Australia news live update: at least 44 Covid deaths recorded nationally; Qld says using ADF to evacuate aged care facilities ‘a last resort’

Channel 5 in the UK has confirmed that Neighbours will be dropped from its summer scheduling, after airing for more than a decade on the network, according to a report from Digital Spy.

It likely spells the end of the iconic show because it relies on funding from Channel 5.

The show’s production company Fremantle and Australian broadcaster Channel 10 are yet to comment.

Tasmania has recorded 471 new Covid cases and sadly one death. There are now 11 people with the virus in hospital.

Only five of these patients are being treated specifically for virus symptoms. The remaining six are being treated for unrelated medical conditions.

South Australian premier Steven Marshall confirmed that as of today PCR testing will be available for all people with symptoms, especially close contacts. He said there is massive excess PCR testing capacity available in SA at the moment.

He acknowledged that PCR tests are “far more accurate than rapid antigen tests”.

“This is the Rolls Royce, it’s highly sensitive, it works very well and you can get an accurate picture very very quickly. It’s far more accurate than rapid antigen tests,” he said.

Elective surgery is resuming in the state from tomorrow.

Independent senator Rex Patrick is calling out the government’s decision to prioritise its religious discrimination bill during the upcoming parliamentary sitting week.

Queensland’s deputy premier Steven Miles has dismissed calls for a government integrity probe, saying “you can’t have a royal commission into a vibe”, AAP reports.

Two independent watchdogs, the Liberal National Party, Katter’s Australian Party and the Greens are calling for a probe amid multiple allegations of interference in regulators and processes.

Outgoing Integrity Commissioner Nikola Stepanov claims a laptop was taken from her office and wiped, and that the government tried to have her sacked.

Former state archivist Mike Summerell says there was interference in his record-keeping, potentially leading to parliament being mislead.

Miles says those allegations are being investigated properly so there’s no need for a wider inquiry.

“If there is new evidence then it should be forwarded to the CCC (Crime and Corruption Commission), but you can’t have a royal commission into the vibe,” the deputy premier told reporters on Sunday.

The CCC is itself under a cloud after the government ordered a formal commission of inquiry into the watchdog’s functions and structure after its botched probe into Logan Council.

Miles said while “questions have been raised about the CCC” it was still the “appropriate forum” for any allegations of government misconduct.

“If anyone has any new evidence they should forward it to the CCC,” the deputy premier said.

Meanwhile, the premier’s director-general Rachel Hunter has launched a third probe into Mr Summerell’s allegations of interference in his record-keeping role.

The terms of reference for Hunter’s review were released on Friday, with the findings due by 4 March.

Scott Morrison has declared politics is a “brutal business” as he seeks to downplay the leaking of a text message from the deputy prime minister, Barnaby Joyce, branding him a “hypocrite and a liar”.

Speaking at the i4Give Day memorial service in Sydney, which commemorates the young victims killed in the Oatlands crash in 2020, the prime minister also spoke of his Christian faith, saying he had “easily” forgiven Joyce for the damaging text message leaked on Friday.

“Politics is a brutal business,” Morrison said on Sunday.

Read Sarah Martin’s full write up here:

I will now leave you in the expert hands of Justine Landis-Hanley for the next couple of hours.

Perrottet says hospital presentations and ICU admissions continue to trend down in NSW.

NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant says 47.7% of the eligible population aged 18 an over have received a booster dose. This goes down to 43.5% when it includes 16 and 17 year olds who are eligible.

Chant says the spread of Covid-19 is slowing in the community, in part due to the booster, as well as people having been infected with Covid before, mask-wearing, getting tested and isolating, she said.

There are currently 2,321 people in hospital, including 147 in ICU, of whom 66 are on ventilators.

Of the 28 deaths today, they included 17 men and 11 women; two were in their 40s, three were in their 60s, six were in their 70s, 10 people were in their 80s, and seven people were in their 90s.

Of the three under 65 who died, Chant said one person had received three doses of the Covid vaccine, one person had received two doses, and one person was not vaccinated. She said all three had serious underlying health conditions.

The NSW premier Dominic Perrottet is launching the $250 accomodation and tourism vouchers to be available from tomorrow in the Service NSW app for parents.

He said:

Accommodation, we know, hotels, have had a very difficult time over two years, international borders closed, tourism down across our state and across our nation. So please go out and support those businesses and enjoy the best that New South Wales has to offer, as well as our tourism providers right across the state – $250 for parents, and those vouchers will be in your Service NSW app from tomorrow.

Perrottet urged people to continue to wear face masks indoors, and to socially distance.

He also thanked teachers for the seamless transition for children getting back into school.

I am incredibly pleased with how seamless going back to school has been. I know that is not the case for everyone, we have had positive cases, with either children and teachers, but not one school has closed. There were people right across the state, commentators who said we should not do this, we should not go down this path.

I was in contact with the Victorian premier this morning to check in with relation to how the Victorian experience has been. That is very much in line with what we have seen here in New South Wales. That is that schools have remained open, disruption has been minimal, it has been incredibly important, because getting kids back at school was a strong focus of this government.

Perrottet says he expects there will be “bumps along the way” in terms of schools being open but teachers are doing an outstanding job.

Queensland deputy premier Steven Miles has dismissed calls for a government integrity probe, saying “you can’t have a royal commission into a vibe”, AAP reports.

Two independent watchdogs, the Liberal National party, Katter’s Australian party and the Greens are calling for a probe amid multiple allegations of interference in regulators and processes.

Outgoing integrity commissioner Nikola Stepanov claims a laptop was taken from her office and wiped, and that the government tried to have her sacked.

Former state archivist Mike Summerell says there was interference in his record-keeping, potentially leading to parliament being mislead.

Miles says those allegations are being investigated properly so there’s no need for a wider inquiry.

If there is new evidence then it should be forwarded to the CCC (Crime and Corruption Commission), but you can’t have a royal commission into the vibe.

The CCC is itself under a cloud after the government ordered a formal commission of inquiry into the watchdog’s functions and structure after its botched probe into Logan Council.

Miles said while “questions have been raised about the CCC” it was still the “appropriate forum” for any allegations of government misconduct.

“If anyone has any new evidence they should forward it to the CCC,” the deputy premier said.

Meanwhile, the premier’s director general Rachel Hunter has launched a third probe into Summerell’s allegations of interference in his record-keeping role.

The terms of reference for Hunter’s review were released on Friday, with the findings due by 4 March.

Good afternoon, everyone.

It’s pride march day here in Melbourne. And protesters have delivered a petition to Victoria police, minister for equality Martin Foley, Midsumma, and the LGBTIQ+ communities commissioner, calling for the police not to march in their uniforms in the march through St Kilda.

In the petition they state:

Pride should be safe and welcoming for all of us. However, police participation is a barrier for those who have had negative experiences with Victoria police.

Many people in our communities experience policing and police violence, including Aboriginal people, Torres Strait Islander people, African Australians, people of colour, migrants, trans and gender diverse people, people living with HIV, sex workers, poor people, people with disabilities, people who use drugs, and people without a home.

The organisers say people can march as individuals.

The petition gained 1,180 signatures in six days, including 940 from LGBT Victorians.

Midsumma and the communities commissioner have agreed to meet with the petition organisers but the minister and Victoria police have not responded.

I’m handing over the blog to the brilliant Josh Taylor – see you on the other side of lunch.