Victoria has reported 120 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases as the state awaits details on how it will exit lockdown.
It is the state's highest daily increase in cases this year.
Of the new infections detected to midnight on Tuesday, 64 were linked to previously announced cases, while the 56 others remain under investigation.
State-run vaccine hubs administered 33,455 doses in the same reporting period.
There are now 900 active cases of coronavirus in Victoria.
The health department announced late on Tuesday it had been notified of the deaths of a woman in her 40s from the Darebin local government area and another woman in her 60s from the Hume LGA who both had COVID-19.
They passed away at home and are believed to be the first coronavirus-related deaths recorded in Victoria this year.
The fatalities were included in Wednesday's figures, and take the state's overall death toll since the beginning of the pandemic to 822.
Premier Daniel Andrews is set to reveal on Wednesday the thresholds the state needed to meet to ease lockdown restrictions.
Once Victoria reaches the 80 per cent vaccine target set by national cabinet, Mr Andrews said the new roadmap would be replaced by the national plan.
On Tuesday it was also confirmed the AFL grand final had been relocated from Melbourne to Perth, where it will be played on 25 September.
SBS is providing live translations of daily New South Wales and Victoria COVID-19 press conferences in various languages. Click here for more information.
NSW has recorded 1,116 new local COVID-19 cases and the deaths of four unvaccinated women.
The deaths, recorded in the reporting period of the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday, take the total number of fatalities in NSW since the start of the current outbreak on 16 June to 100.
One woman was from southwestern Sydney and in her 50s, one was from western Sydney and in her 60s, one was in her 70s and from southwestern Sydney, and another was in her 80s and from southwestern Sydney.
Of the new cases, 408 were from the Western Sydney Local Health District and 372 were detected in the South Western Sydney LHD.
NSW Health says it administered 47,704 COVID-19 vaccines in the 24 hours to 8pm on Tuesday.
"September is the month when we're asking everybody to get ready," Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Wednesday.
"Get vaccinated if you're an individual. If you're a business, start dusting off your COVID-safety plan. Make sure your employees are vaccinated so we can get back to life at 70 per cent double-dose vaccination."
Ms Berejiklian said NSW residents could enjoy international travel from 80 per cent double-dose vaccination, predicted for November.
The Far West LHD reported three new cases, all of which were in Wilcannia, with another 29 in the Western NSW LHD.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro has urged people in regional NSW to get tested and vaccinated against the virus.
He said there were initial concerns about how to accommodate and isolate infected individuals in Wilcannia amid concerns about overcrowding in homes but NSW Health was now setting up 30 motorhomes at the local campervan site with access to power, water and waste disposal.
Elsewhere, Local Government NSW President Linda Scott and Canterbury Bankstown Mayor Khal Asfour say Ms Berejiklian rejected a request on behalf of mayors in the 12 local government areas of concern in hard lockdown to meet and discuss the impacts.
Mr Asfour said it was a "royal snub" to the more than two million people the mayors represented.
"[The premier] might not want to hear the concerns we are hearing every day," Mr Asfour told reporters on Wednesday.
Western Sydney doctor pleads with community to avoid vaccine misinformation
"Phone calls and emails, people crying on the phone, not knowing what they are going to be doing next with their businesses crumbling, with people out of work, with people in lockdown, mental health issues, with people not having any social connectivity to their family and loved ones."
The number of returning Australians allowed to fly into Sydney each week is set to be halved to 750 to allow health staff to be diverted back to the state's hospital system.
Once NSW reaches 70 per cent double-dose vaccination - expected around mid-October - the premier hopes to rapidly scale up international arrivals and consider home quarantine options.
With AAP.
SBS is providing live translations of daily New South Wales and Victoria COVID-19 press conferences in various languages. Click here for more information.
Victorian playgrounds will reopen and the five-kilometre travel limit extended as the Victorian government prepares to announce a road map out of the state’s sixth lockdown on Wednesday afternoon.
However, senior government sources have confirmed the 9pm to 5am curfew will remain in place.
Victorian playgrounds are set to be reopened - again.Credit:
The modest easing of restrictions will be announced the same day that Victoria recorded 120 new local cases of coronavirus.
It is the highest number of new cases recorded across the state in more than a year – there were 149 new cases recorded on August 26 during the state’s deadly second wave – and comes a day after Victoria recorded two COVID-19 deaths, the first in the state this year.
But Premier Daniel Andrews conceded on Tuesday that the mental health effects of the latest lockdown had been “bloody tough”.
Mr Andrews spent Tuesday evening thrashing out a plan with senior ministers and Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton as to which restrictions should ease later this week.
The government will also unveil its road map of restrictions until it reaches the vaccination targets of 70 and 80 per cent.
Schools will not be allowed to reopen under the new measures, but Mr Andrews said he would outline a plan for senior students to return to the classroom.
“Is there a sweet spot; is there that case number that is not zero, but it’s not so high that it inevitably becomes 500, 1000, 1500, 5000?” Mr Andrews said on Tuesday.
Of Wednesday’s new cases, 64 were linked to known cases and outbreaks, which means the source of 56 cases remains a mystery.
There were 56,501 COVID-19 tests processed and 33,455 COVID-19 vaccines administered.
Mr Andrews said that while case numbers would not matter as much when 80 per cent of the population was vaccinated, they mattered a lot right now.
He indicated the case number thresholds would take into account the “narrative” behind cases, including whether they were active while infectious in the community.
Senior government sources previously toldThe Age ministers should consider reopening playgrounds and allowing year 12 students back into the classroom, as extinguishing the current Delta outbreak was looking highly unlikely.
There are now 900 active coronavirus cases across Victoria.
Victoria records two COVID-19 deaths
Two COVID-19 deaths were reported in Victoria on Tuesday - the first since November 30.
Two women, one aged 49 from Northcote and the other aged in her 60s from Hume, died in their homes.
An Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman confirmed paramedics were called to a home in Northcote about 1.30am on Tuesday. Paramedics returned about 7am for another patient, who was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a stable condition.
“We send our deepest condolences to the families and communities involved – and we will be working with them to give them the support and guidance they need over the coming days,” Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said in his daily update late on Tuesday afternoon.
The deaths were recorded in Wednesday’s official numbers.
NSW recorded 1,116 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to 8:00pm yesterday.
Four people died of COVID-19 in the reporting period.
It means there have been 100 COVID-19 deaths since NSW’s Delta outbreak began in June.
The four patients who died were women in their 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.
All had underlying health conditions and none were vaccinated.
There are now 917 COVID cases being cared for in NSW hospitals with 150 people in intensive care, 66 of whom require ventilation.
Of the 150 in ICU, 127 patients are not vaccinated.
In western NSW, there were 29 new COVID-19 cases, predominately in Dubbo.
The small town of Wilcannia, in the state's far west, reported three new COVID-19 cases.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said vaccine uptake had been ramping up in many regional areas with 67 per cent of people in Wilcannia having had one jab.
He’s our protector, friend and walking pun generator and while we can’t take dad out to treat him this Father’s Day, we can still spoil him from the comfort of home.
From endless food options to local gin and beers and books, there’s sure to be something out there to make every dad smile.
FOOD
Mr Papa
Order a Papa Pack from Mr Papa and treat Dad to some delicious Peruvian street food, from empanadas toDiablo wings. They are also releasing a new heat at home pack just for Father’s Day! Pre-order before midnight Friday 3 September for delivery on Saturday 4 September.
Dad can enjoy a gift straight from the Poachers Farm shop! Order him a hamper so he can enjoy Poachers Tempranillo, Smoked Chicken Thigh, Relish, Poachers Bacon, BBQ Rub and more. Orders must be placed by Wednesday 1 September for delivery in Canberra.
Offering contactless pickup, these dine-at-home menus are designed to bring their love of food and produce into the home with modern takes on old classics.Each menu comes nearly fully prepared, with minor heating and assembly required to create a feast in the comfort of your own abode.Outside of requesting gluten-free bread, no modifications to the menu can be made.
Spoil Dad this Father’s Day with a bundle that will last you a whole day of good food. Collaborating with Capital Brewing, they’ve created a limited edition spelt grain loaf using their signature pale ale and malted grains retrieved from the brewing process. Included in the limited edition pack is a Bake At Home Family Pie, Croissant, Sweet Tarts and Smokey Chipotle & Bourbon Relish.
Eat and Treat like an Italian this Father’s Day. Select from one of the Father’s Day Packs that are ready for you to heat, plate and serve at home. Designed for a minimum of two people, add on wines and extra dishes to personalise the experience. Pick-up and deliveries will only be available on Saturday 4 September between 12pm and 4om.Pre-order now until sold before 4pm Wednesday 1 September.
