Australia news LIVE: Victorian government agrees to change proposed pandemic laws; William Tyrrell search continues in NSW; total COVID-19 cases grow across the nation
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Key posts
- Authorities being ‘very careful’ when handling William Tyrrell case: NSW Police Minister
- Victorian government agrees to change proposed pandemic laws
- Katherine, Robinson River communities in lockdown
- This morning’s headlines at a glance
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Authorities being ‘very careful’ when handling William Tyrrell case: NSW Police Minister
NSW Police Minister David Elliott was on Nine’s Today show earlier this morning.
He was asked about the renewed search for evidence in the William Tyrrell case. William disappeared from his foster grandmother’s house in September 2014 at the age of three.
Yesterday, police confirmed they are looking for the little boy’s remains. It has also been revealed that NSW Police have sought an apprehended violence order against William’s foster parents on behalf of a child linked to the missing boy (the couple cannot be named for legal reasons).
Here’s what Mr Elliott could say about the case this morning:
“Only that it is a matter of public record that a number of people who had relationships with William have been questioned by police, and that’s appropriate.
“That’s the way that police gather information. I think their movements will now be considered. And of course, as you are well aware, we have to be very careful about how we discuss it in the public domain. Otherwise smart lawyers use that to get clients out of convictions.”
Victorian government agrees to change proposed pandemic laws
The Victorian government has agreed to amend its controversial pandemic bill before a heated debate in Parliament this week, following daily protests and renewed pressure from the public sector watchdog.
Fines for breaching public health orders will be halved and the timeframe to release the reasons behind pandemic decisions slashed under the amendments proposed by the Labor government and supported by key crossbenchers, provided late last night.
Protesters outside Parliament House on Monday night.Credit:Eddie Jim
Labor hopes the Public Health and Wellbeing Amendment (pandemic management) Bill 2021 — which passed the lower house last month — can pass the upper house this week before existing powers expire on December 15.
The state government needs the support of three crossbenchers in the Legislative Council and Labor will rely on Reason Party MP Fiona Patten, Animal Justice MP Andy Meddick and Greens leader Samantha Ratnam, who all pushed for the proposed amendments.
Read the full story here.
Katherine, Robinson River communities in lockdown
In case you missed it last night, the Greater Katherine and Robinson River communities in the Northern Territory are in a snap lockdown.
The 72-hour lockdown began last night after two local cases of COVID-19 were discovered. Authorities are concerned the virus may have spread to remote Indigenous communities.
Residents of Greater Katherine are waking up to their first full day of a snap lockdown. Credit:NT Tourism
NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner says the two cases are a fully vaccinated man aged in his 40s and a woman who is a household contact (aged in her 30s).
As with lockdowns in other jurisdictions, residents must stay at home unless they need to buy essential goods, access medical treatment, carry out essential work, conduct their one hour of exercise or care for a family member.
This morning’s headlines at a glance
Good morning and thanks for your company.
It’s Tuesday, November 16. I’m Broede Carmody and I’ll be anchoring our live coverage for the first half the day.
Here’s everything you need to know before we get started.
- NSW Police will today resume their search for missing boy William Tyrrell. William disappeared from his foster grandmother’s house in 2014 at the age of three. Yesterday, police revealed they are searching for the little boy’s remains. It has also been revealed that police have sought an apprehended violence order against William’s foster parents on behalf of a child linked to the missing boy (the couple cannot be named for legal reasons). Meanwhile, flood warnings remain in place for NSW’s Central West. The state yesterday reported 860 new cases of COVID-19 and one death. In terms of vaccines, 91.1 per cent of NSW residents aged 16 and over have received both coronavirus jabs.
NSW Police are searching for William Tyrrell.Credit:Lindsay Moller
- The Victorian state government has agreed to amend its proposed pandemic laws before they’re to be debated in the upper house. The legislation would make the premier and health minister of the day responsible for declaring a pandemic and issuing health orders, not the state’s chief health officer (as is currently the case in Victoria). Some are concerned the draft laws give politicians, not experts, too much power. Others say it is better for elected officials to have those powers because they can be held to account at the ballot box. Under amendments fought for by crossbench MPs, fines for breaching future public health orders will be halved and the timeframe for releasing the reasons behind declaring a pandemic will be slashed. Victoria yesterday reported 860 new cases of COVID-19 and five deaths. When it comes to vaccines, 87 per cent of Victorians aged 12 and over are now fully vaccinated against coronavirus.
Protesters on the steps of Victorian Parliament last night. Credit:Eddie Jim
- Residents of Greater Katherine and the Robinson River community in the Northern Territory are waking up to their first full day of a 72-hour lockdown. The snap lockdown started at 6pm last night (local time). Authorities are worried that COVID-19 has spread to remote communities after a man in his 40s and a woman in her 30s tested positive to the virus. All eyes will be on today’s numbers.
Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
- Queensland is now welcoming fully vaccinated people from interstate coronavirus hot spots (think Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra) now that the state has hit its 70 per cent double-dose vaccination target. However, there are still significant travel rules in place until next month. People may only fly into the state, not drive, and they must produce a negative coronavirus test and quarantine at an eligible home for 14 days. Road closures are expected to come down when Queensland hits its 80 per cent double-dose target expected around mid-December. Western Australia and Tasmania, meanwhile, are seeking a 90 per cent threshold before they open up to other jurisdictions (and in WA’s case, rule out any further lockdowns).
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Credit:Getty
- And the ACT recorded 10 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday. There is one coronavirus patient in hospital in Canberra. However, they are not in ICU.
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