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| Australia coronavirus live: national death toll reaches 52 as police warn people to stay at home – latest updates | Australia coronavirus live: national death toll reaches 52 as police warn people to stay at home – latest updates |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Pressure on the New South Wales government over Don Harwin after he was fined $1,000 for visiting holiday house. Follow the latest updates | Pressure on the New South Wales government over Don Harwin after he was fined $1,000 for visiting holiday house. Follow the latest updates |
| Victoria has recorded another Covid-19 death, taking Australia’s national death toll to 52. | |
| The latest death is a man in his 80s who died in hospital, the state government confirmed on Friday. It marks the 13th person to die from the virus in the state. | |
| Victoria also recorded 13 new cases in the past 24 hours. Forty-three people remain in hospital, with 13 of those in intensive care. Seven people have been released in the last 24 hours. | |
| Queensland’s health minister, Stephen Miles, is speaking in Brisbane. The state has recorded 13 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours. | |
| He’s also confirmed that the state has issued 289 fines for breaches of public health orders. The fines begin at $1,300. | |
| Miles also revealed that one person in the state has been charged for allegedly spitting at a nurse. | |
| Hard to fathom, really. | Hard to fathom, really. |
| The trade minister, Simon Birmingham, appeared on one of the commercial breakfast TV networks and admitted to feeling “a degree of frustration” with Australians stranded overseas. | |
| Thousands of Australians remain scattered overseas, and on Thursday the foreign affais minister outlined plans for charter flights for people trying to get home from various parts of the world. A special Qantas flight from Peru landed in Australia overnight. Birmingham said: | |
| Police in Victoria have issued 98 fines for breaches of public health orders in the past 24 hours. The fines include nine children who were fined “for gathering in a private residence” and a man who received four warnings before he was fined. | Police in Victoria have issued 98 fines for breaches of public health orders in the past 24 hours. The fines include nine children who were fined “for gathering in a private residence” and a man who received four warnings before he was fined. |
| Unlike in NSW, police in Victoria have refused to release data about the locations of the fines. We also don’t know any demographic indicators about the people who have been fined. So, for example, their housing status or ethnicity. | |
| Victoria police say they conducted 754 spot checks at homes, businesses and non-essential services in the past 24 hours. Since 21 March they have conducted a total of 18,386 spot checks. | |
| Once upon a time, when I was a journalist at a regional newspaper, my colleagues and I used to joke about the carbon-copy stories we’d be forced to write on an annual basis. | Once upon a time, when I was a journalist at a regional newspaper, my colleagues and I used to joke about the carbon-copy stories we’d be forced to write on an annual basis. |
| People working on Christmas Day, police warnings about double demerits and, of course, lines at the fish co-op on Good Friday. Well, Covid-19 has at least added a bit of spice to the latter yarn. | People working on Christmas Day, police warnings about double demerits and, of course, lines at the fish co-op on Good Friday. Well, Covid-19 has at least added a bit of spice to the latter yarn. |
| AAP reports that the Sydney Fish Market will still open its doors for what is usually one its busiest days but this year strict social distancing measures and temperature checks will be in place. | |
| More than 40,000 people usually flock to the market on Good Friday to snap up seafood for the Easter weekend but this year only 400 people will be allowed on the site at one time. | |
| People will have their temperature checked on arrival, be given hand sanitiser and be asked to follow social distancing rules to limit the spread of Covid-19. | |
| “Obviously it’s going to be a very different Easter down at the fish market this weekend,” a spokeswoman, Stephanie Margrain, told AAP. | |
| “There’ll be no oysters on the boardwalk ... Come down, shop quickly and get home.” | “There’ll be no oysters on the boardwalk ... Come down, shop quickly and get home.” |
| The market has been working with NSW police and NSW Health to develop a plan that ensures people who have made a tradition out of going to the fish market on Good Friday can continue to do so safely. | |
| “We’re not trying to encourage lots of people to come down like we normally would, but we’re conscious for many it is a tradition,” she said. | “We’re not trying to encourage lots of people to come down like we normally would, but we’re conscious for many it is a tradition,” she said. |
| A 31-year-old man Palm Beach will face drug charges after Queensland police allegedly found 93kg of cannabis during a stop at a state border checkpoint on Wednesday. | |
| In a statement this morning Queensland police said officers at the checkpoint intercepted a Ford Ranger utility with a trailer trying to enter Queensland about 5.30pm on Wednesday. | |
| It will be alleged that during a search of the vehicle police found 93kg of cannabis and $4,300 in cash. Police say the drugs have a street value of about $450,000. | |
