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/2021/oct/14/australia-covid-new-south-wales-victoria-act-lockdown-coronavirus-andrews-perrottet-morrison-vaccine-sydney-melbourne

The article has changed 23 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 8 Version 9
Australia Covid live news update: Victoria records 2,297 cases, 11 deaths; NSW 406 cases, six deaths; and ACT 46 cases, one death Australia Covid live news update: Victoria records 2,297 cases, 11 deaths; NSW 406 cases, six deaths; and ACT 46 cases, one death
(32 minutes later)
Follow all the day’s news liveFollow all the day’s news live
With that, I shall pass you over to the warm embrace of Caitlin Cassidy, who will guide you through the afternoon.
Stay safe everyone!
Roberts:
Just on those job numbers, federal Employment minister Stuart Robert has sledged Queensland’s border restrictions urging the premier to provide certainty to businesses.
Australia’s unemployment rate ticked up to 4.6% in September as a further 138,000 jobs were lost due to lockdowns in NSW, Victoria and the ACT.
The jobless rate had unexpectedly eased to a near 13-year low of 4.5% in August as a result of people giving up searching for work, reports AAP’s Colin Brinsden.
The participation rate of those in work or seeking employment fell further in September to 64.5%, from 65.2%. The number of hours worked rose by 15m or 0.9%.
Australian Bureau of Statistics head of labour statistics Bjorn Jarvis said:
In September, there were 111,000 fewer employed people and two per cent fewer hours worked than in March 2020.
Oops!
Hmm, this is interesting. Just ducking back to the NSW premier’s press conference this morning, where Dominic Perrottet was asked about the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils plans to host an online forum that included two members of the Taliban.
Have a read of what he says and then I’ll point out the issue.
Perrottet:
Here is the problem. Geoff Lee isn’t the multicultural minister anymore, it’s Natalie Ward, one of only two Liberal women in the NSW cabinet.
I mean the event got cancelled so clearly he called someone, but did Lee just humour him the whole phone call and pass the message along?
Barr:Barr:
From Tasmania:From Tasmania:
The ACT chief minister, Andrew Barr, is speaking now. Despite relatively high case number and the death of a man who was in palliative care and subsequently infected with Covid-19, Barr is determined to move ahead with reopening now that the territory’s vaccination rates are so high. The ACT chief minister, Andrew Barr, is speaking now. Despite relatively high case numbers and the death of a man who was in palliative care and subsequently infected with Covid-19, Barr is determined to move ahead with reopening now that the territory’s vaccination rates are so high.
Here is what the Victorian acting chief health officer, Prof Ben Cowie has to say about why the state’s cases have jumped so dramatically overnight.Here is what the Victorian acting chief health officer, Prof Ben Cowie has to say about why the state’s cases have jumped so dramatically overnight.
New Zealand has reported 71 new cases of Covid-19 in the community, all in Auckland.The deputy prime minister Grant Robertson said the government had expected to see cases in Auckland rise, but that they are growing more quickly than anticipated.He said health officials believe the outbreak can be contained under the current lockdown settings. Many of the cases are spreading at workplaces and through gatherings inside people’s homes, despite restrictions prohibiting gatherings indoors.New Zealand has reported 71 new cases of Covid-19 in the community, all in Auckland.The deputy prime minister Grant Robertson said the government had expected to see cases in Auckland rise, but that they are growing more quickly than anticipated.He said health officials believe the outbreak can be contained under the current lockdown settings. Many of the cases are spreading at workplaces and through gatherings inside people’s homes, despite restrictions prohibiting gatherings indoors.
Robertson said:Robertson said:
There are now 1,790 cases in the Delta outbreak and 33 of those are in hospital, with five of those in ICU. Of Thursday’s cases, 28 are yet to be linked to an existing cluster.More than 80% of the population over 12 years old has had its first dose of the vaccine, and more than 58% is fully inoculated.There are now 1,790 cases in the Delta outbreak and 33 of those are in hospital, with five of those in ICU. Of Thursday’s cases, 28 are yet to be linked to an existing cluster.More than 80% of the population over 12 years old has had its first dose of the vaccine, and more than 58% is fully inoculated.
The director general of public health Dr Caroline McElnay said Thursday’s cases were “sobering but not unexpected because of where we are in the outbreak”.The director general of public health Dr Caroline McElnay said Thursday’s cases were “sobering but not unexpected because of where we are in the outbreak”.
Dr McElnay said:Dr McElnay said:
The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (Afic) has cancelled its planned online forum that was due to include two senior Taliban representatives.The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (Afic) has cancelled its planned online forum that was due to include two senior Taliban representatives.
In a statement released this morning, Afic say they decided to cancel the event “in response to community concerns” with Afic president Dr Rateb Jneid saying the event was not intended to “legitimise any group”:In a statement released this morning, Afic say they decided to cancel the event “in response to community concerns” with Afic president Dr Rateb Jneid saying the event was not intended to “legitimise any group”:
The event’s announcement sparked outrage in the Afghan and Muslim communities in Sydney, with the Afghanistan-Australian Advocacy Network (AAAN), along with prominent community leaders, condemning the panel earlier today.The event’s announcement sparked outrage in the Afghan and Muslim communities in Sydney, with the Afghanistan-Australian Advocacy Network (AAAN), along with prominent community leaders, condemning the panel earlier today.
The AAAN’s Arif Hussein had called on the event to be cancelled, and for Afic to offer an apology to the Afghan-Australian community:The AAAN’s Arif Hussein had called on the event to be cancelled, and for Afic to offer an apology to the Afghan-Australian community:
The cancellation also comes after NSW premier Dominic Perrottet released a statement, saying the NSW government had asked Afic to cancel the event.The cancellation also comes after NSW premier Dominic Perrottet released a statement, saying the NSW government had asked Afic to cancel the event.
Afic has yet to offer an apology for the event.Afic has yet to offer an apology for the event.
Merlino has confirmed that, TGA approvals permitting, rapid antigen testing will be rolled out in school campuses across Victoria.Merlino has confirmed that, TGA approvals permitting, rapid antigen testing will be rolled out in school campuses across Victoria.
VCE students who are close contacts of positive Covid-19 cases will still be allowed to sit their exams on campus, Victorian education minister James Merlino has confirmed.VCE students who are close contacts of positive Covid-19 cases will still be allowed to sit their exams on campus, Victorian education minister James Merlino has confirmed.
Ummm, I sat my VCE exams six years ago, back in precedented times, and I’m still traumatised. I can’t imagine doing that while in Covid-19 isolation!Ummm, I sat my VCE exams six years ago, back in precedented times, and I’m still traumatised. I can’t imagine doing that while in Covid-19 isolation!
Merlino:Merlino: