. But if it’s in your home, you will only be able to do it one household to your house per day. And we’ll put all this up so there’s some absolute clarity around it. But that is the answer to the question. Someone might wordsmith it better than I did just then.
Updated
In estimates, the Labor senator Murray Watt has moved on to Jobkeeper.
He wants to know if people can get Jobkeeper while they are on leave without pay.
The ATO officials aren’t sure. Jeremy Hirschorn (second commissioner at the ATO) says that’s a matter for the Fair Work Commission.
Hirschorn says as long as the employment relationship is still in place, then Jobkeeper can be paid, even if the employment contract is “dormant”.
If Jobkeeper is paid to a political party, but funnelled away for another purpose, like a campaigning purpose, is that OK, Watt asks?
The ATO says the key test is whether employees are paid $1,500.
“We don’t track the cheque,” Hirschorn says. Watt notes he’s referred allegations about the Queensland Greens to the ATO.
Hirschorn says: “We’ve taken the tip-off seriously. Appropriate action has been taken.”
Updated
Why is the 8 November timetable remaining in place?
Daniel Andrews:
The reason for that, as we have said many, many times ... as frustrating as it is, the longer we wait between steps, the clearer the picture we have and more confidence we have that the picture we’re seeing is, in fact, real.
The life cycle of this virus is in that sort of 10- to 14-day period. If we could go earlier, we would. If we could jump to the 40 inside and 70 outside from midnight tonight we could have done that as well, but what I would commend to all – all people who live in Melbourne – is have a look at what’s happened in regional Victoria.
We have done this is in a steady and staggered and safe way and now we have got the settings that will apply in Melbourne on the 8th. They’re applying in regional Victoria now and some of them have been working for a couple of weeks and they have worked very well even when we had the Shepparton issue we were able to pull that up really fast.
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The rules for household visits will include share houses, teenagers and who can visit whom after a visit.
But they are complicated so I will wait to go through them and then bring them to you once they are clear.
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Back at Treasury estimates, the Labor senator Katy Gallagher is attempting to get either officials or the finance minister, Mathias Cormann, to acknowledge that workers earning less than $80,000 will get less tax relief in 2024-25 than they will get this year because of the one-off extension of the $1,080 offset in the October budget.
Treasury officials say the extension of the offset is a “classic stimulus measure” so it shouldn’t form part of an assessment of the tax scales in future years. They say this year’s budget includes extending the offset (the stimulus measure) and a tax cut through the bringing forward of the stage two tax cuts (a structural change).
Gallagher says yeah/nah. She asks: do you think taxpayers will be separating these things out?
They will be getting less tax relief if they earn below $80,000 in 2024-25, correct? “That’s my reading of the budget documents.”
There’s a brief huddle at the table between officials and Cormann.
“You are mixing it up,” Cormann says when the huddle breaks.
He says Gallagher is trying to characterise the non-extension of the offset as a tax increase.
“It’s a ridiculous proposition,” he says. “You are seeking to distort a one-off stimulatory measure.”
Gallagher to Cormann: “I’m looking at the budget papers.”
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The 8 November rules – the metro-regional divide chief among them – will remain in place.
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The rules will be explained in writing later today.
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Two adults can visit Melbourne homes
Daniel Andrews:
Two adults will be able to visit another home, accompanied by two dependents that can’t be left unsupervised. Visits must occur at least for the next couple of weeks within the 25km limit and only one private gathering, only one such visiting event, can occur per day.
Meaning if you have somebody over to your house at, say, lunchtime, you can’t visit another house that night. So mum and dad and two children can go and visit grandma and grandpa, they can be there provided they’re within the 25km, they can be there for as long as they choose to be there, but once they leave, neither they can go and visit anybody else, nor can grandma and grandpa have other visitors that day.
This is just about making sure that people can connect, but we can’t have a situation where people are having visitors in the morning, visitors at lunchtime, visitors in the evening, and then each of those visitors are, in turn, going and visiting other hems also.
