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Australia news live update: nation records at least 74 Covid deaths; crowds gather for Invasion Day protests; lockdown call for remote NT communities Australia news live update: nation records at least 74 Covid deaths; crowds gather for Invasion Day protests; lockdown call for remote NT communities
(32 minutes later)
Follow all the day’s newsFollow all the day’s news
Here are the latest Covid-19 numbers from around Australia today, as the country records at least 74 deaths from the virus:Here are the latest Covid-19 numbers from around Australia today, as the country records at least 74 deaths from the virus:
VictoriaVictoria
Deaths: 35Deaths: 35
Cases: 13,507Cases: 13,507
Hospitalisations: 1,089 (with 113 in ICU)Hospitalisations: 1,089 (with 113 in ICU)
NSWNSW
Deaths: 29Deaths: 29
Cases: 21,030Cases: 21,030
Hospitalisations: 2,794 (with 175 in ICU)Hospitalisations: 2,794 (with 175 in ICU)
QueenslandQueensland
Deaths: 9Deaths: 9
Cases: 13,551Cases: 13,551
Hospitalisations: 889 (with 47 in ICU)Hospitalisations: 889 (with 47 in ICU)
TasmaniaTasmania
Deaths: 1Deaths: 1
Cases: 712Cases: 712
Hospitalisations: 28 (with 2 in ICU)Hospitalisations: 28 (with 2 in ICU)
ACTACT
Deaths: 0Deaths: 0
Cases: 896Cases: 896
Hospitalisations: 67 (with 5 in ICU)Hospitalisations: 67 (with 5 in ICU)
As Australians celebrate their newfound citizenship around the nation today, many prospective citizens remain waiting.
The average processing time for citizenship by conferral was 13 months from date of application to the decision, a spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs said.
The latest departmental figures show some of these applications take two or more years, with 90% of applications processed within 24 months.
Invasion Day protests are being held across Australia, with large crowds gathering in Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra and other cities.
Several hundred protesters gathered on the lawns outside Parliament House in Canberra, met by a large police contingent.
Stalls and speech tents were also set up at the nearby Aboriginal Tent Embassy, which marks 50 years of activism today.
Helicopters displaying the Australian flag and a low military flyover contrasted with a seas of shirts displaying the Aboriginal flag and statements of Indigenous sovereignty.
In Sydney, thousands of Invasion Day protesters marched through the city, while a large number braved the rain in Brisbane with signs bearing “Change the date” and “Always ways, always will be”.
In Melbourne, statues of Captain James Cook were smeared with red paint.
A group claiming empathy for the protest action said Captain Cook had begun an era of “racism and misogynist violence”:
– with AAP
The parent company of the firm that runs Australia’s offshore processing regime on Nauru has failed to lodge financial reports with the corporate regulator on time, in an apparent breach of corporations law.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has confirmed that it has registered a “report of misconduct” against Rard No 3, the Brisbane-based company that wholly owns Canstruct International, following the Guardian’s inquiries. The potential penalty for filing a report late is a fine of more than $25,000.
Canstruct International has earned $1.82bn since 2017 running Australia’s sole offshore processing operation on the Pacific island. Its contract to provide “garrison and welfare services” for a little over 100 refugees and asylum seekers held on the island was extended last week – its eighth noncompetitive extension – for another six months, for $218.5m.
Severe thunderstorm warnings are now in place for parts of South Australia, Victoria and Queensland.
Meanwhile, more than 16,000 new citizens will be conferred today across 400 ceremonies nationwide.Meanwhile, more than 16,000 new citizens will be conferred today across 400 ceremonies nationwide.
Here are some new Australian citizens pictured alongside pleased politicians:Here are some new Australian citizens pictured alongside pleased politicians:
We should be hearing from WA premier Mark McGowan in the next half an hour.We should be hearing from WA premier Mark McGowan in the next half an hour.
I would like one ticket to the Enchanted Forest of Protection please.I would like one ticket to the Enchanted Forest of Protection please.
I hope to bring you more information soon, but Nine News is reporting Western Australia has recorded 24 new Covid-19 cases today, a slight jump from the past few days.I hope to bring you more information soon, but Nine News is reporting Western Australia has recorded 24 new Covid-19 cases today, a slight jump from the past few days.
Yugambeh Country: The annual Sunrise Ceremony kicked off on the Gold Coast earlier today with speeches from Professor Chelsea Watego, Thomas Mayor, Rhoda Roberts, Erfan Daliri, Kerry O’Brien, Patrick ‘Mau Power’ Mau, Nyadol Nyuon and Azmeena Hussain.Yugambeh Country: The annual Sunrise Ceremony kicked off on the Gold Coast earlier today with speeches from Professor Chelsea Watego, Thomas Mayor, Rhoda Roberts, Erfan Daliri, Kerry O’Brien, Patrick ‘Mau Power’ Mau, Nyadol Nyuon and Azmeena Hussain.
