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Coronavirus live update Australia: Victoria records 116 new cases and 15 deaths as NSW reports three new cases Coronavirus live update Australia: Victoria records 116 new cases and 15 deaths as NSW reports three new cases
(32 minutes later)
Brisbane watches hotspots after youth detention centre outbreak, Victoria’s hotel inquiry continues and politicians gather in Canberra for the first time in 10 weeks. Follow today’s latest updatesBrisbane watches hotspots after youth detention centre outbreak, Victoria’s hotel inquiry continues and politicians gather in Canberra for the first time in 10 weeks. Follow today’s latest updates
There have been seven new cases of Covid recorded in the NDIS – all participants and all in Victoria.
A review has found a lack of clarity about the roles and hierarchy of government agencies in responding to the coronavirus outbreak at Sydney’s Newmarch House “added confusion to the burden of an already stressed situation”.
The report, released by the federal government today, also noted that the first stages of the response to Covid-19 infections were “characterised by turmoil and upheaval”.
As the opposition prepares to use parliamentary question time today to challenge the federal government over its handling of the Covid-19 risk in aged care facilities, the report shines a light of the challenging situation experienced in Newmarch House, where 37 residents and 34 staff members tested positive. Nineteen residents passed away, 17 of them directly attributed to Covid-19, the report said.
Given political pressure has been building on the federal government over aged care outbreaks, there will be intense focus on what the report has to say about governance arrangements.
The report says daily teleconferences that began on 15 April to share information and monitor the course of the outbreak at Newmarch House included representatives of the national Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, the federal department of health, Nepean Blue Mountains public health unit, NSW State Health Operations Centre, Nepean Hospital specialists and Anglicare.
The very first teleconference began with disagreements about relocating Covid-19 infected residents to another facility, and on occasions “there were open and frank disagreements with varying opinions on how to proceed” which “added to rising tensions”.
Anglicare managers reported “frustration about conflicting advice from different agencies and the lack of clarity about the hierarchy of authority”, says the report, written by Professor Lyn Gilbert and Adjunct Professor Alan Lilly.
Indi independent MP Helen Haines wants to know where all the bushfire relief that was promised for her electorate is.
She has signed this letter, which has been sent to the government.
The promised relief was mentioned again in the lead up to the Eden-Monaro byelection, but has dropped off the agenda again. Which is a travesty for communities who have been doubly hit by the cluster that is 2020.
A second Sydney security guard who tested positive to Covid-19 has now been fined by NSW police for breaching self-isolation restrictions.
The guard, who worked at the Sydney Harbour Marriott Hotel, was tested for Covid-19 last Thursday and told to go directly home and self-isolate for 14 days.
However, police allege he instead visited a shopping centre on Burwood Road and also went to a government services building on Friday on Elsie Street, Burwood.
The man was told on Saturday that he had tested positive for Covid-19 and has been transferred to a NSW Health quarantine facility.
The 22-year old has now been issued with two fines.
This comes after another security guard who worked at the same hotel tested positive for Covid-19 last week.
Daniel Andrews is asked about the north Richmond injecting room remaining open during the stage 4 restrictions (it is a health facility, so it should be, but anyways)
Andrews:
Q: What would hurt less, Perth or Brisbane?
There is a long pause.
Daniel Andrews:
I’m focused on what is happening in Melbourne and every community in Victoria. I’m not focused on what is happening in Brisbane or Perth.
Q: I meant in terms of the grand final
Andrews:
This really shouldn’t come as any surprise to anyone.
But there is no chance the AFL will be able to hold its grand final in Melbourne.
Daniel Andrews:
NSW police have released their update on social distancing fines – including the two issued to a security guard who has tested positive for Covid but was caught outside his home – twice:
Seven Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) have been issued since the last Covid update, including two to a security guard performing duties at quarantine hotels in Sydney who allegedly breached the Public Health Act by failing to adhere to self-isolation restrictions.
About 5pm on Thursday 20 August 2020, the guard, a man aged 22, underwent a COVID-19 test and was informed to go directly home and commence a 14-day self-isolation in accordance with current Ministerial Directions.
It is believed the man instead travelled to a shopping centre on Burwood Road, where he allegedly attended a number of stores in a two-hour visit.On Friday 21 August 2020, the man allegedly left home and attended a government services building on Elsie Street, Burwood.The man underwent a secondary test at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital on the Friday and about 8am on Saturday 22 August, was informed he had returned a positive test result for COVID-19. He was transferred to a NSW Health COVID-19 quarantine facility where he will stay for the remainder of his quarantine period.About 10pm yesterday (Sunday 23 August 2020), police issued the 22-year-old Campsie man with two PINs for not complying with Noticed Direction re: section 7/8/9 COVID-19.
Other examples include:
– About 1pm on Saturday (22 September 2020), police attended an Eden home and spoke to the resident, a 46-year-old man. Officers established the man had travelled to Victoria on a permit that he did not meet the requirements for. He was issued a $1000 PIN.
– About 10.30pm on (Saturday 22 August 2020), officers attached to Kings Cross Police Area Command attended a licensed premise on Darlinghurst Road, Potts Point. Officers observed multiple breaches of the Public Health Order, including an incorrect COVID-19 safety plan, no marshal, and mingling patrons with no physical distancing. The business was issued a $5,000 PIN for failing to comply with a noticed direction under the Public Health Act 2010.