I know people may want to do that, but that is not on the best of public health advice safe at this point. It will be at some point in the future, but if we want to - if we want to lock in these gains, then we have to keep some sense of formality, some sense of - we have to mitigate the risk and we have to acknowledge that risk.
So it’s one visiting event in your home, two adults and dependents who can’t be left on their own.
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Daniel Andrews is about to announce the household rules.
But first, he starts with a warning:
Before I just go through that, I want to make again the point, arguably your home is the most dangerous place for the spread of this virus.
I know that jars with people, may not sound right, but when you think about it, that’s where people let their guard down, where people are not being supervised – not like a cafe, not like going to the pub where it’s a licensed environment, a regulated environment. People are keeping their distance, there’s cleaning to that industrial standard ... all of that formality makes that a safer place in some ways than what normally people would regard as the most safe place – their own personal space, their own home.
But when you let your guard down this virus will take advantage of you and that’s why there do have to be rules. But we’ll be pleased to announce that people will be able to reconnect again from 11.59 tonight.
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Daniel Andrews press conference
Daniel Andrews starts with the numbers (the long-term ones):
The rolling average to 26 October is metro 2.8, and regional Victoria just 0.2.
Unknown source acquisition or mystery cases for the 14-day period to 24 October is six and they are all in metropolitan Melbourne.
The metro regional split is 85 and two in regional Victoria and those two are from the greater Shepparton area that we have been talking about for quite some time.
There are just four active cases linked to residential aged care settings, a very important reduction given the risks in that industry.
Now they are the numbers of the day and they are numbers that every Victorian can be very proud of because every Victorian has built those numbers through sacrifice, through hard work, through hurt and pain, but through an absolute determination to defeat this second wave.
That made yesterday’s announcements possible and further easing, beyond what we have already foreshadowed for midnight tonight, for 8 November and beyond that, these next steps that we’ll continue to take as we work towards a Covid-normal will all be dependent upon people following the rules.
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Gladys Berejiklian says she is reviewing the NSW border closure with Victoria – but she still has some words for the Queensland premier.
From AAP:
“We’ll take the border down as soon as we can, but we do need to wait to see what impact easing of restrictions in Melbourne and Victoria has before we decide exactly when that will be,” she said.
“That’s the real test ... It’s easy not to spread the virus when people have limited mobility, but once you ease restrictions and people start moving around again and start working.”
She remained scathing about Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s decision to keep Queensland’s border shut saying NSW had demonstrated its capacity to run a strong economy and keep the community safe.
“I just wish we’d take the games out of this because it’s affecting people’s lives ... especially when the border closure is completely unnecessary,” she said.
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Daniel Andrew’s press conference is due to be held in about 10 minutes.
Today's the first time we've recorded two zero days since the start of March.
— Dan Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) October 26, 2020
This is yours Victoria. Let's keep going.
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Daniel Hurst reported on this yesterday, but for those who missed it, here is how the defence minister trying to answer when Australia’s new submarines would be ready played out in the committee:
This is the biggest single purchase by the Australian Government in history.
— Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) October 26, 2020
Shouldn't the Defence Minister know when the $90 billion Future Submarines will be ready? pic.twitter.com/WO7SwFx5Rh
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Tim Tam (real name) is over the moon about reopening his bar (Also called Tim Tam) tomorrow: “I haven’t been able to get staff back or any of my stock but oh well we will just see what happens!” @AmyRemeikis @GuardianAus pic.twitter.com/xLDHikfrLr
— Matilda Boseley (@MatildaBoseley) October 26, 2020
Just on Murph’s report there, I am pretty sure this is Mathias Cormann’s last day at work in this role.
Good morning from Treasury estimates.
The Australia Taxation Office is in the chair. Labor senator Jenny McAllister has opened with a series of questions about what the ATO did to prevent instances of financial abuse when people were given early access to their superannuation as part of the government’s economic support measures during the pandemic.
McAllister is clearly displeased with a lack of specific action about financial abuse as opposed to other types of fraud. In fact she is deeply irritated.
The tax commissioner, Chris Jordan, looks a bit dumbfounded. He’s not sure what he could or should have done differently.
“We will certainly revert back and see what we can do now to find any examples and rectify that,” Jordan says.
The finance minister, Mathias Cormann, says McAllister “can try on the confected outrage”.
The Labor senator corrects him: “I am genuinely outraged.”
Cormann notes the financial recovery is benefiting women more than men: “Women across Australia understand what our government is doing.”
Cormann says the government had to move fast pushing out economic support in the opening months of the pandemic. “I don’t think trying to run this sort of assertive attack is going to help anyone in terms of better outcomes,” he says.
McAllister asks Cormann is he satisfied with the absence of specific protections for victims of domestic violence in the early access to super scheme?
Cormann says agencies are “doing the best they can to enforce the law of the land”.
He says the government will “continue to review” this situation. Again he advises McAllister to be less combative.
He says common sense says governments accept some trade-offs when there’s “a need for speed”.
“Well, that’s some trade-off, minister,” McAllister says.
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Cafes and restaurants in Melbourne were given just over a day to shake themselves out of their takeaway-only rut and get businesses dine-in ready again. While almost everyone is excited, getting suppliers back after months of lockdown is no easy feat.
“I’m really really happy but it is a bit difficult to organise in a day and a half,” said Michael Favaloro, from the Amici Cafe on Chapel St.
“It’s been a bit of a scramble to get suppliers. By yesterday afternoon they were sold out of food because they haven’t been carrying a lot of stuff either … We will just have to get to Costco and find a way.”
Favaloro has spent the morning lugging outdoor dining furniture on to the path outside the cafe, using a tape measure to make sure the seats are 1.5 metres apart.
“It’s hard with density, but we can make it work,” he said. “The council have let us extend the dining area further down the path.”
A large chunk of the Amici staff were students and young people who have moved on to other jobs or moved home during the pandemic.
“I’ve been having to call up old staff members who have since moved on to other industries and stuff and begging them to come in and do a few shifts,” Favaloro laughed.
“But we will be alright.”
Michael Favaloro, from the Amici Cafe on Chapel St has spent the morning measuring out safely spaced outdoor dining tables, as businesses prepare for tomorrow’s reopening. @AmyRemeikis @GuardianAus pic.twitter.com/hfV2s7dhm1
— Matilda Boseley (@MatildaBoseley) October 26, 2020
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Dan Andrews to speak at 10.30am
It’s a little earlier than usual – Daniel Andrews will hold his 117th consecutive daily press conference at 10.30am.
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The registered organisations commissioner, Mark Bielecki, has revealed that the cost of court matters relating to the police raid on the Australian Workers’ Union is $1,336,000.
The AFP raided the AWU headquarters in October 2017, investigating whether political donations were authorised under the union’s rules. The union challenged the legality of the raids and the federal court agreed there was no “reasonable grounds” for them.
The original AWU challenge cost $992,000 and the ROC has appealed to the full federal court, costing a further $344,000.
Bielecki will not rule out appealing to the high court if it loses the cases.
He denied taxpayers’ money has been wasted, saying:
We can’t let allegations be made against us that we think are wrong and then do nothing about them ... It’s not in our interest to allow an incorrect interpretation of the law to curtail enforcement we might conduct in future.
The ROC had to get permission for legal fees from the attorney general’s department because it exceeded the preferred rate for counsel.
But both ROC and the department secretary, Chris Moraitis, said this did not amount to briefing Christian Porter about the merits of the case.
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Oh and for those watching estimates, Asic will front the economics committee at 2.15pm – the same time as question time.
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Tim Watts also dropped by doors to speak about the need for a national integrity commission.
When Helen Haines announced her private members’ bill yesterday – introduced on behalf of the crossbench – the chamber was mostly empty on both sides.
Watts:
I really welcome the pressure that Helen Haines and other independent MPs are putting on this government to establish a national integrity commission. We need all the accountability that we can get on this government. Scott Morrison committed to a national integrity commission in 2018. I don’t want to be Robin Williams here but what year is it?
