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| Australia news live update: Qld, NT pass 80% vaccine milestone; Victoria records 1,232 Covid cases, nine deaths; 420 cases and one death in NSW | Australia news live update: Qld, NT pass 80% vaccine milestone; Victoria records 1,232 Covid cases, nine deaths; 420 cases and one death in NSW |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A trivia night at a Sydney pub is the source of a new Covid cluster after 44 people were diagnosed with the virus. Follow live | A trivia night at a Sydney pub is the source of a new Covid cluster after 44 people were diagnosed with the virus. Follow live |
| Miles also had a few words to say about Scott Morrison’s tweet this morning celebrating Qld hitting the 80% vaccination mark. | |
| Morrison wrote: “Well done to Queensland and the NT! Confirming you’ve officially hit 80% double dose vaccination, the target in our National Plan.” | |
| Queensland deputy premier Steven Miles addressed reporters this morning. While he celebrated no new cases of Covid-19 in the state, he warned that “it might be one of our last” double-doughnut days. | |
| Miles said that more people on the Gold Coast need to come forward and get vaccinated against the virus. | |
| Speaking of the sunshine state, Queensland has recorded no new locally-acquired Covid-19 cases. | |
| Queensland did confirm two cases of Omicron in people from overseas on Wednesday. | |
| Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has congratulated the state on hitting the 80% double-dose target for those aged 16 and older, noting it’s one of the few places in the world to do so before experiencing a major Covid-19 outbreak. | |
| The media diversity inquiry, which has examined Rupert Murdoch’s dominance of Australian media, will table its report in the senate today.The inquiry heard from global News Corp chief Robert Thomson, Sky News boss Paul Whittaker and former prime minister Kevin Rudd. | The media diversity inquiry, which has examined Rupert Murdoch’s dominance of Australian media, will table its report in the senate today.The inquiry heard from global News Corp chief Robert Thomson, Sky News boss Paul Whittaker and former prime minister Kevin Rudd. |
| Whittaker vigorously defended Sky’s right to present a range of views on treatments such as ivermectin at an appearance before the committee, which earlier heard from the company’s Australasian chief, Michael Miller.The Senate committee chair, Sarah Hanson-Young, called the inquiry to hear extensive evidence about how News Corp’s media dominance in Australia made it a powerful political player.It was sparked by the success of Rudd’s petition for a royal commission into Murdoch’s dominance which had more than half a million signatures. | Whittaker vigorously defended Sky’s right to present a range of views on treatments such as ivermectin at an appearance before the committee, which earlier heard from the company’s Australasian chief, Michael Miller.The Senate committee chair, Sarah Hanson-Young, called the inquiry to hear extensive evidence about how News Corp’s media dominance in Australia made it a powerful political player.It was sparked by the success of Rudd’s petition for a royal commission into Murdoch’s dominance which had more than half a million signatures. |
| Michael Azrak, the Australian general manager with Moderna, also told ABC News Mornings that Moderna has been “in discussions with the commonwealth [government] for quite some time” about setting up a local manufacturing facility. | Michael Azrak, the Australian general manager with Moderna, also told ABC News Mornings that Moderna has been “in discussions with the commonwealth [government] for quite some time” about setting up a local manufacturing facility. |
| He said that it would be “certainly achievable” to open a facility by the end of 2022. | He said that it would be “certainly achievable” to open a facility by the end of 2022. |
| Michael Azrak, the Australian general manager with Moderna, spoke on ABC News Mornings today. | Michael Azrak, the Australian general manager with Moderna, spoke on ABC News Mornings today. |
| He said that data was still emerging around the effectiveness of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine and booster shot against the new Omicron variant. | He said that data was still emerging around the effectiveness of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine and booster shot against the new Omicron variant. |
| Yesterday, the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration approved the Moderna booster shot for those over the age of 18. | Yesterday, the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration approved the Moderna booster shot for those over the age of 18. |
| Pending Atagi’s recommendation, Azrak said that anyone who has the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine will be able to get the Moderna booster. | Pending Atagi’s recommendation, Azrak said that anyone who has the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine will be able to get the Moderna booster. |
