Victoria and New South Wales both opted to scrap close contact isolation this week, prompting calls from industry groups in South Australia for the State Government to follow suit.
“Given the dynamic nature of a global pandemic, I’ve advised the Premier that whilst a regularly scheduled meeting is an appropriate way to go, we need to have the ability to call a meeting at short notice if there are matters that need to be addressed,” Stevens told reporters on Thursday.
“I’m pretty certain there’ll be some announcement on the South Australian position in the coming days.”
A State Government spokesperson confirmed an EMC meeting will be held at 4pm today.
“The Premier has called an Emergency Management Council meeting for [Friday] afternoon to discuss changes to close contact rules in New South Wales and Victoria,” the spokesperson said last night.
“The meeting will also receive an update on the COVID situation in South Australia.
“An objective of the State Government is to bring in national consistency for COVID restrictions when it is safe to do so.”
Malinauskas flagged earlier on Thursday that any move to scrap isolation for close contacts would be accompanied with other “risk mitigation” measures such as regular rapid testing, mask-wearing and bans from attending high-risk settings.
Victoria and New South Wales are requiring close contacts to return five negative rapid tests over seven days. The testing kits are supplied by the government.
“I don’t anticipate we’ll be completely removing close contact requirements without some risk mitigation measures in place,” Malianuskas told reporters on Thursday.
The Premier also said the current close contact rules were “having a massive impact on families, businesses and our economy generally” and reiterated his “very strong appetite and aspiration to achieve national consistency”.
South Australia recorded three COVID-19 deaths and 4079 new cases on Thursday, down from 4256 cases recorded the day before.
The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 also dropped yesterday from 252 to 241, with 11 people in intensive care and three on a ventilator.
“We are looking at what is happening with the trend, and what we … have been hoping to see is what was forecast and that is that case numbers would gradually come down during the course of this wave,” Malinauskas said.
“I stress … we do anticipate there will be future waves at some point into the future, but at the moment we appear to be on a downward schedule.”
-Thomas Kelsall
Albanese in isolation during election campaign after testing positive
Opposition leader Anthony Albanese will be forced to campaign from home after testing positive to COVID-19.
The Labor leader returned a positive result following a routine PCR test on Thursday afternoon, but is not showing symptoms.
Albanese was due to fly out on Friday from Sydney to campaign in Western Australia but will instead isolate at his home in Sydney for seven days.
“While at home I will continue my responsibilities as alternative prime minister and will be fighting for a better future for all Australians,” he said.
“I am grateful to know that I will have access to the world’s best health care if I need it, because of Medicare.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison sent best wishes to his election rival.
“Everyone’s experience with COVID is different and as Labor’s campaign continues, I hope he does not experience any serious symptoms,” Morrison said on Twitter.
Lxjmtzywabor campaign heads had prepared for the possibility Albanese might test positive, with opposition frontbenchers set to play an expanded role over the coming days.
Albanese is likely to still conduct press conferences virtually, should he not be experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
ALP national president Wayne Swan said Labor had “war-gamed for this”.
“We’ve got a really talented frontbench team that can be on the job and out in the public,” he said.
“There’s an enormous amount that Albo can do from isolation. So I don’t think it’s surprising. We will continue to hold the government to account on its negligence, particularly in terms of foreign policy and defence, but we’ll also continue to outline our policies for the future.”
Labor’s campaign launch, set down for May 1 in Perth, is expected to go ahead as planned.
| VIDEO: Albanese tests positive to COVID-19 10 News First Adelaide – Disclaimer |  |
Tractor driver arrested over fatal KI crash
A 49-year-old tractor driver has been arrested following a fatal crash on Kangaroo Island.
The crash claimed the life of a 79-year-old Parndana man who rolled his Mitsubishi van on Wednesday night. Police said he had swerved to avoid a tractor being driven along Bark Hut Road at Penneshaw with its lights off.
Major Crash officers arrested the Kangaroo Island man yesterday following a statewide appeal for information.
The man has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving and aggravated driving without due care.
He is bailed to appear in the Kingscote Magistrates Court on May 16.
State Government reviewing community centre funding
The State Government is reviewing funding for community centres to improve service delivery and social isolation.
Minister for Human Services Nat Cook says the government won’t recommission the Community and Neighbourhood Program (CND) until a better funding model is developed.
For the past nine years, the Department of Human Services has provided $3.4 million annually for the CND program. This has provided funding for more than 4000 programs used by about 455,000 people.
Cook said the reforms came off the back of concerns from the sector about the CND funding model.
“Community Centres are the beating heart of communities and the services provided are significant in terms of the needs of many community members with complexities and challenges in their lives,” she said.
“If COVID has taught us anything it’s that many people in our community are one step away from crushing loneliness. Community Centres are vital as we navigate our way out of the pandemic.
“Reform to the CND program’s funding model needs careful and deliberate consideration. We need a more equitable and purposeful model that distributes funds across all regions.”
While the review is underway, Cook said all current service agreements with the CND partners will be extended from October 30 this year to June 2023.
Expert help at hand for SA defence force families
The state’s Legal Services Commission has urged the families and supporters of veterans to seek its help in preparing submissions to Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicides.
With its reporting deadline recently extended by the federal government, the Legal Services Commission has launched a new service to help veterans and their families take part in the inquiry.
“When veterans and defence members experience challenges arising from their military service, they will often turn to their families and trusted supporters,” chief executive Gabrielle Canny said.
“Those families and supporters are therefore uniquely placed to seek advice and find out about the legal options that are available to their family members who served in the military.
“The family members and supporters of veterans can also engage with the royal commission to share their stories of supporting their loved ones.”
Canny said her organisation often found that veterans or their family members were dealing with a cluster of legal problems.
“They might initially need help with their submission to the royal commission but, at the same time, they can also be grappling with legal problems regarding military compensation, family law matters or veterans’ entitlements,” she said.
“The legal assistance we provide recognises the enormous sacrifices that military personnel make in the service of their country.”
The need for expert assistance was highlighted in recent evidence before the royal commission which was told the Department of Veterans’ Affairs was not fit to meet the needs of past and present defence members.
The agency’s boss Elizabeth Cosson said problems included a backlog of more than 60,000 claims by veterans and serving defence members.
In a written statement, Cosson – whose army service spanned more than three decades – said the DVA was not delivering what former and serving defence members needed.
Lifeline 13 11 14 – Open Arms 1800 011 046
Russia claims Mariupol as US sends more weapons
Internally displaced people from Mariupol and nearby towns arrive at a refugee centre after fleeing Russian attacks. Photo: Leo Correa/AP
Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed victory in the biggest battle of the war in Ukraine, declaring the port city of Mariupol “liberated” after nearly two months of siege.
However, hundreds of fighters and civilians in dozens of bunkers were still holed up inside a huge steelworks yesterday.
Putin ordered his troops to blockade the complex “so that not even a fly” could escape.
Ukraine said Putin wanted to avoid a final clash with its forces in the city as he lacked the troops to defeat them.
In Washington DC, US President Joe Biden authorised a further $US800 million ($A1.1 billion) in military aid for Ukraine, including heavy artillery, as it faces a new Russian offensive in the east.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in a video address to the Portuguese parliament, begged other countries to send more weapons and to impose more economic sanctions on Russia.
“This is just the first step (for Russia) to gain control of eastern Europe, to destroy democracy in Ukraine,” he said.
“Your people, who in a few days will be celebrating the anniversary of the Carnation Revolution that liberated you from dictatorship, know perfectly well what we are feeling.
“We are fighting not only for our independence but for our survival, for our people so that they do not get killed, tortured and raped.”
UK PM to face probe over parties
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has suffered a blow to his authority as MPs triggered an investigation into whether he had misled parliament and an influential former ally called on him to quit.
Johnson has been fighting for his political survival for months after he told parliament that his Downing Street office had followed all lockdown rules during the COVID-19 pandemic, only for an internal report to conclude it had held alcohol-fuelled parties at that time. Police have since fined Johnson.
