Australia news live: medical chief did not advise jail time for India arrivals; over-50s eligible for AstraZeneca Covid vaccine

Okay, I see why Morrison chose Ray Hadley’s program to discuss the controversy:

Hadley:

The only thing I’d say to you is my view was, you waited a bit long, and you finally did it.

But there was no criticism from the Federal Labour Party in Australia when [Victorian premier Daniel Andrews]did the same thing a month ago in New Zealand no criticism at all no racism allegations against her.

Morrison:

You know we’ve both made decisions, which we believe are right for our own countries, but there’s no politics or ideology and a pandemic, and I’m constantly taken aback by those who seek to inject it into it*. It’s got nothing to do with politics. This is a virus, it doesn’t care whether you’re Labor, Liberal, it doesn’t care.

*Hmmmmmmmm.

Scott Morrison’s message seems to be ‘yeah I said we CAN throw people in jail, but I promise we probably won’t’, which seems, well, tenuous.

Yes, I understand the measures have strong sanctions with them but we’ve had the Biosecurity Act in place now for over a year, and no one’s going to jail.

There hasn’t been any irresponsible use of those powers that they use very very carefully, and I can assure people that they will be used appropriately and responsibly. In these circumstances, but things to keep Australia safe during this pandemic, this is another very difficult decision.

A strong unbiased start from Hadley here:

I’ve spent the morning and most of late last week defending your position in relation to this, and all I pick up and read over the course of the weekend is “your racist your government’s racist and everyone else’s racist” but can you elaborate on why you’re not racist?

And Morrison is rolling with it:

The same accusations were made against the government over a year ago when we close the borders to mainland China, and that was one of the most important decisions we made as a government, I mean there was a raging pandemic, and we need to just continue to make decisions that are in the best interests of Australia.

Looks as though Scott Morrison is about to chat publicly about these new Indian travel penalties on his favourite radio station in the country, 2GB.

Ten news have this great graphic about all the places in Victoria you can go to get your AstraZeneca jab if you are aged 50 and over.

Some centres you can just saunter on in, others you should call ahead and book.

Lots of positives stories about booking in for the jab coming through! Seems, at least for the moment, that there are plenty of slots open in a number of states.

We are about to hear from WA premier Mark McGowan but, while we wait, why don’t we get up to date on potential exposure sites in the state.

If you were at one of the following restaurant locations below, during the specified times, you must get tested and complete the full 14 days of self-quarantine, regardless of your test result.

• Joondalup: Thai Thyme (restaurant with seating), Lakeside Joondalup shopping centre, Joondalup Drive, 22/04/2021, 6.30pm-8pm
• Morley: Kung Fu Kitchen, 129 Russell Street, 21/04/2021, 6pm-8pm
• Northbridge: City China Garden, 20/04/2021, 5-8pm
• Northbridge: Good Fortune Roast Duck House, 19/04/2021, 5pm-8pm
• Northbridge: Fortune Five All Day Dim Sum & BBQ, 18/04/2021, 8-9.30pm
• Kardinya: Kitchen Inn, 19/17-23 South Street, 18/04/2021, 12pm-2pm
• East Victoria Park: Anything La Corner, U5-6/910 Albany Highway, 17/04/2021, 5.30pm-8pm

If you have been at any of the following locations at the specified times you must get tested and isolate at home until you receive a negative result.

