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The day’s headlines at a glance
By Michaela Whitbourn and Broede Carmody
Good afternoon 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:
There is growing speculation that former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian will throw her hat into the ring to contest ex-prime minister Tony Abbott’s former federal seat of Warringah at next year’s federal election. The seat is currently held by independent MP Zali Steggall. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said today that he thought Ms Berejiklian would be a “great” candidate.
Scott Morrison said former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian would be a welcome part of his team.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen, Nick Moir
- Mr Morrison has been criticial of a NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption inquiry into Ms Berejiklian, which has yet to release its findings. The ICAC is investigating multimillion-dollar grants or promises made by the state government to organisations in Wagga Wagga while Ms Berejiklian was in a secret relationship with the then-Liberal MP for the electorate, Daryl Maguire. Mr Morrison said that if Ms Berejiklian “wished to join our team, she would be very welcome”. He dismissed suggestions it would be a “bad look” before the ICAC released its findings. Ms Berejiklian has denied all wrongdoing and insisted history will show she acted in the best interests of the people of NSW.
As the unofficial election campaign gets under way, Scott Morrison was at Woollahra Public School on Monday.Credit:Dean Sewell
- NSW health authorities have confirmed there are now 25 cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the state, up from 15, after genomic sequencing for several locally acquired cases was finalised over the weekend. Mary Ward reports that 14 of the cases are linked to a south-west Sydney cluster of cases across Regents Park Christian School and St Peter Chanel Catholic Primary School at Regents Park, and the Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym at Villawood.
The state’s Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerry Chant, said it was “expected that our numbers linked to this cluster will rise as further results are confirmed”. She added that health authorities were continuing to investigate the source of the outbreak and thanked the school communities for turning out for testing in large numbers and following the health advice.
Regents Park Christian School is at the centre of a cluster of Omicron cases.Credit:Nine News
No Omicron cases in NSW have been hospitalised. The state recorded 208 new COVID-19 cases today, and no deaths. There are 152 coronavirus patients in hospital, 24 of whom are in intensive care. On the vaccination front, 92.8 per cent of people aged 16 and up are fully vaccinated against the virus and 94.6 per cent have received a first dose. In the 12-15-year-old cohort, 77.2 per cent are fully vaccinated and 81.4 per cent have had one dose. Dr Chant said there was “a little bit of room for improvement here” in the teen vaccination rate and it would be “really important” to have high rates of vaccination among school students in the new year.
Anthony Fauci: “Thus far, it does not look like there’s a great degree of severity to it.”Credit:AP
The Chief Medical Advisor to the United States President, Dr Anthony Fauci, says early data from South Africa suggests there has not been a surge in hospitalisations as a result of the Omicron coronavirus variant. However, Dr Fauci stressed that it’s still too early to be 100 per cent certain. The Omicron variant has spread to at least 16 US states but America’s ban on international arrivals from southern African countries can be lifted in a “reasonable period of time”, Dr Fauci has said. As we have reported previously, there are 25 confirmed cases of Omicron in NSW, one in the ACT and one recorded in quarantine in the Northern Territory.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.Credit:Joe Armao
Victoria has recorded 1073 new cases of COVID-19 and six deaths. That’s up on yesterday’s total of 980 cases. There are 310 people in Victorian hospitals with coronavirus. Of those, there are 45 active cases in intensive care. Nineteen are on a ventilator. The Victorian government says 91 per cent of residents aged 12 and up are fully vaccinated against the virus.
The ACT has recorded six new cases of COVID-19.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
The ACT has recorded six new cases of COVID-19. There are six people in hospital with the virus. Of those, three are in intensive care. None are on a ventilator. The ACT continues to lead the nation in vaccination rates: 98 per cent of residents aged 12 and up are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.Credit:Matt Dennien
Updated government projections are today expected to indicate when Queensland should hit the key vaccine milestones that will trigger major changes to coronavirus restrictions, Toby Crockford reports. Previous projections had Queensland hitting the 80 per cent double-dose vaccination rate for people aged 16 and up on December 17, but on Sunday, 78.17 per cent of the eligible population was already fully vaccinated. Under Queensland’s road map, borders will reopen to vaccinated travellers without the need for quarantine when the state hits 80 per cent fully vaccinated, or on December 17, whichever is earlier. We are expecting an update on the borders at 2pm AEST (3pm in Sydney and Melbourne).
