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Families locked down across greater Sydney will receive childcare fee relief to encourage parents to keep their kids at home.
From Monday, the federal government says it will support childcare centres to waive gap fees if children don't attend.
The fee is the difference between the government's childcare subsidy and the remaining cost paid by parents.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the opt-in measure could benefit around 216,000 families across 3600 centres in greater Sydney.
"If your child doesn't go to the childcare facility for a particular day during this lockdown, then you wont be charged a gap fee," he told ABC radio on Thursday.
"The centre will continue to be supported and you won't lose your places in those childcare centres."
Greater Sydney's lockdown has been extended until at least July 30, as the city struggles to control the spread of COVID-19 particularly in the southwest.
Mr Morrison defended the fact childcare centres won't be forced to waive the fee, saying the voluntary measure had worked in previous lockdowns.
"The families and the centres know each other very well and they'll come to those arrangements, and that's proved to be the most effective and flexible way to deal with the challenge," he said.
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Australia will also face the Pumas at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, in a re-match of their dramatic 15-all draw at the same venue last year.
In other Test matches and venues announced on Wednesday, the Wallabies and world champions South Africa will square off at the SCG on September 12.
The Test will be the Springboks' first overseas Test match since their Rugby World Cup victory in Japan in 2019.
South Africa skipped last year's internationals due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The confirmation of the three Tests finalises the Wallabies' domestic schedule with Australia to also take on the All Blacks in Perth on Saturday, August 21 and South Africa on Saturday, September 18 in Brisbane.
Schedule:
New Zealand v Wallabies, Saturday August 7 at Eden Park, Auckland at 5.05pm AEST*
Wallabies v New Zealand, Saturday August 21 at Optus Stadium, Perth at 9.00pm AEST*
New Zealand v Wallabies, Saturday August 28 at Sky Stadium, Wellington at 5.05pm AEST*
South Africa v Wallabies, Sunday September 12 at Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney at 3.00pm AEST
Wallabies v South Africa, Saturday September 18 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane at 3.00pm AEST
Wallabies v Argentina, Saturday September 25 at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle at 7.45pm AEST
Argentina v Wallabies, Saturday October 2 at GIO Stadium in Canberra at 8pm AEST
*forms part of the 2021 Bledisloe Cup Series
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The Queensland government will keep the NSW border open, saying the Greater Sydney lockdown is containing the city's COVID-19 outbreak.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles says authorities are closely monitoring the situation, but there's no evidence of virus cases or positive sewage testing results north of Sydney.
He's hopeful the lockdown is containing the virus in Sydney and a hard border won't need to be imposed.
"Pleasingly the ongoing monitoring of sewage indicates that the outbreak there is largely contained to Greater Sydney, meaning that the restrictions in place in Greater Sydney may mean that we don't yet need to put in place greater border restrictions here," he told reporters on Wednesday.
Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia have already closed their borders to NSW, but Queensland is only restricting entry for travellers from Greater Sydney.
Mr Miles said while Sydney's lockdown is containing the outbreak for now, lifting restrictions there too early could cause Queensland to impose a hard border with NSW.
"Obviously if NSW opted to lift those lockdown restrictions, well then we would need to reconsider," he said.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate called for any border closure to ensure traffic flows freely between Tweed Heads in NSW and Coolangatta in Queensland.
That would help protect local jobs and allow residents to use airports, hospitals and schools on both sides of the state line, he said.
The mayor also called for a limited JobKeeper-style payment for border residents impacted by any closure.
Meanwhile, Mr Miles joined the debate on the federal government's financial support to businesses hit by Sydney's lockdown, after the Victorian government slammed it as preferential treatment.
The deputy Queensland premier agreed that NSW was being favoured by the federal government.
"It's somewhat understandable but Scott Morrison feels a bit more responsible for the Sydney outbreak given he urged the premier to delay the lockdown there, and I suspect that's one of the reasons that he's chosen to step in there and provide additional compensation," Mr Miles said.
Five new COVID-19 cases were recorded in hotel quarantine in Queensland on Wednesday, but no further cases emerged in the community after two local cases were recorded on Tuesday.
Initially Ms Palaszczuk said the cases were of no concern, but Queensland Health later issued an alert after finding one had been infectious longer than first thought.
New exposure sites have been listed in Noosa, Kenilworth, Eumundi and Sunshine Beach, including a newsagency, cafe, pharmacy, liquor store and a bakery visited at various times between June 28 and July 1.
Anyone who visited the venues at the times listed on the Queensland Health website is advised to get tested immediately and self-quarantine until a negative result is received.
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From 12:01am on Wednesday 14 July 2021, you may need to get a COVID-19 test if you are leaving your home to go to work.
If you live in or are staying in Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour, you must have a COVID-19 test within 7 days before working if your workplace is 50km or more outside Greater Sydney.
You must get a COVID-19 test if:
- You work at a premises that is located 50km or more outside Greater Sydney including Blue, Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour LGAs
- There is a person at your work premises who lives in Greater Sydney including Blue Moutains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour LGAs.
You do not need a COVID-19 test if:
- You are working at a residential premises (someone's home)
- You do not live in Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong & Shellharbour LGAs
- You live and work in Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong & Shellharbour LGAs (excluding Fairfield)
The 50km zone around Greater Sydney extends past Newcastle in the north, past Tomerong & Vincentia in the south, falls just shy of Bathurst in the west and includes the Southern Highlands.
Examples:
- If you live within the orange section but work outside of the purple section you will need to get a COVID-19 test.
- If you live outside the purple section but work inside the orange section you will need to get a COVID-19 test.
- If you live inside the orange/purple section and work inside the orange/purple section you do not need to get a COVID-19 test.
If you're unsure if you place of work of residence falls outside the 50km, use the special tool here.
If you are required to get a COVID-19 test according to the new rules, you must have proof of your test (SMS or email) and proof of your home address or temporary accommodation in Greater Sydney.
You must show this proof when asked at your workplace by your manager or to a police officer. You do not need to get your COVID-19 results before going to or staying at work.
If you live in Greater Sydney including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour you must get a test every 7 days when you are working outside the 50km zone.
For more information, stay updated with NSW Health.
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