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Australia coronavirus live update: Victoria premier Daniel Andrews holds press conference as state reports 149 new Covid cases and 24 deaths Australia coronavirus live update: NSW records six new Covid cases, Victoria premier Daniel Andrews holds press conference
(32 minutes later)
Health minister says most of the deaths were linked to aged care as Queensland reports one new Covid case. Follow all the latest news and updates, live Victoria reports 149 new Covid cases and 24 deaths as Queensland reports one new case. Follow all the latest news and updates, live
Victoria police has dished out nearly 20,000 fines for Covid-19 breaches during the pandemic, an inquiry has been told.
Lisa Neville, the police minister, told the Covid-19 inquiry on Wednesday police had issued 19,324 fines, including 1,669 for failing to wear a mask and 2,145 to those breaching the state curfew.There were 5,761 fines for “non-compliance of directions” and 20 fines were issued for people failing to self-isolate.
Daniel Andrews is asked about these comments from Scott Morrison:
Andrews:
Daniel Andrews is asked whether or not he would have supported legislation like this when he was opposition leader (which was six years ago).
Who wants the legislation to extend the state of emergency declaration in Victoria?
Daniel Andrews:
Back to Victoria – is there an idea of what stage three restrictions will look like for Melbourne yet?
Daniel Andrews:
NSW has reported six new cases today – one in hotel quarantine and five are locally acquired.
All five have an unknown source of transmission.
Alerts have also been issued for some sites in the Sydney CBD – including the City Tattersalls Fitness Centre on Pitt Street, where two people attended. Anyone there on August 19, 21 or 23 should get tested if any symptoms develop.
Alerts have also been issued for 300 George Street Sydney, on August 19, 20, 21, 24 and the Apple Store and Kmart in Broadway shopping centre on August 22 between 3:30 and 5pm.
One person who contracted Covid-19 is a trainee bus driver who worked for one day while infectious, and had “a limited number of a passengers”. The chief health officer, Dr Kerry Chant, said the risk to passengers was “very low”.
Cameron Wilson, a reporter with Gizmodo, is one of the reporters who have been keeping an eye on which MPs have been following those ‘social media’ trend treatments.
You will not be surprised to find the names ‘Craig Kelly’ and ‘George Christensen’ pop up there.
Professor Julian Elliott said Australia has benefitted from not rushing in with unproven treatments:
Professor Wai-Hong Tham:
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute Associate Professor Wai-Hong Tham and Monash University Associate Professor Julian Elliott are guests at the Daniel Andrews press conference, speaking about breakthroughs in treatments for Covid.
NSW has diagnosed six new cases of Covid in the last 24 – just one of those is in hotel quarantine.
Victoria’s workplace watchdog is investigating a lack of PPE and training provided to private security guards in the state’s bungled hotel quarantine program.Victoria’s workplace watchdog is investigating a lack of PPE and training provided to private security guards in the state’s bungled hotel quarantine program.
Colin Radford, chief executive of Worksafe, confirmed the probes while fronting the state’s Covid-19 inquiry on Wednesday,Colin Radford, chief executive of Worksafe, confirmed the probes while fronting the state’s Covid-19 inquiry on Wednesday,
Eight sites were under investigation, the inquiry heard.Eight sites were under investigation, the inquiry heard.
Radford also confirmed Victoria’s Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions were the subject of Worksafe probes for Covid-19 breaches.Radford also confirmed Victoria’s Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions were the subject of Worksafe probes for Covid-19 breaches.
An investigation into an outbreak at the Cedar Meats site was “ongoing”, Radford said.An investigation into an outbreak at the Cedar Meats site was “ongoing”, Radford said.
Before going to questions, Daniel Andrews again talks about the legislation he is trying to get passed, which would allow Victoria to extend its state of emergency declaration beyond six months.Before going to questions, Daniel Andrews again talks about the legislation he is trying to get passed, which would allow Victoria to extend its state of emergency declaration beyond six months.
I’m not an expert, but a quick whip around of the powers of the other states seems to point to them not actually having a time limit to their state of emergency. They can renew the declaration - and its powers - as often as they want (NSW can just change health regulations and get the same powers) I’m not an expert, but a quick whip around of the powers of the other states seems to point to them not actually having a time limit to their state of emergency. They can renew the declaration – and its powers – as often as they want (NSW can just change health regulations and get the same powers).
But Victoria has a maximum of six months. Which will be hit on September 13. But Victoria has a maximum of six months. Which will be hit on 13 September.
The legislation will allow the declaration to be extended beyond that date. If successful, the government would still have to regularly renew the declaration, but they’ll be able to do that for a year, rather than six months.The legislation will allow the declaration to be extended beyond that date. If successful, the government would still have to regularly renew the declaration, but they’ll be able to do that for a year, rather than six months.
Andrews says conversations with the crossbench are proving fruitful:Andrews says conversations with the crossbench are proving fruitful:
There are 50 active cases in disability care in Victoria.There are 50 active cases in disability care in Victoria.
On aged care, Daniel Andrews says:On aged care, Daniel Andrews says:
Testing is still down in Victoria.
It could be a problem.
Daniel Andrews:
Daniel Andrews:
Wang Xining, the deputy head of mission with the Chinese embassy in Canberra, is speaking to the national press club today.
That will be ... interesting.
Victorians have been more likely to challenge fines during the coronavirus pandemic, the state’s attorney general says.
Jill Hennessy told the Covid-19 committee on Wednesday fine recipients had been increasingly seeking review of fines, as well as more people indicating they intend to challenge the fine in court.
The attorney general did not provide comparative figures, but the inquiry was told there had been 1,108 Covid-19 fines were being disputed. A further 53 Covid-19 fines were being reviewed by Fines Victoria.
No fines are yet to reach court.
It looks like most of the returned travellers have been moved from the Travelodge Wentworth hotel in Sydney after it was deemed unfit to meet the quarantine standards:
As Josh Taylor reported last night:
Ahhhh none of us are immune to the glasses fog, no matter how hard advancers work.
Dan Tehan is introducing his higher education changes bill into the parliament now.
Dan Hurst has taken a look at the bill:
There have been 19 young people in custody within Victoria’s youth justice system who have contracted coronavirus during the pandemic, an inquiry has been told.
Victoria’s Covid-19 parliamentary inquiry also heard 23 Victorian prisoners and six staff have tested positive over the course of the crisis.
Five young people who are supervised by youth justice staff in the community have also caught the virus, as have four youth justice staff.
Most of the staff who tested positive were not working while they were infectious, the inquiry heard.
Queensland police have also launched a criminal investigation into those on board the Lady Pamela luxury yacht which travelled from Melbourne to the Gold Coast.
Queensland has had 64 flights come in in the last 24 hours, with 2,904 travellers.
Two people were refused entry.
3,412 vehicles were stopped at the borders and 107 people were turned back and 455 people were sent into quarantine.
The 94 children who were released from the Wacol youth detention centre, before the infection was diagnosed, have been cooperative with police and there are “no particular concerns”.
22 people have received notices to appear in court for breaching quarantine, and 78 on-the-spot fines have been issued in relation to the border. So that is now 2,254 on-the-spot fines.
And someone with a border pass, which only allows them to stay in the border region, was found in north Queensland. They were stopped for a random breath test, found out, placed in quarantine, and fined.