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Bill Shorten says Andrews needs to 'calm the farm'
By Marissa Calligeros
Former opposition leader and Member for Maribyrnong, Bill Shorten, says he received a "deluge of emails from concerned constituents" yesterday about Premier Daniel Andrews' plan to extend Victoria's state of emergency.
"I think all he wants to do with it is to be able to still have some powers to get people to wear masks and make sure workplaces have safety plans," Mr Shorten told Nine's Today show a short time ago.
"But I think it would be handy if he cleared it up today. I think that figure of the 12 months had everyone freaking out last night. I think the explanation is a lot more benign, but [it's] probably time for 'Dan the Man' to put his explaining skills on display today and just calm the farm."
Shut down cities to save border communities: McKenzie
By Mary Ward
Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie has called on state premiers to move towards city-based restrictions in order to reopen their borders, saying regional communities face "severe and long-term economic, social and health impacts" from border closures.
"We need the premiers to have the guts to shut [cities] down swiftly and securely and let the rest of the state get on with doing business without having to bear the brunt," the Wodonga local said on ABC News Breakfast this morning.
Ms McKenzie said people from Victoria's border communities were just as concerned about people from Melbourne bringing the virus into their town as other states were about the virus crossing the border.
"They're being waved through on major arterials," she claimed, adding it did not "give [her] the confidence that Daniel Andrews can protect us from COVID".
The senator criticised the NSW-Victoria border permit system, saying many locals faced losing their jobs because they did not qualify."We're a nation and we have been for 120 years. I think it's incredibly disappointing that over that 120 years, we've developed national supply chains of food, of workforce, of education systems, etc. And that's all at risk now."
Yesterday, Ms McKenzie told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age "city-centric parochialism" was hurting regional communities through the application of coronavirus restrictions only needed in large cities.
From the front page
Fast spreading mutation now Australia's most common strain of COVID-19
By Jewel Topsfield
A mutation of the coronavirus which appears to increase infectivity is now the most common form of the virus in Australia.
International researchers found a newer strain of SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19, was more infectious in laboratory tests but did not make patients sicker.
The coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Credit:AP
The mutation, known as D614G or the G-variant, is now the most prevalent form of the virus in Australia according to the Bedford lab, which pulls together global genomic data on COVID-19 through the platform Nextstrain.
University of Sydney Professor Edward Holmes - one of the world’s leading experts on the virus - said the evidence showed the mutation increased infectivity when tested on cell cultures under laboratory conditions.
But Professor Holmes – who was not involved in the research – did not believe the impact of the mutation would be as significant in the human population as it was in the laboratory.
Read more: Fast spreading mutation now Australia's most common strain of COVID-19
State of emergency necessary to enforce health rules: AMA past president
By Mary Ward
Australian Medical Association past president Tony Bartone has said he understands why Victorians may feel frustrated after Premier Daniel Andrews announced his intention to extend their state of emergency for another year, but the decision was a necessary logistical manoeuvre.
Speaking on Today, Dr Bartone said, while Australia should not be "enforcing [its] way out of a current pandemic", public health orders have been important measures in controlling the virus.
"Another 12 months extension of the state of emergency in the middle of a stage four lockdown, when we are seeing the first glimmer of hope that we are actually getting on top of this latest wave, was obviously news that was confronting, perhaps, but it is also necessary to understand the reasons behind [it]," he said.
"It wasn't a signal that [Victoria] was going to extend the current lockdown, and perhaps that's how some people interpreted it, but it is about having the necessary ability to allow the Chief Health Officer's directives to be enforced."
Dr Bartone said he appreciated the call "got people by surprise", with stage four "starting to take its toll" psychologically on Melburnians.
"Already some people are starting to show signs of fatigue of those restrictions," he said.
"So it is about communicating with the entire community and taking them on a journey."
It is a journey of faith, it is a journey of getting to the other side, and we all have a part to play – and we have to be very careful about the way we introduce new measures and take everyone along with us."
Usain Bolt in isolation, awaiting test results
Jamaican track sensation Usain Bolt said on social media Monday he is awaiting the result of a coronavirus test and is quarantining himself as a precaution.
The 34-year-old retired sprinter who won gold in the 100 and 200 meters at the last three Olympics posted a video on social media to explain the situation.
“Good morning everybody. Just waking up. Like everybody, checked social media and saw that social media says I’m confirmed of COVID-19,” he said. “I did a test Saturday, because I work. I’m trying to be responsible, so I’m going to stay in and stay here for my friends.”
Bolt, who appeared to be laying in bed in the video, said he has no symptoms.
“Just to be safe, I’ll quarantine myself and just take it easy,” he said.
He wrote in the posts: “Stay safe my ppl" with hands folded in prayer.
The comments on his post ranged from well wishes like “please get better my legend” to advice such as “drink up your ginger tea non stop.”
On the track, Bolt was known for his poses — his “Lighting Bolt” became iconic — and of course his post-race celebrations. His speed and charisma made his sport can’t-miss viewing whenever he lined up in the blocks.
Bolt set the world records in the 100 and 200 meters at the 2009 world championships in Berlin. He retired after worlds in 2017.
Supermarkets, university cafe added as Queensland health alert list grows to 77 sites
By Toby Crockford
A variety of supermarkets, a university campus cafe, butcher shops and a bakery are among more than 15 new sites added to the list of locations visited by COVID-positive patients while infectious.
Queensland Health has also announced personal protective equipment is mandatory for staff, patients and visitors in hospitals in the Greater Brisbane area.
The list length was stretched to 77 locations on Monday night following the latest additions by Queensland Health, in relation to cases linked to the Brisbane Youth Detention Centre cluster.
Read more: Supermarkets, university cafe added as health alert list grows to 77 sites
What does an extension to state of emergency powers mean?
By Marissa Calligeros
In short, extending Victoria's state of emergency enables the Chief Health Officer to impose restrictions, without getting parliamentary approval first.
State of emergency powers include:
- Mandatory self-isolation for people infected with COVID-19
- Mandatory face masks
- Density limits on businesses, restaurants, cafes and sports stadiums
- Mandatory COVID-Safe plans
Opposition Leader Michael O'Brien is not supporting the plan, meaning Premier Daniel Andrews needs the support of at least four upper house MPs to approve the move.
Mr Andrews will introduce a bill to extend the state of emergency powers when Parliament sits next week.
'This is the act of a megalomaniac': Jeff Kennett slams Andrews' state of emergency extension
By Marissa Calligeros
Former Liberal premier Jeff Kennett has made clear his opposition to Premier Daniel Andrews' plan to extend Victoria's state of emergency by 12 months.
"The Premier said he might keep the state of emergency in place until we have a vaccine. We may never have a vaccine," Mr Kennett told Sky News.
"Are we all going to be locked up at the whim of the Premier? Without any checks and balances? This is an act of a megalomaniac."
Opposition Leader Michael O'Brien does not support the move, saying politicians should never have the level of control over people's lives that the Premier is proposing.
"This is not the act of a democrat – this is the act of a Premier whose power has gone to his head," Mr O'Brien said.
Amid the growing backlash, Mr Andrews took to Twitter and Facebook to defend his proposal last night.
He said the state of emergency extension would not impact how long the current lockdown will last, adding, "These changes are about saving lives and keeping Victorians safe - nothing more, nothing less".
Premier Daniel Andrews defends state of emergency extension on social media
By Marissa Calligeros
Premier Daniel Andrews has taken to social media overnight to defend his plan to extend Victoria's state of emergency by at least 12 months to mid-September 2021.
Mr Andrews announced the plan at his press conference on Monday, but he needs the support of at least four upper house crossbench MPs to pass the legislation needed for the unprecedented extension.
With opposition mounting last night, the Premier took to Twitter and Facebook to explain the move.
Here is an excerpt from his lengthy Facebook post:
"You don't need to be the Chief Health Officer to realise that this virus isn't going to disappear next month, and that until we find a vaccine - we'll be dealing with it for a while to come, in some form or another.
That's why we're introducing changes to allow the State of Emergency to be extended up until mid-September 2021.
This doesn't mean we will be in lockdown for another 12 months - or that we're forced to remain in a State of Emergency for that long either.
It just means it is there if the health experts tell us it's needed.
Every corner of the country is under some level of restriction right now.
And our laws are some of the most conservative emergency laws in Australia – almost every other state and territory can renew their equivalent emergency declarations indefinitely – we don't think that's necessary.
This is about ensuring that we can legally make the changes our health experts need to keep us safe. Because we can't let all our hard work just go to waste.
And getting back to normal won't ever be an option if we can't protect what we've already achieved.
These changes are about saving lives and keeping Victorians safe - nothing more, nothing less."
Mr Andrews stressed the state of emergency extension was not the same as the state of disaster and that he was not proposing stage four lockdown measures such as Melbourne's 8pm curfew be extended.
The Premier said the extended state of emergency would prolong "commonsense" rules on face masks and social distancing, which he said had driven down virus transmission.
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2020-08-24 20:47:00Z
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