O75 Public Administration

Andrews abandons zero hopes as cases soar

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Original article by Mitch Clarke, Kieran Rooney
Herald Sun – Page: 9 : 2-Sep-21

Victoria has recorded 120 new locally-acquired COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours; only 20 were self-isolating for the entire period in which they were infectious, while there are 56 new mystery cases. The state government has formally abandoned its ‘Covid-zero’ strategy, and Premier Daniel Andrews says the focus has shifted to reducing the spread of COVID-19 until vaccination targets are reached. This means lockdown restrictions in Melbourne will not be eased until about 23 September, when 70 per cent of eligible Victorians are expected to have had at least one vaccine dose. Andrews adds that some form of lockdown will remain in place until at least the end of October, when the proportion of Victorians who are fully vaccinated is slated to reach 70 per cent. However, he has flagged an easing of lockdown restrictions in most regional areas in the next week.

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VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET

ALP (54.5%) increases lead over L-NP (45.5%) for third straight interviewing period

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 2-Sep-21

The latest Roy Morgan Poll on Federal voting intention shows that ALP support has increased to 54.5% (up 0.5% points since mid-August) cf. L-NP on 45.5% (down 0.5% points) on a two-party preferred basis. This was the third straight increase in support for the ALP and they are now up 4% points since having a narrow lead in mid-June (ALP 50.5% cf. L-NP 49.5%). It is the largest two-party preferred lead for the ALP since the national bushfires crisis of last year when the ALP enjoyed a maximum lead of 10% points on a two-party preferred basis in early February 2020 (ALP 55% cf. L-NP 45%). If a Federal Election were held now the ALP would be easily elected with the largest share of the vote since the 1977 Federal Election won by Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser with 54.6% of the vote. Primary support for the ALP is up 1% point to 38.5% since mid-August and has now moved ahead of the L-NP which is unchanged on 37.5%. ALP support increased at the expense of the Greens, who were down 1% point to 11.5%. Support for One Nation was down 0.5% points to 3%, while support for Independents/Others was up 0.5% points to 9.5%. Interviewing for the latest Roy Morgan Poll was conducted over the weekends of August 21/22 & 28/29, 2021 with a nationally representative cross-section of 2,735 Australian electors using a combination of telephone and online interviews.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED, MORGAN POLL, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, ONE NATION PARTY

Home quarantine should be widespread once vaccination target is hit, PM says

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Original article by David Crowe, Rachel Clun
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: Online : 1-Sep-21

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is continuing to urge the states and territories to support the national plan for reopening the economy when the COVID-19 vaccination target has been reached. He contends that Australians who are returning from overseas should be allowed to quarantine at home rather than in a hotel once 70-80 per cent of eligible adults have been vaccinated. However, he has conceded that internal border closures are a matter for the states; Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan is maintaining a tough stance on border closures.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, WESTERN AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET

Labor exposed by $20m handout

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Original article by Alice Workman
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 1-Sep-21

Transport and tourism operator SeaLink received more than $20m worth of JobKeeper payments in total. This includes some $11.9m in 2020-21, when the company booked a profit of $37.8m and its revenue topped $1bn for the first time. SeaLink CEO Clint Feuerherdt is the husband of Labor senator Marielle Smith, which has attracted criticism amongst some members of the party’s ranks. One Labor MP has noted that the party would be "screaming the place down" if a Liberal politician’s partner had received JobKeeper payments under these circumstances.

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AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, SEALINK TRAVEL GROUP LIMITED – ASX SLK

Roy Morgan Business Confidence plunges by 15.7pts (-13.4%) to 101.5 as Sydney and Melbourne endure extended lockdowns

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 1-Sep-21

In August 2021, Roy Morgan Business Confidence fell 15.7pts (-13.4%) to 101.5. Despite the fall Business Confidence is 18.4pts (+18.1%) higher than a year ago (83.1), but it is 12.3pts below the long-term average of 113.8. Despite the third straight monthly fall in August, Business Confidence has now averaged 120.9 during the first eight months of 2021, which is still the best ever start to a year for the Index. Business Confidence was down in all six Australian States, but it is still lowest in New South Wales. Some 46.2% (down 13.7ppts) of businesses now expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 51.2% (up 13.7ppts), expect ‘bad times’ (the highest figure for this indicator since October 2020). Meanwhile, 47.9% (down 4.4ppts) say the next 12 months is a ‘good time to invest in growing the business’ (the lowest figure for this indicator since September 2020), while 43.4% (up 5.4ppts) said it will be a ‘bad time to invest’. The latest Roy Morgan Business Confidence results for August are based on 1,301 detailed interviews with a cross-section of Australian businesses from each State and Territory.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED

Movement in the Brisbane CBD recovers quickly after recent lockdown, but Sydney & Melbourne lockdowns extended again

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 1-Sep-21

A special analysis of movement data in Australia’s Capital City CBDs since the COVID-19 pandemic began shows movement in the Brisbane CBD continuing to recover after the recent lockdown in early August. The average 7-day movement level in the Brisbane CBD was at 54% of pre-pandemic levels in late August, up from a low of 23% in early August and its highest since late May. In contrast, movement levels in the two largest cities of Sydney and Melbourne remain at only a fraction of pre-pandemic levels in late August as both cities endure extended Winter lockdowns which are set to continue well into September and even October. In late August average movement levels in the Sydney CBD were at only 12% of pre-pandemic averages and at only 13% of pre-pandemic levels in the Melbourne CBD. Movement levels in both cities is slightly above the record low of 8% reached in both cities in late July. The two cities closest to pre-pandemic ‘normal’ are the Adelaide CBD with average movement levels at 68% of pre-pandemic averages and the Perth CBD with average movement levels at 63% of pre-pandemic averages. In third place is the Hobart CBD at 55% of pre-pandemic averages. Roy Morgan has partnered with leading technology innovator UberMedia to aggregate data from tens of thousands of mobile devices to assess the movements of Australians as we deal with the restrictions imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED, UBERMEDIA

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence virtually unchanged at 101.8 as vaccination levels rise but lockdowns continue

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 1-Sep-21

ANZ-Roy Morgan Consumer Confidence rose 0.2% to 101.8 on August 28/29, despite rising COVID-19 case numbers in New South Wales and Victoria. Consumer Confidence is still well below the 2021 weekly average of 109, but it is now 11.6 points higher than the same week a year ago (90.2). Consumer Confidence is again lowest in Victoria and NSW, just below the neutral level of 100. Consumer Confidence in South Australia and Queensland is just above 100 while it is significantly higher in Western Australia at over 110. Now 26% (down 3ppts) of Australians say their families are ‘better off’ financially than this time last year, while 26% (unchanged) say their families are ‘worse off’ financially. In addition, 37% (up 2ppts) of Australians expect their family to be ‘better off’ financially this time next year, and only 14% (unchanged) expect to be ‘worse off’ financially. Some 12% (unchanged) of Australians expect ‘good times’ for the Australian economy over the next 12 months, while 29% (down 4ppts) expect ‘bad times’. Meanwhile, 35% (unchanged) of Australians say now is a ‘good time to buy’ major household items, while 33% (also unchanged) say now is a ‘bad time to buy’.

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ROY MORGAN LIMITED, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ

Victoria records two COVID-19 deaths ahead of modest easing of restrictions

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Original article by Sumeyya Ilanbey, Melissa Cunningham
The Age – Page: Online : 1-Sep-21

Victoria has recorded 76 new locally-acquired COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, including 31 mystery cases. The state has also recorded its first COVID-19 deaths since 30 November, a woman in her 60s and a 49-year-old woman; it is not yet known whether they had been vaccinated or had underlying health conditions. Meanwhile, the state government is expected to relax some lockdown restrictions after conceding that its ‘COVID-zero’ strategy is no longer feasible. However, Premier Daniel Andrews says the aim will to get daily case numbers to as close to zero as possible to avoid overwhelming the hospital system. The state has 841 active cases, including 52 in hospital.

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VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET

PM: Christmas trips likely

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 25-Aug-21

Prime Minister Scott Morrison contends that Australians should be able to travel interstate to spend Christmas with family and friends once 70-80 per cent of the adult population has been fully vaccinated. Morrison has again urged the states and territories to back his government’s four-stage plan for reopening the economy, reiterating that lockdowns will do more harm than good when the vaccination target rate has been achieved. Meanwhile, employers’ groups have urged the federal government to relax the restrictions on travelling overseas for business purposes, arguing that people who have been vaccinated should be allowed to do so and quarantine at home upon their return.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

COVID vaccine booster shots will happen in Australia

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Original article by Nick Sas, Sophie Scott
abc.net.au – Page: Online : 25-Aug-21

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation will provide the federal government with initial advice on COVID-19 vaccine booster doses in coming weeks. However, ATAGI’s co-chair Allen Cheng says the nation will not be in a position to start giving booster shots until all eligible Australians have received at least one vaccine dose. He adds that people who are immunosuppressed or in ultra-high risk categories are likely to be given priority for booster shots.

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AUSTRALIAN TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUP ON IMMUNISATION