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| NSW eases restrictions as Victoria reports three new cases – as it happened | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| New South Wales coronavirus testing rates increase as Daniel Andrews says Victoria may have recorded its first case of re-infection. This blog is now closed | |
| To recap: | To recap: |
| The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, said the Cox Plate backflip came because of the public backlash and not due to health reasons. He admitted he agreed to the initial decision but said that was the “wrong call”. | The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, said the Cox Plate backflip came because of the public backlash and not due to health reasons. He admitted he agreed to the initial decision but said that was the “wrong call”. |
| Andrews also hinted that there would be more easing of restrictions on Sunday, as case numbers continue to drop. Victoria recorded three new cases overnight, bringing the rolling 14-day average to 6.2. | Andrews also hinted that there would be more easing of restrictions on Sunday, as case numbers continue to drop. Victoria recorded three new cases overnight, bringing the rolling 14-day average to 6.2. |
| NSW has also eased restrictions today, announcing that from 23 October, religious gatherings can have up to 300 people and gyms will no longer need a safety marshal if there are less than 20 people. | NSW has also eased restrictions today, announcing that from 23 October, religious gatherings can have up to 300 people and gyms will no longer need a safety marshal if there are less than 20 people. |
| The Queensland Liberal National party has announced a youth curfew plan for north Queensland, but critics have said the policy will unfairly target indigenous communities. | The Queensland Liberal National party has announced a youth curfew plan for north Queensland, but critics have said the policy will unfairly target indigenous communities. |
| Question time in parliament in Canberra focused on a federal Icac, or the lack thereof, with the government saying it will take its time consulting on the retrospectivity of the commission, although plans to hold that consultation were delayed well before the pandemic. | Question time in parliament in Canberra focused on a federal Icac, or the lack thereof, with the government saying it will take its time consulting on the retrospectivity of the commission, although plans to hold that consultation were delayed well before the pandemic. |
| ABC managing director David Anderson has told a Senate estimates hearing a total of 229 staff have left following an indexation freeze. | ABC managing director David Anderson has told a Senate estimates hearing a total of 229 staff have left following an indexation freeze. |
| But Coalition senators are arguing the ABC has not had a budget cut. Anderson has also raised the constant criticism of the ABC, in particular by the Murdoch press. | But Coalition senators are arguing the ABC has not had a budget cut. Anderson has also raised the constant criticism of the ABC, in particular by the Murdoch press. |
| He told estimates: | He told estimates: |
| The enthralling senate estimate session with ABC boss David Anderson continues, with a discussion just now on the the ABC’s vital emergency broadcast. He says: | The enthralling senate estimate session with ABC boss David Anderson continues, with a discussion just now on the the ABC’s vital emergency broadcast. He says: |
| It’s important to note we are heading into bushfire season, and the ABC’s essential role in keeping rural residents abreast of the latest developments have been well documented. | It’s important to note we are heading into bushfire season, and the ABC’s essential role in keeping rural residents abreast of the latest developments have been well documented. |
| We’ve now moved on, though, to an extensive conversation on social media policies. | We’ve now moved on, though, to an extensive conversation on social media policies. |
| Australian Border Force is refusing to say how many people, aside from former prime minister Tony Abbott, have been allowed to enter or leave Australia on an “auto-exemption” from the travel ban. | Australian Border Force is refusing to say how many people, aside from former prime minister Tony Abbott, have been allowed to enter or leave Australia on an “auto-exemption” from the travel ban. |
| In Senate estimates on Tuesday evening, the Border Force commissioner, Michael Outram, confirmed Abbott had left the country twice – in July and this month – on what he said was an “auto-exemption”, meaning Abbott did not need to go through the lengthy wait period to get an approval to leave. | In Senate estimates on Tuesday evening, the Border Force commissioner, Michael Outram, confirmed Abbott had left the country twice – in July and this month – on what he said was an “auto-exemption”, meaning Abbott did not need to go through the lengthy wait period to get an approval to leave. |
| Outram said this was because Abbott was travelling on government business, being that he was travelling for work for the UK government. The commissioner said the rules didn’t specify that the government had to be an Australian government. | Outram said this was because Abbott was travelling on government business, being that he was travelling for work for the UK government. The commissioner said the rules didn’t specify that the government had to be an Australian government. |
| When asked by Guardian Australia on Wednesday how many people left or entered Australia on an auto-exemption, and how many of those were leaving for work for a foreign government, Border Force said it had “nothing further to add” than what Outram had said in the hearing. | When asked by Guardian Australia on Wednesday how many people left or entered Australia on an auto-exemption, and how many of those were leaving for work for a foreign government, Border Force said it had “nothing further to add” than what Outram had said in the hearing. |
| More than 32,000 Australians are still waiting overseas to get back to Australia. | More than 32,000 Australians are still waiting overseas to get back to Australia. |
| A Covid-19 case is being treated as a rare case of reinfection in Victoria – the first such case in Australia. | A Covid-19 case is being treated as a rare case of reinfection in Victoria – the first such case in Australia. |
| Officials say it’s not entirely clear if the positive test means the man has re-contracted the virus, but they are treating it that way. | Officials say it’s not entirely clear if the positive test means the man has re-contracted the virus, but they are treating it that way. |
| Genomic sequencing hasn’t been completed yet but Daniel Andrews said the man first tested positive in July, then again in October, but it was not clear if it was a true case of reinfection or merely a case of the dead virus being shed. | Genomic sequencing hasn’t been completed yet but Daniel Andrews said the man first tested positive in July, then again in October, but it was not clear if it was a true case of reinfection or merely a case of the dead virus being shed. |
| Reinfection is incredibly rare, with only six such cases reported worldwide among the 40m cases. | Reinfection is incredibly rare, with only six such cases reported worldwide among the 40m cases. |
| The attorney general’s department has revealed the running cost of the Witness K and Bernard Collaery court cases is $3.09m. | The attorney general’s department has revealed the running cost of the Witness K and Bernard Collaery court cases is $3.09m. |
| In August 2019 Witness K’s lawyers said he intended to plead guilty to one breach of secrecy laws for blowing the whistle on Australia’s spying on East Timor. | In August 2019 Witness K’s lawyers said he intended to plead guilty to one breach of secrecy laws for blowing the whistle on Australia’s spying on East Timor. |
| Collaery, his lawyer, is fighting charges against himself in the ACT supreme court. There’s been a hearing to determine what material is protected by national security laws, but officials blamed Covid for delays in the case. | Collaery, his lawyer, is fighting charges against himself in the ACT supreme court. There’s been a hearing to determine what material is protected by national security laws, but officials blamed Covid for delays in the case. |
| Independent senator Rex Patrick was not pleased: | Independent senator Rex Patrick was not pleased: |
| An ongoing debate about whether the ABC budget has gone up or down has gripped Senate estimates for the past half an hour or so, with some Coalition senators arguing the budget has gone up in “real terms”. | An ongoing debate about whether the ABC budget has gone up or down has gripped Senate estimates for the past half an hour or so, with some Coalition senators arguing the budget has gone up in “real terms”. |
| The ABC managing director, David Anderson, says the latest job losses clock in at 229, and the broadcaster had to axe the 7.45am news bulletin, but perhaps it’s a matter of perspective. | The ABC managing director, David Anderson, says the latest job losses clock in at 229, and the broadcaster had to axe the 7.45am news bulletin, but perhaps it’s a matter of perspective. |
| The financial law enforcement agency Austrac revealed yesterday it had spoken to the Australian federal police and Victoria police about claims 700,000 euros had been wired from the Vatican to Australia in relation to the Pell court matters. | The financial law enforcement agency Austrac revealed yesterday it had spoken to the Australian federal police and Victoria police about claims 700,000 euros had been wired from the Vatican to Australia in relation to the Pell court matters. |
| The Australian federal police has just issued this statement: | The Australian federal police has just issued this statement: |
| So that’s at least four bodies (Austrac, AFP, Ibac and Victoria Police) looking into it. | So that’s at least four bodies (Austrac, AFP, Ibac and Victoria Police) looking into it. |
| Michael Illin, chairperson of the Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service, is on ABC news discussing the Queensland LNP’s suggestion of a curfew for young people. | Michael Illin, chairperson of the Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service, is on ABC news discussing the Queensland LNP’s suggestion of a curfew for young people. |
| Asked if he thought the policy, which included $250 fines for breaches, would disproportionally affect indigenous kids and their families, he said: | Asked if he thought the policy, which included $250 fines for breaches, would disproportionally affect indigenous kids and their families, he said: |
| Senate estimates continued and today we heard that more than 80% of the $250m arts rescue package has yet to be allocated. | Senate estimates continued and today we heard that more than 80% of the $250m arts rescue package has yet to be allocated. |
| The package was announced in June after pleas for help from the struggling industry, but only a fifth has been spent, and all on the screen industry. | The package was announced in June after pleas for help from the struggling industry, but only a fifth has been spent, and all on the screen industry. |
| Thanks Amy, very excited to be here and very much looking forward to Abetzimates tonight. | Thanks Amy, very excited to be here and very much looking forward to Abetzimates tonight. |
| That brings us to the end of my day (ish) so I will hand you over to Mostafa Rachwani, who is making his blog debut. Big snaps. | That brings us to the end of my day (ish) so I will hand you over to Mostafa Rachwani, who is making his blog debut. Big snaps. |
| Thank you to everyone who joined me today – make sure you check in on the site to see the updates, and of course, the news and analysis of another big day. It feels like a Thursday (the agreed-upon worst day of the week) but alas, it is only Wednesday. It’s Abetzimates tonight – the ABC is fronting the estimates committee, which, for Eric Abetz, is like Christmas – so we’ll bring you news on that. | Thank you to everyone who joined me today – make sure you check in on the site to see the updates, and of course, the news and analysis of another big day. It feels like a Thursday (the agreed-upon worst day of the week) but alas, it is only Wednesday. It’s Abetzimates tonight – the ABC is fronting the estimates committee, which, for Eric Abetz, is like Christmas – so we’ll bring you news on that. |
| I’ll be back bright and early for the last sitting day of the week – but in the meantime, take care of you. | I’ll be back bright and early for the last sitting day of the week – but in the meantime, take care of you. |
| This ain’t it. | This ain’t it. |