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Australia Covid news live update: Queensland reopens its border after nearly five months; WA to learn its roadmap out of lockdown Australia Covid news live update: Queensland reopens its border after nearly five months; WA to learn its roadmap out of lockdown
(32 minutes later)
Follow all the day’s developmentsFollow all the day’s developments
Host Michael Rowland: Of course with Queensland’s border opening, tourism minister Dan Tehan is out and about this morning taking a victory lap (even though the decision to open the border has nothing to do with the federal government).
Here he is chatting to ABC radio:
Things seem to be getting pretty loose over in the Barnaby Joyce isolation suite, with the deputy prime minister placing his phone inside a microwave to get the perfect camera angle for his Sunrise interview.
I feel like there is a joke about radiation frying your brain in there somewhere, but I’ll just leave that up to you.
China has responded “irrationally” to the Aukus pact between Australia, the US and Britain, defence minister Peter Dutton says.
The conservative Australian minister continues to mount forthright criticism of the Chinese government, accusing it of “bullying” countries that stand up to it.
Yesterday Dutton said the Australian government had formed the Aukus partnership with the US and the UK because it wanted to see “see increased stability and peace in our region”.
“The response by China to that, I think, was irrational,” he told Sky News Australia.
You can read the full report below:
Time to chat about next year’s election, and the battle the treasurer is facing from an independent in his home seat.
Michael Rowland:
Josh Frydenberg:
Rowland:
Frydenberg:
ABC News Breakfast host Michael Rowland:
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg:Treasurer Josh Frydenberg:
The Queensland premier taking a victory lap as the borders reopen this morning.The Queensland premier taking a victory lap as the borders reopen this morning.
Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is chatting to media this morning, discussing the Queensland border reopening. Federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg is chatting to media this morning, discussing the Queensland border reopening.
He was asked if he is “absolutely confident” that state border closures are now a thing of the past.He was asked if he is “absolutely confident” that state border closures are now a thing of the past.
The NBN has announced plans to switch to 100 per cent renewable electricity by the end of 2025 and use electric or hybrid cars where possibly by 2030, reports AAP. Australia’s NBN Co has announced a “Towards-Zero Carbon Ambition”, with the company outlining a plan to use electricity exclusively from renewable sources by the end of 2025. The NBN has announced plans to switch to 100% renewable electricity by the end of 2025 and use electric or hybrid cars where possibly by 2030, reports AAP. Australia’s NBN Co has announced a “towards-zero carbon ambition”, with the company outlining a plan to use electricity exclusively from renewable sources by the end of 2025.
As well as purchasing 100 per cent renewable electricity from December 2025, an initial three-year roadmap works toward switching to electric or hybrid cars were possible by 2030, and reducing annual energy use by 25 gigawatt hours by the end of 2025. As well as purchasing 100% renewable electricity from December 2025, an initial three-year roadmap works toward switching to electric or hybrid cars were possible by 2030, and reducing annual energy use by 25 gigawatt hours by the end of 2025.
Total electricity generation in Australia was estimated to be 265,232 GWh in 2020, according to government numbers.More than 8.3 million premises are connected to the NBN network, and the company says it will seek a “more efficient use of energy as data demand and the number of connected premises continues to grow”. Total electricity generation in Australia was estimated to be 265,232 GWh in 2020, according to government numbers. More than 8.3m premises are connected to the NBN network, and the company says it will seek a “more efficient use of energy as data demand and the number of connected premises continues to grow”.
NBN Co chief executive Stephen Rue said:NBN Co chief executive Stephen Rue said:
The company has already entered into a renewable power purchasing agreement intended to deliver almost 20 per cent renewable energy to the network by the 2o23 financial year. The company has already entered into a renewable power purchasing agreement intended to deliver almost 20% renewable energy to the network by the 2o23 financial year. It plans to reach the 100% target through further power purchase agreements and contracts for renewables.
It plans to reach the 100 per cent target through further power purchase agreements and contracts for renewables.The announcement comes as NBN Co becomes the first Australian teleco and government business enterprise to join RE100, a global initiative joining “the world’s most influential businesses committed to 100 per cent renewable power”. The announcement comes as NBN Co becomes the first Australian telco and government business enterprise to join RE100, a global initiative joining “the world’s most influential businesses committed to 100% renewable power”.
RE100 Australian co-ordinator Jon Dee said:RE100 Australian co-ordinator Jon Dee said:
Between them, Australian members of RE100 use over 5.5 terawatt hours of electricity a year, enough to power 800,000 Australian homes. Between them, Australian members of RE100 use more than 5.5 terawatt hours of electricity a year, enough to power 800,000 Australian homes.
The Company’s Towards-Zero Carbon Ambition is part of its second Sustainability Report released on Monday, which also looks at social and economic impacts. The towards-zero carbon ambition is part of NBN Co’s second sustainability report released toay, which also looks at social and economic impacts.
With 33 per cent of management positions held by women, NBN Co outperforms the national average, it notes.Additionally, as at 30 June 2021, NBN Co had a gender pay gap of less than one per cent. With 33% of management positions held by women, NBN Co outperforms the national average, it notes. Additionally, as at 30 June 2021, NBN Co had a gender pay gap of less than 1%.
Good morning everyone and welcome to the new week! It’s Matilda Boseley here on the blog with you today and I have some good news to start us off.Good morning everyone and welcome to the new week! It’s Matilda Boseley here on the blog with you today and I have some good news to start us off.
After nearly five months the Queensland border has finally opened!After nearly five months the Queensland border has finally opened!
As of this morning, anyone from Victoria and NSW can enter the sunshine state as long as they are fully vaccinated and have proof of a negative PCR test before beginning their journey.As of this morning, anyone from Victoria and NSW can enter the sunshine state as long as they are fully vaccinated and have proof of a negative PCR test before beginning their journey.
With tens of thousands of people expected to travel today, Jen King is up on the NSW/Queensland border this morning to bring us all the updates.With tens of thousands of people expected to travel today, Jen King is up on the NSW/Queensland border this morning to bring us all the updates.
Let’s go west now because Western Australia’s premier is set to finally reveal when the state’s borders will open, ending months of speculation.Let’s go west now because Western Australia’s premier is set to finally reveal when the state’s borders will open, ending months of speculation.
Mark McGowan is expected to announce a firm date for the reopening, this morning, likely in late-January or early-February. Mark McGowan is expected to announce a firm date for the reopening, this morning, likely in late January or early February.
The state’s borders are currently closed or heavily restricted to every other state or territory except Tasmania. It’s anticipated the vaccination rate will have climbed to 90 per cent by the time the borders finally reopen. The state’s borders are closed or heavily restricted to every other state or territory except Tasmania. It’s anticipated the vaccination rate will have climbed to 90% by the time the borders finally reopen.
Once the borders come down, transitional restrictions will come into effect. This will likely include mask mandates in high-risk indoor settings, and proof of vaccination requirements for large events with crowds of more than 1000 people, nightclubs and casinos. Once the borders come down, transitional restrictions will come into effect. This will likely include mask mandates in high-risk indoor settings, and proof-of-vaccination requirements for large events with crowds of more than 1,000 people, nightclubs and casinos.
Entry to remote Indigenous communities will remain restricted and contact registers will still be used.Entry to remote Indigenous communities will remain restricted and contact registers will still be used.
Okay! With all of that out of the way, why don’t we jump right into the day? OK! With all of that out of the way, why don’t we jump right into the day?