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The day in review
By Michaela Whitbourn
Good evening and thank you for reading our live coverage of the day’s events. If you are just joining us now, here’s what you need to know:
- Alan Tudge has stepped aside as federal Education Minister pending a review of his conduct by the Prime Minister’s Department, which was triggered by allegations of abusive behaviour made by former staffer Rachelle Miller. Ms Miller said today that Mr Tudge was emotionally abusive, and on one occasion physically abusive, during their consensual affair in 2017. Mr Tudge has denied the allegations. Former Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, Vivienne Thom, will conduct the review into whether Mr Tudge breached ministerial standards.
Education Minister Alan Tudge has rejected his former staffer Rachelle Miller’s account of their affair.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
- Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has confirmed he will quit politics at next year’s election after 20 years in Parliament. The health minister’s wife and staff were allowed into the public gallery to hear his valedictory speech, Rachel Clun reports. “I’m so proud of this government, this parliament, and this nation, and all the things that have been done to save lives and protect lives,” he said. “There will be challenges, but we are well-prepared for the future.” He paid tribute to his wife Paula, for raising the couple’s two children mostly alone. “[My children] said to me, on Sunday, they looked at me and said, ‘dad, this is your last chance to be a proper dad, and it’s time to come home’.”
- Prime Minister Scott Morrison paid tribute to Mr Hunt’s “big heart” and “big brain”. “I could not be more grateful to the minister for health but more significantly to [Mr Hunt’s wife and children] for allowing Greg to be here and serve in this place and serve as part of our team here, especially over these last three years,” Mr Morrison said.
Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt on Tuesday.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
- Update at 7.27pm: an eighth case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has been confirmed in NSW in a returned traveller who arrived in Sydney on flight SQ231 from Singapore on Sunday, November 28. The fully vaccinated person had recently been in southern Africa.
- A child who has been living in Chatswood in Sydney’s north for the past week has been confirmed as NSW’s seventh case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Mary Ward reports that the child’s infection casts doubts over the usefulness of the state’s two-tiered quarantine system that imposes tougher isolation requirements on travellers from eight southern African nations, because the child and their family had not been in southern Africa. NSW Health said it was “concerned” transmission of the variant may have occurred on board flight QR908 from Doha on Tuesday, November 23. The child’s parents are also COVID-positive, and urgent genomic testing is under way to determine if they also have the Omicron variant.
A child who visited a number of shops at Chatswood has tested positive for the Omicron variant of COVID-19.Credit:Louise Kennerley
Anyone who was on the child’s flight is considered a close contact of a COVID-19 case and must get a PCR test and self-isolate while waiting for further health advice. Further exposure sites in Chatswood are listed here. The child is the second international arrival to test positive to Omicron without having spent time in one of the eight southern African nations singled out by health authorities as warranting tougher isolation measures. A man who had been in Nigeria before landing in Sydney last Thursday was determined to also have the variant.
Crossbenchers Fiona Patten and Rod Barton vote in favour of the pandemic bill in the upper house on Thursday. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui
The Andrews government’s pandemic bill has passed the upper house, paving the way for Victoria to become the first jurisdiction in Australia to implement tailor-made pandemic laws. The legislation will shift the responsibility to declare pandemics and issue health orders from the state’s chief health officer to the premier and health minister once the government’s state of emergency powers expire on December 15.
Former SA premier Jay Weatherill.Credit:Karina Vakil
- South Australia has recorded 18 new cases of COVID-19, 16 of which are linked to an event in Adelaide’s eastern suburbs. As reported earlier today, former SA premier Jay Weatherill tested positive to COVID-19 on Wednesday after attending his school reunion at a venue in Norwood on Saturday. SA Health believes attendees caught the virus from an interstate traveller at the reunion. Professor Nicola Spurrier, the state’s Chief Public Health Officer, said everybody at the event was fully vaccinated and there were 16 new cases associated with the so-called Norwood cluster today. The remaining two coronavirus cases reported today were interstate travellers.
