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Victorian schools to receive free rapid antigen tests
By Ashleigh McMillan
Victorian students who are close contacts of a positive case will be able to return to school after just seven days, as long as they complete a PCR test on day six and return negative rapid antigen tests each day after that.
The rapid tests will be rolled out to up to 20 schools which are affected by COVID-19 outbreaks this week, before tests are distributed to all Victorian schools with students in isolation by November 15.
Victorian Deputy Premier James Merlino.Credit:Simon Schluter
Rapid antigen testing will run on an “opt-in” basis for students who are partially vaccinated or unvaccinated.
Fully vaccinated students are already able to return to school after seven days of isolation, and will not need to complete rapid antigen testing.
Deputy Premier James Merlino said it was “frustrating” for parents and kids when they are identified as close contacts, with children making up one in three Victorian close contacts.
“For primary school aged children, they’re unable to be vaccinated at this point in time, and that means that there is significant disruption for students and their families when they’re identified as a primary close contact at school,” he said at a press conference earlier this morning.
“For all of our unvaccinated and partially vaccinated students, they’ll be able to return to school a week earlier than has been the case.
“It’s just another way, another mitigation measure, to make our schools safer, but at the same time, minimise disruption to our kids and to our school communities.”
Watch: Victorian Deputy Premier’s press conference
By Broede Carmody
Victorian Deputy Premier James Merlino has just finished making an education announcement.
We’ll have the playback version with you as soon as possible.
Scott Morrison touring regional NSW this morning
By Broede Carmody
Prime Minister Scott Morrison is touring the Port of Newcastle today in what some have described as a pre-election campaign trail.
But Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce insists it’s not a sign that an election will be held in the coming weeks.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison earlier this morning. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer
“I’d put my house on it – you’re not going to have an election before Christmas,” the Deputy PM told Sunrise earlier this morning.
“That would be crazy. You’ve got to let people go on their Christmas holidays. You just annoy people if you wind them up before Christmas. That’s not going to happen. I think [we’ll wait until] ... people are back at work.”
Former Victorian minister Adem Somyurek to be questioned today
By Sumeyya Ilanbey
Former Victorian government minister Adem Somyurek will face four days in the witness box of an anti-corruption hearing this week, over his role in allegedly misusing taxpayer-funded staff and grants to grow his internal power base in the Labor Party.
Mr Somyurek is being investigated as part of an Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission and Victorian Ombudsman probe into “serious corrupt conduct” involving public officers, and what counsel assisting, Chris Carr, SC, had described as the “premeditated and systematic rorting of taxpayer resources”.
Former Victorian government minister Adem Somyurek will be questioned at public IBAC hearings this week. Credit:Jason South
Mr Somyurek has been accused of overseeing an industrial-scale branch stacking operation, recruiting inexperienced ministerial staff for factional activities, hiring people who would not turn up to work, and verbally abusing those in his inner circle.
Mr Somyurek has rejected the allegations.
Read the full story here.
NSW records 187 new local cases of COVID-19, seven deaths
By Daniella White
NSW has recorded 187 new COVID-19 cases and seven deaths, as the state inches closer to reaching a 90 per cent double-dose vaccination rate.
There were 52,939 tests carried out in the 24 hours to 8pm yesterday, down on the 70,276 reported on Sunday.
Of the state’s population aged 16 and older, 89.8 per cent are fully vaccinated while 93.9 per cent have received at least one dose.
There are 264 people in hospital with the virus, including 48 in the ICU.
Victoria reports 1126 new cases, five deaths
By Broede Carmody
Victoria’s daily coronavirus numbers are in.
The state has recorded 1126 new cases of COVID-19 and five deaths. Today’s tally is down from yesterday’s 1173 cases.
There are now 16,178 active cases of coronavirus across the state.
Today’s numbers are off the back of yesterday’s 44,479 coronavirus tests.
There are now 556 coronavirus patients in Victorian hospitals. Of those, 91 are in intensive care. Fifty-four are on a ventilator.
In terms of vaccines, 84 per cent of Victorians aged 12 and over are now fully vaccinated.
Secrecy over outcome of whistleblower’s complaint against NSW Governor
By Carrie Fellner
The NSW Premier’s department has investigated bullying allegations made by a whistleblower against the state’s Governor Margaret Beazley, including that her “unjustified criticism or complaints” have been leaving employees “in tears at their desks”.
In a letter regarding the outcome of the investigation obtained by this masthead, the department would not say whether the allegations were found proven but thanked the whistleblower for coming forward and promised a series of workplace improvements in Government House.
NSW Governor Margaret Beazley has been investigated over a whistleblower’s allegations, with the outcome to remain secret. Credit:Kate Geraghty
Margaret Beazley QC became the state’s 39th governor in 2019 after a trailblazing rise through the male-dominated legal profession, in which she became the first female president of the NSW Court of Appeal.
An investigation was launched in April after three complaints about Ms Beazley’s conduct were made by a whistleblower employed by the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
Read the full story here.
Skilled workers next on Government’s border wishlist: Treasurer
By Broede Carmody
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has promised businesses struggling to find staff that skilled international workers will be allowed into the country soon.
However, he did not provide a specific timeframe.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg.
Here’s what Mr Frydenberg had to say on Sunrise earlier:
I was talking to the Prime Minister about this very point last night, and obviously we are working on plans to bring in skilled workers as soon as it is COVID safe to do so.
We have already made nnouncements with respect to Australian citizens and residents who can now come and go from Australia if they are double vaccinated without having to go through home quarantine or hotel quarantine.
The next step is skilled workers and international students and then tourists.
So we are hopeful of making decisions and announcements before too long.
As previously reported, Australia’s travel bubble with Singapore is now in effect. Fully vaccinated Australian citizens, permanent residents and their family members are allowed to fly to Singapore and back without quarantining.
At this stage, just Melbourne and Sydney are accepting regular, quarantine-free international arrivals off the back of high vaccination rates.
‘It is time to bring our city workers back’: Melbourne lord mayor
By Broede Carmody
Melbourne lord mayor Sally Capp says she’s hopeful her joint dining voucher scheme with the state government will help hospitality businesses in the CBD recover, but that additional measures are also needed over the coming weeks.
Speaking on Sunrise earlier, Cr Capp cited mandatory masks as one of the biggest factors in CBD office workers wanting to stay at home.
“Wearing masks at your desk is one of the deterrents to people returning [to the city centre],” she said.
“That comes away and is released once we hit the 90 per cent mark. That is due on November 24 and if we can bring it forward, that would be fantastic for our traders.
“Our foot traffic on the weekends shows we’re up around the 76 per cent [mark for] normal foot traffic and that is hundreds of thousands of people. But midweek we are still below 50 per cent.
“It is time to bring our city workers back.”
As reported yesterday, diners in downtown Melbourne will be able to claim 30 per cent of their spending (to a limit of $150) if eating out on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. The voucher scheme kicks-in from November 15 and there are more than 200,000 up for grabs.
Michael Sukkar responds to allegations against him
Federal Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar has responded to our reporting with 60 Minutes that he had intimate knowledge of a long-running scheme in which his best friend, younger brother and factional supporters were paid by taxpayers for political work that boosted the power of his faction.
Late last night, Mr Sukkar released a statement saying he completely rejects the allegations raised against him, and states they come from a discredited source.
When the Department of Finance reviewed the same allegations, it found no breach or improper conduct, he said.
“I have never authorised my staff to undertake activities contrary to applicable policies and guidelines, when they are being paid to serve the constituents of the Deakin electorate,” Mr Sukkar said.
“I am proud of the dedication and service that my office has always provided my constituents and community.”
Leaked communications revealed how Mr Sukkar privately criticised Senator Jane Hume in May 2018 after she made an emotional statement about the difficulty of juggling politics and motherhood.
Mr Sukkar shared the post with his factional allies in a closed chat room, describing it as “indulgent and quite frankly bizarre”.
In relation to those messages, Mr Sukkar said: “They were unfair and incorrect comments that I should not have made, and I regret doing so. I apologise to Senator Hume.
“I have worked closely with Senator Hume in the last three years since both becoming Ministers in the Treasury portfolio where she has done an outstanding job.”
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2021-11-07 23:12:58Z
CBMitwFodHRwczovL3d3dy5zbWguY29tLmF1L25hdGlvbmFsL2F1c3RyYWxpYS1uZXdzLWxpdmUtcmVzdHJpY3Rpb25zLWVhc2UtaW4tbnN3LWFzLXN0YXRlLW51ZGdlcy05MC1wZXItY2VudC1jb3ZpZC12YWNjaW5hdGlvbi10YXJnZXQtdmljdG9yaWEtZm9jdXNlcy1vbi1jYmQtcmVjb3ZlcnktMjAyMTExMDgtcDU5NnQxLmh0bWzSAbcBaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXAuc21oLmNvbS5hdS9uYXRpb25hbC9hdXN0cmFsaWEtbmV3cy1saXZlLXJlc3RyaWN0aW9ucy1lYXNlLWluLW5zdy1hcy1zdGF0ZS1udWRnZXMtOTAtcGVyLWNlbnQtY292aWQtdmFjY2luYXRpb24tdGFyZ2V0LXZpY3RvcmlhLWZvY3VzZXMtb24tY2JkLXJlY292ZXJ5LTIwMjExMTA4LXA1OTZ0MS5odG1s
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