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Coronavirus Australia live news: Labor to announce $6bn childcare package as Victoria records 11 cases and new Sydney locations linked to Covid Coronavirus Australia live news: Labor to announce $6bn childcare package as Victoria records 11 new Covid cases and NSW 12
(32 minutes later)
Anthony Albanese’s budget reply set to also contain ‘significant’ energy announcement, while NSW has 12 new Covid cases and Victoria no new deaths. Follow all today’s news Anthony Albanese’s budget reply set to also contain ‘significant’ energy announcement, while new Sydney locations linked to Covid and Victoria reports no deaths. Follow all today’s news
And then WA’s budget assumes its border won’t open until June next year. At least.
I mean, is anyone making cuts at the moment?
We can’t have old-school thinking for new problems. The country is headed towards a trillion dollars’ worth of debt if everything goes RIGHT (which is how much wealth Amazon boss Jeff Bezos is on track to earn by 2026).
It is now social-media official:
In my experience, most people actually want to see their kids. And there are penalties which can be put in place to monitor that sort of thing.
Ummmmmm.
My Senate secret squirrels have informed me that Simon Birmingham almost missed the university vote this afternoon.
Mathias Cormann moved a debate gag motion, to bring the bill to a vote immediately - Birmingham missed that vote and it tied. Then Cormann put the bill to final vote a short time later – for which Birmingham made it.
If he missed that vote, the result would have tied and, status quo rules – so it would have been blocked (the government would have just brought it back on again, but still).
And then:
Victoria has updated its high-risk locations as well.Victoria has updated its high-risk locations as well.
Universities Australia has welcomed the passage of the Orwellian “jobs ready” uni bill, despite having “concerns” about the additional cost burden to students.Universities Australia has welcomed the passage of the Orwellian “jobs ready” uni bill, despite having “concerns” about the additional cost burden to students.
From its release:From its release:
Universities Australia chief executive Catriona Jackson said certainty has been in short supply and universities are keen to get on with the job of delivering higher education and research on behalf of all Australians.Universities Australia chief executive Catriona Jackson said certainty has been in short supply and universities are keen to get on with the job of delivering higher education and research on behalf of all Australians.
Universities Australia welcomed changes to the legislation that strengthen protections for students who fail units due to circumstances beyond their control.Universities Australia welcomed changes to the legislation that strengthen protections for students who fail units due to circumstances beyond their control.
Jackson said:Jackson said:
The “jobs ready” university bill has passed the parliament.The “jobs ready” university bill has passed the parliament.
Humanities and arts students will now be paying 113% more.Humanities and arts students will now be paying 113% more.
What could possibly go wrong?What could possibly go wrong?
So yup, as reported (in the Australian), the childcare package Labor is presenting is worth $6bn.So yup, as reported (in the Australian), the childcare package Labor is presenting is worth $6bn.
It is targeted on low-income earnersIt is targeted on low-income earners
And right on cue, NSW Health is updating its “please monitor yourself for symptoms” list of places:And right on cue, NSW Health is updating its “please monitor yourself for symptoms” list of places:
NSW Health is alerting the public to the following locations visited by new cases of Covid-19 notified today. These cases will be included in tomorrow’s numbers and contact tracing is underway.NSW Health is alerting the public to the following locations visited by new cases of Covid-19 notified today. These cases will be included in tomorrow’s numbers and contact tracing is underway.
Anyone who attended the following venues is considered a casual contact and must monitor for symptoms and get tested immediately if they develop. After testing, they must remain in isolation until a negative test result is received:Anyone who attended the following venues is considered a casual contact and must monitor for symptoms and get tested immediately if they develop. After testing, they must remain in isolation until a negative test result is received:
Surf Dive ’n’ Ski at Castle Towers shopping centre, Castle Hill – 5 October, 12-5pmSurf Dive ’n’ Ski at Castle Towers shopping centre, Castle Hill – 5 October, 12-5pm
Chemist Warehouse on the corner of Bridge and Rawson Streets, Epping – 6 October, 10.30-11.00amChemist Warehouse on the corner of Bridge and Rawson Streets, Epping – 6 October, 10.30-11.00am
Macquarie University Sports and Aquatic Centre outdoor pool area at North Ryde – 7 October, 5.30-10.30amMacquarie University Sports and Aquatic Centre outdoor pool area at North Ryde – 7 October, 5.30-10.30am
There might be a bit more community transmission going on in Sydney these past couple of days, but the Northern Territory is moving to revoke the city’s status as a Covid hotspot:There might be a bit more community transmission going on in Sydney these past couple of days, but the Northern Territory is moving to revoke the city’s status as a Covid hotspot:
The NT chief health officer has confirmed that greater Sydney will be revoked as a hotspot from 12.01am on Friday 9 October.The NT chief health officer has confirmed that greater Sydney will be revoked as a hotspot from 12.01am on Friday 9 October.
This means that people arriving in the Northern Territory from greater Sydney will no longer have to undertake mandatory supervised quarantine. Anyone currently in mandatory quarantine from greater Sydney will be able to exit.This means that people arriving in the Northern Territory from greater Sydney will no longer have to undertake mandatory supervised quarantine. Anyone currently in mandatory quarantine from greater Sydney will be able to exit.
Decisions on declaring and revoking hotspots are reviewed and made by the NT chief health officer and take into account the monitoring and data collection of Covid-19, extent of community transmission and risks to the NT community.Decisions on declaring and revoking hotspots are reviewed and made by the NT chief health officer and take into account the monitoring and data collection of Covid-19, extent of community transmission and risks to the NT community.
The risk of Covid-19 in our communities cannot be eliminated which is why it is important for everyone, particularly those people travelling from interstate, to follow all health regulations.The risk of Covid-19 in our communities cannot be eliminated which is why it is important for everyone, particularly those people travelling from interstate, to follow all health regulations.
If you have Covid-19 symptoms, do not travel. Make sure you get tested and stay at home.If you have Covid-19 symptoms, do not travel. Make sure you get tested and stay at home.
Maintain a physical distance of 1.5m at all times.Maintain a physical distance of 1.5m at all times.
Wash your hands with soap and water and use hand sanitiser regularly.Wash your hands with soap and water and use hand sanitiser regularly.
Cough and sneeze into your elbow or a tissue. Put your tissue in the bin straight away.Cough and sneeze into your elbow or a tissue. Put your tissue in the bin straight away.
Do not go to work if you feel sick.Do not go to work if you feel sick.
If you have symptoms, stay away from others and call a doctor or the NT Covid-19 hotline on 1800 008 002.If you have symptoms, stay away from others and call a doctor or the NT Covid-19 hotline on 1800 008 002.
This year has taken so much from us. And some, even more:
The university bill is in its third reading in the Senate.
Sigh.
How is Simon Birmingham going to handle his new responsibilities, now that he is taking up Mathias Cormann’s jobs?
Just dandy, he tells Sky News:
Hi all, I’m not in a position to go into details of Labor’s childcare announcement without breaching an embargo, but the reports around saying the measure costs $6bn are correct. As I reported this morning, there is also an energy announcement in tonight’s budget reply speech by Anthony Albanese. Tune in tonight for details. Amy will be covering the speech live.
Dave Sharma is up next on the defend the budget train:
Patricia Karvelas: We know young people were targeted by your budget. So obviously that’s very specific. And the treasurer kept telling us he knew women were being hurt more, so they are affected more, you have to do more to help them, don’t you?
Sharma:
If there is one thing this country could not handle at the moment, it is having the Nationals back in charge of trade.
Anthony Albanese is due to give his budget reply speech in a few hours. What is expected?
A childcare package – there are reports floating around about that this afternoon (and yesterday) – and as Murph reported earlier this morning, a “significant” energy announcement.
Stay tuned.
Student organisations are planning protests against the proposed university funding changes, which will put the cost of a humanities or arts degree out of reach for many students.
From Student Fightback’s statement:
“This is the most significant attack upon students in years. We’re not going to take it lying down. We will be taking to the streets in every major city and causing chaos for thegovernment until the fee hikes are reversed,” said University of Sydney Education Officer & Student Fightback NSW convenor Jack Mansell.
“The fee hikes are a despicable move. They’ll make higher education less accessible tostudents with low-income backgrounds, and force graduates into even more debt; right as the economy is entering a recession.”
Beth Jackson, the National Union of Students’ Victorian education officer, said: “TheMorrison government is clearly attempting to force students to shoulder the burden of the recession we’re entering.
“The budget gave trillions in funding to the private sector, and at the same time they’re forcing jobseeker recipients back below the poverty line and making university study more expensive. The rich are being bailed out, and we are being made to foot the bill.
“We’ll be protesting to demand that the rich pay for the economic crisis, not students or the poor.”
Australian National University Student Association representative Grace Hill said: “We’re committed to continuing a campaign against this attack on higher education, and will continue to resist the changes.”
Linda Burney was also asked about the Greens’ push for a treaty, over the voice to parliament and the Uluru statement.
Patricia Karvelas: I spoke to the Greens leader, Adam Bandt, about this and pressed him on whether there’s a change in the Greens’ position. He said it’s a grassroots movement. Is it?
Victoria Health has put out its official update:
If you have symptoms no matter how mild – get tested. We all have a responsibility to do what we can to stop this outbreak from getting any bigger.
Anyone who visited Chadstone shopping centre between 23 September and 1 October should get tested – even if they have the mildest of symptoms. Testing is available at Chadstone car park drive through – level 2 Chadstone car park, outside Coles and a walk-in clinic is open for staff only at central amenities on the ground level between MJ Bale and Marimekko. Both sites are open from 12-8pm today and tomorrow.
Anyone who visited Oddfellows Café in Kilmore between 30 September and 3 October are classified as potential close contacts and should come forward for testing, even if you don’t have any symptoms at all. Testing has been set up at the Kilmore and District hospital from 9am-7pm and Kilmore Soldiers Memorial Hall pop-up testing site from 10am-5pm today. There are currently around 230 people isolating in Kilmore following cases linked to the Oddfellows Café.
Victoria has recorded 11 new cases of coronavirus since yesterday, with the total number of cases now at 20,247.
The overall total has increased by 10 due to one case being reclassified.
Six of today’s new cases are linked to known outbreaks – three are linked to the Frankston family outbreak, one is linked to the Oddfellows Café, one is linked to the Box Hill hospital outbreak and one is linked to a complex case. The other five cases remain under investigation.
Of today’s 11 new cases, there are three in Frankston, two in Hobsons Bay and single cases in Boroondara, Brimbank, Melton, Port Phillip, Mildura and Mitchell.
The Mildura case is not a definite positive, however, it is being treated as a positive at this stage. Retesting is under way. All public health actions are being undertaken, including managing close contacts.
Investigations are continuing into an outbreak at Box Hill hospital, which includes two staff members and one patient. The contact tracing process is under way and all appropriate public health actions are being undertaken, including cleaning, testing and quarantining.
There have been no new deaths from Covid-19 reported since yesterday. To date, 809 people have died from coronavirus in Victoria.
The average number of cases diagnosed in the last 14 days (24 September to 7 October) for metropolitan Melbourne is 9.7 and regional Victoria is 0.4. 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 (22 September to 5 October) is 14 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.
In Victoria at the current time:
4,276 cases may indicate community transmission – an increase of two since yesterday
203 cases are currently active in Victoria
17 cases of coronavirus are in hospital, including one in intensive care
19,174 people have recovered from the virus
A total of 2,795,529 test results have been received, which is an increase of 15,298 since yesterday