• Nollamara: Pharmacy 777 – 84 Hillsborough Drive, 30/04/2021, 4-5pm
• Mirrabooka: Mirrabooka Mosque: Masjid Al Taqwa, 30/04/2021, 1.15pm-2pm
• Madeley: Puma – 186 Wanneroo Rd, 30/04/2021, 11.45am-12.15pm
• Banksia Grove: Liberty Fuel, corner of Porrecta Link and Pinjar Rd, 30/04/2021, 10am-10.30am
• Wanneroo: Brookside medical centre, 30/04/2021 8am-9am
• Nollamara: Pharmacy 777 – 84 Hillsborough Drive, 29/04/2021, 6pm-7pm
• Balcatta: Coles – Prime West Northlands shopping centre, 29/04/2021, 4.30pm – 5.15pm
• Scarborough: Caltex – 74 Scarborough Beach Rd, 29/04/2021, 1.15pm – 1.45pm
• Victoria Park: All Night Pizza Cafe, 28/04/2021 , 10.00pm – 12.00am
• Joondanna: Agha Juice café, 28/04/2021, 6.50pm – 8.00pm
• Morley: Event (Greater Union) Cinemas – Galleria shopping centre, 28/04/2021, 6.45pm-7.15pm
• Balcatta: Coles – Prime West Northlands shopping centre, 28/04/2021, 2pm-3pm
• Balcatta: Smokemart – Prime West Northlands shopping centre, 28/04/2021, 1.30pm-3.15pm
• Balcatta: Northlands Fresh – Prime West Northlands shopping centre, 28/04/2021, 1.30pm-3.15pm
• Westminster: Spudshed – Stirling Shopping Centre, 28/04/2021 1.30am – 2.30am
• Westminster: Spudshed – Stirling shopping centre, 27/04/2021, 5.15pm-6pm
• Victoria Park: Swan Taxi office building, Victoria Park, 27/04/2021, 1.50pm-2.45pm

Nationals deputy senate leader Matt Canavan has come out this morning to slam the government’s (in fact, his government’s) decision to impose fines and potential jail time on those who attempt to return home from India.

We should be helping Aussies in India return not jailing them. Let’s fix our quarantine system rather than leave our fellow Australians stranded.

Hmmm, doesn’t seem like older Melburnians are rushing to get the jab this morning.

We saw a similar underwhelming response when hubs opened up to all those 70 and over several weeks back.

Aged care minister Richard Colbeck has been asked why the government decided to stop travellers from India from arriving in Australia rather than ramping up federal quarantine facilities:

It wouldn’t matter how to what scale, you build a quarantine system there is always going to be a capacity limit to it.

A decision was made for a period of time to limit the movement of people, to ensure that our systems could cope. I think it is an appropriate, and a sensible decision for Australia to take so that we can appropriately manage and don’t place undue stress on all of our systems.

Department of health secretary Brendan Murphy and Aged care minister Richard Colbeck are fronting a Senate estimates committee this morning.

Colbeck has been asked about the new sanctions on returning Indian citizens, saying “there is not a specific sanction in relation to [India]”, but said those sanctions were a result of the Biosecurity Act being enacted.

Suggesting there’s been a deliberate criminalisation of people’s movement is a mischaracterisation. The government is concerned at stress being placed on the hotel quarantine system.

Another (locally) Covid-19 free day in Queensland.

New Zealand has apologised for using Twitter to source oxygen tanks for a critically ill worker at its high commission in New Delhi, reports Ben McKay from AAP.

The official “@NZInIndia” account kicked off a puzzling exchange on the social media website on Sunday.

In a tweet since deleted, it appealed to the youth wing of an opposition political party for assistance finding the lifesaving gas. India is now suffering through a pronounced wave of Covid-19, with the NZ high commission in lockdown.

The Twitter appeal led to local politician Srinivas BV responding, bringing oxygen tanks to the door of the high commission – only to find them closed. Srinivas tweeted:

Please open the gates and save a soul on time.

The high commission is then shown accepting two tanks in a subsequent video posted by Srinivas.

On Monday morning, prime minister Jacinda Ardern said the high commission had used an improper way to source the gas.

They should have been using the normal channels and protocols.

Ardern confirmed that the tweet had been sent on behalf of an unwell locally based staff member. It’s understood the tweet was the result of sheer desperation, given their deteriorating condition.

The high commission deleted its tweet and responded with a new post, saying:

We are trying all sources to arrange for oxygen cylinders urgently and our appeal has unfortunately been misinterpreted, for which we are sorry.

Last month New Zealand placed a suspension on international travellers from India – including its own citizens – because of its soaring infection rates.

It then reclassified India as a “very high risk” category nation, which restricts international travellers to Kiwi citizens and immediate families.

New Zealand has also categorised Pakistan, Brazil and Papua New Guinea as “very high risk”.

We are expecting a press conference with Western Australia premier Mark McGowan in the next hour or so, where we should learn what Covid-19 restrictions will be sticking around while health authorities work to contain a small hotel outbreak.