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Australia news live update: Dylan Alcott is Australian of the Year; Invasion Day protests planned; NSW to record millionth Covid case Australia news live update: Invasion Day protests planned; 64 Covid deaths in Victoria and NSW; Dylan Alcott is Australian of the Year
(32 minutes later)
Follow all the day’s newsFollow all the day’s news
The prime minister and Governor-General are now arriving at the official Australia Day ceremony in Canberra. I’ll bring you updates when the speeches start.
Obviously, today has already been a significantly deadly day in terms of the Covid death toll, but let’s have a closer look at the hospitalisation numbers as well.
Victoria’s total hospitalisation number has risen by 35 to 1,071, with ICU number going down by six, now sitting at 113.
In NSW their hospital total has gone down by 149 to 2,794, with their ICU numbers now sitting at 175 (down 8 from yesterday).
Victoria has recorded 13,507 new Covid cases and sadly 35 more deaths.
New South Wales has recorded 21,030 new Covid cases and 29 more deaths.
Newly minted Australia of the Year Dylan Alcott has been speaking with ABC News Breakfast this morning about what the title means to him.
Those in the central district of Victoria have been warned to prepare for extreme heat today.Those in the central district of Victoria have been warned to prepare for extreme heat today.
Here is Amy Remeikis talking about how uncomfortable Australia really still is with seeing an angry woman. She discusses the shock many felt last year (when the conversation about the culture of sexual assault and harraments in politics really started) after prime minister Scott Morrison his wife Jenny told him to consider what he would want for their daughters if they were in Brittany Higgins’ position Here is Amy Remeikis talking about how uncomfortable Australia really still is with seeing an angry woman. She discusses the shock many felt last year (when the conversation about the culture of sexual assault and harraments in politics really started) after prime minister Scott Morrison said his wife Jenny told him to consider what he would want for their daughters if they were in Brittany Higgins’s position.
Guardian Australia’s fantastic Amy Remeikis is speaking to ABC radio about the strange outcry following 2021 Australian of the Year Grace Tame’s refusal to smile when meeting with prime minister Scott Morrison at the lodge yesterday.Guardian Australia’s fantastic Amy Remeikis is speaking to ABC radio about the strange outcry following 2021 Australian of the Year Grace Tame’s refusal to smile when meeting with prime minister Scott Morrison at the lodge yesterday.
I’ll bring you some quotes as soon as I can, but for now have a listen in on what she had to say on The Project last night.I’ll bring you some quotes as soon as I can, but for now have a listen in on what she had to say on The Project last night.
Cast members of the Netflix reality series Byron Baes have posted videos to social media of people dancing to live music at a crowded Byron Bay venue in apparent contravention of New South Wales Covid measures.Cast members of the Netflix reality series Byron Baes have posted videos to social media of people dancing to live music at a crowded Byron Bay venue in apparent contravention of New South Wales Covid measures.
Two of the show’s other stars have posted videos in the days after receiving positive Covid tests that appear to show them out in public.Two of the show’s other stars have posted videos in the days after receiving positive Covid tests that appear to show them out in public.
Covid case numbers in the northern NSW health district have exploded since December, and staff at hospitals serving the Byron Bay area have reported they are under “extreme strain”.Covid case numbers in the northern NSW health district have exploded since December, and staff at hospitals serving the Byron Bay area have reported they are under “extreme strain”.
On 10 January, two days after the NSW government reintroduced a ban on singing and dancing in hospitality venues, at least three cast members of the reality TV show about social influencers in the Byron Bay area – scheduled for broadcast later this year – were tagged in Instagram videos filmed at the night spot Casa Luna at a birthday party for one of the show’s stars, Hannah Brauer.On 10 January, two days after the NSW government reintroduced a ban on singing and dancing in hospitality venues, at least three cast members of the reality TV show about social influencers in the Byron Bay area – scheduled for broadcast later this year – were tagged in Instagram videos filmed at the night spot Casa Luna at a birthday party for one of the show’s stars, Hannah Brauer.
