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| Victorian AFL teams to be based in Queensland – as it happened | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Victorian premier announces death of woman in her 90s as 10 new NSW cases linked to Crossroads hotel cluster in south-western Sydney suburb of Casula. This blog is now closed | Victorian premier announces death of woman in her 90s as 10 new NSW cases linked to Crossroads hotel cluster in south-western Sydney suburb of Casula. This blog is now closed |
| That is where I will leave you tonight. Thanks for reading. We’ll be with you again first thing tomorrow. | That is where I will leave you tonight. Thanks for reading. We’ll be with you again first thing tomorrow. |
| First, though, here’s what we learned today: | First, though, here’s what we learned today: |
| Victoria recored 238 new cases of Covid-19 to 8pm last night. There are currently 105 people in hospital, up 20 from yesterday, and 27 in intensive care, up one from yesterday. A woman in her 90s died last night. | Victoria recored 238 new cases of Covid-19 to 8pm last night. There are currently 105 people in hospital, up 20 from yesterday, and 27 in intensive care, up one from yesterday. A woman in her 90s died last night. |
| The state’s police have issued some 500 fines for breaches of public health orders since last Wednesday. The deputy police commissioner, Rick Nugent, told media today that police were “finding people in cupboards” and had fined people eating KFC and playing Pokémon. | The state’s police have issued some 500 fines for breaches of public health orders since last Wednesday. The deputy police commissioner, Rick Nugent, told media today that police were “finding people in cupboards” and had fined people eating KFC and playing Pokémon. |
| The AFL CEO, Gillon McLachlan, announced Victorian AFL teams will be based in Queensland for up to 10 weeks as the league scrambles to continue running in the face of the outbreak. | The AFL CEO, Gillon McLachlan, announced Victorian AFL teams will be based in Queensland for up to 10 weeks as the league scrambles to continue running in the face of the outbreak. |
| There were 13 new cases in New South Wales, including 10 cases connected to the Crossroads hotel, bringing the size of that cluster to 34. Genomic testing has linked that cluster to a man who travelled to the state from Victoria. | There were 13 new cases in New South Wales, including 10 cases connected to the Crossroads hotel, bringing the size of that cluster to 34. Genomic testing has linked that cluster to a man who travelled to the state from Victoria. |
| The Northern Territory announced it will keep its borders closed to all of Sydney, as well as to Victoria, when it allows domestic travel to resume on Friday. | The Northern Territory announced it will keep its borders closed to all of Sydney, as well as to Victoria, when it allows domestic travel to resume on Friday. |
| The federal health minister, Greg Hunt, said 32 aged-care facilities in Victoria were affected by Covid-19 outbreaks. Of those, eight have residents who have tested positive to Coivd-19, and in the remaining 24 only staff have tested positive to date. | The federal health minister, Greg Hunt, said 32 aged-care facilities in Victoria were affected by Covid-19 outbreaks. Of those, eight have residents who have tested positive to Coivd-19, and in the remaining 24 only staff have tested positive to date. |
| Gladys Berejiklian announced NSW’s Covid-19 economic recovery plan in Sydney earlier today. | Gladys Berejiklian announced NSW’s Covid-19 economic recovery plan in Sydney earlier today. |
| Among a range of initiatives, the NSW government aims to stimulate the state’s economy by speeding up planning assessment approvals for construction projects. | Among a range of initiatives, the NSW government aims to stimulate the state’s economy by speeding up planning assessment approvals for construction projects. |
| The NSW government will spend $83m on reforming its planning approvals, which it claims will speed up rezoning decisions by 191 days, or 33%, development applications for larger regionally significant projects by 91 days, or 25%, and decisions on major projects of state significance by 20 days, or 17%. | The NSW government will spend $83m on reforming its planning approvals, which it claims will speed up rezoning decisions by 191 days, or 33%, development applications for larger regionally significant projects by 91 days, or 25%, and decisions on major projects of state significance by 20 days, or 17%. |
| The efficiencies will be achieved by giving more funding to the land and environment court to appoint two additional commissioners to hear cases, establish a new class of appeals for rezonings and “unblock the planning system”. | The efficiencies will be achieved by giving more funding to the land and environment court to appoint two additional commissioners to hear cases, establish a new class of appeals for rezonings and “unblock the planning system”. |
| An online tool will also be launched to lodge development applications, and all councils will be made to adopt the online system by 1 July 2021. | An online tool will also be launched to lodge development applications, and all councils will be made to adopt the online system by 1 July 2021. |
| Berejiklian said the reforms would not jeopardise safety checks. | Berejiklian said the reforms would not jeopardise safety checks. |
| “We are not speeding up what has to be done so you can’t cut corners, it’s just making sure the assessment of each stage is done as efficiently as possible,” she said. | “We are not speeding up what has to be done so you can’t cut corners, it’s just making sure the assessment of each stage is done as efficiently as possible,” she said. |
