What happened Sunday 30 January 2022
With that, we’ll end our live coverage for today.
Here’s a recap of today’s major news developments:
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NSW again hit a grim milestone as it recorded its deadliest day of the Covid pandemic so far, with 52 deaths. 2,663 people are in hospital, with the state reporting 13,524 new cases.
- NSW also saw its first confirmed cases of the Omicron subvariant “son of Omicron”.
- NSW premier Dominic Perrottet announced a $1bn support package for businesses, with Treasuer Matt Kean lamenting a lack of federal support.
- Victoria has seen hospitalisations dip, while reporting 10,589 new cases, 20 deaths and 889 people in hospital.
- Queensland reported 8,580 new cases and 13 deaths, as premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced schools will resume on 7 February, with a mask mandate.
- The Australian defence force is set to help with flood relief in Coober Pedy, South Australia.
- Tasmania recorded one death and South Australia two deaths. Western Australia reported 20 cases, while the NT reported 849 new cases.
- Opposition leader Anthony Albanese accused the Morrison government of leaving business behind during Omicron wave.
- Hillsong founder Brian Houston announced he is stepping down as leader of the church as he defends criminal charges that allege he covered up his father’s child sexual abuse.
Updated
So, lost a little in the morning furore around his other comments, deputy PM Barnaby Joyce also doubled down on his claim people are “hoarding” rapid antigen tests.
Joyce told Sky News it was a “matter of fact” that some people were buying more tests than they needed.
There are certainly other big issues at play, but if you deny that RATs are being hoarded at all, to deny it would be, I’d have to lie. Because people are, businesses are.
And that’s just like, people hoard toilet paper and hoard other things. I don’t know why they do that. But are you going to say that doesn’t happen as well? Of course it does.
This is the second time Joyce has claimed people are hoarding the tests, and faced a fierce backlash, with many accusing him of deflecting the government’s responsibilities to supply the tests.
Joyce said he “apologises” for people feeling frustrated, but turned again to blaming individuals, rather than being held accountable for the shortage.
Well, if they’re frustrated, I apologise for that.
But the issue is if they say they’re frustrated, because people are holding them, well, that’s a problem you have to take up with the people hoarding them.
Updated
And if you are still basking in Ash Barty’s triumph yesterday (as I assume many are), I’d highly recommend Emma Kemp’s take on Barty’s magic:
