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Australia news live update: Daniel Andrews ‘won’t be deterred’ by Victoria protests; NT on edge over Covid cases; flood warnings for NSW Australia news live update: Daniel Andrews ‘won’t be deterred’ by Victoria protests; NT on edge over Covid cases; flood warnings for NSW
(31 minutes later)
Follow all the day’s news liveFollow all the day’s news live
From AAP:
NSW police need to “throw the book” at anti-coal activists who have been staging controversial protests around the Port of Newcastle, Environment Minister Matt Kean says, adding the dramatic stunts are “completely out of line”.
The protesters have struck again, interrupting operations at the world’s largest coal port.
Two protesters on Tuesday night entered the port and attached themselves to a key piece of machinery that loads and unloads coal, shutting down the port.
“Pull your heads in - get out of the way and stop hurting other people going about their lives, running their businesses,” Mr Kean told Sydney radio 2GB on Wednesday.
“There are hundreds of ways to make your views known and advocate for change but risking the lives of rail workers is definitely not one of them.”
Blockade Australia said the activists, named only as Zianna and Hannah, climbed to the top of machinery and suspended themselves out of reach.
“As dawn broke on the coal port the sound of machinery was interrupted as the two protesters used an intricate set up of ropes to manoeuvre themselves over the edge,” the activist group said in a statement.
Protests have disrupted the port and surrounding rail infrastructure in the past two weeks, prompting police to establish a strike force to crack down on the high-profile stunts.
Federal Labor has announced its first major policy announcement in the lead-up to the election.
The party is promising to spend $2.4bn upgrading the national broadband network to deliver faster internet speeds for millions of homes.
Opposition leader Anthony Albanese was talking earlier and said: “Depending upon the lottery of where you live, some people do have access to high-speed broadband, some don’t.
“And we know that during Covid, access to high-speed broadband has been so important for students getting through school, for people working from home, and we know that this isn’t a luxury. This is a part of 21st-century living.”
The government acknowledged last year the system needed upgrading and committed $3.5bn to help another 2 million homes – this policy from Labor goes further.
Currently, 8.3 million premises are connected to the NBN.
Dr Mel Taylor of Macquarie University has researched people’s behaviour in floodwaters. She’s just put out a statement warning people that driving through floodwater and playing in floodwater are the two behaviours most associated with deaths in floods in Australia.
“In our national survey (2019/20), 55 per cent of the public reported that they had driven through floodwater in the last five years. This behaviour is often normalised, with those who do it being likely to do it more than once/repeatedly,” Taylor said.
Most people claim to have driven through floodwater after ‘careful consideration’ rather than it being a spur of the moment thing, also social pressure to keep going and not turn around comes into play.
She said most people will comply but it was when the rain has stopped that most accidents happen.
“Once the rain stops and/or water starts to recede, this is when people are likely to take risks. They are keen to ‘get on with things’ and ‘press on’– whether that’s clearing up or checking on things, or just getting back to normal.
“This is often when accidents happen.”
As always, thank you, Matilda for guiding us through the morning. This is Cait, and I will be with you until the evening. Let’s get this going!
First up, I want to share this video from Natasha May, our rural reporter who is up in Forbes with Mike Bowers to cover the floods.
With that, I shall leave you in the capable hands of Cait Kelly, who will take you through the afternoon’s news.With that, I shall leave you in the capable hands of Cait Kelly, who will take you through the afternoon’s news.
See you tomorrow!See you tomorrow!
The NSW premier has put off a call on extending the state’s emergency pandemic powers until next year, as protesters in Victoria rally over similar laws being considered by its parliament.The NSW premier has put off a call on extending the state’s emergency pandemic powers until next year, as protesters in Victoria rally over similar laws being considered by its parliament.
As the state nears 95 per cent double-dose vaccination, the NSW government this week considered a proposal for some emergency powers to be extended or amended, reports AAP. As the state nears 95% double-dose vaccination, the NSW government this week considered a proposal for some emergency powers to be extended or amended, reports AAP.
Under the Public Health Act - passed in 2010 - the health minister Brad Hazzard can make broad public health orders, like those during the pandemic used to restrict gatherings, limit travel or mandate masks or vaccination in some settings. Under the Public Health Act – passed in 2010 – the health minister, Brad Hazzard, can make broad public health orders, like those during the pandemic used to restrict gatherings, limit travel or mandate masks or vaccination in some settings.
It is understood Hazzard, on behalf of chief health officer Kerry Chant, this week sought changes that would make it easier for the state to force quarantine or self-isolation on people exposed to Covid-19.It is understood Hazzard, on behalf of chief health officer Kerry Chant, this week sought changes that would make it easier for the state to force quarantine or self-isolation on people exposed to Covid-19.
But premier Dominic Perrottet said in a statement on Tuesday night he would defer the decision on extending or changing any of the state’s emergency pandemic powers until 2022.But premier Dominic Perrottet said in a statement on Tuesday night he would defer the decision on extending or changing any of the state’s emergency pandemic powers until 2022.
Hazzard on Tuesday night rejected suggestions he was seeking to drastically expand the powers given to the health minister.Hazzard on Tuesday night rejected suggestions he was seeking to drastically expand the powers given to the health minister.
Guardian reporter Natasha May is out in Forbes today covering the flooding.Guardian reporter Natasha May is out in Forbes today covering the flooding.
Wildlife has been caught up, with wallabies braving the flood waters to reach dry land.Wildlife has been caught up, with wallabies braving the flood waters to reach dry land.
The education minister, Alan Tudge, says the federal government’s revised religious discrimination bill will allow schools to hire on the basis of faith, but they will not be able to discriminate on other characteristics.The education minister, Alan Tudge, says the federal government’s revised religious discrimination bill will allow schools to hire on the basis of faith, but they will not be able to discriminate on other characteristics.
As the government flags its intention to pass the legislation through the Senate by the end of the year, former Labor senator Jacinta Collins is also urging Labor to support the discrimination employment right for faith-based institutions.As the government flags its intention to pass the legislation through the Senate by the end of the year, former Labor senator Jacinta Collins is also urging Labor to support the discrimination employment right for faith-based institutions.
But even if Labor supports the move for faith-based schools, the revised bill’s passage through parliament is complicated by the inclusion of a controversial “statement of belief” clause that will override other state, territory and commonwealth anti-discrimination laws.But even if Labor supports the move for faith-based schools, the revised bill’s passage through parliament is complicated by the inclusion of a controversial “statement of belief” clause that will override other state, territory and commonwealth anti-discrimination laws.
The government has scrapped the contentious Folau clause, which would have protected employers from claims of indirect discrimination if they sanctioned employees for misconduct for expressing religious beliefs. But it retains a similar measure for qualifying bodies.The government has scrapped the contentious Folau clause, which would have protected employers from claims of indirect discrimination if they sanctioned employees for misconduct for expressing religious beliefs. But it retains a similar measure for qualifying bodies.
You can read the full report from Sarah Martin and Paul Karp below:You can read the full report from Sarah Martin and Paul Karp below:
Usman Khawaja and Travis Head have been named in a 15-man Australia squad for the upcoming Ashes series, after selectors chose to leave the door open to both players in their efforts to make the final XI for next month’s first Test against England.Usman Khawaja and Travis Head have been named in a 15-man Australia squad for the upcoming Ashes series, after selectors chose to leave the door open to both players in their efforts to make the final XI for next month’s first Test against England.
The pair, who have been in a rich vein of form in the Sheffield Shield, are now likely fight it out in a practice match between Australia and an A team starting on 1 December to clinch the No 5 spot in Tim Paine’s side.The pair, who have been in a rich vein of form in the Sheffield Shield, are now likely fight it out in a practice match between Australia and an A team starting on 1 December to clinch the No 5 spot in Tim Paine’s side.
