Australia news live update: 13 Covid deaths across NSW and Victoria; Tasmania to ease border restrictions; Northern Territory records mystery case

A second person in New Zealand infected with Covid-19 has died while isolating at home alone, as the country recorded 163 new cases in the community – their high ever daily number.

The man, who was in his 50s, was recently treated in hospital and discharged himself on November 3rd. Ambulance medics found him in his home in Mt Eden, a central Auckland suburb, on Friday morning.

It is the second death of a Covid-19 positive man self-isolating at home this week, and the 4th death during the August outbreak.

Thirty people with Covid-19 have died in New Zealand since the start of the pandemic.

Circumstances around his death are being investigated, the director of public health Caroline McElnay said on Friday.

The deputy prime minister Grant Robertson said he is confident in the self-isolation system, and that it is being continually monitored.

But he said both of this week’s deaths are being investigated to identify any improvements that may be needed.

There are now 4034 cases in the outbreak, and 1723 have recovered. Of Friday’s cases, 159 are in Auckland and four are in Waikato. There are 69 people in hospital, with 6 of those in intensive care.

Nearly 86% of eligible New Zealanders over 12 years-old have had at least one dose of the vaccine, with 74% fully innoculated.

Scott Morrison is always late. It’s expected at this point. So if you are sitting around wondering where the prime minister is, because his press conference was scheduled for 10.30am, don’t worry – this is just all part of the experience.

Morrison and NSW premier Dom Perrottet are holding their press conference at the Sydney Westconnex site (construction sites always add at least 20-30 minutes to any wait time) and we’ll bring you all the updates as they come.

China’s foreign ministry is continuing to use the diplomatic dispute between France and Australia to further its own criticism of the Aukus submarine deal.

At the daily press briefing in Beijing late yesterday, a reporter from a Chinese state-controlled media outlet asked for a comment on the French accusation that Australia had lied about the nuclear-propelled submarines plan, and the criticism over the leaking of the text message.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, replied:

I have noted relevant reports. I want to stress that the Aukus nuclear submarine cooperation is not just a diplomatic spat between a few countries, but a serious matter that will create risks of nuclear proliferation and undermine regional peace and stability.

It is extremely irresponsible for the Australian government to ignore its international nuclear non-proliferation obligations and the serious concerns of regional countries and the international community in pursuit of its own interests. The Australian government should correct its mistakes, abandon the Cold War mentality, conscientiously fulfil its international nuclear non-proliferation obligations, earnestly safeguard regional peace and stability and give a responsible answer to the international community.

The Australian government has said it “remains staunch in our support for the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)“ and that it will “work closely with the International Atomic Energy Agency to ensure full compliance with our NPT obligations as a Non-Nuclear Weapon State”.

Comedian Jordan Shanks has apologised to John Barilaro and will pay $100,000 in costs as part of a settlement deal in the defamation case brought by the former deputy premier over a series of videos he claimed were “vile and racist”.

In the federal court on Friday Shanks’ lawyer, Matthew Collins QC, read a statement to the court on behalf of his client, who uses the nom de plume Friendlyjordies in his popular YouTube videos, conceding the videos at the centre of the case were “offensive” and apologising.

“Throughout 2020 and 2021 Mr Shanks posted many videos about John Barilaro the former deputy premier of NSW. Freedom of expression for political communication is important, but Mr Shanks accepts some of the videos he posted were offensive to Mr Barilaro,” Collins said.

“Mr Shanks understands Mr Barilaro has been hurt, and apologises to him for that hurt.”

You can read all the details below: