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Australia Covid updates live: mandatory vaccination for Victorian teachers as state records three deaths; five deaths in NSW; Melbourne protests continue Australia Covid updates live: mandatory vaccination for Victorian teachers as state records three deaths; five deaths in NSW; Melbourne protests continue
(32 minutes later)
Follow all the day’s newsFollow all the day’s news
A Coles supermarket in Melbourne’s south has been evacuated and closed after a partial collapse of the building’s facade earlier today.
The Prahran Coles is around 600m from the Betty’s Burger location that also partially collapsed earlier today.
A spokesperson for the supermarket told the SMH no one was hurt and that the store was awaiting emergency services and structural engineers to assess the damage before reopening.
The trade minister, Dan Tehan, will head overseas from next week for talks with counterparts in Indonesia, India, United Arab Emirates, Europe and the United Kingdom.
Tehan is now addressing the National Press Club (by Zoom, from his electorate office in Victoria). He has raised hopes about Australia’s international border opening by Christmas.
Tehan will attempt to repair the relationship with Europe, after the backlash over the submarine deal. For more details, see this preview by Amy Remeikis earlier today:
Michele O’Niel, the president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, is on ABC News right now, discussing the protests in Melbourne, and has reiterated what many union officials have been saying: that the protests weren’t largely made up of union members.
She says there are still a “small group” of union members who are actually anti-vaccination, but that it is a “shrinking number of people”:
Good afternoon, Mostafa Rachwani with you today and taking the blog into the evening. A quick thanks to Matilda Boseley for her expert guidance through quite a bit this morning.
With that, I shall hand you over to the amazing Mostafa Rachwani to take you through the afternoon of news.
See you tomorrow!
The Victorian deputy premier has condemned this week’s protesters as violent “thugs”.
Professionals Australia, the union that represents white-collar workers including engineers and scientists, has condemned violent protests in Victoria that have taken over the past two days and included an attack on the offices of the CFMEU.Professionals Australia, the union that represents white-collar workers including engineers and scientists, has condemned violent protests in Victoria that have taken over the past two days and included an attack on the offices of the CFMEU.
In a statement, PA said the protests were “orchestrated by violent right-wing extremists and anti-vaccination activists”. In a statement, PA said the protests were “orchestrated by violent rightwing extremists and anti-vaccination activists”.
It comes after other unions and peak body the ACTU condemned the protests.PA said attacks on emergency services workers were “completely unacceptable” and “particularly offensive to front line healthcare workers including our pharmacists, who for over 18 months now, have undertaken great risks to their own health and well-being to provide our community with the important medical services and supplies they require”.It comes after other unions and peak body the ACTU condemned the protests.PA said attacks on emergency services workers were “completely unacceptable” and “particularly offensive to front line healthcare workers including our pharmacists, who for over 18 months now, have undertaken great risks to their own health and well-being to provide our community with the important medical services and supplies they require”.
PA said it supported vaccination in order to reopen “in a manner that does not put thousands of lives, particularly those of our most vulnerable, at risk”.PA said it supported vaccination in order to reopen “in a manner that does not put thousands of lives, particularly those of our most vulnerable, at risk”.
More arrests at the protests:More arrests at the protests:
Merlino:Merlino:
Merlino says 75% of school staff are already fully vaccinated.Merlino says 75% of school staff are already fully vaccinated.
Merlino:Merlino:
Victoria’s deputy premier, James Merlino, has confirmed that a vaccine mandate will be brought in for all teachers in the state’s primary and high school system and staff at early childhood learning settings, with the deadline for the first does set for just over three weeks times on 18 October.Victoria’s deputy premier, James Merlino, has confirmed that a vaccine mandate will be brought in for all teachers in the state’s primary and high school system and staff at early childhood learning settings, with the deadline for the first does set for just over three weeks times on 18 October.
Rapid antigen testing will also likely become a feature of schooling in term 4.Rapid antigen testing will also likely become a feature of schooling in term 4.
Merlino:Merlino:
Merlino says another $60m will go towards shade clothe grants to help schools create more outdoor learning spaces.
Merlino:
Victoria’s deputy premier, James Merlino, is now discussing the second stage of the state’s back to school plan for term four.
This time it’s all about airflow!
Melbourne protesters are now on Flinder St in the Melbourne CBD.
Point Lonsdale will also relax restrictions.
Merlino:
The regional Victorian city of Ballarat will come out of lockdown tonight say the deputy premier.
Merlino:
Victorian deputy premier James Merlino is speaking now and has given details on the three Covid-19 deaths in Victoria today.
The Australia Capital Territory has recorded 17 new local Covid-19 cases, only one was in quarantine for their entire infectious period.