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Australia news live update: Sydney party boat Covid cases likely to be Omicron; Nationals distance themselves from Christensen Australia news live update: Victoria records 1,312 Covid cases, five deaths; 403 cases and one death in NSW; Sydney boat party Omicron fears
(32 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 newsFive 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
Prime minister Scott Morrison is speaking now.
A Queensland police officer is in a stable condition after he was deliberately hit by a stolen car he was trying to pull over in southern Brisbane, reports AAP’s Marty Silk.
Police say the officer had been conducting random speed checks on Orange Grove Rd in Salisbury at about 6.30am this morning.
When he stepped onto the road to flag down a car, the vehicle was allegedly steered towards him and struck him.
The officer is in a stable condition and undergoing medical assessment.
The alleged car drove off and was found a short time later abandoned on Eaton Place in Wishart.
Police are calling for anyone who saw a white Mercedes sedan in the Wishart area between 6.40am and 6.50am to contact them.
Melbourne institution Cherry Bar shuttered its doors for the first time in its history over the weekend as fallout from hospitality staffing shortages continue.
“I made a call I never had to make in 15 years and said ‘We can’t open because we don’t have any staff’,” rock promoter James Young said. “We had to close the fucking doors.”
The live music venue was due to hold a showcase event on Sunday with rock trio Cross Bones Boogie. But Young took to social media on the weekend to announce the band would be rescheduled.
“Everyone worked too hard and too late last night,” he wrote on Facebook. “Staffing is a real issue in hospitality at the moment … this has never happened ever before.”
You can read the full report below:
Looks like we will have to wait a little while longer for the Queensland update today.
The treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, says the Covid-19 vaccine is safe for children, with a final decision on its approval imminent, reports AAP’s Andrew Brown.The treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, says the Covid-19 vaccine is safe for children, with a final decision on its approval imminent, reports AAP’s Andrew Brown.
Australia’s leading vaccination body is set to hand down its decision to the government later this week on whether to approve the Pfizer vaccine for five- to 11-year-olds.Australia’s leading vaccination body is set to hand down its decision to the government later this week on whether to approve the Pfizer vaccine for five- to 11-year-olds.
The country’s medical regulator gave the green light to the vaccine for the cohort last weekend.The country’s medical regulator gave the green light to the vaccine for the cohort last weekend.
Frydenberg told the Seven Network on Wednesday that vaccine use among children in the United States was encouraging.Frydenberg told the Seven Network on Wednesday that vaccine use among children in the United States was encouraging.
The US has already vaccinated more than 5 million children in the age group since regulators approved the immunisation.The US has already vaccinated more than 5 million children in the age group since regulators approved the immunisation.
At a Senate committee hearing on Tuesday, Australia’s chief medical officer, Paul Kelly, said data from the US on reported side effects was reassuring.At a Senate committee hearing on Tuesday, Australia’s chief medical officer, Paul Kelly, said data from the US on reported side effects was reassuring.
The treasurer was also asked if Australia intended to follow the US’s lead and declare a diplomatic boycott on the Beijing Winter Olympics.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.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.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.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: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.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.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 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.”“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”.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: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.
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.
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.
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 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.
You can read the full report below:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.