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Australia coronavirus news: alert over fresh NSW cases as Victoria records 11 and Labor prepares budget reply – live updates Australia coronavirus news: NSW reports eight new cases of community transmission as Victoria records 11 – live updates
(32 minutes later)
Victoria reports no new deaths as NSW Health warns of several new Sydney locations linked to Covid-19. Follow all today’s newsVictoria reports no new deaths as NSW Health warns of several new Sydney locations linked to Covid-19. Follow all today’s news
In NSW, another four cases were recorded from returned travellers.
Of the eight locally-acquired cases, one is under investigation and seven are linked to a known case or cluster. NSW Health said:
NSW conducted 12,498 tests reported in the 24-hour reporting period, compared with 5,970 in the previous 24 hours.
Authorities said the drop in testing numbers is a concern,
NSW has reported eight cases of locally transmitted COVID‑19 through to 8pm last night. Three of these cases were announced yesterday.
The Victorian premier says the state’s strategy is working and the case numbers are coming down. But he says the state must be “as stubborn and as determined as the virus”. Decisions to re-open will depend on the science. Re-opening too early will risk Victoria coming in and out of harsh restrictions throughout the summer and 2021, he said.
Andrews says targeted testing is occurring across Victoria, particularly in the regions.
One-quarter of the workforce in high-risk industries is being tested each week, he says.
The 14-day rolling average, key to relieving restrictions, is 9.7 cases in metro Melbourne and 0.4 in regional Victoria.
There are 14 mystery cases in Metro Melbourne and none in regional Victoria.
Daniel Andrews, the Victorian premier, is speaking about the latest Covid-19 results.
There are 11 new cases. Six of the 11 are linked to known outbreaks. The other five are under investigation.
He says 17 Covid-19 patients are in hospital. One is in intensive care, but not on a ventilator.
Andrews praises the testing numbers.
Morrison is countering Labor’s criticism that his budget failed to invest significantly in women.
He says setting “women against men” and “young people against older people” will undermine the economic prosperity of all Australians.
Our political editor Katharine Murphy asks Cormann if this is the budget he would liked to have gone out on.
He responds:
He is asked how he will position himself on climate change in his dealings with the OECD, given the Coalition’s position on climate change and opposition to carbon pricing.He is asked how he will position himself on climate change in his dealings with the OECD, given the Coalition’s position on climate change and opposition to carbon pricing.
He says he will approach climate on a “factual basis”.He says he will approach climate on a “factual basis”.
Cormann quips that he is a “veteran of selection contests”.Cormann quips that he is a “veteran of selection contests”.
Cormann, of course, famously backed Peter Dutton’s doomed leadership bid in the 2018 spill.Cormann, of course, famously backed Peter Dutton’s doomed leadership bid in the 2018 spill.
Morrison is seeking support from Labor for Cormann’s nomination.Morrison is seeking support from Labor for Cormann’s nomination.
He’s asked whether the Coalition’s failure to support Kevin Rudd becoming United Nations secretary-general in 2016 could come back to bite it.He’s asked whether the Coalition’s failure to support Kevin Rudd becoming United Nations secretary-general in 2016 could come back to bite it.
He says he has spoken to Anthony Albanese.He says he has spoken to Anthony Albanese.
Cormann is making his pitch for the OECD secretary-general position, talking up his international experience, his language skills, and his record as finance minister.
Cormann then shows off his rather impressive language skills mid-press conference, speaking fluent French and German.
He closes by saying he has “given this [job] my everything”.
Simon Birmingham, currently the trade minister, will become Australia’s next finance minister and the government’s leader in the Senate.
Michaelia Cash, who resigned from the frontbench after the 2018 spill, becomes the government’s deputy leader in the Senate.
Morrison says he approached Cormann with the idea of running for OECD secretary-general. He did so after Cormann announced his intention to retire.
The formal nomination will occur immediately after Cormann retires on 30 October.
Morrison says the current recession is not a sign of “some global failure of capitalism or market-based principles”.
And there it is. Morrison says he intends to nominate Cormann, the outgoing finance minister, for the role of OECD secretary-general.
The prime minister Scott Morrison is speaking now. He says the pandemic is “the most significant global recession the world has seen since the Great Depression”.
It differs from the great depression, he says, because the world was now a “truly globally, interconnected real-time economy”.
Seems he’s readying himself to announce Mathias Cormann will be nominated for the OECD’s top job.
Albanese said the budget left “51% of our population” behind.
He said women were disproportionately affected by the pandemic, due to the insecure, casual nature of employment.
Anthony Albanese is speaking now.
He starts by paying tribute to the “strong, smart, decisive, energetic, innovative women” who are part of the Labor team.
He pays homage to Susan Ryan, the ACT’s first female senator and first Labor senator, for her trailblazing efforts on affirmative action, equal opportunity, and sexual discrimination.
He says she understood something missed in Tuesday’s budget. That failing to apply a gender lens to policy development would inevitably favour men.
Meanwhile, NSW’s environment minister, Matt Kean, is hitting out at “vested interests” who have influenced the energy and climate debate for “too long”.
“It’s definitely time to correct the imbalance,” he said.
Kean, remember, is a Liberal minister.
Anthony Albanese is about to address caucus in Canberra ahead of his budget reply speech tonight.
We’ll bring that to you as soon as we can. He’s due to speak at 10am.
The prime minister is due to speak 15 minutes later.
He had earlier pulled out of an interview with Perth radio, 6PR, which his office had organised.
South Australian border restrictions are due to be relaxed today. Travellers from NSW can drive to South Australia, via Mildura, as long as they are only going through Victoria in transit. Residents of NSW border towns just across from Mildura will be allowed to enter South Australia.
But border communities say the current situation has left locals confused and frustrated. Those living north of the Victorian border are still required to go through 14-day quarantine before entering South Australia, should they go to Mildura for their essentials.
Wentworth shire council mayor Melissa Hederics spoke to the ABC a little earlier.