We’re going to bring this blog to a close now, thanks for your company today.
A quick recap of today’s events for you:
- Handwringing continues about the ongoing closure of the Western Australian border. The AMA, business groups and others have lined up to criticise the state, which has indefinitely pushed back the date for its planned reopening.
- The federal health minister, Greg Hunt, said he sympathised with separated families but that the border was “a matter for WA”. He’s previously said the way the closed Queensland border kept people from their loved ones was “a profound moral failure”.
- There are seven Covid cases in the Perth area; despite the closed border, there is some concern that Omicron may have already taken hold in the west.
- New South Wales recorded 20,148 new cases and 30 deaths. The premier, Dominic Perrottet, says the state is working on a school reopening plan.
- There were 16,016 new cases recorded in Victoria; 15,050 in Queensland; 2,193 in South Australia; 726 in Tasmania; 666 in the ACT; and 314 in the Northern Territory.
- 30 people died in NSW; 20 in Victoria; 10 in Queensland, three in South Australia and one in Tasmania.
- Anti-vaccination rallies were held in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
- The organisers of Melbourne’s Invasion Day rally announced they had cancelled the march this year, saying the risk of spreading Covid through the Aboriginal community was too high.
Read our Covid full report here:
Updated
The Greens leader, Adam Bandt, is in Queensland this weekend and talking up the party’s chances in two Brisbane lower house seats.
Wait, what? In Queensland? Isn’t that the place where all the far-rightwingers come from?
Well, yes, but it’s not as far-fetched as it might seem.
In fact, the party itself believes it’s a very good chance of an upset in Griffith, once the seat of the former PM Kevin Rudd and now held by the very well-regarded Labor frontbencher Terri Butler.
They are throwing serious resources at the seat and claim to be on track to doorknock 35,000 homes by election day.
The Greens also have an eye on Ryan, in Brisbane’s west, which is held by the LNP’s Julian Simmonds.
Parts of both electorates have elected Greens MPs at state level.
“Queensland is set to be a three-cornered contest in the next election, and we’re feeling a massive swell of support on the ground for action on climate change and economic inequality,” Bandt said.
“The lower house pushes in Griffith and Ryan are huge, ambitious and energetic people-powered campaigns, and they’re seeing results.”
Updated
Speaking of the Hottest 100, the excellent Twitter account, @OzKitsch, held its Coldest 100 earlier today.
The winner was the Wiggles’s 2014 song, Pappadum, which landed them in some controversy a couple of years back.
It is frankly awful by any standard (let alone today’s) and a deserving winner/loser.
I am, however, disappointed at the relatively low placing of this classic: You Can Make It In Tasmania.
COLDEST 100
— australian kitsch 🦘 (@OzKitsch) January 21, 2022
85.
You Can Make it in Tasmania (1983)
Tasmanian Government 🇦🇺#coldest100 #hottest100 pic.twitter.com/1jQKHllZYn
Updated
Triple J’s Hottest 100 has just passed the halfway mark, with Kanye West coming in at No 50 with Jail. The US rapper and one-time presidential aspirant was in the news elsewhere today, demanding that Netflix allow him to approve the edit of its forthcoming documentary about him, Jeen-Yuhs, which is due to premiere at the Sundance film festival on Sunday.
We’re expecting a result in the Hottest 100 sometime after 8pm.
#50 @kanyewest - 'Jail' #Hottest100 pic.twitter.com/DpriUzqsfI
— triple j (@triplej) January 22, 2022
Updated
Australia’s medicines regulator approved the Novavax Covid-19 vaccine for use in adults on Thursday, making it the fourth vaccine to be included in Australia’s rollout and the country’s first approved protein-based Covid vaccine.
The health minister, Greg Hunt, said on Thursday he hoped Novavax’s approval would encourage vaccine-hesitant people – around 1 million adults that comprise less than 5% of the over-16 population – to get the jab.
“We have a first-dose national vaccination rate of 95.2%,” Hunt said. “Some people have waited for Novavax and although we’ve encouraged everyone to proceed, we recognise that that’s a fact.”
So how does the Novavax jab differ from other Covid-19 vaccines and will it make a difference to vaccination rates?
Read more from Donna Lu here:
Updated
The world No 1 doubles player Mate Pavic has expressed unhappiness over some raucous crowd behaviour at the Australian Open after his defeat to Australian duo Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis:
World No 1 doubles player Mate Pavic called on crowds at the Australian Open to be more respectful after he and partner Nikola Mektic were knocked out in the second round by home duo Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis.
The Australians prevailed in straight sets against the top ranked duo on Friday evening amid a raucous and at times heated atmosphere at Melbourne Park.
Pavic’s comments come after Daniil Medvedev criticised sections of the Australian Open crowd following his singles win over Kyrgios on Thursday.
“They are pretty loud,” Pavic said of the home fans. “Obviously they cheer for Aussies. It wouldn’t hurt them to show some respect to all opponents, to other players.
“We saw yesterday also with Medvedev how it was. That’s how they are here. We’re used to that. But like I said, it wouldn’t hurt them to show some respect.”
Updated
Northern Territory records 314 Covid cases, lockout extended for a week
The Northern Territory has recorded 314 cases of Covid-19 overnight. There are 63 people with Covid-19 in hospital in the territory, including six on ventilators and one in intensive care.
The lockout in Alice Springs, the Amoonguna community, Yuendumu, Yuelamu and Galiwin’ku has also been extended for a week.
Updated
There is another “Freedom Rally” protest going on in Melbourne today. According to the ABC, more than 1,000 protesters were in the CBD opposing vaccine mandates.
This seems like a good time to state that 93.3% of Victorians aged 12 and over have had at least two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine. You could argue the moment has passed.
Here’s more from the ABC:
A highly visible police presence followed the crowd as it travelled through the CBD before stopping at the Victoria Police Centre.
Drums, airhorns and chants of “save our children”, “sack Dan Andrews” and “free Victoria” were heard throughout the city as a further 20 deaths were recorded across the state.
The national vaccine rate for children aged five to 11 receiving their first dose has climbed to 26.5%.
This is good – vaccinations for kids in this age range have only been available since 10 January. But school goes back in a week. At this rate, a number of primary school aged kids will not have had their first dose before returning to classrooms.
Updated
Western Australia reports seven new Covid cases, two of which are under investigation
Western Australia has reported seven new locally-acquired cases of Covid-19, and four in hotel quarantine.
Five of the seven new cases are known contacts of a previously reported case, but two others – in people who live in different households – are under investigation.
Authorities have urged anyone in the Perth, Peel and the South West regions experiencing Covid-19 symptoms to get tested immediately and isolate until they receive a negative result.
This is our WA COVID-19 weekend update for Saturday, 22 January 2022.
— Mark McGowan (@MarkMcGowanMP) January 22, 2022
For official information on COVID-19 in WA, visit https://t.co/qA5jY6F4yDhttps://t.co/qR87CdfSrm pic.twitter.com/DBDvICC9Ai
Updated
A dog that was on a boat which flipped in Sydney’s North Harbour swam to shore and was found alive, but one of the people on board remains missing.
From AAP:
A 25-year-old man was spotted by a local fisherman in the water near Dobroyd Head at Balgowlah Heights shortly before 4.50am on Saturday.
He was rescued by surf life savers on jet skis and taken to Little Manly Beach where he told police his boat flipped during a test drive, throwing him, his 49-year-old friend and a dog into the water.
The pair launched the 12-foot runabout from Tunks Park boat ramp at Northbridge about 9pm the previous evening, before running into rough seas and capsizing around 3am.
The dog was washed away but both men clung to the boat for hours before the 49-year-old man drifted away.
Inspector Andrew Veale said the dog was found alive at nearby Cave Beach about 10.30am after the boat’s fuel tank and rubber mats were earlier recovered two nautical miles off the coast.
The 49-year-old man, who has no fixed address, is still missing as a major air, sea and land search continues.
Police have checked the north shore area where he is currently living in a camper van and he hasn’t returned.
Veale said the two men had known each other for about two years, and the 49-year-old was interested in buying the boat from his younger friend.
There were no life jackets, lights or safety gear on board when the pair set off, but search and rescue teams are not giving up hope of finding the missing fisherman alive.
“We’re hoping for the best,” Veale said.
His friend is recovering at home after being treated for hypothermia and injuries to his wrist.
Updated
ACT records 666 new Covid cases, 41.7% of children aged 5-11 have received one shot
The Australian Capital Territory recorded 666 new cases of Covid-19 yesterday, two-thirds of which were from rapid tests.
There are currently 63 people with Covid in hospital, one person in intensive care, and one ventilated.