| Other initiatives announced by the NSW government as part of its Covid-19 recovery will include a $100bn infrastructure pipeline, which it claims will help create 88,000 jobs over the next four years. | Other initiatives announced by the NSW government as part of its Covid-19 recovery will include a $100bn infrastructure pipeline, which it claims will help create 88,000 jobs over the next four years. |
| “Very small projects in very small regional communities will be up for grabs,” Berejiklian said. | “Very small projects in very small regional communities will be up for grabs,” Berejiklian said. |
| The NSW government will also overhaul its school curriculum, in what it says will be the “biggest share-up in 30 years”. | The NSW government will also overhaul its school curriculum, in what it says will be the “biggest share-up in 30 years”. |
| A review will “declutter” the curriculum, “with a renewed focus on the core competencies of English, maths and science”. | A review will “declutter” the curriculum, “with a renewed focus on the core competencies of English, maths and science”. |
| “There will also be clearer pathways to both university study and vocational training, ensuring that subjects combine knowledge with hands-on application. | “There will also be clearer pathways to both university study and vocational training, ensuring that subjects combine knowledge with hands-on application. |
| “Changes to the curriculum will start in 2021 and all years from kindergarten to year 12 will be learning from the new curriculum by 2024,” the announcement said. | “Changes to the curriculum will start in 2021 and all years from kindergarten to year 12 will be learning from the new curriculum by 2024,” the announcement said. |
| The ABC is reporting that some homeless residents of Melbourne have tested positive for Covid-19. These people had been placed in temporary accommodation, but welfare organisations have been very worried about the prospect of the virus getting into the homeless population. | The ABC is reporting that some homeless residents of Melbourne have tested positive for Covid-19. These people had been placed in temporary accommodation, but welfare organisations have been very worried about the prospect of the virus getting into the homeless population. |
| Last week the National Cabinet updated its position on the use of face masks, saying it now recommends people wear them in situations where community transmission of Covid-19 is occurring and physical distancing is difficult. In that spirit my colleague Luke Henriques-Gomes has put together this helpful explainer on the when, where, why and how of masks. It’s good! | Last week the National Cabinet updated its position on the use of face masks, saying it now recommends people wear them in situations where community transmission of Covid-19 is occurring and physical distancing is difficult. In that spirit my colleague Luke Henriques-Gomes has put together this helpful explainer on the when, where, why and how of masks. It’s good! |
| The Melbourne Age is reporting that five healthcare workers at the Royal Children’s hospital have tested positive to Covid-19 in an outbreak linked to a sushi outlet at the hospital’s food court. | The Melbourne Age is reporting that five healthcare workers at the Royal Children’s hospital have tested positive to Covid-19 in an outbreak linked to a sushi outlet at the hospital’s food court. |
| Earlier today the Victoria police held a press conference in which the deputy commissioner, Rick Nugent, said officers conducting compliance checks were “finding people in cupboards, we are finding people in garages”. | Earlier today the Victoria police held a press conference in which the deputy commissioner, Rick Nugent, said officers conducting compliance checks were “finding people in cupboards, we are finding people in garages”. |
| My colleague Josh Taylor asked them what power officers had to enter those premises without a warrant, and whether it was granted to them under the terms of the Public Health Orders. This is what they’ve said: | My colleague Josh Taylor asked them what power officers had to enter those premises without a warrant, and whether it was granted to them under the terms of the Public Health Orders. This is what they’ve said: |
| I have a little personal quibble with police conflating people not voluntarily allowing officers into their home with “compliance”, but basically the PHOs in Victoria do allow certain “authorised officers” to enter homes without a warrant. | I have a little personal quibble with police conflating people not voluntarily allowing officers into their home with “compliance”, but basically the PHOs in Victoria do allow certain “authorised officers” to enter homes without a warrant. |
| The wife of New Zealand Warriors NRL player David Fusitu’a has thanked the club for their support after he and three other players were granted permission to return home at the end of this month. | The wife of New Zealand Warriors NRL player David Fusitu’a has thanked the club for their support after he and three other players were granted permission to return home at the end of this month. |
| The Warriors have been camped in Australia since before the resumption of the league due to the closed border between the two countries. They announced on Wednesday that Fusitu’a, Ken Maumalo, Agnatius Paasi and King Vuniyayawa will fly home on July 27 “to be reunited with their families as soon as possible”. | The Warriors have been camped in Australia since before the resumption of the league due to the closed border between the two countries. They announced on Wednesday that Fusitu’a, Ken Maumalo, Agnatius Paasi and King Vuniyayawa will fly home on July 27 “to be reunited with their families as soon as possible”. |
