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Watch live: Victoria’s daily COVID-19 update
By Broede Carmody
Victoria’s Acting Premier, James Merlino, is due to hold a press conference with Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton around 11.40am AEST.
Watch live below.
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No new local NSW cases, 900 tested in Moree
By Mary Ward
NSW has recorded no new local coronavirus cases as regional communities are encouraged to come forward for testing after a Melbourne couple drove up the Newell Highway just days before testing positive.
There were 18,525 tests processed in the 24 hours to 8pm Thursday.
People in cars queue for COVID-19 tests in Moree in NSW. Credit:Unicol Visual
The Melbourne couple visited a number of sites at Gillenbah, Forbes, Dubbo, Coonabarabran and Moree between June 1 and June 4 on their way to the Sunshine Coast.
More than 900 coronavirus tests were completed at clinics at Moree on Thursday, where the couple stayed overnight and visited a number of venues.
Hunter New England Local Health District chief executive Michael DiRienzo said the town’s clinics had adequate supplies and encouraged people to keep coming forward if they were at an exposure site or have symptoms.
“Moree District Hospital and Laverty Moree have swabbing supplies and are not turning people away,” he said.
“We are prioritising people who have been at the exposure venues to ensure timely testing for these members of the community.”
There was one new case reported in NSW during the reporting period: a quarantined returned overseas traveller.
Victorian couple have more than 300 close contacts
By Jocelyn Garcia and Cloe Read
Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young says there are 316 close contacts of the couple who travelled into the state from Victoria earlier this month before testing positive to COVID-19.
“We also have a grand total of 959 people who have identified themselves through our portal as having been in either one of the close contact or the casual contact venues,” Dr Young said.
Queensland’s Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said the couple were believed to be at the end of their infectious period. Credit:Getty Image
The Chief Health Officer added that the couple’s virus had been partially sequenced.
“It looks like they have the Kappa variant, which is slightly less infectious, but still more infectious than previous variants,” she said.
When asked whether the couple were essential workers and if that may have explained their travel, Dr Young said that would “be part of the investigation”.
Deputy Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said police had not yet interviewed the couple in terms of any offences.
“And we do not plan to do so until we are advised by health is it safe to do so,” he said. “There is no urgency in sending our officers to interview people who are infected until we need to do that.”
Non-essential travellers putting Queensland ‘at risk’: Health Minister
By Jocelyn Garcia, Cloe Read and Erin Pearson
Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath has lashed out at those trying to cross borders into the state from Victoria without exemptions.
Ms D’Ath said those putting “the state at risk” would cop a fine.
Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath.
“There are people crossing our border who do not have exemptions or the travel declarations to do so,” she said on Friday.
“People who think they can avoid our border controls by jumping in our car, there is every chance that you will be found out. We will make sure you are found. We will make sure that you will face the consequences.”
Queensland police say five Victorians have been fined since May 28 for failing to comply with directions and entering state without exemptions.
Biden and Boris on best behaviour ahead of G7
By Broede Carmody
While the G7 doesn’t kick-off for several hours, US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson are on their best behaviour ahead of the highly-anticipated summit of world leaders.
It’s a very different situation to just a couple of years ago when Biden labelled Johnson a “physical and emotional clone” of Donald Trump.
British PM Boris Johnson, left, and US President Joe Biden are in the UK for the G7.Credit:AP
Read US correspondent Matthew Knott’s latest missive here.
Melbourne exploring vaccine incentives
By Ashleigh McMillan
Melbourne’s Lord Mayor says the city is exploring incentive programs to get Victorians vaccinated, with the potential for a lottery system with prizes such as shopping sprees for those who have had the jab.
Cr Sally Capp said she believed the city should have “a proactive role to play in getting people incentivised to get vaccinated”, with the Melbourne City Council to consider the incentive programs at a Tuesday committee meeting.
Melbourne’s Lord Mayor Sally Capp.Credit:Joe Armao
“I know many private sector organisations are doing the same thing so let’s get excited about this and let’s make sure we keep that momentum going, even as the city reopens,” she told radio station 3AW earlier this morning.
“We’ve got some fantastic offers in the city, everything from a retail spending spree through to entertainment and culture, hospitality and accommodation, so we’re going to be looking at the most incredible package to make it completely compelling for people to get involved and get vaccinated.
“It’s just about encouraging people to get vaccinated, it could work like a lottery as we’ve seen in many other cities around the world.”
During May, the US state of Ohio started a vaccination lottery offering $US1 million in five, rolling lotteries. There’s was a 49 per cent increase in vaccinations among people over the age of 16 since the announcement.
Victoria extends royal commission into Crown
By Patrick Hatch
Victoria has extended its royal commission into casino giant Crown Resorts by 10 weeks and doubled its budget so evidence of potential wrongdoing can be investigated properly.
The state government said this morning it had granted a request from commissioner Ray Finkelstein for more time and funding to complete his assessment of the James Packer-backed group’s suitability to operate its sprawling Southbank casino.
Melbourne’s Crown casino. Credit:Scott McNaughton
The royal commission – announced in February after an inquiry in NSW found Crown was unfit to open its new Sydney casino – was originally due to report back on August 1. That has been extended to October 15, while its budget has grown from $10 million to $19.5 million.
Victoria’s opposition had criticised the inquiry’s original tight timeframe.
Commissioner Finkelstein requested the extension in response to the seriousness of evidence produced through three weeks of public hearings so far, the government said.
That includes Crown’s approach to gambling harm and gambling addiction; its corporate culture, and a bombshell revelation on Monday that it may have underpaid the state almost $200 million in gambling taxes.
“We established this royal commission to get the answers we need about Crown,” acting premier James Merlino said in a statement. “This extension will ensure the scope of evidence provided so far is able to be thoroughly considered.”
Queensland records no new cases of COVID-19
By Jocelyn Garcia
Queensland recorded no new cases of COVID-19 on Friday after an infected Victorian couple travelled to the state and triggered fears of a community outbreak.
The 44-year-old woman and her husband left Greater Melbourne on June 1 while Victoria was in lockdown and drove through NSW to Queensland. They both tested positive this week.
Police are investigating whether the couple lied on their border declaration form to enter Queensland. The state has banned Melburnians from entering since May 28 when a COVID-19 outbreak occurred.
On Friday, Queensland had 15 active cases of COVID-19. Almost 6000 coronavirus tests have been conducted in the past 24 hours.
Sydney Harbour Bridge disappears behind thick fog
By Daniella White
Sydney motorists are being warned about dangerous conditions across all suburbs due to reduced visibility thanks to dense fog flowing in from the city’s west.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge was hidden from sight earlier in the morning when the thick fog blanketed the city.
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Neale Fraser said visibility was reduced to 100 metres in some parts of the city.
Read the full story here.
Brisbane Olympics gives Australia ‘hope’ for post-COVID world: Palaszczuk
By Stuart Layt
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has welcomed the news that the Queensland Olympic bid has been given the vote of confidence by the International Olympic Committee board.
The move means Queensland is now in the box seat to get the games in 2032, and the matter will now progress to a vote of IOC members in July.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.
Ms Palaszczuk said the news on Friday was a huge step forward for the bid.
“We have seen the world transformed by COVID,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“The Olympics gives us hope, gives us inspiration, gives children in our schools the chance to live our Olympic dreams.”
There now needs to be a final presentation in Tokyo, either with the Premier and Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, or sport minister Stirling Hinchliffe and the deputy mayor.
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the IOC found 84 per cent of venues needed for the Games were already in place, and the rest were needed by the community.
“After the State of Origin result, this is the good news Queensland needed,” he said. “We’re approaching this with a lot of optimism.”
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2021-06-11 01:27:32Z
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