You can read the full report below:You can read the full report below:
A leading health expert has warned of the potential spread of the virulent Omicron Covid-19 strain during events today as large crowds gather for protest or celebration, AAP reports.
Jane Halton, chair of the coalition for epidemic preparedness and former health department head, says the closer people pack together the more likely it is the virus will spread.
Halton said case numbers were coming down and it appeared as if Australia has come off the peak of the outbreak, but this could be jeopardised by large gatherings on the public holiday.
She stopped short of suggesting events should be cancelled, instead encouraging people to wear masks, maintain social distance and remain cautious.
An aged care provider says it has “no faith” in the commonwealth’s supply of rapid tests after deliveries failed to show for almost three weeks after a Covid outbreak, forcing it to withhold them from essential visitors and scramble unsuccessfully to procure its own.
The government has repeatedly said it is prioritising its stocks of rapid tests to aged care facilities experiencing outbreaks.
But the supply at St Basil’s Homes in South Australia, which runs three facilities in the state, is so precarious that the provider wrote to residents and their families last week, outlining its serious concerns about government supply and warning the tests were “like liquid gold”.
The letter, seen by the Guardian, told families they would need to find their own tests or be barred entry. It also said the provider would be attempting to buy its own tests, which could then be purchased by visitors at cost price.
You can read the full report below:
The aged care and sport minister, Richard Colbeck, attended the Ashes cricket on the same day he declined to appear at the Covid-19 committee citing officials’ “urgent and critical” work combating Omicron.
You can read the full story on that from Paul Karp below:
But for now, let’s have a listen in to what the chair of that committee, shadow finance minister Katy Gallagher, had to say about the situation.
Here is a telling exchange with the Russian ambassador to Australia, Aleksey Pavlovsky, when speaking to ABC radio:
Host Patricia Karvelas:
Pavlovsky:
The Russian ambassador to Australia, Aleksey Pavlovsky:
The Russian ambassador to Australia, Aleksey Pavlovsky, has told ABC radio that Russia has no intention to invade Ukraine.
Red paint has been poured over a statue of Captain Cook in St Kilda, Melbourne.
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.”
It’s 50 years today since the Aboriginal tent embassy was born from that act of defiance. And its demands remain current.
You can read the full story from Lorena Allam and Juno Gemes below:
In Covid news, NSW is expected to report its one-millionth infection of the pandemic today. Half of those cases were added in the last two weeks and more than 90% of them in the last two months.
On Tuesday, NSW premier Dominic Perrottet announced that reintroduced restrictions for mask use, hospitality density limits and bans on singing and dancing – due to end on Thursday – would be extended until the end of February in a bid to suppress the spread of Omicron as children return to school, AAP reports.
He said extending restrictions to February 28 was “the right approach” as it would suppress the spread of Omicron ahead of increased movement once schools return next week, he said.
Under the continuing restrictions, hospitality venues including pubs, nightclubs and cafes will keep an indoor density limit, masks are required in all indoor settings except homes and QR code check-ins are compulsory at certain premises, including hospitality venues and shops.
Good morning everyone, it’s Matilda Boseley here today, and wow there is a lot to talk about already.
Australian tennis star Dylan Alcott is the 2022 Australian of the Year, being awarded the title the same day as advancing to another Australian Open wheelchair final.
But, he said in his speech, “winning grand slams and gold medals isn’t [his] purpose”.
He also used his platform to advocate for free rapid antigen tests for people with disabilities, after the federal government announced they could be purchased through people’s NDIS funds.
Of course, the changing of the Australian of the Year mantel means today is 26 January, and Invasion Day protesters plan to gather at Canberra’s Aboriginal Tent Embassy – which marks 50 years of advocacy – before an expected march to Parliament House.
Ngambri-Ngunnawal elder Matilda House Williams told AAP the struggle was ongoing.
I will bring you all the updates on these protests and other events, rallies and celebrations here on the blog.
With that, why don’t we jump right into the day?