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| Victoria records no coronavirus cases as federal parliament returns – politics live | Victoria records no coronavirus cases as federal parliament returns – politics live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Lockdown in Melbourne extended as authorities monitor outbreak in city’s north, and federal parliament resumes with the head of Treasury to face questions at Senate estimates. Follow all the latest updates | Lockdown in Melbourne extended as authorities monitor outbreak in city’s north, and federal parliament resumes with the head of Treasury to face questions at Senate estimates. Follow all the latest updates |
| Not sure where they would have gone, while in lockdown, so perhaps they just don’t want Tim in their bubble? | |
| (Melbourne MP Tim Smith is again calling a Sydney radio station to make his point, where he might reach ‘fans’ but not voters) | |
| Meanwhile, another of 2020’s crossover events is continuing along nicely: | |
| Anthony Albanese also called into Sydney radio 2GB this morning. | |
| He was asked about the Kevin Rudd led push for a royal commission into the Murdoch-owned media. He said a lot of words, without really saying whether or not he supported it: | |
| Jim Chalmers went on the front foot this morning. | |
| Here is some of what he had to say at doors: | |
| This is also excellent news – so far all the tests completed on those potentially linked to the northern Melbourne cluster have come back negative. | |
| From DHHS: | |
| Nearly 15,000 tests since last Tuesday (October 20) are providing the best possible insight into the movement of coronavirus in the northern metropolitan suburbs. | |
| Victoria’s commander of testing and community engagement Jeroen Weimar said in addition there were no new cases linked to the northern metropolitan outbreak. | |
| “This is one of the best outcomes we could hope to see, but the only reason we’re able to see it is because such a large number of people across the northern suburbs have taken the time since this outbreak was first identified to get tested,” Mr Weimar said. | |
| “We have results for the 2,100 people who got tested yesterday and there are hundreds more samples going through the labs over the course of the day. Their commitment is a massive contribution to identifying what we hope are the very few remaining cases of Covid-19 in Melbourne. | |
| “Testing continued into the evening last night and we expect to see those results come through today. Testing in these five communities will continue to be a focus.” | |
| Anthony Albanese’s team had this ready to go | Anthony Albanese’s team had this ready to go |
| Sydney radio 2GB host Ben Fordham thanked Greg Hunt “so much” for “all you have done for us” at the end of their interview this morning, to which Hunt replied: | Sydney radio 2GB host Ben Fordham thanked Greg Hunt “so much” for “all you have done for us” at the end of their interview this morning, to which Hunt replied: |
| The metro Melbourne rolling 14-day average has dropped to 3.6 cases per day, with the latest data. | The metro Melbourne rolling 14-day average has dropped to 3.6 cases per day, with the latest data. |
| In regional Victoria, that number is 0.2. | In regional Victoria, that number is 0.2. |
| That brings the state’s rolling average to 3.8. | That brings the state’s rolling average to 3.8. |
| Meanwhile, this is excellent news. | Meanwhile, this is excellent news. |
| The issue has always been the incubation period though – the most recent cases may have caused infections which we won’t see for another week or so. Hence, the caution. But still, today’s figures are worth celebrating. Well done, again, Victoria. | The issue has always been the incubation period though – the most recent cases may have caused infections which we won’t see for another week or so. Hence, the caution. But still, today’s figures are worth celebrating. Well done, again, Victoria. |
| Federal health minister Greg Hunt was on Sydney radio 2GB this morning, where he was speaking on the Melbourne restrictions: | Federal health minister Greg Hunt was on Sydney radio 2GB this morning, where he was speaking on the Melbourne restrictions: |
| The last time Hunt spoke about what Victoria should do, Daniel Andrews came out (verbally) swinging. Today is not going to be any different, I feel. | The last time Hunt spoke about what Victoria should do, Daniel Andrews came out (verbally) swinging. Today is not going to be any different, I feel. |
| Yup. Everyone is having a totally normal one | Yup. Everyone is having a totally normal one |
| Meanwhile, Helen Haines is continuing the crossbench push for a national integrity commission. | Meanwhile, Helen Haines is continuing the crossbench push for a national integrity commission. |
| As Daniel Hurst reports: | As Daniel Hurst reports: |
| The Morrison government is expected to come under pressure over its delay in progressing a national anti-corruption commission this week, with an independent MP introducing her own bill and Labor likely to intensify its question time attack. | The Morrison government is expected to come under pressure over its delay in progressing a national anti-corruption commission this week, with an independent MP introducing her own bill and Labor likely to intensify its question time attack. |
| Declaring the government’s pandemic-related excuse “does not cut the mustard at all”, the prominent independent MP Helen Haines told Guardian Australia: “There’s nothing so delicious as a scandal and boy, we’ve had a feast haven’t we?” | Declaring the government’s pandemic-related excuse “does not cut the mustard at all”, the prominent independent MP Helen Haines told Guardian Australia: “There’s nothing so delicious as a scandal and boy, we’ve had a feast haven’t we?” |
| Haines, the member for the Victorian seat of Indi, will introduce her bill to parliament on Monday morning and is urging the government to allocate time for debate in the near future. | Haines, the member for the Victorian seat of Indi, will introduce her bill to parliament on Monday morning and is urging the government to allocate time for debate in the near future. |
| Expect this story to also get a bit of attention this morning. | Expect this story to also get a bit of attention this morning. |
| First broken by Jennifer Bechwati at the Seven network, it has led to strong words from Dfat. | First broken by Jennifer Bechwati at the Seven network, it has led to strong words from Dfat. |
| The federal battle over the Victorian situation is continuing this morning in Canberra. | The federal battle over the Victorian situation is continuing this morning in Canberra. |
| There is some hope that restrictions in Melbourne could be eased mid-week – but it will all depend on how the most recent cluster is being handled. | There is some hope that restrictions in Melbourne could be eased mid-week – but it will all depend on how the most recent cluster is being handled. |
| Just on the Queensland election, Ben Smee has written up a piece on some of the seats to watch. | Just on the Queensland election, Ben Smee has written up a piece on some of the seats to watch. |
| The three Townsville seats, plus Cook and Keppell, are looking very shaky for Labor to hold, as does Aspley, South Brisbane and McConnel. If they all fall, there goes Labor’s majority in the parliament. | The three Townsville seats, plus Cook and Keppell, are looking very shaky for Labor to hold, as does Aspley, South Brisbane and McConnel. If they all fall, there goes Labor’s majority in the parliament. |
| The only prediction worth paying attention to in any Queensland election is that it is unpredictable. | The only prediction worth paying attention to in any Queensland election is that it is unpredictable. |
| Welcome to the ninth-last week of the year. | Welcome to the ninth-last week of the year. |
| It starts, as so many have recently, in Victoria, where Melbourne remains under restrictions. Daniel Andrews had said as recently as Friday that there was cause for optimism, but with a new cluster of cases in the city’s northern suburbs, a very cautious approach is being taken to any reopening. | It starts, as so many have recently, in Victoria, where Melbourne remains under restrictions. Daniel Andrews had said as recently as Friday that there was cause for optimism, but with a new cluster of cases in the city’s northern suburbs, a very cautious approach is being taken to any reopening. |
| The family whose child went to school while infectious has spoken to the Age and said they were cleared by Victoria DHHS to leave isolation, and there were no specific instructions for any of the family members to remain in isolation. There will be more questions on that. | The family whose child went to school while infectious has spoken to the Age and said they were cleared by Victoria DHHS to leave isolation, and there were no specific instructions for any of the family members to remain in isolation. There will be more questions on that. |
| In parliament, the House of Representatives will sit and estimates continues – it is Treasury’s time under the spotlight, so expect more questions on the Asic expenses controversy, following Friday’s shock revelations which led to James Shipton standing aside, pending an investigation. | In parliament, the House of Representatives will sit and estimates continues – it is Treasury’s time under the spotlight, so expect more questions on the Asic expenses controversy, following Friday’s shock revelations which led to James Shipton standing aside, pending an investigation. |
| It is also Health’s time – not only will there be Covid updates, but also some questions on the CovidSafe app, which was meant to be like “sunscreen”, but hasn’t lived up to the hype (what a surprise). | It is also Health’s time – not only will there be Covid updates, but also some questions on the CovidSafe app, which was meant to be like “sunscreen”, but hasn’t lived up to the hype (what a surprise). |
| Elsewhere, the Queensland election has entered its final week of campaigning, with Labor facing serious losses in the north and far north – the election is anyone’s at this stage. Queensland is always hard to pick, being three distinct electorates in one, and the only safe prediction is to be prepared for any outcome. | Elsewhere, the Queensland election has entered its final week of campaigning, with Labor facing serious losses in the north and far north – the election is anyone’s at this stage. Queensland is always hard to pick, being three distinct electorates in one, and the only safe prediction is to be prepared for any outcome. |
| We’ll bring you all the day’s events as they happen. You have Amy Remeikis on the blog and the rest of the Guardian brains trust at your disposal. It’s going to be a four-coffee day. I can feel it. Winter has made a last gasp here in a dreary Canberra, so hot cups of something won’t be far away. | We’ll bring you all the day’s events as they happen. You have Amy Remeikis on the blog and the rest of the Guardian brains trust at your disposal. It’s going to be a four-coffee day. I can feel it. Winter has made a last gasp here in a dreary Canberra, so hot cups of something won’t be far away. |
| Ready? | Ready? |