The ACT is continuing to lead the country in the vaccine rollout. In just 12 days, 41.7% of children aged 5-11 have been vaccinated. Some 98.6% of those aged 12 and up have been double vaccinated, and 36.4% of people aged 18 and over have had a booster.
Updated
Let’s check in with the Hottest 100.
#76 @theterrysband - 'Our Paradise' #Hottest100 pic.twitter.com/42SPPvKIJs
— triple j (@triplej) January 22, 2022
I still don’t know any of these songs.
What a blow to my cool girl image.
In the Northern Territory, activists have rallied outside the Darwin headquarters of major gas producer Santos.
AAP reports the activists want more oversight of the company’s onshore gas exploration in the Beetaloo Basin, 500km south-east of Darwin, and the Barossa offshore gas production project.
The Environment Centre NT said the nation’s second-largest independent gas producer was attempting to greenwash the Barossa project and called on the territory’s environment protection authority to fully assess its impact.
“Santos is trying to develop the dirtiest gas field in Australia at Barossa,” spokesman Jason Fowler said on Saturday.
“They are literally scraping the bottom of the barrel.”
About 40 protesters gathered at Santos’s East Arm premises chanting “protect country, land and water” while holding placards saying “frack off” and “stop Barossa and Beetaloo gas”.
The Environment Centre said documents submitted to the EPA show that two-thirds of the carbon dioxide from the gas field will be vented directly into the atmosphere before the gas is piped to Darwin.
“The gas field has a reservoir CO2 content of 18%, double that of any other Australian gas project,” Fowler said.
Tiwi traditional owners are also understood to oppose the Barossa project and the proposed pipeline extension, which could cross 100km of open ocean if approved by the environmental protection authority.
Santos was contacted by AAP for comment, but has yet to respond.
Updated
Melbourne Invasion Day rally cancelled due to Omicron outbreak
The organisers of the Melbourne Invasion Day rally have cancelled the march this year, saying the risk of spreading Covid through the Aboriginal community is too high.
They have recommended supporters attend the online dawn service instead.
In a Facebook post yesterday, rally organisers Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance said:
After lots of consideration WAR has decided to cancel the Invasion Day March in Melbourne. It would be careless to hold an event in the height of a pandemic and a virus that has taken ahold of so many in our community.
This is the first time since 2015 WAR hadn’t organised this rally and we want to be on the street fighting for our people but the time isn’t now.
The Invasion Day rally is the biggest protest held in Melbourne each year.
There are a few organisations you can donate to instead of attending this year. The Dhadjowa Foundation is a grassroots organisation to support the families of those who die in custody. There is also family violence support service Djirra, VALS, and Pay The Rent. You can also donate to your local land council or traditional owner organisation.
Updated
Victoria to announce back to school plans 'in the next few days'
I am not sure this counts as forward sizzle, but Victoria’s Covid response commander, Jeroen Weimar, told reporters in Melbourne that the state will announce its back to school plans “in the next few days”.
Victoria and NSW have been working together on this and are expected to announce the same or very similar settings for monitoring Covid in schools.
Weimar also told reporters the rollout of 51,000 air filters into Victorian schools before the start of term one – which is one week away – was “on track” despite fewer than half of those air filters being delivered by mid-January.
On coronavirus numbers in Victoria, which have dropped to a seven-day average of 20,954, Weimar said:
We’re in a far better place than we were three weeks ago. We’ve got rapid antigen tests really starting to flow through. We’ve got cases under more control.
The test positivity rate has dropped to around 20% after hovering in the mid-30s, AAP reports.
Updated
The first quarantine-free flights from Papua New Guinea and Singapore arrived in Brisbane today.
Families separated for up to two years were reunited at Brisbane international airport. AAP photographer Russell Freeman was there to capture it.
Updated
Unions are bracing for a flood of employers to follow the lead set by airline Qantas and stevedore Patrick Terminals by trying to rip up enterprise agreements with staff before the federal election.
Labor, which has been performing strongly in recent polling, has promised to stop employers from unilaterally terminating agreements if it wins the election, which is due to be held on or before 21 May.
Enterprise agreements, struck between employers and their staff, provide conditions that leave workers better off overall than the underlying award conditions governing their industry. The employment conditions they set down continue in force until a new agreement is struck or they are terminated by the Fair Work Commission.
Applications to terminate enterprise agreements were relatively rare until a landmark decision in 2015 in which rail company Aurizon convinced the FWC to tear up a dozen agreements it had previously struck with unions.
Following Aurizon’s victory, terminations skyrocketed, according to FWC reports and research by the Australia Institute.
Terminations reached a peak of 508 in 2017-18 and have since fallen back but remain above pre-Aurizon levels of around 200 a year or less, with 330 applications to terminate lodged with the FWC in the 2020-21 year.
Read more:
Updated
Just an update on me being out of touch, we’re now seven songs in to the Triple J Hottest 100 and I recognise absolutely none of them.
#93 @babykeem - 'family ties' [with @kendricklamar] #Hottest100 pic.twitter.com/f65csWG5ck
— triple j (@triplej) January 22, 2022
Updated
The federal government has again denied claims it requisitioned rapid antigen tests from Queensland, despite reaching a $26m deal with a known supplier, AAP reports:
The federal health minister, Greg Hunt, has doubled down on denials that rapid antigen tests have been requisitioned by the commonwealth, as supplies remain scarce.
The Queensland transport minister, Mark Bailey, this week published a letter from a supplier claiming the federal government “commandeered” 34,000 rapid antigen tests originally destined for the state’s rail staff.
In a further post on Saturday, a screenshot appears to show a known supplier reached an agreement to provide rapid tests to the federal health department as part of a $26.29m contract.
“Either the Morrison govt has commandeered the stock using emergency powers, or they’ve swooped in late with a big money procurement offer of $26.29m that a supplier couldn’t refuse given the massive profit margin offered,” Bailey tweeted.
But Hunt slapped down allegations federal authorities had diverted the tests from the Queensland government.
“The claims that were made about the commonwealth are false. They had been referred to the ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) because they are false,” he told reporters.
“I have confirmed with the Department of Health, the commonwealth has not received and is not expecting to receive any supply from that supplier until at least February 7.”
He said the federal government is providing 200,000 rapid antigen tests to Queensland on Saturday, and rejected suggestions it did not plan well enough to meet surging demand amid the Omicron wave.
Updated
Australia records 64 deaths in people with Covid on Saturday
Sixty-four people have died with Covid in Australia in the past 24 hours.
- New South Wales has recorded 30 deaths and 2,762 people in hospital, with 20,148 new cases.
- Victoria recorded 20 deaths and 1,029 people in hospital with 16,016 new cases.
- Queensland recorded 10 deaths, 884 people in hospital and 15,050 new cases.
- South Australia recorded three deaths with 2,193 new cases.
- Tasmania recorded one death and 31 people in hospital, with 726 new cases.
- The ACT has reported no deaths in people with Covid-19 overnight and 63 people in hospital, with 666 new cases.
- Western Australia has reported seven new locally-acquired cases of Covid-19, five of which are linked and two are under investigation.
- The Northern Territory has recorded 314 cases of Covid-19 overnight and there are 63 people with covid in hospital.
Updated
The Triple J Hottest 100 has started.
#100 @holyholymusic - 'How You Been' #Hottest100 pic.twitter.com/yhSiLj4vZL
— triple j (@triplej) January 22, 2022
Queensland reports 10 Covid deaths and 15,050 new cases
Ten people with Covid have died in Queensland.
The state recorded 15,050 new cases, about a third of which were from self-reported rapid tests. Some 884 people are in hospital and 52 are in ICU.
Today we have recorded 15,050 new COVID-19 cases.
— Queensland Health (@qldhealth) January 22, 2022
Sadly, we have reported 10 deaths in the past 24 hours.
Full details ➡ https://t.co/MyDwPPAmSd pic.twitter.com/ebgC9Iqs7Y
Updated
NSW and Victoria consult on back to school plans, Perrottet says
Parents, teachers and students in NSW are still waiting for details of the government’s Covid plan for returning to school.
Students go back to NSW government schools on 1 February, and many schools have a staff development day scheduled for this coming Friday, 28 January.
The NSW premier, Dominic Perrottet, told reporters that vaccinations – including for the 5-12 age group – and booster shots were a key part of the plan.
On the return to school, he said:
We are doing it in a way that is safe for parents, safe for teachers and safe for children, and we’ll be announcing those plans alongside the Victorian government shortly.
The state opposition leader, Chris Minns, said on Friday that parents and teachers urgently needed clarity:
We really need the NSW premier to front up and explain to the parents and teachers and students of this state when that plan will be released.
AAP reports that Labor has suggested the government use public schools as vaccination hubs in a bid to boost the number of children who have received at least one dose of a vaccination before schools returns, which 24.1% of them had on Saturday.
Updated
South Australia reports three Covid deaths as case numbers fall
Three people with Covid have died in South Australia in the past 24 hours, the ABC has reported.
The state also recorded a significant drop in cases, with 2,193 reported on Saturday compared to 3,023 on Friday.
The premier, Steven Marshall, told reporters in Adelaide this morning:
[This is] a very significant fall and certainly our lowest number for a very long period of time.
But he said that the reduction in cases could be due to hot weather yesterday which caused delays to PCR testing.
Marshall:
The numbers do jump around a little bit and of course we had hot conditions yesterday and so there was a delay in PCR testing.
Updated
Government MP George Christensen has amped up his conspiracy theory and anti-vaccination commentary, described by the PM as “dangerous”, while signs suggest he may be quietly planning to launch his own media brand when he retires from parliament.
Christensen’s commentary has become increasingly controversial in recent months since he announced he would not recontest the north Queensland seat of Dawson at the upcoming federal election.
His public commentary has included pushing anti-vaccination messages, climate change denial and apparent conspiracy theories, and comments that have undermined his own government’s public health messaging.
In the process he has built a significant Facebook following of more than 111,000 people.
Guardian Australia has obtained records showing Christensen has registered a business name with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
A website domain for the MP’s company was also registered by Christensen in December.
The site features the Eureka flag, which has previously been adopted by the far right, and language calling on people to “fight for our sovereignty”, and says it is “coming soon”.
Speaking at the online event Prayer and Pushback on Friday, Christensen appeared to confirm a move into the media landscape.
“I’m not leaving politics – I’m leaving parliament – we’re all involved in politics as citizens. I’m going to be in the fray. I was a journalist before I was in politics … I’ll probably step back into that in the future, in some way, shape or form,” he said.
Read more here:
Updated
Albanese has been asked by Tasmanian reporters if he thinks the Tasmanian government opened its borders too early. It follows the death of a second person with Covid-19 in Tasmania this morning.
He says he respects the right of state governments to make their own decisions on state borders.
I respect the decisions that state governments have done, and I think one of the things we need from the national government is to bring state governments together.
I would like to see more commonality in the response, but that has been something that has happened that the prime minister and the national cabinet has presided over with state governments essentially making their own decisions based upon their own advice.
I respect the decision, and I am not here to criticise the Tasmanian state government, I wish them well, there are facing major challenges ahead for the health system. I know that is the case, there are major challenges for the aged care system as well. That is causing major concern.
He then pivoted back to federal issues, saying a major concern is the rollout of vaccines in the five to 12 age group. About one in four kids in this age group have had their first shot, with school resuming in a week. It’s rapid uptake but not quite fast enough.
But Albanese did not directly answer when asked if he thinks the start date for primary schools should be pushed back until there is greater vaccination coverage, saying instead that the Australian government should have moved faster.
I think the federal government should have been anticipating the issues that have been warned about for a long time.
Updated
Labor leader Anthony Albanese has been campaigning (pre-campaigning?) in Tasmania today. He is at the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Launceston, and committed $15m to rebuilding their Launceston airport base.
That’s a commitment that will be included in our very first budget and it’s a commitment that will get done.
Usual caveats about polls apply, but you may be interested to know a Roy Morgan poll this week put Labor ahead nationally on 56-44. In Tasmania it put Labor at 60.5-39.5, a swing of 4.5%.
Second person with Covid-19 dies in Tasmania
A person has died with Covid-19 in Tasmania, the second death with Covid in the state since borders reopened in December.
Tasmania recorded 726 new cases in the past 24 hours, with 31 people in hospital and two in ICU.
Updated
Jones said the Country Fire Service, and all volunteer fire agencies, were grieving the loss.
While no words can ease the raw pain we currently endure, [we appreciate] the love, respect and support of fellow emergency responders political leaders and all Australians. Help us remember the special place that country fire service holds in the public esteem.
I also hope that the tributes and outpours of love and respect to those hurt and killed yesterday help with the healing process as we recover from these terrible events. Please spare a thought for the families. Louise paid the ultimate price, that all emergency responders risk when they respond and put themselves in harm’s way to protect others. We have lost a dedicated volunteer. South Australia has lost a valuable community member and her family have lost a devoted wife and mother. Louise was a much loved member of CFS and will remain forever in our hearts.
SA premier Steven Marshall said firefighting was “inherently dangerous” and all firefighters faced up to those risks every time they donned the uniform.
I on behalf of all South Australians want to express my sincere condolences to her family and to her friends... she is a hero.
South Australian fire chief pays respect to firefighter killed in forestry plantation yesterday
South Australian fire chief Mark Jones has been speaking in Adelaide about the death of a firefighter who was hit by a falling tree at the Coles fire yesterday.
Senior firefighter Louise Hinks, 44, had been a volunteer Country Fire Service volunteer since 1994.
Jones said:
Yesterday we received an awful reminder of just how dangerous firefighting can be. The Country Fire Service is often described as a family, yesterday morning we lost one of those family members...
Firefighters were struck by a falling tree whilst firefighting in a forestry plantation in Coles, near Lucindale in the south-east of our state. Senior firefighter Louise Hinks aged 44 was killed. And another experienced firefighter in his early 60s was seriously injured in the incident. Both are very experienced CFS firefighters.
Jones said Hinks was “a much loved volunteer of the Happy Valley brigade and held positions as brigade finance officer, and as a senior firefighter. She’s remembered by colleagues as a passionate volunteer who would do anything to help any of them”.
Hunt rejected suggestions that the federal government did not plan well enough for demand for rapid antigen tests, despite saying it had been buying them since August when supply constraints peaked in December.
He said that testing had always been the responsibility of state and territory governments, with the federal government funding half of the PCR program.
And we provide direct tests to aged care and then the private market is supplying the community through pharmacies and that’s very much the case around the world.
I think it’s important to understand the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, other countries, this is a global challenge which is followed from the Omicron wave. Not only have we had the 66 test approved, not only were we in the market and providing that supply, but the commonwealth was a very strong supporter of the role of rapid antigen tests and understandably the medical community had emphasised the role of PCR which has kept Australia safe.
And I think this is a very important thing. That the strong emphasis on PCR testing, because it is more accurate, has meant we are able to maintain a tracing system which allowed during the Wuhan outbreak, during the new case strain or the alpha strain, the alpha variant, and through the Delta variant very strong contact tracing ... but that was appropriate at that stage. And as we had moved to opening up and as we have Omicron we recognise and the medical community recognised there is a much broader role where it’s not a case of trying to trace every case for the rapid antigen tests.
So we are in the market early, we have been providing continuous supply and that has helped keep people safe. But equally we recognise that there has been a global spike in demand and states and territories and the Commonwealth and the private sector are all bringing additional testing to the country.
A few things on that. Firstly, the United Kingdom provides free rapid antigen or lateral flow tests through the NHS and the United States has promised to distribute 500m free rapid tests. In fact a number of countries are providing free RATs – you can read about some of them here.
Secondly, the preference for PCR tests as the most accurate test does not really explain why the federal government did not ensure adequate supply of rapid antigen tests in preparation for opening up.
Updated
Hunt was also asked about the supply of rapid antigen tests. He says that the Australian government has provided more than 6.6m RAT tests since August.
He said they had provided 200,000 tests to Queensland today, and that the federal government was focusing on providing tests to aged care and Indigenous health providers. The unspoken bit is that tests in other sectors are a matter for the states or individuals, apart from some limited federal government support.
So we are doing our bit to support aged care and others. We, as I say, planned early, we made sure that these tests were approved and I think 66 tests [are] approved in Australia across point of care and self-tests. And we have been encouraging states and territories to place their own orders and now we know that there are more than 200 million orders that are in place.
I do have to say that one of the reasons that we have moved apart from aligning with the domestic circumstances for international arrivals is this is a global challenge. We know from the United Kingdom, the United States, significant articles outlining the challenges they faced both with their PCR and with their rapid antigen tests or lateral flow as they are called in the UK, and in other countries. So it’s a global challenge ... in our case we were in the field early, in our case we were ordering early and we have been pleased to supply and support aged care, Indigenous care and also states to this point in time.
Updated
Health minister Greg Hunt has been talking to reporters in Canberra. He was asked about the decision of the Western Australian government to vacate the 5 February border opening date.
He said WA’s border opening was “very much a matter for the WA government”, but then says several things which sound like criticising the WA government.
