• Another truckie tests COVID-positive in SA 
• Berejiklian resigns after ICAC announces investigation
• PM reshuffles cabinet to fill Porter vacancy
• ACT records 52 new cases, two deaths
• No lockdown for Queensland despite five outbreaks
• NSW reports 864 new cases, 15 deaths
• International travel return set for November
• Vic records 1143 new cases, three deaths
• Search for contacts after COVID-positive truckie alert
• Man dead after Adelaide Hills crash
• National cabinet mulls mandatory health jabs
• Qld braces for COVID spread
• Wines wins Power’s best and fairest
• UK petrol driver shortage hitting home

Another truckie tests COVID-positive in SA

An unvaccinated Victorian truck driver has tested positive for COVID-19 after visiting South Australia, but authorities say they are confident he did not come in contact with members of the public.

The man in his 30s was tested in South Australia yesterday evening and returned a positive result today after returning to Victoria.

While in South Australia, he visited two service stations which have now been listed as exposure sites.

They include the Liberty petrol station in Glenunga at 1.59am this morning and the Coles Express service station in Tailem Bend at 3.45am this morning.

Chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier said at this stage, “it does not look as though we have any members of the public exposed at those times”.

The man travelled into South Australia with another truck driver, who has tested negative.

Spurrier said despite truck drivers being required to be vaccinated against COVID-19, the man who tested positive today was unvaccinated.

“It is disappointing that that person was not vaccinated,” she said.

“It gives you an increased risk of having the disease and then, of course, of passing it on to other people.

“This person is from Victoria, he’s now back in Victoria, so there’s not much we can do at this stage.”

Meanwhile, SA Health has identified 56 people who were close contacts of yesterday’s positive truck driver case.

Twenty-three of those checked in to exposure sites using QR codes, while the others self-identified as close contacts.

They are now in 14-day quarantine.

Another four people in South Australia have declared that they visited exposure sites in Queensland.

SA Health lists all South Australian exposure sites on its website.

Health Minister Stephen Wade said: “COVID is coming to South Australia and we are preparing for that inevitability.”

Berejiklian resigns after ICAC announces investigation

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has sensationally resigned, after that state’s ICAC said it would investigate a potential breach of public trust by failing to disclose her relationship with embattled former MP Daryl Maguire.

Speaking a short time ago, Berejiklian said: “I have made it clear on numerous occasions, that if any of my ministers were the subject of allegations investigated by an integrity agency or law enforcement, then he or she should stand aside until the course of the investigation and their name was cleared.”

“The reason for my stance was not to have made any presumptions as to their conduct, but rather to maintain the integrity of the public office which that person has held whilst an investigation was completed.

“That same standard must always apply to me also as premier.

“However, standing aside is not an option for me as the premier of New South Wales.

“The people of this state need certainty as to who their leader is during the challenging times of the pandemic.

“Therefore, it pains me to announce that I have no option but to resign from the office of premier.”

Berejeklian also announced she would be resigning from NSW parliament once she consulted the electoral commission on an appropriate time for a by-election.

She will remain premier until her successor is anointed. She ascended to the NSW top job in early 2017.

It comes after the Independent Commission Against Corruption said in a statement on Friday that it was investigating whether Berejiklian “exercised public functions” in a position of conflict between her public duties and private relationship with Maguire, revealed in late 2020.

A public inquiry on the matter will be held on October 18.

The premier said she “cannot predict” how long the investigation will take.

“My resignation at premier could not come at a worse time, but the timing is completely outside my control, as the ICAC has chosen to take this action during the most challenging weeks of the most challenging times in the state’s history,” she said.

“That is the ICAC’s prerogative.

“Resigning at this time is against every instinct in my being and not something I want to do … but I have been given no option given the statement that was issued today.”

ICAC said Berejiklian would be investigated over grant funding to the Australian Clay Target Association in 2016/17 and grant funding to the Riverina Conservatorium of Music in Wagga Wagga in 2018.

It plans to look into whether Berejiklian’s relationship with Maguire, then the Wagga Wagga MP, affected those arrangements and constituted a breach of public trust or partial exercise of official functions.

ICAC will also investigate whether Berejiklian should have “suspected on reasonable grounds” that Mr Maguire may have engaged in corrupt conduct, and thus failed to report him to ICAC as required.

It will look into whether she “was liable to allow or encourage” his conduct.

Maguire is accused of abusing his public office while serving between 2012 and 2018 as a state MP.

He’s accused of using his public office and parliamentary resources to improperly gain a benefit for himself or for G8way International, a company Maguire allegedly “effectively controlled”.

Maguire was forced to quit Berejiklian’s government in 2018 after a separate ICAC inquiry heard evidence he sought payments to help broker deals for property developers.

The pair’s five-year relationship was kept secret until Berejiklian disclosed it at an ICAC hearing in October 2020.