It has been years since this announcement and he has still failed to deliver. So I really welcome the independents and Helen Haines adding to that accountability. I should also say that there’s another really important accountability story in the papers today.
We’ve learned that the funding for the Australian National Audit Office – the critical accountability institution that uncovered the sports rorts scandal, that uncovered the airport scandal, that is a crucial check on the rorts and scandals in this government – has had its funding cut by 20% over the seven years of the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison government.
The Liberal party and Scott Morrison are just allergic to any kind of accountability, and they attack any institution that has the temerity to hold them to account.
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Jim Chalmers had many thoughts on the way into parliament this morning and was not shy about sharing them. So he stopped by doors (the main doors to parliament which MPs visit when they have something to share, or have been tapped to put out the lines of the day by the party leadership):
One of the defining features of this government is they put out the press release with all the big numbers claiming all of these jobs will be created by their policies, but we now know that that’s a sham once again.
The government’s been caught red-handed inflating the number of jobs that they expect will be created in their budget, with their trillion dollars of debt. We have a budget the racks up a trillion dollars in debt, spends $100bn, and still means that unemployment will be too high for too long.
The government puts out a press release saying that its hiring credit will create 450,000 jobs. We now know it’s more like 45,000 jobs. The government’s been sprung giving false hope to 400,000 young workers in this country that they told would get a job from this policy.
We now know as well, that in the manufacturing policy and the technology roadmap, the jobs claims which underpin the prime minister and the treasurer’s announcements are also a sham. Treasury’s had no role in it. They’re not numbers included in the budget; they’re numbers that have just been plucked out of the air. The government’s got form in this regard, making the big claim and not following through. We’ve seen that again this week when it comes to jobs.
It’s given false hope to so many Australians doing it tough, who might have just been recently unemployed, or unemployed for some time. The government tells them that there’ll be hundreds of thousands of jobs created. We now know that that’s a sham.
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“It’s an absolute pipe dream to think that the majority of our businesses will just be able to transition to outdoor dining”- the Chapel St Precinct Association says only 50% of business will be able to open their doors tomorrow due to the strict caps on density. @AmyRemeikis pic.twitter.com/TH7SOpiJQ0
— Matilda Boseley (@MatildaBoseley) October 26, 2020
It’s post-election time in the ACT, with the traditional spill of the losing side’s leadership.
It's on in Canberra. There will be a spill of the leadership during the Liberal party room* meeting later today
— Andrew Brown (@AndrewBrownAU) October 26, 2020
*Canberra Liberals party room for the ACT Assembly
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Only 50% of businesses along Chapel Street will be able to reopen under current density caps, says the general manager of the shopping precinct, Chrissie Maus.
“It’s an absolute pipe dream to think that the majority of our businesses will just be able to transition to outdoor dining ... Financially it won’t be more than half of them that will be able to open up for that few people at midnight.”
Maus said while she was excited and extremely relieved for the businesses that were able to open their doors and start rebuilding, many have missed out this time round.
From Wednesday hospitality venues will be allowed to reopen but with only a maximum of two groups of 10 inside and 50 people outside, provided there is at least 4 sq m a person.
“People think that yesterday’s announcements just waved the magic wand … but they are going to need to relax those density caps really quickly in order to provide real relief,” Maus said. “We need to temper expectations.”
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There are still people camped at Djab Wurrung country trying to protect the remaining sacred trees. Yesterday a directions tree was lost as part of a road project.
It happened while the press conference announcing the easing of Melbourne’s restrictions was on.
Look at this folks @DanielAndrewsMP has sent the cops onto Djab Wurrung country to assist in destruction of the sacred trees - live stream here https://t.co/00ySJHRVvp pic.twitter.com/IbGO5z8pHJ
— WACA (@akaWACA) October 26, 2020
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As we celebrate Victoria’s second doughnut day, researchers at the Grattan Institute have written for the Conversation detailing exactly what Victoria has managed to achieve and how rare it is, when looking at what is happening across the world.
You can read that here.
