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Coronavirus Australia live updates: 300,000 in Victoria enter lockdown in 36 Melbourne hotspot suburbs Coronavirus Australia live updates: Victoria records 77 new cases as 300,000 enter lockdown in Melbourne hotspot suburbs
(32 minutes later)
Stay-at-home orders are now in place for 10 postcodes in city’s north as state steps up action to contain Covid-19Stay-at-home orders are now in place for 10 postcodes in city’s north as state steps up action to contain Covid-19
Linda Reynolds is the latest minister to single out China in a speech (Via AAP): Scott Morrison is asked about his reference to the 1930s in his defence speech yesterday, and how Australia needed to be prepared for any coming changes in environment.
Did that draw a link between China and 1930s Germany?
Morrison:
Scott Morrison is holding his press conference - the Liberal candidate for Eden-Monaro has prime nodding position behind him, as they talk about defence spending.
Brett Sutton again reminds people of just how easily spread this virus is, and what that can mean for lives, health systems, and day to day life until there is a vaccine:
For those who woke up in a lockdown, the professor says he understands the frustration, but there is no other option:
Victoria was one of the first to stop on-site school attendance.
It’s health officer does not rule out a return to at home learning when term three starts.
Victorian students are currently on school holidays, but Brett Sutton says it is a situation they are watching closely. It is not just the student/staff transmission risk, it is also the transmission risk during pick up and drop off.
On transmission in schools, Professor Brett Sutton says:
What does “routine testing” mean, in terms of infection?
Brett Sutton:
It’s the community transmission that’s the key stressor.
It looks as though in the last 24 hours, the amounts of infection with no known source – picked up in the community – is up by 31.
That’s not good. At all.
Again, Brett Sutton says he takes some solace in the number of infections appearing to stabilise, but he is not taking a breather just yet:
Asked if the Covid-19 strain in Melbourne is more virulent than what has been previously seen, Professor Brett Sutton says:
The Victorian health officer is asked if he played any role in the state’s hotel quarantine plan:
Q: Are you involved now?
Sutton:
Victoria tested 26,320 people yesterday.
There have been, so far, 27 cases of Covid-19 found in people outside the hotspot areas.
Asked if Victoria, or just Melbourne, will have to go into a wider lockdown, Brett Sutton says:
Victoria’s chief health officer, Prof Brett Sutton, is giving an update on the situation in the state. As he warned a couple of days ago, the numbers are worse:
Linda Reynolds is the latest minister to single out China in a speech (via AAP):
The defence minister has accused China of deeply unsettling the Indo-Pacific as Australia shifts its full military focus to the region.The defence minister has accused China of deeply unsettling the Indo-Pacific as Australia shifts its full military focus to the region.
Linda Reynolds says China’s expansion has put Australia in a precarious position.Linda Reynolds says China’s expansion has put Australia in a precarious position.
“They have not positively contributed to Australia’s - or the region’s - security and stability,” Senator Reynolds will tell defence leaders in a speech on Thursday. “They have not positively contributed to Australia’s – or the region’s – security and stability,” Senator Reynolds will tell defence leaders in a speech on Thursday.
“Australia has watched closely as China has actively sought greater influence in the Indo-Pacific. “Australia has watched closely as China has actively sought greater influence in the Indo-Pacific. Australia is far from alone in being troubled by this.”
“Australia is far from alone in being troubled by this.”
The federal government is spending another $270 billion on defence over the next decade to protect against China’s militarisation and the fallout from coronavirus.The federal government is spending another $270 billion on defence over the next decade to protect against China’s militarisation and the fallout from coronavirus.
The government has also instructed the Australian Defence Force to focus squarely on the region, rather than far-flung conflicts.The government has also instructed the Australian Defence Force to focus squarely on the region, rather than far-flung conflicts.
Peter Jennings from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute believes the country could be heading to a potential military crisis off the coast of China within the next year or two.Peter Jennings from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute believes the country could be heading to a potential military crisis off the coast of China within the next year or two.
