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| Coronavirus Australia live update: NSW, WA and Queensland agree to raise caps on international arrivals | Coronavirus Australia live update: NSW, WA and Queensland agree to raise caps on international arrivals |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Victoria reports 45 new cases and five more deaths as NSW announces six cases; Queensland will reopen border to ACT residents from 25 September. Follow live | Victoria reports 45 new cases and five more deaths as NSW announces six cases; Queensland will reopen border to ACT residents from 25 September. Follow live |
| The NSW Nationals leader, John Barilaro, will take mental health leave from parliament immediately following the last fortnight’s tumultuous near-split with his Liberal Coalition partners over koala protections. | |
| Barilaro told his party room colleagues by text message this afternoon that he will take up to four weeks leave to work on his mental health. | |
| The text apologised for not being the leader they wanted him to be but added that he would not have acted differently on the issue. | |
| He said some of the party room knew of “his struggles” and he intended to work on these issues during the break. | |
| His leave is likely to act as a circuit breaker on the crisis within the Coalition. | |
| Barilaro’s deputy, Paul Toole will have carriage of the negotiations with the premier Gladys Berejiklian over the terms of the the Koala habitat protections state environmental planning policy. It is due to be discussed in cabinet on 6 October. | |
| 7News in Sydney is reporting that NSW deputy premier John Barilaro is taking a month’s break “on mental health grounds.” We’re chasing this up. | |
| The NSW Nationals leader last week backed down from a threat to pull his party out of the state’s coalition over new laws to protect koalas. | |
| Queensland’s chief health officer Dr Jeanette Young says they have retested sewage at a Hervey Bay wastewater treatment plant for covid-19, and the test has come back negative. | Queensland’s chief health officer Dr Jeanette Young says they have retested sewage at a Hervey Bay wastewater treatment plant for covid-19, and the test has come back negative. |
| Queensland Health, the University of Queensland and CSIRO have a pilot research project to test sewage for traces of covid-19. | Queensland Health, the University of Queensland and CSIRO have a pilot research project to test sewage for traces of covid-19. |
| The project had previously detected covid-19 at the Hervey Bay plant. The new result didn’t mean the previous one was wrong, she said. | The project had previously detected covid-19 at the Hervey Bay plant. The new result didn’t mean the previous one was wrong, she said. |
| Melbourne’s “ring of steel” is causing long lines of cars. | Melbourne’s “ring of steel” is causing long lines of cars. |
| AAP reports traffic delays on the road to Geelong, where police and ADF are checking Melburnians don’t try to take advantage of an easing of coronavirus restrictions in regional Victoria. | AAP reports traffic delays on the road to Geelong, where police and ADF are checking Melburnians don’t try to take advantage of an easing of coronavirus restrictions in regional Victoria. |
| Footage from a TV network helicopter at the Little River checkpoint shows a line 20 kilometres long. | Footage from a TV network helicopter at the Little River checkpoint shows a line 20 kilometres long. |
| On Thursday, assistant commissioner Rick Nugent said police would try to keep delays at checkpoints to 30 minutes. | On Thursday, assistant commissioner Rick Nugent said police would try to keep delays at checkpoints to 30 minutes. |
| Melburnians risk a fine of almost $5,000 if they try to travel to regional Victoria without a valid reason. | Melburnians risk a fine of almost $5,000 if they try to travel to regional Victoria without a valid reason. |
| Senator Penny Wong, Labor’s foreign affairs spokesperson, is talking to the ABC and she’s not interested in giving the prime minister, Scott Morrison, any credit for raising the caps on international arrivals. | Senator Penny Wong, Labor’s foreign affairs spokesperson, is talking to the ABC and she’s not interested in giving the prime minister, Scott Morrison, any credit for raising the caps on international arrivals. |
| She’s saying Morrison was “dragged” to the agreement with the states because of bad publicity driven by people stranded overseas. | She’s saying Morrison was “dragged” to the agreement with the states because of bad publicity driven by people stranded overseas. |
| Morrison and the government had been “pretty focused on having a go at state governments” and the extra 1,500 arrivals to be staged over the coming weeks was not enough. | Morrison and the government had been “pretty focused on having a go at state governments” and the extra 1,500 arrivals to be staged over the coming weeks was not enough. |
| Wong said it wasn’t right that the caps should be shared responsibility, and that it was the government, and not states, who were responsible for borders and quarantine. She said: | Wong said it wasn’t right that the caps should be shared responsibility, and that it was the government, and not states, who were responsible for borders and quarantine. She said: |
| Wong also wanted to see all aircraft options “on the table”, including government jets and charter flights, to get stranded Australians back in the country. | Wong also wanted to see all aircraft options “on the table”, including government jets and charter flights, to get stranded Australians back in the country. |
| Queensland’s deputy premier, Steven Miles, didn’t miss the chance to sell the state as a tourism destination to Canberrans after lifting the border closure to the ACT. | Queensland’s deputy premier, Steven Miles, didn’t miss the chance to sell the state as a tourism destination to Canberrans after lifting the border closure to the ACT. |
