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New COVID-19 exposure sites listed in Melbourne
By David Estcourt
Contact tracers are working to find missing links in a growing chain of COVID-19 cases in Melbourne’s north as the health department added new exposure sites in Brunswick and Reservoir overnight.
The new sites include indoor soccer facility Futsal Brunswick on May 23 between 9am and 10am, BT Conor Reserve in Reservoir on May 21 between 8pm and 11.30pm and Coles Express in Reservoir on May 18 between 3.15pm and 4.15pm.
Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton. Credit:Penny Stephens
The health department also added Nando’s Epping on May 19 between 8.30pm and 9.20pm, and store House and Party between 5.15pm and 5.50pm on May 22.
They join sites identified yesterday afternoon including Highpoint Shopping Centre in Maribyrnong, the Urban Diner Food Court in Epping, Jump! Swim Schools in Bundoora and Epping North Shopping Centre.
On Monday Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton warned that one of the infected people had been moving around the community with a high viral load. The exposure site dates back to Tuesday afternoon.
Epidemiologists said one or more undetected cases could have spread the virus beyond the northern suburbs, but Health Minister Martin Foley did not seek to tighten restrictions on Monday or declare a lockdown.
Confirmation of the new COVID-19 cases – among four family members spread over three households in Melbourne’s outer north – sent thousands of people into isolation on Monday.
The current positive cases include two men, a woman, and a child.
Professor Sutton said one of the infected people was “likely to be quite infectious” and warned Melburnians that further exposure sites and more positive cases could be confirmed in coming days.
Stay with us throughout the day for updates on this developing story.
Criminal investigation into Brittany Higgins’ alleged rape nearing conclusion
By Anthony Galloway
The criminal investigation into Brittany Higgins’ sexual assault allegations is reaching its final stages with a brief of evidence to be handed to the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions in the coming weeks.
Appearing before a Senate estimates hearing on Tuesday morning, AFP commissioner Reece Kershaw was also forced to clarify a statement he gave to a parliamentary hearing in March in which he insisted he did not order the head of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Philip Gaetjens, to halt his inquiry into the handling of the complaint.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw appeared before Senate estimates on TuesdayCredit:Alex Ellinghausen
Mr Kershaw said that he told Mr Gaetjens it was “strongly advisable” that he pause his inquiry, but that he did not direct him to do so – which appeared to contradict what Mr Gaetjens had said in a separate inquiry.
“Mr Geatjens called me after my testimony given there was seemingly misunderstanding about different interpretations of our evidence. This is not unusual or surprising in the circumstances, and if he had not called me, I would have made the call,” Mer Kershaw said.
The AFP boss said that the ACT chief of police Neil Gaughan had informed him that a brief of evidence would likely be provided to the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions “in the coming weeks”.
State funeral offered for rugby league legend Bob Fulton
By Sarah McPhee
Rugby league immortal Bob Fulton’s family has been offered a state funeral by the NSW Government, Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced.
“Given groundswell community support, I have overruled the official advice I received and make this offer in recognition of Mr Fulton’s remarkable contribution to rugby league,” she said in a statement.
The late Bob Fulton.Credit:Getty
“On behalf of the people of NSW, I extend my condolences to Mr Fulton’s family and friends.”
The Manly Sea Eagles legend, known as “Bozo”, died aged 74 after a long battle with cancer. He was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1994 for his services to rugby league.
Fulton’s passing was announced by radio broadcaster and close friend, Ray Hadley, ahead of Manly’s round 11 clash with Parramatta which they went on to win 28-6.
Hadley said Fulton had died on Sunday morning in hospital surrounded by his wife and children.
“I’ve announced some sad things on radio but this could be the saddest,” Hadley said. “I’m going to miss him, he was a great man. The most loyal friend I’ve ever had. He will be sadly missed.”
AFL pauses ticket sales
By Claire Siracusa
The AFL has advised that the member on-sale for rounds 11 and 12 will be delayed this morning, with an updated on-sale time to be advised later today.
The Western Bulldogs, who are due to play Melbourne in a blockbuster clash at Marvel Stadium on Friday night, tweeted the news just before tickets were due to go on sale to members on Tuesday morning.
The Victorian government said this morning that it would not make any announcements today on restrictions for cultural and sporting events. A health panel will decide in the coming days what restrictions and crowd limits will be needed.
PM has received report on how to improve Parliament House working conditions
By Katina Curtis
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has issued a statement saying he’s received deputy secretary Stephanie Foster’s report on how to improve workplace conditions for political staffers at Parliament House.
It offers “a number of significant findings that address gaps in existing procedures and processes when it comes to responding to serious incidents, providing support for those impacted by them, and of a preventative nature”, Mr Morrison said.
These include setting up face-to-face education for managers and staff to understand their workplace obligations and how to respond to serious incidents, and developing an independent and confidential complaints mechanism.
The recommendations will go to cabinet.
Watch live: South Australian COVID-19 update
By Broede Carmody
South Australian Premier Steven Marshall, Health Minister Stephen Wade and Deputy Chief Public Health Officer Emily Kirkpatrick are providing a COVID-19 update.
Watch the live press conference below.
Victoria’s outbreak so-called Indian variant, Brett Sutton says
By David Estcourt
We have a little more information about the genomic origin of the recent outbreak.
Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton confirmed that it’s the so-called Indian variant that is now resulting in the outbreak in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.
Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton.Credit:Getty
“It is as infectious as any other variants that have been reported historically ... It has got 15 mutations, two of which are of concern that relate to transmissibility, so we should not be complacent,” he said.
Acting Premier Jame Merlino also confirmed the recent outbreak is linked to the South Australian hotel quarantine breach, as authorities suspected.
Professor Sutton says Victoria has “clearly got chains of transmission”. He said it is possible there is still a missing link between the current outbreak and the positive cases detected at the beginning of May.
“We obviously have to finish the interview with this case,” he said. “If there is an identified crossover with an exposure site for the [recent] case that will be very reassuring, but there might be other cases out there, that’s why the message is very clear … get tested.
“I think this is a reminder that some people have needed to get vaccinated now.”
The new slate of restrictions in Greater Melbourne to contain Victoria’s latest outbreak will be in place until at least June 4.
Head of PM’s department says Brittany Higgins report will be finalised soon
By Katina Curtis
New details in the timeline of who in the federal government knew what and when about the alleged rape of former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins in Parliament House in March 2019 have emerged in answers from the previous round of estimates, held back in March.
The Australian Federal Police have revealed they contacted then-home affairs minister Peter Dutton’s office in October 2019 “in relation to a media enquiry received by ACT Policing, about an alleged sexual assault at Parliament House”.
Phil Gaetjens, the Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, during a Senate estimates hearing on Tuesday.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
The AFP media team told staff in Mr Dutton’s office that ACT Policing had responded to the media query.
Mr Dutton has previously said he did not find out about the allegations until AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw spoke to him on February 11, shortly before Ms Higgins went public with her story.
The AFP answer to the Senate committee confirms “the first recorded contact” with Mr Dutton personally was on February 11.
“The AFP Commissioner had a discussion with the then minister about the matter. In accordance with routine practices, AFP media has informed the minister’s office about [further] media inquiries received in relation to this matter during 2021.”
The head of the Prime Minister’s department, Phil Gaetjens, has been fronting an estimates hearing to answer further questions about the matter.
Mr Gaetjens says he has personally interviewed “in my view ... all relevant people” in the Prime Minister’s office. He’s still waiting for “materials” from some of them and expects his report will be wrapped up in weeks rather than days.
Mr Gaetjens is refusing to say how many people within the Prime Minister’s office he has interviewed, on the grounds it is “highly personal information”.
Labor senators Penny Wong and Katy Gallagher are questioning how the head of the public service doesn’t appear to know how to make a public interest immunity claim, the formal method bureaucrats must use if they want to refuse to answer questions.
“There are 60 people working in the Prime Minister’s office. How can you say providing the number of interviews would be of a highly personal nature?” Senator Gallagher asked.
Victorian government still working through impacts on major events; bars and restaurants unchanged
By David Estcourt
The Victorian state government is still working through how the latest coronavirus restrictions in Greater Melbourne will impact major events such as the football.
But bars and restaurants will remain unchanged, says acting Premier James Merlino.
“So there’s no changes to the arrangements in bars and restaurants [and] no changes to the existing density quotients for bars and restaurants,” he said.
“We’re going to put a pause on the further easings that were to commence on the 28th of May.”
Authorities expect exposure site list to grow
By David Estcourt
Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley says authorities expect the list of exposure sites to grow in coming days.
“Last night, we updated the list of exposure sites to the first four cases and following today’s fifth case and the [contract tracing] interview that’s under way at the moment, we could expect both this list to grow and to change and I’ll go through what that is,” he said.
“We’re working hard to test … [and] isolate all the cases and all the personal and close contacts associated with this outbreak in the Whittlesea area.”
Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley.Credit:Getty
Mr Foley said people should monitor the list of exposure sites closely given there are several exposure windows that require people to isolate immediately and get tested.
In the meantime, Victorian authorities are increasing testing capacity “particularly across the north and the west”, he added.
Private gatherings limited to five in Victoria; masks required inside
By David Estcourt
The Victorian government is reintroducing restrictions in the wake of the recent outbreak in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.
Acting Premier James Merlino says private gatherings are limited to five people, public gatherings are limited to 30 and masks will now be required inside.
“Private gatherings in the home will be limited to five visitors per day, public gatherings will be limited to 30 people, and face masks will need to be worn indoors, unless an exemption applies and this mask requirement is for everyone,” he said.
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2021-05-25 00:46:47Z
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