Annastacia Palaszczuk brings forward Qld border reopening; Steven Marshall ‘very concerned’ by Omicron as SA records four Covid cases; Perth stripped of Ashes series finale; Victoria records 1,073 new cases and six deaths, NSW records 208 cases, ACT six; Katherine lockdown extended as NT records one case; Australia could be renewables ‘superpower’ but has wasted time, Chris Bowen says. Follow all the developments live
Mon 6 Dec 2021 06.26 GMT
First published on Sun 5 Dec 2021 20.25 GMT
6.19am GMT
06:19
New Zealand has recorded 135 new Covid cases overnight, including 125 in Auckland.
It comes as the country hit the 88% double-dosed vaccinated mark.
I tēnei wā tonu, kua 3,688,689 te tokomaha o ngā tāngata i werohia katoatia ki te kano āraimate.
3,688,689 people are now fully vaccinated.
Yesterday, 11,931 doses were administered. This includes 2,360 booster doses. More than 7.7 million doses have been administered to date. pic.twitter.com/JZeeOeqDrF
Kua 135 te nama o ngā kēhi KOWHEORI-19 ā-hapori i ara ake i te rangi nei. Kua 0 te nama o ngā kēhi hou kua ara ake i te ripa whenua.
There are 135 new community cases of COVID-19 to report today. There are:
– 125 in Auckland
– 8 in Waikato
– 2 in Canterbury
Updated
at 6.26am GMT
5.56am GMT
05:56
Severe Weather Update: another wet week ahead for eastern Australia. Video current 3.00pm AEDT 6 December 2021.
Know your weather. Know your risk. For the latest forecasts and warnings, go to our website https://t.co/IzdRQ9QwGp or the #BOMWeather app. pic.twitter.com/x3eCV255pj
5.34am GMT
05:34
Cricket Australia have confirmed that they have moved the Ashes series finale, which was due to be played in Perth, due to Western Australia’s border restrictions.
In a statement, CA cited WA’s “stringent Covid-19 travel restrictions” but said a decision on where the finale would be played is “yet to be finalised.”
Following the emergence of the virus’ new Omicron variant last month, WA Premier Mark McGowan reaffirmed the state’s hardline stance on quarantine rules on arrivals from New South Wales.
Under those protocols, players, their families, as well as match and broadcast staff travelling to Perth after completion of the fourth Test in Sydney (January 5-9) would be required to complete 14 days quarantine upon arrival in WA.
The Test was due to be played at Perth’s Optus Stadium from 14-18 January, with Hobart touted as a potential replacement location.
Updated
at 5.41am GMT
5.28am GMT
05:28
So, the independent MP for Warringah, Zali Steggall was just on the ABC with Patricia Karvelas discussing the potential threat former NSW premier, Gladys Berejiklian, would pose if she was to decide to run.
Berejiklian has been touted as an option to contest the seat former PM Tony Abbott lost in 2019, and the incumbent Steggall seemed unfazed.
Steggall said she believes integrity is important in Warringah, and said it didn’t matter who the Liberal candidate was.
Everyone needs to remember the issues that matter and trust and integrity are important in Warringah. Integrity, women and climate are the key issues and no matter who the candidate is they are stuck with Scott Morrison and Barnaby Joyce as policy positions and those have not moved, and so the electorate has an issue with that.
I think popularity is one thing, but position on issues still really matter, so people have an issue with trust, especially in the federal government, right? The fact that Scott Morrison has not introduced a federal integrity commission really bothers people. People have had enough of the pork barrelling and rorting.
Look, you do not determine who you are up against, but I know how to be ready for race day, I know how to meet the challenge and I am certainly ready for whoever is the candidate. I have no doubt the Liberal party will throw everything they have at winning back Warringah, but the question is it is not an entitlement of owning Warringah.
Warringah has a mind of its own, and Warringah cares deeply about a number of issues.
Updated
at 5.32am GMT
5.14am GMT
05:14
⚠️ Minor to Major #Flood Warning issued for the #BarwonRiver at #Mungindi, #MogilMogil, #Collarenebri and #Walgett. Major flooding expected at Mungindi from Monday evening. See https://t.co/AdztI2rY5z for details and updates; follow advice from @NSWSES. #NSWFloods pic.twitter.com/iK18Gt8qPR
4.51am GMT
04:51
Australia has joined others in the international community in expressing deep concern at reports of summary killings & enforced disappearances of former members of the Afghan security forces. @secblinken @hrwhttps://t.co/J3z8IXq6kK
4.37am GMT
04:37
And with that, Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s press conference comes to an end.
Here’s a quick, handy guide to the new rules around Queensland’s border:
Updated
at 5.28am GMT
4.26am GMT
04:26
BREAKING: Queensland will reopen at 1am on 13 December as we move towards the 80% vaccination milestone earlier than expected.
Nominating a time and date for reopening gives everyone certainty to book flights and accommodation and make plans to visit loved ones. pic.twitter.com/lYWnKoAUAk
4.17am GMT
04:17
Queensland has also recorded three new Covid cases, all in hotel quarantine. Two are interstate arrivals and one is an international arrival.
It comes as Queensland’s Chief Health Officer, Dr John Gerrard, said the state needs to prepare for more cases, despite closing in on the 80% double-dosed vaccination mark.
The vaccine stops people from getting really sick. It doesn’t stop people from getting Covid.
Updated
at 4.21am GMT
4.16am GMT
04:16
Palaszczuk also specifically address border-zone residents, saying they will not need a test to cross the border, but will still require a border pass.
I know this has been very, very tough on our border communities and thank you for your patience and your understanding. But from Monday, vaccinated border-zone residents will be able to move freely across the border for any reason.
You will need a border pass, and the border pass will run for 14 days. But you will not need a test. There is currently a hot spot declared that will be out of the border bubble, and we will address that if there are any changes.
But we know that it has been extremely difficult for our border communities, and we’re hoping to provide some greater flexibility and freedom of movement for those communities.
4.12am GMT
04:12
Palaszczuk has warned that travellers should expect borders to be “very busy” in light of the coming holidays and the border reopening earlier than planned:
We do expect it to be very busy. And we do want to make sure that we are processing, as well – there’s a lot of people who’ve been caravanning and who are, you know, right at the end of the border there – they’ve been there for some time.
We really want to get them through smoothly as well.
Updated
at 4.16am GMT
