This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2022/feb/06/australia-news-politics-covid-barnaby-morrison-omicron-canberra-parliament-sydney-melbourne-wa-
The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Australia news live updates: deputy PM to face party room after leaked text message furore; NSW records 28 Covid deaths, Victoria six; fire threatens WA towns | Australia news live updates: deputy PM to face party room after leaked text message furore; NSW records 28 Covid deaths, Victoria six; fire threatens WA towns |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Follow all the day’s news live | Follow all the day’s news live |
| Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews wants to open international borders as soon as possible, but says Australia is not at that point at the moment, AAP reports. | |
| News Corp newspapers reported the Morrison government’s nation security committee will meet on Monday where it’s expected to agree to reopening Australia to tourists within two or three weeks. | |
| “We don’t have all of the information that we need to be able to take the decision to open, but we are very close,” Ms Andrews told ABC’s Insiders program on Sunday. | |
| “We are going through the process of preparing to open, and we will continue to talk to the health professionals. So as soon as they say yes, we will work with the states and territories and we will reopen our international borders to tourists.” | |
| Just five per cent of Australians have not had a COVID-19 vaccine, making Australia one of the world’s most-vaccinated countries. | |
| A total 95 per cent of Australians aged 12 and over have had at least one dose of a vaccine, Health Minister Greg Hunt said on Saturday. | |
| The country’s level of protection is now “right at the front of the highest global vaccination rate”, Mr Hunt said. | |
| This rate of vaccination for children is also one of the highest in the world, he said. | |
| Scott Morrison has issued a statement acknowledging the 70th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s accession. | |
| Meanwhile, the Queen has thanked the public for their support and asked them to recognise the Duchess of Cornwell as Queen Camilla when Charles takes the throne. | |
| Queensland chief health officer Dr John Gerrard said that there has been a “substantial reduction in the number of in-patients in public hospitals” with Covid-19. | Queensland chief health officer Dr John Gerrard said that there has been a “substantial reduction in the number of in-patients in public hospitals” with Covid-19. |
| He said that the number in public hospitals has gone down from 727 to 663. The number of people in intensive care there has gone down from 46 to 45. | He said that the number in public hospitals has gone down from 727 to 663. The number of people in intensive care there has gone down from 46 to 45. |
| The number of patients with the virus in private hospitals has stayed the same, at 63. | The number of patients with the virus in private hospitals has stayed the same, at 63. |
| Queensland deputy premier Steven Miles is providing today’s Covid-19 case update. | Queensland deputy premier Steven Miles is providing today’s Covid-19 case update. |
| There are 5,746 new cases and nine deaths. This brings the total number of deaths reported in the state to 277. | There are 5,746 new cases and nine deaths. This brings the total number of deaths reported in the state to 277. |
| Environment minister Susan Ley told Sky News Sunday Agenda this morning that, while it’s been a tough week this morning, said that it’s been a tough week for the prime minister, but insisted that their cabinet is united. | Environment minister Susan Ley told Sky News Sunday Agenda this morning that, while it’s been a tough week this morning, said that it’s been a tough week for the prime minister, but insisted that their cabinet is united. |
| Our friends at AAP have the story: | Our friends at AAP have the story: |
| “The most important issue is the unity in the Morrison government,” Ley said. | “The most important issue is the unity in the Morrison government,” Ley said. |
| Asked whether there was any prospect of Morrison or Joyce being rolled as leader of their respective parties, Ley said: “Not at all, absolutely none.” | Asked whether there was any prospect of Morrison or Joyce being rolled as leader of their respective parties, Ley said: “Not at all, absolutely none.” |
| But shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers said there is no salvaging this government. | But shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers said there is no salvaging this government. |
| Finally, Speers asked about the $60m in extra funding to combat violent extremism, announced last week. He wanted to know whether any of this funding was in response to the anti-vax, anti-mandate protests gathering in Canberra and other places. | Finally, Speers asked about the $60m in extra funding to combat violent extremism, announced last week. He wanted to know whether any of this funding was in response to the anti-vax, anti-mandate protests gathering in Canberra and other places. |
| Andrews said “not specifically”, but added that “our intelligence agencies and law enforcement agencies certainly keeps a very close eye on who is attending those rallies, what the activity is...” | Andrews said “not specifically”, but added that “our intelligence agencies and law enforcement agencies certainly keeps a very close eye on who is attending those rallies, what the activity is...” |
| She said that the funding announced will go towards “countering violent extremism particularly in rural and regional Australia to stop it before it starts”. | She said that the funding announced will go towards “countering violent extremism particularly in rural and regional Australia to stop it before it starts”. |
| Speers pointed out that Andrews’ colleague, George Christensen, was among the protesters this week. He asked Andrews whether Christensen’s actions were “helpful”? | Speers pointed out that Andrews’ colleague, George Christensen, was among the protesters this week. He asked Andrews whether Christensen’s actions were “helpful”? |
| Andrews: | Andrews: |
| Speers asked why “those who have been found to be refugees, don’t pose as a security risk, are still stuck in that hotel?” | Speers asked why “those who have been found to be refugees, don’t pose as a security risk, are still stuck in that hotel?” |
| Andrews: | Andrews: |
| Speers moved on to ask the home affairs minister when the international border is going to open. | Speers moved on to ask the home affairs minister when the international border is going to open. |
| Andrews said that is a priority for the government, and that “the prime minister and I know that I have been working over the last few weeks in particular to make sure that we are ready to open to international tourists as soon as it is safe to do so.” | Andrews said that is a priority for the government, and that “the prime minister and I know that I have been working over the last few weeks in particular to make sure that we are ready to open to international tourists as soon as it is safe to do so.” |
| But she stopped short of setting a date, saying that “we don’t have all the information that we need to be able to make the decision to open, but we are very close.” | But she stopped short of setting a date, saying that “we don’t have all the information that we need to be able to make the decision to open, but we are very close.” |
| Speers asked whether tourists could be turned away after arriving in Australia, like Novak Djokovic. | Speers asked whether tourists could be turned away after arriving in Australia, like Novak Djokovic. |
| Andrews said that it is possible that tourists could be turned back. | Andrews said that it is possible that tourists could be turned back. |
| Andrews said that the government is “doing absolutely everything we can to bring the workforce that is needed” to aged care homes, but said she doesn’t believe it’s possible to guarantee that some aged care homes won’t have to shut down due to workforce shortages. | Andrews said that the government is “doing absolutely everything we can to bring the workforce that is needed” to aged care homes, but said she doesn’t believe it’s possible to guarantee that some aged care homes won’t have to shut down due to workforce shortages. |
| Speers: | Speers: |
| Andrews: | Andrews: |
| Speers turned the conversation to discuss the aged-care Covid-19, noting that the Jetta Gardens Home, where 15 residents have died from the virus, is not far from Andrews’ electorate. He asks what the government is doing? | Speers turned the conversation to discuss the aged-care Covid-19, noting that the Jetta Gardens Home, where 15 residents have died from the virus, is not far from Andrews’ electorate. He asks what the government is doing? |
| Andrews: | Andrews: |