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Dumped Victorian Opposition leader offered frontbench spot
By Annika Smethurst
Victorian Opposition leader Matthew Guy said he would offer dumped leader Michael O’Brien a spot on the frontbench if he wants to return.
“Obviously for Michael it’s a difficult day,” Mr Guy said after he was re-installed as Liberal leader.
Former Victorian Opposition leader Michael O’Brien.Credit:Justin McManus
He said he had known Mr O’Brien for 30 years and described him as a friend, but he said it was time to “move to a different approach.”
Mr Guy confirmed he had exchanged a few text messages with Prime Minister Scott Morrison following the leadership spill this morning that secured him the top job.
Mr Morrison is yet to comment on Mr Guy’s return.
Mr O’Brien had taken over as Victorian Opposition leader after Mr Guy led the Liberal Party to election defeat in the 2018 state poll.
Victoria ‘plodding’ on vaccination rates: Opposition leader
By Annika Smethurst and Michaela Whitbourn
Newly-appointed Victorian Opposition leader Matthew Guy said the state was “plodding along” when it came to COVID-19 vaccination rates and it deserved its fair share of the national vaccination stock based on a per capita share.
He urged the Andrews government to spend more money convincing people to get the vaccine so that Victoria could reach the target of 70 to 80 per cent of people aged over 16, as agreed by national cabinet.
Newly appointed Victorian Liberal Opposition leader Matthew Guy.Credit:Chris Hopkins
The vaccination target is tied to a national plan for easing coronavirus restrictions, but the Doherty Institute – whose modelling underpins the targets – has said testing, contact tracing, quarantining and other public health measures will still be necessary at these levels.
Premier Daniel Andrews said this morning that he did not sign up to a “national plan to vaccinate Sydney” after it emerged NSW was receiving more than its per capita share of COVID-19 vaccines under a GP supply deal that was not announced publicly.
This is separate to an agreement for NSW to receive half a million doses of the Pfizer vaccine from Poland, which was supported by the states including Victoria. Here’s what Mr Andrews had to say:
I don’t begrudge any other state getting their fair share but that’s predicated on us getting our fair share.
What I didn’t know was that Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s in a sprint while the rest of us are supposed to do some sort of egg and spoon thing.
These allocations, which are totally unfair and were under the table, need to stop and we need to get a make-good.
I’ll leave the premiers of Queensland and WA to say what they think should happen but something like 340,000 doses that haven’t come to Victoria ... ought to have. It would mean we were closer to 70 per cent and closer to 80 per cent [vaccination rates of Victorians aged over 16]. It would make us closer to ending the lockdowns.
After Mr Andrews made those comments, Prime Minister Scott Morrison dismissed criticisms from Victoria that the state was not receiving its fair share of COVID-19 vaccines.
He said he “doesn’t share the view” of Mr Andrews that his state missed out, as he said Victoria had had doses brought forward as well as NSW, while other states had not.
Restrictions on track to ease in regional Victoria but no date set
By Rachel Eddie
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says restrictions will be loosened in country Victoria, with the exception of Shepparton where there has been a significant COVID-19 outbreak, and those announcements would be made “soon”.
But he said it would not be a “snap-back” or a “freedom day”.
“Country Victorians have done an amazing job, all Victorians have,” Mr Andrews said.
‘We need a recovery plan, not just a plan for endless lockdowns’: Victoria’s new Opposition leader
By Annika Smethurst
In his first press conference since returning to the role of Opposition leader, Matthew Guy has told Victorians “I’m on your side”.
“I want Victorians to know I am on their side and we are here to give them hope.”
He wants curfews to end, the introduction of rapid COVID-19 testing, and social interaction bubbles in low-risk outdoor settings.
If elected premier, Mr Guy said he would release health advice to the public, follow all national cabinet agreements and no longer introduce statewide lockdowns to drive down case numbers.
“We need a recovery plan, not just a plan for endless lockdowns.”
New deputy Liberal leader David Southwick acknowledged Victorians were sick of politics and said the leadership change offered a “reset”.
Mr Guy said “I think Victoria needs a different approach from its opposition”.
“We need to have positivity. I believe I am the best person to do that and that’s why I am back.”
Former Opposition leader Michael O’Brien was ousted following a spill motion this morning. He had replaced Mr Guy as Opposition leader after the Liberals’ landslide election loss to Labor’s Daniel Andrews in 2018.
Mr Guy said he had learnt a lot from the 2018 election loss.“It changes you as a politician,” he said.
“The party needs renewal,” he added, and “that’s what I will be absolutely seeking”.
He said he would work with federal Treasurer John Frydenberg to initiate renewal, suggesting long-serving MPs could be targeted ahead of the next election
PM dismisses criticism of vaccine distribution to states
By Angus Livingston
Prime Minister Scott Morrison says extra vaccines have been provided to Victoria and Queensland as well as NSW, as he dismissed criticism of the vaccine distribution to the states.
He said he “doesn’t share the view” of Victorian premier Daniel Andrews that his state missed out, as he said Victoria had had doses brought forward as well as NSW.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
Mr Morrison also said getting home quarantine right was a key to reopening Australia’s international borders, and said states were working on check-in apps that would contain a certificate of vaccination.
The day’s headlines at a glance
By Michaela Whitbourn
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:
- NSW has recorded 1220 new local cases of COVID-19 and eight deaths. The deaths included an Indigenous woman in her 70s who died at Dubbo Hospital, whose death was first confirmed late yesterday, and a man in his 60s from the Nepean-Blue Mountains area who died at home. He had received one dose of a coronavirus vaccine but had underlying health conditions. His death has been referred to the coroner.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Deputy Premier John Barilaro (right) on Tuesday.Credit:Dominic Lorrimer
- The remaining six deaths were as follows: a man in his 90s who died at St George Hospital, a man in his 50s who died at Nepean Hospital, a man in his 90s from south-west Sydney who acquired his infection at Advantage Aged Care Facility at Prestons Lodge and died at Campbelltown Hospital, a woman in her 70s who died at Nepean Hospital, a man in his 70s who died at Liverpool Hospital, and man in his 80s who died at Westmead Hospital.
- NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian praised the state for its rising vaccination rates. In the hotspot area of Blacktown, more than 85 per cent of people aged over 16 have received a first dose of a coronavirus vaccine, while in Camden, more than 82 per cent have received one shot. Ms Berejiklian again made clear that when restrictions are eased once the state reaches a target of 70 per cent of people aged over 16 being fully vaccinated, “it will be only for those who are vaccinated”.
- Ms Berejiklian foreshadowed that working from home may still be recommended when the state reaches the 70 per cent vaccination target. “Let’s hope that October reopening means it’s the last time we ever have a statewide lockdown; it means in the future we’ll deal with outbreaks on a localised basis,” she said.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.Credit:Getty Images
- Victoria has recorded 246 new, locally acquired cases of COVID-19. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said there were 110 people in hospital, 30 of whom were in intensive care. Fourteen people are on a ventilator. “The age range of those ventilated patients is 17 years of age through to 76 years of age. And there are people in their 40s, 50s, and 60s in between. So, anyone can fall ill to this,” he said.
- The Victorian Premier also signalled his preparedness to fight for more vaccines for his state after it emerged that NSW was receiving more than its per capita share under a GP supply deal that was not announced publicly. “I signed up to a national plan to vaccinate our nation, not a national plan to vaccinate Sydney,” he said. “I don’t begrudge any other state getting their fair share but that’s predicated on us getting our fair share. What I didn’t know was that Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s in a sprint while the rest of us are supposed to do some sort of egg and spoon thing. These allocations, which are totally unfair and were under the table, need to stop and we need to get a make-good.”
WA Premier Mark McGowanCredit:Peter de Kruijff
- West Australian Premier Mark McGowan made similar comments earlier this morning, saying he supported the supply of half a million extra doses of the Pfizer vaccine from Poland to NSW, a deal which was announced publicly, but “we’ve done our bit, we’d like our share of Pfizer now in Western Australia, we want to have a boost in our supply of Pfizer to make up for what we provided to NSW willingly.”
- Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath also lashed out over the state’s allocation of COVID vaccines, accusing the federal government of “playing politics”. Her comments came as Queensland was revealed to have the lowest first-dose vaccination rate of any state or territory, at 53.33 per cent.
- The ACT has recorded 19 new, locally acquired cases of COVID-19. That’s up from yesterday’s 11 cases. There are now 230 active cases of coronavirus across the territory. Eight coronavirus patients are in ACT hospitals. The ACT’s lockdown is due to continue until at least Friday, September 17.
New Zealand has reported 21 new cases of COVID-19 in the community, a similar figure to the past three days. The country outside of Auckland will step down one level of restrictions at 11.59pm tonight, from level three (one stage down from a lockdown) to level two, which enables people to return to work and school but with a raft of restrictions in place. Auckland will remain under strict lockdown until at least next Thursday.
Broede Carmody is signing off on the blog now. I will keep you informed of the latest news throughout the afternoon and evening.
Hundreds involved in toddler’s search told to get tested after reports of COVID-19 case
By Daniella White
Hundreds of people involved in the search for missing toddler Anthony “AJ” Elfalak have been told to get tested for COVID-19 after a case was reportedly detected in the NSW village of Putty.
Putty Community Association posted on social media that there had been a coronavirus case at the village’s Christian Coptic Orthodox Church.
“All who participated in the search for AJ are urgently requested to take a COVID test,” the post read.
However, NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said at this morning’s daily coronavirus update that she had heard reports of the case but had yet to confirm it.
“I think it’s important to work through things factually. Let me get the facts first and we’ll issue the public health advice in a statement,” she said at Tuesday’s press conference.
Hundreds of people were involved in the search for the three-year-old who was found on Monday just 200 metres from his Putty home, in the Hunter Valley, after being missing for three days.
Victorian hotel quarantine nurse tests positive to COVID-19
By Rachel Eddie
A nurse working in hotel quarantine in Victoria has tested positive to COVID-19, Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton says.
Thirty-one staff from the hotel are isolating, but the hotel remains open, while investigations into how the nurse was infected continue.
Professor Sutton said there were no known breaches of protocol or personal protective equipment (PPE) by staff.
There were now 95 cases linked to the Panorama construction site in Box Hill, in Melbourne’s east, he said.
Watch live: Victorian Opposition Leader’s press conference
By Broede Carmody
Victoria’s new Opposition Leader Matthew Guy is speaking to the media.
Watch live below.
PM defends travelling between Canberra and Sydney for Father’s Day
By Angus Livingston
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has defended his decision to get exemptions to travel between Canberra and Sydney over the Father’s Day weekend while both cities are in lockdown.
He said members of Parliament from all sides of politics had travelled back to their homes under the existing rules, similar to the rules that apply to essential workers.
“They have to be subject to testing just like I am subject to testing here,” he told Sky News on Tuesday.
“The government still needs to function.”
Labor frontbencher Bill Shorten said the PM had shown bad judgement by flying to Sydney on Friday and then back to Canberra after Father’s Day, but Mr Morrison said it was a “cheap shot”.
“We got on with that job, Bill knows that, Bill knows that the Prime Minister needs to go back and forth between these places.”
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2021-09-07 03:06:31Z
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