Daily News Roundup

 

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6

Queensland has recorded no new locally acquired COVID-19 cases, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says.

The Premier said the news was “unbelievable” and thanked Queenslanders for doing the “right thing”.

In the past 24 hours, 12,829 Queenslanders were tested.

Of eligible Queenslanders, 48.89 per cent have received both vaccine doses and 67.76 per cent have received their first dose.

Speaking from Ipswich, west of Brisbane, Ms Palaszczuk urged regional communities to get vaccinated.

“Currently, in Ipswich the vaccination rates are increasing, which is good, so 63.6 per cent have had their first dose and 43.7 have had both,” the Premier said.

“I really want to see a big increase, especially in Ipswich, Logan and Beaudesert, and the Sunshine Coast.”

The vaccination hub in Ipswich is currently administering 1,000 doses a day but the Premier wants to see that lifted to 1,500 doses a day.

“There is no excuse, that you can’t come in here and get your vaccine, so if you’re in Ipswich and you’re watching this press conference, I really need you to come out and get vaccinated,”  she said.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said people could now book their vaccine appointment via the Queensland Check-In app.

A link in the app allows users to register for a jab and search for a walk-in location or the nearest participating GP or pharmacy. 

“The check-in app has now been upgraded so please update your app,” Ms D’Ath said.

“You’ll find there’s a new link that says, ‘Get your vaccine’, you’ll be able to click on that link and you’ll be able to find a way you can get a vaccine.”

*Victoria has recorded an alarming surge in Covid-19 deaths, with 11 fatalities and 1420 cases confirmed in the 24 hours to midnight last night. 

It is the highest daily death toll of the state’s third wave, and takes the number of fatalities of this outbreak to 68.

The new cases were found from 71,451 test results processed on Tuesday.

It comes a day after a record-high daily tally of 1,763 new infections was reported, the highest for any jurisdiction in Australia since the pandemic began.

“It is probable that ongoing transmissions from cases generated via the superspreading events related to Grand Final gatherings have likely contributed to the notable increase,” the health department said yesterday.

Modelling suggests the state is still yet to reach the peak of infections, and hospitalisations are projected to rise alongside new cases — something which has led to fears about the state’s healthcare system.

The new infections reported today take the number of active infections in the state to 14,410.

But the state remains on track to lift lockdown once 70 per cent of people aged 16 and older have received both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, then grant more freedoms at 80 per cent having received two doses.

State and Commonwealth vaccination figures differ slightly, but indicate about 83 per cent of Victorians aged over 16 have received at least one dose of vaccine and around 53 per cent are fully vaccinated.

*NSW is expected to hit its 70 per cent COVID-19 vaccination target today after recording the lowest infection figures in seven weeks.

The state recorded 594 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases and 10 deaths in the 24 hours to 8:00pm yesterday.

Included in today’s deaths were three residents at an aged care centre in Sydney’s south-west.

Today’s infection figures are the lowest since August 18 at 634 cases — the August 17 daily case total was 454.

A total of 88.6 per cent of people in NSW aged 16 or over have had one COVID-19 vaccine and 67.7 per cent are fully inoculated.

The ABC’s analysis predicts the state will hit 70 per cent double dose today, with this result being announced tomorrow.

Monday’s eased restrictions for the fully vaccinated, including five visitors to the home and the reopening of retail, restaurants and bars, were contingent on the state reaching that target.

On his first day in the job, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet yesterday suggested there may be some changes to the state’s COVID-19 roadmap.

While he confirmed he would not bring this date forward, he did not rule out making adjustments to help businesses.

“I had a meeting yesterday with the Health Minister and am meeting with health officials this morning to see where some tweaks and changes could be made,” he said.

*The ACT has recorded 28 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases, and an additional death.

A woman in her 70s who was receiving end of life care at the Calvary Haydon aged care centre died overnight.

Her death takes the total number of deaths from this Delta outbreak to six.

Five of the new cases were infectious in the community; 11 people were in quarantine for their entire infectious period.

There are currently 16 people in hospital with the virus, with seven people in intensive care and four requiring ventilation.

A baby in the special care nursery at the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children was among those who tested positive for COVID-19 overnight.

Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said the baby had been in the hospital for “some time” and became symptomatic overnight.

She said that all family members are being tested, and the hospital is working to contact family members who were recently discharged from the nursery.

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Football Australia is forming an independent investigation into the treatment of female footballers after one of the game’s greatest ever players made allegations of abuse within women’s football in Australia, stemming back 20 years. 

Lisa De Vanna, Australia’s second highest goalscorer, suggested she suffered sexual harassment, indecent assault, grooming and bullying from senior players throughout her career, in an explosive interview with The Daily Telegraph.

The recently retired star, who most recently played in the W-League with Melbourne Victory, alleged the abuse started when she was in the Young Matildas set up, aged 17.

The 150-cap Matildas legend spoke out after the US National Women’s Soccer League postponed matches last weekend as a result of allegations against North Carolina Courage coach Paul Riley, claims he denied.

De Vanna responded to a tweet from US superstar Megan Rapinoe, which said: “Men protecting men, who are abusing Women” with her own allegations.

“I agree @mPinoe but I have witnessed W my eyes..

“Women protecting women who abuse women. 

“Players protecting senior players who abuse younger players. 

“Organisations protecting “coaches/players” who abuse players. 

“Abuse is abuse. Poor behaviour is poor across all boards!”

In the Daily Telegraph article, De Vanna’s allegations were backed up by former teammate Elissia Carnavas and her manager, Rose Garofano.

Recently retired W-League player Rhiali Dobson also made claims of a toxic culture.

De Vanna — who quote-tweeted the Daily Telegraph article, saying: “Some things are bigger than the game!” — said in the article that she thought Football Australia were “ready to look into this now”.

While De Vanna received plenty of support for speaking out, current Matilda Elise Kellond-Knight queried the claims in a tweet.

“As someone who has been part of the national team set up for well over a decade, I’m unsure of this,” Kellond-Knight wrote.

De Vanna responded by saying, “What part KK?”

Football Australia responded with a statement in which they said any claims would be investigated.

“Australian football takes a zero-tolerance approach to any conduct which breaches the standards and values expected of people involved in the game.

“To that end, we encourage anyone to bring forward their concerns through Football Australia’s formal complaints process under the Member Protection Framework, with the knowledge that any such matter will be taken seriously and investigated thoroughly.”

It added that it was “not appropriate to discuss individual cases” but had met with De Vanna in the past to hear her grievances, however “the specific allegations made public were not raised with us in that meeting”.

It added that it had “no knowledge” of whether De Vanna’s claims were investigated by Soccer Australia, the previous governing body, when first reported in 2001.

“In the event that Lisa chooses to lodge a formal complaint through the appropriate channels, we will be in a position to investigate and, if appropriate, act accordingly,” Football Australia wrote.

“The same process is open to Rhali Dobson and other former players and staff to formally bring forward any claims.”

Football Australia added that it was working with Sport Integrity Australia “to develop an additional process for independently investigating allegations of a historical nature”.

Garofano though, responded to that by saying Football Australia’s statement was “not factually true”, claiming she has tried for a year and a half to get a meeting with Football Australia.

“She finally met on 20.9.21. We submitted a request for Inquiry on 17.7.21 & still no response.”

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England skipper Joe Root has confirmed he will travel to Australia for this year’s Ashes, paving the way for the troubled series to go ahead.

Official confirmation is expected to follow by the end of the week, according to the UK’s Daily Telegraph newspaper.

Root’s confirmation that he will tour follows weeks of negotiations between the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket Australia (CA).

England’s main sticking point was whether their families would be able to join them in Australia over the Christmas period, with some players facing the prospect of four months away from home. 

Avoiding two weeks of hard quarantine was also seen as a major issue, but a compromise where the players’ families will be allowed to quarantine at a resort in Victoria, as reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, has helped alleviate those fears.

The decision followed a meeting between Root, the ECB and CA on Tuesday to work out the final details of the tour.

Root previously said he was “desperate” to be a part of the Ashes, but had to see the full plan on what restrictions his players would face before committing.

His Australian counterpart, Tim Paine, said last week that the Ashes would take place “whether Joe is here or not”.

The first Test is due to take place at the Gabba on December 8.

Root’s backing means that England is likely to travel with a close-to full-strength squad.

England’s second string “Lions” team is also locked in to tour, with several fringe players expecting to follow their skipper in committing to touring, with fears their long-term futures as England players might be compromised by refusing to travel.

But there are still question marks over wicketkeeper/batter Jos Buttler, who has repeatedly expressed concerns about being away from his family.

England’s full touring party will be announced later in the week, but is likely to be missing star all-rounder Ben Stokes, who has taken an indefinite leave from all forms of cricket.