Tag Archives: Australia

Sydney Hikes Lockdown Violation Fines To $5000 AUD

Reuters reports: Australian police hiked fines for people breaking lockdown rules in Sydney and the rest of its home state on Saturday and strict stay-at-home orders were extended statewide amid a record jump in daily new Covid-19 infections. State police will fine up to A$5,000 ($3,700) anyone breaching stay-at-home orders or for lying to contract-tracing officials, said state Premier Gladys …

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Single Case Sends Australian Capital Into Lockdown

Reuters reports: Extra Australian military personnel may be called in to ensure compliance with lockdown rules in Sydney, the New South Wales state government said on Thursday, as the highly infectious delta coronavirus variant spreads into regional areas. The move comes as Australia’s capital, Canberra, 260 km (160 miles) southwest of Sydney, announced a snap one-week lockdown from Thursday evening …

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YouTube Suspends Australian Network For COVID Lies

Reuters reports: Sky News Australia said on Sunday it has been temporarily suspended by the video-sharing site YouTube following the platform’s review of content for compliance with its COVID-19 policies. The 24-hour cable and television channel, which claims to have 1.85 million YouTube subscribers, is operated by Australian News Channel Pty Ltd and is a subsidiary of News Corp Australia. …

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Australia Won’t Open Border Until 80% Are Vaxxed

Reuters reports: Australia will have to vaccinate 80% of its adults against COVID-19 before it can consider reopening its border, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday as he announced a four-stage plan to greater freedom. Australia is now in phase A, or the suppression phase of the plan, with large parts of the country plunging in and out of …

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Australian Neo-Nazi Goes On Trial For Live-Streaming Homophobic Abuse Inside LGBTQ-Friendly Church

The Gloucester Advocate reports: Far-right extremist Neil Erikson walked into a queer-friendly church and hurled homophobic abuse at its attendees before live-streaming the aftermath, a Victorian court has been told. Erikson on Wednesday faced an online contest mention at Melbourne Magistrates Court, seated in front of an Australian flag draped on the wall of his room. The 36-year-old has been …

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Anti-Lockdown Protest Turns Violent In Sydney [VIDEO]

The New York Times reports: Defying a statewide stay-at-home order and a worsening local outbreak driven by the Delta variant, 3,500 mostly maskless protesters clashed with police officers on Saturday in downtown Sydney, Australia’s largest city. The protest, against the city’s month-long lockdown, raised fears of adding to Sydney’s caseload. “You don’t have to be an epidemiologist to work out …

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New Zealand Suspends Australia Travel For Two Months

The Washington Post reports: New Zealand has suspended a travel bubble with Australia for two months as an outbreak of a hyper-transmissible variant of the novel coronavirus threatens the nation’s earlier success in containing the pandemic. More than 200,000 people have flown between New Zealand and Australia since the quarantine-free travel corridor opened in April. But a delta variant outbreak …

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Brisbane Awarded 2032 Summer Olympics [VIDEO]

The Wall Street Journal reports: The International Olympic Committee on Wednesday awarded the 2032 Summer Games to Brisbane, Australia, after designating the city earlier this year as the sole contender. Brisbane, about 450 miles north of Sydney, will become the third Australian city to host the Games after Melbourne in 1956 and Sydney in 2000. It is the first Olympic …

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Australia Deports British Extremist Katie Hopkins After She Flouted Lockdown Rules Ahead Of Reality Show

The Sydney Morning Herald reports: Far-right British commentator Katie Hopkins was set to be deported from Sydney on Monday evening after she boasted about flaunting COVID-19 controls and the federal government cancelled her visa. NSW Police also issued Ms Hopkins a $1000 fine for failing to wear a mask on Friday night while in hotel quarantine in Sydney. Ms Hopkins, …

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Jenner Ditches Campaign For Australian Reality Show

Australia’s The Advertiser reports: Getting into Australia is near on impossible at the moment. Except, it seems, if you are Hollywood royalty. There are reports that reality star Caitlyn Jenner has taken up one of a severely limited number of airline seats so she can take part in Channel 7 series Celebrity Big Brother. A group representing Australians stranded abroad …

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24 Guests At Australian Birthday Party Contract Delta Variant (The Other Six Guests Had All Been Vaccinated)

Australia’s ABC News reports: The highly contagious Delta strain of COVID-19 infected everyone who attended a Sydney birthday party except for the six people who were vaccinated, the NSW Government said. The West Hoxton party — described as a “super spreader” event — has become one of the most significant transmission events in the NSW breakout with 24 of the …

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Delta Variant Surge Forces Sydney Into Hard Lockdown

CNN reports: Sydney will enter a hard two-week lockdown on Saturday night local time as authorities try to contain a fast-spreading outbreak of the highly infectious Delta coronavirus variant in Australia’s largest city, the state leader said. More than a million people in downtown Sydney and the city’s eastern suburbs were already under lockdown due to the outbreak, but health …

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Aussie Cops Use Road Spikes To Stop Covidiot [VIDEO]

Australia’s ABC News reports: A South Australian woman who was arrested for allegedly failing to stop at a COVID-19 border crossing, after posting an anti-mask video live on social media, has been refused bail. Celeste Lockwood, 37, from Renmark, appeared at the Berri Magistrates Court on Thursday charged with aggravated driving dangerously to escape a police pursuit, driving disqualified and …

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Qantas Airways Offers “Mega Prizes” In Vaccine Push

Australia’s Today Show reports: Qantas CEO Alan Joyce [photo] is calling for more Australian companies to come forward with perks and incentives encouraging the public to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The airline’s vaccine incentive program, which launches in July, will offer several deals including unlimited travel for a year for 10 lucky families. “We are looking at giving 1000 points …

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New Zealand And Australia Establish “Travel Bubble”

The New York Times reports: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern of New Zealand announced on Tuesday that her nation would establish a travel bubble with Australia, allowing travelers to move between the countries without needing to quarantine for the first time since the pandemic began. The bubble, which will open just before midnight on April 19, is expected to deliver a …

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“Jerk-Off Club” Scandal Roils Australian Parliament

The Daily Beast reports: The Australian parliament was rocked by yet more sex abuse allegations Monday when footage of a senior government staff member masturbating onto the desk of a female lawmaker was leaked by a whistleblower. The disgusting video—obtained by The Australian newspaper and Channel Ten—led to the immediate firing of the unnamed aide, but it came alongside other …

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Facebook Unfriends Australia In War With Lawmakers

CBS News reports: Facebook announced Thursday it has blocked Australians from viewing and sharing news on the platform because of proposed laws in the country to make digital giants pay for journalism. Australian publishers can continue to publish news content on Facebook, but links and posts can’t be viewed or shared by Australian audiences, the U.S.-based company said in a …

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Australian Open Bans Fans After Outbreak At Hotel

The Associated Press reports: The Australian Open will be allowed to continue but without crowds after the Victoria state government imposed a snap, five-day lockdown starting Saturday in response to a COVID-19 outbreak at a quarantine hotel. Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews on Friday announced a state-wide lockdown starting a minute before midnight local time, imposing restrictions that prevent residents from …

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Sydney Rings Out 2020 With Traditional Fireworks

The Victor Harbor Times reports: Sydney has largely banned crowds for its world-renowned pyrotechnic display, while Melbourne’s fireworks are cancelled. NSW restrictions were tightened further on Wednesday as the state battles to control its growing outbreak. Residents in Greater Sydney, including Wollongong, Central Coast and Blue Mountains, will be restricted to hosting five visitors in their homes, including children. And …

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Climate Change News: “Seaweed Feed” Wins $1M Prize

Australia’s ABC News outlet reports: A company commercialising seaweed feed product, which slashes the amount of greenhouse gases cattle burp and fart into the atmosphere, has won a $1 million international prize for its work reshaping the food system. According to the science agency, methane emissions from livestock make up around 15 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Future Feed …

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