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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 |
| Amy told you earlier today that the Victorian government has announced an $11m funding boost to food relief. | |
| The federal social services minister, Anne Ruston, has announced the commonwealth will also contribute $4.22m to various charities that provide emergency relief. | |
| Ruston said: | |
| Neither has mentioned it specifically, but the timing of the announcements are hardly subtle. The coronavirus supplement added to welfare benefits during the pandemic will be cut by $300 a fortnight from tomorrow. | |
| Thanks Calla. Hello everyone, Luke Henriques-Gomes here. I’ll be with you into the evening. | |
| I am going to hand over to Luke Henriques-Gomes, who will take you through the rest of the afternoon and evening. | |
| Western Australia’s police commissioner, Chris Dawson, is talking to reporters in Perth about the conviction over the Claremont serial killings. | |
| Dawson said: | |
| He adds: | |
| Josh Taylor has filed an updated report on the hearings of Victoria’s hotel quarantine inquiry today. | |
| As reported earlier, the health minister Jenny Mikakos told the inquiry that she was not involved in the decision to use private security contractors to enforce hotel quarantine in Melbourne, because it was a “multi-agency response”. | |
| The ACTU president, Michelle O’Neil, has commented on the federal court decision against Qantas, which ruled the airline had to pass the full $1,500 per fortnight subsidy on to workers. | The ACTU president, Michelle O’Neil, has commented on the federal court decision against Qantas, which ruled the airline had to pass the full $1,500 per fortnight subsidy on to workers. |
| She said: | She said: |
| Hamilton said it was for China to repair the Australian-Chinese relationship, and defended the Australian government’s position, saying: | Hamilton said it was for China to repair the Australian-Chinese relationship, and defended the Australian government’s position, saying: |
| Hamilton said the Chinese Communist party had been carrying out “influence operations and interfering in Australian politics and institutions, like universities”. | Hamilton said the Chinese Communist party had been carrying out “influence operations and interfering in Australian politics and institutions, like universities”. |
| Prof Clive Hamilton, one of two Australian academics who has been publicly banned from travelling to China, has told ABC24 that he had no prior notice of the travel ban but decided some years ago that it was too dangerous for him to go there. | Prof Clive Hamilton, one of two Australian academics who has been publicly banned from travelling to China, has told ABC24 that he had no prior notice of the travel ban but decided some years ago that it was too dangerous for him to go there. |
| Hamilton and his colleague Alex Joske, who works at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, were named in the Global Times today. | Hamilton and his colleague Alex Joske, who works at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, were named in the Global Times today. |
| Hamilton told the ABC: | Hamilton told the ABC: |
| Hamilton, wearing a hat, said it was “pretty clear” the ban was in retaliation for the Australian government excluding two Chinese academics. | Hamilton, wearing a hat, said it was “pretty clear” the ban was in retaliation for the Australian government excluding two Chinese academics. |
| There are actually just 26,800 Australians stranded overseas who have registered with the government their wish to return home but are unable to do so. | There are actually just 26,800 Australians stranded overseas who have registered with the government their wish to return home but are unable to do so. |
| Frances Adamson, secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, appeared at the Senate select committee on Covid-19 on Thursday afternoon and corrected the figure of 35,700 that Caroline Millar, deputy secretary of national security and international policy within the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, had told the committee earlier, as we reported. | Frances Adamson, secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, appeared at the Senate select committee on Covid-19 on Thursday afternoon and corrected the figure of 35,700 that Caroline Millar, deputy secretary of national security and international policy within the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, had told the committee earlier, as we reported. |
| Adamson said 35,700 is of how many Australians had registered with Dfat that they are overseas, but only 26,800 of those also want to come home but are unable to. | Adamson said 35,700 is of how many Australians had registered with Dfat that they are overseas, but only 26,800 of those also want to come home but are unable to. |
| Lee Rimmer, the sister of Jane Rimmer, murdered by Bradley Robert Edwards, has spoken to the media in Perth about Edwards’s conviction today for the murder of her sister and of Ciara Glennon in the late 1990s. | Lee Rimmer, the sister of Jane Rimmer, murdered by Bradley Robert Edwards, has spoken to the media in Perth about Edwards’s conviction today for the murder of her sister and of Ciara Glennon in the late 1990s. |
| She told reporters: | She told reporters: |
| Asked what the verdict means, she said: | Asked what the verdict means, she said: |
| Edwards was found not guilty of the murder of Sarah Spiers, whose body has never been found. Western Australian premier Mark McGowans made a plea for information about that to Edwards today. | Edwards was found not guilty of the murder of Sarah Spiers, whose body has never been found. Western Australian premier Mark McGowans made a plea for information about that to Edwards today. |
| The former WA police commissioner Karl O’Callaghan reiterated that plea. He told ABC news: | The former WA police commissioner Karl O’Callaghan reiterated that plea. He told ABC news: |
| Calla Wahlquist is on deck to take you through the rest of the afternoon. I am sending her all the virtual giant cups of tea. | Calla Wahlquist is on deck to take you through the rest of the afternoon. I am sending her all the virtual giant cups of tea. |
| Thank you so much for joining me once again. I’ll be back tomorrow - it is a big day, so make sure you rest up. Take care of you. Ax | Thank you so much for joining me once again. I’ll be back tomorrow - it is a big day, so make sure you rest up. Take care of you. Ax |
| For those wondering where most Australians are currently stranded: | For those wondering where most Australians are currently stranded: |
| 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. | 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? | Q: What was your reaction to the federal court’s decision that a minister may have acted criminally? |
| Dutton: | Dutton: |
| Q: Is the government concerned about the rise in extremists? Do you have any plans to describe any of those groups as terrorists? | 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: | Peter Dutton: |
| Q: Is the government concerned by how much Asio is linking to rightwing terrorism? | Q: Is the government concerned by how much Asio is linking to rightwing terrorism? |
| Dutton: | 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”. | 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. | 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: | Dutton has things to say, though: |
| Further to that report, Alex Joske has commented: | Further to that report, Alex Joske has commented: |
| Reuters is reporting China has “banned two ‘anti-China’ Australian scholars from entering the country”. | 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. | That’s according to a Global Times newspaper report on Thursday citing unnamed sources. |
| The Reuters report says: | 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. | 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 | 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. | 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 | 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 | 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. | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 “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) | 16 active cases are currently linked to Footscray hospital (total cases: 19) |
| 10 active cases are currently linked to Alfred hospital (total cases: 11) | 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. |