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| Coronavirus live updates Australia: NSW eases restrictions as Victoria records 12 new Covid cases and two deaths | Coronavirus live updates Australia: NSW eases restrictions as Victoria records 12 new Covid cases and two deaths |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Victorian health minister Jenny Mikakos has told the hotel inquiry she had no role in the hiring of private security. Follow live | Victorian health minister Jenny Mikakos has told the hotel inquiry she had no role in the hiring of private security. Follow live |
| After spending a good couple of minutes, unprompted, to talk about Steven Miles’s comments this morning, Peter Dutton dedicates less than 30 seconds to discuss a federal court judge all but accusing a minister of the crown of breaking the law. | |
| Q: What was your reaction to the Federal Court’s decision that a minister may have acted criminally? | |
| Dutton: | |
| Q: Is the government concerned about the rise in extremists, do you have any plans to describe any of those groups as terrorists? | |
| Peter Dutton: | |
| Q: Is the government concerned by how much Asio is linking to rightwing terrorism? | |
| Dutton: | |
| Peter Dutton has used his Austrac press conference to return fire at the Queensland deputy premier, Steven Miles, who this morning accused Treasurer Josh Frydenberg of “lying”. | |
| That’s all over the Australian Defence Force pulling troops off the Queensland border to redeploy them elsewhere. Frydenberg said Queensland didn’t ask for additional personnel; Miles said Queensland had letters asking for an extension and released them to the media, and that it was time for federal government MPs to stop using the Queensland border controls as an attack in the lead up to the election. | |
| Dutton has things to say, though: | |
| Further to that report, Alex Joske has commented: | |
| Reuters is reporting China has “banned two ‘anti-China’ Australian scholars from entering the country”. | |
| That’s according to a Global Times newspaper report on Thursday citing unnamed sources. | |
| The Reuters report says: | |
| The Global Times, published by the ruling Chinese Communist Party’s official People’s Daily newspaper, identified the scholars on its Twitter account as Clive Hamilton and Alex Joske. It did not elaborate on why these two scholars were banned from entering China. | |
| And that includes a breakdown of the current cases and clusters: | And that includes a breakdown of the current cases and clusters: |
| In Victoria at the current time: | In Victoria at the current time: |
| 4,267 cases may indicate community transmission – a decrease of one since yesterday | |
| 532 cases are currently active in Victoria | 532 cases are currently active in Victoria |
| 67 cases of coronavirus are in hospital, including eight in intensive care | 67 cases of coronavirus are in hospital, including eight in intensive care |
| 18,738 people have recovered from the virus | 18,738 people have recovered from the virus |
| A total of 2,622,822 test results have been received, which is an increase of 13,337 since yesterday. | |
| Of the 532 current active cases in Victoria: | Of the 532 current active cases in Victoria: |
| 517 are in metropolitan Melbourne under the first step of our roadmap | |
| 10 are in regional local government areas under the third step of our roadmap | |
| 5 are either unknown or subject to further investigation | 5 are either unknown or subject to further investigation |
| Colac Otway has two active cases, Greater Geelong and Greater Bendigo have one active case and Ballarat has no active cases. | |
| Of the total cases: | Of the total cases: |
| 18,713 cases are from metropolitan Melbourne, while 1,192 are from regional Victoria | |
| Total cases include 9586 men and 10,506 women | Total cases include 9586 men and 10,506 women |
| Total number of healthcare workers: 3,514; active cases: 83 | |
| There are 274 active cases relating to aged care facilities | There are 274 active cases relating to aged care facilities |
| Active aged care outbreaks with the highest cumulative case numbers are as follows: | Active aged care outbreaks with the highest cumulative case numbers are as follows: |
| 256 cases have been linked to BaptCare Wyndham Lodge Community in Werribee | 256 cases have been linked to BaptCare Wyndham Lodge Community in Werribee |
| 219 cases have been linked to Epping Gardens Aged Care in Epping | 219 cases have been linked to Epping Gardens Aged Care in Epping |
| 140 cases have been linked to Kirkbrae Presbyterian Homes in Kilsyth | 140 cases have been linked to Kirkbrae Presbyterian Homes in Kilsyth |
| 131 cases have been linked to BlueCross Ruckers Hill Aged Care Facility in Northcote | 131 cases have been linked to BlueCross Ruckers Hill Aged Care Facility in Northcote |
| 127 cases have been linked to Twin Parks Aged Care in Reservoir | 127 cases have been linked to Twin Parks Aged Care in Reservoir |
| 124 cases have been linked to Cumberland Manor Aged Care Facility in Sunshine North | 124 cases have been linked to Cumberland Manor Aged Care Facility in Sunshine North |
| 122 cases have been linked to Japara Goonawarra Aged Care Facility in Sunbury | 122 cases have been linked to Japara Goonawarra Aged Care Facility in Sunbury |
| 121 cases have been linked to Estia Aged Care Facility in Heidelberg | 121 cases have been linked to Estia Aged Care Facility in Heidelberg |
| 108 cases have been linked to Glendale Aged Care Facility in Werribee | 108 cases have been linked to Glendale Aged Care Facility in Werribee |
| 108 cases have been linked to Kalyna Aged Care Facility in Delahey | 108 cases have been linked to Kalyna Aged Care Facility in Delahey |
| In Victoria there are currently four active cases in residential disability accommodation: | In Victoria there are currently four active cases in residential disability accommodation: |
| Total resident cases: 0; total Staff cases: 4 | |
| Active cases in NDIS homes: 3 (0 residents) | Active cases in NDIS homes: 3 (0 residents) |
| Active cases in “transfer” homes (state regulated/funded): 1 (0 residents) | |
| Active cases in state government delivered and funded homes: 0 | Active cases in state government delivered and funded homes: 0 |
| Non-aged care outbreaks with the highest number of active cases include: | Non-aged care outbreaks with the highest number of active cases include: |
| 18 active cases are currently linked to the Casey community outbreak (total cases: 44) | 18 active cases are currently linked to the Casey community outbreak (total cases: 44) |
| 16 active cases are currently linked to Footscray hospital (total cases: 19) | |
| 10 active cases are currently linked to Alfred hospital (total cases: 11) | |
| Victoria Health has put out its official update: | Victoria Health has put out its official update: |
| Victoria has recorded 12 new cases of coronavirus since yesterday, with the total number of cases now at 20,105. | Victoria has recorded 12 new cases of coronavirus since yesterday, with the total number of cases now at 20,105. |
| The overall total has increased by five, due to seven cases being reclassified. | The overall total has increased by five, due to seven cases being reclassified. |
| Within Victoria, eight of the new cases are linked to outbreaks or complex cases and four are under investigation. | Within Victoria, eight of the new cases are linked to outbreaks or complex cases and four are under investigation. |
| Of today’s eight cases linked to outbreaks, five are linked to aged care (Estia Keilor, Edenvale Manor and Princeton View), one is linked to an existing outbreak (Casey community) and two are linked to complex cases which remain under investigation. | Of today’s eight cases linked to outbreaks, five are linked to aged care (Estia Keilor, Edenvale Manor and Princeton View), one is linked to an existing outbreak (Casey community) and two are linked to complex cases which remain under investigation. |
| Of today’s 12 new cases, there are two cases in Brimbank and Moonee Valley and single cases in Casey, Hume, Melton, Monash and Wyndham. Three cases are subject to further investigation. | Of today’s 12 new cases, there are two cases in Brimbank and Moonee Valley and single cases in Casey, Hume, Melton, Monash and Wyndham. Three cases are subject to further investigation. |
| There have been two new deaths from Covid-19 reported since yesterday – two women aged in their 80s. Both of those deaths are linked to known aged care facility outbreaks. | There have been two new deaths from Covid-19 reported since yesterday – two women aged in their 80s. Both of those deaths are linked to known aged care facility outbreaks. |
| To date, 773 people have died from coronavirus in Victoria. | To date, 773 people have died from coronavirus in Victoria. |
| The average number of cases diagnosed in the last 14 days for metropolitan Melbourne is 26.7 and regional Victoria is 1.1. The rolling daily average case number is calculated by averaging out the number of new cases over the past 14 days. | The average number of cases diagnosed in the last 14 days for metropolitan Melbourne is 26.7 and regional Victoria is 1.1. The rolling daily average case number is calculated by averaging out the number of new cases over the past 14 days. |
| The total number of cases from an unknown source in the last 14 days is 37 for metropolitan Melbourne and zero for regional Victoria. The 14-day period for the source of acquisition data ends 48 hours earlier than the 14-day period used to calculate the new case average, due to the time required to fully investigate a case and assign its mode of acquisition. | The total number of cases from an unknown source in the last 14 days is 37 for metropolitan Melbourne and zero for regional Victoria. The 14-day period for the source of acquisition data ends 48 hours earlier than the 14-day period used to calculate the new case average, due to the time required to fully investigate a case and assign its mode of acquisition. |