| He said that, while there isn’t a “considerable amount of data, given that the booster rollout has just begun, they haven’t seen any increase in adverse reactions for people who have a Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine and a Moderna booster. | He said that, while there isn’t a “considerable amount of data, given that the booster rollout has just begun, they haven’t seen any increase in adverse reactions for people who have a Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine and a Moderna booster. |
| Up to 160 alleged criminals are in police sights as officers prepare to launch a nationally coordinated strike against organised crime on Thursday, AAP reports. | Up to 160 alleged criminals are in police sights as officers prepare to launch a nationally coordinated strike against organised crime on Thursday, AAP reports. |
| The competition watchdog has approved the $23.6bn takeover of Sydney Airport by a consortium of super funds despite industry concerns over concentration of ownership in the sector. | The competition watchdog has approved the $23.6bn takeover of Sydney Airport by a consortium of super funds despite industry concerns over concentration of ownership in the sector. |
| Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chair Rod Sims said some stakeholders raised concerns the takeover might increase the flow of information between airports that have common ownership, which will be many of the larger ones, giving airports more bargaining power against airlines. | Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chair Rod Sims said some stakeholders raised concerns the takeover might increase the flow of information between airports that have common ownership, which will be many of the larger ones, giving airports more bargaining power against airlines. |
| Sims said: | Sims said: |
| He said the ACCC would continue to monitor airport use prices, which the regulator has consistently said are too high. | He said the ACCC would continue to monitor airport use prices, which the regulator has consistently said are too high. |
| The buyer of the Sydney Airport, Sydney Aviation Alliance, is made up of Industry Funds Management, AustralianSUper, QSuper and Global Infrastructure Partners. | The buyer of the Sydney Airport, Sydney Aviation Alliance, is made up of Industry Funds Management, AustralianSUper, QSuper and Global Infrastructure Partners. |
| Next week, the government is planning to ease border restrictions for a range of temporary visa holders. | Next week, the government is planning to ease border restrictions for a range of temporary visa holders. |
| But for many, the changes will mean little, including those on bridging visas, who are not included in the eased restrictions. | But for many, the changes will mean little, including those on bridging visas, who are not included in the eased restrictions. |
| Another cohort is also facing seven more months stuck abroad. | Another cohort is also facing seven more months stuck abroad. |
| Many recent graduates on temporary 485 visas travelled overseas temporarily, only to find themselves locked out of returning due to the border restrictions. Their visas, which are short-term only, have now expired. | Many recent graduates on temporary 485 visas travelled overseas temporarily, only to find themselves locked out of returning due to the border restrictions. Their visas, which are short-term only, have now expired. |
| The government is offering them the ability to apply for replacement visas, but not until July 2022. That means they cannot return for at least another seven months. | The government is offering them the ability to apply for replacement visas, but not until July 2022. That means they cannot return for at least another seven months. |
| Samantha Raut, who is trapped in Nepal after travelling for her brother’s wedding, is locked out of Australia but is still having to pay her rent, bills, and other expenses while earning a relatively low income in Nepal. The replacement visa costs another $1,680 on top of the $1,680 already spent on the original visa. | Samantha Raut, who is trapped in Nepal after travelling for her brother’s wedding, is locked out of Australia but is still having to pay her rent, bills, and other expenses while earning a relatively low income in Nepal. The replacement visa costs another $1,680 on top of the $1,680 already spent on the original visa. |
| She said: | She said: |
| Barnaby Joyce was asked on Sky News this morning whether having coronavirus had changed his ideas on returning to Covid normal. He replied: | Barnaby Joyce was asked on Sky News this morning whether having coronavirus had changed his ideas on returning to Covid normal. He replied: |
| Joyce added: | Joyce added: |
| He also said it was important that people get vaccinated – and then work out the best way to “get our lives back to as normal as we can”. | He also said it was important that people get vaccinated – and then work out the best way to “get our lives back to as normal as we can”. |
| Laura Jayes asked whether it had changed his perspective at all. Joyce replied: | Laura Jayes asked whether it had changed his perspective at all. Joyce replied: |