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| Australia news live update: Victoria and Queensland record first cases of Omicron Covid variant; fertility rate falls to record low during pandemic | |
| (31 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 Chinese Embassy has released a statement on the Australian government’s decision to not send any officials to the Beijing Olympics. | |
| The statement bemoans the decision, quotes an old saying and blames Australia for the tense relationship: | |
| Tennis Australia have hit back at suggestions they are seeking to exploit a “loophole” in strict border entry rules so unvaccinated players can compete in the upcoming Australian Open, amid speculation about Novak Djokovic’s ability to enter the country. | |
| On Wednesday morning, Victoria’s deputy premier, James Merlino, responded to a report that Djokovic had the backing of Tennis Australia – the organisers of the Open – to apply for an exemption on medical grounds after repeatedly refusing to reveal his vaccination status. Merlino said: | |
| Government officials have been adamant for months that only fully vaccinated players, their entourages, staff and fans will be granted entry to Melbourne Park for the season’s first grand slam, from January 17-30. | |
| However Djokovic, the world No.1, was this week announced as part of the Serbia team that would compete in the ATP Cup in Sydney in early January, fuelling speculation he could seek to enter the country via New South Wales and may seek an medical exemption to circumvent the harsh rules that apply to unvaccinated travellers. | |
| Tennis Australia, in a statement released later on Wednesday that did not mention Djokovic by name, said “all players, participants and staff at the Australian Open have to be vaccinated”. | |
| Earlier today, Victoria’s Deputy Premier said medical exemptions are ‘not a loophole’ for tennis players looking to go to the Australian Open unvaccinated. | |
| It comes as world number one, Novak Djokovic, continues to refuse to say if he is vaccinated or not, and as he is due to play in the ATP Cup for Serbia in Sydney at the start of January. | |
| It also comes as rumours emerged that Djokovic would exploit a ‘loophole’ to get in, namely making grounds for a medical exemption. | |
| But deputy premier James Merlino denied there was any chance he could play while remaining unvaccinated. | |
| Labor senators Penny Wong and Don Farrell have released a statement backing the government’s decision to not send officials and dignitaries to the Beijing Winter Olympics. | Labor senators Penny Wong and Don Farrell have released a statement backing the government’s decision to not send officials and dignitaries to the Beijing Winter Olympics. |
| Going back to Perrottet, and in a very Sydney discussion he is asked if he really will do something about the Cahill Expressway, which he says he wants to turn into a walkway: | Going back to Perrottet, and in a very Sydney discussion he is asked if he really will do something about the Cahill Expressway, which he says he wants to turn into a walkway: |
| Victoria Health has confirmed it has recorded the state’s first case of the Omicron variant of Covid-19. | Victoria Health has confirmed it has recorded the state’s first case of the Omicron variant of Covid-19. |
| Authorities say genomic sequencing found the case, which is in hotel quarantine at the moment. | Authorities say genomic sequencing found the case, which is in hotel quarantine at the moment. |
| It comes as two other cases are undergoing genomic sequencing to determine if they have the new variant. | It comes as two other cases are undergoing genomic sequencing to determine if they have the new variant. |
| Both the cases are in the community, sparking concern the variant could be spreading. | Both the cases are in the community, sparking concern the variant could be spreading. |
| Perrottet is then asked about whether his proposed reforms include wanting states to have more of a say on international relations: | Perrottet is then asked about whether his proposed reforms include wanting states to have more of a say on international relations: |
| The government website where Australians stuck overseas throughout the pandemic could register for assistance to return home is being shut down. | The government website where Australians stuck overseas throughout the pandemic could register for assistance to return home is being shut down. |
| The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade register was initially set up in 2020 to help Australians and permanent residents who became stranded overseas access commercial and government assisted flights into Australia. | The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade register was initially set up in 2020 to help Australians and permanent residents who became stranded overseas access commercial and government assisted flights into Australia. |
| On its website, Dfat explains the assistance portal is being closed to new registrations because of international travel relaxations and the end to hotel quarantine for vaccinated travellers that came into effect in some states from November. | On its website, Dfat explains the assistance portal is being closed to new registrations because of international travel relaxations and the end to hotel quarantine for vaccinated travellers that came into effect in some states from November. |
| “Following the changes to international travel that came into effect on 1 November 2021, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Covid-19 Registration portal is no longer open for new registrations,” the website states. | “Following the changes to international travel that came into effect on 1 November 2021, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Covid-19 Registration portal is no longer open for new registrations,” the website states. |
| “This temporary portal was established in the context of Australia’s Covid-19 border settings. The process of expressing an interest in seeking consular assistance has reverted to pre-Covid settings.” | “This temporary portal was established in the context of Australia’s Covid-19 border settings. The process of expressing an interest in seeking consular assistance has reverted to pre-Covid settings.” |
| Tens of thousands of residents were registered for assistance at any given time over the past year, with the number fluctuating due to progressive changes in border rules and strict hotel quarantine arrival caps. | Tens of thousands of residents were registered for assistance at any given time over the past year, with the number fluctuating due to progressive changes in border rules and strict hotel quarantine arrival caps. |
| The number of Australians registered as stranded with the government is understood to have peaked at about 45,000, which occurred when Australian states were struggling to contain Delta outbreaks and redirected hotel quarantine staff to the local front line. Australians who had already registered for assistance via the portal can continue to access their accounts. | The number of Australians registered as stranded with the government is understood to have peaked at about 45,000, which occurred when Australian states were struggling to contain Delta outbreaks and redirected hotel quarantine staff to the local front line. Australians who had already registered for assistance via the portal can continue to access their accounts. |
| First question to Perrottet is a juicy one: does he agree wth federal MP Jason Falinski, who this week said that most people in New South Wales have discounted the Icac? | First question to Perrottet is a juicy one: does he agree wth federal MP Jason Falinski, who this week said that most people in New South Wales have discounted the Icac? |
| Does he intend to overhaul it? Has he lost faith? | Does he intend to overhaul it? Has he lost faith? |
| Returning to Perrottet, he’s maintained his thesis on the need for states to work together, but shifted to making the case for reform – specifically, reform on GST distribution. | Returning to Perrottet, he’s maintained his thesis on the need for states to work together, but shifted to making the case for reform – specifically, reform on GST distribution. |
| He laid out two areas – education and health – both hit hard by the pandemic. | He laid out two areas – education and health – both hit hard by the pandemic. |
| But the core of his speech was centred on the need to rethink financial relationships between the states and the commonwealth: | But the core of his speech was centred on the need to rethink financial relationships between the states and the commonwealth: |
| Earlier today Queensland health minister Yvette D’Ath said the state had found two lineages of the Omicron Covid variant in returned travellers – both currently in hotel quarantine. | Earlier today Queensland health minister Yvette D’Ath said the state had found two lineages of the Omicron Covid variant in returned travellers – both currently in hotel quarantine. |
| Infectious disease physician and microbiologist at the Australian National University Peter Collignon said the two lineages are created by the Omicron variant having different genes. | Infectious disease physician and microbiologist at the Australian National University Peter Collignon said the two lineages are created by the Omicron variant having different genes. |
| “It is mainly at the moment an issue about the technicalities on how they are picked up,” he said. | “It is mainly at the moment an issue about the technicalities on how they are picked up,” he said. |
| “If the genes have been deleted, and there’s another lineage where the gene hasn’t been deleted, you may not think it is Omicron when in fact it is.” | “If the genes have been deleted, and there’s another lineage where the gene hasn’t been deleted, you may not think it is Omicron when in fact it is.” |
| While they may behave differently, there was no evidence yet that the vaccines wouldn’t work on both lineages, he said. | While they may behave differently, there was no evidence yet that the vaccines wouldn’t work on both lineages, he said. |
| “We don’t have enough data for Omicron, let alone sublineages of it. It’s a technical issue about how you might classify it.” | “We don’t have enough data for Omicron, let alone sublineages of it. It’s a technical issue about how you might classify it.” |
| Catherine Bennett, the chair of epidemiology at Deakin University, said it was important to understand that this “was not new” and that every variant had different genes. | Catherine Bennett, the chair of epidemiology at Deakin University, said it was important to understand that this “was not new” and that every variant had different genes. |
| “70% or so of Omicron variants don’t have the S-gene dropout. We have variation within strains,” Bennett said. | “70% or so of Omicron variants don’t have the S-gene dropout. We have variation within strains,” Bennett said. |
| She said the S-gene “was interesting” because it could be picked up by the PCR test - which meant health authorities knew it was an Omicron case quicker. | She said the S-gene “was interesting” because it could be picked up by the PCR test - which meant health authorities knew it was an Omicron case quicker. |
| “The pity is, we miss out on the PCR screening when it would have been nice to distinguish it,” she said. | “The pity is, we miss out on the PCR screening when it would have been nice to distinguish it,” she said. |
| “It just takes longer to do, instead of having a result in six hours, it means you have to wait the extra day. | “It just takes longer to do, instead of having a result in six hours, it means you have to wait the extra day. |
| “If they’re connected cases then we would expect it to be Omicron or Delta. It’s really about what happens on our borders, we should be treating everyone as if they have Omicron.” | “If they’re connected cases then we would expect it to be Omicron or Delta. It’s really about what happens on our borders, we should be treating everyone as if they have Omicron.” |
| The Queensland premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, says her government’s officials will abide by a federal diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics. | The Queensland premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, says her government’s officials will abide by a federal diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics. |
| Brisbane is the chosen host of the 2032 Summer games and it had been expected that Queensland officials - including Palaszczuk - would attend as guests of the International Olympic Committee to assist in ongoing preparations. | Brisbane is the chosen host of the 2032 Summer games and it had been expected that Queensland officials - including Palaszczuk - would attend as guests of the International Olympic Committee to assist in ongoing preparations. |
| Palaszczuk said in a statement: | Palaszczuk said in a statement: |