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Key posts
- Grid upgrades, infrastructure rollout planned to handle electric car surge
- Melbourne Museum advises visitors of COVID-19 case
- HSC exams begin today
- Perth nurse charged after ‘pretending to administer COVID-19 jab to anti-vaxxers’
- This morning’s headlines at a glance
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Grid upgrades, infrastructure rollout planned to handle electric car surge
The national energy grid will undergo several upgrades to ensure it can handle an anticipated 1.7 million electric cars on the road by 2030 as part of the federal government’s push towards net-zero emissions by mid-century.
The Government will also significantly boost its investment in charging infrastructure, particularly in regional Australia, to help manage the transition towards an electrified national fleet and significantly cut pollution levels in the transport sector over the next decade.
Experts have warned Australia’s ageing energy grid could struggle if future electrical vehicle charging is uncoordinated.
Having just returned from the Glasgow climate summit, Prime Minister Scott Morrison will today reveal his government’s main priority will be ensuring the nation’s electricity system can handle the large-scale take-up of battery-electric vehicles over the coming decade while remaining reliable and affordable for all Australians.
Read the full story here.
Melbourne Museum advises visitors of COVID-19 case
In case you missed it, Melbourne Museum says a visitor who attended over two days has since tested positive to coronavirus.
The COVID-positive person attended the popular family attraction on Thursday and Friday last week, according to a social media post.
The museum was closed for deep cleaning yesterday.
The notification comes a little more than a week after Melbourne Museum reopened its doors to the public on October 30.
It is a requirement that visitors to the museum who are over the age of 16 are fully vaccinated, or have a vaccine exemption. They must have a vaccination certificate to prove they are double-dosed, or be able to show proof of their exemption.
Yesterday, guests at a Melbourne Cup party were asked to immediately get tested for COVID-19 after a coronavirus scare.
HSC exams begin today
Year 12 exams are set to kick-off across New South Wales today after months of disruptions to face-to-face learning.
At 9.50am AEDT, more than 60,000 students across the state will sit their English exam.
This year’s HSC exams have been delayed by several weeks and there have been calls to cancel or modify assessments due to Sydney’s recent lockdown.
My colleagues Kiran Gupta, Josh Dye and Natassia Chrysanthos have more on this issue here.
Perth nurse charged after ‘pretending to administer COVID-19 jab to anti-vaxxers’
An “anti-vaxxer” Perth nurse accused of pretending to administer a COVID-19 jab to a teenage patient previously vaccinated up to 25 people that weekend, who allegedly sought her out specifically.
Christina Hartmann Benz, 51, was arrested on Sunday after a doctor witnessed her insert a needle into a 15-year-old child’s arm but not dispense the vaccine, Perth Magistrates Court heard.
Christina Hartmann Benz leaves court on Monday.Credit:Nine News Perth
A police prosecutor told the court Ms Hartman Benz had previously sought approval from the federal government-funded COVID-19 medical clinic where she worked since November 2 to vaccinate her family and friends.
But suspicions were raised when people kept attending, asking for her by name, and her closing the door to the room, citing privacy reasons, in what was “clearly an anti-vaccination stance”, he said.
Read the full story here.
This morning’s headlines at a glance
Good morning and thanks for your company.
It’s Tuesday, November 9. I’m Broede Carmody and I’ll be anchoring our live coverage for the first half of the day.
Here’s everything you need to know before we get started.
- Year 12 exams kick-off in NSW today after months of disruptions to face-to-face learning due to the coronavirus pandemic. More than 60,000 HSC students will sit their English exam just before 10am. Meanwhile, a NSW inquiry has heard claims of bullying and a “cover-up” over a highly confidential report that warned of a possible $10 billion hole in the state budget. NSW yesterday reported 187 cases of COVID-19 and seven deaths. There are 264 coronavirus patients in NSW hospitals. Of those, 48 are in intensive care. In terms of vaccination coverage, 89.8 per cent of NSW residents aged 16 and over have had both coronavirus jabs. The state is tipped to officially hit 90 per cent today.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet says masks will remain mandatory for NSW year 12 students sitting their exams. Credit:Nick Moir
- Victorian schools are set to be provided with free, at-home rapid antigen tests. It’s part of a state government plan to try to reduce the disruption caused by COVID-19 outbreaks at schools. It comes as guests at a Melbourne Cup party are being urged to get tested immediately after a coronavirus scare. Meanwhile, Victoria’s anti-corruption hearings are set to continue today. Former Victorian minister Adem Somyurek took to the stand for the first time yesterday. Victoria reported 1126 new cases of COVID-19 on Monday and five deaths. There are 556 coronavirus patients in Victorian hospitals and 91 in ICU. Of those, 54 are on a ventilator. Eighty-four per cent of Victorians aged 12 and over are now fully vaccinated.
Former Victorian minister Adem Somyurek.Credit:Jason South
- A Perth nurse has appeared in court after allegedly pretending to administer a COVID-19 vaccine to a teenage patient. Christina Hartmann Benz, 51, was arrested over the weekend after a doctor witnessed her insert a needle into a 15-year-old child’s arm but not dispense the vaccine, the Perth Magistrates Court has heard. A police prosecutor told the court Ms Hartman Benz had previously sought approval to vaccinate her family and friends, but that suspicions were raised when people kept attending the clinic and asking for her by name.
Christina Hartmann Benz leaves court on Monday.Credit:Nine News Perth
- Prime Minister Scott Morrison is today expected to outline his plan to boost the take-up of electric cars. The national energy grid will undergo several upgrades and subsidies will be given to private companies to install more charging stations at homes, businesses and in the regions. The federal government wants to ensure Australia can handle an anticipated 1.7 million electric cars on the road by 2030 as part of its push towards net-zero emissions by the middle of the century. However, the plan rejects the policies of several European nations as well as calls from industry and some think tanks in setting mandatory vehicle emissions limits and a hard deadline for the end of petrol and diesel car sales.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Newcastle on Monday.Credit:Dominic Lorrimer
- More than 20 Queensland council areas are unlikely to hit a 70 per cent COVID vaccination rate before the state’s first border reopening trigger. Queensland is expected to reopen to coronavirus hotspots, notably Victoria NSW, around November 19 with some restrictions (i.e. when the state’s overall double-dose vaccination rate hits 70 per cent). A further easing of restrictions is due around December 17.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Credit:Matt Dennien
- In the Northern Territory, Katherine is now out of a snap lockdown triggered by a COVID scare. But Greater Darwin’s lockout, which was due to end at 11.59pm yesterday (local time), has been extended for 24 hours. Authorities say this will give contact tracers more time to do their job. Meanwhile, the Top End could pass its 80 per cent double-dose vaccination target as early as this week.
Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner.Credit:Alex Ellinghausen
- And finally, in the nation’s capital, there were 13 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday. There is now just one coronavirus patient in the ACT. That person is in ICU and on a ventilator. In terms of vaccines, 95.1 per cent of ACT residents aged 12 and over are now fully vaccinated.
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