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Coronavirus Australia live update: Victoria reports four deaths and 13 new Covid cases as NSW records four Coronavirus Australia live update: Victoria reports four deaths and 13 new Covid cases as NSW records four
(32 minutes later)
NSW records no new locally acquired cases for fifth day as pressure mounts over border closures and budget speculation intensifies. Follow all today’s updatesNSW records no new locally acquired cases for fifth day as pressure mounts over border closures and budget speculation intensifies. Follow all today’s updates
From my colleagues Christopher Knaus and Michael McGowan.
The government is hiding the self-declared conflicts of interest of six departmental and contracted staff who worked in the unit responsible for the $30m Leppington Triangle purchase scandal.
Read the full story here:
And the federal Nationals leader, Michael McCormack, addressed the Narrabri gas project at a press conference earlier today.
The issue is of some sensitivity because the National Farmers Federation has urged the government to be cautious with a gas-led recovery because water quality is their number one concern.
But McCormack saw all upside:
McCormack said concerns will “all be addressed” and the Nationals would ensure if farmers’ use of land is impacted “there is compensation for that”.
In environment news you may have missed earlier, the controversial coal seam gas development at Narrabri has been approved by the NSW planning commission.
The project has been approved but with 134 stringent conditions, and some elements of the proposal, including the construction of a gas-fired power station at Leewood, were knocked back.
Adam Morton and Lisa Cox have the full story here:
In aviation news, the regional airline Rex has announced it will start flights between capital cities in 2021, as a competitor to Qantas and Virgin.In aviation news, the regional airline Rex has announced it will start flights between capital cities in 2021, as a competitor to Qantas and Virgin.
Rex has signed letters of intent to lease six Boeing 737 planes, which will fly between Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, AAP reports.Rex has signed letters of intent to lease six Boeing 737 planes, which will fly between Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, AAP reports.
The airline’s deputy chairman, John Sharp, said three of the six 737s would fly in March when the airline started services between Sydney and Melbourne.The airline’s deputy chairman, John Sharp, said three of the six 737s would fly in March when the airline started services between Sydney and Melbourne.
Rex aims to have 10 of the planes by the end of 2021.Rex aims to have 10 of the planes by the end of 2021.
Sharp said Rex hoped to gain regulatory approval by December and ticket sales would follow. Rex shares were higher by 3.56% as of 3.30pm today on the back of the announcement.Sharp said Rex hoped to gain regulatory approval by December and ticket sales would follow. Rex shares were higher by 3.56% as of 3.30pm today on the back of the announcement.
Hi all, it is Naaman Zhou here. Thanks as always to Amy Remeikis for her blog captaining today.Hi all, it is Naaman Zhou here. Thanks as always to Amy Remeikis for her blog captaining today.
Pokies profits dropped sharply during the first wave of the pandemic, but are still in the billions, according to new figures released today and reported by AAP.Pokies profits dropped sharply during the first wave of the pandemic, but are still in the billions, according to new figures released today and reported by AAP.
Statistics from Liquor and Gaming NSW show that gaming machine profits dropped 41% for hotels and 40% for clubs between December 2019 and May 2020 for clubs, and January to June 2020 for clubs.Statistics from Liquor and Gaming NSW show that gaming machine profits dropped 41% for hotels and 40% for clubs between December 2019 and May 2020 for clubs, and January to June 2020 for clubs.
That covers 10 weeks from 23 March to 31 May when all gaming venues were closed.That covers 10 weeks from 23 March to 31 May when all gaming venues were closed.
Despite that, clubs still made an overall $1.2bn in profit from the pokies during the reporting period, while hotels made just under $830m in profit.Despite that, clubs still made an overall $1.2bn in profit from the pokies during the reporting period, while hotels made just under $830m in profit.
The former mayor of Ipswich, Paul Pisasale, has been sentenced to jail for seven and a half years.The former mayor of Ipswich, Paul Pisasale, has been sentenced to jail for seven and a half years.
Pisasale pleaded guilty to a range of charges last week, from corruption to sexual assault.Pisasale pleaded guilty to a range of charges last week, from corruption to sexual assault.
This afternoon, he was sentenced by judge Dennis Lynch in Ipswich district court to seven and a half years in jail.This afternoon, he was sentenced by judge Dennis Lynch in Ipswich district court to seven and a half years in jail.
Pisasale had first been charged in 2017 after an investigation from Queensland’s Crime and Corruption Commission.Pisasale had first been charged in 2017 after an investigation from Queensland’s Crime and Corruption Commission.
Naaman Zhou has come on deck to take you through the afternoon.Naaman Zhou has come on deck to take you through the afternoon.
You are in very good hands. A very big thank you to those who spent the day with me – I’ll be back early tomorrow morning. Until then, please, take care of you.You are in very good hands. A very big thank you to those who spent the day with me – I’ll be back early tomorrow morning. Until then, please, take care of you.
The aspiring Liberal party candidate who has brought a court action against the Victorian government’s (now lifted) curfew wants her case heard with priority.The aspiring Liberal party candidate who has brought a court action against the Victorian government’s (now lifted) curfew wants her case heard with priority.
Michelle Loielo is arguing the curfew, which was lifted on Monday, had infringed upon her human rights.Michelle Loielo is arguing the curfew, which was lifted on Monday, had infringed upon her human rights.
AAP has the latest:AAP has the latest:
Christian Porter spoke to Perth radio 6PR about the pick-for-the-dole scheme this morning. He doesn’t seem to think it can be solved with a doing it for the ‘gram campaign push – unlike the deputy prime minister:Christian Porter spoke to Perth radio 6PR about the pick-for-the-dole scheme this morning. He doesn’t seem to think it can be solved with a doing it for the ‘gram campaign push – unlike the deputy prime minister:
This is still bubbling away in the background.This is still bubbling away in the background.
And to round out those case updates:
Active aged care outbreaks with the highest active case numbers are as follows:
Estia Aged Care Facility Keilor: 33 (46 total).
Opal Hobsons Bay Aged Care Facility Altona North: 21 (total cases: 45).
Embracia Moonee Valley Aged Care Facility: 19 (total cases: 80).
Edenvale Manor Aged Care Facility Keilor East: 14 (total cases: 23).
Baptcare Wyndham Lodge Community Werribee: 12 (total cases: 260).
Doutta Galla Aged Services Woornack: 7 (total cases: 60).
Mercy Place Parkville Aged Care Facility: 7 (total cases: 104).
Twin Parks Aged Care Reservoir: 4 (total cases: 127).
Churches of Christ Care Arcadia Aged Care Essendon: 4 (total cases: 22).
Epping Gardens Aged Care Facility: 3 (total cases: 220).
In Victoria there is currently one active case in residential disability accommodation:
Total resident cases: 0; total staff cases: 1.
Active cases in NDIS homes: 1 (0 residents).
Active cases in ‘transfer’ homes (state regulated/funded): 0 (0 residents).
Active cases in state government delivered and funded homes: 0.
Non-aged care outbreaks with the highest number of active cases include:
Eight active cases are currently linked to the Casey community outbreak (total cases: 45).
Five active cases are currently linked to the Springvale shared accommodation outbreak (total cases: 5).
Four active cases are currently linked to Alfred Hospital (total cases: 11).
Three active cases are currently linked to Footscray Hospital (total cases: 20).
That continues:
In Victoria at the current time:
4,272 cases may indicate community transmission – a decrease of one since yesterday.
305 cases are currently active in Victoria.
44 cases of coronavirus are in hospital, including six in intensive care.
19,006 people have recovered from the virus.
A total of 2,694,959 test results have been received which is an increase of 17,937 since yesterday.
Of the 305 current active cases in Victoria:
302 are in metropolitan Melbourne under the Second Step of our roadmap.
Three are in regional local government areas under the Third Step of our roadmap.
Zero are interstate residents.
Zero are either unknown or subject to further investigation.
Colac Otway has one active case and Greater Geelong, Greater Bendigo and Ballarat have no active cases.
Of the total cases:
18,777 cases are from metropolitan Melbourne, while 1192 are from regional Victoria.
Total cases include 9,618 men and 10,537 women.
Total number of healthcare workers: 3,542, active cases: 46.
There are 147 active cases relating to aged care facilities.
We have the official data from Victoria Health:
Speaking of Michael McCormack (which the transcription service has, in the past, translated to ‘the big sleep’) he has finished his speech on reinvigorating Australia’s regions.
The deputy prime minister seems to think that young Australians live to take selfies.
AAP listened so I didn’t have to. Yet another reason why the newswire service is invaluable.
While we are on budget statements – fun fact – former Coalition women’s minister, Kelly O’Dwyer, had to fight to have the women’s economic statement reinstated as part of the budget, after the former minister for women, Tony Abbott, scrapped it.
The government has announced a ‘regional and rural Australia’ budget outcome statement as part of the next budget – it is the first time that a statement like this will be part of the budget.
From Scott Morrison and Michael McCormack:
Anthony Albanese has delivered his McKell Institute speech.
It finishes with this:
The ABS has put out its latest report – this time on wellbeing.
And apparently, more than half of us felt rushed for time in 2019. So obviously, 2020 is the result of our collective wish to slow things down on New Year’s Eve.
From the report:
Key statistics:
Overall life satisfaction of Australians aged 15 years and over was 7.5 out of 10 in 2019, compared to 7.6 in 2014.
More than half of Australians (56.3%) experienced at least one personal stressor in the last 12 months.
Almost two in five Australians (39.5%) reported ‘Always’ or ‘Often’ feeling rushed for time.
Life satisfaction:
Overall life satisfaction is a summary measure of subjective wellbeing against a scale ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 means ‘not at all satisfied’ and 10 means ‘completely satisfied’.
In 2019, on average, Australians rated their overall life satisfaction as 7.5, compared to 7.6 in 2014 (Table 2).
Average life satisfaction was relatively low for people with a mental health condition (6.4), people who identified as gay, lesbian or bisexual (6.8) and people with disability (7.0).
People aged 70 years or over reported an overall life satisfaction of 7.8 while those aged 40 to 54 years reported 7.2.
Personal stressors and feeling rushed for time:
More than half of Australians (56.3%) experienced at least one personal stressor in the last 12 months. This was significantly higher for people with a mental health condition compared to those who do not have a mental health condition (81.0% and 52.8%). People with disability were also more likely to have experienced at least one personal stressor compared to those with no disability (69.6% and 50.8%) (Table 4).
Nearly 8 million Australians (39.5%) reported ‘Always’ or ‘Often’ feeling rushed for time. Those aged 40-54 years are most likely to report feeling rushed for time (56.2%) (Table 3).
More females (43.1%) reported ‘Always’ or ‘Often’ feeling rushed for time than males (35.8%). Females aged 15-24 years are more likely than males aged 15-24 to report feeling rushed for time (55.7% compared to 37.1%).
Ratings agency S&P have taken a look at Australia’s debt position.
(Via AAP)
The International Displacement Monitoring Centre – which looks at people who have been displaced from their homes by events, such as war, famine and natural disasters, has looked at the Australian bushfires.
You can find the whole report here.
But interestingly:
Of the 64,578 total displaced people, around 14,500 children were displaced and around 8,000 were school-aged (aged 5-14).
You may remember a little earlier this month, Save the Children made a submission to the bushfire royal commission, asking for systematic inclusion of child services as part of Australia’s disaster planning, so the needs of kids aren’t forgotten in the response.
So that should help their case a little.