Coronavirus Australia live updates: Victoria records 11 new cases and two deaths as NSW authorities chase taxi contacts

Gladys Berejiklian will hold her press conference at 11am.

Queensland’s deputy premier, Steven Miles, will hold a press conference at 9am.

The last couple of days of low case numbers have also brought down the rolling average

For the last 14 days (7 Sep – 20 Sep 2020):

Metropolitan Melbourne

Total cases: 482

Average per day: 34.4

Regional Victoria

Total cases: 23

Average per day: 1.6

Overseas, interstate or no fixed address

Total cases: 2

Average per day: 0.1

Total cases overall: 507

Average per day: 36.2

These are coming out much earlier at the moment – as there is not as much data to collect.

The two deaths are undeniably tragic. The second day of low case numbers however, will give some people hope that this second wave is close to being under control.

AAP has the latest on the Newspoll (usual poll caveats apply):

The federal Coalition has taken a two-party-preferred lead of 51:49 over Labor in the latest Newspoll.

The poll published in the Australian newspaper on Monday shows a two-point rise for the Liberal-Nationals’ primary vote, to 43%, compared with Labor’s 34%.

It separates the parties from their deadlocked 50:50 two-party-preferred standings at the end of August.

Major issues impacting voter sentiment over the past month have included Australia’s border closures and economic pressures linked to Covid-19 and, most recently, the government’s gas-led energy policy.

Prime minister Scott Morrison maintains a clear margin as “better PM” – 57% – and in the “leaders’ satisfaction” stakes.

The survey of 2000 people taken from Wednesday to Saturday found 65% were satisfied with Morrison’s performance, up one point since August. Dissatisfaction with the prime minister fell by a point to 31%.

More people were dissatisfied than satisfied with opposition leader Anthony Albanese, who recorded 40% and 39% respectively, with both levels moving in the wrong direction for Labor.

The poll shows Labor losing votes to both the Coalition and the Greens.

The minor party saw a one-point uptick to 12% since August.

The Coalition posted its greatest Newspoll lead over Labor in mid-July at 53:47.

Josh Frydenberg is putting the final touches on the budget – which you will be hearing a lot about in the next couple of weeks.

Among the expected announcements is the plan to bring forward at least part of the already legislated tax package.

The Australia Institute has launched a campaign against the move, which it says will not benefit the economy.

NSW Nationals leader John Barilaro has taken a month off. But NSW Nationals MP Leslie Williams, who was not on board the “let’s blow up the Coalition” movement, is out of the Nats – the NSW Liberals have accepted her application to cross the joint party room.

While Victorian authorities are allowing a little cautious optimism into their updates, after recording the lowest number of daily Covid cases since mid-June yesterday, New South Wales authorities are racing to track down people a taxi driver came into contact with earlier this week.

The driver, who travelled in the Sydney suburbs of Moorebank, Bankstown, Chipping Norton, Liverpool, Lidcombe, Warwick Farm and Milperra may have been infectious when he worked across nine shifts on September 7 to 10, and 14 to 18.

NSW Health authorities issued an alert last night – the man also visited Mama Wok’s Yum Cha in Macarthur Square at Campbelltown and Campbelltown Golf Club on 16 September.

He also went to the Milton Ulladulla Ex-Servicemen’s Club and Carlo’s Italian Restaurant on the NSW south coast on 12 September. There was also a trip to Bannister’s Rooftop Bar and Grill at Mollymook on 13 September.

We’ll be learning more about that today, when Gladys Berejiklian holds her press conference.

In political news, it is all about gas, and how it “chose itself”, as the prime minister continues pushing his new energy plan.

We’ll cover all the day’s events as they happen – you have Amy Remeikis with you.

Ready?