National Cabinet Statement

National Cabinet met today to discuss our response to COVID-19 and the Omicron variant, new approaches to test, trace isolate and quarantine including the use of rapid antigen tests (RATs) and the vaccine rollout and booster programme.
The Chief Medical Officer Professor Paul Kelly provided an update on the spread of the Omicron variant. Omicron case numbers continue to increase in Australia and globally. Omicron continues to show greater infectivity than the Delta variant, but with less severity.
Since the beginning of the pandemic there have been 612,106 confirmed cases in Australia and, sadly, 2,289 people have died. More than 56 million tests have been undertaken, with 1,643,841 million tests reported in the past 7 days.
Globally there have been over 294.9 million cases and sadly over 5.4 million deaths, with 2.6 million new cases and 7,169 deaths reported in the last 24 hours. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to surge in many countries around the world.
National Cabinet received a detailed update on Australia’s COVID-19 vaccination program from Lieutenant General John Frewen, Coordinator General of Operation COVID Shield.
Australia’s COVID-19 vaccine roll out continues to expand. To date 43 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Australia, including 212,497 in the previous 24 hours.
In the previous 7 days, more than 754,500 vaccines have been administered in Australia. More than 94.5 per cent of the Australian population aged 16 years and over have now had a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, including 98.7 per cent of Australians aged 50 years of age and over and more than 99 per cent of Australians aged 70 years of age and over.
More than 91.6 per cent of Australians aged 16 years and over are now fully vaccinated including more than 96.8 per cent of Australians aged 50 years of age and over and more than 99 per cent of Australians aged 70 years of age and over.
Over 2.7 million booster doses have been administered. Australia has sufficient supplies of boosters, with nearly 18 million mRNA vaccines in stock in Australia. Yesterday, over 176,000 boosters were administered across Australia. Following the widening of eligibility for boosters on 4 January to those who had their second dose at least four months earlier, over 33.8 per cent of those eligible for boosters have had a booster and 28.6 per cent of Australians aged 70 years of age and over have had a booster in the last 8 weeks since the booster program commenced.
National Cabinet will meet again on Thursday 13 January 2022.
Rapid Antigen Tests
National Cabinet noted that COVID-19 tests are free and available at state testing clinics for people who have symptoms or are a close contact.
National Cabinet agreed that up to 10 Rapid Antigen Tests over three months (a maximum of 5 in a month) will be made available free through pharmacies to people holding the following cards:

  • Pension Concession Card
  • Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card
  • Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold, White or Orange Card
  • Health Care Card
  • Low Income Health Card

These free tests will become available in the next two weeks. However, anyone with COVID-19 symptoms and close contacts should attend a state clinic for free testing and not go to a pharmacy to receive a free test. Costs for providing these tests will be shared 50:50 between the Commonwealth and the States and Territories consistent with COVID shared funding agreements.
National Cabinet noted the Commonwealth will provide 10 million RATs to states and territories (a combination of predominantly Point of Care Tests and self tests) to assist with testing and laboratory capacity. National Cabinet agreed to fund these in line with the existing National Partnership Agreement on the COVID-19 Response.
National Cabinet received a briefing from Joe Buffone, Director-General of Emergency Management Australia, on behalf of the National Coordination Mechanism (NCM). Supply chain issues continue to be one of the main disruptors of broad access to RATs. National Cabinet noted that the Commonwealth is working through the NCM to finalise anti-hoarding measures with the Pharmacy Guild of Australia and other major retailers that stock RATs to limit the number of RATs available for sale to each individual.
National Cabinet noted the Commonwealth will prohibit price gouging of and the non-commercial export of RATs, similar to actions taken earlier in the pandemic relating to essential goods such as masks, other PPE and hand sanitiser. As was the case previously, price gouging will be defined as supplying or offering to supply essential goods at a price that is more than 120% of the initial purchase price (a 20% markup) and penalties for not complying with this direction will range up to five years imprisonment or $66,000.
Changes to testing requirements
National Cabinet agreed changes to testing requirements for all states except for Western Australia including:

  • Removing the requirement for truck drivers to have rolling seven days tests.
  • Testing will not be required before patients present to hospital.
  • Confirmation PCR test will not be required after a positive RAT. Individual states and territories will provide further information on how a positive RAT will be recorded. Anyone who tests positive is encouraged to contact their GP for support as required.
  • Testing before interstate travel will no longer be required except for Queensland, Tasmania and Western Australia, with Queensland and Tasmania to review these requirements in the coming weeks. State testing clinics will not be able to be used for interstate travel purposes.
  • A second post arrival test for international travelers will not be required except for Queensland, who will review this requirement when they reach 90 per cent double vaccination rate.

Workplace Health and Safety
National Cabinet noted the impact on business of current state workplace Health and Safety laws that could imply requiring employees to return a negative RAT test in order to present to work. National Cabinet agreed the Commonwealth Attorney General will convene a meeting of relevant ministers from all jurisdictions to consider workplace health and safety requirements with a view to removing any potential obligation to impose testing requirements in workplaces on employees
National Return to School Framework
National Cabinet tasked the First Secretaries Group (FSG) let by Mr Phil Gaetjens, Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet to develop a national framework to enable students to return to school on day one of term one, and for schools to stay open with consistent requirements across all jurisdictions to be in place prior to the first day of the first term of school. The FSG will report back to National Cabinet at the next meeting.

Driver allegedly caught almost six times over the legal limit – Cessnock

A man has been charged with high-range drink driving after allegedly being caught almost six times over the legal limit in the Hunter region today.
About 1.30pm (Thursday 6 January 2022), officers attached to Hunter Valley Traffic and Highway Patrol Command stopped the driver of a Mitsubishi SUV on Wollombi Road at Bellbird, for the purpose of a random breath test.
Police spoke to the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle – a 41-year-old man – before he was subjected to a roadside breath test, which returned a positive result.
The Cessnock man was arrested and taken to Cessnock Police Station, where a subsequent breath analysis returned an alleged reading of 0.297.
He was charged with high-range PCA, his driver’s licence was confiscated and immediately suspended, and his vehicle was seized.
The man was granted conditional bail and is due to appear at Cessnock Local Court on Wednesday 9 February 2022.

Investigation underway into fatal stabbing – Jesmond

An investigation is underway after a man was fatally stabbed in the Hunter Region yesterday.
About 3.45pm (Thursday 6 January 2022), emergency services were called to a home on Michael Street, Jesmond, following reports a man had been stabbed.
Officers attached to Newcastle City Police District attended and located a 34-year-old man suffering a stab wound to his chest.
Police have been told the man attended the home and was injured during an altercation with a male occupant, who then fled.
The injured man was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics, before being taken to John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition.
Despite the efforts of medical staff, the man died in hospital.
Newcastle City Detectives have established Strike Force Mantillus to investigate the circumstances of the man’s death.
As part of their inquiries, a large-scale search is also underway to locate the male occupant.

$5.5 million for clinical trials to treat low-survival breast cancers

Two clinical trials which could save lives through new therapies to treat breast cancers that have low rates of survival have been funded, thanks to the Morrison Government.
Tragically, young women diagnosed with breast cancer have a higher rate of recurrence and death from the disease.
To combat this, researchers at the University of Melbourne have conducted a genomic analysis of breast cancer samples from women under 45 years of age. They have identified a new drug target that may improve the prognosis for these young women.
The Morrison Government is directing more than $4.9 million to the researchers to evaluate these new therapies in a clinical trial.
In addition, researchers at the University of New South Wales have turned their attention to treatment resistant triple-negative breast cancer, where new therapies are urgently needed to improve survival rates.
The researchers discovered that blocking what’s called an androgen receptor prevents and treats chemotherapy-resistant triple-negative breast cancer. Pre-clinical models have shown that, when combined with chemotherapy, overall survival rates are significantly improved.
The researchers will use almost $670,000 in Government funding to test this new therapy in a clinical trial.
The funding for both of these trials has been provided through the Medical Research Future Fund’s (MRFF) Rare Cancers, Rare Diseases and Unmet Need (RCRDUN) clinical trials initiative.
There are limited effective treatment options for many rare cancers and diseases, and the combined health burden is significant.
Through RCRDUN, the Government is increasing trial activity in Australia, supporting high quality research and encouraging novel and innovative treatments.
The two projects announced today are a small part of the 2021 RCRDUN grant program. A further 6 streams are being assessed and recipients will be announced in due course.
The $20 billion MRFF is a long-term investment supporting Australia’s best and brightest researchers. Further information about the MRFF is available at www.health.gov.au/mrff
MRFF 2021 Clinical Trials Activity – Rare Cancers, Rare Diseases and Unmet Need (RCRDUN) Grant Opportunity – Stream 2

