Australia news LIVE COVID cases grow in NSW Queensland as lockdowns continue in both states
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The Reserve Bank will consider increasing its purchases of government debt to stabilise the economy in the face of rolling coronavirus lockdowns that threaten to slow the jobs market and hit consumer confidence.
As figures confirm the RBA’s interest rate settings continue to underpin record high house values in almost every corner of the country, the bank board will on Tuesday debate how to respond to the lockdowns gripping Greater Sydney and south-east Queensland.
Westpac chief economist Bill Evans said the RBA should lift its weekly bond purchases to $6 billion, arguing this would send a “clear signal†the bank was committed to supporting the economy.Credit:Louie Douvis
More on this story here.
Supermarket giant Woolworths has opened up pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinics for its warehouse staff in Sydney’s south-west.
Chief executive Brad Banducci said the first of the clinics are located at the chain’s distribution centres (DCs) and customer fulfillment centres, making it easier for onsite staff to access vaccines amid their busy lives.
Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci.
“It seems to be doing very well,†he told ABC’s News Breakfast on earlier this morning. “It’s still early days, we only started on Friday.
“We need to start there because the DCs, for ourselves and our competitors, are key to keeping food supply flowing into our stores.â€
The clinics were established with assistance from the federal government.
Asked whether he would like to see compulsory vaccinations for supermarket and distribution centre staff, the Woolworths boss said it was not a simple issue and a conversation to have with stakeholders over the next couple of months.
“Right now, we’re so far from where we need to be on vaccinations levels. Our focus is just getting as many shots into as many arms as possible.â€
Mr Banducci said in addition, 2000 workers have taken up the offer to be vaccinated through priority appointments with NSW Health at the Olympic Park hub.
Woolworths provides up to eight hours of paid leave for staff to receive their vaccination.
Since July 28, supermarket workers from Blacktown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield and Liverpool local government areas have been be eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine regardless of age, joining school teachers from Canterbury-Bankstown, Fairfield and Liverpool.
The program aims to see up to 500 workers at Woolworths, Aldi, Coles and Metcash stores â€" including IGA â€" in the area vaccinated each day, as well as supermarket warehouse staff.
Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath has called on the federal government to secure more Pfizer vaccines for the state in the midst of a COVID-19 outbreak in Brisbane.
“What Queensland needs more than anything else is additional Pfizer supply,†she said in a statement on Tuesday.
Queensland Health Minister Yvette D’Ath. Credit:Matt Dennien
“Queensland Health can rapidly increase its Pfizer vaccinations, provided the Morrison Government can get us more supply.
“We’re calling on the Morrison Government to do more to secure Queensland with extra Pfizer in the fight against the highly infectious Delta strain.â€
It comes after the federal government secured an extra 150,000 doses of AstraZeneca.
Ms D’Ath said Queensland would put the extra supply to good use.
“If the Morrison Government can supply these extra doses, they will go straight into people’s arms through the state’s pharmacy network in southeast Queensland,†she said.
“I’ve spoken to the Pharmacy Guild and we want pharmacies on the National Immunisation Program to be able to offer these extra AstraZeneca doses within days.
“With the current outbreak, there are more eligible people coming forward for vaccination and the extra supply will help to meet this growing demand.â€
In case you missed it, late last night we learned a fully-vaccinated staff member at Sydney’s Westmead Hospital has tested positive to COVID-19.
The staff member worked for three days last week while infectious. Thirty-six hospital workers have been identified as close contacts and are in a strict two-week isolation.
Westmead Hospital.Credit:Kate Geraghty
A spokesperson for Western Sydney Local Health District said investigations into the source of the infection indicated the worker contracted the virus in the community.
“The affected areas have been deep cleaned and there has been no further transmission associated with this case to date,†the spokesperson said.“Patient care has not been affected. Our highest priority is always the safety of patients and our staff.â€
It is the second healthcare worker at Westmead Hospital to test positive in NSW’s latest outbreak, with a fully vaccinated nurse contracting the virus in July. There was no onward transmission from the case.
