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Coronavirus Australia live update: Victoria hotel quarantine inquiry finds private security decision influenced by police preference Coronavirus Australia live update: Victoria hotel quarantine inquiry finds private security decision influenced by police preference
(30 minutes later)
Melbourne’s stage four restrictions ease as Victoria records three deaths and five new Covid cases and NSW reports zero. Follow liveMelbourne’s stage four restrictions ease as Victoria records three deaths and five new Covid cases and NSW reports zero. Follow live
This should make for very interesting reading
In light of Shane Patton’s ‘rare discretion’ comments, this report from Josh Taylor on who has been getting fined is worth taking a look at:
As the Victorian government ramps up penalties to $5,000 for breaching Covid-19 gathering rules, statistics show young people received almost half of all fines dished out during the state’s first wave, while the South Sudanese and Aboriginal communities received an outsize number of fines.
Data released by the Crime Statistics Agency last week shows there were 6,062 breaches of Covid-19 rules associated with 5,474 people during the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic in Victoria.
The average age was 29.5 years, and just one in four of those fined were women. Approximately 42% of those were under the age of 24.
According to the data provided to community legal centres, of the over 6,000 recorded breaches, there were just 67 warning notices issued. Only six businesses were issued with fines.
Throughout the pandemic, Victoria police has been releasing daily updates on the number of fines worth $1,652 issued the previous day, highlighting some of the most flagrant breaches, which some refer to as the “covidiots” of the day. But it doesn’t give a full picture of how police are fining people for Covid-19 public health order breaches.
The testing rates in NSW have dropped to levels which have authorities worried – particularly as the clock ticks down on the incubation period for any cases associated with a taxi driver who worked while (unknowingly, it would seem) infectious with Covid.
John McVeigh’s resignation from Groom will spark the third by-election in his political career. He quit Toowoomba Regional Council to run for the Queensland state parliament and then quit state parliament to run for federal parliament.
His seat though, is the safest government seat in the country (against Labor) so it won’t cause much of a wave.
Victoria police commissioner Shane Patton says police will only use discretion when handing out the $5,000 fines for breaking social distancing restrictions in very rare cases.
What that means is, if you are caught breaking the restrictions, more likely than not, you will receive the record fine.
On that supreme court challenge to the Melbourne (now lifted) curfew, AAP has filed a report:On that supreme court challenge to the Melbourne (now lifted) curfew, AAP has filed a report:
Just an update on the upcoming Queensland election.Just an update on the upcoming Queensland election.
All sides, at this stage, seem to be pointing to a collapse of the One Nation vote – with the LNP the main beneficiary. The opposition has seen its primary vote increase in recent polls, and that looks like playing out on the actual poll day.All sides, at this stage, seem to be pointing to a collapse of the One Nation vote – with the LNP the main beneficiary. The opposition has seen its primary vote increase in recent polls, and that looks like playing out on the actual poll day.
That is a problem for Labor – it gets enough of a slice of One Nation preferences in north Queensland to get it across the line in some key seats – particularly in Townsville, so its campaign strategists are worried.That is a problem for Labor – it gets enough of a slice of One Nation preferences in north Queensland to get it across the line in some key seats – particularly in Townsville, so its campaign strategists are worried.
The LNP needs nine seats to win government – but that is not out of question – Queensland can swing hard. And let’s not forget about the possibility of minority government.The LNP needs nine seats to win government – but that is not out of question – Queensland can swing hard. And let’s not forget about the possibility of minority government.
Labor only needs to lose two seats to lose government – and Townsville is looking increasingly shaky. Pumicestone is a potential pick up, but it is not over-egging to say the Palaszczuk government is very nervous about the coming election.Labor only needs to lose two seats to lose government – and Townsville is looking increasingly shaky. Pumicestone is a potential pick up, but it is not over-egging to say the Palaszczuk government is very nervous about the coming election.
Queensland heads to the polls on 31 October.Queensland heads to the polls on 31 October.
The supreme court challenge to the Melbourne curfew will be going ahead.The supreme court challenge to the Melbourne curfew will be going ahead.
Liberal party candidate hopeful, Michelle Loielo says despite the curfew having been lifted, she wants a ruling on whether or not it was a breach of her human rights.Liberal party candidate hopeful, Michelle Loielo says despite the curfew having been lifted, she wants a ruling on whether or not it was a breach of her human rights.
With the Victorian curfew no longer in place, Victoria police have said they will be increasing patrols to ensure people are not breaking the remaining restrictions.With the Victorian curfew no longer in place, Victoria police have said they will be increasing patrols to ensure people are not breaking the remaining restrictions.
Josh Taylor will have a story on the Victorian hotel quarantine inquiry very soon.Josh Taylor will have a story on the Victorian hotel quarantine inquiry very soon.
In the meantime, AAP has put together this report:In the meantime, AAP has put together this report:
The decision to use private security in Victoria’s botched hotel quarantine program was not a decision at all, the counsel assisting the Victorian hotel quarantine inquiry has said in closing submissions, but Victoria police’s strong preference played a role in the “creeping assumption” to use private security.The decision to use private security in Victoria’s botched hotel quarantine program was not a decision at all, the counsel assisting the Victorian hotel quarantine inquiry has said in closing submissions, but Victoria police’s strong preference played a role in the “creeping assumption” to use private security.
Counsel assisting Rachel Ellyard told the inquiry on Monday that the evidence before the inquiry points to no one person ultimately making the decision to use private security guards on 27 March, when the program was announced.Counsel assisting Rachel Ellyard told the inquiry on Monday that the evidence before the inquiry points to no one person ultimately making the decision to use private security guards on 27 March, when the program was announced.
The inquiry has heard on that date, in meetings among senior public servants in Victoria, including emergency management commissioner, Andrew Crisp, and then Victoria police commissioner Graham Ashton, a “creeping assumption” emerged that private security would be used to guard hotels, not police.The inquiry has heard on that date, in meetings among senior public servants in Victoria, including emergency management commissioner, Andrew Crisp, and then Victoria police commissioner Graham Ashton, a “creeping assumption” emerged that private security would be used to guard hotels, not police.
Ellyard said because there was no decision, there was no consideration of whether it was appropriate or not, so it was a failure in decision making.Ellyard said because there was no decision, there was no consideration of whether it was appropriate or not, so it was a failure in decision making.
She said although Victoria police strongly denies its preference influencing the decision, the “consensus was influenced and strongly influenced we would say, by everyone at that meeting understanding what Victoria police’s preference was.She said although Victoria police strongly denies its preference influencing the decision, the “consensus was influenced and strongly influenced we would say, by everyone at that meeting understanding what Victoria police’s preference was.
Labor’s Catherine King has responded to Michael McCormack’s comments that paying 10 times as much as the value for a piece of land not needed for another 30 years would one day be seen as “a bargain” (McCormack was speaking to Sydney radio 2GB).
From King’s statement:
Patrick Terminals has launched a bid to terminate maritime union strikes across Australia blamed for delays at Sydney’s Port Botany.
After the Maritime Union of Australia notified the stevedores it intended to take a 24-hour strike at Port Botany on Friday, the company hit back with an application to the Fair Work Commission to terminate its industrial action.
Earlier, the industrial relations minister, Christian Porter, signalled the federal government would probably intervene on the company’s side.
Patrick’s CEO, Michael Jovicic, said the MUA industrial action in pursuit of 6% annual pay rises was inflicting serious harm on the business, customers, importers, exporters and shipping lines. He said:
This is interesting.
NSW Health has released its official update – testing numbers are also down in New South Wales:
This is the second day in a row that NSW has had no new cases, either locally acquired or in hotel quarantine.
There were 6,353 tests reported in the 24-hour reporting period, compared with 12,333 in the previous 24 hours.
NSW Health thanks the community for all they have done towards reducing Covid-19 numbers and continues to ask people to remain vigilant and come forward for testing immediately if symptoms like a runny nose, scratchy throat, cough or fever appear.
This is particularly important with the start of school holidays and increased movement of people around the state.
Locations linked to known cases, advice on testing and isolation, and areas identified for increased testing can be found here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/latest-news-and-updates.
NSW Health is treating 63 Covid-19 cases, including three in intensive care, none of whom are being ventilated. Eighty-seven per cent of cases being treated by NSW Health are in non-acute, out-of-hospital care.
A controversial welfare program that has seen single mothers forced to take their children to activities such as playgroup and StoryTime at the library to keep their benefits has been extended for three years.The employment minister, Michaelia Cash, confirmed on Monday the government had signed new contracts with ParentsNext providers, which are a mix of not-for-profits and private companies.Guardian Australia reported extensively on problems with the scheme in 2019, which included many mothers having their benefits suspended, often unfairly; providers failing to inform sick participants they were exempt from the scheme; and inadequate support for domestic violence survivors.Before the 2019 election, the government announced changes to the scheme, labelled “demeaning” by critics, but has remained committed to it.Cash said on Monday the program would help people get into assisted “eligible parents with young children to plan their next steps towards study or work”. It was an part of “getting people back into work and rebuilding our economy from the impact of Covid-19”.She also said the extension of the contracts would “provide certainty to the sector”.ParentsNext is compulsory for some people who receive parenting payments and have children between six months and under six years old. The majority are single mothers.
Aside from reports participants have faced requirements such as taking their children to playgroup, others have claimed they have been pushed into unsuitable education courses just to keep their welfare benefits.
Then we get to the statements the prime minister has made criticising Victoria’s contact tracing system.
Q: Would you say our contact tracing system is just as good as New South Wales?
Daniel Andrews:
Q: Do you get frustrated when the prime minister seems to undermine Victoria’s system and continually [say that].
Andrews:
Q: Would you consider giving up payroll tax in return for something like an increase in the GST?
Daniel Andrews:
Q: You said you held Jenny Mikakos accountable for a scheme which sparked the second wave which called more than 750 people. Is that a low standard to still have confidence in a minister?
Daniel Andrews:
Q: I’m asking about confidence ...
Andrews:
Q: What was the redeeming feature as to why you still had confidence in the minister?
Andrews:
Q: Have you spoken to Jenny Mikakos?
Andrews:
Q: If you had such confidence, how come that hasn’t warranted a phone call?
Andrews:
Q: Do you plan to ramp up use of the Covidsafe app?
Daniel Andrews:
Daniel Andrews says he “hasn’t turned [his] mind” to when he will release the findings from the Victorian hotel quarantine inquiry – whether it will be on the day the government receives it, or shortly after.
But it will be released.
Andrews doesn’t know how much the inquiry has cost.