Otherwise, the team to face England’s tourists at the Gabba on 8 December is settled, with incumbent Test opener Marcus Harris to partner David Warner at the top of the order for the opening two Test matches.Otherwise, the team to face England’s tourists at the Gabba on 8 December is settled, with incumbent Test opener Marcus Harris to partner David Warner at the top of the order for the opening two Test matches.
At the other end, pace trio Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc will only be displaced in the event of injury or fitness concerns, with Jhye Richardson the most likely quick to step in if needed.At the other end, pace trio Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc will only be displaced in the event of injury or fitness concerns, with Jhye Richardson the most likely quick to step in if needed.
You can read the full report below:You can read the full report below:
Oyster production in South Australia’s famous Coffin Bay has been temporarily halted while the state government investigates a potential disease outbreak, reports AAP.
Coffin Bay, on the southern tip of Eyre Peninsula, is famous nationally for its oysters, which grace the tables of some of Australia’s top restaurants.
The Department of Primary Industries said on Wednesday it had stopped oysters from leaving the area as a precaution, as it investigates a recent rise in Vibrio parahaemolyticus cases.
The bacteria can cause gastrointestinal illness in humans who’ve eaten undercooked shellfish and fish.
Since September, 45 Vibrio parahaemolyticus cases have been linked to eating raw oysters, compared with zero cases in 2020 and eight in 2019.
Officials are trying to trace back recent cases.
“Many growers had already voluntarily closed their harvesting operations,” the department’s executive director of biosecurity, Nathan Rhodes, said.
The closure is likely to be in place until early next week.
Over one day, the Lachlan River can be seen rising quickly just outside of Forbes in central west New South Wales. Rising floodwaters have been threatening homes and agriculture with the State Emergency Service issuing a flood evacuation order for 800 properties in low-lying areas.
You can watch the video below:
Queensland has recorded another Covid-19 free day, with no new local cases reported.
Many of the 12,000 people stranded interstate “are just waiting” for Queensland to scrap Covid-19 quarantine, with 1,319 people successfully applying to isolate at home, the deputy police commissioner says, reports AAP’s Marty Silk.
The new program allows fully vaccinated domestic travellers who test negative for the coronavirus to quarantine at home if they live within two hours’ drive from an airport and have direct, external, “fresh air” access to their dwelling.
Deputy police commissioner Steve Gollschewski says 141 people have arrived since the application system went online at 5pm on Monday.
He says 1,319 border passes for home quarantine have been issued, with more than 12,000 people on the waiting list to enter Queensland.
The state plans to scrap quarantine for fully vaccinated domestic arrivals once 80 per cent of eligible Queenslanders are vaccinated, or December 17 at the latest.
Gollschewski told ABC radio on Wednesday:
Figures show 82.75% of Queenslanders have had one dose of a vaccine and 71.07% are fully vaccinated.
The home quarantine requirements has faced criticism, particularly the need for direct, external, “fresh air” access, which makes most apartment dwellers ineligible.
Queenslanders stranded interstate with their cars on the NSW border are also upset they aren’t allowed to drive to home quarantine, even if they live within two hours’ drive of the border.
The deputy commissioner said the option of home quarantine for drivers was “considered really carefully”, but the government decided it wasn’t safe.
The New South Wales government’s proposed affirmative sexual consent laws contain a loophole that could allow alleged offenders to use mental ill health to escape conviction, according to a leading rape and domestic violence support service.
In a letter sent on Tuesday morning to the NSW attorney general, Mark Speakman, and other MPs, Rape and Domestic Violence Services Australia urged amendments to the laws, which are to be debated in parliament this week.
The service, which runs the NSW Rape Crisis Centre, says it consulted with other providers within the sector, as well as academics and psychologists, before preparing the letter.
The letter says the reforms are “warmly welcomed” and congratulates Speakman for his decisiveness in bringing them before parliament. The reforms were considered the best consent laws in the country by some experts when they were unveiled in May.
You can read the full report below:
A minor flood warning has been issued for communities around the Namoi River in NSW. This includes Bugilbone on Thursday and Goangra on Monday.