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Coronavirus Australia live update: regional Victoria restrictions to ease as state records 42 Covid cases and NSW seven Coronavirus Australia live update: regional Victoria restrictions to ease as state records 42 Covid cases and NSW seven
(32 minutes later)
Victoria reports no deaths; South Australia to open borders to flights from the ACT. Follow all today’s newsVictoria reports no deaths; South Australia to open borders to flights from the ACT. Follow all today’s news
A fascinating column by Sarah Wilson on how the wellness industry was captured by ‘conspiritualism’ Here is my colleague Josh Taylor’s story on today’s hotel quarantine inquiry hearing.
South Australia will expand its police recruitment amid concerns extra demands because of the coronavirus pandemic are likely to persist into next year.
SA Police will take more than 100 extra staff over coming months, including 72 new cadet police officers and 54 protective security officers.
The program will cost up to $16m, AAP reports.
“Our response to the pandemic has required the diversion of resources from normal policing duties and there is no way of knowing how long this pandemic will continue to affect us,” police commissioner Grant Stevens said on Tuesday.
Cabinet minister Keith Pitt has said the federal government should consider setting up its own quarantine facilities, as pressure mounts for a solution to repatriate 26,000 of Australians stranded by arrival caps.
During an interview on ABC TV on Tuesday afternoon, Pitt was asked if he supported “quarantine stations beyond the states”, to increase Australia’s intake capacity beyond the current caps of about 4,000 arrivals per week.
Pitt said:
On Tuesday, a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman told the Guardian there were now 26,000 Australians overseas who had registered their wish to return home with the government.
Warren Entsch, a federal government MP from Queensland, has also called for a federal quarantine solution, to be set up in Cairns, noting the city’s international airport made it suitable for such an initiative.
Entsch said:
Nationals senator Matt Canavan also threw his support behind the Cairns quarantine hub idea:
A fascinating column by Sarah Wilson on how the wellness industry was captured by ‘conspiritualism’.
Via the ABC, potential changes to the restrictions affecting border communities coming tomorrow.Via the ABC, potential changes to the restrictions affecting border communities coming tomorrow.
Today’s daily update from Victoria’s Department of Health and Human Services has just dropped.Today’s daily update from Victoria’s Department of Health and Human Services has just dropped.
As we noted earlier, Victoria recorded 42 new cases and, in promising news, no new deaths.As we noted earlier, Victoria recorded 42 new cases and, in promising news, no new deaths.
The 14-day average is 52.9 in Melbourne and 3.6 in regional Victoria.The 14-day average is 52.9 in Melbourne and 3.6 in regional Victoria.
Some further details below.Some further details below.
In Victoria at the current time:In Victoria at the current time:
4,282 cases may indicate community transmission – a decrease of nine since yesterday.4,282 cases may indicate community transmission – a decrease of nine since yesterday.
1,040 cases are currently active in Victoria.1,040 cases are currently active in Victoria.
118 cases of coronavirus are in hospital, including 11 in intensive care.118 cases of coronavirus are in hospital, including 11 in intensive care.
18,079 people have recovered from the virus.18,079 people have recovered from the virus.
A total of 2,506,513 test results have been received which is an increase of 8,803 since yesterday.A total of 2,506,513 test results have been received which is an increase of 8,803 since yesterday.
Of the 1,040 current active cases in Victoria:Of the 1,040 current active cases in Victoria:
987 are in metropolitan Melbourne under stage 4 restrictions.987 are in metropolitan Melbourne under stage 4 restrictions.
43 are in regional local government areas under stage 3 restrictions. There are no new cases in regional Victoria.43 are in regional local government areas under stage 3 restrictions. There are no new cases in regional Victoria.
Five are either unknown or subject to further investigation.Five are either unknown or subject to further investigation.
Four are interstate residents.Four are interstate residents.
One is an overseas resident.One is an overseas resident.
Colac Otway has 22 active cases, Greater Geelong has four active cases, Greater Bendigo has one active case and Ballarat has no active cases.Colac Otway has 22 active cases, Greater Geelong has four active cases, Greater Bendigo has one active case and Ballarat has no active cases.
A Melbourne cafe owner has mounted a legal challenge over Victoria’s coronavirus curfew, arguing it breaches her human rights.A Melbourne cafe owner has mounted a legal challenge over Victoria’s coronavirus curfew, arguing it breaches her human rights.
AAP reports that Michelle Loielo filed a suit in Victoria’s supreme court on Tuesday, saying the curfew breaches her right not to be subjected to arbitrary detention.AAP reports that Michelle Loielo filed a suit in Victoria’s supreme court on Tuesday, saying the curfew breaches her right not to be subjected to arbitrary detention.
The curfew, which affects metropolitan Melbourne, originally required people to stay home between 8pm and 5am, but was pushed back to 9pm from Monday.The curfew, which affects metropolitan Melbourne, originally required people to stay home between 8pm and 5am, but was pushed back to 9pm from Monday.
Loielo, of the Mornington Peninsula, claims the curfew violates her right to freedom, liberty and security.Loielo, of the Mornington Peninsula, claims the curfew violates her right to freedom, liberty and security.
Court documents, filed by Marcus Clarke QC, argue the curfew direction is invalid on grounds of irrationality and illogicality.Court documents, filed by Marcus Clarke QC, argue the curfew direction is invalid on grounds of irrationality and illogicality.
It argues the curfew is not reasonably proportionate, and not based on relevant and reliable evidence in line with public health laws.It argues the curfew is not reasonably proportionate, and not based on relevant and reliable evidence in line with public health laws.
