Australia’s second biggest state, Victoria will continue its lockdown for at least another seven days.
Victoria’s Acting Premier, James Merlino, confirmed that current restrictions will remain in place for the next seven days for Metropolitan Melbourne.
However, restrictions in regional Victoria will ease from Friday, the date lockdown was initially meant to end for the entire state.
“On the advice of the Chief Health Officer Professor Sutton the current restrictions remain in place for Melbourne for a further seven days with some small changes,” Merlino said.
It comes as a growing cluster of coronavirus cases balloons to over 60, with over 350 exposure sites.
It’s believed the COVID cluster is from the Indian variant which escaped hotel quarantine in South Australia weeks earlier.
Business support packages announced
Victoria is requesting JobKeeper-style support from the federal government.
The State Government will increase its business support packages from $2,500 to $5,000, with an additional $209 million support package.
He “hoped” the federal government would “step up” and the President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, Michele O’Neil, says the ‘government must take responsibility’
O’Neil says government officials should be working day and night like the state’s essential workers.
“They’re not stopping, but the government seems to be asleep at the wheel,” she says.
“We’re 16 months into a pandemic, and not put in place fit-for-purpose quarantine facilities… is a disgrace.”
O’Neil says the easiest thing the government can do to support Victorians is re-instate JobKeeper “with the level it was last year” for individuals who were out of work. That payment was $1500 a fortnight.
However, she adds that the financial support also needs to be extended to people who were not eligible last year for JobKeeper payments.
“If this lockdown continues indefinitely, It’s going to break this state”
Victoria’s State Opposition leader, Michael O’Brien spoke to tickerNEWS before the lockdown was officially announced on Tuesday afternoon.
He called for an end to state-wide lockdown, and says the state government is playing the “blame game”
“The federal Gov’t will reconsider its position” Vic Opposition Leader @michaelobrienmp says he speaks with Aus treasurer @JoshFrydenberg regularly and has ‘no doubt’ he will consider federal assistance for Victorians.
O’Brien says “the point is, we have an issue to deal with now” and “probably” could have done better on both a state and federal level in terms of the state’s vaccine rollout.
Covid cases reported in neighbouring state of NSW
Victorian health officials have now alerted their counterparts in NSW that positive cases have crossed the border.
The Treasury Secretary is warning of “downside risks” to the budget’s upbeat projections due to the lockdown.
Many casual workers have been stood down without pay or federal government support, other than unemployment benefits.
In a closed-door vote, Senator Thune takes on a pivotal leadership role as Senate Republicans look to the future.
In a significant shift within Senate Republican leadership, Senator John Thune of South Dakota has been elected as the new Senate GOP leader, taking over from long-time leader Senator Mitch McConnell.
The decision came after a secret ballot vote among GOP members, marking the end of McConnell’s influential tenure.
Thune, who has served as Senate Minority Whip, is widely recognized for his strategic acumen and steady approach to party leadership.
His appointment signals both continuity and potential change as Senate Republicans prepare to navigate a challenging legislative environment and upcoming elections.
With McConnell stepping back, questions arise about how Thune’s leadership will shape GOP strategies on key issues, from fiscal policy to judicial appointments.
Analysts note that his leadership style is expected to maintain unity while possibly adopting fresh tactics to strengthen the party’s legislative influence.
As Thune steps into this prominent role, Republicans and observers alike will watch how his leadership influences the Senate’s dynamics and the broader political landscape.
The transition reflects a pivotal moment for the GOP as it positions itself for future electoral and legislative battles.
The Wall Street Journal is experimenting with AI to summarise its articles.
Readers will see a “Key Points” box at the top of select stories, featuring AI-generated summaries that are checked by editors. This new feature is being tested to assess reader engagement, offering bullet points that highlight key information.
The box includes a note explaining the use of AI, as WSJ explores new ways to add value for subscribers. Other news outlets, like USA Today, are also testing similar AI tools, though some caution readers to consult full articles due to potential AI errors.