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| Australia live news update: Albanese rally; Credlin apologises to South Sudanese community; Victoria records 980 Covid cases, seven deaths | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Follow live updates | Follow live updates |
| NSW Health have just sent out the daily Covid bulletin. It confirms earlier news about 286 new cases of Covid-19, with 15 of those linked to the Omicron variant. | |
| Results on “further likely cases” are due later today. | |
| A man in his 60s from south-eastern Sydney has died, taking the NSW toll to 632. The man was fully vaccinated and had underlying health conditions.There are currently 148 Covid cases admitted to hospital, with 26 people in intensive care, five of whom require ventilation. | |
| The vaccination rate has climbed to 92.8% of people aged 16 and over, with 77.2% of those aged 12 to 15 fully vaccinated. | |
| Omicron variant outbreaks have been linked to Regents Park Christian School, Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym Villawood, and St Peter Chanel Catholic Primary School in Regents Park. | |
| 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. | |
| The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, has finished speaking in Melbourne. | |
| Anthony Albanese has invited voters to draw a comparison with Scott Morrison in a speech ticking off some of his lowest moments as prime minister, including the statements “I don’t hold a hose” and “it’s not a race”.Albanese said: | |
| Andrews is being asked a few questions about his appearance on a somewhat obscure podcast. | |
| He says of the Victorian federal MPs (who he did not name) he criticised in the podcast because of how they responded to the pandemic that “some people are from Victoria but not for Victoria”. | |
| Anthony Albanese, speaking at a Labor rally, has argued the Morrison government has “nothing left to offer but scare campaigns” as it enters its “second decade”.Albanese has accused Morrison of choosing to “divide, to play politics, to pit Australians against each other” including “state against state”.Albanese on leadership: | Anthony Albanese, speaking at a Labor rally, has argued the Morrison government has “nothing left to offer but scare campaigns” as it enters its “second decade”.Albanese has accused Morrison of choosing to “divide, to play politics, to pit Australians against each other” including “state against state”.Albanese on leadership: |
| On Morrison’s relationship with the truth, Albanese said: | On Morrison’s relationship with the truth, Albanese said: |
| “The notion that we try and keep this out forever...that just doesn’t make sense,” Andrews says. | “The notion that we try and keep this out forever...that just doesn’t make sense,” Andrews says. |
| He says he sympathises with Victorians who have family in South Australia and will no longer be able to see them for Christmas because of the Omicron restrictions. | He says he sympathises with Victorians who have family in South Australia and will no longer be able to see them for Christmas because of the Omicron restrictions. |
| Andrews says on the tighter restrictions other states have brought in to tackle Omicron that he is not critical of these measures, but that Victoria will not take any steps to keep the variant out of the state. | Andrews says on the tighter restrictions other states have brought in to tackle Omicron that he is not critical of these measures, but that Victoria will not take any steps to keep the variant out of the state. |
| He said he was texting his NSW counterpart Dominic Perrottet yesterday and the pair agreed they would not be pursuing “Omicron zero”, given the high vaccination rates in the states, and the fact the variant appeared to be less serious. | He said he was texting his NSW counterpart Dominic Perrottet yesterday and the pair agreed they would not be pursuing “Omicron zero”, given the high vaccination rates in the states, and the fact the variant appeared to be less serious. |
| The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, describes the TGA approval of Pfizer for children as an important next step. He says the state would be ready to roll the vaccines out in schools, if it aligned with the federal government’s approach. | The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, describes the TGA approval of Pfizer for children as an important next step. He says the state would be ready to roll the vaccines out in schools, if it aligned with the federal government’s approach. |
| Anthony Albanese is addressing his first rally of the unofficial election campaign.The warm-up act was deputy leader, Richard Marles, who focused on two main attacks against the Coalition government: its long eight years in office; and Scott Morrison’s credibility.Marles used the words “lie” or “liar” dozens of times, criticising Morrison for “lying” about going to Hawaii, how he became prime minister, to world leaders (Emmanuel Macron) and “lying about lying”.Marles had a particular focus on the fact Morrison switched codes from rugby union to rugby league, and claimed he only picked up a Sharks scarf when he ran for Liberal preselection. | Anthony Albanese is addressing his first rally of the unofficial election campaign.The warm-up act was deputy leader, Richard Marles, who focused on two main attacks against the Coalition government: its long eight years in office; and Scott Morrison’s credibility.Marles used the words “lie” or “liar” dozens of times, criticising Morrison for “lying” about going to Hawaii, how he became prime minister, to world leaders (Emmanuel Macron) and “lying about lying”.Marles had a particular focus on the fact Morrison switched codes from rugby union to rugby league, and claimed he only picked up a Sharks scarf when he ran for Liberal preselection. |
| Marles argued it was “dangerous” because a prime minister who is willing to “lie about who he is” will mislead Australians. | Marles argued it was “dangerous” because a prime minister who is willing to “lie about who he is” will mislead Australians. |
| The funding will allow 84,000 students to attend camps. | The funding will allow 84,000 students to attend camps. |
| “We’re really going to target those kids who were most impacted by the pandemic,” Merlino says. | “We’re really going to target those kids who were most impacted by the pandemic,” Merlino says. |
| Victorian education minister James Merlino is pretty psyched. He says the package means 2022 will be the best school year ever. | Victorian education minister James Merlino is pretty psyched. He says the package means 2022 will be the best school year ever. |
| Andrews is up in Victoria. He is speaking about a $113m funding package for school camps. And $700,000 for swimming lessons. Which is fine I guess but perhaps a little anticlimactic? | |
| Sky News host Peta Credlin has issued a lengthy apology to Victoria’s South Sudanese community over comments she made linking them to a Covid-19 outbreak. Credlin apologised for claiming South Sudanese community members had spread infections last year during Ramadan dinners (the vast majority of South Sudanese are Christian) and that they did not speak English (Credlin clarifies during the apology that 84% of the community speak English at a very high level).She also said during the four-minute apology that the broadcaster was planning on working with the community on positive stories. | Sky News host Peta Credlin has issued a lengthy apology to Victoria’s South Sudanese community over comments she made linking them to a Covid-19 outbreak. Credlin apologised for claiming South Sudanese community members had spread infections last year during Ramadan dinners (the vast majority of South Sudanese are Christian) and that they did not speak English (Credlin clarifies during the apology that 84% of the community speak English at a very high level).She also said during the four-minute apology that the broadcaster was planning on working with the community on positive stories. |
| Watch the apology here. | Watch the apology here. |
| That’s it from Palaszczuk (ABC has cut away). We’re still waiting for Victorian premier, Dan Andrews (he was due at 11am). | That’s it from Palaszczuk (ABC has cut away). We’re still waiting for Victorian premier, Dan Andrews (he was due at 11am). |