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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
End Covid For All’s Tim Costello has addressed Australia’s decision to end local manufacturing of AstraZeneca once the current contract is met.
Forrest says the fact the federal government still hasn’t set an official net zero by 2050 target is an “enormous concern”:
Back in the ACT, Andrew Barr addresses the vaccination mandates that were introduced yesterday for the education sector.
He says mandates have always been used as the “absolute last measure”.
Forrest turns to “increasingly rare, fear-mongering politicians” who have been pushing back against net zero by 2050 targets:
Forrest:
Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest touts the raft of announcements made in Queensland and NSW this week:
Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest is about to virtually address the National Press Club. I’ll bring you the highlights – the title of his address is “Green Hydrogen, the Power of Now”, which is timely.
Victoria today downgraded the ACT from a red zone to an orange zone.
Many thanks to Matilda Boseley – hopefully my embrace will be suitably warm. I’ll be with you for the rest of the day.
With that, I shall pass you over to the warm embrace of Caitlin Cassidy, who will guide you through the afternoon.With that, I shall pass you over to the warm embrace of Caitlin Cassidy, who will guide you through the afternoon.
Stay safe everyone!Stay safe everyone!
Roberts: Robert:
Just on those job numbers, federal Employment minister Stuart Robert has sledged Queensland’s border restrictions urging the premier to provide certainty to businesses. 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.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 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%.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: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.In September, there were 111,000 fewer employed people and two per cent fewer hours worked than in March 2020.
Oops!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.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.Have a read of what he says and then I’ll point out the issue.
Perrottet: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.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?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:
From Tasmania:
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.
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:
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”.
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.
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 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.
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.
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!
Merlino: