This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2020/oct/26/coronavirus-australia-live-updates-politics-live-daniel-andrews-lockdown-senate-estimates
The article has changed 25 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 20 | Version 21 |
|---|---|
| Coronavirus Australia live update: Daniel Andrews says 'now is the time to open up' after Victoria records no Covid cases | Coronavirus Australia live update: Daniel Andrews says 'now is the time to open up' after Victoria records no Covid cases |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| From midnight tomorrow night Melbourne businesses will be able to start reopening as restrictions ease. Follow all the latest updates | From midnight tomorrow night Melbourne businesses will be able to start reopening as restrictions ease. Follow all the latest updates |
| From Canberra, Paul Karp has filed this on the Coalition’s youth wage subsidy. It will create 45,000 “genuinely additional” jobs, just 10% of the 450,000 number boasted by Josh Frydenberg on budget night, according to Treasury. | |
| Wait, were we supposed to be having a drink or a doughnut? I don’t think they really go together: | |
| Daniel Andrews hasn’t gone for the top shelf there, by the looks of things ... | |
| Thought I’d post something from earlier today by my Melbourne colleague Luke Henriques-Gomes about public housing. Expect more of these pieces touching on Victoria’s pandemic recovery in the months to come. | |
| So what will that poll mean for Michael O’Brien’s leadership of the Coalition in Victoria? Tim Smith is the MP often touted as his replacement, and he called Melbourne a hell-hole today: | So what will that poll mean for Michael O’Brien’s leadership of the Coalition in Victoria? Tim Smith is the MP often touted as his replacement, and he called Melbourne a hell-hole today: |
| Some more from that Ipsos poll, which is really something: | Some more from that Ipsos poll, which is really something: |
| The Victorian opposition leader Michael O’Brien’s approval rating among Coalition supporters surveyed was 27%. | The Victorian opposition leader Michael O’Brien’s approval rating among Coalition supporters surveyed was 27%. |
| Among Coalition voters, only 25% were satisfied and 30% were dissatisfied with how the party had responded to the pandemic. | Among Coalition voters, only 25% were satisfied and 30% were dissatisfied with how the party had responded to the pandemic. |
| There were 858 Victorians surveyed, with 49% saying they were satisfied with the government’s handling of the pandemic and 40% dissatisfied. | There were 858 Victorians surveyed, with 49% saying they were satisfied with the government’s handling of the pandemic and 40% dissatisfied. |
| The premier Daniel Andrews’ approval rating dropped to 52% from 70% in another poll taken in September. | The premier Daniel Andrews’ approval rating dropped to 52% from 70% in another poll taken in September. |
| Some reaction to Victoria’s reopening announcement from Melbourne’s lord mayor, Sally Capp: | Some reaction to Victoria’s reopening announcement from Melbourne’s lord mayor, Sally Capp: |
| Our political editor, Katharine Murphy, has just filed this piece on another taxpayer-funded market research spend during the pandemic by the Morrison government: | Our political editor, Katharine Murphy, has just filed this piece on another taxpayer-funded market research spend during the pandemic by the Morrison government: |
| The federal government has underspent nearly $7bn on the defence capital program since the 2016 defence white paper, according to analysis presented to an estimates hearing today. | The federal government has underspent nearly $7bn on the defence capital program since the 2016 defence white paper, according to analysis presented to an estimates hearing today. |
| The underspend has been blamed on a range of things including reallocating some of the funds to meet staff cost “pressures” and to fund the national redress scheme, along with revamping the timing of major projects. | The underspend has been blamed on a range of things including reallocating some of the funds to meet staff cost “pressures” and to fund the national redress scheme, along with revamping the timing of major projects. |
| The Labor senator Penny Wong presented analysis, produced by the opposition based on budget papers, indicating there had been a total underspend of $6.7bn (or 6.8%) in the defence capital program between 2016-17 and 2022-23. | The Labor senator Penny Wong presented analysis, produced by the opposition based on budget papers, indicating there had been a total underspend of $6.7bn (or 6.8%) in the defence capital program between 2016-17 and 2022-23. |
| Wong said defence spending had been “announced with much fanfare by this government” in the 2016 white paper but the reality was different (adding to a theme that is becoming a major feature of the opposition’s messaging): | Wong said defence spending had been “announced with much fanfare by this government” in the 2016 white paper but the reality was different (adding to a theme that is becoming a major feature of the opposition’s messaging): |
| “We’ve had big announcements but the delivery has been compromised by failure to actually ensure the budget has been spent on acquiring the capability that has been announced.” | “We’ve had big announcements but the delivery has been compromised by failure to actually ensure the budget has been spent on acquiring the capability that has been announced.” |
| The defence minister, Linda Reynolds, said the government had approved more than 400 defence capability-related decisions since 2016 and was seeking to apply good budget management as projects progressed. | The defence minister, Linda Reynolds, said the government had approved more than 400 defence capability-related decisions since 2016 and was seeking to apply good budget management as projects progressed. |
| Steven Groves, the chief finance officer for the defence department, indicated about $500m of the reported underspend related to foreign exchange-related adjustments, $600m represented transfers to the Australian Signals Directorate, and $2.5bn related to government and defence priority changes. | Steven Groves, the chief finance officer for the defence department, indicated about $500m of the reported underspend related to foreign exchange-related adjustments, $600m represented transfers to the Australian Signals Directorate, and $2.5bn related to government and defence priority changes. |
| That $2.5bn included $900m moved to labour expenses because “we had pressures in other parts of the budget”. Defence reallocated $200m to contribute to the national redress scheme because the government expected it to manage those funds within the overall defence funding envelope. | That $2.5bn included $900m moved to labour expenses because “we had pressures in other parts of the budget”. Defence reallocated $200m to contribute to the national redress scheme because the government expected it to manage those funds within the overall defence funding envelope. |
| In terms of rejigging the timing and funding profile of major projects, Groves said the 2016 white paper had featured a “level of ambition” about spending ramping up that had to be adjusted as things progressed. | In terms of rejigging the timing and funding profile of major projects, Groves said the 2016 white paper had featured a “level of ambition” about spending ramping up that had to be adjusted as things progressed. |
| Just on Michael O’Brien, an Ipsos poll conducted for the Age found his approval rating was 15% last week. Daniel Andrews’ was 52%. | Just on Michael O’Brien, an Ipsos poll conducted for the Age found his approval rating was 15% last week. Daniel Andrews’ was 52%. |
| This just released press statement from the Victorian opposition leader, Michael O’Brien, slightly dampens things: | This just released press statement from the Victorian opposition leader, Michael O’Brien, slightly dampens things: |
| Victorians will finally start to catch up to the rest of Australia next month, after almost half a year of lockdowns caused by the Andrews Labor government’s botched hotel quarantine program. | Victorians will finally start to catch up to the rest of Australia next month, after almost half a year of lockdowns caused by the Andrews Labor government’s botched hotel quarantine program. |
| There is much more to do to open up Victoria and today’s belated announcement must only be the start. | There is much more to do to open up Victoria and today’s belated announcement must only be the start. |
| The hotel quarantine second wave appears to have been defeated but the cost to Victorians of Daniel Andrews’ failure is immense. | The hotel quarantine second wave appears to have been defeated but the cost to Victorians of Daniel Andrews’ failure is immense. |
| Victorians have paid a massive price for the worst public policy failure in Australia’s history with around 220,000 jobs lost, thousands of businesses closed and almost 800 deaths. | Victorians have paid a massive price for the worst public policy failure in Australia’s history with around 220,000 jobs lost, thousands of businesses closed and almost 800 deaths. |
| The basic freedoms of Victorians have been taken away by the Andrews Labor government. | The basic freedoms of Victorians have been taken away by the Andrews Labor government. |
| The sacrifices we have been forced to make constitute a permanent scar on our state and its people. | The sacrifices we have been forced to make constitute a permanent scar on our state and its people. |
| The Andrews Labor government caused Victoria’s second wave of Covid-19 by rejecting ADF assistance for hotel quarantine in favour of poorly trained private security. | The Andrews Labor government caused Victoria’s second wave of Covid-19 by rejecting ADF assistance for hotel quarantine in favour of poorly trained private security. |
| Labor then prolonged the harsh lockdowns by continual botching of contact tracing and testing. | Labor then prolonged the harsh lockdowns by continual botching of contact tracing and testing. |
| Too many small businesses have closed forever, too many small businesses were left out of state government financial assistance, too many jobs have been lost in Victoria and too much pain has been endured. | Too many small businesses have closed forever, too many small businesses were left out of state government financial assistance, too many jobs have been lost in Victoria and too much pain has been endured. |
| Daniel Andrews has continually blamed Victorians for his incompetence and has failed to take responsibility. He is more interested in protecting his own job than in protecting the jobs of Victorians. | Daniel Andrews has continually blamed Victorians for his incompetence and has failed to take responsibility. He is more interested in protecting his own job than in protecting the jobs of Victorians. |
| Victoria needs a plan to keep our community safe from Covid-19, but also to turn our focus to getting Victorians back to work to repair the economic damage that’s been done by Labor’s lockdowns. | Victoria needs a plan to keep our community safe from Covid-19, but also to turn our focus to getting Victorians back to work to repair the economic damage that’s been done by Labor’s lockdowns. |
| Only the Liberal Nationals have a plan to reopen Victoria sooner and safer, in a Covid-safe way, and get Victorians back to work. | Only the Liberal Nationals have a plan to reopen Victoria sooner and safer, in a Covid-safe way, and get Victorians back to work. |
| Cheers Amy, well said. I just finished a Rooibos tea, but it is definitely a day for the top shelf (mine is not as well stocked as the premier’s, who I’m reliably informed fancies a red). | Cheers Amy, well said. I just finished a Rooibos tea, but it is definitely a day for the top shelf (mine is not as well stocked as the premier’s, who I’m reliably informed fancies a red). |
| What a lovely feeling to be able to hand over the blog having been able to deliver some good news. Nino Bucci will take you through the rest of the day, but first, a small personal note: | What a lovely feeling to be able to hand over the blog having been able to deliver some good news. Nino Bucci will take you through the rest of the day, but first, a small personal note: |
| I have live blogged most of this year (I usually only do parliament, so running a daily blog has been an experience) and I have to say I can’t remember another day this year where I actually felt lighter at being able to write some words and hit publish. | I have live blogged most of this year (I usually only do parliament, so running a daily blog has been an experience) and I have to say I can’t remember another day this year where I actually felt lighter at being able to write some words and hit publish. |
| But writing out Melbourne is opening up actually brought tears to my eyes. I wasn’t locked down, like a lot of you and many of my colleagues (who kept turning up at their computers day after day, despite the drudgery and isolation – and bringing you important stories and covering this blog), I followed along each day from behind this keyboard. But I read your messages, and I saw your pleas, and your determination, and I shared in the despair and the misery and applauded your grit, humour and courage in trying to find the bright side. | But writing out Melbourne is opening up actually brought tears to my eyes. I wasn’t locked down, like a lot of you and many of my colleagues (who kept turning up at their computers day after day, despite the drudgery and isolation – and bringing you important stories and covering this blog), I followed along each day from behind this keyboard. But I read your messages, and I saw your pleas, and your determination, and I shared in the despair and the misery and applauded your grit, humour and courage in trying to find the bright side. |
| To those who did most of these past six months alone – I hope you could feel us behind you. I hope you get to reunite with your loved ones very soon. I hope you can throw yourself into the sea, or run wild in a green space, and bump into people without a screen in the way (Covid-safe of course). | To those who did most of these past six months alone – I hope you could feel us behind you. I hope you get to reunite with your loved ones very soon. I hope you can throw yourself into the sea, or run wild in a green space, and bump into people without a screen in the way (Covid-safe of course). |
| I hope you can soon see your loved ones and breathe the same air and eat and drink at your favourite haunts to your heart’s content. I hope you can get your eyebrows done, and get that tattoo you’ve been drawing on yourself, and buy new underwear and visit that one deli that sat just outside your bubble, but has that cheese you have been dreaming about. | I hope you can soon see your loved ones and breathe the same air and eat and drink at your favourite haunts to your heart’s content. I hope you can get your eyebrows done, and get that tattoo you’ve been drawing on yourself, and buy new underwear and visit that one deli that sat just outside your bubble, but has that cheese you have been dreaming about. |
| Most of all, I hope you all get to go to sleep tomorrow knowing that come midnight tomorrow night, you get the dose of normal that we have had for long enough now that we have started taking it for granted. It’s not completely the same, but day to day it’s close enough. | Most of all, I hope you all get to go to sleep tomorrow knowing that come midnight tomorrow night, you get the dose of normal that we have had for long enough now that we have started taking it for granted. It’s not completely the same, but day to day it’s close enough. |
