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Australia news live: Victoria and NSW report no new locally acquired cases

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Push for Queensland to open borders as Jacinda Ardern says New Zealand border closure will remain in place. This blog is now closed

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Thu 5 Nov 2020 03.07 ESTFirst published on Wed 4 Nov 2020 15.44 EST

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What we learned, Thursday 5 November

That’s it for tonight, thanks for reading. To recap today’s developments:

  • Former Australian ambassador to the United States
    Joe Hockey has lent his voice to disputed claims of voter fraud in the US. The former Liberal treasurer used anecdotal evidence consistent with previous elections to raise doubt about the presidential election result.
  • Meanwhile, Scott Morrison dodged questions about Trump’s actions in the hours after polls closed, saying he has “great confidence” in the democracy of the US.
  • A 65-year-old Melbourne man with reported links to the Chinese Communist Party has become the first person charged under Australia’s foreign interference laws. He faced a magistrates court today for allegedly preparing an act of foreign interference in Australia.
  • Victoria recorded its sixth consecutive day of zero coronavirus cases, as Australia reported no new locally acquired Covid-19 cases. However South Australia, Western Australia and New South Wales recorded five, four and two new Covid-19 cases respectively, who were returned travellers in hotel quarantine.
  • New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern has said she isn’t likely to alter “existing border settings” in the short term, indicating a travel bubble agreement with Australia by the end of year is not on the country’s agenda.
  • The Morrison government has accused China of heightening trade risks and breaching Xi Jinping’s own public pledges as a range of Australian export sectors brace for new disruptions as soon as Friday.

Western Australia has reported four new cases of Covid-19 – all returned travellers from overseas who tested positive while in hotel quarantine.

Of the new cases, there are three women and one man aged between 18-44.

There are now 16 active cases of of coronavirus in Western Australia.

There were 380 people in Western Australia tested for Covid-19 yesterday.

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The Liberal MP Dave Sharma has responded to former Liberal treasurer and Australian ambassador to the US Joe Hockey’s comments backing up Donald Trump’s claim of voter fraud in the US election.

Sharma said “I haven’t seen any evidence of voter fraud” but reasoned that Hockey was in a position to make the comments because he “is a private citizen now” who works as a “commentator”.

Asked by the ABC’s Patricia Karvelas if it was appropriate for the most recent Australian ambassador to the US to make such comments, Sharma said:

I just make the point Joe Hockey is a private citizen now, he’s commenting in a private capacity.

He’s a commentator now. He’s got a regular column in the Australian, he has regular spots on TV news.

I thought his analysis before the election was pretty accurate and pretty good. I think he did favour Biden to win the election, we don’t yet know the result.

Obviously I’m not here to defend or to condemn.

On Trump’s apparent premature declaration of election victory, Sharma said: “I’d always be concerned if a candidate attempts to declare a victory or declare a result when the result is not yet known.”

Sharma also said there would be “a lot of continuity” for the Australia-US relationship regardless of the outcome of the election, but said “I think on some areas of policy you’ll see some differences, and of course we’re supporters of the Paris Climate accord, we’d like to see the United States back in there, we’d obviously welcome that.”

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The former prime minister Kevin Rudd has just weighed in on Joe Hockey’s comments about fraud in the US election, calling the suggestion “grossly irresponsible”.

Rudd told the ABC’s Patricia Karvelas:

For him to take a partisan position in support of one side of American politics on the counting process I think is grossly irresponsible.

I’m surprised that someone as experienced as Joe would choose to take a partisan position at a crucial time like this.

Rudd also commended Scott Morrison for his comments earlier today expressing confidence in the US voting process, saying it was too early to make any direct calls for action or express concern.

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South Australia records five new Covid-19 cases

South Australia has recorded five new cases of Covid-19 – all in returned travellers who tested positive in hotel quarantine.

The new cases include a teenager, a man in his 20s, two women in their 30s, and one man in his 40s.

There are now 16 active cases of coronavirus in South Australia.

South Australian COVID-19 update 5/11/20. For more information go to https://t.co/mYnZsG7zGQ or contact the South Australian COVID-19 Information Line on 1800 253 787. pic.twitter.com/FYvBO6Izra

— SA Health (@SAHealth) November 5, 2020
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China is about to wipe out, with the stroke of a pen, Australia's biggest export markets for wine, lobster and a few other commodities, against WTO rules and a bi-lateral FTA. Seems like it should be a bigger deal, and not just in Australia....

— Richard McGregor (@mcgregorrichard) November 5, 2020

First person charged under Australia's foreign interference laws

In some breaking news, a 65-year-old Melbourne man has been charged with preparing an act of foreign interference in Australia.

The man, who was not named by Australian federal police, has since been named in several reports as Di Sanh Duong, after he appeared at Melbourne magistrates’ court today, over the offence that carries a maximum offence of 10 years imprisonment.

Australian federal police have just released this statement, saying officers executed a number of search warrants in the greater Melbourne area on 16 October.

It follows a year-long investigation by the Counter Foreign Interference (CFI) taskforce, led by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (Asio) and the AFP, into the man’s relationship with a foreign intelligence agency.

AFP have not provided further detail about which country the foreign intelligence agency is linked to.

AFP deputy commissioner Ian McCartney said the man was the first person in Australia to be charged with a foreign interference offence since the commonwealth parliament passed the National Security Legislation Amendment (Espionage and Foreign Interference) Bill in 2018.

McCartney said:

The CFI Taskforce has taken preventative action to disrupt this individual at an early stage.

“Foreign interference is contrary to Australia’s national interest, it goes to the heart of our democracy.

It is corrupting and deceptive, and goes beyond routine diplomatic influence practiced by governments.’’

AFP said the matter remains an ongoing investigation.

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And it being mid-afternoon, I am going to hand you over to Elias Visontay for the afternoon.

Joe Biden is still closest to the White House – but there is still quite some road to travel.

I’ll be back on Monday – when the parliament is sitting again, so get ready for that.

In the meantime, you can reach me, as always, here and here.

Make sure you stay hydrated. And take care of you.

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The Northern Territory has reported one case of Covid – but as a returned traveller, they were in quarantine.

From NT Health:

An Australian child who arrived on the commonwealth government repatriation flight from India on Tuesday 27 October has tested positive for Covid-19, while in quarantine at the Howard Springs Centre for National Resilience.

The child, under one-year-old, had tested negative for the virus on arrival at Howard Springs, however has turned positive during the 14-day quarantine period (the incubation period for the virus) required on return from overseas. The child’s mother and young sibling tested positive for Covid-19 last week.

The family continues to be well and asymptomatic and remains under the care of the AUSMAT at the Centre for National Resilience.

This brings the total cases diagnosed in the Northern Territory to 40. All cases have been related to international or interstate travel, with no cases of community transmission.

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Paul Karp
Paul Karp

The defence, foreign affairs and trade committee has delivered its report on the Coalition’s bill to allow the federal government to cancel deals that harm Australia’s foreign policy interests.
The Coalition majority on the committee called for more oversight of the new powers including:

  • Legislating the definition of “institutional autonomy” rather than letting the foreign minister decide what sort of foreign entities can and can’t have Australian deals.
  • Further consultation with stakeholders on the rules to govern the regime – with rules to be published before parliament votes on the bill.
  • Expanding the law’s reach to hospitals.

Labor members issued a dissenting report in which they agreed with the principle that Australia should speak with one voice on foreign policy matters, but criticising the government for failure to conduct consultation.
Labor wants:

  • An oversight mechanism including for the minister to provide written reasons for a decision and a process of review for the decision.
  • Private universities to be added to its remit.
  • An explanation about how the regime will interactive with other foreign influence measures including foreign investment review and university guidelines.
  • More consultation.
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Daniel Hurst
Daniel Hurst

The trade minister, Simon Birmingham, has accused China of sending mixed messages on trade that undermines Xi Jinping’s statement to a major trade fair in Shanghai this week.

“Continued uncertain and inconsistent messages from China are heightening risks and undermine the statements made by President Xi at this year’s China International Import Expo.

If China is to be true to the statements of its government then it should provide confidence that normal customs and related processes will apply to imports of goods such as seafood and wine.”

Xi, the Chinese president, told the opening ceremony of the trade event on Wednesday that his country’s aim was “to turn the China market into a market for the world, a market shared by all, and a market accessible to all” in order to “bring more positive energy to the global community”, the state-owned China Daily reported.

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New Zealand's 'existing border settings' to remain in the short-term, Jacinda Ardern says

Don’t expect a travel bubble with New Zealand by the end the year.

As AAP reports:

In her first major address since re-election, Jacinda Ardern says her governing priorities for 2020 are small business support and ensuring New Zealanders get a “safe summer holiday”.

In bad news for the creation of a trans-Tasman bubble this year, Ardern said she wasn’t likely to alter “existing border settings” in the short-term.

Ardern’s Labour party won a convincing election win in the 17 October poll, a victory that will be confirmed on Friday when the electoral commission releases the final results.

In her speech to Business NZ on Thursday in Auckland, Ardern said she interpreted the result in the Covid-dominated poll as “both endorsement of what we have done and plan to do”.

“In New Zealand’s case, we made our choices,” she said.

“By forgoing some freedoms, namely the free movement at our borders, we retain the long term health of our population and the open economy we now enjoy.

“It was a choice but one that I strongly believe has served us well, and that New Zealanders have for the most part supported.”

New Zealand’s borders remain closed to foreigners, except to those with a government-approved exemption.

As of this week, Kiwis returning to New Zealand will also need to book stays in managed isolation facilities, a process which is frustrating many.

While the New Zealand government continues to talk with Australia as well as Pacific nations about opening up to allow freer movement, Ardern has suggested this won’t be considered this year.

“New Zealanders want and deserve a safe summer holiday, so our focus is on managing the existing risk profile,” she said.

“We will be continuing with our existing border settings for now while we work on what can be accommodated within those settings.”

“By forgoing some freedoms, namely the free movement at our borders, we retain the long term health of our population and the open economy we now enjoy,” Jacinda Ardern says. Photograph: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images
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Andrew Bragg has released a statement following his meeting with the Chinese-Australian advisory group.

When he says “unsophisticated commentary from the margins” I wonder if he knows the calls are coming from within his house *cough Eric Abetz cough*

Bragg:

Senator Bragg said it was important for members of parliament to continue attending Chinese community events to further strengthen our communities.

The meeting also strongly endorsed the positions taken by prime minister, Scott Morrison, in support of Chinese-Australians during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The meeting highlighted unsophisticated commentary from the margins undermines the Chinese-Australian community and Australia’s cohesion. Of course this does not reflect the mainstream view.

Unsophisticated commentary damages Australia’s standing as a pluralist, multicultural nation.

‘A classic parallel exists with Irish-Australians. Why is it OK for the parties of Irish-Australians to be linked to Ireland whilst Chinese-Australian groupings are met with suspicion?’ Senator Bragg said.

Senator Bragg said it was important for members of parliament to continue attending Chinese community events to further strengthen our communities.

The meeting also strongly endorsed the positions taken by prime minister Scott Morrison in support of Chinese-Australians during the period of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Elias Visontay
Elias Visontay

Some more information on what the Sydney Mardi Gras will look like in 2021.

While the traditional parade along Sydney’s Oxford Street has been cancelled, organisers have secured the nearby Sydney Cricket Ground for the event, to be held on Saturday 6 March.

Capacity for the ground will be limited to 23,000 people for the ticketed event, which will cost $20 for entry.

Albert Kruger, the Mardi Grad chief executive, said the event would “move away from large floats, centring instead on the outlandish pageantry of costumes, puppetry and props that make it such a phenomenon to witness”.

“It was important to Mardi Gras that we rise to the occasion and to give the community the creative platform to express their pride to the world. The 2021 parade may look different to how it has been in the past, but we feel very lucky to be able to give this opportunity to our communities during these times.”

“Not only is the SCG close to our spiritual home of Oxford Street, but it also provides the safest venue for us to hold the event and meet requirements of physical distancing and contact tracing.”

Clover Moore, Sydney lord mayor, said “it is poignant that this year’s parade was the last major event held before we had to go into lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

“I know many in our community, myself included, have held onto our happy memories of Mardi Gras 2020 to get us through this challenging year.”

Photograph: Paul Braven/AAP
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Doughnut day Australia wide

I mean, sure, Greg Hunt has been calling for the borders to be open for yonks, and if it happened when he originally would have planned, the chances for the Victorian outbreak spreading would have been much higher.

Leaving that aside - this is a remarkable achievement. Well done, Australia. This is very dope.

The latest advice from the National Incident Centre is that Australia has again recorded a zero community transmission day - this occurs at a time when the world has recorded its second highest daily global case numbers and sadly its highest daily loss of life.

— Greg Hunt (@GregHuntMP) November 5, 2020

There are no Covid cases linked to aged care in Victoria, for the first time since June.

From Victoria Health:

Victoria has recorded no new cases of coronavirus since yesterday, with the total number of cases now at 20,345.

There have been no new deaths from COVID-19 reported since yesterday. To date, 819 people have died from coronavirus in Victoria.

This is the sixth straight day where Victoria has recorded zero daily new cases or deaths.

The average number of cases diagnosed in the last 14 days (22 Oct – 4 Nov 2020) for metropolitan Melbourne is 1.4 and regional Victoria is zero. The rolling daily average case number is calculated by averaging out the number of new cases over the past 14 days.

The total number of cases from an unknown source in the last 14 days (20 Oct – 2 Nov 2020) is two for metropolitan Melbourne and zero from regional Victoria. The 14-day period for the source of acquisition data ends 48 hours earlier than the 14-day period used to calculate the new case average due to the time required to fully investigate a case and assign its mode of acquisition.

Late yesterday, the last remaining active case of COVID-19 linked to an aged care facility outbreak in Victoria was cleared.

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