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Coronavirus Australia live news: PM provides update on national cabinet meeting after Victoria reports 450 new Covid cases and 11 deaths Coronavirus Australia live news: PM provides update on national cabinet meeting after Victoria reports 450 new Covid cases and 11 deaths
(32 minutes later)
Australian Defence Force personnel to doorknock close contacts of confirmed cases in Victoria as state’s stage-four restrictions take effect. Follow liveAustralian Defence Force personnel to doorknock close contacts of confirmed cases in Victoria as state’s stage-four restrictions take effect. Follow live
The parliamentary committee holding an inquiry into the destruction of a highly significant Aboriginal heritage site at Juukan Gorge in the Pilbara has been granted permission by the Western Australian premier, Mark McGowan, to travel across the border and hold an on-country meeting with traditional owners.Rio Tinto in May detonated a blast that destroyed a rock shelter that showed evidence of 46,000 years of continual occupation, and was deemed to be of the highest level of archaeological significance to Australia.
Senior executives from the mining company, including CEO Jean-Sébastien Jacques, appeared before the inquiry this morning. They admitted, among other things, that they never told the traditional owners, the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura peoples (PKKP), that there were other options for building the iron ore mine that did not involve destroying the sites.
The inquiry heard from the federal environment department today and the Western Australian Aboriginal affairs minister, Ben Wyatt,who said his new version of Aboriginal heritage legislation will be released to the public in the next few weeks. Wyatt said that under the current legislation he did not have the power to halt or appeal the destruction of heritage once ministerial consent had been granted under s.18 of the act, but that the new legislation would have such a power.
He was asked by senators Pat Dodson and Rachel Siewert to conduct an audit of all current s.18 applications, or even just those that apply to mining companies, but said there was little benefit in doing so.
LNP MP George Christensen asked Wyatt for his opinion on Rio’s actions, saying it was “a company that tries to parade themselves as being so ‘woke’.”
Said Wyatt:“What Rio has done is hugely damaging to their own international brand and I think they would accept that, and it was incredibly tragic to the PKKP people in the destruction of a site that is incredibly significant to them and incredibly significant to people Australia-wide.”
But he added that Rio had been “leaders in this space” of engaging meaningfully with traditional owners.
“Rio has not been the company that’s caused me issues in the past.”
I know the prime minister said the review into the hotel quarantine conditions was ongoing, but there are still lots of issues – 336 hours in a hotel room is no picnic already. The food restrictions have made it even harder for a lot of people.
We just learnt the expert health committee is looking at what masks health workers should be wearing to protect them from Covid, given the number of workers who have been infected
The Australian Society of Anaesthetists says it is not a moment too soon, given its concerns at “the increase in healthcare workers contracting Covid-19 in Victoria with the announcement of 139 new cases in the last 24 hours”.
The society’s president, Dr Suzi Nou, is concerned not enough is being done to protect frontline workers and the growing outbreaks in health settings, with more than 900 cases now among healthcare workers.Nou said:
After that national cabinet, the commonwealth and the states will codify an agreed upon response to aged care – as in, they’ll have a plan in the event of a Covid outbreak in an aged care home.
In Queensland, the response was to rapidly isolate and move out residents. Victoria became overwhelmed, and as Murph reported this week, St Basil’s took five days to report an outbreak to the federal authorities.
There will now be a response plan.
The head of Australian spy agency Asio says more people are sharing “hateful ideology” online during the Covid-19 pandemic but “our priority targets remain covered”.The head of Australian spy agency Asio says more people are sharing “hateful ideology” online during the Covid-19 pandemic but “our priority targets remain covered”.
Mike Burgess, the director general of security, was asked several questions about the terrorism threat during an appearance before a parliamentary inquiry looking at the encryption laws that took effect in late 2018.Mike Burgess, the director general of security, was asked several questions about the terrorism threat during an appearance before a parliamentary inquiry looking at the encryption laws that took effect in late 2018.
When asked about newspaper reports yesterday of a new video from Isis calling for attacks on Australia, Burgess said Asio was aware of the video - but noted that messages attempting to radicalise or incite attacks were “a normal thing, unfortunately, with the terrorism level remaining at probable.” When asked about newspaper reports yesterday of a new video from Isis calling for attacks on Australia, Burgess said Asio was aware of the video – but noted that messages attempting to radicalise or incite attacks were “a normal thing, unfortunately, with the terrorism level remaining at probable”.
“They’re common messages so it’s nothing more than normal but of course we remain vigilant to the potential for that to be a problem for us.” When Anthony Byrne, the Labor deputy chair of the intelligence committee, asked whether there had been an increase in Isis activity during the Covid crisis, Burgess replied: “There’s been an uptick in activity across the spectrum of hateful ideology.”