WA Premier Mark McGowan.Credit:Peter de Kruijff
- Western Australia is considering putting in place even tougher border restrictions with South Australia in light of today’s COVID numbers, Peter de Kruijff reports. South Australia opened to fully vaccinated travellers from all Australian jurisdictions, except from local government areas with community transmission, on November 23. WA Premier Mark McGowan made the call on Saturday to change the interstate travel status from South Australia to low-risk, meaning travellers would need to self-quarantine for 14 days on arrival in the west. One of his reasons for the policy change was the uncertainty surrounding the emerging Omicron strain of COVID-19. Mr McGowan said today the border arrangements with his state’s Nullabor neighbour were under review, with urgent health advice expected soon from WA’s Chief Health Officer. “But it may well be that ... toughen the border with South Australia. Very quickly,” he said.
This is Michaela Whitbourn signing off on the blog for today. My colleague Broede Carmody will be back with you early tomorrow morning.
Eighth Omicron case of COVID-19 confirmed in NSW
By Michaela Whitbourn
An eighth case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has been confirmed in NSW.
The fully vaccinated person had recently been in southern Africa and arrived in Sydney on flight SQ231 from Singapore on Sunday, November 28.
“The person has been in hotel quarantine since arriving, as required under the NSW public health order,” NSW Health said in a statement tonight.
“NSW Health is requesting every person who was on flight SQ231 from Singapore to Sydney on 28 November to immediately get their first COVID-19 PCR test if not already completed and isolate until they receive a negative result. Under the public health order, they are also required to get a COVID-19 PCR test on day 6 (4 December 2021) after arriving in NSW.”
“All travellers arriving in NSW who have been in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini and Malawi during the 14-day period before their arrival in NSW must enter hotel quarantine for 14 days, irrespective of their vaccination status.
“Anyone who has already arrived in NSW who has been in any of the eight African countries within the previous 14 days must immediately get tested and isolate for 14 days, and call NSW Health on 1800 943 553.”
NSW Health confirmed a seventh case of the Omicron variant of the virus earlier on Thursday, in a child who is too young to get vaccinated. The child’s parents have also tested positive to COVID-19 and urgent genomic sequencing is under way to confirm whether they also have the variant.
The day in review
By Michaela Whitbourn
Good evening and thank you for reading our live coverage of the day’s events. If you are just joining us now, here’s what you need to know:
- Alan Tudge has stepped aside as federal Education Minister pending a review of his conduct by the Prime Minister’s Department, which was triggered by allegations of abusive behaviour made by former staffer Rachelle Miller. Ms Miller said today that Mr Tudge was emotionally abusive, and on one occasion physically abusive, during their consensual affair in 2017. Mr Tudge has denied the allegations. Former Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, Vivienne Thom, will conduct the review into whether Mr Tudge breached ministerial standards.
Education Minister Alan Tudge has rejected his former staffer Rachelle Miller’s account of their affair.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
- Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has confirmed he will quit politics at next year’s election after 20 years in Parliament. The health minister’s wife and staff were allowed into the public gallery to hear his valedictory speech, Rachel Clun reports. “I’m so proud of this government, this parliament, and this nation, and all the things that have been done to save lives and protect lives,” he said. “There will be challenges, but we are well-prepared for the future.” He paid tribute to his wife Paula, for raising the couple’s two children mostly alone. “[My children] said to me, on Sunday, they looked at me and said, ‘dad, this is your last chance to be a proper dad, and it’s time to come home’.”
- Prime Minister Scott Morrison paid tribute to Mr Hunt’s “big heart” and “big brain”. “I could not be more grateful to the minister for health but more significantly to [Mr Hunt’s wife and children] for allowing Greg to be here and serve in this place and serve as part of our team here, especially over these last three years,” Mr Morrison said.
Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt on Tuesday.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
- Update at 7.27pm: an eighth case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has been confirmed in NSW in a returned traveller who arrived in Sydney on flight SQ231 from Singapore on Sunday, November 28. The fully vaccinated person had recently been in southern Africa.
- A child who has been living in Chatswood in Sydney’s north for the past week has been confirmed as NSW’s seventh case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Mary Ward reports that the child’s infection casts doubts over the usefulness of the state’s two-tiered quarantine system that imposes tougher isolation requirements on travellers from eight southern African nations, because the child and their family had not been in southern Africa. NSW Health said it was “concerned” transmission of the variant may have occurred on board flight QR908 from Doha on Tuesday, November 23. The child’s parents are also COVID-positive, and urgent genomic testing is under way to determine if they also have the Omicron variant.
A child who visited a number of shops at Chatswood has tested positive for the Omicron variant of COVID-19.Credit:Louise Kennerley
Anyone who was on the child’s flight is considered a close contact of a COVID-19 case and must get a PCR test and self-isolate while waiting for further health advice. Further exposure sites in Chatswood are listed here. The child is the second international arrival to test positive to Omicron without having spent time in one of the eight southern African nations singled out by health authorities as warranting tougher isolation measures. A man who had been in Nigeria before landing in Sydney last Thursday was determined to also have the variant.
Crossbenchers Fiona Patten and Rod Barton vote in favour of the pandemic bill in the upper house on Thursday. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui
The Andrews government’s pandemic bill has passed the upper house, paving the way for Victoria to become the first jurisdiction in Australia to implement tailor-made pandemic laws. The legislation will shift the responsibility to declare pandemics and issue health orders from the state’s chief health officer to the premier and health minister once the government’s state of emergency powers expire on December 15.
Former SA premier Jay Weatherill.Credit:Karina Vakil
- South Australia has recorded 18 new cases of COVID-19, 16 of which are linked to an event in Adelaide’s eastern suburbs. As reported earlier today, former SA premier Jay Weatherill tested positive to COVID-19 on Wednesday after attending his school reunion at a venue in Norwood on Saturday. SA Health believes attendees caught the virus from an interstate traveller at the reunion. Professor Nicola Spurrier, the state’s Chief Public Health Officer, said everybody at the event was fully vaccinated and there were 16 new cases associated with the so-called Norwood cluster today. The remaining two coronavirus cases reported today were interstate travellers.
WA Premier Mark McGowan.Credit:Peter de Kruijff
- Western Australia is considering putting in place even tougher border restrictions with South Australia in light of today’s COVID numbers, Peter de Kruijff reports. South Australia opened to fully vaccinated travellers from all Australian jurisdictions, except from local government areas with community transmission, on November 23. WA Premier Mark McGowan made the call on Saturday to change the interstate travel status from South Australia to low-risk, meaning travellers would need to self-quarantine for 14 days on arrival in the west. One of his reasons for the policy change was the uncertainty surrounding the emerging Omicron strain of COVID-19. Mr McGowan said today the border arrangements with his state’s Nullabor neighbour were under review, with urgent health advice expected soon from WA’s Chief Health Officer. “But it may well be that ... toughen the border with South Australia. Very quickly,” he said.
This is Michaela Whitbourn signing off on the blog for today. My colleague Broede Carmody will be back with you early tomorrow morning.
Melbourne’s ‘freedom’ protesters march to Governor’s residence
By Marta Pascual Juanola
About a dozen “freedom” protesters have marched from the steps of the Victorian parliament to the gates of Government House to protest against the Andrews government’s pandemic bill, which passed the upper house today.
Demonstrators set up camp at the gates of Government House in Victoria to protest the passing of the pandemic bill. Credit:Facebook
The group was undeterred by Melbourne’s wet weather as they walked down Spring Street chanting “sack [Daniel] Andrews” and carrying banners and flags.