“What is new is the realisation that the risk of conflict is upon us right now, not a comfortably distant 20 years away,” he said. “What is new is the realisation that the risk of conflict is upon us right now, not a comfortably distant 20 years away,” he said. “The [defence strategic] update abandons a long-held strategic view that we would have 10 years of ‘strategic warning time’ to prepare for a large-scale conflict.”
“The (defence strategic) update abandons a long-held strategic view that we would have 10 years of ‘strategic warning time’ to prepare for a large-scale conflict.”
Mr Jennings has also urged the prime minister to apply his strategic lens to Australia’s “thin diplomatic effort” in Southeast Asia.Mr Jennings has also urged the prime minister to apply his strategic lens to Australia’s “thin diplomatic effort” in Southeast Asia.
“We must work with the region to show that it’s possible to push back against (Chinese) domination,” he said. “We must work with the region to show that it’s possible to push back against [Chinese] domination,” he said.
Senator Reynolds does not believe Australia’s concerns will surprise the Chinese government. Senator Reynolds does not believe Australia’s concerns will surprise the Chinese government. “We have been very clear in expressing our concerns about developments that are inconsistent with international law or may undermine the sovereignty of nations,” she will say.
“We have been very clear in expressing our concerns about developments that are inconsistent with international law or may undermine the sovereignty of nations,” she will say.
Ahead of the speech, Senator Reynolds said Australia’s security environment was changing “very, very quickly” and the region was becoming less safe.Ahead of the speech, Senator Reynolds said Australia’s security environment was changing “very, very quickly” and the region was becoming less safe.
She said while the prospect of high-intensity conflict in the region was still unlikely, the possibility was less remote than in the past.She said while the prospect of high-intensity conflict in the region was still unlikely, the possibility was less remote than in the past.
“We have not changed, our values have not changed, and how we engage with the region has not changed,” Senator Reynolds told ABC radio. “We have not changed, our values have not changed, and how we engage with the region has not changed,” Senator Reynolds told ABC radio. “But the region has changed and China’s behaviour has changed in the region.”
“But the region has changed and China’s behaviour has changed in the region.” Tensions between the US and China have put the region on edge. So too have border skirmishes between China and India, and Beijing’s intransigence over the South China Sea.
Tensions between the US and China have put the region on edge.
So too have border skirmishes between China and India, and Beijing’s intransigence over the South China Sea.
Australia is also concerned China is exercising “soft power” by offering Pacific nations unsustainable loans, which critics describe as debt traps.Australia is also concerned China is exercising “soft power” by offering Pacific nations unsustainable loans, which critics describe as debt traps.
Things are all very normal between the NSW Nats and the NSW Libs.Things are all very normal between the NSW Nats and the NSW Libs.
We’re expecting an update from Victoria at 11am.We’re expecting an update from Victoria at 11am.
What’s it like in a locked-down suburb at the moment?What’s it like in a locked-down suburb at the moment?
If the result from polling booths is close on Saturday, it could be days until we get a result. Postals could play a very important role.If the result from polling booths is close on Saturday, it could be days until we get a result. Postals could play a very important role.
This is not about the tinned meat.
You can tell what socioeconomic bracket I grew up in, given where my thoughts first went.
Closing statements from the Eden-Monaro candidates on ABC South East.
Fiona Kotvojs says she’s heard “heartbreaking stories” while out campaigning but she’s been “really inspired by the resilience and optimism of our wonderful communities”.
There are “more important things than politics” but Eden-Monaro would be “best served by a local who can be part of government”.
Kotvojs promises infrastructure upgrades, Snowy 2.0 and support for businesses and farmers. Then she rattles off the CV again, including 15 years as an RFS volunteer.
Kristy McBain says she wants to make a difference, she’s not a career politician or motivated by power. “I’ll put our community first every time if I’m elected on Saturday,” she said.
Leadership matters – “especially at the federal level ... it matters that you show up” – this all sounds like a dig at Scott Morrison for the Hawaii summer bushfire trip.
McBain says she understands if elected she will “govern for all”.
Natasha Fyles says NT residents need to think about their travel but at this point it doesn’t look as though the NT will be barring Victorians, as Queensland and SA have done:
The NT health minister says at this stage there is no reason for the territory to rethink its border opening (which is due to occur on 17 July).
A Darwin man in his 30s has tested positive for Covid-19. He had been in hotel quarantine in Melbourne, but visited family in a hotspot area before returning to the NT.
He began showing symptoms and was tested for Covid-19, testing positive.
The traveller had been isolating in Darwin, as per the rules, upon their return.
It’s the first case in the NT since April, and the territory had “clinically” eradicated the virus from its jurisdiction.
Fiona Kotvojs says local media is important and she misses the death notices on ABC.
“Yes I will continue to fight for local media coverage,” she said.
But Kotvojs refused to commit to fight for a reversal of the $84m cut to indexation – instead repeating the prime minister’s line that “there hasn’t been a reduction”.
This is a gimme for Kristy McBain, given that Labor has promised to reverse the cut (in government, if elected at the next election).
But the heat turns on McBain with the next question about Labor branch-stacking (in Victoria, presumably).
McBain says it hasn’t been raised with her once on the campaign because it doesn’t affect people’s lives. Then she pivots to jobkeeper and an economic plan, again.
Kotvojs denied the government has pork-barrelled the election by making promises for primary industries such as apple growing and wineries – she notes the programs, although announced in Eden-Monaro, apply Australia-wide.
Next question is about Kotvojs submission to the religious freedom review – which included a call for a right for commercial service providers to refuse same-sex weddings.
Kotvojs says differences must be “based on respect” and expressed respectfully – but doesn’t go to the substance of discrimination law.
McBain says discrimination based on sexuality and gender is a “massive no” from her, arguing that religious practices and beliefs might be “thousands of years old” but need to be updated.
The PM is combining the defence announcement (a $270bn decade-long spend for a 2020 strategy released just before a byelection ... Deidre Chambers, is that you?) from yesterday, with some adjacent Eden-Monaro campaigning at his press event today.
That’s being held mid-morning.
The second question is on bushfire recovery and what the federal government could do better.
Fiona Kotvojs says the problem is not enough information sharing between agencies, including councils refusing to give info because of privacy reasons.
She called for a “single consolidated list” of affected businesses and households so everybody eligible would know to apply for support.
Kristy McBain said after the Tathra fires in 2018 it was obvious that more streamlining of assistance was required – and more federal money for caseworkers was needed.
Then Kotvojs is asked about her record of downplaying climate change and refusal to say whether it added to the intensity of the summer bushfires:
She repeats her view that it was lack of hazard reduction that caused the intensity, a point she made in a submission to the bushfire royal commission.
Kotvojs was asked about reducing greenhouse gas emissions to reduce heat, and she replies the Coalition has a “great plan” to reduce emissions.
She incorrectly claims Australia has reduced emissions by 40% in the last 30 years – that would be emissions per capita, not total emissions.
Kotvojs attempted to say the government was walking the talk, but had an unfortunate stumble, saying:
The ABC South East is hosting a debate between the Liberal Fiona Kotvojs and Labor’s Kristy McBain.
Kotvojs starts with a measured opening statement – so measured it sounds a little like she’s reading it.
The text is similar to her ads, stressing that she is LOCAL and has been a “teacher, farmer and small business owner”, Oxfam director and RFS volunteer.
McBain is similarly well prepared, discussing how the region had responded to the “devastation and turmoil” of bushfires. Eden-Monaro wants a plan for bushfire recovery and economic supports for Covid-19 so the jobkeeper wage subsidy won’t “fall off a cliff”.
The first question for both candidates: should jobkeeper be kept after September?
Kotvojs said the program was legislated for six months, giving businesses certainty and helping them stay open.
McBain said people in Eden-Monaro were doing it tough and 18,000 workers in the electorate were at risk if jobkeeper were withdrawn:
Eden-Monaro’s Liberal candidate, Fiona Kotvojs, and the Labor candidate, Kristy McBain, are debating each other on ABC radio at the moment.