Specially designed to deliver a home dining experience to remember, these packs are priced at $50 per person and scalable for different sized households. Packed full of classics and some special surprises, pre-orders are now for pick-up on Sunday 5 September from 5pm until 9pm. Cut-off for orders is 2pm on the day of pick up. Southside dads should head to the XO website to place their order, while those on the northside canplace theirs through the ILYwebsitefor pickup in New Acton.
Have a Father’s Day Mixed Grill Lunch at home thanks to OTIS Dining Hall. Perfect for two, the cook at home package includes duck sausage, garlic lemon butter scallops, lamb cutlets, celeriac slaw, mac and three-cheese ready to bake, and a range of condiments to complete the meal. Order online, and pick up between 10am-2pm on Sunday.
Surprise dad for Father’s Day and treat him to an at-home BBQ feast delivered to his door. Complete with sides to share, desserts, a 50ml bottle of Starward Two Fold whiskey and a bottle of wine for the household and your choice of extras to really show dad you care. Everything is provided with contactless delivery to your dads’ door.
Only available on Sundays and Mondays, Assembly has the perfect answer if you want to cook a delicious and easy dinner for dad. Choose from aclassic beef lasagne and a vegetable lasagne available for order. Just chuck in the oven for 15 minutes and dinner is done! Limited serves available so get in quick.
As Trecento says,if his plate is full, he is happy! Send Papa some lockdown love with their $140 delicious four-course menu for two! Enjoy strozzapreti pasta with lobster, gin, mint and cherry tomatoes or 10hr braised lamb shoulder + red wine jus, served with paris mash and green beans for main, and baked ricotta cheesecake for dessert. Limited orders are available so place your order by Thursday, 2 September.
Starting from $70 per person, treat dad to a dinner prepared by Temporada this Father’s Day. They’ve also put together a special Father’s Day Craft Beer Pack so dad can try a selection of the best beers from the restaurant from the comfort of his own home.
If you are looking for a special something sweet for celebrating Father’s Day, a $85 Le Bon Melange tower is just the ticket. Text 0423748063 to order for Sunday September 5.
Get dad pumped with BentSpoke Locked In, a unique beer and food offering that brings a great beer experience to your dining room while locked in! Choose from the BEERDEGA 1 or BEERDEGA 2 to enjoy cold beer with delicious food (with some assembly required). Contactlovebeer@bentspokebrewing.com.auor call 6257 5220 to find out more.
If your dad likes gin, order him a Gin Cube from The Canberra Distillery. He’ll get 4 x 200ml bottles of their best sellers: French Earl Grey (AKA the gin designed by HerCanberra), Blood Orange, Sloe and our Dry Gin. It’s his Friday night drinks in one box.
Shower your dear old Dad in beer this Father’s Day with a mixed Capital Beer pack! It contains 20 of the finest froths and their world famous red hat. He’ll be drinking good and looking even better in no time.
No more socks and jocks for Father’s Day! While dad might not be able to pop into Molly or Amici Bar this year, you can spoil him this Father’s Day with amazing curated gift packs. Choose from a Beer Lovers pack, Wine Lovers pack, Whisky Lovers pack or a Father’s Day Picnic pack. Head on over to the Amici website to see exactly what each gift pack contains, and secure the ultimate Father’s Day gift for your dad.
From leather key organisers to cookbooks and puzzles, Meet Gather Collect has something for every dad. Offering delivery and local pick up for Canberra, hop online and find him a gift (or two) he’s guaranteed to love.
Orders can be delivered for a flat rate of $8 for orders under $75.00, and free for orders over $75.00, or you can opt to contactlessly ‘click & collect’ to pick orders up from outside the store in Manuka. Ring 6295 6723 or emailbooks@paperchainbookstore.com.auto order.
Alice Sutton from EDITION has beenmaking face masks that are the perfect Father’s Day gift. Handmade in Canberra with three layers of fabric and recycled fabric string for just $35, the masks work especially well for beards. Available in grey linen, black cotton and denim spots, pick up in Weston Creek or have it delivered straight to dad for $5.
Buy dad a delicious gift hamper from Jono’s Jerky! It includes six bags of their award winning beef jerky, one wall mounted bottle opener, a Cattle Tag keyring, a stubbie holder, and a Jono’s Jerky 15% discount voucher which can be used for any future order.
