Received
- Details
- Written by Grant Broadcasters
- Category: Received
- Hits: 99
Tennis world No.1 Novak Djokovic recovered from COVID-19 before travelling to Australia and met the prescribed requirements for a vaccination exemption, his lawyers will argue.
The 34-year-old Serb on Sunday remained in immigration detention in Melbourne after having his visa cancelled by the federal government.
His case returns to court on Monday, with Djokovic fighting for the right to remain in the country and the chance to retain his Australian Open title.
Documents released by the Federal Court on Saturday show Djokovic contracted COVID-19 on December 16 and was free from symptoms ahead of his arrival in Australia on Wednesday.
"The visa holder (Djokovic) stated that Tennis Australia facilitated his medical exemption from COVID-19 vaccination requirement and completed the Australian Travel Declaration on his behalf," a Home Affairs representative said, as quoted in court papers.
"I consider that Tennis Australia would have facilitated his medical exemption and Australian Travel Declaration based on information (Djokovic) provided to them. As such, I don't consider these constitute extenuating circumstances beyond (Djokovic's) control.
"I apply significant weight in favour of visa cancellation for this factor."
The tennis champion's lawyer will argue that he met the criteria for a temporary exemption under the guidelines of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI). And furthermore, that he was denied procedural fairness during the decision to revoke his visa.
Court documents cite the ATAGI advice, including: "COVID-19 vaccination in people who have had PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection can be deferred for a maximum of six months after the acute illness, as a temporary exemption due to acute major medical illness".
Djokovic provided evidence that he was diagnosed with COVID-19 on December 16.
After his arrival on Wednesday evening, court papers show Djokovic had a sleepless night as he was questioned by authorities at times including 4am, before the visa revocation at 7.42am.
A partial transcript of that interview included "you have stated you are not vaccinated against COVID-19".
Djokovic has previously declined to confirm his vaccination status.
"Mr Djokovic had received, on 30 December 2021, a letter from the Chief Medical Officer of Tennis Australia recording that he had been provided with a 'medical exemption from COVID vaccination' on the ground that he had recently recovered from COVID," the court documents read.
In a letter leaked to media, Tennis Australia rejected that players were knowingly misled, insisting organisers had followed "instructions".
© AAP 2022
- Details
- Written by Grant Broadcasters
- Category: Received
- Hits: 101
Overpriced rapid antigen test kits should be a thing of the past as new laws kick in.
As of 1am on Saturday January 8, rapid test kits are listed on Australia's biosecurity determination, making price gouging on the essential item illegal.
Retailers caught marking up test kits by more than 20 per cent of the supply price now face a penalty of $66,000 and up to five years in jail.
At the beginning of the pandemic personal protective equipment such as masks and hospital gowns as well as hand sanitiser were added to the biosecurity list to prevent prices being hiked.
The determination also controls the export of items on the list to prevent overseas buyers taking Australian stocks.
Health Minister Greg Hunt told 2GB on Thursday the federal government was taking "the strongest possible actions" to prevent profiteering in a time of need.
Meanwhile states are moving to record positive rapid antigen test results as part of daily case numbers, alongside PCR test results.
Victoria and Tasmania have introduced a system where people who test positive to a rapid test can inform state health authorities.
Queensland is establishing a hotline to record positive rapid tests and NSW is working to have a similar reporting system through the Service NSW app.
The reporting requirements come amid concerns the number of people with COVID-19 is far higher than the official figures reported.
On Friday night Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg tweeted that he had tested positive for COVID-19, had the "common symptoms" and was isolating with his family.
"My thoughts are with all those who have COVID - this is a difficult time but we will get through this," he said.
Friday was another record day of case numbers with more than 78,000 reported in Australia.
There were 38,625 new cases and 11 deaths in NSW, while there were 21,728 infections and six fatalities in Victoria.
Queensland had 10,953 new cases, while South Australia and Tasmania registered 3707 and 1489 cases respectively.
The ACT had 1246 cases, the first time the territory had daily case numbers above 1000, with the Northern Territory having 412 and Western Australia recording six among travellers.
© AAP 2022
- Details
- Written by Grant Broadcasters
- Category: Received
- Hits: 111
Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has announced he has tested positive for COVID-19.
"Like hundreds of thousands of other Australians I have tested positive for COVID. Symptoms moderate so far. Isolating as required," Mr Turnbull wrote on Twitter on Saturday.
"This pandemic and especially this latest wave has put our health professionals under enormous pressure - please be polite and considerate when dealing with the front-line health workers.
"They have had two years of relentless pressure and it's now at its most intense. So give them the love and respect they deserve, please."
Mr Turnbull's announcement follows Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg's positive diagnosis on Friday.
Meanwhile, overpriced COVID-19 rapid antigen tests should be a thing of the past as new laws kick in.
As of Saturday, RAT kits have been listed on Australia's biosecurity determination, making price gouging on the essential items illegal.
Retailers caught marking up kits by more than 20 per cent of the supply price now face a penalty of $66,000 and up to five years' jail.
At the beginning of the pandemic personal protective equipment such as masks and hospital gowns as well as hand sanitiser were added to the biosecurity list to prevent prices being hiked.
The determination also controls the export of items on the list to prevent overseas buyers taking Australian stocks.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said the government is taking "the strongest possible actions" to prevent profiteering.
Meanwhile, states are moving to record positive rapid antigen test results as part of daily case numbers, alongside PCR test results.
As a result, Victoria's daily infection figure more than doubled on Saturday to 51,356 from less than 22,000 the previous day.
More than half (26,428) the new cases were revealed using RATs.
However official said only 5923 of them were from the 24-hour reporting period and most belonged to people who took the test earlier in the week and lodged the result on Friday when reporting went live.
Victoria and Tasmania have introduced a system where people who test positive to a RAT can inform authorities online.
NSW is yet to finalise its reporting system but expects to have something similar ready next week.
It posted another 45,098 cases from regular lab tests and nine deaths on Saturday, while acknowledging the case numbers were likely an underestimate.
Some 1172 Tasmanians self-reported their positive status, leading to a spike of 2223 new cases or 800 higher than Friday's figure and almost triple Thursday's.
The new reporting requirements across the country come amid concerns the number of people with the virus is far higher than official figures.
On Friday night Mr Frydenberg was isolating with his family after his diagnosis.
"My thoughts are with all those who have COVID - this is a difficult time but we will get through this," he said.
Friday was another record day of case numbers with more than 78,000 reported in Australia.
© AAP 2022
- Details
- Written by Grant Broadcasters
- Category: Received
- Hits: 103
Workers who test positive to COVID-19 via rapid antigen tests will soon be eligible to access federal pandemic leave disaster payments.
Emergency Management Minister Bridget McKenzie says RAT results will be accepted alongside those recorded by regular PCR lab tests from Monday to ensure the payment is available for all who need it.
Under the scheme, she says, from January 18 people who've lost at least a day of work due to being COVID positive, caring for someone who is or who meet the definition of a close contact may be eligible for up to $750.
The announcement comes as virus numbers skyrocket across the country and states move to record positive RAT results as part of daily case numbers, alongside PCR results.
Victoria recorded the biggest spike on Saturday, registering 51,356 infections, more than double Friday's number, with over half (26,428) the new cases revealed using RATs.
NSW, meanwhile, is yet to finalise its reporting system but expects to have something similar ready next week.
It posted another 45,098 cases from PCR tests and nine deaths on Saturday, while acknowledging the case numbers were likely an underestimate.
Across the border, Queensland reported 11,174 cases on Saturday, a slight rise on Friday's numbers, and announced the suspension of non-urgent elective surgeries for eight weeks.
Case numbers also rose in South Australia, which recorded 4274 new COVID-19 cases amid a 20 per cent rise in testing.
In Tasmania, there were 2223 new cases, 800 higher than Friday's figure and almost triple Thursday's.
Cases also spiked in the ACT, with 1305 new cases, surpassing a thousand cases for the second time while the Northern Territory reported a record 594 infections.
Twenty five people died across Australia from COVID-19 in the latest reporting period, while those newly diagnosed with the virus included former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull.
"Like hundreds of thousands of other Australians I have tested positive for COVID. Symptoms moderate so far. Isolating as required," he wrote on Twitter.
Mr Turnbull's announcement follows federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg's positive diagnosis on Friday.
Speaking in Mossman, in far north Queensland on Saturday, Opposition leader Anthony Albanese said he had spoken to Mr Frydenberg and wished him a "swift recovery".
Mr Albanese said it was clear Australia was seeing a "massive increase" in the number of people testing positive.
"There is a significant increase in the number of people who are in hospital, a significant increase in the number of people who are in ICU and this is of real concern," he told reporters.
"The fact is that at the same time, we're still seeing people not being able to get their booster shots who are eligible. We're seeing supermarkets that are empty of food and that are really demanding supplies because of the impact on the workforce that is occurring."
The comments follow concerns of RAT shortages and retail mark-ups of more than 20 per cent over the supply price as demand for the home-testing kits surges.
As of Saturday, RAT kits have been listed on Australia's biosecurity determination, making price gouging on the essential items illegal.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said the government was taking "the strongest possible actions" to prevent unscrupulous selling.
© AAP 2022
Page 1198 of 1496