Broede Carmody is signing off on the blog for today. Michaela Whitbourn will keep you informed of the latest headlines throughout the afternoon and evening.
Omicron not fuelling hospitalisations, America’s top medical advisor says
By Broede Carmody
To international news briefly, and the Chief Medical Advisor to the United States President, Dr Anthony Fauci, says early data from South Africa suggests what we initially suspected: there hasn’t been a surge in hospitalisations off the back of the Omicron coronavirus variant.
However, Dr Fauci stressed that it’s still too early to be 100 per cent certain.
Dr Anthony Fauci, director of America’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.Credit:AP
The Omicron variant has spread to at least 16 US states. However, America’s ban on international arrivals from southern African countries can be lifted in a “reasonable period of time”, Dr Fauci has said.
As mentioned earlier, on the local front, there are 25 confirmed cases of Omicron in NSW, one in the ACT and one recorded in quarantine in the Northern Territory.
Australia’s ban on African arrivals should be immediately reversed, South Africa’s High Commissioner – Marthinus Van Schalkwyk – told ABC radio earlier this morning.
NSW’s Omicron cases now at 25
By Mary Ward
NSW health authorities have confirmed there are now 25 cases of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the state, up from 15, after genomic sequencing for several locally acquired cases was finalised over the weekend.
Fourteen of the cases are linked to a south-west Sydney cluster of cases across Regents Park Christian School and St Peter Chanel Catholic Primary School at Regents Park, and the Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym at Villawood.
An additional case, an ACT resident whose infection was announced last week, is believed to have also acquired their infection at the climbing gym. This case is not being counted in NSW’s numbers.
Eleven other Omicron cases have been detected in people who have arrived in Sydney on international flights since November 23.
Some of these people who had not recently been in southern Africa are believed to have possibly acquired their infection while on their flight.
No Omicron cases in NSW have been hospitalised.
ACT records six new cases of COVID-19
By Broede Carmody
The ACT’s daily coronavirus numbers are in.
The territory has recorded six new cases of COVID-19.
There are six people in hospital with the virus. Of those, three are in intensive care. But none are on a ventilator.
The ACT continues to lead the nation in terms of vaccination: 98 per cent of residents aged 12 and up are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
New Andrews government minister sworn in
By Paul Sakkal and Marta Pascual Juanola
Victorian Labor member for Ivanhoe, Anthony Carbines, has been sworn into the Andrews government cabinet – replacing a senior Labor MP caught up in the corruption probe into sacked state MP Adem Somyurek.
Mr Carbines, who started his career as a journalist at the Geelong Advertiser, was elected to Victorian Parliament in 2010. He will now take on the portfolios of ageing, disabilities, carers and child protection previously held by Narre Warren North MP Luke Donnellan, who quit the ministry in October.
Mr Donnellan was a factional ally of Mr Somyurek, who was revealed at a corruption inquiry to have contributed money to a branch-stacking fund used to pay for Labor memberships to boost his faction’s power.
While branch stacking – the process of improperly increasing the membership of a local political branch to ensure the preselection of a desired candidate – is against Labor rules, it is not technically illegal. What is against the law, though, is using parliamentary funds or resources (i.e. taxpayer money) for party-political work.
As part of the state government reshuffle, Sunbury MP Josh Bull will take on the roles of parliamentary secretary for health and carers and volunteers previously held by Mr Carbines, while Footscray MP Kate Hall will become parliamentary secretary for multicultural affairs and youth.
East Victoria MP Harriet Shing will also add the role of parliamentary secretary for digital government to her responsibilities.
Read more about Mr Carbines, and the investigation into Mr Somyurek, here.
Berejiklian would be a ‘great’ candidate for Warringah: PM
By Broede Carmody
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has finished addressing the media in NSW.