They set up camp with tarps and foldable chairs on the grass outside the gates of Government House, the official residence of Victorian Governor Linda Dessau, who is poised to give royal assent to the legislation.
Police cars lined the road to the residence, as a handful of officers kept a watchful eye on the group.
One protester declared they were setting up “for the long haul” after the steps of Parliament had become unsafe for protesters to stay overnight.
The legislation will shift the responsibility for declaring pandemics and issuing health orders from the state’s chief health officer to the premier and health minister, once existing state of emergency powers expire on December 15. This brings Victoria into line with NSW, among other jurisdictions.
The Governor will give the bill royal assent next week.
WA’s border with South Australia could get tougher, McGowan says
By Peter de Kruijff
Western Australia is considering putting in place even stricter borders with South Australia after the state recorded 18 new cases of COVID-19 in the community.
South Australia opened to fully vaccinated travellers from all Australian jurisdictions, except from local government areas with community transmission, on November 23. It has recorded 29 local COVID-19 cases since.
Premier Mark McGowan is contemplating a harder border between Western Australia and South Australia.
WA Premier Mark McGowan made the call on Saturday to change the interstate travel status from South Australia to low-risk, meaning travellers would need to self-quarantine for 14 days on arrival in the west. One of his reasons for the policy change was the uncertainty surrounding the emerging Omicron strain of COVID-19.
Mr McGowan said on Thursday the border arrangements with his state’s Nullabor neighbour were under review with urgent health advice expected soon from WA’s Chief Health Officer.
“But it may well be that ... toughen the border with South Australia. Very quickly,” he said.
How is post-lockdown traffic in your local area in Melbourne?
By Tom Cowie
Melbourne has been out of lockdown for over a month and many people would have noticed that the roads are as choked as they were before the pandemic – perhaps even busier.
Transport agencies have noted that passenger numbers on public transport are still well down, with most people preferring to use their cars to get around for work, shopping and leisure.
Do you have a story of how the increase in traffic has affected you? Perhaps the school run has become a nightmare, or a delivery route takes a lot longer than it used to. We’d like to hear your experiences as part of an upcoming story for The Age.
Asthma warning issued as heavy rain and hail lash Melbourne
By Roy Ward and Marta Pascual Juanola
A high risk of epidemic thunderstorm asthma is forecast for Melbourne and the surrounding areas, as more heavy rain and hail lash the city following flash flooding on Wednesday.
The weather bureau said severe storms were moving in from the west on Thursday afternoon and were forecast to drench Caulfield, Craigieburn, Frankston, Greensborough and the CBD Rosebud by 5.10pm.
Pedestrians run for cover during a thunderstorm in Melbourne today.Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui
Victorian health authorities have urged people with asthma and hay fever to go inside during the storm and avoid the winds that come before it.
A severe thunderstorm warning is in place for large parts of the state, including western Victoria, Melbourne in the east, Kerang in the north, and Geelong in the south.
The thunderstorm on Wednesday dumped almost 40 millimetres of rain in an hour on the Maribyrnong area, in Melbourne’s north-west, as temperatures in the city plunged from 30 degrees at 3pm to 19 degrees at 5pm.
On Thursday, thousands of homes lost power as the front rolled across the metropolitan area, and as of 4pm, about 700 properties remained off the grid.
Electricity providers urged customers to be prepared for a repeat of Wednesday’s weather, which could cause additional power outages.
Victoria State Emergency Service received 328 calls on Wednesday, mainly involving building damage.
Rachelle Miller welcomes review of alleged conduct of Alan Tudge
By Michaela Whitbourn
As we reported earlier today, Alan Tudge has stood aside as federal Education Minister pending a review by the Prime Minister’s Department of allegations about his conduct.
Mr Tudge’s former staffer, Rachelle Miller, said today that Mr Tudge was emotionally abusive, and on one occasion physically abusive, during their affair in 2017.