When Anthony Byrne, the Labor deputy chair of the intelligence committee, asked whether there had been an uptick in Isis activity during the Covid crisis, Burgess replied: “There’s been an uptick in activity across the spectrum of hateful ideology.” Burgess was pressed on whether some groups were exploiting the Covid crisis in their messaging, such as the challenges of western democracies. He said:
Burgess was pressed on whether some groups were exploiting the Covid crisis in their messaging, such as the challenges of western democracies. He said: “Other than just promoting their cause, it’s no different really. Yes, the times are very different but their messages are no different.”Finally, he was asked whether Asio was detecting an uptick in communications among people it might be worried about during the crisis.“No. There are more people online sharing hateful ideology. Our priority targets remain covered. Sadly it’s just the normal situation we’re in.”The comments build on Burgess’s comments in June when he confirmed the agency had seen “increased chatter in the online world when it comes to the spread of extremist ideology attempting to radicalise people”. Burgess has also been vocal about the increased threat posed by right-wing extremism. Finally, he was asked whether Asio was detecting an uptick in communications among people it might be worried about during the crisis.
An Asio spokesperson told Guardian Australia in June: “While the threat of violence inspired by Islamic extremism remains Asio’s greatest concern, extreme right-wing groups and individuals represent a serious, increasing and evolving threat to security.” The comments build on Burgess’s comments in June when he confirmed the agency had seen “increased chatter in the online world when it comes to the spread of extremist ideology attempting to radicalise people”. Burgess has also been vocal about the increased threat posed by rightwing extremism.
An Asio spokesperson told Guardian Australia in June:
On the idea of allowing Victorian MPs to participate in the parliament sitting virtually, Scott Morrison says:On the idea of allowing Victorian MPs to participate in the parliament sitting virtually, Scott Morrison says:
Is Scott Morrison disappointed with how Victoria handled hotel quarantine?Is Scott Morrison disappointed with how Victoria handled hotel quarantine?
Scott Morrison on the WA court case Paul updated you about just a little bit ago:Scott Morrison on the WA court case Paul updated you about just a little bit ago:
Paul Kelly on the vaccine development:Paul Kelly on the vaccine development:
The commonwealth has “come to the rescue” with jobkeeper, Scott Morrison says of the government’s job measures.The commonwealth has “come to the rescue” with jobkeeper, Scott Morrison says of the government’s job measures.
Should we all be wearing masks? And which ones – particularly when it comes to health workers?Should we all be wearing masks? And which ones – particularly when it comes to health workers?
Professor Paul Kelly: Prof Paul Kelly:
Who is Scott Morrison talking about, with his warning that which ever country creates a vaccine needs to share it? Who is Scott Morrison talking about, with his warning that whichever country creates a vaccine needs to share it?
Morrison: Anyone who develops it. I mean,Australia, we pledge that if we find the vaccine we’ll share it. I think every country’s leader should say that. Morrison: Anyone who develops it. I mean, Australia, we pledge that if we find the vaccine we’ll share it. I think every country’s leader should say that.
Q: [So do you think] somebody will not do that?Q: [So do you think] somebody will not do that?
Morrison: That’s not what I said.Morrison: That’s not what I said.
Q: No, that’s why I’m asking the question. [who] Q: No, that’s why I’m asking the question.
Morrison: That’s not what I have said. I think I answered the question.Morrison: That’s not what I have said. I think I answered the question.
Asked about the criticism of the Victorian lockdowns, in regards to whether they have gone too far (much of which have come from his own side of politics), Scott Morrison says:
The chief medical officer continues:
Australia’s chief medical officer, Prof Paul Kelly, says:
Scott Morrison said the national cabinet was also given an update on the progress of a vaccine – and made it very clear that he expected any country that cracked the vaccine to share it with the world.
That is for a very particular audience, and it’s not one in Australia.
Morrison:
Scott Morrison:
Scott Morrison:
Before moving on to the jobkeeper changes, Scott Morrison acknowledges aged care workers:
The prime minister is holding his post-national cabinet press conference.
Scott Morrison says the national cabinet held its 25th meeting today – a figure that would have taken 12 years to reach under the old Coag system.
No surprises here:
In other news, the Morrison government’s long-awaited $250m rescue package for the arts, announced six weeks ago, has still not been spent – and it could take more than three months for money to start flowing to the industry that was one of the first, and hardest, hit.
Ben Eltham writes that draft guidelines have been submitted but are awaiting approval from arts minister Paul Fletcher, who is yet to appoint anyone to the taskforce tasked with implementing a plan for the creative economy. The industry, meanwhile, is urgently calling for more information and more support.
Theatre Network Australia’s Nicole Beyer said:
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