We understand many families will be disappointed, their ability to meet loved ones, their ability to see beautiful young babies or to be present for weddings. That’s all been deferred. It is a matter for Western Australia and so we recognise that that’s a decision for the one government.
The Triple J Hottest 100 will kick off at 12pm today. I am very old, so the peak of the Hottest 100 for me was 1997-2004 and I do not know any of the songs.
But, for the youth or those who like to fein youthfulness, Shaad D’Souza has written a helpful primer. This year one of the favourites for the No 1 spot is the Wiggles covering Tame Impala’s Elephant.
Other favourites are Kamilaroi rapper the Kid Laroi with Justin Bieber, for Stay, and Olivia Rodrigo’s Good For You.
You can read Shaad’s whole piece here.
Updated
Staying in Tonga, Pacific editor Kate Lyons has written a timeline of how the disaster unfolded.
Save the Children is setting up temporary classrooms in Tonga following the destruction of the volcanic erruption.
From AAP:
Save the Children will provide school bags, hygiene kits and cash assistance to affected families as it’s anticipated the scheduled start to the school year will be pushed back while the full extent of the damage is being assessed.
The CEO of Save the Children Fiji said the organisation is incredibility concerned for the mental wellbeing of children in the Pacific nation, with the natural disaster causing alot of distress and anxiety.
“There is absolutely a need for psychosocial support and counselling for children,” Shairana Ali said.
“We still don’t have a lot of information about how families have fared on those low-lying islands, so we are very concerned for the safety and the wellbeing of children.”
Power has been restored to 90 per cent of the country and some international phone calls are now available but communication networks largely remain affected after a major underwater cable was damaged.
Telstra is waiving charges for calls and texts from home phones, post-paid services and mobiles for customers reaching out to family who have been impacted by recent events from Saturday.
Twenty people have died with Covid in Victoria
Twenty people have died with Covid in Victoria in the past 24 hours and 1,029 are in hospital, with 120 people in ICU and 39 on ventilators.
Victoria recorded 16,016 new cases, 7,584 of which were self-reported rapid test results.
We thank everyone who got vaccinated and tested yesterday.
— VicGovDH (@VicGovDH) January 21, 2022
Our thoughts are with those in hospital, and the families of people who have lost their lives.
More data soon: https://t.co/OCCFTAcOZP#COVID19Vic #COVID19VicData pic.twitter.com/fxA9MqlB90
Updated
Thirty people have died with Covid in NSW
Thirty people have died with Covid in New South Wales in the past 24 hours, and 2,762 people are in hospital – that’s up slightly from yesterday.
There were 20,148 new cases recorded, 8,566 of which were from rapid antigen tests.
NSW COVID-19 update – Saturday 22 January 2022
— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) January 21, 2022
In the 24-hour reporting period to 8pm last night:
- 95.3% of people aged 16+ have had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine
- 93.9% of people aged 16+ have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine pic.twitter.com/q9RtpKePe2
Updated
In good news for those who already own property and bad news for those who are trying to afford their first home, the Australian real estate market has just reported the highest returns for property sales in a decade.
From AAP:
The rate of profit-making resales across Australia rose to 92.4 per cent in the September quarter, up 50 basis points from the previous three months and the highest returns in a decade.
CoreLogic head of research Eliza Owen says considering the period was marked by lockdowns across Sydney, Melbourne and the ACT it was a remarkable result.
It was also the fifth consecutive quarter of increases.
Total transactions amounted to 99,000, down from 106,000 resale events in the June quarter, something blamed on distancing restrictions limiting physical inspections.
The national median nominal gain was $270,000 with total resale profits at $27.3 billion. Median losses were $37,000 or $368 million in total.
Owen says CoreLogic’s Pain and Gain report showed both the combined value of profit and loss fell through the quarter but the decline in total losses was more rapid.
“Resales had a typical hold period of 8.8 years, which was consistent on the previous quarter,” she said.
“However as the market finds a peak over the next couple of years, this may incentivise more resales and we may see the average hold period shift higher as more owners look to cash in their long-term gains.”
Properties held for more than 30 years had the highest median gain of just over $745,000.
Yet the highest nominal gains per year were achieved at the other end of the spectrum on properties held for two years or less, with the median figure $120,000.
Regional Australia had a higher rate of resale profit, at 93.1 per cent in the quarter but the combined capitals also had a fairly high rate at 91.1 per cent.
