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/dec/08/australia-news-live-update-sydney-party-boat-covid-cases-likely-to-be-omicron-pfizer-enthusiastic-to-talk-to-australia
The article has changed 24 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Australia news live update: Sydney party boat Covid cases likely to be Omicron; Nationals distance themselves from Christensen | Australia news live update: Sydney party boat Covid cases likely to be Omicron; Nationals distance themselves from Christensen |
| (33 minutes later) | |
| Five people on board a Sydney Harbour cruise on Friday night have tested positive to Covid, with two likely the new variant. Follow all the day’s news | Five people on board a Sydney Harbour cruise on Friday night have tested positive to Covid, with two likely the new variant. Follow all the day’s news |
| The treasurer was also asked if Australia intended to follow the US’s lead and declare a diplomatic boycott on the Beijing Winter Olympics. | |
| Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has just spoken to the Today Show about these allegations of hacking but is being a little coy on the details. | |
| A Coalition senator has accused China of acting like a bully, following claims Chinese hackers tried to shut down two Queensland power stations, reports AAP. | |
| Queensland’s CS Energy has confirmed a ransomware incident occurred on its ICT network on Saturday 27 November. | |
| CEO Andrew Bills said in a statement on 30 November: | |
| Bills said the event was another example of a growing trend of cyber-attacks in Australia and overseas. | |
| News Corp publications on Wednesday linked the attack, which could have shut down two thermal coal plants, to Chinese hackers, citing sources familiar with the matter. | |
| “This just underscores how important it is to secure Australia and reduce our dependence on China, who are acting like a bully in our region,” Queensland Nationals senator Matt Canavan told Nine Network on Wednesday. | |
| “This is not an attack or a suspected attack on an Australian government agency. It’s on a private company in Queensland. It’s important that we as the Australian government ... help private companies protect themselves.” | |
| Labor Senator Katy Gallagher has attacked the Coalition leadership’s response to members “spreading disinformation and stoking division”, saying members like George Christensen only receive a “clip around the ear”. | |
| She is speaking to ABC now: | |
| Actor Rebel Wilson has said her own team were opposed to her losing weight because she was “earning millions of dollars being the funny fat girl”. | |
| The Australian actor, 41, documented her physical transformation on social media after embarking on a health and fitness journey a couple of years ago. | |
| “I got a lot of pushback from my own team actually, here in Hollywood, when I said, ‘OK, I’m going to do this year of health, I feel like I’m really going to physically transform and change my life’,” she told BBC Breakfast. | |
| “And they were like, ‘why? Why would you want to do that?’ Because I was earning millions of dollars being the funny fat girl and being that person.” | |
| You can read the full report below: | |
| Australian and English cricketers have been greeted by blue skies in Brisbane as the threat of rain spoiling the first Ashes Test eased, reports AAP. | Australian and English cricketers have been greeted by blue skies in Brisbane as the threat of rain spoiling the first Ashes Test eased, reports AAP. |
| Persistent heavy rain for the last month encouraged by the La Niña weather pattern had hampered preparations for both sides, while long-range forecasts pointed to a soggy Gabba this week. | |
| But only afternoon showers are forecast on Wednesday, with the radar indicating a small amount of rain could fall on each of the next five days. | But only afternoon showers are forecast on Wednesday, with the radar indicating a small amount of rain could fall on each of the next five days. |
| Gabba ground staff have also enjoyed sunny conditions over the past few days to prepare a pitch that, as is tradition on day one, should still offer plenty to the bowlers. | Gabba ground staff have also enjoyed sunny conditions over the past few days to prepare a pitch that, as is tradition on day one, should still offer plenty to the bowlers. |
| Australia retained the Ashes thanks to a 2-2 draw in England in 2019, while the tourists haven’t won a series in Australia for a decade. | Australia retained the Ashes thanks to a 2-2 draw in England in 2019, while the tourists haven’t won a series in Australia for a decade. |
| Wicketkeeper Alex Carey will debut and Travis Head will return to Australia’s middle order after beating Usman Khawaja in the selection race, while England have left out veteran Jimmy Anderson but are yet to settle on their XI. | Wicketkeeper Alex Carey will debut and Travis Head will return to Australia’s middle order after beating Usman Khawaja in the selection race, while England have left out veteran Jimmy Anderson but are yet to settle on their XI. |
| The federal Labor leader, Anthony Albanese, is prepared to override local branches to determine who will run in the key marginal electorate of Parramatta, amid allegations of unresolved branch stacking in the seat. | The federal Labor leader, Anthony Albanese, is prepared to override local branches to determine who will run in the key marginal electorate of Parramatta, amid allegations of unresolved branch stacking in the seat. |
| The move to replace the outgoing MP, Julie Owens, comes as the party’s left faction splits over whether to allow a rank and file ballot, and as the right faction makes a bid for the seat, arguing it needs compensation after Hunter was given to the left’s candidate, Dan Repacholi. | The move to replace the outgoing MP, Julie Owens, comes as the party’s left faction splits over whether to allow a rank and file ballot, and as the right faction makes a bid for the seat, arguing it needs compensation after Hunter was given to the left’s candidate, Dan Repacholi. |
| The soft left, or “Ferguson left” named after powerbroker Laurie Ferguson, which controls branches in the seat, is pushing for a rank and file ballot, but their support is said to be split between Granville state Labor MP Julia Finn, and Durga Owen, who ran for the state seat of Seven Hills at the last state election. | The soft left, or “Ferguson left” named after powerbroker Laurie Ferguson, which controls branches in the seat, is pushing for a rank and file ballot, but their support is said to be split between Granville state Labor MP Julia Finn, and Durga Owen, who ran for the state seat of Seven Hills at the last state election. |
| You can read the full report below: | You can read the full report below: |
| Chester: | Chester: |
| I mention all of this because Nationals MP Darren Chester has been out and about talking to media this morning to attempt to make it clear that George Christensen’s views do not represent every member of the party. | I mention all of this because Nationals MP Darren Chester has been out and about talking to media this morning to attempt to make it clear that George Christensen’s views do not represent every member of the party. |
| He told ABC News Breakfast that he was happy that the party leader had published a statement condemning the comments. | He told ABC News Breakfast that he was happy that the party leader had published a statement condemning the comments. |
| OK so there is plenty of George Christensen related news this morning. Here is a quick recap in case you missed it. | OK so there is plenty of George Christensen related news this morning. Here is a quick recap in case you missed it. |
| The Queensland Nationals MP used an appearance on US conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ online show to advocate for protests outside international Australian consulates over the country’s Covid-19 restrictions. | The Queensland Nationals MP used an appearance on US conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ online show to advocate for protests outside international Australian consulates over the country’s Covid-19 restrictions. |
| At one point during the Infowars interview, Christensen laughed when Jones compared Australia’s quarantine facilities to the Auschwitz concentration camp. | At one point during the Infowars interview, Christensen laughed when Jones compared Australia’s quarantine facilities to the Auschwitz concentration camp. |
| Here is what the prime minister had to say about it yesterday: | Here is what the prime minister had to say about it yesterday: |
| Nationals leader and deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce tweeted from London that he had been made aware of the latest comments by Christensen. | Nationals leader and deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce tweeted from London that he had been made aware of the latest comments by Christensen. |
| Good morning everyone, it’s Matilda Boseley here with you on the blog this morning and I hope you are all feeling well because I have some Covid-19 news for you this morning. | Good morning everyone, it’s Matilda Boseley here with you on the blog this morning and I hope you are all feeling well because I have some Covid-19 news for you this morning. |
| According to NSW authorities, it’s likely that at least two of the five people diagnosed with Covid-19 after attending a party boat cruise on Sydney Harbour last week are likely to have contracted the Omicron variant. | According to NSW authorities, it’s likely that at least two of the five people diagnosed with Covid-19 after attending a party boat cruise on Sydney Harbour last week are likely to have contracted the Omicron variant. |
| All cases are isolating at home. | All cases are isolating at home. |
| NSW Health says “preliminary results indicate two are likely to have” the Omicron variant, but genome sequencing is underway to confirm it. | NSW Health says “preliminary results indicate two are likely to have” the Omicron variant, but genome sequencing is underway to confirm it. |
| Authorities are now racing to contact the about 140 people who signed in with a QR code before boarding the boat, which left King Street Wharf 9 at 7.30pm and returned about 11pm. Individuals who were on board and members of their households are being urged to immediately get tested and isolate. | Authorities are now racing to contact the about 140 people who signed in with a QR code before boarding the boat, which left King Street Wharf 9 at 7.30pm and returned about 11pm. Individuals who were on board and members of their households are being urged to immediately get tested and isolate. |
| Now jumping back in time a little bit, the ABC is reporting that new emails, from last year, show an “enthusiastic” Pfizer, hoping to engage with Australia about the purchase of the Covid-19 vaccine, long before the federal government secured their (underwhelming) supply. | Now jumping back in time a little bit, the ABC is reporting that new emails, from last year, show an “enthusiastic” Pfizer, hoping to engage with Australia about the purchase of the Covid-19 vaccine, long before the federal government secured their (underwhelming) supply. |
| ABC’s current affairs show 7.30 says it has obtained the email under the Freedom of Information Act. | ABC’s current affairs show 7.30 says it has obtained the email under the Freedom of Information Act. |
| It reportedly shows that, in early July 2020, Pfizer Australia emailed the federal health minister’s office with “some positive early data” from the beginning stages of the vaccine’s trials. | It reportedly shows that, in early July 2020, Pfizer Australia emailed the federal health minister’s office with “some positive early data” from the beginning stages of the vaccine’s trials. |
| However, as we know, Australia made the choice to rely heavily on the AstraZeneca vaccine, with supplies of mRNA options extremely limited during Melbourne and Syndey’s deadly Delta outbreaks this year. | However, as we know, Australia made the choice to rely heavily on the AstraZeneca vaccine, with supplies of mRNA options extremely limited during Melbourne and Syndey’s deadly Delta outbreaks this year. |
| OK, with that why don’t we jump right into the day! There is certainly plenty to get through. | OK, with that why don’t we jump right into the day! There is certainly plenty to get through. |