Australia news live updates: unions and government at loggerheads over transport dispute; international border reopens; 17 Covid deaths

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9.19pm EST

21:19

New South Wales opposition chief Chris Minns urged the federal government to work with the union to renew practice providers.

He mentioned:

Let’s be clear – the one individuals who didn’t flip as much as work immediately is the NSW authorities. The NSW authorities wants to take a seat down and work this out. Perrottet shut down the rail community. He must work to open it again up.

Jo Haylen MP
(@johaylen)

Right here’s an concept. As an alternative of hurling insults at rail staff, how in regards to the Minister sits down with the union and negotiates now so we are able to get the afternoon peak service rolling?

In any case, rail staff turned up at 2:00am immediately prepared and prepared to work. Let’s allow them to! #nswpol

February 20, 2022

9.07pm EST

21:07

Northern Territory data 627 new Covid circumstances

From AAP:

The Northern Territory has reported 627 new Covid-19 infections, with the area set to welcome the return of worldwide vacationers.

NT Well being officers mentioned 123 individuals remained in hospital with Covid-19, together with three in intensive care.

There are 6,106 lively infections.

A Qantas flight from London was resulting from contact down in Darwin on Monday morning following the opening of Australia’s worldwide borders.

The tourism minister, Natasha Fyles, mentioned the Territory’s administration of the pandemic had put it in a powerful place to welcome the return of worldwide guests.

“This might be an financial shot within the arm for tourism companies who’ve been doing it extremely powerful over the previous two years,” she mentioned.

Up to date
at 9.22pm EST

8.59pm EST

20:59

From AAP:

AGL Vitality has rejected the primary salvo in a multi-billion greenback takeover play by a consortium led by the tech billionaire, Mike Cannon-Brookes, to fast-track Australia’s exit from coal-fired energy.

The consortium on Monday mentioned it intends to spend A$20bn to rework AGL’s technology fleet according to a goal to restrict world warming to 1.5 levels.

“The consortium stays optimistic that an settlement may be reached with the AGL board,” the group instructed AAP on Monday.

“If profitable, this might be one of many largest decarbonisation tasks on this planet immediately and present Australia is able to globally important tasks,” mentioned Cannon-Brookes, who made his fortune by way of software program firm Atlassian.

“It should create over 10,000 Australian jobs and guarantee clients don’t bear the brunt of upper energy costs – a possible state of affairs if the proposed demerger occurs.”

Up to date
at 9.18pm EST

8.49pm EST

20:49

Jo Haylen is the shadow minister for transport in NSW – she tweeted this simply earlier than:

Jo Haylen MP
(@johaylen)

Right here’s an concept. As an alternative of hurling insults at rail staff, how in regards to the Minister sits down with the union and negotiates now so we are able to get the afternoon peak service rolling?

In any case, rail staff turned up at 2:00am immediately prepared and prepared to work. Let’s allow them to! #nswpol

February 20, 2022

Jo Haylen MP
(@johaylen)

This isn’t a strike. Transport staff stand able to get the trains working now. They had been prepared at 2:00am immediately. They mentioned so this morning!

February 21, 2022

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at 8.58pm EST

8.22pm EST

20:22

The Victorian authorities has unveiled a $200m stimulus package deal in a bid to revitalise the state’s hospitality and tourism sectors.

The package deal contains $10m for the Melbourne Cash voucher scheme to entice individuals to dine within the CBD, $30m on regional tourism vouchers, $30m for leisure vouchers and $60m in air flow vouchers to assist small companies turn into extra Covid-safe.

Greater than $34m of Jobs Victoria funding may also assist 1,500 staff discover placements throughout the hospitality, warehousing, logistics, tourism and meals processing sectors.

The tourism minister, Martin Pakula, mentioned:

We predict that is the easiest way to focus on help. We predict what companies want is clients again, cash within the arms of shoppers in order that they’ll spend and luxuriate in bringing our metropolis again to life.

Up to date
at 8.30pm EST

8.15pm EST

20:15

WA data 224 new circumstances

Western Australia has reported 224 new circumstances of Covid in a single day, with 213 of them domestically acquired.

8.10pm EST

20:10

Confused in regards to the Chinese language laser state of affairs? Here’s a actually good rundown from the Dialog.

Up to date
at 8.12pm EST

8.02pm EST

20:02

The final time I hugged my mum was early on a July morning in 2019 as I put her in a taxi exterior my home in Canterbury, Kent. I ought to have been driving her to Heathrow myself.

I’d picked her up at 6am when she’d arrived from Australia, however I used to be feeling fractious after 5 weeks collectively in my cramped terrace home, writes Kate Visitor.

7.51pm EST

19:51

Some extra from earlier, when the NSW premier, Dominic Perrottet, fronted the media at Sydney Airport alongside the minister for tourism, Stuart Ayres.

The lengthy anticipated celebration of worldwide journey resuming has been soured by ongoing transport disputes. Perrottet mentioned he can be assembly with the union later this morning.

On the transport minister, David Elliot’s, feedback earlier this morning evaluating the actions of the union to terrorism, Perrottet mentioned he was “clearly pissed off, as all of us are”:

We’ve been working by way of these points for a time period similar to we at all times do and their strategy is extremely poor, so I can fully admire how pissed off the transport minister is.

Up to date
at 7.55pm EST

7.49pm EST

19:49

The ACT data one Covid loss of life, and 458 new circumstances

The ACT has recorded one Covid loss of life, a person in his 80s. It’s unclear if he was vaccinated.

There have been 458 new circumstances recorded, 37 are in hospital and of these, one is in ICU.

7.38pm EST

19:38

Gavin Coote
(@GavinCoote)

A practice driver in Newcastle says he wakened at 5am, prepared to begin work however learn an early morning e-mail from TfNSW that each one trains had been cancelled. He says he signed on as rostered at 5.48am pic.twitter.com/47K0Rw9j2W

February 20, 2022

Up to date
at 7.47pm EST

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