This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen
on .
It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
Coronavirus live update: Victoria reports 35 new cases and seven deaths as Qld border row deepens
Coronavirus live update: Victoria reports 35 new cases and seven deaths as Qld border row deepens
(32 minutes later)
Scott Morrison has been accused of politicising a family funeral to attack Annastacia Palaszczuk’s policy. Follow all today’s news
Scott Morrison has been accused of politicising a family funeral to attack Annastacia Palaszczuk’s policy. Follow all today’s news
Steven Miles is called back to the microphone, where he is asked about an individual case, involving compassionate exemptions:
How she feels about needing protection, Dr Jeannette Young says:
Asked about the toll the criticism of her decisions have taken on her, Dr Jeannette Young says:
Dr Jeannette Young on why she is being so conservative with her advice:
Dr Jeannette Young is back on deck after a weekend off.
She says there are still concerns about community transmission in Ipswich – that is where the newest cluster popped up.
More community testing clinics are being set up in those areas, west of Brisbane, to try to catch any new cases. Goodna, Redbank Plains and Redbank are on alert.
Queensland’s deputy premier and health minister, Dr Steven Miles, is addressing today’s press conference. He says the pandemic is not over, as the overseas figures show:
There have been no new cases of Covid reported in Queensland.
The president of the Queensland chapter of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Chris Perry, who held a press conference yesterday to tell people to “back off” in their criticism of the state’s chief health officer, Dr Jeannette Young, spoke to the Nine network again this morning.
He said Young had received death threats and now needed police protection:
Meanwhile, the NSW government is still side-eyeing John Barilaro as though he’s the female lead in a teenage comedy the morning after the night before.
David Elliott, the Liberal police minister, told Sydney radio this morning that there were plenty of other Nationals MPs who could lead the party and, while he didn’t straight up say Barilaro should resign after losing Blinky Bill, he didn’t not not say it either:
I know how heartening it is seeing that daily case number of 35 in Victoria – but we don’t know how many tests that result is from. Authorities are looking at the two-week average, not just the daily results.
I know how heartening it is seeing that daily case number of 35 in Victoria – but we don’t know how many tests that result is from. Authorities are looking at the two-week average, not just the daily results.
This issue is inching closer to a resolution:
This issue is inching closer to a resolution:
Gladys Berejiklian will hold her press conference at 11am.
Gladys Berejiklian will hold her press conference at 11am.
Labor’s Julie Collins has put out a release after new elder abuse data was released:
Labor’s Julie Collins has put out a release after new elder abuse data was released:
Shocking new figures have revealed there are still more than 100 reports of assault and sexual assault in Australian aged care homes each week.
Shocking new figures have revealed there are still more than 100 reports of assault and sexual assault in Australian aged care homes each week.
The latest figures from the Aged Quality and Safety Commission, which were tabled at the Royal Commission, underscore the shocking state of Australia’s aged care system.
The latest figures from the Aged Quality and Safety Commission, which were tabled at the Royal Commission, underscore the shocking state of Australia’s aged care system.
Sadly we know unreported assault and sexual assault in aged care are even greater than these numbers.
Sadly we know unreported assault and sexual assault in aged care are even greater than these numbers.
Despite these completely unacceptable figures, the Morrison Government is still yet to introduce a serious incident response scheme that would respond to cases of assault and abuse in Australia’s aged care system.
Despite these completely unacceptable figures, the Morrison Government is still yet to introduce a serious incident response scheme that would respond to cases of assault and abuse in Australia’s aged care system.
It has now been more than three years since this scheme was first recommended by the Australian Law Reform Commission following its landmark investigation of elder abuse in Australia.
It has now been more than three years since this scheme was first recommended by the Australian Law Reform Commission following its landmark investigation of elder abuse in Australia.
The Morrison Government has only announced ‘initial’ funding for a scheme that may be operational by 1 July 2021.
The Morrison Government has only announced ‘initial’ funding for a scheme that may be operational by 1 July 2021.
A separate review commissioned by the Government following the Oakden nursing home tragedy also recommended introducing the scheme in 2017.
A separate review commissioned by the Government following the Oakden nursing home tragedy also recommended introducing the scheme in 2017.
Victoria Health has released today’s numbers:
Victoria Health has released today’s numbers:
Daniel Andrews has also confirmed, as reported yesterday, that he will front the hotel quarantine inquiry, headed by judge Jennifer Coate, on 23 September. He said in a statement:
He won’t be the only member of his government to appear, the health minister, Jenny Mikakos, will also be called (among others, including the police minister, Lisa Neville).
Meanwhile, Chinese investment in Australia continues to fall.
Queensland’s deputy premier and health minister, Steven Miles, will give the state’s Covid update at 9am.
I really hoped they enjoyed my cat photos and the late-night, add-to-cart, clothes site non-shopping excursions:
(via AAP)
A Chinese military company has amassed the personal details of more than 35,000 Australians as part of a giant global database targeting influential figures.
