In this morning’s meeting there is wide acceptance, in particular from the prime minister, that Western Australia is different. And we don’t have large numbers of cases. In fact, we have one case today. NSW had 11,000. So we are in a very, very different position to the other states. Which is why our testing, … Read more
We have never had a set and forget policy when it comes to managing the pandemic. As I think people have seen, everything from jobkeeper to the Covid disaster payment, the support we provide to pharmacists and GPs for the vaccination program. I mean, we pay the states to deliver the vaccines, I do not … Read more
This is the key point. This is the key point, we saved more than 700,000 jobs. And as a result, unemployment now is at 5.2%, lower than when we came to government.Now, the way to get higher wages is to get a tighter labour market. We’re starting to see workforce shortages which will have some … Read more
A NSW central west town is preparing to evacuate as flooding from days of heavy rain raises rivers across the state, reports AAP. Of prime concern to authorities is the swollen Lachlan River, with more than 8,000 people in the town of Forbes in its path. The Bureau of Meteorology forecast major flooding in the … Read more
First flights land as New South Wales allows fully vaccinated people to enter without quarantining, while more restrictions within the state lift. Follow all the day’s news Australians can travel overseas again: what you need to know Vaccine rollout tracker; cases and data tracker Get our free news app; get our morning email briefing Frydenberg: … Read more
Luke Costin from AAP is off the mark early with this troubling report: An independent inquiry has been ordered into allegations that Covid-negative prisoners were forced to bunk with positive cellmates in a privately run Sydney prison. The allegations were raised in two separate courts in recent weeks concerning inmates at Parklea Correctional Centre in … Read more
It’s a personal choice, but most of us are wearing masks. I mean, on the tube, most of us are wearing masks. I don’t know if you’ve seen that. And I think as more and more it gets into winter, I’ve had a cough, so I’ve been wearing a mask, and having a cough is … Read more
Melburnians cheered in celebration as the clocks struck midnight and their collective 262 days of lockdown ended. As the state of Victoria hit its target of 70% double dose vaccination for those above 16, those who have been double jabbed were given new freedoms including a return to hairdressers, retail and hospitality. Despite a rise in … Read more
10.00pm BST22:00 Qantas to return to 100% of staff levels in January Joyce says there are discussions with the Indonesian government to open up Bali to vaccinated Australian travellers, with the hope that it could be open before Christmas. Qantas will also be launching commercial flights to Delhi, for the first time in ten years. … Read more
Ready for more climate talk? Because you’ll be hearing a lot of it today. Again. Despite being one of the governing parties for the past eight years, and being heavily involved in the climate policy wars, the Nationals, led by Barnaby Joyce, have apparently never before considered a net zero by 2050 target. All we … Read more