| Time to head to Queensland for a holiday and maybe visit the reef, he said. | Time to head to Queensland for a holiday and maybe visit the reef, he said. |
| Qatar Airways has welcomed the National Cabinet’s agreement to ease the strict international passenger arrival caps. | Qatar Airways has welcomed the National Cabinet’s agreement to ease the strict international passenger arrival caps. |
| In a statement released shortly after Scott Morrison announced New South Wales, Western Australia and Queensland had agreed to each take 500 more weekly arrivals by the middle of October, the airline has said it “remains committed” to the Australian market. | In a statement released shortly after Scott Morrison announced New South Wales, Western Australia and Queensland had agreed to each take 500 more weekly arrivals by the middle of October, the airline has said it “remains committed” to the Australian market. |
| In recent weeks, Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar Al Baker has said the caps, which have been set at about 4000 nationally per week, threatened the viability of Australian routes, and acknowledged the airline was prioritising business class and more expensive passengers to cover their costs under the caps.Al Baker said: | In recent weeks, Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar Al Baker has said the caps, which have been set at about 4000 nationally per week, threatened the viability of Australian routes, and acknowledged the airline was prioritising business class and more expensive passengers to cover their costs under the caps.Al Baker said: |
| It’s been a national cabinet day which means it’s been a busy day of announcements on Covid-19. Here’s what’s happened so far: | It’s been a national cabinet day which means it’s been a busy day of announcements on Covid-19. Here’s what’s happened so far: |
| Victoria reported another five Covid-19 deaths, all linked to aged care. There were 45 new cases reported, with the 14-day rolling average at 42.7 new cases in Melbourne. | Victoria reported another five Covid-19 deaths, all linked to aged care. There were 45 new cases reported, with the 14-day rolling average at 42.7 new cases in Melbourne. |
| NSW reported six new cases but five were returning travellers. The one locally-acquired case was linked to a cluster at Liverpool hospital. | NSW reported six new cases but five were returning travellers. The one locally-acquired case was linked to a cluster at Liverpool hospital. |
| Queensland’s border will re-open to people from the ACT from 25 September. Queensland had no new cases today. | Queensland’s border will re-open to people from the ACT from 25 September. Queensland had no new cases today. |
| Prime minister Scott Morrison announced that caps on overseas arrivals would be raised, but the increases of 1,500 per week would be staged over the coming weeks across the NSW, Queensland and WA. There were 24,000 Australians stuck overseas. | Prime minister Scott Morrison announced that caps on overseas arrivals would be raised, but the increases of 1,500 per week would be staged over the coming weeks across the NSW, Queensland and WA. There were 24,000 Australians stuck overseas. |
| Morrison said Australia was looking again at a trans-Tasman travel bubble, where New Zealanders could come into Australia without quarantine. | Morrison said Australia was looking again at a trans-Tasman travel bubble, where New Zealanders could come into Australia without quarantine. |
| Also out of national cabinet, Morrison said the federal government wanted to connect all state and territory contact tracing, creating one system. | Also out of national cabinet, Morrison said the federal government wanted to connect all state and territory contact tracing, creating one system. |
| Afternoon all and thanks to Naaman Zhou. We’ll recap the day shortly as there’s been plenty going on. | Afternoon all and thanks to Naaman Zhou. We’ll recap the day shortly as there’s been plenty going on. |
| But before that, a little more from WA premier Mark McGowan’s press conference from a few minutes ago. | But before that, a little more from WA premier Mark McGowan’s press conference from a few minutes ago. |
| McGowan said a third of the jobs created across the country in August had been in his state and he wanted to “continue on this trajectory” and keep the state’s economy moving. | McGowan said a third of the jobs created across the country in August had been in his state and he wanted to “continue on this trajectory” and keep the state’s economy moving. |
| But he said he had asked Neville Power, the chairman of the national Covid-19 commission board, to talk to some national companies that he said were still asking their WA staff to work from home. | But he said he had asked Neville Power, the chairman of the national Covid-19 commission board, to talk to some national companies that he said were still asking their WA staff to work from home. |
| I’ll be handing the blog over to Graham Readfearn now, who will take you through the rest of the day. | I’ll be handing the blog over to Graham Readfearn now, who will take you through the rest of the day. |
| McGowan is now addressing the lifting of arrivals caps, announced earlier today. | McGowan is now addressing the lifting of arrivals caps, announced earlier today. |
| He says that the federal government initially wanted the state to double its intake of returned Australians by 28 September, which he refused. | He says that the federal government initially wanted the state to double its intake of returned Australians by 28 September, which he refused. |
| He said that lifting the cap “overnight” would have been “reckless”. | He said that lifting the cap “overnight” would have been “reckless”. |