The company with links to Beijing’s military and intelligence networks has collated profiles on 2.4 million people.
The profiles contain a range of information including birth dates, addresses, marital statuses and political leanings.
Bank records, job applications and psychological profiles have also been collected.
Australian politicians, business people and entrepreneurs are on the database.
Much of the data has been drawn from public records but some information appears to have been sourced from confidential documents, raising questions about China’s intelligence gathering operations.
Federal opposition frontbencher Kristina Keneally said the database was concerning and people were right to feel alarmed.
“Of course, countries have long collected intelligence but it’s important each country’s independence is respected,” she told ABC radio on Monday.
“What this highlights is that the threat of foreign interference and the capacity to amass big data sets on a population is real and we’ve got to take that threat very seriously.”
And on the personal attacks Dr Jeannette Young has experienced (the Queensland AMA came out on Sunday told people to calm their farms as it backed her choices), which have included a ramping up of criticism from the federal government, Nick Coatsworth says:
Dr Nick Coatsworth is also asked about the differing opinions on border closures among the health chiefs:
The deputy chief health officer Dr Nick Coatsworth is doing the morning rounds this morning.
He tells the ABC Australians still need to go get tested if they have any symptoms, particularly in Melbourne, where there is still a higher than authorities would like number of unknown Covid sources:
Sydney’s nightlife is getting a boost from the state government.
The plan will be announced a little later today. The Daily Telegraph had the jump on it and reports that it revolves around extended opening hours, more accessible public transport and more chances for venues to host live music performances.
There is also talk of turning footpaths and parking spots into outdoor dining areas, or mini recreational zones, after hours.
We’ll have more detail on that soon.
It is also 14 September, which means some Melbourne restrictions will be eased, including a shift of the curfew hours to 9pm to 5am (curfew hours will never not be strange to write).
As AAP reports:
From Monday, people living alone or single parents will be allowed to have one other visitor as part of a “social bubble”.
Outdoor exercise is extended to two hours split over a maximum of two sessions, allowing social interaction with one other person or household members.
Playgrounds and outdoor fitness equipment will reopen and the nightly curfew will start an hour later at 9pm before finishing at 5am.
The 14-day case average for Melbourne sits at 56.9, inching closer to the sub-50 target.
Melbourne will move to the “second step”, including increased limits for public gatherings and a staged return to school for some students, from September 28 if the average falls to 30-50.
“If you project forward 14 days, you would expect the 14 day rolling average to the end of September would be absolutely no more than 48,” Victoria’s chief health officer Brett Sutton said.
“It is more likely to be between 20 and 30, I would hope.”
People in regional Victoria will also enjoy greater freedom from Monday with up to five people able to gather in outdoor places from a maximum of two households.
The five-person limit will also apply for religious services that can resume in regional Victoria if they’re held outdoors with a faith leader.
Authorities are hopeful regional areas could jump two steps out of lockdown by mid-next week, allowing residents to go out for a coffee or meal.
The Labor government on Sunday announced a $3 billion suite of cash grants, payroll tax deferrals and fee waivers, described by Premier Daniel Andrews as “the biggest package of business support in the history of this state”.
There will be payroll tax deferrals for up to 12 months for businesses with payroll of up to $10 million a year, coming at a cost of some $1.7 billion to the state.
Business groups welcomed the support but renewed calls for the government to reopen the state as soon as possible.
Tensions remained high in parts of Melbourne.
More than 70 people were arrested as anti-lockdown protesters gathered at the Queen Victoria Market, with some throwing fruit at police after raiding market stalls.
Victoria on Sunday reported 41 new cases and seven further deaths.
It is the 38th week of 2020. Or, in real terms, week 104.
Of course we are still talking about the same things we were talking about last week.
Queensland is under pressure to move on its borders, or at least come up with another roadmap out of its border closures, as personal cases highlight the wider pain. But the federal government hasn’t come out of the muck smelling like roses either – there is pushback over the politicisation of people’s individual tragedies.
As Matilda Boseley reports:
And on Insiders yesterday, Peter Dutton tied himself in knots over why Tony Abbott was given permission to leave the country, but so many others are still fighting to be allowed to head overseas for compassionate reasons.
You’ll be hearing more about recovery this week, as we inch closer to the budget. Victoria has released its $3bn business recovery plan to a mixed response. The federal government will come under pressure over the jobkeeper and jobseeker tapering that is about to kick in, despite the economy being no where near open.
Also in Victoria, there will be questions about the police response after disturbing footage of a woman being pulled from her car and riot police walking through the markets in response to lockdown protests.
There are still questions about the modelling the Victorian government has used to shape its roadmap – Daniel Andrews says it’s time to move on from that, as it’s real-time data that counts but, given that the plan has been built around the modelling, questions will be asked.
We’ll keep you up to date with all the day’s events as they happen. You have Amy Remeikis with you for most of the day.
