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Watch live: Victoria’s COVID-19 update
By Broede Carmody
Victorian Small Business Minister Jaala Pulford and COVID-19 response commander Jeroen Weimar are due to provide a coronavirus update from 11.30am AEDT.
Watch live below.
Please note we are experiencing some technical issues with the stream and you may need to refresh your browser.
ACT records 17 new cases of COVID-19, eight deaths
By Jennifer Duke
The ACT has reported 17 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of active cases in the territory to 441.
There were 1578 negative results in the 24 hours to 8pm on Sunday. There are 17 people currently in hospital with the virus and nine are in the intensive care unit.
Eight deaths were recorded since the ACT’s last COVID update.
Across the territory, 79.5 per cent of people aged above 12 were fully vaccinated.
ACT Health has raised concerns in recent days about the low number of people being tested for the virus.
PM won’t upgrade 2030 emissions target amid net zero debate
By David Crowe
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has confirmed the government will not upgrade its 2030 target to reduce carbon emissions, but will take an eventual net zero pledge to a United Nations summit as a formal commitment.
Mr Morrison told the Liberal Party meeting he intended to go to the Glasgow climate summit with net zero by 2050 as a nationally determined contribution (NDC), the formal term for a target, rather than a non-binding statement of policy.
Scott Morrison has announced he will attend the Glasgow climate talks from October 31. Credit:James Brickwood
Mr Morrison told the Liberals, however, that he would not upgrade the government’s NDC for 2030 and would stand by the target he took to the last election, cutting emissions by 26 to 28 per cent by 2030 on 2005 levels.
“He said it was an issue at the last election and the Government would honour that,” said one Liberal in the room.
Energy Minister Angus Taylor gave a presentation to the Liberal meeting, but it was described as “high level” and did not include projections for 2030 or 2050 or details on what might be offered to the Nationals to win their support.
Mr Morrison and Mr Taylor both emphasised that Australia would suffer economically if it did not go ahead with a net zero 2050 target, with the Prime Minister pointing to changes in Japan and South Korea that could impact Australian energy exports over time.
But Mr Morrison did not ask for a decision or vote from colleagues, reminding Liberals the policy was a matter for federal cabinet and did not require legislation in Parliament.
While Queensland Liberal Senator Gerard Rennick told the meeting he rejected the need for a net zero pledge, other conservatives accepted the policy and moderates backed the outcome.
NSW Liberal Senator Hollie Hughes, who is from the inland town of Moree, expressed frustration with the Nationals, sayingd the Liberals represented more people in regional Australia.
“She gave the Nats a serve,” said one of her colleagues. But there was no stronger criticism of the Nationals or Mr Joyce, as most Liberals are seeking to avoid a clash.
New outdoor trading grants for Victorian businesses
By Simone Fox Koob
The Victorian state government has announced a new package which will provide support to businesses in setting up outdoor street trading, including parklets and pop-up bars.
The $54.5 million outdoor economy package will support businesses set up the infrastructure to allow them to trade outdoors.
Victorian Small Business Minister Jaala Pulford. Credit:Justin McManus
A $14.5 million voucher program will provide more than 7000 Victorian businesses, community organisations, not-for-profits and trader associations with $2000 grants when they spend at least that amount to support outdoor hospitality and entertainment.
Victorian Small Business Minister Jaala Pulford said the new grants would help Victorian small businesses, who had sacrificed a lot during lockdowns, to recover.
“We are now in a position to reopen safely, based on the best possible health advice,” she said.
The vouchers can be used for expenses including purchasing and hiring marquees, screens and umbrellas, obtaining insurance and promoting outdoor operations. About 20 per cent of the vouchers will be allocated to regional Victoria.
The vouchers can also be used by hairdressers, beauty services, retail shops, dance studios and gyms.
Another $40 million fund will be set up to allow councils to help improve outdoor areas.
“Councils will work with their communities to breathe new life into streets and shopping strips across the state, making the most of outdoor opportunities this summer and beyond,” said Local Government Minister Shaun Leane.
Ms Pulford acknowledged the new support package to fund more infrastructure for outdoor trading won’t work for every business.
She said she imagined some hair and beauty services, for example, would have some procedures which people would want to keep private. But she said they did not want to limit the package to just hospitality, as some businesses – such as fitness facilities – could be keen to use the outdoor space.
“This will be a matter of the individual business of how much they want to embrace this,” she said.
Victoria inches towards 90 per cent single dose target
By Simone Fox Koob
Almost 90 per cent of Victorians over the age of 16 have now received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
During today’s coronavirus update, Victorian Small Business Minister Jaala Pulford said 32,405 vaccines were administered on Sunday, bringing the first-dose vaccination rate to 89.2 per cent with 66.5 per cent of Victorians now fully vaccinated.
There were 851 people currently in hospital with COVID-19 and 155 are in intensive care. Of those in ICU, 103 were on a ventilator. A total of 69,825 tests were processed in the past 24 hours.
“Again, another very, very significant day and very significant effort by so many people across our community,” Ms Pulford said.
Victoria recorded 1903 new coronavirus cases as the state prepared to move out of lockdown on Friday.
There were more than 61,000 primary close contacts in isolation. Victorian COVID-19 Response Commander Jeroen Weimar said the geographic spread of the cases was similar to what authorities had seen in recent weeks, with an accelerating trend in the south-eastern suburbs where there were 592 cases reported today.
There were 188 cases in the Casey local government area. In the western suburbs there were 519 new cases, and in the north there were 497 cases.
There were 166 new cases in regional Victoria, including 38 in Greater Geelong, 29 in Latrobe, 19 in Baw Baw, 12 in Shepparton and nine in Mildura. Mildura remained in lockdown. Mr Weimar said this was being reviewed daily.
New Senate president appointed
By Jennifer Duke
Liberal senator Slade Brockman will be the new President of the Senate after receiving 45 votes this morning.
The last President of the Senate was Victorian Senator Scott Ryan, who resigned in September nine months earlier than planned, hence why this morning’s ballot was required.
Senator Slade Brockman listening to Google boss Melanie Silva at a Senate hearing in January this year. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
Senator Brockman said the nomination was “humbling” and he hadn’t expected the role to present itself.
“The Senate plays a unique role in our democracy ... It gives voice to the diverse groups across our various constituencies,” he said.
The West Australian senator is also chair of the Economics Legislation Committee and deputy chair of the Economics References Committee.
The President of the Senate manages proceedings in the chamber and jointly supervises the Department of Parliamentary Services, which means he will be required to appear in front of Senate estimates hearings about these departments. The President is chair of the Library and House Committees and Appropriations and Staffing.
Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi, who was also nominated as a candidate for the role, raised concerns about democracy being shut down and gender representation. She received seven votes.
“If you really care about gender equity then things need to change,” she said, noting there had only been one other female President of the Senate – Margaret Reid. She pointed out if she was voted in she would be the first woman of colour in the role.
Former Labor Senator Gavin Marshall received one vote, prompting laughter in the chamber given he is no longer in the Senate. There was one blank vote.
Earlier this morning, WA Greens senator Dorinda Cox and South Australian Labor senator Karen Grogan were formally sworn in to the Senate.
Unvaccinated woman in 30s from Hunter region among NSW deaths
By Mary Ward
A woman in her 30s from NSW’s Hunter region has died of COVID-19, as cases remain high in the area.
The Cessnock woman died at John Hunter Hospital, NSW Health confirmed in a statement. She was not vaccinated and had underlying health conditions.
Sixty-three of the 265 new local COVID-19 cases reported in NSW on Monday were recorded in the Hunter New England Local Health District. Fifteen were from Lake Macquarie, 13 were from the Mid North Coast local government area, 12 were from Newcastle, 11 were from Maitland and six were from Cessnock.
There were 65 new cases reported in South Western Sydney Local Health District, just 33 in Western Sydney Local Health District and 21 in Sydney Local Health District.
Higher numbers of cases were being recorded in Murrumbidgee Local Health District, in the state’s south. There were 18 new infections on Monday after 11 were recorded on Sunday and 18 on Saturday.