| WA has now agreed to a staggered system where they will gradually increase the number of arrivals, starting with 200 on 28 September, rising to 500 on 12 October. | WA has now agreed to a staggered system where they will gradually increase the number of arrivals, starting with 200 on 28 September, rising to 500 on 12 October. |
| “We have been asking for federal government support, given quarantine is a federal government responsibility under the constitution. However, the federal government is of the view that states need to continue to manage quarantine.” | “We have been asking for federal government support, given quarantine is a federal government responsibility under the constitution. However, the federal government is of the view that states need to continue to manage quarantine.” |
| McGowan says that WA may also need to delay some elective surgery across the state, as more medical staff are deployed to hotel quarantine. | McGowan says that WA may also need to delay some elective surgery across the state, as more medical staff are deployed to hotel quarantine. |
| “I’m glad the federal government agreed to provide more Australian Defence Force support and adjust the earlier decision.” | “I’m glad the federal government agreed to provide more Australian Defence Force support and adjust the earlier decision.” |
| He adds that WA has received 4031 international passengers so far, which he says is the second highest number of overseas arrivals of any state. | He adds that WA has received 4031 international passengers so far, which he says is the second highest number of overseas arrivals of any state. |
| The WA premier, Mark McGowan, is speaking now. | The WA premier, Mark McGowan, is speaking now. |
| He says that under eased restrictions, outdoor events and music festivals could go ahead, if they have approved safety plans. | He says that under eased restrictions, outdoor events and music festivals could go ahead, if they have approved safety plans. |
| “Events like the Wave Rock festival, Spring in the Valley, and suburban and regional shows can now go ahead with Covid safety plans”. | “Events like the Wave Rock festival, Spring in the Valley, and suburban and regional shows can now go ahead with Covid safety plans”. |
| Also in sport, Melbourne Storm player Christian Welch has said he is “incredibly remorseful” for a Covid-19 rule breach. | Also in sport, Melbourne Storm player Christian Welch has said he is “incredibly remorseful” for a Covid-19 rule breach. |
| Welch is in isolation and is awaiting the results of a Covid-19 test after he invited an unregistered guest to his room overnight on the Sunshine Coast, AAP reports. The prop will now miss the Storm’s Saturday night match against the Wests Tigers. | Welch is in isolation and is awaiting the results of a Covid-19 test after he invited an unregistered guest to his room overnight on the Sunshine Coast, AAP reports. The prop will now miss the Storm’s Saturday night match against the Wests Tigers. |
| From midnight, Melbourne players and staff were free of strict quarantine “bubble” conditions, given it had been two weeks since they’d played a team from NSW. | From midnight, Melbourne players and staff were free of strict quarantine “bubble” conditions, given it had been two weeks since they’d played a team from NSW. |
| However it’s believed the woman, who was stopped by police as she departed, had arrived before that deadline while she wasn’t on registered guest list. | However it’s believed the woman, who was stopped by police as she departed, had arrived before that deadline while she wasn’t on registered guest list. |
| “I’m incredibly remorseful and sorry for my actions,” Welch said in a statement. “I love this game and everything it has given me and I’m shattered that I have let everyone down. | “I’m incredibly remorseful and sorry for my actions,” Welch said in a statement. “I love this game and everything it has given me and I’m shattered that I have let everyone down. |
| “Calling my parents to let them know about this was the worst phone call I’ve ever made. I know it’s a privilege to play in the NRL and I want to apologise to all for any damage I have caused.” | “Calling my parents to let them know about this was the worst phone call I’ve ever made. I know it’s a privilege to play in the NRL and I want to apologise to all for any damage I have caused.” |
| The Storm briefed the NRL Integrity Unit and Queensland government early on Friday once notified of the breach, which is their first since relocating from Melbourne to the Sunshine Coast in July. | The Storm briefed the NRL Integrity Unit and Queensland government early on Friday once notified of the breach, which is their first since relocating from Melbourne to the Sunshine Coast in July. |
| Chief executive Dave Donaghy said he spoke to Queensland’s chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young on Friday who assured him there was very low risk of Covid-19 transmission among the community. | Chief executive Dave Donaghy said he spoke to Queensland’s chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young on Friday who assured him there was very low risk of Covid-19 transmission among the community. |
| The club expects the results of Welch’s test in 24 hours. | The club expects the results of Welch’s test in 24 hours. |
| “We’re confident the test won’t come back anything other than negative but it has to go through a process,” Donaghy said. | “We’re confident the test won’t come back anything other than negative but it has to go through a process,” Donaghy said. |
| Storm and Welch will now await the findings of the NRL Integrity Unit, with the 26-year-old facing a potential fine. | Storm and Welch will now await the findings of the NRL Integrity Unit, with the 26-year-old facing a potential fine. |