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| Australia news live update: at least 43 Covid deaths recorded nationally; Qld says using ADF to evacuate aged care facilities ‘a last resort’ | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Follow all the day’s news live | Follow all the day’s news live |
| The NSW premier Dominic Perrottet is launching the $250 vouchers for accomodation and tourism to be available from tomorrow in the Service NSW app for parents. | |
| He said: | |
| He urged people to continue to wear face masks indoors, and to socially distance. | |
| He also thanked teachers for the seamless transition for children getting back into school. | |
| He says he expects there will be “bumps along the way” in terms of schools being open but teachers are doing an outstanding job. | |
| Queensland deputy premier Steven Miles has dismissed calls for a government integrity probe, saying “you can’t have a royal commission into a vibe”, AAP reports. | |
| Two independent watchdogs, the Liberal National party, Katter’s Australian party and the Greens are calling for a probe amid multiple allegations of interference in regulators and processes. | |
| Outgoing integrity commissioner Nikola Stepanov claims a laptop was taken from her office and wiped, and that the government tried to have her sacked. | |
| Former state archivist Mike Summerell says there was interference in his record-keeping, potentially leading to parliament being mislead. | |
| Miles says those allegations are being investigated properly so there’s no need for a wider inquiry. | |
| The CCC is itself under a cloud after the government ordered a formal commission of inquiry into the watchdog’s functions and structure after its botched probe into Logan Council. | |
| Miles said while “questions have been raised about the CCC” it was still the “appropriate forum” for any allegations of government misconduct. | |
| “If anyone has any new evidence they should forward it to the CCC,” the deputy premier said. | |
| Meanwhile, the premier’s director general Rachel Hunter has launched a third probe into Summerell’s allegations of interference in his record-keeping role. | |
| The terms of reference for Hunter’s review were released on Friday, with the findings due by 4 March. | |
| Good afternoon, everyone. | |
| It’s pride march day here in Melbourne. And protesters have delivered a petition to Victoria police, minister for equality Martin Foley, Midsumma, and the LGBTIQ+ communities commissioner, calling for the police not to march in their uniforms in the march through St Kilda. | |
| In the petition they state: | |
| The organisers say people can march as individuals. | |
| The petition gained 1,180 signatures in six days, including 940 from LGBT Victorians. | |
| Midsumma and the communities commissioner have agreed to meet with the petition organisers but the minister and Victoria police have not responded. | |
| I’m handing over the blog to the brilliant Josh Taylor – see you on the other side of lunch. | |
| As I mentioned earlier, Queensland has recorded 5,746 new Covid-19 cases and tragically, nine more deaths. | As I mentioned earlier, Queensland has recorded 5,746 new Covid-19 cases and tragically, nine more deaths. |
| South Australia Health appears to have announced that close contacts of Covid-19 will now need to get a PCR test to confirm whether they have the virus. | South Australia Health appears to have announced that close contacts of Covid-19 will now need to get a PCR test to confirm whether they have the virus. |
| Queensland deputy premier Steven Miles said this morning that bringing in the defence force to evacuate aged care facilities across the state is a last resort. | Queensland deputy premier Steven Miles said this morning that bringing in the defence force to evacuate aged care facilities across the state is a last resort. |
| There have been concerns around Covid-19 outbreaks at aged care facilities, given the spread of Omicron. | There have been concerns around Covid-19 outbreaks at aged care facilities, given the spread of Omicron. |
| There is a Covid-19 outbreak at Jeta Gardens nursing home in Logan, south of Brisbane, and the aged care watchdog has said that residents there are at an “immediate and severe risk”. | There is a Covid-19 outbreak at Jeta Gardens nursing home in Logan, south of Brisbane, and the aged care watchdog has said that residents there are at an “immediate and severe risk”. |
| Miles said that evacuating aged care is a “difficult task” and knows how “disruptive it can be for those residents”. | Miles said that evacuating aged care is a “difficult task” and knows how “disruptive it can be for those residents”. |
| Miles said he was concerned that the residents in aged care facilities have not had their third Covid-19 shot. | Miles said he was concerned that the residents in aged care facilities have not had their third Covid-19 shot. |
| Back to Scott Morrison’s press conference, the prime minister rejected the idea that the latest texting scandals showed disunity within the government, saying that “my record with my party members and my party in the parliament has been the most united Liberal party and Coalition that we have seen.” | Back to Scott Morrison’s press conference, the prime minister rejected the idea that the latest texting scandals showed disunity within the government, saying that “my record with my party members and my party in the parliament has been the most united Liberal party and Coalition that we have seen.” |
| This brings the number of active cases to 2,623. | This brings the number of active cases to 2,623. |
| There are 60 people in hospital with the virus, including two in intensive care with one ventilated. | There are 60 people in hospital with the virus, including two in intensive care with one ventilated. |
| Morrison said that he and Joyce have “both surprised each other” since being in leadership together. | Morrison said that he and Joyce have “both surprised each other” since being in leadership together. |
| Morrison opens it up to questions and, of course, discussion immediately turns to that text that Barnaby Joyce sent about the prime minister (the one that described Morrison was “a hypocrite and a liar”). | Morrison opens it up to questions and, of course, discussion immediately turns to that text that Barnaby Joyce sent about the prime minister (the one that described Morrison was “a hypocrite and a liar”). |
| Asked how he can continue to work with Joyce, Morrison puts the whole situation down to human frailty. | Asked how he can continue to work with Joyce, Morrison puts the whole situation down to human frailty. |
| Morrison also raises the fact that parliament will be addressing the issue of opening up international borders to international visitors again during this week’s sitting week. | Morrison also raises the fact that parliament will be addressing the issue of opening up international borders to international visitors again during this week’s sitting week. |
| Morrison starts by acknowledging the 70th anniversary of the Queen’s ascension to the throne. | Morrison starts by acknowledging the 70th anniversary of the Queen’s ascension to the throne. |
| Prime minister Scott Morrison is speaking live from Sydney. | Prime minister Scott Morrison is speaking live from Sydney. |