The independent MP Zali Steggall is urging the government not to rush through a plan to devolve environmental approval powers to state and territory governments.
In July the government announced it would introduce environmental reforms that set up a “single touch” system for approvals under Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act
This would be done by establishing bilateral approval agreements with the states and territories – if they agree to sign up. The environment minister, Sussan Ley, said at the time legislation would be introduced to parliament in late August.
In a letter to Ley, Steggall says the rushed proposal is “of great concern”. She says while it might be possible to make the system more efficient by removing duplication of processes at state and federal level, “it must be acknowledged that a large proportion of the current delays come as (a) result of staffing cuts to the Department for Agriculture, Water and the Environment”.
“The state governments have approved controversial projects resulting in environmental and heritage destruction. A recent example is the destruction of aboriginal heritage sites by mining companies under Western Australian law,” the letter says.
“Speeding up approvals must be sensitive to the acceleration in recent decades of environmental and heritage destruction. Strong safeguards are needed to prevent further destruction.”
Steggall notes Graeme Samuel’s interim report from the statutory review of the EPBC Act found Australian governments had failed to protect the country’s environment and heritage.
“The Report also made clear that restoring trust in the environmental law is essential and that stakeholders’ trust could be restored with an independent regulator. Why is it that the Government has ruled this out so quickly given the states themselves are supportive of this recommendation?” Steggall writes. You can read the full letter here.
Ley announced the proposed reforms on the same day Samuel released the report in July. The report found governments had failed to protect Australia’s environment and important habitats and species were in an unsustainable state of decline.
Samuel recommended handover of approval powers occur under a yet to be created, legally enforceable set of national environmental standards.
The review also called for an independent regulator responsible for monitoring and enforcing compliance with national environmental law.
Daniel Andrews is asked about reports police are patrolling cemeteries to make sure that mourners are obeying restrictions:Daniel Andrews is asked about reports police are patrolling cemeteries to make sure that mourners are obeying restrictions:
Daniel Andrews has “no comment” to make on the Victorian Liberal branch-stacking allegations.Daniel Andrews has “no comment” to make on the Victorian Liberal branch-stacking allegations.
“That is entirely a mater for the Victorian Liberals,” he says.“That is entirely a mater for the Victorian Liberals,” he says.
Daniel Andrews on asking the parliament to extend the state of emergency provisions beyond six months:Daniel Andrews on asking the parliament to extend the state of emergency provisions beyond six months:
And in New Zealand.
Meanwhile, in NSW:
What if the parliament doesn’t give Daniel Andrews his request to extend the state of emergency declaration time period?
The data which was going to show where health workers were infected – in the community, or at work – has been delayed. Daniel Andrews says it has been a more complicated job than first thought:
Back to Daniel Andrews’ press conference, the health minister, Jenny Mikakos, says there will be some new data reported by Victoria:
Marcus Bastiaan has released a statement on his resignation from the Victorian Liberal party:
Daniel Andrews gives a very big thank you to Victorians, as reports of lockdown fatigue start to drip in.
Daniel Andrews will ask the parliament to extend how long a state of emergency can be called.
It is now allowed to be called for a maximum of six months. The government wants to extend that maximum to a year, because the current one would end on 13 December – and will need to go for longer.
Daniel Andrews is giving an individual update on the funeral arrangements for the family of the 37-year-old electrician who died while working underneath a house last week:
A returned traveller who stayed in hotel quarantine at Melbourne’s Pan Pacific learned on day 10 of his detention that he was not on authorities’ list of guests, an inquiry has been told. Kaan Ofli, a professional MMA fighter, said at a hearing on Monday he had been made aware of the mistake by a nurse who had called the room he was sharing with his partner.
Ofli said: “It was my partner that had answered the call, and she said, ‘No, we don’t have any symptoms.’ And the lady said, “What do you mean by ‘we’ve?’ And she said, ‘Well, there’s two of us in here.”The calls occurred daily but no one had queried why sometimes he was answering the phone rather than his female partner, the inquiry heard. “I guess for the whole 10 days, I wasn’t actually in the system,” he said.
Ofli and his partner had been given fresh air breaks where they had been accompanied by staff who had also apparently not noticed the mistake.
During these breaks in a hotel courtyard, the couple and other guests would take their masks off once outside, Ofli said. “We were social distancing somewhat outside,” he said. “People were still getting quite close to each other and chatting and talking.”
He said security guards had ensured the guests were kept away from the public.But Ofli also said when he saw the guards at the hotel, generally they would have their masks off. “I guess once we were walking towards them, they would put their masks on,” he said.
Ofli had also requested Halal food but was shocked to learn 10 days into his stay that the meat he had been eating did not meet these requirements. “It hurt me,” he said.
Often, the couple were often left without enough food, Ofli said. “We found it humiliating to have to call and plead for the basics.”
The couple had also asked to be tested but had their requests denied because they did not have any symptoms. They left hotel quarantine without being tested.
The inquiry will hear from two security guards later today.