PM reshuffles cabinet to fill Porter vacancy

Energy Minister Angus Taylor will add the industry portfolio to his responsibilities following the resignation of Christian Porter.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday announced changes to his frontbench, responding to Mr Porter’s departure last month.

Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price will pick up the science and technology portfolios he held.

Immigration and Multicultural Affairs Minister Alex Hawke will be elevated to cabinet.

WA MP Ben Morton will be promoted to special minister of state and public service minister while also assisting prime minister and cabinet.

Victorian Tim Wilson also received a promotion from the back bench to a junior ministerial role assisting Mr Taylor.

Porter resigned after revealing money for his defamation case against the ABC came from unknown sources through a trust.

Meanwhile, a former chief of staff to now-retired cabinet minister Mathias Cormann is considered the frontrunner for the job of Senate President.

Liberal senator Slade Brockman will be up against fellow West Australian Dean Smith in the second round of a party room ballot on Friday afternoon.

The Senate will vote on the presidency when it resumes on October 18.

ACT records 52 new cases, two deaths

The ACT has recorded two deaths and another 52 COVID-19 cases – a record number of cases for the territory.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr on Friday confirmed two COVID-positive patients from the Calvary Haydon Retirement Community had died.

They were aged in their 80s and had been receiving end of life care.

Barr announced 52 new infections in the 24 hours to 8pm on Thursday.

At least 31 were infectious in the community and 17 were in quarantine the whole time.

“Today’s increase in case numbers will come as a shock to many but it’s an important reminder that the virus is still very much active in our community,” Barr said.

The two fatalities take the ACT’s cumulative death toll to six since the start of the pandemic.

A man aged in his 90s died while receiving palliative care in September.

No lockdown for Queensland despite five outbreaks

Queensland has two new locally acquired COVID-19 cases amid five separate outbreaks one day after imposing stage-two restrictions on six local government areas in the southeast and Townsville.

The two new local cases emerged after 19,764 tests in the 24 hours to 6.30am on Friday.

One is a man linked to the aviation cluster who was infectious on the southern Gold Coast this week while staying at the Iconic Kirra Beach Resort with his family.

The second is a man who works relocating animals interstate, who tested positive in NSW and was only infectious on the Gold Coast one day.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says restrictions do not need to be tightened any further in six local government areas in the southeast and Townsville as there is still no evidence of community transmission.

“If we do see any unlinked community transmission, I’m quite sure that Dr Young will not hesitate to recommend a lockdown,” Ms Palaszczuk told reporters on Friday, referring to Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young.

“That’s good news for the moment, Queensland. So keep up that great work.”

The premier again denied she was resisting ordering a lockdown because of the NRL grand final in Brisbane on Sunday and the Rugby Championship double header on the Gold Coast on Saturday night.

She said if there is evidence of seeding or community spread before either of those events she will tighten restrictions.

“Can I just make it very clear: if the advice is to go into lockdown, we will go into lockdown. OK,” Palaszczuk said.

“So there’s no ifs and buts here, people. This is serious.

“It’s going to depend whether we see any unlinked community transmission over the next 24-48 hours.”

There are now eight cases connected to the aviation cluster, with another four separate single-person clusters across the southeast and Townsville.

NSW reports 864 new cases, 15 deaths

NSW has reported 864 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 and 15 deaths, taking the toll for the state’s current outbreak beyond 350.

Of the 15 deaths in the 24 hours to 8pm on Thursday, three people were in their 50s, two in their 60s, two in their 70s, six in their 80s and two in their 90s.

Ten of the 15 were not fully vaccinated.

The deaths take the toll for the current NSW outbreak to 352.

There are currently 1055 COVID-19 patients in hospital in NSW, with 210 in intensive care units and 104 on ventilators.

Falling transmission rates mean non-urgent day surgery can recommence from October 5 at NSW private health facilities, but not yet at public hospitals.

International travel return set for November

International travel could resume from as early as November with Scott Morrison poised to reveal the flight plan for scrapping border closures.

The prime minister will hold a news conference on Friday morning when an announcement on overseas travel restrictions is expected.

Federal, state and territory governments have agreed to a plan which includes lifting all restrictions on outbound travel for vaccinated Australians when 80 per cent double-dose coverage is reached.

The plan also seeks to abolish international arrival caps on returning vaccinated Australians.

More than 45,000 people are stuck overseas waiting to come home with the NSW government indicating it wants to welcome thousands into the country when borders reopen.

Senior cabinet minister Simon Birmingham said there would be careful steps towards reopening international borders.

“There will be a cautious and staged approach,” he told Sky News.

“What we want to see in relation to international borders is that we ultimately get to a stage where people can move once again freely with confidence around the world.”

Australia’s border slammed shut in March last year as coronavirus spread like wildfire around the world and cases rose domestically.

