Premier DanielAndrewsMP has flagged the possible easing of restrictions for regional Victoria as cases outside of metropolitan Melbourne remain consistently low.
Premier Daniel Andrews has flagged the possible easing of restrictions for regional Victoria as cases outside of metropolitan Melbourne remain consistently low. Mr Andrews revealed Melbourne’s average daily caseload was 70.1, while the average in regional Victoria sat at only 4.5, suggesting the state's regions could see restrictions ease beyond the first step and immediately to the second step of reopening.
“What that shows us is that regional Victoria is quite close to being able to take perhaps not just one step, but two,” he said. “We have to be heavily caveated in terms of that. ”We need to make sure that we continue that trend going forward but we're confident that those numbers are low and getting lower and that means there will be an opportunity for us quite soon to take a step or steps towards that COVID normal for regional Victoria.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Andrews denies Victoria COVID-19 strategy has shifted to 'eradication strategy' | Sky News AustraliaPremier Daniel Andrews has labelled criticisms he has shifted Victoria's COVID-19 approach from a suppression strategy to an eradication strategy 'nonsense'.\n\nThe Victorian Premier defended his approach claiming it was agreed upon by the National Cabinet that 'very low, to no mystery cases' would be a crucial component of dealing with the virus.\n\n'In order to have confidence you can keep numbers low for the long term, you need to get numbers low, as low as you possibly can to have confidence,' Mr Andrews said.
Read more »
Virgin Australia scraps numerous regional routes | Sky News AustraliaVirgin Australia will scrap several regional routes as part of its post-coronavirus restructure. \n\nThe airline will stop offering flights from Sydney to Albury, Uluru, Hervey Bay and Port Macquarie. \n\nOther regional destinations to be phased out include Melbourne to Mildura and Mount Isa. \n\nAirline bosses said the routes were not commercially viable with anticipated demand. \n\nImage: News Corp Australia \n\n
Read more »
Labor flags 'passionate support' for high speed rail projects | Sky News AustraliaShadow Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones has reinforced Labor’s strong support for high-speed trains saying it will be key priority on the party's infrastructure agenda ahead of the next election. \n\nMr Jones said Labor leader Anthony Albanese has been “passionate about this since he came into parliament.”\n\n“The benefit of high-speed rail is it connects our major cities and the regional towns along the way, and it means people can move out of the cities and into regional Australia,' he told Sky News.\n\n“If we’ve learnt anything from the COVID pandemic, we’ve learnt that a hell of a lot of work can be done from almost anywhere.\n\n“Towns up and down the east coast of Australia and inland towns as well have the capacity to absolutely boom because people can do city-based jobs those regional areas while enjoying the amazing lifestyle that regional towns have to offer.”\n
Read more »
Assistant Treasurer flags potential tax cuts ahead of budget | Sky News AustraliaAssistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar has not ruled out another government tilt at company tax cuts, according to Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell.\n\nSpeaking about the upcoming budget, Mr Sukkar said there would be a “suite of measures that we put in place and reforms that we put in place to encourage businesses and individuals and households to have that confidence to invest”.\n\nMr Sukkar also indicated that both the Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack and the Urban Infrastructure Minister Alan Tudge were working on expanding the $100 billion 10-year infrastructure program and also looking to bring forward infrastructure projects already promised”. \n\nThe budget will be revealed on October 6.\n\nImage: News Corp Australia
Read more »
Andrews suggests restrictions could be eased sooner if Victorians 'stay the course' | Sky News AustraliaVictorian Premier Daniel Andrews says there have been no new cases of COVID-19 recorded in regional Victoria overnight, triggering hope those regions outside of Melbourne will soon be able to ease restrictions. \n\n“I am very pleased to be able to say there are now just 82 active cases in regional locations,” he said. \n\n“It is important to stay the course and we are confident we will reach our target, in terms of the 14-day average”. \n\nThe Premier also announced the state recorded eight new coronavirus deaths overnight with 55 new infections.\n\n“Six of those eight deaths are linked to aged care-out breaks, there are 238 Victorians in hospital, 22 of those are receiving intensive care and 13 of those 22 are on a ventilator,” he said.\n\nThe new figures marked the fourth consecutive day of the state reporting less than 100 new cases in a 24-hour period. \n\nImage: News Corp Australia
Read more »