| A 31-year-old Palm Beach man was arrested and charged with the possession of dangerous drugs and the possession of property suspected of be used in connection with a drug offence. | A 31-year-old Palm Beach man was arrested and charged with the possession of dangerous drugs and the possession of property suspected of be used in connection with a drug offence. |
| He has been bailed to appear at the Coolangatta magistrates court on 6 July. The man was also issued a $1,334 infringement notice for breaching the state’s public health orders. | |
| Detective Inspector Chris Ahearn from the Gold Coast criminal investigation branch said “any person attempting to enter our state, even if they are a Queensland resident, should expect a heightened level of scrutiny”. | |
| “In addition to the current biosecurity risks, police will remain vigilant to disrupt any criminal activity,” Ahearn said. | “In addition to the current biosecurity risks, police will remain vigilant to disrupt any criminal activity,” Ahearn said. |
| The federal opposition leader, Anthony Albanese, has released his own Easter message. | The federal opposition leader, Anthony Albanese, has released his own Easter message. |
| Like the prime minister he’s urged people to stay home during the “once-in-a-generation health crisis” caused by Covid-19. | |
| The New South Wales Labor opposition has, perhaps unsurprisingly, seized on the $1,000 fine issued to the arts minister, Don Harwin, overnight. | The New South Wales Labor opposition has, perhaps unsurprisingly, seized on the $1,000 fine issued to the arts minister, Don Harwin, overnight. |
| The shadow arts minister, Walt Secord, has issued a statement calling for Gladys Berejiklian to sack Harwin: | The shadow arts minister, Walt Secord, has issued a statement calling for Gladys Berejiklian to sack Harwin: |
| A man wearing an Akubra and brandishing a whip has been charged after allegedly threatening people outside the Chinese consulate in Sydney. | A man wearing an Akubra and brandishing a whip has been charged after allegedly threatening people outside the Chinese consulate in Sydney. |
| After footage of the alleged incident was shared widely on social media, police said a 55-year-old was arrested at Dee Why on Thursday and charged after allegedly cracking the whip outside the consulate on 31 March. | After footage of the alleged incident was shared widely on social media, police said a 55-year-old was arrested at Dee Why on Thursday and charged after allegedly cracking the whip outside the consulate on 31 March. |
| “Police will allege in court that the man threatened several members of the public while cracking the whip,” they said. | “Police will allege in court that the man threatened several members of the public while cracking the whip,” they said. |
| Let’s take a look at what’s in the other papers today. | Let’s take a look at what’s in the other papers today. |
| The Sydney Morning Herald leads on Covid-19 clusters inside New South Wales hospitals after the state’s health department revealed on Thursday that 12 new cases have been discovered at Gosford hospital. Two were hospital patients, six staff and four family members or friends. | |
| The paper is also reporting the concerns of retail workers, who say they are “scared and desperate” about catching Covid-19 and are begging for businesses to stop in-store trading. | The paper is also reporting the concerns of retail workers, who say they are “scared and desperate” about catching Covid-19 and are begging for businesses to stop in-store trading. |
| The Age in Melbourne lead on the education minister Dan Tehan’s threat to cut funding to independent schools if they close during the pandemic. | |
| The Australian reports that the University of Melbourne will take a $500m revenue hit this year because of Covid-19, as the vice-chancellor, Duncan Maskell, and his executive team take a 20% pay cut. The Oz also says more than 600,000 Australians have registered their interest in drawing down as much as $20,000 from their superannuation funds. | |
| In Sydney the News Limited tabloid Daily Telegraph leads on Don Harwin, in Melbourne the Herald Sun goes coronavirus-free on the front page, instead reporting on the Good Friday cancer fundraising appeal, and the Hobart Mercury splashes on the Tasmanian premier Peter Gutwein’s message that “the gloves are off” in police enforcement of public health orders over the Easter long weekend. | |
| The UK prime minister, Boris Johnson, has been moved out of intensive care. In a statement a few hours ago a spokesman said: | The UK prime minister, Boris Johnson, has been moved out of intensive care. In a statement a few hours ago a spokesman said: |
| You can follow our UK live blog here: | You can follow our UK live blog here: |
| As the rate of infection in Australia continues to fall, authorities are nervous about the potential for the Easter long weekend – when many people usually travel – could seet off a new wave of Covid-19 cases. | As the rate of infection in Australia continues to fall, authorities are nervous about the potential for the Easter long weekend – when many people usually travel – could seet off a new wave of Covid-19 cases. |
| They’ve been urging people to stay at home over the break, and state premiers have warned police will be out in large numbers enforcing lockdown rules. | They’ve been urging people to stay at home over the break, and state premiers have warned police will be out in large numbers enforcing lockdown rules. |