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Penny Wong spoke to the Nine Network this morning about the revelations that women on a Qatar airlines flight were (allegedly) assaulted by staff earlier this month. Women were taken off the plane, which was headed to Sydney, and subjected to a forced medical examination after a premature baby was found abandoned at the airport. (The baby survived; the the mother has not been found.)
The incident has prompted a pretty huge (and rightly so) diplomatic WTAF.
Wong: None of this is acceptable. None of this is acceptable. The treatment of the women is not acceptable, and as yet, the absence of a response – I mean, we need to get a response. We need to get to the bottom of what happened. We need to know why this happened, what happened, who is accountable for it, and there needs to be appropriate response from the Qatari government.
Q: Well, what can our government do here? Could it ban Qatar airlines say from Australia?
Wong: Qatar airlines is one of the few airlines trying to bring some 32,000 Australians who are stranded overseas home. If I were foreign minister I would talk to the women and talk to them about how they want to respond and what they want from the Qatari government.
Certainly, I think, an apology is required. There should be an apology for what has occurred, as well as people fronting up as to who made the decision to engage in such outrageous behaviour, such an outrageous violation of Australian citizens.
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An Armadale craft brewer has come up with the #ShoutAVicADrink campaign.
I’m sure we’ll see other businesses come onboard – but Otter’s Promise have come up with the idea for people around Australia to buy Victorians a drink – basically, you purchase drinks through the website and they’ll hand them out to people as they come through the doors once restrictions lift.
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Chapel Street in Melbourne’s inner south is still sleepy on Tuesday morning – but the thousands of businesses that line the long shopping strip are starting to wake up.
At Oscar Cooper, just off the main drag, staff are jotting down bookings for tables tomorrow along with the daily regular takeaway orders. It will be the first time they have had sitting customers for months.
“We were excited of course and relieved,” said Ali Riebolge at the cash register.
From midnight hospitality venues are allowed to open up but with strict caps of 10 people in each indoor space, and no more than one person for every 4 sq m.
But Riebloge said she was still grateful: “Of course we want more but it’s good start, it’s better than just takeaway. Anything is better than takeway.”
Given just over a day to restart, the next 24 hours at Oscar Cooper will be extremely busy. “We have to get the food service ready … turn over all the tables, get ready for cocktails,” she said. “We have to turn over the whole venue, turn this back into a restaurant.”
“We have to turn over the whole venue, turn this back into a resurant... Anything is better than just take away” - Staff at Oscar Cooper off Chapel St say they are excited to have customers back, despite strict capacity caps. @AmyRemeikis @GuardianAus pic.twitter.com/oGiFqyZqIT
— Matilda Boseley (@MatildaBoseley) October 26, 2020
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Another doughnut day for Victoria is incredible news.
But a reminder that yesterday, in the whole of Australia, just ONE locally acquired Covid case was recorded.
That was in NSW, where the person was already in isolation as a close contact of a known case.
It’s been a long road, Australia, and a really rough one – and the scars will run deep, and we have some very tough times ahead – but if you are up to it, take a moment to relish what you have achieved.
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Victoria records zero new Covid cases and no deaths
It’s another Zero Day for Victoria.
Once again, yesterday there were no new cases and no lost lives reported. In Melb, cases with unknown source are down, as is the 14 day rolling average. In regional Vic, 14 day average remains stable. https://t.co/pcll7ySEgz#COVIDVicData pic.twitter.com/dVfpCqyBiV
— VicGovDHHS (@VicGovDHHS) October 26, 2020
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New South Wales closed its border to Victoria for the first time in 100 years in July.
Now that there has been just one locally acquired case of Covid between the two states (NSW recorded one case yesterday – a person who had been in isolation as a close contact of a known case), attention has turned to when the border will reopen.
Daniel Andrews said data was being sent to both NSW and South Australia, so the leaders of the respective border states could make their own decisions. Gladys Berejiklian has used “the border will not be closed for a day longer than it needs to be” line for quite some time now, so I think you can expect an announcement on that soon.