Ovolo has joined forces withMISTRto make this Father’s Day a little more wonderful with two gifts in one! The first 100 people to purchase a Wonder.Full. gift card valued at $300 or more will receive a MISTR luxury gift pack valued over $150 delivered directly to dad’s door.
Give dad a Brew and Sons gift box that has his favourite treats to show him how much you love him. The Daddy hasbeers, coffee, house made caramel slice and brownie, local jerky, handmade chocolates while the Big Daddyincludesbeers, coffee, handmade chocolates, house made caramel slice and chocolate brownie, local jerky and their house made smoked pulled pork rolls with slaw! Order by COB Thursday 2 September for delivery on Saturday 4 September.
Victoria has recorded 76 new local COVID-19 cases and the deaths of two women as authorities prepare to outline a plan on how the state will exit lockdown.
The health department on Tuesday afternoon announced it had been notified of the deaths of a woman in her 40s from the Darebin local government area and another woman in her 60s from the Hume local government area.
They died at home and are believed to be the first COVID-related deaths recorded in Victoria this year, taking the state's overall tally across the pandemic to 822.
The deaths will be included in Wednesday's figures.
Of the new cases found in the 24 hours to midnight on Monday, 45 infections were linked to previously announced cases. Only 36 were in isolation for their full infectious period.
Some 32,162 vaccine doses were administered at state-run hubs in the same reporting period.
Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed on Tuesday morning he would reveal on Wednesday the thresholds the state needed to meet to ease lockdown restrictions.
"We have to aim to keep these numbers incredibly low," he told reporters in Melbourne on Tuesday.
"If we can get to zero, that is a terrific outcome. If we can't, then we are all the better having tried to drive these numbers down as low as possible."
He said Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton and the state government would work throughout the day to finalise the plan to give Victorians clarity on how the coming weeks could look.
But Mr Andrews warned Wednesday "will not be freedom day" and any easing of restrictions would be gradual.
"The choice is not between being open and being closed," he said.
"The choice is between low numbers while we race to vaccinate, or incredibly high numbers because we have not vaccinated enough people yet."
"None of us should kid ourselves, pretending that we can live with COVID when we have only got 35 per cent of people vaccinated."
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews addresses the media during a press conference in Melbourne, Tuesday, August 31, 2021.
Fifty-two Victorians were in hospital as of Tuesday, with 16 in intensive care, 15 of whom are on ventilators.
The median age of COVID-19 patients in Victoria's hospitals is 49 years, while the median age of those in intensive care is 48.
More than half of COVID-19 patients in the state's hospital are under 50.
"This is an outbreak and is moving to become a pandemic of the unvaccinated," Mr Andrews said.
"There are very few people in hospital that have been first dosed or fully vaccinated".
With AAP.
SBS is providing live translations of daily New South Wales and Victoria COVID-19 press conferences in various languages. Click here for more information.
Six local firms have secured a combined $1.2 million in grants to fund the expansion of their global footprint.
The Commonwealth government has awarded $1.2 million in funding to local SMEs across five states via the Defence Global Competitiveness grants program.
South Australia-based Electro Cad Australia and NSW-based Repetition Engineering secured the largest grants, each receiving $240,000.
Electro Cad Australia is expected to leverage the funding to install a clean room, and purchase equipment to manufacture complex defence components in a bid to bolster export orders with international Defence companies.
Repetition Engineering, which trades as Challenge Engineering, has committed to using the funds to purchase specialist machinery and manufacture new machined components for export.
Other recipients include:
South Australia-based JTM Gaskets — secured $211,260 to buy new equipment, enabling it to produce a higher volume of products;
Western Australia-based Orbital Corporation — secured $195,624 to fund the expansion of its production capability for propulsion systems and flight componentry used to develop tactical unmanned aerial vehicles;
Victoria-based Trakka Corp — secured $193,192 to acquire equipment to perform in-house environmental stress screening for components they produce in a bid to enhance Trakka’s quality assurance process; and
Queensland-based Gaardtech — secured $166,000 to buy new equipment and increase its dedicated fabrication capabilities.
“Small businesses that develop some of the most innovative and world-leading defence capabilities are the backbone of Australia’s industrial base,” Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price.
“From acquiring new specialist components, to manufacturing engines for unmanned aerial vehicles, or making new static targets for international customers, these six small businesses are expanding into global markets, generating local jobs and strengthening the sovereign industrial base on which Defence relies.”
Minister Price noted a spike in global demand for Australian products and services.
“By supporting these companies to invest in new equipment or to increase their manufacturing capabilities, it is enabling them to increase their production capabilities and offer more competitive-priced equipment internationally,” she said.
News Editor – Defence and Security, Momentum Media
Prior to joining the defence and aerospace team in 2020, Charbel was news editor of The Adviser and Mortgage Business, where he covered developments in the banking and financial services sector for three years. Charbel has a keen interest in geopolitics and international relations, graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a double major in politics and journalism. Charbel has also completed internships with The Australian Department of Communications and the Arts and public relations agency Fifty Acres.
New South Wales has reported 1,164 new local COVID-19 cases and three further deaths as it is revealed two-thirds of the state’s eligible population has now received at least one vaccine shot.
The caseload in the 24 hours to 8pm Monday represents the fourth in a row where case numbers have been above 1,000.
The new deaths include a woman in her 50s from southwest Sydney, a man in his 80s from the city of Sydney, and a man in his 90s from southwest Sydney.
The COVID-19 death toll in NSW since the start of the latest outbreak is now 96.
NSW Health said it administered 47,429 COVID-19 vaccines in the 24 hours to 8pm Monday.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Tuesday that 67 per cent of NSW residents have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
"We want to get to the magic 70 per cent and 80 per cent as quickly as possible," she told reporters in Sydney, referencing the threshold at which restrictions will be eased.
She said if the numbers continued at their current rate, 70 per cent of eligible people in NSW could be fully vaccinated by mid-October.
"If you are a business, make sure your employees are vaccinated. If you are a citizen make sure yourself, your families, loved ones and friends are vaccinated," she said.
"That's our ticket to freedom."
Of the new cases, 417 were detected in the Western Sydney Local Health District and 379 were from the South Western Sydney LHD.
The Far West LHD reported four new infections, all of which are in Wilcannia, with another 54 in the Western NSW LHD.
'Certain responsibilities'
An Aboriginal man in Dubbo was announced on Monday as the first person to die from COVID-19 in the current outbreak in western New South Wales.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said on Tuesday it would have been "preferable" if Aboriginal communities across NSW had been vaccinated earlier.
"The issue across all of the Aboriginal community is that the federal government had certain responsibilities at the outset," he told reporters.
"The fact that [a higher vaccination rate] has not been achieved is obviously disappointing, but NSW Health, as have each of the other states and territory public health units, have stepped up to try and assist them."
"We'll continue to do that."
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard addresses media during a press conference in Sydney, Tuesday, August 31, 2021.
AAP
Mr Hazzard said he had been trying to get approvals to have additional accommodation be made available in Wilcannia to allow the separation of people who have COVID-19 from those who do not.
"We can either look back and say what we should have done, and we can spend our energy on that, or we can spend their energy on trying to make sure that it gets fixed as best as possible for the Indigenous community, particularly in northwestern New South Wales," he said.
While there has been a jump in the number of vaccines administered to the region's Indigenous residents - it has almost doubled in the past three weeks - the rate still lags behind the region's broader population.
Just 6.3 per cent of Indigenous people western NSW are fully vaccinated, compared with 26 per cent of the general population.
The majority of cases - 65 per cent - have been diagnosed among people of Aboriginal descent.
Forty-three new new cases of COVID-19 were also reported at Parklea Correctional Centre, bringing the total number of cases since 18 August to 75, including one healthcare worker.
"The prison is in lockdown and appropriate public health action is occurring," Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant told reporters.
"There is vaccination going into the prison, there is infection control practitioners on-site, clinical care from a virtual model supported by St Vincent's Health."
There are currently 871 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 143 people in intensive care and 58 of whom require ventilation.
SBS is providing live translations of daily New South Wales and Victoria COVID-19 press conferences in various languages. Click here for more information.
As part of the government's reporting on how the vaccine rollout is going around the country, it's now releasing more detailed information about vaccination rates by Local Government Area (LGA).
Previously, it was broken down by geographic areas and was a little broader than the information we have now.
The data means we have a somewhat clearer picture of how the vaccine rollout is progressing.
But unlike before, where remote areas in each jurisdiction were roughly grouped together, this time there is a large swathe of LGAs considered remote or very remote that the department isn't providing vaccine rates for.
Again, this data doesn't provide details on the average age of each area (which impacts the number of people who are eligible) or the supply rates of the vaccines.
Two of the Victorian Amateur Football Association’s most decorated umpires say the Toby Greene case has reinforced the message that umpire respect is paramount.