The regions have seen a more rapid increase in the rate of profit-making sales, with expectations that the trend is likely to continue.
The highest portion of these was in Bendigo (99.8 per cent) followed by Hume (99.5 per cent) and the Sunshine Coast and Ballarat (99.3 per cent).
With dwelling values showing further increases nationally through the December quarter, profitable sales are likely to keep on rising.
However it can’t last forever.
“There are accumulating headwinds for property market performance in the coming months, in the form of higher supply of advertised stock, normalising interest rates, affordability constraints and the possibility of tighter lending restrictions,” Owen said.
“A downswing in Australian housing market values would ultimately impact the profitability of resales, particularly for recent purchasers.”
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Victoria calls on retired teachers to help backfill Covid-19 leave at schools
The Victorian government is calling on retired teachers to join a pool of casual relief teachers to backfill vacancies left by teachers catching Omicron.
Schools in Victoria are scheduled to return next week. On Saturday, the education minister, James Merlino called on inactive teachers, retired teachers, education support staff, retired principals and people with education administrative experience to join a “job opportunity pool”.
Those staff will be deployed to schools on a fixed-term basis to fill any short-term gaps caused by people contracting cCvid-19 and needing to isolate, he said.
Everyone in the pool must have a valid working with children check or Victorian Institute of Teaching registration, and must all be fully vaccinated.
Merlino said:
Every sector is under pressure from the Omicron variant, and education will be no exception – but we’re taking action early to make sure staff absences don’t mean huge disruptions for students’ learning.
If you’re a retired or inactive teacher, school support staff member, allied health professional or administration worker – we want you to support our schools in 2022, so please get online and apply now.
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Tens of thousands of Australians will have had long Covid by the end of 2022, Guardian Australia health editor Melissa Davey has reported.
She spoke to health economist Prof Martin Hensher, who said:
I think we can be very confident that we will see many tens of thousands of people who will have long Covid, and possibly over 10,000 people who will still have long Covid by the end of the year.
He said that Australia urgently needs to roll out a regular national survey to ask people about their experience with Covid, including their ongoing symptoms.
We are flying blind about the actual scale of long Covid in this country.
Most people with Covid-19 recover within four weeks, but 5% of those infected still have symptoms three months later. The WHO describes long covid as symptoms which last at least two months past infection and which cannot be explained by any other diagnosis.
Common symptoms of long Covid include fatigue, shortness of breath, cognitive dysfunction and “others which generally have an impact on everyday functioning”.
You can read Melissa’s full article here:
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Good morning,
Australia is scrapping the requirement for international arrivals to show a negative PCR test and will accept a rapid antigen result instead.
Current regulations require overseas travellers to return a negative PCR test taken up to three days before their flight, but from 1am on Sunday arrivals can instead provide a negative RAT from within 24 hours of boarding.
The time a person is banned from entering the country after testing positive to Covid-19 has also been cut in half, from 14 days to seven, bringing it in line with domestic isolation requirements. But quarantine requirements upon entry remain subject to state and territory restrictions.
On Thursday Western Australia announced that its border would stay closed after the premier, Mark McGowan, went back on his promise to reopen the border on 5 February.
More than 20,000 people were scheduled to fly to Perth on Qantas and Jetstar flights alone in the first week the West Australian borders were set to reopen. Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said the situation was “deeply concerning”.
[West Australians] would be asking, ‘If not now, when?’” treasurer Josh Frydenberg told the Seven Network on Friday, while the president of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Omar Khorshid, and the Business Council of Australia also criticised the delay.
Friday was Australia’s deadliest day of the pandemic so far, with 88 virus-related fatalities reported across the country.
More than half of the deaths announced on Friday were recorded in NSW, which had 46 fatalities, a one-day record in the state.
Yesterday Queensland reduced its booster interval from four to three months, following NSW, Victoria, ACT and South Australia, while health experts warned that delaying elective surgeries in Victoria will see blown-out waiting lists spiral into a “massive healthcare crisis”.
Today the ABC will also be broadcasting Triple J’s Hottest 100. Who will win? Justin Bieber and Kid Laroi? Olivia Rodrigo? Billie Eilish? The Wiggles’ cover of Tame Impala’s Elephant?
We’ll bring you all the news throughout the day. If you see something, you can contact me at @callapilla on Twitter or via email at calla.wahlquist@theguardian.com
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