Finance Minister Simon Birmingham has come out swinging against Labor’s idea of paying people $300 for getting a COVID-19 vaccination.
Here’s what he had to say on the Today show earlier:
Minister for Finance Simon Birmingham during a Senate estimates hearing in June. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
“The evidence says this is unnecessary and won’t work. Frankly, it is insulting to the many millions of Australians who have already turned out to get a jab. They have done so because they know that this is the best way to protect their lives, the lives of their loved ones and the lives of the rest of the community.
“This is $6 billion we are talking about. Throughout the pandemic we have been willing to invest where it is needed, to invest as we are right now in supporting people with their jobs and businesses. To invest indeed in purchasing the vaccines ... These are all essential things you need to invest in but we can’t just throw $6 billion around against the evidence.â€
Expect this debate to be a major talking point today.
More than 8 million Australians are waking up in lockdown this morning across NSW and Queensland.
Meanwhile, Victoria and South Australia recently shrugged-off their own stay-at-home orders.
Here’s the current state of play.
As we reported earlier, federal Labor is calling on the Morrison government to introduce a $300 payment for those who receive their COVID-19 vaccination in a bid to speed-up Australia’s rollout.
Speaking on the Today show earlier this morning, Labor leader Anthony Albanese suggested the payment would be back-paid to those who’ve already been jabbed â€" not just those who’ve been holding out â€" so that it’s fair to everyone.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
“You want to provide that incentive,†Mr Albanese said. “This is just one measure but, overseas, the Biden administration is looking at this, countries in Europe have done similar things. We just need to use every tool at our disposal.
“At a time where the economy is being predicted to actually go backwards in the September quarter as a result of these lockdowns [in NSW, Queensland and recently Victoria and South Australia], it would provide ... that much-needed economic stimulus at a time when businesses are really struggling.â€
Mr Albanese urged Prime Minister Scott Morrison to “put politics aside†and adopt the plan as policy. We’ll be sure to bring you reactions from the Government as the day unfolds.
The policy, if adopted, is estimated to cost $6 billion.
In case you missed it, NSW health authorities identified several new COVID-19 exposure sites late last night, including a hotel south-west of Sydney and supermarkets in Lane Cove.
Three of the new venues are close contact exposure sites, meaning anyone who visited them during the specified timeframes must get tested for COVID and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result.
The new close contact sites are:
The four new remaining sites are casual contact sites, meaning anyone who visited them during the specified timeframes has to get tested for COVID-19 and isolate until they receive a negative test result. They include a pharmacy and liquor store in St Marys and an Aldi and Coles in Lane Cove.
For a full list of exposure sites and times, visit the NSW Health website.
Vulnerable 12- to 15-year-olds will be eligible for the Pfizer vaccine from next week and residents in Queensland’s COVID-19 hotspot are being urged to get any available vaccine as outbreaks worsen around the country.
Fast coronavirus testing could also become more widely available as trials of the rapid antigen tests continue in aged care facilities around NSW.
Vulnerable children aged 12 to 15 will be eligible for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine from Monday, August 9.Credit:AP
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation highlighted the “increasing risk†of outbreaks outside Sydney and reiterated its updated advice on the risks and benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine, as 11 south-east Queensland local government areas were included in the Commonwealth hotspot definition and the state recorded 13 new cases.
Read the full story here.
Every Australian would receive $300 if they are fully vaccinated by December 1 in a Labor call for urgent federal spending to achieve a vaccination target that reduces the need for sweeping lockdowns.
Labor leader Anthony Albanese proposed the new payment on Monday night with a claim the cash incentive would help prevent restrictions that are costing the country hundreds of millions of dollars each day.
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese receives a COVID-19 vaccination.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
The policy would cost $6 billion to convince almost 20 million adult Australians to sign up for the COVID-19 inoculations on the assumption the government can deliver the AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Moderna doses it has promised.
More on this story here.
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