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Just in case you needed a list of what you can do in Melbourne as of midnight, AAP has handily compiled one:
From 11.59pm Tuesday
* Four reasons to leave home scrapped. “Stay home” messaging replaced with “stay safe”
* All retail shops can open
* Beauty and personal care services open
* Cafes, restaurants and pubs can reopen. Outdoors limit of 50 and indoor limit of 20, subject to density limits
* Live music permitted outdoors for hospitality venues. Band included in venue limit, members spaced at least two metres apart and wear face masks
* Outdoor public gatherings still capped at 10 but can include as many as 10 households – up from two
* Home visits cap announcement slated for Tuesday.
* Outdoor contact sport resumes for those 18 and under and outdoor non-contact sport for adults can recommence
* Personal training, fitness and dance classes can be held outdoors with up to 10 people
* Outdoor pools can have up to 50 people subject to density limits
* Wedding groups of up to 10 permitted
* Up to 20 mourners allowed at funerals
* Religious gatherings are allowed up to 10 people plus a faith leader for indoor events, 20 outdoors
* Graduations for Grade 6 and Year 12 cohorts can resume for students and staff only
* Construction, manufacturing, wholesale, medical, pharmaceutical and PPE supply returns to full workforce capacity. Other obligations remain in place.
STEP TWO: From 11.59pm November 8
* 25km travel rule scrapped
* Metropolitan Melbourne-regional Victoria border ends, reuniting state
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Mark Dreyfus and Julian Hill have asked the parliamentary library staff to look at funding for the auditor general’s office under the Coalition.
From their joint statement:
New research has confirmed the Auditor-General’s budget has been slashed by almost 20 per cent in real terms, since the Liberals and Nationals came to power in 2013.
This completely blows out of the water the claim by the Prime Minister and Treasurer that the ANAO has suffered only minor cuts under the Liberals, showing there has been a deliberate policy by the Coalition to silence the independent watchdog exposing the Government’s rorts and waste.
Led by the Auditor-General, the Australian National Audit Office helps to ensure that taxpayers get value for money for government spending.
Parliamentary Library Research shows total budget resourcing for the Australian National Audit Office has fallen in every year, bar one, since the 2013 election.
Total budget resourcing for the ANAO has fallen from $77.787 million in 2012/13, when Labor was in power, to $72.932 million in 202/21 – a cut of 4.6% in nominal terms, or 18.3% in real terms (taking account of CPI).
These cuts have forced the ANAO to slash staff by around 10%, reduce the number of audits it carries out each year, and increasingly deplete its resources as it tries to keep on top of the Morrison Government’s rorts.
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In what is becoming a pattern, a fund set up by the government, announced with fanfare at a photo op site, and referred to as action on a particular issue, has not spent any money.
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The former Queensland Labor premier Peter Beattie has popped up on ABC News Breakfast where he advises it is time for the state to open its borders.
That decision will be made towards the end of the month and is so far tracking to a yes. The end of the month also coincides with the end of the election (the Queensland election will be held on Saturday) and 1 November has been earmarked as reopen day, regardless of who wins.
But Beattie’s intervention is ... interesting. Asked if he is making the job of Labor more difficult in Queensland, he says:
I always tell it as it is. The reality is that this is not at a point where it is about Labor or Liberal.
As I said, I understand what the Queensland government did, and if I was there, I probably would have done the same thing. So I’m not being critical of the past – I’m actually saying that now is the time to move forward.
Now is the time ... Whoever wins the Queensland election, whether it is Annastacia Palaszczuk or Deb Frecklington, whoever wins, they’re going to be faced with an economic tsunami.
Not a good one. So they’ve got to work out how to go from here.
What I’m saying is, OK, what was done in the past. Let’s give everyone a big tick for that and move forward. And the way to move forward is to open up the borders. We have to do this as a country.
Not have state borders. In other words, now that yesterday in Melbourne, as you know, there was zero infections. There was one community infection in New South Wales, which has been traced.
The reality is that the method adopted by the New South Wales government, and I couldn’t care about the political persuasion – that contact tracing works.
