coronavirus,
Border restrictions are breaking down but feuds between premiers are raging on. The latest fracas was sparked after Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk called on the federal government to consider extending JobKeeper. “We understand a lot of businesses are back on their feet, but there are some industries that aren’t,” Ms Palaszczuk said. “What we’re asking for is a helping hand during this hour of need.” NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian criticised Ms Palaszczuk, claiming Queensland’s strong stance on borders impeded business. “She is now the victim of a policy that she put in place herself,” Ms Berejiklian said. “NSW has been so strong on keeping borders open in Australia to prevent exactly what the Queensland Premier is now complaining about.” West Australian Premier Mark McGowan became involved in the argument, telling Ms Berijiklian it was “a bit rich” to criticise Queensland’s border policies after NSW shut its border to Victoria last year. “I’d just say to the NSW government – they should stop always undermining, nitpicking and attacking other states,” Mr McGowan said. “They should be cooperative. We supported them. And we actually stopped some of the things they wanted to have happen at the height of COVID which saved the Australian economy.” Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said he was not considering extending JobKeeper. “That JobKeeper is tapering off was always temporary in a targeted program. And it will end, as scheduled, in March,” he said. Greater Sydney might feel a bit more welcomed this week. The ACT government removed the Cumberland local government area from its list of COVID-affected areas on Friday, just in time for the Parliament’s first sitting week of 2021. Victoria downgraded Cumberland from a red to an orange zone on Friday. All other areas within NSW are now in the green zone. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said people who travelled to an orange zone must still get tested within 72 hours upon arrival in Victoria, and must isolate until they get a negative result. Tasmania will remove 10 Greater Sydney local government areas from its list of medium-risk areas from Sunday, January 31. Queensland will remove travel restrictions for 35 local government areas in Greater Sydney on Monday. South Australia will open its borders to Sydney, Wollongong and Central Coast from Sunday. Arrivals from Greater Sydney, Wollongong or the Central Coast will not need to go into hotel quarantine but are still required to isolate and get tested on days one, five and 12. Western Australia opened its border with NSW and Queensland on January 25. Along with Victoria, arrivals from NSW and Queensland must quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. For Greater Sydney, Wollongong and the Central Coast households can have gatherings of up to 30 people, and 50 people can gather outdoors. Weddings and funerals in greater Sydney can now have up to 300 guests. Face masks must be worn on public transport, in places of worship, gaming rooms, hairdressing and beauty salons in Greater Sydney. In rural and regional NSW, households can have gatherings of up to 50 people and 100 people can gather outdoors. From February 12 Western Australians will need to use the SafeWA app to check in at locations including supermarkets, hospitals and takeaway stores. West Australian Health Minister Roger Cook said the expansion of the program was essential as more infectious strains of COVID-19 occur around the world. “This is another opportunity to remind everyone that we need to continue to be vigilant,” he said. “I think people will accept that this is an important adaptation just to continue to keep Western Australia safe.” Following reports from Germany that the AstraZeneca vaccine was not recommended for people aged over 65, Health Minister Greg Hunt aimed to quell concern. He assured any vaccine approved for use in Australia would be independently vetted by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. “Our approach will be led by what we believe will be the best medical regulator in the world,” Mr Hunt said. “[The TGA] are strong, they are independent, they are fearless … and we will be guided by them and their judgements.” Queensland Health announced on Friday that six hospitals in the state are now equipped to provide the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines. The TGA gave provisional approval for the Pfizer vaccine on Monday. Meanwhile Novavax, the third company Australia will seek vaccines from, announced its COVID-19 vaccine was 89 per cent effective according to early trials in the UK. Australians stranded in the United Kingdom have been dealt another blow. On Thursday, the United Kingdom announced it would ban all incoming flights from the UAE. The ban on UAE flights is an attempt by the United Kingdom to stop the spread of new COVID-19 strains. This means two airlines, Emirates and Etihad Airways, will not be able to fly Australians home. Health Minister Greg Hunt said on Friday the Australian Government would provide more repatriation flights if needed. “We will have to examine the impact of those particular changes … and the guidance to Australians is very, very clear,” he said.
/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/pMXRnDj3SUU44AkPpn97sC/b298a27b-7a58-4ea7-a8f2-d3f046cc0274.jpg/r309_10_3451_1785_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
Travel restrictions have evolved again in recent weeks. Picture: Karleen Minney
Border restrictions are breaking down but feuds between premiers are raging on.
