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Australian politics live: five Melbourne suburbs on Covid alert as Victoria and NSW premiers still under pressure Australian politics live: five Melbourne suburbs on Covid alert as Victoria and NSW premiers still under pressure
(32 minutes later)
A school student in Melbourne’s north tested positive to coronavirus, putting the suburbs of Dallas, Roxburgh Park, Broadmeadows, Preston and West Heidelberg on high alert. Follow liveA school student in Melbourne’s north tested positive to coronavirus, putting the suburbs of Dallas, Roxburgh Park, Broadmeadows, Preston and West Heidelberg on high alert. Follow live
The official case stats have not been tweeted as yet (the website, however, lists 5 cases in Victoria, linked to known clusters)
However the alert we told you about this morning is getting a boost
And for the ‘but Sweden brigade’
(And in the June quarter, Sweden recorded an 8.3 % economic contraction - Australia recorded 7%)
The last time Greg Hunt said something like this (it was on his twitter account earlier this week)
Daniel Andrews responded with this:
Australia Post is up in the communications estimates committee hearing - that starts at 9
NSW has reported just one locally acquired case - another six are in hotel quarantine.
You can find those figures, here
The results are for the last 24 hours.
The Victorian DHHS website is reporting five new cases - all with contact with a confirmed case
The metro Melbourne 14 day average has still dropped to 6.1 though
A Curtin University researcher is looking into the experience of those using Australia’s mandatory employment services system - the job providers - how that impacts the motivation and well-being of people who are unemployed.A Curtin University researcher is looking into the experience of those using Australia’s mandatory employment services system - the job providers - how that impacts the motivation and well-being of people who are unemployed.
With close to a million Australians unemployed at the moment - and more to come - as well as the impacts of the cut to jobseeker, it is more important than ever that we record what is happening. Data, and research, is invaluable when trying to make public policy better. And while we already know what we need governments to do, we are in a whole other situation again - and that should be investigated.With close to a million Australians unemployed at the moment - and more to come - as well as the impacts of the cut to jobseeker, it is more important than ever that we record what is happening. Data, and research, is invaluable when trying to make public policy better. And while we already know what we need governments to do, we are in a whole other situation again - and that should be investigated.
If you are currently unemployed, you can fill out the Curtin Uni survey hereIf you are currently unemployed, you can fill out the Curtin Uni survey here
Business Council of Australia head Jennifer Westacott has been on a media blitz this morning, outlining the BCA’s plan to open Australia’s borders. The Business Council of Australia head, Jennifer Westacott, has been on a media blitz this morning, outlining the BCA’s plan to open Australia’s borders.
Here are the main takeaways:Here are the main takeaways:
By Christmas, the state borders are open and there are clear national protocols in place for arrivals and departures, quarantining, local containment, and digital tracking and tracingBy Christmas, the state borders are open and there are clear national protocols in place for arrivals and departures, quarantining, local containment, and digital tracking and tracing
Careful and gradual reopening of international borders with priority given to:Careful and gradual reopening of international borders with priority given to:
returning Australiansreturning Australians
international students, signalling to them we will be open for term one next year subject to agreed protocols for quarantininginternational students, signalling to them we will be open for term one next year subject to agreed protocols for quarantining
targeted skilled visas for high demand workers to support business growth in Australia targeted skilled visas for high-demand workers to support business growth in Australia
Targeted visas aligned to the Global Business and Talent Attraction TaskforceTargeted visas aligned to the Global Business and Talent Attraction Taskforce
Establish a nationally consistent, risk-based approach to quarantineEstablish a nationally consistent, risk-based approach to quarantine
Establish a process to identify and begin negotiating safe travel corridors with low risk countries Establish a process to identify and begin negotiating safe travel corridors with low-risk countries
The National Farmers’ Federation has teamed up with the Backpacker and Youth Tourism Advisory Panel to try to get backpackers back in the country – in a Covid-safe way, of course.The National Farmers’ Federation has teamed up with the Backpacker and Youth Tourism Advisory Panel to try to get backpackers back in the country – in a Covid-safe way, of course.
The NFF and the backpackers advocacy group want the government to look at its three-phased approach “to safely resume the flow of backpackers” to Australia, and have written a joint letter to the government detailing the plan (WHM is short for working holiday maker).The NFF and the backpackers advocacy group want the government to look at its three-phased approach “to safely resume the flow of backpackers” to Australia, and have written a joint letter to the government detailing the plan (WHM is short for working holiday maker).
The NFF chief executive, Tony Mahar, said:The NFF chief executive, Tony Mahar, said:
The NFF said that while employing Australians would always take precedence, a safe restart if the WHM program would help to address agriculture labour shortages:The NFF said that while employing Australians would always take precedence, a safe restart if the WHM program would help to address agriculture labour shortages:
Last night estimates also heard that the former foreign minister and our man in London, Alexander Downer, has added his name to the foreign influence transparency scheme register, after taking a job as the “consultant to the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar”.Last night estimates also heard that the former foreign minister and our man in London, Alexander Downer, has added his name to the foreign influence transparency scheme register, after taking a job as the “consultant to the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar”.
Rex Patrick is not too happy about it:Rex Patrick is not too happy about it:
In his registration Downer said he was a consultant “assisting the Government of Gibraltar in its free trade agreement negotiations with Australia”.In his registration Downer said he was a consultant “assisting the Government of Gibraltar in its free trade agreement negotiations with Australia”.
The Australian intelligence community is all abuzz after this account of “Havana syndrome” in CIA officials visiting Australia was published in GQ magazine.The Australian intelligence community is all abuzz after this account of “Havana syndrome” in CIA officials visiting Australia was published in GQ magazine.
Havana syndrome was named after the site of the US embassy in Cuba, where in late 2016 diplomats reported “sudden pressure in the skulls” and other sudden on-set issues, including vertigo and nausea, sleeping and concentrating difficulties, headaches and vision and hearing issues. Some heard a low-pitched noise before falling ill. There has been some suggestion that “microwave” attacks are to blame. Suspicion has fallen on the Russians. None of it has been proven (and if it was, it’s something the CIA and allies would keep to themselves) but it has been ticking along under the surface for quite a few years.Havana syndrome was named after the site of the US embassy in Cuba, where in late 2016 diplomats reported “sudden pressure in the skulls” and other sudden on-set issues, including vertigo and nausea, sleeping and concentrating difficulties, headaches and vision and hearing issues. Some heard a low-pitched noise before falling ill. There has been some suggestion that “microwave” attacks are to blame. Suspicion has fallen on the Russians. None of it has been proven (and if it was, it’s something the CIA and allies would keep to themselves) but it has been ticking along under the surface for quite a few years.
Now we read this in GQ:Now we read this in GQ:
Australian security agencies have not commented.Australian security agencies have not commented.
NSW Health has also issued a Covid alert for anyone who attended the Bathurst 1000 race at the weekend – which has been extended to residents of Bathurst itself.NSW Health has also issued a Covid alert for anyone who attended the Bathurst 1000 race at the weekend – which has been extended to residents of Bathurst itself.
That was after remnants of Covid were picked up as part of sewage testing. From NSW Health:That was after remnants of Covid were picked up as part of sewage testing. From NSW Health:
Late last night Victorian health authorities put five Melbourne suburbs on alert – Dallas, Roxburgh Park, Broadmeadows, Preston and West Heidelberg – after a student at the East Preston Islamic College tested positive for Covid.Late last night Victorian health authorities put five Melbourne suburbs on alert – Dallas, Roxburgh Park, Broadmeadows, Preston and West Heidelberg – after a student at the East Preston Islamic College tested positive for Covid.
Staff and students and close contacts are in self-isolation for 14 days. But, as part of an aggressive suppression tactic, additional patients linked to the outbreak, who live in a public housing block in Broadmeadows, have been asked to self-isolate for 48 hours to get tested and monitor for symptoms.Staff and students and close contacts are in self-isolation for 14 days. But, as part of an aggressive suppression tactic, additional patients linked to the outbreak, who live in a public housing block in Broadmeadows, have been asked to self-isolate for 48 hours to get tested and monitor for symptoms.
The Dallas Brooks primary school has been closed for deep cleaning after a close contact was identified at the school.The Dallas Brooks primary school has been closed for deep cleaning after a close contact was identified at the school.
And an “extensive” community health door knocking program starts this morning in the identified areas, including in languages other than English.And an “extensive” community health door knocking program starts this morning in the identified areas, including in languages other than English.
We’ll bring you the updates on that situation, as well as how the rest of Australia is handling Covid today, as the day rolls on. We should hear from Daniel Andrews in his 112th consecutive daily press conference about 11am.We’ll bring you the updates on that situation, as well as how the rest of Australia is handling Covid today, as the day rolls on. We should hear from Daniel Andrews in his 112th consecutive daily press conference about 11am.
In estimates last night, we also learned that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s objective was to bring the 4,000 stranded overseas Australians assessed as “vulnerable” home – but, for the remaining 28,000, it is going to be a longer wait.In estimates last night, we also learned that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s objective was to bring the 4,000 stranded overseas Australians assessed as “vulnerable” home – but, for the remaining 28,000, it is going to be a longer wait.
There were some other bits and pieces – including news that the government paid the Murdoch-owned Foxtel $40m (taxpayer money) to broadcast women’s sports, then the ABC had to pay Foxtel (taxpayer money again) to access some of those games to broadcast them so people without pay TV (most of us) could see them.There were some other bits and pieces – including news that the government paid the Murdoch-owned Foxtel $40m (taxpayer money) to broadcast women’s sports, then the ABC had to pay Foxtel (taxpayer money again) to access some of those games to broadcast them so people without pay TV (most of us) could see them.
We’ll bring you that and everything else that happens today.We’ll bring you that and everything else that happens today.
It’s the last parliament sitting for the week but there isn’t too much downtime – estimates and parliament will be back next week as well. We are cramming in a lot as this year winds down.It’s the last parliament sitting for the week but there isn’t too much downtime – estimates and parliament will be back next week as well. We are cramming in a lot as this year winds down.
You have Amy Remeikis with you for the day. Ready?You have Amy Remeikis with you for the day. Ready?