Australia’s global strategic partnerships have been the focus of a speech by Prime Minister Scott Morrison on the fourth day of the United Nations General Assembly. In a pre-taped video statement, Mr Morrison touted Australia’s $100 million contribution to the Quad Vaccine Partnership “with our good friends the United States, India and Japan”. “This will support a boost in production …

NSW has confirmed another 1022 local virus cases and 10 more deaths as three more regional local government areas are ordered into lockdowns. The toll from the state’s Delta outbreak has risen to 255, with the deaths of eight more men and two women aged from their 50s to their 90s confirmed on Tuesday. Infections in the latest 24-hour period …

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has landed in the US for meetings ahead of the first face-to-face Quad leaders’ summit. Mr Morrison’s RAAF jet touched down at John F Kennedy international airport in New York about 8am Australian time on Tuesday, after travelling from Sydney via Hawaii on Monday. “I’m very pleased to be here in the United States,” he said …

In some good news for bored kids this school holidays, NSW has introduced a new policy on play dates. The government said the ‘friends bubble’ is a concession for families who have been “doing it tough” during lockdown, with all children under 18 allowed to have a couple of their mates over for a catch-up. Deputy Premier John Barilaro said …

The Byron, Kempsey and Tweed LGAs will go back into lockdown from 5:00pm today after a COVID-19 case from Sydney was infectious in several communities on the NSW north coast. The lockdown will last for seven days. Push beyond 80 per cent vax rates needed: Report Vaccinating 80 per cent of adults against coronavirus won’t be enough to end lockdowns, …

Australia’s two most populous states have their focus on reopening their economies even as infection rates remain relatively high and death tolls continue to climb. But the nation’s doctors are calling for caution when easing restrictions on reaching vaccination rates of 70 and 80 per cent under the national recovery plan. Australian Medical Association president Dr Omar Khorshid says the …

Australian diplomats are intensifying their efforts to reassure South-East Asian nations about the federal government’s plan to build nuclear-powered submarines under a new defence technology pact with the US and the UK. It comes after two major South-East Asian nations — Indonesia and Malaysia — warned that the project could exacerbate tensions in the region and encourage other countries to build up their military …

NSW has confirmed another 1259 local COVID cases – and a record 12 deaths – as it reaches a crucial vaccination milestone. Wednesday’s cases bounced up again after just over 1100 on Tuesday, reversing a recent trend of falling numbers. It was also the highest daily tally of COVID deaths yet for the state. They take its toll from the …

The Mayor of one of Sydney’s 12 hotspot LGAs has labelled a decision to cancel the daily COVID-19 press conference an “insult to the community” at a time when the state is in crisis. From Monday, the 11:00am press conference will no longer go ahead and will be replaced with daily videos, published by NSW Health, showing updated figures and information. …

There’s substantial anger among members of the Labor Party in Western Sydney that former NSW Premier Kristina Keneally is being parachuted into a very safe seat, pushing aside a promising local candidate in the process. Senator Keneally plans to move from the upper house into the Labor stronghold of Fowler at the next election, even though she lives a long …