The latest fracas was sparked after Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk called on the federal government to consider extending JobKeeper.
“We understand a lot of businesses are back on their feet, but there are some industries that aren’t,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“What we’re asking for is a helping hand during this hour of need.”
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian criticised Ms Palaszczuk, claiming Queensland’s strong stance on borders impeded business.
[Annastacia Palaszczuk] is now the victim of a policy that she put in place herself.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian
“She is now the victim of a policy that she put in place herself,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“NSW has been so strong on keeping borders open in Australia to prevent exactly what the Queensland Premier is now complaining about.”
West Australian Premier Mark McGowan became involved in the argument, telling Ms Berijiklian it was “a bit rich” to criticise Queensland’s border policies after NSW shut its border to Victoria last year.
“I’d just say to the NSW government – they should stop always undermining, nitpicking and attacking other states,” Mr McGowan said.
“They should be cooperative. We supported them. And we actually stopped some of the things they wanted to have happen at the height of COVID which saved the Australian economy.”
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said he was not considering extending JobKeeper.
“That JobKeeper is tapering off was always temporary in a targeted program. And it will end, as scheduled, in March,” he said.
Who removed Sydney hotspots?
Greater Sydney might feel a bit more welcomed this week.
The ACT government removed the Cumberland local government area from its list of COVID-affected areas on Friday, just in time for the Parliament’s first sitting week of 2021.
Victoria downgraded Cumberland from a red to an orange zone on Friday. All other areas within NSW are now in the green zone.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said people who travelled to an orange zone must still get tested within 72 hours upon arrival in Victoria, and must isolate until they get a negative result.
Tasmania will remove 10 Greater Sydney local government areas from its list of medium-risk areas from Sunday, January 31.
Queensland will remove travel restrictions for 35 local government areas in Greater Sydney on Monday.
South Australia will open its borders to Sydney, Wollongong and Central Coast from Sunday.
Arrivals from Greater Sydney, Wollongong or the Central Coast will not need to go into hotel quarantine but are still required to isolate and get tested on days one, five and 12.
Western Australia opened its border with NSW and Queensland on January 25.
Along with Victoria, arrivals from NSW and Queensland must quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.
What restrictions eased in NSW?
For Greater Sydney, Wollongong and the Central Coast households can have gatherings of up to 30 people, and 50 people can gather outdoors.
Weddings and funerals in greater Sydney can now have up to 300 guests.
Face masks must be worn on public transport, in places of worship, gaming rooms, hairdressing and beauty salons in Greater Sydney.
In rural and regional NSW, households can have gatherings of up to 50 people and 100 people can gather outdoors.
From February 12 Western Australians will need to use the SafeWA app to check in at locations including supermarkets, hospitals and takeaway stores.
West Australian Health Minister Roger Cook said the expansion of the program was essential as more infectious strains of COVID-19 occur around the world.
“This is another opportunity to remind everyone that we need to continue to be vigilant,” he said.
“I think people will accept that this is an important adaptation just to continue to keep Western Australia safe.”
Following reports from Germany that the AstraZeneca vaccine was not recommended for people aged over 65, Health Minister Greg Hunt aimed to quell concern.
He assured any vaccine approved for use in Australia would be independently vetted by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
“Our approach will be led by what we believe will be the best medical regulator in the world,” Mr Hunt said.
“[The TGA] are strong, they are independent, they are fearless … and we will be guided by them and their judgements.”
Queensland Health announced on Friday that six hospitals in the state are now equipped to provide the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines. The TGA gave provisional approval for the Pfizer vaccine on Monday.
Meanwhile Novavax, the third company Australia will seek vaccines from, announced its COVID-19 vaccine was 89 per cent effective according to early trials in the UK.
What about Australians flying home?
Australians stranded in the United Kingdom have been dealt another blow.
On Thursday, the United Kingdom announced it would ban all incoming flights from the UAE.
The ban on UAE flights is an attempt by the United Kingdom to stop the spread of new COVID-19 strains.
This means two airlines, Emirates and Etihad Airways, will not be able to fly Australians home.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said on Friday the Australian Government would provide more repatriation flights if needed.
“We will have to examine the impact of those particular changes … and the guidance to Australians is very, very clear,” he said.
