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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 live update Australia: Victoria reports 11 deaths and 450 new Covid cases, with 11 in NSW – latest news
(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 live Australian Defence Force personnel to doorknock close contacts of confirmed cases in Victoria as businesses in the state face stage 4 restrictions. Follow live
Universities Australia says it “looks forward” to assisting the government’s review into freedom of speech at universities that was announced today.
Prof Sally Walker will be reviewing universities against a model code that was created by former high court chief justice Robert French as part of the last review into freedom of speech in 2019.
The chief executive of Universities Australia, Catriona Jackson, said that universities agreed to adopt the model code last year.
“We acknowledge the importance of freedom of expression and academic freedom on our campuses and look forward to assisting Professor Sally Walker in her review announced by Education Minister Dan Tehan today,” she said.
“Freedom of expression and academic freedom are part of the DNA of Australian universities.”
“In asking universities to give full and careful consideration to adopting the model code, Education Minister Dan Tehan noted the making of regulations and policies by a university is a matter for each institution reflecting institutional autonomy.”
Hi all, it’s Naaman Zhou here. Thanks as always to blog captain Amy Remeikis for her amazing work this week.
South Australia has put what they are calling a “double ring” around the state’s coronavirus cases.
More than 1,100 people in Adelaide are currently in self-isolation as a result of a cluster linked to the Thebarton senior college. Earlier we reported that the SA opposition leadership team were in isolation after visiting the college.
The state’s public health officer, Prof Nicola Spurrier, said she was mirroring a tactic used successfully to control an outbreak of virus infections in northern Tasmania, AAP reports.
On that note, I am going to hand you over to the wonderful Naaman Zhou, who will take you through the late afternoon’s events.On that note, I am going to hand you over to the wonderful Naaman Zhou, who will take you through the late afternoon’s events.
Thank you for joining me this week. I’ll be back early Monday morning. Be gentle to yourself this weekend, and as always – take care of you.Thank you for joining me this week. I’ll be back early Monday morning. Be gentle to yourself this weekend, and as always – take care of you.
The Greens senator Jordon Steele-John says disabled people and their families had been failed during the pandemic.The Greens senator Jordon Steele-John says disabled people and their families had been failed during the pandemic.
Things are very quiet in the city of Melbourne: Things are very quiet on the streets of Melbourne:
Foot traffic in the City of Melbourne has plummeted as people comply with stage four Covid-19 restrictions, with just 10% of normal levels recorded yesterday (Thursday), the council says in a statement.
Lord mayor Sally Capp said the reduction in pedestrian traffic could be seen across the City of Melbourne’s network of more 60 pedestrian sensors.
Wesfarmers will pay staff during the Victorian business standdown.Wesfarmers will pay staff during the Victorian business standdown.
The Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association (SDA) national secretary, Gerard Dwyer, is pretty happy with that and wants the other big supermarkets to follow suit:The Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association (SDA) national secretary, Gerard Dwyer, is pretty happy with that and wants the other big supermarkets to follow suit:
I think we all need an (exasperated) laugh today.I think we all need an (exasperated) laugh today.
Meanwhile, in Katter land:Meanwhile, in Katter land:
For those wanting the jobkeeper changes from the treasurer’s mouth:For those wanting the jobkeeper changes from the treasurer’s mouth:
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.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.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.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 would be released to the public in the next few weeks.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 would 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 against 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.Wyatt said that under the current legislation he did not have the power to halt or appeal against 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’.”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’.”
Wyatt said:Wyatt said:
But Wyatt added that Rio had been “leaders in this space” of engaging meaningfully with traditional owners.But Wyatt added that Rio had been “leaders in this space” of engaging meaningfully with traditional owners.
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.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”.
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 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.”
Burgess was pressed on whether some groups were exploiting the Covid crisis in their messaging, such as the challenges of western democracies. He said:
Finally, he was asked whether Asio was detecting an uptick in communications among people it might be worried about during the crisis.
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:
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:
Paul Kelly on the vaccine development:
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?
Prof Paul Kelly:
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.
Q: [So do you think] somebody will not do that?
Morrison: That’s not what I said.
Q: No, that’s why I’m asking the question.
Morrison: That’s not what I have said. I think I answered the question.