We have to do that on an Australia-wide basis. We can open up the Australian economy.
Look at what’s happening in the regions. A heck of a lot of people in Queensland are going into the regions. A lot of people in Sydney are going into the New South Wales regions. There’s booms in the regions.
The major cities are suffering. So, as a result, if we can apply that to Australia, contact trace where the individual problem is – close that down, then we can benefit as a nation.
Now is the time to come together as Australians. Forget about Liberal, Labor, Greens or whatever else there is out there. Think about Australia.
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Budget estimates will start at 9am.
Health and Treasury are once again the main committees to watch.
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It is party room day at parliament, which means all the parties will have their regular gatherings this morning.
Parliament won’t start until midday.
As part of his “Victoria needs to reopen” push, Josh Frydenberg laid out the latest Victorian economic data in question time yesterday (before the announcement by Daniel Andrews).
It is a similar story to where the rest of the country was before the main lockdowns ended. There have been some signs of recovery in the rest of the nation – but a reminder the painkillers are slowly being taken away from everyone. We won’t find out what will happen with the unemployment payment until the mid-year update in December. That’s a long time to wait to see if you can put food on the table. At this point, what is left of the Covid supplement of the unemployment payment is due to expire on 31 December.
Frydenberg:
Victoria now represents half – or 52 per cent – of the decline in employment nationally since March.
Jobs have fallen by 73 per cent in the last two months in Victoria alone –around 1,200 jobs per day have been lost – compared to an increase of 172,000 jobs across the rest of the country, or more than 2,000 jobs being created each day.
Female employment has fallen by 24,000 in Victoria since May. This compares to 300,000 jobs created for women across all other states.
Three-quarters of the fall in employment over the last year for those aged 15 to 24 is in Victoria.
Between July and September, the number of effectively unemployed people has increased by 127,000 people in Victoria, or more than 2,000 a day.
That paints a very painful picture of what has occurred.
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Good morning
There are 65 days left until the end of the year and Melbourne residents (all going well) have 64 of them living in ways we have been taking for granted.
As of midnight, the harshest of the Melbourne restrictions will be lifted. We will find out today how that includes visiting loved ones, so stay tuned.
But at the same time the lifting of restrictions was being announced, the sacred Djab Wurrung directions tree was cut down to make way for Victoria’s western highway. The 350-year-old tree was destroyed after police worked to remove the camps of people set up to protect the sacred trees.
So if you liked the Avatar film, maybe you’d appreciate how it feels when your sacred ancestor trees are torn down by the very government who want to Treaty with us. Absolutely gutted and feel the pain of our ancestors right now 😞 pic.twitter.com/sWt3k36jb3
— Lidia Thorpe (@lidia__thorpe) October 26, 2020
It’s a huge loss and one that I, as a white person, cannot quantify.
A Djab Wurrung woman, Sissy Austin, wrote about site this last year and you should revisit her words.
We’ll cover that tragedy and everything else that happens today, including the reaction to Clive Palmer’s fake “death tax” claims.
His mining company sent out a text message to Queensland voters yesterday, which you might have seen, warning against a made-up “20% Labor death tax”. There is no death tax. Neither Labor nor the LNP have proposed a death tax. It is a similar tactic to one we saw during the federal election and it took hold then. To be clear, and for the people up the back – there is no death tax.
And the Christine Holgate saga continues, with the Australian today reporting that Australia Post paid more than $34,000 for Holgate’s stays at the Grand Hyatt in Melbourne.
The paper reports that Holgate stayed at a suite in the hotel between October 2017 and July 2018, while commuting from her home in Sydney to the Melbourne head office.
Australia Post is run as a government business enterprise. It is not taxpayer-funded but it’s only shareholder is the Australian government – ultimately, taxpayers. But it is run as a private company, and it is headed by people sourced from the private sector where these sorts of things are considered normal. Just something to keep in mind as the review into Holgate’s and Australia Post’s executive spending continues.
We will bring you all the news as it happens. You have a three-coffee Amy Remeikis with you.
Ready?
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