| “The players had originally committed to stay in Australia only until Sunday’s match against Cronulla-Sutherland unless the NRL succeeded in its efforts to secure travel exemptions for their families to enter Australia,” The Warriors said. | “The players had originally committed to stay in Australia only until Sunday’s match against Cronulla-Sutherland unless the NRL succeeded in its efforts to secure travel exemptions for their families to enter Australia,” The Warriors said. |
| As you can see below, it’s been welcomed by Eden Fusitu’a. | As you can see below, it’s been welcomed by Eden Fusitu’a. |
| “For my health and the health of our baby, we need David home. We’ve needed him home for a while,” she said.“Ngā mihi @NZWarriors, @RLPlayers, Todd, the welfare staff and the players for being so understanding and supportive.“And David, for being the best husband and soon to be dad.” | “For my health and the health of our baby, we need David home. We’ve needed him home for a while,” she said.“Ngā mihi @NZWarriors, @RLPlayers, Todd, the welfare staff and the players for being so understanding and supportive.“And David, for being the best husband and soon to be dad.” |
| The University of New South Wales has offered almost 500 voluntary redundancies to staff, according to the Community and Public Sector Union. | The University of New South Wales has offered almost 500 voluntary redundancies to staff, according to the Community and Public Sector Union. |
| The CPSU, which represents non-academic staff at the university, said on Wednesday that the university had offered 493 redundancies to staff, blaming the federal government for failing to offer increased funding to the tertiary education sector during the coronavirus crisis. | The CPSU, which represents non-academic staff at the university, said on Wednesday that the university had offered 493 redundancies to staff, blaming the federal government for failing to offer increased funding to the tertiary education sector during the coronavirus crisis. |
| “It is clear that Australia’s higher education sector is in a perilous situation – we need jobkeeper in our universities now, and then we need a fundamental rethink of the higher education system,” Troy Wright, assistant secretary of the CPSU in NSW, said in a statement. | “It is clear that Australia’s higher education sector is in a perilous situation – we need jobkeeper in our universities now, and then we need a fundamental rethink of the higher education system,” Troy Wright, assistant secretary of the CPSU in NSW, said in a statement. |
| “We will hold a mass meeting with members tomorrow to make sure their voice is heard clearly during talks with the university. We will support our members every step of the way and work with the university to minimise the disruption to students and staff.” | “We will hold a mass meeting with members tomorrow to make sure their voice is heard clearly during talks with the university. We will support our members every step of the way and work with the university to minimise the disruption to students and staff.” |
| The university sector has been savaged by the pandemic, in large part because one of its most important funding sources – international students – has been cut off. | The university sector has been savaged by the pandemic, in large part because one of its most important funding sources – international students – has been cut off. |
| “The university sector is in crisis, but it was under pressure long before Covid-19. A lack of proper investment made the sector fragmented and over-reliant on international students,” Wright said. | “The university sector is in crisis, but it was under pressure long before Covid-19. A lack of proper investment made the sector fragmented and over-reliant on international students,” Wright said. |
| UNSW has been approached for comment. | UNSW has been approached for comment. |
| Western Australia has recorded eight new cases of Covid-19 overnight. | Western Australia has recorded eight new cases of Covid-19 overnight. |
| All of the eight new cases relate to returned overseas travellers who are in hotel quarantine. There are currently 29 active cases in WA. It brings the state’s total to 644. | All of the eight new cases relate to returned overseas travellers who are in hotel quarantine. There are currently 29 active cases in WA. It brings the state’s total to 644. |
| Grocery giant Woolworths will remove most limits on product purchases across Victoria from tomorrow – but restrictions on toilet paper will remain. | Grocery giant Woolworths will remove most limits on product purchases across Victoria from tomorrow – but restrictions on toilet paper will remain. |
| In a statement today Woolworths said it would lift restrictions on 23 products across Victoria “as demand moderates to more normal levels across the state”. | In a statement today Woolworths said it would lift restrictions on 23 products across Victoria “as demand moderates to more normal levels across the state”. |
| The products include: | The products include: |
| rice | rice |
| pasta | pasta |
| flour | flour |
| mince | mince |
| sugar | sugar |
| eggs | eggs |
| dairy | dairy |
| bread | bread |
| tissues | tissues |
| paper towels | paper towels |
| But a two-pack-per-person limit on toilet paper will remain in place nationwide. | But a two-pack-per-person limit on toilet paper will remain in place nationwide. |
| “We wish to thank customers for returning to their normal shopping routines over the past week. We’ll continue to monitor the situation closely and reinstate product limits if we see further demand spikes,” Woolworths said in a statement. | “We wish to thank customers for returning to their normal shopping routines over the past week. We’ll continue to monitor the situation closely and reinstate product limits if we see further demand spikes,” Woolworths said in a statement. |