Hi there. It's Thursday, January 13 and you're reading The Loop, a quick wrap-up of today's news.
One thing you should know
National cabinet met today, and Prime Minister Scott Morrison updated us on a few things afterwards.
You can get the full lowdown by having a scroll back through today's COVID live blog, but the quick version is:
- Relaxed COVID isolation rules have been extended from the food supply sector to a raft of other industries, meaning only a negative RAT will be required for people in those industries to return to work if they're a close contact
- Concessional access to RATs has been agreed to, and concession card holders should be able to start accessing the kits on January 24
- Indigenous communities, health and aged care workers will be considered priority groups for RAT kits when they're more widely available
- The PM says Australia is, "at this stage, continuing to manage the number of cases coming into hospitals" despite ongoing reports from health workers around the country that staff are at breaking point and the system is overwhelmed
What else is going on
- Scott White has admitted to murdering American mathematician Scott Johnson, whose body was found at the bottom of a Sydney cliff more than 30 years ago. White pleaded not guilty to the gay hate crime last year and it's understood he confessed to the murder on Monday, but it was kept secret while his barrister tried to argue he was not fit to make that admission
- The fifth Ashes Test starts tomorrow and while Australia's already won the series and retained the urn, it's not all over yet. Usman Khawaja is set to open the batting after his spectacular twin-century return to Test cricket in Sydney, and it looks like Marcus Harris will make way for Travis Head, who returns to the side after earlier testing positive for COVID
What Australia has been searching for online
- Megan Fox. The Transformers and Jennifer's Body actor has revealed her engagement to musician Machine Gun Kelly on Instagram
- Boris Johnson. The British PM has apologised after confessing to attending a party mid-COVID lockdown but has resisted calls to resign
One more thing
What, you thought you were going to get through this entire news briefing without having to hear about Novak Djokovic?
Sorry to disappoint, but he's still making headlines.
The world's number one ranked men's tennis player has been named in the Australian Open draw, despite a cloud of uncertainty still hanging over his visa status.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison today refused to comment on the federal government's pending decision on Djokovic's deportation, which still might happen before the Aus Open starts on January 17.
ICYMI, Djokovic's visa was cancelled upon arrival in Australia because he isn't vaccinated against COVID, but he successfully overturned that on appeal.
Immigration Minister Alex Hawke has been considering using his ministerial powers to cancel it again, but has still not announced a decision.
You're up to date
See you tomorrow.
ABC/wires