It says Victoria’s deputy public health commander Michelle Giles “failed to give any real independent consideration to whether it was appropriate to make the curfew”.It says Victoria’s deputy public health commander Michelle Giles “failed to give any real independent consideration to whether it was appropriate to make the curfew”.
The originating motion calls for a trial by judge alone.The originating motion calls for a trial by judge alone.
Australia’s share market has closed flat, while the Aussie dollar rose above 73 US cents after positive Chinese economic data and RBA minutes showing the bank is unlikely to interfere yet.Australia’s share market has closed flat, while the Aussie dollar rose above 73 US cents after positive Chinese economic data and RBA minutes showing the bank is unlikely to interfere yet.
The S&P/ASX200 benchmark index closed lower by 4.7 points, or 0.08 %, to 5894.8 points on Tuesday, AAP reports.The S&P/ASX200 benchmark index closed lower by 4.7 points, or 0.08 %, to 5894.8 points on Tuesday, AAP reports.
The index reached a session high of 5919.2 in the first hour of trade, but then flattened.The index reached a session high of 5919.2 in the first hour of trade, but then flattened.
The All Ordinaries index finished higher by 0.8 points, or 0.01%, to 6079.3.The All Ordinaries index finished higher by 0.8 points, or 0.01%, to 6079.3.
The Aussie dollar was buying 73.29 US cents at 1620 AEST, higher from 72.83 US cents at the close on Monday.The Aussie dollar was buying 73.29 US cents at 1620 AEST, higher from 72.83 US cents at the close on Monday.
Scammers pretending to be Service Australia over text messages will be quickly blocked when identified under a new Telstra trial in conjunction with the federal government.
The trial, part of Telstra’s cleaner pipes initiative, will attempt to block SMS scam messages pretending to be Centrelink or other Service Australia services, and links in those messages, if they get through, will redirect Telstra customers to a block page.
Telstra will work with the Australian Cyber Security Centre and Service Australia to identify where all legitimate communications are coming from to ensure that those legitimate communications get through.
Defence minister Linda Reynolds told a press briefing that although there had not been a significant increase in activity from cyber criminals during Covid-19, the methods had been changed. There had been a rise in phishing campaigns and ransomware attacks, she said, as well as people trying to steal personal information by pretending to be government sources, like Service Australia.
The program will be rolled out next year, with a proof of concept now completed.
Some potential Albury-Wodonga news here.
Ibac, Victoria’s independent police oversight agency, says it will investigate the Epping police incident from Sunday.
That’s the incident where police officer allegedly stomped on the head of a mentally ill man. That man was also hit by a police car.
The Ibac commissioner, Robert Redlich, said:
Police said about 30 minutes ago both officers would be the subject of a criminal investigation.
The commission said anyone with information can get in touch here.
Labor’s social services spokeswoman, Linda Burney, has commented on a new Deloitte report warning the plan to taper then scrap the coronavirus supplement could cost 145,000 jobs.
We covered that report here.
Burney said:
The coronavirus supplement – paid to about 2.2 million unemployed, parents and students – is due to be cut by $300 a fortnight on 25 September.
A leading economist expects the Reserve Bank will hold fire on cutting the cash rate any further amid rumblings on financial markets it could be reduced to 0.1%, AAP report.
The central bank slashed the cash rate to a record low 0.25% in March among a suite of measures to combat the economic slowdown in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Reserve Bank’s minutes of its 1 September board meeting, released on Tuesday, reaffirmed that fiscal and monetary support would be required for some time given the outlook for the economy and the labour market.
The meeting took place the day before the June quarter national accounts showed the economy had contracted by a hefty seven per cent, confirming the first recession in almost 30 years.
Westpac chief economist Bill Evans said while there is speculation the cash rate could be cut to 0.1% in the future, he expects the central bank will remain patient.
“My personal view is that it is unlikely that they would move to such a low rate at this stage,” he said, noting Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe has previously stated that 0.25% would be the effective low.
Meanwhile, a further rise in consumer confidence has disguised weakness among Melburnians who are unhappy about the drawn-out coronavirus lockdown.
The ANZ-Roy Morgan consumer confidence index – a pointer to future household spending – rose 1.4% last week, a second consecutive increase.
However, confidence was weaker in Melbourne, dropping more than 5% from the previous week.
“This suggests the announcement of the long path out of lockdown restrictions negatively impacted sentiment,” ANZ head of Australian economics David Plank said on Tuesday.
Neil Paterson also commented on the police shooting at Lilydale, in Melbourne’s outer east, this morning.
A man was shot by police and is being treated for his injuries, which are not life-threatening.
He said:
Police have confirmed a criminal investigation into officer who allegedly stomped on the head of a mentally ill man in Melbourne on Sunday.
An officer who drove their police car into the man will also be the subject of a criminal investigation.
Our reporter Matilda Boseley is at the press conference.
The deputy commissioner, Neil Paterson, said:
After that news, I am going to go rock in a corner, so Luke Henriques-Gomes will take you through the rest of the afternoon.
(To be clear, the earliest we are likely to head to the federal polls is the second half of next year, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t in for at least a year long election campaign dressed up as politics as usual.)
Thank you again to everyone who followed along. I’ll be back early tomorrow morning. In the meantime, as always, take care of you.
I am reliably informed that Scott Morrison also welded at that photo op and spoke about “the Sharkies”.
So yup. We are in campaign mode already.
Murph, who has followed Australia’s energy policy debate for at least two decades (and at least six prime ministers), has taken a look at the latest energy plan from the Coalition: