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Coronavirus Australia latest updates: Victoria reports 216 new cases and 12 deaths as Scott Morrison says vaccine will be mandatory Coronavirus Australia live news: Victoria premier Daniel Andrews to provide Covid update in press conference as PM says vaccine will be mandatory
(32 minutes later)
‘My view on this is pretty clear and not for turning,’ prime minister says. Follow today’s news live‘My view on this is pretty clear and not for turning,’ prime minister says. Follow today’s news live
Scott Morrison:
The prime minister is standing in front of a lot of people in white coats as he repeats the announcement that Australian has signed an agreement for access to the Oxford University vaccine, if it is successful.
#Update: this update contains no update
It was announced this morning. There have been wall to wall interviews on it. Nothing has changed in those hours.
Scott Morrison will be holding a press conference around the same time as Daniel Andrews.
Despite there being 23 other hours in the day, everyone loves 11am.
It’s 11am for Daniel Andrews’s press conference.
The Australian Unemployed Workers Union has responded to the pension (and other payments) indexation freeeze:
The official vaccine agreement statement is out:The official vaccine agreement statement is out:
Annastacia Palaszczuk has defended the border controls, which extends to the state’s hospitals:Annastacia Palaszczuk has defended the border controls, which extends to the state’s hospitals:
Given there have been reports of the impact of the Queensland border closure on NSW people – including heart wrenching stories of parents being separated from their ill newborns, here is a story on a new Queensland mum, stranded in Victoria after cancer treatment, because she can’t get permission to travel through NSW to get back home (where she has been granted an exemption to enter)Given there have been reports of the impact of the Queensland border closure on NSW people – including heart wrenching stories of parents being separated from their ill newborns, here is a story on a new Queensland mum, stranded in Victoria after cancer treatment, because she can’t get permission to travel through NSW to get back home (where she has been granted an exemption to enter)
The border closures are having a terrible impact on a lot of people. It’s awful and heartbreaking.The border closures are having a terrible impact on a lot of people. It’s awful and heartbreaking.
Dragging politics into it, to score points or prosecute agendas, is disgusting.Dragging politics into it, to score points or prosecute agendas, is disgusting.
Queensland is working with the Australian Border Force to strengthen its northern border – that would be the ocean – after an increase of Covid cases in Papua New Guinea.Queensland is working with the Australian Border Force to strengthen its northern border – that would be the ocean – after an increase of Covid cases in Papua New Guinea.
The most recent case of Covid recorded in Queensland today comes from the positive diagnosis of a person who recently returned from PNG (they have been in hotel quarantine), so expect ocean patrols on the northern tip to increase.The most recent case of Covid recorded in Queensland today comes from the positive diagnosis of a person who recently returned from PNG (they have been in hotel quarantine), so expect ocean patrols on the northern tip to increase.
Just a reminder that during the bushfire crisis, Scott Morrison also deflected responsibility to the states.Just a reminder that during the bushfire crisis, Scott Morrison also deflected responsibility to the states.
There have been calls for this for some time but the federal government is finally going to start releasing the data on the number of people within the National Disability Insurance Scheme – both participants and workers – who have Covid.There have been calls for this for some time but the federal government is finally going to start releasing the data on the number of people within the National Disability Insurance Scheme – both participants and workers – who have Covid.
Stuart Robert:Stuart Robert:
Sabra Lane also asked the prime minister about aged care:
Lane: The aged care royal commission has said that the federal government should be listening to it closely, that you should appoint a dedicated national coordinating body right now to work with all homes to advise them and the government on handling Covid, that you shouldn’t wait. Are you acting on that idea?
Morrison: Well, we already have been. I mean, what we have already in place in Victoria does exactly that, I mean the expertise and experience of geriatricians, to to specialists in diseases and how they transfer in facilities, I mean, that that is the advice we have been taking. And where we need to supplement that, then that will be done. And and that is, they are the things that Professor Murphy and Professor Kelly and his team have been leading now for months.
Lane: Commissioner Pagone, though, said last week that the government could implement this right now, that it was a practical improvement that didn’t need to wait?
Morrison:
Scott Morrison also spoke about his “no jab no play” history with Sabra Lane (although he wasn’t as explicit about it being mandatory).
*Not sure there would be anyone who would admit to not wanting safe vaccines out in the community, but never miss an opportunity to brand yourself, I guess.
For more information on the Oxford vaccine you are hearing a lot about today, you can head here:
As Greg Hunt said on the weekend, and Scott Morrison has said today, it is not the only vaccine being worked on, but it is one of the most promising. Australia will be looking at entering agreements with some of the other vaccine developers as well.
There are about 160 vaccines being worked on around the world, which makes the odds of at least a couple of them being successful pretty good.
Queensland’s chief medical officer, Dr Jeannette Young, echoes her NSW and Victorian counterparts when it comes to flu symptoms:
The Queensland health minister, Steven Miles, has some news on another vaccine now being worked on:
Goondiwindi is also getting some farmer-border passes.
Annastacia Palaszczuk:
Queensland has one new case of Covid – a returned traveller.
On the no-doubt swift campaign anti-vaxxers will be whirring up as we speak, Scott Morrison says he is “used to it”.
Just a reminder though – while there are promising signs, there is still a wait. First for tests, and then the vaccine has to be rolled out.
Over on Melbourne radio 3AW, we have learnt something new about the vaccine – Scott Morrison says he expects it to be mandatory:
Remember the jingle for the Reading Writing Hotline? (1300-6-triple-five-oh-six)
It has been overwhelmed with calls for help during the pandemic: