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Victoria records three new cases of COVID-19
By Broede Carmody
Victoria’s daily coronavirus numbers are in.
The state recorded five cases of coronavirus yesterday, two of which we already knew about. So that means three brand new cases.
Victoria’s health department says those three new cases are linked to existing outbreaks.
An additional three cases were detected in hotel quarantine. That’s off the back of 17,538 tests.
Six thousand international deals under the microscope: Payne
By Daniella White
The federal government is scrutinising about 6000 deals between Australian universities, local or state governments and other countries, according to Foreign Minister Marise Payne.
Ms Payne has the power to veto agreements with other countries under laws used to tear up Victoria’s Belt and Road deal with China.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
“It’s a very significant undertaking but what I really want to acknowledge is the cooperation and engagement of the sector, both the university sector and local government and previously state and territory governments,” the Foreign Minister said on 2GB earlier this morning.
“This gives us a much better picture of the relationships and the engagements between entities in Australia and other countries.”
Ms Payne also dismissed comments by WA Premier Mark McGowan after he called on the federal government to stop a rhetoric of conflict and trade retaliation with China.
“We have a strong interest in working constructively with China on our shared interests and goals,” she said.
“We are always ready to discuss our differences with Beijing. But we know that China’s outlook and external engagement has changed significantly in recent years.”
Littleproud wants Asian farm workers to replace UK backpackers
By Roy Ward
Federal agriculture minister David Littleproud wants new farm worker visas for people from Southeast Asia.
It comes after a new free trade agreement was struck between Australia and the United Kingdom. Under the in-principle agreement, Australia will no longer force UK tourists to work in the agricultural sector should they want to stay in the country beyond 12 months.
Agriculture Minister David Littleproud.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
The changes could lead to more than 10,000 labouring positions disappearing from Australian farms. Mr Littleproud said he hoped a new visa would do the job.
“They’ll be able to work here on the proviso they’re in agriculture,” he told the ABC’s RN Breakfast.
“We’ve got a significant shortage and it’s the biggest constraint that we’ve got on agriculture at the moment. There’s been many discussions through embassies and high commissions already around the potential and the opportunity that Australia can provide to many of these countries’ citizens for reliable work.”
Shadow minister for employment Richard Marles said Labor wanted to see the full details of the new free-trade deal before commenting, but acknowledged farm workers were desperately needed.
“We’re obviously concerned not only with that but with the question around access to labour and the agriculture sector where there is a crisis,” Mr Marles told ABC News Breakfast.
“We’re seeing tens of millions of dollars of harvest rotting on the vine as crops are not being able to be harvested in time. We want to understand exactly how that’s going to play out as well. But this is a principled agreement and as a matter of principle, we support it.”
‘Not the best situation’: Southbank townhouse residents self-isolating
By Broede Carmody
Meanwhile, in Melbourne, residents of a Southbank townhouse complex are isolating for 14 days due to a COVID-19 outbreak at their building.
Construction worker Mehran Mirzaee, a resident of the complex, told the Today show it was tough living at a tier 1 exposure site – especially after a couple of weeks of Greater Melbourne’s fourth lockdown – but it was important to keep the wider community safe.
The Kings Park apartment complex in Southbank, where two residents tested positive on Tuesday.Credit:Eddie Jim
“Some people have kids, some people need to go and do shopping,” he said.
“So it’s not the best situation we are in. But I think we all understand because ... this is the plan that we need to take to back to where we were COVID-free.”
Allowing Biloela family to return to Queensland the ‘logical’ solution: friends
By Broede Carmody
A family friend of the Tamil asylum-seeker family fighting to stay in Australia, Angela Fredericks, was speaking on the Today show a short while ago.
Ms Fredericks is an organiser of the Home to Bilo campaign, and said allowing the family to return to regional Queensland was not only the moral solution but the best option for the taxpayer.
Angela Fredericks, one of the founders of the Home to Bilo movement.Credit:Zach Hope
Priya and Nadesalingam Murugappan and their two daughters were reunited in Perth last night but will remain in a community detention arrangement.
“Being in community detention, they’re still being looked after by the taxpayer,” Ms Fredericks said.
“If they were back here, Nades could start working again, he could be providing for his family. More importantly, we actually would be looking after our friends. So on so many levels it’s a logical and a compassionate solution.”
We’ll be sure to keep you up-to-date on this story as more information comes to hand.
South Melbourne Coffee shop, toilets among Victoria’s new exposure sites
By Roy Ward
A South Melbourne coffee shop and the male toilets at South Melbourne Central were added as tier 1 exposure sites on Tuesday night.
Anyone who attended Padre Coffee at South Melbourne Market on June 12 between 11.30am and 12.30pm and anyone who used the male toilets on level two of South Melbourne Central on the same day between 1.45pm to 2.15pm need to quarantine for 14 days.
A South Melbourne coffee shop is among Victoria’s newest COVID-19 exposure sites. Credit:Latika Bourke
Sakura Kaiten Sushi II on Lonsdale Street in Melbourne was also added to the tier-one list for anyone who visited the site on June 13 between 12.30pm and 1.50pm.
A number of sites in South Melbourne and Port Melbourne were also added as tier-two sites. Anyone who visited those locations at the stated times needs to have a COVID-19 test and isolate until they receive a negative result.
Among those tier-two locations are Woolworths South Melbourne Central on June 12 between 1.44pm and 2.15pm, Mister Margherita on June 11 between 6.15pm and 6.35pm and Fruits on Coventry at South Melbourne Market on June 12 to 12.20pm to 12.50pm.
You can check the state government’s full list of coronavirus exposure sites here.
Lamb exporter celebrates free trade deal
By Broede Carmody
Australian lamb exporter Roger Fletcher was speaking on radio station 2GB a short while ago.
He said he was thrilled with the outcome of the Australian-UK free trade talks. Tariffs on Australian beef and lamb are set to be phased out in the UK over 15 years.
British tariffs on Australian lamb are set to be phased out over the next decade and a half. Credit:Jessica Shapiro
“It’s been 47 years [since] the last deal was done,” he said. “It was a hopeless deal, unfortunately. [This new deal] has opened the market up and we’ve got very good quality products.
“These free trade agreements have done a lot for the rural industries.”
US coronavirus death toll hits 600,000
By Chris Zappone
Victorian government weighs lifting outdoor mask rule, regional travel ban
By Sumeyya Ilanbey, Michael Fowler and Melissa Cunningham
The travel ban between regional Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne could be lifted this week along with the requirement to wear masks outdoors after senior state government ministers met on Tuesday evening to consider easing coronavirus restrictions.
Under the plan to be thrashed out with Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton’s team, eight senior cabinet ministers led by acting Premier James Merlino discussed moving Melbourne to the same settings as regional Victoria from 11.59pm on Thursday.
Three weeks into a “circuit breaker” lockdown, businesses are crying out for the regional travel ban to be lifted.Credit:Getty
Read the full story here.
Today’s headlines at a glance
By Broede Carmody
Good morning and thanks for reading our live coverage. It’s Wednesday, June 16. I’m Broede Carmody.
Here’s what you need to know before we jump into the latest headlines:
- Australia and the UK have marked a new era in international relations after agreeing to a historic free trade deal. The age limit for Australians applying for working holiday visas will be increased to 35 and tariffs on Australian lamb are set to be phased out.
- A Tamil asylum-seeker family has been reunited in Perth. Immigration Minister Alex Hawke says the family of four, who have spent the last two years on Christmas Island, can stay on the Australian mainland while they await the outcome of their legal battle to remain in the country.
- Hundreds of residents in a Melbourne townhouse complex are anxiously waiting the results of coronavirus tests to see if a COVID-19 outbreak at their inner-city building has spread. Two cases were detected yesterday. It comes as Melbourne prepares for restrictions to be further eased come Friday.
- In Sydney, NSW health authorities are investigating the possible spread of COVID-19 in the state’s hotel quarantine system. Returned travellers staying in adjacent rooms have tested positive to the same Alpha coronavirus variant.
- Ben Roberts-Smith’s defamation trial continues today. Yesterday, the court was told the former special forces soldier hired a private investigator to follow a woman with whom he had been having a relationship to check whether she had an abortion because he suspected she was lying about being pregnant.
- In Tasmania, popular winter festival Dark Mofo kicks-off in Hobart today. However, the festival’s future is uncertain after a string of controversies and Melburnians being barred from travelling to the island due to coronavirus restrictions.
- And US President Joe Biden has touched down in Geneva ahead of high-stakes talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
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2021-06-15 22:18:28Z
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