Russia’s ambassador in Australia says the country’s decision to withdraw diplomatic staff from its embassy in Ukraine “would be funny if it wasn’t so sad”, AAP’s Dominic Giannini reports.Russia’s ambassador in Australia says the country’s decision to withdraw diplomatic staff from its embassy in Ukraine “would be funny if it wasn’t so sad”, AAP’s Dominic Giannini reports.
Aleksey Pavlovsky has talked down fears of an invasion of Ukraine, saying there is no intention to go to war as 100,000 troops amass on the border. He told the ABC:Aleksey Pavlovsky has talked down fears of an invasion of Ukraine, saying there is no intention to go to war as 100,000 troops amass on the border. He told the ABC:
Pavlovsky said large-scale military exercises are conducted regularly because Russia has to maintain its preparedness.Pavlovsky said large-scale military exercises are conducted regularly because Russia has to maintain its preparedness.
The Russian ambassador also criticised Australia’s decision to issue a do not travel declaration for Ukraine and for its call for citizens in the country to leave, as well as talking down the impact of sanctions – which have been threatened by western nations including Australia – saying they don’t work.The Russian ambassador also criticised Australia’s decision to issue a do not travel declaration for Ukraine and for its call for citizens in the country to leave, as well as talking down the impact of sanctions – which have been threatened by western nations including Australia – saying they don’t work.
Tensions in Ukraine have been increasing for months, with the west accusing the Kremlin of preparing for war to prevent Ukraine joining NATO. There are concerns Russia is conducting a cyber offensive, having been blamed earlier this month for defacing Ukrainian government websites and infecting computers with destructive malware .Tensions in Ukraine have been increasing for months, with the west accusing the Kremlin of preparing for war to prevent Ukraine joining NATO. There are concerns Russia is conducting a cyber offensive, having been blamed earlier this month for defacing Ukrainian government websites and infecting computers with destructive malware .
Home affairs minister Karen Andrews said Russia posed a risk in terms of cyber security. She told 4BC radio:Home affairs minister Karen Andrews said Russia posed a risk in terms of cyber security. She told 4BC radio:
Foreign minister Marise Payne has reiterated support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, calling for Russia to de-escalate the situation along the eastern European border.Foreign minister Marise Payne has reiterated support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, calling for Russia to de-escalate the situation along the eastern European border.
But former US representative to NATO and US special representative for Ukraine negotiations Kurt Volker said Russia’s presence at crisis talks in France was simply it “going through the motions of engaging in diplomatic activity”, with a possible invasion still imminent.But former US representative to NATO and US special representative for Ukraine negotiations Kurt Volker said Russia’s presence at crisis talks in France was simply it “going through the motions of engaging in diplomatic activity”, with a possible invasion still imminent.
Ngunnawal country – the march to the Tent Embassy in Canberra.Ngunnawal country – the march to the Tent Embassy in Canberra.
Gadigal Country: A sense of the crowd gathered in the Sydney CBD.Gadigal Country: A sense of the crowd gathered in the Sydney CBD.
Still in Victoria:Still in Victoria:
If you haven’t gotten to it yet, Lorena Allam and Juno Gemes’s feature on the 50th anniversary of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy is a beautiful read. It begins:
In the middle of the night, four young Aboriginal men pitched a beach umbrella on the lawns opposite Parliament House and sat down. When dawn broke on 26 January 1972, a police officer came over to ask how long they intended to stay.
“Until we get land rights,” one of the four, Billy Craigie, told the officer.
Commissioner Gibson apparently laughed and said, “that might be a long time”.
Craigie replied: “Well, we’ll be here a long time then.”
Read the full story here:
There is a severe thunderstorm warning in place for parts of Victoria, as well as minor flooding possible at Booligal, Collerina, Goodwins and Hay in New South Wales.
More footage of the significant crowds on Gadigal land in Sydney:
In Victoria, Covid-19 commander Jeroen Weimar is speaking in Frankston.
He said 35 Covid deaths were recorded on Wednesday, the highest single daily figure in some time.
Weimar did not have further details on the age or vaccination status of those who died.
Victoria recorded 59 Covid fatalities on 4 September 2020, the highest number of the pandemic, although the majority of the deaths were from previous months.
Many thanks as always to Matilda Boseley. I’ll be with you for the rest of the afternoon.
With that, I shall hand you over to Caitlin Cassidy to take you through the rest of the day’s news.
Hema Henry has been working as a registered nurse in western NSW for five years and today became an Australian citizen.
“I wanted to experience life in regional Australia. I really love it, I love the quietness and the people are very welcoming, friendly and open,” Henry said.
Henry participated in a cultural smoking ceremony led by Wiradjuri elder Ralph Naden, which is the first time the ceremony has been part of Australia Day celebrations in Gilgandra.
Kylie Louie, a Wiradjuri woman who won a sports achievement award at the ceremony for her contribution to the local Pink Panthers club, said it was her first time ever participating in an Indigenous smoking ceremony.
“It cleansed the mind and I could feel it straight away,” Louie said. “I’ll always remember who I am and where I come from and recognise my culture which I love.”