Scott Morrison says Covid close contact isolation rule ‘redundant’, more mobile homes on way to NSW flood victims – as it happened

Prime minister Scott Morrison and his wife Jenny visit the flood affected property of Darren Vaughan and Chloe Konispoliatis on Old Hawkesbury Road at McGraths Hill in Sydney, Saturday, March 12, 2022. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAP

6.28am GMT

What we learned today, Saturday 12 March

With that, we’ll wrap up our live coverage of today’s news.

Here’s a summary of the main developments:

• Scott Morrison has said civilians will always be at the centre of flood rescue and recovery strategies as his government continues to face criticism for not deploying defence forces in flood-ravaged areas sooner.
• Nine more refugees who have been detained for several years have been released from Melbourne’s Park hotel, however those freed remain uncertain about whether they will be allowed to permanently live in Australia.
  
• Victoria recorded 6,075 new Covid cases and 11 deaths while New South Wales recorded 12,850 cases and four deaths. Queensland recorded 4,029 cases and six deaths, while the ACT recorded 704 cases, Tasmania 1,130 cases and Western Australia 4,300 cases.
• An emergency warning was issued for Wellesley in the Harvey shire in Western Australia, as a bushfire threatened lives and homes.

Have a great evening.

Updated at 7.07am GMT

5.52am GMT

The prime minister says civilians will always be at the centre of flood rescue and recovery strategies as his government continues to face criticism for not deploying defence forces in flood-ravaged areas sooner.

Scott Morrison declared a national emergency in NSW late on Friday, triggering additional resources for the state and allowing the federal government to access stockpiled resources and remove red tape in terms of business and welfare support.

But the prime minister said locals would naturally be able to respond faster in disaster areas.

“That has always been an important part of our natural disaster response, and always will be,” Morrison said as he toured the flooded Windsor region on Saturday.

Scott Morrison visits a flood-affected property at McGraths Hill. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAP

He also said 20 mobile home units had been set up in the Lismore area, with more than 100 more on the way, in a region where it’s estimated two-in-three flood-damaged homes will need to be demolished or undergo substantial repairs.

The federal government is splitting a $250m housing package with the NSW government which also includes rent relief as people are left homeless.

“It’s going to be a long road back,” Morrison said.

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Updated at 6.02am GMT