Project Recipient Funding
4CAST: A phase I/II study evaluating the safety and efficacy of VT-464 in combination with chemotherapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer University of New South Wales $668,444.00
Addressing the poor outcomes of young women with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative (HR+HER2-) early breast cancer University of Melbourne $4,909,215.00
Total $5,577,659.00

Labor: Rapid Antigen Tests should be free

Labor calls on the Morrison Government to make Rapid Antigen Tests free for Australians via Medicare.
We have been saying for some time that nobody should be denied a test because they can’t afford one.
We have considered the options and it is clear that this is the simplest, most efficient, fairest and most responsible way to fix the mess that Scott Morrison has made of testing at this critical juncture of the pandemic.
As always, we are prepared to work with the Government to determine the best way to provide free tests through the Medicare system.
It’s clear from Scott Morrison’s ridiculous proposal today that he has absolutely no appreciation of the skyrocketing cost of these tests or the consequences of his failure to order enough of them, quickly enough.
We can’t have people at their most vulnerable and contagious being ripped off, or going undiagnosed, or travelling around cities, suburbs and towns searching in vain for tests they can’t find or afford.
Price is one consideration, we also need the Prime Minister to fix the supply issues he is responsible for as well.
In recent days we have been carefully considering the most economically responsible course of action and it’s clear that the cost of tests are dwarfed by the costs of the Prime Minister’s failures to do his job, his undermining of Medicare, and the economic and health consequences of people not being able to test for the virus.
This can’t wait for a change of government.
Scott Morrison needs to act now. His inability to take responsibility has cost Australians too much already.

Applications for land tax relief extended until February

Applications for land tax relief will be extended until 28 February to give eligible commercial and residential landowners more time to access the program.
Minister for Finance Damien Tudehope said the land tax relief was designed to make it easier for landowners who supported their tenants during a challenging year.
“Extending the deadline for landowners to access land tax relief will give people more time to get the necessary documents together and access any help they may need to complete an application,” Mr Tudehope said.
“Many renters, commercial and residential, had a financially tough 2021 with reduced turnover or work hours due to the COVID-19 restrictions.
“We heard from landowners that they wanted to help their tenants, but they also have bills to pay. Providing land tax relief enabled them to work with their tenants to offer rent reductions and to alleviate some of the cost-burden during restrictions.
“In response, the NSW Government is helping commercial or residential landowners who have reduced their tenants’ rent, between 1 July 2021 and 31 December 2021.”
NSW landowners may be eligible to receive a reduction of up to 100 per cent of their land tax payable for the 2021 land tax year if they provided a reduction in rent to a tenant between 1 July 2021 and 31 December 2021.
This package follows a similar program run for the 2020 land tax year, which saw more than 17,400 applications received and $218.8 million of relief provided.
Minister for Small Business and Fair Trading Eleni Petinos said the Government was always committed to assisting those in need.
“We know this program has previously helped to keep businesses in business, people in jobs, and roofs over heads,” Ms Petinos said.
“That’s why we are extending this package to ensure landlords can continue to provide relief to small businesses and residents while we get through this challenging period.”
To be eligible for land tax relief, a landowner must be leasing to a commercial tenant who has a turnover up to $50 million and has been deemed eligible for NSW Government COVID-19 support grants or a residential tenant who has lost 25 per cent or more of household income due to COVID-19.
The landowner must have reduced rent for the affected tenant for any period between 1 July 2021 and 31 December 2021, without any requirement for it to be paid back.
Landlords can also access the Commercial Landlord Hardship Fund, which provides small commercial or retail landlords with a monthly grant up to the value of any rental relief provided, to a maximum of $3,000 per month per property. To be eligible, a landlord cannot claim land tax relief for rent reductions provided to tenants between 1 July 2021 and 31 December 2021. Applications for the Commercial Landlord Hardship Fund close 31 March 2022.
Applications for Land Tax Relief can be submitted at https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-covid-19-land-tax-relief
For more information on rent relief visit: COVID-19 assistance for commercial and residential landlords | Service NSW.