| Jennifer Westacott, the chief executive of the Business Council of Australia, has welcomed the government’s changes to insolvency laws for businesses with less than $1m in liabilities (which moves us closer to the US style of dealing with insolvencies). | Jennifer Westacott, the chief executive of the Business Council of Australia, has welcomed the government’s changes to insolvency laws for businesses with less than $1m in liabilities (which moves us closer to the US style of dealing with insolvencies). |
| She said: | She said: |
| There are now 35,700 Australians stranded overseas who have registered their wish to come home but are unable to do so. | There are now 35,700 Australians stranded overseas who have registered their wish to come home but are unable to do so. |
| Caroline Millar, deputy secretary of national security and international policy within the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, revealed the new figure - which is current as of 23 September - at a Senate select committee on Covid-19 hearing on Thursday. | Caroline Millar, deputy secretary of national security and international policy within the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, revealed the new figure - which is current as of 23 September - at a Senate select committee on Covid-19 hearing on Thursday. |
| Earlier, the committee heard from Australians stranded overseas by the cap on arrivals, a policy designed to ease pressure on hotel quarantine, but which has limited some flights into Australia to carrying as few as 30 passengers. | Earlier, the committee heard from Australians stranded overseas by the cap on arrivals, a policy designed to ease pressure on hotel quarantine, but which has limited some flights into Australia to carrying as few as 30 passengers. |
| Meanwhile ... | Meanwhile ... |
| Could everyone just take a moment to read Paul’s post there – and take it in? | Could everyone just take a moment to read Paul’s post there – and take it in? |
| Remember how Sally McManus took over the Australian Council of Trade Unions and said, in answer to a question, that “I believe in the rule of law when the law is fair and the law is right, but when it’s unjust I don’t think there’s a problem with breaking it”? | Remember how Sally McManus took over the Australian Council of Trade Unions and said, in answer to a question, that “I believe in the rule of law when the law is fair and the law is right, but when it’s unjust I don’t think there’s a problem with breaking it”? |
| McManus was talking about strike action. | McManus was talking about strike action. |
| Government MPs lost their collective minds about how there was no excuse for breaking the law, and we all must follow the law of the land. | Government MPs lost their collective minds about how there was no excuse for breaking the law, and we all must follow the law of the land. |
| Now we have the ATTORNEY GENERAL, the first law officer of the land, shrugging at a federal court judge – who interprets and rules on the law that they he is meant to uphold – and says: | Now we have the ATTORNEY GENERAL, the first law officer of the land, shrugging at a federal court judge – who interprets and rules on the law that they he is meant to uphold – and says: |
| ... in response to that judge saying that “in the absence of explanation, the minister has engaged in conduct which can only be described as criminal” about a minister of the Crown. | ... in response to that judge saying that “in the absence of explanation, the minister has engaged in conduct which can only be described as criminal” about a minister of the Crown. |
| Head. Desk. Despair. Repeat. | Head. Desk. Despair. Repeat. |
| At a doorstop earlier today, attorney general Christian Porter responded to the federal court’s finding that acting immigration minister Alan Tudge unlawfully deprived an asylum seeker of his liberty. | At a doorstop earlier today, attorney general Christian Porter responded to the federal court’s finding that acting immigration minister Alan Tudge unlawfully deprived an asylum seeker of his liberty. |
| In a scathing judgment, the court said that “in the absence of explanation, the minister has engaged in conduct which can only be described as criminal” – but Tudge denies wrongdoing. | In a scathing judgment, the court said that “in the absence of explanation, the minister has engaged in conduct which can only be described as criminal” – but Tudge denies wrongdoing. |
| Porter said: | Porter said: |
| So the nation’s first law officer says all is fair if the minister thinks he’s keeping Australians safe? That’s a yikes from me. | So the nation’s first law officer says all is fair if the minister thinks he’s keeping Australians safe? That’s a yikes from me. |
