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Australia politics live update: new Covid-19 variant Omicron detected in Sydney; NSW floods worsen Australia politics live update: Greg Hunt gives press conference as new Covid-19 variant Omicron detected in Sydney; NSW floods worsen
(33 minutes later)
Follow all the news liveFollow all the news live
Greg Hunt:
Will there be a change in when people receive their boosters? A shorter time period?
Greg Hunt on Atagi:
Prof Paul Kelly on what they know so far about the variant:
Chief health minister professor Paul Kelly then steps up:
So far there is nothing new in this press conference – Greg Hunt is going through what we already know:
Vaccination rates.
Booster program.
Quarantine for certain travellers.
National cabinet in the next 48 hours.
Waiting for more information on the variant.
The health minister starts his press conference with an update of Australia’s vaccination progress as well as the booster program.
He then moves into a recap of what has been done:
The Omicron Covid variant has been ruffling investors globally but it seems the panic button’s not been pressed in Australia yet despite the first cases turning up over the weekend.
The ASX200 benchmark share index did dive at the opening, losing more than 1%. But after two goes at breaking 7200 point mark, it has bounced back, paring losses to about 0.5% for the day.
Still, other markets, such as Japan’s Nikkei is due to open about 1.9% lower, according to Reuters, so there’s still some nervousness around.
Oil prices are also clawing back some of their losses, another sign that the fear factor has eased from late last week.
Of interest to Australians, or course, are interest rates. Omicron’s emergence on Friday sent US Treasury bills lower by the most since March 2020 when the threat of Covid began to emerge. That concern has also moderated a bit today.
Australians, meanwhile, have been flocking to the regions. New data from CoreLogic showed 24 of 25 areas sampled showed at least a double-digit increase in the past year in property prices. Half of the regions posted rises of at least 20%.
The best performing regional areas were the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven region in NSW, recording an annual growth rate in house values of 35.9%, followed by the Richmond – Tweed region in northern NSW (32.8%) and Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, which recorded an annual growth rate of 32.3%, CoreLogics said.
Laggards included Queensland’s Townsville, where houses rose by 8% in price in the year, while those in New England and north-west NSW took the longest to sell, averaging about 62 days on the market.
The Northern Territory rights bill debate is momentarily adjourned and the Senate moves on to a health insurance legislation amendment.The Northern Territory rights bill debate is momentarily adjourned and the Senate moves on to a health insurance legislation amendment.
For those with one eye on the Hunter river at the moment.For those with one eye on the Hunter river at the moment.
Labor senator Malarndirri McCarthy says she does not personally support voluntary assisted dying (which the NT rights bill focuses on) but she thinks the territory should have the rights to set its own laws.Labor senator Malarndirri McCarthy says she does not personally support voluntary assisted dying (which the NT rights bill focuses on) but she thinks the territory should have the rights to set its own laws.
Zed Seselja has switched the ensuring Northern Territory rights bill (Sam McMahon’s private members bill) to what it would mean for the ACT – and he is not a fan.Zed Seselja has switched the ensuring Northern Territory rights bill (Sam McMahon’s private members bill) to what it would mean for the ACT – and he is not a fan.
Greg Hunt will be holding a press conference at 11.30.Greg Hunt will be holding a press conference at 11.30.
The royal commission into veteran suicide begins today in Brisbane.The royal commission into veteran suicide begins today in Brisbane.
AAP has a recap:AAP has a recap:
A suicidologist and the mother of an army veteran who took his own life will be the first witness to appear at the royal commission into veteran suicide at its first round of public hearings.A suicidologist and the mother of an army veteran who took his own life will be the first witness to appear at the royal commission into veteran suicide at its first round of public hearings.
Nikki Jamieson will join a panel of experts to give evidence about her own experience, following the death her son Daniel in 2014 and her subsequent work as a university researcher into the impact of “moral injury” within veteran communities.Nikki Jamieson will join a panel of experts to give evidence about her own experience, following the death her son Daniel in 2014 and her subsequent work as a university researcher into the impact of “moral injury” within veteran communities.
Evidence from veterans and their families will be the main focus in the first two weeks of the wide-ranging inquiry being held at the Brisbane Convention Centre from Monday.Evidence from veterans and their families will be the main focus in the first two weeks of the wide-ranging inquiry being held at the Brisbane Convention Centre from Monday.
The commission has flagged its landmark inquiry into Australia’s defence force culture will include confronting accounts of life in the service, including bullying, “concerns over the treatment of women”, sexual and physical assaults and ritual hazing of new recruits.The commission has flagged its landmark inquiry into Australia’s defence force culture will include confronting accounts of life in the service, including bullying, “concerns over the treatment of women”, sexual and physical assaults and ritual hazing of new recruits.