Greene was given a three-match ban by the AFL tribunal on Tuesday, for intentionally making contact with umpire Matt Stevic.
Russell Davidson said the tribunal verdict helped protect the integrity of the game.Credit:Getty Images
Russell Davidson, who umpired 220 VAFA senior games and a record seven A-grade grand finals, is the VAFA’s field umpire senior squad coach. He said the commentary this week had reinforced the game’s “no touching umpires” policy.
“I’m pleased there was a guilty verdict and there have been some measures taken to protect this from happening in future instances,” said Davidson, who also umpired 106 VFL matches.
“The tribunal had a job to do to protect the integrity of the game and ensure the umpires are sacrosanct, and I think in some small way they’ve done that.”
While Davidson didn’t want to be drawn into discussing Greene’s penalty, he said the media coverage of the incident had supported the argument that umpires in all grades should be protected and feel safe on the field.
“What footy has done in recent years around umpire protection, awareness of the umpire and their role in the game, has been pretty good,” he said.
“What has been comforting for umpiring in general during this case is the amount of commentary around what it might do for local football. The level of commentary is such that the respect is there, and I applaud the many, many commentators who have been referencing this incident in the media.
“Matt [Stevic] is such an outstanding umpire and such an experienced umpire that [the circumstances are] completely different to an AFL umpire who’s done 50 games or 100 games, and it’s very different to an umpire who’s 16 years old and involved in his or her first game.
“For me, the commentary this week has been positive in regards to the respect we uphold for the umpires’ role in the game.”
Brian “Benny” Goodman, who umpired 347 senior VAFA matches including 55 finals and 23 grand finals, believed the three-match ban fitted the crime and sent a strong message to all grades of football.
“I think he’s got an appropriate penalty given the circumstances and the time of the year,” Goodman said.
“The penalty is quite severe, given it’s finals. If it was home and away matches, I’d have expected him to get five or six.
“The problem they’ve got is Toby Greene has history; he’s touched umpires before. He might have looked to brush past him and made contact shoulder-to-shoulder. He knows he’s done the wrong thing and I think three weeks is appropriate, to be honest.”
But asked whether he feared similar incidents could have filtered to lower levels of football had Greene been dealt with lightly, Goodman said the contact had to be judged in the context of an AFL final.
“I know they say touching umpires is sacrosanct, but you need to keep it in context and [consider] the level that they’re at,” he said.
“The fact Stevic was standing still, Toby knew exactly that he was there, and I think he got the right penalty given the circumstances.”
Steve Goodie started umpiring for the Gippsland Umpires Association six years ago – the same association from which Stevic came – and is currently their coach. He said a player had charged at him before.
“I put my hand up and just said stop, and spoke to the young fella after the game,” he said.
“That’s how I dealt with it – I’m big enough to look after myself. But if it happened to a kid [umpiring], they could just walk away from the game.
“You just can’t do it. I had another guy absolutely clean me up and I let it go. If it happened again tomorrow, I’d yellow card him. It’s his job not to hit me.”
Goodie believed the three-game ban to Greene was warranted.
“If they’d have given him a $10,000 fine and said that’s a no no, at local level that just doesn’t cut it,” he said.
“It’ll have an influence on kids, and umpiring is a hard enough game as it is.”
Victoria has recorded 76 new locally acquired COVID-19 cases, as health officials consider the restrictions that will remain when lockdown is extended on Thursday.
Key points:
Authorities are yet to reveal how many of the new cases were quarantined while infectious
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton has hinted an easing in regional Victoria may be possible as the Shepparton outbreak comes under control
There are now more than 1,000 exposure sites across Victoria
Contact tracers have linked 45 of the new cases to existing outbreaks.
Health authorities say the number of cases who were in quarantine while infectious will be revealed later.
The state processed 50,848 test results on Monday, when 32,162 vaccine doses were delivered at state-run sites.
He said the state would continue to follow an aggressive suppression strategy to try to drive the outbreak down to zero, "but now with some absurd hope if numbers continue to increase despite everything that you're doing".
Around 76 per cent of the state's 805 active cases are under 40, which Professor Sutton said was evidence that vaccination of older cohorts was making a difference.
Everyone aged 16 to 59 is now eligible to receive a Pfizer vaccine through both state-run centres and participating GPs.
Health Minister Martin Foley announced yesterday pharmacies were also joining the Pfizer rollout.
But the government clarified on Monday evening pharmacies were not offering Pfizer and were instead likely to begin receiving Moderna supplies by mid-September.
Professor Sutton stressed there was plenty of AstraZeneca available at state hubs for all Victorians aged 18 and older.
Authorities remain concerned about wastewater detections across Sunshine West, Tottenham, West Footscray, South Kingsville and Spotswood.
The detections in recent days have been in areas without recent positive cases, raising concern an infected person has not presented for testing.
Authorities have raised the same alert for Aspendale, Aspendale Gardens, Bonbeach, Carrum, Chelsea, Chelsea Heights, Edithvale, Mordialloc, Patterson Lakes and Seaford in Melbourne's south-east.
More to come.
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New data from the federal Department of Health reveals Victoria's rural and regional council areas are largely outperforming their metropolitan counterparts when it comes to COVID-19 vaccination rates.
Key points:
Newly released federal data is showing the vaccination rates across local government areas
There are variations in second-dose vaccination rates in metropolitan areas, with the highest 46.6 per cent, the lowest 22.4 per cent
In the regions and rural areas of the state, the highest vaccination rate is 64 per cent and the lowest 30.2 per cent
In the City of Hume, where 20 of yesterday's 92 reported new COVID-19 cases were recorded, just 22.4 per cent of people aged 15 and over have received two doses of a vaccine.
Double-dose vaccination figures are also below 30 per cent in the City of Melbourne, Greater Dandenong, Brimbank, Casey, Cardinia, Darebin, Melton, Moreland, Whittlesea and Wyndham areas.
However, vaccination rates are higher in parts of Melbourne's inner-south and eastern suburbs.
The state's COVID-19 response commander, Jeroen Weimar, said the "younger age profile" of residents in northern and western council areas was partly the reason for their lower vaccination rates.
Melbourne's inner bayside suburbs are faring strongest when it comes to second-dose vaccination rates.(
Supplied: Federal Department of Health
)
Mr Weimar said there had been "a massive surge in support" since Victoria opened Pfizer access to 16 to 39-year-olds last week.
Outer Melbourne suburbs have further to go when it comes to double-vaccination rates.(
Supplied: Federal Department of Health
)
"We are seeing a big and enthusiastic uptake in the west and in the north for vaccination," Mr Weimar said.
"The challenge is we've booked out all the supply we have got now.
"We need more supply to keep the vaccination programs going."
Small shires leading way
Victoria's most-vaccinated local government area is the small Borough of Queenscliffe, on the Bellarine Peninsula, south-east of Geelong.
Almost 87 per cent of the borough's 2,610 residents aged 15 and over have had at least one dose of a vaccine, while 64 per cent are fully vaccinated.
The Borough of Queenscliffe has the highest vaccination rate in Victoria as of August 27, 2021.(
Supplied: Federal Department of Health
)
The Buloke Shire in rural north-west Victoria is also performing well, with more than 71 per cent of residents having received at least one dose and nearly half fully vaccinated.
Wycheproof resident Ann Durie said "everyone got really scared" when a COVID-positive man stopped at her bakery on the way back to Mildura from Melbourne in July, turning it into an exposure site.
Ms Durie said Buloke Shire residents had good access to vaccines, while lockdown fatigue was another motivating factor.
Wycheproof residents were shocked when their town's Bakery on Broadway became an exposure site in July.(
Facebook: Bakery on Broadway
)
Outer areas lagging behind
Two of the three local government areas in Victoria with lowest second-dose vaccination rates are a good distance away from Melbourne.(
Supplied: Federal Department of Health
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Warrnambool leads Victoria's regional cities, with 43.7 per cent of its residents fully vaccinated, while Mildura lags behind with a full vaccination rate of 30.6 per cent.
Mildura Mayor Jason Modica got his first vaccine dose on Friday — as part of a local awareness campaign involving two health services, the council and a local newspaper encouraging greater take-up.
The Wentworth and Balranald local government areas in New South Wales, which neighbour Mildura, have even lower vaccination rates.
"We are a long way away from where, historically, over the last 15 months, all the cases have been," Cr Modica said.
"That's changing now, and with New South Wales being pretty much covered with COVID one way or the other, that may change the uptake in the next week or two."
Mildura Mayor Jason Modica has just had his first COVID-19 vaccine dose.(
ABC News: Christopher Testa
)
See how your area compares
LGA
First dose recipients (%)
Second dose recipients (%)
Total population aged 15 and over
Alpine Shire
67.1
39.6
10,732
Ararat Rural City
64.3
46.1
9,944
Ballarat
58.9
39.7
88,323
Banyule
61.2
40.6
107,523
Bass Coast Shire
68.2
40.9
30,332
Baw Baw
56.1
34.3
42,887
Bayside
69.2
45.6
87,219
Benalla
66.7
43.8
11,824
Boroondara
63.4
43
152,935
Brimbank
45.4
25.1
171,362
Buloke Shire
71.6
48.4
5,123
Campaspe
62.2
36.1
30,917
Cardinia
50.1
28.2
86.129
Casey
47.7
27.8
273,232
Central Goldfields
66.5
43.9
11,110
Colac-Otway
61.8
38.4
17,696
Corangamite Shire
64.9
38.6
13,141
Darebin
48.4
29.7
139,021
East Gippsland
66.5
43
39,596
Frankston
53.8
30.7
115,844
Gannawarra
64.2
35.4
8,756
Glen Eira
59.2
37.9
128,766
Glenelg
61.6
35.1
16,561
Golden Plains
56.7
35
18,450
Greater Bendigo
62
40.7
95,200
Greater Dandenong
43.2
24.1
138,053
Greater Geelong
63.8
41.4
211,830
Greater Shepparton
56.1
33.1
52,988
Hepburn Shire
64.9
42.4
13,467
Hindmarsh Shire
60.9
32.1
4,723
Hobsons Bay
55.2
34.1
79,604
Horsham
61.4
40.1
16,016
Hume
40.8
22.4
180,782
Indigo Shire
68.1
37.2
13,733
Kingston
57.3
35
136,655
Knox
55.4
33.2
135,647
Latrobe City
51.1
32.7
61,811
Loddon Shire
62.7
35.8
6,339
Macedon Ranges
67.1
40.1
39,626
Manningham
57.9
36.7
106,558
Mansfield Shire
65.7
33.9
7,567
Maribyrnong
50.8
31.2
79,009
Maroondah
56.6
35.1
96,377
Melbourne
39.3
24.5
168,298
Melton
46.5
23.9
124,611
Mildura Rural City
50.5
30.6
45,044
Mitchell Shire
51.4
32.3
36,387
Moira Shire
62.6
37.6
24,759
Monash
51.8
32.7
171,519
Moonee Valley
56.1
35
108,789
Moorabool Shire
57.1
31.6
27,901
Moreland
48.4
29.2
156,305
Mornington Peninsula
65
42.1
138,719
Mount Alexander Shire
67.9
45.9
16,789
Moyne Shire
65.2
39.2
13,498
Murrindindi
58.5
33.2
12,242
Nillumbik
64.3
40.8
52,476
Northern Grampians
64
41.2
9,646
Port Phillip
54.8
35.3
102,175
Pyrenees Shire
61.9
38.8
6,297
Queenscliffe
86.9
64
2,610
South Gippsland
62.6
37.2
24,475
Southern Grampians
71
41.7
13,285
Stonnington
57
37.1
103,900
Strathbogie Shire
64.6
40.1
9,174
Surf Coast Shire
73.1
48.3
26,584
Swan Hill
57.5
34.3
16,639
Towong Shire
67.4
37.6
5,069
Wangaratta
65.9
39.7
23,818
Warrnambool
66.5
43.7
28,859
Wellington Shire
60.6
39.2
36,486
West Wimmera
64.6
30.2
3,178
Whitehorse
56.2
36
149,611
Whittlesea
43.2
25.6
180,925
Wodonga
60.1
35.4
33,295
Wyndham
49.7
26.7
201,181
Yarra
53.5
34.1
90,535
Yarra Ranges
53.6
31.8
129,169
Yarriambiack
67
41.3
5,517
Unincorporated
24.6
12.6
768
Country residents want vaccines
Rural Doctors Association of Victoria president Dr Rob Phair said the figures suggest, in regional areas, it was "all about access and not so much about hesitancy".
He said the data was "useful and reassuring", with progress being made, "even in some of the more remote areas of the state".
"For example, if you look at West Wimmera — which has only got 30.2 per cent of second doses received — it's got a good number of first doses received," Dr Phair said.
Fully-vaccinated Warrnambool Mayor Vicki Jellie said a partnership between her council and South West Healthcare had helped promote the city's strong rate of take-up.
"I hope the pace of the rollout will continue," she said.
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