Australia news LIVE Victoria records 26 new local COVID-19 cases NSW infections continue to soar

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been doing the rounds on Brisbane radio this morning after the city’s successful Olympic Games bid.

Speaking on talkback radio station 4BC, the PM said he respected Australia’s vaccination advisory body ATAGI and had acted consistently with its recommendations. However, he suggested the increasing risk of the virus in Australia should in turn affect official advice regarding younger people and the AstraZeneca vaccine.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison wants to speed-up the vaccine rollout. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

“The suggestion that we might not accept their recommendations, I don’t agree with that,” Morrison said.

“When they say that they should consider the balance of risk when COVID cases are rising … then the balance of risk changes. I’ve just simply said, ‘The balance of risk is changing guys, how is that impacting on your advice?’”

The PM was asked what he thought of Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young’s position on the AstraZeneca vaccine.

“Rather than speaking specifically about that what I’d probably more say is the impact of this advice over time has been for people to have some hesitancy,” Morrison said.

“This is an approved drug by the TGA. And sure, ATAGI has made some suggestions, that’s why we say for those under 60 â€" go and talk to your doctor â€" informed consent.”

Mr Morrison also pleaded with Queensland residents not to wait for an outbreak in the state to get vaccinated.

“This is the thing with the Delta variant â€" it can move very quick and no system is 100 per cent fool-proof, the whole world knows that.

“The thing with the Delta variant is it can move very quickly and no system is 100 percent fool-proof, the whole world knows that.

“Please, Queensland, particularly if you’re in the older population, please go and get AstraZeneca, it’s a totally safe vaccine for you.”

A former supreme court judge has labelled the federal government’s $660 million car park fund “corruption” amid warnings that ministers may have breached laws that required them to spend taxpayer funds in an efficient and ethical way.

The damning assessments heighten the debate about decisions by Prime Minister Scott Morrison and key ministers to choose the car park locations in the lead-up to the last election, with 77 per cent of the projects located in Coalition seats.

David Harper QC said the car parks program appears to be an instance of taxpayers’ money being spent with a view to advancing the interests of the government.Credit:Arsineh Houspian

Read the full story here.

Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says the lockdowns now in place across NSW, Victoria and South Australia are costing the economy hundreds of millions of dollars a day.

However, the Liberal MP says he hasn’t given up hope on the country avoiding another recession.

Josh Frydenberg says lockdowns in greater Sydney and now Victoria will act as a handbrake on economic recovery.Credit:Justin McManus

“To have your two biggest states, New South Wales and Victoria, in lockdown is a big blow,” he told Sunrise earlier this morning.

“Treasury estimates that having these three states, with South Australia in lockdown, is costing around $300 million a day. Again, that is going to play out in many ways, but that’s why our economic support is there.

“If you look at the economic performance, with respect to this whole recession that we faced [due to the events of 2020], we bounced back quickly. Faster, stronger than either the Reserve Bank or Treasury had been expecting. So I’m confident that if we can get on top of the virus we will see a strong bounce back in the economy.”

Victoria’s daily coronavirus numbers are in.

The state has recorded 26 new cases of COVID-19 in the community and two in hotel quarantine.

Victoria’s Department of Health says all 26 new cases are linked to current outbreaks. All but two were in quarantine throughout their infectious period.

Those figures are off the back of yesterday’s 43,674 tests.

The federal sports minister says it’s important for the Australian delegation to attend the Olympic opening ceremony out of respect to the International Olympic Committee.

Richard Colbeck confirmed he would be at the opening ceremony after Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was ordered to go in a public rebuke from Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates.

Sports Minister Richard Colbeck.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

“In my view we’ve just been awarded the biggest sporting event on the planet, my view being here I should attend the opening ceremony so I will be,” Mr Colbeck told ABC radio.

“I haven’t had a chance to confirm with the Premier last night but I was sitting next to her when John Coates made his particular intervention. But I think we need to respect the IOC.

That’s why the delegation came here in the first place. I don’t believe it was a complete lay-down misere [easy victory] if we hadn’t been here. I don’t think yesterday would have happened the way that it did.

“The IOC could very well have voted to go back to continuous dialogue and start looking at some other cities.”

The entire Prahran Market, in Melbourne’s inner south-east, has been declared a tier-1 exposure site after a shopper visited several stalls while potentially infectious last week.

As of 8am today, the market had not yet appeared on Victoria’s official list of exposure sites. However, the market has put out a statement confirming that the venue will be closed today for deep cleaning and staff have been ordered into isolation.

Melbourne’s Prahran Market closed for a deep clean on Thursday. Credit:Jason South

“We have just been made aware by the [Department of Health] that a confirmed COVID-positive shopper visited Prahran Market on Saturday the 17th of July between 9.40 am and 11.15 am,” the statement says.

“DHS advises us that the customer visited a number of traders including Pete n Rosie’s Deli, Q le Baker, Prahran Seafoods, John Cester’s Poultry and Game, Gary’s Quality Meats, Reliable Fruit and Veg and Market Lane Coffee.”

The market says due to the broad geographic spread of the traders visited by the positive case, the Department of Health has classified the whole of Prahran Market a tier-1 exposure site.

“All staff working within the market during the exposure period will be immediately tested and quarantine for 14 days from the exposure date,” the statement reads.

“As soon as it is safe to do so, we will re-open Prahran Market to the community.”

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has confirmed she will attend the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics after an awkward interaction with Australian Olympic Committee President John Coates.

At a press conference yesterday, Mr Coates ordered the Queensland Premier to attend the opening ceremony even though she had previously said she wouldn’t attend.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will now attend Friday’s opening ceremony. Credit:Getty

“You are going to the opening ceremony,” Mr Coates said while crossing his arms. “As far as I understand, there will be an opening and a closing ceremony in 2032 [when Brisbane hosts the Games]. And all of you have got to get along there and understand the traditional parts of that, what’s involved ... so none of you are staying behind, hiding in your rooms.”

Speaking on Seven’s breakfast program Sunrise earlier this morning, Ms Palaszczuk said she would now attend Friday’s opening ceremony.

“I’m doing whatever John Coates tells me to do,” she said. “I’m not going to offend anyone.”

NSW health authorities last night released a long list of new venues visited by COVID-19 cases.

The list includes a Woolworths store in Belrose, in Sydney’s north-east. Anyone who attended the Glen Street store at the following times must get tested and isolate for 14 days:

Saturday, July 10 between 8.30am and 8.40am;

Thursday, July 15 between 7.30am and 9am;

Friday, July 16 between 5.55am and 4.30pm;

Saturday, July 17 between 5.55am and 3.10pm;

Sunday, July 18 between 5.55am and 4.30pm;

Monday, July 19 between 6am and 4pm; and

Tuesday, July 20 between 7.30am and 9am.

Other venues that have led to people being classified close contacts include Star City Supermarket in Merrylands, La Vita Mediterranean Shop in Edensor Park, an Indian restaurant at Belrose, a Pet Barn in Parramatta and the post office at Eastgate Shopping Centre in Bondi Junction.

There were also 23 venues listed as casual contact locations, meaning anyone who visited them must get a test and isolate until receiving a negative result. They include a Kmart, a Commonwealth Bank branch and a number of Woolworths and Coles stores.

The full list can be found here.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is doing the media rounds this morning.

He was just speaking on Nine’s Today show to reiterate what the Prime Minister said yesterday: that the Morrison government accepts that the country’s vaccine rollout has been sluggish but will make up for lost ground.

Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg.Credit:Justin McManus

But co-host Karl Stefanovic was quick to point out that saying you regret something is different from saying sorry.

Here’s the relevant exchange between the television personality and the Treasurer:

Stefanovic: “People are angry, people are frustrated. The PM won’t say sorry. Are you prepared to say sorry for the rollout?”

Frydenberg: ”Well, we accept responsibility, that’s even more important because what is key here is what takes us forward. Our focus is on ensuring as many people get the jab ... but no country is doing it easy.”

Stefanovic: “Sorry seems to be the hardest word, right?”

Frydenberg: “Look, this is really, really difficult. This vaccine rollout...”

Stefanovic: “Just say it, Josh.”

Frydenberg: “We are accepting responsibility.”

To international news and at least 25 people have died in China after the central province of Henan was ravaged by heavy rain and subsequent flooding.

Around 100,000 people have been evacuated from the city of Zhengzhou because dams and reservoirs have swelled to alarming levels. A dozen people have died and more than 500 were pulled to safety after water poured into an underground train tunnel.

Floodwaters are discharged at the Three Gorges Dam in central China’s Hubei province on Sunday.Credit:AP

Read the latest coverage from our world desk here.

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