| Please check the expiry date: | Please check the expiry date: |
| We have spoken a little about the conservative conference Cpac and its speakers on this blog before, so this is a very interesting piece. | We have spoken a little about the conservative conference Cpac and its speakers on this blog before, so this is a very interesting piece. |
| It continues: | It continues: |
| Q: Isn’t it worse to finance counter-terrorism than be texting while driving? You can say it’s a different type of offence. You know it’s worse to finance child exploitation than text while driving, surely? | Q: Isn’t it worse to finance counter-terrorism than be texting while driving? You can say it’s a different type of offence. You know it’s worse to finance child exploitation than text while driving, surely? |
| Porter: | Porter: |
| The transcript of attorney general Christian Porter’s press conference on the Westpac penalty has landed, and I am grateful, as it includes this exchange, which I missed the first time round (I was watching another press conference): | The transcript of attorney general Christian Porter’s press conference on the Westpac penalty has landed, and I am grateful, as it includes this exchange, which I missed the first time round (I was watching another press conference): |
| Q: Why should the board police itself? There’s no penalties, no deterrent for any individual who can facilitate these crimes? | Q: Why should the board police itself? There’s no penalties, no deterrent for any individual who can facilitate these crimes? |
| Porter: Well that’s a question of law but you’re now talking about no penalties, whilst I’ve just announced to you the single biggest penalty in Australia’s corporate history, $1.3 billion. | Porter: Well that’s a question of law but you’re now talking about no penalties, whilst I’ve just announced to you the single biggest penalty in Australia’s corporate history, $1.3 billion. |
| Q: But that is $56.52c per breach - around 10c in the dollar for the amount of money that was facilitated offshore? | Q: But that is $56.52c per breach - around 10c in the dollar for the amount of money that was facilitated offshore? |
| Porter: Is the suggestion that this penalty is too low? | Porter: Is the suggestion that this penalty is too low? |
| Q: Well, I get a $1,000 fine if I get pinged with my cell phone while driving. This is $56; 52c if I’m potentially financing terrorism. How does that stack up? | Q: Well, I get a $1,000 fine if I get pinged with my cell phone while driving. This is $56; 52c if I’m potentially financing terrorism. How does that stack up? |
| Porter: | Porter: |
| Well that’s not the way in which courts view the accumulation of these matters, so there were rules around the accumulation and concurrency of penalties. My view in this was that the original quantums that were being talked about were far too low, but that $1.3 billion represents an appropriate penalty in all of the circumstances. But I can say that simply getting your cell phone and doing the calculation of 23 million breaches divided by the $1.3 billion is not how courts treat these matters as a matter of law – it’s just not, it’s not. | Well that’s not the way in which courts view the accumulation of these matters, so there were rules around the accumulation and concurrency of penalties. My view in this was that the original quantums that were being talked about were far too low, but that $1.3 billion represents an appropriate penalty in all of the circumstances. But I can say that simply getting your cell phone and doing the calculation of 23 million breaches divided by the $1.3 billion is not how courts treat these matters as a matter of law – it’s just not, it’s not. |
| Q: But how does that meet expectations? I mean it’s, sure the penalty should be more for more offences rather than less for more offences? | Q: But how does that meet expectations? I mean it’s, sure the penalty should be more for more offences rather than less for more offences? |
| Porter: Well they are different types of offences. | Porter: Well they are different types of offences. |
| The Australian Council of Social Service’s chief executive, Cassandra Goldie, has spoken again about what the cut to the unemployment subsidy will mean, when it comes in tomorrow. | The Australian Council of Social Service’s chief executive, Cassandra Goldie, has spoken again about what the cut to the unemployment subsidy will mean, when it comes in tomorrow. |
| From tomorrow, 2 million Australians face losing $300 a fortnight from their already below-the-poverty-level payment of $1,100 a fortnight. That will impact 1 million children. | From tomorrow, 2 million Australians face losing $300 a fortnight from their already below-the-poverty-level payment of $1,100 a fortnight. That will impact 1 million children. |
| Dr Goldie said: | Dr Goldie said: |