Towards the end of the press conference, the PM was asked about former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian’s possible tilt at federal politics.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison visiting a Sydney school earlier today. Credit:Dean Sewell
There is growing speculation that Ms Berejiklian will throw her hat into the ring to contest ex-prime minister Tony Abbott’s former federal seat of Warringah (currently held by independent Zali Steggall).
Mr Morrison said he thought Ms Berejiklian would be a “great” candidate.
“The way that Gladys Berejiklian has been treated has been shameful,” he said.
“I have been clear about that. Anthony Albanese thought that [her standing down as premier amid an Independent Commission Against Corruption investigation was] the right thing to do. She will make her own decision in her own time about what she would look to do.
“If she wished to join our team, she would be very welcome. I have no doubt that whatever Gladys sets her mind
to, she will be a great success.”
A journalist then asked whether it would be a bad look to endorse Ms Berejiklian given she is being investigated by ICAC when Mr Morrison has asked members of his team to stand down amid investigations (most recently, Alan Tudge).
Here is what the PM had to say in response (edited for length and clarity):
I don’t agree with the way you have characterised that. There is no suggestion of criminal conduct by Gladys Berejiklian, none whatsoever.
We have seen plenty of these things and recordings of private conversations - detailed, intimate things - that were paraded around in the media. What was that about? Was that about shaming Gladys Berejiklian? I thought that was awful.
Gladys was put in a position of actually having to stand down and there was no findings of anything. I don’t call that justice.
I have no doubt that many of my fellow residents here in NSW felt pretty much the same way. I think this is a great opportunity, if Gladys wishes to run. But that is up to her.
PM says Labor’s 43 per cent emissions reduction target ‘just the opening bid’
By Broede Carmody
Prime Minister Scott Morrison is speaking from Sydney.
A reporter points out that the Business Council and the Australian Industry Group have supported Labor’s 43 per cent emissions reduction target by 2030, which is more ambitious than the 35 per cent forecast Mr Morrison took to the United Nations climate summit in Glasgow last month.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison, pictured here over the weekend, thinks Labor will need the support of the Greens to form government or pass legislation. Credit:Getty
The journalist asks whether the two business groups have made the wrong call.
Mr Morrison responds by reiterating his prediction that Labor will need the support of the Greens to form government or pass legislation:
Labor said at the last election and since the last election that they thought 45 per cent was the wrong decision and apparently 43 per cent is the right decision.
I think that is just the opening bid from Labor.
For Labor to legislate if they were to form government, they would have to do that with the support of the Greens.
Forty-three per cent is just the opening bid from Labor. You know what the Greens target is, it is 75 per cent.
Vote Labor, you vote Greens, and the you vote for the Greens’ targets.
Queensland to update its vaccination and border milestone projections today
By Toby Crockford
Updated government projections are today expected to indicate when Queensland should hit the key vaccine milestones that will trigger major changes to coronavirus restrictions.
Previous projections had Queensland hitting the 80 per cent double-dose vaccination rate on December 17, but on Sunday, 78.17 per cent of the eligible population was already fully vaccinated.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will announce later today what the latest vaccine projections show.Credit:Matt Dennien
Queensland’s borders will reopen to vaccinated travellers without the need for quarantine when the state hits 80 per cent fully vaccinated, or on December 17, whichever is earlier.
The state government previously said new rules banning unvaccinated Queenslanders from a raft of venues, including cafes, pubs and hospitals, would also take effect when either the state hit 80 per cent double-dosed or December 17, whichever come first.
Watch: PM addresses the media
Prime Minister Scott Morrison is in NSW this morning.
He was joined at a press conference by Environment Minister Sussan Ley, Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction Trevor Evans and Member for Wentworth Dave Sharma.
Rewatch the presser below.
NSW records 208 new cases, zero deaths
By Sarah McPhee
NSW has recorded 208 new COVID-19 cases, and no deaths.
There are 152 coronavirus patients in hospital and of those, 24 are in intensive care.
The vaccination rate for the population aged 16 and over is 94.6 per cent first-dose and 92.8 per cent second-dose.
For 12- to 15-year-olds, 81.4 per cent have had one dose and 77.2 per cent are fully vaccinated.
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2021-12-06 01:30:11Z
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