Australia news LIVE: Novak Djokovic visa decision in limbo as Immigration Minister yet to finalise decision; COVID-19 cases continue to surge across the nation
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Key posts
- Australia has ‘clear border protection policies’: Finance Minister
- NSW, Victoria vow no delay in return to school
- This morning’s headlines at a glance
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Australia has ‘clear border protection policies’: Finance Minister
Federal Finance Minister Simon Birmingham was on ABC News Breakfast just moments ago.
He was asked about Novak Djokovic’s visa and what the situation (which has been making international headlines for a week) says about Australia’s reputation.
Finance Minister Simon Birmingham. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
Here’s what Mr Birmingham had to say:
The world should know that Australia has clear border protection policies in place.
We have been very clear since we started to reopen borders late last year that if you are not an Australian citizen then there is an expectation that you will be double-dose vaccinated to enter the country – unless you have a clear and acceptable medical exemption.
That policy hasn’t changed and we will continue to apply that policy rigorously whenever we can at the borders to ensure that those who are not vaccinated and who don’t have an acceptable medical exemption understand they are not eligible to enter Australia.
As Paul Sakkal and Anthony Galloway have reported, Immigration Minister Alex Hawke is expected to make a decision on the tennis star’s visa today.
Djokovic’s lawyers are planning to immediately appeal any attempt to deport him.
NSW, Victoria vow no delay in return to school
NSW and Victoria are working together to devise a plan to stop another school year from being disrupted, as the federal government announces teachers and childcare workers will be exempt from isolation.
With term one less than three weeks away, young teenagers will also be able to consent to a COVID-19 jab without a parent or guardian’s permission at state hubs, with NSW easing guidelines as vaccine uptake among children aged 12 to 15 stalls.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and his Victorian counterpart Daniel Andrews.Credit:Kate Geraghty, Joe Armao
Under new national rules announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison yesterday, workers in sectors including education who are a close contact – defined as living with someone who has COVID-19 – can return to work if they do not have symptoms and return a negative rapid antigen test result.
NSW and Victorian Premiers Dominic Perrottet and Daniel Andrews have held talks on how to manage the education workforce and outbreaks in classrooms, with the states expected to present very similar plans to next week’s national cabinet.
Read the full story here.
This morning’s headlines at a glance
Good morning and thanks for reading our live coverage this week.
It’s Friday, January 14. I’m Broede Carmody and I’ll bring you some of the day’s biggest stories as they unfold.
Here’s what you need to know before we get started.
- Novak Djokovic’s lawyers are planning to immediately appeal any attempt to deport him. Immigration Minister Alex Hawke is expected to make a decision on the tennis star’s visa today, which will affect whether he can play in the Australian Open.
- The NSW and Victorian state governments are on a unity ticket when it comes to starting the school the year on time (Queensland has delayed the start of term due to the current Omicron wave). Yesterday, NSW reported 92,264 cases of COVID-19 and 22 deaths. There were 37,169 cases and 25 deaths recorded in Victoria. Queensland reported 33,849 cases and six deaths.
- Meanwhile, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has revealed that teachers and childcare workers who are close contacts of a confirmed COVID-19 case can return to work if they do not have symptoms and return a negative rapid antigen test result. It’s part of a broader push to ease isolation requirements to reduce the impact on the workforce and supply chains (and, therefore, the economy).
- And in overseas news, Prince Andrew has handed in his remaining royal and military titles after it was revealed a United States lawsuit (in which he is accused of sex abuse) will proceed. The Queens says her son will fight the charges as a private citizen.
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