Man charged following pursuit – Hexham

A man has been charged following a pursuit in the state’s Hunter region yesterday.
About 5.30pm on Wednesday (5 January 2022), officers attached to the Traffic & Highway Patrol Command were travelling north on Stewart Avenue, Hamilton South, when they observed a white Ford Falcon driving in a dangerous manner.
A short time later, police sighted the vehicle travelling on Wallsend and Maitland Road, Sandgate.
Police have attempted to stop the vehicle however the driver allegedly failed to stop as directed by police, and a pursuit was initiated.
The vehicle has crashed into another vehicle travelling in the same direction before stopping about 20 meters into marshland.
When the vehicle stopped, the driver has fled the scene of foot before he was arrested at Hexham. He was taken to the Mater Hospital for testing before being taken to Waratah police station.
The driver – a 25-year-old man – was charged with police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously, not obey direction of police/authorised person, negligent driving, use unregistered registrable class A motor vehicle on road, use uninsured motor vehicle, drive motor vehicle during disqualification period and not give particulars to other driver (2).
No one was injured in the crash.
The man was refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 6 January 2020.

Nationally consistent principles to provide certainty

The NSW Government will adopt nationally consistent principles for the definition of a close contact and isolation periods for COVID positive cases, and remove mandatory PCR testing requirements for international arrivals.
Following yesterday’s National Cabinet the NSW Government will immediately implement the below arrangements for COVID cases and contacts:

Positive COVID-19 case 7 days isolation commencing on the day of testing.
Unless otherwise advised a person may leave isolation after 7 days without formal notification or a further test.
People in this category must take precautions (mask etc) and avoid high risk settings, such as hospitals and aged care for a further 3 days.
Close contacts
Defined as:

  • A household contact, or where more than four hours of exposure has occurred in a residential setting; and
  • Contacts in a setting where Health has determined there to be a high level of transmission.
  7 days isolation from the day of exposure, and obtain a   PCR test as soon as possible.
High risk settings, such as hospitals and aged care should be avoided for a further 7 days.
A rapid antigen test (RAT) is required at Day 6 and, if positive, must be followed by a PCR test.
All other contacts Monitor for symptoms and if symptoms develop, undertake a PCR test.
If you have symptoms Obtain a PCR test if you have symptoms at any time.

These contact and isolation arrangements apply to all people, regardless of vaccination status. NSW Health is developing guidelines to allow social contacts to assess their risk.
Effective immediately testing requirements for international travellers will also be revised. All fully vaccinated international travellers and flight crew arriving in NSW will be required to undertake a Rapid Antigen Test on days one and six after arrival.
Symptomatic arrivals will be required to get a PCR as soon as possible and isolate until negative result is received. If the PCR test is positive, the arrival must treat themselves as a positive case.
Under existing arrangements, all international travellers and flight crew are also required to produce a negative pre-departure test, within three days of boarding their flight. Unvaccinated arrivals will continue to be quarantined (capped at 210 per week) and require PCR testing.
Guidelines will be developed recommending international arrivals not attend at an aged care, health care, disability care or correctional facility for 7 days after arrival.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said this approach to dealing with COVID would provide certainty for people as we continue to chart a course out of the pandemic.
“Across the country we have done an incredible job in getting vaccinated to protect people and our health systems. High vaccination rates mean we can adapt our response to deal with the new challenges that come our way,” Mr Perrottet said.
“These changes will ensure our health system continues to work for people who need it most. We need everyone to keep playing their part and to only come forward to get tested if they have a medical need or are directed to do so.
“NSW has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world and it is vital we maintain that advantage and people book in for their booster shots as soon as they can to protect themselves, their families and the community.”
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said it was important our health system was reserved for people who needed it.
“Our frontline health workers have done an amazing job over the past two years and their efforts have helped keep countless people safe and we can’t thank them enough,” Mr Hazzard said.
“As we learn to live with COVID, people must make sure they only seek testing if they are feeling unwell, or are otherwise advised to get tested.”

New era takes for NSW Ambulance takes flight

Five state-of-the-art NSW Ambulance aircraft are set to take to the skies across the state, providing even better care for rural and regional areas.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the new fleet would provide a major boost to NSW Ambulance’s fixed wing operations, improving patient transport speeds and reaching even more areas of the state.
“These aircraft are like hospitals in the sky, and they can get to some of the most remote regions of the state and land at both commercial airports and smaller runways,” Mr Toole said.
Minister for Regional Health Bronnie Taylor said the brand new fleet of Beechcraft King Air 350C planes would be operated and maintained by Pel-Air under a 10-year contract.
“This new fleet will be an absolute gamechanger, offering the technology, comfort and fuel efficiency never before seen in a NSW Ambulance aircraft,” Mrs Taylor said.
NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dr Dominic Morgan said the medical fit-out on-board was tailored to the clinician’s needs and could pick up more than 6000 patients every year.
“Our flight nurses, doctors and pilots are among the best in the country and they helped in the design of what is essentially their office. Their expertise and some of the best planes available means it is a perfect fit for everyone, especially our patients”, Dr Morgan said.
The aircraft will begin operation on 1 January 2022, and will replace the current fleet operated out of the Mascot airbase by the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS)
Executive Director of Aeromedical Operations Dr Sarah Coombes said NSW Ambulance was proud of what it had achieved together with RFDS.
“For 19 years, the RFDS has been there working with NSW Ambulance to provide the best for the community of NSW. We thank them for their remarkable and ongoing contribution to health in this state,” Dr Coombes said.
The NSW Government has invested more than $9 billion in NSW Ambulance since 2011, including $1.4 billion in the 2021/22 budget.

NSW Government updates COVID settings and makes Rapid Antigen Tests free

The NSW Government is taking precautionary steps to maintain its safe and measured approach as we continue to learn to live with COVID.
The following adjustments to the NSW Government’s pandemic settings will come into effect:
From 12.01am Friday, 24 December:

  • Masks will be compulsory in all indoor non-residential settings, including for hospitality staff and in offices, unless eating or drinking.

From 12.01am Monday, 27 December 2021:

  • QR code check-ins will be compulsory, including for hospitality and retail; and

 

  • Hospitality venues, including pubs, clubs, restaurants and cafes will move to 1 person per 2 sqm rule indoors, with no density limit for outdoor settings.

All settings will remain in place until Wednesday, 27 January 2022.
Extending QR check-in requirements will remind people that if they receive a notification they should be tested if they feel unwell. They should also get tested if they are directed by NSW Health or if they have symptoms.
Further to these measures, the Government is asking people to reduce mingling where they can including when eating and drinking, work from home where possible and hold events outside.
The NSW Government will continue to monitor these settings.
The NSW Government will also procure Rapid-Antigen Test kits and make them available for free to people across the State, to give additional options to people and allow those who need to get a PCR test to do so.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said these measures would help take the pressure off our health system and keep the community safe until more people could get their booster shots.
“We said we would tailor our settings as the situation evolved and these steps will help take the pressure of our health system, so the people who need care can access it,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Our frontline health workers have done an enormous job keeping us safe over the past two years and we can’t thank them enough.
“Vaccination remains the key to keeping people safe and out of hospital. It is vital people continue to roll up their sleeves to get vaccinated and receive their boosters.”
Health Minister Brad Hazzard thanked people for continuing to come forward in large numbers to get tested and urged everyone to follow the restrictions.
“We thank people for coming out in large numbers to get tested but we need to make sure that tests are available for people who really need it,” Mr Hazzard said.
“If you don’t have any symptoms, please don’t get a test just for the sake of it. The best thing people can do is follow the rules outlined today. The health and safety of the community continues to be the highest priority.
“I want to again thank NSW Health for the work they are doing in response to the pandemic.”