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Australia Covid updates live: Melbourne protests continue; mandatory vaccinations for Victorian teachers; NSW records 1,035 cases, five deaths Australia Covid updates live: Melbourne protests continue; mandatory vaccinations for Victorian teachers; NSW records 1,035 cases, five deaths
(32 minutes later)
Follow all the day’s newsFollow all the day’s news
NSW Health has confirmed that stay at home orders for Lismore and Albury LGAs will be lifted from midnight tonight. NSW Health has confirmed that stay-at-home orders for Lismore and Albury LGAs will be lifted from midnight tonight.
The LGAs will continue to have some restrictions, but NSW Health thanked the communities there for coming forward for testing in large numbers.The LGAs will continue to have some restrictions, but NSW Health thanked the communities there for coming forward for testing in large numbers.
We are hearing reports that NSW Health has announced stay-at-home orders in Lismore could be lifted tonight. We’ll be sure to bring you more as it comes to light.We are hearing reports that NSW Health has announced stay-at-home orders in Lismore could be lifted tonight. We’ll be sure to bring you more as it comes to light.
Dawson is discussing the AFL grand final, which is due to be held this weekend.Dawson is discussing the AFL grand final, which is due to be held this weekend.
He says there are no changes planned, but urged people to arrive at the stadium early and for people to follow the rules.He says there are no changes planned, but urged people to arrive at the stadium early and for people to follow the rules.
Western Australia’s health minister Roger Cook has announced NSW Health is reporting a truck driver from NSW who was in WA on 16 and 17 September has tested positive to Covid.Western Australia’s health minister Roger Cook has announced NSW Health is reporting a truck driver from NSW who was in WA on 16 and 17 September has tested positive to Covid.
Cook says authorities are investigating the case, with two drivers leaving NSW on 13 September, staying in WA for around two days, sleeping in the truck and wearing masks at all times.Cook says authorities are investigating the case, with two drivers leaving NSW on 13 September, staying in WA for around two days, sleeping in the truck and wearing masks at all times.
WA Commissioner of Police, Chris Dawson, has just confirmed that there will be no changes to restrictions yet.WA Commissioner of Police, Chris Dawson, has just confirmed that there will be no changes to restrictions yet.
We are on standby for a Covid update from Western Australia.We are on standby for a Covid update from Western Australia.
RSL Victoria has slammed the protest at the Shrine of Remembrance, saying the site is “sacred, not a space of protest”.RSL Victoria has slammed the protest at the Shrine of Remembrance, saying the site is “sacred, not a space of protest”.
So, one point made earlier at the emergency services presser was that Geoscience Australia have revised the magnitude of the earthquake down from 6.0 to 5.9.So, one point made earlier at the emergency services presser was that Geoscience Australia have revised the magnitude of the earthquake down from 6.0 to 5.9.
A no-fly zone has been declared over Melbourne, with the assistant commissioner of police in Victoria requesting it in the past hour.A no-fly zone has been declared over Melbourne, with the assistant commissioner of police in Victoria requesting it in the past hour.
Nothing can fly within three nautical miles of Melbourne, which is why there is no aerial footage coming in.Nothing can fly within three nautical miles of Melbourne, which is why there is no aerial footage coming in.
It’s not clear why the no-fly zone has been introduced, but footage now appears to show the protesters cornered at the Shrine of Remembrance.It’s not clear why the no-fly zone has been introduced, but footage now appears to show the protesters cornered at the Shrine of Remembrance.
Unions have denounced the violent protests in Melbourne, but what do employer bodies say?
AIGroup’s Victorian director, Tim Piper, told Guardian Australia the protests are “something that the industry abhors”.
“And, obviously, which just sends the absolute wrong message about the construction industry to the general community.”
“We obviously do not condone violence, and those who are participating in it. A participant here should recognise the long-term implications for their jobs and for the industry in doing what they do in their behaviour.”
He said there were “certainly construction workers involved” in the protests.
“And at the same time, there were certainly antagonists there who, construction people have told me, were wearing clean hi-vis vests.”
AIGroup didn’t mention the violence of the protests in a press release sent out on Tuesday deploring the shutdown of the construction industry, but Piper said it was sent at about 2pm, before the worst clashes with police took place.
“I really wasn’t aware of how violent things were until really the six o’clock news,” he said.
Master Builders Australia has also not issued a stand-alone press release on the stoushes but its Victorian head, Rebecca Casson, was on radio early yesterday condemning protesters as rioters who “do not represent our industry and nor do they speak for our work force”.
Wiebusch has said authorities are checking the buildings near the epicentre for any structural damage, and said it was important people remember how to react to an earthquake:
Wiebusch has given an update from the SES persepctive, saying there have been no injuries reported so far, but that the quake did affect the structural integrity of some buildings:
Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp and Victoria SES chief officer Tim Wiebusch have been providing an update on the response to the earthquake in Melbourne, saying the epicentre was between Mansfield and Rawson.
Crisp said the key impact centres were around the north-east part of Victoria, and that further aftershocks were expected:
Long-time One Nation administrator and former senate candidate Steven Burgess has quit the South Australian branch, saying “there is no room for anyone else” because Pauline Hanson’s former advisor Jennifer Game will get “every winnable spot”.
Game says it isn’t up to her where she goes on the ticket.
“I can put my hat in the ring but the federal party decides,” she says.
There appears to be an escalation in the confrontation between protesters and police in Melbourne, with reports saying police are now advancing on those gathered at the Shrine of Remembrance.
After initial confusion, where reporters there said protesters assumed police were taking a knee at the Shrine and attempted to join in, but it appears police were just adjusting their gear.
The protest in Melbourne has now migrated down south of the Yarra heading towards the Shrine of Remembrance from St Kilda Road.
The hundreds of protesters gathered have lined the steps of the shrine. People on megaphones are telling those gathered to remain calm and respectful.
Police are converging on the site, but were not there waiting, unlike earlier in the day where the police had covered the CBD.
There is noticeably less hi-vis among those gathered than on Tuesday, but there are still a few people in hi-vis.