| I and the Guardian will be with you on this blog until the end. But, as one of the people privileged to have been able to bring you your daily news during all of this, thank you. Thank you for sharing with us, thank you for trusting us, and thank you for giving us an insight into your life. | I and the Guardian will be with you on this blog until the end. But, as one of the people privileged to have been able to bring you your daily news during all of this, thank you. Thank you for sharing with us, thank you for trusting us, and thank you for giving us an insight into your life. |
| And tonight, I hope you get on whatever your version of the beers happens to be. I’ll be raising one to you Victoria. Take care of you and see you tomorrow. | And tonight, I hope you get on whatever your version of the beers happens to be. I’ll be raising one to you Victoria. Take care of you and see you tomorrow. |
| A statement has just come out from the prime minister’s office: | A statement has just come out from the prime minister’s office: |
| The commonwealth government welcomes the announcement by the Victorian premier to ease restrictions from 11.59pm on Tuesday. | The commonwealth government welcomes the announcement by the Victorian premier to ease restrictions from 11.59pm on Tuesday. |
| Victorians have worked hard and sacrificed a lot to get to this point. We thank them for their patience and perseverance. | Victorians have worked hard and sacrificed a lot to get to this point. We thank them for their patience and perseverance. |
| Today’s announcement is a reflection of the dedication and effort of Victorians – taking the next step to reopen Victorian society and the state’s economy. | Today’s announcement is a reflection of the dedication and effort of Victorians – taking the next step to reopen Victorian society and the state’s economy. |
| After a long winter, there is light at the end of the tunnel for Victorians. | After a long winter, there is light at the end of the tunnel for Victorians. |
| As we said yesterday – Victorians have made great progress in reducing the rate of Covid-19 infections from the second wave outbreak in Victoria. | As we said yesterday – Victorians have made great progress in reducing the rate of Covid-19 infections from the second wave outbreak in Victoria. |
| The new national framework to reopen by Christmas is a clear and transparent, three-step national plan which provides the Australian community and businesses with a way forward where Australians can live and work in a Covid-normal Australia, ensuring that we maintain strong health protections and minimise job losses and mental health impacts. | The new national framework to reopen by Christmas is a clear and transparent, three-step national plan which provides the Australian community and businesses with a way forward where Australians can live and work in a Covid-normal Australia, ensuring that we maintain strong health protections and minimise job losses and mental health impacts. |
| Under the new ‘national framework’ released last week, Victoria is now moving towards step one – an important step on the pathway to Covid-normal. | Under the new ‘national framework’ released last week, Victoria is now moving towards step one – an important step on the pathway to Covid-normal. |
| Australia has been a world leader in fighting the virus to save lives and to save livelihoods and with today’s announcement, we look forward to Victoria continuing to make progress on the path to reopening and joining the rest of the country at steps two and three in the national plan. | Australia has been a world leader in fighting the virus to save lives and to save livelihoods and with today’s announcement, we look forward to Victoria continuing to make progress on the path to reopening and joining the rest of the country at steps two and three in the national plan. |
| It will be important for the Victorian government to provide even more clarity to Victorians in the coming days and where restrictions do not have a health basis that they are removed quickly. | It will be important for the Victorian government to provide even more clarity to Victorians in the coming days and where restrictions do not have a health basis that they are removed quickly. |
| We congratulate Victorians – this was the announcement that they were expecting and one they have worked hard to achieve. | We congratulate Victorians – this was the announcement that they were expecting and one they have worked hard to achieve. |
| It is important for Victoria to safely open and stay safely open. | It is important for Victoria to safely open and stay safely open. |
| The prime minister and premiers Berejiklian, Marshall and Andrews will continue to take advice regarding hard border restrictions. | The prime minister and premiers Berejiklian, Marshall and Andrews will continue to take advice regarding hard border restrictions. |
| The commonwealth government will continue to support Victoria through this crisis. | The commonwealth government will continue to support Victoria through this crisis. |