Evidence will also be heard about the challenges of accessing mental health support after deployment and “the loss of identity and community” after transitioning to civilian life.Evidence will also be heard about the challenges of accessing mental health support after deployment and “the loss of identity and community” after transitioning to civilian life.
Chair of the inquiry, commissioner Nick Kaldas, said on Friday he and his two fellow commissioners believe it is a “once in a generation opportunity for lasting, fundamental change” to tackle the suicide crisis.Chair of the inquiry, commissioner Nick Kaldas, said on Friday he and his two fellow commissioners believe it is a “once in a generation opportunity for lasting, fundamental change” to tackle the suicide crisis.
Commissioner and psychiatrist Peggy Brown added that “while I don’t believe that any government department ... in Australia sets out to fail, or to lack compassion, there can be no doubt that systemic issues are contributing to the suicide deaths of our defence members and veterans.”Commissioner and psychiatrist Peggy Brown added that “while I don’t believe that any government department ... in Australia sets out to fail, or to lack compassion, there can be no doubt that systemic issues are contributing to the suicide deaths of our defence members and veterans.”
“That is something this royal commission must change – absolutely.”“That is something this royal commission must change – absolutely.”
Labor’s ploy worked.Labor’s ploy worked.
Labor has worked with the crossbench to bring this forward – the bill belongs to Country Liberal party MP Sam McMahon, but it was dropped by the government last week in exchange for Pauline Hanson’s anti-vaccine mandate bill (which the government didn’t support, but five government senators, including McMahon crossed the floor on).Labor has worked with the crossbench to bring this forward – the bill belongs to Country Liberal party MP Sam McMahon, but it was dropped by the government last week in exchange for Pauline Hanson’s anti-vaccine mandate bill (which the government didn’t support, but five government senators, including McMahon crossed the floor on).
For those wondering what the parliament will be doing today (legislation wise).
If you are in the flood zone, we are thinking of you.
New South Wales premier Dominic Perrottet says that a third person in the state has “possibly” tested positive for the new strain of Covid-19, Omicron, but has urged other leaders against making “knee-jerk” reactions to the variant.
The state’s health department announced yesterday that two people who had recently returned from southern Africa had tested positive for the new variant in Sydney.
New rules introduced by the government over the weekend means that people arriving from a series of southern African countries – where the variant was first detected – must undergo 14 days quarantine.
On Monday, Perrottet announced that in addition to the two confirmed cases, NSW Health was reviewing whether there was “possibly” a third case among the 141 people who flew into the state from southern Africa in the past 48 hours.
But the premier – who despite reintroducing quarantine measures has resisted any changes to the state’s roadmap out of Covid-19 restrictions – warned he was not interested in returning to wide scale hotel quarantine or heavy handed restrictions.
Parliament begins at 10am today.
Who will be voting for what?
Who knows these days.
The federal government plans on changing regulations to let the telecommunications sector shut down scam text messages.
But that won’t stop you getting spam messages from the Palmer United party. That’s a different thing entirely.
And ahead of parliament (where the government does not want to talk about an anti-corruption commission) there is also this story from Katharine Murphy:
Scott Morrison enters the final parliamentary sitting week of the year facing fresh questions about the Coalition’s record of administering grants to government electorates.
New analysis has found, since 2013, the bulk of government grant money has gone to government-held seats.
The analysis says $3.9bn has been allocated under seven federal programs since the Coalition came to power, and $2.8bn, or 71% of the total taxpayer-funded pool, has gone to projects in government electorates.
According to the analysis, conducted by the Australia Institute, only $903m was distributed to Labor-held seats in programs that gave ministers discretion over how grants were allocated, while $232m went to electorates held by independents or minor parties.
NSW and Victoria have posted their daily updates:
Radio and TV broadcaster Patricia Karvelas will replace Fran Kelly on RN Breakfast on ABC Radio it was announced this morning.
The host of Radio National’s RN Drive will move into the Breakfast slot next year, replacing Kelly who is stepping down after 17 years.
Known as PK, Karvelas said the radio show set the national agenda each day and it is “the best job on radio”.
Karvelas will host the show from Melbourne, joining ABC TV’s News Breakfast as a Victorian based national news program.
The ABC’s head of entertainment and specialist Michael Carrington said PK “has something to offer every listener from political analysis to important and intriguing social and cultural issues”.
Kelly’s last day is Thursday.
The Kate Jenkins review into the parliamentary workplace culture will be handed to the government today.
Asked about it last week, Scott Morrison did not commit to making it public.
NSW premier Dom Perrottet is not for closing: