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Victoria braces for sixth lockdown
NSW has pleaded with people to get vaccinated after a record 262 new local cases and five deaths; the Newcastle region goes into a 7-day lockdown from 5pm after an outbreak caused by partying Sydneysiders; Victoria has five new cases and is considering another lockdown. Follow updates here.
- 9 mins ago
- Lucas Baird, Timothy Moore and Natasha Rudra
Businesses demand approval for rapid antigen tests
Big businesses are keen for rapid COVID-19 tests, including home-testing kits, to be used to detect cases in the workplace.
- 23 mins ago
- Mark Ludlow
Stolen generations redress scheme to fix ‘shameful chapter’: PM
Stolen generations survivors will have to waive their right to legal action as a condition of Commonwealth reparations scheme.
- Andrew Tillett
Secret briefings reveal fears airport project could be ‘held captive’
Government documents reveal senior bureaucrats were worried development of the Western Sydney Airport could be ‘held captive’ by Leppington Pastoral Company.
- Ronald Mizen
Stolen generations survivors to receive $75,000
Indigenous Australians removed as children from their families in Commonwealth territories will receive $75,000 in recognition of the harm they suffered.
- Andrew Tillett
David Rowe cartoons for August 2021
See all of David Rowe’s cartoons from August 2021.
- Updated
- David Rowe
Opinion & Analysis
To live freely, how many COVID-19 deaths can we bear?
As vaccinations rise and to ease lockdowns, the number of Australians who die of other respiratory diseases must be a benchmark.
Economics editor
Brisbane’s two degrees of separation exposed in outbreak
Brisbane’s ‘Indooroopilly’ COVID-19 cluster has burst Queensland’s complacency and plunged thousands of people into home quarantine.
Queensland bureau chief
COVID-19 spending has gone from eye-watering to eye-glazing
Labor has embraced the same principle - spend, spend, spend - as the government with its call to give $300 to everyone who gets vaccinated by December 1.
Political editor
New vaccine targets give everyone skin in the game
Under the latest four-step national cabinet plan to open up and live with COVID-19, every politician, business and individual owns success and failure.
Political editor
Yesterday
Qld police seek 24yo woman who fled quarantine: report
The woman spent one night in hotel quarantine before reportedly escaping interstate; Victoria investigates a possible new local case. Follow updates here.
- Updated
- Timothy Moore, Natasha Rudra and Miranda Ward
Government keeps vaccine incentives in the back pocket
Australia’s adult population will achieve a 70 per cent vaccination rate before Christmas, and while 80 per cent is also possible, it would require a ’concerted effort.
- Phillip Coorey
27-year-old man is NSW’s youngest COVID-19 death
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says the man was unvaccinated and his death highlighted the severity of COVID-19.
- Michael Read
Fears NSW, Qld lockdowns will be extended
Coronavirus shutdowns in Greater Sydney and south-east Queensland worsened on Wednesday as restrictions failed to stop the community spread of COVID-19.
- Mark Ludlow, David Marin-Guzman and Michael Read
Waiting for Pfizer: most 30-somethings offered jabs from September
Canberrans in their 30s are getting their first Pfizer shots this week and states including NSW, Victoria and Queensland are not far behind expanding access.
- Tom McIlroy
- Opinion
- Coronavirus pandemic
To live freely, how many COVID-19 deaths can we bear?
As vaccinations rise and to ease lockdowns, the number of Australians who die of other respiratory diseases must be a benchmark.
- John Kehoe
South-east Qld faces likely lockdown extension
The current eight day lockdown in south-east Queensland will get extended on Sunday unless local COVID-19 cases are brought under control.
- Mark Ludlow
Tracking the path to reopening
The national cabinet has agreed on vaccination targets that will trigger Australia’s four-phase plan to reopen. We have compiled all the data below to help you stay up to date on the country’s required reopening targets.
- Updated
- Michael Read
Jeannette Young, veteran public health freelancer
It’s not Dr Young’s first time disrupting a national pandemic response.
- Michael Roddan
- Explainer
- Coronavirus pandemic
What you need to know about the Doherty report
The Doherty Institute’s advice could determine when Australians get their freedoms back. This is what it says and some of the criticisms of its assumptions.
- Aaron Patrick
Tax-free COVID-19 payments may act as work disincentive
Employers warn a decision not to tax the latest round of disaster payments for workers could act as a disincentive for some to return to work.
- Updated
- Phillip Coorey and Tom McIlroy
Christine Holgate wins $1m termination payment from Australia Post
Australia Post has agreed to the termination payment and to cover $100,000 in legal costs of the former CEO in a mediation settlement.
- Updated
- Tom McIlroy
Why vaccine incentives could do the trick
The Coalition government’s former chief behavioural economist has come out in support of Labor’s plan.
- Michael Read
This Month
Deaths, hospitalisations part of living with COVID-19
A mostly vaccinated society must get used to coronavirus casualties at levels equivalent to a flu outbreak, Doherty Institute modelling shows.
- Phillip Coorey
AstraZeneca jab on par with Pfizer at preventing serious illness
The federal government’s chief infectious disease modeller says more people over 40 should get the Oxford University-developed vaccine.
- Tom McIlroy and Andrew Tillett
Launceston leads race to vaccinate as Coffs Harbour, Mackay lag
Communities in outer metropolitan Brisbane and Perth join south-western Sydney in having some of the nation’s lowest vaccination rates.
- Michael Read and Tom McIlroy
Brisbane’s COVID-19 cluster worsens
Brisbane’s latest COVID outbreak has grown to 47 after 16 new local cases were recorded on Tuesday.
- Mark Ludlow
Australian navy to join Indian fleet in new war games amid China fears
The contested South China Sea is increasingly congested, with Indian, British, German and French warships conducting exercises this year.
- Andrew Tillett
- Analysis
- Coronavirus pandemic
Brisbane’s two degrees of separation exposed in outbreak
Brisbane’s ‘Indooroopilly’ COVID-19 cluster has burst Queensland’s complacency and plunged thousands of people into home quarantine.
- Updated
- Mark Ludlow
