Covid live news update: Victoria premier to announce lockdown end date; NSW students prepare for school

Federal Nationals MPs will meet on Sunday to discuss a possible climate deal that Scott Morrison could take to Glasgow for the Cop26 climate talks.

Peter Dutton, a cabinet minister and one-time leadership rival to Morrison, on Friday joined those saying he supported a net zero target, but argued it needed to include “certainty” for mining communities in Gladstone and the Hunter Valley.

“That’s what the Nats are fighting for, and that’s what the Coalition has always fought for and it’s why we won those seats at the last election,” he told Channel Nine.

“We’ll get the balance right. I think we can arrive at an agreement and this will happen over the next few days, but I think it’s incredibly important that the Nats are allowed to have their party room to discuss it.”

The NSW government will provide $86 million in funding to individuals and businesses in the arts industry as the state reopens.

Treasurer Matt Kean said “this funding commitment will allow the arts and cultural sector to relaunch with certainty and confidence to deliver works that audiences have missed over the past year.”

The funding will be delivered by Create NSW through the following programs:

• $50m for the Performing Arts Relaunch package – giving arts companies confidence to reopen as audiences return to theatres and other performance venues
• $25m for the Festival Relaunch package – to support commercial and not-for-profit festivals
• $5m Theatre and Film Strategy – to develop film studio and theatre infrastructure and help secure international productions
• $5m for Culture Up Late – to extend evening programs across Sydney, and more opportunities for people to experience museums and galleries at night.
• $1m for Film Festivals – to support international film festivals across Sydney, Western Sydney and South Western Sydney for independent, commercial and outdoor cinemas

The state government has also set up an Event Saver Fund to provide support in case major festivals and events are impacted by Covid-19 cancellations or postponements in 2022.

The latest $86 million funding for the arts and cultural sector comes in addition to the $75 million funding for the performing arts and live music announced earlier this
year, and the $50 million Rescue and Restart funding package announced in 2020.

Good Morning! It’s Justine Landis-Hanley here to bring you the news today, Sunday 17 October.

Let’s dive straight in.

Victoria is set to reopen earlier than planned, with the state on track to hit its 70% double-dose vaccination target this week.

Restrictions were set to ease for Melbourne on 26 October. But the Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, is expected to confirm a new reopening date at this morning’s press conference.

Under the roadmap, once the state hits the 70% fully-vaccinated mark, the curfew and restrictions on leaving your home will end. Up to 10 people will be allowed to gather outsides. Pubs, clubs and entertainment venues will be allowed to open to 50 fully vaccinated people outdoors. And all students will be allowed to go back to school onsite, at least part-time.

Meanwhile, in NSW restrictions are set to ease again from Monday, after the premier, Dominic Perrottet, announced that 80% of its eligible residents were now fully vaccinated.

From tomorrow, fully vaccinated people will be allowed to have 20 people over to their house, and gatherings of 50 vaccinated people will be allowed outside. The cap on patrons will be removed at hospitality venues, hairdressers and beauticians, and nightclubs will reopen for the first time since the outbreak began. There will also no longer be a limit on the number of guests at weddings and funerals.

Schools are also set to start back in NSW tomorrow.