Parts of NSW’s Central West are waking to a snap COVID-19 lockdown after cases leaked out of Greater Sydney’s growing Delta variant outbreak. The decision to put the regional centre of Orange and the nearby shires of Blayney and Cabonne into the seven-day lockdown has highlighted the growing concern from officials. The move followed a crisis meeting of government and health officials …

The hack exposed tens of thousands of organisations across the world and allowed both Chinese security agencies — as well as criminal groups allegedly working with them — to access vast troves of valuable data and intellectual property. So why did the United States and its friends and allies decide to pin the attack on China? What are the risks for Australia? And …

Lismore City councillors have agreed to hand over council-owned land on the North Lismore plateau to its traditional owners. Mayor Vanessa Ekins moved the motion to transfer the 37 hectares,  which was supported by the majority of her fellow councillors. The land is valued at $5 million and includes an area of environmental conservation and an old quarry site. “Handing the …

The unemployment rate has fallen to 4.9 per cent, with almost 30,000 jobs created in June according to the official Bureau of Statistics data. The unemployment rate has now declined for eight months in a row, taking it to its lowest level in a decade. However, while the unemployment rate dropped from 5.1 to 4.9 per cent in June, the underemployment rate …

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says increased Commonwealth payments to individuals and businesses from week two of a lockdown will be proposed at National Cabinet tomorrow. It would fast-track emergency COVID-19 payments of $600 and $375 made to individuals from the second week of a lockdown, rather than four weeks in. A support payment for individuals would also be made for the first …

People living in coronavirus outbreak areas should bring forward their second dose of AstraZeneca, according to updated advice from Australia’s expert panel on vaccines. The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI)’s latest advice states people in areas like Sydney should receive their second dose between four and eight weeks after their first dose. That is a change from waiting up to 12 weeks for the …

Treasury officials estimate the ongoing Sydney lockdown is costing the national economy $700 million a week. Mr Frydenberg revealed the estimate in an interview with 7.30’s Laura Tingle after the federal government unveiled major changes to its economic supports for areas considered “hotspots” under lockdown. The changes will see the government contribute more in both household and business support than …

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced an increase to the emergency disaster payment from $325 to $375 for people who have lost up to 20 hours of work, and from $500 to $600 for people who have lost more than 20 hours of work due to the COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney. Mr Morrison also announced a jointly funded payment of between …

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has been fined by NSW Police for failing to wear a mask, in breach of public health orders. Officers from New England Police District were called to a petrol station in Armidale after the tip-off that Mr Joyce was not wearing a mask. Police confirmed that Mr Joyce was issued with a $200 fine at 8:00am on …

Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Wollongong has entered a COVID-19 lockdown for two weeks in response to a growing virus outbreak. Four local government areas (LGAs) in Sydney had already been subjected to “stay at home orders”, but as the ultra-transmissible Delta COVID-19 variant spreads, authorities have taken more drastic action. A swathe of new social distancing restrictions have …