Premiers in largely coronavirus-free states including Western Australia, Tasmania and Queensland have signalled a cautious approach to opening internal borders.

Senator Birmingham acknowledged states would reach high vaccination rates at different stages.

“It may be those states, NSW being the most likely to get to the 80 per cent double-dose vaccination rate first, become then the first test bed for that reopening of international borders,” the finance minister said.

Vic records 1143 new cases, three deaths

Victoria has recorded 1143 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases and three deaths, as authorities plead with people who attended illegal home gatherings at the weekend to get tested.

The new infections bring the total number of active cases in the state to 10,944 and the death toll from the current outbreak to 44.

There were 62,883 tests processed and 34,935 vaccine doses administered at state hubs in the 24 hours to midnight on Thursday.

It comes after Victoria recorded a record 1438 new locally acquired infections on Thursday, of which at least 500 are linked to AFL gatherings last weekend across Melbourne.

Search for contacts after COVID-positive truckie alert

SA Health says no new cases have so far been detected after a South Australian truck driver tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday.

Authorities announced late on Thursday that a partially vaccinated man in his 20s, who regularly travels between South Australia and Victoria, returned a positive test yesterday after being tested in Tailem Bend on Wednesday evening.

The man who lives in South Australia is currently quarantining in Victoria.

Chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier said this morning no new cases were detected overnight and there was “nothing bad to report” so far.

The man’s family, including his wife who works in an aged care facility, preschool-aged child and parents-in-law, are all in quarantine and have returned negative results.

Five “tier 2” exposure sites have been listed associated with the truckie:

• The BP roadhouse in Keith on Tuesday, September 28, between 2.00am and 2.45am
• Liberty Windsor Gardens petrol station on Tuesday, September 28, between 6.00am and 6.45am
• The BP truck stop at Wingfield on Tuesday, September 28, between 7.30pm and 8.00pm
• Caltex Bolivar Gardens on Tuesday, September 28, between 8.15pm and 8.45pm
• Ampol Foodary Caltex at Wingfield on Wednesday, September 29, between 6.00pm and 6.45pm

Anyone who visited the exposure sites must immediately get tested and quarantine for 14 days.

Spurrier said she was “very hopeful” there will be no community transmission as a result of the case.

She said an update would be provided later in the day on how many people have been directed into quarantine.

“What our team is now doing is getting the QR codes and SMSing those people and then following up with anybody that has been at those five locations,” she told ABC Radio this morning.

“We know that many people do do the QR checking, but we do have some people that forget and so we double check with CCTV and the credit card details.

“So that’s a lot of work to collate all of that information to get hold of those people, and then we are collating their testing results.”

Spurrier said a “majority” of close contacts associated with the new case will be able to quarantine at home.

Thursday’s case is the eighth COVID-positive truck driver to set off contact tracing alerts in South Australia since the start of September.

The last incursion, involving a truck driver from NSW, saw 130 close contacts directed into quarantine after they visited one of 10 exposure sites associated with the truckie.

Earlier truck driver alerts in South Australia have seen more than 1000 people directed into quarantine.

Man dead after Adelaide Hills crash

A man has died after his car crashed into a tree in Kersbrook on Thursday night.

Police say they were called to the crash scene on Kersbrook Road near Bagshaw Road in the Adelaide Hills shortly after 9pm on Thursday.

The driver, a 26-year-old man from Brahma Lodge, died at the scene.

He is the 72nd person to die on South Australia’s roads this year, compared to 64 at the same point last year.

Kersbrook Road was closed for several hours but has since reopened.

National cabinet mulls mandatory health jabs

National cabinet will today consider a push from federal health advisers for mandatory vaccinations for all healthcare workers across the country.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and state and territory leaders will receive the advice at a virtual meeting of the national cabinet on Friday afternoon.

While most jurisdictions have set dates for bringing in the measure – or put in place a range of policies covering different sections of health and aged care – others have been waiting for a national approach.

It is understood the peak advisory body – the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee – will recommend the move for all states and territories across all healthcare sectors.

Earlier this month the Australian Medical Association called for a national approach, including legal protections for healthcare employers who mandate vaccinations for all their staff.

The AMA said it should cover GPs and practice staff, pharmacists, all hospital staff including cleaners and cooks, and ambulance personnel, leaving no exemptions except for legitimate medical reasons.

The AHPPC will also provide advice to the national cabinet on only allowing vaccinated people to visit aged care facilities, as will be the case in NSW from October 11.

The national cabinet will also receive updates on the spread of the Delta variant, the vaccine rollout and supply issues and pressures on the capacity of the health system.

A move to make Pfizer and Moderna available to all Australians aged over 12 from Friday is expected to boost vaccination rates.

South Australia has already given over-12s access to the two mRNA jabs, as well as over-60s.

The latest health department figures show 78.5 per cent of over 70s are now fully dosed, with the proportion sitting at 71.3 per cent for over-50s and 54.2 per cent for over 16s.

Qld braces for COVID spread

Queenslanders have turned out in droves for COVID-19 tests as the State Government resists a lockdown with cases spreading from the southeast to the far north, as Premier Steven Marshall asks South Australians to reconsider their travel plans to the sunshine state.

Since Monday, Queensland has recorded 10 new cases that have been active and infectious in the community across six local government areas.

Stage two restrictions are now in place across Brisbane, Logan, Moreton Bay, Gold Coast, Townsville and Palm Island, with residents required to mask up when leaving home and caps on weddings, funerals and hospitality.

Four of Thursday’s new local cases are colleagues of a Brisbane aviation worker who tested positive earlier this week, and one of those four flew to Townsville and stayed there.

The aviation cluster all attended a meeting together on September 20 and have been infectious since September 21.

The man who flew to Townsville frequented a number of venues in the CBD with 27 exposure sites listed, 12 of which are close contact

There are now 80 exposure sites in Brisbane, including 20 close contacts sites, in the CBD, Albany Creek, Aspley, Camp Hill, Cannon Hill, Carindale, Eatons Hill, Hamilton, Rocklea, Spring Hill and South Brisbane.

South Australian authorities on Thursday introduced day one, five and 13 COVID testing requirements for all travellers arriving from Brisbane, Gold Coast, Moreton Bay and Logan City.

The returning travellers also must not enter a high-risk setting for 14 days after arrival in SA and not attend a COVID Management Plan event with more than 1000 people.

Premier Steven Marshall said South Australians should evaluate their need to travel to Queensland.

“You may now start to need to consider whether or not you need to be travelling in Queensland at this point in time,” he told reporters on Thursday.

“I think the fact that there are six new cases in Queensland should be ringing some alarm bells.

“We will move quickly if we need to to keep the delta strain out of South Australia.”

Wines wins Power’s best and fairest

Ollie Wines has added another award after his Brownlow triumph (AAP Image/Graham Conaty)

Brownlow medallist Ollie Wines has capped his stellar season with another gong – taking home his first Port Adelaide best and fairest award.

Wines, who two weeks ago became the Power’s first-ever Brownlow medallist, won the John Cahill medal at the Adelaide Convention Centre on Thursday night.

The 26-year-old polled 229 club champion votes, well clear of next-best Travis Boak (167 votes) and recruit Aliir Aliir (164 votes).

Wines took the voting lead in Round 5 and never let go.

Elsewhere, Karl Amon took out the club’s most improved award after a fourth-placed best and fairest finish, while Mitch Georgiades was named best player under-21.

Chairman David Koch told the function that the fallout from Port Adelaide’s preliminary final flop has been brutal.

Koch says there’s no way of “cushioning the devastation” at the bitter end to their season.

The Western Bulldogs trounced Port by 71 points – the second consecutive season the Power have lost a home preliminary final.

“The heartbreaking six-point loss to Richmond last year, to the thumping loss in the hands of the Bulldogs this year – it burns in all of our guts,” Koch said.

“We offer no excuses for our performance … we were smacked in the face and reminded in the preliminary final of just where we are in the harshest possible way.

“The club will review every part of our season and the preliminary performance, believe me, and ensure that we learn from it – as hard as that will be.”

UK fuel crisis hitting home

More than two thousand service stations are still dry across the United Kingdom due a shortage of truck drivers which is starting to disrupt deliveries to pharmacies while farmers warn a lack of butchers could lead to a massive cull of pigs.

In a chaotic week where fights broke out at petrol stations and people filled up old water bottles with petrol, UK ministers have repeatedly said the crisis was easing although they ordered soldiers on Wednesday to start driving fuel tankers.

Ministers have rejected accusations that the trucker shortage was caused by the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union, pointing to similar shortfalls elsewhere after COVID-19 lockdowns halted thousands of truck driver tests.

The Petrol Retailers Association (PRA), which represents 65 per cent of the UK’s 8380 stations, said members reported on Thursday that 27 per cent of pumps were dry, 21 per cent had just one fuel type in stock and 52 per cent had enough petrol and diesel.

Such is the shortage of truckers that pharmacies were being affected.

“The whole supply chain has been impacted from inbound wholesale depot supply down to outward depot deliveries to pharmacies,” said a spokeswoman for the association which represents large pharmacy operators.

Besides fuel and medicine, the farming industry warned that hundreds of thousands of pigs may have to be culled within weeks unless the government issues visas to allow more butchers into the country.

Transport ministry data indicated that motor traffic had decreased by 6 percentage points on Monday from the previous week to the lowest volume on a non-holiday Monday since July 12.

-With AAP and Reuters