The day that was, Wednesday 2 February
That’s where we will leave the live blog for Wednesday. Here’s some of what made the news today:
- The prime minister, Scott Morrison, said “no country is perfect and there are criticisms made of all countries” when asked to comment on an Amnesty International report that concluded Israel has conducted the international wrong of apartheid.
- NSW premier Dominic Perrottet said it was “terrible” that text messages allegedly between a federal cabinet minister and former premier Gladys Berejiklian in which the PM was described as a “complete psycho” were leaked.
- Government ministers lined up to deny they were the person behind the texts as the deputy PM called on the person to reveal themselves.
- Aged care and sports minister Richard Colbeck defended going to the cricket instead of a Covid-19 inquiry hearing stating that he “balances the elements” of his portfolio and that on 14 January “the predominant part of the day [was spent] on the aged care outbreak”.
- There were 40,090 new Covid-19 cases reported: 11,807 in NSW, 14,553 in Victoria, 9630 in Queensland, 1723 in South Australia, 549 in the ACT, 666 in Tasmania, 1133 in the Northern Territory and 29 in Western Australia.
- The national death toll is 3907 (+70): NSW 1451 (+27), Victoria 2054 (+25), Queensland 225 (+16), South Australia 121 (+one), ACT 26, NT three (+one), Tasmania 18 and WA nine.
- Covid rapid antigen tests will be manufactured in Victoria, premier Daniel Andrews announced. If approved by the TGA, full production could reach up to 50m Rats a year from October.
Until tomorrow.
Updated
Stranded travellers may be flown out of Coober Pedy, in South Australia’s north, with the road to Adelaide still flooded after heavy outback rains, AAP reports.
Close to 20 people may be airlifted out by the RAAF, which came to the town’s aid earlier this week with 20 tonnes of food and other supplies.
The Stuart Highway, the main road link between Adelaide and Darwin, remains underwater in parts with expectations it could be closed for close to two weeks.
Premier Steven Marshall said he understood the frustration of those in Coober Pedy but the conditions in the area remained hazardous.
“We really do need to be very clear that it is still a very dangerous situation,” he said on Wednesday.
“We have roads we’re not sure of at the moment. There has been massive rainfall and this creates a dangerous situation.”
The premier said a major logistical exercise was underway to repair road and rail infrastructure across the state’s north and also to ensure remote communities were supplied with essential items.
As that exercise continued, the State Emergency Service said the risk of more rain across the north had reduced and water levels were dropping slowly.
“But areas of water ponding will remain in the area for some time,” it said.
Pumping was being explored as an option to allow repair crews access as soon as possible and alternative routes were being considered, with defence officials examining the possibility of using roads within the Woomera prohibited area.
Repairs to rail lines across 300km of track were also underway but were not expected to be completed until mid-February.
Rain across the affected area on Tuesday night was less than originally forecast after several centres copped a drenching the previous day, including Ernabella, on the Indigenous APY lands, which had more than 100mm.
The deluge extended as far south as Port Augusta which had more than 50mm in a three-hour period, enough to turn roads into rivers and leave the town’s main oval underwater.
Full damage assessments were continuing with a working group established to bring together data from local councils and state agencies.
Updated
⛈️⚠️Severe thunderstorm #warning update: tracking a severe thunderstorm near #Beaudesert, and across much of the state. Primary hazard remains heavy rainfall, with damaging wind gusts unlikely. Details and updates: https://t.co/FBmpsInT9o pic.twitter.com/kKIJjalF7c
— Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland (@BOM_Qld) February 2, 2022