Four other people have died from COVID-19 since yesterday’s update. They included an unvaccinated man in his 50s from Sydney’s inner-west with underlying health conditions who died at Concord Hospital, and an unvaccinated woman in her 60s from Sydney’s inner-west who died at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
A woman in her 70s from south-west Sydney, who had received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and had underlying health conditions, died at Concord Hospital. A woman in her 80s from Wollongong, who had also received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and had underlying health conditions, died at Wollongong Hospital.
‘Break our model’ by getting vaccinated: Burnet Institute epidemiologist
By Simone Fox Koob
An epidemiologist from the medical research institute which has done coronavirus modelling for the Victorian government encouraged people to “break” their model by increasing vaccination rates beyond what was originally predicted.
Margaret Hellard, deputy director of the Burnet Institute, told radio station 3AW that the 1903 cases recorded in Victoria today were not unexpected and it was important to focus on trends rather than daily case numbers.
“Overall, we knew cases were going to come up around this level; this is what the model suggested it would. And then they will begin to fall as the vaccinations kick in,” she said.
“People hang onto each number and they say, ‘You’re model is this or that.’ We don’t go on actual individual numbers, we go on the trends.
“We would like people to break the model so that then you can say how inaccurate we were. We want you to do that because we would like Victoria to do better than what the model says.”
Victoria’s daily coronavirus numbers are expected to peak soon before coming down a bit as vaccination rates increase. However, when the state opens up and there is more transmission, the numbers could rise again.
Christmas could be a dangerous time with more people socialising, Professor Hellard said.
“If we’ve got high numbers in the community, and we’ve got areas of the community that haven’t got high levels of vaccination, then yes of course there’s a risk that there’ll be transmission around that Christmas period because that’s how viruses spread. Which is why it’s important to get vaccinated.”
Medical regulator approves new coronavirus treatment
By Rachel Clun
Australia’s medical regulator has approved a new combination therapy to treat people at risk of developing severe COVID-19.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration has provisionally approved the use of Roche’s ronapreve treatment for those aged 12 and over who weigh at least 40 kilograms and are at risk of becoming severely ill from a coronavirus infection.
Yesterday, Health Minister Greg Hunt announced the Commonwealth had purchased 15,000 doses of the treatment. The first 5000 doses are set to arrive before the end of the month.
“[Ronapreve] will be made available to patients in hospital in October, for helping to slow the development and to reduce the consequences of COVID-19,” he said.
The federal government also signed an agreement for 500,000 units of a new Pfizer antiviral drug that would be used to prevent infection in people who had been exposed to the virus. That drug is still going through clinical trials.
Ronapreve has been approved for use in several other countries including the US, UK, Japan, Brazil and Canada.
“Australians can be confident that the TGA’s review process of Ronapreve was rigorous. Provisional approval has been made following careful evaluation of the available data supporting safety and efficacy, including clinical studies,” the TGA said in a statement.
Border discussions continue between NSW, Victorian premiers
By Sarah McPhee
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet says he will continue to speak to Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews in regards to the interstate border.
From 11.59pm on Tuesday, fully vaccinated travellers from NSW red zones are able to enter Victoria without completing 14-day quarantine if they have tested negative to COVID-19 in the previous 72 hours. They must isolate and get tested again within 72 hours of their arrival, and stay isolated until they receive a negative result.
However, people entering NSW from Victoria are still required to complete an entry declaration form and follow stay-at-home rules for 14 days.
“That’s the current situation,” Mr Perrottet said. “I’ll have [more] discussions with the Victorian Premier.”
He said the imminent end to lockdown in Victoria later this week was “pleasing to see” and a “great win” for the people of the state.
“We’ve had a difficult time in NSW but, gee, Victoria has gone through a very, very challenging time and their case numbers are still high and we wish them well,” Mr Perrottet said.
“I’ve already had discussions with the Victorian Premier in relation to the border and how we’ll deal with that going forward.
“Obviously, front and centre for them right now is making sure they get their case numbers down and then we’ll continue those discussions because the quicker we can open up, the better, but we want to do that in a safe way.”
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2021-10-18 01:12:51Z
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