| Drawing on his faith, the prime minister, Scott Morrison, used his Easter message to drive home the importance of social distancing: | Drawing on his faith, the prime minister, Scott Morrison, used his Easter message to drive home the importance of social distancing: |
| First up, a little bit more on that Don Harwin news. | First up, a little bit more on that Don Harwin news. |
| Late last night the New South Wales police issued a statement saying they had issued a fine after being “alerted” that a 55-year-old man had “relocated to a holiday home at Pearl Beach, in contravention of current Ministerial Direction under the Public Health Act”. | Late last night the New South Wales police issued a statement saying they had issued a fine after being “alerted” that a 55-year-old man had “relocated to a holiday home at Pearl Beach, in contravention of current Ministerial Direction under the Public Health Act”. |
| “As part of inquiries, investigators from Central Metropolitan Region attended the Elizabeth Bay home unit and spoke with the man,” NSW police said. “Following further inquiries, the man was issued a $1000 PIN via email just before 9pm.” | “As part of inquiries, investigators from Central Metropolitan Region attended the Elizabeth Bay home unit and spoke with the man,” NSW police said. “Following further inquiries, the man was issued a $1000 PIN via email just before 9pm.” |
| The NSW premier, Gladys Berejiklian, has resisted calls to sack Harwin, saying he didn’t break the rules because he moved to his Central Coast home on 13 March, before the state lockdown came into effect. But multiple reports on Thursday indicated Harwin had travelled back to Sydney for appointments while staying at the Central Coast property. | The NSW premier, Gladys Berejiklian, has resisted calls to sack Harwin, saying he didn’t break the rules because he moved to his Central Coast home on 13 March, before the state lockdown came into effect. But multiple reports on Thursday indicated Harwin had travelled back to Sydney for appointments while staying at the Central Coast property. |
| “No one individual or corporation is above these laws – anyone suspected of breaching the orders will be investigated and if a breach is detected, they will be dealt with in accordance with the Act,” said the police commissioner, Mick Fuller. | “No one individual or corporation is above these laws – anyone suspected of breaching the orders will be investigated and if a breach is detected, they will be dealt with in accordance with the Act,” said the police commissioner, Mick Fuller. |
| “On behalf of the community, I strongly urge those with information about breaches to contact police.” | “On behalf of the community, I strongly urge those with information about breaches to contact police.” |
| Good morning. It’s Friday, 10 April. Welcome to today’s coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic in Australia. I’m Michael McGowan. I’ll be bringing you all of today’s Good Friday news, but first here’s how we left things last night: | Good morning. It’s Friday, 10 April. Welcome to today’s coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic in Australia. I’m Michael McGowan. I’ll be bringing you all of today’s Good Friday news, but first here’s how we left things last night: |
| Australia reported its lowest number of new cases in three weeks on Thursday, with 96 people diagnosed since the last update, nationally. It was the first time in three weeks Australia’s new cases have dropped below 100. One 76-year-old South Australian man died, bringing the country’s death toll to 51. | Australia reported its lowest number of new cases in three weeks on Thursday, with 96 people diagnosed since the last update, nationally. It was the first time in three weeks Australia’s new cases have dropped below 100. One 76-year-old South Australian man died, bringing the country’s death toll to 51. |
| The New South Wales minister for arts, Don Harwin, has been fined $1,000 for breaching the state’s strict public health orders. Harwin got himself in strife after it emerged he had left Sydney for his property on the Central Coast, despite the Berejiklian government urging the public to delay non-essential travel. | The New South Wales minister for arts, Don Harwin, has been fined $1,000 for breaching the state’s strict public health orders. Harwin got himself in strife after it emerged he had left Sydney for his property on the Central Coast, despite the Berejiklian government urging the public to delay non-essential travel. |
| The federal education minister, Dan Tehan, ordered independent schools to reopen and provide in-person education to children whose parents want it in term two. Tehan said he would make independent schools’ funding contingent on complying with the order. | The federal education minister, Dan Tehan, ordered independent schools to reopen and provide in-person education to children whose parents want it in term two. Tehan said he would make independent schools’ funding contingent on complying with the order. |
| The Block star Scott Cam has agreed to forgo his $345,000 salary as Australia’s “national careers ambassador”. The employment minister, Michaelia Cash, said Cam had agreed to give up his salary given his “role has fundamentally changed” due to Covid-19. | The Block star Scott Cam has agreed to forgo his $345,000 salary as Australia’s “national careers ambassador”. The employment minister, Michaelia Cash, said Cam had agreed to give up his salary given his “role has fundamentally changed” due to Covid-19. |