Mr Tudge has denied the allegations. Former Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Vivienne Thom will conduct the review into whether Mr Tudge breached ministerial standards.
In a statement this afternoon, Ms Miller’s lawyers, Gordon Legal, said: “Rachelle Miller welcomes the announcement by the Prime Minister Scott Morrison today of the appointment of Doctor Vivienne Thom to review the conduct of Minister Tudge.”
Gordon Legal senior partner Peter Gordon said “Rachelle will co-operate fully with this investigation. Her priority is that both major parties commit immediately to implementation of all 28 recommendations of the Jenkins review [of the workplace culture of Parliament House, released on Tuesday].
“Recommendation 22 of the Jenkins review provides that Parliament establish within 12 months a new fair, independent, confidential and transparent system to handle complaints and appeals about misconduct by members of Parliament.
“We look forward to receiving details of the terms of reference and the process Dr Thom proposes to follow.”
Search for remains of missing campers in Victoria’s high country comes to an end
By Marta Pascual Juanola
The search for the remains of missing campers Carol Clay and Russell Hill in bushland north of Dargo, in Victoria’s high country, has wrapped up after less than a week.
“Victoria Police has now concluded the search,” police said in a statement. “As the matter is before the courts, we will not be facilitating any interviews in relation to the investigation.”
Russell Hill and Carol ClayCredit:The Age
Specialist police were called in to scour an area of the Grant Historic Area in East Gippsland, 23 kilometres north of the Dargo township, on Monday.
On Tuesday, investigators found human remains after hours of sifting through dirt in the remote bushland area. Testing is underway to formally identify the remains.
Mr Hill and Ms Clay vanished while camping in the remote Wonnangatta Valley in March 2020. Their burnt-out campsite was found days later.
Airline pilot Greg Lynn, 55, from Caroline Springs was charged with two counts of murder last Thursday.
Court documents released to the press show police allege Mr Lynn, from Caroline Springs, murdered Mr Hill, 74, and Ms Clay, 73, at Wonnangatta on March 20, 2020.
New Zealand records 172 new cases of COVID-19
By Michaela Whitbourn
New Zealand has recorded 172 community cases of COVID-19, 142 of which were in Auckland.
“There are 86 cases in hospital. Of these, nine are in an intensive care or high dependency unit,” the NZ health ministry said.
“Of the 8,745 cases in the current outbreak, 86% (7,479) are not fully immunised. Of the 457 hospitalised cases in the current outbreak, 94% (428) are not fully immunised.”
Exposure sites in Chatswood after child confirmed as seventh Omicron case in NSW
By Mary Ward
NSW Health has released a list of exposure sites in Chatswood, in Sydney’s north, after a child was confirmed as the state’s seventh case of the Omicron COVID-19 variant of concern.
The child, whose infection was reported earlier today, was too young to be vaccinated against COVID-19. They were staying with their parents – who are fully vaccinated and are also now COVID-positive – at the Mantra Serviced Apartments in Chatswood from Tuesday November 23 until this Wednesday, when the family moved into NSW Health’s Special Health Accommodation.
Anyone who was at the apartments at this time is considered a casual contact of a COVID-19 case and must immediately get tested and self-isolate until they receive a negative result. The group also visited:
- Vodafone at Chatswood Westfield on Wednesday, November 24 from 12.25pm to 12.40pm
- Chatswood Centrelink and Medicare on Wednesday, November 24 from 1pm to 2.30pm
- Priceline at Chatswood Interchange on Wednesday, November 24 from 1pm to 1.10pm
- Woolworths at Chatswood Interchange on Wednesday from 1pm to 2.30pm
People who were at these locations at these times should also get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result.
As reported earlier this morning, the family had not recently been in southern Africa and NSW Health are investigating the possibility the child caught the Omicron variant on their flight from Doha which landed in Sydney on November 23.
The parents’ infections are currently being genomically sequenced to confirm they also have the Omicron variant.
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